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What Dwells in the Shadows

~Prologue~

I hope you are reading this. If this ever gets back home, I want you all to know that this is my story. I do not wish to be a martyr or a hero, I just want to preserve this knowledge. I have begun to write journals of my journey, as an attempt to educate others. I have to warn you now, jet because I am the only writer of this tale, that does not mean I will survive. This doesn't have to be a happy ending. I very well might just die. Just keep that in mind. As I find times to write more, I will record these events. As I write this, I am getting loaded into the warp cruiser for my twenty year trip. Please, if anyone finds this, spread it to the world.

Leon J. Vex
1st. Sergeant of the Marines, 8th Platoon.

~Rising Dead~

I have been dead for 20 years. And now, they are bringing me back to life. "Cryogenically frozen," they called it. Seemed like death to me. But finally, after 20 years of black nothingness, I am back. I was chosen as part of an "elite team of individuals" picked out as a sort of ambassador unit. Back home, 25 lightyears away, people are running out of space and resources. In some sort of panic, NATO threw together a space program to find life on other planets, no matter how far away they are. And, by some miracle, they found it. Via radio waves, scientists have been able to communicate with the beings on a distant plant called “Raven.” The scientists quickly learned that the species is undergoing a civil war. That's what they told us we were supposed to do; put an end to this civil war one way or another, and to convince the natives to allow humankind on their planet. I'm not sure how well it is going to work, but there is no other alternative.

~Awakening~

I awoke to a back nothing. I couldn’t even tell you if I had my eyes open. Then, a soft blue light blinked into my vision. I reached out and touched it. A hissing came from all around me and the door opened, the light practically blinding me. As I put a hand over my eyes, I felt a slight push from behind me. They told me this would happen. I floated out into the pit. Around me were numerous capsules, similar to the one I was just in. I pushed myself off a support pillar and floated up to the ration shelf. Luckily, I was one of the few who had zero-g training before I applied. I grabbed an MRE and floated down to open it. As I did, various capsules were opening around me. People floated out, all wearing the same black jumpsuit as I was. I was observing those around me when I was hit with the worst hunger pains I have ever felt. Short of breath, I struggled to unwrap my meal. I wolfed down the food eagerly, and pushed myself to the shelf for more. As I floated up, a monster of a man floated out of a capsule towards me. Russian, this man was built like a bear that weight lifted professionally. He looked as if he could snap me like a toothpick. He was 6'5", and had military cut black hair. He was heavyset and had a jutting prominent jawbone. He grunted in acknowledgement as I pushed myself out of his way, and back down to the table. I guess food would have to wait.