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In this day, in this age, we live in times of peace. Conflict is a concept not unheard of in our society, but the dreadful, destructive event we have come to know as war is a thing of the past. Men no longer fight their brothers as a method to quell their avarice or fulfill a promise of revenge, soldiers no longer die in the fields for their leaders' petty conflicts of interest and lands are no longer torn apart by machines of destruction, manned by drones, fueled by blind faith and driven by selfishness and desire.
Now, instead of destroying itself, Mankind has united under a single banner, spread away from its homeworld and colonized many of the worlds that float around in the black sea, inhabiting them and turning them into their homes.
However, great perils approach, and on the day they arrive, we must stand together...
April 15th, 238 A.U..
Starfall Plaza, Hesnet
Those who have been born in this glorious Third Era know that Mankind, united under the banner of the Human Government, has colonized many worlds, as well as many things about the worlds themselves. So, naturally, they would know what Hesnet, the Planet of Lights, is most famous for. Certainly, the frequent, stunning meteor showers, as well as the jaw-dropping, enthralling night sky have garnered this planet much attention. But, without a doubt, what has permanently placed Hesnet among the most popular planets under the care of the H.G. is the Starfall Festival, celebrated once every four years on the fifteenth day of April, under a sky adorned by shooting stars that accompany the setting sun of the dusk as it descends, soon followed by the transit of one of the largest comets found, Arill, once Hesnet's star crowns the sky no more. Throughout all of this, concerts, dances, contests and all sorts of spectacles and cultural activities take place in the Starfall Plaza below. It was a perfect occasion for all sorts of people to attend: From Shaarans looking to sell their products or expand their horizons, to Gliesans seeking to share the Hesnettish bliss, to merchant Earthlings flying around, and perhaps even the oddballs looking for a partner, a purpose in life, or just a good deal.
And it just so happened that the current year, 238 After Unification, was the year Arill would journey through Hesnet's skies once again, after having been away for approximately 1460 days. Preparations were being made incessantly, Hesnet's local government and cultural organizations sparing no effort in making sure that that year's festival was just as good, if not much better, than those of the previous years. The festival, aside from being a virtually race-wide festivity, and a much revered one at that, was a reminder of a simpler past. Stalls and stages were set up with wood and cloth. Merchants exhibited their merchandise on small shops and stalls. The people wore outfits befitting the people of a distant past. Though security was in fact strong, and used all of the H.G.'s technology to make sure no incident came to pass, the rest of the people celebrated a festivity that reminded them of their roots, of a time when Humanity lived solely on Earth.
From afar, standing atop a hill, two figures watched the preparations, their faces obscured by hoods, both figures wearing red cloaks (Neither of those ever went out of style, you see, since people who appreciated some privacy, as well as smartasses who wanted to look like the former, would often wear them to conceal their identities). Once they had watched enough, the two figures exchanged a simultaneous nod and then turned around, leaving the Hesnettish, blissfully unaware that there had been a presence on the hill below the horizon, to continue their preparations.
The fifteenth of April of year 238 would be remembered, that much was certain.
) as she crashed into the man. A few people nearby skirted around them, but the flow of people continued.