The K'ryth'ralli Conflict Part Five
Posted on Sun Aug 9th, 2026 @ 3:13pm by Ensign Charalyne Blackwood
Mission:
The Library
Location: Planet K'ryth'rall
Timeline: Year 2242
Contains profanity, descriptions of combat violence, and bloodshed.
The Tragedy And The Brave
Mission time 20:23. After some uneasy sleep we got together to break camp. Scans detected nothing. Our K'ryth'ralli friends clearly had no way to communicate to the outside, and even if they did they made no effort to do so. Ch'rell approached me after I ate,
"Pleases...ah...apologies...conflict...we not to wish to...homani" I could almost feel Glynn staring daggers at Ch'rell. I glanced over to him and his eyes were down. I really didn't like chastising him in front of everyone like that but I can't have people changing their minds about this when it will likely get us all killed. K'shtah came over to us. Ch'rell embraced her gently and she spoke. Her voice was almost tiny and kind of adorable. I'll miss them both if we make it home
"Pleases...Blaa-kuud...soldier has much...anger for K'ryth'rall people...understand do I, his heart. Apologies...for make conflict...we did wish not...for this..." It was a sticky situation. We were nowhere near shutting down the other eight locations and I had people muttering shit behind my back. K shtah continued
"Pleases...apologies...Blaa-kuud...have no anger for us..." Her eyes lowered. What little I understood about K ryth ralli culture suggested she felt very guilty about last night and was showing me high respect by lowering her eyes. I also knew how to treat her. I put my hand under her chin and gently lifted. I was raising her out of her guilt as the culture goes. I covered my mouth with my hands and lowered them.
"Orgch ch'tokku, komu worlg nachh yom nochh! I will speak no evil of you." She smiled and put her head on my shoulder. My com vibrated. patrol encountered 2 more K'ryth'ralli. Robes, hands up etc... I'm really starting to wonder exactly who we're fighting here, I've seen many conflicts but never have I had so many surrender like this. These people aren't the ones waging war. These people had only one goal; to study humans. They have an incredible thirst for education. I turned to Glynn and was shocked to see K'shtah over there talking to him. I dared not move, but my hand instinctively fell on my sidearm, Ch'rell put his hand over mine and whispered,
"Pleases...Blaa-kuud...K'shtah can trust...understand his heart she..." I didn't hear the conversation, but I watched as Glynn melted. I don't know what superpower K'shtah possessed but she would be a great asset to those with PTSD. Glynn approached me,
"Ma'am, permission to speak?" he asked. I nodded, "Ma'am I would like to apologize for my conduct, I understand your role out here is a shit sandwich and I will gladly dine on it with you."
"Thank you, " I said, "I appreciate your honesty and your desire to serve. If we make it home the drinks are on me!" This is the Glynn I knew before we got here. Everyone's coms vibrated at once. Aircraft. Fuck me running.
Mission time 21:06. Two K'rythralli aircraft were approaching at attack speed and altitude. We had 12 seconds to dig in and secure the civilians. The patrol at that facility had, in fact, notified their superiors of our presence. I had hoped to go undetected for longer but it didn't happen that way. Automatic weapons fire erupted from the lead aircraft. Their task was clear; kill us all. I shouted out,
"GET THE CIVILIANS UNDER COVER!" in near desperation. The second aircraft began its strafing run. We didn't have the necessary firepower to do this. Our return fire was an act of pure optimism as they were moving faster than most of us could aim. The first aircraft returned for another run. The cannons blazing like demonic drummers rattling out a death dirge. I heard screaming from the corner of the building. One of the guys from Hotel team stood up and fired two portable missiles from a compact launcher before being turned into paste. Both aircraft were hit, one crashed a few dozen meters away, the other flew a little further before going down in a fireball. I assessed the situation and issued an all clear. First, count heads and get names. Fifteen UCSF teammates and six civilians. My heart sank. We started searching the nearby area. Yellow blood on the ground, and lots of it. Shyklo and I followed the trail. K'shtah had been hit and crawled this far. She was barely conscious. I yelled for Ch'rell. He came running and fell to his knees at her side. She was trying to speak but was barely getting anything out. Ch'rell put his ear by her mouth. He raised his head,
"Pleases, " His voice was very shaky, "pleases... Glynn...must you find...hurry..!" We followed the red blood trail. It indeed led to Glynn. He was in bad shape. Coughing up blood. I dropped beside him and did my best to help,
"You're gonna be okay Glynn just stay with me..." I knew I was lying through my teeth. He grabbed the front of my jacket and tried to speak,
"K'shtah...safe..?" was all he could get out. I had no idea but I knew he was about gone.
"Yeah. Glynn, she's gonna be okay..." Again, I knew I was lying through my teeth. Glynn smiled weakly,
"
Good...tell her...thank..." and he was gone. I closed his eyes and stayed with him for a moment. I laid him on the ground and went back to K'shtah. She wasn't in good shape. I knelt beside her and took her hand,
"Pleases, " I said, "Glynn gives gratitude..." She looked up at me and smiled.
"Apologies, "she whispered, "he tried...shield me...protect me...grat..." She sighed. That was all. Ch'rell held her body close, speaking K'ryth'ralli and sobbing.
The Next Day And The Dangers
Mission time 33:31. Sleep here was as scarce as fast food joint. We had buried Glynn and K'shtah beneath a tree selected by Ch'rell. He was very grateful for our respect of their customs and culture in such a sensitive area. Things didn't look particularly great for us. I took Ch'rell aside for a moment,
"Apologies, " I began, "Responsibility for K'shtah is mine...". He took my hand,
"Pleases...no fault is yours...knew to help homani...danger to us...must the right thing do..." He smiled, sort of. "K'shtah...brave was she...history to know her name..!"
Mission time 34:19. We cleaned the area of anything that would suggest we had been there. Ch'rell told me he was going to return to his people with the last two K'ryth'ralli to arrive and the remaining three would continue with us. Ch'rell brought one of the males to me.
"Pleases...the name he...is Ch'rokha...my son he is..." Ch'rokha bowed and spoke in better English.
"Please, your speech have I studied, many years for.", he started, "much speak has been about weapons used to homani. Know the place there they made." The female came up to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "Please, my sister she is, name called Syr'alla. My brother the other is, name called Ch'rykhu." Ch'rykhu came over, likely having heard his name, and he bowed to us along with Syr'alla. We shared the customary greeting. I spoke,
"Please, mine is the honor, glad meeting you I am."
They all nodded. "Apologies, K'shtah a good woman, much courage in her spirit.", They had gratitude and we all boarded the vehicle.
Mission time 35:02. Ch'rell and his companions left on foot and we followed a course to a set of coordinates sent by command. Not a long trip, 48 kilometers, but we knew the K'ryth'ralli military would be waiting for us. Intel had located all eight of the remaining facilities and they were in an area of roughly 160 square kilometers. Apparently traveling with the components and finished devices was a hairy endeavor. As we drew closer, about 17 kilometers to go, we saw several craters on the ground, about 60 meters across. Holy shit they're making weapons that are this unstable? This "bad leader" must be real fun at parties. Ch'rokha pointed at an object ahead of us "Please, stop must you!". He was frantic. I threw the transport in reverse and leaned on the throttle. Just as we started moving backward there was a click and a flash. A gust of wind blew us forward.."
