The skies of Zelkaris were streaked with smog, casting the red hue of its polluted atmosphere over a world long suffering under its rulers. In the shadows of collapsed homes and rusting machinery, a tower fell—one of the Royal Communication Spires, brought down by the Liberation Army in a swift, calculated assault.
Arco, their silver-bearded, scar-eyed commander, stood atop the rubble. His six arms were scorched, but his stance remained unshaken. Around him, his soldiers cheered quietly as they pulled the royal flags from the tower's debris.
"That's one more tower silenced," Arco said. "Let their whispers fade. Let the oppressed finally speak."
Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace of Zelkaris, located high above the slums—shining in gold and sapphire crystal walls, sustained by floating generators and guarded by loyal androids—the contrast to the city below was brutal. Among the wine, perfume, and luxury, a woman stood at the palace balcony overlooking the chaos.
Queen Astell of Zelkaris, cloaked in red silks and black armor trims, looked upon her world with a hardened gaze. Her four eyes blinked slowly, her six arms crossed as her golden cuffs clinked softly.
Behind her, her husband—King Vorzan—paced nervously, his anxiety rising with every bit of news that filtered through the battered palace corridors.
"They took another tower," he muttered. "This… this Arco is dangerous. They say he used to be one of us."
Astell didn't turn. Her voice was sharp, cold. "Used to be. Now he's a symbol. A soldier who fought for the system until he realized it was killing its own people."
Vorzan scoffed. "He's a criminal."
"No," Astell said. "He's a cause."
She finally turned to face him. "And you, my king, should be worried. Because Prince Varel has called for a council. Two days from now. Every planet's monarch is expected to attend—including us."
Vorzan's eyes widened. "A council? Without Laco initiating it?"
"Exactly," she said. "The throne is splintering. Varel sees Laco's failures. So do I."
She stepped forward, lowering her voice.
"We have one chance to shift sides and survive. If Arco's movement succeeds—and if the Verdalians truly support the rebellion—then history will judge which kings stood with the people, and which kings bled them dry."
Vorzan's voice faltered. "You want to… betray the royal line?"
"I want to survive," Astell said. "And if we don't speak carefully in that council, Zelkaris won't have a king or queen left to rule."
Below, the smoke of revolution rose into the palace air, choking the gap between the golden halls and the dirt-stained streets.
The war table flickered in the underground command chamber of Zelkaris, deep within the rebel mountain fortress where Arco and the Liberation Army had taken refuge. Around the glowing hologram, his most trusted lieutenants gathered:
Quorrax, the tactician and infiltration expert.
Vaarn, the hard-charging frontline warrior.
Garvin, the medic and intelligence decoder.
Karjax, the older strategist, formerly of the Royal Guard.
Zerlan, the quiet sniper with icy focus.
Arco stood at the head of the table, arms crossed, a scarred commander hardened by decades of revolt.
"The communication tower we destroyed yesterday has disrupted their orbital relay systems," Garvin reported, pulling up a glitchy holographic network map. "We've got a window, but not for long. They've started deploying Grade Two Androids in our vicinity."
Vaarn growled, "Then let's take them head-on before they finish their sweep."
Quorrax shook his head. "It's suicide if we don't know their patrol paths. We need intel first."
Karjax added, "The tower destruction bought us time, but it also exposed our hand. We should prepare to move this base."
Suddenly, a priority incoming transmission buzzed on the command terminal. Garvin tapped a code, and the screen widened.
Two holograms flickered into life.
Rovin, leader of the Scorched Branch, standing tall in a cliffside war room on Vokar-17.
Beside him, Ka'roth, right-hand of the wounded Targan and acting envoy for the Eyrvaks.
Arco's eyes widened in surprise. "Rovin. Ka'roth. From two sides of the system… What is this?"
Ka'roth spoke first. "Commander Targan has been gravely wounded in battle against Commander Roouch. Before he lost consciousness, he ordered me to form an alliance—with Rovin, and now with you."
Arco frowned. "I never expected Eyrvaks and the Scorched Branch to stand side by side."
Rovin replied with a grim nod. "There's no choice left. The Royal Army's brutality has pushed our people to the edge. And there's more."
Ka'roth stepped forward. "We've made contact with outsiders. Verdalians."
Arco narrowed his eyes. "The green-skinned foreigners? I've heard whispers. What help could they possibly offer?"
Rovin's voice deepened. "According to Rom, one of our own… one of their commanders—Jason Amberdenk—defeated 2,000 Royal Zypherian soldiers, led by Sergeant Vaak in the Upper Eastern Sector. And he saved my father, Mek'lar."
A stunned silence followed.
"Two thousand… by one man?" Vaarn muttered in disbelief.
Ka'roth continued, "Captain Shin, their fleet commander, has deployed 26 of their 29 battle ships across the Lilliput System. They came under the banner of peace—but now they stand ready for war."
Garvin looked at Arco. "That's nearly a whole armada. We can't ignore that."
Arco turned slowly, arms behind his back. "Fifty-five light years. They came that far for us?"
Rovin nodded. "They claim to want to end the tyranny of the Vir Empire in this system. I don't care if it's for profit or principle—we need them now."
Ka'roth added, "We've harbored their ships in Narlak's Maw, but the presence of so many outsiders makes the hideout vulnerable. Arco, do you know of any larger, hidden locations across your sector?"
Arco stroked his chin. "There are lava ducts beneath Crimson Dusk Valley, old mineral tunnels from before the wars. We could dig into them. It's deep, hard to detect. We'll start evacuating tonight."
Suddenly, the screen split again.
Another hologram came online—Captain of Verdalian Ship-2, representing the fleet at Narlak's Maw.
With green skin, silver hair, and the metallic crest of Verdalia, he bowed respectfully.
"Captain Shin confirmed the Verdalian Alliance. On behalf of Commander Jason Amberdenk and captain shin, we pledge aid, technology, and manpower to liberate the Lilliput Star System. Your battle is now our cause."
Arco inhaled slowly. "Then it's official."
He looked at his allies—across Zelkaris and Vokar-17, across ideology, history, and pain.
"This day, Liberation Army, Scorched Branch, Eyrvaks, and Verdalia unite."
In traditional Zypherian fashion, all three rebel leaders performed the Unity Gesture—right hand over chest, lower left hand behind back, bowing solemnly.
In the background, the rebel soldiers on each planet watched from monitors, their hearts burning with a new hope.
The first galactic coalition against the Vir Empire had been born.
In the mist-veiled caverns of Narlak's Maw, the air still shimmered with energy after the historic hologram conference. The bond had been sealed—Verdalians, Scorched Branch, Eyrvaks, and the Liberation Army now stood as one.
As the holograms faded, Ka'roth, towering and stoic, turned toward the five parked Verdalian battle ships, their sleek green-and-silver hulls glowing faintly beneath the cavern's bioluminescent vines.
"I hope this alliance truly brings dawn to this star system," he muttered.
The Captain of Ship-2, a younger Verdalian with fierce silver eyes, nodded and stepped forward. "We're with you, Commander Ka'roth. Verdalia stands for peace and freedom. We'll escort you."
With a nod of gratitude, Ka'roth boarded one of the ships along with a dozen Eyrvaks soldiers. The small convoy of five Verdalian ships lifted from the underground cradle and vanished into stealth mode, heading southwest toward the ashen mountains, where Targan, leader of the Eyrvaks, lay in critical condition.
Upper Eastern Zone – Planet Vokar-17
Dust storms howled across the cracked terrain. The scorched earth sizzled beneath the heat of Grade Two Androids—sleek, advanced, twice as fast, and ten times as durable as their predecessors.
Inside a battered rover, Jason Amberdenk, bloodied yet unyielding, gripped the controls. Beside him, Mek'lar, the aging father of Rovin, clutched the side rail, eyes wide.
"These… these aren't normal bots," Mek'lar said between gritted teeth. "They've deployed the Vir Empire's newest models. We can't reach Narlak's Maw like this."
Jason swerved as laser fire ripped past them, scorching the ground. A drone smashed into the hood—Jason flipped the rover, and both were thrown into the dust.
Before either could stand, three Grade Two Androids landed, hissing with cold energy. One lunged toward Mek'lar, claws raised.
Jason surged forward.
With a desperate roar, he unleashed the Fantom Arts of Black, his sword glowing with obsidian energy. He cleaved one bot clean in half, but another tackled him, slamming him into a rock wall.
Jason coughed blood. "They're… stronger than anything I've fought."
Another bot fired a beam at the stunned Mek'lar.
Then, the skies broke open.
Five powerful green beams pierced the battlefield, obliterating the androids. A familiar voice crackled through the static:
"Commander Jason Amberdenk… I heard you took down 2,000 Royal Soldiers. The whole fleet's talking about it."
Captain Shin, standing atop Verdalian Ship-1, stepped out of his hovering cruiser. Behind him, Ships 11 and 20 hovered in triangle formation, their weapons still glowing from the recent salvo.
Jason, battered and laughing, sheathed his blade. "Yeah… I did."
Mek'lar, catching his breath, looked up at the ships. "So… you really came."
Jason turned to him. "I told you I would. I'm not just here to deliver rations. I'm here to liberate."
Jigo, the battle-hardened soldier, ran to him with a wide grin. "Commander, I'm honored to serve under you again."
Jason leaned on him for support, blood trailing from his mouth. "And I'm glad we're still standing."
Shin descended, scanning the wreckage. "Our stealth tech will hide us. But you're injured—we need to move fast."
Jason wiped his face, eyes defiant. "Verdalia once conquered galaxies… now we will save a star system."
Mek'lar, listening in awe, whispered, "Maybe you really are the spark we needed."
The three Verdalian ships cloaked once more, now carrying Jason, Mek'lar, and a sliver of hope for the future. In the distance, war clouds gathered—but so did unity.
The Lilliput Star System would never be the same again.