Admiral Rylan Rivers stood at the helm of the USS Valiant, the flagship vessel of his battlegroup. Commanding with unwavering authority, he led his crew through countless battles, protecting border worlds from Celestial Empire incursions. But today, destiny had a different plan in store for him.

As chaos erupted aboard the Valiant, the ship's alarms blared, signaling imminent doom. Rylan's trusted Crusaders, the elite special forces unit under his command, sprang into action. With grim determination, they rushed the Admiral towards the nearest escape pod, their mission to ensure his survival at any cost.

Amidst the cacophony of alarms and the desperate shouts of his Crusaders, Rylan found himself being ushered into the cramped confines of the escape pod. With a heavy heart, he watched his loyal crew members seal the hatch, leaving him behind as the pod was ejected into the cold void of space.

Minutes turned into hours, and Rylan drifted through the darkness, feeling the weight of his ship's imminent demise. Finally, the escape pod hurtled through the atmosphere of an unknown planet and crashed into the dense forest below.

Shaken but determined, Rylan fought against the metallic restraints holding him in place. The Crusaders, skilled in their craft, swiftly cleared the immediate surroundings, ensuring their leader's safety before releasing him from the confines of the pod.

Stepping out onto the lush soil, Rylan was greeted by an awe-inspiring sight. Towering trees, stretched skyward, their branches dancing in harmony with the gentle breeze. Rays of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting an ethereal glow upon the forest floor.

As the Crusaders scanned the area for potential threats, Rylan took a moment to gather himself. Turning to his trusted allies, he inquired, "Where are we? What is this place?"

His question hung in the air, unanswered. The Crusaders exchanged puzzled glances, their tactical visors reflecting their uncertainty. One of them, a seasoned warrior named Kira, spoke up, her voice laced with both curiosity and concern. "Admiral, we've traveled through uncharted territory. This planet isn't on any of our star charts. It appears to be untouched by our civilization."

Rylan's brow furrowed as he contemplated the implications. A planet unknown to the United Sovereign Systems, shrouded in mystery and seclusion. It was an opportunity and a challenge, all wrapped into one.

With resolve gleaming in his eyes, Rylan straightened his uniform and addressed his loyal Crusaders. "We find ourselves in uncharted territory, my friends. Our mission remains the same—to survive, adapt, United we stand, always."

The Crusaders, standing in a tight formation, conducted a quick headcount, there was nine of them in all. The admiral, a comm officer, a gunner, and six Crusaders.

Suddenly, a plume of smoke caught their attention, billowing from a nearby clearing. Without hesitation, they set off through the dense forest, their senses heightened, alert to the dangers lurking in this unfamiliar realm.

As they cautiously made their way toward the source of the smoke, their hearts pounding with anticipation, the sound of rustling leaves and cracking branches permeated the air. The forest seemed alive with hidden perils.

Then, emerging from the undergrowth, a monstrous creature lunged toward them, its snarling jaws and razor-sharp claws poised for attack. The forest beast, its massive frame covered in mottled green scales, was a formidable opponent.

Reacting with the precision and skill honed through countless battles, the Crusaders swiftly engaged the creature. Their blasters discharged their fire through the air, striking true with deadly accuracy. The beast roared in fury, but it stood no chance against the combined firepower of their weapons.

Within moments, the creature lay motionless at their feet, vanquished. The Crusaders exchanged nods of affirmation, they checked to make sure nobody was injured then continued.

As the smoke from the damaged escape pod still billowed skyward, they pressed on, traversing through the ancient redwoods, their path obscured by the verdant foliage.

As the Crusaders and Admiral Rylan approached the source of the smoke, their eyes widened in disbelief. Resting amidst the verdant clearing was an escape pod bearing the unmistakable insignia of the Celestial Empire, their adversaries in the ongoing war. Tension crackled in the air, and unease settled over the group.

Aware of the gravity of the situation, the Crusaders tightened their grips on their weapons, their fingers ready to unleash a storm of firepower if necessary. The marines from the Celestial Empire, equally prepared for conflict, mirrored their stance, their expressions etched with determination.

Admiral Rylan stepped forward, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "Hold your fire! We come in peace," he called out, his voice carrying the weight of his authority.

But the marines remained unmoved, their eyes narrowed and distrust evident. They saw only the uniform of their enemy, the USS, and years of animosity fueled their skepticism.

The tension grew taut, a palpable silence enveloping the clearing. Both sides were locked in a standoff, fingers itching to pull triggers, but Admiral Rylan refused to succumb to the darkness of war. His voice resounded with determination as he implored them once more, "We are not your enemies. We have crashed on this planet and seek only survival."

Before anyone had the chance to say anything else, one of the marines was pulled backwards into the underbrush.

His screams echoed through the treetops. That was all it took for every armed person to aim their weapon, as one, at whatever had just killed the soldier.

A four armed humanoid reptile burst out of the tree line. It rushed the soldiers. Shots rang out and it fell to the ground at their feet, dead.

Abruptly, many more of them swarmed out at the soldiers. Their precise fire took down many of them, but it wasn't enough. They kept coming.

They fell back through the woods towards the other escape pod, firing as they went. The marines followed them, trying to escape the onslaught.

As the group found themselves trapped within the circle of reptilian creatures, a tense silence settled over them. Their weapons were trained on the creatures, ready to fight if necessary. However, to their surprise, the reptiles did not attack. Instead, they maintained their positions, effectively herding the group towards a nearby clearing.

Confusion and apprehension filled the air as the Crusaders and marines exchanged glances, silently questioning what their next move should be. Just as one of the marines opened his mouth to speak, a low, rumbling hum resonated through the forest. All eyes turned skyward to witness a colossal alien dropship descending from the heavens.

The dropship touched down with a gentle thud, and its metallic doors hissed open, revealing a cavernous interior. The reptilian creatures moved with purpose, prodding the group forward until they reluctantly boarded the alien vessel. The doors sealed shut behind them, enveloping the marines, Crusaders, and Admiral Rylan in an atmosphere of uncertainty.

Through a small viewport, they could see that the ship they were in was moving towards a much, much larger vessel orbiting the planet.

As it entered the hangar, they could see hundreds of those same reptilian creatures being herded into more dropships by armored figures.

The door to the dropship opened and they were greeted by a big firing squad. They wore the same armor as the ones moving the reptiles. They stood a foot taller than most of the soldiers. They disarmed the Marines and Crusaders alike, and separated them.

The armored figures moved the soldiers to a holding cell, while the admiral was moved to another room.

He was forcibly seated, then the two alien escorts took places by the door. It opened, and a new figure entered. This one's armor was slightly different than the rest. The figure removed its helmet.

"I have failed to introduce myself properly, allow me to remedy that. I am Grand General Pyros, of the Precursorian Alliance. You are Admiral Rylan Rivers, of the USS. I remember the formation of your government, the USS, it was uneasy. But you were not alive then, and neither were any of your leaders now. But I was. I was a prisoner of war then. If I remember correctly, your government was formed after this galaxy's militaries successfully repelled my kinds invasion. They probably thought that, if they banded together under one banner, they would not need to worry about losing to a invading force. A shame their political shortcomings have caused a civil war now, isn't it?" Pyros paused, allowing Rylan a moment to think about what had just been said.

Pyros continued, "The USS and the CE, both of you think you are galactic superpowers. Yet you fail to account for a long forgotten enemy. The very reason your ancestors banded together against a common threat, has returned. We may have failed in our first invasion, 500 years ago, but we will not this time! In a few months, I will send you back to your side with a message. Be prepared. We are coming."