Andromeda: We Are The Universe

4. Karnor: The Void Wanderer

As usual, Frontier Captain Karnor Solaran marched through the corridors of the Spaca Donami (translated as Void Wanderer) with a furious, urgent pace, his metallic boots clanging resoundingly against the steel deck. The distinctive cadence of his stride was a well-known harbinger of trouble among the crew—when Karnor walked like this, it invariably meant that a crisis was at hand.

His rank carried a straightforward yet daunting responsibility: to venture into uncharted galaxies in search of planets and stars rich in minerals and ores, essential for the advancement of human civilization. Spacecrafts, space stations, weapons, armor, and advanced energy cores were constructed from these materials. Even the towering infrastructures of the hypercities sprawled across Sylar were forged from these crucial resources.

Identifying strategic locations for constructing Nexus Gates also fell within the purview of the Spaca Donami. This specific task, however, was delegated to the Nexus Captain—a rank just below Karnor—who was responsible for overseeing these critical interstellar transit points as well as spaceports. Both the Nexus Captain and Karnor reported to the Void General, who in turn was subordinate to the Solar Admiral, the highest-ranking officer in their sector of space operations.

His gaze remained unwavering, fixed on the sealed circular door at the corridor's distant end. The gray strands of his hair, flowing back in a sleek, brushed style, gleamed with a metallic sheen, earning him the unofficial moniker of "Silver Mane" among the crew. However, none dared to address him by this name aloud, for fear of harsh repercussions. His jawline was sharply defined, square and clean-shaven, not a stray hair in sight, his skin flawless—free of wrinkles, scars, or blemishes. Beneath thick, sharp, dark eyebrows, his eyes—a striking shade of bluish-platinum—projected an intense aura of determination, discipline, and ambition.

Despite appearances suggesting a man in his prime, perhaps not yet a century old, he was significantly older, carrying the wisdom and experience of ages far beyond what his exterior might suggest.

Behind him, a cadre of subordinates scrambled to keep up, their own armored footsteps echoing through the corridor, albeit with a less ominous timbre. These men, ranging in rank from lieutenants to sergeants, struggled somewhat with the weight of their armor and the cumbersome scarlet capes that marked their station. They had served on this starship for over a decade, yet the demands of rapid movement in full gear never seemed to get easier.

For Commodore Solaran, however, the armor might as well have been a second skin; his anger seemed to fuel him, lightening the burden as he charged ahead. The hallways of the Spaca Donami were generously proportioned, able to accommodate his entourage comfortably, yet every crew member they passed instinctively pressed themselves against the walls, granting an excessive berth to the fast-approaching group. The moment the clanging of Karnor's boots was heard, crew members positioned themselves at the edges of the corridor, turning to face the center with military precision, standing rigidly at attention.

As Karnor and his group passed, the crew maintained their customary salute: right arm thrust skyward, palm forward, while the left arm was bent at a right angle across the torso, mimicking the hold of a shield.

Finally, after a relentless march that felt interminable to his followers, they reached the command room. Karnor Solaran proceeded through the complex security protocols required for entry—inputting passwords, verifying biometrics, and engaging voice recognition. Two of his subordinates were required to undergo the same security measures, providing a momentary respite which they secretly welcomed as an opportunity to catch their breath—though none would dare show signs of fatigue openly, well aware of Karnor's disdain for any perceived weakness.

The circular door slid open, granting entry to the control room for Captain Karnor and his team. Karnor marched through the widening gap, a trace of impatience etched across his features, his metallic footsteps resuming a somewhat subdued rhythm.