Extraordinary David

On the morning of December 23, 20412, Rock Planet—half shrouded in gray land, half veiled in blue ocean—glimmered beneath the rays of the Kiah star. The planet’s atmospheric cloak shimmered with shifting hues. Even from the expanse of space, one could see the scars marring the land below: years of relentless warfare had left their mark, and greenery was scarce, the earth largely lifeless and gray. Only the presence of the blue ocean confirmed that this world still held water, the most fundamental resource for life.

From a distance, the ever-shifting colors of Rock Planet seemed dreamlike, almost illusory. Yet in truth, it was only a low-quality administrative world within the Stellar Federation, barely meeting the minimum standards for human habitation. Such worlds provided the necessities of survival—oxygen, fresh water, food—but the harsh environment made life outside the settlements nearly impossible.

High above Rock Planet, the calm, sunlit sky was abruptly shattered by a piercing sonic boom. Points of dazzling light appeared and drew closer, revealing a high-speed pursuit between several flying craft.

At the forefront raced a silver-white personal flyer, hounded by four Interceptor drones from the planetary defense web. Inside the solitary flyer, Abbott’s expression was grim as he maneuvered desperately, the controls shifting wildly beneath his hands. He pushed the vehicle’s limits with sharp, jarring course changes, fearing that if he strained the craft any further, it might break apart of its own accord, without need of enemy fire. Yet he dared n