The Tapes’ Content
The screen crackled with static before stabilizing into a grainy black-and-white image. The first tape was a newscast from 1987:
- The anchorwoman’s voice was tense as she described strange, violent incidents occurring worldwide.
- Clips played of authorities battling pale, feral figures in the streets. Fires raged in the background.
The next tape, labeled “Field Footage: Outbreak,” showed handheld recordings from what seemed to be a military operation:
- Soldiers fired wildly as swarms of vampires overran their positions.
- The cameraman’s breathing was heavy, panicked, as he captured his unit’s last moments.
- The footage ended abruptly when the camera dropped, showing only static and distant screams.
The final tape, labeled “Global Emergency Report,” was a grim broadcast from a shadowy government official.
- "This is a global emergency," the man said, his face haggard. "The outbreak cannot be contained. Cities have fallen. The only way to stop this is complete eradication."
The tape cut to images of devastated cities, bodies strewn across streets, and vampires feasting on the remains.
Spotty
Spotty arrived to the dimly lit chamber on one of the Imperial intelligence bases, her crystalline blue eyes fixed on the holoscreen as the footage played. Her expression was calm, but those who knew her well could see the flicker of cold resolve in her gaze.
As the final tape ended, she turned to Commander Ralston. "That world is lost. There’s no saving it."
Her voice carried the weight of finality. "Flood it with UV radiation. I want the vampires eradicated completely."
Ila
Ila leaned casually against a console, her arms crossed as she watched Spotty. She had seen the destruction in the tapes, but her thoughts were elsewhere. The Gem of Amara in her pocket pulsed faintly, as if sensing the power of the decision Spotty had made.
"Efficient as always," she said with a faint smirk. "No point wasting resources on cleanup crews when UV does the job perfectly."
Whistler
Whistler shrugged, his amber eyes glinting with humor that didn’t quite reach his tone. "I don’t think the vampires are going to enjoy their tanning session."
He glanced at Spotty. "But hey, maybe we should keep one or two around as a reminder of what happens when you mess with the Empire?"
Spotty gave him a sharp look, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "No survivors, Whistler. I don’t want anyone left to ‘remind’."
Commander Ralston
Ralston nodded, his expression grim. "I’ll have the equipment prepared immediately. The radiation will be deployed systemically to ensure no pockets are missed."
The Scientists
The scientists exchanged nervous glances. They were used to studying and solving problems, not implementing planetary purges. One of them whispered, "We’re really going to wipe out an entire species?"
Another scientist, older and more pragmatic, replied quietly, "It’s not a species. It’s a plague. The Empress is right—there’s no other way."