- Prologue - 

Following their training exercises, the graduates were given very little time to rest 
before being dispatched to various locations in space. Most of them were assigned to 
escort a transport fleet of battletanks before departing further away, aiding humanity 
in the everlasting war against the alien foes. Following an important victory, the swarm
was driven away from populated systems. For the first time in a really long time, it was 
possible to transfer cargo to the rims of the Mal Sarach.

Mal Sarach is a remote, cold solar system, mostly inhabited by unevolved humanoid lifeforms. 
They live in solitude, either by their own choice, of because they were banished form their 
original location. The vast and unforgiving planet consists of little more than sand and dust, 
making the colonial transports the only source of food and basic supplies.  
Once every six months they receive a shipment with barely enough supplies to make survival possible.

A few hours ago, the latest shipment transporting livestock and mining equipment picked up 
a mysterious signal that the computer could not identify. It was only classified as ship of 
enormous proportions and unknown origin. The captain ordered visual confirmation, 
and designated a search and rescue party.

It was the largest sighting of a vessel drifting through real space since the mysterious 
'classified' engagement over sixty years ago. Further contacts had been established, 
but none as large, and as intact as this one. The large metal body of the ship, the size of 
a small planetoid, drifted aimlessly through the void. Captain Mezdar approached the vessel, 
and decided to board it.

Five brave men from the Alien Assault academy were assigned the mission to explore the ship, 
entering from the cargo docks. While readying their weapons, they prepared to face their worst 
nightmares, and took time for a moment of silence.

Once prepared, they were strapped to their seats in small boarding pods to be launched towards 
the drifting mass of metal. Automated stabilizers would ensure the rough landing would not harm 
the soldiers or their heavy equipment. The pods would reach high enough speed to ensure they 
would have time to prepare before the first wave of the swarm was over them.
.
