The sky tore open at twilight.
A burning streak carved through the heavens—low, bright, silent at first, then followed by a distant concussive boom that rattled Core pylons and shook dust from rooftops.
Toren was on the uplink tower when it happened. He saw the flash—dull crimson framed in orange—and the way the light winked out into jungle smoke just beyond the southern ridge.
System Alert: Atmospheric Entry – Artificial Object
Class: Old Republic Medical Frigate (Designation: HSX-45 "Lucent Mercy")
Era: Clone Wars
Status: Crash Detected – 3.1 km from Aurex Center
Signal: Faint — GAR Transponder Active
Stasis Energy Signature Detected
Toren turned sharply and tapped the alert to transmit.
"Kora, wake Mira. Wess. Tell them to meet at Sector Ring 3. Bring Grum."
"Already pinged. Also, the jungle's on fire."
Flames licked the horizon. Thin, not wide—but spreading.
He leapt from the last rung of the tower and hit the ground in a run.
Whatever had fallen wasn't just a wreck.
It was a message.