**The Shadows Spoke** r/HFY

**Before diving in, a huge thanks to the Void Dragons and Infinite Empire Lords. With their help, I can keep writing these stories daily. Thanks so much—let’s go! The shadows spoke. Commander Celios Starstrike, Clan Star Strike. Three standard months have passed since the Shira Empire declared war on us. At first, we were poorly prepared, but our border-defending ships fought well, relying on speed and hit-and-run tactics to slow them down. Yet, in the end, they fell to our enemy’s heavily armed, heavily armored vessels. We’d long suspected the Iran were an expansionist empire—even from our first contact years ago. At first, they weren’t bad neighbors; they were decent commercial partners. Outside of trade, they weren’t particularly friendly. I remember the first time I met one in our colony. They called themselves “investigators,” but at first glance, I’d have guessed otherwise. On average, Sirans stand 1.9–2 meters tall, with two arms, two legs, four fingers on hands and feet. Their reptilian, scaly bodies come in blues, purples, browns, or reds—except their heads, where they have short, feathered plumage matching their skin. That was the only similarity to our Arelian species. Their faces jut slightly forward, with backward-pointing, sharp teeth that make them intimidating. Their fingertips end in massive, threatening claws—any enemy would be crushed. If only our government had seen through all those spies and merchants coming and going—they weren’t just diplomats; they were a cover for studying our strengths and weaknesses. Our race has always preferred trade and dialogue over conquest and destruction. All other conscious species we’ve met share the same goal—cooperate and thrive together. *(Continued…)*