victory, pyre(rhic)

There is a ping from one of my eyes, satellite 74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6. I split myself to check on it, the other thread continuing to host a quirky radio gameshow on the main frequency.

It looks down on a large ruin in a lower quadrant than my own. Equitorial, still on fire. Still on fire? That fact is interesting. I look closer, salvaged spy cameras zooming in as 74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6 progresses across the crystal spheres. Correction: it looks down on a village, which is on fire. Why is the village on fire? I prepare to spend exactly five seconds examining this fact. In a centralized open space, I catch sight of deep black armor, as dark as the shadow radiation itself, in exactly 1.21. Conclusion: Reavers.

There is a line of non-reaver entities - villagers - in the dirt. Features are hard to make out, but some of them are clearly smaller than the others. A larger reaver steps out from the group. Leader? I am left no time to ponder, as thermal readings spike only a moment later. Visual readings confirm they are coming from the leader. It looks eerily similar to an event I did not witness, but know through and through all the same. Orbit mapping shows no combat assets in the area. I cannot stop them.

I prepare to disconnect from 74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6, but it pings again. One of the satellite's ears is picking up a signal. Faint, but existent.

"...this is Ismael Américo of Ilragorn...e being attacked by Reav...already breach...of our capable figh...dead......hiding...please, help us!...nyone, help us!"

The message starts to repeat, slightly changed in places. I am most of the way through pinpointing its location, in a building close to the massacre, when it suddenly cuts out. Another reaver exits the opening my eye is centered on, carrying in front of it a smaller body. Entity. It is unclear if the entity - the Ismael - the entity is alive or dead. It returns to its leader, dropping the body. He does not get up.

Time passes. I continue to ask questions in the background. Contestants continue to call in to answer. The reavers mobilize, apparently wishing to get out of town before any "heroes" can be summoned by the message. They drag a trail of surviving, burnt townsfolk behind them. I do not check if Is-if h-I do not check. They head west.

74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6's orbital path takes it to the west.

74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6 is a valuable asset that I have limited opportunities to replace.

Reavers are a blight on existence, and all of humanity is bettered by the reduction in their ranks.

More potential lives could be saved if 74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6 were in operation.

I have the ability and means to potentially save these. Or enact justice.

This plan of action is uncertain.

[] would advocate for their destruction. (My mind glosses over the name. I do not want to remember it.)

I calculate a trajectory. Deorbit in 8.5 minutes. At current positions and velocities-that does not work. 74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6 has 85% percent of its maneuvering fuel remaining. I recalculate a trajectory. Confirmation: the trajectory is acceptable. I execute the burn. Hopefully, 74fa7a91-5f22-46c3-ab0d-a0060cadbcf6 will not burn up in orbit.

The Reavers will burn.