[ IP ] Red

Konrad clamped his jaw shut not allowing himself to cry. He sat alone in his cabin, sounds of hurry and panic and boots on metal from the corridor breached his room. He stood up. almost tipping over either from exhaustion or that his shoes had melted through beyond all recognition and usefulness. His skin still felt the heat, his hands, his face, his eyes ached. Rushing over to the mirror to check for damage, shoes barely able to keep up he was for the most part unhurt but his skin glowed a painful red. He gingerly applied cool water to his hands and face still tender from his ordeal. Out of habit he thought to remove his ring and shut his eyes tight, clamping his jaw even tighter. 
 
 
 
 Through the merchant class window with forehead pushed up against the glass he saw his planet buckle, twist and melt. Cities were ignited and swallowed by oceans of lava, Konrad swore he could feel the heat even as he left orbit. His home a green golden paradise had been drowned in a hazy red hue, nothing he saw from that view was reminsent of anything he had seen in his 33 years of calling Baratrum his home. 
 
 
 
 He saw no more than fifty ships above, below, flying side by side or trailing behind narrowly escaping a fate met by most. the planet held almost two billion citizens and Konrad knew that among those ships that had got away his was the largest - a military crusier, holding no more than ten thousand. 
 
 
 The PA system screeched, Konrad knew it was the Admiral speaking but couldnt make out what the announcment was even after it was repeated but his tone was sombre, he realised his ears rang and drowned out the Admiral's speech no doubt caused by the eruptions and earthquakes that could still be heard below even through the dense ship and damaged hearing, all he could make out was `` left orbit'' and `` brace for hyperjump''. He left the window and sat back down, the slight acceleration of the ship forced him into his chair. He fiddled with his ring and thought, 
 
 `` Please be on one of those ships''.
