Liozan Pell

The air in the processing bay was crisp, heavy with the sterile scent of ozone and the deep, silent thrum of Vael Tiris’s ancient rings. High above, the coral like architecture curved into smooth arches of pale stone, bathed in the soft, bioluminescent glow of drifting data streams. Standing at the edge of the docking platform, Liozan shifted his immense twelve foot frame, his long dark purple braided hair swaying over his broad shoulders as he ducked his head slightly, mostly out of habit, even though the ceiling here was forty feet high. Beside him, Archivist Zevros stood like a statue of carved indigo glass, his purple eyes fixed calmly on the massive aegis transport gliding into the bay. Zevros held a floating glass slate, his long fingers making precise, silent adjustments to the intake queue. "Do you think they have soft fur?" Liozan whispered down to him, his deep voice carrying a bright, resonant rumble that practically vibrated through the floor plates. He beamed, golden eyes wide with unrefined, boyish excitement as he adjusted the heavy containment harness over his chest. "Or wings? Oh! What if they're the aquatic ones from the outer sector? The ones that make those little squeaking sounds when they get confused? Zevros, tell me we’re getting the squeaking ones."

"They are cataloged under Directive 4-B, Liozan," Zevros replied without looking up, his tone a flat, clinical ribbon of absolute calm. "Their atmospheric requirements are dense nitrogen oxygen, not aquatic. And silence is expected during intake. Cease the acoustic vibration."

"Right, right. Quiet," Liozan rumbled, immediately clapping a hand over his mouth, a hand large enough to cover his entire lower face. He lasted exactly three seconds before lowering it with an apologetic grin. "I just hope they aren't too scared. War zones are so loud, you know? It’s nice they get to come here. To be safe." Zevros offered no response, merely swiping a cold digit across his slate as the transport’s temporal dampeners hissed, releasing a cloud of luminescent vapor into the cool air. The Aegis Ward guards flanked the ramp, armored titans in matte black plating, their weapons magnetized to their backs, not drawn, but ready. With a low, mechanical groan, the heavy pressurized seals of the transport door unlocked. The massive ramp slowly lowered, revealing the shadowed interior of the vessel and the hesitant, shifting shapes of the newly harvested specimens within. Liozan leaned forward, his massive hands resting lightly on his knees as he peered into the dim light with boundless golden eyed wonder.