Pitz was a planet within the Zoen worlds. Ro ise had arranged for the settlers from the Vae to settle in an isolated area put aside for them.

NO other Zoen, were allowed without an invite to trespass there. The land, the rivers, animals and crops / agriculture were almost the same as they had been used to.

Dwellings were identical. Overall home from home was the feeling the evacuees felt on arrival.

Ro ise was no fool. Some of their natural skills, without relying on technology, was missing amongst her people. This world had excellent land masses for producing organically grown fruits, crops and! BUT the knowledge the skills?

The hope was, that some, might like the simplicity, learn and adapt, to see, that worlds continent, they had been housed on; becoming a special zone with strict controls re tech. 

The settlers had loved her, for how she, had rescued them, looked after and protected them. In return, they soon, turned huge fertile areas, of the land mass, into producing high quality foods.

Those interested in joining them, to learn, to develop their skills, their knowledge were not disappointed at losing some of the tech they had relied on for so long.

One taste of the new organics had them realizing how bland their own were. Refreshing their palates to accept the new tastes, the new flavours and shapes, sizes, peel or not peel..?

Jiua her Papa the ‘King; Regent. was soon to uncover her recent activities in bringing in the settlers.
His comment, on how good, the harvest was, the quality, how he, was getting back, his taste, experiencing flavours he had only remembered, from his Ketlevling days?

He, appointed her, as the ruling regent, for them, giving her a beautiful Draxetnium crown to raise her status within the Regentia. Now she had a full blown colony of survivors, refugees but hard working, diligent and respectful.

They, had appointed, their own ambassador, who had made it clear, the lands were NOT theirs, they were guests BUT, they would train those, who wanted to take over, from them, after their return to their own world.

The growth of the colony was astonishing. RO ise, realizing how fast it was expanding, she granted allocation of unoccupied lands, taking it away from private ownership. Those owners, who were holding the land but doing nothing with it.

Surprisingly the resentment, was short lived. The private owners, were liking the use, of those lands, especially their own, taking up the opportunities afforded to them, re skills and so much more.

Mining? The settlers, had wanted to explore the mountain ranges. They were told, they could do anything re that. Mining was NOT one of this worlds invested interests.

Knowledge and experience was limited to such an insignificant level that in reality it did not exist. Geo sciestes had carried out some sampling and were surprised at the results. BUT they had no equipment of any relevance to mine with?

RO ise had had to agree, to bear the costs, re the supply of new technology. A gamble? Those around her, had not been amused, by the thought of spending from the coffers, to fund such.

The settlers, were used to mining, techniques, methodologies and capabilities. In the end Ro ise ordered two of her best mining experts to assist them.

They,  were delighted. Often ridiculed by their peers, it had been difficult for them, to do anything, without scrutiny, restrictions and legal hog wash.

The opening of new mines, astonished them. Draxetnium, Gems, Silica and other rare substrate materials in quantities they, had never ever, envisaged on such amounts; now theirs.

NOW, with new technology, to boost their work, the returns were enriching the entire planet beyond all reason. The coffers were overflowing.

Sending new resources to the Vae. Jiaa nd Lear, had received the delivery AND, were now, preparing the new stronghold fortifications. Certain materials, had been in short supply but now, were in abundance.

The Cflen, were in an open clearing, patiently waiting, as from the heavens above, a craft descended. Se Phre ‘pure blood legions.’ 
200 of the most powerful Cflen. To reinforce the main Gladiator forces.

The Human(a) had kept to their craft, secured within it to ensure no contact with the Cflen and their B’stard spawn of the BEAST.
Their new weapon, had to be set up, checked and pepared, for ground force use.

In space it was effective, without modifications, but on the ground? Modifications had to be made and that, would take time. Targeting arrays adjusted and primed.

Rations and supplies, had been topped up. Depending on the ‘locals’ for such, was not forthcoming.
Their hatred of the Human(a) would see them poisoning their water their food supplies?

It, had also been noted, that the population, had dropped dramatically. Where had they gone? Attempts had to be made, to establish that information, at the earliest opportunity.

Who, was aiding those, from this miserable planet? The Zoen were not known to them. The ‘evacuations’, had ended, before the Human(a), knew anything about it.

The Matsupa Zealots and their pestilence, had been culled by the ? The archives were showing imaging of the site. Whatever the weapon was, that had been used, it had erased, whoever the Zealots were; had been.

In retrospect, a scan, of the area around their base had to be carried out to ensure the threats were at least KNOWN? The new weapons would take care of the B’stard spawn of the BEAST.

Irradiate the creatures, coating them with a dye, easily identified by the weapons arrays. NO Human(a) needed to man the arrays. Easy targets for destruction.

The newly established base on Prozix4 was now fully operational. Seb an elite forces commander had prepared for the trip to join the Human(a) forces in the Vae.

Over two hundred, at his command. Some 100 veterans with extensive skills AND experience in combat situations. The raw recruits were quickly assimilated into the ranks.

Shadowed by two Vets each, they, had no reservations, about being or feeling safe.
The key, as they were trained to accept from the beginning of their training, was knowing, TRUST, was everything.

All of his male or females, had to be protective of each other, to the death if necessary. His detachment, had been awarded for their bravery, their resolute strength, in the face of adversity on more than one occasion.

The base, had not been established, without using a show of force, from some alien beings, known as the Kunoks.

Simple minded, no technology of any significance and, he had been told, where they would be headed now, known as the Vae, was the same?

A force there, but Command, had decided, it would be prudent to send them in.
Their arrival, would be unexpected. His orders had been to the point, explicit, unyielding; enslavement of the locals as punishment for the ! of the former colonists?

NO one knew, what had happened, to the former Colonists. No communications, nothing; they had to have been murdered, disposed of by the locals.

The locals here, had suddenly vanished? The forest areas, were too dense, to waste his resources in searching for them. The trading, space port had been built and maintained by an unknown race.

Before they, could establish WHO, the locals had vanished. It, was a small yet serviceable amenity.
The only place, a communications hub was available.

Those manning that had refused to help the invaders. Some of the equipment had been trashed, with those who had carried out the vandalism, fleeing into the forest.

Sending up a small satellite, to do some deep scans, had revealed some ancient looking structures.
To be investigated later. The probability that that, was where the locals had fled, was a distinct possibility.

Command had ordered him to do nothing, he had new orders to leave for the Vae.
All of his Elite stood waiting by the main transporter.
Over 200 of his finest. He was feeling pride as he inspected them.

Inspection over, he beckoned the junior officers to join him. In front of them all, he told them, the new details.

They, were to invade that planet, destroy the Vae and all within it giving support to their own forces.

No mercy was to be shown. Total destruction, total annihilation.
The deaths of their own, were to be avenged. There was no way, they had not been murdered. Any taken prisoner would be good to see BUT the chances re that?

Overhead the sudden sound of ? It was huge. Their craft paled against it, as it descended. The base weapons arrays lit up as the plasma cannons opened fire?

No damage to the alien vessel. NOTHING! Not a dent, not a spark against its massive form. The response, from its weapons, was beyond anything he had ever witnessed.

IT wiped out, the entire base defences before he could blink. Gone! Over 100 manning the structure erased. The two transporter craft, were next,
as it targeted them, to immobilise them.

As the craft landed, he could see the huge insignia of a being with wings?
The hatch opened and out poured robotic creatures, armed and terrifying, to witness.

Surrounding them, as the things raised limbs to point at them. Weapons, no doubts in their minds, that they were weapons. A voice from one of them? Mechanical and yet clear.

“YOU, will put down your weapons and, drop to your knees OR, we will destroy you.”
It did not repeat itself, as two of the Human(a) attempted to fire their weapons? A streak of light across them as they turned to dust.

DUST! How powerful, their weapons were, was no longer under contention. Seb told them all to comply, throwing his weapon to the ground. He dropped to his knees, followed by all of them doing likewise.

The pile of weapons, was targeted and destroyed. Bright flash of light and just dust. The robotic things lowered their weapons, these beings were no longer a threat. Seb realized, they, were totally defenseless.

From the craft the form, of a female figure, now appearing, with two others behind her. Giants!
Two of them moved, to stand, in front of the robots. Raising their hands and the robots lights turned off.

The one now moving towards Seb? Her shadow cast across him as she stared down at him.
“YOU! Rise to your feet! “ No words just a subconscious prevailing thought within his.

If Seb had felt the urge NOT to comply, that was no longer of his own volition. He was being raised, floating mid air his eyes in line with ‘hers’? He could hear ITs thoughts, sense its fury?

Dismissive, as this, before IT, being nothing less than a PRIMITIVE? His mind being probed, as he felt such pain, rippling across his brain cells down his spine to have him almost shrieking?

Thrown down, to hit the ground at ITs feet. GIANT feet that could step on him, squash him like some bug?

“We are of the Jainsu. Born of the mother of creation, Anu. YOU are nothing to us. We protect the Kunoks.
Our sacred duty is to cherish, protect, those we create. To serve us, to worship us and to have the blessing of our mother Anu.”

IT shifted, to turn to look at one of the others? “Summon Eldui.” An orb from one of the robots left it to ascend into the air. Disappearing in the distance.

It would not be long, before it returned. Almost instantly a light from the orb projected onto the ground in front of the Giantess. From it now forming, Eldui one of the locals?

She fell to her knees. Bowed. “Rise and tell me. Have these primitives injured any of you or? “
“No. They have damaged the space port, but none of those blessed by Anu, have been injured or killed.”

“Then they will be spared. This one.” She lifted Seb to hoist him mid air, facing IT.
“Will take them off this planet and will NEVER return.” She pointed at his forehead.

The burning sensation, of a mark being etched, tattooed upon it, a deep slash mark?

 “Wherever you are, we of the Jiansu will know.

IF we encounter YOU, or your race again, you will be eradicated, like the pestilence you clearly are.”
IT threw him at those on their knees.
“Take them and leave.”

No further hesitation as they piled into the transporters and left. The space port was replaced.
The natives went back to giving praise to their protectors.

Seb was still terrified. Shaking uncontrollably for some time after and that deep etched mark?

A symbol, an ancient mark, from a race of beings,  long forgotten but recorded on Solus 3 (Earth)?.

The Annunaki, winged

Giants. Huge GIANTS.