For so long have I traversed the farthest reaches of the Terran Commonwealth. There were many wonders, but still nothing quite like Earth. From the long-range visual image as we approached, I could just make out the contours of greens and browns within the deep blue, all overlaid with wisps of white. It gave me a warm feeling like, well, home.

It wasn't always so good. Long ago, humanity fled the planet of their origin with its resources stripped and its climate wrecked. But now reborn, it was more like the fabled Garden of Eden and a fitting location for the Temple of the New Covenant.

I should be more careful to avoid excessive pride, but I could not help feeling satisfied with the success of our mission to the outer settlements. Many Temples were established, seeds of morality destined to take root in troubled worlds.

The words of the flight officer pulled me back to the moment. "Captain, the sensors read high-energy neutrons and a thermal spike at our destination."

Another said, "Communications are down."

Captain Glynn rubbed his red beard. I knew what that meant, something worried him. And when he was worried, so was I.

He spoke with the calmness of a seasoned commander. "Sound general quarters."

"What is it, Captain?" I asked.

"A thermonuclear weapon detonation."

I felt a chill crawl up my spine. "The Temple?"

He nodded stoically. "Most likely."

The visuals confirmed my fears. The Temple compound, normally a wondrous estate, now laid in dark twisted ruins. I only hoped the Empress found safety.

"Captain, shuttle me down there."

He swung his head around. "But Priestess, the radiation..."

I waved off his concerns. "I will limit my exposure, but I need to get down there now, regardless."

Tears clouded the eyes of the five women gathered around the gurney that bore the Sol Empress, her body scorched and eyes distant. My eyes locked on to those of the attending physician, but she just shook her head and then looked away. Few others outside of this room remained alive, and of those, the radiation may yet claim more.

The Empress' young attendant sobbed. "All her daughters were killed and now she dies. The Empress has no heirs... This shall be the end of our cause."

I replied, "Perhaps not."

"How can you say that, Priestess? You know a direct genetic line is required."

I turned to the physician. "Harvest all of the viable eggs from her ovaries, preserve them and make ready for travel. Do it now while you still can."

I turned back to the others. "Listen carefully. We shall each take a portion of her spawn and flee to the far corners of the Commonwealth."

"And then what?"

"For now, stay hidden. Whoever did this would surely come after us. My sisters, I tell you truly, the line of the Empress shall rise again from the ashes like the Phoenix. That shall be our name."