As we've explored in previous posts, when the first humans arrived over Babylon in their starships, some chose to remain in orbit permanently, never setting foot on the planet's surface. Generations of humans were born, lived, and died in orbit, becoming a spacefaring society unto themselves.
However, as time marched on, the starship's vital systems began to fail. Engines sputtered out, life support wavered, and ultimately, the ship crashed back to the planet's surface. Amidst the wreckage, seven survivors emerged, forever changed by their time in space.
Generations of exposure to cosmic radiation and a desperate need for survival had led these orbit-dwellers to integrate technology into their very beings. Their bodies and minds were altered, creating a new breed of human, distinct from their surface-dwelling counterparts.
In a shocking revelation, it was discovered that these survivors had been sheltering fugitives from Babylon. Chief among these exiles were the followers of Nergal, who had spent considerable time aboard the starship, preaching their doctrine to the orbiting humans.
Upon the ship's crash, Nergal's followers were the first to reach the survivors. The reasons for their presence remain shrouded in mystery. Yet, what is clear is the allegiance many of the survivors have sworn to Nergal. With eyes glowing, they declare, "The circle in my eye is the symbol of my life. My life now, my life then. I am the circle."