The First Starlighter (Last Starfighter, Christmas Edition)

Overview

In this version, father and son reconcile place aboard a stripped-down Starfighter, rechristened as the Starlighter, symbolizing renewal and unity. The story explicitly ties Xur’s personal grievances with the Star League’s insularity and dysfunction, ending with systemic reform and the birth of the Starlighters.

1. Opening: The Fractured Galaxy

• Scene 1: Alex’s Small-Town Christmas
  Alex Rogan, feeling isolated and yearning for a greater purpose, beats the Starfighter arcade game. Centauri arrives and introduces him to the galactic conflict. Centauri explains that the Star League is crumbling under the weight of its insular leadership, mirrored by Enduran’s strained relationship with his son, Xur.
  Theme: The Star League’s inability to adapt and connect parallels Xur’s feelings of abandonment.
• Scene 2: Xur’s Declaration of War
  Xur delivers a broadcast declaring the Star League obsolete, blaming its leadership for neglecting the needs of the galaxy’s outer systems. He vows to tear it down and create a new order that serves all worlds equally.
  Foreshadowing: Xur’s rhetoric reflects legitimate grievances, but his anger at his father clouds his judgment.