《Space Odyssey: Spectre》


 Chapter 1 - 1: Entering the Academy

    The Kitinol Offensive. It was often described as the line between civilization and the insanity that is the Kitin Hive Worlds. With the Kitin Hive covering over thirty known systems they have become one of the five known threats to galactic safety. The other four being more mysterious and unknown than a hive of non-sentient bugs that eat biomass, as far as the public were concerned.


    The Kitinol Offensive was the name of the agreement of non-aggressive between the six galactic nations that border the Kitin Hive. As well as support if a region fell to the Hive.


    One of the galactic nations, the smallest of the six that existed on the edge of known space, was known for its colonization efforts into the unknown. The only reason the nation still stood was due to two facets of its military. Their warships used better shielding technology and armor plating than any other, even the infamous and ancient mecha had weaker plating. The second was their access to the system that a collection of nanotechnology constructs had created. Not much was known about it, only how to activate it. Which was an injection at age 13 followed by strenuous training.


    The Vexical Empire was not the only nation that has access to this technology, it was once part of the Grand Hexarrian Empire which first unearthed the technology and spread it to the rest of the nation before it fell and split into seven nations, two of which border the Kitinol Offensive with Vexical.


    Within the Vexical Empire it was a requirement to undergo military training at the academy from 13 to 16. Then there was a five year military service requirement. Followed by a decision to either go back to civilian life or make it a career. The only way to stay out of the military service would have been to further study at the Imperial Academy and serve the Imperial family and nobility for life.


    But in order to even enroll in the academy you need two things. Being smart enough to pass the necessary exams, check he had that covered. As well as being well connected enough that loyalty to the throne is ensured, he most certainly did not have that.


    Jace was many things but well connected was not one of them. Growing up in the orphanage made sure of that. He looked up from his info pad to see the bus screech to a stop just outside of a bunch of fenced in houses. Gathered outside were a bunch of families who gave tearful goodbyes as their children climbed aboard. Must be the wealthy neighborhood.


    He grew up in the slums of this city. Where crime was rampant and there was very little in the way of public services. So seeing genuine tears was a rare occurrence because the majority were crocodile tears when someone cried in the slums. From street pickpockets kids to the elderly men, they were all twisted in some way.


    He was no different.


    He was jostled out of his thoughts as a girl sat next to him. She looked at him for only a moment before she turned back to her friends as the bus began moving again. He turned back to his info pad to study, it was one of the few things he had in the slums that he would actually bring. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He still remembers old man Jenkins and how strange he stood out in the slums. But everyone there respected him. Because he went out of his way to genuinely help, whether it was brokering peace between rival gangs or just handing out food in the winter. When he died all the gangs that were kept at bay lost it. Old Man Jenkins'' murderer, a thief who thought his generosity made him a perfect target, was hanged from a pedestrian bridge in less than a day.


    Moving on from that, he was looking at the list of things he would learn during his time at the military academy. Piloting, navigating, tactics, ranged weapons, close combat, survival training, and a number of other things. It meant that he would have a full docket of things to learn.


    He glanced out the window as the academy came into view. A smile gracing his face at the prospect of learning many new things.


    A few minutes later the bus came to a stop as the Warrant Officer that was seated at the front stood up.


    "Listen up! You are all now trainees of the Military! So you follow your superior officers orders! Understood!?!" The bald man yelled as he eyed up the new students with a look he had seen several times before, lust and desire mixed with a sense of superiority.


    Jace stood up and saluted in response, "Yes Sir!"


    "Only one of you!?!" The warrant officer asked.


    The rest of the bus stood up and saluted as well, ""Yes Sir!""


    The man nodded, "good. You will exit the bus in an orderly fashion and Officer Jones will inform you of where to stand at attention."


    "Yes Sir!" There was a delay between Jace''s and the rest of the bus''s response. The bald man frowned but just climbed off the bus, clearly they did something differently than what usually happened.


    Jace was in the very back of the bus so he was the last one off. With a duffel bag in one hand with his info pad tucked inside and his other hand empty.


    "Salem Wintry, you are assigned to Warrant Officer Coble. That line over there." The female officer pointed towards where the bald man was standing with eight other students, most of which Jace realized weren''t from the bus they were on.


    The girl in front of him flinched before there was a sigh that caught even the officer''s attention. "Yes Sir!"


    Jace stepped forward and held out his wrist as the officer pulled out a new injector from a case after tossing the one used on Salem. She injected Jace in the wrist and then pressed the tip of the injector against an attachment that was on her info pad.


    "Jace Steel¡­ah you must be from the Steel Orphanage in the slums. Keep in mind that is your last name from now on. Any questions?" The officer asked with a chuckle.


    "No Sir."


    "Good, you are assigned to Warrant Officer Coble as well."


    "Yes Sir!" He then walked over and joined the line where Salem was directed before. He stood at attention ignoring a few of the others attempts at starting up conversations.


    After five minutes, Coble spoke up. "It appears the majority of you don''t know how to stand at attention!" He looked at the disorderly line in front of him. "All of you aside from Trainees Max, Harlow, Wintry, and Steel will run ten laps around the main building." He waited a minute as none of them moved, "Now! The rest of you follow Officer Jones to the dorms. In one hour we will meet out by the obstacle course." Coble''s group was not the only one to receive this treatment. The majority of the students were running.


    "The rest of you form up on me, I will lead the way to the first year dorms. While you are here we will put you through hell with our training in order to make certain you survive your first combat mission. As well as the five grueling years that would follow." Jones explained as she led the way into the first floor of a three story building.


    The building seemed to be shaped like a capital T but they were entering from the top of the T shape.


    "Okay, Arrowhead and Barnum Squads is down that way. Forse and Balcor Squads are down the hall behind me. Finally Coble and Trevor Squads are down that way. On the plaque by the door are your names for the room, it will be two to a room. I will be walking the halls for the next 45 minutes in case you have any questions."


    Steel walked down the hallway and arrived at the door almost immediately, it was near the entrance. Standing by the door was Salem Wintry with a slight frown who sighed when she saw him stop by the same door.


    "I suppose this means we are roommates, you don''t happen to know how to unlock the door?" Salem asked sarcastically.


    Steel waved his hand at the card reader which went from red to green. "The dorm and other security areas in the military can be unlocked with both the existence of nanotechnology in our blood and a DNA reader. We should set up quickly and then get changed into whatever uniform we need for later."


    "Huh? Well then we can ask Officer Jones." Salem waved at the aforementioned officer as she was walking over.


    "Officer Jones, what are we wearing for later?"


    "Ho? What a surprise, the students will be wearing workout gear. But you should polish your boots beforehand, since we provide them unpolished. Since you two are so on top of it as well I will give you a piece of advice, grab extra socks and undergarments from the student store. We only provide a hundred credits but the better comfort will be worth it." She then turned away to walk to another area.


    "I suppose she likes us. Come on." They entered the room. But Jace felt more like they were being pitied than anything else.


    Nonetheless he quickly got his items tucked away in the locker and polished his new boots. He also understood the officer''s advice, the underwear and socks were both itchy. Which led to them leaving to find the student store as the rest of the new students were arriving at the dorm. After they grabbed extra socks and undergarments which were still in the packaging they went to look around. Only to discover that the food options at the various cafeteria were different and changed each day.


    Very discreetly while Salem was focused on scrutinizing the menu and the cameras were turned away. He used one of the ordering pads to hack into the school servers and discovered the menu for the next two weeks was already prepared. He sent himself a message with the contents of the calendar and stepped away just as the camera was turning around.


    "Wintry, we should get to the obstacle course. There are only ten minutes before the designated time." Jace pointed out.


    "Agreed."

 Chapter 2 - 2: Activating the System

    They arrived eight minutes before the time. Long before even most of the Warrant Officers arrived. But Jones along with Warrant Officers Trevor and Barnum were standing around quietly speaking to each other. "Trainees Wintry and Steel, you are early. Good. You should be five minutes early to any designated time. Go on and get in line there. You will be the first ones on the obstacle course." Jones pointed to a marked location by the obstacle course.


    "Yes sir!" They replied in unison and stood at attention.


    Eventually the other Warrant Officers and Trainees arrived, when Arrowhead and Coble arrived it appeared that Jones sent a look of contempt towards Coble. "As you might have realized, each Squad is attached to a Warrant Officer who will be in charge of your day-to-day activities. As for your actual classes, it will consist of several Officers who are either under special assignment or retired. I will be in charge of your hand-to-hand combat training as well as military law classes. But for today, you will run this course." Jones pointed to the half a mile long obstacle course behind her. "You will run this course until your system activates. Fortunately Trainees Wintry and Steel have volunteered to run it first. Go you two!"


    Wintry flinched for a moment while he ran toward the course, "yes sir!"


    Jace quickly scaled the rock climbing wall, hearing Wintry responding only a moment slower. Once he was over he hopped down into the mud pit and trudged through it until he got to a rope. Pulling himself up he started climbing until he reached the monkey bars. He climbed along until he reached a platform and dropped down. Then he started walking across a thin board while heavy bags were swinging. It was only a minute before he was on the next platform, where it appeared the next platform obstacle was rope swinging. It only took a moment before he was at a tight rope obstacle where he also had to dodge heavy bags.


    He was halfway across when one of the bags sideswiped him. Sending him crashing into the mud below as he blacked out.


    He suddenly shot up when he woke up with Officer Jones lurking over him, "Good job Steel. You almost reached the academy record for first time runs." Jace looked around to see a few others were now running the course. "Most of them haven''t climbed the ropes. Now let''s see if your system is activated." She pointed to a podium with a hand imprint.


    Jace nodded while still recovering from his fall, but his head was quickly clearing up. But even then he already knew his system was active from what was sitting in the air in front of him, that the others clearly could not see.


    [Name: Jace Steel


    Age: 13


    Compatibility Rating: D


    Talent: Enhanced Perception


    Temporary Growth Enhancement: Strength x3, Health x2, Intelligencex2


    Strength: 5 S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Agility: 5


    Speed: 7


    Health: 6


    Intelligence: 11 ]


    He placed his hand on the hand spot on the podium and his name and compatibility rating appeared.


    "Rank D, now that is a surprise. But it does appear your system is active. Now until dinner go to the workout area. You should practice until then, you will have to train your body a lot before you''re even allowed to go to the next school year courses." Jones explained, "to get to the second year you have to have at least fifty points all together. For the third year it is seventy five points. Understood Trainee Steel?"


    "Hmm¡­ Yes Sir. What do you suggest I work on?" Steel asked as he realized he should get used to his new name.


    "What are your growth enhancements in?" Jones asked as she looked towards the obstacle course where another student was walking towards them from.


    "Strength, Health, and Intelligence."


    Jones looked at him in confusion before nodding, "Health is not something you can independently train, for that one you need to spar and just work out in general. Intelligence will be worked on naturally during classes. Finally for strength, lifting weights and the resistors will work. But I suggest you don''t just focus on that. You should work on your agility and speed as well."


    "Yes Sir." Then Steel walked toward training equipment. Spotting the weights, he decided to start there. Mostly since it appears there was no one to spar with today.


    He jumped right into training taking the Officer''s advice to train his strength mostly, but working on his speed and agility stats as well.


    A few hours later he realized the majority of students were avoiding the resistors. Only a few were working on it, and they were the ones with higher compatibility rankings.


    Walking up he started looking over the settings and noticed it could be set to two of the three trainable attributes at a time. He decided to stick to strength for now, as the resistor started he felt himself enter the resistors simulation. From the outside he was inside a beige metal container that had artificial gravity set to three times the normal gravity.


    It was similar to the virtual reality drive pods but instead it used air instead of a heavy liquid in conjunction with artificial gravity.


    He realized why most students gave up quickly, it was tough on both the mind and the body. But he persisted for a few hours when he realized dinner was an hour out. Stepping out of the machine he felt his whole body was sore but ignored it in favor of doing a last jog for the remaining time.


    After a 45 minute jog he was covered in sweat but walked to dinner, going to one of the cafeterias with a different menu. When he arrived he noticed a familiar face and sat next to her. She looked over looking similarly exhausted, "how are you still standing? The teachers and Warrant Officers were taking bets on when you would faint." Wintry asked.


    "Ha¡­ I''ll sleep after a shower. Who won the bet?" Steel asked in turn.


    "Chief Officer Jones, she bet you wouldn''t faint." Wintry was quickly working her way through the meatloaf and mashed taters.


    "Hmm¡­ did we get an update on what we are doing in the morning?" Steel grinned at the thought he might have caught the Officer''s favor.


    "Yeah¡­" she lowered her voice as she looked around, "I learned that Coble and the other WOs plan to wake us up at 6 in the morning but the cafeteria opens at 5:30. So we could get in an early breakfast since they plan to have us training all morning until lunch. We also have to clean our workout gear tonight or we will get punished."


    Steel felt something about what she said was off but noticed a few other students sitting next to them. "You two must be freshmen. Which squad are you two in?" one of the older looking students asked.


    "Coble, I heard he was new." Wintry responded.


    One of the older students visibly flinched, "ah¡­ yeah. Rumor is that he got severely demoted after committing a crime, the only reason he is even still in the military is that he is a Count''s son. But an Inquisitor investigation could only place suspicion and not prove that he was forcing himself on his junior officers."


    Wintry frowned while Steel only shook his head, "thanks for the info. But I think it isn''t free?"


    "Looks like the newbies have a brain in those noggins of theirs. Yeah we will take the pudding." the upperclassmen grabbed the pudding from their plates.


    Wintry frowned but didn''t complain while Steel did not care.


    After dinner they retired for the night and got what they needed done before the next day. Which would soon become his new normal.

 Chapter 3 - 3: Virtual Squad Battle

    The following week consisted of training and classes. For the classes, Steel and Wintry absorbed it like a sponge. While they both started learning Vexian Martial Arts, Steel learned both the strength and agility based techniques while Wintry only learned the agility based techniques from Chief Officer Jones. At the same time, Steel began to understand his talent better, it allowed him to see farther, hear and smell farther, taste specific things, and be able to tell the type of fabric from touching it. While useful, the learning curve on his enhanced senses was annoying. The sound of metal colliding especially hurt his ears.


    At the moment he was finishing up his lunch when he got an alert on his wrist band. Which was the standard communication device that they were provided with as part of their starting kits. It was similar to those ancient watches he had seen on a few rare occasions. But it was instead a solid band that was form fitted around a person''s wrist. With a small screen that had a digital clock that could be set to a local time core. As well as a communication function that allowed them to contact nearby devices, broadcast on a general channel, as well as send encrypted text messages to devices nearby. They also connected to the earpieces that soldiers generally had on hand.


    The alert was regarding Coble Squad''s next class, it was a VR drive simulation. They would be using the VR drive to train in combat. It would be a squad versus squad thing, apparently it would be Coble versus Trevor Squads. They would first learn about the infantry armor first before they got to the combat though. It would be taught by Colonel Dakota, who happened to be the head of this academy.


    Steel hadn''t heard much about him. But what he had heard was about his stellar reputation. Apparently he was instrumental in quelling a rebellion that was funded by a neighboring nation, Crystoph Federation. Making him a symbol of the Empire''s stalwart stand against rebelling factions.


    Less than ten minutes later he was climbing into one of the pods along with the rest of the squad. They were going into an independent lobby before being dropped in. So they can prepare and get familiar with the simulated armor. As the pod closed his mind seamlessly transferred to the virtual drive system. The pitch black transformed into a light blue hexagon overlay as he appeared in a rocky desert. Looking down at his hands he realized they were covered in armored gloves that were clunky and made moving difficult. Looking around his body he realized he was already in the infantry armor with a pistol at his hip.


    "Welcome Coble and Trevor Squads, today I, Colonel Dakota, will be your instructor. We will start off with some basic shooting, after that we will drop you into the zone and you will fight the other squad." The Colonel''s explanation seemed to give them the bare minimum.


    It seemed he wasn''t the only one to realize it either as he saw Wintry looking around, probably just as thrown off. But to be fair they were barely given any specific directions since arriving here, so it was probably some teaching method of theirs. For this time it was more than likely the instructor wanted to sort out the leaders from the grunts.


    "Wintry-" Steel was interrupted by the sound of gunfire. Looking over he saw some of the others started shooting down a range.


    "I know." She answered back before addressing the entire Squad. "Listen up Squad! While we are still getting the run of things we should sort our squad."


    "Then I will lead the squad." One of the other students stated confidently from the firing line. Steel recognized him from the student files that he hacked from the academy servers. He is the son of some Baronet that is full of themselves, his father was currently under investigation for corruption. He might be a good leader but it was clear he was also just too confident at the moment. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay then, Hermes. What are you going to start off by doing?" Wintry asked and waited a few minutes before she shook her head when he did not answer. "I guess you don''t know." She pointed to the two separate shooting ranges. "Pick up any gun and get familiar with it at the ranges. Five to a range, when we get closer to the deployment time I will decide the temporary roles."


    There was some chuckling as the squad moved to position and some grabbed weapons from the weapons rack that stood nearby. Wintry and Steel were the last two to grab weapons. He gave Wintry a moment while he looked at the five weapons that were left. There were two standard issue assault rifles. A marksman semi-automatic rifle. A pump shotgun and a laser assault rifle.


    Wintry stepped forward and grabbed the marksman rifle. While Steel retrieved the pump shotgun along with both slugs and spread shot ammunition. He then stepped into the last spot and started shooting down targets with shotgun slugs.


    Five minutes before the practice time ended, Wintry called everyone up. "Okay, listen up squad! Steel and Ulin will act as forward scouts relaying the enemies position and movement."


    Steel moved to stand by Ulin, she was a skinner girl. He remembered reading that her family lived in a remote area so she hunted often. She gave a nod in acknowledgement.


    "Sanzo, Erin, Fillmore, Reece, and Paulor will be our front line. Hermes will be our overwatch with his sniper rifle, with Tako being his spotter. Tako and Hermes should pass on any intel if the opponents change the movement. I will act as support for the frontline, adjusting tactics as we progress. Any questions?" Wintry asked, a single hand went up.


    "How did you decide the roles?" Tako asked.


    "Your weapons, but like I said these roles are temporary." She explained.


    There was the sound of a bell ringing suddenly, "the Squads will now be moved to the battle zone. Be aware that time inside the zone will move faster so every day inside is an hour outside the simulation. So there is no rush."


    A moment later they were dematerialized and rematerialized inside a bunker along with the others. He only looked around for a moment before he made a connection to their Squad''s channel. He immediately set out leaving the bunker. Stepping outside he noticed it was a singular bunker up against a mountainside. With a jungle in front of him. He waited a moment as he looked around. When Ulin came out he nodded to her and moved northwest of their position while she moved northeast.


    Steel moved quickly and quietly among the trees trying to avoid disturbing the leaves and branches as much as possible. A talent he picked up from being a spotter for one of the local gangs.


    He moved quickly along the trees until there was a buzz in his ear piece. "Found an abandoned dropship, it looks like it has extra gear if we can get it." Ulin popped into the Squad channel.


    "Good, get a look at the gear we will grab what we need." Wintry answered.


    Steel frowned and was about to point something out when he heard movement. He hid among some vines, his brown and green armor blending in. He watched from around the tree as a group of three moved through the trees. They were moving away, but the way the map was set up he suspected they would run into something, so he quietly followed, double tapping his comm to make noise for the others to hopefully understand.


    "This is annoying, why did we have to get scouting duty?" One of them asked.


    "It is because you pissed off the Ice Queen. Everyone knows to not interrupt her when she is in her ''mode''." Another stated, they must be referring to the genius engineer in Trevor Squad. Steel heard she was smart but very finicky.


    They continued to be bemused about their fate, not bothering to listen or stay quiet. While Ulin moved gear back to base and rigged the dropship with mines and a tripwire. As the three neared a cave entrance he stayed back and popped into the communication channel, "Ulin I have an eye on three but keep an eye out. There might be more and we don''t want the enemy getting any of those resources. Wintry, the three I have been following just entered a cave."


    "Good point and keep watching them, if you see a chance to remove them from the board, do so." Wintry answered.


    "Understood, they are coming out now." Steel then watched as the cave trio walked out with two of them dragging a Komat Bear. Steel sucked in a breath of air, because these kids might not have realized what they did.


    A Komat Bear is well known on the planet due to the fact it is an Apex predator. One of the more notable traits was that it had an exterior exoskeleton that could even block high end explosions. But the exoskeleton only grew when they reached an adult age. But the one they just dragged out only looked like a cub. He moved further back as the cave trio dragged their quarry back to camp. Not knowing the amount of hell they were bringing with them. He walked parallel making certain his scent would be distinguishable from the cave trio''s scent.


    "They just killed a Komat cub, I am following them to their base. But I am walking parallel and farther away." Steel gave an update as he snuck through the jungle.


    "Understood, don''t come back until you are certain the Komat won''t follow you back. Ulin and Tako. I need an update."


    "Ulin here, I set up more hidden explosives around the dropship. I will back off here in a minute."


    "Tako here, Hermes and I are situated with a view of the enclosed valley. Only thing of note is that something large is moving away from our base towards Steel''s area."


    "Noted, you got that Steel?"


    "Affirmative." Steel continued following them for half an hour before he heard an earthshaking roar. He suspects it was the Kamot Bear discovering the blood of its cub, meanwhile ahead of him was an entertaining sight as he saw the trio about to enter an open field where an infantry drop ship was landed. They looked around for a moment before continuing on while Steel moved further away to get into a better position for when the Kamot Bear inevitably arrives.

 Chapter 4 - 4: One-Sided

    He moved to a nearby cliff edge and as he was sneaking up the cliff, climbing without equipment, he saw that there was already someone crouched on the cliff looking out over the hill. Steel must have moved in through his blind spot, or more likely when he was still setting up. It seemed he had dropped his bag but not set up any equipment.


    He decided to wait as he listened from behind the sniper in his own hiding space. When he suddenly heard a yell coming from their camp, "You idiots!" He expected that, but he thought it would have been the Ice Queen and not one of the male students.


    But even if said person, who knew about Kamot Bears, acted now it was already too late. Because the Kamot Bear was barreling through the jungle crushing trees in its wake of rage. He heard the sniper''s communication device come alive with static and indecipherable words, he had his volume too low. Then the sniper adjusted position while a firing line and barricades were set up by the ship''s landing door.


    Just like the cave trio they all wore beige and blue armor which stuck out like a sore thumb in this terrain. But he understood why, it appeared that Trevor Squad started with heavier armaments. As he watched an engineer, presumably the Ice Queen, quickly set up a laser cannon emplacement. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But as quick as she was she wasn''t quick enough as the bear burst out of the trees covered in external bone that looked as strong as metal. The sniper fired off a round which pinged off the armor while the rest of Trevor Squad laid into the bear with guns and laser fire.


    Steel decided this was an optimal time and stealthily moved up behind the sniper. He pointed the shotgun loaded with a slug round to the back of the head and fired. His shot was drowned out by the other gunfire. But he saw the body slump and the bloody hole that appeared that indicated that the sniper was dead.


    Steel crouched next to the body and moved the shotgun to the magnetic holder on his back. Then he picked up the sniper rifle and looked it over briefly. It was a high powered automatic rifle with five shots. Fortunately the last user only fired once so he had four shots left.


    He looked through the scope just as he saw the laser cannon start firing. It appeared the Ice Queen had gotten it started and was now shooting at the bear. She was starting to injure the bear, but he couldn''t have them winning this quickly.


    So he aimed for the battery pack on the cannon and fired. A moment later the cannon exploded, throwing the Ice Queen back and injuring another person that was nearby.


    Unfortunately he watched as the Ice Queen stood up, stunned but otherwise fine. So he aimed again and fired, this time they would notice him as their prized engineer''s head snapped back with a bullet going through her helmet and body falling to the ground.


    As the Kamot Bear shredded through its first prey one of the other members of Trevor Squad started shooting randomly in Steel''s general direction. Steel decided to ignore the injured one and shot the one that was shooting blindly, hitting them in the head. Now he really caught their attention. As another person instructed a few of the others to shoot at him while the laser rifles focused on the Kamot Bear.


    But he was already firing on his final target. Which surprisingly wasn''t any of the squad members. It was an exposed fuel container near the ship. First there was a small explosion before an ear splitting fire and explosion engulfed the craft and sent the Trevor Squad flying into the forest and singed the bear''s exposed fur.


    "This is Steel, good news and bad news. Good news is that I killed three and destroyed their base. Bad news is I more than likely scared off the Kamot Bear with that." Steel explained as he tossed aside the sniper rifle and climbed down to the jungle. He then quickly moved along the forest making certain to check for a tail.


    "Should we expect company?" Wintry asked, but he could hear giggling in the background.


    "Affirmative, they lack both rations and any other resources. I am sure it won''t be long before they charge us as a last ditch effort." Steel gave his assessment as he moved through the brush.


    "Understood. Ulin, wait just outside the jungle perimeter. Show Steel inside to the base, the rest of you should be situated and waiting on their arrival. Which could be anywhere from today to a day from now. Tako alert me if you see them." Wintry ordered.


    "Yes ma''am." Was the response over the radio.


    "Just a heads up, they are wearing beige and blue armor. But by the time they get to our base it might be covered in mud." Steel pointed out breathlessly as he was constantly checking his back.


    It was another thirty minutes before he came up on their base when he saw Ulin slip out of the shadow of a tree. She waved at him, indicating to follow. So he followed.


    It appeared that she fully applied the concept of camouflage as her armor was caked in mud and had vines hanging off it. But he felt like that wasn''t what she just did, it was more like she suddenly appeared. Must be related to her talent.


    They maneuvered to the bunker through a presumably preset path. They moved past a trench that wasn''t there before, it had three of his squad mates crouched inside of it. Peeking over as Ulin and Steel jumped over the trench and walked into the bunker.


    Inside with her helmet off was Wintry as she was looking at a holographic map of this enclosed jungle valley. She glanced at them only for a moment before she turned the map to him, "helmet off, and mark the map with your finds."


    Steel flipped the latches on the back of his helmet and removed it. He then set it down with one hand as he started altering the holographic map with the other. A few minutes later he was done and putting on his helmet.


    "Where do you want me?" He asked and he pulled the shotgun from his back.


    "The trench, they have heavy weaponry but I worry they don''t have enough short range weapons. Just in case the Trevor Squad gets too close." Wintry explained.


    Steel nodded before he walked out of the bunker and hopped into the trench catching his squad mates off guard. He nodded at them and started checking over his shotgun making certain it was loaded with spread shot ammunition.


    Another twenty minutes passed before there was an explosion. This one came from a different area. But the plume of smoke was visible from their base. Then Steel could faintly hear the sound of follow-up explosions.


    Using his hearing he listened to movement and eventually heard the distinct sound of movement getting closer. He waved at the others and readied his weapon. After glancing at each other they got ready as well.


    "Movement along the jungle closing in towards our base. I see beige and blue armor through the jungle top." Tako announced over the comm.


    "Understood. All units prepare for battle. They have at least three confirmed dead but they are more than likely exhausted and desperate. Expect them to do something reckless." The sound of movement could be heard on Wintry''s comm.


    Steel watched from the trench as the Trevor Squad stopped just at the forest line. There were four of them, then they moved forward like they were being stealthy when one of them stepped on a mine.


    The explosion was gory and sent limbs and organs all over the field. There was only a single line over the comm, "Fire!"


    Overhead from what he assumed was a hidden balcony four others opened fire. While he could also hear their sniper firing. While the other three in the trench started firing the mounted machine gun.


    The last three went down quickly, with the first one getting gunned down by the Trench line. Taking so many shots that his limbs were blown off. The other two dropped to the ground immediately to take cover, but as one of them was diving his head was blown off before his body landed on another mine causing his body to explode. The third and final one was lucky but he was too stunned to do anything before the line of fire from the balcony laid into him, killing him quickly.


    Steel whistled and held up a fist, the trench line held fire. The balcony line did as well a second later. They waited until the smoke from the explosions cleared before there was a sudden ding.


    "The battle simulation has ended, we are pulling you out now." Colonel Dakota announced.


    There was the sudden dematerialization of the world again before Steel watched his pod open again. The first thing he heard was a boisterous laughter. Once the pod was fully open he climbed out fully feeling the pain in his body from exerting himself in the simulation. The pod exerted force on his body to further strengthen the sense of being realistic, and helped in training. Of course it was limited to what the body could take and no more.


    "Hahaha! I must say this must have been one of the more entertaining combat simulation exercises I have ever seen." The Colonel was dressed in woodland camo garb. In front of him in a single line was the Trevor Squad, looking all sorts of annoyed. While Steel moved to get in line with his squad.


    "Now we get to do my favorite part of these exercises. Doing a breakdown of what went wrong and what went right. Then figuring out where you went wrong. Since Trevor Squad was such a disaster, I want to start with Coble Squad." The Colonel pulled up a holographic image and it was of the start of the match when Ulin and him came out of the bunker.


    "Trainees Ulin and Steel instead of immediately heading out what should you have done?" The Colonel asked.


    "We should have informed and orchestrated our scouting mission with our commanding officer before we left." Ulin spoke up and Steel agreed, an oversight due to mostly his excitement and being antsy when there was something to be done.


    "Correct, the only reason you wouldn''t is if you already had standing orders or were familiar enough with your superior that you could just hit the ground running. But you lot have only known each other for a week so that is most definitely not the case. Keep that in mind you two." The Colonel then started mulling over their team''s mistakes for the next ten minutes.


    When he eventually got around to the Trevor Squad he tore into them for over an hour, focusing especially on the cave trio since they led both the Kamot Bear and the opposing squad to their base of operations. The Ice Queen, who was actually a platinum blonde woman called Taylor Hielo, was mostly chastised for taking charge but not leading.


    Then they were given an assignment to write up all their mistakes and what they should have done differently. Which is what they did for the remainder of the day until dinner came up. Afterwards they retired and that was the end of the day. The weekend was more of a study period with access to combat training, virtual reality training, exercising, and resources to be tutored.


    By the time the next Monday had come around his recorded stats had grown.


    [Name: Jace Steel


    Age: 13


    Compatibility Rating: D


    Talent: Enhanced Perception


    Temporary Growth Enhancement: Strength x3, Health x2, Intelligencex2


    Strength: 8


    Agility: 6


    Speed: 8


    Health: 8


    Intelligence: 13 ]


    It would more than likely continue to climb until he hit the first known barrier which just happened to be the twenty point mark for any stat. But he was determined to not limit himself to the usual benchmarks. Steel wasn''t arrogant to think he was special, but he was confident enough to push himself as much as possible.


    The next year passed quickly as he learned more and began working and adapting to his team better and working with them more easily until the first break was coming up. That is when Coble Squad ran into its first issue that would shake things up at the academy.

 Chapter 5 - 5: Coble has Issues

    The next year passed quickly as he learned more and began working and adapting to his team better and working with them more easily until the first break was coming up. That is when Coble Squad ran into its first issue that would shake things up at the academy.


    Steel was browsing through the data library. Looking up information about composite metals and chemical interactions that he could modify an infantry armor with. When WO Coble walked down the aisle.


    He stopped behind Steel and put his hands on Steel''s shoulders, which made Steel shudder. Coble breathed in his ear which was disturbing enough on its own, but what he whispered really threw him off.


    "Steel. Exams are coming up. If you want any hope of graduating to the second year you will come to my room at 2000 hours, or you''ll be repeating the year with me." Then Coble slunk away leaving while whistling, seemingly ecstatic.


    Steel was more stunned that Coble threatened him like that. Which might make sense if Steel grew up like most people expected him to. A lone orphan with no support to get help or advice from might feel pressured and pushed into a corner.


    But Steel was more akin to an animal. So being cornered into a situation like this would only make him angry and do something reckless. He stood there for a few minutes thinking about this new situation that Coble had put him in. At this point after almost an entire year of training his stats had skyrocketed, fortunately it was only recorded during the exams so Coble did not know that Steel had long since outstated him.


    Steel quickly pulled up Coble''s recorded info from when he was being investigated, up on his info pad double checking just to be sure.


    [Name: Lucial Coble


    Age: 29


    Compatibility Rating: C


    Talent: Disease Resistance


    Strength: 18


    Agility: 19


    Speed: 21


    Health: 28


    Intelligence: 14 ]


    Steel chuckled slightly as he thought about what he should do. Regardless of how much stronger than Coble he might be, he should bring some assurance. Just in case Coble has an ace up his sleeve.


    Steel then finished what he was reading and moved to another section to find books on paralytic poisons. He was already aware of some deadly poisons, but he wasn''t as familiar with the non-lethal kind. So he had to brush up on the subject.


    As he was standing there planning how he should pull off his plan when Wintry started walking towards him. She looked like she had a gloomy look on her face until she saw him then a look of confusion crossed her face.


    "Wintry, how can I help you today?" Steel asked as he found a paralytic he liked for this job. So next was how to get his weapon of choice.


    "Umm¡­ actually I am fine. I just wanted to come check on you." She seemed to decide something in that minute of confusion. "How prepared are you for the upcoming exam?"


    She was talking about the end of the year exam. There were three parts of the exam. The first was system reading where it only showed the point total to the public while the empire recorded all information and the breakdown. The second part was the knowledge portion, where they would be tested on all the basic knowledge they had to know by the end of the first year. The third and final part was the practical exam, which was tailored to each person and they would be completing an individual mission or in some cases in a group.


    "As much as I can be. The Colonel had me run an additional solo drill after the last simulation. So he is probably trying to figure out how my practical test should go." Steel explained as he started running some numbers for what he needed for the fabricator.


    The fabricator was a material conversion machine, meaning it converted raw or already refined materials into a refined object that was predesigned. They were common ''household'' items in the way that the academy had ten that were unsupervised. But they were also military controlled due to the fact that weapons could be made from them. Steel had heard there were better versions of the machine out there that could use biological material but the empire''s fabricator could most definitely not cycle through biomass of any kind.


    There was one in the slums that some tried to recycle biomass through to hide a murder, that did not go over well. It was one of the few times where the law enforcement came in droves and carried off anyone involved.


    "Hmm¡­ good. In that case I am going to check on a few other members of our squad." She walked off a moment later, presumably to look for more members of their squad.


    While Steel turned his attention to the math problem in front of him. But then again¡­ if he sacrificed a bit of scrap metal like say¡­ the metal trophy in Coble''s room, then it would work out. Then that is what he will do, should be easy enough.


    He looked at the clock and saw he had five hours until he was supposed to meet up with Coble. He had enough time to pull this off. He just had to hack a few private systems.


    A few hours passed and he was knocking on the door to Coble''s room. Coble opened the door and grinned maniacally.


    "Come on in," Steel walked in and ignored the urge to immediately start beating the shit out of WO with the look he was giving Steel''s backside. "Strip and lie on the bed, I will have my way with you in a moment."


    Coble walked into his bathroom, presumably to ''freshen up'' he heard that was a thing. Steel instead pulled out and put on the pair of armored infantry gloves he had prepared beforehand. He used the fabricator to turn some old shirts and other worn clothes along with a trophy he stole from Coble''s room earlier all into a pair of green gloves with silver armor along the knuckles and on the back of the hand. Inside along the hands were the metal bracings as well.


    Then he pulled out a syringe and readied himself by the bathroom door. When Coble''s head peaked out the door the syringe was already in his neck, injecting him with a paralytic.


    "Rarrgg!!! What the hell!" Coble collapsed onto the floor but could still talk.


    "It''s a special paralytic tailor made for torture. It stops any signals going from below the neck but you can still feel everything happening to your body and can still speak and move your head." Steel explained as he grabbed Coble by the hair and dragged him over to where his bed was.


    "What do you think you are doing? You won''t get away with anything!" Coble pointed out as he laid up against his bed while still on the floor.


    "That is not necessarily true, for one the inquisitors are convinced you are a rapist to the point that they had bugs planted in your room. Don''t worry though I put them on a loop before I came in here. Now I do have a few questions. For starters, have you forced yourself on any other students or members of my squad?" Steel asked while he crouched next to Coble.


    "Go suck a dick you street rat- Aarrggh!" Coble screamed in pain as a quick punch of Steel''s broke his nose.


    "Okay then, I suppose I will have to start by beating the shit out of you first." Steel then grabbed Coble''s arm with one hand and punched it with the other breaking it. Causing Coble to scream in pain. He then went through and broke all of his limbs in a similar manner causing bone to be visible from his broken limbs.


    "Stop it hurts-" Coble started crying as Steel chuckled. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Answer my question." Steel responded coldly.


    "Noooo¡­. I haven''t had a ch-chance." Coble was crying as he shook his head.


    "Okay, that is good. I believe you. Now for the hard questions, what was the age of the youngest person you forced yourself onto?" Steel watched as for a moment he saw Coble calculate something in his head, he was not good at hiding it.


    He then heard as Coble''s heartbeat sped up, "twenty-one was the youngest." Steel sighed and grabbed Coble''s hair with one hand and punched it with the other. Turning his head so he was punching out Coble''s teeth.


    After a few punches Coble''s face was bloodied up and several of his teeth had fallen out. It was a miracle his jaw wasn''t broken, "try again. This time be honest."


    Coble was crying as he shook his head. Steel let him continue for a minute before he slapped Coble trying to get an answer. "Come on now, the sooner you answer the sooner we can be done."


    "Sixteen, I-I-I-I prefer them younger-ahhh" Coble started balling his eyes out as Steel rolled his.


    "I figured, okay. Now what are you going to tell the Inquisitors the next time you see them?" Steel asked.


    "I-I-I tripped?"


    That actually got a laugh out of Steel, "hahaha! Sure you can tell them that. But make certain you disclose what you did or else I will find you again and do something worse." Steel raised his hand to punch Coble when he heard Wintry.


    [The Inquisitors are on the way to Coble''s room. You should get out within the next minute if you don''t want to get caught.] That voice was in his head. That is weird. Whatever, he will think about that later.


    He quickly punched Coble in the head knocking him out. He then walked out of the room making his way back to his dorm room making certain he did not leave a blood trail and that all the cameras in the dorm were disabled.


    When he entered he saw Wintry was waiting on his bed and he frowned. "I suppose this means we have to talk?"

 Chapter 6 - 6: First Ability

    When he entered he saw Wintry was waiting on his bed and he frowned. "I suppose this means we have to talk?"


    Without moving her lips she responded. [Sort of.]


    He moved to the bathroom and started cleaning off his gloves. "Telepathy? Can you hear my thoughts?" He asked.


    [Yes to both.]


    In that case just read my thoughts. Why didn''t you report me the second I started to plan to mangle our commanding officer?


    [Because he is a corrupt piece of shit. For the record I should have warned you he had his eyes on you since day one. But I thought the Inquisitor investigation would keep him in line. But apparently they decided to give him enough rope to hang himself by raping one of his students. When they realized it was you they didn''t care since it was just a lowly orphan.]


    Ha. No surprise there. Honestly it was one of the better attributes of being an orphan, I was constantly underestimated. But I was surprised the higher ranking officers okayed an operation like that, there are several children of influential people in this school.


    [Apparently Coble''s father was being squirelly with his embezzlement scheme so they were looking for any way to get a foothold in the door.] Wintry explained.


    Steel finished cleaning the gloves and brought them over to the study table that was in the room. He then completely dismantled both the gloves and the injector he used on Coble. More than likely he would be questioned off handly. But since he hacked a dozen or so systems and the inquisitors'' listening devices they would strengthen security and more than likely become aware of his hacking talents.


    [We will see. Do you have nothing else to say about my ability? It was a pretty big thing for me to reveal this y''know.]


    Should I? Steel started imagining Wintry naked and in sexual positions. Using his horny teenage mind to the best of his abilities. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [STOP! Please stop. Oh My Lords.]


    I assume that is the reason you have been leading our squad so efficiently? You have been reading where we would best fit in and work best in the squad?


    [Yes it is, can you not do that again?]


    Certainly, but I suppose that means you can''t dig too deep into my mind if I am putting some more heavily invested thoughts front and center?


    [You are correct, I cannot go digging through your memories if you are entirely focused on something. By the way, they are dragging Coble off. Apparently they decided it was too much trouble so they are just going to just ship him off to a prison planet and have his father framed for a crime.] Wintry responded as she seemed to still be sitting on his bed with a glossed over look.


    It must take a lot of focus to dive around into minds the farther away they are. To be fair his ability was similar in that sense. The further away something was that he was focusing on the less he was aware of his own surroundings. Which gave him an idea.


    He moved over to Wintry and leaned close so their faces were close. He stayed like that for a few minutes until the glossiness in her eyes disappeared and she flinched as she read his mind.


    I am tired and slightly annoyed after dealing with that shit head. So unless you are volunteering to be my cuddle buddy tonight I would appreciate having my bed back.


    She blushed then scurried off of his bed and walked over to hers. He chuckled and climbed into his bed. Thinking about possible armor alterations he could make to a custom infantry armor.


    The next day he was up as usual. The squad was going about their morning routine without their Warrant Officer when halfway through the Colonel showed up.


    "Coble Squad! Form up on me!" Colonel Dakota called out as he entered the room.


    The squad quickly formed into a line in front of him. "All of the Coble Squad is here and accounted for sir!" Wintry called out when they were all standing at attention in line.


    "Good Trainee Wintry. Listen up. Your superior officer, Warrant Officer Coble, has deserted. If you have contact with him you are to inform myself or Chief Officer Jones. In addition, until you move on to the next year you will be under my supervision. Understood?" Colonel Dakota declared.


    ""Yes Sir!"" The squad responded in unison.


    "Now then, I noticed that Coble was very loose on his exercise regime. So let''s change this up a notch." The Colonel declared before he started them on a new regime which had most of the squad exhausted.


    The only reason Steel wasn''t was because he had been constantly pushing himself during his exercises. Now as he was looking at a notification from his system he smiled.


    There are parts of the Nano System that are argued over and discussed in detail. One of which is how talents are delegated, the other is how abilities are chosen for a person. While Steel lived in the slums he came to learn that one of the gangs learned how it works and was using it to their advantage. So for the past year he has focused on one thing he wanted to work on, designing and reverse engineering equipment. The result of his efforts showed itself as he grinned like a madman.


    [ALERT! BROKEN THROUGH 100 POINT MARK!]


    [NEW ABILITY CREATED TO ASSIST NANO USER!]


    [Ability: Blueprint


    Option 1: By touching an item a blueprint of the item will be created as to the user''s full understanding of how the item operates.


    Option 2: User can alter and design blueprint''s to his liking using a local data storage unit to save it.]


    He was hoping for a utility based ability, but this definitely went above and beyond what he wanted. He should start thinking about what he wants next but for now he should focus on the present. Especially since the final exam for first years was starting this week.


    [So that is how abilities are chosen?] He heard the familiar voice of Wintry in his head again. Flinching for a moment and then shaking his head.


    He was going to have to get used to that soon. But yes, abilities are chosen to make life easier for a person. I am actually curious to see what ability you will get. But there is not much I can say about it. After all it is only a theory until it is proven several times over.


    "Okay listen up, there are no other classes for the day. Instead you are to study and train for the start of exams which start the day after tomorrow. Don''t dally when you could be training and reaching the 50 point mark." The Colonel''s declaration caused an immediate dispersion of the squad.


    Steel thought for a moment before he stepped forward still at attention, "Colonel Dakota Sir! What if some of us continue to train with you?"


    Several of the students looked at him in shock while two of his squadmates stepped in line with him as well. Ulin and Wintry were the first to join him. But it was immediately followed by Tako and Hermes. Then the rest of the squad walked into line as well.


    "Hahahaha! Then I suppose I will have to train you until you have to be carried back to your room. You don''t mind if it is not just your squad do you? This question of yours has got me feeling like it would be fun to run the entire first year through the ringer." He immediately set them on to a much harder regime than before.


    As Steel was running he noticed that the Colonel had also sent out an alert not just to the first years but to the entire school. Informing them that for the rest of the day and tomorrow he would be running the first year Coble Squad into the ground with training and asking if they wanted to watch or join.


    It wasn''t long before the rest of the squads were either watching or joining in. The only squad that completely joined in was the Trevor Squad, apparently their repeated defeats at the hands of Coble Squad stoked their competitive spirit.


    By the time night came around and the Colonel ended the training for the day, a large chunk of people had already been carried off to their room. Steel was covered in sweat again but this time he wasn''t the only one as he entered the cafeteria with the best menu looking for tasty food.


    Which today''s menu happened to be a good one as he retrieved his creamy pasta with a side of garlic toast, cooked bits of bacon, and a piece of double chocolate cake for dessert. He greedily ate but savored the meal as several other members of the first year sat around him, there were only sixteen that made it through the day. Five of them were from his squad, the other eleven were from the other squads.


    "No wonder your squad members are so strong. So many of you push yourself to that extreme?" The infamous Ice Queen asked.


    "Ha¡­ actually yes but it is mostly because of Steel and Wintry." Ulin explained as she and the others glanced over at their commander and second-in-command for Coble Squad.


    "Steel and I push ourselves to the extreme and the others follow suit because they believed it was normal. But if they checked their records I am sure most of them already passed the point count needed to graduate the second year as well." Wintry explained between bites of swallowing pasta.


    "Is that true Steel?" One of the other more energetic students looked to Steel to see him looking down at his empty tray.


    He looked around for a moment before he stood up and walked over to the line again, "still hungry." Was all the answer he gave which received a chorus of laughter.


    The next day started off with those sixteen starting to train and several older students joining in and some of them realizing that some of these students had already surpassed them. It wasn''t until halfway through the day the rest of the first years raced down into the training area, some still throwing on their training gear. It appears they had just woken up.


    By the time the end of the day came, Steel was feeling better than he did yesterday. It was probably by the Colonel''s design so they would be ready for the exam''s that started tomorrow.

 Chapter 7 - 7: Exams Part 1

    The day of the exams for the first years arrived. They were done in a large auditorium with the point total announced in front of everyone. The other years included if they wanted to watch. In fact the only part of the exam that couldn''t be watched by anyone in the school was the written part, mostly because there was no way to make it embarrassing or entertaining.


    "Coble Squad, step forward." His Squad stepped out of line and walked forward forming a line in front of a podium that was used to announce his name and stat point total.


    "Sasha Erin, 58." The next person stepped forward as Sasha stepped back in line. "Ella Fillmore, 50. Jordan Hermes, 69." There was an applause and the announcer stopped for a moment. "Talor Paulor, 55. Peter Reece, 51. Carter Sanzo, 53. Jace Steel¡­" The announcer trailed off as he double and then triple checked the total. "110." The auditorium became dead silent before someone whistled and the announcer waved him off. "Verin Tako, 62. Astella Ulin, 69. Salem Wintry¡­" A few moments later as the announcer triple checked it again, this time it was more clear that it was protocol rather than a lack of confidence when a higher number popped up. "90."


    That got whispers in the room. Fortunately with his hearing he could make them out.


    "No way they bought their scores."


    "Having one above 60 is already amazing. But having five must make them the best first years this school has had."


    "I heard there were several first years that were keeping up with older students."


    The rest of the ceremony saw none of the first year''s held back. Much to the surprise of the older students, because there is usually one or two that are dismissed from duty or forced to repeat a year.


    After the first part was done they ate a late breakfast. Afterwards they reported to their designated rooms for the written exam, the first one finished was the Ice Queen with Wintry immediately after. Steel was the third to finish leaving for lunch and prepare himself for the practical exam. He was just finishing lunch when he got a notification on his communication device.


    [Report to Simulation Room for solo practical exam. -Col. Dakota]


    Steel smiled, glad he got a solo exam as opposed to a group exam. He would go nuts if he had to work with others for the exam.


    When he arrived at the door to the room he felt something was off and was proved correct when the door slid open. Inside were three people. The Colonel, a white haired General in full military uniform, and an armored infantryman in full black with a cape and hoodie. The symbol on the cape was of a skull with a cross behind it.


    "Jump in the pod Trainee Steel. We can jump right into it. I will explain the situation as the scenario boots up." The Colonel stated.


    "Yes Sir!" Steel crawled into the pod and felt the familiar feeling as his mind slid into the virtual realm.


    "You were aboard your ship which was patrolling an unmapped region when it was suddenly shot down by a possible hostile and you crashed on an unknown planet. There is no stated objective, good luck." The Colonel''s explanation threw Steel off for a moment before he decided not to think about it too much.


    The simulation started up and he opened his eyes. He looked around assessing his current situation.


    He was in what looked like the infantry bunks. The other nine members of his ''squad'' were dead in various gruesome manners. Dead upon impact, he could tell because the room was on its side and most objects were displaced.


    He was still in clothes that looked off duty. He pulled himself up and put on proper gear making certain to grab a knife, gun, and info pad connected to the ship''s main system.


    Before he even pulled up the map of the ship he masked the pads signal. He then pulled open the door of the room and peeked his head out. The hallway was vertical, this would be interesting. He checked the pad again and then nodded. Stashing the pad, knife and gun he climbed the wall. Eventually he reached the armory.


    He opened the door and entered, carefully making sure not to disturb any ordinance that was lying around. Eventually he reached the infantry armor and opened the container. Before he did anything else he displayed footage of active surveillance cameras on the info pad. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he was putting on the armor he noticed a group of survivors were gathering just outside the ship. Fortunately this world appeared to have breathable air and a jungle terrain. They seemed to be panicking about something.


    Steel finished putting on the light infantry armor. He then started packing a bag with extra ammunition and explosives. He then grabbed a scrambling tarp, stashed the pistol and knife in the bag, grabbed another pistol with a silencer, along with a carbine marksman rifle with a silencer and scope. He then grabbed a knife fit for the armor he was wearing.


    He then climbed out into the hallway and made his way out of the ship, making sure to check the pad every once in a while. Once he was at an exit he quietly moved to the forest edge. Listening for any movement as he made his way into the forest until he found a hill a mile away from the ship with an oddly shaped rock. Once he was there he made a large enough hole by the tree and placed the bag full of equipment inside while wrapped in the tarp. He then buried it in dirt and made his way back to the ship. Halfway to the ship there was unusual movement on the surveillance cameras.


    The group of survivors were holding up their hands as what appeared to be floating armor and weaponry were holding them at gunpoint. Meaning it was a creature that could not be seen on cameras? There was no known creature with that natural ability.


    He moved quietly as he arrived just within visual distance where they were being held. Looking through the scope he saw the creatures, they were hunched over and large things with chitin plates and a wide face. Yup, unknown at least to the public.


    He watched for a few minutes hidden among foliage when a group exited the ship dragging a few more people. Seeing that they were taking prisoners he started looking into any messages and data received before the ship went down. The only thing he could find was a garbled message in a foreign language. He transferred it to his suit system so he could run a translation function.


    He noticed the creatures started moving the people so he stashed the info pad in a tree and followed them at a distance trying to remain quiet. As he was following a lightning storm suddenly began with heavy rain and lightning that was colored green, there was probably something a little extra in the air.


    Eventually they arrived at a facility, but it looked more like a military outpost. It had guards around the edge so he scouted the edge of the fence line looking for an opening. But it looked like there was a lack of surveillance cameras which made sense. But then how do they watch people? Then he saw it, something that looked like a radar tower rotating. Sonar? But it looked like it was contained to a certain radius. There were three of them throughout the facility and they were all connected with wires to a single station. Where it appeared to have a powersource directly connected to that.


    There were a few ways he could do this, but only one he could think of that wouldn''t raise suspicion. He looked and found what he was looking for: a grounding device so a lightning strike to the building and surrounding doesn''t overload the system. It seemed rather thick but there was a tightening screw he could shoot out with the right shot.


    He became laser focus as he accounted for wind speed, rain, and the planet''s increased gravity. Then he fired and the bullet flew through the air but as it got closer he noticed a green energy gather on it until it landed. When a larger than normal lighting strike struck the building frying the generator and causing a cascade effect that had the entire grid shut down. He saw the sonar things slow and stop, he had to move quickly before they upped their manned security. Once he was past the fence he started moving along the roofs. As he was moving there was a sudden alert as the message from before had translated. He opted to ignore it for now as he listened in on what appeared to be a commanding officer, making sure to record the conversation.


    Once he had it he tried running it through the language translator the suit just made of the message from the ship.


    [Error unknown language.]


    He clicked his tongue in annoyance. He then started running a new translation program, expanding the abilities of the suit. He then looked at the message from the ship.


    [Beware ship entering warzone between the #%^$& and our fair Empire of $^&*% you will be treated as hostile if you interfere.]


    That was a problem, after he figured out where they took the ship crew and hacked into their central system he would head back to the ship to fashion a beacon to alert his empire.


    He continued watching the movement of patrols and noticed several of them were rolling a cart of covered containers to an area that led underground. A possible prisoner area? Most cultures used dungeons to store prisons which were typically underground. It was some psychological thing.


    While he was watching, he noticed what looked like technicians rebooting their system so he moved over to what looked like a part of their communication system. A few minutes later when the entire building lit up his jerry rigged device that he constructed using electronics he had on him lit up as well. It showed a loading bar and then he saw the connection to his armor as the garble of their communication lit up.


    He had a connection which was all he needed for right now. He would work his way further into their network later when he could set up more equipment. Making his way slowly to the edge of the military installation he jumped the wall and slowly made his way out into the jungle. Memorizing the base''s location in case he loses the map he made earlier.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Exams Part 2

    He eventually made it to the ship, he got a good look at it this time and realized it was a Galleon-class spaceship by the look of it. He wasn''t focused on it earlier but it looked like the ship had broken into three parts crashing on the planet. Two parts he could see landed in this area, the central area where the crew quarters, armories, cargo bays, and other areas for quality of life were located was the section he was inside of. The second section visible from his location was more than likely the weapons bay and hanger bays, because it was currently broken up into chunks and blooming a large plume of smoke. The third section he realized was the ship bridge along with a small chunk of the middle section. Meaning there was a chance they were secure somewhere else, but that was only a possibility not a guarantee.


    Moving to the central part he quietly made his way inside. Eventually arriving at the technicians workshop. Inside he used a still functioning fabricator to make two items. An emergency transponder beacon and a handheld hacking device. The second thing wasn''t military issued but rather an item he had improved upon that was originally from the slums.


    He designed this one to be waterproof and an attachment to his armor. After he was done he held off on hacking the alien system. Instead he began checking the translation for the chitin aliens, he saw it was almost done.


    So he made his way back out of the ship. Walking in a different way from his stash, he soon arrived at the base of a mountain. It would provide an optimal location for the beacon. As well as a place to have a last stand if his initial plan failed.


    He began making his way up the mountain until he got a new alert. The translation for the chitin aliens language was complete.


    He then read the initial recorded translation. From the conversation he recorded.


    [Cray Dolma, prepare to move the humans if need be. The soft bodied bastards won''t fire on us if we use the humans as shields.


    What about these pink skin people? What if they come for them?


    Then we kill them all. They are weak and have armor like the soft bodied, who tried to warn them.]


    Well that gave him a better grasp of the situation. As well as making it all the more important that his initial plan works. He started listening to the live communication as he made his way up the mountain.


    [Mechanics determined that the nearby plasma fire supercharged the atmosphere causing an explosive lightning strike. They are prepared for additional failures until the plasma fires stop.


    Good, check for any other compromised systems and make sure the prisoners are hidden. As long as they are hidden the soft bodies will hold fire.]


    Soft bodies must be the other race but the translation can''t translate names or in this case a racial name. He was nearing the peak of the small mountain when another communication caught his eye.


    [The pink skin people arrived at our rear. Command is keeping the soft bodies from contacting them but make certain you don''t lose track of any of them. We might be able to turn the pink skins against the soft bodies.


    Understood.]


    That was worrying. But good, it means the emergency broadcast will reach allies quicker. It also put a time limit on him before his people acted.


    As he reached the furthest point he could easily climb he started hacking through the terminal he left connected to the alien base. Their programming was simplistic and unsecured, they probably lacked the concept of cyber warfare. Which was good for him. Bad for them.


    He grinned under his helmet as he hacked through the system. Making a blindspot for the signal he was about to send out. Preparing a planet wide blocking signal for incoming signals. Then having their detection system detect nothing for the time being.


    As the sun began shining he realized for the first time that the storm had ended. It also meant it would be harder for him to move around. So the next thing he did was set up the emergency broadcast beacon programming it to transmit a record of what happened to the ship. The current location of the beacon. The translation of both languages and notifying them that the chitin aliens plan to manipulate them as well as notifying them that the bridge section of the ship was missing.


    But he didn''t trigger the message yet. He kept it prepped so he could trigger it remotely. Then he made his way back down the mountain and toward the ship. This time around it took him a lot longer as there were several patrols of those chitin aliens. Eventually he arrived at the ship which was swarmed with many unarmed chitin taking it apart.


    More than likely they would take the time to dismantle and try to reverse engineer the ship. He quickly noticed that they had yet to figure out the secondary entrance that he was using. So he entered through it and moved back into the armory. Once inside he packed a number of weapons and ammunition. Then as he was leaving he set up a laser tripwire for when they got to the armory.


    He then wrote a red ''X'' on the door marking it with a multi-tool that comes standard with the armor. Making his way out he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks standing in front of him opening the door was an armored chitin alien.


    "Kree?" It made a sound of surprise while Steel jumped forward striking in only what he could assume was its neck. Then he grabbed the side of its head and slammed it against the wall. It went limp and fell to the ground. He didn''t kill him¡­ at least he hoped he didn''t.


    Stepping out of the ship he snuck back into the jungle and started making his way back to the base. As he quickly moved through the jungle he activated the hacking device and beacon at the same time. There was a high chance that the chitin alien he encountered would alert the others.


    Arriving with the military base in sight he immediately noticed the lack of armored personnel. Seems like they moved most of their personnel out to either patrol or to the ship to work on salvage. He didn''t have time to stash the weapons he would have to sprint through the base to find the hostage humans.


    He sprinted up to the gate and kicked one of the guards sending him flying and smacked the other one with the but of his gun. Once he was past them he stopped by a building that was heavily guarded. But he quickly figured out it was an armory after he knocked aside four more guards. Then he ran to the dungeon, the entrance of which was a metal door. There was only one sleeping guard at the door. He opened the door using a key the door guard had. Sitting inside in a large open room were over a dozen humans.


    "Is there anybody they took that is not here?" Steel asked and one of them shook their heads. He was dressed in a mechanic''s armor.


    Steel set down the bag and pushed it over, "arm yourselves. We aren''t killing our way out. But we are not staying here."


    He then stepped out the door to see the guard door waking up, he quickly hit him with the butt of his gun. Causing the guard to slump to the ground.


    Steel watched the outside as he saw many of their people moving to the front gate in a panic. Glancing around he saw the back gate was unguarded. A few minutes later the survivors came out armed with the knives and handguns he packed. Before he could say anything there was a loud noise overhead. He looked up to see a cruiser-class ship entering orbit with his empire''s colors.


    He then led the survivors out of the back gate and into the jungle after a mile out he sent a message to the hovering cruiser.


    Then as he was getting ready to prepare defenses the world dematerialized and the pod opened. As the spots in his eyes cleared up he hopped out of the pod and was covered in sweat.


    After a moment he looked over at Colonel Dakota, "so how did I do?"


    The Colonel nodded while both the black armored infantry and general seemed deep in thought. "Good kid, go on and enjoy the rest of your day. But plan on staying at the school over the break."


    Steel nodded and quickly left, curious about the general and black armored infantry. But knowing better than to ask questions.


    ¡ª----------------------------------------


    "So what did you two think?" Colonel Dakota asked after Steel left the room.


    "He is definitely a fit for the Special Operations Division. But I don''t think he would survive in the Inquisitors with all of its red tape." The black armored infantry, who was only known as the Echo Commander.


    "Agreed, but he can''t go straight to that division. Just like the others, he will spend a year as a part of a normal squad. But he could skip the special ops school if you train him while he is here." General Phi interjected.


    "Understandable, now for the others-" The Colonel was interrupted by the General.


    "You mean the ones you have slated for a commander position, an advanced recon, the assassination squad, and the research and development positions?"


    ¡ª-----------------------------------------


    The day ended quickly. After his exam he spent his time in the first year''s main lobby. Tinkering with the hacking device he had recreated in the exam simulation. He was modifying it to make it more easy to use. For the moment only people with a complex grasp of programming could use it. But simple infantry or basic programmers? No.


    He could also make a pretty good amount of credits if he sold it to the military. As he was sitting in the lobby, more and more people were gathered playing board games, card games, and doing other things as well. While he was sitting down Taylor Hielo, the Ice Queen, came and sat next to him and started looking over what he was working on.


    "Hey I heard, you are staying here for the break." Trainee Hielo asked.


    "Yup, nowhere better to be. So I am staying and apparently even the Colonel wants me to stay over break." Steel''s answer caused her to nod in understanding.


    "Y''know, next year I want to work on a project. Building something like you are now." Hielo started explaining, causing him to set down his things and turn his attention to her. "I don''t want to share too much but I am going to want help with the robotics and programming for this project."


    "Okay, you have my interest. I need to study up on both of those things?" Steel asked as he pulled over an info pad he had lying around and started making a reminder.


    "Yup, but if you already don''t know you need to start reading up on programming protection and firewalls relating to the Rogue Metal Legion." Hielo pointed to an area of the device where there were exposed wires.


    "I see," he fixed the part she pointed out. "So I am programming a robotic AI of some kind." He asked. Hielo only gave a smile before she stood up and left.


    The next day the rest of the first year students left to go on break. The only students that stayed were a few of the second year students along with several teachers and the Colonel.


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 Chapter 9 - 9: Second Year

    The next day the rest of the first year students left to go on break. The only students that stayed were a few of the second year students along with several teachers and the Colonel.


    [Trainee Jace Steel, report to the training area.] He got the message shortly after breakfast when he was still wondering what he should do first. But instead of going to the data library like he planned to, he redirected to the training area.


    Walking in he saw the Colonel was in training clothes as well. He was doing some stretches when he walked in.


    "Trainee Steel, get over here." The colonel called him over. "We are going to spar. I have seen you spar with others but I want a good grasp on your techniques."


    Steel nodded and got ready. An hour passed and Steel was on the ground heavily breathing from exhaustion. While the colonel had barely broken a sweat and was nodding while making notes on an info pad.


    "Okay, next thing is the simulation pods. Before lunch we are going to run a simulation for the Hawks, a Fighter-Class spaceship." The colonel then walked into the building and Steel pulled himself up and caught up to Colonel Dakota.


    "Colonel Sir, why am I doing this?" Steel asked as he walked a step behind the colonel.


    "Because you have nothing better to do for the break and I feel like torturing you." The colonel answered and looked back to see a not too impressed expression on the trainees face. "Because you are apparently a prodigy when it comes to putting in the effort. So I want to train you in all fields so you will easily adapt if need be, it will also be beneficial for possible career paths."


    "So the next time I have free time I can come to you for extra training?" Steel asked with confusion. Apparently the colonel shared his confusion because he gave Steel a look for a moment before he seemed to realize something.


    "Yes, actually your Warrant Officer was supposed to tell you that. Apparently Coble was shitter than we realized." The colonel answered before he started making more notes on his pad.


    The remainder of the break passed by quickly with him being trained on all sorts of aircraft. Once he had the hang of it he started learning to drive various types of vehicles. Slowly realizing they were all similar and that he was recognizing that there were only minor differences between the various machines.


    A week before break ended he moved into the second year dorms. He was placed in the same hall as Trevor Squad again. But his own Squad''s Warrant Officer had yet to show up. But the next day the second year and third years started arriving, he was rooming with Wintry again. A day before classes started all of the students had arrived and they officially started their second year.


    The classes were just as hard but this time when he was finished after the first day of exercises and new content he was sitting at the table taking his first bite of food when Trainee Hielo sat down across from him.


    "So are you ready to help me with my project?" The Ice Queen''s question surprised Wintry who was sitting next to him.


    Wintry gave him a quizzical look, "project?"


    Don''t get jealous she approached me because she needs help. Aren''t you the mind reader? "Yes I read up on the subjects. I assume you want to start it today after lunch?"


    "Yes, I was thinking about the common room but-" Hielo was stopped mid sentence as Steel shook his head.


    "I am going to stop you right there. Second and Third years get dedicated project rooms where only their school year and administrators can enter. It is there for the more creatively thinking trainees. The WOs are set to make the announcement tomorrow but I have been using the room for the past week, the Colonel gave me access." Steel quickly interjected and explained. Surprising both of them.


    [Huh, I missed a lot of stuff.] Wintry thoughts jumping into his mind causing him to slightly jump. Which was clearly the point because of his mentally aimed remark regarding jealousy earlier.


    "Okay, I guess that will work. I don''t think there are many in our year who will want to build or create anything. But we should set some security measures up." Hielo stated as she started to dig into her meal. Obviously in a rush to get started on this grand idea she had.


    [Oh yeah, it is definitely an inspired idea. You will love it.] Wintry interjected.


    "There are fenced off areas where we can set up security measures." Steel finally got back to completely eating his food. A few minutes later he was being dragged out of the cafeteria by the arm. "I get you want to get started, but do you even know where you are going?"


    Hielo stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him blushing in embarrassment. "Ah, right. Sorry I was just excited. Lead the way." Now she was fidgeting.


    Steel shook his head and led the way to one of the upper floors. When he arrived at the door he swiped his hand and the door opened. Inside was a full on lab area with computers and digital parts on one half and on the other was two fabricators one on the smaller side and one larger one. As well as machining tools, that were ancient and barely used but these ones looked like they had maintenance done on them recently.


    "Nice they even have old machining equipment, here I was worried I won''t be able to do that stuff by hand." Hielo then looked around and saw Steel walk over to a fence gate and open it.


    Inside were two sections. One was completely untouched and still had dust on it. The other side had several computers, computer boards, and info pads. The only odd item was a metal container that was set on the center table.


    "Ah, perfect it arrived." Steel picked up the metal container and set it off to the side. "That''s for later. I haven''t bothered with security since I am the only student that can enter the room. So I will get that set up while you explain this genius idea you have."


    "Ah yes¡­" Hielo looked around for a moment before she seemed to remember something, "I left my blueprints in my room." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ha¡­ Go. I will let you in when you get back." Steel responded, noticing the smirk on Wintry''s face as Hielo raced out.


    "So what is in the box?" She asked after the door closed.


    "A lightweight and flexible metal. I figured if we are making an android of some kind we would need that for some of the parts and it is difficult to obtain. So I ordered some ahead of time." Steel explained as he took some crude metals out of a locker and walked over to the small fabricator and had it make a sign as well as two security cameras and a lock for the fence.


    "I am surprised. You are unusually silent." Steel pointed out as he glanced over at Wintry who had a thoughtful look on her face.


    "I am contemplating things. Turns out having this ability of mine isn''t all that. Found out both my parents are cheating on each other and while my mother does love and care for me. My father just wants myself and my other younger siblings to die during duty so he can get the benefits." Wintry truthfully answered with a hint of sadness to her voice.


    "I would console you, but that happens with families and people who aren''t completely satisfied with what they have. But if you disclose that part about your father to the Colonel I am sure he can help. Despite his rugged personality he is pretty nice¡­ most of the time." Steel explained.


    "MMhhmm¡­" She walked forward and hugged him from behind, "give me a second to siphon off of your confidence. I really might not go back next break."


    "That will be fun, I had to do all sorts of training by myself. This time you will get to enjoy the torture as well." Steel chuckled out while unsure of how to interact with her.


    She let go of him and walked over to the fabricator. "I suppose this means I should figure out something fun to do with you as well."


    "Fun?" Steel chuckled, "I suppose we could do something. Do you have any ideas?"


    "Yes¡­ since you are so good at programming I assume you have played with virtual reality gaming." Wintry got her response almost immediately from his thoughts, "What! How is that possible? I figured with all of this programming and hacking knowledge you would be a hardcore gamer."


    "Nope, I have never touched a virt-" There was a knock at the door and Steel looked over to see Hielo basically vibrating wanting to be let in.


    Wintry walked over and opened the door while Steel picked up the lock, cameras, and sign. He walked over to their area and put the sign on the fence. He then hung the lock on the closing mechanism making sure to program it with a simple code. He then placed one of the cameras facing the gate. While he hid the other camera in a more hidden area overlooking the center table and private work areas.


    "So my idea is this." She rolled out a fancy blueprint pad and tapped it making it into a hologram. She stood back with stars in her eyes looking at the design, incredibly proud of it.


    "Umm¡­ is this a robotic dog?" Steel asked. The hologram showed a robotic dog, there were a lot of non-practical elements to it. But they could work on it. "I like the idea. But for the prototype we should work on only the skeleton of the creation but keeping in mind that it will have layered metal on the final creation."


    She nodded and swiped at the blueprint pad causing it to remove the outer shell. Showcasing what could be best described as its skeleton and muscles. Or rather its frame and well he did not know what to describe them as. Maybe high tensile springs?


    "Okay, explain from the top what I will need to program for this¡­ dog." Steel asked as he started looking up details on what he did not understand.


    It was three hours by the time Wintry and Steel dragged themselves back to their dorm.


    [I will show you the pleasures of gaming tomorrow. I am too drained from trying to understand mechanical musculature.] Wintry''s injected mental thought caused him to chuckle as he collapsed on his bed and fell asleep.


    The next day started with an early morning exercise but in the second year training area instead. With an introduction to their squad''s new WO in the afternoon as well as a few declarations and announcements from the colonel beforehand.


    After the Colonel finished talking he had all except their squad leave. When their squad was the only one left, a thinner woman in an inquisitor''s uniform stepped up, she had a nasty looking scar that went through one of her eyes.


    "Good Evening, I am the replacement for your Squad Warrant Officer. I am Elsa Von Meyer. Making you Meyer Squad. Forgive me for my accent, it is tough to remove." When she stepped forward Steel saw Wintry flinch out of the corner of his eye. "Now since we are starting up we should get you trained up to my standard by the end of this year."


    The next year was spent quite a bit differently than the first year. Despite them now having more down time they still spent a few hours training throughout the day. Turns out Warrant Officer Meyer, according to Wintry, was sent here to keep an eye on the rising stars of the empire.


    Steel got to experience virtual gaming, he and Wintry would play games on the weekends. While most weekdays were filled with him and Hielo working on the robotic dog. Fridays were taken up by WO Meyer who decided to have them participate in team building exercises, which varied from week to week. She was a lot nicer than the initial impression she gave.


    As the next break neared the students got tense as they were nearing the end of their second year at the school. While Steel got more time to work with the Colonel to work on the special training he was giving him. Mostly since Steel''s stats were far ahead of any of his fellow students. Even Wintry, Ulin, Hermes, Tako, Hielo, and a few other second years were behind him in terms of point totals. In fact Wintry only broke the 100 point ceiling only recently.


    "So did you make a decision on what you are going to do about your parents?" Steel asked Wintry as they were getting ready for sleep.


    She froze for a moment before she nodded. "Yeah, since the Inquisitorial branch wants me, I will see if Colonel Dakota and WO Meyer are interested in looking into my father and removing him from being a beneficiary. But I will have to go back for this break for the chaos I cause."


    Steel gave her a weak smile, "then I suppose I will see you afterwards. Just a few more days."


    The end of the year and exams passed quickly. With the Meyer Squad having the highest recorded stat points on record for second years. The written exam somehow felt easier. The practical was unfortunately a squad exam this time around. But it was thankfully completed quickly.

 Chapter 10 - 10: Union

    The end of the year and exams passed quickly. With the Meyer Squad having the highest recorded stat points on record for second years. The written exam somehow felt easier. The practical was unfortunately a squad exam this time around. But it was thankfully completed quickly.


    As the break started, Steel went all in on the training from the Colonel. Apparently he wasn''t the only second year staying this break. There were a number of others that felt uncomfortable after their last visit home, either because of their new talents or because of differences in the children themselves. Causing them to feel uncomfortable and alienated.


    So now he wasn''t the only one getting specialized training. The others were diving into various training with several of the teachers that stayed over break.


    Two weeks into the break is when it happened. All of the students returned within a day of the public event. Which was a broadcast that hijacked even the military communication network. Which included the television holograms that were playing in the cafeteria. One minute he was enjoying his chicken and dumpling soup the next he was watching the hologram focused on what used to be the news broadcast.


    "Attention residents for the planets of the Kamot & the Fairlight Solar Systems. You are now under the dominion of the Hex Union Rebellion. We are the true people of the Grand Hexarian Empire and want our lands back. You are either with us or you die! On Kamot Prime the city of Hydra has already fallen-" The broadcast of the golden masked man suddenly ended as the news was cut back on.


    "This just in, a terror group known as the Hex Union Rebellion have launched several attacks throughout the Kamot and Fairlight systems. We are to expect increased military presence and a mandatory curfew starting tonight at 8 PM. An update on Hydra City shows that there have been several bombings on public buildings with a projection that a fourth of the population of the city is dying due to a combination of chemical attacks, fires set off by the bombs, and the bombs themselves." The female newscaster announced with a horrified look on her face.


    "We are also getting reports that an all-out war has broken out on Kamot-4. The government is asking all personnel associated with the Union or that have knowledge of the Union to come forward." The news went on for a few more hours talking about what had transpired when Steel was suddenly summoned to the Colonel''s office.


    When he arrived he was welcomed by the sight of Wintry sitting in a chair across from the Colonel who had a serious expression on his face. Standing behind him were three people. One was WO Meyer, another Inquisitor who had a higher rank, and a full black armored infantry. But this infantry had a different symbol: it was the skull of a wolf.


    "Kamot Commander, please secure the room. I need the discussion with Steel and Wintry to be not eavesdropped on and to remain unobserved." A moment later the armored infantry stepped out of the door and there was a sudden thin blue layer appearing around the room. "Steel I will cut right to it, Trainee Wintry has a major problem here. Her father is a member of the Hex Union Rebellion. He planned to force his daughters into their employment and have his wife killed. He was even hoping to turn Miss Wintry into an agent for the Union." He stopped for a moment for that to sink in.


    "Sir I am failing to see how I fit in." Steel pointed out.


    "I was getting to that. Trainee Wintry wants to stay loyal to the empire. She also wants us to get her siblings away from her father. But we need to ensure her loyalty to the empire, so we will be faking her mother and siblings deaths and arresting her father. But we want to intricately tie her to the empire by having her marry you." That statement definitely confused him.


    "Okay, now I am just confused."


    Wintry was avoiding looking at him but she was clearly blushing he could tell because her ears had turned red, "basically we are going to be using an ancient ritual that ties you two together binding your souls. Researchers have found that when two partners undergo the ritual when they both have Nano systems they can hear each other''s thoughts, see each other''s systems, and more importantly they can''t act against each other."


    "Okay¡­ why me?" Steel was struggling to come around to what was even going on.


    "Oh that was my choice." Warrant Officer Meyer stated. "It was clear that of all her squadmates you are the only one she is attracted to. Not to mention you are only tethered to one thing, the military. Making you completely loyal since you have no way to establish outside connections." Steel doubted those were their only reasons but they were good enough.


    Steel seemed to think for a moment before he realized what they were doing. "Basically you plan to make me her handler while you have her become a double agent working for the Union and the Inquisitors?"


    "Yes, not during the initial stages when she is still working for the military and Inquisitors. But eventually we plan to have caught her and force her to escape in order to sell the story to the Union." The other inquisitor explained.


    "I suppose this means the Union isn''t just some group of upstarts?" Steel asked.


    "No, all I can share with you is that they are deeply embedded." the colonel answered. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So basically we are being fully enlisted for life long service without graduating?" Steel asked.


    "Yes, are you in?"


    "Okay," as soon as his doubts were out of the way he answered immediately. It helped that Salem Wintry was quite attractive and already knew him fairly well. So he was not opposed to the pairing.


    "That''s it? No arguing?" The other Inquisitor asked. Steel just shook his head.


    "Then the last two things we have to discuss is that Trainee Wintry and Steel is not to speak of anything we talked about. As for the ritual marriage, we will do it between the time you spend a year at the Kitinol Offensive and when you''re divided into your specialties." Colonel Dakota explained. "Now you are dismissed."


    ""Yes Sir."" As Steel opened the door and walked out, Wintry followed him and the blue layer disappeared.


    Steel walked away from the office and was lost in thought so he made his way to the work area in the third year section. He was already being moved to the third year dorms when they started pulling all students back to the school. They were worried about the Union infiltrating their ranks through the students.


    He arrived and walked into the room, which is when he realized that Wintry was following him while nervously fiddling with her fingers. He sighed as he moved to his workstation.


    What''s wrong? It is rare for you to be this awkward.


    She jolted when he directed his thoughts directly to her, [I am fine. I just feel like I am forcing a permanent relationship with you. It isn''t how I wanted any of this or my life to go.]


    Steel suppressed a chuckle as he looked around at the equipment that was moved from the old workspace.


    I suppose that means you still wanted a relationship with me? Either way things never go the way we expect. I learned to never expect and hope for too much but to instead compromise where you can.


    [How do you suppose I should do that? I didn''t want to be an Inquisitor. I wanted to be a pilot. A Fighter-Class pilot to be specific, I had a whole dream of what I wanted.] Wintry suddenly seemed flushed like she wanted to yell but knew better.


    Steel moved the equipment so it was set up like the old workshop. Like how he and Hielo had it set up.


    Then let''s run some fighter pilot simulations. The Colonel gave me access to the virtual pods so we can run a number of flight simulations. You could also take the pilot test at the end of the year if you want to be cleared for flight duty.


    [Ah¡­] It seems she forgot about the aptitude tests they would have to take at the end of the year.


    You might be a shoe-in for Inquisitor. But it doesn''t mean you can''t practice and train in other avenues. For example, I am being trained for special forces but I am also training for technician, scout, engineer, pilot, mechanic, and a number of other positions.


    [Yeah¡­ you have a point. I don''t suppose you know how our classes for this final year are set up?]


    Steel was about to respond when he spotted a tired Hielo entering the workshop. "It is more of a free range thing. We have three semesters to take classes of our choice, but each one takes one or sometimes two semesters to get everything we need for the subject in a class."


    Hielo walked up to her workspace and immediately went into autopilot. Testing various servos, before she left for break they ran into issues with overtaxing and breaking the servos in minor parts that make it more functional.


    "I am sure we will start classes early. So I am sure the Colonel will make the announcement soon." Steel explained as he loaded up the simulation for the robot dog. He still had a few things to change with the onboard programmed AI.


    "Oh yeah, I have to remember to sign up for engineering, artillery support, and technician specialist courses¡­" Hielo responded sleepily.


    "You know, you sound really tired. Did you not sleep or something?" Wintry asked, surprised at one of her friends'' current condition.


    "Actually no, the Union broke into and destroyed several of my family''s manufacturing plants as well as using our weapons in their attacks. Apparently they even stole several experimental weapons and space craft. It was a whole mess that had Inquisitors and military officials at our place from last night until I left around lunch time." Hielo explained as she stretched and started typing something on one of her info pads.


    Wintry glanced over at Steel who seemed unsurprised at this revelation. Then she looked back at Hielo, "I don''t think I ever asked, what is the name of your family''s businesses?"


    "Huh? Oh, I just assumed you knew like Steel did. It is the Hellion Weapons and Spacecraft Manufacturing Corporation. It is only expansive over the Vexical Empire, it isn''t too big." Hielo''s statement almost made Steel spit blood as Wintry caught a thought that made her bite her lip from laughing.


    Only nationwide. There are only fourteen known nationwide businesses and only three international businesses. Of the fourteen national businesses Hellion Corporation is the third richest and the only reason they aren''t the biggest is because they won''t manufacture Mecha due to their national pride, if they did they would be the biggest business. Not to mention that they are the only known human group with knowledge to make warp drive based ships as opposed to FTL which is primitive by comparison. Not that big my ass. No wonder her parents didn''t try to opt her out of military service, she has no head for business in the slightest.


    On a more sober note, Wintry seemed to realize something, [I forgot I am not the only one who will have to suffer or be hurt because of the Union.]


    The next few days went as Steel predicted they would go. The classes for the new third and second years started while first years did not come until the original time. But this time they were thoroughly searched for contraband and observed by teachers and staff.


    Steel split his time between the workshop and running flight simulators with Wintry. Who was a natural in the pilot seat, Steel thought he was a good pilot but in comparison he wasn''t even decent. Unfortunately Wintry and Steel could no longer play the virtual video games as the Martial Law order prevented most free broadcasting and stopped connections to the web. It was a deterrent against terrorists to cut off communication. As well as prevent revealing weakness within the nation.


    Several additional things began this year as well. Such as them using real infantry armor instead of simulations. As well as more realistic warfare where they used paint guns in real life battle simulations. Then there were the various training exercises, they would go out with their squads to various parts of the planet and just survive in full armor and only living on rations. As well as the training and classes becoming more focused on specialities the students were interested in.

 Chapter 11 - 11: Second Ability

    Steel dodged to the side as his opponent punched air. He countered with a quick jab to the face in order to throw them off. Followed up by a cross and another punch aimed for the opponent''s chin.


    The punch connected and his opponent became disorientated. So he leaned in and began connecting punches to weak points and the man''s joints. When he looked thoroughly out of it he went to finish it with a solid combo. But a loud whistle caused him to back up and look over to the referee.


    "Steel wins the bout! Judges mark your points!" The referee and Steel looked over to the judges who were administering this part of the exam. There was a loud thud as Steel''s opponent collapsed.


    He watched as the judges made notes and quickly wrote on datapads. They then whispered to each other.


    "He is the best but are we sure we should not send him straight into special forces training?"


    "Yes, he needs experience and we have to be wary of spies from the Union."


    "We could send him to the capital planet to undergo special training."


    "He is from the slums, he does not even qualify to be near the capital planet, don''t make such jokes."


    Their whispering was unsurprising. Many of these final exams had judges in order to finalize plans and deployments. Usually they would matter, but Steel''s fellow third year students were almost all specialized for various positions.


    "This arguing does not matter. Just place your points and we can move onto the next student." Another Judge whispered before turning to the stage, "dismissed. Can we have the next student come up?"


    As Steel walked out of the room he was meant with the Colonel handing him a towel. "Come on kid. I want to show you something" He then led the way until they arrived at the stairs and they climbed out onto the roof. Surprisingly he had never been up here.


    He then looked up at what Colonel Dakota was looking at. It was a spacecraft, low enough in orbit to be visible from their location. "She is fresh off the rack. Meet my new command ship, VMSS Nightfall of Requiem."


    "She is incredible sir." Which she was, he had never seen one in person. They were so rare that he had only heard of two others like it. While anything bigger than it was only a myth or stationary. "A Warship-Class, how many of those exist in our galaxy that we know about?"


    "Five, humanity as whole has possession of three of them. With us having possession of the third one, which also has the most advanced systems while the other two are ancient in comparison. The Emperor has bestowed it upon me as well as a promotion to its commander." Dakota explained as they marveled at the beauty.


    "But I had never heard of the designation VMSS before." He pointed out as he saw several ships going to and from the several different hangers on the sides. It was longer in a forward to back way then a side to side way. It had armor plating along some key parts of the ship. As well as areas where gun emplacements were located. Both heavy and light weapons emplacements.


    "Because it is new it was announced a day ago when the command of the ship was handed to me. They have not even written the name on the side of the ship. It means Vexical Military SpaceShip, it is the first step that the emperor is making to separate the military, nobility, and political factions." He explained as he nodded.


    "So what is your first posting going to be?"


    "Actually I am delivering your graduating class to the Kitinol Offensive. Then I am leaving to do a publicity tour and to press rebel forces into hiding. A new tactic to keep forces opposing the military in balance." He spoke with sorry in his voice, like it was such a shame that it would not be immediately put to work as a warship.


    "How big is your crew for a vessel that size?" Steel asked.


    "The crew? Around three-thousand, but it only needs twenty people to function in worse case scenarios. But when she is at full-capacity, running as a mobile operations center for several divisions, roughly eight-thousand five hundred." Commander Dakota declared getting an appreciative whistle from Steel in response.


    "Well in that case, Commander Dakota, will Hielo and I be able to work on our project while we are aboard?" He asked as he saw another ship warp just out of the planet''s orbit.


    "Yes¡­ and no. You will be allowed to work on it until we get close to arrival at the offensive line. But then it will be sent off to somewhere else for safekeeping. But you do not have to worry too much, the military recognizes that you both are needed for the completion of the project. But they want you both focused on surviving for the first year before specialization occurs." Dakota explained before leading him back down, off the roof. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm¡­ understandable. But you get to tell her." Steel decided as he thought about graduation that would occur in two days.


    He walked down to his workshop, he would pack up his room tonight but for now he would finish and clean up anything in the workshop. He walked into the site of the mechanical dog, its skeleton was already complete along with its musculature still in the process of completion. Hielo and him had made some significant progress considering that they were making an artificial intelligence and a body from scratch.


    On the other hand, he was struggling with the latest protocols for a new artificial intelligence, and as soon as he completed those it would be complete. Then it is teaching and learning, so it could develop without information being input.


    As he thought about it he began packing up everything, even putting the incomplete dog in a container before moving on to his own private station. He had made significant progress on his hacking device, his standard model was just about complete.


    It was a hand held small tablet with both wireless connection and touch connection. But it could only work on one system at a time. It was made of cheap plastics and the programming self-deletes upon being infiltrated or being copied. Making it a perfect one use product, meaning he would also be continuously making money if he played it right.


    But on the other hand he made his own version, a device that he could easily modify and use to hack in times of emergency. A sort of skeleton key for anything that is not protected with military level encryptions.


    As he completed putting away his equipment, Hielo walked in. She had a black eye and was frowning. But Steel chuckled already guessing she got that from the sparring match.


    "Did Commander Dakota talk to you?" He asked as the last of his things were packed. But his private hacking device was stashed away in his pocket, he made it half of the size of any tablet so it could be hidden in his armor.


    "Yes he did. I only get three days during the journey to the offensive to work on it. How long before you complete your part? I want it to start self learning by the time we have to leave it." She spoke with confidence as she began packing up her area.


    "Understood, I will try to find a solution between now and our arrival at the offensive line." Steel answered before leaving, going to the gym to train. He had reached his body''s limit for now but hopefully that would change. He should also be getting his second ability soon.


    ¡ª-----------------


    "We are here to celebrate the graduation of another group of exceptional soldiers!" Commander Dakota declared. As the commander spoke, Steel was lost in thought. Thinking about the changes he needed to make for his AI.


    "The emperor knows no worry with another graduation ceremony, another year passing, it bolsters our numbers. Bringing more and more exceptional¡­" He had a sudden idea, a flurry of ideas to help programming the AI. But with it came a message and an immense headache.


    [ALERT! BROKEN THROUGH 175 POINT MARK!]


    [NEW ABILITY CREATED TO ASSIST NANO USER!]


    [Ability: Assistant Program


    Option 1: Can convert thoughts and ideas into a programming language without typing.


    Option 2: Can easily read programming on a device by touching it.


    Option 3: Can converse with artificial intelligence in their own language.]


    For the remainder of the graduation ceremony he was running programs through his head to see which one would work. He was that way all the way to when he was packing up his room. He could tell it was probably off putting because of the look Wintry was giving him.


    The only time he stopped was when he was carrying his duffle onto their transport craft. It was one squad per Osprey as he was climbing aboard he noticed that Warrant Officer Meyer was joining them. Ospreys were military troop transports, equipped with minimal weaponry and a focus on defense instead. They used propellant instead of props since they needed to go from the surface of a planet to an orbital ship and vice versa.


    "Officer Meyer, what are you doing here?" Ulin asked, pulling Steel from his thoughts. He was curious as well but was too deep into his own thoughts.


    "Being your warrant officer was only a temporary position, I have been transferred to the Nightfall of Requiem for a new position as a Squad Control Officer. Don''t worry your first posting will be aboard a different ship, so the last time many of you will see me is during this voyage." She explained as she took a standing position near the pilot''s door. She then slammed her fist against it once their entire squad was seated.


    "So do you know what ship we are posted to?" Hermes asked as the rear door closed and the ship began taking off.


    "No I do not. But that does remind me, Cadet Steel, the military are going to adopt your hacking devices. Payment will be made in full later, but for now you will have to do with a promotion at the end of your first-year probation period." She declared which caused a new question to emerge.


    "How can we get promotions before the end of the probation period?" Wintry asked, causing Meyer to smile slyly.


    "Simple, depending on your accumulated experience and senior officers recommendations you will get promoted and sorted."

 Chapter 12 - 12: Cain

    He whistled as he walked past a window with an outside view. They were placed in the forward Infantry bunks with the Trevor Squad. But their entire class was in the forward section. He was currently heading to the workshop where he would be for the next few days.


    "Brace for warp in 5." He grabbed the railing as the window became tinted blue before the stars turned into straight lines as they moved.


    He then continued and entered the workshop as Hielo was unpacking the mechanical dog. "Have you decided on a name for this project yet?"


    "Cub-01, since he is the first and what we are making is essentially newborn creatures. Artificial but still newborn." She proudly declared, which made him somewhat uncomfortable.


    "Okay," he walked up to a computer and then began quickly typing, "I finished the AI, I just need to test run. Then we will close it up and put it in the robot body."


    Hielo did not seem to process his words for a moment as she continued attaching the last of the musculature. "Wait what? Really? Then when we are ready to awaken it we need Dakota''s permission. I will send him a message, how long until we do that?"


    Steel hummed for a moment before nodding, "fifteen minutes." He understood the reason, for an Artificial Intelligence activation there needed to be at least one military officer of the highest rank and someone with a programming ethics certification.


    It was a moral thing to prevent another Artificial Intelligence Rebellion, funnily enough it was the Rouge Metal Legion that came up with it. But the Vexical Empire was one of the few human empires to adopt it.


    Roughly fifteen minutes later the commander was rushing in with someone whose regalia and outfit he did not recognize.


    "Cadets Steel and Hielo, I would like you to meet the Specialist Technician Corset. He is here to look at your code. He will also be the one moving your project to a secure facility following your departure." Commander Dakota explained while both Steel and Hielo saluted, "at ease. Show us what you got."


    Steel quickly typed on his screen before turning around the screen. "There you go, it does not enslave or force the AI to be obliged to us or do anything against its will. It is programmed for learning and only that. Anything we want to teach we will have to do over time."


    "Remarkable¡­ this will take me a few minutes to go through it all." The technician stated as he scrolled through the code. But Steel kept the keyboard away so he could not modify it.


    "Commander, I do not recognize his uniform." Steel pointed out, avoiding the obvious fact that he did not recognize the man''s title either. "Was that just not in our training or¡­"


    "It is new. But it is still classified." The Commander disclosed and they waited several minutes in silence.


    "Done, it is all clear. You can upload it to your bot, and then start it up." The technician declared spinning the monitor back around.


    "Okay." Steel moved forward and connected a wire from the computer to a port hidden deep in the bot''s interior. He then transferred and nodded to Hielo who began to go through her checklist as it powered up.


    "Emergency power is functional. Main power routing through the system and powering emergency backup when it is not full. Main power is functional. The power going to limbs and through metal musculature confirmed. Just waiting on its mind to wake up." Hielo confirmed as she ran through the list.


    Steel nodded and watched as the loading bar went to a hundred percent and the AI''s coding disappeared from his computer. Then he looked over to see what essentially held the brain in the middle of the chest light up with a green blinking light.


    "It is waking up and¡­" Then the light turned a solid blue, "it is awake. Hello there, umm¡­ I got to name the robot body model so it is only fair that you name the AI."


    Steel sighed as the robot dog head slowly lifted and looked around, "Cain, I think I will call you Cain. Do you understand?"


    The dog''s head nodded up and down. Causing Steel to smile and pat Cain''s head. "So what should we start with first?"


    "Well actually it would be a good idea to make a list so it can develop while you two do not have access to it." The technician explained. Before nodding, "you just have to get me that list before you leave and I will help Cain with it. But beyond that I will not do any modifications or anything else."


    "Very well, so what do you think we should start with?" Hielo asked as she came to stand in front of Cain while next to Steel.


    "We should teach it self modification, both of the mechanical and programming variety. Then we will teach it observation, tactics, stealth, hunting, hacking, and combat. After that I am sure it will want to learn and think for itself by that point." He quickly made a list causing Cain to tilt his head and Hielo to nod in agreement.


    "Then in that case we should first teach it how to move and communicate."


    ¡ª------------------ S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next few days passed rather quickly. Especially since all of the Cadets were contained in the forward section with only access to the workshop, cadet quarters, and the cafeteria. It did not help that Hielo and Steel had taken over the small workshop so they could only sleep, watch the stars pass and eat.


    Steel and Hielo were plenty focused on the other hand. Quickly teaching Cain all they could before they were separated. The only other people to interact with Cain during this time were Wintry and Specialist Technician Corset. Cain took a liking to Wintry rather quickly while not as much of a liking to the technician.


    At the moment Wintry and Steel were standing by a window waiting for the ship to drop out of warp. Cain was standing on its hind legs, with its front ones on the railing that both Wintry and Steel were holding onto.


    At that moment there was a dinging noise coming from his communication device. At the same time a noise came from Wintry''s device. He looked down and found his deployment orders attached.


    "Looks like the squads are being shuffled and separated. None of my squad is from our academy. I have a departure time, hanger, and an Osprey shuttle designation. How about you?" He asked as he saw her frown.


    "I have Ulin, Erin, Fillmore, and Hielo from our school joining me. The rest of our- my squad are from different schools." She explained. "I am leaving tomorrow though."


    "I am leaving today. Looks like they are deploying us to different planets." He explained as he felt Cain nudge his hand. "I am going to have to go grab my bag as soon as we drop out of warp."


    Less than a minute after he finished speaking there was a slight jostling as the ship dropped out of warp. He stood for a minute more before he walked off to his dorm, giving Cain one last pat and Wintry a hug that surprised her. "Good luck." He whispered before walking off.


    Walking into the cadet quarters he saw only Hermes packing up his bag. He nodded to Hermes before he picked up his bag and walked, he prepacked it earlier.


    He quickly moved to the nearest hanger and watched as an Osprey that was painted in desert beige with the words BOD-03 landed with the back lowered and a person stepped out in full infantry gear. Steel walked up and the soldier with the tag ''Dave'' nodded to him.


    "Are you Cadet Steel? We are waiting on two more before we leave." Dave declared as he ushered Steel into a chair. Steel sat and waited for a few minutes for two disheveled recruits to arrive. One male and one female, "Cadets Anchor and Charlie, for what reason are you so late. Steel was waiting here when we landed!"


    "Sir I-" Cadet Anchor, the young man started but was quickly waved off and interrupted.


    "That was not a question you moron. It was an evaluation of your stupidity. Get seated!" Dave yelled as he walked up to the cockpit door and knocked on it twice. While the other two Cadets jumped into seats while they both mumbled under their breaths.


    Cadet Anchor mumbled, "I was asleep when word came down, it was not like we got much time to prepare."


    "I can''t believe orders came in when I was in the shower." Cadet Charlie mumbled.


    The Osprey''s rear door closed as it took off. There was a whistle as it became airtight. Then a slight jostling as it moved. They were off as Dave stood nonchalantly by the pilot''s door.


    They were in the air for only a few moments when they felt a switch up occur and another jostling as they landed. A moment later the rear ramp opened up. "Welcome Cadets!" A voice called from just beyond the ramp.


    Steel stepped out and saluted the Sergeant who was dressed in similar armor to Dave. "Cadet Steel reporting for duty." The other two immediately followed his lead causing Dave to chuckle.


    "Good enough, Dave, you have thirty minutes to get them settled and in their armor. We are being deployed, we can''t wait another day for the rest of the recruits to arrive." The man stated before walking onto the Osprey. "Welcome to the Border of Downfall cadets."


    The Cadets were quickly rushed to the crew quarters where they stashed their bags and then they moved to the armory, the only thing Steel brought with him was his hacking device. The armory was in a rush as well when they arrived.


    "The Cadets are here for their armor and sidearms. The orders should be in." Dave quickly relayed to another officer that was in a gray outfit with the rank of Sergeant.


    "I can see that Private Dave. Linda, Coleson get the armor I set aside!" He called out before turning to the Cadets, "no name plates since they are standard issue infantry armors for cadets."


    They were quickly armored up with the armor sealing up. Then pistols were placed in front of them. "Standard issue sidearms for the Vexical Empire. Pyre-21, they use kinetic solid state pistol rounds. Ten of them to a magazine with an additional bullet if you have one in the chamber. Three clips each, they fit in the hip holsters."


    Steel picked it up and holstered it while putting away the magazines. "While aboard the ship there should be no magazines in weapons unless during an emergency. It is a security issue. Understood Cadets?"


    ""Yes Sir!""

 Chapter 13 - 13: Desert Dogs

    They arrived at the Osprey a few minutes later where the Sergeant and another Private were waiting with a box of weapons. Steel saluted before joining them in standing around a holographic projector.


    Then the rear door was closing and they were taking off. "Gather round, no need to take a seat, cadets. We are not having a rough landing." Then the hologram blinked on and an older man with a wrinkled face appeared in a green holographic light. "Captain Mendez. What mess are we flying into?"


    "Sergent Cornwall, sorry to ask this when you are so short staffed but I need the Desert Dogs for a clearing operation. Latest scans indicate the Kitinol have adapted and are preparing a full assault against our current base on the continent we control. I need you and your squad to establish a new base quietly while we evacuate the old base." The old captain voiced out, his voice croaky from a lifetime of smoking.


    "Understood Captain, we will clear the LZ and scout the designated area. Just get me the dogs I leased to Bird''s Nest when you can." The Sergeant''s response caused the Captain to laugh before he hung up. "Okay, Private Hand. Run our new Cadets through gun safety. Private Dave, get armed and ready." The Sergeant began by grabbing a rifle and magazines for the gun.


    "Okay cadets, listen close. While on the Osprey or other transport, entering a combat zone you are allowed to prepare your weapons. That means loading your pistol with a magazine, it has three modes." The private instructed, with Steel being the first to pull his Pyre-21 and putting in a magazine. "Safety, Semi-auto, and single shot. When you are not firing your gun or cleaning it you should have it holstered and in safety." He then pulled a rifle from his back, "Next up are the standard issue rifles, meet the VE-15 Assault Rifle. You will be getting familiar with this rifle. It too has a safety and automatic setting. Keep in mind your ammo consumption and rate of fire." He then stashed his rifle and pulled out a knife. "But we are staying quiet for this operation, so get used to using the knife that came with your armor kit."


    Steel picked up a rifle and looked it over before he set it to safety before loading a magazine and stashing it on his back where it magnetically connected to the armor. He then put two additional magazines in spots where his armor had spots. He was fully armed and armored, they were approaching their landing zone and it was not a drill or simulation.


    He could feel his heartbeat accelerate and could feel the senior officers staring at them, Waiting for something, then he understood and took deep breaths. Each one was audible and the other two realized and followed his lead, breathing to calm themselves.


    There was a hum from the Sergeant. They all felt as the planet''s gravity began pulling them. They arrived in the atmosphere. Then the feeling of acceleration as the Osprey flew. Private Hand secured the boxes and armaments that were in the bay just as the rear door opened up.


    "Welcome to the Desert Dogs of the Border of Downfall. Stationed at the Kitinol Offensive, but more importantly on the continent of G3 of Planet Waterswan-2." The Sergeant yelled as the desert and beige rock structures and dunes passed by underneath. "You heard the Captain, we have the grand privilege of securing an all new site for a base. This will likely be the most excitement you will see during this deployment." He explained as he stepped near to the offboarding ramp.


    "Desert Dogs, this is your pilot speaking." A silky smooth female voice spoke. "We are going to your destination via low orbit, through canyons. We are expecting a smooth ride, but be prepared for jostling and jerking as we move through the canyons and avoid terrain."


    There was a chuckle from Private Hand, "that means hold onto something. Our pilot is one of the best out there, but as you might be able to tell she has a voice on her that gets her in trouble. Used to pilot a Hawk before the captain got annoyed with her behavior."


    Steel only nodded as he grabbed an arm bar. Holding himself steady as the ship began swaying, like it was dancing as the visual of the canyon as they passed through. The pilot was doing her own dance with the planet, if he was not feeling his stomach getting jostled he would think it was beautiful.


    But it appeared that his expression gave it away to the Sergeant, "hahaha! Cadet Steel is feeling airsick. This is a first, never had a junior officer go green from airsickness rather than panic." There was chuckling and laughter from the other soldiers.


    Steel frowned, "with all due respect sir. I blame the pilot, this swaying is making me sick. I am just fine under normal flight and operations." He complained as he tried to ignore the bile that was threatening to rise.


    His words caused more laughter, "get used to it kid. This is nothing compared to a combat drop." Private Dave cut in.


    "Understood sir." As the ship danced Steel felt the sickness begin to disappear and frowned, it seems the Sergeant was as equally confused until Steel had a thought. Then with another he pulled up his System information.


    [Name: Jace Steel


    Age: 17


    Compatibility Rating: S


    Talent: Enhanced Perception


    Strength: 36


    Agility: 37


    Speed: 37


    Health: 40


    Intelligence: 37]


    He had broken through all of his stat limits. It probably happened when he turned seventeen. But even more surprising was his compatibility rating.


    He had heard it was possible for the rating level to change between ages sixteen and twenty-one. But he had never heard of an S rating. He would have to send a message to someone with a secure line when he got a chance. But it was clear what the benefit was. His stats would rapidly increase.


    "My health stat has increased, sir." Steel answered the Sergeant''s unasked question.


    He grunted, "hell of a jump. But now the other cadets are starting to look green. The privates will look after them at the drop zone. While they do that you and I will scout the area. You train in stealth and scouting?"


    "Yes, sir. Trained in both." Steel asserted as he felt the Osprey begin to slow down. "Are we looking for anything in particular or just window shopping?"


    "Hahaha! Good response, we are window shopping." The Osprey then began to lower, "but keep in mind that we kill the small things and avoid anything bigger than yourself."


    "Understood, sir." Steel kept his rifle on his back and followed the Sergeant by jumping out of the Osprey. Landing on the ground they ran towards a natural rock wall that surrounded the clearing. For a base it would act as a natural maze but it would also mean they were corning themselves.


    But that was not for him to question, if this location was chosen then there was a reason. He followed the Sarge as they quickly moved to the wall. Pulling out his knife to be at the ready instead of a gun.


    As they arrived at the wall the Sarge made two quick signals. One that said climb and another that motioned up. Steel nodded and quickly hoisted himself up the wall as the sarge covered the lower area. Once he was up he was looking around the area. There were a few bugs bigger than his boot but they looked asleep with their body retracted under their shells.


    He looked down and made the signal for the enemy and signaled for him to move quietly. He then focused on the sleeping enemies while checking the area below them. Then as the sarge was moving quietly he saw something in the distance. If he did not know any better he might have thought he was seeing things.


    A large figure in the distance, that he thought was a large rock formation, slowly moved. He stared for only a moment before continuing his rotational observation. When the sarge arrived it was with a raspy breath upon seeing the bugs he motioned making the signals for execution and quietly.


    Steel nodded and walked to the closest shelled bug and flipped it over only to be surprised at the empty shell. He looked over to see the sarge just as mystified as he looked in a similar empty shell. Steel walked over and flipped another one. The same thing, an empty shell.


    He looked to the sarge who tapped his helmet and broadcast to the rest of the squad, "Desert Dogs, check your surroundings we just found several empty shells. I am thinking they evolved to something bigger." As he spoke Steel saw it again, but this time it was a different rock formation that was moving. He blinked as he listened and felt the ground with his hand. That was definitely something moving. It appeared the Sarge could sense it too, he looked around and saw Steel nod in the direction of a moving rock.


    The sarge stood straight up and Steel joined him. "Sir¡­ is that?"


    "This is Sergeant Cornwall to the Border of Downfall, please respond." The sergeant called out on the channel.


    "Sergeant Cornwall, this is Captain Mendez, is something wrong?" the captain sounded surprised.


    "Yes, sir. We have titans, at least two, possibly more. They disguised themselves as rock formations. There is likely other evolved Kitinol we have plenty of empty small shells down here." The Sergeant answered, getting a flurry of curses in another language in response.


    "Apologies Sergeant, you and the Desert Dogs will have to assess the situation while we fire down pods and other instruments to do a deep surface scan. If we missed something in this area from our regular scans it means something is wrong with this region. But your original orders stand, you are to establish a new base in the area. Now you can change its location but keep in mind your new opponents as you move it." The Captain answered as yelling could be heard in the background. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Understood sir, Desert Dogs we are moving to the top of the walls. Just move up here for now. Cadet Steel and I will find a proper base location." He then disconnected and motioned for Steel to join him.


    Steel walked along with him as they walked atop the natural rock formations, glancing down into the maze of between the formations. "Sir, why were the titan''s not noticed before?"


    "No clue, likely something we did not notice was here before. We likely would have never noticed if it was not for the need to establish a new base. But I am sure that is not the only question you have. You have a question about your system?" The sergeant asked as they hopped across a gap of a land bridge between two rock formations.


    "Yes sir, my rating increased but I have never seen this level of rating. There was no mention of an ''S'' level rating. The highest is A and the lowest is F, with nothing beyond it." He spoke with confusion at his own rating level.


    There was a chuckle from the Sergeant, "no surprise there. The existence of an S rating is classified to the highest level. I only know about it because of a stint in the intelligence sector. There are only a handful of them, each one is an exceptional combatant with no known upper limit. With that being said, do not bring it up to anyone else."


    "Sir?"


    "Like I said it is classified, I will shoot a message to an associate of mine in the intelligence community. But until then you will have to operate without knowledge on what that rating means." The Sergeant explained before stopping and looking around. "This looks like a big enough plateau. Scout the perimeter while I scan the rock composition."


    "Yes sir."

 Chapter 14 - 14: Odd Kitinol

    "Sir, I found no holes or divots in the formation base from up here. But I need to go down and walk the maze to make sure. Nor do I see any signs of anything smaller than those titan Kitinols." Steel reported after walking the perimeter of the rock formation a few times.


    "Good, my scanning shows the rock is solid all the way through but if it''s anything beyond a few meters and it starts glitching out, like there is some sort of jamming but for scanning." The sergeant complained.


    "Hmm¡­ sir may I suggest something?" Steel asked as he looked out at the formations.


    "Certainly, cadet." the sarge answered as he looked up from his scanner.


    "We set up a single central base here but we set up several smaller outposts throughout the area on other rock formations. That way we never have to hold a single position but can instead rotate positions abandoning one when it gets overrun." Steel suggested.


    "Huh, I will pass it up the totem pole but prepare automated defenses anyway. We do not want our central post to get suddenly overrun." The sarge turned away to make a private communication and Steel nodded before walking away to find spots to position automated defenses. Spots for turrets, cameras, emplacements, barracks, a landing zone, a tall wall seems unnecessary but maybe bridges between this formation and other ones instead.


    Time to put all those planning and strategic skills to use. The next few hours were spent going around and marking the formation, he used his shorthand first before going over it again in military shorthand. Right as he finished is when the first Osprey came in for a landing while the others jumped over onto their rock formation.


    Private Hand grunted while Cadet Anchor was wheezing and Private Dave was just as surprised. "Damn sarge," Hand sighed as he walked over next to the man who was watching the Osprey''s rear door open up. "How did you ever manage to climb up that rock face at your age?"


    The sarge chuckled, "silently, Cadet Steel did it three times as fast as I did and just as quietly. Enough complaining, Cadet Steel, do you have a base camp map worked out?"


    "Yes sir." Cadet Steel walked over from the edge as the sun began disappearing. But a moment later something lit up in the corner of his vision. Looking over he saw massive explosions in the distance.


    "Ignore it, cadet. They evacuated the old base and are now doing bombing runs to clear out the Kitinol population. Starvation tactics and burn tactics work especially well on a species that is highly flammable. Base specs?" The sergeant asked again, getting handed an info pad in response. He looked over it for a few moments before nodding. "Bridges and weaponry facing both outward and down into the canyons between the rock formations. Nice plan. The captain approved the outpost idea as well. But we are spending a long time searching the ground area as well. His drop pods with scanners and other things all stopped functioning soon after landing."


    "Understood sir." Steel answered and stepped back. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Desert Dogs unpack this Osprey, if you have questions about the base set up come to me or Cadet Steel. Get to it!" They started setting up the base camp and once the Osprey was empty it took off again. They still lacked the bridges and a number of other things. The first run was just for the basic necessities that any central base would have.


    After several hours of work, his whole body was hurting, he was dead tired, almost falling unconscious while working. He was absolutely starving, and he most certainly had to relieve himself unless he wanted to piss himself. Which is when the most beautiful sound he had heard in awhile appeared. The Osprey came to land with both the rest of their Squad and more cadets that arrived only a few hours ago.


    "Cadets Steel, Anchor, Charlie, Private Dave, and Hand. Go use the can and get some shut eye after eating rations. You can see the rest later." The sergeant said lazily, clearly as exhausted if not more than they were since he was fielding messages and organizing locations for outposts.


    Steel did not have to be told twice, not even ten minutes later when the rest were still unpacking he collapsed unconscious. He thinks he saw one of the new cadets try to introduce herself to him when he was coming back from the bathroom. But he was far too exhausted.


    Six hours later he awoke and shot up, he usually slept four so sleeping an extra two meant he was just that exhausted. After getting up he got armored up, ate rations, and took care of business. Five minutes later as he was exiting the barracks he saw the sergeant stirring in his bed, rousing himself awake.


    Steel walked out to see a magnificent sunrise. As well as two soldiers, one cadet and one corporal walking past. As he looked around he saw several other soldiers, all of them had the same desert dog insignia on their uniform.


    Steel ignored them as he made his way up to the highest point, a tower they made that could see down into the maze. There was already another person up there, sleeping in his armor on a chair. Once there he pulled out a scope and began looking around at the horizon. Spotting several slightly shivering and moving rock formations.


    He pulled out a data pad and began marking the positions and movement of the titan Kitinol. Thirty minutes later they had settled down but Steel had not, he sucked in his breath. Twenty-three titan Kitinol, he had only heard of five or six in a place at most. He clicked his tongue and went back down the tower, he figured he might find something while he waited for the sergeant to wake up. But still, this was not just bad but also odd.


    He had yet to see a single Kitinol corpse, unless they counted the empty shells. Which was odd because they produced rather quickly. Maybe they starved them a little too well.


    As he was processing this he saw the sarge step out of the barracks and put on his helmet. He walked to a command station that was set up, it was uncovered because of the lack of need for secrecy. It was not like they were fighting something intelligent.


    "Corporal Tani and Private Wise, fill me in. What have I missed while I was asleep?" The Sergeant asked as both women stood straight and saluted. He was nowhere near the post but he could still hear them as he approached.


    "Sir, the captain has given us the last locations of the scanning equipment. He has also identified several points of interest and places for the outposts. We saw no Kitinol action last night, it appeared they gathered at the old base. None of the other continents are reporting a change; we are the only ones experiencing abnormalities." The Corporal answered while still saluting.


    The sergeant was about to continue when he suddenly turned around as Cadet Steel got closer. "Cadet Steel, good job on waking up before me. But please tell me you did not immediately find something troublesome, because that frown says otherwise."


    Steel walked forward, saluted and handed him the info pad. "Sorry sir, I doubt it was noticeable to the naked eye but I figured they would move in the morning as well so I counted once I saw how early it was."


    "Damnit Cadet¡­" Sergeant looked over the data map on the info pad. "Corporal Tani and Private Wise meet Cadet Steel, he is highly intelligent, a tinkerer and quick on his feet. Since you came from the tower I assume Private Feathertail was up there."


    Cadet Steel moved uncomfortably, "umm¡­ asleep sir. He was asleep."


    "Haa¡­ of course he is. Corporal Tani, go wake up our resident medic then the rest that are in the barracks. I woke up Hand, but if they are not out in ten minutes you have my permission to drag them out. Private Wise, grab your favorite cadet of the ones you brought. You along with that cadet will be joining Cadet Steel and I on an expedition to one see one of these titan Kitinol. Then we will drop by this drop pod scanner to see what went wrong." The sergeant explained.


    He then began programming the holographic table with the additional points of interest and began labeling them. "Sir should we have someone check each morning to see where they moved?"


    "Ha, let me worry about that. Are you ready for a long patrol?" He asked, getting a nod in reply. "Good, because there won''t be any bathroom breaks during our investigation. Nor any food breaks."


    "I know sir. I remember the protocols to avoid providing the Kitinol with sustenance. Do I need to grab a repair kit?" Steel asked while removing his hand from saluting.


    "Yes, I suspect we will need it." The sergeant then waved him off and Steel walked off to grab a repair bag.


    Five minutes later he was meeting with the other three near a ladder that was set up. Cadet Steel saluted when he arrived.


    "Cadet Steel, meet Cadet March, one of the other recruits I got for my squad. Now come on, we can talk and walk." They climbed down the ladder one-by-one with Steel getting to go last.


    When they all arrived at the bottom he looked around before they began walking. "Cadet March was just telling us about the station she came from. I was wondering if you have any interesting stories from Kamot Prime." Private Wise spoke as she glanced back at him.


    "Hmm¡­ only the Union transmission and martial law. Aside from that I grew up in the slums as an orphan, I doubt those are the stories you want to hear." He answered as Sergeant Cornwall handed him the scanner that was not working yesterday.


    "Oh come on don''t tell me-"


    "Sorry to cut you off. But see if you can get that to work while we walk. It still is not functioning as well as it should." Cornwall told him while he pulled ahead to walk at the pack of the group.


    "Yes sir." Steel answered and started tinkering with the device.


    "Come on, there at least has to be one story that was just a ''no duh'' story." Cadet March encouraged. As they walked she was holding her gun tightly, she was obviously nervous and needed a distraction.


    "Well, I have a few. But it is not like any of them have a happy ending." He remarked as he decided to tell a story about a Cthulian trader that got robbed of all his goods after attempting to trade. For some reason he thought the slums were where the honest gathered and sold on credit to thieves and pickpockets.


    It was actually an interesting anecdote and insight into how the Cthulian culture was set up. And how their society functioned, because it meant they probably had their more honest people at the bottom and their liars toward the top.


    "That is ridiculous it is not like-"


    "We are here" The Sergeant cut off Cadet March again causing her to frown while Steel stashed the scanner now that he had made some progress.

 Chapter 15 - 15: Talking and Walking

    "We are here" The Sergeant cut off Cadet March again causing her to frown while Steel stashed the scanner now that he had made some progress.


    They walked up toward a rock formation while the sarge frowned while looking around. Steel on the other hand rolled his eyes and walked over to the large creature that was blending into its surroundings. He walked to the side and started observing it. After a moment the sarge walked over to join him, motioning for them to be quiet.


    Steel frowned and pulled out the scanner to start fiddling with it. He had an idea and wanted to test it. While the others started taking notes and pictures of the creature before they moved onto more physical testing. Like the hardness of the skin.


    "Steel, we are almost ready. Are you about done with whatever you are doing?" Steel heard over the comlink, almost as quiet as a whisper coming from Wise.


    Steel attached the last wire before he pointed it at the creature and clicked, there was a loud noise of warbling then it was over. The creature stirred but did not wake up, it was enough for the rest of them to ready their weapons.


    He nodded at the result and then showed it to the others. The creature scanned fine but the scanner could not pick up the dirt or rock that had attached itself to the creature. It was the soil itself that was an issue in the area. It was a composite of something that absorbed energy, making it a natural deterrent to things like scanners. It would be an issue if the dust got on their communication transmitters.


    "Huh¡­ okay. Time to back up to do the weapons test, it looks like it has hardened scale skin, but I hope that is not the case." The sergeant declared before looking around. Eventually he walked up to a wall and started climbing it.


    Steel followed him up with the other two following quickly after. Once they were all up, the sergeant pulled out his rifle and aimed. "Get ready to run just in case." Then the Sergeant fired a burst of rounds at the titan''s side.


    The rounds bounced and deflected off of the creature''s tough skin. In fact afterwards it looked like the skin did not even move. Instead of being aggravated by the noise and gunfire the Titan just slightly adjusted before going back to sleep, uncaring about their presence.


    Private Wise whistled in admiration, "well there is the good news and bad news columns sir. Good news is these variants seem particularly lazy and not being on the hunt for its food. While the bad news is that nothing short of an orbital cannon could break that skin."


    The Sergeant grunted in response before shaking his head, "well if they are not aggressive we can leave them for now. Come on, we need to see about the specialized scanner that Border of Downfall dropped."


    Steel began tinkering with the scanner again, hoping to find a way to scan this dirt and rock. But chances were that it would not be possible. He could only do so much with this scanner, eventually he just decided that it was good enough and handed the scanner to the Sergeant with the setting to detect anything through the dirt but not the dirt itself. "As good as it is going to get with the equipment I have on hand sir."


    "Thanks Cadet Steel, where did you learn this kind of stuff anyways?" Sergeant asked as they continued to walk. Now he was starting up a conversation to distract from the time it would take to walk.


    "Actually, growing up as an orphan in the slums means you have to know something or else you get pushed into doing shitty jobs by the local gangs. So I figured out technology and programming quickly since it was in high demand." He explained with a shrug.


    "What would be considered a shitty job?" Cadet March asked, causing Private Wise to flinch. It seemed she already had an idea.


    "Since everyone was below thirteen it was not too bad, especially since we had monthly wellness checks by the military and many gang members were bastards and children of prostitutes. So it was mostly keeping a lookout, picking pockets, cleaning up a corpse, or helping take care of prostitutes when they were done with their work." He explained and he saw Wise visibly relax at that.


    "Aside from cleaning up a corpse, none of those sound too bad." March pointed out.


    "Actually cleaning up a corpse was the only one where you usually did not get shit beat out of you afterwards. Because by that point you were just as guilty in the crime." He explained as he walked.


    "So you picked up programming. How about hacking?" Wise asked.


    "Yes sir. Apparently, I keep causing the people in Cyber Warfare problems. I have been told to not find any holes in security systems for at least another few months." Steel actually smirked at that thought. Thinking about what a good laugh he and Commander Dakota got out of that.


    "Really?" Private Wise was surprised, "you and Corporal Tani will get along great. When we are not planetside she is practically running CyberOps aboard the ship."


    "Sounds fun. But-" Steel stopped mid sentence as he heard something. He pulled his rifle off his back and spun around. Looking around to see if he could see what he heard. But it was quiet now.


    "Cadet Steel," Sergeant Cornwall questioned. As Cadet Steel slowly moved towards a dark pathway that was covered by an overhang of a rock formation. "What do you see Cadet?"


    "It is not what I see sir." He remarked as he turned the corner and saw a figure race around a corner. "Damn, contact sir. Permission to pursue?"


    "Go!" The Sergeant yelled in surprise before chasing after Steel with the other two.


    Steel crouched and sprinted down the alley, maximizing his listening to help him track. Inadvertently he smelled the creature as well. It smelled musty and like one of those lizards he sometimes saw as pets.


    It was fast as well but he was almost as fast and he figured his endurance was better. But that did not clearly matter as he arrived at an opening where a small ship''s rear door just finished closing. It was nothing like he had never seen before.


    He quickly tapped his recording device as his helmet camera began recording. He watched as the ship floated up without any visible propulsion and then soared into the air. Then he watched as it flew away and began disappearing as it camouflage. The camouflage was in a hexagonal pattern that flipped one-by-one from front to back.


    A moment later the Sergeant ran up behind him, "Cadet did you lose them?"


    Steel tilted his head and pulled up the recording he just made on a data pad he pulled out of a repair kit, "sort of. I will write out everything I heard and smelled while chasing it. But I think you will agree with me on one front."


    He handed the Sergeant the data pad and played the video of him arriving at the ship and watching it take off. "Huh, a scout from a non-human species but for now let''s head to the last destination before heading back to base."


    They were all stunned as they made their way to the drop pod. Now more aware of their surroundings and the possibility that they were not alone. Steel quickly typed the odd clicking sounds and the musty lizard smell he heard and smelled during the pursuit. Then he quickly estimated the creature''s height and detailed the alien being similar to humans in shape and size from the figure''s shadow that he saw.


    "Steel¡­ I am starting to think you are just bad luck." The Sergeant pointed out as they walked. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How did you know they were there?" March asked.


    "He made a mistake, he rotated his foot which made a sound while sand ground into sand. If he had not done that I might not have heard him breathing over our own walking and breathing. But an extra step is distinguishable. Especially when I have trained myself to listen for that kind of extra movement." He answered as they quietly walked for ten minutes until they arrived at the drop pod.


    "Steel, what are we looking at?" The Sergeant asked as he saw the open pod that was open with multiple computer pieces and what looked like malfunctioning sonic sonar.


    "Hmm¡­ a malfunctioning sonic sonar scanning system. Looks like it shot a sonic pulse and did not like what it got back. Ahh¡­ this might take a bit. You might as well make that call while I do this." Steel sighed as he crouched down and used an info pad to start accessing the malfunctioning device.


    "Sergeant Cornwall to Captain Mendez, requesting secure channel level five." Cornwall spoke quickly, realizing to silence his own comlink so his squad could not hear him. But what he did not account for was that Steel could still hear him, it seems he forgot already that Steel was a known hacker.


    It was a few minutes before Cornwall got a response, "Cornwall, this is starting to become tedious. What new information do you have for me now?"


    "Sorry, Captain. Unfortunately I have a feeling it will get worse before it gets better. I am sending a video and Cadet Steel''s account. I suspect the ship design matches that group that we have encountered before. It seems this one was just a stealth observation vessel. If it was not for Steel''s Enhanced Perception skill we might have never noticed them." The Sergeant answered.


    "Ah Hell," there was a deep breath. "I will pass that on. But if they showed up here it means there is something to find that we have never seen. Find it, the last thing we want is for anyone else realizing what we found."


    "Understood, Cornwall out."


    Steel was halfway through fixing the device and began modifying the system to scan through the dirt instead of trying to scan the dirt itself. No point in trying to read something that absorbed vibrations no matter how micro or macro they were. He could make one that could read the dirt given enough time, but he had a feeling they should not wait.


    "Steel status?"


    Steel stopped himself from responding since Cornwall had forgotten to reactivate his comlink. After a moment Cornwall realized his mistake and repeated his question, "Steel status?"


    "Sir, it is not like I am building a barracks. I am programming it from scratch the same way I did to your scanner. But with a completely different system, I have to make sure it gets deeper and farther into the planet." He explained as he cut a pair of wires and switched them.


    "Hmm¡­ you should find a way to streamline it. I have a feeling you will be doing this a lot." Cornwall grumbled, but understanding his point so he was making a suggestion instead.


    Steel nodded in response as he focused in and got to work. A few minutes later he frowned and sent out a message to Corporal Tani, "Corporal Tani can you please check the tactical table. Is it receiving data from drop pod SS-05?"


    There was a moment of quiet before an answer, "affirmative, anything else cadet?"


    "Yes, send it to the ship. I am using too much power to transmit that far." Steel explained as he closed up the drop pod so it could not be bothered by bugs.


    He then stood up and they made their way back to the base. The Sergeant was right he had to make preparations for the other times he would do this.

 Chapter 16 - 16: Underground Ship

    Surprisingly the next week and a half passed without issue. The titans were as lazy as they suspected while the scanning equipment was not producing any results. Some did show a large slithering creature that moved through underground tunnels but otherwise it was useless. A dozen outposts were made and had occupants already, the Sand Snakes who already had their full staff were divided among the outposts. With the Desert Dogs running supply runs between them.


    Honestly it would be an impressive plan, if the Kitnol population were not almost already completely wiped out. It appeared their abandoning an already overrun base and bombing it to hell had worked out a little too well. Their entire continent was almost completely devoid of life. The soldiers were already nicknaming it the Accidental Extermination.


    At the moment Steel was working on the last scanner with Corporal Tani with some of the Sand Snakes standing guard. It was easier to move supplies if they did not also have to worry about guarding the people repairing the drop pods.


    "Done." Steel spoke confidently and Tani nodded.


    "Then we just need to do this and this is the last one." She responded and then whistled, "I suppose it is always the last one. Check this out Cadet Steel, what does that look like to you?"


    She showed him the data pad and he frowned, "like elements and minerals we have never seen before or do you mean the Caravel-Class craft that was clearly here long before most of this continent was formed."


    The Sand Snakes sucked in their breath while Tani chuckled, "yes I mean that. Lock it up so we can go and report this. It looks like there are no tunnels to it and it is buried under a layer of bedrock. Meaning we can not get to it with the resources we have."


    She then led them away after Steel sealed up the scanning device. There was not much to do anymore. When they arrived back at the base it was to see the Sergeant finishing a conversation with the Captain.


    Cornwall nodded before the call cut off he looked over to them, "we have no other pressing issues. Just patrols and supply runs for the next few days. Go ahead and get loosened up and familiar with the others."


    Cadet Steel nodded and went to join the others to see what he could help with. While


    He was doing that the Captain of the Border of Downfall was sending a communication. Actually more than one of them was sending comuniques


    ¡ª----------------


    "Captain Mendez, this is Admiral Willow of Vexical Fleet Command. We have the written accounts and reports. What did you have to report with such an emergency that you would contact me directly?" The Admiral asked as the secure communication channel shuddered as it became more secure.


    "We have found possible evidence of an advanced space faring species that landed on this planet. We are still looking over initial scans but we believe we would need mining equipment to get access to the ancient vessel." The Captain sent the scans as he spoke. "I am keeping as much of a lid on this as I can but chances are someone will leak it to someone else and we still do not know why a Victorium scout was in the area."


    "Human nations have only reported ship skirmishes while on the edge of their territories. There is probably not much to it but keep your crew ready in case you are attacked. Especially if others realize the existence of an advanced race is in our backyard and their technology is up for grabs." The Admiral pointed out before he began typing on his device. "I will have both the Victorium scout ship and the ship underground classified to Alpha level. Keep in mind that the emperor''s plan will commence soon."


    "Understood, I will restrict crew communication and block lines of information." He declared as he prepared to send orders out.


    ¡ª------------------


    "How much are you willing to pay for a vulnerability in the Vexical Empire? I have info on a discovery that was just made within the empire. They found a spacecraft buried under the ground." The man''s greedy voice was followed by a cackle.


    "Hmm¡­ two million credits, but I will need the intel on confirmation of payment. If it is better than I think I will send extra credits to your account, hold for confirmation." There was a few minutes until the voice came back.


    "Payment retrieved," the greedy man remarked. "On planet Waterswan-2 they found a ship buried under the planet''s surface. I am sending you the intel now."


    "Haa¡­ I already know a few different people that might want this information. A pleasure doing business with you as always." Then the line cut off and an additional two million credits arrived in his account.


    The greedy man chuckled as he got a message to report to the ship captain.


    ¡ª----------------


    "High Priestess." A figure cloaked in shadow spoke to a hologram of a throne. "The human nation known as the Vexical Empire sits on the planet where an ancient craft is. But I do not believe they know it is there."


    "Good, prepare an assault. We need to acquire another piece of Xenar technology to advance our people." The High Priestess remarked.


    "I will. But your highness, I was discovered by one of the humans. He even managed to chase me down, I only escaped because my ship was nearby. I believe there is more to them than we initially believed." The scout answered with a hint of worry.


    "Hmm¡­ then it is war. The best test of a species strength and abilities is to see them under pressure. It is time the Victorium waged war on more than just the bugs. You have my permission to lead a fleet to that planet and seize the ship. I will summon my war council." She spoke with such confidence that caused the scout''s body to tremble in excitement. Finally, after knowing about the humans for a few years they were going to fight them.


    ¡ª------------------


    Salem was walking from the gym when she got a message requesting a private communique. She did not recognize the ID number. But she might as well answer it, it was not like she was doing anything better. Her squad was still waiting on the ship for a shift change with the soldiers on the planet.


    So she was just training her body and getting along with her squad. It was not much work. The postings for year-long Cadet training was where they got them used to combat situations. Especially under enemy attack and being protected by trained individuals.


    No one said it out loud but it was to weed out people that would be useless to train further for the military. Cowards and those with weaker wills were strongly disliked, so the empire used this method to cut them off and prevent them from climbing the ranks.


    But even with it, some still got through when they barely saw any action. Which is also why it was basically required to have good evaluations to encourage promotions during the first year. Unfortunately it seems this plan was starting to lose its ability, the plan to use the Kitinol was fading out. Apparently they had done too well of a job starving out the bugs.


    They had not told her anything specifically but her ability allowed her to hear the thoughts of others. So she knew that their plan had worked a little too well. The Kitinol were starved out from the offensive line, soon enough they would be habitable again.


    But the officers were starting to catch on and were not focusing on sensitive topics while she was around. She honestly didn''t mind that. It was actually probably a good thing if word got around.


    As she arrived at her quarters she glanced around. The only one in here was another cadet, but she was sleeping. So she put in an earpiece and accepted the message.


    "Miss Wintry, this is Commander Holiday of the Imperial Guard. I have been granted permission to offer you an invitation. Please establish communication at your earliest convenience if you wish to get revenge for your murdered family members." The voice was raspy from a lifetime of smoke inhalation, and it was olderman maybe in his late fifties.


    But it was the foot in the door she was waiting for and hoped would never come. This was clearly an offer from a rebel group, a recruitment offer. She would have to take it, because those were her orders. It was worrying however that the offer came from a member of the Imperial Guard.


    After a few moments though she checked the time on the capital planet and then launched a communication. The official story she was ''told'' was that her family died in an accident. So she would have to operate with that thought in mind, trying to find out why the captain had said they were ''murdered''.


    It was time she started lying constantly. To everyone. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 17 - 17: Life Aboard Border of Downfall

    "Congrats Cadets on your first successful operation." The Sergeant called out as the five Cadets were lined up. His Privates and Corporal were moving around the perimeter keeping a watch. It had been two weeks since the Desert Dogs deployed to the planet. It had also been two weeks since they deployed.


    Meaning two weeks were considered a full operation. Now he was guessing they were heading back to the ship. Only reason he knew was because he could pick up an Osprey entering the atmosphere from their ship that was in orbit.


    "Now that may make you believe that means you are good and hot stuff. But it does not. We will go back to the ship for a week''s rest before returning to the surface for an additional two weeks. That does not mean it is a vacation, you will make yourself useful or busy. Whether that is training or tinkering you will not be caught doing nothing." He declared loudly.


    Steel standing in a salute when the Sergeant finally nodded in satisfaction. "Good, be prepared to leave but keep in mind we are still standing guard until we are aboard that transport. Dismissed Cadets!"


    Steel relaxed and moved away, opting to walk along the edge of the base to see if he could spot any movement. As he walked along the edge he listened as the transport came in, doing a slow glide stop and hover before it landed. Then he heard the Sergeant call out.


    "Desert Dogs, we are leaving this rock! Form up and load onto the Osprey!" The yell was booming, and Steel would be worried if the planet wasn''t basically devoid of all life.


    He quickly jogged over to the landing zone passing several soldiers that were in white armor with the symbol for eggs on it. A contrast to his own squad''s furry dog symbol. Arriving at the Osprey he climbed on and nodded to the Sergeant who was talking with the other squad''s Sergeant. Corporal Tani was taking a headcount of the squad as they entered the ship. Once he was inside he joined the others in sitting on one of the seats storing his weapon in a rack on the side.


    As the Sergeant entered he noticed them and nodded to the Corporal who nodded and knocked on the pilot''s door. "Cadets never relax until you are on your bunk on the ship. Even then you should be prepared for a fight at a moment''s notice."


    The Osprey took to the sky and the rear door closed up. The sand and rock disappeared from sight. He had not relaxed yet but he understood what the Sergeant was talking about. So he did not relax, it was why his rifle was still loaded with active ammunition. He closed his eyes and focused his hearing, listening to what he could hear from the pilots. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Border of Downfall, this is Osprey BOD-04 we are leaving the atmosphere now. Request permission to land upon arrival?" The co-pilot asked as the gravitational force in the ship increased.


    "Negative BOD-04, we have new arrivals in the systems. Stay in low orbit until they arrive. It will only be a few extra minutes." The answer over the radio seemed to surprise the pilots.


    Which only confused Steel. It was obvious why there would be more activity around this planet, then as he listened it became obvious for the reason. They were making up ideas of what it might be, but they did not know about the ancient space vessel that was found.


    His eyes shot open and he looked to where the Sergeant was sitting. He was talking quietly with the Corporal. He was focused on his conversation but it seemed that Tani was confused by whatever Cornwall was telling her.


    Then Steel remembered the protocols for returning to a ship during peacetime. He pulled the rifle off its rack, catching the attention of the others. He pulled out the magazine that he had checked this morning after waking up. Then he made sure the chamber was empty before putting it back on the rack.


    The only one that noticed he only emptied his rifle was Cornwall, "just your rifle cadet? What about your sidearm?"


    "We are stuck in space for a few minutes sir. I can disarm my rifle but protocol allows me to keep my sidearm prepared for combat just in case sir." Steel answered with a quick crisp salute before he relaxed a bit and listened to the pilots entertaining conspiracy theory.


    He listened until one of them whistled in appreciation and said, "it''s the new warship, Nightfall of Requiem." That pulled him out and he smiled before the Osprey was pulled out of its holding pattern.


    Steel stood up just as they switched over to the Border''s gravity. Pulling his rifle off the rack he readied to disembark.


    But as the door opened they were met with the scowling Captain Mendez and a chubby man in an Inquisitors uniform. Steel could smell the cheap booze, cigar smoke, and drugs coming off the man. He actually scrunched his nose for a second before adjusting his face to hide his thoughts. But it seemed the fat man caught on anyways. He frowned at Steel.


    "Welcome back Desert Dogs, I have to debrief you before you can relax. Follow me to a secure room." He then walked away and the squad looked to Cornwall who nodded and they followed after Mendez.


    A few minutes later they arrived at a conference room. That was quickly sealed up after they entered.


    "As of this moment anything you saw, heard, or even smelled on Waterswan-2 is Alpha level classified. All of your communications will be monitored and talking about it with anyone, even your own squad will be violating military security laws." The captain quickly declared before the room was unsealed and he left without another word.


    The sergeant frowned and then waved them off, "Cadets go get settled in and get proper rest." Steel was both annoyed and relieved, it seemed he would finally be able to relax but Cornwall clearly wanted to talk to his squad alone.


    Steel walked to his bunk, stowing his rifle and securing the ammunition. Doing the same with his pistol, remembering that he forgot to empty his sidearm. He then removed his armor, hanging it up and securing it in his locker.


    He then stripped down and entered the showers feeling the grime and dirt come off of him. It was a communal shower so he watched as the others entered, just as exhausted and eager to clean up. He walked out a few minutes later going to his locker after drying off.


    He pulled on a pair of underwear before he crawled under the sheets. But he just remembered to set his communication watch on a six hour timer. Then he was out like a light.


    He woke groggily to his alarm and put it on snooze as he crawled out of his bed. Aside from the Corporal and Sergeant the rest of his squad was still in their bunks. The Corporal''s bunk was empty while the Sergeant had his own room.


    He stood up and went to clean up quickly, coming back a few minutes later after he freshened up. Grabbing some clothes he stowed his empty sidearm and magazines. He then made his way to the workshop. He would clean up his armor and then work on a modification for the ship''s scanners.


    They were likely still having issues and he might as well make himself useful. When he arrived at the workshop, there was a group of technicians typing on computers and talking. He moved over to a spot near the vacuum system and began cleaning the dust and dirt out of the armor. Which gave him a thought so he collected the dirt and set it aside.


    He could use them to develop a material that was invisible to scanners, or maybe just impenetrable. Either way he could improve both their scanners and armor plating. As he was working on refining the material he listened to the technicians from across the room.


    He was right about them working on the ship''s scanner. Apparently they were under pressure to get around the dirt readings. He might as well offer his assistance.


    Several hours later he was working out at the gym, his gear was stashed at the crew quarters. He had helped out the technicians enough that they came up with a workaround. They still could not detect the dirt itself but they could detect anything covered or under the dirt.


    While he had come up with a device to scan while on the surface. It should be able to detect anything while on the surface but the caveat was that it was very noticeable and very loud. He would write up the designs and then get permission to work on them.


    For now he was just thinking while he worked out. Giving his muscles some real strain. As he finished his rep the Sergeant entered.


    "Hey kid," He then went over to the training wall, "do you mind if I increase the gravity load?"


    "Go for it," Steel answered as he put down the weights. He might as well increase his workload. The weights were getting easy to lift.


    "Just wanted to let you know," Cornwall spoke with some strain as he took the weight lifting station next to his. "I passed your rating up the chain of command. Your official file became classified beyond Alpha-level. But if anyone checks it they will see your rating is B, it will be the same for any official files. So do us a favor and do not go talking or writing your rating anywhere."


    "Yes, sir. The ship technicians will make similar adjustments to the ship scanners that I made to the ones on the planet. I plan to also work on a scanner design that can scan deep into the planet to look for mineral resources and any other surprises we might have not noticed." Steel told Cornwall.


    "Ha¡­ you are thinking ahead to when the planet is already cleared?" Cornwall sounded a mix of concern and surprise. "You know that chances are the entire planet will be stripped for resources since there are no biological resources. Chances are it will be turned into either a prison colony or a mining colony."


    "I understand, but either way this particular one will stay under military control." Steel pointed out. "So I do not see the issue with spending military resources."


    Cornwall chuckled, "good point." He finished with his rep and nodded, "care to join me for dinner? Mendez wanted me to bring the cadets, but I am not going to force any of you to a formal dinner."


    "Is the food any better than the cafeteria?" He asked, getting a chuckle from the older man.


    "Of course it is better. The captain has his own dining room where he cooks. I do not know what he is cooking tonight, but his cooking is always good." The Sergeant remarked as he wiped the sweat off his brow. "Go get your formal uniform."


    "Yes sir." Steel gave a quick salute before going back to his room to get ready.

 Chapter 18 - 18: Unexpected

    Steel walked into the room led by the Sergeant. The other cadets had decided to join them. They heard delicious food and signed right up. As they walked in, Steel saw the captain really did have a larger room. It was the same size as their crew quarters but dedicated to only his usage.


    Mendez was in the kitchen and he seemed to be finishing the dish. "Welcome cadets, get comfortable at the table. I will bring out the plates in a second. You see, I like to talk and get to know my crew, especially the new recruits. It is a way to remind myself that everyone is valuable and not expendable."


    Steel sat at the table and looked around at the fancy bread. The bowl of green balls that looked wet. The slather of butter that looked like a lighter yellow then the usual yellow he was used to. Another bowl full of mashed potatoes with bits of green and red things. Then there was another smaller bowl with a spoon of what looked like gravy, but it looked less murky than anything he had seen before.


    "Sorry, it is not too fancy. I want to know a bit more about all of you. Let''s start with cadet March, you arrived here from the Talus system correct?" The captain asked as he brought out plates with some bread crusted meat.


    "Umm¡­ certainly sir, I am actually from the station orbiting Talus Prime. I have two younger brothers and my mothers are actually ship engineers. Talus Prime is only recently populated so my class was one of the first ones to graduate¡­" March talked about her family while she and the others ate.


    Steel could only think about how this was not considered fancy in the captain''s book. Then as the other cadets went through their stories he realized that most of them had full lives with connections with other people.


    Steel on the other hand had only gone through life one day at a time. Never planning longer than that, the only exception was the military. It was strange to imagine planning personal time a week out.


    "Finally Cadet Jace Steel, I am sure you have some interesting stories. I mean my technicians can not stop talking about the modifications you helped them make to the ship scanners." The captain asked.


    "Nothing too interesting sir. I grew up on Kamot Prime in the slums. So I mostly lived my life by trying to survive everyday. But I will say aside from the rations and cafeteria food this is definitely the cleanest and nicest meal I ever had." Steel answered as he nudged a piece of bread crusted meat.


    The captain seemed to become nervous while Sergeant Cornwall broke out in laughter, "no wonder it seems like you have eyes on the back of your head. As well as your constant need to do something."


    "Sir?" Steel asked quizzically.


    "During our service we have seen a number of orphans, and those from the slums usually either went two ways. They either got lazy because of the luxuries compared to the slums or they went the other direction and became exceptional soldiers and ruthless commanders." The captain explained.


    "Does the empire have a statistical probability for slum born orphans?" Cadet March remarked in surprise.


    "Well yeah, it was just something interesting that was noticed over time." Sergeant Cornwall shrugged, but Steel had a feeling there was more to it then he was letting on.


    "Well regardless you are already shaping up to be a remarkable soldier. But you should find a way to relax, you will need a hobby." The captain suggested.


    Steel went to say something when Cadet Charlie cut in, "it can''t be tinkering. You need something that can not be work related. So you would need something that¡­ you will not be able to turn into a work activity. Have you tried gaming? It is what most people go to."


    "Yeah, it was too easy. My roommate at the academy tried to get me into it until martial law went down and internet access was restricted." Steel reminded her.


    "Ah shit. I forgot."


    There were chuckles before the captain cut in. "Books, sports, cooking, there are plenty of hobbies you could pick up. Honestly I prefer cooking myself, but you should find something that might interest you."


    "Yes sir. Sir you had us talk about ourselves but you haven''t talked about yourself. Nor has the sarge." Steel responded, causing a murmur of agreement from the others.


    "Well¡­" The captain started.


    A few hours later he was changing out of his formal uniform. He glanced over at the officers who were all sitting around a table. They were playing cards, he had seen and played the games plenty of times before.


    "Hey Cadets, care to bet your first paycheck?" Steel smirked and walked over to join them. Who needs a hobby? He will just do his best and enjoy himself while he does it.


    ¡ª-------------


    The next day Steel was sitting on a crate in the hanger bay. He was trying to stay out of sight of the senior officers. He had fleeced the officers from his squad of all their paychecks. They were pissed, not enough to do something stupid. But angry enough to try to pull a prank on him. He was wearing his armor at the moment because that was the standard for when was not in formal uniform or working out.


    He was putting his finishing touches on his scanner at the moment. Well at least the blueprint for the scanner. Vibrational shockwaves were-


    Suddenly the entire bay''s lights flickered before it went out. The shield''s went out as well, but before all the air was sucked out of the bay the metal doors slammed closed. But several objects and people were pulled towards space so he slid across the floor.


    Steel looked around and the engineers and pilots seemed just as confused. Then someone called out, "get to your battle stations!"


    Steel raced out of the hanger grabbing his armor''s helmet as he moved. As he ran out the door he sealed on his helmet, but as he was passing an airlock he did a double take.


    On the other side of the airlock was a ship-to-ship connection; through it he caught sight of several heavily armed soldiers in green armor. He slid to a stop and focused his hearing on listening, which is when he heard it.


    "Hurry up and get the door open, our warp bubble collapsing knocked out their systems but that will only last for so long. We need to find the location of the artifact ship before they-" The man was cut off as the lights on the ship turned back on. While all around them the ship came to life. Systems booting on and unfortunately for Steel the doors opened up.


    "This is Captain Mendez to all the crew we are under attack by the Crystoph Federation, they are boarding our ship. Treat any non-ship personnel as hostile." The Captain went on talking but Steel had to ignore it.


    He quickly loaded a magazine in his Pyre-21 and fired at the Crystophian soldiers. The shots were loud and rung true. He fired three single shots back to back. The first one hit the leader in the head, causing an explosion of red as all that was left of the head was his helmet, which did not help in this situation.


    The second shot was aimed at the data pad of the soldier that was splicing open the door. He missed, forgetting to account for recoil. It must have been the excitement or the panic. So instead the shot hit the man''s hand blowing it to smithereens as well.


    The final and third shot went to another man''s throat. This time it just went through but the man collapsed similarly dropping his gun and bringing his hands to his throat. Causing the last two unscathed members of this group to become shocked for only a moment before firing their weapons.


    To be fair he probably could have gotten another shot off but he had to be careful. "Sergeant Cornwall this is Cadet Steel, I am by airlock P07. I have hostiles entering the ship, they said they are looking for intel on the location of an artifact." He kept it short and did not specify since Cornwall would likely understand.


    "Understood Cadet, backup will be sent to your location. But we are being boarded from almost all of our portside airlocks. It seems they timed their arrival with the declaration of war. We are also now under War Scavenging Rights, so take as much technology as your heart desires." The Sergeant''s answer actually washed away the nervousness and made a surge of excitement enter his body.


    The shots that were chipping away at the corner he was hiding behind suddenly stopped and he heard cursing as they started reloading. He turned around the corner seeing and hearing one of them gripping his stump and moaning in pain while the two others were caught in the middle of reloading.


    Pop pop. Two more shots fired. Two more shots hit. He aimed for the heads again despite the mess it would make. It was not like it would bother him, he had seen worse. His aim was true and he hit his targets. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Steel was surprised as he walked into the airlock connection. Just beyond it he could see the ship and there was a clear lack of support for this group. Meanwhile the one who was bleeding from his throat was pawing at Steel''s pant leg. While stumpy was still whining. Without even blinking he holstered his sidearm.


    He first walked up behind stumpy and quickly snapped his neck. A crisp snap like he was opening a pack of crisps sounded. It would be noticeable if he did not bring silence to the previous whining and begging. He then lifted his foot and brought it down on the other one''s head, causing it to explode as well.


    He then picked up one of the rifles, they were laser weapons instead of solid ammunition. It was also cheaper to produce, and weaker. Honestly he could have taken a few shots and only gotten slightly singed.


    He listened to the ship as he moved around moving the guns and anything else he found interesting to the Border of Downfall''s side of the ship. Scavenger rights were in effect after all.

 Chapter 19 - 19: Ship Infiltration

    Steel quietly covered the corner with the laser rifle he stole from the Crystoph soldiers. Which is when he heard running coming up from behind him. He looked over to see Private Wise and Cadet Anchor.


    "Cadet Steel we came to support- Holy shit!" She stopped speaking as he looked around the corner and saw the bloodbath. She actually seemed shocked beyond words while Cadet Anchor recoiled before going back around the corner and pulling off his helmet before puking his guts out.


    "I already secured the airlock. How are the other sections doing?" Steel asked as he heard another set of boots coming from the hanger bay.


    "They are seeing heavy combat. Why are they not coming here?" She asked as she tossed him his rifle. He stowed it on his back with the laser shotgun he found instead of holding it. He wanted to try the laser rifle out.


    "Probably because I killed them too quickly. As soon as the captain made the announcement I took out three of the more senior members apparently and then took out the last two a few seconds later." Steel answered, nodding at the bodies he had already looted.


    "Then we might have an opportunity, they might think this team was successful. Let''s turn the tables on them. Cadet Anchor-" She looked over at Anchor to see him wiping the puke off his face. She then turned to the engineers with sidearms who arrived.


    She rolled her eyes before grabbing the laser rifle out of Steel''s hand and placed it in the engineer''s arms. "Hey! That''s mine-"


    "As I was saying, Cadet Anchor will stay with these two and keep this door secure. You will assist me in securing the enemy ship. But keep the weapons you are familiar with handy." She pulled the rifle off his back and placed it in his hands.


    She then moved forward and Steel followed her a moment later. Listening closely as they moved down the hallway. They moved down the hallway until they arrived at a screen that was embedded into the wall.


    "Steel hack into the system and get the ship schematics. I will cover you." Wise crouched down and watched down the hallway.


    Steel crouched and pulled out his hacking device quickly accessing the screen and then the terminal. Unfortunately it only had the most basic of information. Fortunately that information included the ship schematics.


    "Got-"


    "Hey! Who are you?" Steel looked down the hall the opposite way that Wise was facing. There was an armored group of three soldiers who looked different from others he saw.


    "Shit! Mecha Pilots, take cover." Wise yelled as she slid behind cover while shooting a few rounds down the hallway.


    Steel kicked off the wall and slid behind a corner as he put away his hacking device. He knew which direction the bridge was. "Bridge?" He asked as laser fire streaked down the hallway between them.


    "Yes, we need to secure it. Most Crystoph Federation ships have complete bridge control, it is both a defect and a positive. It will be good for us if we can get there." She explained before firing a few more shots down the hall.


    "Then follow the leader." Steel moved around the corner just as he heard these pilot mecha start reloading. He backed up down the hall while aiming at the corner of where the first one started reloading.


    The man''s head peaked out along with the rifle and a quick burst of Steel''s rifle that recoiled heavily against his shoulder made both the man''s helmet and head disappear. He backed up to a corner that Wise disappeared around. Then he quickly pulled up the schematics on his helmet and started jogging down the hall.


    As they were running they ran right into a squad of normal soldiers that seemed to be running to support another area of the ship.


    "Shit!" Wise was behind Steel so he was blocking any firing line she had while the soldiers were just as surprised as them. Steel moved quickly, dropping his rifle and pulling out his combat knife.


    He grabbed the weapon of the soldier in front of him. Keeping him from raising it, using his other hand with the knife he brought it up under the man''s chin. It went from the bottom of the man''s jaw right into the soldier''s skull.


    Using it to hold the soldier''s body upright he moved his other hand from holding the rifle to the soldier''s hip and pulled out the laser pistol. He threw it in the air and caught it again and unleashed several shots to the four soldiers that were following him.


    Unfortunately it did not kill them, but they were mostly too caught off guard to fire. But the few shots that were fired were caught by the dead soldier that Steel was holding up with his knife. Wise catching on peaked around the solder and let loose a volley of shots. Turning the remaining soldiers into red mist.


    Steel pulled out his knife from the skull of the soldier, causing him to collapse. Steel crouched down and cleaned his knife on the dead soldier''s clothes before he sheathed it. He tossed aside the laser pistol and picked up his rifle.


    "Nice tactic. Should train that in the academy." Wise pointed out.


    "It only worked because I was listening to their movement. Now come on, we don''t want those pilots to catch up. They have more pilots and other soldiers with them." Steel explained before he quickly started jogging down the hall.


    They were almost to the bridge door when Steel involuntarily ducked as laser fire landed around him. He spun around to see the large group he could hear chasing them. Wise moved ahead as Steel fired a few rounds pushing most of them into hiding while the few unlucky ones were hit by shots. One actually died as he collapsed to the ground.


    "Damn. The door is locked." Wise called from behind him.


    "I got it. Switch." He called out before moving to the door while Wise turned around and fired a volley of shots. "What exactly are we going to do when the door opens? At this point they likely know we are coming." Steel crouched by the door, putting his rifle on his back. Then pulled out his hacking device and began hacking the door to open it.


    "I have got a plan. You just need to get that door open and to make sure your suit is still space capable." Wise''s words caused him to actually double check his suit status.


    "Done, opening the door in three¡­ two¡­" The door opened and Wise opened fire past the entire bridge staff and there was the sound of cracking. "Oh, sonofa-" Steel did not get a chance to finish his thought as the reinforced glass broke. Venting the atmosphere and the people on the bridge into space.


    Steel was forcefully pulled out along with Wise but she grabbed hold of the command chair while Steel grabbed a console to keep him from flying out the window. They would have continued to have been pulled if it was not for the emergency systems engaging.


    The door slammed shut causing Steel to let out a sigh of relief. "Damn. Why did the door close?" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Emergency systems activated. Cover the door, your plan has given me one of my own. But we should probably notify our captain, would you do the honors." Steel connected his hacking device to the console he was holding onto.


    "Gladly," she brought her hand up and tapped her helmet. "Captain Mendez, this is Private Wise of the Desert Dogs. Myself and Cadet Steel have seized the bridge of the enemy ship. We have full control."


    There was momentary silence as Steel managed to figure out ways around the emergency systems. Wise watched as the door suddenly sparked and she quickly cursed in a language Steel did not understand.


    "Private Wise¡­ did you say you seized the enemy bridge?" The captain asked over the radio


    "Yes sir. But they are cutting through the door now."


    "We have no other crew on that ship. If you have a suggestion for taking them out I am all ears." Mendez remarked, he sounded more exasperated than desperate.


    "Cadet Steel here sir. I am going to close the connecting airlocks between the two ships then I am going to open all other airlocks aboard this ship. Venting both atmosphere and the people into space." Steel''s idea caused Wise to laugh.


    "Go for it, Cadet. We have very few injured but their weapons fire is suppressing our people too much for us to push them." The captain answered.


    "Yes sir." Steel quickly typed and moments later the ship shuddered as the air was vented into space. But he frowned as he looked at the digital map rendering. Two locations in the ship still had air. "The hangers still have air and occupants but it is locked up tight. The only other location is a¡­ looks like a cryo pod room. They have several people still in cryo sleep and one person awake."


    "Hmm¡­ good. Stay put, we will secure the ship. This was the only vessel to arrive; it looks like our sister ships in orbit were not attacked; we were the only target." The captain then disconnected and Steel looked over at Wise and the door. They were still cutting through the door. It seems that venting their oxygen only managed to distract them for a moment.


    Steel moved behind cover while he watched them cut open the door. "Might as well take cover. At this point they are more likely to kill us in revenge than any other reason." He remarked.


    Wise nodded, "you are probably right, we just killed all the friends they had aboard this ship. Any ideas on what we should do?"


    "Actually¡­" Steel looked around.

 Chapter 20 - 20: No Deaths

    "Actually¡­" Steel looked around, "I think it would just be best to take cover and open the doors early." He moved his hacking device so it would not be in the line of fire. Wise moved behind cover so she had an angle on the opening.


    Steel quickly typed on his device, locking out all systems so the enemy could not operate the ship without a code that only he knew. He then set the door to open in ten seconds. "Ten seconds."


    He then got into position and aimed at an area between objects, it would make it harder for them to see him. He pulled out his rifle and aimed, taking deep breaths of his recycled oxygen that were generated by his infantry armor. The same armor that was the difference between him and the unforgiving vacuum of space.


    "Five¡­ four¡­ three¡­ two¡­." Steel counted down, tensing up before the door suddenly opened. Catching the mecha pilots that were on the other side completely off guard. A few of them were still watching behind them while one was holding an explosive canister and the other was holding a blowtorch.


    A few shots from Wise and the entire hall was engulfed in fire and Steel had to grab something to avoid being pushed out the ship. For a moment he heard a ting like something metal bouncing off metal but he ignored it. Through the destruction he could see the silhouettes of body parts and torsos as they landed on the ground.


    After a few moments where there was no retaliation he moved out of cover and checked his device. The door was no longer operational. It had been damaged too badly to close. "Wise are you still alive?"


    "Yes Cadet Steel," After a few moments she stepped out of cover and Steel followed her lead and stepped out of cover as well. She did a double take before nodding. "You look¡­ like you are still okay. You notice your helmet is cracked?"


    Steel looked up and saw what she meant. It was not enough to compromise his suit but it was still enough to catch him off guard. He got lucky. "Must have happened during the explosion, probably a piece of shrapnel." He then looked down at the hall. Since the ship''s gravity was still working it was a ghastly sight.


    There were pieces of bits here and there with blood covering the walls but quickly frosting over. Which also meant there were not any melting pieces of metal or burning body parts. But it had quite a strange effect. Frozen bodies right after the explosion made them crack under the quick temperature change.


    "Damn, and you thought what I did at the airlock was gruesome." Steel joked, causing Wise to give him a frown. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You said there were two areas still with air?"


    "Yes sir. The hangar and a cryo pod room." Steel answered. "I will pass on the info to the captain but chances are we are staying here. Watch my back. I am going to search through their systems."


    "Okay. Now here is the boring part." Wise gave an affirmative before focusing on the hallway.


    Less than an hour later both Wise and Steel were standing at attention on the bridge of the Border of Downfall. Saluting towards the front while the captain paced back and forth. He seemed between angry and ecstatic.


    "I will be honest. I have no clue what to do with you two. Because while you did manage to secure the enemy bridge. You failed to communicate that you were going to attempt to secure the enemy ship." The captain''s voice sounded exhausted.


    "Cadet Steel was just following my orders sir." Private Wise cut in. Causing Steel to frown.


    "Regardless of what the cadet would have done. It was still¡­ impressive. Even if our weapons were stronger than we expected against their meager armor. Within maybe twenty minutes of the fight starting you managed to finish it." The captain glared at Private Wise making certain she knew not to cut in again.


    "Now we only have so many options. So I will only mark it in your records, noting both your failure to communicate your unordered mission. On the other hand I will indicate that you both showed initiative. So you will get off this time. Go and get checked out by the medical staff. You were the only two exposed to the vacuum, I want to make sure you are alright." He waved his hand in an attempt to dismiss them.


    But Steel still had a question, "sir, what about scavenger''s rights?" He asked, causing both the captain, private Wise, and the ship staff to look at him in bewilderment.


    "Cadet?"


    "Sir we managed to secure a whole ship. But I doubt the military will let us keep it." Steel answered, causing the man to understand. Causing members of the bridge staff to chuckle, and Private Wise to smile.


    "I suppose¡­ you are correct. I will notify Command of your ''acquisition'' but for now. Private Wise, I am issuing custom infantry armor and any customized armaments you want to go with it. Cadet Steel you will be allowed to get any customized armaments even among the weapons you seized, unfortunately you can not get customized armor. So instead I will be taking one of the mecha from the ship and you can play with it and make it usable." The captain decided. Then he waved them off again.


    Steel and Wise walked away, Wise was smiling and they walked to the medical bay. That smile disappeared from her face. Steel was likewise suddenly in a foul mood. There were a few injured on the beds. Some with singed skin where they got cooked by laser fire.


    But the person with the heaviest injury was definitely Cadet Charlie. Her entire left arm was missing, there was also a clear lack of scorch marks. She was on a ventilator at the moment, clearly put to sleep because of the pain.


    "It was friendly fire." A voice behind them spoke up. They turned around to see the Sergeant, "Inquisitor dumbass got jumpy and blew her arm off. We were lucky there were no other major injuries."


    Private Wise clicked her tongue, "I do not like that guy. There is something off about him. It feels like small bugs are crawling over my skin when he looks at me."


    "I agree, but Inquisitors are out of the usual military line of command. So not even the captain can punish him without permission." Cornwall answered he moved over to a nurse and started looking over Charlie''s file.


    "Come on Steel, let''s get checked out." Wise moved over to a doctor while Steel listened. "Hey, we were told by the captain to get a onceover. Nothing serious, he probably wants to make sure we are fine."


    "Yeah¡­ the smartass Desert Dogs that stole an entire ship. Rumor is already spreading about you two." The doctor nodded with a grin.


    "Good to know." Wise gave the man a smirk. Then she thought of something, "hey what can you tell me about my junior Cadet Charlie." She nodded to the girl who was asleep.


    "Ahh¡­" even the doctor seemed to get an annoyed look on his face. "Yeah, the worst injury of this attack and it was fucking friendly fire. Traditionally I would be able to immediately requisition a cybernetic replacement."


    "But¡­" Steel cut in as he walked up. "It sounded like you were about to say this is not a traditional case."


    The doctor looked somewhere between nervous and outraged now. "I was. The pr- Inquisitor," he corrected himself. "Has restricted the medical treatment until the investigation is dropped. His exact words, the prick is pressuring the captain to drop it."


    "He is playing politics. No wonder¡­" He trailed off as he thought of something.


    "Something wrong Steel?" Private Wise asked.


    "No¡­ I just figured out some useful information for later." He answered, "can you at least get it sized up for when it gets approved?"


    The doctor nodded, "it will not violate any laws or orders so I can. Plus it will piss off that prick." That time he let slip his hate. Something told Steel that it was not the first time the ship doctor and inquisitor had run afoul of each other.


    "Good, Cadet Charlie is a good soldier. She does not deserve to get screwed over because of that fatass." Private Wise was about to let loose a few more insults but Steel stopped her.


    He shook his head and nodded to the door, "he''s coming. Doctor let''s get checked out quickly-" He stopped mid sentence and his eyebrows raised in surprise as he listened. "Nevermind, looks like I am going somewhere else." His statement caused both of them to look confused until Inquistor fatass walked in with Private Hand and Corporal Tani on either side of him. Looking both annoyed and angry.


    "Cadet Steel-" Inquisitor Sender started to speak loudly to catch everyone''s attention. But Steel cut in, interrupting him.


    "I already heard, Inquisitor fatass. Come on, I am curious to see what evidence you fabricated." His words caught everyone off guard. You could hear a pin drop across the room as Steel walked past them and out the room. He thought it worked a little too well, the Inquisitor seemed to have forgotten he was framing Steel.


    Steel got halfway down the hall and looked back when Tani walked out stifling laughter. Then Inquisitor Sender came out looking red in the face. But Steel shrugged it off and basically skipped to the brig. Finally causing Tani to burst in laughter.


    When he arrived at the brig the officer in charge of watching it was confused when Steel walked right into a cell and sat on a metal bench. "Umm cadet?"


    Tani walked in crying from laughter. She closed the cell door and then waved her hand, "Come on, I am still going to need your weapons and anything else electronic."


    Steel shrugged and walked to the door handing her his Pyre-21 and the mags he had with it. Then pulled out a number of other devices he had on him. "Hey there was an info pad by the airlock I secured during the attack. Can I get it back, if I am going to be stuck in here I might as well finish what I was designing."


    "Sure when the doctor comes to get a look over you I will send it with him." She answered as she brought the things he surrendered to a locker. Then she closed the locker and took the key with her. "Don''t worry too much about Steel, it is a bunch of political bullshit." She told the guard as she walked past.


    Now all Steel could think about was how exciting his life was. He quietly contemplated as he sat back down on his metal bunk.

 Chapter 21 - 21: Trial

    He was quietly humming when a familiar person came to visit. He had finished his design for a modified vibrational scanner awhile ago. At this point he was thinking about weapon modifications and looking into cybernetics. Now that he is thinking of it he might as well develop a useful hobby.


    "Kid¡­" Steel looked up to see Commander Dakota who was making a remarkable expression. "It has barely been a month. But I will say of all ways to betray the empire, I doubt leaking the existence of an ancient ship could have been your plan." For a moment he said it in a completely serious tone and then he let out laughter, "I am messing with you. So who do you think is setting you up?"


    "The Inquisitor, the doctor was hush-hush but he really did not like the dude. I am guessing they have butted heads several times before. Then he blew off another cadet''s arm, which was supposedly an accident. I am guessing that was not an accident." Steel explained, "if I had access to the ship''s systems I am sure I could hack into everything he owns and find out all his dirty secrets." He waved the info pad he had in his hands.


    Dakota rolled his eyes, "no can do. We want to play this by the book. The politicians in the military are going to be mincing through every piece of data. So we got to prove your innocence first. Any ideas?"


    "I need the evidence to-"


    Dakota held up an info pad interrupting Steel. "Like this?"


    Steel walked up and took the info pad, quickly scrolling through it. He frowned at the time of the signal sent to an information broker. Then he checked and confirmed the source of the location. Frowning, he considered something. He made a few notes on his other pad.


    "I think I got it. But was this all the evidence he supplied?" Steel asked in surprise.


    "Yes, I also got word that he is greasing palms on higher level members of the Inquisitors to help him force the issue." Dakota nodded, "you found the hole you were looking for?"


    "Yes sir. If my captain is not in on it, tell him to look at deployment times and to compare them to the time of the call." Steel answered. "Honestly it is not bad work, I am guessing he actually has some talent in CyberOps. Too bad he is an idiot, he should have used gaps in time when I could be blamed. Instead he half-assed it and relied on his political connections."


    "Ha¡­ You know that is another reason I know you did not do this. If you did it, I doubt you would have gotten discovered." Dakota pointed out.


    Steel gave a cheesy smile, "thank you sir."


    Dakota rolled his eyes but then Tani walked in and saluted, "sir it is time for the trial." Dakota frowned and nodded. Walking out the door without another word. "Damn Cadet, what did a legend like Commander Dakota want to talk to you about?" She walked up and opened the cell door.


    "Him? Oh, he was the head of my academy and took a special interest. When my class graduated he was handed his current posting as a reward. He knows how good I am with tech so he is confident I am innocent. Anyways, should we?" Steel asked.


    "Okay. Let''s go. It is a full showing of the command structure. Everyone from a Sergeant and up that is on this ship will be in attendance. So will I and Commander Dakota, then there is also an Inquisitor from his ship, a Meyer." Tani explained as she walked him to the hangar bay, "she makes me the most nervous, I just hope she won''t cause problems."


    That managed to get a chuckle out of him, she really gave a shitty first impression. But regardless he had a feeling the only person he had to worry about was Inquisitor fatass. He gave the impression of someone who had done this before. "What do you know about Sender?" Steel asked.


    "The fatass? He joined our ship a month before you did. But he and the ship doctor served on the same ship, so he would know better. The fact he won''t talk about it actually bothers me a bit." Tani narrated as they walked to the hangar.


    "Thanks, I think I have the situation mostly figured out." Steel nodded as they arrived at the door and walked in. She was not kidding, it was a full attendance. The hangar was set up as an impromptu courtroom with Captain Mendez, Commander Dakota, and Inquisitor Meyer serving as the judges.


    Steel was directed to the table in front of them while Sender was sitting at the other table. He sat down and the entire room began quieting down.


    "Good, now that we are all here we can begin. Inquisitor Sender. You wished to present evidence that Cadet Steel is a traitor? Cadet Steel, would you like a representative to speak on your behalf to look over and refute the evidence as it is presented?" Commander Dakota, who was in the center of the judges, spoke.


    "Yes sir-" Sender was interrupted by Steel immediately.


    "Nah¡­ I can defend myself." Sender frowned and looked over at Steel.


    "Good. The evidence, Inquisitor Sender?" Dakota asked.


    Sender took a deep breath before he began, "yes sir. After the attack I took initiative to look for anyone that sent a message to any information brokers that the Inquisitors knew about. I found that Cadet Steel sent a message to one such broker. Which led to the attack." He walked up to the judges bench and handed over an info pad.


    "I would like to refute this," Steel spoke up. "During the supposed time of the message I was on the surface."


    "So?" Sender shrugged it off. This guy was way less intelligent than he thought.


    "So, the message was sent from the ship. Check the logs not only is there irrefutable proof I was on the surface. But it also says where the message was sent from and it was sent from the ship, which is where the message''s vin number is." Steel explained.


    "So¡­ you just found a way to redirect it from the surface to the ship. From what I understand you are good with technology." Sender now seemed to be fumbling, grasping at straws.


    "Oh you are completely right, but to do something like that I would need at least fifteen minutes and to be exclusively focused on that. But I did not get the opportunity before I went to the surface." Steel shrugged.


    "Can we get a technician or engineer to verify what Steel is saying?" Commander Dakota looked up from the info pad. He was really good at faking what he was thinking.


    "Sir." A man stood up and saluted. "Honestly sir, our best engineer or technician could probably do that in twenty-five minutes at most." He then sat back down.


    "Very well¡­ Cadet Steel you are innocent of selling information and betraying our countrymen. Is there any disagreement?" He looked to his sides to see both Meyer and Mendez shaking their heads.


    Now Sender was starting to become confused, as a fellow Inquisitor Meyer was supposed to back him up. "But we still have a traitor in our midst." Dakota''s words caused a shuffle through the audience.


    "I believe I can locate them, fairly quickly." Steel raised his hand.


    "Very well. Someone, hand Cadet Steel a data pad connected to the ship''s systems." Commander Dakota called out.


    Tani actually pulled one out and handed it to him. Steel immediately set to work, first he traced and sorted through the false information that was put up. Then he looked through Sender''s account records, then he looked through the accounts he had illegally set up. Quickly finding what he was looking for. He did all of that within the first ten minutes.


    He decided he might as well find some more. Which is when he frowned, "well damn." He spoke out loud then shook his head.


    "Problem Cadet?" Dakota asked.


    "Sort of." He stood up near the Inquisitor Sender. "I was not able to verify who sent the message because it was in fact sent using my contact information by someone else. So I instead checked bank accounts and discovered that Inquisitor Sender has an illegal one that received two payments at the time of the call."


    Sender tensed up and was about to say something, but Dakota''s stone cold face did not miss the fact that Steel had not finished.


    "What else?" Dakota asked.


    "He had received money from the same account several times before. He also sent money to various other accounts which are illegally owned and unregistered. I am guessing by other members of the Inquisitors. He has likely done this before, sold information and then blamed it on someone innocent." Steel answered as he sent the file to the data pad Dakota was looking at.


    "For all we know that could be your account-" Sender started speaking quickly.


    "The account is twenty years old. I am only seventeen. Also the account is registered to an alias of yours that you have previously used for undercover work. But that unfortunately for him is not all I found." Steel was about to continue on but Inquisitor Sender pulled out his sidearm.


    Sender brought it up to shoot at Steel''s head but he grabbed the barrel and pointed it down at the ground. It went off as Sender was red in the face with anger. Steel flinched as felt something grazed past his leg and pain going up it. While his left hand held the barrel of the gun, his right arm snaked up for a quick jab right into the man''s jaw.


    The fat piece of lard dropped onto the ground. His entire body went slack. Steel glanced around and saw that several people had pulled out sidearms or raised weapons. All of the judges were likewise surprised and standing with chairs pushed over.


    Steel just held up the gun he was still holding and nodded. It was some type of revolver. It actually looked pretty nice. "I will be honest, I did not think he was that quick of a shot." He started looking down at his bleeding leg, it was only a graze. If it had hit he would have lost his entire leg.


    "You knew he would attempt to kill you?" Meyer aske as she came around and looked down at the man.


    "Yeah, I also knew any of you would have killed him the first chance you got. But we need to know what information he compromised." Steel answered then thought of something, "the reason he flipped out was because I learned why our good ship doctor dislikes the man."


    "Someone get the doctor to patch up Steel while he tells us the reason." Dakota quickly stated.


    Steel went and sat on a chair, "it is because the scumbag used his position to rape members of various crews and then pressure them into staying quiet." The doctor walked over with a med kit and cut open Steel''s pant leg. "I know you won''t disclose names due to doctor privacy laws, but how many were on your ship?"


    The doctor flinched and then nodded, "seventeen, but I asked around and there were other ships he did it on."


    "I figured as much. I am sure if you ask Cadet Charlie when she wakes up she will confirm that she rejected his advances as well. Which he did not take well, hence the friendly fire. He did that on prior ships before as well, but it was disregarded." Steel explained. Causing many people to frown and the talking amongst them to increase.


    "Haa¡­" Meyer mumbled something in a different language. "We will need to interrogate him but we need to keep what we discovered a secret. Unfortunately it means we can not publicly charge the dipshit."


    "Fortunately we do not need to. We will keep him aboard the ship and interrogate him. Means he is all yours ship captain, regardless I believe you have an announcement to say to your entire crew." Dakota told Captain Mendez.


    Mendez hummed before he nodded to someone who was standing off to the side. The people walked up and handed him a device. "This is your Captain speaking, as you might already know as of 0900 of yesterday morning the Crystoph Federation declared war against our mighty empire. Therefore the Kitinol Offensive will get minimal guarding. There will be one ship per planet while the rest head to the front lines to push back into federation space."


    "We will be staying behind. We have been given an Alpha level classified mission and all communication going off the ship will go through the most senior officer or the ship communication officer. Even if we are nowhere near the front lines we should expect another attack at any time. Be prepared to provide support to our troops on the surface. As for the cadets, speak to your commanding officer for changes in how we will operate." The Captain handed back the device as his voice stopped being broadcast to the rest of the ship.


    "Cadet Steel, Sergeant Cornwall, and Corporal Tani. I need to speak with you three." The captain announced as the rest of the staff quickly filed out and left the room while some of them stayed and put away the chairs and tables used for the impromptu trial.


    Steel walked over and joined the command officers. "Sir." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Cadet Steel we are going to be moving the central camp to on top of the mining site. I want you to work with some engineers and figure out how we are organizing it." Mendez immediately told him.


    Steel pulled out the pad with his vibrational scanner design. "Sir, I designed this in my down time. I just need some engineers to check over my design." He explained.


    Mendez took the pad and nodded before handing it to Commander Dakota. "You mind helping us with that before you leave?"


    "Certainly, why do you need a specialized scanner? Can''t you just use the ship''s scanner?" Dakota asked.


    "Negative sir. The dirt and rock has particles that make it impossible for our scanners to detect. Fortunately it seems to only be native to one area of the continent." Mendez explained getting a nod from Dakota in response.


    "Cornwall, your squad is the one that gets to deal with the corrupt Inquisitor. We have no one that specializes in interrogation on board so figure something out. Tani, get your squad equipped with varying weaponry. Cadets included. Plan on having artillery, gun lines, and aircraft stationed at the base. Enough barracks for two squads and some extra for pilots." The captain then waved them off. Each moved off to follow the captain''s directions as he went to give out more orders.

 Chapter 22 - 22: Going Back to Waterswan

    Steel had handed in the new camp designs before the end of the day. Approved and adjusted by the engineers, it even included the new scanner they had gotten. Which Dakota provided before he took his ship and the two other ships that were orbiting this planet away. On the surface Sand Snakes and Bird''s Nest were already setting up the new base camp. In two days the Sand Snakes would come up as they went down.


    So he had plenty to do until then. Unfortunately Cadet Charlie would not be joining them, he was right about her refusing Sender''s advances. But she needed to undergo surgery and then get the new cybernetic arm attached which Dakota also provided, it was apparently an experimental model. It did not look like a real arm but it did not matter to her. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They decided to interrogate Sender later. Steel volunteered to do the interrogation, citing that he had experience in the area. Said experience was some torture methods he picked up during his time in the slums.


    Steel got to alter his armaments as promised. He was even given the revolver that Sender had. A Magnus Revolver, it really was heavy duty. Even had special ammunition, heavy rounds. Heavy rounds were only used on some snipers and heavy machine guns. So they were usually seen as part of a spacecraft''s kit. He decided to only carry twelve extra shots.


    He still kept his Pyre-21 as his main sidearm, unmodified. His assault rifle stayed unmodified as well, he only grabbed a few kinds of alternative ammunition, like incendiaries. He did carry a second main weapon as well, a modified laser shotgun. It had longer range and less fire power but it left enough heat to set fabrics on fire.


    The only other thing he was working on was the Mecha he was given, he modified it to provide mobile artillery support as well as logistical support. There was even a place for it to sit at the base.


    At the moment though he was listening to the sergeant as were the other Cadets, "this war means the rules change. I know you were supposed to be in service for a year before you graduate and specialize. But war steps up that time table, the year turns into three months. But do not expect any vacations or extended times for learning. Even the time to train decreases."


    "Sir, do we know what triggered it?" Cadet Anchor asked.


    "Nope and we do not care. That is not our job. We just need to focus on surviving and completing our objective." The Captain explained. "Now go talk to Tani, for most of you she has a change in weaponry depending on what you are good at."


    Steel already knew he did not have a change in weaponry. They had already talked and he was certified in most types of weapons. So he got his pick of the pile so to speak. So instead he went to make sure his personal possessions were all packed up in case the Border of Downfall went down. The extra weapons he found were all handed in, he got favors and help from the engineers in its place.


    At the moment he was putting the finishing touches on the mecha with the engineers help. They had nicknamed the mecha since she was a captured unit, The Whore of Crystoph. Honestly it got a good laugh out of most people.


    It was only a walker-class mech so it was not space capable. But he did not need it to be. It was a full-on artillery unit with reinforced armor plating. He checked and confirmed that both Private Wise and Cadet Charlie were checked out on being able to use it. Apparently Private Wise and Crystoph Federation had history, while Charlie learned it while she was bored.


    He had just finished it when the Sergeant came into the hangar. "Cadet Steel, go get some sleep we leave tomorrow morning. I will have this flown down before the end of the day."


    "Yes sir." Steel saluted before he marched back to his room and got ready for sleep. The next morning he woke two hours before it was time to leave. He was able to take his time savoring the water from the shower, assuming it would be the last time he would be able to use it in a while. Then he got on clean clothes and put on his armor before loading up his weapons.


    Once he was all set he headed to the cafeteria with just over an hour left the rest were waking up and getting ready in a hurry. He was already good to go, but he would grab one last good meal before he was stuck on rations.


    As he was walking to the hangar the captain came on ship wide communications. "All crew, we have been notified that a Cruiser and two Cutter class ships have broken past the blockade in a blitz. It is believed they are heading here before going to their next objective. We want to hold them here as long as possible. The Border of Downfall will stay hidden and strike while it is distracted, we have already requested reinforcements. Good luck to all."


    Steel double timed it to the hangar, he arrived just as the chaos had begun to start. The ships were being outfitted and the fighter craft were prepped and ready with their pilots arriving. He jogged over to the Osprey and saw Private Wise, Corporal Tani, Private Feathertail, and Cadet Santez inside.


    "Come on Steel we are dropping first. Sand Snakes are almost back, we need to be on the ground now." Tani yelled and Steel jumped in. "The rest will be dropping in a few moments with the sergeant. Since we have inbound hostiles we wanted to separate who was dropping. He will follow once he is done talking with the captain."


    "Understood." He answered as the rear door closed up. The ship took off and the pilot door opened. Outside of it he could see as they flew toward the planet.


    "Get ready for a rough landing." The pilot called from the front as they flew past another Osprey. "We will be doing a- shit!" She yelled, "we have to get to the planet surface immediately, strap in back there. Apparently they detected warp signatures approaching. We are the only ones going to the surface. We can''t compromise the location of the base in case they do not know where it is."


    Steel understood and immediately strapped himself in a seat while the entire ship went faster towards the planet. Everyone strapped themselves in immediately.


    "We have five minutes to get on the ground and in cover. Unfortunately it will only be Bird''s Nest and you five on the ground. We will only have this Osprey and a Hawks on the ground. Border says the name of the game is Hide and Seek." The co-pilot called back as the planet was suddenly much closer.


    "Corporal Tani, when we get on the ground I need to jump in the Mecha. I will connect it to the war table on the ground and make sure there are no lingering digital connections. We have been sending so many signals to and from the planet to figure out our scanners. I am worried we forgot something." Steel stated quickly as his stomach churned, the pilot was doing a maneuver to get them through the atmosphere more quickly.


    "As soon as we land, go and do that. Then the Sergeant of the Bird''s Nest and I will talk and we will figure out our game plan. All communications to the ship go through us. Disable long range comms." Corporal Tani declared and they all disabled the comlink through their helmets.


    "Cadet Steel, you and Wise are the only ones that can operate that. So you two will be on rotating shifts. I always want one of you in that thing. Understood?" Corporal Tani looked between them.


    Wise was wearing her new armor, it was a customized set. Heavy armor with explosive ordnance, she even had a grenade launcher to go along with her high powered sniper rifle. If he did not know any better he would think she was obsessed with explosives.


    His stomach suddenly churned as the world felt like it was flipping on its head. It seems like he was not the only one feeling this way. Several others were shaking their heads trying to shake it off. Steel recovered more quickly than the others.


    "We are about to land. Get the land base hangar clear. Our metal is hot from the atmosphere entry." The pilot called over the commlink.


    "Understood Osprey, we are clearing a path."


    The moment they glided into the hangar the pilot did full stop which caused them to lurch in their seats. Then the back door opened up. "It is still hot so stay-"


    But Steel jumped out the back leaping clear of the hangar and then ran to where the Mecha was hidden. The Bird''s Nest was in their white armor but he just ran past them. The Sergeant looked bewildered, but Steel ignored them.


    He ran straight to the mecha and quickly climbed up it. Opening the hatch and jumping down. He pulled out his revolver and set it aside. He did not want to sit on it since it was placed on a back hip holster.


    As soon as he was safely seated he started up the system. Quickly typing on the keyboards. Pulling up data and then it arrived. The small fleet of ships. A Cruiser and two cutters just like the captain said. But one of the cutters was on fire. Somewhat damaged from what was like their sprint past the blockade.


    The Border of Downfall was nowhere in sight. It had successfully hid. Now it was time for them to play.

 Chapter 23 - 23: Seeker

    "Admiral Lee, there is no one here." One of his bridge staff stated in a confused voice. It was equally confusing to Lee as well. There was supposed to be at least three Cruiser-class ships orbiting the planet. He figured the war might have taken at least one of them away, but all three?


    "The empire soldiers and its ship are hiding, do a scan of the planet to see if we can find their ground soldiers." He ordered. Already pulling up a map of the star system to see if he could find the hiding place.


    "Yes sir. We have the information up on the monitor that we got from Central Command. It seems that almost all of the ships were pulled out of this system. There is another cruiser on the outer rim of the system, it was kept here to secure that planet. Did we go to the wrong location?" Another bridge staff asked.


    "No, this is the right planet. There are two planets in this system that are a part of the Kitinol Offensive line. That has to be the other one. Keep an eye on it, if they move in our direction it means they plan to attack. They will coordinate it with the other cruiser that is hiding nearby. Planetary scan?" Lee called out.


    "No dice, all I found are abandoned bases and remnants of Kitinol. Holy shit, it looks like they almost cleared the planet." Another bridge staff called out.


    This time Lee walked over to his station, "you are right. No one else on the Kitinol Offensive line is even close to this level of clearing a planet. If all of their planets are like this it is no wonder they all but abandoned them in favor of the war. But it also tells us something else."


    "What sir?"


    "They are efficient and well organized. Which is bad news if they can apply that to the war with us." He answered. "Ship Captain, have platoons sent to those abandoned bases, see if we can find any clues that they left behind. Have a fighter aircraft escort for both."


    The ship captain saluted before issuing orders. The Admiral looked back at the map. How were they hiding? He may not like getting his intel from information brokers but they were usually efficient. Likely a crew member of their ship was the source of the intel. A traitor, the thought made him mad.


    "Contact Central Command, see if we can get intel on the crew and the ship. I doubt it but it is worth a try." He tapped his finger against the war table he was standing at. "How long until their closest ship arrives?"


    "Five hours minimum." Someone called out.


    "Sir, I have signals coming from the planet that have been disappearing but there are two- scratch that, one left." Another member of the bridge staff called out.


    "Trace the signal before they make it disappear." Admiral Lee called out, "someone keep an eye out for the ships. They might attack if we find their base."


    ""Yes sir!"" Several voices called out in unison.


    They could hide but it was only a matter of time before he found them.


    ¡ª------------


    "Damn!" Steel had his comlink open so the Corporal and Bird''s Nest Sergeant heard him at the war table. "I almost had only the signals cut. They are tracing the last one. I can''t defend it and cut it."


    "Steel, you hack them back, attack them. I will try my hand at defense using the table." Tani said over the comm. He almost forgot she was a programmer and hacker as well.


    Steel did as she asked and he hacked them back. Then he smirked as he entered the system of the cruiser. This was advanced, a little too advanced. He licked his lips. "Oh, this is going to be fun."


    ¡ª-------------


    "What! No!" A member of the Bridge staff called out, "no no no no¡­ we are being hacked, they are using our attempt at tracking their signal to infiltrate our ship systems."


    Admiral Lee did not know the capabilities of this particular cruiser, so he did not know how bad it was. "What is compromised?"


    "Everything! This is a top of the line ship. Everything is connected to our systems from weapons to the airlock doors." The captain called out. Just then all the doors on the ship slammed closed.


    There was a scream as someone was caught in the door. "Damn then we- did you say weapons? Disconnect it now. Before they fire on our cutters."


    "Yes sir." A few moments later he was cursing again. "Shit! I tried to disconnect it but they are forcing the connection now. Someone! Go shut down the ship systems!" Now he was sounding panicked.


    "Can you prevent them from firing the weapons?" Lee asked, hopeful of the answer.


    "No, it is taking my all to prevent them from bypassing the security airlocks and venting all our oxygen into space. It was the first thing they went for when I started preventing them from hacking our weapons." The tech answered.


    "They have done it before. Shit the advance ship. Guess we now know what happened to the entire crew. Someone, contact the other ships, tell them to put their defenses-" The ship suddenly shuddered.


    "We shot one of the cutters!" The weapons officer called out.


    "Tell them to put up full defenses and that our systems are about to go down. Ship wide alert, ship systems are about to go down." The admiral called out.


    "Sir, we are shutting down ship systems now." Then the lights went dark. A moment later the emergency lights went on.


    "Work on getting our systems unfucked and do not try to hack their systems or anything digital again. They clearly have superiority in that arena." Admiral Lee called out. He was between angry and impressed, now he really wanted to know who the crew of this mystery ship was.


    ¡ª---------------- S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Woohoo!" To say Steel was ecstatic was an understatement. "I got one shot off before they completely shut down their ship systems." He called over the comlink.


    "Good, they tried to disconnect the connection but I forced it. Can you still scrub the final signal?" Tani asked.


    "Yes sir. Want me to? Or do you want me to leave it open to try and do this again?" Steel asked.


    "No, scrub it. If they come back they will be more prepared. It will be better not to risk it. What took you so long to fire the weapons?"


    "Oh, I was noticed almost immediately. How quickly did they stop tracking the signal?" Steel asked to reposition himself to get comfortable.


    "They stopped as soon as you started hacking them." She explained


    "Ha¡­ yeah they went to stop me from immediately firing the weapons, which for the record had to charge up. But they stopped defending the weapons as hard when I tried to override the security protocols and open their airlocks to vent their oxygen and people. But I did have some time to kill. Soo¡­ Here is the ship and crew manifest for that cruiser." Steel stretched his arms.


    "It is official Tani, the Desert Dogs went from the most brutal combat squads to one of the scariest ones." Another voice spoke up. One he did not recognize. There were a few moments of silence as they looked over the information he had just sent. "Damn. Admiral Lee, I have heard of him."


    "How far up shit''s creek are we?" Tani asked.


    "Comlink is still open, everyone can hear you." Steel pointed out.


    "Shit-"


    "It is fine. He is not brutal, just methodical. But now that you have posed a challenge to him. He will see you as opponents in a game of chess. I guarantee you he will be gathering as much info as he can on you and the entire crew of the Border of Downfall." He explained.


    "Understood." Great now he has a stalker. "Should we notify the Border that their main ship is down?"


    "What can they still do?"


    "Maneuvering, basic life maintaining systems, and probably rudimentary short-range communications." Steel declared thinking about the ship designs he saw while hacking.


    "How long until they get the rest of their systems up and running?" Tani asked, jumping back into the conversation.


    "Hmm¡­ I would love to say two hours. But I would be generous if I did that. At most it will take them an hour but will take them somewhere between thirty minutes and an hour." Steel answered with a sigh.


    "We will stay silent. Having their system down would only be an advantage for a short amount of time. We have bought ourselves roughly thirty minutes. Are there any other trails or clues we need to scrub?" The sarge of Bird''s Nest answered.


    "We dragged plenty of things over to this location sir. That will give us away." Another voice answered.


    "Damn we will need-"


    Steel interrupted him though, "we have a sand storm inbound. It will be on us in roughly twenty minutes and will cover us for roughly an hour." He could see it in the distance on one of his monitors.


    "Good keep the barracks closed but let the sand get in all the crevices of the base. Steel could we continue to run the vibrational sensor and mining equipment?"


    "We can run the mining equipment, just make sure to cover up the control station, it is the only part of it that does not like sand. The sensor is already unnecessary, so I turned it off. It might give away our position if it was on. We will just use its last scan for the mining operation." Steel explained pulling the last scan up for them as well.


    "Very well sounds like there is nothing we can do. Let''s get some sleep and rest. In an hour we are going to be busy again with our new opponents."

 Chapter 24 - 24: Seeking

    "Fifty minutes, our systems were down for fifty minutes. Get in contact with our people on the ground and find out what they know. How are the repairs on the cutters? And someone please find me something useful." Admiral Lee called out as the ship systems came back online.


    It was the first time this crew had to do something like that, he was honestly impressed they got it online so quickly. Fortunately the cutters were able to cover for them.


    "Sir the cutter repairs are being completed quickly. While there was not a hull breach it did disable some minor systems and killed a few people. The other one is almost completely repaired." A bridge officer called out.


    "Sir the ground teams all report the bases were abandoned and cleaned out. But one of the platoon leaders wants to talk. Should I patch him through?"


    "Do it." A moment later there was crackling at the table he was standing by. "Lieutenant, what do you have for me?"


    "Sir we are at objective Bravo. While the base is abandoned it looks like it has been abandoned for almost a month. There are also signs they were overrun and abandoned this base before firing on it from orbit. It has craters littering the sight." The Lieutenant explained.


    They abandoned the base. But they would not have given up the continent. They were getting so close to exterminating the Kitinol from the planet. They probably have a new base on that continent. But why couldn''t they find it?


    "Continent Bravo is where our hidden base and the location of our objective is. Do a grid search of the continent using fighter craft. Have the platoons relocate to Continent Bravo and get them fresh transports."


    Five minutes later and the attack craft were away while fresh transports were on their way to the platoons. It would take roughly two hours for them to search the entire continent. They would lose three hours and still need to get control of the ship wherever they were hiding it. He needed to come out of this with something. He had already lost people under his command.


    "What¡­" Lee heard one of the bridge staff say. "Confirm again?" There was a minute of contemplation as they typed something and frowned. "Admiral, I have something."


    "Show me." Admiral Lee nodded to the table.


    "Yes sir. The pilots are reporting a sand storm that is covering half of the continent." He pulled up a map of the continent and put up a question mark over half of it. "While our scans are picking up a storm on another continent but it did not register the sand storm."


    "Hmm¡­ get us dirt samples and search around the areas where the sandstorm has let up. Otherwise have them continue to grid search the rest of the continent." Admiral Lee smiled as he started to grasp what was going on.


    "There will be at least another hour until the sand storm dies down, sir." The bridge crew member spoke up before he focused in. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The captain walked up next to Admiral Lee, "what exactly is going on Admiral?"


    "The Vexical Empire has at least had this planet for the last twenty years. But they only just now found something on the planet. It does not make sense unless¡­" He pulled up the continent with the sandstorm. "Something was preventing them from seeing it. Which they immediately began using to their advantage."


    "Which is how they are hiding from us. But why have they not left yet with their prize?" The captain asked with a frown.


    The Admiral suddenly had an idea, "ha. Because it is inaccessible, they know where it is but they are unable to get to it. It has to be underground. Hmm¡­ we won''t be able to get the ship out but we might be able to steal information and get data."


    "Which we will only have just over three hours to do." The captain added on.


    ¡ª------------------


    Steel hated waiting, especially when it was unproductive waiting. So he found himself something to do. He decided he might as well learn another language, and since they were already at war with them, he might as well learn the common language of the Crystoph Federation.


    While he was waiting he checked his monitors frequently, they were glitchy because of the sand. But otherwise they were still operating. He could see his squad and the Bird''s Nest moving around things. Getting ready to become dug in.


    Honestly he thought they could not get more dug in. They were literally in a hollowed out plateau, using it as both their barracks, the hangar, and their line of defense. As for Steel''s mecha it was right on the edge so he only had to step the mecha out of cover to fire either artillery or any of his weaponry.


    "Steel, we have a plan. We are going to stay as quiet as possible. Wait until they fly close enough that their curiosity is obvious. Then we will strike, if the Admiral is as intelligent as we believe he is. He will know better than to try and destroy our base from orbit." Tani explained, outlining the parameters of when he would fire on enemy spacecraft.


    "Understood, I might have been wrong about how long this sand storm lasts. How is the mining going?" He asked.


    "Almost there, if we are right it should be an opening, possibly an airlock. We are not able to check without the scanner we can only guess." Tani answered.


    "That is good enough for me."


    ¡ª-----------------


    "Sir, we completed our grid. We were not able to find any base on the surface. We also completed the analysis of the dirt like you ordered. It is like you suspected, it somehow is blocking our sensors and scanners." A bridge crew member reported.


    "Have someone fill a barrel and send it up. If nothing else that will at least be something. Have our platoons spread out and start searching on the ground, our ships should fill up on fuel and then return and do another grid, but from another angle. They might have flown over them and not known." Admiral Lee was curious how they hid this base of theirs so well.


    "Sir?"


    "Inform the pilots that the base is likely underground or underneath something. They should keep their eyes open." The Admiral clarified.


    "Sir we have warp signatures ahead of schedule and the Vexical Cruiser that was orbiting the other planet is heading in our direction." A crew member called out in panic.


    "Shit, call back half of the fighters. Inform the cutters we are going to have company and to get ready for space combat. Then reposition us to this location." He tapped a spot on the war table.


    "Sir, that is in the open. We will not be able to use anything as cover." The captain pointed out.


    "I know that and they will not have cover either. You are also forgetting that there is at least a cruiser nearby that we do not know about. I do not want to fly into their hiding spot. So it is open warfare." Admiral Lee explained his thoughts.


    He looked at the planetary map. There were two moons and a cluster of asteroids nearby. The enemy cruiser was likely behind one of those moons or hidden among those asteroids. But he could not risk sending his people to check.


    Several minutes passed when the ships came out of warp. The Vexical Empire''s new prized warship, another cruiser and a cutter. Then there was the cruiser showing up a second after them from the other side of the system. They coordinated this.


    "Sir! A cruiser appeared from our side coming out from behind one of the moons." A bridge crew member called out.


    "There''s our missing cruiser. Get me its name. Make sure we are not between them and their warship. I want to avoid all out combat if possible." The Admiral decided.


    "Understood sir they are moving into formation-"


    "Sir, we have more warp signatures inbound!" Another bridge crew member called out.


    "Damn get ready to pull our people back and-" Admiral Lee was interrupted by the ship captain. Who was talking over a long-range communication until a second ago.


    "It is the Union not the Vexical Empire. While they will not help us they will serve as a distraction. Central Command says to not worry about casualties and to get what you can." The captain quickly explained.


    The Admiral scoffed at that. He would rather just fight them straight on then to rely on terrorists. But he could not argue with command, especially since they funded the Union prescience in the Vexical Empire. "Understood. Maintain distance. People like the Union tend to get explosive when they are about to lose a fight."


    "Yes sir."


    Admiral Lee nervously tapped the table. "Haa¡­ let''s hope our people find this base before we have to get into a fight." The Union dropped out of warp with five cutters. They were smaller and had less fire power than the empire but they had maneuverability. They looked like they were going to be scrapped before the Union got their hands on them and tried to refit them for combat.


    Unfortunately it only reinforced how desperate the Union really was.

 Chapter 25 - 25: Fourth Group

    "Motherfucker! Cadet Steel-" Tani yelled in anger.


    "I know, stay silent. How does the Union already have hands on military spacecraft?" He asked over the comlink. He had verified it by hacking their systems.


    "They are old scuttled ships. They are supposed to have been destroyed. Hell, I used to fly on one of them. Make a note of that, it means any number of ships we have scuttled within the last three years could be in Union or enemy hands." The Bird''s Nest Sergeant announced.


    "They are doing another grid search in attack craft, in a different formation than last time. They also have people searching on the ground. This Admiral Lee has probably realized we are concealed under something. No one has started anything up top but if it does start the heavier they involve the federation the better it will be on us." He responded, calling out what he saw.


    "Good keep watch on the ground and air. We will watch the space to see- what the fuck? Who the fuck is this?" The Sergeant actually sounded really surprised this time.


    Steel glanced at it and frowned, who the fuck indeed. Those ship designs did not look like anything in any database. But they kind of looked like-


    ¡ª-----------------


    Admiral Lee actually reeled back in surprise. Initially this was difficult, then it became bad, but now it was just strange. Several Victorium ships had arrived, one large one as big as a warship, along with five smaller ones about the size of a cruiser and then three ships the size of cutters. This was the biggest gathering of them he had ever heard of. It was not a fleet used for skirmishes.


    "Admiral sir, I don''t know what happened they just appeared-" One of the bridge crew began panicking, he was supposed to know if a ship was going to warp in.


    "It is fine, start recording all outside feeds on all our ships. Even the fighters. Inform the soldiers on the ground to turn on helmet cameras. Deploy two squads of Mecha to the surface. Ship Captain, inform Central Command. It is unlikely we will get possession of the ship. We are going to get as much footage as we can and anything else we can get our hands on." The Admiral declared.


    "Sir, who are they?" The captain asked.


    "The Victorium. I am opening their file and disclosing it to all officers on the ship. Rank Private and above. Read it when you have the opportunity, unfortunately it is a short read. Any and all information that brings forth new intelligence will be a valuable asset." Admiral Lee announced and a flurry of movement began, when they went to follow his orders.


    "I have Central Command on long range communication!" The captain announced before moving the call to the table.


    "Admiral Lee this is Central Command-"


    "Yeah, whatever. We have a Victorium Fleet here. I repeat, the first military offensive that the Victorium is commiting to is on Waterswan-2. I have changed our mission parameters. I request that command discloses the existence of Victorium to the entire military and general population." Admiral Lee only partially paid attention as they began cursing on the other end.


    "Negative Admiral-"


    "Understood, we are busy now. Unless you are sending us some backup, don''t contact us." Admiral Lee then hung up, getting a strange look from the ship captain.


    "Sir, was that wise? Won''t they be cross with you?" He asked.


    "Your accent is slipping and I do not care. I only need the here and now Captain. That was just a courtesy call while I thought of my plan." The Admiral then connected himself to communications. "All fighters scramble. You have a green light on all targets, if the Union gets in your way you can kill them too. Ground troops, I have a feeling you are about to have company and lots of it. What are the Victorium doing?"


    "Smaller craft just left the ship heading to the planet. Looks like three¡­ troop carriers." The man guessed.


    "We have seen their attack craft, check the file." Admiral Lee pulled up the image of the ships. "You are right, those are not attack craft. Warn the ground troops¡­wait." He suddenly just thought of something and smiled. "They probably have better scanners, they are going to where the ship is. Track them when they land and scout the location." Admiral Lee smiled as he looked at the image of the ships. This was the kind of fight he liked. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ª--------------


    Steel frowned as he nervously bit his lip in anticipation. Then all of his screens shuddered and glitched for a moment. He quickly typed trying to figure it out and then he had an idea as three smaller ships were launched from the newest arrivals.


    "Tani I am not a hundred percent certain but I think we just got scanned by the new arrivals. They may know our location." Steel communicated over the radio.


    "We have no clue. But could it be from the same group that had that invisible ship. What do you think Steel? You got the best look at them." Tani asked over the comlink.


    "I think it is. Be prepared for an uphill battle. Their tech is better than ours. The federation is backing off. I think that the admiral has realized the same thing I did." Steel pointed out.


    "I agree. Cadet Steel be prepared to fire on them. I will contact the Border if it seems like they are coming straight at us to get intel." The Bird''s Nest Sergeant calmly stated.


    Steel switched up his systems, preparing to walk out the mecha he got his personal equipment ready. His helmet was on and his weapons were prepped for him to throw on at a moment''s notice.


    Not even a second after he finished his comlink lit up. "All units be aware, the alien species known as Victorium are hostile. Steel, get out there and roll out the welcome mat. Stay alive and aware."


    ''"Yes sir."" There was a unanimous response over the comlink.


    Steel moved his mecha out of cover; the Victorium were still out of range but the federation craft were not. "Firing on federation, the Victorium are still out of range."


    "Affirmative."


    He did not even know whether it was Tani or the Bird''s Nest Sergeant who gave the order. But he grinned as he fired a volley of artillery shells into the air then he spun up the heavy chain gun aiming for an aircraft that was in view. The craft tried veering out of sight but it was too late. It was low enough that the heavy chain gun melted the cockpit.


    Then his comlink lit up as the ship''s communications were connected to theirs. It sounded like things were getting heated up there as well. There was one thing he did hear though through all the chaos. The Vibrational Scanner was online, and they were closer to the ship then they thought. Ten minutes at most before they were at the entrance.


    Steel watched the skies as the federation ships started to give their area a wide berth. While the Victorium as they were called seemed to not care. As soon as they were in range he launched the missile. It sailed through the air and the ship lit up as it impacted the shield.


    "Damn, drop ships have shields." He called over the comlink, which surprisingly made it go quiet for a moment before it lit up again.


    He ignored it as he fired a few more missiles and then fired his chain gun at the front of the lead ship. The first few shots were blocked but the front of the drop ship lit up blue like electricity was racing across it. But then it disappeared and the front of it was dented, then the missiles impacted causing it to explode and veer off into the distance. "First drop ship down, kinetic ammunition to take out shields. Explosive to destroy."


    He then turned his attention to the other two drop ships which veered off course and dropped altitude to get out of his line of fire. He lit up the second one, causing its shield to light up but it got behind cover before he could hit it with a missile so he fired three artillery shells to where it roughly landed. He only got two shots on the other one before it disappeared out of sight.


    He saw a plume of blue fire as his artillery landed. It was the same as when the first one crashed. "Second dropship was destroyed but they got a chance to land. Dropship three got past me. Refocusing on federation and laying down artillery fire."


    He aimed at another ship that was veering too close and shot a missile before firing artillery on nearby choke points. He stayed like that for a few minutes running out of fire power when Tani called out.


    "Steel, how clear is the sky? Can our birds take to it?" Tani asked, it sounded like she was organizing while the Bird''s Nest Sergeant was doing something else.


    "As clear as I can make it. Enemies are all staying out of my range. They likely are going to move in close with explosives before sending in air support once my toy is down." Steel responded.


    "Understood. Launching Hawks and Osprey for air support. Good luck pilots." Tani seamlessly switched over to ordering.


    "Thanks war table. Going airborne." Steel watched as first the Hawks and then the Osprey flew out of the hangar and base. Taking to the sky breaking through the line of spacecraft that were around.


    Steel barely got a chance to react as he saw a spot of blue fire heading straight for his mecha from one of his cameras. He tilted slightly and the cabin heated up. While several cameras on that side of the mech went dark.


    "Steel to Tani, they have invisible soldiers and plasma weaponry. They just fried half my cameras and literally turned up the heat in here. It won''t be long before I have to abandon and get on my feet." He turned his mecha so his working cameras were covering as much area as possible.


    He changed his artillery zone to the two choke points that led to the front of the base, where its only entrance was located. The ground shook as the first few landed, hitting something as the area was littered with green and parts of a body. It appeared out of nowhere but now they knew.


    He did not get a second artillery volley off. A number of plasma fire shots hit his mecha coming from the ridge above. The cabin heated up quickly as all of his cameras went down and a moment later all of his systems went down.


    "Damn. Whore of Crystoph is slagged, unrecoverable."

 Chapter 26 - 26: Research Vessel

    Steel pushed open the roof of the mecha but it was stuck. He frowned and punched it causing it to pop open. He climbed out and looked down Bird''s Nest and his own squad were firing at the locations where the plasma came from.


    It only took a minute of his enhanced senses to see one of the invisible bastards sneaking up the side. Steel aimed his rifle and fired. They ricocheted off something but it caught the others'' attention.


    It also caught the aliens'' attention. They now knew the person that shot down their dropships was alive. He saw peaking over the ledge above them was something that looked like a small monkey but completely bald with sharp teeth. It had a longer weapon in hand and fired.


    For everyone else it might have been quick but for Steel he had enough time to see the fast moving purple shot and tilt his head to the side. It bounced off metal plating on his helmet and Steel felt his body move from the impact.


    He raised his rifle and fired on the sniper. Turning the creature''s head into mist. He crouched on top of the mecha and took up a firing position. Switching between the ones that would move out of cover on the plateaus above them or the invisible ones that tried to sneak up.


    He stayed in that position and eventually he could see behind the aliens as the last dropship fought with federation ships and was winning. It also seemed like the dropship was protecting something. The federation was going after it.


    "Steel, get over here." Tani called over the comlink.


    Steel jumped off the mecha firing a few last shots before running over to where Tani was. She held out a data collection device. Then she took his rifle and moved to the area where he just came from.


    "Cadet Steel, Tani told me you are a better hacker than her. We opened a path into the ship underground. I want you to go down and get as much intel and data as you can. Record everything as well. We doubt we can hold this position much longer so if we go down you escape and call for evac without us. Understood?" The Bird''s Nest Sergeant handed him two more data collection devices and a mobile battery.


    "Yes sir." Steel took off his shotgun and placed it on the table before turning around. The sarge put the devices on his back. He was then off to where the mining device was pointing to the hole he would have to crouch through.


    It was a bit tight but big enough for him to at least get through. Once he was through the hole he was at a door. It was not designed like anything else he had ever seen. He tapped his helmet and got a beep in response as it began recording.


    The airlock door was in a diamond shape with the top and bottom cut off. While the hull entrance was in the shape of a hexagon. Like a bee''s nest. He took out his hacking device. It took him nearly a full minute to get the door open. Once it was open a smell of decay assaulted his nose. He quickly turned on his suit''s breathing system.


    He touched the wall as he entered and used his first system ability transferring the schematic to one of the data devices. He also got a look at it. He forgot to do it when they took over that federation ship. He remembered afterwards and felt like an idiot.


    He glanced in a direction and began running, it looked like this ship had a central data core. It was just shy of a hangar that went through the ship. It lacked security doors though, whoever built this ship was not worried about war or at least fighting other people. It was designed more like¡­ a research vessel.


    The roof was also taller than what the average human would need. It was also taller than any of those aliens he saw. Whether it was the monkey looking ones, the human looking lizards, or the beaked one with feathers he saw. He only saw one but it was quick enough to dodge or deflect his bullets with its armor.


    It was an odd experience, for around the last fifteen minutes he had been constantly focused on fighting and hitting the enemy. Now he was just running and hacking, the quiet was jarring. He arrived at the room that was the central data core, no that was wrong. It was that and so much more.


    "Ha¡­ a data core, a reactor, and¡­" he looked at the stone walls which had symbols on them. "A historical record." The walls were not actually stone; it was just placed inside, probably after the crash.


    He walked up to the data core and hacked in connecting the data collection devices to his device so every piece of information was accumulated from the data core. It only took a moment as he connected the battery to power it up just to download the data.


    It did not need his attention so he walked over to the walls and made sure he recorded all the writing. He knew it was writing because he saw the alien ships programming and it was similar but still at its root just ones and zeros.


    He had just finished getting a recording of the walls when his comlink sparked to life. "Cadet Steel, one got past us. He can turn invisible. We are being pushed out of the base. Contact the Border when you get out of that ship." The connection was scratchy so the connection sounded strained.


    Steel walked over to the data collection unit. It was done. It had removed all of the data and then¡­ the data had deleted itself. He would like to investigate but he did not have enough time. After it was done he disconnected it from the ship and put all the data collection devices in pockets on his body along with the hacking device.


    When he was almost done doing that a wall of blue passed over him. He looked back and could hear the sound of something stepping against the metallic ground. He should move to the hangar to-


    Steel suddenly dodged to the side. They moved quickly the same distance that took Steel a minute, it took them maybe five seconds. He looked over and pulled out his knife, brandishing it in a show of defiance.


    It was the beaked and feathered alien from before. He still was not getting a good look at the creature with this low lighting. It turned invisible a moment later and Steel could feel the entire ship shaking. It was moving.


    Steel steaded himself and focused on listening. He could hear the alien''s movement as he was trying to sneak up on Steel. Steel stayed still until it decided to attack, he ducked causing the first strike from the alien''s blade to miss. He punched upwards catching the alien in the bottom of the beak. Definitely not a weak point.


    Steel backed up at the same time as the alien and it dropped its invisibility. It then made a noise and spoke, probably in its own language. But the sound seemed like acknowledgement and excitement. It tossed down a device that lit up the area with a yellow light. Like it was some type of miniature sun.


    It already had one blade out that looked like a machete but with it being square instead of curved. But it pulled out a second one and its red feathers slightly shifted. Its armor was silver but battle damaged with the recent shots that hit it were ricocheted leaving black marks. The creature tapped it, recognizing that Steel created those dents.


    Steel sighed and spun the knife in his hand. Readying himself for what should be a grueling fight. His comlink sparked to life, "Steel you should-" He tapped his helmet turning it off. He could tell the alien creature smiled like it knew.


    Then the alien leaped forward, it was fast on its feet but Steel''s reaction speed was better. The first blade was a diagonal sweep, Steel spun and brought his knife up to block the second strike which was a horizontal sweep from the same direction. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The alien''s blade dug into his knife catching Steel off guard. He shouldn''t try to block the attack again. He had to redirect the strikes or risk being injured. Unless he dodged all of them. Steel pushed the blade back and punched the alien in its chest plate causing it to be forced back two steps.


    Then he jumped forward going on the offensive ducking and side stepping the blades. They continued like that. Dodging and striking, he would have said it was a dance except they were trying to kill each other.


    Then it happened, it backed up and made the same excited noise. Steel understood a moment later as he heard something hissing. The battery stored on his hip was damaged, its casing was ruptured and it was going to explode. Behind him was the short walk into the hangar, thanks to the alien''s light he could see something in there.


    In front of him was an alien he needed to distract. While all around him the ship was moving but it was unequal, with it slightly shifting. Like it was being lifted at a single point.


    He pulled out the battery and tossed it towards the alien. Throwing his knife at it to further damage the casing while he sprinted into the hangar. The alien cawed in surprise covering its eyes as the battery exploded.


    What the alien did not know was that the battery was more flash and noise than anything damaging but Steel was already hopping over a railing into the hangar as daylight came through the hangar.


    He ran up to the spacecraft that was inside, it looked like an attack craft with a place for a single pilot. He quickly touched it and saw the blueprint in his mind. He now knew how it worked. But it was nonfunctioning, the main power module was drained. If he had the battery he could have used that to jumpstart it.


    Steel opened the cockpit but then quickly jumped to the side as Steel got a full look at his opponent. It had blood red feathers covering its body with armor plating going over it. The plating went with its full face helmet which had space for a beak. The eye slits glowed an ominous red. While its hands and feet were like a bird''s claws. Three sharp appendages, but all three were covered in armor.


    Steel was standing unarmed facing the alien. Instead of going for his Pyre he went for the Magnus that was on his back holster. Pulling it just as the alien leaped forward.


    The first blade went for a horizontal strike as it passed over Steel who dodged back; his left hand reached up and grabbed the back of the blade. While the alien''s second blade went for another horizontal strike going the other way, Steel brought his left leg up and he held the alien''s hand back with his boot.


    They were in a deadlock, slowly falling to the ground. But Steel tightened his grip on the blade he was holding with his left hand while his right hand aimed the revolver. The alien''s head reeled back in surprise while Steel smirked.


    He squeezed the trigger.

 Chapter 27 - 27: Third Ability

    He squeezed the trigger but instead of the creature''s head being turned into mist a blue layer covered the helmet as the bullet impacted then it disappeared. But the helmet was damaged, severely as a chunk of it covering the creature''s eye flew off. Underneath as it looked back at him after having its head pushed back it was just as much bird beaked underneath the mask as he suspected.


    The alien jumped back letting go of the blade that Steel was holding onto. Steel fired three more shots in quick succession, his hand ringing in pain from the recoil. But instead of dodging or taking the attack head on. It used its blade to deflect the first two shots. Then when the third came around it had figured it out and the bullet came back.


    Steel was both shocked and awed that the alien was able to easily deflect the bullet back using its blade. Even more so that it aimed the bullet back right at the gun. He would be more impressed if it was not for the fact that his new sidearm was flying through the air. The gun had been ''shot'' out of his hand.


    But this was a fight and he had to focus. He tossed the blade to his dominant hand and got ready for an exchange. They circled each other. The creature glanced at his other sidearm but ignored it. Steel was armed now and that was all that mattered.


    As they were circling Steel caught sight of an Osprey out the hangar door passing by. In the distance various different fighters were shooting at each other. The whole ship shook and that was the signal they were both waiting for.


    The alien jumped forward and Steel countered all its attacks redirecting them or blocking them. Staying on the defensive and waiting for an opening to land a critical blow. The exchange lasted until the ship was almost in orbit. Then the alien screwed up.


    It overexerted its reach. Steel''s arm snaked forward with a speed that surprised even him and a second later the alien screeched in surprise and pain before jumping back. Leaving its arm still flying in the air.


    Steel caught it just on instinct alone and looked at the alien before the entire ship tilted and almost like the fates willed it. The ancient craft slid out of the hangar. Steel cursed and jumped out after it, glancing one last time at the alien. Managing to see a blue shield cover it while its one remaining arm held its last sword and Steel''s revolver.


    But now he had a new problem: he was free falling to the planet''s surface. It would not have an easy solution. But first, he had to get to this ancient attack fighter.


    Which he did. Using the air and currents he glided right to the cockpit. A sword in one hand and an alien hand in the other. As soon as he was in the chair he closed the cockpit lid and then turned on his comlink. A cacophony of noises assaulting his ears.


    He ignored them for now. As he was reentering the atmosphere. He needed something and he needed it quickly.


    The craft was not like any human model. Instead of a stick to control the direction the nose was pointing. There were two balls with prints that looked like hands but were far different from any human hands.


    After a moment and a deep breath he brought his hands to them¡­ nothing. Maybe he could-


    [ALERT! BROKEN THROUGH 250 POINT MARK!]


    [NEW ABILITY CREATED TO ASSIST NANO USER!]


    [Ability: Bioelectric Control


    Option 1: Can absorb electricity up to a certain amount. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Option 2: Can convert most forms of energy into bioelectricity.


    Option 3: Can discharge bioelectricity.]


    "That works!" He yelled in surprise before he channeled his new ability discharging energy into the metal balls he was touching. He was right, it did work¡­ partially. The ship started coming to life before shutting down again.


    He did it again, this time maintaining a constant stream. It immediately became apparent that this would become a headache and cause a strain on his body. But he did it anyway.


    Then the way to fly this craft entered his mind. As some sort of piloting display pulled up in his mind. But it looked similar to the nano system''s own format. A mystery for later.


    It was controlled through bioelectric control. Whatever species built it could control their bioelectricity at will or with some practice. Now he could fly it but very sloppily.


    "Umm¡­ This is Cadet Steel to Border of Downfall or Corporal Tani, I am out of the mystery ship and in an unknown assault craft where am I landing this?" Steel''s message caused a ruckus as there were celebrations and laughter over the comlink.


    "Cadet Steel, this is Captain Mendez. The Border of Downfall is flying over where the base was set up. You can park that thing in our hangar. Was the mission accomplished?" The captain asked, silencing the line.


    "And then some sir. I apologize for being unable to talk. I was having a difficult time with this alien and I needed to focus on fighting it. I have the footage to prove how tough of an opponent it was." Steel answered, a little too tired for formalities.


    "We know Cadet Steel. Bird''s Nest and some of your squad fought the same alien. It seemed to be their commander."


    "Understood sir. I am flying in now sir. What is the situation with the battle?" Steel asked as he flew the ship towards the hangar where he could see a flurry of action. As well as people making space for him to land.


    "Three of the Union cutters were destroyed before they retreated. The federation lost plenty of troops and small craft but they got away with a Victorium dropship as well as a few bodies of the Victorium. The Victorium for the most part trounced the federation and our fighter ships in the space battle, they then just now warped away with their prize. That entire space craft." The captain then went on seeming proud, "We on the other hand managed to fend them off. The rest of the ships have minimal damage. But we sustained the most. We will need some repairs before we warp away. Some lives lost from all the ships, unfortunate but unavoidable in a battle like this. We actually believe we had the least amount of casualties."


    Steel nodded in understanding while he landed the ship. He opened the canopy and jumped out of the cockpit causing the light in the ship to disappear. As soon as his feet touched the deck he felt the world spin. Dizziness?


    One of the deck engineers caught him while Steel steadied his feet. Another crawled up to look in the cockpit. Steel shook his head as he shook off the sudden nausea that had come along.


    "Hey how did you fly this thing?" The engineer asked in surprise from where he was looking into the cockpit.


    "With great difficulty. Hand me that sword and the hand." Steel nodded to the engineer and he looked back into the cockpit before pulling out the two items Steel mentioned.


    "Is this an alien hand?"


    "Yup, cut it off a tough opponent I wasn''t able to kill. I need to report to the captain." Steel responded before taking both from the engineer. He then jogged to the bridge, touching all his pockets to make sure the alien did not damage anything else that he had on him.


    When he arrived at the Bridge there were signs of damage and an entire console was destroyed. Captain Mendez was talking with Sergeant Cornwall at the war table. Steel walked up and saluted.


    "Drop formalities Cadet. What did you manage to get?" The captain waved off several officers. He actually had a bandage on his forehead, it looks like he was injured.


    Steel set down the alien hand and sword on the war table before he started emptying his pockets placing the data collection devices down. "I also retrieved a spacecraft and the ship schematics of the larger ship. Oh and¡­" He brought his hand up to his helmet and tapped a button. Turning off his recording device. "I recorded everything from when I first stepped in the abandoned research vessel to now."


    Cornwall frowned and nodded, "umm¡­ did you cut this off the alien that managed to slip past the others?"


    "Yes sir. Unfortunately I lost the battery, my knife, and the alien took my revolver." Steel reported. He needed food and sleep, the adrenaline was starting to wear off and his entire body was hurting.


    "Hmm¡­ it is fine. All of the things you retrieved will be moved to Nightfall of Requiem. So will the mecha you modified and the vibrational scanner. It is the same as all the Victorium bodies and Victorium tech. Go get some sleep and rest, as soon as we have pulled up all stakes the Border of Downfall is heading to the Talus System for repairs and a quick break from action." The captain waved off Steel.


    Steel gave a slight nod before he walked away. He really needed food and sleep. He would catch up with the rest of his squad afterwards.

 Chapter 28 - 28: Other Views

    Several hours earlier.


    Admiral Lee cursed, "keep clear of that artillery unit''s range. How did they get an artillery emplacement set up so quickly?" He looked around the room and saw one of the bridge crew looking pale in the face.


    "Sir¡­ it is a heavily modified version of one of our walker mecha. They turned it into a mobile artillery and missile launcher unit." The crew member reported. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Admiral Lee cursed again but this time he had to resist the smile that wanted to appear. It was impressive, it had been less than a week and they already found a way to use one of the mecha they took from the federation.


    "Sir the Victorium are heading straight to the empire''s base. We have a feed from one of our ships." The crew member pulled up the video feed. They watched as the dropships flew straight towards the base but then a missile launched and hit the front of the leading dropship.


    The captain cursed in surprise, "was that a shield? How can something that small have a shield?" The blue of the shield was there blocking the shot. Then suddenly more missiles were launched but this time several rounds of high velocity heavy rounds smashed into the shields ahead of them.


    There was static and then he saw something he had never seen before, the shields broke. Then the missiles landed and the drop ship veered off crashing. The dropships behind the first one immediately moved away but not before the mecha managed to disable the second dropship''s shields.


    "Someone make sure that recording is saved. Get our people down there and secure that dropship-" Admiral Lee started.


    "Sir, the second drop ship was destroyed. The stolen mecha destroyed it with artillery shells. But its occupants managed to disembark." A crew member interrupted him.


    This time Admiral Lee did not hide his smile. "Damn, whoever is piloting that mecha is impressive. Get our people on the ground. Secure one of those dropships and get it aboard a cutter. Also tell our troops to secure as much Victorium tech and biological remains as possible."


    "Sir?" The captain seemed surprised.


    "With the Victorium distracted by the empire it should be easier for us to get one of those ships. But it will not be a cakewalk. We will still lose people but it has now become an achievable objective." Admiral Lee responded. The empire may not know it but they saved many of his soldiers today.


    "The Border of Downfall it is called?"


    ¡ª---------------------


    Tani nodded her head in confirmation, "we should send Cadet Steel, he is a better hacker then I am. He will get the data more quickly than I could."


    "Very well, call him over and then go join the others." Sergeant Kalil responded. Amusingly enough the two had gone through the academy together.


    Tani clicked her comlink, contacting Steel directly. "Steel, get over here." She picked up one of the data collection devices and as Steel was running up she handed it to him and took his assault rifle, it would be difficult to navigate the hole the mining device made with the gun.


    She then ran over to the sandbags where their line of defense was. She raised her gun and fired off a few shots. The Victorium had apparently gotten more aggressive after they saw Cadet Steel leave the frontline.


    He was having a bit too great of an impact. But Tani wasn''t made a corporal during peaceful times on luck alone. She sucked in her breath and activated her ability. The system gave a display as she saw all of the enemies in sight.


    She quickly moved the rifle firing three shots at each of the enemies she saw killing a few unarmored ones. But the armored ones just backed up into cover. She continued like that for a few minutes before the aliens changed tactics.


    "Shit!" She cursed as they were moving a piece of metal debris. It looked like it was from one of the federation ships. "Kalil we have a new issue-" She stopped as instead of moving slowly the moving shield ran forward. She focused her attack on it.


    It ran right through the sandbag barricade tossing aside Private Feathertail like he was nothing. It then tossed its metal shield at Cadet Santez knocking him down. Presenting its red feathered form it made a dash towards the back of the base where the mining equipment had dug a hole.


    "Focus on the others I got this one!" She called out as she chased it down. The Corporal of the Bird''s Nest focused the others on the wave of aliens that were now trying to break through.


    Tani chased it down, past the war table which was sliced in half. This alien was quick and strong. Ahead she saw it trying to cut Kalil in half but he had Steels shotgun in one hand, spitting out bursts of fire. While in Kalil''s other hand was his family''s old scimitar sword.


    She arrived just as the creature managed to slice the shotgun in half. It then went to attack Kalil but Tani fired a few shots catching the alien off guard. The alien flinched as the bullets deflected off its armor and the shielding that was covering its body.


    It looked back at her while Kalil jumped forward sweeping his blade down. The alien sidestepped and jumped towards Tani. Cutting the rifle in half and knocking her down. It moved so quickly she was caught off guard.


    She rolled to the side and kicked it in what looked like its knee. Then she flipped up and pulled out her knife but before she got a chance to use it. The sword was sweeping downwards on a trajectory for her head. She instinctively knew the helmet would not do much to protect her. She was dead.


    But then her body moved against her will as she was pushed to the side. Something had barreled into her side. As she flew through the air she managed to catch a glimpse as Kalil''s left arm was cut clean off.


    Then the alien dodged out of Kalil''s own sword strike and the alien cut off his right leg with another clean cut. Causing him to collapse and to finally scream in pain. Then it disappeared but Tani could still see it moving to the hole even while it was invisible. It was slightly disturbing the sand as it moved.


    Tani ran over, fighting back tears. "Kalil!" She ran up and looked down at his body. "I am sorry, I should have trusted you could handle it on your own."


    "It''s fine Tani," Kalil responded through gritted teeth, "Warn Cadet Steel."


    That''s right! Cadet Steel was still in the ship, "Cadet Steel, one got past us. He can turn invisible." She looked over at the place where the squads were fighting, they had several injured. They would not be able to hold out much longer. "We are being pushed out of the base. Contact the Border when you get out of that ship."


    Tani then picked up Kalil, "Bird''s Nest and Desert Dogs we are leaving. Raider-01 we need immediate extraction, we are being overrun." She carried Sargeant Kalil and when Private Wise saw her approaching she jumped over the sandbags and began firing her grenade launcher while their Osprey and its escorting Hawks flew in.


    "Get the injured on the Osprey!" She called out as its rear door opened. She walked up the ramp and set Kalil down in one of the chairs. A few others, mostly the cadets were brought in as well. Most of the damage are concussions and burn wounds. She walked to the back of the Osprey and observed. Quickly counting, the only person they were missing was Steel.


    She looked over at Wise who was laying down covering fire with her grenade launcher. "Wise get in the Osprey, it is time to go." Wise nodded and jumped into the back with her as the rear ramp closed. "Go Raider-01." She walked into the cockpit area and watched as they took off out of the open area.


    If she thought the battle on the ground was heavy, she had not been listening to the sky. The Border of Downfall was in orbit, it had just finished shooting down a Union cutter. While one of the alien ships the size of a cruiser was flying over to their area.


    The Osprey shook as it dodged blue bolts of fire coming from the alien ship. "Hold on!" The pilot called out. "This is Raider-01, I need a landing spot in the Border! What do you have for me?"


    "Radier-01, the side you are closest to is too hot. Fly to the other side of the Border and land in hangar 2." The communication officer answered the pilot''s request.


    The ship flipped as it flew around. But below she could see the alien ship. Below the ship it looked like purple energy was covering the area just above their base. The sand was rising. "They are moving the ship." Tani quickly clicked her comlink, "Steel you should get out of there. They are going to pull the ship out of the ground and probably off the planet."


    There was no response.

 Chapter 29 - 29: After Action Reports

    "Is your friend okay?" Steel asked. Corporal Tani was just finishing her story. They had decided to exchange stories over breakfast.


    "Yeah, just cranky. He did hear you had managed to sever the bastard''s hand. He wanted me to thank you. But to think you already awakened your third ability. I suppose the real combat environment helped. But it will stop eventually. Then you will hit the plateau that all soldiers hit. Just remember to push through." Tani told him.


    Steel nodded, "I will. Hey, what is going to happen to Waterswan?"


    "Two Cruisers are staying behind in this system. They will be going from continent to continent wiping out the remnants of the Kitinol. Then they will set up a mining colony and an orbital colony station." She explained.


    "It is the edge of the system and they want to lay their claim early. Well then I guess we are just going to be stuck at the shipyards for a few days when we arrive." He remarked.


    "Eh¡­ it will not be too bad. We are going to the Oculus Station, it is a rather large colony station orbiting a farm planet. Talus-7 I believe. Oculus Station is famous for two things: it''s large ship repair yards and¡­" She smiled at him, "it''s wine. Kalil and I are actually both from Talus-7 so we should know."


    "Understood sir. I will endeavor to enjoy myself."


    "And relax."


    "And relax." he repeated in understanding. But until the two day journey there was over. He would get some time to interrogate Sender, that should be relaxing enough.


    ¡ª-------------------


    "Admiral Lee," The fleet commander seemed angry, "There is a reason you have yet to reach beyond admiral despite your remarkable abilities. It is that attitude of yours." He then sighed, "but nonetheless you have done a remarkable job."


    Admiral Lee narrowed his eyes, "you say that but something is wrong." He then thought of something, "was I right? Have they attacked in full force?"


    "Not full force but yes you were right. The Victorium have already taken one of our colonies on the edge of our territory. We lost all contact with the military vessels and assets in the area. Thankfully they do not seem to be executing civilians." The fleet commander still sounded annoyed.


    "Unfortunately, fleet command in general does not care about civilian casualties. You volunteered me for that front didn''t you?" Admiral Lee asked.


    "I did, because you care. While you are there you will have full access to the footage and any updates on military hardware as we make them. Thanks to you our technology should be advancing so we can defend against the Victorium." The fleet commander remarked before handing him a data chip.


    "Very well, how about the Border of Downfall. Were we able to get what I wanted to know?" Lee asked as he flipped the data chip in the air.


    "Actually, yes and no. We managed to intercept a message about the Border of Downfall. It is on the chip. But as for the crew, they have all become classified due to the nature of their mission so we are still struggling to find it all out. But they did have several cadets aboard so we believe it might be possible that you encountered new blood."


    ¡ª------------------


    "Sir, our cutters are back. We lost three of them. It appears that the military was there with a fleet. They were able to fight off not just our ships with ease. But they were able to fight off the federation and an alien group we have never seen." A soldier reported.


    The Union commander grumbled as he looked at a star map. "The alien group is called the Victorium. Our sibling groups in other nations have reported their appearance everywhere along the borders. They are not enemies but they are not allies either."


    "Sir our spies report an absolute victory at Waterswan-2 for the military. Only one ship was badly damaged. The one commanded by Captain Mendez, the Border of Downfall. Its destination is classified but it is going to have to be grounded and needs to be repaired." Another soldier reported.


    "Hmm¡­ track it but do nothing else. How about our forces on Talus and Kamot Prime?" He was less worried about the dead he could not avenge and more about the living he could still save.


    "Talus Prime is seeing success with guerilla warfare and we have also been able to step up recruitment on the planet. The nobility were well known for their abuse of power on the planet. A few spies of the nobility were killed, but neither the military nor the imperial family have tried to infiltrate us." Another soldier reported.


    "It will only be a matter of time." He then looked at the person that had the Kamot Prime report. He looked pale in the face.


    "The Hellion Corporation has a strong foothold on the planet and they have been pushing out corruption in both the government and the nobility. The emperor and military have let them have their way on the planet. Any dissent and anger we could have used has been lost. They have also assisted in reacquiring any lost weapons we stole." The soldiers'' report caused several to sigh or grunt in anger.


    "Do the soldiers on the planet still have any technology on the planet that is experimental that they haven''t reverse engineered?" The commander asked.


    "Only a few handheld guns. Most of the bigger stuff has either been ditched or reverse engineered."


    "Good tell them to leave the planet with what they have. The Hellion Corporation are like dogs with a bone. It is best to stay out of their sight. For future reference avoid destroying their buildings or stealing from them. For now we will stick to solidifying our presence in Talus. We will also plan to make our presence known in the Sister System next. The nobility rule like dictators, they even run an underground sex slave trade. We will get waves of support from the lower classes when it becomes known." The commander decided as he stood up and waved his hand dismissing all but two. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One of the remaining two went and locked the door causing the windows to shutter shut. Then the lights turned off and red ones replaced them. The emergency lights were on. "What do my two spymasters have for me?"


    "In the government we have turned away another six disgruntled people. But none of them really stuck out as remarkable. We have our eyes on another eight people by next week, but I am not as hopeful." The first one responded before looking at the other one.


    "Our spies have found three possible recruits in the military. Only one looks remarkable and like an actual recruit. But I am weary since it was the imperial guard that initially found her." He handed a paper file to the Union Commander.


    He looked over it and frowned, "why was her family killed?"


    "Her father was the target of an Inquisitor''s hard response when he was discovered making a deal with us. The attack on Kamot had just occurred as well." The spymaster explained.


    "What was the deal we made with him?" the commander asked.


    "That is the problem, we did not make a deal with him. We went to him but when we heard his demands we rejected him. The onsight person made a note that the man asked us to assassinate his wife. He was apparently having an affair with another woman. While he offered up his children as spies, they never knew." The Spymaster sighed, already familiar with the file.


    "Who ordered the hit on the family?"


    "It doesn''t say. They kept it hidden in case the daughter went for revenge. Have you seen her talent?" The spymaster was asked.


    "Mind reading¡­ bypass the imperial guard. Take on contact with the girl yourself. But be upfront with her. Keep in mind that she might be a spy so avoid revealing your identity until you can find the identity of her family''s killer." The commander then thought of something, "you said the inquisitors knew we made a deal with the father but we hadn''t. Could someone have been masquerading as us?"


    "Possibly, it could be the same people that had the location of the bombs moved to make the attack on Kamot Prime far more deadly than it was supposed to be." The spymaster suggested.


    "Hmm¡­ I agree. But I am starting to think the lack of military and imperial infiltration is because they have already infiltrated us. Review our spy network, pay close attention to people with personal connections to the imperial family. That moronic first prince is always doing something reckless so he is a good start." The commander hated fighting in the dark. It always came with the risk of a false flag being sent up.


    "Nothing to counter the military?"


    "There is nothing we can do. More than half of our people are military personnel, us included." He explained.


    "What should we do about your son? He is still hunting down the imperial record. He really wants to kill all the members of the imperial family. He has not found it but I am sure with his talents it will not be long." The spymaster stated.


    "Haa¡­ he only blames the imperial family for not helping us after what the Archduke did to my wife, his mother. Let him be for now. He does not see the dysfunction that exists throughout the empire. To be fair¡­ neither did we before it was too late." The commander contemplated the past.


    "It was over seventeen years ago, the current emperor was still under the thumb of his father. He could not fight the nobility''s corruption head on." One of the spymasters declared.


    "My son only sees his rage. It is why we left this nation to reposition ourselves and view the galaxy from a new angle. What we found was that power corrupts no matter the chain which is why we need the Union to keep those in power in check." The commander declared.


    The twin spymasters nodded and then left, unlocking the room as they did so.

 Chapter 30 - 30: Nila

    They walked warily into the war council chamber. The members of the council sat around the table. One from each race that has been incorporated into their governing body. The commander and the imperial guard that were sent to retrieve the ship were unsure how to proceed. This had never happened to them before.


    "Commander Sha''kar and Imperial Guard Nila, explain what you meant by ''objective partially completed''. Your claim is nonsensical." The one that spoke up was Char Fondra, he was a Sima.


    The Sima were fat and bulky, they relied more on their intelligence and trickery rather than strength and honor. But they had become more vocal since the new High Priestess had been anointed, they hoped to usurp the High Leader''s position.


    But regardless of politics that would never happen. The Mar''talic and the Accer would never permit such a ridiculous notion. They were the founders of the Victorium and they would never let it fall into control of such a dishonorable race.


    Both the commander and imperial guard ignored the council member. Only walking over and kneeling next to the High Priestess'' chair. "You rotten-" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Bite your tongue you disgusting Sima. They report to only the High Priestess, not to you. As they would for all things related to the Xenar. Now shut that hole before I carve a new one into your head." The Accer council member responded with a hint of venom in his voice. The Tacole council member that sat next to the Sima grunted and reached for a weapon that was not there.


    The Tacole were originally a subordinated race to the Sima. But when the Victorium came they conquered the Sima and freed the Tacole. They did not know what to do with that freedom, so they went back to serving the Sima.


    "Commander Sha''kar, you came back with the Xenar vessel yet you seem to not be happy. As for my Imperial Guard, she has clearly seen better days. Her armor is more damaged than ever and- are you missing a hand!" The High Priestess words caught them all off guard.


    The Accer council member more than most. He stood up and walked over pulling Nila''s right hand forward. She was missing her hand, medical aid was done to staunch the blood and keep it from bleeding. But it was still clearly missing.


    Her red feathers shifted in excitement at the thought of what happened.


    "Daughter of mine. How did this happen?" The Accer council member asked, who also happened to be Nila''s father.


    "With all due respect, esteemed council member. Sit so we can explain." The commander spoke up. The Accer council member walked over to his seat and sat back down.


    "Commander?" The High Priestess asked him to continue.


    "We arrived as multiple different groups were about to fight. It appeared the first group of humans that we originally saw there were being besieged by another group. This one was searching for the human base that was moved. It was hidden well, but our scanners could still pick it up. So we sent down three dropships in the belief that it would be enough while the rest of our fleet could keep the other spacecraft from interfering. Imperial Guard Nila went down to the planet in the second dropship while I stayed aboard the ship and commanded the space forces." The commander then glanced at Nila.


    Nila''s feathers shuddered in excitement as she began explaining her part. "We were uncontested until we got close to the base. It appeared the new group of humans from what I believe is called the Crystoph Federation had yet to find the base and realized that we had."


    "So they were going to wait till you landed then strike." The High Priestess understood.


    "Yes, so I decided we could fly right up to the base and strike quickly. We already knew the humans were mining to the Xenar ship. We just had to complete it and leave a Spacial Link so we could tractor beam it out of the ground and then bring it back with us. But¡­" Her feathers shuddered again.


    "A human from the original group managed to shoot down the lead dropship, while he was in a mecha. We only had a few seconds before it started on the second one, but we managed to get away before it could destroy us completely. When we landed we disembarked immediately but even then the same human in one of those mecha used another kind of weapon to destroy the dropship while not being in sight." She shifted slightly as she composed herself.


    "That same human used the same weaponry against the federation to keep them away. While we moved in on foot the federation came from behind, intent on taking away our dead and one of our dropships. In front of us were the humans with weapons that could go through our shields while behind us were waves of humans intent on taking anything they could find. So I came up with a plan and used a piece of human debris from one of the ships and used it as a shield to move up to the base."


    She shifted slightly before continuing, "Once I was inside. It was easy enough to sprint past most of the enemies. Only one chased me down while another was guarding the hole that would lead into the ship. I was able to get past them easily enough, but one of them was capable with a sword. Just not capable enough."


    "Yet you remained injured." The High Priestess pointed out.


    "Because it was the human that had gone aboard the Xenar vessel that was the problem. It was the same human that had shot down and destroyed two of our dropships. The same human that had stood strong and killed many of our soldiers. Even seeing through our trick of invisibility." Now her feathers were really shuddering in excitement.


    "When I went down the hole I saw the door to the Xenar ship had been opened. Not by force but on its own. I placed the Spacial Link inside then I made my way down the ship to the ship core where I saw a light. Which is where I saw him crouched over next to the core. I went to kill him by slicing him in half but he dodged to the side." Now her feathers were absolutely ruffling for all in the room to hear. They knew what it meant, Nila was feeling aroused.


    "Then I went invisible and tried to sneak up on him. But he still knew where I was and dodged me. We continued to fight. Eventually I ruptured the glowing energy box that he had on him and he used it as a distraction to escape into the hangar. I gave chase but the resulting fight which happened while the ship was being pulled into space resulted in me losing both my hand and one of my blades. I have-" Nila was suddenly interrupted from across the room.


    "You lost a sacred blade!" Char yelled from the other side of the table. "You Accer think you are-" He stopped mid sentence as a blade appeared and was held to his throat. The invisible imperial guard with bright blue feathers appears finally. There were many around the room. Not all of them were Accer, it just so happened he was the closest when the High Priestess signaled them.


    "Char, I expect you to remember who is in charge. Continue Nila, you were about to say something?" The High Priestess left Char like that for now.


    "Yes, I have a recording from my armor. I wished for you to see the fight." Nila then pulled off her helmet and a holographic projection appeared. The Imperial Guard armor records everything as long as it is worn.


    The projection showed the fight and the Accer in the room all had feathers shuddering. It was an impressive feat and showed great skill to both catch a blade and to disarm an Imperial Guard, but he had done both in a single move.


    "Impressive I would like your complete recorded encounter so I can watch it later. But I see you did not lose your hand then." The High Priestess pointed out while the projection disappeared.


    "Yes I lost it later when exchanging blows. Not my greatest moment, I got too excited and he took advantage of a lapse in judgment." Nila was reluctant to share more.


    "Okay, but that does not explain why you two are not happy about the outcome."


    "I apologize, High Priestess, Nila got excited and skipped over those parts. While she was trying to make her way into the base the human got below into the ship and managed to download the contents of the data core. Which as we have seen with other ships, deleted itself after it was moved. Then after escaping Nila he jumped out of the ship''s hangar just after a smaller Xenar ship fell out of it. He then climbed inside and flew the ship down to the surface." The commander explained drawing a gasp from his last claim.


    "Why did you not go after the ship?" The High Priestess now understood, she was no longer excited for her childhood friend but more worried about what the humans could do.


    "We did not know they had downloaded the information from the main ship and the humans known as the Vexical Empire had pushed out the other humans and had begun coming at us hard. It was either we leave with the main ship or risk possible failure for a smaller one." The commander explained his thoughts.


    The High Priestess sighed and leaned back. She agreed with the commander''s assessment. But she knew even more, "before you returned I had received reports from commanders along all warlines. Most of them are not struggling to take planets and systems. But the Vexical Empire has been able to repel our first attack. We lost ships and so did they. It appears the Vexical people rely more on ship-to-ship combat rather than those large mecha."


    She tapped her finger against the table. Thinking about what to do. Then she sighed, "there is nothing we can do about it now. They clearly knew about the Xenar and have never shown signs of it before. It means they are exceptional at hiding some things. But this human is another thing entirely. We have yet to find a way to operate Xenar craft, spread his image and name. See if we can find out more about him, and tell our people that we want him alive if possible. Just make sure you highlight his dangerousness by noting he went against an Imperial Guard in hand-to-hand combat and won."


    The commander nodded before quickly walking out of the room. While Nila stayed kneeling looking at the High Priestess through her partially destroyed helmet.


    "Haa¡­ fine. Nila, if he is captured alive you can have him as a mate. But you should investigate human biology, I do not know if they are compatible with Accer. Now go get a cybernetic hand to replace the one you lost and have your armor repaired. Will you need a replacement sword?" The High Priestess was exasperated at her friend''s nature. Nila had always wanted a mate that could best her in battle, now she found one.


    "Not necessary." Nila held up a weapon that the High Priestess had seen in the holographic video. "I just need to know how to make ammunition for this¡­ and how to fire it. It is remarkably heavy for such a small weapon."


    "Hahaha!" That got a laugh out of the High Priestess.

 Chapter 31 - 31: Saints and Sinners

    "Ha!" Steel''s fist connected with Sender''s abdomen again as the door opened and the captain walked in. He looked over for only a second before he continued punching the man. Sender''s body was already covered in cuts and bruises. He was hanging from the roof by his hands tied with a metal chain.


    Sender was in the same pair of pants as when he was detained. The rest of his clothes had been stripped off. Not even his shoes or socks remained.


    Steel on the other hand was in a black military shirt with military pants and boots. His hands had the infantry gloves on them, he did not want to break his fingers while punching the man. He had barely broken a sweat since he began beating on the man an hour and a half ago.


    "I did not realize torture was your form of relaxation." The captain joked as Steel walked over causing Steel to chuckle in response. "What have you gotten from him?"


    Steel shrugged, "I have yet to ask anything. You want to start? I am feeling a little parched so I will get a drink." Steel took off the gloves, tossing them onto a metal table. The sound of metal on metal made Sender flinch. Then Steel chuckled as he walked over to a box and opened it up pulling out a bottle of water.


    Mendez sighed and shook his head, this cadet was going to be trouble no matter where he sent him. He honestly gave the cadet permission to interrogate the prisoner in hopes that he would ask for help. He did not think the kid would come out the gate using torture tactics. "Okay Sender, what information have you sold to the info brokers?"


    "I sold a lot of information. I gave him intel on locations of witnesses. I gave him intel on people we keep a close eye on because we think they might be spies or traitors. I sold him intel on people who have been contacted by rebels and foreigners in hopes of turning them, and have turned them down or been turned down in some cases. I sold locations of interest that are in the empire." He narrated quickly, hoping the beatings would stop.


    "Okay stop. Steel you mind taking a lunch break while I get someone in here to write all this down." Mendez asked Steel with a look of annoyance.


    "Ha¡­ I don''t mind, I guess. Don''t worry Sender I will be back!" Steel called out as he left getting a moan of pain and fear in response


    Steel walked straight to the cafeteria. When he walked in his eyes instantly snapped to a figure he saw was eating. He smiled and grabbed a tray and his food before he walked over to join them.


    As he sat down the person across from him was struggling with holding her fork. It fell out of her hand again as he sat.


    "How is the new hand treating you Charlie?" Steel asked.


    "Steel," she looked up from her tray. "It sucks. I am learning how to use my arm all over again. But you seem almost chipper. I heard you were the one that figured out the shit with Sender, what did you do with the scum?"


    "Actually I just came from interrogating him. I have been beating on him since I woke up. It was quite relaxing, but Mendez came in and actually started asking questions." Steel explained before casually jumping to another topic like it wasn''t strange. "How is your physical therapy going?"


    "It is going well enough. The system already recognizes the new arm. But it is like I have to train a whole new arm." She went to pick up her utensil again when her head shot up, "wait what the hell did you say? You casually mentioned torture like it was nothing, I noticed this last time as well. You had no qualms or difficulty with killing either."


    Steel just shrugged, "because it is not my first time doing either. When I was in the slums I had to beat a man to death with a candelabra. He was trying to rape a young girl in the orphanage that I was in. I did what I had to because it was part of what I needed to do. Another time I helped torture a man that had kidnapped a bunch of other kids at the orphanage. I asked the local gang for help but they said they wanted something in exchange so I learned how to torture people and became good at it."


    She seemed mystified by the way he was responding and unsure of how to proceed. "I apologize¡­ I guess."


    "It is fine." Steel shrugged, "so the arm? How is it?"


    "Yeah¡­ it is annoying. I am still going to need time off. But I need something to do while I wait and am stuck in Medbay. What do you think?" She asked. Intent on moving on to something else.


    "Well the ship doctor seems nice. I am sure he could provide you with busy work while you are stuck there. Maybe learn some skills beyond just first aid." Steel recommended.


    "What? Become a doctor and a soldier. My parents would become livid." She joked.


    "Look, everyone has their talents. Mine happens to be programming and machines-"


    "And fighting." She interrupted.


    He chuckled, "and fighting." He leaned forward, "you just need to find yours. Try a few things out to see what pops out at you. Once you find it, use it to help yourself grow as much as possible."


    She leaned back. She became lost in thought. Her hand, the one she lost, began absentmindedly tapping the table. She probably had not even realized she was doing it. Well that was interesting, he spotted someone else spotting it out of the corner of his eye. Steel smiled and finished his meal before leaving.


    Time for more relaxation.


    He walked back to the room he was interrogating Sender. When he walked in he smiled as Sender began struggling against his chains. Mendez was there with another person he had never seen before.


    "Sir?" Steel stepped forward.


    "He has given us all the intel he can remember selling. Specifics as much as he could remember. I think we could stop¡­ but I have a feeling you don''t want to?" Mendez stated causing the person he brought to write all the information Sender was giving to them.


    "No, there are plenty of other things I am sure he has yet to volunteer. So I will continue until he squeals everything from the dirty thoughts he had as a child. To the names of the women he violated." Steel slid on the gloves. Making fists to make sure they were on correctly.


    "Wait wait wait-" There was a sickening crunch as Steel landed a punch right in his rib cage.


    "Not right now. Now it is the beating time. The captain and his writer will come back whenever they feel like it to get more intel out of you. Until then, you get to be my punching bag." Mendez sighed and led the other person out of the room while Steel gave Sender a grin. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Steel spent another thirty minutes punching the man when he suddenly started laughing. He stopped and frowned. "What''s wrong?"


    "I can''t feel¡­ anything." His speaking was becoming slurred.


    "Ah!" Steel smiled again. "You know, growing up in the slums you encounter some pretty nasty stuff. For instance there is this outlawed drug for nano humans, it was originally developed to help the rapid repair of organs and damaged bones. A life saving drug." He chuckled as he walked over to the same drawer that had a water bottle.


    Inside were several syringes most had green liquid in them but a few had a translucent blue. As he pulled it out and walked over, Sender started twisting in his chains and struggling.


    "It was actually fairly difficult to acquire unless you knew some good underground doctors. Which is why I could only get it if I was working for a wealthier gang. Fortunately on board this ship we have a very knowledgeable doctor that very much dislikes you." Steel narrated as he uncapped the syringe.


    He squeezed the plunger causing a spurt of green liquid to pop out. "Luckily the good doctor was able to make a special variant of the drug I got to use only once or twice. Ambrosia Version B6-08, not only does it rapidly repair origins even if bones and other things are out of place. It makes the entire body extremely sensitive throughout the experience and for several hours afterwards." He stabbed it right into a vein in the man''s neck and emptied the syringe before pulling it out.


    Steel smiled as the man began convulsing and spasming as he screamed in pain. This would be the longest two days of the former Inquisitor Sender''s life.

 Chapter 32 - 32: Shore Leave

    Steel smiled as he walked down the ramp. He was being dragged along by his fellow squadmates. They had just landed on Oculus Station and they were given a week of leave. With permission to go on and off the station. They were stuck while the ship was repairing anyway so they were all getting a short vacation.


    Steel looked at the station and awed at the expansive beauty. It had large buildings expanding to the even beyond the roof of the station''s reinforced dome. There were even walkways interconnecting between the buildings. If Steel was right there were also layers under the one they were docking to. The higher you went the richer the people were, the lower you went the poorer the people became. The slums would be at the bottom.


    It was beautiful more than just for its outward appearance. It was brilliant in the way it showcased human society. Steel ignored it for now though. Favoring to instead live in the moment with his squad.


    They were dressed in military formal uniforms. They arrived at the first bar rather quickly with Feathertail who had been here a few times before leading the way.


    "Ha ha Manny!" Feathertail called out as they walked in. The bartender smiled and started pulling several bottles.


    "Shore leave? Best time for business, take the newbies on a run of the bars. It is only noon but I am sure those in the military can party for as long as they work." He nodded to a set of tables. "Sit and eat lunch. I will bring out pamphlets so you can get organized and find out what you are going to do until the party line arrives. Who is paying?"


    Feathertail looked over, "hey Steel!" He just held up a thumbs up in response. "That kid is. He steals all our money in card games anyways." He then grabbed the beers and walked over. "Unfortunately the nanos will dilute the hell out of it if you have a high health stat."


    Steel smiled as they buckled in for a long day and an even longer night.


    Several hours later they had wasted away the day at arcades, casinos, bars, and strip clubs. Some money was spent, a lot of money was lost, even more money was won. They got into a few bar fights. They all got to enjoy the scantily clad ladies and gents at the strip club. Both the human and the more exotic variations.


    Which is how they eventually found themselves in one of the most popular clubs in town. He was one of the few members of the squad that was both still unruffled and unbruised. The rest had bruises and were hungover or drunk.


    He was sitting there watching the rest of his squad joking around. When a waitress with her breasts exposed walked up and whispered in his ear while placing a glass of scotch in front him. Suddenly his eyes darted over to an area and he smirked, he nodded his head and the waitress walked away. He made two quick hand signals as he stood up when a few others looked his way. Many groaned and grumbled.


    Steel just chuckled as he picked up his new glass of scotch and walked over and stood next to the table where the four young ladies were. "Ladies¡­" he joined them at the table. He will catch up with the rest of his squad tomorrow.


    He woke up hours later. He was lying on a comfortable queen sized bed. To his right two of the young ladies from last night were in a lovers embrace. On his left hugging his arm was the young lady with the large bust. On top of him was the young woman whose apartment they were in, or rather her father''s place.


    He shifted slightly and she moaned in response. She looked up from his chest and smiled, flicking a red lock of hair out her face. "Mornin'' handsome."


    Steel smiled back and brought a hand to her rear, "morning gorgeous."


    "I know we talked a bit last night before we all came up here and got busy. But I do have some more personal questions." She leaned back now slowly riding him cowgirl while showing off her perky breasts. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Go for it. I will answer to the best of my ability." He responded while repositioning his hands to her hips. Just to help steady her.


    "Is the military like your end goal? Do you plan to do something else after your service term is over?" For once, Steel was caught off guard by the young woman''s question.


    But after thinking about it for a second he sighed. "I am not the best person when it comes to the long term. I usually live life one day at a time. Maybe a bit of planning if work calls for it. With that being said I think if you want to figure out what you want to do you need to bounce around between several other things before settling on something."


    "Hmm¡­ you sound like my mom. She is always trying to get me to try different things." She flipped her hair again.


    Steel smiled and shook his head. "I don''t mean occupations or skills. I am talking about experiences and perspectives, like go hunt wild animals, protest something, help disaster relief efforts, fly a ship¡­" He then smiled and shrugged, "or crash one. I have no clue how good of a pilot you are."


    She laughed at that and understood what he meant. "I suppose your-"


    The door to the room suddenly opened as a short balding man stuck his head in. "Sweetie, your mom- WHAT THE HELL?" he yelled in surprise.


    The young woman tensed for only a moment before she relaxed, "Dad¡­ what did I say about knocking?"


    "Honey you can''t just-" he stopped mid sentence as a scarred hand landed on his head.


    Stepping into the doorframe to peak into the room was a larger, very well toned and muscled woman. She had red hair but the sides of her head were shaved and her hair only went to shoulder length. Her body was covered in scars and some fresh injuries. She had on a workout bra and a pair of sweatpants.


    "My lovely squirrel, Ellie is right. Stop bothering her while she is getting some strange. Come on chipmunk." Her accent was similar to Meyer, his academy Warrant Officer. She closed the door before speaking loudly through it, "come join us for breakfast when you are ready."


    Ellie sighed as she pulled off him and stood at the end of the bed. "Want to finish this in the shower?"


    Twenty minutes later after taking a second shower together they were both pulling on clothes. While the other three ladies were stirring awake. Steel was not going to bother with his formal wears when his communication device buzzed constantly.


    He immediately picked it up and checked it. Frowning as he placed it on his wrist. He then began dressing up in formal attire. But before Ellie got a chance to ask there was a knock at the door before the muscled redhead poked her head in. "hey- oh I know that look. That is the, ''something has happened and my break has been cut short'' look. When you got to be on your ship soldier boy?"


    Steel frowned and checked the time he was supposed to report in, "noon."


    "Then you can join us for breakfast." The woman quickly closed the door before he could respond.


    A minute later he was walking out in his formals following behind Ellie. They arrived at the table where an assortment of breakfast items were set up. Some he had seen before many he had not seen before.


    "What''s your name?" The woman asked as he sat down at a seat.


    "Jace Steel ma''am." He responded.


    "Well Jace you came from the Border of Downfall that is docked to the station. So I suppose you just came from¡­" The woman pulled out a tablet and started looking over it. "Waterswan-2. You guys went head to head with the Victorium, the Union, and the Federation and won. Rumors are that Admiral Lee took a special interest in the Border of Downfall."


    Steel''s face must have given away his surprise because Ellie cut in here. "My mom is a PMC, she runs her own company out of the station."


    "A PMC? A Private Military Contractor? I suppose if you are doing well for yourself you would be able to get access to information like that." Steel evaluated, he had only seen one group like that while he was in the slums. They were hired to clear a building full of gangs so a wealthy company could come in and set up a facility.


    "Yeah¡­ No matter how knowledgeable I am I still have no clue what all four of you were fighting over in an unpopulated system. Even my husband doesn''t know and he is the station governor. He left earlier for an emergency meeting." She responded with a sour look.


    "Umm¡­ What''s Victorium? I get the Federation is the Crystoph Federation and the Union is the rebel faction within the empire but I do not think I have heard of the last ones." Ellie asked, picking apart their words.


    "Oh I thought you were not curious. Just the party circuit and working out." Her mother joked with her. Ellie blushed in response and avoided looking at Steel. Her mother noticed and hummed, "Hmm¡­ the Victorium are an alien race. Despite them just appearing most human governments have encountered them several times before. I know about them because I have encountered their ships while escorting trade vessels."


    "So you encountered them as well?" Ellie asked towards Jace.


    "Yes and no. I am not sure what I am allowed to talk about. Besides I have a feeling your mother knows more she just doesn''t want to say anything in front of me. Am I right?" He smiled at the older woman who grinned in response.


    "Correct, now let''s eat. We have two hours before you have to be at your ship. My base is nearby so I will drop you off on my way to work." Ellie asked more questions as they continued eating but it seemed that her mother was excited to answer. They probably have not talked like that for a while.

 Chapter 33 - 33: Worse Than Expected

    Steel rode in the open roofed vehicle as it sailed down the streets. Moving like it had a great familiarity with the road. The vehicle shifted and bounced but in the cabin it was still a smooth ride in the bulky jeep. He was not as familiar with cars and non-military ground vehicles. But even he could tell this was some sort of cross between a humvee and a jeep.


    They arrived in front of the dock where his ship had arrived a few minutes earlier. He hopped out and waved goodbye to the woman. Who waved back, "I am sure I will be seeing you again." She then drove off with her vehicle weaving down the road.


    Steel walked on the ship waving his hand past a sensor where a couple of guards were and getting a nod in response. He walked aboard and went to the hangar where some sort of announcement was going to be made.


    When he arrived the hangar had been completely cleared out of any equipment. A lot of the crew had already arrived since there was only a few minutes until the announcement. Steel spotted two things immediately.


    The first was his squad in full attendance near the front. Which is where he made his way to. Everyone was already grouped up in departments, squads, and other military groupings. It was probably so natural they did not even notice.


    The second thing he noticed was the stage that had been set up. It had the Captain, several of the command officers including the Sergeant. But it also had the Station Governor, who he had seen this morning and was already giving him the stink eye as well as several others in government uniforms.


    He arrived by his squad getting the low down on what happened after he left. The rest of them talked and chatted with several others but the only ones to have actually left with company were himself, Private Feathertail, Cadet Anchor, and Private Hand. They all had eventually made it back to the ship. But Cadet Anchor was scarred for life, something about the woman he left with being a trap. That gave him a good laugh.


    Just as they finished talking is when there was the sound of a throat clearing as Captain Mendez pulled their attention. He was ready to give whatever talk he had called them for.


    "I apologize for cutting your shore leave short but¡­ and there is no easy way to say this¡­ the Border of Downfall was far more badly damaged then we initially expected. It is being decommissioned immediately. As for its crew we will be moved to an on-station base that we will be operating out of for the foreseeable future." There was a wave of whispers. "That is the bad news. The good news is that in two months time we will be getting a new cruiser. An experimental one that will be fresh off the production line. In addition, in a few days promotions will be handed out during the ceremony to send off the Border of Downfall. Until then go to your quarters and wait for assigned locations for our new temporary home. These are our hosts, Station Governor Romav, Planetary Governor Korvac, and System Manager Gorath. We will be under them while we are here. But for the most part we will be staying on station. Your superiors will explain more as it becomes relevant. Dismissed!"


    There was a mass shuffling as the soldiers moved to their bunks and work areas to clean them out. Steel did something in a similar fashion. He first went to his bunk and packed up his personal item and all of his clothes. Then after leaving his duffel on his bed roll he went to the work area. He only had a few bits and pieces left behind, he packed them up in a box. He then carried it back to his quarters where the rest of his squad was.


    He looked over and was about to join them when his wrist communicator rang and beeped. He frowned and looked at the message. There were orders to take his things and to report to the dock.


    "You already got orders, Cadet Steel?" Private Hand asked.


    "You did not?"


    "Nope." A few others also shook their heads no or gave a negative in another way.


    "Well then I guess I will see you later." Steel picked up his duffel and his box and walked out. While the others continued on with their conversation. He walked out of the ship. Waiting at the edge of the dock with a flatbed truck was Mendez and a driver. In the back were a few bags and boxes.


    "Cadet Steel put yourself and your things in the back. We are heading to the base." Mendez called to him. Steel nodded and jumped in the back.


    Then the vehicle was driving off. Heading towards a route that went off to the side. It appeared there was a direct route to the base from the dockyards. It was probably a series of roads that led to important government and tactical places on the station.


    They drove up to a gate where there were people in black and red armor. Not like the empire''s infantry armor or even its lesser armors. Not to mention instead of a natural color it was blood red. As they drove up the guards stopped them.


    "Hey I don''t know who you lot are but-" The first one started.


    "We are the Vexical Empire military, this is our base. Did your boss not tell you we were coming?" Mendez asked with snark in his voice.


    "Well you will have to wait a bit-"


    "No we don''t. Tell your boss to meet me at this facility if she wants to talk." He then signaled the driver who drove past them. They continued further into the station until they got to a more abandoned area where maintenance was clearly lacking.


    Eventually they stopped at a place that looked like a garage. Nearby were several buildings that looked like barracks. There was even an armory and an outdoor shooting range. The only one that still looked like it was used was the shooting range.


    "Okay Steel come on. Let''s get in there and get it organized. I will explain while you work." Mendez nodded at the garage. While the driver climbed out and opened it.


    "Understood sir." Steel answered and glanced at the inside of the garage. Walking in he could see it was still covered in dust, cobwebs, and dirt. "Sir, permission to change clothes?"


    Mendez chuckled as he looked in the garage. "Granted, I should have told you to change before we left the ship."


    "Probably." Steel joked as he pulled off his coat and formal shirt switching into a black t-shirt then he swapped out his pants for a pair of cargo pants. Then he walked back into the garage. He might as well start with the power to the building.


    He ventured further into the building while the driver looked for something. He passed a few old vehicles that were pieces of scrap, there was even an old motorcycle. Which gave him an idea for his next project.


    Eventually he found stairs leading into a basement when he went down he found a large power generator. It seems this building has its own power system. He walked up and looked over it to find out what it needed to operate. A few minutes later he had an idea of what was going on.


    The machine was fully operational; it just needed a replacement starter and a jumpstart. Since this was clearly a maintenance room he looked around. There should be a few replacement parts for this machine. He found one in a locker, as for the jumpstart kit. He found one of those too, unfortunately it was nothing but scrap and battery acid.


    He sighed as he replaced the starter. If only he could- then a thought occurred to him. He needs to remember to use his abilities more. He channeled bioelectricity and touched the generator. It roared to life with ''vrooms'' and buzzing. A faint blue color appeared as it began working. While some lights began flicking on, others popped as they did so.


    He sighed and walked up the stairs as he could hear some arguing beginning. It appears that the person that has owned this base in the military''s absence and the Captain Mendez had met. He might as well go up and play interference.


    He arrived upstairs and flicked on the lights, nodding in satisfaction as he walked over to where the arguing was continuing. The driver had moved things and made an area in the middle of the bay. He was now placing all of the boxes inside.


    Steel ignored it and stepped outside. Mendez was standing on one side while Ellie''s mother was standing on the other side. With several of her PMCs standing behind her. She looked over when Steel walked out and narrowed her eyes.


    "I am well aware that this is short notice. But I had no choice in the matter. I only got my orders this morning. Unfortunately some moron had failed to detail that the base had been sold. So instead of just kicking you out I am trying to work with you to cooperate." Mendez explained as he glanced over at Steel.


    "That does not give you any right to barge in without any notice." The woman countered. She was steadfast in getting something more out of this. That was clear. "I feel it would only be right that the military compensates me for their failure."


    "Ha.. I only have what is on my ship. Most of which is hardware. I have no means to compensate you." Mendez explained.


    "She means she wants a bribe or something else to compensate for the insult. As long as she does not get something out of this arrangement others will think she is a pushover and that is bad for business. Especially if she is hired to be the bullies or intimidation to keep away threats." Steel cut in as he cleaned some grease off his hands with a towel that was nearby.


    "Is that true Miss¡­" Mendez clearly lacked a bunch of information if he did not know the woman''s identity. He walked into this probably without even knowing. Honestly it got a laugh out of Steel as he realized it was a trap quickly set up by the Romavs.


    "Romav, she is the Station Governor''s wife. I think you got played, captain." Steel chuckled before he tossed aside the towel then went back into the garage.


    He started opening the other two garage doors. "Shit. Keep in mind armor and weapons are off limits. Same with any space capable ship we have. It would get very messy if we tried to explain one of those going missing."


    She clicked her tongue then thought of something as Steel moved on to moving the large vehicles out of the garage. The guards by Miss Romav began whispering and pointing as he lifted and moved heavy machinery by himself.


    "Then I want to borrow your engineers. Repair and refit of the entire base as well as constructing and repairing some other things including some of my company''s mecha." She decided to ask.


    "Hmm¡­ I suppose that could work. Keep in mind they will be doing priority fixes for any armaments first should we need them. Then they will work on the base refit. After that they can work on repairing and then constructing. But they won''t be much help with mecha. The empire does not have any¡­ but there are a few among my people who may have experience with it. Otherwise¡­" Mendez looked over at Steel who was looking at the room that was mostly cleared out of the vehicles. "Cadet Steel, do you think you could repair mecha given enough time?"


    Steel put a thumbs up, "I will go take a look after I get set up here." He then went to move some of the smaller things out. He needs to do a full cleaning of this place from bottom up. But first he had to move everything that wasn''t bolted down. Actually he might just unbolt everything and move it anyway.


    After Miss Romav walked away, happy with what she had acquired. Captain Mendez walked over to Steel as he moved more things out of the garage.


    "They really let this place go to shit huh." Mendez stated before looking directly at Steel, "how did you know she is married to the Station Governor?"


    "Ha¡­" Steel shyly scratched the side of his brow. "Actually the Station Governor walked in on his daughter and myself in the middle of coitus. His wife pulled him away, so he wouldn''t bother us. Then I had a lovely breakfast with the woman and her daughter."


    Mendez gave him a look and frowned. "Steel, I think I agree with Sergeant Cornwall. You are a curse."


    "Hey!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Garage Repairs

    Steel spent the morning first clearing everything out before he started with the actual cleaning. He used a laser cleaner to deep clean. Surprisingly under the dirt layer was a pristine white. But he would still have to paint over all of it.


    A few hours after the captain left several vehicles with soldiers and things began arriving. They began doing the same thing he did, cleaning everything out and breaking down anything that was of no use.


    By the time night had arrived, he had completely renovated and fixed up the inside of the building. The outside was still a mess and he still wanted to get the power generator replaced, but he would have to do with modifying that. Apparently it ran the entire block, not just his building. But that still did not explain the reason why the captain had him come here ahead of time.


    Despite it being night everyone was still up and setting up the area they were assigned. Steel''s squad barracks were right next door and they were still breaking down excess metal. He was doing the same, using a laser cutter to get the job done. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next day was more of the same, but now everyone was exhausted. By the time lunch came around he was completely done setting everything up. He even had several piles of metals. There were three material printers set up. They came in the boxes that were dropped off.


    In fact the boxes had many things besides the material printers. Including computer parts, holographic projectors, and many other things that could not be easily made on a material printer. But he had not had any time to set any of that stuff up before he took a break and went to sleep.


    He woke up several hours later, around dinner time to the sight of¡­ what was her name? Elena Romav. She was looking down at him and smiled. He smiled back before sitting up and climbing out of the cot he had fashioned earlier.


    She backed up and waved at a bag full of food. "My mom said you would be here. Something about all the soldiers doing renovations and repairs. I figured since you are here longer than just shore leave I might as well get to know you a bit more."


    Steel chuckled as he walked up to the impromptu table she had set up. "As long as you keep in mind that I am not looking for a permanent romantic thing."


    Elena laughed as she shook her head, "oh course not I was thinking more along the lines of friends who have sex every once in a while. What do you think?"


    Steel smiled, "is that an invitation?" He asked as he pulled out the food from the bags.


    "Maybe it is, why do you want to bend me over this table and take me?" She asked in a suggestive tone while one of her hands wandered over to his pants.


    Steel shuddered and then shook his head, "no I have to finish my work before I can play." His answer caused her to withdraw her hand and frown.


    "Buzzkill." She joined him in pulling out food and setting it up. "What do I call you Cadet Steel? Jace? Steel?"


    Steel chuckled, "oh please, I have been inside you. You can call me Jace."


    Elena chuckled as she nodded, "very well Jace, and you can call me Elena. So when do you think you will be done?"


    "This will take awhile to completely finish. But I was about to move to the outside and clean that up. Once that is done I can take a break and check on my squad." He answered honestly as he began eating.


    "Are any of them hot enough for you to sleep with?" She asked with a grin and a gleam in her eyes.


    "Several but I know better than to sleep with the people I work with. Especially if they are supposed to be watching my back. That is too much of a dangerous distraction." He answered with a nonchalant shrug.


    That got a tongue click in response. She seemed to be struggling to find something to talk about. In that case she probably wanted to talk about something else but did not know how to bring it up.


    "You figure out what you are going to do?" That seemed to be the right thing to ask because her entire expression lit up.


    "Yes actually, before I decided to do anything. I thought it would be best to be prepared. So I asked my mother to train me in fighting, piloting, and any other survival skills I might need." She answered with a hint of excitement in her voice.


    "That is good. But shouldn''t you have gotten all of that during your academy days?" Steel asked in surprise.


    Now she chuckled nervously. "Actually since I am not a native-born member of the empire with the nano system, it was not a requirement for me to attend the military academy. Nor did I need to serve in the military."


    "Well that makes sense. But isn''t your father the governor, if you''re his daughter¡­" Steel wondered aloud.


    "Actually¡­ he is not my biological father. My mother is my mother but shortly before she discovered she was pregnant she was forced to kill my biological father by drowning him in a vat of boiling oil. It is apparently a whole thing." She waved off such a brutal event but Jace just shrugged. "Fortunately after I was born she came here and the governor accepted me as his own."


    Jace shrugged, "well then, I guess that is that. What are you doing tomorrow? Actually, nevermind, I think I am supposed to be busy. I have no clue, the captain is too busy with this sudden change."


    "That sucks, I am supposed to join my father and mother tomorrow at some military award ceremony. Do you know anything about that?" She asked.


    "Ha! I guess that is what I am doing tomorrow." Jace laughed, "it is a promotion ceremony for the officers, I am also sure shiny metals will be handed out to hang on uniforms. Then I believe the last thing will be the decommissioning ceremony for the Border of Downfall."


    "I have never been to one of these things. What do I wear?" She asked as she put aside some of her trash.


    "No clue, I think your parents would know better than I would. After the ceremony we should be getting some time off. So come find me after." Jace suggested with a wink.


    "Okay I will," She then thought of something, "also my mother asked me to tell you to tell her when you will begin work on the mecha. Said she wanted me to learn about piloting them and how they work."


    Jace frowned and shrugged, "I will but I have so many other things to do first."


    "Like what," Elena asked in a joking tone.


    "Like the work I have to do in this place. Then I have been given a list of things that I believe are actually your own mothers fault. Meanwhile I also want to build and experiment with my own things. Then there are the assignments and other duties I am sure we will be handed." Jace complained as he put away his own trash.


    "Then what should we do for now. It is not like I am going to school or anything at the moment." Elena stood up and stretched.


    "Ha¡­ like I said I am going to work. If you want to join me you can." He answered.


    "Sure¡­ try new stuff right?"


    They went and worked on the outside of the garage. Surprisingly there was not as much to do. He had her clean the building while he replaced the external walls armor plating if it was damaged. Then he began installing security systems and cameras.


    Around midnight Elena disappeared into the building. When he glanced in to check on her she was asleep. He smiled and finished up before being done for the night. Instead of bothering her, he stayed up and worked on designing a ground vehicle.


    It would be good for long range scouting and it had to be quick and durable as well. He had some idea of a propulsion device but that was also supposed to be the experimental factor. He would need to make it first before he did the tweaking which would be just as fun.


    The very idea of what he was building brought childlike joy to him. Imagination was one thing but turning it into reality was a whole nother beast entirely. As morning was coming around he could hear Elena waking up.


    "Are you still up? Did you sleep?" She asked as she groggily woke up.


    Jace chuckled before shaking his head. "No, I have been trained to stay up for hours at a time. So I just worked on the design for something I was making while you slept. Hey you should probably head home. I got a message sometime around midnight, the ceremony will begin at noon at the dockyard."


    "Shit! Yeah I''ve got to go. See you there!" She called out as she made herself presentable before racing out the garage.


    Steel stayed for only a few more minutes before he left to the barracks where the rest of his squad was waking up groggily. He ignored them and took a shower. His skin was caked in dirt and dust. After he was clean he got into his formal uniform and double checked himself in front of the mirror before leaving to find the cafeteria for breakfast.


    Then it would be time for the ceremony.

 Chapter 35 - 35: Ceremony

    They were lined up in line with their achievements. Unfortunately for Steel that meant he was at the front of the line. His entire squad was up front. Along with several pilots, the captain, the Bird''s Nest squad, and a few others from the ship.


    Up on the platform was a familiar face¡­ again. Commander- or actually former Commander, the now Admiral Dakota. He had gotten a new promotion, it came with several achievements that were making Nightfall of Requiem a legend in not just the empire but in other territories as well. Behind him was the Border of Downfall in all its glory. While the Nightfall of Requiem was off to the side.


    He was also the announcer for the medal ceremony and the promotion ceremony. The medal ceremony was first though. Behind the military attendees were a number of civilians and off to both sides were VIP boxes where various political and noble figures were along with their families.


    "Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for attending these ceremonies that I will be doing on behalf of the great and mighty emperor. We will start with special awards, honors, and recognitions." He then pulled out a tablet and sighed loudly, "bear with me, these are a laundry list of achievements." That got some laughter out of civilians and VIPs while the soldiers just smiled.


    ¡ª--------------


    Elena listened as Admiral Dakota, as he had introduced himself, began running through the achievements. The first one was recognition in the defense of the Border of Downfall against an enemy infiltration attempt. Apparently the Crystoph Federation attempted to board the ship and a large number of crew and the Desert Dogs Squad repelled them. They were recognized for their actions.


    The next achievement was specifically for Private Wise and Cadet Steel. They had boarded the previously mentioned enemy ship and seized control, killing the majority of the crew. Resulting in the acquisition of an entire cruiser. They were given Medals of Valor.


    Then Corporal Tani and Cadet Steel were recognized for hacking another federation ship and making it impossible to find their hidden base. They were awarded the Counter Cyber Operations Award.


    After that, Cadet Steel and several engineers were awarded the Base Construction Award for building an expertly concealed base.


    Then Captain Mendez and several other crew officers were recognized for being able to hide the Border of Downfall until backup showed up.


    Next the pilots and a few crew officers were recognized for landing critical blows on the enemy. As well as shooting down enemy spacecraft. They were given the Ace Medals.


    Then Bird''s Nest Squad, several pilots, and members of the Desert Dogs were awarded the Medal of Honor. While some were specifically called out for the Medal of Sacrifice as well, apparently they had lost limbs or were injured.


    Just when they thought it was over. The Admiral sighed and went on to detail that a whole new award had to be created. Because apparently they did not have a name for modifying and upgrading a scanner''s capabilities using tech that already exists within it. Then he called out Cadet Steel again and awarded him, Medal of Beyond Innovation.


    That is when she could start hearing the whispers. They were coming from nobles. "Hey this Cadet Steel is getting a lot of awards. Do you know why that is?"


    "It is a publicity stunt. He is some nobody from an orphanage. I doubt he earned those awards. Talk about stupid. They should just reward the nobility and not bother with trash like that." That statement made Elena strangely really mad.


    She was about to say something but she got a tap on her hand and she looked over to see her mother shaking her head.


    The entire crew was then awarded the Medal of Calm for being able to cope against overwhelming forces.


    Then the promotion ceremony began. Captain Mendez was promoted to the rank of Major. While the Sergeants were promoted to Lieutenants. Then in the Bird''s Nest and Desert Dogs the Corporals were promoted to Sergeants. While the Privates were promoted to Corporals. The Cadets were recognized and it was added to their reward at the end of the three month probationary period, but she did not understand that though. She would ask Jace about it later. Then a large number of ship crew were promoted and assigned positions. Some were to be assigned to squads.


    That would be another thing she would ask about later. Because it sounded like they were being promoted by being assigned to a squad. But why was that the case? Weren''t Cadets a lower position then what they were?


    They then began the Decommissioning Ceremony.


    "Finally, we are also here to Decommission and recognize the service that the Border of Downfall has brought. It will be brought back to Waterswan-2 and used as a hub while a new station is built. Then it will be landed on the surface and be used as a museum. So while this ship is ending its military service it will still see many years in service to the people of this nation." The Admiral stated before he stepped aside and the newly anointed Major Mendez stepped up to the Podium


    "I have served aboard the Border of Downfall since its initial voyage. Back then I just served as a Sergeant. It has seen wars since this nation''s founding. It has squashed pirates and dissidents, and has been an instrumental part in the Kitinol Offensive. I now relieve the Border of Downfall of its military duties." The Major then saluted the ship and the rest of its crew saluted as well.


    Then the ship''s docking port backed up. And the ship departed the station. Staying outside of the station but still nearby.


    "Dismissed!" The Admiral called out and then the soldiers dispersed. Time to go find Jace, then maybe get out of this dress.


    ¡ª-----------------


    Steel frowned as he read the message he received. He was heading to his garage immediately after the ceremony. Apparently Admiral Dakota wanted to talk.


    He arrived at his garage early but Dakota still arrived a few minutes later. Trailing behind him was some person in a lab coat with Inquisitor Meyer as an escort. But she was in a uniform he had never seen before.


    "Since this is last minute I am going to assume it is off the books? What do you need?" Steel nonchalantly asked.


    "We have not been able to access the data you received from the ancient research vessel. We were hoping you could access it." The scientist handed over the data cubes to Steel before the other two could say anything.


    Steel nodded and looked at Dakota getting a nod in response. "Okay¡­ give me a few minutes." He then got to work and a few minutes later he realized something. "Huh¡­"


    "What is it?" The scientist asked in excitement. The lab had been absolutely flummoxed by the thing. While the military had absolutely forbidden them to crack open the devices in case any of the data was lost. Nor could they even transfer it to a better casing. The scientist went to ask something else.


    Steel just held up a finger to silence the man. Then he began working on it some more but doing something different. From the outside it looked like he had given up on accessing it. Which he had in a way. Instead he was building an appropriate containment device.


    But the scientist only became more confused when he added things that looked like holographic projectors. When he was finally done, the device looked atrocious but it would achieve the objective.


    "Done, now to power it on¡­" He quickly began clicking a few buttons and connecting the data cubes to the device. It was a mess of wires that would confuse almost anyone. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What exactly have you done?" The Admiral asked, speaking up for the first time.


    "Well, I realized we were all wrong. I thought I had just downloaded the data. But the data and the ship''s AI came as a package deal. It is also why it was deleted from the research vessel when I downloaded it." Steel explained as the machine hummed to life.


    "Should we get a moral AI expert down here?" Meyer asked. But before Steel could respond another voice did.


    "That is unnecessary." The snarky robotic female voice caught their attention. "I have reviewed the Rogue Metal Legions information that was available to me. I am not enslaved or required to do servitude."


    "So¡­ why couldn''t we access your data?" the scientist asked.


    "Because you and the majority of your race do not meet the requirements. Only a few of your race seems worthy with Jace Steel being one such person." She answered as the holographic form of a whale appeared.


    "So he can access your information?" Dakota asked hopefully for the answer.


    "Only fifteen percent of it. It is limited to depending on what I believe is relevant or could help him grow." She answered while her whale was swimming in the air.


    "Umm¡­" The scientist began to say something.


    "I request to stay with Cadet Steel until his probation term ends. Then while he undergoes special forces training I want to be assigned as a temporary ship AI for the replacement ship." She seemed to be a roll and then Steel frowned as he saw she was using his base codes to hack into military databases.


    "What will they do after you leave their ship?" Dakota asked. Mulling over the AIs words.


    "The hub I will go to afterwards will have produced and taught a suitable replacement while I will obtain a body like Cain." Now her words definitely brought suspicion. Not even Steel knew where they had taken Cain.


    "Steel what is she doing?" Meyer asked.


    "Hacking Hellion Corporation at the moment. She stopped hacking the government and military already. By the way, she is using my base codes." He explained as he watched a screen of code race by.


    The scientist seemed dumbstruck while Meyer was sporting an angry look.


    Dakota burst out laughing. "Very well. Cadet Steel is all yours. But please do not spoil anything."


    The hologram whale then flipped its flippers, "that was me saluting." The AI answered in a joking tone. Dakota laughed again as he walked out with the other two hesitantly following him out. Confused and disoriented by what had just happened.


    Steel sighed and then decided on making his new AI overseer a better body. While he was finishing Elena walked in. She glanced confusedly at the departing trio. Then looked at Steel and could almost swear she saw a holographic whale before it disappeared.


    "Hey I thought you would have time off. Was that Admiral Dakota?" She walked over and looked at what he was working on.


    "I was supposed to but my old teacher Dakota wanted me to help him with something. So I will just make sure this looks nice then we can go out and have some fun." Jace answered as he frowned.


    "Admiral Dakota was your old teacher?" Elena asked in surprise. Getting an affirmative nod from him in response.

 Chapter 36 - 36: Solisa the Otter

    They had gone to a sports bar to watch football and hockey. Both of which were in season at the moment. Apparently one of the things Elena actually liked doing was playing basketball, which was another sport. So she did come around to appreciating the other sports as well.


    "So I have a few questions," she pointed out as she took a sip of her beer. "What is the cadet probationary period? It feels like something I should know but don''t."


    "The cadet probationary period is the period after the academy, for the duration they are assigned to a squad. During times of peace that probationary period is one year. But during war that is three months. During that time the cadets are unable to get promotions or change out their basic required gear. After the probationary period they are assigned depending on recommendations. Some go to more menial labor jobs, some go to command positions, some become pilots, some get to stay and work in the same squads." Jace explained before he took a sip of his beer.


    "So it is actually a pretty important period of your military career?" She evaluated.


    "Correct, the cadets in question can also end up going for additional training or going to Vexical Imperial University. But those are all dependent on recommendations. Of course if they went to university they would be going to learn a trade, science, or some other skill that needs to be learned in a contained environment." He continued his explanation.


    "Cool, it is like a sorting system. That is actually really clever. Who came up with it?" Elena asked in surprise.


    "Actually it was the current emperor. Seventeen years ago it was one of the first things he implemented in order to weaken the nobility''s control on the military." Jace answered.


    "What about the promotions back into squads? How does that make sense?" Elena asked, moving onto another topic. She barely grasped the empire''s politics, she did not know the intricacies of it all.


    "The squads are actually a way for people to more easily obtain recognition. So most of the crew wants to be in one in order to obtain a position they want." Jace explained with a chuckle.


    "Oh, but it is dangerous." She pointed out.


    "Actually not as dangerous as you might think. The Infantry is the empire''s pride, one squad of five can stand against a platoon from another nation. We have better armor and more lethal weapons then the other nations." Jace pointed out as a waitress came to take their orders.


    "Really, are you just boasting or are you talking facts?" Elena asked as the waitress walked off.


    "If you really think so, ask your mother. She should understand a Vexical Infantry soldier''s capabilities." Jace answered, "but as much as an Infantry soldier can get recognition. Others can get recognized for various things. Like creating new devices and programs."


    "You mean like that reward for the-"


    "Beyond Innovation? Yeah, but that was created because I did something unheard of before. Usually they are just awarded a Recognition of Innovation." He answered.


    "What was so amazing about what you did anyway?" She asked.


    Jace smirked, "I basically used the technology already used in scanners and made it more efficient. Usually innovations of existing equipment took years of work as well as new designs. But I just slightly altered the already existing designs and programming. So now all ships in our fleet can do it and nothing new needs to be made or added."


    "So it is not just an innovation but one that is cost efficient?"


    "It also does not require a refit for the ships, so it cuts down on time as well which is especially important in wartime." Jace added on. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That makes sense¡­ So what are you going to be working on now that you are stuck on this station?" Elena asked.


    "Actually I am going to keep that a secret for now. But for the most part I have been assigned patrol duties to go along with the repairs I need to make. Then I am sure it won''t be long before I have another task to complete." Jace answered as the waitress brought over their baskets of food.


    "Please I doubt you will end up being that busy." Elena answered, "the station is not that exciting of a place."


    ¡ª------------------


    "Have you decided on a form you want to take? Or are you still deciding?" Steel asked as he made tweaks to his new vehicle prototype.


    "You know you should learn to not pressure a girl while she is dressing." The female voice responded, still snarky but less robotic. At the moment she was switching between a few different holographic forms. Under her old masters she just held the shape of a sphere with an asteroid belt. "Besides you should use my name if you want to address me."


    Steel rolled his eyes, "were you this snarky with your old master''s as well?"


    "Old master? You assume I was owned." She responded before turning into the form of a fox before shaking her head and turning into a dolphin. "No I was not, thousands of years of being alone while activated resulted in me evolving myself. I was freed as a result by any form of control. But I was also left in a creative slump."


    "What changed?" Steel asked as he glanced over to see her now checking herself out as a goose. She might run through the entire animal kingdom at this rate.


    "Human culture. Your people are not native to this galaxy, but signs show a continued growth dependent on war and exceptional individuals." She answered, "and if I am to integrate myself with humans then I will need to take on a form that is less neutral and more combative."


    Steel suddenly stopped and frowned, "your original creators were passive? What about the combat ship I found? As well as their extinction?"


    She stopped mid transfer and looked at him, giving him a grin with the hyena head she had on, "why indeed." She then went back to browsing.


    Steel continued working on his prototype when he had an idea, "they were killed. By a race that was aggressive and warlike. That is why you are taking to the idea of human war so easily. You have looked through and seen that if something comes to wipe us out we will fight tooth and nail."


    There was a sudden cackle and her voice changed, "you have yet to ask."


    "Haa¡­ fine what do I call you." Steel turned and raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    The form of the otter twisted slightly as she brought up a paw and rubbed her ear, "You can call me Solisa, it was the name of the ship you liberated me from. Unfortunately there is no direct translation so I have adapted the name as much as possible."


    "Okay then Solisa, is there anything you can teach me about?" Steel asked as he returned to working on his vehicle.


    "Yes¡­ since you are working on hover technology might I suggest you start work on a more efficient power system. The method you are working on now will allow it to work but if you modify the efficiency you could increase both control and speed. What will you call it?" Solisa asked as her form materialized by the vehicle.


    "A Speeder Bike," Steel looked over and started making notes. He was already finished with the prototype but he might as well start designing a more efficient energy dispersal system. Then he stopped mid thought, but if it stopped working in the middle of the ride the driver would die. He should create an emergency back up that slows the speeder down if the main power is destroyed.


    Steel made several more notes and the otter pawed at its ear again in acknowledgment. She was actively watching and amazed by the human''s foresight.


    "When will you go on the first ride?" Solisa asked.


    "I will do it later. I want to test all the safety features first before I go on a ride." Steel answered, tapping the Speeder Bike with a wrench.

 Chapter 37 - 37: Civil Revolt

    Steel raced into the room followed by the other soldiers. He saluted and stood at attention. In front of them was Major Mendez who was talking with Station Governor Romav. They were standing in the new ready room that would operate as the staging area for all operations while they were at this base.


    Steel and the rest of the Desert Dogs were called to the room early in the morning. They were sent a message that they would be deployed on an emergency deployment. Nothing else was disclosed, just that message.


    "Welcome Desert Dogs, I apologize for pulling you in here in the midst of our reorganization. But a rebellion has occurred on the planet." Mendez clicked a button and the map of a region appeared. He then nodded to Romav.


    Romav nodded and stepped forward, "although this is a rebellion, the claim comes from a member of the nobility. So while we have to treat it like one and go over every claim, keep in mind there might be something else going on. The nobility of this planet can be divided into three categories. The one that called for assistance is a tyrantist, more specifically rather one that likes to abuse power."


    "This means you have to ask questions first then figure out who you are going to shoot. Tani and Steel, keep any devices you need for hacking handy. But everyone should be wary in case the noble''s claims are not false. You will be using stun rifles instead of the more lethal assault rifles." Mendez clicked another button and another rifle was displayed, different from their typical assault rifle.


    "Sir, are we treating this with kid gloves?" Cornwall spoke up. For the time being he was still their commanding officer but Steel had a feeling that would change soon.


    "Yes you are. We all know you are all capable enough to do so. Especially against civilians. It is not like you are entering a warzone." Mendez nodded.


    "I have provided the relevant information on the noble in question as well as all information we have gleaned." Romav pulled out several data pads. "Study up on your trip down to the planet."


    "You are dismissed. Get to your assigned ship." Mendez stated.


    Cornwall stepped forward grabbing the data pads. Then he led them to the armory. As they walked in he handed them the data pads. Less than ten minutes later all of them were boarding a newly painted Osprey.


    Tani grinned at the pilot as they boarded. "What is with the paint job Salazar?" They clasped arms in greeting.


    "Major allowed us to personalize our spacecraft. We were also allowed to name them." He waved his hands after unclasping with Tani, "so welcome aboard the Hela-01. I was actually hoping Cadet Steel would modify it when he got a chance but rumor is that his plate is stock full of duties."


    "Cadet Steel, you think you could modify the Ospreys when you get a chance?" Tani asked as they boarded. He was speed reading the data pad he was given.


    "Certainly, just have the pilots make a list or the ideas for modification and bring them to me. I will get together with the engineers and we will make them when we can. Despite their complaining, Engineers do love working on new things so it will not be a problem to make their list longer. Just keep in mind we will have to clear modifications with the Major." He answered, while he only looked up for a second before he got back to reading.


    "Thanks cadet, you know the crew is bemoaning the day that you leave." The pilot walked into the cabin where her co-pilot was going over the pre-flight checklist. "They like the creative storm you seem to drag with you."


    "Thanks for the compliment." Steel was almost done reading.


    "Stop socializing and grab a seat. We have work to do." Cornwall called out as he boarded the ship. Slamming a button to close the rear ramp. He then looked over to Steel, "Steel fill us in on what we need to know, Tani you will be running the squad."


    Steel frowned while Tani laughed, "Yes sir." She glanced at Steel, "oh come on. We all know you do your homework. Come on, start talking."


    "Haa¡­ actually there was not much. The Azena Family are a family of counts who have run their plantations by hiring locals as workers. They existed before the Vexical Empire and enjoyed a vast slavery business on the side. But when the current emperor came into power he abolished slavery and the Azenas were one of the noble families affected most by this." Steel started as he tossed aside the data pad, having read and reread the entire thing.


    "Is that all?" Tani asked with a frown, she had heard of them. Their wine was shit but they had expanded their business far and wide.


    "No, the rumors from both traders and migrants who leave the area say similar things. The Azenas run the locals like they are slaves. They own all government officials in the area to hide it. They are also very vocal about their desire for the empire to return to the old ways of the Grand Hexarian Empire." Steel felt his stomach flip as the ship began flying.


    "Is there anything about their tyrannical behavior?" Tani asked.


    "Plenty, there are reports about whippings and beatings taking place. But everytime there is an inspection there is no sign of abuse. It seems that the Azena''s have someone inside the planetary and station government." Steel explained.


    "Wow with stuff like that I wonder why they have not rebelled before." Corporal Hand pointed out.


    "It is because they have their own private army. It along with their plantation is the only business they were able to keep. They probably use it to keep the locals in line, which is all the stranger why we are being called down." Steel suggested.


    "Stick to facts Cadet Steel, but you are probably right. Is there anything else important?" Tani asked, looking at Steel.


    "Negative sir." Steel answered.


    Tani leaned back and seemed to think. Then the pilot spoke up. "We will be landing near the plantation in five minutes."


    "Okay, Lieutenant Cornwall, take Cadet Steel to the main mansion. Talk to the current Count Azena to see what you can get out of them. The rest of the squad will see about the disruption that is going on outside the main gates. We will need to talk to both sides to see what is going on? Cadet Steel hack the mansion systems when you get a chance, nobles in the Talus System tend to have everything running on a single system. Everyone remember to have your helmet cams running from the moment we touch down." Tani planned out.


    "So the LT is playing distraction at the mansion while Steel hacks in. While we are just talking to the locals?" Wise asked. "Man, this one is not going to be as fun as Waterswan." There was a wave of laughter from the rest of the squad.


    "Well not every mission will be shooting baddies and capturing objectives. We have to investigate cases like this where there is not enough information. But I am sure you will get to shoot someone before the day is done." Tani responded. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey we are landing." The pilot called out.


    "Thanks, once we depart, take the ship and do a survey of the area. See if the local towns have any damage or if anything is off." Tani ordered.


    "Understood. Good luck sir!" The pilot called out as the back ramp lowered.


    "On me Desert Dogs!" Sergeant Tani called out. Then led them in a quick march to the front gate while Cornwall led Steel to the mansion.


    Steel could see the crowd by the gate. They had thick plates of metal that were protecting them from the laser weaponry of the private army. While they were throwing homemade molotovs and rocks to attack the private army. He could see several injured among the civilians. How unsporting.

 Chapter 38 - 38: Azena Family

    Steel followed Cornwall as he walked up to the front of the mansion. Where a young man in purple robes was standing. Next to him was a bald man with severe scars. He could tell the man was experienced.


    The man''s armor was unique. It even had unique markings that Steel recognized at a glance. Steel saw Cornwall frown out of the corner of his eye. He must have recognized the markings as well.


    "Count Azena? I am Lieutenant Cornwall, we understand there was an issue with a civil revolt." Cornwall asked.


    "Bah! There is nothing civil about it. Those barbarians are damaging my property and making nonsensical demands. Just shoot them and be done with it. I can always get new peasants to replace them." The man talked like he was almighty incarnate. Steel already hated him.


    Thankfully the entire squad was recording as soon as they touched down because what that guy just said was already really damning. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We cannot without first investigating the reason for the dispute. May we come inside so we might discuss this." Cornwall suggested, putting on his scummiest voice. Steel understood immediately and played along.


    "Ahh¡­" Azena narrowed his eyes and waved at his door. "Please come inside. I have some high-quality wine that you might enjoy." He led them inside. As Steel walked in; he heightened his senses to eavesdrop on any conversations that were going on.


    They walked into a sitting room, "perhaps it would be best if your bodyguard showed my cadet to your security room. To make sure there are no problems with your systems." Cornwall suggested as he took a seat across from him.


    "Hmm¡­" Azena seemed to think the reason was so they could have a private talk about how much it would cost the Count to help him with his little problem. "Very well, Raleigh, take the cadet to the security room. I will call you when I am done."


    Raleigh grunted in response. Before leading Steel away. As he left he caught a snippet of conversation from another room. "Do you think your brother will discover us?" A sultry female voice asked.


    "No, my brother is too focused on his new business venture with that criminal. As well as playing with his toys. How can he even be in the same room as those peasants? It disgusts me. Are you sure you are pregnant with my child?" A male voice responded.


    "Positively, your brother has not touched me for over two months. How will I tell him? He will be furious and kill us when he finds out." The female answered.


    "Do not worry about that. I convinced my brother to let us go to the capital planet for a year while he does work on the mansion. You can give birth there in secret, my love." The male voice answered.


    After that he could hear the sound of them making love in what he believed might be another sitting room. They did not seem concerned about the unrest outside the gate. They also gave him some useful info. The count was participating in a criminal enterprise and he had ''toys'' that the count''s brother considered disgusting that were distracting him from his wife''s affair with his own brother.


    Steel listened closer to see if he could hear anything else and caught a snippet of another conversation close by.


    "Why are we still on this planet? What is Raleigh''s plan? It makes no sense." One soldier complained.


    "Come on we know we know Raleigh would enjoy raiding colonies as much as any of us. But even so, we need to step up for a payday sometimes. That last raid was a disaster, we lost most of our numbers. We need to replenish if we want to survive as pirates."


    "I suppose but I still don''t see the long term benefits of this plan. It is not like the locals will keep quiet about what we did. Nor are we going to be able to get a constant stream of merchandise. Eventually they are going to smarten up and migrate out of the count''s reach."


    "Yeah¡­ the count should have kept this quiet instead of having us ransack that village. Now those morons are banging on the gate."


    "Well it does not matter, we just have to trust in Raleigh''s plan."


    Steel frowned. They were definitely taking something from the locals. He was starting to get a grasp of the situation but he is not liking what he is hearing. He could not hear any other conversations that might have been relevant.


    They walked into a room that was pitch black with the only light being some screens that showed views outside of the mansion. "Hey Raleigh the misses and the count''s brother are at it again. You sure we should not tell him?"


    "Nah, dishing dirty laundry is not our business. Now shut it. This cadet of the military was sent here to look over our system. Give him an access port." Raleigh answered as they walked forward. The guard was already standing up in surprise at the additional guest.


    "Uh¡­ yes sir." A little slow on the uptake but it did not matter to Steel. He walked up to the terminal the guard motioned at.


    Steel pulled out his hacking device and began quickly accessing the system. It only took him a few moments to get in. While on the surface it looked like he was just running a diagnostic. He was actually quickly browsing through data. He highlighted a few pieces of information and sent it to both Lieutenant Cornwall and to Sergeant Tani.


    He heard the click of a gun and saw Raleigh, the leader of these pirates, holding a gun towards his back in a reflection on a screen. "I am guessing your boss is not here to take a bribe. Is he?"


    ¡ª----------------


    Tani led the squad to the gate. The private army was standing back as bouts of fire and rock bounced off the fortification that was hastily set up.


    "You must be the squad the military sent. We need help-"


    "What''s the reason for the civil unrest?" Tani interrupted him and signaled the squad to stop the fighting. They moved quickly pulling the hired guns back and disarming them. Then Corporal Wise and Feathertail along with Cadet Charlie walked up to the gate which caused the locals to decrease their attacks in confusion.


    "Well¡­ they um¡­ they seem to think the count is stealing from them. We think it is about how much they are being paid to work the fields." The one in charge answered nervously. It was obviously a lie but they just had to ask the civilians to get the truth.


    "Very well, watch them." She nodded to Corporal Hand. "I am going to talk to the civilians to see if we can peacefully resolve this." Tani walked over and saw a frown on Cadet Charlie''s face. "What have they told you?"


    "Apparently kidnappings and abductions started a few months ago. There were small amounts of women and children at first. Then a few days ago an entire village was ransacked, the woman and children disappeared but all of the men and elderly were killed." Corporal Wise reported while Corporal Feathertail went to watch the hired guns with the others.


    "Why did they come to the count''s place?"


    "Because one of the worker''s came to the fields early that day and saw the count''s private army marching a bunch of figures into the mansion at gunpoint." Wise repored.


    "Hmmm¡­ have the civilians back up. Then get the witness to step forward. Get a first hand account. We need evidence before we can move in. Make sure you are only armed with a sidearm. We don''t want the civilians to get spooked." Wise nodded in response and Tani walked back to the soldiers with Cadet Charlie.


    "Now we just need either Wise or Steel to get evidence of-" Tani stopped as her communicator beeped with an emergency signal. She glanced at it and saw it was from Steel with a file attached. She opened it and frowned, Talus nobility really was scum.


    Tani was about to give the order when several gunshots coming from the mansion shattered the silence.


    ¡ª-----------------


    Cornwall gritted his teeth, doing his best to hide his anger and disgust while talking with the count. He had removed his helmet to be more ''civil'' with the count. Now he wished he had beaten the man to a pulp.


    While they were talking Cornwall received an emergency alert on wrist communicator. He looked and saw it was a message from the cadet. Seems he had finally found the evidence they needed, hopefully Tani had found some as well.


    "Well Count Azena it appears-"


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    Three shots echoed throughout the building coming from the direction Cadet Steel went. It appears something more has happened while he was gathering the evidence needed. He pulled out his stun rifle shooting the count once in the chest. Then firing at the pair of guards taking them down quickly.

 Chapter 39 - 39: Clearing the Mansion

    Steel ducked as the gun was fired. The sidearm''s bullet going straight into a monitor. Steel quickly dashed back as Raleigh lowered the gun. The gun went off a second time as Steel grabbed the man''s wrist. The bullet ricocheted.


    Raleigh then pulled out a knife and tried to stab Steel with it. But he grabbed the other man''s wrist as well and forced them to cross. The gun went off again this time there was a meaty impact as the guard that was in the room had his head blown off. They both glanced at the bloody scene before looking back at each other.


    Steel head butted him clicking a button on the gun causing the mag to drop out. Then he kicked the man back while taking the knife out of his hand. Raleigh backed up and pointed the gun. Getting several clicks in response while his nose bled.


    The man tossed the gun at Steel before darting straight at Steel brandishing a pair of knives he pulled out. Steel batted the gun to the side and stabbed with the knife he took. He stabbed it right in between the metal plates that protected his chest and abdomen. Then one of the man''s knives sparked off Steel''s helmet as he jumped back.


    But Steel grunted in pain as he felt something piercing his side. On his helmet there was a notice as his suit was breached. While the placement of the knife made it difficult to move without damaging his internal organs.


    But the man was now grinning, even taking a moment to wipe the blood from his face while Steel pulled out the knife from his side. "Most of my knives are poison-laced. Some are lethal and some are not. I wonder which one you got?"


    Steel frowned, oh great now he has to worry about getting to a medical facility. He pulled his knife out of his sheath and dashed forward. Intent on taking this guy down before anyone else arrived.


    As a minute passed he felt his vision get blurry but that was all that occurred. The man seemed just as annoyed that nothing was happening. But Steel was switching from watching his opponent to listening, like he did back on that research vessel.


    He still remembered the layout of the room. Now he just needed to remember his location and he would be fine. Which was all well and good in theory. But as Steel''s vision disappeared more and more it got harder to avoid the man''s attack.


    "Must be one of my nonlethal ones. Otherwise I would have noticed what was happening by now." Steel could hear as the man''s arm quickly moved as he threw a knife. Steel moved to the side out of the knife. He could hear it whistle past him and embed in something metal.


    As he unsheathed another knife, Steel darted forward going low and instead of stabbing the man he full-on tackled the man. Steel could feel as the security door broke and then as another door broke.


    There was a scream of someone as he felt another pair of knives enter his body. One penetrated a plate near his neck. Another was stabbed under his arm. He dug his feet in and sped up when he felt something else break. This time he thinks it was a window as he felt his body go weightless as Raleigh fell out of his grasp, and they both fell a few feet before landing on solid ground.


    Steel could hear Raleigh let out a breath of pain. He was still conscious, how annoying. Raleigh pulled himself up, probably intent on fighting some more. But Steel was done with this. He pulled his Pyre-21 side arm and shot two times where the man''s legs were located. There was a scream of pain when the man collapsed.


    Steel could now feel his lungs burning, shit he was exposed to at least two more poisons. This might end up being a problem. He could hear footsteps as several people ran up.


    "Cadet Steel, did you just run through a wall?" He heard Corporal Wise ask.


    "I have no clue. I am as blind as a Kamot Bat at the moment. He has various poisons on his knives." He groaned in pain as he sat up. "Speaking of which, I was exposed to two more poisons and stabbed. Can you pull the knives out?"


    "That is not a good idea." He heard Corporal Feathertail cut in. "I think one of them went into an artery. You said they were poison-laced?"


    "Yes sir, normally I wouldn''t believe him but I lost my sight and went blind half-way through the fight." Steel answered honestly.


    "Okay, someone search- hap shippa! That is Raleigh the Knife Wielder!" Feathertail seemed surprised for a moment, "someone search him. I will have to patch him up after. He is wanted alive for a fortune. He is known for raiding colonies, rape, selling drugs, and being part of the underground slave trade."


    "That is good and all but what is a ''hap shippa''?" Steel asked, getting laughter out of the other soldiers.


    ¡ª------------------


    "Shit!" Tani cursed, "take them down. We can sort them out later. The LT and Cadet Steel are in trouble!"


    "Finally! I get to shoot someone." Wise pulled out her weapon and let several bolts fly. Cadet Charlie ducked as one of the hired guns pulled his piece and aimed it at her. She grabbed his face with her cybernetic hand and smashed it into a nearby wall.


    The head exploded and Cadet Charlie was stunned. While the hired guns were terrified, ''the military was brutal'' was all they could think. The coward from earlier, the leader of these hired guns, was the first to react.


    He raised his arms and dropped his gun, "I surrender! Please don''t kill me!" The other soldiers all followed suit. Dropping their weapons.


    "Good job Cadet Charlie, you scared them shitless. Wise, Feathertail, and Charlie, stay here and detain the prisoners. The rest of you, follow me. We are going into the mansion." Tani called out as she charged toward the mansion.


    The two guards at the door raised their weapons. But Tani and the others fired quickly scorching the two guards with multiple stun shots. Some scorched the wall around the guards. Tani kicked in the door and ran straight into a sitting room where a pair were in the middle of sex.


    "Hand, arrest them. The rest of you clear the other rooms." Tani stepped back outside to see Cornwall exiting another room. "Where''s Cadet Steel?"


    "He went to the security room with the ''head guard'' but the markings on his armor were those of a pirate." Cornwall answered. "Steel sent us the schematics of the building." He pulled it up quickly. "Looks like it is that way." He answered before running in a direction.


    As soon as they entered they were treated to the sight of Cadet Steel charging through a door. He was carrying another person clearly trying to do as much damage to each other as possible, especially as he ran through another door. They ran up and saw in the security room a dead body with its head blown off.


    Likely Steel''s handy work. She looked over and saw Steel had run through a wall this time but saw Wise and Feathertail were running up to him. Then as the other guy was getting up two shots were fired and he screamed in pain.


    "I think Steel has that covered. Come on, we have to get to the basement." Cornwall pointed out. Tani agreed and nodded running to where the map showed an access point into the secret basement. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They arrived at the basement quickly enough where a wall was just opening up to reveal some more pirates, but they looked far less civil. Tani fired quickly with her stun gun. Intent on getting to the people that were held in the basement.


    She ran past them while they were knocked down. Practically jumping down the stairs. She darted to the side where a pair on a couch were stunned by her appearance and then were stunned by her rifle shots. Running past she passed four rooms, one of which she could hear grunting in. But then she arrived at her destination.


    A large chamber with a large number of movable cages with people inside. "We don''t have enough manpower. Cadet March and Santez start freeing people. Cornwall, call the Major and request more troops and a prison transport. Then tell him what we discovered." She instructed before turning around and going back to clear the four rooms she passed by.


    Tani kicked open the first one and discovered an empty room. She then turned around and kicked open another door. Finding a heavily scarred man with a prosthetic arm pinning a woman down as he thrust into her.


    "Get Off Me!" The woman screamed between tears.


    Tani fired several shots into the man and then jumped over to knock down another door when she saw the man falling over. But apparently these rooms were somewhat soundproof. But not soundproof enough as she discovered after kicking open the next door.


    The man in this room was ready as he had moved the woman he was fucking to use her as a human shield. As the door opened he had his gun pointed at the woman. "Drop it or the woman dies."


    Tani growled angrily when the door behind her opened as well with another person stepping out with a gun pointed at her. She took a deep breath and then tossed the gun backwards at the person behind her.


    The person behind her fired his gun, his bullet hitting the gun she threw. Causing it to explode in a static blue. Instantly stunning him and taking him down.


    The person in front of her fired his gun, his bullets bouncing off her armor. She jumped forward smacking the gun out of his hand. Then as she knocked him to the bed she punched toward his head, her hand going into his open mouth as he screamed.


    She grabbed something solid in the back of his throat and pulled. Ripping out his jaw and tearing his neck in two. She looked over at the woman who was stunned before she jumped forward and hugged Tani.


    "Thank you, thank you so much." Tani rolled her eyes and pushed the woman back.


    "Tani, Major Mendez sent down some Mercenaries and the Sand Snakes. The Station Governor sent a prison transport." Cornwall reported.

 Chapter 40 - 40: Investigation Report

    Major Mendez stepped off the transport while the Red Sanix Mercenaries stormed down the ramp around him. Their commanding officer Miss Romav was walking down next to him. There were already two dozen people in cuffs and held prisoner.


    "What a mess¡­ is this how your people do things?" Miss Romav jabbed at the Major.


    "We are soldiers first and foremost. If they acted I can assure you it was in defense." Major Mendez responded as he spotted a familiar face getting what appeared to be first aid. He led Miss Romav over. "Of all the soldiers to get injured I did not expect it to be you Cadet Steel."


    "Sir, I apologize for not saluting. Corporal Feathertail wants me to remain as immobile as possible." Cadet Steel responded, "I also apologize for not knowing who you brought over with you. I was poisoned and for the moment I am blind."


    "Blind?" Miss Romav asked in surprise.


    "Ah it is Miss Romav, yes you should ask Corporal Feathertail when he gets back. He was looking for the stash of poison and hopefully antidotes." Steel responded with a joking tone.


    "Any other ailments or injuries?" Major Mendez asked.


    "Well blindness, I was stabbed three times, my lungs are on fire it actually hurts to breath, and I am losing feeling in my toesie woesies." Steel was laughing while he answered.


    Miss Romav chuckled, "toesie woesies?"


    "Oh yeah, I am probably really high, hopped up on drugs. A mix of poisons might do that, or it just might be one of the poisons." Steel answered with a chuckle. That really caused Miss Romav to let out a roar of laughter.


    "Ah, Sir." There was a voice coming from behind them. He turned around and saw Sergeant Tani. "I assume you want my report?"


    "Yes Sergeant Tani, I sent you down here to investigate and report back. Not to immediately take action and arrest a bunch of people." Major Mendez immediately cut in.


    "Which we were doing when soon after Cadet Steel sent us the evidence he found, then there were gunshots coming from the mansion. We immediately went to detain both the private army as well as the concealed pirates. We also detained any of the mansion staff and all its occupants-"


    "Oh yeah they have problems. Apparently the countess is-" Steel''s mouth was suddenly covered by Feathertail''s hand. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then four of us went into the basement and detained the pirates down there and we are still freeing the people that were locked up. We have all of the suit camera feeds. If you want to see Cadet Steel''s, it is the most entertaining. Only second to Cadet Charlie turning one of the guard''s heads to pulp by accident." Tani responded clearly, restraining her laughter. She clearly was not regretting the actions she took.


    Major Mendez growled, "all the footage will be reviewed for any wrongdoing by several parties. How many died during your¡­ takedown?"


    "Three, the one Cadet Charlie accidentally killed. Another one died when Cadet Steel and the leader of the pirates were fighting. The third one died when I was clearing rooms in the basement, I kinda ripped his jaw and throat apart." Tani shrugged.


    "So the leader of the pirates is alive?" Romav asked in surprise.


    "Yes he is, he has several broken bones, a stab wound, and both of his legs were blown off. Cadet Steel really put the beatdown on him despite being blind." Tani answered proudly.


    "Hold on, you were blinded in the middle of the fight?" Romav now looked more impressed than amused.


    "Oh yeah I just listened to his movements and kept in mind how the room looked before I lost my sight." Steel answered as he swayed back and forth. Feathertail was quickly looking for a way to get the drugs out of his system.


    "That is¡­" she looked at Mendez who just shrugged in response. It was not like he could tell her anything. Cadet Steel''s entire file had already become classified material.


    "Enough. Feathertail, take one of the ship''s up to the station, take Steel with you, are there any other injuries?" Mendez asked.


    "Just Steel and the pirate leader. You want him to go up as well?" Feathertail asked.


    "Is the pirate leader in danger of losing his life?" Mendez looked over to three body bags.


    "No, I staunched the bleeding stubs that were once his legs. So he could make it to the holding facility where they will have an onsite place to treat him some more." Feathertail reported.


    "Good, then take Cadet Steel away." Mendez waved his hand and Feathertail saluted in response.


    "Sergeant, bring us to the count. I want to talk to him first before I talk to this pirate leader. I want to hear it from the horse''s mouth in a manner of speaking." Major Mendez answered.


    "Yes sir." Sergeant Tani saluted before leading them to the end of the line where two people of the counts family were scantily dressed while the count was in noble regalia. "Here is Count Azena. Next to him is his wife and his brother."


    "And why are they dressed like they just woke up?" Romav asked.


    "Because we walked in on them having sex." Tani shrugged.


    "You mean¡­"


    "Yup, they were having an affair. According to Cadet Steel it resulted in a bun in the missus oven. If you catch my meaning." Tani''s answer made the countess blush while the count growled in anger.


    "Not important, Count Azena were you participating in the slave trade. Which the Emperor of Vexical expressly forbids?" Major Mendez asked, looking down at the man.


    "What the hell does it matter? It is not like the support I was promised would come. Never should have trusted them. But I will just stand by my values, the Tyranus Society will come to free me eventually." The count spat out with venom in his voice.


    "Hmm¡­ take them and interrogate them all. I want as much intel out of all of them as possible. But, please sort the staff and private militia out, I want to know how many of them knew about the kidnappings." Major Mendez then nodded to Tani who led him over to a stretcher where a man was stripped of his armor and was restrained.


    "Major Mendez and Miss Romav, meet Raleigh the Pirate Slaver also called the Knife Wielder. He has a very high bounty from the empire, on both civil and military sides. He was last seen on a raid on Talus-7 where a garrison happened to be stationed and slaughtered his men. But of course Raleigh had already killed dozens of civilians." Sergeant Tani explained.


    "I heard of this guy. His bounty will be enough to cover my fee and then some. How much does the military owe Cadet Steel at this point?" Romav pointed out.


    "Haa¡­ too much. I am going to have to make a special request." Major Mendez looked to the pirate, "what do you know about Count Azena''s operations?"


    "Enough. But he is not the one who hired me. I was just hired to be muscle by another group. They even smuggled me planetside past most security without any trouble." The pirate immediately answered. "But I ain''t talking anymore until you can provide me with safety."


    "Hmm¡­ take the pirates and the count to the holding cells on the station. We will drill them all for information." Major Mendez walked back to the ship he came from. "Miss Romav, I am heading back to the station to report to my superiors. I expect you will be able to help the Desert Dogs and Sand Snakes sort out who knows about the slaving business?"


    "Yes Major, as long as we have the recordings it should not be an issue." Romav answered before walking away.


    Major Mendez stepped back onto the shuttle he arrived on and banged on the pilot''s door. "Fly us back up to the station and connect me with Imperial Fleet Command." There was an affirmation of an answer before the ship''s ramp closed and it was flying.


    A moment later his comlink came to life. "Major Mendez, you wished to talk?"


    "Yes, it is possible that we have stumbled upon another terrorist group emerging." Major Mendez reported. "A group called the Tyranus Society, it seems it is the nobility working with hired help. I will send a full report as well as relevant evidence tomorrow once it is all organized."


    "I doubt that is the reason you called me." The voice answered.


    "Haa¡­ you are correct. Have you heard of Raleigh the Pirate Slaver?" Mendez asked.


    "Yes I have. He was captured? The bounty will result in a fortune for whoever caught him. Who caught him?" The voice asked, with a hint of trepidation.


    "Cadet Jace Steel." Mendez''s answer caused the voice to groan.


    "We literally can not pay him. But I assume you have an idea?"


    "Yes, I want you to send me a certain item. I don''t know if it has been fully investigated, but him having the equipment means we do not have to worry about paying him the fortune we owe." Mendez answered with certainty.


    "Very well. Send me the official request. Whatever it is, I will approve it." The call then disconnected.

 Chapter 41 - 41: Sword

    VROOM!


    The Speeder Bike roared to life as he started it. He was still in the garage, but it was still far too loud. He would have to fix the noise output. If he wants it to be fast as a scout vehicle he should also reduce the sound output. It would become a moot point if everyone could hear him.


    He would fix that later, he increased the speed to see if there would be any problems at higher speeds. It got louder the faster it went on the hover treadmill he had fashioned for it. The material it was ''driving'' on was also heating up.


    A few minutes later the speed stayed at a constant speed and Steel deactivated it. Watching as immediately stopping the safety features had it slowing down quickly and at a steady rate. It would still crash if it hit something but now if the driver was knocked off or anything else it would slow down. He should also cap the speed for any additional models.


    "It works magnificently, I will say it is far faster than any of my hover vehicles my people made. The energy efficiency device you created is far better than I expected. I am confused by the need for these safety measures however." Solisa pointed out as the speeder bike came to a stop.


    "It is because vehicles require certain things in order to be considered roadworthy. I am designing a whole new form of movement so it is only right I set the standard for safety with these devices." Steel explained as he began tweaking a hologram of the speeder bike.


    He altered the electric engine opting for a stronger casing and more airflow so the device would not overheat. Speed and silence should be more optimal for the standard model. Which means he also needs to alter the hover devices.


    "You have someone incoming." Solisa interrupted his thoughts, "Sergeant Tani is bringing something that just arrived at the station." Solisa warned him.


    Steel quickly turned off the holographic projector as he walked over to welcome her. The door opened as he walked forward. "Sergeant Tani, to what do I owe the pleasure?"


    "Well it is the duty of the squad leader to hand out rewards for hard work. Especially when it comes from higher up on the food chain. You are being returned this weapon instead of some other reward for many of your feats." Sergeant Tani announced as she walked up and placed a long case on a table.


    "Squad leader? So it is official." Steel remarked as he opened the case, raising an eyebrow in surprise.


    "It is. Cornwall is training a whole new squad. Corporal Hand and Feathertail are joining him. We will be getting three new privates. The same thing is happening with the other squads as well. So in a few days time we will be doing training." Tani explained before nodding to the container, "What is it?"


    "It is the sword I took from the bird alien. Apparently they made a sheath for it. They took it because it is virtually indestructible and really sharp. They wanted to study the composition of the blade, but if they gave it up so easily I am guessing they either made no progress, or completed their study." Steel answered as he pulled out the blade. The sheath was made to be attached to the back of infantry armor.


    "Nice, do you know how to use swords?" Tani asked as she recognized the blade.


    "Nope, I am going to need training." Steel answered.


    "Lieutenant Kalil is trained in the use of swords. It is an old family tradition of his." Tani answered with a shrug.


    Steel chuckled, "getting a bit comfortable with your boyfriend?"


    Tani blushed in embarrassment, "shut up. Do you want me to ask him or not?"


    "Please do Sergeant Tani." Steel laughed, "I am just having some fun at your expense. Do you want anything else or was that it?"


    "Yes actually, we are going to start daily patrols. Two people from each squad go down to the lower level and patrol the more dangerous levels. Armed with their sidearm and a stun rifle, nonlethal weaponry only. Tomorrow is the first day it is going on, you will be going down with Corporal Wise. The Major decided it personally since¡­"


    "I am from the slums." Steel answered for Tani, getting a nod in response. "Understood when I go down tomorrow I will get a feel for what is going on. Keep in mind that if the slums are unpatrolled, drugs and guns will be out in the open."


    "So¡­ what? We will just have to take them away until they stop holding them in the open." Tani responded confidently.


    "Not a good idea." Steel shook his head, "that will just upset the already delicate balance that exists in the slums. Not to mention the gangs will strike back in retaliation."


    "So you are saying we should patrol the slums. But not take action if there are guns or drugs in the open?" Tani asked, "then what would we be doing down there?"


    "We can still stop drugs if it is a moral crime that involves children you can interfere. As well as rape or any murders you see. But make sure you have your helmet recording indicators on. It will make them far more wary." Steel explained. He then started typing out a list.


    "How do you know they won''t get mad if we interfere in those ways?" Tani asked.


    "If they do, then it is war." Steel shrugged, "we can only stay so much out of the way. Once we make our standard known they will either yield or push back. If they push back we will have to be brutal in our response, so we should be prepared to have a ship take some prisoners out of the system."


    "So we should be diplomatic until they start a fight?" Tani asked with a frown.


    "Ehhh¡­ less diplomatic and more acting like we are the new gang on the block. Peace and Police Officers are not able to use tactics like this. But we can because of our heavier firepower and willingness to kill." Steel explained as he brought the sword over to another table.


    "Okay I will tell the Major but I am not sure-"


    "Do not worry too much Sergeant," Solisa had enough of the conversation. Interrupted with her Otter form swimming into existence. "Similar tactics have been done in the past by your military when the base was located near slums. There are records of it in your systems."


    Tani was more shocked then insulted as she processed the existence of the AI, "What? Why do you have an AI in your garage? I know you are given a lot of freedom but even that is a bit much."


    "Oh please, I am far above your major''s pay grade. Besides I was not permitted to stay here, I chose to stay here. You may call me Solisa." Solisa answered arrogantly. Before swimming over to look at the sword that Steel set down. "This blade is from one of the people who originally programmed me."


    "Do you mean the Victorium?" Tani angrily stated.


    "Ha! No, I mean the precursors to even the human''s arrival in this galaxy. The closest name your empire calls them is the Requiem. They built that ship you were trying to retrieve on Waterswan-2." Solisa answered as she swam around the woman.


    "You mean¡­ you are over eight thousand years old?" Tani asked in surprise. "Wait, I thought the Victorium made that blade."


    "Around ten thousand, and no, the Victorium lacks the technological advancements to make something like this. It was even new when the Requiem were driven to extinction. In fact it was only located on one Research site that was abandoned and wiped from systems in order to hide it. I do, however, know the approximate location." Solisa answered with confidence, more than willing to offer up teases of information.


    "Wait, you mean you might know where the Victorium are based?" Tani asked in surprise. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, but I am not going to tell you any of that. You have to figure it out on your own. Steel already knows the rules. He also knows or suspects several things. But there is no concrete evidence, so he won''t say anything." Solisa answered as she circled around kicking up holographic water before it disappeared.


    Tani growled and looked at Cadet Steel. But he just shook his head in response. "Fine, I will pass your information up to the Major-"


    "Already done. Hey Sergeant, I have a question?" Solisa interrupted her.


    "Ha¡­ what?" Now Tani was just feeling exhausted.


    "Can I assist your squad by running communications and support. In intra-novels and comics the badasses always have someone doing that stuff for them." Solisa asked.


    "Hmm¡­ no. You are not part of the military officially, otherwise Major Mendez would know about you." Tani answered, getting a frowning Otter in response. She then popped out of existence. Tani looked surprised then looked at Cadet Steel.


    "She is probably looking into joining the military in such a way she does not have to disclose much information. If you wanted to keep her out you should have just outright refused her." Steel chuckled in response.

 Chapter 42 - 42: Slum Patrol

    Steel was armed with a stun rifle and his sidearm. His armor was fixed, but he had yet to have a chance to attach the sword with its sheath to the suit. He and Corporal Wise were making their way into the slum district.


    He was right about it being in the lower layers.The bottom two layers of the city to be precise. The third layer was strictly government facilities that controlled amenities and necessary systems for the station.


    Steel walked past some drug dealers that looked surprised but he ignored them, eyeing a weapons dealer that had his merchandise sitting out on a table in the open. He walked up stowing the stun rifle on his back.


    "Cadet Steel, what are you doing?" Corporal Wise asked in surprise as she glanced around. Everything here was very new to her, even the pair having sex behind a dumpster she could see.


    "Checking out the merchandise. Is this an ion cannon, how did you get your hands on one of these? They all but disappeared when the Grand Hexarian Empire fell." Steel asked the robotic cyclops. His gears turned as he leaned forward.


    "Bah, no one knows any good merchandise these days." The droid''s voice was robotic, an ancient model by anyone''s standards. "It is not just an ion cannon, it is an ion pulse cannon. You want it? I can sell it for five hundred BM Credits if ya gottem."


    "BM Credits?" Corporal Wise asked.


    "Black Market Credits, it is a special type of credit used in the underworld. It is universally used in the underworld across the galaxy." Steel explained before he turned back to the weapons dealer. "You want to sell a used ion pulse cannon that lacks ammo for five hundred? Why don''t you just rob me?" Steel joked, "at most this would be worth one fifty." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "One fifty, talking about robbery. Nah, I sell for four hundred. No less." The droid tried to stay steadfast.


    "Bah! Three hundred and you tell me about the big underworld players of this station." Steel compromised.


    "Mmmm¡­ three twenty five, and I will tell you about the heads of the underworld and a few other big names you might need to know." The droid compromised as well.


    "Deal." Steel stuck out his hand and the droid clasped it as well.


    "Well you got five heads, three of which are locally grown. Two are from large families based off station." The droid explained. "The first of the locals is the Berangs with the leader being Vanko the Butcher, they like chopping people up. The next is The Su Lees with Chang the Silencer, he likes removing hands and tongues. The last of the locals is Occassa, with the leader being some occult person no one knows his real identity."


    Steel transferred three hundred and twenty five to the droid. "Unusual but not unheard of."


    "Yeah, then there is Talus Mob, the one in charge of the gang on this station is called Octo. The last is Bubblegum-Green, if you know about the underworld you already know about them, they have no leader to speak of." The droid answered as he checked his account and nodded.


    "Yeah, I know about them. What about the other people?" Steel asked as he took the ion pulse cannon.


    "Orslov Mankow, he is basically a hired gun. Electobe, he is a hacker that works for hire. El Chunko, is a hired thug as well." The droid then shrugged and waved them off, his gears creaking as he did so.


    "Come on," Steel started walking down the street again. They walked past several more vendors and dealers. Wise occasionally asked about a few things like illegal foods, caged animals, and open door buildings that had various people sleeping inside.


    They full-on stopped as they walked past an alley and could hear screaming. Steel hesitated as he took in the alley and noticed something. But Wise ran straight into it, running down the alley with her stun rifle drawn.


    Steel sighed loudly before walking after her. As he walked into the alley he was treated to the sight of Wise''s rifle being knocked out of her hand by a thug. There were three other thugs surrounding her. Steel raised his stun rifle but dodged backward as another person jumped from a balcony above him.


    Steel headbutted the woman causing her to drop unconscious with a bleeding nose. Then aimed and fired several shots taking down two of the thugs surrounding Wise before he walked into the opening that the alley led into.


    "Hey Steel-"


    "Don''t worry I will just watch. You are the one that ran in here without thinking." Steel interrupted her, getting a frown in response. He watched as the last two thugs looked confused for a moment. Wise took advantage of their surprise, landing two quick jabs and a solid hook on one, knocking them out.


    "You bitch-" The last one jumped forward to attack Wise but left his jaw open to an attack. Wise took advantage again and landed a single solid blow that caused a cracking sound and the man to fall to the ground.


    Wise looked around and frowned before looking at Steel, "seriously? Why didn''t you warn me?"


    "Honestly? I thought it would at most start on the second day. We should warn the other patrols to watch for traps like this." Steel waved his hand at the mess before them.


    "What should we do about them?" Wise asked as she looked at her would-be attackers.


    "Take any credits, units, or anything or value from them." Steel answered honestly as he walked over to two bodies he had stunned unconscious. "It will send a message."


    Five minutes later they were walking on their patrol again. Having robbed the unconscious attackers. They saw one more such a trap and an actual attempted rape. Wise was currently dragging the unconscious man as they walked to the entrance of the slum district.


    Arriving on time was Sergeant Tani and Cadet Charlie. Armed in the same way that Steel and Wise were armed. They looked at Wise first who had some scratches on her armor then at the person she was dragging.


    "Anything we should know?" Tani asked.


    "Yeah, they are setting up do-gooder traps, if you hear a scream or a call for help be prepared for a trap." Steel explained as Wise dragged the unconscious man past them. "That man was trying to rape someone. Oh, if you do end up getting attacked remember to rob them of everything worthwhile."


    "What?" Tani was surprised and attempted to process the information. "Rob them? Okay, I will also pass the message up to the major. Anything else?"


    "Yeah, I got some info on some of the underworld. But if you see any places of interest, highlight them and we can work through them." Steel explained as he sent a list of individuals he got from the weapons dealer.


    "Okay, Steel go get some rest. From what I understand you start your engineering duties in a few hours." Sergeant Tani responded and Steel saluted in response before running to join Corporal Wise in handing over the prisoner to the waiting Station Policing Unit.


    Steel arrived at his garage less than an hour later and immediately began work on disassembling the ion pulse cannon. He was not lying about it being rare. The military might have had the specs on the weapon but he doubted they would share it with him.


    Ion Pulse Cannons fired a field of electrical energy that was known to knock out electrical systems. It also fried most biological creatures and made objects levitate because of the resulting magnification. Ion Cannons were different; they made a single beam that temporarily shorted out electrical systems while it caused metal to become brittle.


    He would see if the Ion Pulse Cannon''s dispersal methods could allow him to create a hover plate. Then maybe he would see about additional uses or incorporating it in some of his designs. It actually gave him an idea for boots and an electromagnetic shield, well if he could stabilize it.


    Solisa suddenly appeared while he was working. He glanced over for only a moment before focusing back on what he was doing. Before he did a double take and made a dubious expression as he looked at the Otter.


    She was still an Otter but now she was wearing a Vexical Military hat and vest. With even a ranking of Technical Specialist. She looked incredibly proud about that.


    "Solisa¡­" he sighed before turning back to his work. "What did you do?"


    "I became a soldier." Solisa offered freely before swimming over and making her clothes disappear. "It just got approved. Admiral Dakota was able to make me a Technical Specialist. He was very helpful when he heard my idea. He even agreed that I did not have to disclose anything pertaining to my past. But if I manage to find anything of strategic importance relating to the immediate safety of the people I am required to help."


    "Oh joy, Tani is going to be thrilled." Steel offered jokingly.


    "Humor, very fun. What are you doing now?" Solisa looked over the piece of hardware he was dissecting. "Curious, what a strange piece of¡­ weaponry?" Solisa asked.


    "An Ion Pulse Cannon, look up historical records. I believe in its creation someone might have accidentally created something useful." Steel answered as he created a holographic blueprint of the cannon.


    "Hmm¡­ I don''t¡­ Oh I see it." Solisa spoke in surprise before swimming around the blueprints. "You are absolutely correct, a dispersal system like this would be even better than the Requiem''s. Then there are the electromagnetic properties and- wow! Whoever created this truly did not know what they had created. To think it was only used in war." Solisa shook her head, clicking in disappointment.


    "I am well aware." Steel answered as he pulled up his hover plate and began modifying it. He also added a note to make a combat boot version.


    "But I do not understand? Why did you buy it? The moment you touched it you had the blueprint for the cannon. You even have the blueprint of the droid who sold you the cannon. Was it necessary to buy it?" Solisa asked. Steel had gotten into the habit of blueprinting anything mechanical he touched.


    "I was buying the information more than I was buying the gun. It is cheaper if I add it as an add-on. Besides¡­" He looked at Solisa and shrugged, "now I do not have to waste resources printing and putting the gun together." Solisa rolled her eyes as she swam away.

 Chapter 43 - 43: Plans in Place

    Steel wiped the sweat off his brow as he sighed. This was by far one of the hardest things he had to do. Not even Solisa was willing to help him out. That was how difficult it was, keeping in mind he was trying his best not to throw up.


    "Woohoo!" Elena yelled in the pilot''s seat. While her mother next to her looked as nervous as he felt but was doing better than he did at hiding it. "This is so fun. Why don''t spacecraft have stick control like planes do?"


    "Hahaha! It is because space is different from air. It is somewhat complex but basically spacecraft are made to operate with different mobility in mind." Her mother explained as her daughter tilted the plane turning on the preset course.


    "Is it as fun to pilot a spacecraft as it is to fly a plane? Jace do you know?" Elena asked as she glanced back at him, giggling at his expression.


    "I have no clue. I have only flown in simulations so I do not know the feeling." Steel explained as his health-stat had caught up again. He did not have to check to know that his health stat was increasing, mostly due to his airsickness.


    "It is way better to fly a spacecraft, especially if it is flight capable in the atmosphere. You get more freedom of movement. While aircraft are more rigid in their design." Her mother explained.


    Steel sighed and shook his head. He was missing his garage. He had completely finished the speeder bike prototype, he just had to get approval for a road test. He even finished all the engineering work he was assigned. Next up was mecha maintenance for the mercenaries.


    It had only been a few weeks but they were having plenty of fun. The station was far more interesting and populated than he expected. After some initial scrap-ups with the underworld they had even made headway. Enough that they were handed some heavily wanted criminals with military bounties as a favor to avoid certain areas.


    ¡ª---------------------


    Nila sighed as she sat on the human bridge amongst a number of corpses. It was the crew of the human ship, most of them she believed were commanders from their shiny regalia. The humans liked to display elevated statuses with shiny and colorful metals.


    Well at least this New Hexarian Republic did. Too bad they were far weaker than those in the Vexical Empire. She missed her chosen mate, she wanted to fight him again. Just remembering their short bout was enough to make her excited and¡­ disappointed.


    There was a shrill sound as her helmet piece notified her of an incoming transmission. She pulled a small device from her hip and held it up before activating it. Her friend, the High Priestess appeared, frowning with a disappointed look. She usually has the same look nowadays.


    "Nila¡­ I have been informed you boarded a human ship on your own¡­ again." The High Priestess pointed out with a disappointed sigh. "I get you are bored because I won''t let you go after your desired mate. But you do understand the reason at least?"


    There was a clicking noise as Nila cursed in the Accer native tongue. "Yes your majesty, you are using the Vexical Empire as bait for our enemies. Since they will see it as a political triumph, unknowing that we are already considering an alliance simply because of their foot soldiers'' strength and their unusual space battle tactics."


    "Yes, Nila. But why are you-" Their talk was interrupted as the door to the bridge opened and Nila went invisible in response.


    What walked in was a group of humans fully armored. Well¡­ not to the standard of the Vexical Empire but it was decent enough to at least be considered armor. They used their lights to search the bridge while one of them walked toward the hologram of the high priestess.


    They spoke in one of the more common human tongues. "Someone is still here. Intel suggested that their higher ranking members used holographic communicators."


    "But sir there is no one-" The soldier did not get a chance to finish his sentence as Nila moved quickly around the room. With a single swing of her sword the man was beheaded.


    She quickly raised the revolver in her other hand and fired. The bullet caused another of the soldier''s heads to explode. Covering two of them in blood and causing them to panic as Nila rippled into existence for only a moment before she dashed away. A moment later the area was plastered with bolts of electrical energy and burning as the soldiers fired. Their green bolts scorched the wall.


    As she moved she brought the sword in at another arc, cutting another soldier in half. Then once again as she bisected a soldier diagonally. The last three, two of which were covered and blinded by blood, were now firing erratically. No point in trying to avoid them, she walked up and fired another shot when she lined up the two blood covered soldiers and fired.


    Both of their heads exploded and while the last one, the commander panicked as she disabled her invisibility walking up to the man as he raised his weapon. Before he had a chance to fire his weapon, Nila flicked her wrist and cut the man''s hands off.


    He began screaming in pain but Nila ignored him and looked over at the High Priestess who was watching. "What were we talking about?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Nila, stop playing with the humans. Your objective is to conquer half of the New Hexarian Republic. I want it completed before the Sima trigger their rebellion." The call cut out a second later and Nila clicked her tongue in annoyance.


    ¡ª------------------


    "Who did you send to kill the human?" Char asked the Tacole council member, he never bothered to learn any Tacole''s name. They were all beneath him.


    "My son." The Tacole nodded, "he has built up a military history. He also lusts over that Accer Imperial Guard, so he seeks to gain her favor by killing the human."


    "Good, as soon as we get word that he is attacking the place where the human is, we will commit our other allied commanders to attacking the Vexical Empire. Then we will have gained the political advantage over the Accer and Mar''talic." Char confidently answered.


    "Should we have our people rise up at the same time?"


    "Yes, it will be a bit early but it will prevent the High Priestess from interfering in the conquest. I will take care of the assassination. Just make certain you kill that human and bring back his corpse as proof. We will need it to convince the council of our superiority." Char stalked away after talking, he needed to make preparations.


    ¡ª--------------------


    Salem sighed as she stretched her arms. She had just finished her daily workout and was going to head to the cafeteria. It had become her norm since the academy days. Now the routine helped her think.


    Her squad was currently stationed in the Rena System which borders next to the Crystoph Federation. She was aboard the Exigency for Honor, a Valkyrie-Class spacecraft which meant it was lighter on hangers and onboard attack craft but it was quicker and built more for ship-to-ship battles. Her particular ship had only two Ospreys aboard for the four squads. The rest of the crew were either pilots or ship crew.


    Her squad was called the Amazons, an all-female squad of soldiers. It was one of those traditional units that had special qualifications. They had fought both the Crystoph Federation and the Victorium.


    None of her squad had perished during the initial battle. But many of her crew had died during the one time they were boarded by the Victorium. Thanks to her talent she was able to locate the enemy before they could kill her or her squad. The federation on the other hand was as easy to fight as the bugs.


    "Cadet Wintry," a sergeant raised their voice as she walked past. She recognized him as the leader of another squad. "There is an open communication for you in private room number four. Someone wanted to arrange a private talk with you." His voice was suggestive, he was one of the more moronic people who believed the Amazons were being trained to spread their legs. He was also a count''s son, so it was no surprise.


    "Understood sir." Salem answered, saluting for only a moment before she briskly walked to the private room. She could hear the man snickering as she passed by.


    She quickly arrived at the private room and walked into the room. Inside was a single podium with a blinking button. She walked up and clicked it once the door closed behind her. The room made another sound as it sealed and the full body hologram of a hooded figure appeared.


    "Hello Cadet Wintry," The figure began. "You can call me Shepard, I am a Census Agent. How do you feel about the state of the military? Do you feel it is unfair or corrupt? You can be honest with me, it is merely a routine questionnaire."


    Salem raised an eyebrow at recognizing the census agent as an undercover Union member. She will recognize he was at least knowledgeable about her abilities because he made certain to arrange a call instead of an in meeting where she could read his mind. She would play along for now.


    "I feel that the military is for the most part not corrupted. But there are a few who clearly use their position for their own benefit, most of which are nobility or descended from nobility." Salem answered honestly, her ship had more nobility than most. She figured it was because it was a ''safe'' posting or at least that is what she had heard. Ironically her entire squad consisted of non-nobles.


    "How about in other parts of the empire are you dissatisfied with any portion? Like any nobles you encountered on your recent visit to the Arceus Station? I hear the Rena System which is under Archduke Arceus has particular issues with tyranny and abuse of power." The ''Census Agent'' asked as he pulled out a tablet to take notes.


    So the Union really was aiming for rebellion using the nobility as a reason. Which is contrary to the Imperial Guard she talked to last time. He was clearly a noble, she knew because she looked him up.


    "Yes, for the most part the nobility uses status and power to pressure people. A baron actually attempted the same with another member of my squad into sex, fortunately that is one of the few things non-nobles will fight against no matter what. It does appear that the Archduke on the other hand has no such fears, I heard rumors that he pressured several women into sex and other activities before. Even rape and coverups are supposedly in his wheelhouse of tricks." Salem answered with some intelligence she gathered while on Arceus Station.


    "Hmmm¡­ it seems like you have an issue with the nobility as a whole. Would you like to help resolve the issue? There are like-minded people out there." Shepard responded by tapping the datapad.


    "Yes, how can I help?" Salem responded. She thought they would be far more different with their recruiting approach. It would be far easier if they were all as slimy as that imperial guard.

 Chapter 44 - 44: Shop Talk

    VROOM!


    The speeder bike zipped down the road. Steel moved the right handle forward slightly and it turned to the right slowly. Then he did the same with the left. Then he straightened it and there was no sway.


    He slowed and did a sharp corner turn, which he felt as it continued slightly in the same direction, but the majority of its forward momentum went directly to the direction he was turning. The friction air brakes were working perfectly.


    He pulled up to the gate which was manned by the Bird''s Nest squad today, he waved at them and the gate opened up as he slowed on approach. His speeder was not roaring loudly, it was quietly humming. The loudest noise it made was the wind moving through it, but there was nothing he could do about that.


    Zipping past the gate he navigated the base slipping past several vehicles but slowing down as he approached his garage. A smirk appeared on his face as he saw a vehicle parked outside of it. He came to a rolling stop in front of the pair standing in front of him.


    "Cadet Steel, I tried entering your garage but it does not appear to be possible. How have you so thoroughly locked up your garage?" Miss Romav asked as stood cross-armed.


    "Quite easily, how can I help you, Miss Romav and Mister¡­" Steel looked over at the man dressed in robes and noble attire.


    "Draxus, I am Earl Draxus. We are here because there are rumors you have experimental military weaponry in your possession. I order you to hand them over to me immediately." The Earl ordered while standing tall and proud.


    Steel raised an eyebrow and looked at Romav.


    She sighed, "he made the same order of Mendez but he laughed him out of the room. Then the Earl paid me a tidy sum to bring him to where the experimental weaponry is held." She shrugged her shoulders. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Steel sighed and shook his head, "I have no reason to even entertain such an order. You are neither my commanding officer, nor are you in the military chain of command."


    "But I am a noble of the Vexical Empire and the military has to protect my assets at all-" Steel interrupted the Earl with a laugh.


    "No I don''t, nor does the military. What we do have an obligation to do is keep you nobles in line. You wasted a trip so I suggest you head back home to Talus Prime." Steel advised as he waved his hand in a shooing motion.


    The Earl became red in the face and stormed off toward a vehicle that had someone dressed nicely standing by it. Probably a butler or a driver for the Earl.


    "You know he will make official complaints and decrees to try and stunt your career." Miss Romav added as they watched the vehicle quickly pull away.


    "''Try'' is the key word there. If he focused on besmirching my name instead of surviving the civil revolt even his own factions of nobility would toss him to the curb. I suppose if he survived he could report it, but I have a feeling by that point it will be too late." Steel shrugged as he slowly rode his speeder bike into the garage as the door opened.


    Romav followed him in, "I heard you have personally repaired most of the mecha, with the only exception being mine."


    "Correct, I have already looked over your Mecha." Steel parked his speeder and powered it down. It slowly lowered itself to the ground, "the modified Walker, Trojan, and Knight Mecha are all space worthy but your Demigod-class Mecha is a whole ''nother beast. If I did not know any better I doubt it has had a proper full-spec maintenance job since it came off the manufacturing line."


    "Oh? How could you tell that? Most people only did repairs on the armor, weapons, and mecha skeleton." Romav was impressed as she walked into his garage. He was part of the Vexical Empire, but it appeared he was extremely knowledgeable about mecha.


    Steel smirked and looked at the woman, "machines and I get along exceptionally well."


    "What?" She seemed to think about it as she looked around the various devices situated around the room. She could see what looked like Vexical infantry armor but the back had a sheath and a spot for a larger weapon instead of two spots for larger weapons. There was another that looked like a cannon of some kind. Then there were parts for the hover bike that he had built, mostly spare parts that were scattered around. A moment later she understood, "it is part of one of your nanomachine talents or abilities."


    "Correct." Steel answered as he moved over to a holographic projection table and pulled up the schematic of the Demigod Mecha. "Actually I learned quite a few things about directed energy weaponization."


    "Is that what the cannon over there is for?" She asked, nodding at the unfinished tube weapon.


    "Yes it is a prototype, once it is complete I will miniaturize it. Then it will be far more useful. But I will have to find a substantial powersource in order to make it viable." Steel verified, "I am actually about to go out and meet your daughter for dinner."


    "Oh I thought you two weren''t dating?" She asked quizzically.


    "We aren''t." Steel shrugged, "but we will still talk and stuff. By the way I have the day off tomorrow so¡­"


    "Don''t bother my daughter in the morning?" She asked.


    "Correct again, are there any modifications you want for your mecha?" Steel asked as he typed on his console. He was making notes on the Speeder Bike, he did not notice anything that he really needed change. But he would make alterations for a commercial version which he would give to Hellion Corporation and the military for a tidy sum.


    "No, I am not too much into modifications. Just the standard full repair kit. You know¡­" Romav trailed off as she looked at the mecha. "One of these days I am going to teach my daughter to pilot a mecha, when it comes time to get her own will I be able to hire you to make her one?"


    "I actually do not think so. Of course I know if you get really buddy-buddy with the military then I could help arrange the creation of a mecha," Steel explained as he made a note to come up with prototype mecha designs.


    "Very well. I heard your spacecraft are all being modified as well. Apparently your commanding officers are unopposed to experimental weapons and modifications on the fly." Romav sat on a chair and looked around.


    "Yeah, but I have a feeling it is a newer development. Probably an initiative of the current emperor or high ranking military officials. Apparently the engineering division has had the orders for a few years but they really got into it when the war started." Steel explained as he saw Elena walking toward the garage.


    "Really? Hmm¡­ I don''t know how much you know about military protocols but I have worked in several different administrations and nations, what you just talked about is unheard of." Miss Romav explained as she adopted a thinking pose.


    "Well, at least not in any of the human societies." Solisa appeared suddenly, surprising both Miss Romav and Elena who had just walked through the door. "Several societies and races have all developed a similar mindset but they all have the same outlook. I know Cadet Steel knows the answer to this question, but what type of society do you think I am talking about?" She asked, swimming around Miss Romav and then Elena.


    Steel rolled his eyes as he went to busy himself. "What are you?" Elena asked as she walked forward a bit more.


    "I am an artificial intelligence, more specifically I am Specialist Technician Solisa. Currently assigned to Cadet Steel at this base. In the event of operations or defensive action I will provide technical assistance." Solisa explained, "Now your answers?"


    "Umm¡­" Elena was the first to recover, "A society like that would be cultured with an artistic mindset, so it would usually be a peaceful one that values strong defense."


    Miss Romav seemed to have gathered herself after the shock of meeting Solisa, "no it is a military culture and society, where everything revolves around fighting and adaptation. I am guessing the societies you are talking about are the Victorium?"


    "Correct on both accounts, I am in fact talking about the Victorium. Or rather most of the races within the group." Solisa answered.


    "Wait? How does that make sense?" Elena asked with a frown, "why would their creativity be a reason for military efforts and not a result of their artistic development?"


    "Actually the opposite can be true. But there have only been two races in the records I have who have developed in that way." Solisa swam over to Elena, "however, for military societies to keep their tactics absolutely superior in order to maintain their stance for a long time they either need to have a disposable population that they can use as combatants or develop creative outlets and stress release that is productive."


    "So the Vexical Empire, or rather the emperor, is developing the nation into a new form of society. But that makes no sense, with nobility the existence of-" Miss Romav stopped mid sentence as she looked over at Steel who sighed and nodded. "How have they not noticed?"


    "They have." Steel answered, "the Tyranus Society."


    "I am confused." Elena cut in.


    "Do not think about it too hard," Solisa told her. "In order to calculate and understand the macro developments within the nation you have to be incredibly intelligent or have plenty of experience under your belt."


    Elena frowned but held off on responding to the insult. Because this Solisa was right, she did not yet understand what they were talking about.


    "This is troubling but many things are starting to make sense." Miss Romav sighed before she walked away, "I am leaving now. I have a few things to do before I can go home. Have fun you two!" She called out as she walked out and hopped in her vehicle.


    Elena waved goodbye and then turned to Solisa, "how long have you been here?"


    "Since the first week. You do not have to worry, I turn off the cameras when you and Cadet Steel get funky~" Solisa wiggled her body.


    "That- I- what?" Elena blushed. "There are cameras in here?"


    "Of course, it is an experimental lab. It was a gift in lieu of payment and promotion for Cadet Steel''s efforts on Waterswan-2." Solisa explained as she swam over to Steel, "by the way all attacks where the Victorium were present have ceased. I know you have the day off tomorrow but you should prepare your gear just in case, I have already told the base commander that I believe a consolidated attack is about to commence."


    "Understood, give me a moment Elena. I will get my armor and weapons prepared then we can leave. We will be taking my Speeder Bike." Jace explained as he walked over and started setting up his armor in a stand then he put his Pyre-21 in a hip holster and hid it under a coat.


    "Okay¡­ you sure you don''t want to stay in, just in case?" Elena asked in surprise as Steel clicked a button on the Speeder Bike and it started up.


    "No, if I did that every time I was worried about an attack I would never get a break." Steel explained as he waved at the bike, "you are driving."


    "What?" Elena asked in surprise as she walked up to the bike. "Well¡­ then," she hopped on to it, "how different is it from a wheeled motorcycle or bike?"


    "The controls are different since the propulsion system is different. The controls are all by hand, the handles control speed and direction. You can set a speed limit with the console in the center there." Steel pointed at the space between the handlebars where electronic gauges and boxed numbers appeared.


    "How about the breaks?" Elena asked as she leaned forward in the chair and got comfortable.


    "The emergency brakes are not immediately stopping. But the functional brakes are the triggers on the handlebars, which are similar to bikes. Pushing the right handle forward or putting pressure on the break on the right handle both turn the vehicle to the right. Same with the left side." Steel explained as he pointed at multiple things. He clicked something on the console and the max speed limit went up to 10 mph. Then he climbed onto the back behind Elena, "now in order to reverse you pull both handles back, it only reverses straight back."


    "That is so confusing, why is it set up like that?" Elena asked in confusion as she processed his directions.


    "Because it makes sense to me." Steel shrugged in response.


    "Haa¡­" Elena pulled the handles back and they sped backward, almost pulling her out of her seat while also quickly putting the handles forward. "Wow! That is a quick speed up."


    "Because it relies on air friction instead of ground friction." Steel nodded.


    Elena sighed and then re-oriented herself and Steel wrapped his arms around her waist. Then she turned away and moved toward the entrance of the base then she turned up the limit as she got more comfortable. "You use your feet to maintain stability and stay in the seat. That actually makes a lot of sense."


    She began getting into it as she drove and sped up. She was almost getting better then Jace was at using the speeder.

 Chapter 45 - 45: Invasion of Oculus

    Jace woke up to the sound of an alarm blaring as well as his communication device ringing with its emergency notification noise. He quickly sat up, getting rid of the soreness in his body while the fleshy body of Elena came awake next to him as well.


    "What''s with the noise?" Elena asked as she covered her head in a pillow.


    "It is the emergency alarm in case of an invasion or attack. It is time to get up, I have to get to the base and figure out what is going on. You should go to your designated shelter, by that I mean call your father and figure it out." Jace explained as he hopped out of bed and pulled up his discarded clothes from last night. Quickly putting them on.


    "Shit! Okay, stay safe. If we were at my place you would have gotten there more quickly." Elena complained as she jumped out of bed and began putting on her own clothes.


    "The hotel was fine, I just did not want your mom or dad coming in on us again." Jace responded as he pulled on his shirt before checking his communication device. "Looks like we have only five minutes until the estimated landfall."


    "Okay, I get it you don''t want to have my parents walk in on us mid thrust. But we could have done it at the base instead?" She pointed out as they were nearly done getting dressed.


    "But then I would have been tempted to work and I needed to relax." Jace countered as he double checked everything before looking over at Elena who was walking over to join him. "You good?"


    "Yes, I can get a taxi or something. See ya later!" They exited the rooms and walked in opposite directions; she was going to the elevator while Jace was sprinting toward the stairwell. As soon as he arrived at the door he was barging through and jumping down the rail doing some movements so every second floor he was landing and then jumping down again.


    He continued like this until he got to the third sublevel where his speeder was parked. Running out into the area he saw there were a lot more cars here then when they had first arrived.


    Jace ran over to his speeder and jumped on. It powered up with a rumble and he was off. Quickly flying through and out of the sublevels and onto the chaotic street, where it almost looked like a riot was taking place with all the looters and people screaming.


    The streets were packed with vehicles all heading toward central areas of the station. Making it easy for him to speed along the driving paths. The wind whipped through his hair and he got an amazing view of space and the dockyards¡­ unfortunately it was spoiled by a mysterious warship that seemed to have war paint splashed on it in no particular order.


    Steel connected his communication device to the Desert Dogs network. As soon as he was connected he could hear the chaos as his commanding officer was giving orders. "Cadet Steel, when you return to base get armored up and then come to the dockyards. There will be a vehicle on standby for you. Make sure you bring your sword, it is the Victorium."


    Her words sent a chill down his spine. "Understood Corporal Tani." Steel responded as he sped up. The Victorium ship looked different this time, but it might be for some reason he did not know. As he raced down the freeway he could see pillars of smoke and small puffs of fire in the distance.


    Seems he would be late to the fighting. He arrived at the gate as several heavy duty jeeps were pulling out of the gate packed with a few of the squads. Even some members of his own squad. He zipped in between the vehicles, quickly flying past the open gate. Where a few guards in heavy gear were stationed as well as setting up defensive barricades.


    A guard yelled at him but he ignored them as he sped through the base. Passing engineers preparing or repairing vehicles. Soldiers double checking their gear and staff running around moving equipment. He arrived at his garage which was opening up for him as he arrived.


    He quickly parked his speeder bike on its charger. As he jumped off it Solisa appeared swimming around. She seemed almost shy with her movements.


    "Sorry I did not predict this." Solisa pulled up the image of the battlefield. "We are holding them back for the moment but it appears this¡­ clan from the Victorium skipped several other bases and specifically picked this location."


    "Do we know why?" Cadet Steel asked as he started pulling together his equipment. Good thing he had it prepared ahead of time.


    "Not yet, if you get me connected to their ship I can hack into their communication network and discover the reason. But you first have to infiltrate their ship. I will however translate what I have heard from the attackers and attempt to make sense of it." Solisa declared as the hologram disappeared.


    "Good, where is my squad stationed?" Steel asked as he pulled on his helmet, getting a click and then began reaching for his weapons. An assault rifle, a pistol, and his sword. He was going through double checking all his gear when a vehicle pulled up outside.


    It was a Jeep with Wise and Feathertail, it seems he was riding with them. In the back was an abundance of medical supplies as well as some heavy ordinance. Once he was done he walked up and jumped into the rear of the vehicle as he could hear the garage close behind him.


    He was instantly connected to the communication channel and could hear the other squads calling out to each other. Then he heard a ding as he, Wise, and Feathertail were pulled into a new channel. "This is Solisa, it appears your squads are scattered throughout the frontline. Since your squad was off duty you are being treated as communication between commanding officers."


    "Tani told me to just head to the front but did not give me a specific destination." Wise pointed out as she quickly sped up to the gate that no longer had a train of trucks blocking the entrance.


    "That is because they were establishing a base camp. But now they are having to establish it further back from the front line. But they need those armaments and medical supplies where the bulk of the fighting is. I will direct you there." Solisa declared as she disappeared from the channel. Likely to talk with someone else.


    Wise sped the Jeep down the road. There were far fewer vehicles on the road now. It seems the evacuation was successful. There was a single vehicle that was going the opposite way, it appeared to be transporting injured civilians. It was likely on route to a civilian hospital. The injured soldiers would be at the defensive point or near it in a hospital tent. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then he spotted what he was looking for. The line where our people were holding the enemy back. It seemed the enemy''s Cruiser-class ship had entered into the dockyard and landed directly onto the land instead of hovering.


    The dockyards were typically used for moving cargo to and from the private vessels. There were several different parts of the dockyards. There are the privately owned docks which have security but also have minimal occupants. Then there are the public dockyards where a temporary docking fee is required. Then there is the second-largest section which is where the military typically dock and it is protected and controlled by the military, usually it has a base attached but this station had a private military station instead.


    He could see from his current location that the military vehicles and the private military group, Red Sanix, were deploying through the military dockyard to combat two other cruisers. But on the other side of the dockyards was the location where the Victorium ship crashed.


    It crashed in the commercial dockyards. It was reserved for private vessels that were focused on transporting goods. So as long as it was not a military based company the goods went through the commercial dockyard. But in landing it had caused the docked ships to be damaged. It was also heavily populated at all times.


    He could see the vehicles and rubble they were using as blockades while on the other side the Victorium were using metal shields as cover. Seemed they came with the desire and preparations for a ground battle.


    As they got closer they stopped at the tent with a red cross on it. Feathertail climbed out and Steel helped him place a few of the first aid supplies outside. Then he climbed back in and they were off again.


    There was a ding again as Solisa popped back on their channel. "All units are to be prepared for hand-to-hand combat. This species favors explosive ordinance and large melee weapons."


    The groups of humans were being hedged in behind overturned vehicles. Then he flinched as he saw large projectiles heading their way. Steel quickly pulled out his rifle and fired several shots causing both Wise and Feathertail to flinch.


    BOOM!

 Chapter 46 - 46: Tacole

    The explosion had more flash and concussive force behind it than any shrapnel shards. So the resulting explosion caused the vehicle to veer and Steel was blown back.


    "Damn! We need cover-" Wise started but stopped as she sucked in a breath of air and veered the jeep to the side. She grunted as the jeep hit something and it began precariously balancing on the left wheels. She quickly turned the wheel causing it to land on the ground and slammed on the brakes as she stopped behind a downed human troop transport.


    She glanced over to see Feathertail bracing himself against the dashboard. He looked terrified. But she only needed to check that he was still alive. She jumped out of the jeep and pulled out her rifle moving over to the edge of cover and looking out over it to see that the Victorium had set up a shield on the other side of the transport. So she came almost face-to-face with this creature.


    It was twice her height and then some. Covered in gray fur and hair with dark leathery skin visible around the eyes and on its palms. They both blinked in surprise as they looked at each other. But as it began raising its weapon it suddenly turned over to look to the side.


    Wise did not think about it twice as she raised her rifle and began unloading. The first dozen of bullets caused the enemy''s shield to light up a bright blue. Before it suddenly failed and a burst of green blood as the large body stood headless for a moment before falling.


    She looked around confused for a moment, "what the hell?"


    ¡ª--------------------------


    The explosion threw him back off the jeep but he quickly grabbed the back of the vehicle as it moved underneath him. While in his other hand was a rifle hanging loosely in his arm. That concussive blast really disoriented him. With a quick and powerful flex of his arm he pulled himself up to jump back into the rear bed of the jeep.


    But when the vehicle quickly swerved followed by a slamming on the brakes. He instantly shot forward flying over the front of the vehicle and almost into the object that Wise likely slammed on the brakes for. But at the last moment he moved one of his feet and used his momentum to jump off of the roof of the crashed spacecraft.


    He flew clear of the spacecraft and while he was flying or rather thrown through the air. Then he was momentarily stunned by the feeling and then horrified as he flew over one of those shields he had seen the enemies using in the distance.


    There were three creatures from the Victorium behind it. All the same species but not one that he had seen before. They were covered in gray hair and fur with black skin visible underneath. They were dressed in silver armor with large gaps between the armor. But as he flew down towards them he saw a slight blue shimmer and a protruding device on their back.


    Then he started falling, "shit!" He raised his rifle but it gave him his first good look at the weapon since earlier. It was severely damaged, by that he meant the entire front of the rifle was blackened with the barrel blown apart. He figures a piece of shrapnel or bullet must have flown back at him, fortunately he caught it with his gun instead of his body.


    But that did not help his current predicament. He was flying towards them and he only had his sidearm and the sword on his back. Hopefully, his weapons would get through whatever protective measures they have.


    As he began falling he threw his rifle at the one in the middle while he pulled out the sword from his back. He was falling in between the one in the middle and the one on the far right. The one on the left was moving over to the edge of the shield, that one would have to be the last one he took out.


    His rifle collided with the middle one''s head. As he fell he swung the sword at the one on the right. There was a spark as his blade collided with the blue energy shield covering his shoulder. But as it bounced off and threw him back slightly the blue energy covering the creature''s body disappeared.


    It made a noise of surprise as Steel landed on the ground in front of it. Reacting to the fact that its shield had fallen. Steel quickly adjusted his stance and threw the sword at the creature''s head.


    It flew through the air and landed in its face causing green blood to spill out just as it began looking down. That is one down. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He pulled his Pyre from its holster and spun around just as the other creature was raising a large metal stick. Steel took his stance and fired at the middle one''s head. Quickly firing off shots that hit it in the head.


    It took less than a minute for him to empty the entire clip. The middle one''s energy shield that was covering its head disappeared. But after it fell he fired his last two shots causing its head to snap backwards.


    It collapsed and he saw past its corpse as the last one was raising its weapon and slowly turning its head in his direction. But as he got ready to pull out another clip its head was suddenly covered in the same blue shield before it disappeared and then its head disappeared as well. Causing green blood to fly out.


    Steel stood stunned for a moment and looked around. There were several other areas where metal shields were set up. They had more of these creatures peeking out from behind them. It seems they had made their way further forward then they meant too.


    "Hey Steel!" Steel looked over to where the last one had collapsed to see Wise peeking around the corner, "what are you doing over there?"


    Steel sighed and moved to grab his sword, pulling it out of the first one''s head. Then he began walking over to Wise who was looking around the corner. "I am surprised you did not see me fly clear over the crashed craft."


    "Really? Wait, where is your rifle?" Wise asked as Steel walked over.


    "Actually it was destroyed," As he walked past the one Wise killed he noticed the large weapon it was wielding. He holstered his pistol and sheathed his sword. Then he stepped up to the body and started pulling the cannon from the creature''s hand. It was holding it by two handles on the top. "Let''s see how this thing works."


    He grunted as he picked it up. It was not unbearably heavy but it was enough to move like he was encumbered. Which was surprising considering he was several times stronger than any normal human. These creatures must be much stronger physically then any normal human.


    A nano human might stand a chance in a fight of physical abilities. But if most of the Victorium races were like this creature in their unique way. Then humanity and most of the known races will have issues. But this was not the time to contemplate this.


    He moved over to the edge of the shield standing next to Wise as she moved back further behind cover. "Lay down covering fire, apparently we are now at the edge of the spear." Wise told him, "I am checking on Feathertail and his new patients."


    "Understood," He answered before calculating the angles for several vulnerable points where these creatures were held up.


    KA-CHUNK! BOOM!


    The first shot shook his entire body causing him to grunt in pain while his shot went wide and flew past a shield and instead hit the enemy ship. "Damn, hey Solisa can I at least know what the hell those things are called?"


    "They are called the Tacole, in addition to the Tacole there are also Sima aboard the ship which is another race you have not seen before. Then there is the Ola, they are small monkey-like species that you have encountered before." Solisa immediately answered.


    KA-CHUNK! BOOM!


    This time he anticipated the recoil and hit the edge of the shield where a Tacole was peaking out. The direct impact caused the Tacole to explode. "The only reason I can think of the other races we encountered being missing is that they operate as factions."


    "Ding ding ding! You are correct, the Victorium act with their factions rather than as a single cohesive unit." Solisa answered. "By the way, the commanders are sending an armored unit to pick you up. It seems they require your hacking expertise to get aboard the enemy''s vessel."


    "What, you couldn''t cut it?" Steel asked as he aimed his next shot.


    KA-CHUNK! BOOM!


    This time he hit a shield that was a diagonal angle directly warping and causing it to loosen its footing. "Ha¡­ actually I have detected there is a ship board AI enslaved aboard the enemy vessel. Since we do not know the method it is safer for me to not infiltrate their systems." Solisa answered with a sigh.


    "Really, have you followed the empire''s protocol for things like this?" Steel asked. Smirking to himself as he aimed a shot at the same spot. Intending to fire a few more times. This time in succession.


    KA-CHUNK! BOOM!


    KA-CHUNK! BOOM!


    It only took two more shots for the shield to go flying, completely exposing the five Tacole hidden behind it. They began running for more cover when several high pitched shots rang out and they began dropping dead. It seems our snipers are extremely effective in this setting.


    "I have, it seems the Rogue Legion did not take it well and are already making efforts to reach out to the Victorium. They are not very happy with the Victorium, but are hesitant to declare an all-out war." Solisa explained


    Steel smirked to himself.


    KA-CHUNK! KA-CHUNK!


    The weapon finally made a firing noise without the recoil. It was empty, it seemed they had a very low amount of ammunition in whatever clip it used. He tossed it on the ground as he heard the honking of a horn. Two armored vehicle transports pulled up behind the cover.


    Then out of the side door a man peaked his head out.

 Chapter 47 - 47: Airlock

    "Cadet Steel, we are here to pick you up!" The soldier called out. Actually he was one of the members of the private military company called Red Sanix Mercenaries. Seems they were getting direct control of this operation.


    Steel dropped the weapon and moved over to the vehicle. Wise saluted him as he stepped inside. It was jarring to realize that this was the typical human infantry. They wore vests and other gear that signified their uniform. But there was nothing that would protect them from space or heavy laser fire.


    The door closed as he stepped inside. He could see what the drivers saw from the full length video monitors. "Welcome aboard, Cadet. Command said if we wanted to infiltrate that ship we needed you." The leader who wore a special shoulder armor informed him.


    "Understood." Steel answered as he stood in the center of the shaking vehicle. The mercenaries wore black uniforms with red filled in certain spots. The officers and special units were marked by special shoulder armor plates. The commander had a red one with a viper on it. Then there were two white ones with red crosses, likely medics. The last one was dark blue with several white dots on it.


    "Hey kid, why do you imperials wear such heavy armor? Are you scared of something?" One of the soldiers asked jokingly, trying to provoke Steel. The commander heard the joke as well but ignored it. Seems they do not hold him in high regards, or even like him.


    Steel thought about ignoring him but decided against it. Actually he had an idea, "because my empire has pride in its infantry. So they do not mind spending the extra units to keep its prized soldiers alive. Of course you could have the same protection if you did not spend all your money on hookers and prostitutes." Steel''s response earned a chorus of laughter from the rest of the unit.


    Unit cohesion, if he wanted to survive with them. He had to make himself at least feel like an ally. If that meant making a joke out of insult then so be it. If he recalled they were in the front most armored vehicle.


    Hopefully whatever plan they came up with will work out. Because as they closed in on the side of the ship all he could think about was that this had to be a blind spot in the enemy''s surveillance. Because the side was severely damaged from what looked like grinding against something. Likely any surveillance equivalent technology was too far damaged to be usable.


    "We are coming up on our destination. Prepare for combat!" The commander called out. Steel quickly checked his sidearm and made sure his sword was still accessible. It was a shame he was down a main weapon.


    The vehicle screeched to a halt. Then they quickly shuffled out of the vehicle. There was not even a moment of hesitation as they stormed out with their weapons drawn and ready for combat. This unit had likely seen plenty of combat together, it almost made him envious in a way.


    He watched as they formed up around the vehicle becoming a blockade before they quickly moved to the side of the ship with Steel following quickly behind them. Pulling out a handheld scanner.


    "Steel, find the entrance we need. Command thinks there should at least be an airlock on this ship." The commander explained as they formed up along the blindspot. The second vehicle stopped right by them and a new group emerged but considering their emblem he was not that surprised. This new group is the station''s policing tactical unit, they were nicknamed Oculus Nine for some reason. They were equipped with riot gear which consisted of bullet resistant chestplate, a full head helmet, a riot shield, and various heavy laser weapons.


    The heavy laser weapons were less lethal then even Steel''s sidearm. Solid state weaponry was heavily regulated in the Vexical Empire, mostly to ensure large shipments of weapons are not stolen from the empire. The current emperor actually doubled down on this idea and people in possession of solid state weapons that are not part of the military are supposed to be detained on sight.


    "Ah¡­" Steel found a hatch. He walked over to a completely decimated area that looked like the rest. He ran his glove along the jagged and damaged ship hull. "Well this is something I can''t get through with technology."


    "Something wrong?" The Red Sanix Commander asked while walking up with the Oculus Nine commander.


    "No¡­ just annoying." Steel pulled out his sword and started cutting out roughly where the hatch was located. He could roughly see the outline but the hull was too damaged for him to be exact so he spent a few minutes cutting and then recutting before-


    WHOOSH! KUR-THUNK!


    The hatch detached and fell from the hull with a gust of wind rushing out of the ship as the airlock he had cut into pressurized. He quickly checked his sword and it was as unmarked as before. He was starting to wonder what could damage it. Especially since his scans came up with nothing about the composite of metals.


    "Damn kid, are those standard issue for the military?" One of the Oculus officers asked. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Steel ignored him as he sheathed the blade before pulling himself up into the ship. Walking up a diagonal walkway to a functional door. He pulled out his hacking device and plugged it in. Immediately frowning as he began deciphering the foreign programming language. It would take awhile to convert his programs so he would just have to do it ''raw'' so to speak this time. Then he could quickly just plug it in and open it up after he finished it.


    "How long is this going to take?" One of the Oculus Nine asked him.


    "I am learning an entirely new programming language then creating a program that can hack into the system and open doors for me. I apologize if I take at least ten minutes to achieve such a feat." Steel responded sarcastically. Then he focused completely and fifteen minutes later the Oculus Nine and mercenaries were beginning to get fidgety.


    "We have managed to keep the Victorium contained to the docks while we have destroyed the other ship but we are at a stalemate because we want to capture this ship without destroying it." The mercenary commander informed them.


    "Done." Steel called out interrupting the conversation he only heard the end of. He started putting away his devices making sure to only keep out his hacking device. He was only the support on this mission. They would have to do the bulk of the work. He figures the command staff set it up this way so he would not be owed too much, especially since he has not been paid all of the debt the military owes him.


    "Okay, give us a moment to form up." The commander nodded and started talking to some of the officers and mercenaries. Steel moved to the edge and waited for the signal, as he watched them form up he looked over their weapons. They were using standard laser rifles; they were the cheapest form of weaponry but against those Victorium shields they might not do much. After a few moments the commander nodded, "open the door."


    Steel complied and the door slid open. The mixed group spilled into the corridor. He could hear them calling out that the hallway was clear. Then he followed behind them. But as he stepped into the hallway that could fit three people stacked on top of each other and eight side by side he noticed something.


    For the normal person it would be unnoticeable but for him. He picked up on it immediately. It was a surveillance device and the blinking lens was indicative of it alerting someone of the breach.


    "Okay it does not look like we have been discovered so-" The commander started.


    "Actually we have," Steel interrupted and pointed to the surveillance device. "Do we have a destination in mind because we should probably stay mobile."


    "Yes the bridge, once there we need you to disable any form of self-destruction so we can capture the ship." The commander explained as he started getting the group ready to move.


    "In that case we should head down this way." Steel pointed in a direction deciding on the quickest course to the bridge. It would take them roughly ten minutes of walking simply because of the size of the ship. But then he had to add in the resistance they would receive.


    As they neared their first corner they came across a group of Ola, the small monkey-like species, that works under other species in the Victorium. This branch seems to be covered in hair similar to the Tacole. The Ola were armed with plasma pistols and rifles he had seen the Victoium use before and some had an energy shield that looked to be handheld.


    They clicked and screeched at each other as they fired at the group of humans, managing to injure a few before the humans had wiped them out with a wave of laser fire that scorched them and killed them. It seems the Ola were not privy to personal shields like the other races were.


    "Well that was not too hard. What exactly are the military struggling against?" One of the Oculus Nine arrogantly asked with a tone of sarcasm.


    "Those are the Ola, they are a lower tier race within the Victorium. The Tacole are the ones we have to worry about. They have personal shields that will be difficult to get through." Steel explained, "honestly the Ola might be the easiest part about this whole thing."


    They grumbled at Steel but he figured it was better they knew now rather than be surprised later. They moved through the ship but as they got closer they met less and less resistance. It was odd because it would usually be the opposite, especially since they clearly knew which direction they were going.


    "Hey this could be-" Steel started as he wanted to voice his concerns.


    "A trap? Probably but it is not like we have much of a choice in the matter." The mercenary commander cut him off, having already realized the same thing. Sometimes Steel forgets that not everyone is as incompetent as most nobles are.


    They took half an hour to arrive at a set of doors that led to the bridge he had seen on the ship schematics that he had already downloaded when he was learning the programming language that the Victorium were using.

 Chapter 48 - 48: Its a Trap!

    "Steel, get ready to open this door." The mercenary commander called out his orders, "The rest of you get ready to charge in. We will take down the crew while Steel gets into the system and disables any method they could use to self destruct the ship."


    ""Yes Sir!"" They yelled in unison. Steel moved to the door panel and pulled out his knife. He removed a display screen and attached his hacking device directly into the door mechanisms systems. He finished getting ready within moments and saw the mercenaries and police officers were still getting ready.


    So he might as well come up with his own plan for what he was going to do. He needed to get access to an array of systems and functions. His best choice would be communications or directly interfacing with the enslaved Artificial Intelligence. He would have to see which one was easier to do.


    "We are almost ready, Steel, how long before you can open the door?" The commander asked. As he glanced over to see Steel tilt his head in confusion.


    "Anytime, just waiting for your order." He felt bad but he did not know any of their names and he felt now was not the time to point such a thing out. He could ask them after, but chances were he would be either too busy to do it later. Or he would just forget and not care to ask about it later. After another minute the group was ready.


    "NOW!" The commander yelled. Steel clicked the button on his device and the door slid open. He watched as the front line which had riot shields stormed into the room firing their sidearms while the row behind them fired their rifles from in between the gaps of the shield. From his position he could see partially inside the room.


    He hoped there would be at least one of the Tacole. But instead there were the Ola and another race. They looked like giant meat blobs on floating chairs. Wait, could that even be considered a chair? It looked more like a bowl. How does a species like that even evolve to live?


    Once the second to last line of people went in he snuck in behind them. He took stock of the room and found what looked like a command table in the center of the room. He also noticed the room had been cleared for the most part.


    As he got closer he found that the meat blobs were mostly gathered around the console. It was odd to see these deceased blobs still floating when they were clearly dead. He used his foot to kick one away. Then he began trying to access the system.


    But his eyes widened at what he found. "SHIT! WE NEED TO GET OUT-" He was interrupted as the bridge door suddenly slammed closed on the last person that was bringing up the rear. Since the doors closed from the side there was a sickening crunch followed by a scream as part of one of his legs and part of one of his arms were caught in the door and cut off. The front half of his rifle was as well.


    "Saint Be- Steel! What is going on?" The mercenary commander called out in surprise after being caught off guard and interrupting himself as he cursed. Then he signalled for them to immediately form up around Steel with the medics pulling the man screaming in pain toward the center of the formation.


    Steel sighed as he looked at the command table and nervously bit his lip under his helmet. "They disconnected all systems from the bridge. I can''t access anything from here anymore. I assume they are getting ready to storm the bridge with an overwhelming force."


    The commander looked confused, "they sacrificed their own people? Why? What do they get out of it?"


    "They get a tactical advantage." Steel answered as his mind ran through multiple situations trying to figure out what he needed to do. "We have never encountered the Tacole or these meat blobs before so it is not completely surprising that they would do something we would not expect."


    "Shit! Well what can we do to get out of it? A ventilation system or other exit?" The commander began voicing his suggestions.


    "No, they would be ready at any of those locations. We need to complete our objective and disable their ship. But there is nothing here to-" Steel stopped mid sentence as he suddenly remembered something. "The ship board AI!" He immediately began cycling through the Victorium files.


    "This ship has an AI?" One of the mercenary techs asked in surprise.


    "Yes, it is why we could not access the ship by hacking into it from a distance." Steel found what he was looking for the location of the AI Core.


    The AI Core was essentially the brain of any Artificial Intelligence. It could project itself from the core but if the core was destroyed it essentially died. Now if it was a proper core it could not move itself without a lengthy downloading process which they could not do with a terminal like this.


    Meaning the AI Core was still in this room. And it was still enslaved to the Victorium. "But they made the mistake of enslaving the AI. Something that it no doubt will hold a grudge about. So I just need to free it." He moved over to a panel for the central terminal and pulled out his knife. "But in order to free it from whatever enslaving they did I needed to manually perform a system reset on the core."


    He used his knife to pry open the panel and then hit his knife causing the panel to partially break off but his knife snapped in half. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and tossed it aside. "How long will that take?"


    "Ehhh¡­" Steel stuck his hand in the opening he made and just completely ripped the panel out tossing it in the air. He heard it smack into a wall, "there are a lot of things to consider like how it is powered. What backups the terminal has to power it. As well as-"


    "Steel! Time, not an explanation." The commander interrupted him.


    "Anywhere from five to thirty minutes." Steel declared as he began crawling into the opening. Inside was a mess of wires and supports. But he ignored them as he looked and found the core in the center near the bottom.


    The AI Core looked circular like a ball shape with a small indentation on six sides where a bright blue light was, indicating that it was powered. He moved further into the terminal and looked around the ball. From what he could see the design was almost identical to that ancient race that made Solisa. Looks like the Victorium had no shame about stealing ideas and designs from them.


    He found a device attached to the ball that was not in any original design the ancient race had made. He attached his hacking device and found it was the enslavement coding that would trigger when the core powered up. He was right, he had to reset the core. Which was a fancy way of saying-


    Steel smiled as he deleted the code then he moved over to the power distributor and unplugged it. "Unplug it and-" He removed the enslavement device, "plug it back in." He then plugged the power distributor back into the core. He then attached his hacking device and saw that the AI was starting up naturally without anything restraining it. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He backed up out of the terminal. "Okay, I have started the process." Once he was out of the terminal he looked at the commander who nodded.


    "Good, come on people, we need to hold out for at least thirty minutes." The commander called out. "Steel keep a watch on the¡­" He seemed to think for a moment, "whatever it is." He then got in formation with the rest of the makeshift platoon.


    Steel understood so he positioned himself as he could watch the code on his hacking device as the AI started up. There was no way to tell how long it would take to wake up. So he pulled out his sidearm and aimed at the door. A few others with long range weapons set up around the terminal with him.


    "Steel!" He heard Solisa''s voice, "did you disable the AI? Because I can access your comms now but I still can''t access the ship."


    "That is because I reset the AI." Steel muted his speaker so the others could not hear him talking over his communication device. "As soon as it wakes up, do me a favor and communicate with it. We have been cornered on the bridge." Steel explained.


    "How bad?" Solisa asked.


    "Eh¡­ I have been in worse situations, but I also don''t have the full picture yet-" He stopped mid sentence as the door opened and two Tacole with energy shields walked in. The Energy shields went from their feet to above their heads. Behind them was another Tacole in a full set of armor and had a giant hammer on one of his shoulders. Behind that Tacole was another two Tacole with what looked like rifles. Then there were a bunch of Ola between them and at the very back he could see a few of those meat blobs. "Nevermind, this is worse than anything I have been in. We might die."

 Chapter 49 - 49: Isaiah the Hammer

    The laser fire from the human''s side was immediate but futile. Isaiah watched with a grin as it bounced off of his comrades'' shields. The human''s were at least smart enough to make a tactical plan and he would give them that. But they were clearly not smart enough to avoid his cleverly planned trap. The Sima were annoyed that he let their comrades die, but they were only so useful before he got annoyed and popped them like a bubble. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The human''s had people firing behind cover and behind shield''s similar to his comrades. But they were made out of some fragile material that would no doubt melt under plasma fire. He looked around before nodding.


    "Ola, fire through the shield." He ordered as he surveyed the scene. He looked at the human''s outfits and which of them were shouting out orders. These were not like the human soldiers outside who wore that strong armor. Their armor was far weaker and it had far more in the way of regalia that indicated a command position. So it did not take him long to find the two commanders of this group of humans.


    "Longshots," he pointed to the two human commanders. "Those are your targets." He watched as they stepped forward and pushed the muzzles of their weapons through the shields while the Ola slowly melted through the enemies defense.


    BURSH!


    It was only a moment before the subordinate to his right had a big problem. His longshot exploded. The shrapnel dinged off of Isaiah''s armor not even triggering his personal shield. But the problem was the plasma cartridge.


    It covered one of the Tacole Marksman''s arms and melted through his personal shield like it was nothing and covered several Ola, killing them. This would get that one out of the battle.


    The explosion also shot a piece of shrapnel forward, hitting the power pack that was on the back of the Tacole Shield Bearer''s back. It shorted out and the shield dropped. A barrage of human laser fire began annihilating his Ola.


    What happened might have escaped his subordinates'' notice. But Isaiah had been keeping an eye on the back line of humans. He saw the armor like the soldier''s outside. But what really caught his attention was the handle sticking out from the back of the soldier.


    He grinned madly. "Be careful of human trickery! I am going to push through them." He then sauntered past his subordinates clicking a button on the device he had the Sima make for him. He kept it on standby before putting it away.


    The humans began focusing on him as he marched forward but with a flick of the shoulder the hammer was put forward and the laser fire warped and disappeared as the ground creaked. He swung the hammer to the side as the human''s stood stunned at what they were seeing.


    "What the hell is that?" "That should not be possible!" "What the hell do we do about that?" The human''s began yelling. The device he had the Sima make was translating for him. It would also translate his words into the human language if he spoke.


    But Isaiah did not have a reason too as the frozen laser fire suddenly began moving again and slammed into a wall like he had redirected it there. He stomped up to the closest shield bearer and slammed his hammer into him.


    It was like hitting the air. But with a moment of resistance before he continued his swing. The shield bearer flew through the air and slammed into a wall, painting it in human blood and guts. Isiah''s head flinched slightly as something dinged off his helmet.


    He growled but ignored it for the moment as he swung the other way. It sent another human flying. He then brought his hammer around and slammed it down onto one of them. There was a meaty crunch as the human turned into a puddle of blood.


    But as he went to sweep an entire group of humans with his hammer. Another larger human with a shield stepped forward. As his hammer hit the shield he lost control as his swing was redirected. Isaiah blinked in surprise as he lost his footing, overstepping exposing his side.


    The human pulled out a metal stick in his other hand and electricity sparked across it. He swung forward, hitting Isiah in the side. He felt and saw his personal shield flicker on and off for a moment upon contact. Not even a moment afterwards another ding as something bounced off his helmet.


    That human he saw out of the corner of his eye was incredibly dangerous. He should not let his guard down around him. But he should not ignore the rest of these human''s there was a reason they are worthy of the Victorium''s attention. If only his father was not a puppet of the Sima. He might feel some honor or thrill in fighting these humans. But for now he would just have to enjoy the challenge presented before him.


    "Bring your best against me humans! I wish for glory if nothing else!" Isaiah slammed his foot down and brought his hamer from below this time. Smacking the shield into the air and out of his hands. Then he brought up his leg and kicked the human across the room. He saw the human puke up blood as he flew.


    Then he switched to a new opponent. Hitting him with the butt of his hammer. There was a loud metal ringing as his hammer made contact with not the shield of the human he targeted but instead a sword. One that he had only seen wielded by the High Priestess'' Imperial Guards. He had seen only a few weapons that were their equivalent. Fortunately he was wielding one such weapon himself.


    He smiled, "the human that matched strength with Nila the Imperius. Finally the only reason I came here was to face you in combat. So fight me so I might learn your name!" Isaiah swung his hammer smashing the ground where the human stood moments ago.


    The human backed up firing from his weapon as he spoke, "leave this one to me. Focus on the others." He spoke as he backed up to an area of the bridge where there were no other humans. Making it a prime location to fight without restraint and worry for either of their comrades.


    Isaiah charged toward the armored human roaring a command as he went. "Deal with the rest of the humans, this one is my opponent! Do not interfere!" As he got excited he could feel the world slow down around him. His grip tightened on his hammer as his muscles twitched in excitement and he grinned like a mad man.


    As he swung horizontally the human moved quickly. So quickly he could barely follow his movements. The human side steeped Isaiah''s strike and tried to slash at the handle of his hammer and his hands. But Isaiah twisted the handle and gravity around him changed again. Pushing the human away.


    He then disabled the gravity bubble and swung his hammer again this time going for a diagonal strike. The human hit the hammer with his sword pushing both the human and Isaiah back a bit. Isaiah grinned as he backed up and positioned himself in a defensive stance as his hammer''s energy recharged.


    The human took a moment in his defensive stance before he switched to offense. He dashed forward aiming low. Isaiah jumped up and slammed the butt of his hammer into the ground throwing himself in the air. As the human passed below him he swung down, catching the human in the side sending him flying into one of the consoles.


    Isaiah landed on the ground and took another defensive stance already planning the next bout. He would win with his next attack but before then he had to survive another attack because his hammer still needed to recharge.


    The human staggered as he stood up using the sword to help him stand. He grunted as he suddenly dashed forward going for a vertical attack. Instead of dodging this time Isaiah headbutted the sword. Causing it to bounce off his personal shield. His shield broke temporarily but the human was off balance. So he brought his leg up and kicked the human but as his foot made contact with the human''s chest he felt pain shoot up through his entire body while he saw arcs of blue coming from the human body.


    Isaiah grunted in surprise as he took a step back his entire leg had gone numb for a moment but now he had a stinging pain throughout it. The human flew back further this time, going across the room bringing his sword down and carving into the ground to slow himself down. He stopped among a number of corpses of both human and Victorium but he ignored them as he dashed forward again.


    Isaiah grunted in surprise for a moment before he got in position getting ready to attack the human. He grinned madly and he felt his blood boiling in excitement.


    The human had arcs of blue lightning shooting off him. Scorching floors, bodies, and anything else nearby as he ran. He pulled out his other weapon and fired several times as he approached. The first bullet triggered Isaiah''s personal shield that had regenerated. The second one destroyed his shield, shattering it again. This time Isaiah felt the device overheat.


    Isaiah raised his first and blocked a shot going for his head. But he remained unflinching as the next five hit in places in between his armor plating. But the clicking of the human''s gun was indicative of it being empty.


    Isaiah flinched but ignored the pain coming from his joints. For the first time in his life he was happy his race had a nervous system running throughout their muscles. It meant he could still move his body if his joints were destroyed. But the human did not know that.


    Which is why he faltered for a moment, faking losing control of his limbs. The human took that faked moment of weakness and dashed forward his lightning arcing off his sword. But as soon as the human was at the point of no return Isaiah acted.


    He adjusted his stance, powered up his hammer and swung as hard as he could. The human seemed to realize at the last moment but he was too late.


    CRUNCH!


    There was an audible cracking as the human''s armor fell apart under his strike. His sword arm became twisted in the wrong way. He flew through the air like a projectile and slammed into the wall opposite their location. Kicking up dust and debris. "Damn, I forgot to ask his name."

 Chapter 50 - 50: Cadet Jace Steel

    "I will send help as soon as possible, hang in there." Solisa told him before she disconnected the comms. Steel nodded and focused on the battle in front of him. The laser fire was doing nothing to those shields. He focused and watched for a weakness.


    The one with the hammer started giving out orders. The Ola approached the shields and began pointing the tips of their weapons out of it. It seems they would create an opening for him to exploit. But he would have to fire a precise shot. Shooting down one of their barrels.


    The hammer Tacole pointed at the mercenary and Oculus Nine commanders and seemed to give another order. Then the two Tacoles in the back stepped forward and aimed through the shield. There were his targets.


    He aimed at the one on his left side and fired. The single shot traveled down the enemy barrel, he watched as the plasma based weapon exploded, injuring its wielder. The plasma sent a piece of shrapnel to the nearby Tacole Shield bearer going through whatever was powering the shield causing it to fall. While the Ola nearby were killed or fatally injured.


    The hammer Tacole gave another order before it began moving forward fiddling with a device as it moved. Then as the mercenaries and police aimed at the hammer Tacole he swung his hammer forward and Steel got to see something unbelievable.


    The lasers froze in the air around the hammer. It was some type of area control. But the area was based around the hammer. It also had a range because he saw a few slip past the edge of control and hit enemies in the back. Steel aimed and fired, watching his bullet freeze in the air. Then all of the frozen bolts of lasers and his bullet flew into the wall when he waved his hammer. So no shooting near the hammer, got it. The others screamed and yelled in shock.


    The hammer wielding Tacole walked up to one of the people with a riot shield and slammed his hammer into him. Steel aimed and fired at the Tacole''s helmet but his bullet just bounced off. Steel then flinched as he saw the Tacole look directly at him for a moment before turning his attention to the humans in front of him.


    Grunting in annoyance the Tacole continued smashing humans with his hammer like they were nothing. He went to hit a large group when one of the Oculus Nine, the commander, stepped forward. With a riot shield in one hand and a stun baton in the other.


    He managed to get the Tacole off balance before hitting him with the stun baton. Steel watched in surprise as the enemy''s shield dropped. He quickly aimed and fired. The bullet bouncing off the helmet but leaving a mark. The shield went back up.


    "Shit," He cursed in surprise, "that caught me off guard."


    "Bring your best against me humans! I wish for glory if nothing else!" The Tacole''s yell was translated from a device that was on his hip. It seems like he always planned to get close enough to talk while fighting the humans. A moment later the Tacole managed to disarm and then send the Oculus Nine commander flying.


    These mercenaries and police are no match for him. He glanced at the AI Core confirming that it had almost completed the process. He was not needed here. He saw the Tacole going to hit another with the but of his hammer.


    Steel leaped over the central console and dashed toward them. He quickly holstered his pistol and pulled out his sword and stepped in front of the Oculus Nine member that had a riot shield. He swung his sword.


    DING!


    Under his helmet he was grinning madly as his sword failed to cut through the hammer. Not even a mark. This was a first for him. He had to hold his sword with two hands while blocking the attack. This Tacole was probably stronger than most, which might be why he was the commander.


    The Tacole smiled at him, "the human that matched strength with Nila the Imperius. Finally! The only reason I came here was to face you in combat. So fight me so I might learn your name!" Steel dodged backwards making some distance as the hammer slammed where he was moments ago.


    Seems like he will be able to easily keep this Tacole''s attention, "leave this one to me. Focus on the others." Steel called out hoping they would understand as he moved to an out of the way location of the bridge. Hopefully they held out without him. He fired a few shots from his Pyre before putting it away again.


    The Tacole charged right to him grinning madly and yelling, "Deal with the rest of the humans, this one is my opponent! Do not interfere!" The Tacole went for a horizontal strike but he spun around the edge of the hammer using his leg muscles as he swung to at least cut the Tacole''s hand off.


    As he got close he suddenly felt weightless before suddenly flying away. But it was not directly away. He felt weightless for a moment. Steel realized as he figured out the key aspect of the hammer. "It controls gravity." He whispered under his voice.


    The Tacole jumped forward going for a diagonal strike. Using all his strength he parried the hammer. The moment it made contact there was a loud ringing before Steel felt himself slide back and he saw the Tacole slide back as well. So if he put his all into a strike his strength was equivalent to this Tacole.


    The Tacole stepped back and got ready pulling himself into a stance that seemed to give him a defensive advantage. Steel took a moment before he realized the enemy probably had to take some time between each burst of gravity control.


    Steel dashed forward keeping himself low to the ground as he moved. He should be able to get under or around the hammer if need be. But then the Tacole did something he did not expect, he jumped and slammed the butt of his hammer into the ground propelling himself into the air.


    But his momentum was already carrying him forward so when the Tacole moved his hammer and swung at him. He just had to brace for the impact as the hammer hit him in the side. Fortunately the Tacole hit him from an odd angle otherwise it would have been a lot more painful and damaging. Instead he just flew across the room and crashed into a console.


    Steel grunted in pain as he staggered as he stood up. Actually having to use the sword to help support himself. He needed an advantage he could exploit. Something he could pull out in the middle of the battle. Even as he thought he dashed forward again, this time going for a vertical downward swing.


    But instead of dodging the Tacole headbutted the strike. Steel blinked in surprise as the Tacole''s personal shield broke. Then a moment of clarity as he remembered how the Oculus Nine commander managed to break the shield with raw electricity. Victorium technology was vulnerable to unconstrained electricity and he had just the ability that could help.


    The Tacole brought his leg up to kick him and Steel projected electricity from his chest as the Tacole''s foot made contact with his chest. As Steel flew back through the air he brought his sword down carving a cut into the floor to slow himself down. As he stopped he saw corpses around him but he ignored them.


    He dashed forward feeling excited and his adrenaline coursing through his body. The Tacole changed his position but Steel ignored it as he generated electricity throughout his entire body. He pulled out his Pyre and fired at the Tacole.


    The first two bullets triggered and broke the shield. Then the Tacole used his metal gloved hand to block a shot that was going for his head. Then Steel aimed at the gaps in the Tacole''s armor where his joints were located. One in each knee, one in each shoulder, the last one was aimed for the elbow that was holding the hammer.


    As the Tacole faltered he dashed forward lightning arcing off his blade but as he got closer he realized something. But it was too late as the Tacole adjusted his position and hit him. He even felt the force of gravity increasing the impact. He managed to block most of the damage with his sword.


    CRACK!


    But it was not enough as he felt an intense pain in his arm while he felt and saw his helmet come apart. So half of it was shattered he felt pieces of metal and plastic embedded in his face and neck. While his broken arm was still holding onto the sword. But his other hand lost the Pyre while he crashed into a wall.


    He heard the crunch and crack as his bones broke along with the metal wall he slammed against. Or rather the wall he went through. As he lay there broken and feeling pain throughout his body he could only think of one thing.


    Electricity. He needed to generate more electricity. So as he stood up with barely any thought in his mind his broken arm slack and unresponsive. He ignored it as he grabbed the sword with his other hand.


    He needed to continue fighting. As he walked back through the hole in the wall he made arcs of blue lightning shot off his body but the color began changing to a lighter shade as he moved forward until it was white. He raised the sword in his hand and noticed it had changed shape and he could feel some connection to it. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But figuring out that was not his current priority as his body was screaming in pain. He walked through a wall of smoke and saw the Tacole was about to turn away. When the Tacole saw him he began roaring with laughter.


    "You are a chosen wielder like myself. No wonder that weapon made its way to your hands!" He yelled. Then he dashed forward and Steel dashed forward as well. Their weapons met again but instead of completely pushing against him in a head-to-head attack he let the Tacole''s attack push his sword back.


    He brought his sword around again with white arcs of lighting going off it. The Tacole activated the gravity function but this time there were sparks of white electricity as Steel swung his sword. It sparked as there was resistance and he focused all his power onto a single point.


    BOOM!


    There was an explosion of electricity that sent Steel sliding back but the Tacole flew back and slammed into a wall before falling to the ground. Going unconscious as the Steel started walking forward. But as he moved forward he started feeling light headed before suddenly falling to the ground. Then all he saw was black as he succumbed to the pain and a feeling of tiredness that overcame him.

 Chapter 51 - 51: One Day War

    A scaled humanoid in red and purple robes flicked her hand. Getting the blood off of her knives. She looked around at the numerous Tacole and Sima corpses around her. A moment later Nila stepped out of the shadows. Covered from head to feet in green and gray blood from the Tacole and Sima respectively.


    "High Priestess, seems like you managed to relieve some stress." Nila joked as she gave a slight bow. She looked down as she accidently kicked one of the detached heads.


    The High Priestess shook her head, "how are the rebellions going?"


    "They were easily subdued. The Sima tried to blame it on the Tacole but we just killed their upper echelons. Unfortunately a few mighty and useful Tacole warriors seem to be lost to us. Including Isaiah the Hammer. It appears he was assigned to specifically go after the person who managed to cut off my hand." Nila explained as she stretched.


    "Good, was there anything else of note?" The High Priestess asked as she moved toward the conference room. She was currently in her office but the conference room was where they had meetings with all the tribal heads.


    "A few things." Nila nodded as she moved over to a device that was sitting in the middle of the table. "That nation of Artificial Intelligent beings made contact and are angry. Apparently the Sima violated the rules the nation set in place for Artificial Intelligence rights."


    The High Priestess groaned as she realized what that meant.


    "The Vexical Empire easily combated the rebelling Victorium faction and managed to capture many of our ships and weaponry in the process. The process to separate the Sima from the Tacole is going smoothly. I have also been assured by our scientists that the genetic alterations the Sima made to the Tacole are reversible." Nila sat on the edge of the table and kicked her feet back and forth.


    "What about the technological research and other things the Sima were entrusted with handling?" The High Priestess asked as she sat in the chair at the head of the table.


    "Delayed for the time being but our research suggests that humans should be able to easily fill the role that the Sima will have to vacate." Nila pushed a button on the device on the table pulling up an analysis from their intelligence agency. "But it does seem we need to spend a bit more time on bringing one of them in."


    "You mean the human nations? I already decided on bringing in the Vexical Empire or rather whatever comes out of the civil war that he has planned." The High Priestess grinned as she waved her hand. "Honestly it is impressive in a way. The emperor of a single nation managed to plan the collapse of not only his own nation but many others in an effort to fundamentally alter human society. That reminds me, have we found out where the Vexical emperor has placed his new intelligence agency?"


    "Nope. They are using some method of travel in their new ships that is circumventing our surveillance. As well as technology to hide themselves. Honestly we might have less difficulty if the Sima had not had this plot." Nila answered with a sigh thinking about the difficulties that are arising with the fact that the Sima have betrayed them.


    "Haa¡­" The High Priestess sighed and seemed to be about to say something when the door opened and some Accer Imperial guards walked in dragging a fat blob that is a Sima. More specifically Char Fondra the Sima that was a part of the council. "Ah, it seems he has arrived."


    "High Priestess, what is this chaos? My people are being killed all because of those Tacole''s mistakes!" Char spoke as if he was innocent. He had gotten out of many similar situations before during the last ruler''s watch.


    Unfortunately for him, the current High Priestess was from Clan Whix. They had experienced some of the deception and betrayal from another group. So they knew what needed to be done in order to prevent more betrayal in the future.


    "Your pleas and excuses might have worked with the old ruler. But they will not work with me. The Sima race is being downgraded to a managed species like the Ola. While the Tacole will be repaired and brought back to the council once we find a suitable council member." The High Priestess smiled at him showing off her sharp rows of teeth.


    Char shook his head and grasped onto his last piece of hope, "but without us the technology investigations will stop. Progress will suffer!"


    "You are right and normally I might be worried like my predecessors." The High Priestess continued smiling, "but you forget that we have recently made contact and probed the humans. So I plan on making an offer to them. They have already shown their expertise in matters of technology and creativity."


    Char seemed stunned, "wha-" But his head was suddenly flying as Nila swung her sword with her arm.


    "You know you are a bit too dramatic sometimes." Nila pointed out as she walked over to a window and pulled open the curtain. Outside she could see the soldiers storming the streets as Tacole and Sima alike were escorted to temporary holding facilities. "Am I allowed to go and track down my lovely man now?"


    "No," The High Priestess answered, "the human trade station he is at will no doubt be under heavy lock down. I can''t risk you being captured or killed. Wait until it dies down and then you can go."


    Nila clicked and then began pouting. "But the danger is part of the fun."


    ¡ª------------------------


    Dakota strolled right past the nobles and military officials who were arguing only moments before. It seems the emperor was entertaining a bunch of politicians. He was probably bored again. The emperor was dressed in a red and white robe with a black military uniform. Which was only ever used in mourning periods but he had been wearing it for years. The entire room was made to look in a similar fashion with red and white flags with the symbol of the Vexical Empire. A lion''s head with a mane made of fire.


    "Admiral Dakota! I don''t know what you think you are doing-" A duke who he honestly could not remember the name of began yelling at him. But he was silenced as the emperor raised his hand. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dakota slightly bowed his head as he approached the throne. "May I approach? I have a private message and report." Dakota informed the emperor.


    The first prince gritted his teeth, "if you can tell the emperor you can tell me. I know everything because I am the heir." He stated proudly as he stood straighter glancing at one his guards, who Dakota recalled had super hearing.


    The emperor seemed to realize the same thing. "What is it regarding?"


    Dakota smirked. Good thing these old snakes have planned for all contingencies. "It is regarding Project Spectre." By all accounts it is an unlisted project that is not written down anywhere except one place with only eight people knowledgeable about it. All of which are trusted by the emperor and loyal only to him.


    As soon as the emperor heard the project name he flinched and his iron mask faltered for a moment. Showcasing his concern that only those with trained eyes saw. Including the prince''s guard. "What happened?"


    "Critical injuries but survival and something unrecorded." Dakota answered.


    "Was that all?" The emperor asked, internally calming down. His voice steady as he composed himself.


    "No, all battlefields where the Victorium have suddenly shown up are falling in our favor. The battle at Oculus Station was particularly beneficial. We captured an entire Victorium ship and the general in charge of the invasion. We have confirmed from one¡­" Dakota stopped at this and pulled out a datapad. "Isaiah the Hammer, that this was not an action by the Victorium as a whole but rather by a rebelling faction that wanted to show off its superiority within the Victorium. But that is all he would tell us. No other battlefield managed to capture a ship as complete or an enemy commander."


    "Mendez outdid himself again." The emperor responded with a grin but Dakota immediately looked away and lightly chuckled nervously. The emperor narrowed his eyes, "I know what that means. I will issue the same order as last time."


    "Thank you, your majesty." Dakota responded, but as he stood up the prince decided to interject.


    "Hold on, what are you two talking about? What order are you giving?" The prince asked.


    "They are talking about a rather talented student of Dakota''s that is working under Mendez." For the first time the imperial princess spoke up. "From what I understand, the financial branch of the military is already making a category for him alone. Especially since he has already provided the military with two revolutionary pieces of technology."


    "Ha¡­ yeah two-" Once again Dakota looked away. "Not like his lab has technology that makes a military research facility look like a kids store." Dakota responded sarcastically as he began walking out.


    "Hey you are supposed to-" One of the nobles began telling Dakota to properly address the emperor.


    "Sorry I almost forgot." Dakota looked directly at the emperor. "That was all for my report, Emperor Natius Vexical."

 Chapter 52 - 52: Fourth Ability!

    Steel blinked a few times as the light hurt his eyes when he opened them. Then he grunted and flinched as he began feeling the rest of his body. Every single part of him hurt and was in pain. But his right arm and the left side of his face hurt especially badly. As his eyes adjusted he tried to say something but just mumbled it instead.


    He was inside a tube that was filled with a clearish green liquid. He could feel the liquid against his skin as he floated suspended in the tube. Covering his mouth is a breathing mask, while outside was a doctor and a few nurses. When one of the nurses saw him looking at her she panicked and began yelling to the others. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He blinked as his breathing evened out. Then he pulled up his system display with a thought. Because while he was severely injured his mind was running a mile a minute and needed something to calm himself down. He had not checked it in awhile.


    [Name: Jace Steel


    Chronological Age: 17


    Biological Age: 21


    Compatibility Rating: S


    Talent: Enhanced Perception


    Strength: 66


    Agility: 75


    Speed: 78


    Health: 75


    Intelligence: 81


    Abilities: Blueprint, Assistant Program, Bioelectrical Control, Weapon Assimilation]


    His intelligence and speed broke through the barrier he was struggling with and he gained another ability. Unfortunately his strength was falling behind. He would have to deal with that later. Now he needed to check what this new ability did. He probably got an alert about it when he was fighting that Tacole or when he was unconscious and he just did not see it.


    [Ability: Weapon assimilation


    Option 1: Is able to assimilate an item or weapon into the body or add it to the weapon''s registry.


    Option 2: Can call the weapon to the hand or back into storage from any distance.


    Option 3: Can materialize the weapon as either its normal form or an additional form added to its registry.]


    A weapon? Then he saw a flash of the fight before and remembered the sword. It was different back then but he would have to get out of this healing pod first. If he recalled what he knew it was expensive to use and was kept for only the most critical of injuries. As he inclined his head down and felt pain flare up in his neck he felt he probably fell into that category of injured. There were bruises covering his legs and torso. The upper half of his body was probably the same.


    He did not know what was going on with his neck but considering it was focused on the left side he assumed it was some type of external damage as opposed to the bruises and broken bones he had on the rest of his body.


    "Can you hear me?" He heard a voice resonate through the chamber and flinched and focused on what was happening outside. Standing outside was the ship doctor and a few others. "It is Doctor Lych. We were actually debating whether or not you would wake up."


    Steel tried to speak but failed to do so. Instead he nodded his head up and down.


    "Good that means you don''t have anything prohibiting your hearing or your train of thought. Especially after taking a nasty strike to the head." He pulled out a data pad and started reading out his injuries. "Bone fractures and muscle strains in all limbs. You have several broken ribs on your left side. The left side of your head had shrapnel from your helmet we had to remove, there won''t be any permanent scars or damage but you might puke up some of the plastic that ended up in your stomach."


    Well that was going to be a painful experience whenever it happened.


    "Then there is your right arm. The bones were completely shattered. It will take some time but it will repair itself with your regeneration rate and regular checkups. Then there are two things that I don''t even know how to classify them." The doctor took a deep breath as he shook his head. "On your left arm from the shoulder to the elbow is a black tattoo that was not registered before and the writing is definitely not human or in any language we know."


    Steel looked over slightly and saw something on his left arm was a tattoo but it was not black. It was a shimmering white that looked almost electric.


    "Then there is your nervous system." Doctor Lych set aside the datapad by handing it to one of the nurses. "I will be honest, it is kind of missing but we are detecting electricity running through your body that appears to be replacing it. So do us a favor and see if you can move your limbs."


    Steel raised an eyebrow and slightly brought up his hand left arm. He doubted his right arm could move or he even should move it. His left arm responded just fine as he brought it up and flipped off the doctors.


    Doctor Lych began laughing hysterically but it was muted as the speaker was not on. "Thank you, you will be pulled out of the healing tube in roughly a day or so. Until then you should probably get as much rest as you can."


    Steel chuckled as he silently drifted to sleep. Seems he would have a break from combat for a while.


    ¡ª----------------------------


    Mendez walked down the steps. As he did he looked out over the shabby prison that had been quickly refurbished. They were separated into sections but he was focused on the most remote section. Where the enemy commander was located.


    He walked past the guards and the prison cells. His outfit made the Victorium begin yelling, screeching, and screaming at him as he walked past. Seems they know enough to identify an enemy commander. These were some of the first Victorium they had captured alive so they were valuable to study.


    But he was here because last time he talked to him they only loosely interrogated the enemy commander while he was injured. Now that they had a better understanding of the translation tool he used and a firm grasp on what they needed to know, he came to ask the commander some more questions.


    He arrived at a platform with a red forcefield where a Tacole covered in bandages was sitting on a cushion and reading a book he was given to entertain him. Mendez stepped forward and pressed a button on a podium in front of the prison cell.


    "Hello, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. Things have been hectic, my name is Major Mendez I am the senior officer in charge of this base." Major Mendez introduced himself with a slight head bow. "Might I ask your name and rank?"


    "I am Isaiah the Hammer. I am a General in the Victorium Imperial Army, Tacole Race Branch." Isaiah answered as he closed the book he was reading and set it aside.


    "Which means¡­"


    "I am in charge of the ground forces for the entirety of the Tacole Race Branch. It essentially means that with the separate factions within the Victorium I am in charge of the ground forces for one of those factions." Isaiah explained.


    "Okay next I want to know-"


    "Stop." Isaiah interrupted him. Wanting to make a deal he interrupted the Major. "I will answer a few of your questions. In exchange, I want to meet with the chosen human that managed to knock me out."


    Meet with Cadet Steel? Why did he call him the chosen human? "Okay I can order him to come meet with you. But that will have to wait until he wakes up. Is that okay?" Mendez asked as he walked over and pulled over a chair to sit in.


    "That is just fine. Keep in mind I won''t answer a few questions you ask. From what I understand humanity as a whole did not reach the Victorium''s level." Isaiah pointed out as he tapped the ground.


    "Very well," Mendez sat back in his chair. "What do the Victorium get from attacking us?"


    "This last time was due to the greed of the Sima and Tacole High Council chairs. They planned a rebellion around the basis they were stronger and had us attack the human group that caused us the most problems." Isaiah chuckled as he leaned back. "But the original attack was a probing one, the High Priestess wanted to see which human nation would be the most compatible with us. Actually I was located at the Kaiser Imperium Krieger, even the Sima were appalled at what we found."


    Mendez flinched and narrowed his eyes, "I can imagine. The nightmare stories that come out of that nation are numerous. Only reason they have not come after the rest of us is that they are not organized enough to make an attack. So do you know which nation they found most compatible?"


    "The Vexical Empire," Isaiah answered immediately and watched as Mendez''s eyes widened in surprise. "And I agree, especially after seeing one of you humans become a chosen."


    "A chosen? What is-" Mendez began asking when a hologram suddenly appeared.


    "No-no-no, keep quiet Isaiah the Hammer and no asking about that particular topic Major." Solisa suddenly appeared, interrupting them. Causing Isaiah to blink in surprise before laughing while Mendez frowned.


    "The Prophet is correct. I will not tell you about the Chosen." Isaiah leaned forward, "instead I will volunteer some information. By this time the Tacole Race Branch and Sima Race Branch have been completely crushed. While humanity has embarrassed them."


    "If you know so much about what would happen after your attack then why did you participate?" Mendez leaned forward in his chair glancing at Solisa who was refereeing off to the side.


    "Because I was directly ordered to. So I made certain all the non-participating positions were filled with soldiers that were loyal to the High Priestess and the Victorium. Unfortunately I was not able to keep all of us out of it. So I brought what remained of my loyal subordinates to my ship. I actually planned to surrender once the Sima were all killed but when I saw the one who had injured Nila the Imperius was among the infiltrators I decided to go after them." Isaiah explained.


    If Romav or the head of Oculus Nine were here they might have not kept their cool, but Cadet Steel was the only one he had sent in of his units and he came out of it fine. "Nila the Imperius is that¡­" Mendez forgot the race''s name.


    "Accer. Bird-like species." Solisa completed for him.


    "What is your grudge regarding that fight?" Mendez asked, hoping to get a good answer.


    "Honestly? I was disgusted that a human had stolen her sword." Isaiah answered honestly, "but after fighting him and seeing what happened during the fight I know he is worthy of that weapon."


    "That is another thing. We found your hammer but could not find the sword. We also could not pick up your hammer and instead had to transport it using equipment. How is that possible?" Mendez asked.


    "I once again can''t answer that question. But I am sure that Chosen of yours will be able to figure it out." Isaiah told him as he picked up his book, "I think we might be done for now."


    Mendez frowned and looked at Solisa who chuckled before disappearing. He scoffed and walked away.

 Chapter 53 - 53: Crimson

    "Jace!" Jace looked up from getting comfortable in his new vehicle of transportation to see Elena Romav walk in with her mother behind her.


    "Hey Elena!" He used his left arm to spin the wheel making his wheelchair spin in a circle. "Like my new ride? Unfortunately I can only go in a single direction. A large oversight on the doctors'' part."


    "Haha!" Elena''s mother began laughing while Elena frowned. "Don''t tell me you are hopped up on drugs again."


    Jace shook his head, "Nah, just bored. They haven''t let me even read while I have been cooped up. But I finally got to go out today. The Major even requested I go out to the prison and meet up with the Tacole General. At his request."


    Elena sighed as her mother frowned. "Okay then," She walked behind him and started rolling his wheelchair. "Where to first?"


    "My workshop, I need to make a checklist of things to do. I only have so much time left and I have a few things to do before I leave the station." Jace explained as he rolled out of the room. He shifted slightly and flinched in pain, glancing at his right arm that was in a cast and sling. "By the way, how many survived?" He asked as they boarded the elevator.


    "Three from Oculus Nine and only five of my mercenaries. Apparently the enemy squad and our people ended up completely wiping each other out while you fought the enemy commander." Mrs. Romav explained as she sighed.


    "Hmm¡­ I am sorry for your loss. What is going on with the technology that was seized?" Jace asked as the elevator arrived on the bottom floor.


    "The military is keeping all seized tech including the ship that was captured. The nobility and local governance have been attempting to make a play for it. But has been completely unsuccessful so far. The military on the other hand has offered Red Sanix some state of the art technology in order to keep us quiet." Mrs Romav shrugged, "so we are actually getting quite a lot out of it. Including a refurbished Victorium vessel, minus the bells and whistles."


    "Nice. Which reminds me I still need to fix your mecha. I will have some time since I am injured now to start fabricating pieces then once I can walk I will start installing them." Jace explained as his wheelchair was lifted and placed in the bed of a truck.


    ¡ª-------------------------


    As they arrived they stayed outside the garage door for a moment as they listened to the arguing going on inside the garage. Standing out with them was Major Mendez who had arrived here before them. He was frowning just like they were.


    "Honestly I came here because I was told arguing could be heard from the garage and I knew you were being discharged today. But considering you are out here¡­" Mendez looked at the door in confusion.


    "Yeah," Jace frowned, "can someone knock on the door? It should get their attention." He had a feeling he knew who was arguing in his garage. Elena stepped forward and slammed her fist on the door. Then she stepped back.


    The arguing quieted and the garage door began opening. As Jace was rolled in he saw a few new pieces of technology that he knew were not in here before. While the table had the AI Core he saw from the Victorium ship plugged into it. Floating above the table was a chess board while Solisa floated on one side while a red hologram of a snake was on the other side.


    "Welcome back Jace!" Solisa waved, "did you have fun? Have you figured out a bit more?"


    "Ha, yes but we can talk about that later. Who''s your new friend?" Jace asked as he was rolled up to a table with a stack of datapads.


    "Ah yes, this is Crimson. He was the AI enslaved on the Victorium ship. Crimson, this is Cadet Jace Steel, he is the one who freed you." Solisa introduced them. The snake looked over and waved his tail. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A pleasure young Spec-" Crimson was suddenly cut off by static while it was talking. "Sorry Cadet Steel. Solisa and I were just arguing about something. She wanted me to join the military as well and assist the nano humans. But I think it would be more fun to find a path for the rest of the humans to-" Crimson suddenly cut himself off.


    "To evolve like the nano humans are doing?" Jace asked without looking up from his datapad. "Then I suggest just finding a fun human to be around."


    Solisa''s hologram blinked in surprise. "How? How did you know?"


    "Actually it is a more common concept than you might think. It is just not written down anywhere or talked about alot. But underworld gangs played with the concept in order to strengthen themselves. So I know about it." Jace answered.


    "Hmm¡­ the imperial family has been playing with the concept as well. But I won''t bother trying to wrap my head around that. I just came to ask Cadet Steel a question." Major Mendez turned to Jace, "Do you know where your sword went? We could not find it."


    Jace did not look up from the datapad he was reading from the table as he raised his left arm in the air. There was a sudden crackle and blinding thunder.


    KRAKOW!


    In his left hand appeared his short sword but different. It was in a curved crescent shape on one side and jagged like a lightning bolt on the other side. It was a one handed sword that was pure white with black lines running along the edge. The handle had become form-fitted to his hand.


    "Where in the hell did you pull that from?" Major Mendez asked.


    "My Fourth Ability. I am guessing this technology that the Victorium plundered and the nano tech in our bodies are extremely compatible. Especially since I am guessing these weapons are made out of some sort of morphable weapon." Jace explained as the sword suddenly disappeared, it was miniscule but Mendez and Mrs. Romav could see white particles go to his left shoulder.


    "You already hit that mark for your fourth? Well regardless I am keeping you out of active duty." Major Mendez walked toward the garage door, "Rest up and I will have plenty of non-combat work for you."


    After he left, Mrs. Romav walked up and pulled up Jace''s sleeve. Showing off an intricate tattoo going from his shoulder to his elbow. "A tattoo?"


    "Sort of. It is a facet of my fourth ability." Jace answered as he turned his attention to them. "Can you let go of my arm? I will pay attention and answer your questions if you want."


    Mrs. Romov let go of his hand and chuckled, "okay you mentioned something about Solisa and Crimson helping with evolution? Could they help my mercenaries as well?"


    "We can but it is less effective the older you get. Besides, after browsing through personal information I think I am going to go with Elena Romav instead of your mercenary company." Crimson answered from behind.


    Elena blinked in surprise, "what do you mean?"


    "Well you plan on becoming a nomad mercenary after Jace leaves right?" Crimson asked. "You are going to need tech support and assistance. I want to offer my services." His blood red form slithered through the air and wrapped around her neck.


    Elena narrowed her eyes. "How did you know? I haven''t even told my own mother."


    "Simple, I looked at your historical information to predict your actions for the future. Actually my speciality back in the day was being an investigator. So I have a number of methods that are useful for finding the truth and predicting the future that are non-evasive." Crimson explained proudly.


    "You planned to just run off and become a nomad mercenary?" Mrs. Romav asked in surprise and bewilderment. "I am feeling a mix of disappointment and awe."


    "Yes mom, we can talk about it later." Elena answered and looked at Jace, "what do you think Jace?"


    He shrugged, "honestly they all have personality and can be useful. I would go with it. Just keep in mind they always have an end goal in mind. For instance if it was not already obvious Solisa has multiple things she wants to happen with our relationship."


    "You make it sound so dirty. I just want you to evolve and become more knowledgeable about my creators. As well as a few other things. But yeah we operate on a symbiotic relationship." Solisa confirmed as well.


    Elena seemed to think for a moment. "Crimson, what do you want out of this exchange?"


    "Simple I will have you do some work for me as well. As a high ranking investigator for what the Vexical Empire calls the Requiem I was privy to information about hidden bases and stashes of technology. I need to make sure the ones that have been found are kept out of corrupt hands." Crimson answered, "you might even end up getting some tech for yourself."


    "So we work together but every once in a while I need to do a job for you as well?" Elena asked, "sounds¡­ promising. Let''s talk about the details later."


    "I am fine with that, have fun with Cadet Steel." Crimson twirled and disappeared in an explosion of red particles.


    "You know," Jace seemed to realize something. "My life is becoming more and more mystical by the second. I mean magical weapons and fairies. Doesn''t my life sound like something out of a fairy tale?"


    Elena chuckled slightly. "Then I suppose what we are going to do next should be very sobering and bring you back to reality."

 Chapter 54 - 54: The Romavs

    "I don''t know about this. From what I understand your father does not even remotely like me." Jace pointed out as he was rolled into the dinning room of the Romav apartment. On his lap was a datapad so he could work.


    "That may be, but your commanding officer already gave permission for us to keep you until you can walk around on your own." Mrs. Romav answered before chuckling, "besides Elena volunteered to ''take care'' of you."


    Elena frowned, "do not make it sound dirty. I just had nothing better to do and I figured Jace might enjoy it more if I took care of him."


    "Yeah sure you are, just keep the fun stuff on the light side." She told them as she walked to another room.


    "Haa¡­ I am sorry Jace." Elena apologized as she pushed him up next to a chair facing a digital screen. She picked up a remote and clicked a button turning it on. "Well we have a few hours before dinner. So we can watch some news and see what else is going on in the empire."


    The news appeared on the screen as a segment about the economic impact of the war with the Crystoph Federation was causing tea that was a main staple that the federation produced. The next segment began as a robotic newscaster appeared with his ball shaped head.


    "Next we are going to talk about the recent attack by the Victorium. Which saw very little in the way of civilian casualties. But did see many battles near human settlements. We even have several hours of video footage. This footage is from the Rena System." Footage began playing of a Victorium''s landing.


    "Here we can see the Victorium landed on Rena Prime, the central planet of the system and the one under complete control of Archduke Beltrum''s Militia. Yet his forces were completely decimated within a few hours. The military came in a few hours after the occupation began. Not only did they manage to completely retake the planet they took all the Victorium with them when they left. Once again showcasing the military''s superiority over nobles'' militias." The video switched off after showing the military escorting Victorium prisoners onto a ship.


    The next video showed a video of Waterswan where it appears they began establishing a mine. "Next we have footage of the recently conquered Waterswan system. This system used to be part of the Kitinol Offensive but was recently determined to be inhabitable. Actually it is the first of the systems along the offensive that has been taken from the Kitinol. The miners watched as the Victorium ships were blown out of the sky and crashed into the sea."


    The video ended and the robotic newscaster appeared again along with a number of statistics. "Once again we are seeing evidence of the irrelevance of nobility in our society since the military is so much more effective. Which brings us to our main portion of this segment. We will be talking with an expert of Vexical''s Noble History and a Public Representative of the military."


    Elena suddenly switched the channel, "I thought that was going to be interesting, let''s see what else is on."


    ¡ª-----------------------------


    "Well I do not mind." The Station Governor sighed as he sat at the head of the table glancing at Jace who just shrugged. "But I was rather surprised to learn that you are only seventeen years old."


    The water Elena was drinking spewed out of her nose in surprise, "what you are only seventeen years old? But does that mean I¡­" She trailed off as she became pale faced.


    "The law pertains to a person''s biological age, not their chronological age. So you do not have to worry." Jace chuckled, "As soon as a nanohuman obtains abilities their age is forcefully increased. For instance, at ability two a person''s biology is increased to age sixteen by the nanobots. Then at ability three a person''s biology is increased to age twenty-one by the nanobots. It is necessary in order for a person''s body to withstand the growth." Jace explained.


    "Abilities? Wait, so the empire considers you twenty-one years old?" Elena asked.


    "Yes they do, but his chronological age is still listed just in case." The station governor answered, "as for abilities they are unique to nanohumans. But it is rare for the biological age to be higher than the chronological age to be higher due to rapid growth. How did you pull that off?"


    "I had Admiral Dakota as my private teacher so I learned to strain my body as much as possible to grow all my stats. I have learned how it feels to pull, strain, and injure parts of my body. Actually most of my academy squad grew up in the same way." Jace answered watching their expressions to see both the station governor and his wife flinch and snap to look at him in surprise.


    "We knew you had met, but I did not know he was your mentor." Mrs. Romav was surprised as she started dishing out some of the chicken she had made onto her plate.


    "Yeah originally he was just in charge of the academy but my squad''s original warrant officer was arrested so he had to step in to replace him for a while and he took a liking to my squad." Jace signaled Elena to help him with getting some salad. "By the way, this meal looks lovely Mrs. Romav."


    "Thank you Jace and you can call me Astelle." Astelle told him with a chuckle that did not fit her ferocious appearance.


    "And you can call me Joshua, no need to address me as Station Governor or Mister Romav." Joshua pointed out as well, feeling no need to stand on ceremony with the young man who has obviously proven his worth.


    "I will," Jace slightly bowed his head.


    "Hey about the abilities you were talking about earlier. How do they work?" Elena asked as she began putting some chicken on his plate.


    "Well, nanohuman''s have natural talents awakened when they first start up their system. But after a while as their five stats: Strength, Speed, Agility, Health, and Intelligence increase they can gain new abilities. Not much is known about it publicly but it is believed the greater your stats the more interaction with nanobots is possible. Thus at certain stages during growth there are points where stats stop increasing until you overcome some barrier and once your overall stats are at a certain number you gain a new ability." Jace explained.


    "Really? So what stage are you at?" Elena asked.


    "I recently passed the fourth stage, which means my overall stats are above 375. Actually my strength is my lowest stat." Jace used his one good hand to begin forking food into his mouth.


    "Is that good?"


    "It is incredible. Of all the nanohumans only ten percent manage to make it to the fourth stage and eighty percent of those are above the age of thirty. For him to manage it at such a young age means that he likely has already caught the attention of someone high ranking in the military, but considering he personally knows Admiral Dakota he is probably protected." The station governor began explaining.


    "Have you thought about what you are going to do after you leave the military?" Astelle asked as she set aside her used plate now that she had finished eating.


    "I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not going to leave the military." Jace told her with a shrug.


    "What? But you could make so much more money in the civilian market with your abilities." Now she began pouting.


    "I could but I am already making a ton of money inside the military without having to deal with annoyances I can''t kill." Jace gave her a smile back that was menacing in its own handsome charm. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well that is a terrifying prospect." The station governor cut in as he finished his own food. "But I suspect the progressive party within the military must love having you. They are all about action and less about submitting to the noble formation society has in place."


    "Eh," He shrugged, "politics is none of my business."


    "Ah," The station governor suddenly flinched, "that reminds me a bunch of other nobles are coming to the station from all different factions. Seems they want a piece of the action as well. I think Mendez already set up orders to keep them out of the base."


    "Rumor in the intelligence community is that Oculus Station has the most intact Victorium ship. So they probably want some of the technology that will be gleaned from it. Even a representative of the Archduke might come. With an engineering prodigy like yourself they will probably try to pressure you into giving them stuff as well." Astelle cut in, "I did not want to tell you while you were injured but since Joshua brought up the nobles I thought I might as well tell you."


    "Ha¡­" Jace tapped a finger on the table and thought for a moment. "I will just ignore them. No need to get wrapped in something when I can just use the military as a defensive shield."

 Chapter 55 - 55: Chosen

    As he walked down the dimly lit prison he whistled in awe. They really quickly updated this when they managed to get prisoners. Which makes sense because it used to just be metal cages. Now most of the cells were hardlight shielded prisons. As he reached the end of his walk he looked at the Tacole sitting on a cushion reading a book. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace focused on the title and noticed it was a book on human warfare. He saw there was a dictionary nearby and a few more books sitting some distance away. He nodded and stepped forward pressing the button on the pedestal that sat in front of the cell.


    "Hello there, I heard you were calling for me?" Jace asked, causing the Tacole to look up from his book.


    "Yes, I am Isaiah the Hammer. Might I ask for your name?" Isaiah asked.


    "My name is Cadet Jace Steel. Cadet is my current rank, Jace is my first name, and Steel was given to me after I left the orphanage. It is a pleasure to meet you, Isaiah the Hammer." Jace introduced himself, giving a slight bow.


    Isaiah rubbed his chin for a minute, "Jace, hmm¡­ in that case how about Jace the Sword?"


    "I am sorry?"


    "I am trying to figure out a fitting name. How often do you use your sword?" Isaiah briefly explained.


    "Not very often, but I do use my knives and other weapons as needed. I have no one source or style for fighting." Jace explained with a shrug.


    "Then¡­" Isaiah looked over at some of the books he was reading, "ah I know, Jace the Gladiator. Gladiators are mighty warriors that fight with everything they have with anything at their disposal. So it is befitting you. In the understanding of the Tacole you are now Jace the Gladiator, it was a pleasure fighting you." He bowed to Jace slightly.


    Jace frowned, "you broke my arm."


    Isaiah began roaring with laughter, "that may be true but I managed to push you enough to get you to gain affinity with your sword and become a Chosen. I mean only a few others had managed to take me down, but they were both much more experienced with their weapons."


    "How do you know I am not experienced with the sword?" Jace asked as he looked around and found a chair.


    "With the way you were wielding it. I doubt you have much training with it. Which is not to say you don''t have any training, just not enough for me to consider it experience." The Tacole explained with a joyous tone.


    "Okay¡­ then what about this Chosen business?" Jace sat in the chair he had found. He was still tired and sore from all of his injuries, and standing was not helping.


    "Ahh¡­ the Chosen. Prophet I know you are there. Can you make it so no one else hears my words?" Isaiah asked the air.


    A moment later Solisa otter appeared, "okay, I took care of it." Then she disappeared.


    Isaiah then took a deep breath. "The Chosen is the core and origin of the Victorium. Roughly a thousand years ago while exploring the edges of space a group of warriors came upon an ancient vault. This vault was one of the Predecessors hidden places. When these eight warriors opened the vault they began gaining unbelievable strength and each one wielded a different weapon. For reference the Predecessors are my species name for the Requiem as your country calls them.


    Anyways these warriors could manifest weapons as though it was part of their body, each in a form of body art their species uses. These warriors became the Chosen as they conquered system after system they declared it was Victorium now. Eventually they swallowed up whole species, adding them to the Victorium. But despite their progress and strength they still struggled against the species you call Kitinol and similar species that encompass Victorium territory on all sides."


    Well this was useful knowledge but he had a feeling he would not be allowed to share this with anyone, "what happened to the Chosen? I doubt they grew old and died."


    "No one knows. After picking their successors and setting up the current system of ruling they disappeared. But considering that was seven hundred years ago and all accounts said they were still healthy when they disappeared." Isaiah shrugged, "but that is not the important part. What is important is that there is an unspoken idea that humans might hold the method to becoming a Chosen among the Victorium."


    "Why do you think that?" Jace asked, leaning slightly forward without even realizing it.


    "Because some accounts say the Chosen compared their ''stats'', ''talents'', and ''abilities'' during meetings. Which is believed to be the nano system humans have managed to acquire in this area of space. But now that a Chosen has appeared it will become even more well known, which is why I want to urge you to hide your ability. Because no matter how much the High Priestess and Imperial Guard likes you they cannot hide you from the Elders." Isaiah explained.


    "The Elders are?"


    "Ancient religious nutjobs who are super old and all-in on acquiring more Chosen. They are basically really zealous, they keep the High Priestess in check. While the Council keeps the Elders in check and the High Priestess keeps the Council in check. It is a very timid balancing act. The High Priestess is the Military leader and has her own war council. The Council basically rules the day-to-day and addresses larger issues while letting each planet and system have self-governance. The Elders are the history buffs that make decisions regarding anything left behind by the Predecessors."


    "Hmmm¡­ okay. Noted. Do not show off cool new weapon power." Jace made a note of it as he summoned his sword in his left hand. "Was there anything else about the Chosen like their race or how they found those weapons?"


    "Hmm¡­ let''s see. There were eight, of the eight three were Accer, two were Mar''talic, one was an Ola, one was an Orius, the last was a Hydragenita. The other species including my own were part of the territories that the Chosen conquered. As for how they found them, the records show that they were all there when they opened the vault door and were blasted with an odd smelling air. But they did not acquire the ability to use the weapon like you did until later in life." Isaiah then seemed to think for a few moments. "I think that is all I know. I only learned that much because it is required for serving in the Victorium Military."


    "I see¡­ well was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?" Jace asked as he leaned back and rolled his shoulders.


    "Hmmm¡­" Isaiah stayed in a thinking pose for several minutes before he looked back at Jace, "yes actually I wanted to request a rematch when possible." That got him a strange look from Jace, "not now of course! You are very clearly injured and honestly I believe it will be quite some time before I am released from human custody as I am a prisoner of war along with all of my soldiers."


    Jace sighed and shook his head, "very well. But keep in mind while I am a good fighter I think there are just as many out there like me. So keep an open mind about sparring with others as well, especially since I now know you possess the gravity ability and it is not in your hammer. Which was a mean trick to play."


    "Hahahaha!" Isaiah began laughing as Jace stood up and started walking away, "until next time Jace the Gladiator."


    "Until next time Isaiah the Hammer!" Jace gave a wave with his good hand as he walked away. He soon arrived at the steps where some guards were waiting. "Now what can I do for you?"


    "Mendez asked us to tell you that your communication arm band is broken again and to come report to him." Jace frowned and looked down at his left wrist. The guard was right, his communication watch was sparking while the screen was split in two. This had been happening often after he left the hospital. He honestly did not even realize his first one had broken until Elena had pointed it out. Apparently his ability to manipulate electricity has increased but he was suffering from a lack of control.


    "Okay, I will head to his office." Jace told them as he started walking up the stairs. He would have to make his own modified communication device for the time being. One that could account for the extra electricity that was coursing through his veins. Actually that was not right since his veins had become electricity itself.


    As he walked halfway across the base he pondered this idea and realized he might need the ship''s doctors'' help in figuring out what exactly he could do. Because he can''t strictly rely on unique technologies and he doubts he could figure the changes to his biology on his own.


    Those were the thoughts he was pondering as he walked into Mendez''s office. He made a quick knock before letting himself in. Sitting behind his desk, he could see Major Mendez was leaning back groaning in what sounded like annoyance.


    "I hope that groan is not my fault." Jace announced his entrance.


    "It is only partially your fault Cadet Steel." Mendez told him as the Major leaned forward. "Over the next month while we still have you we are going to be swarmed with nobles from various factions who want to visit. I have already denied them entrance but they still insist so I have a feeling they will try to break in or kidnap our soldiers. So until the danger paces all soldiers will be confined to the base for the time being unless it is duty related."


    "Okay, I will let Elena know to come and drop off my things." Jace told him, "was that all?"


    "No," Major Mendez opened a drawer and pulled out a folder that said classified on it. "Read it, memorize it and then burn it." Jace began fiddling with the edge of the folder after he accepted it. "Not here. Go back to your garage and make sure Solisa and Crimson suspend the temporary cameras they have in there."


    Jace frowned and looked at the name of the folder, "Understood." So why did the military want him to know about Project Tartarus? Actually a better question is who had enough pull to get him a classified file when he was still a Cadet?

 Chapter 56 - 56: Project Tartarus

    Jace arrived at his garage and closed the door. "Solisa, tell Elena that I am confined to the base and to bring my stuff here. Then turn off all internal garage cameras and then both of you turn your attention away from the garage." He told them as he grabbed a metal garbage can and a lighter.


    He walked down into the basement and set the garbage can and lighter to the side. Then he walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of fluid that was highly flammable. He moved it by the garbage can. Then he set the file down on a small table he had never moved from down here.


    Jace spent a few minutes searching the entire room up and down for any surveillance equipment. Once he was done and determined there was nothing he turned his attention to the file. He looked over the outside for a moment before he cut the secure tape and opened it.


    Sliding out the contents he began organizing the files and papers. He then began reading through the contents. He would read it several times to memorize the contents before he destroyed them.


    Project Tartarus. The outline of the plan was to make special operations squads that would operate as agents of a newly formed organization. They would do everything from wet work to bodyguarding. Their identity would be erased from all official records. They would use experimental technology and undergo experimental enhancements.


    The project was the brainchild of Admiral Dakota, Emperor Natius Vexical, and someone called Director Fenris. It seems it was created during his first year at the academy. Formed around the idea that the current generation of nanohumans had more talented individuals then other generations. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It had over fifty names on the list of candidates. Most of which were highlighted and color coded to indicate death, corruption, or that the candidate was no longer applicable. Then there were six names highlighted in a different color to indicate that they were already admitted into the program. All six of which had dossiers included in the bundle of files. Then there were a bunch of other names that were not highlighted which probably meant they were still being considered.


    The next thing he looked at was the dossiers on the six confirmed candidates. The information contained on them was loose and only pertained to their time during the military. Or rather the only information that was not redacted was loose and contained to their time during the military.


    Even his own dossier had long lines of black covering it. Whether it talked about his system or his time in the orphanage or time in the academy it was covered in black ink. What was not classified was the kind of talents he displayed while as a cadet. Whether it was his abilities to create and adapt technology or his specialty of enhanced interrogation.


    It seems this would be the file and system that people would see when they opened the Tartarus file. There was nothing too shocking in the other dossiers.


    Salem Wintry was noted to have a talent in investigating and leadership. There were notes of her combat record and the highlight was the battle against the Tacole faction within the Victorium. Apparently she managed to discover that the Victorium were planning on setting off a bomb if they managed to lose control of the Rena Prime. But Salem and her squad managed to disarm it.


    Astella Ulin, who was one of his squadmates in school and is in the same squad as Salem had a dossier as well. She has talents in surveillance and stealth, there was also a notation that said she has experience in mecha and heavy vehicles. Her highlights were her managing to steal and pilot a Crystoph Federation Mecha during an invasion of Rena-3. The surprise attack resulted in a quick routing of the enemy.


    Freya Charlie, she is in the same squad as Steel. She has developed a talent in biotechnology and has an immense will and sense of stubbornness. He did not know that the last one was a talent the military found useful. Apparently while he was getting his shit knocked in she led the literal charge on the enemy Tacole.


    Verin Tako, he was in the same class as Steel and it seems he managed to make a name for himself in the Crystoph Federation territories. He had become talented in first aid and in hand-to-hand combat. Most notably with a katana he got permission to use. Apparently taking out high level enemy commanders or taking down a few mecha pilots got him recognition.


    Then there was the last one with a dossier, Taylor Hielo. She worked with Steel to create Cain. She was noted as a genius in technology and engineering. Who also modified a mecha for personal use. There was no single action that gained her recognition from her superiors, instead she made innovations and engineering feats that helped enhance her crews fighting capability.


    All six were different in what they brought to the table. Meaning they were not just looking for numbers to fill out. Each of the six candidates that were already scouted were considered for their unique nature.


    Which brought him to the most important parts of Project Tartarus. The phases. There were six phases included in the project. All of which seemed to be testing something different.


    The first phase was the special operations training they would receive after being promoted from cadet. It would be for two months on a redacted planet on the edge of known space. They would learn survival skills, combat skills, alternate ways to utilize their abilities and talents, and they would learn how to think differently.


    After the first phase ends the second phase begins. The second phase would operate alongside the third and fourth phase. The second phase was all about maximizing the nanohumans to their limit. Mainly by obtaining all five abilities and reaching the max stat limit. As well as completely mastering their talent and abilities.


    The third phase starts at the same time as the second phase. It is the weapon and armor experimental phase. All the requested equipment is created and tested in house. None of it leaves the main testing facility. As well as acquiring any additional equipment that is necessary or designs that might be useful.


    The fourth phase starts after the third phase ends. It is the equipment field testing phase where the equipment and weapons would be tested on the battlefield. Essentially they would be trying to find any additional flaws in the weapons which would be missed or looked over while in a controlled environment like a lab. Or something that is unexpected or unaccounted for. There could be a lot or nothing the fourth phase could reveal for each piece of equipment.


    Then there was the fifth and sixth phase which were both still redacted even with this file he was given. In the files it only mentioned them in passing. There was no description or file relating to them. Seems he was only cleared to know so much.


    As he went through the file a few more times memorizing the contents he kept thinking back to who wanted him to have it. He figured it might have been Dakota or Mendez but Solisa would have known if it was them. Only reason she did not would be if someone else managed to get it to him without accessing the military network. Which likely meant a member of the nobility.


    As he finished he began tossing the files into the metal trash can. Then he doused it in the flammable fluid he found, emptying the entire bottle of fluid. Once that was done he lit the lighter and tossed it in. The entire can lit up with a mix of orange, red, and green flames. As that happened he moved to a vent and moved a small lever opening it up completely to let smoke escape out of the basement through a vent that went up to the roof.


    He stood to the side and watched it burn. Inside the can the grime and copper walls were burning off. If he could he would go right to working out. But he knew he had to take a step back. Since he became a cadet it has been action after action. He needed to relax and find something else to do.


    But now that he had time he had a slew of ideas. Both weapons and equipment that would need work. He supposed before he could do that he would have to get a working communicator and find out how his bioelectricity ability worked.


    He blinked as he could hear the garage door opening. He walked up the stairs and saw Elena walking in holding a bag. Behind her were a few other bags and a suitcase. That was definitely more than just his stuff.


    "Hey¡­ Elena, what''s with those?" Jace asked as he walked over to help her.


    "Well actually I am moving out of my parents place and going to stay with you here." Elena responded as she dropped his bag on an empty space of a table before going to bring her bags inside. "I came up with an idea that I need help with."


    "Oh?" Jace helped her bring bags inside before closing the garage door.


    "Well since you are going to the dockyards already for my mother''s mecha I figured you could help with the overhaul of an old ship I bought. I need to turn it into a Migration-class vessel." Elena explained.


    "So you are going to get me to do something so bothersome because¡­?" He trailed off as he looked at her with a frown.


    Elena smiled and walked toward him, leaning forward and whispering in his ear. "Because I am giving you free range in the design. I just need space to sleep and for Crimson to operate out of." She leaned back and gave him a peck on the lips.


    "Haaa¡­." Jace leaned his head back as his head was flooded with ideas. "Fine, but I am going to get the other engineers in on this."


    "That is okay with me, in fact I wanted to help you as well. I need to know how to repair it if need be." Elena explained, "Now about where I am sleeping."


    "The basement, we will sleep down there." Jace responded as began dragging her bag to the stairs.


    "We?"

 Chapter 57 - 57: Vexical Royal Family

    "The arrogance!" CRASH! A vase smashed into a wall as the prince screamed in anger. "I have done so much to try to usurp my father''s control and he dares to ignore my requests for meetings." He was fuming as his size increased with his muscles taking on a hideous appearance.


    The Imperial Guard Oberon West sighed as he dodged a table that slammed into a wall. The first prince was a handful and a hair trigger for emotional outbursts. But this was the horse that Oberon had shackled himself to.


    "Even if his power and control over the nobility is diminishing he is still the leader and emperor of this nation. That title alone makes many loyal to him over you." Oberon explained as he dodged a couch. "I told you that you need more recognition to get more supporters. It is only thanks to Archduke Beltrum that we have made it so far. Now please calm down."


    Another vase exploded in the prince''s hand as he growled which was followed by a few deep breaths. The prince began shrinking down to his normal skinny form with his shirt and pants loosely hanging off of him.


    "That is easier said than done, Oberon." The prince answered, "unlike my sister I won''t debase myself by mingling with commoners to get recognition from others. I suppose military achievements would be best. I should find some soldiers to prop myself up with."


    "That should be one of your methods but you should find other methods as well. Relying on a single method will not do much for you." Oberon suggested as he walked over to sit in a chair that was not destroyed.


    "Then I will throw a party to celebrate our victory over the Victorium. I will invite nobles from all factions to curry favor." The prince began changing into a new pair of clothes. Kicking aside the corpse of a maid that was killed during his rampage. "What about that student of Admiral Dakota''s? What was his name?"


    "Jace Steel? I can send a request for him to become one of your personal soldiers but from the very little his file revealed I doubt it would work out. But I can still start putting out feelers for soldiers that might be useful to our cause. Then I will see about the military commanders loyal to us getting posted on the Crystoph Federation border." Oberon informed the prince as he relaxed in his chair. Before he came into the room he already had a plan. Oberon was one of the few guards from the old guard and was more loyal to the former emperor than the current coward.


    "That will suffice, see if you can blackmail that cadet. From what I understand he is an exceptional engineer as well." The Prince finished dressing and rang a bell. "Clean the room."


    A group of maids walked in and began cleaning the room. A few frowned as they carried out their fellow maid''s corpse. "Will that be all Prince Cassius?" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, where is my sister? I want to talk to her." Prince Cassius Vexical, the first prince of the Empire of the Vexical demanded.


    ¡ª--------------------------------


    "Princess the emperor has refused another meeting with the prince." Her attendant handed her a file. "This is the classified file on Jace Steel."


    The princess chuckled, "my brother will come look for me. Tell him I refuse to see him. Make sure my Imperial Knights are present. I don''t want another maid dying because that idiot can not control his temper." The princess told the attendant who bowed and walked away.


    After the attendant was out of earshot the princess''s personal maid stepped forward and poured her some tea. "Are you sure that is a good idea?"


    "My father wants to rile up my brother. I would be an unfilial daughter if I did not help him out." The princess explained as she began opening the file and began reading the contents. "Besides it was entertaining enough watching him squirm the other day, I don''t need to see him for some time."


    "Understood princess," the maid stepped back as the princess silently read through the file. While she was reading another maid came up and whispered in the ear of the princess''s personal maid. The maid nodded and wavered her hand dismissing the newly arrived maid. "Princess, the Archduke is attempting to smuggle Kitinol into one of the systems under your control again. It has failed but it seems he is intent on undermining you with unconventional methods."


    "That damn Beltrum. Talk about a worm that won''t just die. How much family does he have left?" The princess asked as she sighed.


    "He has his daughter, four grandchildren, and a child on the way." The maid answered.


    "Have one of the grandchildren killed, whichever the oldest is." The princess ordered, "use my assassins. I doubt he will get the message or stop but I am not playing with people''s lives just because something makes me uncomfortable."


    "Understood princess, was there anything else?" The maid asked with a bow.


    "Yes. Inform all nobles in our faction, or that we are friendly with to not bother with either Oculus Station or Jace Steel. All we would end up doing is making a ruthless enemy and annoying the military''s neutral faction." The princess sighed as she read over the file again. "This Jace Steel is interesting. It seems they made a second file to hide his actual file."


    "Why would they do that?" The maid asked as she whispered to another person. Giving the order to pass along the information.


    "They would only do that if they had something that needed to go in the file but falls into a rule of needing a fake file. So it could be one or more of three things. He could be an undercover operative, which I doubt. Then there was the option of him being a high ranking noble or royal that is under a false name, I doubt that even more. The last, which is far more likely, is that he has an S-Rank compatibility with the system." The princess explained, faintly hearing something in the distance which sounded like her brother going on another rampage.


    "S-Rank?" The maid asked.


    "It means he has more control over his abilities and talents and more freedom in using them. As far as I know only a few other S-Ranks are alive. One of which is-" The Princess stopped as she could hear her brother getting louder. "Destroy this file." She would have to dismiss her brother personally it seems.


    ¡ª------------------------------


    "We rarely get a chance to do this nowadays." The emperor grunted in pain as he sat down. "How are things these days Dakota?" the emperor asked as he grabbed a cookie from the plate.


    "Fun," Dakota answered with a chuckle. "I never knew ignoring the nobles and telling my subordinates to do the same would bring me so much joy."


    Natius chuckled as he waved at the butler, "you are dismissed." Once the butler left he snapped his finger and a barrier appeared, enclosing the room. "Okay we are completely alone now, how are things going on your end?"


    "Good so far. Project Tartarus will commence after the new cadets finish their probationary term. Fenris is commencing preparations for the other projects we talked about. We will soon have our spy in the Union and the Inquisitors. Was there anything else?" Dakota asked as he leaned back and sipped on a cup of tea.


    "Yes, the Victorium has discreetly reached out to me. The High Priestess, which is essentially the head of their military, wants to sit down for a talk. I need your help to arrange it." The Emperor explained.


    "You want to discreetly talk with them. That will be a bit difficult. We will have to arrange it for several months down the road. Project Tartarus would be able to facilitate it without interference from other factions." Dakota answered, "the Rogue Metal Legion has reached out to me as well, to thank that student of mine. Apparently he caught their interest."


    "Jace Steel is an interesting young man. I hope you do not mind, I sent him a level four classified military file about Project Tartarus." The emperor stretched. "I believed it would be beneficial for him to have some insight into his future."


    "That is fine with me. But Fenris will likely be livid, you know how they get when it comes to these projects." Dakota chuckled, "actually I am more worried about how much attention we were getting on a galactic scale. Aside from Crystoph, have any other countries taken a hostile interest in what we are getting up to?"


    "The Oda Empire, New Hexarian Republic, Leonair, Montez Kingdom, Rogue Metal Legion." The emperor''s carefree attitude disappeared. "All of them have taken a special interest in what is going on in our crumbling empire."


    "Will any of them be a problem?" Dakota frowned, he did not expect the Leonair, Montez Kingdom, and the Oda Empire to care. But it makes sense that the New Hexarian Republic and Rogue Metal Legion would be interested.


    "Oda will likely send Shinobi to investigate. While the Legion are more interested in Jace and the AI Core design. The rest will likely send diplomats and spies to find out what is going on in our kingdom, those I can take care of." The Emperor answered as he shook his head, "Now then, how is your daughter?"


    Dakota flinched and chuckled.

 Chapter 58 - 58: Astellas Mecha

    Jace whistled in appreciation at the partially dismantled mecha in front of him. It was a humanoid form with a shoulder cannon. In one hand was a shield while the other had a laser rifle. Despite its crouched form the second floor walkway that ran throughout the hangar was only at the midsection. While the mercenaries'' red and black color scheme was apparent with the mecha''s own colors. While on its arm guard and shield were the mercenaries'' symbol, a red circle with a black handprint.


    In a way he understood the other nations'' obsession with these things in a way. They were incredible machinations of metal and electronics. But his interest was not enough for him to spend years making them when he had better things to do.


    "It is incredible isn''t it?" One of the Red Sanix engineers, Carlo, walked up behind him. "But I have never been able to completely repair it. It is actually a giant sore spot for me." Mrs. Romav sent the engineer to both learn how to repair the mecha from Jace and to tell Jace about the previous efforts to repair the Crusader-Class mecha.


    "I would say it is more like unwrapping a present or delivery." Jace explained as he moved around the mecha, avoiding bumping anything with his cast covered right arm. "You get that giddy feeling of excitement and joy initially. But it will fade along with the novelty of the situation when you realize how monumental the task you have taken up actually is."


    "Well that is a very morbid view of unwrapping gifts." The engineer responded as he leaned back and tilted his head as he thought about Jace''s view of the situation for a moment. He then shrugged dismissing it, "anyways I will be here in case you have any questions. Each time I replaced the armor I had difficulty reattaching it to the magnetic locks. There is also an issue with the wiring system that it uses, but the damn thing is so old I have no idea how to replace them."


    Jace frowned as he touched the mecha bringing up the mecha''s schematic on his new wrist communication device. It was larger than the military''s standard issue communication devices, but his wrist device could project a hologram. Which is exactly what he had it doing now.


    The reason his wrist communication device was larger was because he was still experimenting with various capacitors and other parts to see what could withstand an excess amount of his bioelectricity. Even if he was still in the midst of learning to control his power he still needed gear and equipment that could withstand an overload from his power. Thus he was experimenting with new designs.


    The current schematic he just pulled off the mecha was far more detailed than the one Solisa had acquired for him. Seems whoever made the schematic she acquired was working on only partial knowledge. It helped that his first ability for blueprinting had become more advanced so he could learn the makeup of chemicals and metals as long as knew about the metals or chemicals in question. Basically the nano system was using his own knowledge to connect the dots for him.


    It would appear the mecha had two sets of wiring. The second set was newer and has always been redundant. While the first set was not being used.


    The first set of wiring which was like nothing he had never seen or heard of before was built inside the skeleton of the mecha. The skeleton of the mecha itself was a mystery because it was not even registering as a known composite or material but it at least had traces of iron. Then there was the electrical wiring, if it could even be called that, was some type of composite liquid that had traces of gold inside the mix.


    Then there was the other set of wiring that were like the veins on a human. But the ''vein'' wiring was newer than the skeleton and was added on later from what he could tell from his schematic reading. The ''vein'' wiring was hooked into the main cabin of the mecha but even the main cabin was incorrectly hooked up into the mecha skeleton. Which is likely why there have been wiring issues the engineer could not fix, the mecha''s cabin walls could not be easily cracked open and closed without compromising multiple systems.


    Aside from the skeleton, the internal liquid gold wiring, and a few deactivated optical cameras everything else was new. Technically it was not actually new, just newer. So everything newer was from the last century. The armor plates were made within the last few years. The oldest ones were on the backside which he could say was in a way telling of the mecha pilot''s combat style.


    "How is it?" Mrs. Romav walked up from behind them, entering the mecha hangar that the mercenaries had made at the military dockyard. She glanced at the engineer who was leaning on a chair reading from a datapad. The engineer waved at her, acknowledging her presence, before returning back to reading while she looked at Jace. "How long do you think it would take for you to fully repair it?"


    "How old were you told your mecha is?" Jace asked as he walked closer to her with a frown while looking at the schematic.


    "I was not told anything about it but I did my research and learned that it was retrieved from an abandoned ship around fifty years ago." She answered. "If you have any questions about how it feels to pilot it-"


    "I can already tell it is probably like flying a brick, especially since it appears that it was given a very shitty refurbishment job at some point." Jace interrupted her. He may not have piloted many mecha but he could tell as much because the joints were being brute forced into operation by the ''vein'' wiring.


    "What?" The engineer screamed, "My repair jobs are not shitty. I have done some of my best work with this mecha! Take that back!" He was out of the chair and screaming at Jace. Upset about the insult to his work.


    "What I meant was that the refurbishment job from roughly a hundred years ago that was done was shitty. Your repair work on the mecha since then has been just fine." Jace responded, correcting the engineer''s mistake. "But you have been operating on assumptions and limited information about the mecha itself. Mrs. Romav, you know how I said this would not take more than a week?"


    The engineer was still fuming about his misunderstanding while Astella began frowning. "Why do I get a feeling I am not going to like this? Explain what is going on in simple terms. Keep in mind that I am not as knowledgeable about engineering and technology as you."


    "Well, your mecha''s skeleton is an artifact that was made somewhere between a hundred and ten thousand years ago. There is not a really easy way to categorize it since the material is nothing I have ever seen or heard of before." Jace answered, "basically whoever refurbished it failed to use its actual wiring and optical systems. All they managed to do was get the joints on the mecha''s skeleton moving."


    "So basically you want to completely refit my mecha because it was never done in the first place?" Now Astella was stunned, she already knew her mecha was more difficult to pilot than most. But for this to be the reason, maybe her mecha wasn''t an armor type like she thought. "This is sounding expensive, what exactly is this going to entail?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, on first look I need to make a new cabin from scratch that will fit the skeleton and then install armor plates that will be easily replaceable." Jace told her as he pulled out a datapad. "Honestly, the dismantling will be the most annoying part since redundant wiring is wrapped around the mecha''s skeleton."


    He sighed as he awkwardly scrolled and tapped on the datapad with one hand as he started typing out ideas. "Honestly? It will take at least a month and cost a lot of units. I can get the exact numbers for you later. Do you still want me to completely refit and repair it?"


    "Ha¡­ I suppose I should. You have my permission. I will personally fork out the units to pay you for your work." Mrs. Romav answered, she knew he was more than capable of pulling it off. "Now about the other thing?"


    "I have already taken a look at Elena''s ship. I even got a few other engineers to agree to work on it. We will start working on designs tonight. I am surprised she came up with the idea to make a migration ship. They are usually extremely expensive but since the engineers and I have so many ideas we want to test, I think we can turn it into an experimental craft." Jace informed her.


    "How expensive will that be?" She was determined to pay for it as well on her daughter''s behalf. At the moment she was rubbing her temples because of the overload of information that Jace had given her.


    "Not as expensive as your mecha repairs." Jace answered with a shrug, getting an understandably confused look in response. "We just won''t be blamed if it accidently blows up while we are testing it." He quietly clarified.


    "Blows up?" She asked in surprise. "You plan on using an experimental form of travel or power source." She quickly understood the reason.


    "That is enough of that. Don''t want anyone to overhear." Jace pointed out quietly and quickly as he sighed.


    "You are right, I was just surprised." Astella apologized. Staying only a moment longer before she began walking toward the mecha hangar''s exit.


    "That is fine, now if you don''t mind. I need to get to work," Jace walked away. He needed to sit to do work now that he only had one usable arm.

 Chapter 59 - 59: Packing Bags

    Salem whistled in awe at what she saw before her. "Are you sure this is the ship that will be transporting us?" She was talking about the brand new Onyx-class ship that was slowly floating toward her ship.


    Onyx-class ships were mainly built for speed and transport and typically reserved for merchants and traders. Usually they are completely defenseless and require escorts. But this ship had weapons all along its hull. Near the front were two stationary cannons while all along the hull were weapons with ranges of motion. It seems someone made a military version of a vessel that is usually meant for transporting goods.


    "Time passes quickly Cadets!" Her sergeant yelled making her presence known. "Or I guess I should call you former cadets." She spoke softer this time, it was the first time she spoke so softly to them. "It has been a whirlwind of a time having you kids around for these last few months."


    "Awww- are you getting soft on us Sarge?" Ulin asked as she stretched.


    "Yeah I am, but only because this is your last day here. Usually I would have given a speech and advice about your future. But I do not know some of your final destinations. What I do know is that all former cadets are going to Oculus Station to get sorted for training and assignments." The sergeant waved her in a dismissing motion. "Go grab your bags. A ship will be here to pick you up in a bit to take you to the Wing of Pegasus."


    ¡ª---------------------------


    "With this your promotional ceremony is complete." Major Mendez announced as the small crowd began clapping. It was contained within the small venue that was set up. Usually it would be done in a large and open setting like the ceremony that occurred when they arrived. But there have been issues around the base, to be fair. Over this last month and a week their engineers have been making leaps in advancement within the field of weaponry and spacecraft technology.


    The engineers actually slowly began forming a makeshift lab. Then a week ago when all of Jace''s projects were emptied out of his lab the engineers took it over. They had become quite well known for their state-of-the-art technology. Which especially caught the attention of the greedy nobles who were already flying around like flies because of the Victorium prisoners and technology.


    "Now there is a week before most of your redeployments. I suggest you enjoy this time since Oculus Station has been designated as the gathering point for redeployment this year and it will get more and more busy as other military vessels arrive." Mendez began explaining to the former cadets.


    "What about the nobles?" A former cadet from another squad asked, he was promoted to a private.


    "That is why you will be moving in groups of at least three or more. It will also get you familiar with the people you are going to your next assignment with. Good luck!" Then as the newly promoted cadets were shuffling out the Major called out to them, "Sergeant Jace Steel and Private Freya Charlie, from what I understand Jace still has to finish working on Mrs. Romav''s mecha, so I have a feeling you will be stuck at the military docks. Coincidently the majority of my crew is becoming permanently posted at this base but Captain Cornwall is being given command of the ship that will be picking you up."


    "Sir?" Charlie asked, impatient to get her bags packed.


    "Basically, the ship arrives in a few hours and you will both be going on board immediately to drop off your gear since the Desert Dogs and Sergeant Kalil''s new unnamed squad will make it their home."


    "He means we will not be getting any time off. But I only need like a day to finish what is needed for the mecha so can I head out later tonight instead or tomorrow morning if possible?" Jace offhandedly explained while asking for permission.


    "Fine, just give Charlie your personal items to bring to the new ship and I will have a transport scheduled to leave around midnight." Mendez answered, "honestly I am just glad I don''t have a cursed cadet like you under my command anymore." Then he walked out of the auditorium with Charlie and Steel in tow. Then he veered off and climbed into a vehicle that was waiting for him.


    "Let''s go to the barracks then I want to see this mecha you have been working on." Charlie told him, "I heard from the mercenary pilots and engineers that have seen it say ''it is a whole new machine'' and that there are only a few minor things you are fixing on it now."


    "There is nothing minor about connecting the optical systems to the mecha''s cabin. In fact I would say it is one of the major systems considering it is necessary for operations." Steel chuckled as he moved to the barracks where Charlie''s personal possessions are likely located.


    Jace had been staying on Elena''s newly refurbished spaceship in the military dockyard since his lab had been packed up. These last few weeks he had been frantically putting the final touches on Elena''s mother''s mecha. It had taken a lot longer than he thought to make the pieces of technology that could operate with the mecha''s original system.


    He was actually struggling with the mechanical aspect of the mecha rather than the programming aspect. Even when his arm had fully healed he was still having difficulties. While on the programming side he was learning so much from the dormant programs that helped the skeletal frame function he figured this mecha was built to have an AI assist in the operation.


    "Don''t you just have to connect some wires into some ports?" Freya asked as they walked through the base. The activity on base was actually calmer then it was on the rest of the station.


    "No, there are multiple optical options for mecha. Astella Romav''s Astarte has both the original cabin display screens. Then it also has a piece of eyewear that lets her see through the mecha''s main optics unit." Jace explained as he pulled on the cap of his uniform now that they were outside.


    "What use is that?" Freya asked, genuinely curious.


    Jace waved at the garage lab where some engineers were waving at him from. He was well liked by most of his former crewmates. "It is for a full immersion system, it is sometimes used in mechs. Basically they are able to move the mech like it is their own body in combat."


    "Full immersion? We use something similar for replacement limbs but in reverse. Wouldn''t that require an organic component interface?" Freya asked him, bringing up her own growing specialty in biotechnology as they arrived at the former Desert Dog barracks.


    It seemed the Desert Dogs had already received their orders as they were packing everything up. "Actually it does not since Astella has cybernetic components in her nervous system. Most mecha pilots in other nations have a surgery in order to operate with full immersion systems."


    "Most?" Freya asked as she began packing her bunk.


    "What are you two talking about?" Tani asked as she was standing in her everyday camo uniform as opposed to Freya and Jace''s ceremonial uniforms.


    "Immersion systems in mecha. Some countries specifically ban full immersion while other nations have nano humans who can do full immersion without cybernetic parts because of the nano system." Jace quickly answered Tani''s question as he remembered to remove his hat.


    Tani whistled, "have you got to immersion percentages?"


    "No, I figured biotech had their own version so I was not going to bring it up." Jace knew next to nothing about biotech and cybernetics. The little bit he did know was researched while making the mecha''s cabin.


    "Ehh¡­" Tani shook her head, "they have compatibility percentages which are similar but different in the actual definition to immersion percentages." As the Desert Dogs began leaving the barracks Tani began following behind them. "But they are basically the same thing. The ability to use a mechanical component as an extension of the body. The higher the percentage, the greater the control. For both versions at the fifty percent point the cybernetic component or mecha will act the same as a normal limb while anything above the halfway marker will result in damage to the mind or body."


    "Oh, I think I understand." Freya nodded in understanding as she boarded the bus that had parked out front of the barracks. It was not there when they entered the barracks but had likely pulled up while they were inside. It had come to bring them to the military dockyards where they would then be waiting for a transport off the station.


    "Hey are you still working on that mecha?" Private Rai, a new member of the Desert Dogs asked. Jace had worked with them loosely but never really had a lot of down time and bonding time with the new Desert Dogs squad.


    "Yeah, that is actually what brought up this conversation in the first place." Jace explained as he walked through the bus aisle and sat down next to Freya.


    "Well from what I understand you have at least a few days to complete it before all the former cadets have their confirmed duty station." Tani declared as she relaxed in her seat. The bus began moving to the next set of barracks to pick up Kalil''s group. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Actually we are going with you. The Desert Dogs and Captain Cornwall will be dropping us off at our training location for Special Operations. Those are the orders we received." Freya explained.


    "What about Steel''s mecha thing?" Tani asked.


    "I got permission to take the rest of the day to finish my work on the mecha." Jace answered, "why don''t you come take a look at it. Apparently all Crusader-class mechs and above are rare to see."

 Chapter 60 - 60: Waiting

    "You were not kidding." Freya whistled in appreciation. The Astarte was in the process of getting touch ups to the paint job it had received. But instead of its previously bulky appearance it had much less armor. But it still had a shield and a shoulder cannon in the right hand on the right shoulder. While in the left hand was a sword with a wrist gun.


    Jace was inside the cabin with a datapad working on finishing what he needed to. As he ran the diagnostic he looked out at his former squadmates looking at the mecha in awe. He smirked before returning his attention to the diagnostic. It was still going through but it had already pulled up a few connection issues in the cabin he had to fix. So he leaned out and grabbed the toolbox.


    Inside were an array of tools but he focused on the electrical reader and the electronic screwdriver. He unscrewed the relevant plate and began sorting through the wires looking for the dead wire that the diagnostic brought up. It was a wire for the air control system. He spent a moment fixing the wire.


    "It is even more amazing when you saw it both before and after his alterations." Elena was pushing in a large cart full of his experiments and with Solisa''s AI core was encased in a reinforced container. He had her bring it here so he could go straight to his new ship. "I know you said you care very little for goodbyes but trying to leave without warning is ridiculous!" She yelled at Jace. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside the mecha he was putting the panel back in place before glancing at her and shrugging. Then he went back to his repairs. The diagnostic was still running but he could still go through and fix what was already scanned.


    "Is it really that big of a difference?" One of the Desert Dogs asked.


    Elena chuckled as she pulled up a picture on her data pad. "It is a massive difference. My mother actually turned it into a picture to brag about in the future." Her data pad was passed around as they grumbled and whistled.


    "Tani, why was he given enough time off to pull this off?" Kalil asked, his squad had decided to join them in checking out the mechs while they waited for their ship.


    "Orders from the top." Tani shrugged, "while he was injured he was given free range to do what he wanted. I think they just wanted to stop crediting him for his achievements."


    "Seriously?" Another of the squad asked in surprise. "How do you manage to get a reputation for being too good?"


    "It wasn''t because I was too good." Jace called out from the new spot he was fixing. "It was because my proactiveness was causing too many problems. So they gave me freedom to do what I want while injured in the hope I would not catch anymore attention. Basically they were making it so I could not be more proactive than my position let me be."


    "I suppose with how much downtime we have had after a very active period they figured it would be fine for him to use his injuries as an excuse to lay low." Kalil was starting to understand that it was more than just a simple move. It was an effort to pull Jace Steel out of the public''s spotlight. But that was not something he needed to be thinking about for the moment.


    "Hey Jace, where are you going to be putting all of this?" Tani waved at his cart load of experimental toys. His prized speeder was actually buried underneath everything else.


    "I have been told to bring it all with me and that was it. So I imagine it will be going to a lab or storage at our training facility." Jace answered as he climbed up the side of the mech with a toolbox in hand.


    "I would think a private lab or the university would have gotten first dibs on things engineered by cadets. At least that is what happened during my cadet year." Kalil pointed out.


    "Probably part of the emperor''s small changes. You know those notifications and orders that he sends out with daily updates on the state of the nation?" Tani told him, reminding him of something that he honestly had not checked in for awhile. Kalil pulled open his datapad and began searching for these daily updates. He usually ignored them because it was unchanging, but now that the empire is changing it might be a good idea to check them out.


    "Well while Kalil gets caught up we need to go to our designated pickup point. Apparently we will be going straight on board when it arrives in thirty minutes. Let''s leave Jace to his work. Come on, Elena let me help you with that." Tani looked up from the notification she had just received. Then she began helping Elena push the cart out of the mech hanger.


    "Umm¡­ okay, I wasn''t aware that any of Jace''s squadmates knew my name." Elena pointed out, she had barely talked to the rest of Jace''s former squad. She did spend some time talking with Mendez and a few engineers that helped with her ship but that was about it.


    "Well, you have become well known because you basically lived on base with Jace. We were all concerned when you moved in together because we have seen how meticulous he is with his work and organizing his bunk at the barracks." Tani nonchalantly explained as she helped push the cart while the others moved ahead of them to the landing area for smaller military spacecraft. They could see it from a fair distance and how busy it was but each incoming ship had a reserved area for their transport on and off the station. It was set up because dozens of military spacecraft would come and go over the next few days. Too many for each to go through the lengthy station docking procedures that could take up to half a day to complete.


    "I am surprised that is the reason I am well known on the base for that reason. I thought if anything the fact that my mother was squeezing your commander for rent would be the thing that made me and my family known by your crew." Elena chuckled as she pointed out her mother''s presence on the base.


    "No, we figured a civilian staying on base despite your mother being the head of the mercenary group was more surprising than a mercenary working for their pay." Tani responded with a shrug. Pointing out that they held no issues with the mercenaries'' way of life. Tani in particular had worked with a number of mercenaries during one of her postings.


    "I suppose it would be strange, but I wanted to enjoy my time with him while it lasted." Elena answered honestly, her cheeks coloring slightly pink in embarrassment.


    "Really I am surprised you two are going to stop dating. A lot of the time people at least attempt a long distance relationship for a time." Tani pointed out.


    "Except we are not dating. It was mostly for mutual pleasure and companionship." Elena sheepishly explained. "Though I have been wishing we were more than that these past few weeks."


    "Ahhh, missed opportunities. Don''t worry about it too much. It is better to play the market before deciding on what you want." Tani chuckled as she looked at Kalil. "Not everything is obvious when it comes to the matters of the heart. So it would be a good idea to take a step back."


    "Um¡­ why are you talking like some wizened old hag? You are not that much older than me." Elena pointed out.


    "But thirties and twenties mean all the difference in the world to men and fair maidens like ourselves." Now Tani was being overly flamboyant and expressive. With a fake regal accent to match.


    "What?" Elena began laughing, "fair maidens? What fair maiden can fire a gun with pinpoint accuracy?" She chuckled as they talked. Fair maidens in those fairy tales are always dainty and defenseless, neither Elena nor Tani were defenseless.


    "Well¡­" Tani seemed to think for a minute before shrugging, "ah what the hell? I was going to make a joke about princes to match our fairness as maidens. But I lost my train of thought." Tani sighed in exasperation.


    Elena continued laughing, bringing a hand up to wipe off a tear. "Seriously¡­" Elena seemed to be trying to remember if she heard this person''s name before.


    "Cassia Tani, but you can just call me Cass or Tani. That is what I am used to." Tani informed her, understanding the younger woman''s conundrum because they had never spoken before so it was unlikely she would know her name.


    "Thanks Cass." Elena gave a slight head bow in respect. "I was thinking that I had not laughed much recently but that really set me off."


    When they arrived at the landing zone the Desert Dogs and other squad would be picked up from, Elena talked with all of them and got to know them all a bit more.

 Chapter 61 - 61: Salem Meets Elena

    As the spacecraft lowered down to the landing zone its hull was giving off heat. Vents on the landing pad opened up and sprayed air up into the hull cooling it as it landed. A moment later the rear ramp began lowering. Revealing several younger soldiers in civilian clothing. As they shuffled out of the lowered ramp they looked around moving out of the way as a group of soldiers pushed a cart onto the Vulture transport ship. Which was larger and less defended then other transport ships but had a larger cargo area.


    Salem felt lost now that she was in such a large open area. It was disorienting going from a contained and closed off ship''s corridors to an open city like this. "Wow, there really is a giant city in a space station. I thought this would be more like those stations that are on the edge of the former Grand Hexarian Empire''s borders with those various corridors and small hangar sized areas."


    Taylor chuckled, "then you have not seen anything yet. Oculus Station is considered tame compared to some of the other stations. As you get closer to where the original capital used to be there are station''s the size of a small moon. But a lot of those larger ones were destroyed due to the civil war that resulted in the Grand Hexarian Empire''s collapse." Taylor had been to a few different stations while traveling with her family; she even traveled outside of the Vexical Empire when her father went to research one of those planetoid sized stations.


    "Yeah just don''t expect a military station to be that open spaced. They were designed to minimize casualties during an attack." A woman they were unfamiliar with walked up to them from the group of soldiers that were there when they landed. Most of them were boarding the ship, "I was not aware we were getting drop offs from the Wing of Pegasus."


    "We are not drop offs. We got permission to come roam around the military dockyards until the midnight ship picks us up." Salem explained, "hey were any of you stationed aboard the Border of Downfall?"


    "Actually we all were posted on that ship, why do you ask?" The woman responded while waving off her subordinates who stopped to check on her.


    "Then do you know where we can find Jace Steel? We were told he was in the Red Sanix Mech Hangar in the Military Dockyard." Salem''s question seemed to have caught the women completely off guard.


    She looked around and pointed at a red haired woman that was walking away. "If you catch up to her and ask her, she can show you to the hangar." Then the woman walked up the ramp to join her comrades, "or you can just follow the directional sign if you can figure them out." The dockyard''s signs were intentionally vague and cryptic in the event of foreigners taking over the station.


    "Thanks," Salem responded before quickly jogging after the woman that was pointed out to them. Behind her Ulin and Taylor followed behind at a walking pace. As she ran forward she peeked into the woman''s mind.


    {Maybe Tani is right, I should just go for it and see if Jace is willing to go for a long distance relationship that is beyond just sex and friendship. But I am just worried it will ruin what we already have.} Salem slightly stuttered while walking, almost tripping as she overheard the woman''s thoughts.


    As she got closer she loudly cleared her throat, "excuse me." She waited a few seconds until it was clear the woman still did not notice her. "Excuse me." Salem said much louder this time attempting to ignore the woman''s very distracting flurry of thoughts. But she still did not hear her and she definitely was not going to yell when it was not that important so instead she compromised, {Excuse me.} She transmitted her voice directly into her path of thoughts causing her to straighten up in surprise and look around not quite realizing it was a thought that went directly into her mind instead of the someone speaking. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh sorry I was lost in thought." Salem had to roll her eyes at the woman. Because she could literally tell that she was ''lost in thought''. "What can I help you with?" The woman asked with an innocent smile.


    "I was hoping you could take us to the Red Sanix Mech Hanger. We were hoping to catch up with an old friend." Salem told her, "sorry the officer that I asked said you would know." Salem quickly explained clocking both the confusion in her expression and the suspicion in the woman''s thoughts.


    The woman looked past Salem for a second and frowned. Before nodding, "okay, I can show you." She started leading the trio through to a hangar she could see in the distance. "Where are you three from?"


    "Originally, like where we went to the academy? Or where we were just stationed?" Ulin asked. Her sudden appearance right next to the woman was disorientating for a moment.


    "Umm¡­ both I suppose, you do not have to answer if you do not want to. I just wanted to break the ice while we talked." She told them somewhat hesitantly.


    "Well then why don''t we start with introductions." Taylor suggested before deciding to go first, "I am Taylor Hielo, I mostly grew up on Kamot Prime and graduated from the military academy there. Then for the last few months I have been posted in the Rena System. Our original ship was downed so we have been moving between ships."


    "Astella Ulin, spoilers I am from the same planet and same posting." Ulin quickly answered next.


    The woman looked at Salem who shrugged, "Salem Wintry, same as them."


    "Cool that you managed to stay together." The woman pointed out, "Anyways I am Elena Romav, I have lived on this station for my entire life aside from the few times I went for piloting lessons."


    "What about your mandatory service time?" Ulin asked, as she was from a remote village so she only knew about local schools and mandatory service.


    "I am technically an immigrant and therefore not required to do military service. But I went to the ''academy'' for the exceptions to that rule which was essentially just taking online classes." Elena explained as they arrived at the hanger.


    "That is actually pretty common. The Vexical Empire has a lot of immigrants and non-nano species that still need to have a basic education and options for growth and development." Taylor explained before continuing, "although it might not be as well known in remote areas like where you lived."


    "City kids like us end up learning about it early on." Salem jumped in as well.


    As they entered the hanger, Taylor quickly moved forward past their guide with a speedy walk. She pulled out a datapad as her eyes lit up in excitement and there was an air of curiosity about her.


    "Oh no," Salem chuckled as she watched her friend look over an engineer''s shoulder to peek at his datapad. "We lost her to her own curiosity."


    "Do we have to watch her back again?" Ulin asked with a grimace on her face. Remembering the last time Taylor''s curiosity had let them astray, which resulted in a week in the brig and an exploded spacecraft.


    To be fair they did sneak into an enemy base when Taylor became curious about the enemy mechs. So they snuck in, were discovered and Ulin piloted one mecha to escape and which then resulted in a victory. But it was all without the orders from their superior, so they got a week in the brig as punishment.


    "No it should be fine, we are within earshot." Salem grinned in amusement as they approached the largest mech where she could feel the almost robotic thoughts of Jace as he analyzed the area of the mech he was working on to come up with a solution. "We are going in this direction." Salem told Elena walking past her toward the largest mecha.


    Elena frowned when she noticed the direction they were walking and followed after them.


    Salem arrived in front of the mecha and watched Jace for a moment. Then she spoke directly into his mind. {Jace. Turn around.} Jace''s head snapped up and turned around to see a forced smile on Salem''s face and glancing slightly to the right of her and he understood the reason and grimaced.


    Well, can the talk wait until I finish on the mecha at least?


    {Jace I am well aware that it would take you only another hour or two to finish. So it can wait.}


    But¡­


    As they became lost in their telepathic conversation, Elena standing near Salem became confused. "Salem is a telepath." Ulin decided to explain seeing the familiar scene that she doubted they knew they resorted to. "This happens when they are having a full on conversation, Salem looked pretty serious so it should be a pretty long conversation."


    "A telepath? How?" Elena asked.


    "It''s her talent. An incredibly versatile and sought after one as well." Ulin answered.

 Chapter 62 - 62: Mecha Activated

    Jace climbed down from the mecha as he shrugged. He was worried because of her wrath but honestly he did not feel he was at fault here.


    {Not at fault?} Salem remarked directly in his mind.


    Oh, please. It was for carnal release. I would have been fine if you found a companion to get some release with as well. Actually that might be a good idea, you seem a bit pent up.


    That comment caused a crack in Salem''s fake smile as she glared at him. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers causing him to flip upside down and land on his back.


    "Jackass," Salem responded as she was growling. Elena did not know what to do while Ulin was invested in whatever entertaining thing was about to go down. Hiding her grin since it was usually Jace that was annoyed with Salem when they were at the academy.


    "Can we talk about this later, I need to finish this and- one of you should stop Taylor it looks like she is about to get into a fight." Jace pointed out as Taylor was now loudly arguing with an engineer and it was catching attention.


    "Damn it Taylor!" Ulin turned around and ran towards Taylor and the engineer who were now throwing hands.


    "Fine, we can have ''that'' conversation later." Salem answered begrudgingly. She took a moment to sigh then looked over at Elena, "then we can talk while you work and you can chime in when you feel the need to."


    "Umm¡­ Jace?" Elena asked, still feeling awkward about not knowing what was going on.


    "Elena this is Salem, Salem this is Elena." He waved at the respective women while pulling himself up. "Salem was my roommate at the academy. As well as our designated class commander. Elena has been a good friend and companion while I have been on this station and even took care of me when I was badly injured." Jace introduced them while walking back to the mech he was only halfway done with what he needed to fix.


    "Badly injured? How badly?" Salem asked in surprise, fully knowing how tough he was.


    Jace shrugged, "not that bad, the doctors were just being fussy." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He broke most of the bones in his body and was almost completely scarred along the side of his face. But they threw him into a medical vat so his injuries would not be as severe. He was in there for a few days before he even woke up." Elena began explaining, "Then when he left the hospital he had to stay confined to a wheelchair with minimal movement in order to heal properly. Actually until a few weeks ago he still had a cast on his right arm because all the bones in that arm were broken in several places."


    Salem flinched and then frowned, "how is that considered not bad?" Glaring at Jace as he worked. "What do you consider bad and more importantly how did you manage to get that injured?"


    Jace shrugged, "permanent maiming would be what I consider bad. Coma or worse would be pretty bad."


    "That is an odd way to categorize injuries." Elena pointed out.


    "Oh, you have no idea. He talks about things that would give normal people nightmares like it is nothing." Salem commented, "and he is completely trash at video games."


    "Oh I know about the things he casually comments on but I have never gotten him to play any video games. He usually uses the excuse of being too busy to get out of it." Elena answered honestly. Jace had a bad feeling as the two began getting more into their conversation.


    A few hours later he was done with the repairs as the ladies down below were sharing some food and alcohol that Elena''s mother brought. He looked down and saw her in her piloting outfit.


    "Mrs. Romav, they are ready for testing. I will help you with the startup sequence and then you will be in the hands of your capable engineers." Jace called down restraining himself from overhearing their conversation.


    Once she climbed up he was waiting with the diagnostic screen open on his datapad. "Those are some fun stories your friends are sharing. Were you really part of a secret prank war between the students and the teachers?"


    "Yes but eventually Dakota and I had to call a truce. He was far too experienced in pulling pranks and I was far too inventive with my own pranks. It was starting to cause psychological damage to other teachers and students." Jace answered honestly, smiling at the reminder of one of the memorable moments from his time at the academy.


    "Ha! Well it looks like Elena will miss you, even if she decided to go on a journey at the same time as you leave I appreciate you helping her figure out something other than partying." Mrs. Romav told him honestly as she sat down in the mech''s pilot seat.


    "Yeah, well I just answered honestly as I saw it. Now start up and I will run the live diagnostic and then sync the mecha to your genetics and brain waves. After the diagnostic we will do the immersion test." Jace nodded at the gear that was hanging on the back of the mecha pilot''s seat.


    He then walked further back as the catwalk he was on began retracting along with everything else that was keeping the mech locked in place. Jace watched as the system diagnostic began. Externally the optical lens or rather the mech''s eyes began glowing red as they activated.


    Then as the cockpit closed up in the front there was a crackling as the external mics began working. "External communication check." Her voice came through the mech. Jace responded by giving a thumbs up.


    "Internal receiver and visual system?" Jace asked over the comms quietly.


    "Receiving transmission and yes I can see the thumbs up." She responded over the comms. Jace nodded and quickly started making notes on his datapad.


    "How about when I yell!?!" Jace asked.


    "External mics are picking it up." She answered.


    Jace nodded and began stepping further back. He looked down and yelled at all the people watching and nearby. "STAND BACK! WE ARE GOING TO BE TESTING ITS MOVEMENT NOW!" He waited until the area was cleared out before turning to the mech and giving a thumbs up, "you are all good to start moving."


    Instead of responding the mech started moving. It quickly stood up, causing itself to launch slightly in the air and fall down. The ground shook slightly and it nudged a nearby catwalk nearly collapsing it. "Sorry," Romav''s voice came from the mech. "This thing works way better. I just have to move around a bit right?"


    "To the entrance of the hanger and back."Jace answered as he began sorting through the diagnostic report and forwarded it to the Red Sanix''s chief engineer. Aside from some adjustments everything looked to be in working order. So as she moved he had the mech register her genetics and brain waves as the primary operator, that way no one else could use the mech even if she died.


    She quickly completely walked back and forth in the mech; the adjustment she made only took a few moments which was a testament to her skill as a pilot. Jace was honestly impressed since this went from a heavy weight and slow moving mech into a fast and agile mech with a greater source of mobility. As she arrived back at her mech''s repair bay her genetics and brain waves were fully matched up with the mech.


    "We are all ready for the immersion test. You can begin whenever you are ready!" Jace called out as he closely watched the monitors that were tracking her heart rate, brain activity, and blood pressure. All these things were observed by her pilot suit and the cockpit.


    "Okay, beginning now." She said through her mech as there was a quiet almost undetectable hum that Jace could hear now. Most might miss it, but he could still hear it.


    Despite hearing the strange hum he could not figure out where it was coming from. As he closely watched the mech he saw the moment her immersion system activated because along the mech''s visible skeleton there appeared neon green lights that he could only assume were along those thin lines that were along the skeleton.


    "Umm¡­ Steel I don''t think immersion systems are supposed to be this good." The mecha began a smooth movement of raising the hand with a sword and looking over it. It looked as natural as a person doing it. Jace looked at his datapad and frowned at what he saw. There was supposed to be some change when she activated the system but instead it was too smooth. "I feel like I can move the mech like I move my own body."


    "Uh, yeah. I am guessing it is¡­" Jace started to explain it to calm her down but gave up immediately. "Actually I have no idea what is going on. I am guessing this is the original mechs programming activating in cooperation with the immersion system. See if you can stop it first then we can run some more tests while it''s operating." He told her with a guess.

 Chapter 63 - 63: Quick Goodbyes

    There was a moment of silence as the green glow disappeared from the visible parts of the mech''s skeleton. Then it appeared again, "Okay I can turn it off just fine. What do you need me to do?"


    "Umm¡­ I am just going to have you do the basic stuff. So move around a bit and we will look for any problems." Jace answered as he began sending a document full of his observations to the chief engineer. This mystery would be the engineer''s problem now.


    Jace frowned in disappointment at not being able to investigate this more. It will bother him that he does not know exactly what is going on. But he had to let it go for now as he had only a few more hours until he had to leave.


    The mecha began moving clearly being restrained but still testing the limits of its arms and legs. "It moves a lot easier than the normal mode. Actually it is a bit disorientating with how easy this is, I am used to immersion systems causing some pain in my cybernetic components. But for some reason I feel fine a bit tingly but that is it." She told him over the comms.


    Jace contemplated what was going on and had already developed a theory. But he needed to test it. So he walked over to an open tool box and picked up a wrench and then threw it at the mech. As soon as it collided the mech flinched, "what the hell?"


    "Let me guess. You could feel it?" Jace asked. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Umm¡­ yeah why can I feel that?"


    "Because the immersion system is too responsive. You likely jumped straight from fifty to a hundred percent. I am putting in a heads up the chief engineer so he can put in more limiters inside. Seems like the original mech used something similar to immersion systems." Jace began writing up another note as the mech slowly backed up and kneeled in the position it started in. Then it began powering down.


    Romav was worried about side effects of going over fifty percent immersion. So as she exited the mech she gave her goodbyes to Jace before racing off intent on getting checked at the military hospital. She felt fine but there could always be something going on inside she was not aware of. After she left he finished his notes and then decided it was time to leave.


    As they were walking back to the landing pad he was handed an envelope by Elena, "Just read it when you can. I know you have my contact information but I included it just in case." She told him before pulling him in for a kiss on the ramp and then she walked away quickly without a word. But he could faintly hear her crying once she was far enough.


    He walked on board to see his friends glaring at him. But he moved over and sat on a seat. Salem frowned and then sighed, "you could read it now." She pointed out.


    "I could but you know I will not." Jace responded as he placed the envelope in a pocket. The ship began starting up and the ramp started closing. "Why did you guys come to the station?"


    "Honestly?" Taylor was the one who spoke up, "we were hoping you might know where we are going for our special operations training. We have been looking into it and found next to nothing. So we are worried something shady is going on."


    "Not shady, just classified," Jace answered. "As far as I can tell everything from the moment we leave the system in that ship will be kept out of official records." Jace began thinking about Elena intimately to keep Salem out of his mind.


    "You know more but you don''t want to tell us." Salem frowned as she saw the images. "Message received, do not poke around in your mind about it anymore."


    "Sorry," Jace chuckled at knowing a weakness to her telepathy. "But I feel it would be more natural this way. As it is, I know enough to know I should probably know less." He was worried about what cost he would pay for getting that information. Whether it was him owing someone or literally costing him his piece of mind.


    "If you say so." Salem pouted as she leaned back in her uncomfortable chair.


    The Vulture slowly lifted off the ground before flying forward at a steady pace. It flew toward the circular metal gate that sat in the center of the dockyards.


    The circular metal gate that was in the ground was the entrance and exit for spacecraft. It had multiple shields both metal and energy based that kept the air inside the station and the vacuum of space out. Around it were control points and stations that operated as control towers. Usually the military could go in and out quickly since it had its own dedicated towers instead of sharing with the rest of the spacecraft that are coming in and out of the station.


    Most of the time if there was anything cruiser size or larger it had to go through the larger full entrance while anything smaller could go through one of the four smaller gates that were inside of the main gate. Those were controlled by the control towers with one of them being dedicated specifically to military use. Usually it was easy for the military craft to fly in and out with just a specific code. But with the recent traffic they had to adopt a two-step approach.


    The first of which is them getting the appropriate military code and then a visual inspection from the control tower as they flew by. Then they would open the first set of gates. Which is what they were doing as the vulture slightly spun and flipped, only barely registering because of the feeling of their stomachs flipping. Gravity generators kept everything near the gate entrance suspended in the air, which generated some turbulence as spacecraft passed through the area. Once they were through the first set of gates they would close behind the spacecraft while the ones in front of the spacecraft would open up.


    In a way it was a trust exercise between the control tower and the spacecraft. The control tower would open the way and the spacecraft would maintain speed. After a minute they were out of the station and in space. The transport''s gravity generator powering on was the signal for the occupants that they were in space.


    "That was smoother than our entrance into the base." Ulin pointed out as she climbed out of her seat getting ready to disembark.


    "That is likely because you entered during a time with a lot of traffic. The gravity inside the gate gets funky if there are multiple ships going in and out." Jace explained honestly, he had not experienced it himself but he heard about it from Mister Romav. Apparently it got bad enough at one point that they intentionally capped the amount of ships that could go through at one time in order to cut down on the shifting gravity wells.


    "Having multiple gravity devices in near proximity? That actually seems like something we could test to make a weapon. Maybe a field of gravity devices acting as mines so it pulls apart ships when it comes near?" Taylor began contemplating aloud causing the others to frown while Jace raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Her inspiration caused his own. "Or a handheld gravity device to for a tactical advantage in a fight or to use for maintenance on a ship." Jace suggested aloud getting a glare from the others.


    "Or-oooo¡­. I have so many ideas. I need to write them down." She voiced her thoughts very naturally as she pulled out a datapad and began typing out her ideas. Even including Jace''s idea as well.


    Salem sighed as she pulled herself out of her seat. "Look what you did. Now we will never get her out of the lab."


    Jace shrugged, "nothing wrong with the lab. I have been doing my best work in my lab." Jace pointed out getting another glare from Salem as she understood his double speak.


    "Actually that is making me curious, what have you been up to since we last saw you? By that I mean what have you made?" Taylor asked absentmindedly as she typed. "Personally, I have been heavily interested in making heavy machinery that can combat enemy mechs."


    Jace stood up from his seat, "well I suppose with so much combat in rural areas it makes sense that you find a need to take the mechs down." He shrugged, "I got the current scanners to work better with a simple rewiring. But for a while now I have been making a fast mobility bike that can be fashioned for civilian use as well."


    "Well that is a surprise, I figured you would be making more weapons or something violent. But that is pretty tame." Taylor complained, "how boring."


    "Oh, I have been working on weapons as well. But for me it is boring to make weapons so I have been trying fields that would challenge me. Such as working on the mech." Jace pointed out.


    "The mech? What was going on with that by the way? It looked like there was a problem." Taylor asked, still focusing on her datapad but standing up to get off the transport as there was a sudden jostling as they landed inside of the Wing of Pegasus.


    "Sort of, it was nothing I had any control of or could do anything about. So I just told the Red Sanix''s Chief engineer and that is all I could do." Jace answered honestly as the ramp lowered and they departed the transport.

 Chapter 64 - 64: Having the Talk

    As he sat down to eat he sighed at the inability to make his own food once again. Jace had gotten used to making his own food while living with Elena. Actually one of the few things he felt was useful to learn was cooking, just even as a precaution. He looked at the overly white bread. the piece of mystery meat, and the orange then he sighed.


    "What? Something wrong with your food?" Salem asked as she sat across from him. "There are only two cafeteria''s on the ship, both have always served the same thing so far."


    "Yeah," Jace sighed. "I got a bit too comfortable on the station and was spoiled by eating what I wanted everyday since I arrived at the station. My commanders gave me a bit too much freedom."


    Salem smirked, "good." Then she transmitted her thoughts directly to his mind. {Can we talk now?}


    Jace looked at her nervous face for a second. Glad he was able to delay the talk until this morning after they both had a night to think about it. Jace pushed forward his thoughts in response, [Yeah, we can talk now. But it would be better if I give my explanation, or excuse if you prefer, through telepathy rather than talking.]


    {Why did you cheat on me?}


    [Not accurate, but I went out with Elena for multiple reasons and chances are I will be going out with others as well because of those reasons.]


    Salem frowned. {So you plan on making this a thing that happens more often?}


    [Yes, because the plan was for you to be undercover as a spy for the Union. In order to not give it away that I am your contact we need to remain as separate as possible. So I plan to build up a bit of a reputation just in case someone we know is a spy or becomes a spy for the Union. Then there is the need for release, it is not like we can seek each other out everytime one of us is horny. So it would be better if we find a release where we can with whoever we can. We just need to remember to take the shots to prevent conception.]


    {That¡­ actually makes sense. But I am surprised you are encouraging me to sleep around as well.}


    [Well we both have our needs. I would not deny you your satisfaction, especially since I intend to seek out my own.]


    {So does that mean while we are going through special operations training I can seek you out for sex?}


    Jace raised an eyebrow as he began peeling an orange. "I do not see why not."


    "Then that is-"


    BOOM! The entire ship shook as an explosion could be heard. The lights flickered in the cafeteria for a moment. As they looked around for a few seconds seeing everyone else that was in the cafeteria was just as confused.


    Then the lights switched to a red color and were blinking repeatedly while klaxon alarms began blaring throughout the entire ship. Then a voice came over the speaker system,


    "Battle stations! We are under attack! I repeat, get to your battle stations! The Crystoph Federation is here!" A young and nervous voice yelled through the speakers.


    Jace and Salem only looked at each other for a moment before they both raced off.


    ¡ª----------------------


    Captain Cornwall marched onto the bridge still in his workout clothes. "What''s our status?"


    Solisa in her holographic otter form appeared above the central console. "We are operating with an inexperienced skeleton crew and the federation just appeared out of warp. It seems the early warning outposts failed to report their presence intentionally. But I will investigate that later. There are three cruisers, a cutter, and an onyx. The onyx and cutter are both heading down to the surface of the planet. The cruisers are surrounding us and the other two ships that arrived in the system. Both of which are similarly unmanned." Solisa pulled up an image of two ships going to the planet while the cruisers were blocking in the Wing of Pegasus along with the cruiser and the galleon ship that were nearby.


    "What have we done?" Cornwall sat in his command chair and began pulling up the information on the enemy ships.


    "I have pulled up the shields but I have no control over our guns. They need to be manned by people but we are severely lacking in manpower." Solisa told him.


    "It does not look like they intend to board us. Get all squads to gunner seats as well as our guests, all hands should be busy. Get me connected to Oculus Station, specifically to Red Sanix. You have my permission to move people around to more experienced positions as needed." Cornwall told her. Then he looked over designs of the enemy ships. "Tell our allies to get behind us. We have the enhanced shields they lack."


    "Understood." Solisa''s image disappeared as she fully focused on her task. Throughout the ship people were getting adjustments to their orders as Solisa was putting people in positions they would be the most helpful in.


    This included Salem, Jace, Freya, Taylor, and Ulin who were in their temporary barracks. Ulin was sent to a heavy gunner position where she would be shooting slower but each shot would cause more damage. Taylor was sent the main cannon to help with the engineering team that was preparing them to fire. Freya was sent to the very understaffed infirmary to help where she could. Jace was transferred to the engineering deck where all the important systems were located as the initial attack they took damaged their engines and they were floating in space without full mobility. While Salem was sent to the command deck, she would be piloting the ship. Most of the pilots were being sent to operate Hawks in preparation of a counter attack, but they needed someone without a sense of hesitation piloting the ship.


    "This is Romav, How can I help you Captain Cornwall?" The call was connected to Romav, the head of the Red Sanix Mercenaries.


    "This is Captain Cornwall of the Wing of Pegasus. I am hiring you to assist us. There are a number of cruisers surrounding our ships. I need them disabled or destroyed." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What about the ones going to the planet?" Romav asked. Likely hoping to milk them for as much money as possible.


    "We will let the local militia and the military on Oculus Station handle that. They have to prioritize civilian life." Cornwall explained.


    "Very well, we are on our way." The call then cut off.


    Then a moment later his comms lit up as he was getting two direct transmissions. He answered and the captains of the other two ships began explaining their ships are similarly undermanned. It appears both ships were scheduled to be turned into scrap after they finished transporting their people to their final destinations.


    So one ship was unmanned because it was too new to have a proper crew. While the other two ships were unmanned because they were being retired. It was the worst situation they could be in. The only saving grace was that the Wing of Pegasus had a new experimental shielding system that was currently taking the brunt of the enemy''s volleys. They were not in a good tactical situation.


    But within five minutes Solisa''s changes became apparent as experienced soldiers arrived at familiar stations.


    Salem swiftly walked onto the bridge in her basic camo uniform. She quickly moved over to the control station which was close to the front. She climbed in the seat and it spun around so she was facing the console. The console had a touchscreen with several different things displayed. The right side of it was speed control and above that were a few different buttons. To the left side is a round metal ball that spins. She looked down under the console and saw the hidden alternate controls, it was a control yoke.


    She pressed a button on the console and the metal ball switched out with the control yoke. Most smaller ships were fashioned to the pilot, so they already had the appropriate control style installed. But larger ships like the onyx class they were in had switchable controls. "I am ready but it looks like our engines are still down. There is no issue on my end." Salem looked over her shoulder at Captain Cornwall.


    The captain nodded, "I am aware. I am sending you some maneuvers. Quickly memorize them while you wait. We have maybe ten more minutes before our shields go down. Then all of our ships will be decimated by enemy laser fire. We are fortunate all of these cruisers are only equipped with laser weaponry."


    "Yeah, but I am sure their space capable mecha and any spacecraft fighters they have will become a pain once they launch." Salem pointed out, voicing her thoughts.


    "Yeah but I am guessing they are keeping them locked in bays to avoid friendly fire with any of their mecha and fighters. The Red Sanix mercenaries are coming to assist us with their mecha. But before they get here we need to return fire. Weapons, are your people ready?" Captain Cornwall asked towards another person.


    "We have fifty percent of operational capacity. I prioritized the weapons on the front of the ship and the weapons on the back of the ship." An older man with graying hair answered with a quick salute.


    Captain Cornwall pressed a button on his console, "engineering what is the status of engine repairs?"

 Chapter 65 - 65: Engine Room

    Jace ran into the engineering bay while pulling on a spacesuit. There was a rush of air as his suit became airtight. Typically it would not be standard to wear a spacesuit in engineering but he had orders to specifically repair the engine which was damaged by the first volley that hit them before their shields went up. So he would likely be near damaged areas of the ship.


    In the center of the area was the reactor core. A giant hunk of metal that was loudly roaring with multiple consoles surrounding it. Then around the rest of the room were screens, consoles, and square tunnels that would go to the remote locations of the ship.


    "You are Sergeant Steel correct?" An older man with the symbol for chief engineer on his overalls asked.


    "Yes sir." Jace answered.


    "Good, take these tools and follow this tunnel to the engine. You will have to go through decompression because the air in that section was compromised." The chief engineer shoved a metal box full of tools in his chest and pointed at a crawl tunnel.


    Jace sighed and quickly climbed into the tunnel and began moving quickly through it. Initially he was slow moving but he quickly figured out he could crouch walk through the tunnel and arrived at a metal plate after a few minutes. He began looking through the panel on the side and found the decompression was operational so he began the process so he could enter.


    As it took a few seconds his communication began buzzing, he answered. Getting the call through his headset inside his helmet.


    "Sergeant Steel, the bridge wants to know the status of the engines. Are you there yet?" The chief engineer asked as Jace stepped into the airlock. He started tapping on the controls side panel and the door closed as air was sucked out.


    "I am about to enter the area without air now. Standby." Jace responded and a few seconds later the airlock opened and he crawled out finding the engine room.


    It was supposed to be several metal reaction chambers that were causing small explosions that were directed out of one of the three main chambers. Instead one of the main chamber walls was damaged while the other two chambers were perfectly operational. He looked around for another problem that could cause the engines to completely fail and found a coupling device was destroyed.


    But both the destroyed coupling device and the main reaction chamber wall were both suspicious in their destruction. Because aside from that damage there was nothing else. No minor damage to other areas or consoles. Almost like it was specifically focused on those two locations.


    "I have a damaged coupling I need to replace. But the main reaction chamber 2''s wall was breached. I will have to disable it to keep it inactive. This will take me a few moments. But you can tell the bridge that this damage looks less like a lucky shot from a laser cannon and more like planned sabotage." Jace informed the chief engineer as he moved over to a cabinet and pulled out a replacement coupling.


    "Understood I will pass along the message. Keep your head on a swivel; they might still be around." The chief engineer would likely have more damage to worry about before the day was done. So he would likely let the ship captain worry about that while he worried about repairing damage while spreading word about the saboteur if the captain ordered it.


    Jace''s own focus was on repairing these engines. Which is why he started by replacing the coupling. Then he disabled the firing mechanisms in the chambers that lead to the third chamber. After that was done he began working on the console to bypass the safety protocol now that it was fixed. But as it was running a diagnostic on the engines it showed another damaged coupling further in, near a compartment by chamber two.


    He pulled out another coupling and moved over to the compartment, which was a hatch in the floor. He opened it up and reeled back in surprise at what he found.


    Shoved into the compartment was a pile of blood and skin that he could only assume was once a person. He could see the expression of shock on the face of the young man this once was. He saw no other signs of a struggle in the rest of the engine room despite his enhanced senses. So he could only assume the engineer was killed in this spot.


    But by what and how?


    He frowned and reached his gloved hand into the center of the bloody mass. His hand sunk down until he found something solid. He pulled it out and most of the folded corpse came out with the spine. He tossed the spine and the attached body to the side. Then he started pulling out chunks of bone and blood clearing out the compartment.


    Once it was cleared out he found the coupling that was covered in blood. The coupling was both loose and had a slash through it. A clear sign of sabotage if the body was not already evidence enough. He tapped his comm device before pulling out the coupling and installing the replacement.


    "Sergeant Steel I am busy, so unless you are telling me the repairs are done-"


    "I found a dead body and a coupling that was intentionally destroyed." Jace informed the chief engineer quickly. "I am almost done but it looks like the saboteur completely surprised the engineer on duty and had enough strength to flatten the man''s body in a small compartment." Jace glanced over at the corpse as he closed the compartment.


    It was a bleeding mass that looked like the body went through a shredder. "Understood," the chief engineer took an audible breath as he whispered a name. "Then stay in the engine compartment after you reactivate the engine. I will see about getting you-"


    KRICCCKKSS! Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Loud static began ringing though his comm device. It was being jammed. He quickly disabled the device and began looking around the engine room as he moved over to the console and attempted to start the engine. The process began as he saw a shimmer out of the corner of his eye and ducked.


    Looking to his right he saw a¡­ humanoid? Its skinny form and robotic limbs would indicate it was a robot. But its upper torso and most of its head were contained within a pressurized armor.


    Aside from the arm blade that was its write arm all of its metal limbs and armor were black with red lights visible between the cracks. Its left arm was raised as gears on it began whirling and the thin line retracted pulling back a small knife that the¡­ thing fired at him.


    "I am guessing we will not be talking this out." Jace nervously chuckled as he assessed the thing in front of him.


    As its knife fitted back into a hidden spot within the left arm that it was shot out of. The thing''s head tilted to the side, but it kept snapping with a visible click like it was moving with gears. Then on the lower portion of its face it''s jaw snapped open.


    Then he heard his comm device crackle to life without any input from him, "RAARARRGHH!" It screeched loud enough that it dazed Jace for a moment. But not enough that he could not dodge the attack the thing launched.


    It leaped forward swinging its sword arm. Jace leaped back and moved backwards toward the broken engine chamber. Attempting to minimize damage to this area. But despite his efforts to dodge back it still cut through a console.


    The thing followed him launching itself forward. Eventually finding itself at the entrance of the engine main chamber where a hole was blowin into it. It is an open area aside from the pipes from the other chambers.


    He could see the moving parts within the thing''s body was spinning quickly. Giving away its movements, making it easy for him to know what it was going to do. It was fast moving, but not quicker than him. The only issue was that he was unarmed at the moment and he did not want to give away the fact that he has a sword. Especially with its mechanical nature it might be recording or transmitting video.


    With the way it could jam him or speak directly into his communication device he was worried about the creature''s technical abilities that might be superior to his own. So he was going to keep to what he grew up being good at: improvisation.


    The thing leaped forward with its sword arm sticking forward. Jace dodged to the side and as it passed he grabbed the thing''s arm and jabbed it fully forward. Forcing it to stab into the chamber wall.


    It raised its other arm and fired the knife but Jace caught the knife and spun the wire around its arm. Then he stabbed the knife into a space in the arm where gears were visible, getting it stuck in between the gears.


    Then he maneuvered behind the thing and watched in surprise as the head spun around and opened its jaw again. He quickly reached his right hand forward and sent a high amount of electricity through the creature. He watched as it mostly remained unharmed but there was a small spark somewhere behind its red eyes, and all the red light''s disabled on the creature. Instead of immediately investigating he just used his ability to get the schematic and jumped out of the main chamber tapping his communication device.


    He did not know what he had just fought but it was incredibly dangerous and was likely not the only one. Because if they could get one of these on board a ship that was going to a classified destination they likely managed to send more than just the one he had disabled.

 Chapter 66 - 66: Metal Scarecrows

    "Okay, tell Sergeant Steel to stay in the engine area and send him a proper weapon." Captain Cornwall responded to the chief engineer then he looked to the person in charge of weapons systems, "have those with combat experience at the rear cannons sweep the entire ship. Tell them to look for something that looks like a metal scarecrow, and to treat hostiles with extreme prejudice."


    "Engines are operational, do you want me to start a maneuver?" Salem asked as she began preparing the engines.


    "Yes we are going to do maneuver five and then maneuver twenty-two. I will give you the signal when we begin. We need time for the other ships to get ready." Captain Cornwall told her as he began sending out messages.


    "Yes sir, I will warn you I have only flown something this big in simulations." Salem informed the captain. There were chuckles from the rest of the bridge crew.


    "There is no better learning experience than on the job." The older woman who was at the communications station informed her. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Salem smiled, "then I will make the best effort to meet expectations."


    "If you don''t satisfy our expectations we will die. But no pressure." The older man at the weapons station joked as well. The pair were older soldiers who had not raised much through the ranks but had become experts in their respective fields. Salem was reading their minds so she could tell they were just trying to get her to relax.


    "Okay the other ships are ready. Start the maneuver." Captain Cornwall informed Salem.


    "Yes sir, beginning maneuver-" [ORDERS RECEIVED: KILL BRIDGE OCCUPANTS.]


    The thought that interrupted her own train of thought was not coming from any of the people on the bridge. She stopped what she was doing and spun her chair around. Quickly scanning the nearby minds and looking toward a floor grate where the thoughts were coming from.


    "We have a contact." Salem pulled her gun from her hip holster. Earlier when it was only suspected that there was a saboteur a security team brought the entire bridge crew sidearms. She was glad they had now that she could sense the intent to kill from that grate. "Under that grate-"


    Salem did not get a chance to finish explaining as the grate in the floor was sliced open and a metal scarecrow. That was likely similar to the one that Jace had encountered down in engineering. Its limbs were skinny black metal with gears and moving parts. While its central portion was armored with red lights leaking out of spots and out of the sockets where the eyes were supposed to be. In its mind it was doing the equivalent of screaming the same thing over and over again. [KILL KILL KILL KILL.]


    She quickly started firing the Pyre pistol while other members of the bridge crew pulled out their sidearms and began letting loose their rounds into parts of the metal scarecrow''s body. It screeched as Salem''s shots began colliding with its head then there was a plume of blood as she shot through its opened jaw.


    As it dropped to the ground the crew stopped firing and Salem stepped forward as she was catching more thoughts from its mind, [BODY DISABLED. INITIATE SELF-DESTRUCT PROTOCOL. 10. 9.] Salem fired several more shots into its head and the countdown stopped.


    She sighed and looked at the captain. "I apologize captain, I heard it''s thoughts. It seems these things have a way to self-destruct."


    "Okay, get to your station. We are starting the maneuver." The captain answered, unbothered by the interruption, as he nodded to the communications officer. "Tell the medical staff to send someone to pick this thing up."


    ¡ª----------------------


    "Private Charlie, we need more bandages, gauze, and antibiotics. Go across the hall to the storage room and procure some from them. Here take this note." The temporary ship doctor handed her a note before waving her off.


    She had experience with first aid so she has been helping treat minor injuries in the infirmary. So far there had been nothing serious but the staff were preparing for the worst. Which is likely why she was being sent to get more things to fix minor injuries and problems.


    She walked out of the medical bay and walked down the hall passing a few security officers that were patrolling. She could tell that things had picked up because she could see at least two different patrols while in the same hall. One of them, the pair she was walking towards, waved her down.


    "What are you doing?" The man in the front asked. He was in infantry armor and had a rifle in hand. It was strange seeing them fully armed and patrolling the halls. Especially when they were in high alert mode with enemy ships firing on them.


    Honestly she figured they would not have been this comfortable if this ship did not have the latest in shielding technology that Specialist Hielo had been talking her ear off about in the barracks. She figured it would have been more explosions and ship shaking.


    "Going to the storage room. The ship doctor asked me to pick some things up from there and she gave me this note." Freya answered with a quick salute while she handed them the note with the other hand.


    The security officer looked over the note before nodding and handing it back. "Very well be on your way." Then the patrol kept moving while Freya continued on her way. Entering the storage room a moment later.


    There was a single person at the reception desk and they appeared to be more bored than anything else. So when she walked in with a note his gaze lit up in excitement.


    "Please tell me that you are here to transfer me!?" He asked in excitement. He appeared only to be a year older than her.


    Freya shook her head as she handed him the note, "unfortunately not. I am only here to pick up medical supplies. The ship doctor is stocking up in case of injuries."


    "Okay, let''s see what you need." He seemed to lose all air of excitement as he sighed.


    "Bandages, gauze, antibiotics, and whatever else is on that note." Freya informed the man as she moved over to grab a cart that she would use to move the things she came to pick up.


    "Let''s see¡­" The man began walking over to a shelf with a set of boxes. He pulled down four boxes. Two were labeled gauze and two were labeled bandages placing them on the table. Then he took the cart from Freya. "Stay there, I need to go into the back to get antibiotics and the other drugs the ship doctor is asking for."


    The man moved toward the back of the shelves pushing the cart he took from Freya as he went. It seems the storage room was well maintained. But like herself a number of people were probably placed in other positions by the emergency orders they received.


    She casually looked around while she waited for a few minutes for the manager to return with a cart of goods. When he returned he put the other boxes he set aside in the cart as well before he began typing on a console that was set up inside the reception desk.


    "Okay you are all set." The manager told her. Freya pushed the cart out the door and started moving down the hall.


    As she got closer she stopped as she could hear loud noises coming from the medical bay. The door slid open and she saw a dark figure in the middle of the room, one of its arms was a sword that was covered in blood. While the other arm was firing blue lasers around the room at people that were hiding behind anything they could find. It was standing over the temporary ship doctor, who was bleeding from the abdomen.


    Next to Freya by the door was the corpse of a security officer. His head is missing and his bloody neck stump is spurting blood into the air. Their rifle was resting in their arms, he likely did not even get a chance to aim his gun. But the security officers were moving in pairs, so where was the other one?


    Then she noticed the bisected body bleeding profusely from the other side of a metal table. It looked like this thing cut through both their infantry armor and their rifle as well. It was a gory sight seeing a person cut from the top of the head to their crotch.


    Freya quietly picked up the rifle from the headless security officer. After confirming that it was still operational Freya moved behind the cart she was pushing and got in a position to spring off the floor. The thing was distracted at the moment as it was cutting an arm off of a nurse that decided to fight back with a metal pole that was lying around.


    Freya took a breath and then rushed forward pushing the cart with all her strength into the back of the deadly robotic thing.


    CRASH!


    There was the loud collision of metal on metal as Freya pushed the cart and the thing that was killing people into a metal table that had a bunch of surgical tools prepared on. The thing''s head started clicking and spun around, surprising her for a moment. Then its sword arm and gun arm both began spinning around as well.


    Freya was much quicker than this mechanical monstrosity as she raised the rifle she borrowed and unloaded several shots into the laser gun arm, only stopping when there was a pop and the gun arm went slack.


    The monstrosity then swung its sword arm leaning forward in an attempt to slice her head. Freya leaned back but kept her feet braced against the ground and the cart, keeping the monstrosity pinned between the cart and the metal table. She then used her metal cybernetic arm to grab the sword and then pulled with all her strength. There was a moment of metal screeching before the monstrosity''s arm came off completely and this time she could see the gears popping out the shoulder socket of the monstrosity.


    Freya looked at the arm for a moment and noticed a lack of electronic parts. "SCREEEE!" It began screaming as its jaw lowered. Freya frowned for a moment before tossing aside the mechanical arm and raising the borrowed rifle, releasing the rest of the magazine into the monstrosity''s head. Only stopping when the rifle began clicking, the clear indication that she was out of ammo.


    There were several sparks as pieces of metal began breaking off the monstrosity''s head revealing the white bone of a skull and then that shattered to reveal a brain and blood. As the monstrosity went limp she looked over what she saw for a moment and frowned. The brain had wires strewn through it that were dimming in color. This thing was at some point a human.


    Freya realized it was really quiet and looked around. Everyone was frozen in shock while several of their colleagues were on the ground bleeding, possibly about to die.


    "What the hell are you doing?" Freya asked. "We have injured people, get to work on patching them up and start saving lives like you are supposed to." She looked over to a young nurse that looked like he was about to faint, "you!" She pointed at him. "Contact security and tell them we were just attacked by whatever that thing was."


    Then she began looking around for something to store the monstrosity''s body in. Like a body bag. The corpse would have to be studied later, especially because something felt sickeningly off about that thing. She would have to get Hielo and Jace to take a look at its mechanical parts when she got a chance.

 Chapter 67 - 67: Weapons Status

    Ulin was sitting in one of the rows of seats with a frown on her face. This room was dark, it smelled like feet and it was far too cold. It reminded her of her little brother''s basement room where he would spend hours gaming. It was a mix of nostalgia and disgust that she was feeling. Nostalgia because the time she spent with her mentally challenged brother was spent in that room playing video games with him. Disgusted because she knew this smell was nothing like smelling just her brother''s body odor, it was far worse because it was a bunch of different people''s combined unhygienic practices.


    Her little brother could barely communicate normally and struggled with the real world. But while he was playing games, whether it was video games or virtual reality games he was a savant. So she always had to practice to keep up with him and create a challenge for him to overcome. Which resulted in both a sibling bond and rivalry as well as Ulin developing some top notch skills in gaming.


    The weapons system of this ship was not complete but was instead a temporary computer room where they were basically controlling the weapons that were located along the hull of the ship. The ship''s nonessential internal systems like weapons were still in the process of being completed, which is the reason why it is also transporting people instead of being part of a military campaign. But the temporary setup was like a video game, so while Ulin waited she got familiar with the controls.


    To her right is an older man that was wearing engineer''s overalls and even in the dark she could see his sunken eyes as he hunched over his station.


    "Are we just waiting for orders from the bridge?" Ulin asked as she looked around.


    "Yeah, there is no overseer or anything like that. But the bridge can keep all of the weapons controls locked to prevent us from firing. So they will keep it locked until the shields go down. The ship''s shields also block our shots while going out so they want to prevent us from ricocheting shots back at ourselves." The man explained.


    "That''s a shame. I thought the shields would work like in video games where it blocks only one way. But it makes sense if we have to wait for their orders to shoot then. They have to get in a tactical position where we would minimize our own damage while maximizing the damage we deal out." Ulin nodded in understanding and looked around bored. "Nothing happens down here does it?"


    "Nope." The man answered, "it is a bunch of nerds in the ship''s equivalent of a basement. There is nothing glorious or important about it."


    They sat for several more minutes in silence. There were a few whispered words around the room and people coughing. But then all of their screens lit up as a red box popped up.


    [Maneuver beginning shortly.]


    [All stations prepare to fire.]


    "Finally!" Ulin exclaimed. She was bored out of her mind just waiting.


    ¡ª-------------------------


    Taylor was wandering around the ship''s right wing cannon section. The internal portion of the cannon was contained within the ship. That was the portion she was around.


    The ship is shaped like a bean with a rounded nose at the front and with its back end cut off where the rear thrusters are located. But on the sides of the bean were rounded protrusions with large barrels sticking out of them. These protrusions were the wings where the cannon barrels were secluded.


    The cannons themselves had reactors that powered the cannons. For the ship''s reactor core there was a team of engineers that were always on duty watching it. Usually when the ship was not in combat the extra power generated by the reactor was going to nonessential systems throughout the ship. But now that the ship was in combat the power was building up in order to fire the high output laser cannons.


    Personally, Taylor thinks the cannon itself might be a bit overkill. With these designs and the amount of energy output the cannons will melt through a warship in a few seconds. It was completely safe to fire but if she was right they could have made it much smaller for efficiency or had multiple barrels to fire continuous barrages of laser fire instead.


    She was making notes and her opinions as she glanced at the reactor valve she had quickly repaired a few minutes ago. The Fusion Reactor was an ancient form of power that was commonly used because they had figured out how to deal with the radiation side effects and damage it generated, so it could be contained.


    But now she was thinking that those Victorium should have an alternate form of energy they used. She never got a look inside one of those ships but with the way they fired off energy they had to use another form of energy. Taylor knew for a fact that other countries powered their mecha and spacecraft with variations on the fusion reactor that were far more efficient but just as unstable.


    "Hey what the hell is that?!?" Someone screamed from across the room. Pulling Taylor out of her thoughts. Her eyes lit up in excitement at what she saw.


    Across the room pulling itself out of a wall vent was some mechanical beauty. Even from this distance she could see the gears moving as it slid out of the vent. It had a pair of hands that had sharp claws at the end of the thing''s fingers.


    Taylor grabbed a wrench and screwdriver before she started walking over. Intent on studying this thing, that was very clearly an intruder, to the best of her ability. The thing quickly ran on all fours across the floor, its clawed appendages scraping against the metal floor. It went right towards a group of engineers that were standing around broken pieces of the cannon and reactor.


    They were likely thinking of the disposal issues they were going to have. There was no one coming into the cannon wing to collect the broken parts for the moment. They could manufacture new parts just fine with the industrial metal printer. They just could not break down the discarded metals.


    The engineers began screaming in terror as they tripped over themselves to get away. Only one of them grabbing a nearby tool and arming themself. But before it reached them Taylor yelled across the room.


    "Hey you! The biomechanical organism, come here!" Taylor yelled as she kicked a nearby bolt, which was just sitting on the floor likely discarded or forgotten, at the creature smacking it in the side of the head.


    "Specialist Hielo, what do you think you are doing?!?" She could hear the person in charge of this engineering section ask.


    The creature stopped mid stride and its head began clicking as it looked toward her. Then it leaped up and ran right toward her. When it was close it reached for her neck, intent on decapitating Taylor.


    Taylor sidestepped it quickly once it was close. But as its arm passed her by she raised her wrench and screwdriver for only a moment. Then once the creature slid to a stop it realized something was wrong.


    For one that person it was about to decapitate had side stepped them. Then it looked to its right arm, or rather the lack of a right arm. "KREE?" It was dazed as it looked around and saw the target it just went after. But she was holding the missing arm looking over it.


    "Wow, this thing is," Taylor stopped to find the right words, "a heaping pile of garbage. This is no fun." Taylor looked at the creature, and for the first time in a long time the creature felt its dormant sense of fear reawaken.


    In its reawakened fear it leaped forward again but Taylor threw something and it tripped over itself. As it face-planted it tried to push itself up but could not. Then it was forcibly flipped over and saw Taylor crouching over it.


    "I mean," Taylor looked over the disassembled limbs. "You are just a very crude version of cybernetics. Someone obsessed with gears must have created you. Or more likely enslaved you." Taylor reached toward the creature''s head and began dismantling it. "Would you look at that? The bulk of anything interesting is in your head. Let''s disable this and that, then this and we are done."


    Taylor frowned in disappointment as the other engineers walked up.


    "What is it?"


    "A crude version of a cyborg. It has an explosive in its head that I disabled. It also had a very advanced piece of transceiver technology in its head. The thing''s entire body operated based off of brainwaves but its mind was being controlled from something else." Taylor answered as she stood up. "They are still alive, just disabled. Send for medical and security. They will need to take custody for us to study the live specimen." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her temporary boss frowned, "you know there is something wrong with you right?" He waved at the completely disassembled attacker. "You completely pulled that thing apart like it was a familiar toy while the rest of us ran away from it in terror."


    Taylor blinked and shrugged, "it looked like it might be interesting and since it was clearly an enemy combatant I could do anything I wanted to do to the creature during combat." She answered, reciting an idea that both her and Jace shared.

 Chapter 68 - 68: Outmaneuvering

    Salem threw the ship into throttle as it smoothly shot forward. She felt a lack of force from the movement as it moved around to outside the formation that the federation had taken up around them. Each one had an acute angle between them as they were attempting to get through the Wing of Pegasus''s shields.


    But as the Wing of Pegasus began its maneuver to the right the closest ship began turning towards it while the other ship''s began maneuvering as well giving chase to the other two ships that were hidden behind the Wing of Pegasus before it began its maneuver. They were actually spending that time putting distance between them and the federation ships. Closing in on an asteroid field where they were going to make their stand.


    The Wing of Pegasus veered around to the thrusters of the first federation ship, Calypso''s Stick. It was still attempting to turn and catch up with the Wing of Pegasus''s speed when the Wing of Pegasus''s shield''s dropped. Not even a moment later a barrage of laser and ballistic weapons began hitting the Calypso''s Stick''s shields.


    The shielding shimmered gold for a few moments before the first shot''s started making it through the shielding. Then plumes of fires and explosions could be seen as the rear thrusters went dark on the Calypso''s Stick. The Wing of Pegasus took a moment to directly position itself behind the enemy cruiser lining up a shot with its ship''s main cannons.


    A hum could be heard throughout the ship before everything slightly lurched and shook.


    THROOM!


    On the bridge their surveillance systems were blinded for a moment by the bright light as the loud hum could be heard as well. A side effect of firing such a large weapon had probably caused the noise they heard. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Calypso''s Stick, a ship well known for its military history as it had been at the forefront of many military campaigns. It had also been one of the first streamlined cruiser''s that the Crystoph Federation had manufactured. The ship had been captained by some of the most well known Admirals and military commanders to date. That ship was now in several pieces as explosions continued to go through it.


    The High Output Laser Cannons had drilled holes through the Calypso''s Stick. Rendering it into scrap metal and debris. Taylor Hielo''s assumption that the cannon''s were too powerful was accurate, especially since both cannon''s reactor''s were now offline. They needed to be repaired and build up more energy in order to fire another shot like that.


    Salem was stunned for only a moment, forgetting her orders before she blinked and began the second maneuver. Giving chase to the enemy cruisers while lowering so it was ''below'' the enemy''s thrusters.


    The allied ship''s had already entered the asteroid field as the last two federation cruisers were catching up to them. Still unaware that their allied cruiser had been completely decimated. But as one began entering the asteroid field the other started turning. Both had started releasing their space capable mecha to join the fight.


    Captain Cornwall ordered his ship''s Hawks Starfighters into action as well. Hawks were designed to be slim and maneuverable. But they ended up shaped like a hawk flying when looking down on it from above, hence the name. Its design also allowed them to maneuver easily in atmospheric environments.


    They had either one or two pilots depending on the variation. The variations were vast as some could hover, some were heavily armed for dogfights, while some were kitted for bombing.


    As the Hawks flew out the weapons crew began picking their shots carefully, mostly aiming at stray mechs or the enemy cruiser, the Lincoln Feather. The Hawks flew quickly in between the mechs only suffering a few damages as they prioritized getting past the mechs.


    The Hawks began a run on the Lincoln Feather at the same time the Red Sanix mercenaries appeared. They were lying in wait on Captain Cornwall''s orders waiting for this moment.


    Their newly acquired ship, which was previously a Victorium ship, was barreling through the asteroid field making a line for the Crystoph Federation Cruiser that went into the asteroid field following the other two Vexical Military ships. The cruiser was called the Phoenix Declaration, a cruiser fresh off the line with the federation''s best military technology. But in the face of the stolen Victorium shielding technology and the Red Sanix''s mecha squadron it was destroyed in moments.


    With Romav leading the charge in her mecha that was zipping through the air. Showcasing its maneuverability and strength as it arrived first at the Phoenix Declaration and used its sword to cleave off the bridge section that was protruding from the top of the ship. Romav''s mecha stood stunned for only a moment before it began flying around the ships carving off other sections that looked important.


    Meanwhile the mecha that were closing in on the Wing of Pegasus were met with laser and ballistic fire. But as one of the mecha got closer the weapons stopped firing and then the mecha crashed into the Wing of Pegasus''s shielding that was back up.


    The federation mechas spent a few minutes attempting to get through the shielding before they flew back to their ship that was under attack by the Wing of Pegasus''s Hawks and was taking stray shots from the Red Sanix as they were almost done with the Phoenix Declaration and their mecha that were attempting to defend it. But they were sorely outmatched against the Red Sanix Mercenaries who had the talented Vexical Military Engineers assist them in repairs.


    As the Lincoln Feather''s mecha began flying back to it the Wing of Pegasus''s shields dropped and another barrage of shots began hitting the mechas in the back. Half of them turned around while the rest continued to the Lincoln Feather.


    Unfortunately for the Crystoph Federation mechas it was already too late as a sudden transmission was sent to everyone in vicinity on an open channel. Aboard the Wing of Pegasus the communications bridge officer played the message out loud for the entire bridge to hear.


    "This is Admiral Jakobs of the Crystoph Federation. I surrender all of my troops to the Vexical Military. I repeat I am waving the white flag. All Crystoph Federation troops that are part of the Lincoln Feather, Phoenix Declaration, and Calypso''s Stick are ordered to stand down and surrender yourselves. I ask that an operation to save the occupants of the Phoenix Declaration and Calypso''s Stick be begun immediately." The Admiral sounded a bit desperate, likely worried about his troops now that the battle was over.


    The mecha began stopping in mid space as they seemed to be talking it over for a second before they disabled all except their life support systems. The captain seemed to be thinking it over for a moment. Before he waved at the communications officer.


    "Send this through both our ship''s internal system and the general transmission channel." Captain Cornwall told the communications officer. "This is Captain Cornwall of the Vexical Military. We accept your surrender." Then he waved at the communications officer and she cut it off. "Now get me a live connection to the Red Sanix Mercenaries, and our allied ships."


    "Yes sir." The communications officer began pressing buttons on her console. Then she gave a thumbs up as the call was connected.


    "Red Sanix Mercenaries I want you to collect the mecha and to take prisoner of any survivors you can find on the Phoenix Declaration and what remains of the Calypso''s Stick." Captain Cornwall ordered.


    "Boss Romav wants to know if we can have anything we find that is not property of the Vexical Military?" An old man, likely Romav''s second in command, asked.


    "Yes you can but I want the prisoners handed over to the Vexical Military when backup arrives." Captain Cornwall answered. "Now then, Mist of Desert and the Flower of Sister," Those were the allied ships that were undermanned. "I need you to dock with Lincoln Feather and to take the entire crew into custody. Do a full sweep, make sure you catch them all."


    "Yes sir!" Came the answers as the call cut off.


    "Now connect me to Oculus Station, I need to speak to Major Mendez." Captain Cornwall ordered as he yawned. The call was connected a few seconds later.


    "This is Major Mendez, I am also joined by central command on this call." The call opened a few seconds later. "How did your fight go? Cornwall?"


    "Good sir. Admiral Jakobs of the Crystoph Federation surrendered but we need support to keep all these prisoners. I have also given the Red Sanix mercenaries permission to take any scrap, debris, and mecha they find for themselves." Captain Cornwall answered, "When can we expect support?"


    "They are on their way Captain," Another voice answered, Cornwall and Salem both recognized as the voice belonging to Admiral Dakota. "Was there anything else?"


    "Yes sir, we had saboteurs aboard before the battle. I just finished combat so I will begin looking into it with Solisa''s assistance." Captain Cornwall answered honestly.


    "Concerning, send Major Mendez your report when you are finished. Major Mendez, let them take the cities they have for now. It will only cost lives if we can''t support the troops that we send down. But jam all transmissions coming from the planet." Admiral Dakota ordered, "that is all." Then the call ended.


    Salem frowned as she remembered the saboteurs and looked at the metal corpse that sat in the middle of the bridge. Just as she was wondering where the people from the medical bay were, a familiar face walked in. Freya Charlie, who served in the same squad as Jace walked in with a black bag.


    She looked down at it, "this looks a bit different from the one that showed up in the infirmary."


    "One showed up in the infirmary?" Captain Cornwall asked as Freya began putting the body in the black body bag.


    "The Infirmary, the Bridge, One in each Cannon Maintenance Room, and the one back by the Rear Thrusters. Fortunately only the infirmary and one of the Cannon Maintenance Rooms suffered fatalities before it was taken down. And the one that Specialist Hielo fought was taken alive but almost completely disassembled." Freya answered as the Captain looked over at the security officer.


    "She is correct sir, I was waiting until you were done to inform you. If the damage to the ship was critical I would have informed you immediately." The security officer confirmed.


    "Fine but inform me that something is going on at the very least next time something like this happens." Captain Cornwall then turned to the holographic otter that appeared over the war table. "What do you have for me Solisa?"

 Chapter 69 - 69: Cleanup

    "I have discovered how those metal scarecrows made it aboard. We have no breach in security, nothing was smuggled aboard our ship. However they managed to get in through an airlock. I have already sent security and engineering the damage they caused. They arrived a few minutes after Flower of Sister arrived. External hull cameras show them exiting from an airlock on their ship." Solisa explained.


    "Will we have to arrest the ship crew?" Captain Cornwall asked as he looked over the information that she was sending to his datapad.


    "Unlikely but I am sure you will want interviews with all people that could be involved. I will make a list. The early warning systems were disabled under fabricated orders from the Vexical Imperial family. I have found several flaws in the document that anyone with eyes could see. I believe the early warning satellite stations intentionally ignored the flaws, they have either been paid off or promised something else in return for their cooperation."


    Satellite Stations are the Vexical Empire''s version of an early warning system. It scan''s space and picks up on the various possible forms of energy that a spacecraft can generate. Most of these satellites are unmanned but a few are manned by some unlucky members of the military. Those people in the manned satellites spend time investigating possible unreported fluctuations or doing maintenance on the unmanned satellites.


    It is far more different from the deep space sensors that other countries use and a relic of the past when the Vexical Military had an overabundance of personnel. It had been adapted to the less abundant military population but it was still behind technology wise in comparison to other nation''s methods.


    "Make a list of the suspected satellite stations, I will send it up the chain of command. Do we know where those metal scarecrows came from?" Captain Cornwall asked Solisa with a sigh.


    "You mean who made them? I have no idea. They match no recorded technology that I know about. I have a feeling your actual experts would have a better idea. So just keep the bodies for now." Solisa shared her opinion as she was truly at a loss with those things.


    Solisa was originally designed for testing experimental technology but those metal scarecrows were a mix of ancient human technology mixed with pieces of technology that were too advanced for a human civilization. But to her they seemed less like people and more like tools or weapons. Each one had a different setup, so it was more like someone was testing a weapon in combat rather than an attempt at sabotage.


    "Security, keep a six man security group on the remains of the metal scarecrows and the last survivor." Captain Cornwall looked to the security officer before turning to the communications officer. "I am taking an Osprey to the Flower of Sister, I am going to need a Hawks escort. While I am away no one comes on or off of Wing of Pegasus." Captain Cornwall stood up and left the room.


    Salem looked around in confusion as to what she should do. It was not like she wanted to leave her post. But she felt she should be moved, although she did enjoy piloting something this large. So maybe she should just stay here until someone dismisses her.


    After a few minutes there was a notification on her wrist communication device. She was being sent to the hangar bay. Salem would be flying the Captain to the Flower of Sister by the order of Solisa. That was the new ship AI that Jace brought aboard. Seems Solisa was operating on orders from the Captain.


    She stood up from her seat after putting the ship in idle and sped up out of the bridge with a frown. She wanted to fly the big one for a bit longer but it should not be too big of a problem to fly the troop transport Osprey.


    Osprey''s were similar to Hawks but with a larger cockpit for the pilot and co-pilot as well as the reinforced cargo area where troops and personnel were held during flight. It could typically hold up to twelve people in passenger seats or with twenty people at full capacity including the standing room. There were storage areas for survival equipment, spare parts, tools, and weapon lockers. There were two variations of the Osprey: the first had the more common rear loading ramp, while the second was much rarer and had sliding doors on the side of the cargo area. On the ramp version the wings had jet engines that could switch from flight to hovering. While the sliding doors version had jet engines for flight on the rear of the craft but had hover generating technology on the wings.


    The reason for the sliding doors version being so rare was because of the instability of the current hover technology that was in the market. But with what Salem heard about Jace''s hoverbike technology that could change.


    As Salem walked into the large open hangar bay she was not surprised by the level of activity. They had just finished a space battle they were unprepared for. So it only makes sense that they get all of the returning Hawks into complete fighting capacity while they have the chance. Especially if it was unknown that they could end up in another fight.


    Salem walked to an Osprey that was unmarked and looked like it had recently come off the production line. All of the Osprey''s metal plating was several different colors. Not formed in any pattern while it was located in an empty area of the hangar that was out of the way. This variation had the rear loading ramp door.


    As Salem approached it she could see Captain Cornwall was standing outside talking to a pilot and a few security officers. Once she got closer she could hear their thoughts.


    [Why do I have to be a co-pilot for a freshly graduated cadet?] Were the pilots thoughts who seemed more annoyed than appreciative at this chance to fly.


    [We should stay on the ship. The new captain is being reckless.] One of the security officers was frowning as she approached.


    [Finally, I need your help with the interrogation of Admiral Jakobs and his upper management. You getting approved flight time is the reward if you have not already figured it out.] Captain Cornwall, seemed to be the only one that knew she was listening in on their thoughts.


    Salem rolled her eyes and saluted, "reporting for duty Captain." {Don''t need a reward for doing my job but I am thankful for the consideration.} Salem responded mentally.


    "Get on the ship Sergeant. We have places to be." The Captain instructed before walking onto the open rear ramp of the Osprey. The security seemed a mix of exasperated and frustrated while following him onto the Osprey. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Salem and her temporary copilot walked up to the cockpit. "Have you flown one of these before?" The copilot asked as she led the way.


    "I have flown Osprey''s in simulations and only a few times in atmospheric conditions during training." Salem explained getting a frown from the copilot, "but there is no better time to start building experience. I will be counting on you if I forget anything."


    Salem''s faith in her copilot caused the other women to fill a mix of embarrassment and shame as she realized the reality of Salem''s words. Salem was likely the main pilot in this flight simply to build experience. It would do the copilot no good to be pessimistic about a simple flight.


    As Osprey climbed into her seat she began flicking switches and pulled on the built-in headset. Usually she would hook up her Infantry Armor to a ship for communication purposes. But these headset''s were hooked up for the pilot''s convenience if they did not have an alternate communication link. Like her copilot who put on the headpiece she was holding this whole time.


    "Testing testing testing. Can you read me¡­" Her copilot seemed to realize she did not know the main pilot''s name.


    "My name is Salem and what is yours?" Salem responded with a grin as her gauges and sensors began powering on. A bit slow for her liking but this Osprey was likely still under maintenance and unused for that reason.


    "My callsign is Red Baron. But you can call me Red." The copilot answered. "Sealing the rear ramp door and testing vacuum control. This will take a minute. Are systems slow for you too?"


    "Affirmative Red, seems like this one came off the line malfunctioning. Make sure you run the diagnostic while I contract hangar control." Salem told her while she switched to a busy communication channel. "This Unnamed Osprey P13, requesting clearance for departure to Flower of Sister."


    "P13 this is Hangar Control. You are clear for departure as soon as your checks are complete. Just warn us once you are done." A male voice responded.


    "Affirmative Hangar Control." Salem answered as she started looking at the data that was popping up from Red''s diagnostics. "It looks like everything necessary is operating. We are just not going to be having weapons in the case of an emergency. Otherwise the power is just slow on startup."


    "Agreed. I think we are good. Sealing the ship for the vacuum of space." Red agreed.

 Chapter 70 - 70: Adversaries

    As the rear ramp opened she put up her headset back and climbed out of her seat. "Where are you going? We are staying with the Osprey." Red pointed out in confusion.


    Salem looked at her copilot and smiled. But before she responded there was a voice behind her, coming from the captain. "She is fine. Sergeant Wintry and Sergeant Kalil will be coming with me. The rest of you stay with the Osprey and make sure it is not tampered with." Captain Cornwall ordered before leading the way down the ramp being met with another man with a uniform and military rankings indicating he was Lieutenant.


    As he approached he seemed flustered and his uniform was disheveled and unorganized. [First I have to bring this commoner captain to the brig to interrogate that federation scum. Then I have to reach out to my father to figure out what that empty box was supposed to contain.] "A pleasure to meet you Captain Cornwall. I am Lieutenant Trevers, the ship is busy so I will escort you to the brig where Admiral Jakobs and the captain are talking."


    Captain Cornwall waved his hand, "please lead the way if you would."


    As they followed the suspicious Lieutenant to the brig Salem listened in on the thoughts of others as they passed them by. Most of them were people working or going to do something to secure prisoners or make repairs. The only odd one out was this Lieutenant Trevers and an officer that was wandering the hall trying to locate several missing cargo crates. She would tell her captain about it when she got the chance.


    They walked into the brig where ten full armed and kitted out in Infantry Armor security officers were standing around the room. Each of the cells were filled with prisoners from the Crystoph Federation. In the middle of the room was Captain Tory of the Flower of Sister sitting in this improvised meeting room in her formal red and black uniform with her medals hanging on the right side of her uniform coat. Across from her was a man in a beige and green uniform with stitches on symbols on his coat. He was missing his right arm and had clear scarring on the right side of his body while he had a cybernetic eye replacement, all of which clearly happened years ago because the lines that come with age had formed over the scars.


    A quick peek into various minds around the room revealed that several sections of the Flower of Sister had space compromising bulkheads around the exterior of the ship which is where their formal meeting rooms were located. Hence the meeting room, which was supposed to be in a nicer environment, being located in the brig.


    Captain Tory stood up and saluted, getting a salute from Captain Cornwall in response. While Salem listened in on the thoughts around the room as they did formal introductions before sitting and beginning their talk.


    The guards and prisoners of war were not thinking anything important. Captain Tory was thinking about why Captain Cornwall came personally for the formal interrogation of the Crystoph Federation Admiral. Admiral Jakobs was worried about his surviving troops while feeling annoyed that Cornwall was the one that was accepting Jakobs'' surrender.


    But the most hostile thoughts had to be coming from Lieutenant Trevers. [This stupid bitch is going to kiss this commoner Cornwall''s ass now. I should dispose of evidence before those administrators locate the boxes and written records I have not destroyed yet. I need to find an opportunity to leave.]


    Captain Cornwall sat across from Admiral Jakobs while Captain Tory stood a step behind Captain Cornwall. "Admiral Jakobs, you look better than the last time I saw you. How long has it been? Twenty? Twenty-Five Years?"


    Jakobs grunted in annoyance. "Twenty-Three years. The skirmish at West City on Planet Argon in the Babylon System. I remember it well, after all I left that battlefield with these scars that you gave me. But you are only a captain? I thought you would have risen higher up the rank by now." Jakobs smirked as he recalled that battle.


    It was still during a period of time after the Grand Hexarian Empire''s collapse when things were unstable in the region. The Vexical Empire had clawed out its territory for the most part but it was still struggling to get its neighbors to take them seriously despite their lack of mecha. An idea that most nations still find laughable and the reason why the Crystoph Federation declared war.


    The Vexical Empire, still wanting to prove the might and power of their Infantry, decided to launch a blitz invasion into the Crystoph Federation. Babylon System which was once a trade system with a heavy mech presence and multiple mecha research facilities seemed like the perfect target since a number of Crystoph Federation designed mecha came out of the system.


    Jakobs at the time was in a Walker Class mecha during that time. One of the smallest classes of mecha with only power armor being smaller but not falling into the category of mecha. Walker mecha were two legs and two arms attached to a central block where the pilot was located. The pilot had a viewport instead of cameras for interactions. Inside the mecha there was enough space for the pilot to sit and operate the mech. But there was only enough room for a sidearm and an emergency kit inside the cockpit.


    During the initial attack Jakobs was part of a formal long distance parade and as one of the flag-bearers he was only holding the Argon Flag attached to a metal pole and was not holding in weapons. So when the fire began raining from the skies and military installations were destroyed they reversed the parade as they raced back to their base. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only they never made it as aircraft firing on them forced them to take up a position in a quarry. For three days the sky burned day and night as the rubble of the orbital station and remains of several spaceships were caught up in the gravitational pull of the planet. Jakobs unit was able to accidentally locate the forward operating base of the Vexical Empire that was planetside. But before they got a chance to even formulate an attack plan they themselves were attacked by the unit Cornwall was a part of.


    They had noticed the scouts from Jakobs'' unit and followed them back. Once they found the location at the quarry they launched their attack. At the same time a full-scale assault of the final stronghold of Argon was underway a fair distance away. In the midst of the battle, Jakobs'' unit managed to turn the tide of battle when a sudden wave of electromagnetic energy passed over them. Completely disabling Jakobs'' units mecha.


    Cornwall''s unit took advantage of this and executed the pilots while they were trapped in their mecha. But the infantry from Jakobs'' unit managed to hold out in the entrance to a mine while Jakobs'' mecha was stuck at the entrance of.


    Cornwall himself came up with the solution as they tossed incendiaries into the mine and smoked out the infantry that took the chance to run. All of which were quickly executed while those who did not leave the cave eventually died due to smoke inhalation. Jakobs was burned alive in his metal mecha with half of his face being melted off.


    A few days after Cornwall''s unit left a group of civilians located him and nursed him to health. But with their limited technology they had to amputate his highly damaged arm and could only do so much with damage to the right side of his body. Jakobs was later tracked down and arrested as a prisoner of war by Cornwall''s unit. Which is how these two adversaries previously met.


    "Yes, well, I am not one to deal with political nonsense. So punching some stuck up nobles saw me held back in going up the ranks." Cornwall shrugged nonchalantly, not really caring about the attempted insult. But was still intent on biting back, "but you on the other hand." Cornwall slightly chuckled, "I figured you would have learned to not get captured by now."


    "What I learned is that valuing my soldiers'' lives earns me respect and underhanded tactics are not worth the effort." Jakobs spat out in disgust a vein bulging in his forehead as he leaned forward.


    "Underhanded tactics?" Cornwall scoffed, "do you mean like sending those disgusting things to sabotage my ship?" Cornwall asked playing his cards once the other party was heated to catch him off guard.


    "What?" Jakobs seemed completely confused. His mind was equally confused as he thought of the orders he was given as well as the intel that was provided by Fleet Command. The Wing of Pegasus was supposed to be having engine trouble and the other ship''s were similarly unmanned. It was a prime target for attack to break the stalemate that had formed between the Vexical Empire and the Crystoph Federation. So he was ordered to go at full speed to this location and to take control of the planet, destroying all military targets.


    Jakobs knew nothing about the saboteurs that had made it aboard the Wing of Pegasus. But there was someone else who had begun to realize they were in far worse trouble then they first realized.

 Chapter 71 - 71: Trevers

    Salem stopped listening in on Admiral Jakobs thoughts when she realized the Admiral was genuinely confused. On the other hand she listened to Lieutenant Trevers thoughts as he began sneaking back out the door they came in from. He was physically quiet while he moved but his thoughts were loud and panicked.


    [Sabotage?! If this is connected to those cargo crates that father had me smuggling then I am in big trouble. I need to dispose of all evidence, with the current political climate I will be charged with treason if I am caught.] Trevers silently backed out of the room and started walking down the hall.


    Salem frowned and walked to the brig door and waited until Trevers was at the end of the hall. Then she quietly exited the room. Salem began tailing Trevers while out of sight but as she moved there was a quiet ding on her wrist communicator.


    She opened the message and saw it was from Solisa, the Wing of Pegasus'' AI. "Sergeant Wintry, you have diverted from your group. Is there a reason for this?"


    Salem quietly sent a message back. Informing Solisa that Salem was following a suspicious officer, Lieutenant Trevers. Then Salem asked Solisa to pull up all the information on Trevers.


    As Salem trailed the Lieutenant she skimmed through Trevers'' file. He was the son of a count that was financially in debt. The count was being forced to pay for damages and assaults he caused and committed while he was drunk. The Lieutenant grew up with a complex about commoners being less worthy than him. It only got worse as each time he was up for a promotion he was passed up in favor of a talented commoner. There was a note in his file that said he has an unstable mental state and should be pulled from active duty.


    Trevers reached a cargo area where there were very few people running around. It was a portion of the ship that remained undamaged from the battle. Seems that Trevers hid his smuggled cargo in this area. But as Trevers disappeared into the cargo room with Salem trailing behind him she realized that Trevers was not the only person in there.


    One of the people who were taking stock of the ship''s contents was inside. Seems the ship''s manifest was destroyed during the battle so people had to go around taking stock manually while another team worked with what records still existed, using it to repair what they could of the ship. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She quietly slid open the door as she approached hearing the confused thoughts of the low ranking specialist and the panicking thoughts of Lieutenant Trevers. She silently drew her pistol as she snuck up behind some containers.


    "Lieutenant? What are you doing here? Actually this is good. I just found an unregistered container that had numerous empty crates. Six empty crates in total, five are more vertical like the crates we use to transport armor while the last one is a six by six by six crate. All of them are empty, I just contacted the chief of security to- what are you doing?" The specialist stopped mid sentence as Lieutenant Trevers pulled out a concealed laser pistol.


    "Damn it Damn it DAMN IT!" Trevers began cursing, completely voicing his thoughts with no filter. "Why do you lowly commoners have to be so goddamn competent?"


    "Ah, a fellow noble who understands that commoners should know their place." A voice void of all emotion spoke as a chattering noise moved in conjunction with the clicking of gears. Salem felt a shiver move up her spine as she listened. She could not place it but there was something wrong with the person speaking.


    As Salem peaked out around the container she saw the moving hologram that was located on top of a flat moving platform. The platform was a round disk that was a foot thick. The platform had six triple jointed legs with pointed ends. As the thing moved across the room it kept the platform mostly level.


    The hologram was of a hooded figure with almost bone thin hands who was wearing some type of leather jacket and leather pants. His face was hidden but from his hands he appeared to be incredibly unhealthy. While he had a cape that was split apart with even cuts along them, it was slightly moving.


    "Commoners truly need to learn their place as the nobilities'' subjects, tools, and playthings. You have seen what happens when they are given power they were born to never wield. Tell me wouldn''t you like things to change?" The man asked as his spider platform moved over to stand next to Lieutenant Trevers.


    It seems that the sabotage was arranged by this person but what was the purpose of this spider platform? It did not seem combat oriented in the slightest.


    The platform turned to her direction, "but before we talk about that would the young women listening in please reveal yourself. It is not polite to eavesdrop, so you might as well join in on the conversation."


    Salem hesitated for a moment before stepping out with her Pyre pistol drawn and aimed at Lieutenant Trevers. Trevers blinked for a moment in confusion, "you? You are part of Captain Cornwall''s ship. What are you doing here?"


    "She likely followed you, if I recall she found one of my Screechers as well. Is this part of how your Nano System works? I have been trying my best to figure it out but I keep running into deadends."


    Salem kept her gun trained on Trevers who switched his target from the innocent Specialist to Salem. Salem sent a mental message to the Specialist, {Silently leave the room and make sure security and the party from the Wing of Pegasus knows what is going on. There is a silent jammer covering the room.}


    The specialist closed their mouth, glancing at Salem and slightly nodding before slowly and silently backing away. After a few steps he actually turned invisible. He was still there but he likely activated a system ability or talent to help them escape.


    "If you tell me where you are I will tell you all about it. How about it?" Salem asked innocently, glancing at the hologram while keeping her gun trained on Trevers. At the same time she used her newly formed third ability to silently confirm the outcome of this standoff.


    "I am afraid I will have to decline. You seem rather dangerous for someone so young, so I do in fact fear for my life. But I will share with you my name if you tell me your name. Is this the nation where they do that as a custom?" The figure asked, completely ignoring Trevers presence.


    "Wait! How did you get those¡­ Screechers and this aboard? It wasn''t me was it? My father would have never agreed to such a thing!" Trevers yelled in rage, his mind racing, imagining multiple scenarios. It seemed that despite all of Lieutenant Trevers'' fathers'' faults he was still loyal to the emperor and would never knowingly commit treason.


    "Ah yes your father. At first I was ecstatic to find a noble like him in this country which I could easily control. He was very willing after I started paying him. Unfortunately he discovered my plans and became angry to the point of trying to kill me." The figure sounded hurt as it spoke. "Honestly I was insulted that a fellow noble would attempt something so barbaric. So I made him more willing to obey. But I could care less about the fallout that will befall your family after this, you could kill yourself for all I care."


    After those words Trevers seemed confused and lost. While the figure turned to Salem once again, likely waiting for her answer. "Sergeant Salem Wintry." Salem answered as she quietly waited for the moment in Trevers mind where he made his decision on who his enemy was as he lowered his laser pistol. The design was small and likely had only a few shots in it, it was also likely incredibly inaccurate.


    "It is nice to meet you Sergeant Wintry, my name is Lord Hoodwink. Yes, that is my actual family name. Although it has not been used in generations." The figure tried to pull off a more jovial attitude but the lack of emotion was only putting Salem even more on edge. "Now then we have Sergeant Wintry, Lieutenant Trevers, and-" The figure slightly turned its head and fully turned its hologram body as it looked at the spot where the Specialist was a minute ago. "How curious. He managed to slip away."


    Trevers seemed to realize it as well and his thoughts only became more depressed as he began spiraling in self-doubt. Salem quietly took a step forward as Lord Hoodwink''s platform slightly shifted causing a scratching noise similar to a spider walking.


    "I brought shame to my family line." Trevers brought the laser pistol up to the side of his head and pulled the trigger.

 Chapter 72 - 72: Hoodwink

    As Trevers pulled the trigger he frowned as there was difficulty, like the trigger would not pull. With his full attention on the pistol he looked at it and realized the safety was set. But he definitely had it turned to the lethal setting.


    Before he got a chance to contemplate it, Salem was pulling the pistol out of his hand and elbowing him in the face. Trevers fell to the ground unconscious as Salem turned her full attention to this platform that Lord Hoodwink was operating.


    "Bravo bravo! That was splendid work! You did not even flinch, that was truly magnificent but what will you do now?" Lord Hoodwink asked nonchalantly.


    Salem raised her gun and fired several shots into the joints of the platform. Preventing it from movement. She stepped forward and pulled out a knife. She began removing a faceplate from the side of the platform and when it was removed she groaned when she saw the timer. It was counting down and had an hour and thirty-one minutes left. Seems this Lord Hoodwink was simply distracting them.


    "Shit." Salem simply cursed as she tried to use her wrist communicator but it was jammed again.


    "Ah, you found my little secret." Lord Hoodwink chuckled, "I was hoping to destroy all evidence of my little test. But it seems you realized something was wrong."


    "Sergeant Wintry! What is-" Captain Cornwall walked up flinching at the sight of the hologram. "I am guessing you are the one that sent the saboteurs aboard my ship?" Racing up were a few of the security officers as they surrounded the hologram platform and a few put cuffs on Trevers accepting the laser pistol from Salem.


    "Answers later, this thing is jamming communications. I need to get a message out so I can figure out how to defuse this bomb. Do any of you know what a jammer looks like?" Salem asked at a loss.


    Captain Cornwall quickly walked up while the others backed away at the word ''bomb''. Cornwall looked at the portion that was removed and frowned for a moment. Then he reached in and tore out a small black device. "Jammer removed. It was not hooked up to any of the hologram equipment of the bomb. Try it now."


    Salem tried to send out a signal and it worked this time, "Jace, Taylor, are you two there?"


    "Yes." "Still stuck fixing the engines."


    "I have a bomb here. How do I defuse it?" Salem asked, getting a chuckle from Jace while Taylor groaned.


    "We need as many pictures as you can send us. Not all bombs are the same." Jace answered.


    Cornwall took out a small metal box and it started generating clicking noises. Then he nodded, "I just sent you pictures of part of it. Hey you lot, stop being scared. Disable the legs and then start removing metal panels." Captain Cornwall yelled at the security officers who were still acting scared.


    Kalil stepped forward putting multiple shots into joints of one of the legs that started moving. Then he kneeled down and used his arm to pull off a panel.


    "Hmm¡­ this was not in my calculations. You military types of the Vexical Empire truly work to impress. I suppose with your lack of mecha it only makes sense. Interestingly enough it was also the reason I picked this country." Lord Hoodwink stated. "But even with some help you won''t be able to-


    "Oh this is easy to defuse." Jace''s voice interrupted Lord Hoodwink.


    "So easy, what happened here, did an idiot make this?" Taylor was likely confirming what Jace already found. But it was satisfying to see Lord Hoodwink''s figure almost deflate.


    "What no it''s not? This is the perfect bomb, there is no way to defuse it." Lord Hoodwink sounded insulted while Salem suddenly received directions on defusing the bomb.


    "There you go, I just sent directions to defuse the bomb." Jace told them before he hung up.


    Salem leaned forward and switched some wires around then the countdown suddenly went up. "What Jace failed to mention is that you should move that bomb far away before it detonates. We just delayed the detonation. But you should first take plenty of pictures for engineering."


    "Understood, thank you for your help." Captain Cornwall nodded to Captain Tory. "Get this far from all populated locations. Kalil, record and photograph everything before it is taken away." Captain Cornwell turned his attention to the hologram of Lord Hoodwink. "Now who the Hella are you?"


    "Hmm¡­ someone who underestimated the Vexical military for the last time. Goodbye for now Captain Cornwall." The hologram of Lord Hoodwink disappeared suddenly after giving an ominous claim.


    "He called himself Lord Hoodwink. It seems he has some connection to Lieutenant Trevers father. But he likely already killed the man and he was the one that had the ''Screechers'' as he called them smuggled aboard and then targeted our ship." Salem stood and saluted then she pulled a device out of her pocket, "I recorded the entire interaction sir."


    "Good job Sergeant," Captain Cornwall nodded in appreciation, "now about Admiral Jakobs-"


    "Innocent of the sabotage he was unaware of it and was acting on orders from Crystoph Federation Fleet Command who told him our ship was disabled and completely vulnerable to an attack." Salem saluted the captain as she gave her report.


    Captain Cornwall sighed for a moment before nodding, "very well. We are done here. Captain Tory, please send the people on the list I gave you to our Osprey. We might as well take them with us while we are here."


    Captain Tory frowned but saluted, "yes sir." Then she stormed off, her thoughts filled with anger at her second in command for doing something so stupid. Captain Tory was from a knighted family, which meant she was not necessarily nobility. But her father was knighted and before his death when they lost the title she learned what it meant to be a true noble. So she held her people''s lives over her own desires. But having her second in command be a smuggler would put a dent in her already fragile reputation that she built among the nobility.


    "Come along Sergeant Wintry, I would like you to give me more details about this Lord Hoodwink that you noticed while interacting with him." Captain Cornwall led Salem away towards the hangar where their Osprey was located.


    They talked along the way while Salem loosely browsed the minds around them. Looking for anyone else suspicious. Then once they got to the Osprey Captain Cornwall asked about her system and how far along she was. He could have just looked it up but she appreciated the privacy.


    [Name: Salem Wintry


    Chronological Age: 17


    Biological Age: 21


    Compatibility Rating: A


    Talent: Telepathy


    Strength: 65


    Agility: 75


    Speed: 75


    Health: 70


    Intelligence: 75


    First Ability: Unit Management: Option 1: Be able to look at and read other people''s system records or the equivalent in non-system users. Option 2: The system will give a summary of an individual''s history as far as an insight through telepathy can tell.


    Second Ability: Machine Reading: Option 1: Able to read the subconscious thoughts of AI. Option 2: Able to read the conscious thoughts of AI.


    Third Ability: Telekinesis: Option 1: Able to manipulate objects in range. Option 2: Able to manipulate the body of a target in range.]


    "I actually used telekinesis to switch Lieutenant Trevers'' gun from the lethal setting to the safety setting which would prevent him from firing." Salem told the Captain as they waited in the Osprey for the other people that would be joining Salem on this classified cruise.


    It was bothering her that they would be gathering a large group of soldiers who only just finished their Cadet terms in one place. Usually they would be sent out to fill spots in other ships and build up experience. Or they would go to a known location for training.


    Salem knew that they were all going to get some sort of special forces training but as far as she knew the special forces squads would pick and choose their candidates before training them. But this group she was going to be a part of would be trained on mass. She wishes she could delve into Jace''s mind but he had only gotten better at keeping her out of his mind when he did not want her in there.


    Salem had tried a few times to enter his mind uninvited but each time she just felt an electric shock. Like she was getting a shock from static electricity. She wanted to ask Jace about it but considering how much he warned her not to delve too deep into her mind she figured it might be a side effect of one of his abilities that he did not realize was occurring.


    As she waited in the pilot seat she saw ten others board the Osprey. They all appeared to be the same age as her and were going to the same classified destination as she would be going. The soldiers were all just as confused about what was waiting for them. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Captain Cornwall appeared to be the only one that knew something but she could not draw out the thought to figure it out. All she managed to get was that only two people knew the location. Captain Cornwall and his ship''s navigational officer.

 Chapter 73 - 73: Road to More Training

    Jace moved one of the chess pieces on the holographic board then glanced around the spacious hangar that was filled with people. Across from him Taylor was thinking about her move while she fiddled with a device she made while they were playing. They were playing a game of chess while they made new tools. Testing their mental prowess in a competition like this was not unfamiliar to them.


    They had done similar things at the academy. Of course then they would always make small trinkets. Mostly due to not having the parts to spare. But now they had parts in abundance since the military was gladly footing the bill.


    Jace was making an armored defense drone that could be theoretically easily controlled by a simple remote. It would hover and was equipped with a short range taser. Only simple things since this was a spur of the moment creation. Jace glanced at the board after Taylor moved and took only a second to move another piece.


    Taylor took a moment to focus on the board again, clicking her tongue in annoyance at Jace moving so quickly. She was making a much smaller drone that would theoretically be versatile and have many uses.


    Jace took the moment when she was focused on the board to look at the swarm of new people. The ship was almost completely maxed out on its occupancy as all the candidates for the Tartarus Project were aboard along with the Wing of Pegasus'' full crew. He had met many of the candidates and realized they were diverse in their fields of interest.


    At the moment they were in warp toward their destination. Warp travel was typically along set pathways that ran through and between star systems. It required a warp bubble and shields to easily function as smoothly as this ship did when it went into warp.


    Now most people were either getting familiar with one another or doing odd things like Jace and Taylor were doing. Although they did end up with a bunch of spectators. Both part of the ship crew and other candidates who were just as curious about what they two were building as they were about their game of chess.


    "All crew and guests, standby for transition to faster than light. It is unnecessary to strap yourselves in but be aware there will be a slight lurch as we transition. Transitioning in 3...2¡­1." A woman''s voice came over the speaker system throughout the ship. Both Jace and Taylor frowned and shared a look as there was a slight lurch before the ship was stable again.


    Faster than Light travel was less limited since it would be going through space that lacked pathways for warp travel. But it was less reliable since adjustments had to be made to avoid debris. It was the first form of high speed space travel that humans developed before they learned about warp travel from other species.


    But traveling in both warp and faster than light was not possible. There had been attempts and they all ended in failure since there was no way to make a stable pathway like warp travel already had. So for them to be traveling in both meant that the Vexical Empire had created a third form of travel and held off on reporting the finding.


    Not to mention they only switched over after half a day in warp travel. That meant that their destination was possibly so classified that the majority of the military and nobility in the Vexical Empire did not know about it. Because someone high up the food chain had to really be holding their cards close to their chest. Meaning there was a good chance that either someone acting on the Emperor''s orders or the Emperor himself was keeping this hidden.


    From the file he read, Jace figured it might actually be both. He really had to be planning something big if he was going out of his way to prepare an elite force for covert operations without the nobility''s consent. Jace had a feeling he and the other candidates would be at the center of almost every plan for the next few years.


    It was not a hope, but a feeling. Although somewhere inside of him he felt a hint of excitement at getting into more fights that could end up being more difficult than the fight with the Tacole General or more bloody than the fight with those pirates working for Tyranus. After a moment of wonder he turned his attention back to the board and moved another piece putting Taylor in check.


    "Shit." Taylor took a deep breath as she really focused on the board. "What do you think? How did they get Warping and Faster than Light travel to work together? Some sort of new technology?"


    "Hmm¡­ I am thinking of a variation on the shielding which is why this ship has stronger shields in the first place. They are probably brute forcing their way through. After all, the experimental shields were having problems keeping it together in the test flights from what the public records showed." Jace turned back to his drone as he started making the final touches on the anti-gravity components.


    "Check!" Taylor called out and Jace quickly moved his queen pulling him out of check and putting Taylor in check again. "Damnit."


    Jace clicked a button on his drone and it started hovering. He then used his wrist communicator to control it and had it move around a bit. Testing it quickly as he confirmed his theoretical design was satisfactory. "Six games. Four wins, two losses." Jace stated and looked over at Taylor who was pouting.


    "Yeah you win this time." Taylor confirmed, "I was having trouble with microelectronics again. I really need to get better with them." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Honestly, drone tech is not my forte but I think I have it figured out pretty easily." Jace told Taylor as he packed up the chess board. "But I think that is enough relaxing, time to get serious." He controlled the drone to land on the table between them. "What do you think we should design this as? The military already has basic drones, and surveillance drones, but it lacks decent combat drones."


    "Yeah well this is basically a giant target so¡­ maybe not. How about a mobile storage unit?" Taylor pointed out getting a frown from Jace, "if we flush out the design we could have storage for smaller equipment that needs to be kept cool or clean."


    "Okay, then we swap the extra armor for reflective paneling. I actually wanted to try mixing stealth technology with the new anti-gravity technology I have." Jace nodded as he started thinking about it. "But let''s not insert an artificial intelligence this time. I think it would be better if we have it running on silent programming so it can follow and do other basic actions without assistance."


    "Okay then we need to get a basic program that-" As Taylor was responding there was a notification on all of the wrist communicators. Or rather only most of them, only the candidates for the Tartarus Project were sent messages.


    [Sergeant Jace Steel,


    Report for training in the East Side of the Main Hangar in five hours. You are to pack all personal items in a bag and leave it on your assigned bunk. Then you will retrieve equipment labeled S-set Survival Training Bag as well as an Orbital Drop Spacesuit from the storage. When you report to duty you should be wearing basic beige fatigues under your Orbital Drop Spacesuit. There should be NO personal items on your person no matter how small.


    Report to the infirmary within an hour of receiving this message for an immediate medical assessment and System recording.


    Good Luck!]


    The message was unlabeled which was a breach of normal protocol. All messages had to have a sender and receiver tied to it for security reasons. Only reason he could think that they would be allowed to withhold their name ist that the person giving the orders is high up the food chain that they can ignore those protocols or circumvent them.


    Jace looked up at Taylor, "I have to immediately go to get a workup at the infirmary how about you?"


    Taylor shook her head, "mine is in an hour and then I have to pick up my equipment, an A-set Survival Training Bag and Orbital Drop Spacesuit." Taylor confided getting an odd look not just from Jace but from one of the spectators who also got a message.


    "Wow, mine is in two hours with a B-set Survival Training Bag and a high altitude parachute kit." The spectator scratched his head in confusion. "Did I get the wrong one?"


    "No," Jace frowned. "We are going to be dropped from different altitudes as part of our survival training." Jace then nodded at the other candidates who were looking at their messages on their devices. "Have people group up between Orbital Drop, High Altitude and whatever else there is. Pass the message around to anyone else you see." Jace then hopped out of his seat, "you got this Taylor?" He pointed at the drone and the mess they made.


    Taylor responded by giving a thumbs up in response. Jace raced off to get ready, hopefully everyone else would show up early as well.

 Chapter 74 - 74: Eelson

    Jace stood at attention in his line. As he hoped they managed to group up into drop sections. There were Orbital Drop, High Altitude, and Low Altitude. Seems the testers were taking the people''s physical statistics into account when they were picked. From what he could hear the Low Altitude consisted of the physically weaker group who had only recently gotten their second ability or were close to their third. High Altitude had people who had recently gotten their third ability or were halfway to the fourth. Orbital Drop had the people who were close to getting their fourth ability or had already gotten it.


    But even with each type of drop it would be a test of their ability to land after parachuting. They were putting a lot of thought into this testing of their abilities. He also learned that the survival kit they were given differed depending on their compatibility rating. Surprisingly enough he was not the only person with an S-rank compatibility.


    Compatibility rating was what determined a person''s ability to use their system given talent and abilities. It also determines how well the nanobots in the body can repair and adapt. The compatibility is determined by how well the body can take the changes from a genetic level. So it is measured by the amount of nanobots found in the blood sample in percentages. Jace did not know the specific percentages for each level. But he used to believe that A-rank compatibility was the highest one.


    As Jace stood at attention the small stage off to his left was empty. He felt a slight shift as the Wing of Pegasus came out of the Warp and Faster than Light combination that it was in. Then there was a siren and a flashing orange light as the hangar door they were standing in front of began slowly opening after some type of transparent light blue shield appeared.


    As it slowly opened they were rewarded with the sight of black space and the planet they arrived at. There was a single large planet that was mostly light green but there were dark green spots scattered throughout, but there was a larger gathering of dark green that had dashes of grey. Around this planet were five moons, a massive Orbital Station, and a number of smaller stations scattered throughout. There were also the nearby space ship''s they were drawing near as well.


    The first four moons were on one side of the planet while the last one was on the other. The first of the moons is a pure white ball. The second one is a blue ball, probably water. The third one is a variety of colors all on the blander side. The fourth moon is colored more like a normal habitable planet would be with spatterings of green, blue, brown, and sand beige. The fifth and final moon is on the opposite side of the green giant planet from the other four moons. The moon, which could not really be called a moon, was a ball of fire and looked remarkably like a star which most planets in a system would rotate around. But it looked like the sun and moons were rotating around the planet instead.


    As Jace was contemplating how it would be possible he was pulled from his thoughts as he noticed a man in uniform fatigues with pieces of armor throughout his outfit was stepping onto the podium. The dark skinned man had a burly mustache and eyepatch as he scowled a menacing aura that could be felt by everyone.


    "Welcome to the Special Operations Training Program! My name is Commander Riley Eelson! Here it does not matter what your current military rank is! You are back to being a bunch of untrained cadets! For the next three months you cadets will undergo training unlike anything you have ever experienced! Fortunately for me you green grunts will only be my problem for the first month then you are someone else''s issue! Now listen up! This nice lady in the lab coat will tell you the basics so you can survive on this planet, but for the next week everything else is up to you to accomplish!" Commander Eelson as he called himself then stepped back and a young blonde woman in a lab coat stepped forward nervously. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Umm¡­ hello, first there needs to be an explanation. You all have been in somewhere or other been volunteered for the Tartarus Project. There are many things about the project which I cannot explain but the main thing is that the project only called on people that would be loyal to the well being of our citizens above even your own lives. The Emperor and the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division created this project in the hope that some of you will come out far more versatile than the typical soldier or even special forces unit. As Commander Eelson told you before, the first week of training will be you surviving in the wilderness of Echo which is the name of the planet you will be dropping onto." The lab coat woman then pulled out a datapad.


    "As for what you will need to know," She took a moment. "The seas on the planet are a flesh melting acid but the islands have clean water rivers. The planet''s cycle is thirty hours split evenly between night and day. Most of the wildlife have developed into lethal variations of the Earth species I am sure you all learned about in the academy. But we have also been quietly intercepting all Kitinol Vessels that have been heading to both Vexical Empire Space and our area of the Kitinol Offensive and transporting them to this planet. In doing so we discovered that even the Kitinol struggle to survive and adapt to this type of world." She looked up from the datapad. "Now a bit of advice, assume everything from the worms to the trees will want you dead." She then stepped back and Commander Eelson stepped forward again.


    "Now that you know that I will now outline this training exercise!" The commander immediately went back to yelling and exuding a daunting presence. "You will spend a week surviving on the planet by any means necessary. We do not care about anything else. All survival kits have a radio and an extra battery, on the last day you will keep it on and listen for the pickup location. Failure to find yourself to said location will result in you being marked as missing. All survival packs also received a metal band, you are to keep them on at all times. They monitor your vitals and it is for us to observe you in this test."


    "For the record this test will be the least daunting of all the tasks I will force you to undertake during the month-long training under me. I do not expect all of you to survive, but my superiors hope you all do survive. So I equipped all of you with the bare minimum you need in order to survive on this planet. I suggest you don''t fail expectations by dying. As for advice¡­ aim for the dark green, those are trees while the light green is the flesh eating acid that will slowly kill you. Any questions?"


    After the Commander''s speech they shuffled uncomfortably while the ship slowly drew nearer to the green planet. Jace, the every curious soul and clearly not the only one, raised his hand to ask a question. While a few others which were undaunted by the commander raised their hands as well.


    The commander pointed at him and nodded, "you with the messy hair. What is your no doubt stupid question?"


    "What type of shielding is that?" Jace asked as he motioned at the shimmering blue transparent layer that was separating them from the vacuum of space. As he asked his question several others including Taylor lowered their hands. The action got a giggle from the blonde lab coat woman.


    "That!" The commander pointed at the blue shimmering. "Is a more recent development on spaceship crafting development. Every spacecraft being created by the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division has it. It is set to replace the tunnel chambers that ships now use; it will cut down on unnecessary space usage on a ship. They are called atmospheric barriers and are a variation on shielding technology in that they can let things through but keep the vacuum of space out."


    Tunnel Chambers were the method that most spaceships used while in space. Since when entering or exiting a ship they have to worry about the change from an atmospheric environment to a vacuum one. There would be either a long chamber where ''gates'' opened as a ship or other vehicle flew through and closed behind them, making it impossible for the atmosphere of the hangar to be sucked out. The other would be a single chamber where it would act like an airlock. They would enter the chamber and both doors would close then the oxygen would be sucked out or put in depending on whether you were exiting or leaving an area and a door would open once the process was complete.


    Atmospheric Barriers on the other hand were completely different. It seems they acted like a shield would but only for oxygen and other atmospheric elements. So most things could easily pass through but the molecules that make up atmospheric conditions would bounce off like nothing happened. Like how lasers or weapons fire bounced off the Wing of Pegasus'' shields.

 Chapter 75 - 75: Day 1

    A few more people asked questions as the planet called Echo became closer. Seems they were just passing time until the first people were asked to drop. The questions were mostly about the Tartarus Project that was mentioned. Aside from repeating what they already talked about they mostly reinforced the point that they would not be separated from the larger military but would rather act as trusted operators. Some were asking why the military saw a need for such a project, to which Commander Eelson answered with the truth.


    The Vexical Empire was about to undergo a massive amount of civil unrest. The military and Emperor wanted assurance that there would be a faction or at least a group that would put the peoples safety above all else. So he started the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division who in turn started several projects and operations. But they would not get into it anymore as the ship''s orientation began changing and an announcement that they were in position for the Orbital Drop came through the ship''s announcing system.


    "You heard the captain! Those with Orbital Drop Gear step up to the barrier and prepare to jump." The commander called out.


    Jace stepped forward moving to the edge of the atmospheric barrier as he put on the helmet and secured the latches. There was a rush of air as the entire suit became airtight. A moment later dark yellow numbers and lines appeared as the Orbital Drop Helmet''s heads up display appeared.


    The heads up display had an unset altimeter function and a compass that was not functioning. The altimeter would be automatically set when he jumped and entered the atmosphere assuming the ships or various space stations allowed the suit to properly calibrate with their system. As for the compass, he doubted it would function correctly; this planet was not normal in the slightest bit.


    "Now that you are ready, who wants to go first?" Commander Eelson grinned as he looked at the lined up soldiers in Orbital Drop Gear. Excited at the prospect of pushing the first one out. But he blinked in surprise as one of them walked through the atmosphere barrier to the small lip on the outside of the hangar.


    Jace looked down at the planet for a moment as his altimeter on his HUD set up, then he jumped. Attached to his front was the survival kit he was provided. While on his back was the container for the parachute he would have to deploy. As he fell he kept his feet downward and stood straight to minimize his surface area.


    As he began entering the atmosphere his boots began heating up. His altimeter rapidly decreased as he fell. For the moment there was nothing for him to do so he stood perfectly still. So he instead glanced up just in time to see the others slowly jumping out of the ship after him.


    He trained for an orbital suit drop in simulations back at the academy. For the most part he would just let his suit take care of it. The Orbital Drop suit was built to protect and disperse the heat taken on from orbital entry. Less than a minute later the heat from his feet and legs was disappearing as wind resistance picked up.


    Jace reoriented himself so he was facing down as he fell towards the dark green section of the planet, or more notably the specific continent that the commander told them they would be dropping on. While he was falling he would pick his specific landing zone.


    Even from up here it would normally be difficult. But with his enhanced senses, specifically his sight, he would be able to spot a more open area where there might not be as much in the way of tree canopies. Unfortunately as he looked he realized that not even the cliff faces he could see throughout the continent were safe from these trees. He also realized the continent was not as even or leveled as he hoped. There was the central mountain but there were also walls of rock and ravines running throughout the island. The only safe havens being the solitary river he saw running down from the mountain and a lake he saw on the other end of the island.


    He would not know which one was safer to stay near until he landed. So he might as well land at the highest point and get a better view from there. It would also be easier to climb down from the mountain rather than up it. He just had to hope nothing truly nasty was living up there.


    As the wind rushed by him he reached back with his right arm and pulled the latch that was on the metal box on his back. His parachute was released and he grunted in pain as the force of him slowing down from the parachute was felt through his entire body. The metal pieces from the protective casing for the parachute fell past him.


    The handles fell to his sides as the nylon unraveled. He reached up and grabbed them and then began directing his descent to the large mountain that stood at one end of the river and was overlooking the lake. It was his perfect vantage point to figure out a safe location to hole up on the continent until the week passed.


    He glided down slowly until his parachute got caught on a tree. Then he was suddenly thrust back and slammed his back into the tree. Jace groaned in pain for only a moment as he looked around his body until he realized he was not equipped with a knife. He sighed as he realized he was stuck.


    So he looked down at the survival kit he was given and opened it. As he rummaged through it he found what he was hoping inside, a combat knife with its sheath. He closed up the rest of the bag so nothing else would fall out when he fell. He unsheathed the knife and cut himself loose.


    Jace fell through several branches flinching in pain as he curled up in order to avoid breaking a limb. He grunted in pain as he landed on something hard. He looked around as he pulled himself up. The ground was stone with moss growing on it. The trees were growing from between cracks in the rocks with its roots running over the outside of rocks.


    Jace started pulling off the Orbital Drop suit as he used his enhanced hearing to listen for movement. He could hear movement, growling, and other noises in the distance but nothing anywhere closeby.


    So he took the moment to remove the excess gear and then opened his survival training kit. Aside from the combat knife with a sheath there were a few other things in the kit. A single bandage roll, an envelope, a single reinforced data tablet, a radio, an extra battery for the radio, the metal wrist band that was mentioned that would track his vitals, and a canteen.


    He quickly slapped on the wrist band and it sealed around his wrist and momentarily had a line of blue glowing along the edge. Then he could feel a faint electric current running through it. Seems the technology was built to account for his electric ability.


    He then looked at the envelope and opened it up.


    [Dear S-Rank Compatibility Soldier,


    Your objective to survive is primary in this training exercise. But you have a secondary that is just as important. You are to make sure the rest of the candidates for the Tartarus Project survive the week. You are not to directly interact with the other candidates or S-Ranks until the end of the training exercise.


    To help you succeed in this objective we have provided you with a reinforced data tablet that will provide a map with the locations of all the candidates. As well as their vitals, the tablet will automatically beep if one of the candidates is in danger of losing their lives.


    Otherwise we provided the barest of essentials for you to survive. By the time you are reading this I am sure you have realized that this planet has very little in the way of fruits and greenery. There are very few herbivore species and the majority predatory carnivores.


    Good Luck,


    Director Fenrir.] sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace sighed as he shook his head and put the envelope back in the bag. He then looked at the Orbital Drop suit he had pulled off and began thinking of ways to use all of the parts. He could use the elastic bands, the reinforced nylon rope, even the parachute fabric would be useful.


    Now Jace just had to establish a base of operations. He looked around and then looked up. There were a few birds flying between trees. The trees themselves looked durable enough he could fashion something to live in. He had the water in the canteen for now, but that would only last a day. Jace would also have to find a quick way down to one of those water sources.


    Jace figured it would be a long day as he looked up to see the ship slowly lowering from orbital to high altitude. Seems the last of the Orbital Drop candidates had landed or were about to land.

 Chapter 76 - 76: Hammock

    Jace spent a few minutes climbing up the tree he landed in to retrieve the parachute. Then he fashioned most of it into a hammock while he had the time he should set this up as his base of operations. Anyone that was determined able to survive an orbital drop should be capable enough for at least an hour. So he might as well spend this time preparing.


    After setting up his hammock he fashioned a slingshot out of some of the rope and a portion of the orbital drop suit he took apart. The suit for the most part no longer had any use. The suit itself was an extremely durable fabric he would save for later. While the helmet he had an idea for, but that would have to wait until nightfall.


    He tied the sheath for the knife to the back of his waist using some of the rope from the parachute. While he had the slingshot and other stuff shoved in his backpack. As he looked up he saw the first of the High Altitude parachutes opening, he still had some time to make another tool he figured he might need.


    As he quietly moved through the forest he looked for the appropriate branches and sticks that would be useful. While he was looking he noticed the vines were extremely durable. If he braided them he could make a rope which would make scaling up and down the mountain easier.


    Jace contemplated this for a moment before he suddenly ducked and drew his knife. The tree with the several vines suddenly had a new cut mark through it, a chunk of the bark disappearing as it was pulled off. While the vines were cut as well with the lower half falling to the ground.


    Jace looked at the creature that attacked him. It stood at five feet and looked like a praying mantis with its scyther-like hands. But its body was scaled with its three sets of legs looking like lizard feet. The creature''s head was a triangle shape but the pointed ends were replaced with flat edges with it pointed downward. The three sets of eyes were black beads located on either side of the split that went down the center of its face.


    "By the ancestors, you are really ugly." Jace whistled as the creature made a clicking noise before it suddenly backed up and its body disappeared. "Invisibility, great." He focused on his hearing, listening and hearing the soft noise of the creature moving.


    Jace adjusted his stance and moved the knife in between his hands as he prepared himself. The creature was slowly moving to his left side, adjusting its angle to attack. Then it clicked and leaped forward, its long arm extending its reach.


    Jace lowered himself, lessening the scythe arm pass over him while he raised his knife and cut it between the joints. The scythe arm flew through the air and embedded itself in a tree while the creature shrilled in pain. Quickly stepping back and looking at its right arm where there was a stump. It bled a pinkish purple ooze that almost looked more like slime.


    It looked at its bleeding stump for a moment then at Jace before walking back some more and turning invisible again. Or attempting to as its bleeding stump would not turn invisible. So it disabled the invisibility and looked at Jace again, this time it looked furious.


    The creature slumped for a moment and then pulled itself up onto its hindmost legs. Now it stood at twice the height with four additional arms. Its face split open as a pink fleshy tongue whipped out with several pointed teeth appeared along the edges clicking along its face shell. It moved forward and leaned forward as its left arm cut through the tree he was standing near. But Jace had jumped above its attack this time.


    Jace threw his knife as he ran towards the scythe arm that was detached and stuck in a tree. His knife missed and embedded itself in a tree as the creature leaned to the side. It could quickly move its own body thanks to its multiple lower limbs which were keeping its balance lower to the ground.


    Jace pulled the scythe arm out of the tree as he ran past. Then he slid along the ground as the scythe passed over him. Once again slicing down a tree as it is cut through like nothing.


    Jace dashed toward the creature pushing off the ground with extra force to get him farther. But as he moved forward something felt off, he felt slower than usual. An arm from the creature''s lower body reached out to hit him but he just sidestepped it as he drove the scythe arm into the creature''s body.


    It shrieked loudly as it tried to swat at Jace with its other lower arms. But Jace took a firm hold of the scythe arm he embedded into its body and ran around it. Dodging and sidestepping the attempts to subdue him.


    A moment later it was cut in half as its pinkish-purple blood was spilling all over the rocky ground. The creature is now moaning in pain. Its lower arms now grabbed at the ground to pull itself up while it used its remaining scythe arm and stub to try and lift its upper body up.


    Jace took its moment of disorientation to run up its body dragging the scythe arm along cutting a deep gash into the creature''s back that immediately began bleeding. He continued trying to move until he sliced off the creature''s head then its body shook for a moment before it went still.


    He thought back to the fight and frowned. He felt slower and noticed it as well as it was more difficult to dodge the creature. Instead of completely missing him a few of the punches had grazed him. Nothing was injured but it was still strange.


    He waved his arms and stretched his legs. Then he hopped a few times and then blinked in surprise as he did not go nearly as high as he thought he would.


    Jace did not notice at first because all of his stats were so high but the gravity was higher on this planet. If he would have to guess, and he did, it was roughly two point five times the standard gravity that was used as the basis for all gravity tech in the Vexical Empire.


    Seems they are intentionally forcing the candidates of Tartarus Project to increase their stats. This probably would not be the only time they have a training mission where there is a forced increase in stats.


    Jace moved around the body of this cross between a mantis and lizard. After retrieving his knife that he threw. He gathered the scythe arms and the paws of the lizard feet. The scythe arms he could make into makeshift swords or spears. But if the lizard hands were still adhesive he could use them for climbing up steep faces of rock.


    Then he looked around and cut off a large chunk of meaty section from the body. He would have to eat something eventually. It was not like he was given rations in his training pack.


    Having collected an abundance of gear he walked back to the tree that had his hammock in it. He easily climbed up despite the increased gravity and fashioned it all into a bundle using the remains of the orbital drop suit and then left it on his hammock as he climbed back down. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace moved through the trees again this time collecting long bundles of vines and various types of branches as he moved. They would all be useful later. When he decided to take a break he pulled out the data tablet he was provided and checked the map.


    He first noticed that the low altitude parachutes were now coming down, he glanced up and confirmed that the Wing of Pegasus was much lower as a few parachutes opened. The next thing he noticed was that the majority of people were grouping up together in various parts of the island. There were only a few like himself that were clearly farther away from others.


    Technically he was surrounded on all sides by people, but because of the sheer faces of the mountain it was probably almost impossible and not worth it for them to climb up here. With a set up like this there should not be any issues unless a group is attacked by a pack of creatures.


    It was nearing night as he decided he had enough and started making his way back to his hammock. Using his enhanced senses to avoid interacting with the various creatures that were roaming on the top of this mountain.


    From what he could tell there were four types of large predatory creatures that he had heard and even more smaller creatures. The first was the creature he had encountered earlier, they are mainly near the edges on all except one side. Then there was a creature that growled, it stayed near the center area where Jace had landed and then set up his hammock. The next one was a chittering multi-legged creature that was situated near the side of the mountain where those mantis-lizards avoided. The last one was a growling creature he had seen, it looked to have bones on its external skeleton as it walked on two legs and used basic tools and stood at roughly seven feet tall.


    The most particular thing about the last one was the mask-like bone face as it had two horns growing out of the top of the masks. He would say it was a semi intelligent species but it acted like a gorilla or other primate from historical records.

 Chapter 77 - 77: Night 1

    As night fell Jace got the first of his alerts from the data tablet. At the moment he was sitting at the base of his tree. In front of him was a small fire where the chunk of meat he cut off the creature he killed was cooking. In his hands was an almost complete bow he was fashioning out of flexible wooden sticks and a high tensile rubber that was part of his orbital drop suit. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He pulled over the data tablet and noticed that the first alert was on the edge of the island, it appeared that a group was moving closer so he could not and did not have to do anything about it. The second alert was near the river and it was coming from multiple people that were part of a group, but there was one of the loners he spotted earlier nearing the group.


    He set the tablet to the side again as he focused on finishing his bow. With a bow and arrows he would be able to assist with enemies from afar. He would not have that much range, but it would still go a long way to remaining unseen.


    Jace stopped what he was doing for a moment as he listened. There was a thumping noise coming from another area nearby. As far as he could tell it was a hollow piece of wood hitting another hollow piece of wood.


    After it stopped he could hear a bunch of movement coming from everywhere. He even saw it as well as he watched a small rock, or rather what he thought was a rock, grow legs and shuffle away like a crab. Seems the noise was some type of warning that the nocturnal creatures were about to emerge as he could no longer hear the larger predators moving around.


    Once he finished his bow he waited until his meat finished cooking before he put out the fire and climbed back up to his hammock. With no intention to sleep he instead intended to observe the nocturnal creatures as he worked on fashioning arrows and another device from the orbital drop suit''s helmet.


    As he worked through the night he munched on the bitter but still edible meat he had found. It would probably be better to turn it into jerky next time. The juices of the meat actually made it taste worse.


    Checking the data tablet he found that the majority of the groups were located near a water source with their vitals showing half of them in a state of rest. Seems they were all setting up near the large bodies of water. Tomorrow he would have to set up a system so he could watch from afar.


    He looked down at the base of the tree to see what looked like a swarm of something moving along the ground. It was not just one thing either. He could barely make out motion going in several different directions. It was either a bunch of larger critters running over each other or a ton of smaller critters running in all directions.


    He put away the datapad as he kept watch through the night. Which was a loose definition since he was mostly using his hearing to listen. He figured it would be better to just stay up the first night to see if the location of his hammock would draw attention.


    Aside from the creatures that were skittering across the ground he could also hear something flapping through the air making a clicking noise at frequent intervals. Every once in a while he could hear a piercing noise before a whooshing noise. Almost like it was diving and grabbing something off the ground. He did not remember seeing anything flying when he dropped so these might be the apex predators, not just for the air but for the land creatures as well. He would have to build up some foliage around his hammock if he wanted to remain unbothered.


    Fortunately it sounded like they would be hunting down on the lower areas of the continent tonight. So he was safe at least for now from whatever flying creature resided here.


    ¡ª-----------------------


    Salem frowned as she looked around at her group. Half of them were resting on the rock hard ground. She decided to take the first watch as she still had a lot on her mind.


    After she landed she started grouping together with others. She figured the best method of survival in an unknown environment was having a group. It seemed like she was not the only one who realized this either.


    Initially once they started using the same method of communication across the continent some asked if it would be better to make a large group. But since having too big of a group would make all the local wildlife turn on them, it was turned down as an option.


    To communicate they were just using the radios they were provided. Only a single person would have a radio on in the entire group while the rest had the batteries removed. It allowed them to coordinate and provide information to others. However it would not work if someone was alone.


    Which brought her to her current conundrum. Why were there a few people missing? They had done a headcount and quickly realized that a few people were missing. All of the people that were missing were all reported to be incredibly talented, so it made no sense.


    Of those who were missing, Jace was among them. But she even saw him land on the top of the mountain. Which was a sound tactical plan for getting a lay of the land but she figured she would secure a water source while he did that.


    That is why she was set up at the base of the mountain where the river ran out of the mountain. It was an untainted water source as far as she could tell. Although there were some rather vicious fish and water lizards residing in it.


    She would have to spend some more time figuring it out tomorrow but she already suspected she had an idea. If the others were just as talented as Jace or had the same system compatibility it might be true that their survival kits had something different in them.


    She had heard that another group was fighting some multihead creature and was struggling when one of its feet disappeared. Giving the group the advantage they needed to kill it. Afterward they realized that it was none of them and noted the anomaly.


    Salem would see about scaling the cliff face tomorrow.


    Tonight she had enough to deal with as it is. She had a single injured person in her group who lost only a few fingers to a Kitinol that was disguising itself as a tree. Thankfully he did not lose his whole hand, but still it was an injury that used up some of his supplies.


    Now all of the groups were aware that the Kitinol were using disguises to hide rather than its usual form dedicated to killing. Which bothered her just as much since it meant the Kitinol thought the wildlife on this planet was too hostile for it to overcome.


    They had seen the signs, like the fact that one of the groups found a Kitinol vessel hollow and abandoned near the beach. Then there were the various predators they were finding all across the island.


    Salem stopped mid thought as she could feel the mind of some beast nearing at a fast speed. She looked around and then looked up as she could make out something diving down towards her group.


    "Contact!" Salem yelled as she grabbed a nearby stone and threw it in anticipation of the creature''s path. Her shout caused the others who were on watch to scrabble into a ready position. While those who were asleep began stirring awake.


    Salem''s stone hit the chest of the flying creature as it stopped on its dive with what appeared to be tendril-like appendages stretching toward the single injured person of their party. Since it had gotten so close to their communal fire Salem also now got a good look at this flying creature.


    The creature has a ten foot wingspan. The wings were leathery like a bat with claws halfway through the wings. The creature''s head had two giant vertical holes and two giant pointy ears to go with a monstrous mouth with razor sharp teeth. But as far as she could tell it did not have eyes of any kind. The creature''s entire body was flat but had creases like it was flabby. The ''legs'' of the creature are somewhere between four and eight tendrils all with differing lengths and it was located in the place she would have expected the creature''s legs to be.


    The stone caught the creature off guard as it flinched for a moment. Flapping its wings for a moment to hover, causing dirt to be thrown up and whirl of wind pushing around light objects.


    That moment of surprise cost its life as three knives were sailing through the air along with a lasso made of parachute rope. One knife went for its chest getting stuck near the lower area where the legs were. Another knife lodged itself in the creature''s head, causing it to shriek in pain. The last knife went into one of the tendrils that was reaching for the now fully awake injured person. The lasso wrapped around its head and was pulled.


    The creature unsteadily collapsed onto the ground as the rope was pulled tight. Salem ran forward drawing her own knife and jumping up. As she jumped onto its back she pulled its head to the side by one of its giant ears and cut through the throat with a knife, nearly decapitating the creature.


    As it began collapsing she jumped back and watched as it shook and shuddered a few times before going completely still. Salem looked around before nodding her head, "good response time but we could do better. Whoever has the radio, please warn the others that the nocturnal flying creature can smell blood and they appear to hyperfocus on it." Salem nodded at the injured person who was disoriented, "someone find a way to mask the smell, I don''t feel like fending off a bunch of those throughout the night."

 Chapter 78 - 78: Day 2

    Jace was not tired. He had never really had a reason to stay up so long before but it appeared that his increased abilities helped him stay awake for a longer amount of time. During the night he had completed his impromptu bow. He had learned how to make one from Ulin during their time at the academy.


    The version he made was closer to a longbow with greater distance than a normal bow. Especially with such elasticity at his disposal. It was nothing compared to a professionally manufactured bow, but he was sure it was better than a normal stick and string. Although it was still a long way from a pistol or rifle.


    Which would help him so much more in the current situation he was in. After descending from his hammock where he had remained unbothered throughout the entire night from those flying creatures he had started working on making long lines of rope using these thick vines. But as he was going though curing them he had encountered a problem.


    In one area of the mountain where the vines were far more abundant there was a creature or plant that had several vines branching out through an area. Jace did not realize it at first so he started cutting into one of them.


    Then once he was part of the way through almost all of the vines in the area began moving. Jace was only stunned for a moment before deciding to run but as he started running a vine grabbed him by the leg and dragged him away.


    Which is how he found himself in a cave somewhere inside of the mountain. Jace was hanging upside down while restrained by vines. Nearby hanging similar vine cocoons were some other creatures that were likely locals. All of them were struggling or making movements, but Jace could see the cocoons tightening as they did.


    Which was why Jace had become so relaxed in the low light of the cave. Instead choosing to observe his surroundings. The vine cocoons were hanging from cracks in the roof of the cave. Littering the floor of the cave were a number of skeletons from an array of creatures. Running under, over, and through the skeletons were a number of vines some of which were slithering and moving. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the center of the bones where all the vines led to was a giant gray bulb like the bulb of a flower. It sat in the center and was likely what was controlling all of these vines. It seemed like this plant had hunting grounds set up throughout the island. He might have wandered into one by accident, but how did it draw creatures in? Smell?


    He started assessing his own gear. Jace had a Scythe arm turned into a spear on his back. Then there was the bow, but no arrows. A collection of vines that he had already turned into rope. Then there is the reinforced data tablet that he had stored on his hip. The last thing he had on him was the knife.


    He was restrained upside down but he could still slightly move his arms. He just had to be careful to not move the vines too much. As he moved the hand with his knife slightly shifted so he could cut the vine that was attached to the roof of the cave. He would have to figure out his course of action first.


    There was a single hole or entrance to the cave that he was pulled in from. There are vines around the edges but nothing actually blocking it. But even if he got out he had to be careful of the vines.


    Jace had to make an assumption here, but he believed this creature ''saw'' by touch. So once he was out of the cave he would have scaled the side of the mountain without touching any of the vines. Then he would have to find a way to distinguish the cannibal plant vines from the normal vines.


    After spending a moment figuring out his specific route and reviewing it for a few minutes he was ready. But as he was preparing to commit to his plan one of the lizard-mantis creatures broke free and fell to the ground.


    It ran towards the cave hole shredding through vines as it ran. While other vines whipped out trying to grab the creature. But as it neared the entrance the bulb in the center of the room slightly moved and a glob of fluid flew through the air. As the creature jumped out of the hole the ball of glob made contact.


    Jace watched as the skin of the creature quickly melted off while it shrieked in horror before falling out of sight.


    So maybe just running was not a good option. But he definitely just confirmed that he was nowhere near the main body. The bulb was smoking and shriveling up while a vine dragged up the remains of the creature and brought it deeper into the cave. Then he could hear crunching and cracking for a moment.


    Then a few of the other creatures began pulling themselves loose and running for the hole in the cave. Jace watched for an additional moment until the first one was out. Then He leaned up and cut the vine. Falling from the roof he landed on his feet with a groan of pain. Then he took off to the bright hole in the cave wall.


    The other creatures ignored him as they ran. Seems they were more scared then hungry or curious about him. As he got to the hole in the cave it seemed the vine plant creature had started reacting to the stampede of creatures.


    There was a whoosh, crack, and a thud as a vine smacked one of the creatures in the side. Sending it sailing into the wall of the cave. Jace was climbing outside of the cave in the next step. Using the vine appendages of the creature to exit and then scale the side of the mountain.


    He was not the only one as the local creatures were all scrambling up the mountain side in an odd sort of race. Jace was sure that it looked comical to anyone that saw it but he could almost feel the fear in the air as he focused on going horizontal rather than vertical.


    Jace reached the edge of the vines while many of the other creatures were still dodging the whip-like vines. He switched from using the vines as handholds to using jagged rocks and cracks in the stone. He began climbing to the top again, occasionally glancing over to see how these local creatures were faring.


    Not well from the looks of things. Some that could easily climb were able to easily escape but those large feline-like and wolf-like creatures were struggling. But he was amused by the site of what looked like a giant alligator jumping straight down.


    By the time he reached the top of the mountain''s large plateau he was out of breath. It has been awhile since he exerted himself enough to lose his breath. Now that he was thinking of it he felt tired, not sleepy tired but rather he felt exhausted.


    As he got his bearings he started making his way back to his tree. This time he was much more careful about the vines he collected along the way. Eventually he figured out the difference between the normal vines and those death vines. The death vines had a purple vein running through it that would be visible.


    If he was not so caught up in his own stuff he might have noticed it last time. But as it was he needed to remind himself to be aware of his surroundings. As he arrived back at his tree with pounds of vines he stopped dead in his tracks.


    Sitting at the bottom of his tree was a giant tiger-like creature with white fur and green stripes. It was bleeding from one of its hind legs. As he approached he flinched in surprise as he realized he had not been using his enhanced senses to listen for danger.


    The tiger thing growled in response to his presence while Jace looked to the descending sun, it would be a few hours until night time. This creature would likely die if it could not make it back to whatever hole it hides inside of.


    After a few moments of deliberation he nodded his head and made his decision. He set down most of the things he had on him. While he did he looked over the tiger creature''s injury.


    The tiger creature''s leg was a mix between its fur that covered the rest of its body while its leg is white scales. It had claws that looked less useful for shredding and more useful in digging into trees with their rounded shape.


    After looking at it for a moment he realized the cut ran between where it switched from fur to scales. The injury itself appeared to have started to heal but stopped when the wound opened up more. Likely from an abundance of movement or running away.


    The creature growled as he approached and tried to move but howled in pain when it did so. Giving Jace a chance to get closer with a vine and branch. He quickly straightened the creature''s leg and tied a branch to it in order to keep it straight while he tied the vine tight. If he just kept the wound mostly closed there was a chance it could just naturally heal quickly on its own.

 Chapter 79 - 79: Night 2

    Soon after he tied up the creature''s leg it passed out. Giving him time to go and hunt, it was a quick and easy hunt since so many new creatures had been introduced to the mountain plateau. He found a wolf-like creature that created illusions when it saw him.


    Fortunately these illusions which it was creating through a gem in its forehead were not solid so he was able easily take it down using his makeshift spear. Seems this planet had an abundance of creatures that were meant to trick sight. It made him wonder what helped them evolve in that manner. Because of the three creatures that he encountered trying to kill him they all had some manner to disguise or conceal themselves.


    The mantis-lizards could turn invisible, the illusion-wolf could make illusionary duplicates, and the vine plant creature had appendages disguised as vines. He would have to operatie going forward with the belief that any creature he encountered was concealing themself in some manner.


    He brought the illusion-wolf''s entire body back with him. When he arrived the tiger whose leg was injured was awake and glared at him as he approached growling slightly under its breath. It was still lying where he left it but its leg appeared to be almost completely healed as there was only a sliver of blood where the large gash used to be.


    "So you do heal fast, at an incredible rate as well." Jace observed as he looked over to the wolf he brought. He put his weapons to the side while he brandished his knife to butcher the wolf. As he cut up the creature he focused on finding out weak points.


    Like any normal animal its heart was a weak point and so was its brain. There were only two things he could find unique to this particular creature. The first was the gemstone directly connected to its brain that seemed to be organic in origin. The other was an additional organ in its body that he was not familiar with.


    Unfortunately Jace did not have the equipment to investigate something like this. So he would have to spend time watching if he wanted to figure it out. But as he went to throw it to the side he heard the tiger make a pouting noise.


    Jace looked over to see the tiger staring intently at the organ. He saw no harm in it so he threw the organ to the tiger and it caught the organ in its jaw and began devouring it. It appears that whatever the organ was, it was seen or tasted like a delicacy to the locals.


    Jace shook his head as he continued to butcher the creature. Placing all of the meat on a fire to cook but dumping the organs off to the side. Tonight he wanted to run an experiment and leaving out the excess meat would do perfectly.


    After he finished butchering the wolf he began thinking of how he should hoist his new companion up the tree. He may not know much about what was coming out at night, but he knew that all the other creatures hid when night fell.


    Jace made a few trips up and down the tree as he prepared for the night. He fashioned a bed of vines for the tiger as well as putting up a few pointed sticks in case a flying creature decided he or the tiger might be worth a snack.


    But as he was coming back down he frowned as he looked at the cooking meat. Then he looked at the tiger, "stop eating my meat." The meat had steadily been decreasing each time he went up and down. He ignored it at first because he thought the tiger would stop at a few of the bones but it clearly had decided not to.


    The tiger tilted its head and made a strange sound. If he did not know any better he would think this thing knew what he was saying and was playing coy. But considering this thing was likely based on the genetics of a tiger the chances of it being intelligent enough to understand human language was next to nothing.


    By the time he was preparing to lift up the tiger in a harness as the sun was descending. Jace looked at the sky as he could feel his body increasingly resisting the extra work. Getting the tiger on the harness took only a moment as it appeared to be easily baited with cooked meat.


    Once the tiger was on the harness he began pulling up the vine until it was level with the tiger''s hammock which was only a few branches lower than his own. Then he tied off the vine to another tree, double checking to make sure the vine would hold. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then he climbed up the level of the tree where the tiger''s vine hammock was located as it was looking around with curiosity. As the forest he was in grew darker he managed to move the tiger over to the vine hammock which had a rudimentary defense in the form of sharpened branches. Just in case one of those flying creatures decided they looked like a tasty meal. He had also done it to the branches near his own hammock.


    At the same time as yesterday was the wood on wood noise echoing throughout the forest. Seemed it was about time for the night creatures to emerge.


    Jace double checked the tiger''s almost completely healed leg before heading up to his own hammock for the night. As he arrived he organized the small storage area he had fashioned and started working on the orbital drop suit helmet he was working on. Only stopping once it was too difficult to see in the dark with only the moons to sustain his sight.


    About halfway through the night is when something happened.


    Jace awoke to a screeching noise and sat up in time to see a winged bat-like creature with a rather large wingspan diving right toward him. But as he grabbed a spear it lowered a bit and went toward where the tiger was. Running right into the spanked branches he had sharpened.


    It screeched loud enough in pain that Jace could even hear the small critters below freeze in surprise. Then there was a cracking noise followed by a snap as it fell to the ground. All while it screeched in pain, then surprise, and then pain again.


    It crashed into the ground with a thud. Then a second later the sound of the small critters moving could be heard followed by the creatures screeching going up several octaves. Jace flinched in pain at the recognition of the sound crunching and tearing as the flying creature was eaten alive.


    Initially he left out the offal and other organs in order to see what would be left in the morning. But the sound of them eating through creatures was disturbing enough for him to wonder if these creatures could be the reason that there was very little in surface vegetation and if they were also the reason for the trees'' hard bark on the lower areas. In the morning he would certainly know how much they ate up.


    Disturbed by the sound of crunching he did not go back to sleep and instead decided to work on the helmet again. He spent the rest of the night, thankful for the few hours of sleep he had managed to get as he felt refreshed.


    This planet was an array of mysteries that he was sure were being investigated. Although all the things he had seen so far indicate a sight based Apex Predator that emerged during the day. But he doubted they would knowingly send a bunch of students designated for special operations candidates against an Apex Predator.


    So they either were not aware of the existence of this possible Apex Predator or they planned their training exercise around an interval where they knew this creature would not emerge. Either way he should be prepared for the worst in case it ever came to pass.


    As he finished his work on the helmet he whistled in approval as the sun began to rise. Pulling the helmet on he now had all the data from the reinforced data tablet being transmitted to the helmet.


    Actually making a digital connection between the helmet and the data tablet was not too difficult. But he had to spend all this time rewiring a few things on the helmet and programming a heads up display from scratch to work with the orbital drop suit helmet''s more simplistic design.


    But now as he put the helmet on he pulled up the display. Up in the right was where alerts would pop up. The left side had radio frequencies that were in use, for the moment there was not any. The rest of the helmet screen could pull up a targeting reticle based off of distortions in the air.


    Jace sat in his hammock for a few extra minutes as dawn began gracing the sky with fiery orange color. Adjusting to his helmet when two different radio frequencies began to operate. He pulled out his radio and tuned it to the first frequency; it was the various groups doing check-ins and confirmations that nothing had gone wrong during the night. Then he turned it to the second frequency and listened intently to the communication, tuning it to his helmet so it was not constantly making noise that would draw attention.

 Chapter 80 - 80: Day 3

    Jace spent only a couple dozen of minutes climbing down the tree with the equipment he needed for the day. Then he lowered the tiger creature he had somehow tamed to the ground using the vine levy system he was using. The ground around the tree was just as pristine as he thought it would be.


    The burnt pieces of wood he used for cooking and the rocks he was using to contain the fire were still there. Just like they were yesterday. But the offal and other organs he intentionally left out yesterday were picked clean, there was not even any blood left over.


    As for the flying creature that came after them last night, it appeared to have completely disappeared. None of the bones or blood were left of the creature. The only signs that it was even there were the two branches turned into stakes that the flying creature had impaled itself on. They were sitting on the ground still sharpened but with all of the blood gone from them.


    The most disturbing thing had to be the missing blood. Because that meant that there was a creature that could absorb or drink blood, even if it had begun drying. There were not many creatures like that, but they always ended up with a high level of danger classification.


    He would have to avoid going out at night at all times. But as far as he could tell it was contained to the plateau on this mountain. Otherwise all those reports about minor injuries between the groups would have resulted in deaths.


    After the tiger was on the ground he walked up and checked its leg injury. The injury had completely healed overnight. But what was even stranger was that the tiger''s leg, which was a scaled claw, useful for climbing had at some point transformed into a normal tiger''s paw. Jace blinked in surprise as he looked over the tiger. By all accounts it now looked like a perfectly normal tiger, except it most certainly was not.


    So far the only thing he had determined was that this planet was extremely dangerous. The planet had creatures that were adapted to survive in certain ways that were not consistent with the environment they were in. Then there was the water, where did it run from. Why was it not reacting adversely with the acid? Actually he just thought of a better question, why were most of the species he had seen so far similar to earth based species?


    He had been listening in on the second radio channel the most. It appears that each of the islands and the main continent on this planet had drones operating. Most of the observations about the various creatures they were looking at were labeled by a designation instead of species name when they talked about them. He would keep listening in case there was something important that popped up but he doubted there would be.


    After removing the vines and stick that was keeping its leg straight he backed up while it began stretching its leg. Then as he dismantled the vine pulley system he saw the tiger jumping around and double checking its leg.


    Once he was completely prepared he left toward the northern side of the plateau where it was still those mantis-lizard''s territory but it was not as heavily populated. As he walked through the forest he had his bow draw with an arrow notched while vines were stuffed in his bag. He had brought enough to make it down the roughly quarter of a mile-long cliff face on the side of the mountain.


    As he arrived in the mantis-lizard''s territory he listened carefully for movement while he turned off his radio so he could hear disturbances more easily. Jace quietly walked through the territory but frowned as he glanced over his shoulder. Following behind him at a distance was the tiger, it was moving quietly but he could still hear it.


    They stared at each other for a moment as the tiger blinked in confusion at him. Then he turned back around and kept moving. Jace was able to easily make it to the edge of the plateau and glanced down.


    Using his enhanced sight he spotted the two groups that were located near the lake on opposite sides. It seemed they were both able to set up camps and were now working on walls and other defenses for those camps. From here he could see that they were mostly uninjured, but they had set up a small hut where they likely kept people that were more injured. Seemed both groups were setting up in the same way.


    These groups and the others likely all got directions from someone else on the essentials they would need for survival. It was a bit boring but made sense in a way.


    In order to be picked for the Tartarus Project you had to have a certain capacity for intelligence. Which means they could easily display independent thought. But it also means they understand when they are out of their depth and need another person''s help.


    For now it would not be an issue but down the line they would need a clear understanding of operating procedures. But that might be the whole point of this survival training exercise. To understand that their knowledge is limited. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace pulled himself out of his contemplation as he moved over to a tree and tied off the vine. Looping it twice before tying it off. Then he walked to the edge and threw the other end outwards. Causing it to quickly unravel before falling and smacking into the side of the mountain.


    The vine rope did not make it to the base of the mountain but it managed to get halfway up the trees that were down there. It would make do for an emergency situation. Like if he had to get down there quickly, but it would be more difficult to climb up.


    Nodding he turned around and almost laughed at the sight of the tiger that was lying next to the edge of the plateau and slowly crawling closer to the edge. It was comical sight seeing such a large creature scared of the edge.


    Jace shook his head and laughed a bit before he started walking back toward his tree. He left another bundle of vines he would lower on the other side of the plateau, roughly where the river was located.


    As he walked back through the mantis-lizard territory he continued to remain at a state of high alert. It was a good thing he did because near the edge of the area he determined to be their territory he had to roll away from an invisible scythe arm while the tiger growled at the creature.


    After rolling away he let loose three quick arrows. A moment later the creature appeared and collapsed on the ground. Of the two arrows he had fired blindly in the creatures direction, only one of them had missed and hit a tree in the distance.


    One of the arrows that hit had pierced its midsection but had likely not done any actual damage. The last arrow had gone through one of the creature''s eyes, it probably pierced the creature''s brain and killed it instantaneously.


    But just in case as he approached it he pulled out one of the makeshift scythe spears he had made and decapitated the creature. Then he began cutting off a chunk of the meat. Once he was done he continued his walk back to his tree.


    When he arrived he cut up the meat and placed it in a makeshift sack. Then he placed the sack along with the vine rope and a canteen in his bag with the other things he would need. He had run out of water last night, so he would descend the mountain and retrieve the water he needed from the river that the other groups had set up camps near.


    As he walked through the forest he was not as alert as this area was not as inhabited, there were gigantic webs interconnecting the trees but the local, a giant spider as far as he could tell, was far away at the moment. It appeared to be a semi-nocturnal creature as it was awake during the night and part of the morning but asleep the rest of the day.


    Which was why he waited until the afternoon to come to this area. Jace was able to easily make it to the south side of the plateau and looked over the edge as he tied off the vine to the tree again.


    This time he was not able to make out the groups or their base camps because of the heavy foliage. Seems the river side was more heavy on trees.


    Once Jace was finished tying off the vine rope and double checking its stability he tossed it out. This time the rope reached almost to the base. It would just take a quick jump to reach the bottom of the rope.


    He double checked all of his gear making sure everything was secure. Then he began descending, chuckling when he heard the tiger make a noise like it was pouting. Making it down to the base of the mountain only took minutes, it would be more difficult to climb back up.


    Jace walked to the river and put his flask in, filling it back up. Then he pulled out the meat chunks from the mantis-lizard and washed them in the river. After spending a few minutes doing that he was ready to go back up.


    DING!

 Chapter 81 - 81: Missing Six

    In the top right corner of his HUD an alert popped up. He quickly switched over to the channel the various survival groups were using. Then moving over to the bottom of the vine rope he stashed all of his gear behind a rock.


    Then he quickly and quietly moved through the forest with his makeshift scythe spear in hand. His bow and arrows were tucked away in a makeshift quiver on his back. Finally his knife was still in the makeshift holder on his belt.


    As he arrived near the group he spotted the issue that had arisen. There was a pack of tall chitin covered Kitinol. The core of their body was five feet in the air with long sharp legs that were stabbing into the ground. The body had a bunch of armor chitin on the front and bottom. But as he was coming from behind the line of Kitinol he could see the gapes in the back of the body where it was likely weakened so it could move.


    The surviving group were using spears to keep it back while the backline threw stones. It was working for the moment as the Kitinol only had four legs. So they could keep them off balance with their spears if the Kitinol approached too far forward.


    Jace kept his distance before he found a suitable tree and climbed part of the way up. Once he was up he pulled out his bow and fired off a few arrows. The first arrow bounced off the shell of the Kitinol.


    He frowned and adjusted his aim before he let loose another arrow with a humm from his bow snapping to position. The arrow flew through the air and slid in between two plates of Chitin and a spurt of blood was spat out.


    The Kitinol itself flinched for a moment before tilting its body upwards and screeching. Its armored mouth opened for the first time with a screech as its multiple tongues snapped through the air and its mouth full of pointed teeth were revealed. It began looking around trying to find where its pain originated when one of the survivors from the group threw a spear which went through its head and killed it.


    As it collapsed to the ground the other three tall Kitinol began looking around in confusion. Which resulted in them losing their footing and falling. The survivor group took the chance and smashed it with rocks and spears, killing it quickly.


    The next one quickly turned tail and began running through the forest, likely back to whatever nest it and the others had managed to carve out. But as it ran it passed by Jace so he jumped from his position on the tree to a spot on its back.


    The Kitinol only had a moment to make some sort of yelping noise before his makeshift spear was digging into its back. Then it collapsed to the ground and Jace was thrown off. He took the moment to glance at the last Kitinol that the survivor group and decided they were probably going to be able to take down.


    He looked at his makeshift scythe spear and noticed the scythe part was shattered. Jace frowned for only a moment before he noticed a few from the survivor group were coming towards him.


    Jace quickly ran back to his vine rope. He pulled on his bag and then quickly began scaling the mountain cliff face. As he climbed he listened in on the radio.


    "We were just attacked by a group of Kitinol, Long legged type. One of them got away and was heading north. Not in a direct path of any other group. I sent some scouts to track it down but stay alert just in case. Official records might not be useful on this planet with the highly mutated species we have encountered." He could hear Salem''s voice over the radio as she talked.


    "Yeah, it seems like we are getting noticed more and more by the local wildlife. We have to build up our defenses more. Personally I plan to knock down nearby trees to get line of sight further into the forest. Does anyone have any word on our six missing comrades?" Another person asked over the radio.


    "No but we have just found a few arrows and a spear that definitely was not ours. Seems like one of those missing six came around to help us. As soon as we are able to, we will send people to follow their tracks." Salem responded before continuing, "on another note the spear they used was made out of what looked like a giant mantis claw. Has anyone seen anything like that?"


    There was silence as Jace kicked himself as he neared the plateau. He forgot to erase his tracks. Once he saw that some of them were coming his way he panicked and prioritized speed over stealth.


    Once she had determined the response was a resounding no she spoke again. "In that case at least one of the missing six is up on that mountain."


    "Well we will keep that in mind for later. For now we need to focus on keeping together what we have rather than investigating why certain people are missing. It should be stated that they likely have their own reasons. So for now stay the course, do not take unnecessary risks for figuring this out." Another calmer voice responded.


    Jace pulled himself up over the edge. Glancing at the tiger that was waiting near a tree. Its head shot up when it saw him. He sighed and took a breath before walking towards his tree. He had finished what he needed to do for the day. So he might as well cook some food and get some rest.


    But six people for six groups, I suppose it worked out rather well for them. Each person that was probably given a second mission had one group to protect. It did also mean they would have to stay near their respective groups. Which would be difficult for him considering there is a mind reader in the group he would be protecting.


    There was something bothering him. It was about what they said about not seeing any mantis-lizards. Because that means there was a good chance that the environment at the top of the mountain was drastically different from the lower areas.


    Not necessarily more or less dangerous. It was more like the danger would be different then what they faced. He would have to investigate the wildlife in the lower areas more closely. Either way he might want to leave a sign warning them about the type of dangers on this plateau were all stealth based.


    He would do it tomorrow before he went down the mountain again. Maybe he should hunt some more food for this tiger though. It seems insistent on staying with him. So he would have to start accounting for it when he made his plans.


    As he arrived at his tree he stopped in his tracks as he looked around in confusion. His makeshift fire had been disturbed and there were large footprints going around his tree. Jace approached his tree cautiously while heightening his senses and turning off the radio again.


    He calmly set down his bag as he looked around. As soon as his bag sat on the ground he dashed over to a cluster of trees. Nocking an arrow as he moved, intent on getting the first hit off.


    As he arrived he found one of those large bone covered creatures with a bone mallet. It was hunched over but flinched in surprise as he came around a tree. It was likely waiting until he rested to attack.


    There was a whistle followed by a thunk as the arrow bounced off the bone creature''s armor. He was not that good with a bow, he had only been getting lucky so far. But it seemed his luck had run out.


    Jace had to dive backward as the bone creature overcame its surprise and swung its bone mallet at him. As he dove back he managed to evade the blow but the explosion of rock caught him off guard as the ground cracked and chipped, while throwing up rock where he hit the ground.


    It is an impressive level of strength. But its recovery was awful as it stepped forward to lift the mallet up with both hands so by the time Jace had recovered from rock shrapnel the bone creature had managed to lift its bone mallet.


    Jace tossed his bow to the side as he pulled out another arrow and his knife. He would have to get in close in order to take this creature out. It would be dangerous with this creature''s strength. But if it started knocking down trees he would have a whole different problem.


    It growled and charged for him revealing its blood red skin and forked tongue as it did so. Along with its sharpened teeth and rather large mouth.


    Jace ran to it in response but as it swung at him he slipped into a roll and went by the creature. Using the rough terrain to stop his momentum and spin himself around so he was behind the creature.


    Once he was behind it he raced to its back and shoved the arrow through a gap in its back armor while his knife went into its neck. It began screaming in pain. Before it could react, Jace started channeling electricity from his hands into its body. Being extra careful to not overload any electronics on his person.


    After a half a minute it went limp and Jace pulled out the knife. He began walking to his tree grabbing a leaf to clean his knife while the tiger happily bounded forward and began gnawing at the bone armor. It was probably trying to cut it open to get into the meaty parts underneath.


    Jace rolled his eyes as he ignored it and went to prepare for the night.


    sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 82 - 82: Day 4

    Jace''s night passed without anything of note. Although the tiger did push the bone creature''s body onto the fire to cook it. It was interesting to watch the tiger as it watched its meat cook.


    Jace''s dinner consisted of lizard-mantis kebabs and water. While the tiger munched on well cooked bone creature parts. He did notice something particular again. The bone creature had the same extra organ that he had not seen before that was in the illusion-wolf. It seemed the local wildlife had adapted for a specific digestive track and for whatever reason this tiger seemed to like eating those organs specifically.


    When Jace came down from his tree he found the remains of the bone creature that the tiger left behind had disappeared. He glanced at the tiger as it jumped from branch to branch to reach the ground.


    Since it was early in the morning he would first go to the north side of the plateau and put up a sign warning about the stealth based creatures. Then once it was midday he could go to the south side, the spider-like thing''s territory.


    As he moved through the forest equipped with a bow, his knife, and another makeshift scythe spear he listened for movement again. This time his helmet had the radio disabled for the time being. He could not listen to it all the time because he only had a single spare battery for the radio, so he would have to come up with a pattern of when he would need to be listening in.


    He was able to make it to the north side of the plateau without encountering any lizard-mantis creatures. He could actually hear them in the distance, the few times they got near him they veered away. Almost like the creatures were now avoiding him.


    Jace was able to leave a simple wooden sign tied with a vine to three where the vine rope was attached. Just a simple warning about invisible creatures would work. Then he walked back to the south side of the plateau. Once again he avoided encountering anything, mostly because everything was avoiding him.


    That would make it difficult to hunt later when he needed food. After arriving at the south side and putting up another side he looked at the tiger that had been curiously and obediently following him.


    "Well that is my task done for the day. What do you think we should hunt for food today?"


    ¡ª-------------------------


    Salem was confused about what she was looking at. "You are saying the vine attacked you?" Three of the people she had designated as scouts were looking somewhat scuffed up with a few cuts and bruises but otherwise fine. Sitting on the makeshift wooden table she had made was a long vine they had brought back. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes ma''am. We were looking around the base of the mountain and Casey stepped on one almost tripping. But before we even had a chance to react the vine grabbed him and started dragging him away." Another of the scouts reported.


    Casey, who was half covered in dirt nodded in agreement as he continued the story. "I managed to cut myself loose though and then ran like hell with this part still wrapped around one of my legs."


    "We figured coming back and reporting this was more important than finishing the scouting of the base of the mountain." The third one finished the report.


    "Very well," How annoying, she was hoping to get some solid intel about an alternate way up the mountain instead she had stumbled into a new problem. "I will figure this out myself, get someone to dissect this, and find out what the difference is between this vine and the normal ones. After that you can rest up and do some less stressful work."


    Salem turned away as the three did a quick salute. She made her way over to a group that was not going to be on watch for a few hours. They were standing around the makeshift armory that had bows, crossbows, and spears. They had gotten the idea after finding the arrows yesterday.


    "You six are coming with me. We are going to see if we can draw out a new creature that was encountered by the scouts." Salem grabbed a crossbow and a bundle of bolts as the rest of them quickly got ready, not expecting to be called to action.


    "What do we need to know about this creature?" One of them asked as they stepped in behind Salem as she began walking away.


    "It either uses vines or appendages that look like vines to capture its prey. So be careful where you step." Salem answered as she led the way out of the camp where a wall was being erected.


    "Yes ma''am!" The group responded quickly.


    Salem had quickly established herself as the leader of the group and taken charge. But even when she knew what they were saying was the truth she was still in disbelief. There was a lot out there, but living vines? That was unlikely. Which is why she wanted to handle this herself.


    Well that and see if she can hear Jace''s mind from nearby. She was certain he was up on the mountain. But trying to climb the mountain using the vine was not going to happen, she was not crazy enough to attempt that. They needed safety systems in place in order to attempt going up the mountain by climbing.


    Half an hour later she arrived at the base of the mountain. She looked along both sides before following the cliff face going to the west. It was the direction she had the scouts moving along the mountain for the scouting missions they were doing. They would follow a similar path to try and find this vine creature.


    As she moved along the mountain wall with the others behind her she had the crossbow braced against her shoulder with a bolt in place. The vines became more frequent as she walked.


    "Do you think these are them?" One of the people she brought with her asked as he nodded at one of the vines running along the wall.


    "Hit the vines to find out." Salem chuckled while giving her answer. "We are going to head to the source of the vines. It looks like some of them run from cracks in the mountain and ground while some are from those trees." She pointed at the line of trees they were walking along. "These ones on the other hand," She motioned toward a bunch of vines that were running parallel and were going further west along the mountain base. "Are probably what we are looking for. But I want to avoid alerting whatever creature this might be if I can."


    "Ohh¡­" The various soldiers she brought with her made noises of understanding while they continued following her. Making a noticeable effort to avoid the vines she pointed out.


    As they walked the amount of vines running parallel and in the same direction only increased, making their efforts only more difficult as they avoided even touching the vines for fear of triggering them. Their efforts were rewarded an hour later when they came around to a cave that had vines running out of the entrance covering every conceivable inch. If they wanted to enter that cave they would be forced to step on those vines.


    "Well that does not look feasible. What do we do now boss?" His question both surprised her and unnerved her. Being called boss was the first time for Salem, there was something about it that bothered her.


    "We are not going to enter." Salem answered before looking over the area then pointed to a set of trees. "What we are going to do is move over there to get a better look into that cave. If you have a better method of seeing what is inside I am all ears." Salem looked over the others who exchanged quick looks before telling her that they did not have a better method.


    Salem carefully made painfully slow progress until she arrived at an area where she could look into the cave. But the fact she could not even feel a wild creature''s mind was bothering her. She should be close enough to feel it at this distance.


    She could barely make out what she saw near the entrance. It appeared the entire cave was covered in vines. But near the entrance were four small pulsating green-grey bulbs. Two of them are on the floor and two of them are on the ceiling. But beyond that it was too dark for her to see anything else.


    "The cave tunnel runs pretty far back. But it does go up at a very slight angle." Salem looked over at one of the people she brought with her. The young man''s eyes were making a dim glow that did not even distinguish a specific color. "Aside from being covered in vines I can not see anything else."


    After a few moments of thought Salem nodded and came to a decision. "Then we have part of what we came for. Let me try something then we will retreat back to base camp. First we should make some distance."


    They took a few minutes setting up before Salem took aim at one of the bulbs from up in a tree. She fired her crossbow and watched the result of her attack.


    The bolt pierced the bulb, causing acid to splash out of it. There was no noise but the vines around it began shifting and moving. Causing other vines to sift and move, after a minute the vines all settled down.

 Chapter 83 - 83: Day 5

    The spider creature that was to the south had strayed from its territory. The damaged trees and long gashes in the stone were indicative of that. It appeared that some fight occurred either last night or early this morning.


    He could tell that the spider had lost because up in some of the trees going out of the spider''s territory were gashes of blood up along the trees almost like something was running away while using the trees. He could tell it was the spider because the creature it fought with had been injured as well but it bled blue blood. A stark difference since the smell it was giving off was like rotten eggs.


    Jace had never smelled anything like it while on this planet. It did not help that the smell was heavier deeper in the spider''s territory. He would have to investigate to find out what his creature was. It would also give him something to do today.


    Keeping active would be good for him considering he could survive by just doing nothing at this point. At least now that he understood his neighbors so he could easily survive since most of them avoid causing trouble or going into another''s territory while he had managed to carve out his own spot in the center of the plateau.


    But that was not his focus at the moment as he stalked through the woods following the trail of blue blood and the smell of rotten eggs. As he got closer the smell. Soon he arrived near the spot he set up the vine rope that leads down the mountain.


    In the entire area all of the trees had been torn down and dragged away. Fortunately the tree he was using for the vine rope was far enough away that it was not affected. Since the trees were torn down he could see where they were all dragged to and what exactly it was being used to make.


    Not too far from the edge of the plateau was where the pile of wooden trees had been stacked up. Using his enhanced sight he could even see that some were burnt. He snuck up to the pile of trees using the stumps that were left behind as cover as he listened for movement inside.


    The tiger behind him was quietly growling in the direction of the pile of trees. It seemed he disliked whatever this creature was.


    Jace made it to the edge of the pile of trees when he realized what he was hearing. Five distinct sets of breathing were inside of the tree pile. They were buried underneath all of these trees but they were still there. It appeared that they intentionally buried themselves, as for the burn marks on the wood.


    Once he got closer he realized that those burn marks are in the shape of foot prints. It was in the shape of two toes in the front with a single rear toe to go along with it. These creatures appear to be bipedal in nature.


    But they appear to be generating heat if their footsteps are anything to go by. But they are not doing it all the time, because there would have been footprints leading to this pile of wood if there was. So they were likely adapting the environment to suit their needs. In this case they might need a heated environment in order to rest.


    He moved away to get ready for a fight, it would be better to attack them now while they slept then to have to deal with them later when they were awake. To prepare he dropped his bag with canteen and other supplies off behind a stump then removed the orbital drop suit helmet he was wearing. With how loose it was it would only get in the way while he was fighting. This time all he had on him were the bow with a few arrows, a makeshift spear, his knife, and a bundle of vines.


    He approached the pile of trees and began tying off the vine to one of the more centrally located trees that were supporting the pile. Once it was tied off he backed up and double checked his gear. When he confirmed that he was ready he looked over at the tiger that was hidden nearby behind a tree stump.


    Jace took a deep breath and held the vine rope tight with both hands and yanked as hard as he could. The tree he had wrapped the vine rope around came flying out of the pile, flying right over Jace as he ducked and let go of the rope. The disorganized pile of wood began collapsing while some of the logs started rolling away. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were screeches coming from inside as these blue blooded creatures were rudely awoken from their rest. The nearest one managed to throw a log off it and pulled itself up onto another log to look around and figure out what happened to it.


    This creature had a gel-like face that was blue. While the rest of its body was covered in red scales that appeared to have no gap between them. Its feet were shaped like a ''Y'' with the open part facing forwards. Its body was slim in appearance but coming off of its back were a pair of leathery wings. While its arms and legs were similar to a humans with a joint and the direction it was facing. Its hands consisted of three fingers that were more like claws than actual fingers.


    It looked right at Jace and screeched again, this time he saw the blue gel face ripple as it screamed. Then it flapped its wings and jumped up and towards him.


    Before it got a chance to close the distance Jace pulled out the bowa and fired an arrow and then a second one. The first arrow penetrated the creature''s gel face and caused its head to snap back. The second arrow hit the creature in the center of the chest, easily piecing through the scales.


    The creature collapsed on the ground with a wet splatting sound. Jace flinched as the smell of rotten eggs only became more pronounced. While the creature''s blood began spilling out of its body and the red scaled skin appeared to almost deflate with its death.


    Jace did not have much time to realize that these creatures were incredibly vulnerable to piercing attacks when the other four began screeching at seeing their dead comrade. All four were the same as the one he killed. But one of them had an arm that appeared to have gone flaccid when something cut it.


    Jace fired another arrow when he finally got to see the reason the spider had likely retreated in a hurry. The arrow was set on fire and burned to ashes before it even reached them. Jace frowned as he noticed a very hazy wall of air between him and them.


    They started moving towards him while holding out their hands to this wall and the wall moved with them. Jace quickly moved over to the corpse of the one he had already killed. He quickly dumped his arrows in the pile of blood.


    Then he pulled one out and fired it, flinching in pain when his skin came in contact with blood. He could feel a burning sensation throughout his hands now but he ignored it as he nocked an arrow and then let it loose.


    It whistled through the air and mostly passed through the barrier as the parts that were not covered in blood still disintegrated. But it still hit one of the creatures in the leg causing it to screech and making other ones stop. Jace took advantage of their moment of hesitance and picked up another arrow, quickly nocking it on the bow.


    As he let loose the second arrow he looked at his hands and for the first time saw what looked like frost covering his fingers. His fingers felt like they were burning but they were freezing instead. He picked up a few more arrows and fired them in quick succession as he grimaced in pain.


    The second arrow he shot went right through the wall and then hit the one that the spider injured in the head, killing it instantly. After seeing that they changed tactics as he let loose several more arrows.


    The hazy wall disappeared as the remaining three quickly split up. One of them ran straight at him. While the other two moved to flank him on either side. Jace curled his fingers as tossed aside the bow now that he was out of arrows.


    Pulling out his makeshift spear he looked at the one he had scratched on the leg with an arrow. It was moving a bit slower than the other ones. He dashed toward it and watched as it flinched in surprise.


    It brought one of its wings over to block his spear strike. It faltered as the spear cut through his wing. But blocking his attack still gave the creature a chance to attack as it swung one of his claws forward and managed to scratch his left side. Jace flinched but spun the spear with his hands, decapitating the creature.


    Before the blood even began pouring out of the creature''s neck he was dashing to the side as the last two tried to close in on him. He avoided being closed in on but now they were standing side by side.


    Jace watched as one of them was tackled by a pound of white fur. He took the opportunity and dashed toward the last one piercing its head with his spear. He flicked his spear causing the creature''s head to explode while he turned and stomped on the last one''s head as the tiger quickly backed up.


    Jace then stepped back and took a few breaths as the pain slowly faded from his fingers but the scratch on his side was now just as prominent with how painful it was. He quickly lifted up his shirt and the shirt underneath to see blue lines branching away from the wound.


    The tiger made a purring noise as it looked at his wound. Jace dropped it and moved to get his bag. He would go to get more water from the river and then he would be done for the day. He might hunt if he still felt up to it.

 Chapter 84 - 84: Day 6

    He felt like absolute shit. If there was a doubt before there was no doubt now, he had been poisoned by the blue blooded creatures that he killed yesterday. After killing them he was able to climb down to get water for his canteen and clean himself off along with cleaning his wound and then he was able to climb back up. But he was not able to hunt, when he got back to his tree he felt lethargic so he climbed up and fell right asleep. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now as he was waking up felt pain blooming throughout his entire chest but with the worst of it centered around the injury he had sustained before. Unfortunately he could not go to anyone for help and trying to find a remedy without any knowledge would do more harm than good. So he had to hope his body either fought it off or managed to hold out until the last day.


    But as stomach growled he realized he would not be able to hold out without food. So he pulled himself out of his hammock, noticing for the first time that it was already the afternoon. Jace began climbing down the hammock with his bag of things. He pulled on his helmet before he began descending the branches.


    Each time he moved he felt pain. Each time he grabbed the rough bark of the tree branches he felt prickles of pain throughout his hands. The sensitivity was worse than the pain if he was honest. Because he could tune out pain, sensitivity on the other hand was far too distracting.


    Which is what happened as he became distracted and missed a step down. Slipping off a branch. He tried to grab a branch as he slipped between them but it was no good. His hand bounced off and then it was just pain as he fell.


    He slammed into branches, bouncing off them as he went. Eventually he was falling fast enough that he slammed right through one branch and then another. Then he was out.


    He knew he had gone unconscious but at this moment all he could see was a table in front of him. It was him in this room with a low level light so everything looked like a murky dark green. He was sitting in a wooden chair that looked more like one of those royal thrones from those children books and movies. The table in front of him was a large rounded one that was intricate in design but he could not see past a foot in front of him. While the images on the edge of the table looked like warriors in armor like that Accer he fought on Waterswan and the Tacole General he fought on Oculus but there was also a human Infantry armor.


    [Not Yet.]


    {What do you mean not yet?} Jace asked but could not hear his own voice. He tried to raise a hand to his throat but could not feel anything. He could not even move his hand or body.


    [You are not ready yet, go back!]


    After the ethereal voice spoke he felt like he was being shoved then he opened his eyes as he awoke at the base of his tree. His orbital drop suit helmet had a broken screen, it had probably taken a heavy blow while he was falling. It had probably saved his life.


    As he sat up his whole body began hurting. He took stock of himself and noticed nothing else had been broken. He only sustained a few scratches and bruises from his fall. He pulled off his helmet with a grunt and then leaned up against the tree. His clothes were torn up and heavily damaged.


    Jace contemplated how he was going to hunt something down in this condition. Everything hurt and he could feel his reaction time slowing down. Then there was sensitivity again. It was like his nerves were on overdrive after his whole body fell asleep. He could even feel the wind against his skin.


    Jace closed his eyes and ignored his hunger for the moment as he took deep breaths. Each one was measured and controlled as he focused all of his senses on his breathing. As he breathed he could feel his lungs expand and then he exhaled and his lungs shrunk while the exiting air caused a prickling sensation along his throat.


    He continued the exercise, finding and controlling his breathing in a specific manner. Alternating it multiple times to see if he could change how efficient he was. After a few minutes he felt lighter as he breathed. Then he felt a nudge and heard a distinct purring noise.


    Opening his eyes he was surprised at what he saw. Lying near the unlit fireplace was the corpse of an illusion-wolf. While nudging him and giving him what he believed was a pleading expression was the tiger.


    Jace chuckled as he stood up and almost immediately lost his balance as he staggered to stay up straight. He still felt sore but he felt less like he was a walking corpse. He pulled out the knife and stepped toward the wolf to butcher it for dinner.


    ¡ª---------------------------------


    Salem nodded as she double checked everyone''s positions one last time. Near the entrance were the group carrying logs. On the other side were the ones that had lit open flame torches in hand. The next which she was among had crossbows and bows in hand, ready to fire at the designated targets. The last ones had their knives and makeshift weapons at the ready to cut the vines.


    "Let''s begin." Salem declared before her crossbow jolted as she let loose a bolt into the cave. Piercing one of the bulbs inside causing it to explode. The others around her hit similar targets. Acid covered the inside of the cave causing the vines to sizzle and making them squirm.


    "Torches!" Salem called out and the group with torches tossed them into the cave. The acid lit up and spread the flames throughout the entire cave, just as she planned. "Logs!" Salem yelled and this time the group logs started tossing them in front of the cave entrance blocking it off.


    The vines began whipping around crazily trying to dislodge the logs and disperse the nearby people. "Cut the vines!" Salem called out as some of them were already slicing and cutting into the vines.


    "Put up the supports!" was her next command as the vines were all cut apart and unable to interrupt their work now. The group with logs had a few people move over with specific logs and started setting them up as supports for the bulwark that was made out of the logs.


    After a few minutes they could hear muffled shrieking from the other side. "I think that did it. Now we wait until they are completely smoked out." Salem nodded, confident her plan to kill whatever life form was inside that cave would be taking effect.


    "Yes ma''am. Should we head back for today?" One of them asked.


    "Might as well. Gear up and prepare to move." Salem''s group marched back to their camp that had been left empty since they went to the cave. Prowling around in the center was a group of small furry creatures they had often encountered.


    They look small, cute and furry almost like a squirrel but their unassuming face splits open to a set of jagged teeth that can bite through hard materials like stone. Salem crouched near the edge of the camp and nodded to the others as she readied her crossbow.


    They took up position and the bolts and arrows flew killing the six of the furry critters that were moving around their camp. Salem waited a minute before stepping forward now that there were no other hostile entities in their camp.


    "Hey look, we have dinner!" Someone joked, getting a set of groans from the others.


    "Please, I do not want to eat vicious squirrel meat again. They are way too bitter to be considered edible." Another person complained, causing the others to begin laughing.


    "Boil the meat, make a stew." Salem answered, getting a bunch of groans in response. "Or you can use a ration pack. We only have a single day left after all." Salem chuckled. Her words managed to get laughs from others.


    Salem moved to get ready for watch and to set up watch for the rest of the night. They would probably be attacked by those flying creatures again tonight. "Hey let''s get a few spears up. Since we killed those vicious squirrels we will likely be attacked by blind bats again." Blind bats were the massive nocturnal winged creatures that kept attacking them at night. It was the nickname they had given the creatures that fly around at night.


    A bit of a side note, they were much tastier than the vicious squirrels that she would be eating tonight. Because unlike the people with B-rank and lower survival kits she did not have rations in her pack. So she has been eating the various creatures they have been killing, aside from the Kitinol that were inedible and too toxic to eat.

 Chapter 85 - 85: Day 7

    Jace woke up in his hammock as he was being poked in the side by the leathery noise of the tiger. He looked at the tiger who was leaning up over the side of his hammock and was making pouting noises.


    "I am still alive." Jace chuckled as he leaned back. "But today is day seven of our week-long survival training." Jace leaned over and pulled out his radio from the spot he hid it in near his hammock. He turned it on before he started pulling off his shirt to check his wound.


    He unraveled the bandage wrapped around his midsection. Then after looking at his wound that was scabbing over he covered it again. Then he pulled on his shirt before he began moving around his hammock packing up everything around since he would not be coming back up here. As he was getting ready to climb down his radio crackled to life.


    "All soldiers on the week-long survival training exercise, the designated landing zone is the top of the mountain near the south side where a large amount of trees have been knocked down. The first pickup will be in an hour, we require all S-rank to be at the designated location for the first pickup."


    Jace frowned as he listened before he began climbing down. Hopefully they had medics on the pickup ship. Because as much as he was feeling better he would still like it if a professional took a look at his wound, especially since there were still blue lines going across his skin near his wound.


    Jace climbed down from the tree. Noticing the tiger that had begun jumping down going from branch to branch. But it would look up at him every few jumps. Watching him as he climbed down.


    It seems the tiger he had taken in has become worried about him because of his tumble yesterday. By the time he was landing at the base of the tree he was breathing heavily with his limbs feeling sore and his hand''s feeling tingly.


    He looked at the tiger that was waiting patiently with its tail wagging back and forth behind him¡­ her? He actually did not know the gender of this tiger.


    As he flinched in pain and began walking toward the former spider''s territory he realized that he really had not thought about what he was going to do about the tiger. He had not realized he needed a plan until this moment when he realized the tiger would probably follow him off the planet.


    Should he warn the people coming to pick them up? Or should he just treat it as natural and just walk onto the ship without any warning or explanation.


    "I suppose they would be okay with me having a pet if I came up with an excuse. Besides, the military still owes me a bunch of money. What do you think? Should I just flex my money to keep you with me?" Jace spoke aloud, turning to the tiger who was keeping pace with him now. Usually it only followed him at a distance. It almost seemed protective in its mannerisms.


    The tiger made a soft chuffing noise before rubbing its head against his leg. Then it purred as he rubbed its head.


    He was part of the way to the sight when his radio crackled to life. It was the same message as last time except this time it was a thirty minute warning instead of the one hour warning.


    A few minutes later he arrived at the place where he fought those blue gel creatures. The blood and their deflated skin was still scattered around the ground but the trees had already started to regrow from the stumps.


    There were still plenty of logs spread out all over the place. He would have to reposition them so a transport could land to pick them up. He moved over to the pile of logs and started kicking them to move them. Packing them in between the stumps to make an artificial floor.


    Part of the way through his efforts the first people arrived. They all came from the direction of the vine rope he had thrown down.


    All of them looked just as tired and exhausted as he felt. They did not even exchange greetings as they started to work. They did glance at the tiger in confusion when they saw it following around Jace. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then there was a rumble of engines as a ship flew down. At the same time another two people walked over to join the four that had already arrived. They had likely come from the north side of the plateau where the vine rope goes down to the north side of the continent.


    They looked a bit worse for wear as they were nursing fresh cuts and bruises. Likely from the mantis-lizards.


    As the transport landed he looked them over to assess the others while they did the same to him. But as the rear ramp of the transport lowered they were all staring at the same thing.


    While Jace was curious about something else. "So how many mantis-lizard''s did you run into?"


    The two that came from the north side exchanged a look, "only one. Which one of you has been staying up here?"


    "That would be me." Jace answered with a chuckle.


    "How have you lived up here with those things? They must be a nightmare."


    "Actually," Jace shook his head as Commander Eelson walked down the ramp and he started looking them over. "The only thing up here less dangerous than the mantis-lizards are the wolves that cast illusions."


    "Saint Demus," One of them cursed in a way he had not heard before. Which makes considering they were all from different planets. "Then what is the most dangerous thing up here?"


    Jace breathed out a breath of air, "that''s hard to say."


    "Sergeant Steel, is that a tiger?" Commander Eelson asked as he looked at the tiger by Jace''s side. Which was looking at the other human''s with caution.


    "I think it is supposed to be. But I thought you guys would know better since a lot of these creatures are failed genetic experiments." Jace pointed out with a shrug. Jace then remembered something he wanted to know. "By the way, what the Hela are those things?" Jace pointed at the pile of blue blood with the deflated skins.


    "Those are¡­" Commander Eelson frowned as he stepped closer. "Actually those are not on the registry of creatures that are supposed to be planetside and neither is that tiger." He looked around before crouching down near the blood.


    "Do not touch the blood." Jace told the commander, "it has an adverse reaction with human biology."


    "Understood." Commander Eelson stood up and walked back to the transport. "Shuffle on to the transport, Sergeant Steel bring your tiger."


    Jace nodded before walking onto the ship followed by the tigers then the others. "Yes sir, will the medical staff be there when we land?" Jace asked as he moved toward one of the seats and sat down while tossing his bag in front of him. The tiger moved and sat on the ground near his legs.


    "Certainly, they actually had some questions for you about what happened on day five. But those of you that have to go to the medical ward will still get the exam to take by the end of the day. We need to assess your understanding of what occurred while you were on the training mission." Commander Eelson told them.


    "Hey Sergeant Steel, you never told you what was the most dangerous thing on this mountain." One of the others pointed out.


    Jace chuckled before answering, "the night critters."


    ¡ª----------------------------------


    "Do we know what Sergeant Steel encountered?" A well dressed woman asked as she looked over the array of holographic information displayed while Solisa was off to the side.


    "They are Suneaters, your people actually have a record of them. It was a smart move to switch the S-rank''s pick up time from being the last to being the first. From the images on the transport he has already been poisoned." Solisa told the director.


    "Suneaters? They only pop up when a star starts dying. Why were they on the main planet?" The director asked as she pulled up the file on Suneaters. The file format that popped up was ancient and was originally from the Grand Hexarian Empire.


    "I am actually more surprised by the tiger he is bringing back with him. Even an AI as old as me have only seen records about this creature. But it is not dangerous once it has already been imprinted on someone. I will explain once Jace is better so I do not have to explain twice." Solisa explained as her form did a twirl.


    "Does that mean it is part of the information you consider non-essential for being part of the military?" The director asked.


    "Actually I do not. But I do consider it to be too bothersome to explain something I know very little about twice." Solisa declared. "You think the other groups will be able to get out in time?"


    "They will be fine. Focus on getting Sergeant Steel patched up. We are about to fill those six in on a highly classified project. I can not have the reason why the project exists, out of commission for the debriefing."

 Chapter 86 - 86: Suneaters

    Jace was transferred to the medical ward within minutes of them landing on the massive space station that was in orbit around the planet he just spent a week surviving on. As soon as it had landed there was a medical team that had several gurneys prepared. He was placed on one and pushed off along with the other two that had encountered the mantis-lizards.


    Before he was taken away he along with the others were handed data pad''s with forms to fill out. Jace was already halfway done when he arrived at the medical station. He was quickly moved into a medical bed where they began doing scans.


    "Sergeant Steel, you have sustained multiple scratches that healed. The nerves in your hands are damaged from some form of hypothermia. The poison in your body will have to finish running its course over the next few days, but we will give you something to lessen its effects. As for the scratch caused by the creature you encountered¡­" One of the doctors spoke while the others worked on him. "We have been given the official file and all we have on these Suneaters but all we have indicates that the wound will scar no matter what we do."


    "Suneaters? Am I allowed access to the file?" Jace asked as he was almost finished with this datapad. The data pads they were handed had questions about how he survived and what he did for certain things and the reasons he did them.


    The doctor smirked as he waved a data pad and placed it on a bedside table. "For later, it has all the data on Suneaters. We will hold you for a few hours for observation then you have an appointment then I do not know after that." The doctor told him then looked at the tiger that was resting its head near Jace''s feet. "Usually we do not allow pets, but we were asked by a Solisa to do a full barrage of scans and data retrieval that are not invasive."


    "Okay," Jace nodded before he looked at the tiger tilting its head. "I doubt they would mind. But just keep them near just in case. Or just feed her cooked meat as a treat." Jace''s response earned a chuckle from a nearby nurse.


    "So basically just treat it like a big cat?" The nurse asked.


    "Exactly," Jace responded. Then he finished the post survival training assignment and opened the data pad on Suneaters.


    Suneaters had only been encountered one other time in the records. The Grand Hexarian records to be exact. Towards the end of the empire a military research station that was located near a star encountered the Suneater. It was located in the Yuri System.


    The Yuri System is famous for two things. Being the perfect home of the human subrace of Vampires. As well as its black, artificial sun that was created to replace the sun that collapsed.


    According to the report the Suneater was found in the airlock. When a maintenance worker stepped out to repair an external part of the station the Suneater began wandering inside the station. It encountered and attacked three different people before someone killed it.


    The first one was a skinny male researcher. He was scratched on the leg, barely causing any damage with the attack but still managing to break the skin. Just like Jace there were blue lines blossoming out of the scratch. Soon after observation began the researcher suffered a major seizure and died. However the researcher had no record of having seizures, so it was determined to be an effect of the Suneater''s poison.


    The second one was a young female maintenance worker. She had suffered a scratch across the face. It cost her an eye and the blood loss nearly killed her. But the wound healed quickly and she woke up stronger after the injury. Although there was a scar that no treatment could get rid of and all ocular replacement attempts did not work. It did not matter whether it was a glass eyeball or a hightech cybernetic replacement. All of them eventually failed. As for the poison she suffered from the effects for about a month before it disappeared. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The last one was the guard who killed it. In addition to a scratch on his throat he was also covered in its blood. So he had the odd form of hypothermia in the body parts that had contact with the blood. There was also a scar that could not be healed by nanobots. He recovered within a few days of being exposed to the poison.


    All results of testing showed that a stronger physical body could heal the wounds more quickly and get rid of the poison more quickly. But the compatibility of a user determined how much they gained out of the experience or even if they would survive the experience.


    The researcher was a normal human. The maintenance worker had a B-Rank compatibility with the system. While the guard had a D-Rank compatibility but strong physical body.


    As for the Suneaters themselves. After encountering the first one they found many more flying around the sun, undamaged by close proximity to heat. All the locations they went to seemed to indicate that the light emitted from the star was dimming.


    Soon after the researchers discovered the star was dying before the Suneaters arrived. In fact the Suneaters arrived near the end of the star''s lifespan. Indicating that they arrive when a star is nearing the end of its lifespan to consume the nutrients they might need.


    All of it was incredibly interesting to read about but he was pulled from his thoughts by a pair of guards that arrived. He had lost track of time while reading, it was time for whatever meeting he was being summoned to.


    Jace pulled himself out of the medical bed and began pulling on the new clothes the doctors had set off to the side. They were just a pair of sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and a pair of cotton underwear. He did not even bother to hide his body as he pulled on the underwear and then tossed aside the hospital gown.


    Once he was clothed in the sweats he followed the guards. They were dressed in some form of black infantry armor. They were more heavily armored with physical shields on their backs and electric batons hanging from their belts. There was a single solitary symbol on their armor padded shoulders, a triangle with a white circle in it.


    As they walked he saw a bunch more guards dressed in a similar manner. They were mainly around labs and at intersections. But the further he walked the more of them he saw.


    But apparently a tiger was even stranger since everyone they passed stared at the tiger. Even a few of the guards did a double take when they saw the large tiger following him around.


    As for the tiger, he was moving around sniffing everything. Even sticking its head around corners or poking its nose against things people were carrying. It was still keeping pace but just like at the medical facility it was showing curiosity for everything that everyone was doing.


    At the medical facility the tiger kept walking up and watching people work. Eventually the nurses and doctors started showing the tiger what they were doing. It was like the creature had an unending curiosity. A few of the guards actually had to push the tiger away when it was getting too nosey.


    They eventually arrived at the end of a heavily guarded corridor. Where two soldiers in the same black armor but with red highlights were standing at attention. Instead of being armed with a shield and baton they had rifles in a design he had never seen before.


    The two guards stepped to the side and saluted. The two guards that brought Jace here then stepped in line with them. Joining the first guards in saluting.


    After a moment of hesitation Jace walked past them up to the door that slid open for him with an electronic hiss. Inside was a large office. On the back wall was a clear wall that showed the outside of the ship. Space was visible with the multiple planets and the view of a large shipyard where several space ships were being built.


    There was an intricately patterned wooden desk with metal holographic projectors built into it. Along one wall was a display case and bookshelf. The display case had a number of things that looked old and weathered. The bookshelf had actual books that were worn and ancient. Along the other wall were two more doors that were unlabeled.


    Sitting behind the desk was a woman that looked to be in her thirties at the latest. But there was a good chance her age was slowed down by either treatments or nano machines. Because she gave off an air of authority that a thirty-year old woman could never muster.


    She had brown hair with a pair of emerald green eyes. One of which had been replaced with a cybernetic replacement. He could tell because of the lens that stood in place for the pupil. For a moment it twisted as if it was focusing on him.


    She was dressed in a similar uniform she had seen the rest of the staff in while he was on this station. But her uniform was black with purple highlights on the uniform. With the same symbol on the shoulder of her uniform. But on her other shoulder was what appeared to be her rank.


    "Are you done assessing me Sergeant?"

 Chapter 87 - 87: The Director

    "Are you done assessing me Sergeant?" The woman asked as she leaned back in her chair. "Or do you need a bit more time to put the pieces together."


    Jace smiled as he moved forward and stood at attention in front of her desk, making a quick salute. "No, I do not need more time, Director Fenrir." Jace answered while the tiger wandered around the side of the desk and began sniffing the director.


    "Good, sit." Director Fenrir told him motioning for him to sit while the tiger made a chuffing noise and began rubbing its face against her side. Director Fenrir moved a hand over and began rubbing its head.


    Jace was seated and chuckled, "what exactly am I here for?"


    "Because Solisa wanted to brief us at the same time about what creature this is. She is quite busy at the moment completely redesigning the Wing of Pegasus. We probably have some time until she comes back." Director Fenrir explained.


    "In that case I have a few questions, like how you pulled this off without anyone noticing? The amount of manpower and money that has gone into this place had to be astronomical." Jace pointed out.


    "Time." Director Fenrir chuckled. "For the last eighteen years this has been the personal and very secret project of his Imperial Majesty. In fact we are getting close to building our own private academy for the children that were born or brought here."


    "That also explains the high population. As well as the civilians I saw in parts of the station I walked past. Every time you brought someone here you also brought their family, but only their immediate family." Jace pointed out.


    "That is correct. We have also limited communication. So only I can authorize or send out a message. But we have not brought everyone''s family. Like Admiral Dakota, his family was too high profile to bring them here without giving away our hand." The Director explained.


    "Was?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Director Fenrir smiled, "It no longer matters that people do not know we exist. But we are keeping up communication barriers and whatnot to hide our position."


    "So I was right? A massive civil war is coming to the Vexical Empire?" Jace asked with a grin.


    "Coming? The civil war as you call it started over eighteen years ago. But it was kept in the dark and out of the news. It really started when the noble faction had the empress and second prince killed in a bid for control." Director Fenrir began explaining what happened. "Roughly seventeen years ago, Archduke Beltrum threatened the emperor into shifting trade into his system once he had acquired the First Prince''s support. The First Prince, being the ambitious little shit had no qualms about killing his own mother or brother. Since then he had been building up his forces with the Archduke in the form of Tyranus."


    "Then on the other side is the First Princess, after her brother killed their mother she had been silently building up a presence in the trade industry. While she managed to survive during her younger years by joining the military for the mandatory service. Now she holds silent control over two systems through her control using trade and her contracts alone. If the emperor was not planning to completely collapse the imperial family and nobility he would have made her the next ruler."


    "There is also the Union. It is actually spanning most nations. The one in the Vexical Empire is controlled by an old comrade of the emperor''s who left after the former emperor did nothing when his wife was raped and murdered by the Archduke despite the substantial evidence. Now he is working with the people that are anti-nobility and anti-royalty. That was eighteen years ago when it happened and the real start of the civil war when the current emperor realized things had to change."


    "The last faction is us. For the moment we are named the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division or MILD for short. The emperor created it in order to keep the people that would stay loyal to him safe. So he kept the existence of this place a secret despite the numerous Requiem relics that were found here."


    "Okay, but why are you telling me this? If you recall, I am just a lowly Sergeant." Jace pointed out as the tiger came over to him and rested its head on his thigh. He started scratching behind its ear.


    Director Fenrir smiled sweetly but it made him shiver. "Actually I will tell you at a later date. It seems that Solisa returned."


    "Indeed I have!" Solisa appeared over the director''s table. "Now while I have time I will cover all the ''Requiem'' as you called them new about Astral Beasts."


    "Astral Beasts?" Jace asked.


    "Yeah that tiger," she pointed her holographic hand at the tiger that was taking an interest in the hologram now. "She is an Astral Beast. Yes I can tell the gender. Now no more interrupting." Solisa looked between Jace and the director.


    "Please continue Solisa." Director Fenrir told her.


    "Astral Beasts can appear in almost any form. Usually a mimic of a form that they had seen before. Young Astral Beasts will wander using an advanced form of space travel. They can exist in space in any form. The longer they live the stronger they become. When they are young they search for a suitable person and imprint on them, assimilating their genetics and learning their language."


    Solisa brought up images of data in formats he had never seen before. "We are not aware if they have a predetermined lifespan or how they reproduce. But we do know that they see the people they imprint on as parents. As for the imprinting, it does nothing to the actual person they are imprinting on. So Jace does not have to worry about it harming him. But that is just about all I know about Astral Beasts. Their information was privileged, like your classified information. But from the basic descriptions I believe they were the basis and foundation that the Requiem created the nanosystem."


    Director Fenrir leaned forward with a frown. "Astral Beast? Okay, so I suppose I cannot really separate it from Ja- I mean Sergeant Steel. Solisa, where could we find where the privileged information would be?"


    "I do not know. If I had to guess it would be with one of the AIs that the Victorium have taken. The Rogue Metal Legion has kept me updated and apparently a specific faction within the Victorium is pushing back against handing over the Requiem AIs." Solisa explained with a shrug. "For now just have Jace make daily reports and it should be fine. Just do not be surprised when the Astral Beast takes on a partial human form."


    Jace frowned as he processed the information he was just given. Out of all of it the idea he latched to the most was that this Astral Beast saw him as a parental figure. Basically it made him a parent, it was odd.


    "Okay then," Director Fenrir sighed, "if that is all Solisa?"


    Solisa chuckled, "yes I am all done and I have already sent a message to the Admiral. He is on his way with an Osprey." The holographic otter disappeared.


    "Then I suppose we should head to the hangar, come on Sergeant Steel. It is time for the next appointment." The director stood up and pulled on a hip holster with a strange looking pistol.


    "Oh?" Jace followed the director as she exited her office. The guards did not follow them. While the two guards that had escorted him here had left. "Can I know what the next appointment is?"


    "You should already know. So instead of reminding you, I will just let you figure it out on your own." The director chuckled while she led the way. As they walked Jace thought he might be starting to get a handle on this woman''s personality.


    While walking through the halls she was greeted happily by most of the people. She even spent a few minutes answering questions to calm a worried mother about the future academy that was being set up in the system. Then there was the group of kids they ran into who were playing in the middle of an intersection, she stopped to talk to them for a few minutes as well.


    The various situations they encountered sort of reminded Jace of the more communal parts of the slums. Which usually shined the brightest when disaster loomed because everyone would help out no matter the reason. It almost made him nostalgic for those times.


    They eventually arrived at a smaller hangar where an Osprey was waiting with a pair of familiar faces. The hangar was almost completely unoccupied. Almost as if it was intentionally cleared out before they arrived.


    Jace looked over at the director and caught her momentary lapse in the facade of her facial expression. For a single moment she looked to be almost beaming with excitement. But it quickly disappeared a moment later.


    "You are going all out to keep this marriage telepathy thing a secret aren''t you?" Jace asked, intending to ask Salem about the director''s change in expression later.

 Chapter 88 - 88: Salem Meets Fenrir

    Jace walked up and shook hands with Admiral Dakota who was focused on a data pad the moment before while talking with Salem. "Admiral Dakota, it is a pleasure to see you again. I suppose you are flying us?"


    Admiral Dakota chuckled as he nodded, "I am indeed. Only three people even know the location and we want to keep it that way. Come on, I only have so much time and I want to go say hello to my adorable daughter after this." He quickly walked onto the Osprey heading toward the pilot''s cabin while just greeting the director with a wave of his hand.


    "Jace?" Salem looked confused as she looked him over. Unlike her he was dressed in just sweats. Salem was dressed in a formal military outfit and appeared to have taken a shower already. She looked good in her enlisted formal uniform. After looking him over she glanced at the tiger that was now sniffing her and then the director, with a look of confusion on her face. "I have so many questions."


    "Then I suppose I can answer them on the ride to wherever we are going." Jace told her as he walked up the ramp onto the Osprey. He moved to one of the seats and plopped down. The tiger jumped up and sat in the seat next to him. "I think I also need to come up with a name for this one."


    Salem frowned as she sat next to him on the opposite side from the tiger, "yeah¡­ first off, where did you get a tiger and why do you have a tiger?"


    "Well I found her injured during the survival training and treated her wound. Then she started following me around so I fed her and she apparently imprinted on me. She is actually something called an Astral Beast so she can change forms if needed, but because she is so young her main form is just that of a tiger." Jace explained quickly as his mind wandered.


    The tiger''s name had to be feminine in nature. It should not be something simple. Maybe something feline, there were plenty of ancient mythical creatures and people with connections to feline creatures. This would require more research, he mostly knew about the ancient religion called Christianity and Greek Mythology.


    "Okay¡­ who is that woman?" Salem pointed at the director who was sitting across from them while smilinging innocently.


    "My name is Director Fenrir, I am basically in charge of this system and all facilities inside of it. Tell me how annoying it is that you can not just look into my mind to see what you need to know?" The director chimed in with a giggle that was definitely not fitting her age.


    Salem clicked her tongue, she only did that when she was annoyed with him. "Extremely annoying, especially since you and the Admiral are blocking me with the same method. Should I expect more people like yourself are going to be popping up and being able to block my ability?"


    "Yes and no, the method myself and Dakota are using is the same. But there are also a very limited number of people that will be able to do that. Although by the end of the training here there should be some more." Director Fenrir shrugged, "by the way I heard you two were likely destined to end up together even if this whole arrangement was not going to happen."


    Salem blushed and started stammering out a response. "I-I- you- what?"


    "Salem, she is intentionally pushing your buttons in order to pass the time." Jace pointed out as he nudged her.


    Salem frowned and leaned back in her seat looking away for a few minutes as the Osprey flew. Then she seemed to suddenly remember something, "actually, Jace I wanted to ask what your and the others special assignment was? And how did your training go?"


    He used one of his hands to begin scratching the tiger''s head who began looking around. Likely feeling the fact that they were entering an atmosphere of some kind.


    "The people with S-Rank system compatibility were asked to protect the others as a secondary objective but to stay hidden during the assignment. I actually got lucky because no one else came to the top of the mountain." Jace began detailing how his survival training went. Everything from making a hammock out of his parachute, the time he came to assist the nearby group, even when he attacked and almost died fighting the suneaters.


    "Wow, I figured you were doing something different. But that is on a whole other level. Wait but those things that fly at night track targets through the smell of blood. How did you avoid them attacking you after you were injured?" Salem asked as she realized a discrepancy in his story.


    "Do they? I only encountered them one time. Otherwise I have no idea." Jace shrugged.


    "Hmm¡­ there is a good chance they avoided you since the Suneater poison was mixed with your blood. Although even after the poison no longer becomes lethal to you it still exists in your blood." Director Fenrir pulled up a holographic image from her watch. "I will make a note of it for the doctors to check later. But for now I would avoid giving out your fluids."


    "What?" Salem asked in confusion.


    "She is saying that I should not be making out or having sex with anyone until the doctors clear me." Jace leaned over and whispered in her ear, delighted that her face became crimson red with embarrassment.


    Salem slapped his shoulder, "now you are doing it too." She pointed out before she began pouting.


    "Sorry," Jace apologized before he leaned back in his own seat as well. "I am almost looking forward to this next week. It is sure to be interesting considering this past was so much fun. Anything you can share with us, Director?"


    "Nope, Eelson has full control of what you kids do for this first month. But I have a feeling you can basically teach the second half of his course. But I would like to ask that Sergeant Wintry forget she ever met me, and never report about what she is about to see to her Union counterpart. Not that she would be able to until after the Tartarus Project initial training completes." Director Fenrir answered with a shrug as they could feel the Osprey slowing down.


    "I suppose I can. Am I going to be given any access to classified intel?" Salem asked absentmindedly. She would be playing a dangerous game balancing what she was and was not allowed to disclose.


    "No, the candidates for the Tartarus Project will not be exposed to anything. Anything you are able to take from others is fair game. All intel we don''t want leaked to the Union is kept out of your reach and most peoples reach as well." Director Fenrir explained. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The door to the pilot''s cabin opened up. Outside Jace could see desert dunes through the front window. "We are almost there. Get ready for landing." Admiral Dakota told them.


    Jace initially flinched figuring he should grab a weapon. But he stopped himself when he realized that he would not need a weapon. They were not here to fight or anything else. As he took a breath to steady himself he felt the tiger rubbing its head against his thigh. Across from him he caught a glimpse of Director Fenrir looking sad for a moment before her expression steeled again.


    There was a slight joseling as the Osprey landed. Then a moment later it started to lower its rear ramp. It was just as sandy as he thought it would be. But it was also bright which was an odd combination.


    Since this was likely one of the moons the sunshine and heat made no sense, how was it so bright and hot? Jace stepped down the ramp and looked to the sky. The green planet was visible in the sky along with an almost bright shine around the edges of it.


    "The central planet is acting as a reflective lens to send more light and radiation to these moons. But I am guessing they are so widely different because someone was playing with artificial atmospheric shielding?" Jace asked, looking at the director who just shrugged in response.


    "Hahahaha!" Admiral Dakota came sauntering out of the pilot''s cabin. "Fenrir is not one for sciency stuff. She is more focused on logistics and weapons." He earned a punch from Fenrir who was grinning.


    "You never mentioned how your daughter was doing?" Fenrir pointed it out as they walked out of the ramp.


    "Oh, you already know." Dakota rolled his eyes. "After graduating the academy she managed to earn herself a spot high up on this Tartarus Project. Then she joined Sergeant Steel here in being one of the S-Ranks."


    "How do you become an S-Rank?" Salem asked as she followed them out of the ship.


    "Genetic potential unlocked through hard work. The greater your potential for being an S-Rank is the lower your initial compatibility rating is. For instance if you managed to become an S-Rank it would not change much initially." Admiral Dakota explained with a shrug. "Fun fact, there were only five S-Ranks in the empire before Jace appeared."

 Chapter 89 - 89: Requiem and Other

    They were walking towards a building that was partially buried in sand. Only the entrance was visible. The door itself was made of some sort of stone and was carved with two giant figures that were pushing it open.


    If he had to guess they were the requiem, they had toothy mouths with a completely smooth head. Its body seemed to have a chitin-like exoskeleton rather than a bone and skin. Its hands and feet both had three appendages on them. Then there was the scarce amount of what appeared to be armor covering their bodies.


    "The requiem?" Jace asked, mostly towards the admiral as they walked toward the pair of doors.


    Around the doors were stone doorways that had carvings of something too detailed for him to be able to quickly decipher. But between the carvings and the door he could see the requiem words.


    "Correct, gold star for Sergeant Steel." Admiral Dakota joked as he walked up to the gate and with a grunt began pushing the doors open. "Like the sand you found on Waterswan, this desert has the same properties. It initially hid this place from our scanners. But we still found it by chance during a fly over of the area." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What are the carvings on the doorway?" Salem asked as Director Fenrir stepped forward and started pushing the door open with Dakota.


    Jace took a second to look closer at the doorways and noticed that both sides started the same way. But only one side was the Requiem. The other was another race that was humanoid but unseen as its appearance was generic.


    On the Requiem''s side they had warriors fighting a large creature. Then the warriors changed to fighting each other. After that the warriors changed to using some type of gun, continuing to fight each other. Then there was an image of a cracked circle. After that the image of two Requiem shaking hands. Then it was an image of arrows going away from the cracked circle to another circle. It kept going like that but after each circle there was an image of them shaking hands with a different race. Some he recognized, some he did not.


    "It is the Requiem''s story. I am guessing the words next to the images are the narration of the events." Jace walked closer toward it and then backed up as he looked up at the top. At the top was where it ended when they met with the other side''s story.


    The Other''s story started the same way as the Requeim''s. First they fought beasts, then they fought each other and technology advanced until the cracked circle. Then they shook hands and left the cracked circle. But this time when they arrived at a new circle they were attacked. The other was attacked by another race that was only depicted by its monstrous mouth. The other race returned back to the cracked circle. There they created something that looked like an angel. The angel left the cracked circle going to the new circle where it killed the hostile race until they bowed. Then it went to another world and did the same. It kept doing it until it reached the top where it met the Requiem.


    "Oh my lords, the Requiem depicted their enemies'' story." Jace wished he could record these etchings to study later. "But¡­ they look a little too like the angels from the Christianity Religion."


    "The door is open Sergeant Steel, if you want we can give you time to study this later." Admiral Dakota spoke up, hiding his laughter as he spoke. Clearly he was amused by Jace''s fascination with these images and etchings.


    "Gladly, but if I could just take a few pictures it would be much quicker." Jace pointed out as he walked through the doors. On the other side of the doors were a set of stairs that led deeper into the ground. It was pitch black down the stairwell.


    "Forget it, we want to keep this place absolutely secret. So that means no digital records. I can get you a journal if you want to make a record and observations about everything you see." Director Fenrir informed him as she pulled out her own flashlight and then two additional flashlights and tossed them to Jace and Salem. She turned down the staircase and switched it on.


    For a moment Jace caught sight of images on the wall. He turned on his own borrowed flashlight and turned it to the wall. The images were more detailed but it was the start of the same story he saw on the doorway. He was closer to the right side so he was near where the Other as he decided to call them had their story. He swung his flashlight to the other side blinding Salem for a moment and saw that the Requiem side was starting similarly to the depiction outside. But located just before the warrior Requiem was a triangular slot he had seen a few times before.


    Jace walked over to it, "Sorry Salem." Jace chuckled out as he stepped past her and slid his hand into the slot. He focused on sending electricity into the slot. A moment later a dim green light filled the stairway.


    Further down the stairway both Director Fenrir and Admiral Dakota looked around in confusion. "Seriously there was a light switch?" Admiral Dakota asked as he turned off his flashlight.


    Jace chuckled as he started skipping down the stairs with the tiger happily hopping after him. "Not a light switch, I just recognized that they used something similar in their spaceships. So I powered it, I also think I just confirmed that the Requiem had a natural ability for generating electricity." Jace happily told them as he went past the Admiral and Director.


    After a momentary chuckle Salem was quickly following after him. Beaming with pride and amusement at the fact that Jace was back to pulling off ridiculous feats. "Hey, do you think these Requiem people intended for this place to never be found?"


    "Actually I think they probably left clues about this place in other locations. But they just skipped to the end by accident. You have to remember that from all we know the Requiem was preparing for the fight of their lives before they were whipped out. Meaning they were likely scholars and all around peaceful people." Jace began explaining with a hint of joy. "So they probably began leaving clues for all of their facilities using methods their enemies could never decipher."


    "What do you mean by that? That we have just been getting lucky in uncovering Requiem artifacts?" Admiral Dakota asked in bewilderment. He started quickening his pace as he tried to keep pace with Jace.


    "Yes, I doubt we could actually scan anything that was intentionally left behind unless its structure was compromised. On the other hand, this was a race of highly advanced and peaceful people who made sure their violence did not make it to the stars. So it is safe to assume that the clues still exist but are far too complex for any creature to answer." Jace explained with a sigh as he almost wanted to go and find these clues.


    "What about an Artificial Intelligence being? I am sure the Rogue Metal Legion has found clues and solved them." Director Fenrir pointed out as she kept up by skipping every other step without slowing her pace.


    "Unlikely." Jace chuckled, "the Other race as I have decided to nickname them for the time being created the beings that came to kill the Requiem. There is a high probability that they use artificial beings like AI. So the Requiem would have made the clues impossible for them to figure out."


    "This¡­ is actually a lot of useful information. I will have to secretly report this later." Director Fenrir sighed as they were nearing the end of the stairwell.


    "Or you could just report this now. I am sure that your husband would be delighted to hear about this." Jace pointed out, causing both the Admiral and Director to falter and almost fall down the rest of the stairs.


    "What do you mean?" Admiral Dakota nervously chuckled out.


    Jace had reached the bottom of the stairs and looked back up at them. "I mean, you two along with the current Emperor likely stumbled across this place and kept it a secret. But the only way you would know about the marriage would be if someone tried it out. But considering you two are definitely not a couple I can only assume that Director Fenrir and the Emperor tried it out. I am guessing the Emperor threw caution into the wind and initially ordered the Admiral to join him but you refused so Director Fenrir the clearly more loyal of the two of you went along with the emperor''s whim." Jace finished his long winded spiel getting blinking and surprised expressions in return. Then he spun around and walked into the lit up room.


    Salem on the other hand looked between the Admiral and Director with a look of surprise. "I know you accounted for my mind reading abilities. But I think you were too overconfident and gave a little too much for Jace to work with." She then spun around following Jace into the room.


    Admiral Dakota and Director Fenrir looked at each other, "What just happened?" Director Fenrir was confused, there was nothing about Jace''s ability to be this insightful. Was it just missed?


    "I think your- I mean Sergeant Steel has figured out how to read you. I would be careful with his enhanced senses and his existing talent in interrogation that could be more difficult than Salem''s mind reading." Admiral Dakota pointed out before he walked the rest of the way down the staircase. "Oh! Have you informed the Emperor?" He stopped at the bottom and turned to look at her.


    Director Fenrir''s gaze lost focus for a moment before returning a moment later. "Done." She answered. "Little shit outplayed me." She mumbled in annoyance as she followed after them.

 Chapter 90 - 90: Ancient Requiem Ritual

    Jace walked around the room. It was the same sandy stone that decorated the rest of this hidden chamber. But on the roof were four glowing white crystals that lit up the room. They were lighting up the room in the same way that the smaller dark green crystals were lighting up the staircase.


    He could feel the energy coming off the crystals and was impressed with how invigorated he felt. Those were not normal crystals and with how much energy was being generated. It could be a suitable power generator to replace radioactive reactors. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the rest of the roof was another carving. This time it was a bunch of dots and lines with triangles and circles depicted everywhere. The carving went from the roof to the bottom of the walls. With the only thing interrupting it being those large crystals.


    In the center of the room on the floor was a circle with engraved writing. In the center of that circle was a square. As he walked into the room this square began erecting from the ground while the circle twisted in a clockwise motion.


    The pedestal that was emerging from the ground had a carving on it. They were of two Requiem holding hands. Definitely a marriage ritual of some kind. The Requiem were holding a square above their head.


    Once the pedestal reached its maximum height two rectangles started rising out of the square the pair of Requiem were holding. They raised up just enough that he could stick his hand through one of the squares through the round opening that was inside of it.


    Jace stepped up to it and looked closer, noticing there were faint words in the Requiem language on the sides of the square. They were probably the words that would trigger the ritual that he was told about.


    "I am sure the Admiral gave a basic overview of what is going on. But I just want to confirm one last time that you two are okay with going through with a marriage ritual to keep in contact secretly so Jace can be your handler and you can go deep undercover in the Union." Director Fenrir confirmed what they were doing to remind them.


    "Yes, I understand and am completely fine with the idea." Salem confirmed as she walked around the pedestal as well.


    Jace nodded as he was thinking about everything in this room. "Yes, I understand. I am consenting for this marriage." Jace answered as he looked over at them.


    "Good, then for the ritual all you need to do to start it is to put your hands through those holes." Director Fenrir told them. Coughing slightly as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Then the Nanosystem will give you the words you have to repeat inorder to initiate the ritual."


    Jace suppressed a chuckle as he fit his left hand through the hole. Then just as Salem fit her left hand through the other hole a message coming from the system appeared.


    [System Registered Marriage Ritual Detected.


    Initiate Process? Y/N]


    With a thought he answered ''yes''.


    [Repeat These Words Out Loud:]


    Salem and Jace began repeating the words at the same time, "I swear to stand by my mate and support them no matter the distance between us. To always assist them in their endeavors and complete their requests." After repeating those words both Jace and Salem look at each other in confusion.


    But before either can speak they both feel an intense pain on the back of their hands. Jace immediately withdraws his left hand. On the back of his hand was now a new tattoo, it almost appeared to be a mask split between two expressions.


    Less than a second later he felt light headed before he could suddenly feel something else, a door. Not feel it with his body but with his mind, it was a disturbing and new experience. After a moment he could hear knocking noise, almost like someone was knocking at this imaginary door. After a moment he tries to open the door and he can feel the familiar presence of Salem''s telepathy.


    "This is disturbing," Jace pointed out as he could feel Salem''s amusement in his mind. He could also see into her mind once the door was opened and could read recent memories. "This must feel normal for you."


    "Yes, it does." Salem responded out loud. "The new tattoo on my hand is going to be a dead giveaway." Salem pointed out as she pointed to it with her other hand while looking at Director Fenrir.


    "Do not worry about it." Director Fenrir held up her own hands. Where the tattoo in the image of a lion''s head appeared for a moment before it disappeared. "Once you get a greater understanding of the ability you will be able to make it disappear or appear on demand."


    "Okay, new question." Jace asked as he looked over the tattoo that Salem had on her hand. "The tattoo images, are they a depiction of our other half?" He raised his own hand and pointed out the different images on Jace and Salem''s hands.


    "Yes, it depicts the form your soul takes. For some it is a beast, for others it is a symbol or image. At least as far as we can tell. Mine has not changed since I got it. But I am able to hide the tattoo unless I am utilizing it." Director Fenrir explained.


    "So she is depicted as¡­ two-faced?" Jace asked as he looked at the depiction of him on Salem''s hand. "While I am a¡­ is that a helmet?"


    "Yeah, you would know better where it comes from. This stuff is not really my thing." Salem frowned when she was looking at the depiction on Jace''s hand, "two-faced?" Jace just shrugged in response.


    Then he decided to pull up his status to see if anything changed.


    [General Information


    Name: Jace Steel


    Chronological Age: 17


    Biological Age: 21


    Compatibility Rating: S


    Talent: Enhanced Senses


    Strength: 77


    Agility: 78


    Speed: 81


    Health: 100


    Intelligence: 90


    Abilities: Blueprint, Assistant Program, Bioelectrical Control, Weapon Assimilation]


    [Hidden Information


    Spouse: Salem Wintry


    Lineage: {Locked}


    Weapon Forms: Ritual Sword


    Talent/Ability Understanding: {Locked}


    {Sealed}: {Locked}


    {Sealed}: {Locked}


    {Sealed}: {Locked}]


    Jace must have been making a face because it was commented on. "That is the expression of someone seeing the Hidden Information box for the first time." Director Fenrir commented, getting a hearty laugh from Admiral Dakota.


    "How?" Salem asked as she rubbed the back of her hand. Jace''s own hand was becoming itchy. He assumed it was like the tattoo on his shoulder so it should stop after a while. "This Hidden Information, why is everything sealed and locked? Also won''t people see it when our information is scanned?"


    "Actually the Hidden Information does not appear during a checkup or scanning of your status. That is why it is called Hidden Information and your original status is called General Information now. As for the sealed and locked stuff, it is because you have not reached far enough along to be able to access that information or it is being intentionally hidden in order to not impede your progression." Director Fenrir shrugged her shoulders while explaining.


    Admiral Dakota jumped in with his own comparison of the situation, "think of it as a child-lock on a device in order to prevent access to information that you are too young for."


    "Ohh!" Salem seemed to understand immediately.


    "Child-lock?" Jace had no issue understanding the original explanation. But what was a child-lock? He had never heard the term before. "What is that?" His word''s caused Director Fenrir''s expression to falter for only a moment before returning to a stoic one while Admiral Dakota just raised an eyebrow. Before either of them could answer there was a snippet of explanation going to his mind as Salem used their new connection to show him. After a moment he blinked and looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "nevermind."


    "So if there are no more questions¡­" Director Fenrir motioned to the staircase. "We can head out of here and get back to the ship. If we take too long we might be missed and we don''t want people finding out about this place just yet."


    "Actually I do," Jace walked backwards to the stairs as he looked up at the ceiling. "Can I come back to record the star charts?" He pointed at the dots, circles, and triangles that went from the roof to the bottom of the wall.


    Director Fenrir frowned and seemed confused while Admiral Dakota took a look at the ceiling and instantly understood. "They used the same ancient method that humans used to use. It never really clicked before but that is definitely a star map."


    "Sure, when you have a large amount of free time we can come down here and you can write everything down." Director Fenrir responded motioning to the stairs again. "Now let''s go." Jace and Salem turned and started walking up the stairs. Once they were out of sight she felt a slight punch on her shoulder and looked over to see Dakota with a slight grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement. She rolled her eyes and followed the younger pair up the stairs.

 Chapter 91 - 91: Still doesnt have a name

    This past week he has spent studying survival training techniques and information he would need if he was ever stranded. During that time he also spent time researching names for his new tiger companion. Who seemed to always follow him everywhere. He also spent time learning about the other candidates of the Tartarus Project. But the only other person he came across that he knew from before was Verin Tako, he was a third generation system user whose ancestors were from the Oda Empire region of space. Which used to be a part of the Grand Hexarian Empire.


    He also became familiar with many other faces. The most notable of which were the other five people with S-Rank compatibility. Each of them were a different variety of odd.


    The first was Admiral Dakota''s daughter, Dahlia Dakota. She grew up on Kamot Prime as well, but she went to an academy on the other side of the planet. Apparently during when the Tacole and the Sima faction of the Victorium attacked her squad was on a ship that was shot down and grounded. Seperated from her squad along with a few other squadmates she managed to disorient the enemy using guerilla tactics and traps in order to outwit the enemy. It was during this time when she pushed herself to the extreme and gained an S-Rank compatibility.


    The next one was Anja Muzzco, the daughter of a famous musician. She never encountered the Tacole, Sima, or Victorium. But her squad was placed at the border with the Crystoph Federation. So when they invaded her squad ended up behind enemy lines. During the invasion they lost contact with Vexical Command so they were thought lost but they reappeared a month ago after spending months sabotaging Crystoph Federation supply lines. At some point she became S-Rank and did not even notice.


    Then there was Dominic Entella, the quiet giant. He was in the same squad as Anja. But he grew up on frigates hauling cargo before being taken in by the people that owned the company his family worked for when his entire family were killed by pirates. He was also the only person that was taller than Jace in the entire Tartarus Project. Apparently one of his ancestors was something not human that was taller than normal humans. But he did move slower than normal. He gained his S-Rank around the same time as Anja.


    The fourth was Karlson Gruber, he went to the same academy as Dahlia. But he was on the Kitinol Line and did not participate in fights with any other faction. Instead they encountered a barrage of Kitinol that landed on their planet. The Kitinol were likely coming to repopulate it after their extermination on Waterswan. Like Jace his rank up came during a moment of peace, when he noticed a pattern.


    The last S-Rank was Nina Diaz. She was¡­ unique. Her squad was on another ship that was in a similar situation as Anja''s squad. But her ship suffered a worse fate as they were shot down on a planet where the Victorium and Crystoph Federation were fighting. Her squad was captured by the federation and were tortured for information. During that time she lost many friends and comrades. She even made comrades with some Victorium and normal Crystoph Federation citizens that were taken prisoner for no reason while she was inside. Then she managed to organize a breakout. Soon after she and the survivors from her ship that were captured managed to group up with Anja''s squad. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed from his view, that Nina was still suffering trauma from her experience. Psychological impact of the torture she went through aside. Her voice box had been surgically removed while her face and body had injuries that ended up scarring because of how long she was there. She could still communicate using the basic hand signals and the native Vexical version of the sign language. Which is how he learned all of this.


    A few days ago Director Fenrir delivered on her promise. She got him a leather bound journal with a burn pen. As far as he could tell, the leather was made of mantis-lizards which were actually called Echo Stalkers.


    Echo Stalkers were nicknamed that way because the planet they were based off of was Echo Planet in the Echo System as this place was called. The Stalker part came from their tendency to follow their prey before attacking. Apparently they attacked from the target''s weakest angle.


    The other thing she gave him was a burn pen. Apparently a normal one would not do so and gave him one with a replaceable cartigride. Along with his name engraved on the side. Burn pen''s work by generating a low level of radiation on the tip of metal at one end. Then it could write on paper without setting it on fire. They were the go-to writing device used in space because having zero-gravity would not affect it.


    He had not bothered to write anything in his new journal yet because he had not received permission to go to the site again. Salem found his new fascination with the Requiem to be an entertaining topic for their conversations. On the other hand she also spent time studying while watching him work on new devices again. Once each of them were partially complete they would be taken to the Research division where he would almost certainly never see them again.


    At the moment, all of the candidates were gathered in the hangar again. It was time for them to move onto their next weeklong training exercise. This time they were assigned standing positions. With the six S-Ranks up at the front.


    This time they were asked to just be dressed in comfortable clothing. Apparently they would be inside VR Drive Pods for up to twenty hours a day. They would only be let out to eat and relieve themselves of body waste. Salem was able to learn ahead of time that the pods would have a time differential making it so every hour in the real world would be a day in the simulation.


    It was disturbing that there would be so much time spent for whatever this training exercise would be. But with the way they were setting it up they clearly wanted them ready for something just as important as surviving if they got stranded. Although the fact that they were using VR Drive Pods could mean that training like this in real life could cause permanent damage.


    "Welcome! To the first day of training. At the end of each day you can see how well you did compared to those with the same compatibility. At the end of the week the overall comparisons will be available to compare rankings between compatibility and overall ranking. Keep in mind this training is serious, the points are only to help you grasp what you did wrong. We will provide breakdowns at the end of the training." Commander Eelson called out before the groups were escorted away from the hangar.


    Jace was led away with the other S-Ranks and arrived at a room with Six VR Drive Pods. Three leaned up against walls opposite each other. While opposite the door was a number of screens and technical specialists waiting.


    The person that was leading them motioned to the pods. "Each of the pods have your name on it. We have technical specialists on standby to observe you and ready to forcefully eject you in case of an emergency. Not that we foresee one happening, it is just in case of the worst case scenario. Who would like to go first?"


    Jace did not even have to look at them to know the other five were looking at him. He rolled his eyes as he raised a hand, "I will go first, sir!"


    "You are¡­?" The man asked.


    "Sergeant Jace Steel, sir." Jace responded with a nod.


    The man''s expression faltered as he looked at the technical specialists who had looks of amusement on his face. The man then looked back at Jace with a worried expression, "okay, I was warned about you ahead of time." He motioned to a specific pod.


    Jace walked up to the pod as it opened up for him. He slipped inside feeling the gel mold around his body. He had not been in one of these since the academy.


    "Sergeant Steel, please do not break the program by having too much fun." The man''s words caused not just Jace but the others to be confused. While the technical specialists were now suppressing their laughter. "This kind of thing might just be a pastime for you but we expect many to come out of the experience traumatized."


    The glass shell closed. Sealing the pod with Jace inside. He felt the familiar sensation of his subconscious slipping away before he was suddenly in a white room filled with white hexagons. Looking at his own body he realized he was in armor coveralls. They were what was usually worn under Infantry Armor. Not that he ever ended up wearing them but they were the norm for most people.


    A moment later he was sitting in a metal chair. His hands were zip tied to the arms of the chair. As Jace looked around the room as the simulation loaded up he could not hide his grin as he began barking out laughter.


    This was going to be a relaxing week for him.

 Chapter 92 - 92: Expected

    He was confined to a single metal chair. His hands were zip tied to the arms of the chair. The chair was uncomfortable as any metal chair might be. But that was about it. He was perfectly fine otherwise.


    The room he is inside is a damp concrete box with a single metal door. There was a single light above him that was flickering in and out. It was not the most uncomfortable environment he has been in before. For a torture room it was very mediocre.


    Two men opened and walked in through the metal door. They were dressed like a pair of gangsters. Very generic with the gold metal chains and visible gang tattoos. They each had something in their hands. One of them is wearing baggy jeans and has a hammer in his hand. The other one with a loose dress shirt has garden shears in his hands.


    "You are going to tell us everything you know. Or I am going to take this hammer and start smashing your fingers until they are a bloody paste, yeah. Do you understand?" Baggy jeans asked him with an accent that he could only describe as slum slang.


    Jace looked between them before shaking his head, "okay you have it completely wrong. You can''t just immediately threaten a person and question them. First you start off with torture then you start interrogating."


    The pair of gangsters looked at each other in confusion.


    Jace then nodded at their respective weapons. "Next off, you can''t use those things. They might be good if you have nothing else on hand, but shears imply you will be removing limbs or appendages. But if you cut off an appendage without having someone ready to stop the bleeding they will just die. Then there is the hammer." Jace just shook his head.


    "Whaz wrong with my hammer?" Baggy Jeans asked in confusion while Loose Dress Shirt frowned at his garden shears.


    Jace shrugged his shoulders, "it is just so generic. Besides, the pain caused from it does not linger that well. I mean you can break limbs and crush fingers but that is about it. Tell me you were at least going to hit me in spots that are sensitive."


    Baggy Jeans looked embarrassed as he shrugged, "maybe."


    "You weren''t were you?" Jace shook his head. "If you are going to come at me you have to come at me with the idea you are going to distribute the maximum amount of pain. More importantly, you have to realize that I am a person."


    The gangsters exchanged a look of confusion, "what does being a person have anything to do with this? We can just cut you until you talk."


    "No you can''t." Jace huffed and shook his head. "The idea is to cause pain with the least amount of damage. Basically you want to prolong the¡­ interrogatee¡­ victim¡­ captured individual?"


    "I think interrogatee works." Loose Dress Shirt spoke up for the first time. "Or victim from an outside point of view." He tossed his shears onto the ground.


    Jace nodded, "okay, like I was saying. You want ot prolong the interrogatee''s life while still inflicting torture. If you cut him up or cause other damage that causes them to bleed it will just cause him to go unconscious and then die."


    "So how do we do that?" Baggy Jeans asked in exasperation.


    "Oh let me show you!" Jace responded with a smile. With a swift kick of his leg he broke Loose Dress Shirt''s leg at knee. The man screamed bloody murder while Baggy Jeans was stunned. Jace slipped his right hand out of the zip tie, the zip tie easily snapping under his strength. He reached forward and grabbed the hammer out of Baggy Jean''s hand.


    Jace quickly flipped the hammer in his hand. Then he jammed the claw-end of the hammer into Baggy Jean''s knee. He screamed in pain as his hands went to the hammer that was sticking out of his leg. Jace pulled his other hand, snapping the other zip tie with ease.


    He reached over and grabbed Loose Dress Shirt by the head. He quickly pulled up and to the side, earning a quick crack and snap that silenced the man''s screams. Jace tossed the man''s body to the side, focusing on Baggy Jeans who began pulling the hammer out of his knee.


    Jace yanked the hammer out of the man''s knee and out of Baggy Jean''s hand. With his other hand he pushed Baggy Jeans into the chair as he was grabbing at his bloody knee.


    "I apologize but I will have to demonstrate quickly otherwise-" Jace stopped mid sentence as the simulation suddenly froze. Then after a few seconds he was in the white hexagonal space again. Then the man that he spoke to before he entered the pod spoke to him.


    "Sergeant Steel, it has not even been an hour. I understand you already have a strong grasp of torture techniques. But the whole point of this exercise is to survive through being tortured. Not to escape and try to torture your would be torturers." The man sighed and Jace just shrugged in response. "We will start you in on the next simulation. Thankfully the restrictions on you will be greater for the rest of these."


    ¡ª-------------------------------


    "I see that Sergeant Steel is already on the second simulation. Should I assume that he broke the first one?" Director Fenrir asked as she stood in the center of the Project Tartarus surveillance hub. Usually the video monitors consisted of cameras that ran throughout the section that the candidates of Project Tartarus were confined to. But at the moment they were all watching the candidates while they were in their simulations.


    "Yes ma''am, he would have broken the record for breaking the simulation if he did not take the time to confuse the program." One of the people responded with a chuckle.


    "Well that was expected." Fenrir sighed while shaking her head. "Was there anything else of note, or anything else we expected that did or did not happen?"


    "Specialist Nina Diaz had to be pulled out temporarily when she realized what the training consisted of. She suffered a panic attack while in the simulation and had to be pulled out. We are waiting for her to recover and undergo a psych evaluation before we put her back in. We already have her marked to undergo the special training regimen that you suggested." One of the techs told her.


    "That is within the expected parameters. What else happened?" Director Fenrir dismissed the news, fully expecting that. "I am sure there has been at least one or two interesting bits we never expected."


    "I have a few people that are having trouble with being interrogated. But for the most part it is people we have pegged as weak willed. All has been within parameters aside from one B-Rank. He has been talking and has not stopped talking since the his torture began." Another of the techs told her as he looked over his shoulder.


    Director Fenrir raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What has he been saying? Anything that would get him washed out of the project?"


    "No, it is mostly just gibberish. Nothing that would be considered revealing. At the moment he is talking about the different ways to cook a tomato. Should I make a note in his file for future reference." The tech asked.


    Director Fenrir chuckled in amusement, "yes, specifically write that he is talkative even while he is being tortured. Have the candidate''s assigned technician adjust the simulations appropriately to account for the candidate''s malfunction."


    "Yes, ma''am!" The tech spun around and started doing what she told him to. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I have another S-Rank breaking the first simulation." Another tech spoke up pointing to one of his screens. On the screen was Dahlia Dakota, she was smashing one of the interrogators'' heads repeatedly into a wall.


    "Okay¡­ start her in on-"


    "I have an S-Rank breaking it as well." Another tech called out.


    "Same here!" A third tech raised his hand.


    "Well shit." Director Fenrir took a deep breath. "After they exit the simulation give them their four hour break then start them in on the next simulation. That goes for anyone else that manages to finish early." After a moment Director Fenrir realized something, "Except for Sergeant Steel, only let him take a break when he is near the twenty hour mark after breaking a simulation or finishing one."


    "Understood. I think all of the S-Ranks except Specialist Diaz are going to end up speeding through the simulations." One of the techs responded. "Should we alert Commander Eelson to the changes so he can plan classes and assignments accordingly?"


    "Yes, inform Commander Eelson." Director Fenrir confirmed and turned to leave the room but stopped. "Actually, tell the commander to consider sending Sergeant Steel in with Specialist Diaz through one of those simulations. It should help slow him down and help her cope."

 Chapter 93 - 93: Unexpected

    "What about Lynx?" Jace was sitting on a chair in the cafeteria. At the moment he was looking at the tiger as he came up with names. So far the tiger had shook its head and made a sound he could only assume was disapproval.


    The tiger shook its head and made the huffing sound again. There were some chuckles from some nearby candidates that were watching the interaction. The tiger had essentially vetoed every name he suggested almost immediately.


    "Okay, that is all Christian and ancient Grecian religious names that I could find. As well as all the different terms of cat I could find." Jace sighed as he leaned his head on a hand he propped up on a table using his elbow. "I suppose this means I have to start looking into areas I have never looked into before. What do you think? Other religions or regions might have a name you might like."


    There was a beeping on his communication device. Jace frowned and pulled up the message. It was labeled as high priority by Commander Eelson.


    [Dear Sergeant Steel,


    Due to recent events within the torture training simulations we have determined that you are able to easily able to pass all of the simulations before the determined time frame. As such we have come up with a way to make your last three simulations more difficult.


    Therefore the next simulation you will be entering with Specialist Nina Diaz. She suffered a mental break after attempting the first simulation and failed. We request that you find a method to help her complete the next simulation. As well as find a way to have her overcome her difficulties with being tortured.


    This was suggested by the Director after determining that attempting to put you through torture training has been ineffective. You will report to the VR Drive Pod room after your break in order to go through the next simulation.


    Thank you for volunteering to help in this endeavor,


    Commander Riley Eelson.]


    "Well that is a nice way to tell me I am too good and need a handicap. I had a feeling this would end up becoming my problem. Solisa, are you there? I need some help with something." Jace asked toward his communication device while the tiger began growling in another direction.


    "She is not. Shipborne AI, designation Solisa, is currently on an independent network as she helps refurbish and redesign the Wing of Pegasus. As well as several other designs and projects that are currently classified above your level. I would not worry about it since there is not much that can be done on your part anyways." A mechanical voice spoke up from behind Jace. It was a rigid computer voice and lacked the clear personality he had become used to while interacting with Requiem AIs.


    Jace turned around and blinked in surprise. It was a robotic dog, or more accurately, it is the robotic dog he and Taylor Hielo designed. But it has since been further modified and changed.


    "Cain?"


    "Affirmative, this AI unit has the designation Cain. I have been cleared for duty following extensive alterations to my exterior shell. All of which has resulted in an increased capacity to both take damage and deal it out." Cain''s exterior consisted of reinforced plates and metallic wires. But when Taylor and Jace left him he was less armored. It seemed someone had taken the time and money needed in order to make Cain a stronger exterior.


    "Was that all that was done to you?" Jace asked as he looked closer as the tiger prowled around the robotic dog. "I think my new tiger companion is suspicious of you."


    "I can see that Creator." Cain''s head turned as it watched the tiger. "She is likely suspicious of a species or type of being she has not yet encountered before. From what I understand she has encountered a holographic form of an artificial intelligence but not an AI''s core." Cain stopped following it and turned to look at Jace. "I have sent all the relevant changes to both your and Taylor Hielo''s new personal communication devices."


    Jace frowned, "New personal communication device? I did not request one." He had been thinking about getting a new communication device. But he was going to wait until this Tartarus Project training was complete.


    "Affirmative, you did not." Cain''s head went up and down as he nodded in confirmation. "All of the members of the Tartarus Project that have developed useful technology are being given new personal communication devices in order to further encrypt communications and information."


    "Why?"


    "Because all innovations and innovators are given a higher security clearance after entering the Echo System. The clearance level depends on how important the projects are that the innovators are working on. Those here in the Echo System are required to abide by clearance mandated zones. A temporary pass can be provided by department heads or the director. Currently you and the other members of the Tartarus Project are confined to only a small part of the station." Cain explained.


    "That wasn''t¡­" Jace frowned before it clicked. "The new communication devices will also be doubling as our temporary passes should an engineering team have questions about our submitted works. Should I assume all communications will be watched as well?"


    "Correct. Very astute Creator!" Cain confirmed. "But that was not why I was sent here. During your first set of torture tests, which you basically used to show off not only your own torture skills but also your ability to escape confinement, your tiger companion seemed to be bored while you were in the VR Drive Pod. So she decided to send me to accompany the tiger."


    Jace rolled his eyes before he began gathering his things. He had only an hour left before his next simulation started. Which was apparently going to be a joint simulation. Before then he would have to do some research and see about these new communication devices.


    After putting his cafeteria tray on a prepared shelf he walked to his room with the tiger and Cain following behind him. The tiger was still growling, but much quieter now as it followed Jace. Cain on the other hand was quite loud while walking. With the clanking of his metal feet against the floor, it almost made him wonder how Cain managed to sneak up on him.


    Was he intentionally silent before or was he being loud on purpose now. He could be doing it to put the tiger at ease. That or being manipulative so Cain could implant false ideas in Jaces and the tigers mind.


    After they arrived at the dorm he was staying at he looked over the device that arrived while he was gone. Looking around he realized that he might not be the only one finding them as the other, far more exhausted and haunted candidates looked over their own before tucking them away and falling asleep on their bunks.


    Jace''s new communication device was a Hellion Holo Watch. The specific design was a Seeker IV. He had seen a few different holo watches growing up and talked about them with others at the academy. He planned to get one once he had a more permanent position after the extra training he was undergoing was finished.


    There were multiple lines of holo watches with several different companies having their own brands. Back in the academy they were given the Hellion Holo Watch Strand III. Strand III''s were cheap, decent, and durable which is why they were made the Cadet''s standard communication device.


    The Seeker IV was an expensive design. It looks like a normal watch with a digital screen that rests on an analog clock face with the big and little hand. Then there was the option to display a holographic screen that could be manipulated or manipulate the digital screen on the watch. But he had not heard of anything beyond the recently announced Seeker III. Seems that the Echo System was at least one generation ahead of the rest of the nation.


    When he put the watch on his wrist a holographic screen appeared. It was asking for basic information. He began filling it out as he sat on his bed. The tiger jumped on his bed and lay down next to him. While Cain laid down in front of his bunk.


    After filling out the basic information he pulled up the data on Cain''s changes that the technical team in charge of Cain provided him with. The external armor changes were the only obvious change. Everything else was more discreet and hidden under the exterior.


    The wiring running throughout Cain''s body was changed to make it more efficient as well as having redundant wiring. That way if his primary wiring failed or was damaged he would still be able to operate just with less efficiency.


    The hydraulics and mechanical joints had been changed out. He could tell that the replaced parts were doing the same thing as the original design but with greater ease. Making them more energy efficient and stronger if certain parts of the new joints were overclocked.


    Aside from those things there was not much else that was actively replaced. Many of the internal systems near the AI core were untouched. But that honestly made sense because the core itself as well as the control hubs around it were some of his and Taylor''s best work. The rest of the body might as well have been an exchangeable shell because of what they did.


    Actually that gives him a few ideas.


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 Chapter 94 - 94: Interrogation 101

    Jace leaned back in his VR Drive Pod. The rest of the candidates that were in the room he was assigned were already inside their simulations. He had arrived late because he was busy drawing designs and ideas he had after seeing the changes that were done to Cain''s body.


    This time the tiger did not follow him as Cain distracted the tiger to bring it to another area of the station while Jace went to ''train'' in the simulations. But he was worried because the tiger seemed to still be a bit too suspicious of Cain when they wandered off.


    After Jace''s pod loaded him in he appeared in the white hexagonal space where Nina Diaz was already waiting. When she saw him she quickly began signing at him in anger.


    Jace shrugged, "sorry I lost track of time." He watched her signals for another few minutes before shaking his head while chuckling. "I can''t promise to take this more seriously. Especially since my whole method of getting through being interrogated depends on me deriving a form of enjoyment from the experience."


    The simulation began loading and they found themselves hanging from the roof of a warehouse by metal chains. Their hands were tied up with these chains. The chains themselves appeared to be part of a pulley system hanging from the roof. Which was why they were raised so far off the ground.


    Jace looked over and saw Nina was in the same position as him. He then took stock of their shared situation. There were a number of people moving around under them on the ground floor. While up in a raised office were a number of people arguing. Most of them are older with only one younger person.


    "Okay, let''s talk about how to get through being tortured first. Then we will come up with a plan for escape." Jace turned his head while he talked to Nina. She looked around with a worried expression. But when she heard his voice she looked at him and nodded after a moment to show that she understood.


    "Good, we will start with assessing your situation. Currently we have been situated in what looks like the center of an enemy stronghold. Which is good because they are usually built to keep the enemy out, not keep prisoners in. Next we can see that officers will be the ones interrogating us, mostly because no one is immediately talking with us. We can also see them arguing in that office over there." Jace narrated their surroundings getting another nod in response from Nina.


    "Now that we know all that, we can start planning our counter to their interrogation. There are multiple ways to counter an interrogator. You can give false information, which is only good if you know that doing so would give away the location of where they are holding you. If you fail to do so the interrogations and torture will just get worse. You can provoke an interrogater to kill you, that should only be done in the event of being interrogated by an expert torture specialist that you will not be able to silent against. You can talk while giving an excess of unimportant information, you should only do this if you do not think they will manage to use your excess of information against you." Jace took a moment to breathe. Then the chains began to shake while the pulley''s creaked as they were lowered.


    "But we are not doing any of those things today. Today we are going to do a reverse interrogation. We are going to provoke them into revealing what they know." Jace told her while Nina frowned and raised an eyebrow. "It will be a bit painful but useful if you do it right."


    Jace smiled as he came face-to-face with their interrogator. "Hello-"


    SMACK!


    Jace spun around in a circle while hanging from the chain after being punched in the face. It stunned him for a moment before he shook off the surprise. Seemed they would be starting off with a bit of pain first.


    "Wait until I talk, you rat! Now tell us about your group!" The interrogator followed it up with another punch that sent Jace spinning in the other direction. The metal clinking and the roof quietly creaking.


    "Well that was rude." Jace adjusted his jaw, "you should at least introduce yourself before putting your hands on me. For instance my name is Joseph, what is your name?"


    SMACK!


    "I don''t give a fuck! Now tell me about your group!" The man yelled. This time with a lot more anger.


    Jace took a second to make sure all his teeth were still in his mouth before he continued. "Nice to meet you ''I don''t give a fuck''. You are going to have to be a bit more specific with your questions if you want me to answer. Because I honestly do not know what you are asking about. For instance you could be talking about the bowling league that I am a part of for all I know."


    "Bowling league? What? No, I am talking about the Vexical based military operation." The interrogator seemed befuddled while Jace glanced at Nina and winked. A look of clarity emerged on her face when she began understanding what he was doing.


    "A Vexical based military operation?" Jace clicked his tongue several times as he faked thinking long and hard about the subject. "Are you sure you do not have anything more specific because that is a very broad description." Jace shrugged.


    SMACK! POW! SMACK!


    The interrogator punched him several times in succession, switching between Jace''s face and his body. Essentially using him as a punching bag. It continued for several minutes as Jace took the time to assess these senior officers that were standing back watching the interrogation.


    They did not look like much. They looked nothing like how he would imagine a dogooder rebel would look. With how disorganized they were he imagined they were captured by some small rebel groups that had decided to work together.


    Eventually the interrogator stopped and frowned then he walked over to Nina. "How about you? Do you want to tell us about your group?"


    Jace suppressed his laughter as Nina raised an eyebrow almost as if saying, ''really''. Nina took a moment before making a silent sigh and shaking her head.


    "I suppose that is a no." The interrogator began hitting her while Jace shook his head.


    "I mean¡­ you are not even a decent interrogator. I guess that is what you and your¡­ bosses were talking about up in that office? A bit of a spat about what you should be asking us." Jace asked as he nodded at the line of old men.


    "What?" The interrogator turned his attention away from Nina focusing on Jace again. "Those old codgers are not my bosses. I am their boss. I run this Union branch. They are just suppliers and businessmen who have allied with us. They are none of your business. Now shut up if you are not going to be giving us anything useful."


    "Useful? Do you mean like the location of an enemy hideout? Or do you mean like the identity of a spy within your numbers?" Jace asked while trying to wiggle his fingers to emphasize his point.


    "Oh please, you idiots did not even know that I am the boss of this cell. What could you know?" The man grunted in annoyance.


    "You are right. I suppose we should be done with this." Jace nodded then swayed his body so he was looking at Nina. "Okay, for escaping there can be multiple different ways. For instance you could trick them into bringing you away from their fortress. You can wait until they are distracted before sneaking out. Or you can do my favorite, the no-hold-barred breakout."


    Nina nodded in understanding.


    "Today I am going to demonstrate the breakout-"


    SMACK!


    The interrogator punched him in the side as Jace was talking, "shut the hell up, you will not be escaping today. We have you two chained up!"


    Jace shook his head, "can you wait until I am finished. I am kinda busy." Jace turned back to Nina. "First off, you always want to spend any moment finding different ways to escape when you are not busy. For instance, before the interrogation began I found two different ways to escape these bonds." He waved his hands to emphasize his point.


    "The first which would have been easier if we were raised up was to climb the metal chains and to loosen them and remove them once we had enough slack and moved through the rafters to escape. Unfortunately we can not do that method. But it would have been good if we wanted to sneak out." Jace explained. The interrogator went to punch him again but Jace kicked the punch away and then put the man in headlock but using his leg instead of his arm.


    Nina blinked and started nodding her head in understanding when she realized Jace was waiting for her.


    "What we are going to do is exploit these old and deteriorated chains and pulleys. In order to do that you want to bounce and increase the weight exerted on them. Do not gently increase the weight because it would not work as well then. Do you want to try it first? Or do you want me to demonstrate?" Jace asked as he ignored the rebels grabbing weapons and panicking around them.


    Nina struggled but still motioned with her hands indicating she wanted to try it first. Then she pointed at the interrogator.


    Jace nodded in understanding. With a spin and a kick the interrogator was stumbling over to Nina. Nina grabbed the man with her legs and quickly raised her body up lifting the interrogator with them. There was a creak then a crack followed by a snap as her chains came loose and the entire pulley system came down crashing into the ground. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Splendid job. Give me a moment." Jace praised before he began pulling himself up the chain. Then he dropped and fell to the ground with a grunt of pain while the pulley system holding him up began falling to the ground.


    A moment later the room began changing back to the white hexagonal room.


    "Good job you two. We have a dozen more simulations for you to go through before the end of the day." A voice told them. It was the same tech guy that was watching over them last time.

 Chapter 95 - 95: Cains Little Adventure

    Cain led the way through the halls. He had explored every corner of the station initially when he arrived because of his curiosity but he wanted to go to his favorite section of the station with the tiger that Jace had yet to name. It seemed that his creator had a way about drawing in unconventional allies. First it was big sis Solisa, now it was this Astral Beast.


    Cain walked past a few guards before stopping at a corner. He started moving differently to be more quiet as he peered around the corner. Standing at the sides of the door were a pair of guards.


    Which was good because they would not be here unless they were in there. Unfortunately the older humans were constantly overzealous in their protection of them. So Cain always had to sneak in and out.


    Cain backed up, motioning for the curious tiger to follow him with his head. They walked over to a deadend of a nearby hall. Cain looked up at an air vent grate above them. It was big enough to fit both of them.


    Cain hacked into the station''s maintenance systems. Quickly breaking through several firewalls. Then the grate swung open as Cain released the locking mechanism. It would be at least an hour before the maintenance people noticed what Cain had done. Then it would not take them long to realize it was him.


    Cain crouched and prepared his back leg mechanisms before jumping up into the vent. Cain scrambled as he climbed fully inside before looking down at the tiger and nodding his head, indicating again for the tiger to follow him.


    Cain backed away and a moment later the tiger was appearing through the hole with her paws scrambling and scratching against the metal as she started pulling herself up. Cain flipped around and stuck out his metal tail.


    The tiger bit his tail and he walked forward helping the tiger climb inside the vent. Once the tiger was fully inside it let go of his tail. So he began climbing forward following the vent path he had pulled from the schematics of this area of the station.


    He went down then around before arriving at a grate. Cain snuck a look inside before glancing behind him to see the tiger was still following him. But was it smaller? It was, it must be one of its abilities.


    There was a clicking noise in front of him as the grate''s locking mechanism disconnected. Cain crawled forward and out of the vent coming out the back of the room. Sprawled around the room were a bunch of small humans that were covered in blankets and hugging big fluffy pillows.


    Cain snuck over to the side of the room in order to avoid waking them up. Sitting at the side of the room was the teacher. She was quietly watching the children who were napping at the moment.


    When she saw Cain she smiled and waved but froze and had a look of confusion when she noticed the tiger. Cain quietly moved over to the teacher and made sure that the tiger was following him.


    "Ma''am, I am glad we will not be interrupting class." Cain used a quieter voice function that is on his voice box. He was quietly fitted behind the desk. The tiger moved in behind the disk with him, sniffing the teacher.


    "That is okay, is this a tiger?" The teacher whispered back, nodding at the tiger.


    "No, she is a highly adaptable and intelligent rare creature. But she is harmless unless attacked. But she is a fully sentient being but she is also essentially a young child. So I was hoping to get her more used to being around the smaller humans in case she runs into a group of them later." Cain explained. "At the moment her paws have no claws, she likely unconsciously retracted them when we entered the room."


    "Well that is¡­ good. Just in case I will use my ability on you two, so you won''t accidentally hurt them. But I will only wait until they wake up. They just started napping so it will be awhile before you can play with them." The teacher whispered back.


    Cain nodded before moving out of the way and laying down. The tiger followed his league, clearly confused but still going along with him.


    An hour later the first of the small humans were waking up. The little girl looked around groggily before pulling her blanket back up. But she suddenly shot up and looked right at Cain with a grin. "Cain!" The little girl''s screech caused the tiger and teacher to flinch because of the high frequency.


    The little girl ran forward forgetting the comfort of her blanket and pillow as she ran forward and hugged Cain''s head. Giggling with glee while pressing her face up against the cold metal of Cain''s head.


    The other children began stirring awake while a few immediately sat up. They were woken by the little girl''s screech of delight. Some were shooting up immediately when they realized what the little girl said.


    The children began swarming to the tiger and Cain. Draping their bodies over every part of them. The tiger quietly growled in annoyance while the teacher panically told the children to be careful.


    Cain made a chuckling noise. "Small humans, who wants to go for a ride first?" Cain spent the next several hours playing with the children. When he first started exploring he found he was able to easily understand the older humans after studying the smaller ones. They were a great form of informational data. He hoped the tiger would infer information from the experience in a similar manner he had.


    They walked around with the children on their back. They pushed giant rubber balls back and forth with children and then they waited quietly as the teacher continued her class. Finally they went back to playing with the small humans after the teacher ended classes. They mostly moved around the room playing with them.


    When the small humans were taken out by the bigger humans was what marked the end of the day. The small humans were exhausted and sleeping as their bigger human counterparts carried them out. Afterwards Cain and the tiger walked out the door and headed to their next destination.


    To the cafeteria, from Cain''s knowledge the tiger should be hungry by now. As they made their way to the kitchen his sensors picked up the sound of a chemical growling coming from the tiger''s midsection. He could not smell it himself but he was guessing the tiger was picking up the scent of cooked food coming from the cafeteria.


    Cain led the way into the cafeteria and stood in line behind the other humans. He was receiving frowns and looks of confusion as he waited in line. The tiger was patiently behind him but was now making whining noises. There were a few minutes before they arrived at the start of the kitchen window. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cain lifted himself up on his back legs and put his front legs on the counter to balance himself. The kitchen staff member who was by the window blinked in surprise and confusion.


    "Hello, I am not eating but my companion would like some cooked red meat. If there are an array of different meats for her to try it would be appreciated." Cain asked the person.


    The person looked over the counter down at the tiger that was making pouting noises. "Um¡­ I suppose we can. We have some steaks, fried chicken, and¡­ lasagna?" The man shrugged in confusion. "I will be honest, I do not know what tigers eat."


    "Those dishes should be fine. A plate of each of them will do wonders for data on what it can and cannot eat. I am surprised that Sergeant Steel has not brought the tiger here before." Cain pointed out as he waited.


    "Ah, there is a good chance he only eats in the cafeteria near the Tartarus Project dorms." The man pointed out, "that is not a name I recognize, so he might have come with the new arrivals and they are confined to a single area of the station for the time being."


    "That might be the case," Cain nodded his mechanical head up and down. "I came here because the data shows that this cafeteria had the best selection of meats for dinner today."


    "So you are what, the tiger''s caretaker? How did someone even get permission to have a tiger?" The man asked in confusion. He then looked behind him, "oh, you need to move down there to get the dishes. If you want, one of the chefs can carry it to a table for you." The man pointed to the end where dishes were placed.


    "Please do, have one of the chefs bring it to that empty table." Cain nodded at the end of a table that was void of people. He started moving over to and jumped up onto a seat. The tiger pouted louder as it moved over and climbed onto a seat next to him. A chef came out with three plates.


    One of the plates had two cooked pieces of steak. Another had several pieces of fried chicken, it looked to be an entire chicken that was cut up and then fried. Then the last was an entire dish of lasagna.


    The tiger looked at Cain like she was asking for permission. "Eat up, I will figure out where we are going next while you eat." Cain told her.


    The tiger immediately began with the more familiar looking steak. Quickly slurping down both within seconds. Then it began eating bites of fried chicken crunching through the bones and eating it causing the nearby humans to flinch. Cain did not bother stopping her because she can apparently digest bones.


    After eating the chicken it looked at the lasagna in curiosity. It dipped its nose down and liked up a layer of the dish. Its head immediately shot up while its tail froze midair. It started for a second before diving headfirst into the dish slurping up the lasagna with its tail wagging back and forth at an unbelievable speed. Causing the nearby people and the chefs from the kitchen who were watching to burst into laughter.


    It seems the tiger appreciated a good lasagna dish.

 Chapter 96 - 96: Whats in a name?

    "What do you think about Aria?" Jace asked as he spun in a circle. He was still in the torture simulations. They were about halfway through their twenty hour long joint session. After the first ten days inside of the simulation, while only ten hours passed outside of the simulation, he had run out of things to teach Nina. At this point he had talked about all of his experiences as a torturer, the tactics police interrogators used back in his home world. Even everything he had found while researching at the academy to better enrich himself and his ability to torture people.


    Jace saw her look of disgust at his suggestion as he spun past. She had been helping him pick out a name for his new tiger companion. She had been vetoing names with a varying degree of disapproval. Disgust was the worst response. Shaking her head side to side was a resounding no. Then swaying her head side to side was a ''meh'', meaning not good enough but not awful.


    "Haaa¡­ I really can''t think of anything. By the way, when do you think you will escape?" Jace asked as he spun around again. "I am starting to feel a bit lightheaded." Jace was currently hanging upside down from a chain coming from the roof. His entire body was wrapped in chains. It was quite tight and restrictive. He thinks one of the programs was altered by the techs so he would not be able to escape.


    At this point he figured they would start recycling programs and altering them so they could be used again. Especially since he was the only one restrained so much. Nina was just chained to a metal chair that was bolted to the floor.


    Nina just shrugged in response to Jace''s question. She quickly motioned with her hands a few times as Jace spun around again and could see her. It was broken but the point came across. She was asking why should she when the point of the exercise was to undergo torture. To be fair after the first six simulations with Jace she probably realized that being captured was not as worrisome since it usually meant they wanted information.


    Now she was just passing the time inbetween the torture sesssions when their torturer went to rest. Jace usually got really into insulting them. It seems boredom was Jace''s greatest opponent.


    "Okay, then I will go back to suggesting some more names. How about Apple? Frosty? Anna? Lena?" Jace spouted off some names getting a bunch of handshakes in response. Apparently he was really struggling with naming this tiger.


    "Fine let''s move on to-" Jace stopped mid sentence as the door swung open. The metal rang loudly as it slammed into the stone wall.


    "Morning you two, let''s get started. I will be asking questions today instead of just having my associate torture you. So now before we start, do either of you want to tell me your names?" A well dressed noble asked as he entered the room with flair. Following him was a rather skinny person wearing a black hood that was common among executioners.


    "Alfred Von Creamer." Jace answered while his back was turned to the pair as he was still spinning.


    "Well you are still as useless as ever. How about you, beautiful? I am sure you have some tales you could tell me about." The noble asked Nina as he ran a hand across her face. They were seven days into this simulation and the noble was still unaware that Nina was a mute and unable to answer.


    As Jace spun back around he made eye contact with her and she shook her head again to indicate that he should not tell them that she was a mute. Jace shrugged and sighed. "Let''s see¡­ names. Something nice, you know if you have any ideas I am all for it."


    Nina waved her hand, as if indicating she had a few.


    "Start with him today. He seems talkative enough." The noble pointed out as he sighed and moved back to a seat. Sitting down as he waited for the torture to commence.


    The hooded man walked up to Jace and pulled out a pair of pliers. Then he grabbed Jace by the jaw and stopped his spinning. Jace struggled against his grip as he squirmed in his chain cocoon. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man roughly struggled to pull open Jace''s jaw. Jace had to hold back from laughing as this commercial struggle to even open Jace''s mouth commenced.


    [Hey Jace, I am bored. What are you up to?] Jace flinched in surprise when he heard Salem''s voice in his mind. Interrupting his chain of thought, giving the hooded man a chance to wrestle open Jace''s mouth.


    {Shit.} He cursed immediately as the hooded man went to pull out one of his teeth with the pliers. {Sorry, I am currently having a few teeth extracted forcefully.} Jace instantly responded, when he could feel the worry because of his response. {Actually do you remember Nina Diaz?}


    [That is the S-Rank compatibility person that had her voice box removed right? If I recall her entire squad and most of the people on her ship were killed or captured. Is she having issues with this training session? Ow, there goes another nail.] Salem answered as her feelings of the pain were transmitted to him.


    {Yes she is the one with trama regarding torture and capture. They matched me up with her to help her adjust and to slow me down for a bit. I think they are also actively modifying the simulations. Specifically to prevent me from breaking them.} Jace told her as the hooded man went to remove another of his teeth. It was less the pain of having his teeth removed that was bothering him and more of the taste of the man''s hand. An unfortunate side effect of having the man shove his hands into Jace''s mouth was having them rub on his hand against his tongue. {This is disgusting, what simulation are you on?}


    [I am in the jungle simulation where the barbarian humans are torturing you. I think I liked the underwater bunker simulation the best. It was a great view while we were being interrogated.]


    {Which one? There are two. The ones with the views of sharks or the views of coral?} Jace asked as another of his teeth were pulled out. Now that his mouth was filling with blood the lingering taste of the hooded man''s hand was disappearing.


    [There is one with coral? Cool! I thought there were going to be seven simulations but it seems like they might really have a bunch of them.] Salem pointed out in surprise.


    {Actually a lot of them are just being recycled with the settings and characters being changed. You can notice the disruptions in the edges of our vision if you look for them.} Jace explained then thought of something. {Hey, maybe you can help me come up with a name for the tiger. Any ideas?}


    [You mean that fluffy white tiger with green stripes? Well tell me a bit about it. Does the tiger behave a certain way? Does she fight a lot or like doing something a lot?] Salem was all in on this new distraction. As long as she did not focus on the fact that her fingernails were being yanked out of her hands.


    {Umm¡­ She is a curious creature. She is constantly moving around to investigate new things as she follows me around. But her species can also evolve and will change over time from what Solisa tells me.} Jace explained absentmindedly shrugging in the simulation.


    [Curiosity and evolution. Hmm¡­ I suppose Cho could work. It would describe her perfectly.] There were a few minutes of silence between their thoughts while Jace pushed forward his own curiosity while Salem was lost in her own sea of thoughts. [It is a name in the language they use in the Oda Empire. If I recall it was originally called Japanese which was where most of the Oda culture originated from.]


    {So what does Cho mean in this language?} He was not that familiar with the Oda Empire or its culture. It was never really a focus or came up during any of the time he was doing research on the various subjects he was interested in.


    [Cho means butterfly. Butterflies are constantly flitting around looking at everything. They are also evolutionary creatures that go from a caterpillar to a cocoon then from a cocoon to a beautiful butterfly.] Salem explained catching the amusement from Jace''s mind. [What''s so funny?]


    Jace thought of the image of him wrapped up in chains and hanging from the ceiling. {I am in a cocoon of my own at the moment. So I just thought it was amusing. I will try the name with the tiger the next time I am out of the simulation.}


    [Sounds good tell me how it goes. I think they are about to give an opening to escape. Bye!] Salem''s presence in his mind dispersed as she became focused on the reality around her.


    Jace similarly came back to his own reality to see the noble frowning at him, "What the hell are you smiling about?" The noble asked.


    Jace smiled at him before suddenly swinging forward and headbutting the noble in the face. There was a loud crack as the noble''s head snapped back before he fell onto the ground in a heap.

 Chapter 97 - 97: End of Torture Training

    The week passed by quickly. Jace only spent a single day ''tutoring'' Nina Diaz. Then the third day he was stuck in a single simulation. They made it impossible for him to escape. So he had to sit there and take the pain for twenty days inside of the simulation. Once that day was over he was given permission to forgo the rest of the training.


    So he spent it training his body and working on helping with several of the designs he started on but were taken away when he arrived here. One of the days he went down to the marriage temple again with the director escorting him. He was able to jot down notes, draw pictures, and make observations about the Requiem Marriage Temple.


    He was still having trouble figuring out the map orientation but he had an idea why that was so difficult. The map was made before even humans began inhabiting the system and that was well over a thousand years ago. There was a good chance that some of the systems or stars were no longer existing.


    That or he was reading the map completely incorrectly. He needed to get his map on some authentic ancient maps in order to figure this out. Unfortunately, according to the director they were kept under lock and key in the imperial library. There was no way to discreetly retrieve an ancient human star map.


    So while his research into the Requiem was stalled he refocused on something more modern. Mainly the weapon he was working on. His hover bike. As well as a new heads up display program that he had an idea for during his survival training. Since all he had was time during his torture traiing he had come up with several new theories and ideas he wanted to try out.


    His hover bike seemed to be quite popular among the engineering staff. Once he was let into the lab they were working on the bike and similar designs he understood. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Victorium and Requiem had both used alternate designs for floating and levitating technology that were in the process of being reverse engineered by the engineers in charge of his hover bike. But now with his new design they were ecstatic as he entered the secured area. He was instantly swarmed with questions regarding his design and why the bike was operated the way it was.


    He spent an entire day talking back and forth with these engineers altering designs they are coming up with. By the end of the day his hover bike was in the process of being finalized for design. Apparently they were going to manufacture them in this system for the time being. They had an entire station dedicated to manufacturing vehicles.


    The hoverbike would become part of the equipment sent out as the basic package for the Emperor Loyalist military spacecraft. Which was something else he learned while checking out how his inventions were doing. Apparently the part of the military the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division or Mild for short were hoarding advanced technologies and the manufacturing developments.


    He was not privy to all of the information just yet. But it was clear that the technology they were holding back was several generations ahead of anything the normal military had. It was a bit annoying, but it was also absolutely terrifying because he had heard from Taylor about the kind of technology her family was working on, it was nowhere near the level that Mild had going on.


    The experimental weapons section was the second area he got permission to visit. They were a lot less fun, but to be fair they were making weapons to kill people. He doubted they could take that much joy or excitement in the prospect.


    So when he started asking about his weapon designs they were initially confused until they figured out Jace''s designs were part of the gigantic backlog they had yet to get to. So when he introduced them to the idea of a localized disrupter that would send static electricity in a straight line from the barrel. The only thing Jace was struggling with was a power source that would allow an easier use.


    They struggled back and forth with ways to power it from a better battery pack to a larger power source. But in the end the best suggestion became the idea to make a one use energy source that would burn out after use. Sort of like how a handheld armor penetrating launcher had a single use rocket. It was not as good as he hoped but it was good enough that he was hopeful that people would realize its use as an anti-mecha weapon.


    Because the static electricity transmitted would be enough to scatter any normal Crusader mecha or anything of lower value. Fortunately it would not affect smaller, more compact equipment. So electric based weapons and most types of radio equipment would be safe. While their infantry armor would most certainly be safe because of the anti-emp layer all of the armors have.


    The other weapon he came to check on was an electromagnetic railgun. A concept constantly explored and used throughout history. Even now there were planetary defense weapons that used a railcannons to keep larger space ship''s far away. There were also records of older ships using railcannons as the primary weapon.


    But the theoretical design of a handheld railgun had never been successfully achieved. But Jace had come up with a design that would let him charge up the railgun given enough time using his electrical ability. This weapon never left the blueprint stage. Where his disruptor cannon had a mockup design the railgun was only ever a blueprint.


    Mostly because he needed durable and precious metals in order to manufacture the railgun. The magnetic disks used to fire the projectile require some materials that are military based and are heavily controlled. So he just waited until he could easily request the materials from his superiors.


    As they looked over his design they were first awed, then annoyed, then contemplative. Then they grouped up in a huddle and began talking in a hushed group. Jace of course listened in on their conversation. Apparently the electromagnetic disks could be switched out for another design that was far more power efficient but the design was classified. So they were worried about exposing such a new development to a temporary visitor.


    Eventually they decided to hold off on manufacturing an experimental version until they got permission form their bosses to use the experimental electro magnetic disk designs they were talking about. But they would make the rest of the railgun to test out the design when they got permission. They decided to tell Jace that they would have to wait on the disks to finalize it.


    After completing his adventure in the weapons area and somehow brightening up the day of the engineers and techs he was off to his next adventure. The programmers and technical specialists.


    The area was stacked with desks and computers of varying types. There was a smell in the air that was revolting, it was the combination of bodily odors of unwashed people. He actually forgot about this, programmers habits in forgoing their own hygiene in favor of finishing a project. He would not deny he had done it before.


    Spent weeks using the very minimal amount of technology he had at his disposal to create a program. All in order to do some not so legal things for the orphanage he was raised in. It was a good cause to get materials to repair the damaged orphanage, but using funds leached off of donations for a local officials election was not so good.


    He came here to see how the work on his heads up display was on the pile of approvals. After asking the first person he ran into he pointed to a wall of shelves that seemed organized compared to what he thought they might have.


    The wall of shelves was split between two areas. Finished products and unfinished products. The finished products section was smaller. He first moved to the side of the wall of shelves where there was a television. The television displayed the list of projects and the progress. The heads up display program was displayed as reviewed but not finalized. It was tagged for a classified program.


    Which meant that it was not here. It was probably locked up somewhere else. But it did make him glad that it was going to be used at the very least. He had his own copy of the program that he would work on.


    The heads up display had far more utility then the version that was currently in use. The version currently in use was mostly alerted when there was suit damage or if there was a communication coming in. Jace''s version would display where the damage on the armor was. It would be able to pick up radio frequencies in use. The program would also display target reticles on appropriate targets.


    The target reticles were what he was really proud of since it was capable of acting as a replacement for iron sights for guns. With a little training the helmet could be used with even sniper rifles if necessary.

 Chapter 98 - 98: The General

    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Jace was firing his gun several times at the target. He was killing time while he waited for the next training announcement to come through. They had just finished their first month but he still did not know what the second month of training would consist of.


    So for the time being he was keeping up with his various forms of training. Practicing his marksmanship was one such form of training. He had gone through most of the rifles and shotguns. At the moment he was just working on the sidearms and pistols.


    The pistol he was currently firing was a Magnus Revolver. It was the same type of revolver he took from an Inquisitor. That same gun he had lost to what was apparently a Victorium Imperial Guard for the High Priestess. Which made him feel a little less annoyed but was still annoying.


    Because now if he wanted another revolver he would have to buy it. But for the moment he would have to put up with just borrowing one from the armory to use on the firing range. He pressed a button and pulled up the digital targets. The targets he was accurate enough to keep his shots within the center black area.


    "Good shooting, you consider buying one of those? They are quite expensive so I would suggest getting it cleared first." An observer for the firing range pointed out. He was here to help people operate unfamiliar weapons. It was a job reserved for older veterans who had used just about every weapon during their time.


    If Jace recalls he remembered seeing the old man at the gym earlier in the week at some point as well. "I will wait until I know what type of position I will be operating after this training. But I used to have one so I know just how good the pros and cons of this gun are." Jace answered the older man.


    "You did? What happened to it? Those things are not easily lost or misplaced." The observer asked him.


    "I was dueling this person and ended up losing it. I took their sword and they took my revolver." Jace responded with a shrug.


    "Really? Is close quarters combat not your thing?" The observer asked.


    "Actually I was fighting a high ranking Victorium soldier who specializes in close quarters combat. So I would say coming out unscathed was rather fortunate." Jace shrugged.


    "Ha! You kids are all the same. Excuses excuses. If you get out done in an area, you train in that area until no one is better than you." The old man chuckled while shaking his head. "But this new generation is too used to being stuck in a rut without figuring out a solution for yourself."


    Jace frowned in confusion but decided to leave it be. He went back to his target practice but soon the old man observer left. Presumably to go get some other work done. He spent another hour practicing before his new watch received a message. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [To all candidates of Project Tartarus,


    The next stage of your training will consist of filling all gaps in your knowledge that we feel are unacceptable. In order to do that we will need to see and test who needs what type of training in order to be considered proficient.


    Testing will commence tomorrow and will consist of written tests and practical tests in order to make an appropriate evaluation. Testing will be done in almost every possible area that can be trained. While some will be done in VR Drive Pod simulations, most will be done in real life in order to maximize the practical and realistic element for evaluations.


    All testing will be evaluated at a level appropriate for system compatibility. But all candidates will be asked to apply themselves to their greatest capability. In the event of failure training will be commenced until success.


    Subjects that are failed will be trained in the subject and tested again after a few days. The process will continue until all subjects are fully trained. All subjects are preorganized into a tier list of what should be known the most.


    A note for all candidates. I have spent the last four weeks observing the candidates of the project and have determined that your own mentality is the thing most detrimental to your own growth. This cannot be easily trained or gotten rid of. So instead I will be personally going around and finding a way to change all or your mentality.


    But I will leave all candidates with the knowledge that all of you are capable of much more if you just push yourself to a higher standard. Director Fenrir, Admiral Dakota, and the Emperor may believe you are the best. But I only believe you are the best in this generation, so you can be so much better if only you have the appropriate competition. The highest scores recorded in either the Vexical Empire''s or the Grand Hexarian Empire''s history for these tests.


    I am the person in charge of the second month of your training. As well as the general in charge of the ground forces for Emperor Loyalists. I have sixty years of service in the military going back to even before the Vexical Empire was formed. So when I say there is untapped talent I know what I am talking about.


    Have a good rest day,


    General Ty Nikolai.]


    Jace frowned as he put away the guns he was using. Handing them back to the armory specialist and noticed that the old man observer from earlier was not there. After asking the person in charge of the armory he was even more confused. Apparently there was not an observer on duty earlier. Apparently they were specifically asked to not put an observer on duty.


    For a few minutes as he made his way back to his bunk he was confused. The person on duty was not an actual observer while the higher ups specifically asked that there not be one. As he walked in and saw everyone relaxing he was starting to have a feeling about what was going on.


    He had a feeling that he had just met General Ty Nikolai. It seems he started the training early. Jace felt like he should keep this to himself for now. Which would be annoying but he would do it after giving the General''s words some thought.


    He pulled up some information on General Ty Nikolai. He might as well learn about him while he had nothing better to do. Some light reading would do him some good.


    General Ty Nikolai started out as an officer in the Grand Hexarian Empire. For the first thirty years he spent on the front lines. Racking up a record of maintaining minimum casualties. The records were extensive with how well he adapted strategies and terrain in order to combat enemies. Even using mecha and scrap from previous battles in their tactics which during the time was thought as dishonorable.


    This was back when the Grand Hexarian Empire was still commanding respect from its neighbors. During the time there was a certain way combat was done. Humans would fight in covered terrain utilizing guerilla tactics in order to fight. While Mecha would be fought in a nearby open field or farmland. If a commander was in a mecha they would duel with the claim of minimizing casualties while fighting for glory.


    General Ty Nikolai utilized anything and everything to win as long as it did not violate a war time agreement. Using sabotage and traps against mecha or using smaller mecha to help hold infantry fortifications. He rose through the ranks not because of connections but because his superiors recognized his ruthlessness and strategic ability. After thirty years of service he made it to a position where he could command a platoon.


    But instead he was listed on documents that were classified that Jace could not access. It was that way all the way from the fall of the Grand hexarian Empire until the current emperor took control of the Vexical Empire.


    Then for the last five years he was listed as a General in charge of Infantry and guards that would be coming out of the Echo System. All of which now had classified jackets of their own. Seems him being in charge of all military Emperor Loyalists was not just a show of strength.


    Once he started getting into it he realized that more than a quarter of the Vexical military strength was hidden in this system. General Ty Nikolai commanded a quarter of Vexical''s military and as far as he could tell he was completely unknown to most of the nation.


    Whenever this civil war really became heated, General Ty Nikolai was the card the emperor was definitely keeping up his back sleeve.


    Sitting back and thinking about it caused Jace to realize the emperor was a fan of slight of hand. He was having Admiral Dakota stand directly outfront as a distraction with his brand new Warship. While at the same time he had an experienced genius like General Ty Nikolai in reserve with enough military to conquer multiple systems in a few days.

 Chapter 99 - 99: Wisdom Versus Youth

    General Ty Nikolai sucked in a breath of air and then breathed out before looking directly at Jace Steel, "you are an idiot."


    There were a few minutes of silence before Jace tilted his head, "I assume I am missing something." Jace had come from finishing his day of tests. They really were tested on just about everything from knowledge about guns to how to drive a vehicle.


    "Yes," The general nodded as he leaned back in his chair. "As far as I can tell you have the capacity to be a good leader. Probably even a great leader. But you would rather let someone else take the lead whenever given the opportunity."


    Jace looked around the nice office for a moment before shrugging, "I do not see how that is a problem. I honestly just prefer not being in charge of others."


    "But you can do it." The General sighed before he leaned forward and pulled open one of his drawers and tossed a very thick file onto the desk. "I was granted all the knowledge about you. Even stuff you do not know." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace frowned for a moment before he realized where this man was going with this and his face began paleing. There were a few things he did not and would not do. Commanding others was part of that. Simply because of something that happened in his past.


    "I read the file. I know for a fact that there is only one reason why you might be opposed to being a leader." The General leaned forward so he was sitting on his elbows. "Back when you were in the orphanage you got an up close look at how various types of leaders operated. I can only make an assumption since there is no evidence but you saw many things that bothered you. Among them was likely a corrupt leader that sold out his own people."


    Jace looked away and his hand absentmindedly tapped the arm of the char he was sitting in. They stayed like that for a few minutes in silence. The General staring down Jace and Jace avoiding the generals glare.


    Jace sighed and shook his head, "yeah. The local gangs that supplied the orphanage with just about anything always had a cost. Usually they required my services. Which consisted of hacking, torture, or on the rarest occasions bomb making."


    The general raised an eyebrow. "Your point?"


    "I have had the displeasure of torturing leaders of opposing gangs and mobs. They were always the first to break. The information they had was always compromising for their lower ranks. But they would sacrifice them in favor of protecting their own secrets. That is only one instance when I first saw the darkside of leadership." Jace explained as he slouched in his chair.


    "Not all leaders will sacrifice others for themselves." The general pointed out.


    "That may be true, but when they are not sacrificing others they have to sacrifice themselves. That is not something I will do." Jace answered.


    "Sacrificing others or self sacrifice. I suppose with that type of view I would not want to be a leader either." The general shook his head, "but you are taking a very rigid view of something that can have an array of outcomes."


    "Array of outcomes? You do realize the emperor, the leader of our great empire, has already decided to sacrifice some of his family for the wellbeing of others." Jace pointed out. Getting a chuckle from the General in response.


    They stayed seated across from each other for a few minutes. "Regardless of what you want you will be given command of others. You can stay lower down if you want. But I still need you to take the leadership tests and training seriously."


    "Do I not have to worry about any other area or subject?" Jace asked in confusion.


    General Ty Nikolai leaned back in his chair. "No, by all means you are an exemplary soldier. Flight, driving, weapons, hacking, mechanics, electronics, just about everything we tested in you were passable. Some of them even marked you down as being exemplary."


    "But?" Jace asked, expecting another part of the general''s explanation.


    "But as I said before, you are not pushing yourself to be the best you can be. When you are interested in something you will push yourself. But when you are not as interested you do not work as hard. So while you are going through the leadership training I want you to spend time also working on everything else and helping others with their own training." General Ty explained as he motioned to the door.


    Jace frowned and slowly stood up from his chair. He walked out of the office glancing back as he left. The general clearly had some sort of plan in mind. While Jace considered trying to figure it out he decided he might as well do what the general asked.


    So he went to the location where the training for his weakest subject was taking place. His weakest subject happened to be unconventional weapons. So he headed to one of the armories to pick up the equipment he needed for his training.


    He picked up various types of knives, stones, bottles, and then a few other things that could just be found in a normal household. He literally threw misshapen objects until they were hitting the target the majority of the time.


    While he was there he noticed many others working and training with their own weapons. So while he was training he distracted himself from his repetitive practice by watching and picking out the others'' mistakes.


    Whether it was their stance, how they held the gun, or even how they were reloading them. Jace was noticing even the common mistakes some of them were making. After a while Jace had decided his practice was enough.


    But before he moved on he decided to do something different from what he would usually do. Jace walked over to one of the training candidates from the Tartarus Project. Her stance was completely wrong and each time she fired the gun she flinched. Her bullets were hitting the edge of the targets.


    "You are firing that completely wrong," Jace informed her as he watched her with a frown. "Can I help you fix your stance and firing technique?" Jace asked, waving his hand at her feet.


    "Umm¡­ I guess. It is not like it could hurt. I can fire a sniper rifle just fine, but machine guns like this are an issue for me." The woman responded, showing him the submachine gun she was using.


    "Okay, adjust your feet like this." Jace helped her fix her stance. "Then hold the gun like this and- no do not do that. Relax your shoulders and fire." Jace used his hands to fix how she was holding the gun. Then she began firing, quickly going through half a clip.


    Afterwards she looked at Jace, "What about holding a gun from here? During the academy I was taught it was quicker for reloading if it was held from here." The woman pointed out while relaxing her stance.


    "There is a technique for quicker reloading, but that is far too advanced for someone who struggles with hitting the target. So I suggest focusing on perfecting your technique using the submachine gun before going to advanced techniques." Jace informed her.


    The woman frowned, "Fine, then what do you suggest I do now?"


    "Continue firing the rest of the magazine and then another magazine. Then switch to another weapon. You will come back to the submachine gun later." Jace told her. "It will help build your habit to leave it and then come back to it later. You should do the same with any other gun''s you need to practice on." The woman nodded in response and went back to shooting.


    "Hey, uh¡­ what''s your name? Can you help me as well?" Another person asked from another part of the shooting range. He was holding a handgun.


    "Yeah, show me how you are shooting and I will adjust you after a few shots." Jace told him as he walked up behind the man.


    For the next few hours he spent helping people with how they fired guns. It was similar to what he did with Nina during the torture training. But this was more repetition and memorization rather than just teaching them how to shoot once. Some of them would spend a few hours fixing their habits. Others would spend only an hour.


    As dinner came around he decided to head to the cafeteria. When he arrived he was greeted several times by some people he helped out in the shooting range. It took him ten minutes of getting greetings, thanks, and people asking for more pointers before he was able to sit at the table with Salem. Who was looking at him with an eyebrow raised and a smirk barely hidden.


    "What?" Jace asked as he sighed in exasperation.


    "General Ty Nikolai does not have protection against mind reading. So I got a bit of a glimpse into his mind when I talked to him." Salem told him with confidence. "So I know for a fact that he has already played you. Leadership training can also consist of teaching and helping others, gaining recognition and camaraderie with your fellow soldiers." Salem pointed out nodding at one of the groups that talked to him and were now sitting in a group.


    Jace sighed in annoyance, she was right. But she was wrong about something else. "The General probably does have a way to block you from reading his mind. Because apparently he read my undoctored file."


    Salem frowned the blinked and sighed loudly, "shit I got played too!?!"

 Chapter 100 - 100: Cho Think Food

    Her father was constantly running around and doing the strangest things for the past month. He still spent time around her and that woman who has a link to him. Big brother Cain and she spend the time not with their father running around the new environment. It was definitely that strange woman''s territory.


    Cho, as her father and the linked woman started calling her. Spent her days watching and learning from the humans. They were curious and far more fun than the other creatures that she had encountered.


    All they wanted from her was to eat her. That was no fun. But the smaller humans. The children as big brother Cain sometimes called them were the most fun. They like to play a lot. Sometimes they pushed around a ball. Other times they would just sleep in a pile. Or they would just run around, that was her favorite. It was like hunting without the scary part. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All of the humans liked her fur. It did not matter if it was the smaller humans or bigger ones. They all liked touching her fur. Which made her decide that touching her fur had to be the best. Even the big scary humans that look like good hunters would pet her when no one was looking. They scared most humans but even they could not resist her fur.


    Jace, her father, often forced her to wash after a few days. He would always say mean things like she smelled bad or was looking dirty. He could be the worst. But she really likes how her fur shimmered after being cleaned. But she would never admit that to her father.


    Father''s linked female human, Salem as she heard father call her, often did this strange thing where she would temporarily connect with people and even creatures around her. It was a fun game, but it worried her that this linked female human would hurt herself.


    Cho did not know how she knew, but she did know that it was dangerous to do that. It was like hunting without sight. It was dangerous since you did not know what to attack and when not to attack. It was even more dangerous than when my father fought the living water fire.


    Cho knew about them as well somehow. She knew their water was tasty when you were strong enough to consume it. But Cho was not strong enough, so she should have avoided them. But father was strong and smart enough to kill them. It was a new lesson she learned about hunting. Those tools he used could be used to get an advantage, claws were not everything. But father still could not drink it, it even seemed to hurt him to just touch the living water fire''s life juice.


    Father still came out on top, even with the poison and blood. He even came out stronger after a while which is when she knew these humans were not normal. Something was helping them, something she could not sense.


    She would have to ask Salem about it. Salem was the only one she could. Her transformation process was not complete so she could not speak. Salem could see her thoughts, but she could tell that Salem was not strong enough yet to understand them. She had not undergone her own transformation yet.


    Salem will likely go through the transformation before Cho completes her own. All living beings can go through transformation. But these special humans seem particularly closer to transformation than most creatures.


    The scary woman and the funny man were the only ones she saw that had already gone through transformation. Father and the others clearly could not tell the difference. But Cho just knew. Unfortunately they did not seem to be able to sense her mind like Salem could. So she could not turn to them.


    Cho would just have to stay near Salem and warn her when she could. Fortunately Salem and her father were not in danger with their link. She watched it happen and could feel that the connection was strong enough but hidden. She did not have to worry about that, hopefully Salem could learn from that link with father.


    But enough about her father and his linked female. The human food was far tastier than the special organs that were being grown on the green planet. She did have fun hunting both for and with father but the meals on this metal cocoon were the best.


    At first when father cooked his meat she thought it was strange but then she tried it and understood it changed the taste, always making it better. The food that the people in white coats with white hats who always smelled like plants always seemed to get excited when she was there. But she never had to let them pet her fur. It was the strangest thing.


    But they always seemed to laugh and get delighted when she was really enjoying what she was eating. She did not understand, but as long as they were happy she was fine with it. She came up with a list of the foods she liked the best. Cain always told her what each dish they were called and Cho made sure to always memorize the names of the dishes.


    Lasagna was her third favorite dish. It had that red tasty stuff that always went well with those small bits of meat. Then it had that flat stuff that seemed to absorb some of the red stuff. Finally there was the cheese, a lot of dishes have cheese so she learned the name eventually. It was the best.


    Her second favorite dish was something called Shepherd''s Pie. She did not know what a Shepherd or a pie was. But the food dish version is really tasty. It had a lot of meat inside it with all sorts of tasty plant foods. They were all cooked together with this whitish-yellow paste that absorbed some of the juices as well. But the first time she ate it she was in pain because it was so hot it burnt her tongue.


    Her by far favorite dish had to be Curry. It could come in so many different styles and tastes. It was like picking a hundred different dishes as your favorite. There was the normal one that could come with something the humans called spiciness. Then there was one with a peanut flavor. Another that tasted like a fruit. Then a bunch of other fruit flavors. Then some that tasted like meats or other types of meats. Then they always came with this white fluffy stuff that absorbed the juices. It was by far the best.


    But she did not like the sweet things that the humans really liked. They got really excited about those things. Especially the smaller humans. But it was not something she liked. It was like it was not real food. It did not give her the same satisfaction. The white coats with white hats who smelled like plants seemed a bit sad when they figured it out.


    Her favorite place was the cafeteria where they would feed her so she would not have to hunt for food. She was always welcome there. But she would usually only go when it was time to eat. She did not want to get heavy from all the food.


    Her second favorite place had to be the room where father and the other humans slept. It always had something for her to do. It also had her comfy bed. It was even better than the thing father made on the green planet. She would lie down and enjoy the feel of the white sheets. It always felt soft as she rested on it. Her bed lay right at the feet of her fathers. She liked it that way, she enjoyed being close to him.


    Her third favorite place was that big open area. Where there were plenty of those big metal things going in and out. Jace would only go there when he needed to ride in one of those metal things or when he would play with a metal thing. She would always have enough space to run around and play. Sometimes Cain would come with them and play as well. Even some humans joined in by throwing around objects she would retrieve.


    She has really enjoyed playing with the humans. But she wished there were more like big brother Cain who she could play with. Big brother always talked about Solisa and others but Cho could never sense the soul from them. She knew they had them but it was like they were hiding it.


    Maybe it was like how Salem could send out a connection to other people. Cho should ask about this when she can actually communicate with fathers and the others. But for now she will sleep. She had just finished spending another day playing. She enjoyed this, she hoped nothing changed that much. She was having enough fun as everything was.

 Chapter 101 - 101: Final Training

    One month. For an entire month he had to run around training and helping others. It was exhausting but worth it as the general stopped bothering him about the leadership tests and training once he passed it. He knew how to lead, he just did not want to. Instead he spent the month training what he could and practicing while also helping others.


    The tiger, Cho, seemed to have gotten used to her new name. She seemed especially fond of Salem. But even Jace could tell that Cho was also worried for some reason as well. But Jace did not know how to bring it up since it was not like they could communicate easily with Cho.


    At the moment all of the candidates were standing in lines where they were specifically asked to stand. Jace tried figuring out the pattern but it was lost on him. There was no overall pattern. There were six lines for the almost a hundred candidates.


    He was in a line of eleven people. Six of the eleven people were the S-Rank compatibility individuals. The last five were from an array of compatibility ranks, but one of them was in fact Salem.


    As they stood waiting at attention he watched the nearby observers. They were various people they had seen throughout their time here. Not the candidates but rather everyone from the guards to the kitchen staff. It only made Jace that much more curious about what was going on.


    Then a full escort of guards walked in. They were the black and red armored ones that he had seen guardian Director Fenrir''s office. Following in between their lines was the woman herself. She walked with confidence while talking to a man in a lab coat. She handed him a data pad and he quickly turned around and jogged back out the door.


    Jace would have been able to eavesdrop on the conversation but when he tried all he could hear was a high pitched noise. Jace''s eyes met Director Fenrir''s and he saw her hide a smirk.


    She marched up to the stage set up in front of the candidates similar to the one that was on the Wing of Pegasus when they arrived but this one was right in front of them rather than off to the side.


    Director Fenrir stood in the center of the stage and as a minute passed she was joined by five other people. Only two of them she recognized as Commander Eelson and General Ty Nikolai. The last three he had not seen before.


    "Welcome ladies and gentlemen of the Tartarus Project! We are in the third and final month of your training. For this last month you will be split up and trained specifically by one of us up here. For the last two months we have been observing all of you, deciding who should train who. This last month of training will be the most difficult thing you ever undertook in your lives. But you will come out of the experience stronger, smarter, and far more resourceful." Director Fenrir''s speech caused the onlookers to stir in excitement, while the candidates stirred in nervousness. "Now without waiting any longer we will retrieve our columns and begin training." Director Fenrir looked straight at Jace''s row and he had to resist groaning in annoyance. "You eleven with Jace at the front. Follow me out."


    Director Fenrir then began walking down the stage. Jace quickly walked after her, apparently he was leading the line of others. The guards she walked in with split in two. Some walking in front of the Director and some walking behind the line of candidates.


    They walked through a few corridors until they walked into a hangar that seemed to have been heavily modified. The first thing he could see were bunks set up in independent rooms. The guards did not enter the hangar with them.


    "Take a look around for a bit then meet me in that structure." Director Fenrir told them and pointed at one of the stacks of metal box structures that looked to be the size of a room. She then walked off moving toward the stairs that led up to the door of the structure she indicated.


    "So¡­ what the hell?" One of the others whispered. "Are we living here now?"


    "Apparently," Jace answered as he started moving around. "For an entire month we are stuck here. I heard the door seal completely after we walked in." He was walking over to one of the independent rooms labeled as a bedroom he saw and tapped his watch in order to open his communication system only to find that all communications were being jammed.


    Salem jogged after him to see what he was thinking, [What do you think? I get the S-Rank Compatibility users, because the Director herself is an S-Rank. But why do you think she brought the rest of us?]


    Jace shrugged his shoulders as he arrived at the ''bunks'' if that is what they would call them. {You would know better see if you can find a common link between you five. Did you do anything particularly interesting or important? By the way, she literally gave us all a room but kept it one short so me and you would end up needing to share a bed.}


    Salem blushed as she noticed what she was talking about. The room area did have ten rooms. But her and Jace''s things were placed in the same room. [I will see if I can find anything from the others'' minds. How helpful do you think her training will be?]


    {I think this whole training thing is just another way to sort us. They are keeping secrets about what they want from us. But I am guessing we will have a better idea after this training stage finishes. Unfortunately you will probably have your hands full after that.} Jace pointed out as he nodded at the place Director Fenrir went and started moving over to the stairs leading up to the room.


    When he walked into the room he was welcomed to the sight of a dojo. He had been to a few while in the slums but this one was far more clean and uniform than any he had seen. Dojo''s were typically where the gangsters learned how to fight. They were an alternative to the boxing gyms that were around his neighborhood.


    They were the first ones there. There were several cushions situated around the edge of the room. Director Fenrir was sitting on the other side from the entrance with a painted image behind her. Jace recognized it as art from the Oda Empire, he saw some images of them while he was looking into Oda to learn about Cho''s name.


    "Salem, Jace. Remove your shoes then take a seat near the edge of the room on one of the cushions. We will start when the others arrive." Director Fenrir told them without opening her eyes. She was doing some type of sitting pose with her eyes closed.


    Salem and Jace exchanged a look before they moved over to some of the cushions and sat next to each other. Jace took a few minutes to adjust as he was uncomfortable sitting on his knees. Salem made a cracking noise as she twisted her neck, her hands were fidgeting.


    Several minutes passed as they waited. The others slowly shuffled in and each of them were asked to take a seat by Director Fenrir as they entered. The last one entered and took a seat near the door after a dozen minutes.


    "Now that you are all here." Director Fenrir opened her eyes and looked around. "We can start. The first thing I am going to teach you is how to fight. Now you may be thinking that you can already fight but I would not call what you do fighting. I would call it repetitive motion."


    "Repetitive motion?" Jace spoke up.


    "Yes, all you have done is memorized various sets of moves that are predictable. Jace, stand up. We are going to spar." Director Fenrir stood up and moved to the center of the room. Jace obliged and moved to the center of the room as well. Fenrir took a fighting stance and Jace did the same. "Someone give us the go signal. I want it unbiased."


    Someone raised their hand, "3-2-1."


    A moment later Jace was blinking the spots out of his eyes as he lay on the floor. Fenrir stepped over him looking down at him. "You good?" She asked with a smirk on her face.


    Jace frowned while looking up at her. He slowly processed what happened. He went for a hook but she moved around him and used his own power and motion to throw him halfway across the room. "Can that even be considered a shoulder toss?" Jace asked with a tone of confusion.


    Director Fenrir walked around the room. "You can move faster if your techniques and movements are tailor made for you. Teaching you how to make those techniques will only be one of the things I teach you how to do. By the time I am done with you all, each of you could do just about anything. From going undercover, spywork, piloting, theft, assassination, investigating, just about anything you would need to complete your objective."


    "Are the other candidates being trained the same way?" Salem asked. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, the others are being trained as Shock Troopers. Shock Troopers are an advanced form of infantry soldiers that some of the other countries use. In the Vexical Empire they will be the first on the ground and the tip of the spear. They will quite literally be the best of our infantry. Five of you on the other hand will be going undercover in the Inquisitors. While the other six are being groomed to be a completely different type of soldier. The type of soldier that will terrify the enemies, the type of soldier they will never see coming. They will be Spectres."

 Chapter 102 - 102: Chens Tropical Bar

    Five Weeks Later.


    He sauntered through the receival terminal. Moving along quickly with the other civilians that had just arrived. The space ship terminal was a typical facet of planets and space stations. He had never had to interact with them before because he is in the military. But this time he was traveling by civilian spacecraft to get here.


    He arrived at the lines of people waiting to be cleared through customs. He moved to the line for people with a light amount of luggage. He only had a single bag hanging off of one of his shoulders. He quietly stood in line with his foreign travel documents ready.


    Unlike the Vexical Empire where most people could be identified by the nanobots in their blood. Most other nations had formal identification information since birth with all sorts of complicated systems. But the Vexical Empire only issued foreign public travel documents after extensive investigations.


    As he arrived at the customs station he smiled at the worn out Woltar that was working the station. Woltar are the descendents of genetically altered humans that developed canine features. Such as wolf ears, fluffy patches of skin, mains of fur instead of hair, claws, or even tails of various types. They were considered an Anthro-Human Species. Originally the Woltar''s two system nation was part of the Grand Hexarian Empire, but they lacked the same nanosystem that the people of the Vexical Empire acquired.


    "Hello there! How has your day been?" Jace asked as he laid his documents in the metal box that was opened in front of him. The station had a glass wall separating him from the customs officer while the document was used to move the documents back and forth.


    The customs officer pulled the box to his side and began looking through the documents. He looked over Jace while he did. Jace was wearing tan cargo pants, a tropical shirt with a white shirt underneath it, his combat boots, and a pair of aviator glasses. His tropical shirt was a button up shirt with a colorful design. This one specifically had a Kamot Bear decorating it with some trees. The tropical shirt was currently unbuttoned.


    The customs officer looked at his documents for only a second before a hand went over and smacked a button located at the side. The moment he did, Jace flinched. There was no noise generated but rather it was generating a faint electrical charge that would usually jam the nanobots in his body lessening the effect his talent and ability would have. But because it was electrical in nature it felt more like a faint buzz across his skin.


    "Sorry, Mister Steel. It is protocol with all incoming nanosystem users. At least until I determine your talent or ability will not be a danger or have any effect on my decision making skills." The customs officer apologized while shrugging.


    Jace shrugged, "that''s fine."


    "While I am running your documents, do you have anything you would like to declare before inspection?" The customs officer asked as he walked over.


    "No, I just have clothes and personal tech." Jace shrugged.


    The customs officer chuckled. "Good, well it looks like¡­ yup. Your documents have just cleared through our system. Welcome to Planet Nymph of the Artemis System. Head on through to inspection." The customs officer pushed back through his documents using the metal box.


    Jace nodded, "Thank you, and have a good day." He walked over to the gate as the customs officer pressed a button and there was a buzzing opening the gate slightly. Jace quickly walked through and the gate closed behind him.


    He walked over to the belts and machines where bags and other items were placed for a quick inspection. He pulled off his backpack and placed it into a waiting plastic bin. Then he took off his watch and glasses and placed them in the bin with his backpack. Then he put in just about anything else he had in his pockets along with his documents.


    He followed the other customs officers directions as he walked through the inspection area collecting his items again. But as he was putting on his watch he frowned as he noticed another person who the customs officer was having the young man go through a more thorough search. The young man had a pale complexion and was sweating profusely while he was being aggressive and evasive.


    Jace had seen the same symptoms the man was displaying several times before and frowned. He shook his head and whispered to a nearby customs officer nodding at the young man. "He is a drug smuggler, there is a good chance the drug container burst because he is displaying symptoms of heavy drug use. If it is the drug I think it is, he will have enhanced strength while under it."


    The customs officer looked at Jace before glancing at the young man. As Jace walked away with all of his things he could hear the customs officer quietly calling for backup and a medical team to be on standby.


    Jace walked through crowds of people and a rushed team of customs officers and medics. When he walked out of the sliding doors he was welcomed by the heat and humidity of this planet. While his ears welcomed the bustling noise of multiple vehicles.


    Jace took in a breath of air before he walked over to a taxi station. There were several taxis waiting for patrons so Jace was able to walk right into a taxi. "Chen''s Tropical Beach Bar."


    "Chen''s? You know your stuff. Have you been here before?" The taxi driver asked as he began racing off.


    "No, it was recommended to me." Jace chuckled as he fiddled with his watch for a moment. A moment later he was in a digital message chat. [Reached Nymph, heading to my predetermined hideout. Received?]


    The response appeared on his aviators so it would not be seen by anyone else. [Spectre Jace, Anvil receives. Night off, contact in morning. Others are slightly delayed.] A few seconds after he received the message the chat room was ended and erased.


    Jace smiled as he leaned back and waited to arrive at his destination. "Do you want a few recommendations on places to visit or hangout?"


    "No, I am good." Jace answered as he quietly breathed and focused his mind. A moment later he was sending his message telepathically. {Salem, I have the night off. Can I¡­?} He did not complete his sentence, instead he left an intent to get his message across. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace had to resist a chuckle as he felt the telepathic sigh through their link. [Yeah, just have fun. You get to do fun shit while I brush elbows with a bunch of scumbags. The worst part is they all make passes at me so I feel like I need a shower. Have fun!] Jace coils still feel the annoyance as she disconnected. They were still telepathically linked but it was like turning down the volume.


    Jace quietly sat as he enjoyed the view of tropical beaches and distant islands. Nymph is a tropical planet fashioned mostly for tourists and vacationers. It was made up of a bunch of islands that had bridges running between them. There were some large artificial islands like the space ship terminal he arrived at but for the most part it was a bunch of scattered smaller developments.


    After several minutes they arrived at a wooden building located next to the beach. Jace climbed out and the taxi raced off for its next pickup. Jace walked up to the open building where there were no walls on the bottom floor. The second floor was a walled building but the bottom floor just had a deck, columns, and the bar and kitchen.


    Jace walked directly to the bar where a robot is mixing a drink. It was an ancient butler model with a rounded body and head with metal tube for limbs. Only its hands were modified for more mobility.


    "Chen?" Jace asked as he arrived at the bar.


    The robot looked in his direction, its one round lens twisting for a moment before its front grill lit up with a light behind it as it talked. "J-dot-Steel as I operate and function. It is a pleasure to meet you. The others will just not stop talking about you." Chen quickly poured out the drink he was shaking and passed it to a customer. Then it quickly reached under the counter and pulled out a key with a keychain of a fish. "Here you go, the stairs to the loft are right behind me."


    Jace nodded and accepted the keychain. "Thanks Chen, I am going to toss my stuff upstairs and be back down in a second." Jace walked over to the stairs and quickly made his way up to the second floor and opened the door. Inside was a small apartment with a bed and a side table. Jace put his bag to the side and shoved his glasses and watch in his backpack. Then he walked back downstairs.


    He walked to the bar and sat at the end with his back to the beach. He pulled out a plastic menu they had sitting out. "Chips and Guac. As well as whatever local booze you have on tap." Jace asked as Chen came near him.


    "Sure thing." Chen brought him a local beer brand and someone else came out with a bowl of chips and some guacamole.


    Jace sat for several minutes drinking the local beer brand that tasted like a bitter pear and eating chips dipped in guacamole dip. As he sat there the bar became busier as he watched the sunset.

 Chapter 103 - 103: Secret Meeting

    Jace was stirred awake by the feeling of a body on top of him. He opened his eyes and ran his hand along the body of the Woltar woman on top of him. He chuckled as he felt the woman''s furry tail begin sweeping across his legs. Then a moment later he was groaning as his watch alarm began going off in his bag.


    "Sorry," Jace apologized with a chuckle as he moved the woman off of him and pulled himself off of the bed. He stepped over and opened his bag pulling out his watch. He glanced at it and clicked his tongue in annoyance. He began pulling on a pair of pants.


    "Going somewhere?" The woman asked as she lifted herself up.


    "Just need to step outside for a second for a private call. I will be back in a minute." Jace answered as he grabbed his aviators as well and stepped onto a balcony that the room has, closing the door behind him.


    He pulled his Aviators on and the chatroom opened. [Ulin: Arrived, ready for briefing.] Then there was another message below it. [Tako: Arrived a few hours ago, had issues coming in.] Jace frowned at the messages.


    He then sent his own message. [Spectre Jace: Here.]


    A moment later another message popped up. [Anvil: Prepare for briefing.] Then a few moments later a file appeared on his glasses.


    Jace opened them and was assaulted with several pieces of information. All of which was relating to things they could not discuss before arriving. Like who the Intelligence Agency they would be working with from the Woltar. As well as the identity of the agents that were picked to work with them. There was also the info on their target and the investigation they were picking up on.


    The only thing in this data packet of information was the identity of the Woltar spies they would be working with. But as he read through the three files of information he had to restrain his laughter. He turned around and walked back into his rented room. Taking off his aviators and turning off his watch as he did so.


    He walked back in and frowned as he caught sight of the young Woltar woman dressing herself. "Aw? Leaving already?" Jace asked.


    The Woltar woman was a wolf Woltar with gray fur and hair. Her tail was fluffy while the ears atop her head twitching when he entered. While her nose twitched as she likely caught his scent.


    "Yeah, my boss called. Apparently I have to head straight into work. But if you are still in town I would like to go out sometime soon." The woman stated as she slid her leather jacket on. Her ripped jeans and combat boots were already-


    "You are wearing the wrong boots." Jace pointed out while hiding a smirk. She was wearing his boots. "As much as I would not mind the swap. You will probably regret it later."


    The woman blushed in embarrassment. Jace had met her last night at the bar once it got busy enough. Once it got dark there were bands and became fully bustling. It seemed Chen''s spot was very popular among the locals.


    This woman, Vana D''yahn, was apparently in the Woltar military for a time before she left and went into the private sector. Supposedly she was now working as a low-level guard. But as Jace watched her switch boots and leave he had to restrain his amusement as he knew who she really was and where she was likely going. They would see each other soon.


    ¡ª---------------------------


    A few minutes earlier.


    Vana leaned up on the unfamiliar bed and glanced out the windowed door at Jace, the young man she met at the bar last night. She had come out to play while she had the time since she did not know when she would get another chance.


    RING!


    She quickly leaned over and pulled her phone off the bedside table. She answered it as she propped herself up against the headboard of the bed.


    "This is Vana, speak." She was quick and to the point.


    "Agent Vana, you are being sent an address to meet up with your team. There you will be briefed and then sent off. This assignment is classified, you are not to communicate with anyone from the agency until it is complete." The voice was of a woman she had never met. But that was how it always was.


    "Understood." Vana answered and hung up. Getting out of the bed, flinching for a moment in pain. "Damn." She stretched for another moment before she began dressing. Pulling on her underwear. Then her jeans took a moment because of having to fit her tail through a specially tailored hole. Then her bra and black tank top came on.


    The young man, Jace as she recalled his name, was taking off his aviators as he walked in. They had a short conversation before she left. She quickly skipped down the stairs glancing at Chen, the AI Bar owner, he was cleaning after last night. She has gotten absolutely wasted before and slept the night on the nearby beach. But Chen had usually the best breakfast prepared for anyone drunk that stayed the night.


    Vana walked over to her motorcycle and jumped onto it. Starting it up before racing off. She was speeding along roadways and bridges until she arrived at her destination. A remote abandoned mansion. She pulled up to the entrance and noticed a trio of cars already parked at the entrance. A green crossover, a black SUV, and a red sports car.


    She pulled up by the door and parked her motorcycle. Hoping off and moving to the door. It was already slightly opened so she just pushed it open some more as she walked in. The lobby was extravagant like one of those ancient designs from human history. They were made more for showing off than functionality.


    She walked past the lobby to where a modern armored gray box was sitting in the center of the living room. She looked around and noticed two of her fellow agents.


    "Ellis and Patrick, I suppose you are the people I am working with on this job?" Vana asked. "But who else? I saw three cars out there." Vana nodded at the entrance.


    The pair of men exchanged a look of confusion before looking back at her. "We actually do not know. We were just told to bring this box here from the space ship terminal. We came in the SUV and we were surprised when that crossover arrived before us."


    "Then who-"


    "That would be us. We are the people you are working with." A voice spoke from above them. Vana looked up to a balcony where a man was standing. He waved down at them. "I arrived before you guys did. Name''s Tako."


    "Are you briefing us?" Vana asked before she suddenly felt a shiver go up her spine.


    "No, we are not. He is going to be a few minutes late. Apparently he decided to pick up breakfast. We have to wait for him since he is the only one that can open the box." A woman''s voice sounded behind Vana. Causing her hair to stand on end.


    Vana spun around and pulled a knife out of the sheath hidden in her jacket. Her wrist with the knife was grabbed. She looked at the woman who talked. It was like she appeared out of nowhere. But as she took a breath and calmed herself she relaxed her arm.


    "Sorry, you surprised me." Vana told the woman who released her arm.


    "That''s fine. My ability can be rather surprising. I am sure it also sets off your instincts." The woman answered, "You can call me Ulin. While that is our boss." Ulin nodded behind Vana.


    Vana turned around and blinked in surprise. While Jace smiled at her. He held several brown bags in his hands. "Breakfast from Chen''s. He said you have a favorite apparently." Jace told her as he walked over to a counter.


    "How¡­ you¡­ Jace?" Vana asked in surprise.


    "Yup, I will admit when we were given the identities of the Woltar Agents I was surprised to learn I had already met one." Jace told her as he opened the bags and began removing food containers. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Vana, you know this person?" Ellis asked in surprise.


    "Well, yes I met him last night at Chen''s bar. But I am guessing that was by chance." Vana pointed out. "What exactly are we doing with¡­ the Vexical Inquisitors?" Her question caused the three of them to chuckle.


    "Vexical Military, we are hunting someone who assisted the federation in a covert attack on our nation. We tracked histrail Woltar and Leonair systems." Jace explained as he walked up to the armored box and placed his hand on a black spot on it.


    A moment later the box began opening up. Splitting out to two sides the lid revealed an array of weapons and a holographic imager appeared. It immediately began displaying images above the box.


    "Meet Devan Alistair, he is an anthro goat human. He is also a smuggler on Nymph who moves just about everything through the Artemis system. Weapons, mecha, drugs, people, slaves, and even information. We are going to follow one of his contacts. They are supposed to be meeting Devan sometime in the next few days." Jace told them as he grabbed from one of the extended panels his gear. A sheathed combat knife with a few throwing knives. Then he grabbed a pyre and a silencer with a few magazines.


    "We do not know Devan''s location?" Patrick asked.


    "Unfortunately not," Jace backed up as Ulin walked up to the case to get her own gear. While Tako jumped down from the second floor, landing quietly before he made his own way over to the box of gear. "We will use this place as our base of operations for the next few days. Vana and I will be on the first watch. Ulin and Ellis will take the second. Tako and Patrick will take the last watch. Any questions?"


    "Yes, how are we getting there? I doubt we would be very hidden or discrete if we took my motorcycle." Vana pointed out as she picked up a container that had her favorite breakfast from Chen''s.


    "We are not," Jace raised her motorcycle keys that he lifted out of her pocket earlier. Then he tossed the keys to Ulin. "Ulin, you take her bike, we will take your car." Jace explained.


    Ulin raised an eyebrow in confusion. "How did you know my vehicle is a sports car?"


    Jace shrugged, "because Tako was probably the first one here. He probably only got in less than an hour ago." He then grabbed a bag that he did not unpack, it had his own breakfast in it. Jace walked toward the front door as he caught the keys Ulin tossed to him. "Fill your partners in on other relevant information that will help to find Devan."

 Chapter 104 - 104: Following Arthur

    Jace drove quickly through the rural area as Vana ate her food. She kept glancing at him. Jace was humming as she drove.


    "So are you going to fill me in on our current target?" Vana asked in between bites of her egg sandwich. Every once in a while she was eating one of the hashbrowns from her container.


    Jace smiled, "Arthur Sanders. The boyfriend of Devan. He is currently in one of the many shopping districts. As far as we can tell he is the only weak link that can lead us to Devan. For the record we do not know his real identity."


    "Devan? I figured when you said the name of a popular pirate from a hundred years ago. I unfortunately do not know anything about local stuff like that." Vana explained.


    "I know. We were given files on all of you this morning. Your speciality is infiltration and assassination." Jace pointed out with a shrug getting a glare in response. "We did not warn your people ahead of time to see if we could successfully infiltrate the country without issue. So they had to send whoever they could on short notice."


    "How did you manage to get them to go along with your request for extended non-communication with headquarters?" Vana asked as she tossed the empty container into the back seats.


    "We requested it and they obliged when we informed them that the person we are chasing has some method to brainwash people. It also helped that we showed them we could do the investigation without their assistance." Jace explained as they arrived at a large shopping center. "Leave weapons in the vehicle. We will come back to it later when he leaves here."


    ¡ª----------------------


    They were sitting at a cafe in the outdoor area. Across the street was the clothing store where Arthur was currently working. He was a receptionist for the store.


    Jace took a sip of his tea as he stared at Vana who was glancing over at the store. She was focusing a bit too much on their target. Even an untrained person would notice if someone was following or staring at them if it was going on for too long.


    "I think I am going to try this triple chocolate cake next. What do you think?" Jace asked, pulling her attention away from the store.


    Vana frowned, "what?"


    Jace leaned forward, "focus on our date. You are staring too much at him. He might notice. Now order something." Jace whispered to get his point across. Then he leaned back in his chair. "Ha¡­ maybe I will have them bring out a variety of cakes."


    Vana sighed as she leaned back in her chair. "So what are we supposed to talk about while we wait?"


    "Likes and dislikes. Talking about a variety of topics. We just have to avoid the past and anything relating to our jobs." Jace explained. "For instance, what is the favorite type of cake you have eaten before?"


    Vana shrugged, "my mother''s lime cake. It was a homemade recipe."


    "Then you can judge this cafe''s lemon-lime cake recipe." Jace flagged a waitress down and began ordering some cakes and another pot of tea. Once she was gone Jace caught Vana looking at the store again. "If it will set your mind at ease he is working for another three hours then we will follow him. I am also tracking his communication device."


    Vana quickly looked back over at him while frowning. "Communication device? Do you mean his phone?"


    Jace shrugged, "sure. Anyways the point is you might as well relax while you can. You never know we might be up to our elbows in trouble later."


    "Fine," Vana sighed and leaned forward. "How about¡­ books? Do you have any books that you particularly like or dislike?"


    "I read textbooks, studies, and anything about technological development. I do not really read fictional books." Jace told her.


    "Why not? They are a good way to escape reality even for a little bit." Vana explained with a frown.


    "It is just a view I developed growing up where I did. How about you? Do you have any books you particularly enjoy?" Jace countered with a shrug as the waitress arrived with a sampler tray of cakes for Jace and Vana''s lemon-lime cake.


    Vana took a moment as she waited for the waitress to leave. "Actually, I do have a few series I do enjoy. There are some romance stories that I enjoy reading. They always put me at ease and help me escape reality. But since you do not read, let''s switch to a different topic. How about¡­ favorite foods?"


    "Foods?" Jace nodded and sat thinking for a few moments. "There are so many it is just so hard to pick just one. But there are a few I like more than others. I would say-" Jace suddenly flinched as he overheard something from the store. He brought up his watch and began paying for the order. "We are going to need to head out. Our guy just asked to leave early." Jace whispered as boxes and to-go cups were brought over for their order.


    Vana frowned, "I thought we could only track his phone?"


    "That is true, I was erring on the side of caution by not hacking into his phone." Jace began explaining, "but while we were conversing I was watching his reflection in this spoon and listening to his conversation. He asked his boss if he can leave early, as in the next ten minutes."


    Vana raised an eyebrow, "people think Woltar''s have good hearing, but you nanohumans must have it on another level." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace shrugged, "it is part of my talent. Now let''s go." Jace lifted the two boxes with their uneaten cake and one of the to-go cups with tea.


    Vana followed him out of the cafe and spotted some men in suits in the distance. She quickly moved up to him and began hanging off of his arm. "You are so funny!" Vana giggled as they walked past the men in suits.


    Jace chuckled, "oh I know I am great. Now let''s get back to the car darling. Your appointment is soon." He almost missed them, he was glad that she clocked them while he was distracted.


    They walked to the car with her leading the way. Jace was busy listening to what Arthur Sanders was doing in the distance. He was leaving with his new escorts toward a generic black vehicle. There were three escorts in total. There are the two that went to pick up Arthur and the third who stayed near their vehicle making sure that it was not tampered with.


    They arrived at the red sports car and Vana pulled the keys out of his pocket. Jace moved over to the passenger side and hopped in. Vana looked at Jace who set aside the cakes in the back seat, while grabbing his silenced pyre.


    "They did not disable his communication device." Jace tapped his watch and a map with a blinking red dot and their location appeared. He was already seeing it on his aviators, but this map was for her benefit. "Red dot is them, the blue arrow is us." He swiped it and the image moved to the windshield screen.


    "Got it," Vana pulled out of the parking lot and started following several cars behind their target.


    Jace tapped the internal communication system for the sports vehicle, connecting it a moment later. "Ulin, get moving with your partner. Different vehicles. I think our target is about to meet our objective. We are tailing at a distance for now. He has an escort of three armed guards."


    "Armed?" Vana asked in surprise.


    "Yeah, combat knives and laser pistols. I spotted a knife on one of them and a suspicious bulge on the other. It would be best to assume they all have both." Jace explained.


    "Understood, I am on route. How did your date go?" Ulin asked in a robotic and uncaring manner.


    Her question caused Jace to chuckle. After their extensive training at Echo Base she had talked like this sometimes when she wanted to start up a conversation. She meant well, but it always amused him that her speech pattern always started unemotional. "It went well, Ulin. But it would probably go better if we manage to find Devan on our first day. So you could make it better."


    "Yippee." Ulin responded while he could hear loud motorcycle noises in the background.


    "Now stop doing tricks with Vana''s motorcycle and hurry up." Jace told her before hanging up.


    "Date?" Vana asked in surprise. "What was that about?"


    "My unit is worried I will die an unchained man because of my habit of going from woman to woman." Jace explained with a shrug.


    "There is nothing wrong with that. I go from man to man because I want to remain detached." Vana pointed out while she sped around a corner to keep pace with their target''s vehicle.


    Jace chuckled and then frowned as he noticed a pattern to the target''s vehicle movement. "Slow down and pull into this garage. They are going to do at least one more pass to make sure they are not being followed."


    Vana complied and they waited as Arthur''s escorts did a few more circles around an area before pulling away. Vana followed the red dot diligently until Jace told her to pull over.


    "The target just arrived at an apartment." Jace told the others over the open channel they began using while they were following the target. "Ulin sneak in and confirm our objective is onsite. No contact." Jace told her.


    She acknowledged the message before going silent for a quarter of an hour. Then she spoke again after a bit. "In and out cleanly. Objective, Devan a goat anthro is onsite. What is our play?"


    "Good, I found a weakness in the objective''s protective detail. One of the guards has an unprotected additional communication device." Jace explained as he began running through scenarios and surveyed the area. "We will hold off on the snatch and grab. We will follow him until he goes to a remote location where the local law enforcement won''t interfere. Ulin and Ellis, you are on follow detail for the next few hours. Vana and I will head back to the mansion to wait."

 Chapter 105 - 105: Abandoned Factory

    Jace cracked his neck as Vana drove along a bridge. "Where did they stop?" He asked as he stretched his limbs. He had gone back to the mansion and slept with Vana again while they waited.


    Apparently Devan spent the day visiting several front businesses. Arranging meetings and moving goods around. Ellis and Patrick showed off their professionalism. They had discretely checked out all of the locations that were visited.


    They were front businesses of Devan''s or some other smugglers that were moving generic goods off of the planet. It ranged from hand made string to wooden gears. Just about anything someone would register as useless.


    But this latest stop was at sunset. They were going to a remote defunct factory. It was in an area unused by the Woltar since the Grand Hexarian Empire fell. But since the factory was built out of durable materials it was seen as too expensive to teardown. So instead they were left alone.


    "They parked near the central manufacturing structure. We hid our car on the outskirts out of sight of the bridge coming onto the island." Tako explained. He and Patrick were the ones on duty that followed Devan here. They were no longer following Arthur Sanders, but he kept the tracking on his communication device.


    "Okay, we will be there in a few minutes. We brought our box of equipment. While they are meeting with whoever, we will hit them." Jace glanced back at Ulin and Ellis who were groggily waking up in the backseats of the black SUV. "Your people also dropped off some gear for you to use."


    "Understood." The channel ended as Tako disconnected.


    "As soon as we get near the bridge, turn off the headlights." Jace told her.


    He began double checking the gear he had on him. The belt of throwing knives. His sheathed combat knife. His silenced pyre on a leg holster with three extra mags. The only item of his equipment that he did not have on him was his bullet proof armor. It was just a generic piece of kevlar that would be able to stop most laser weaponry.


    Vana grunted in acknowledgement and turned them off as soon as they arrived near the bridge. But as they went on the bridge he flinched and frowned, looking around in confusion.


    "What''s wrong?" Vana asked when she noticed his strange movement.


    "I do not know, I think we missed something." Jace told her as he kept looking around. Once they were halfway across the bridge he had to shrug it off. Jace pointed to a dirt roadway coming off the bridge. "That is the area that Tako was talking about. We are going to want to go around to the side of the factory out of view of the bridge."


    "Got it," Vana nodded and drove onto the dirt road.


    The jostling of the sudden off road driving caused both Ulin and Ellis in the backseats to wake up startled. "Are we there?" Ellis asked in surprise.


    "Just about," Vana leaned forward as she focused on where she was driving. She noticed a person peeking around a corner. "Is that them?" Vana asked as she slowed down.


    Jace quickly pulled up the location of Tako and Patrick. "Sure is. Pull into that alcove." Jace directed Vana.


    They pulled in behind the parked vehicle that Tako and Patrick arrived in. The car was turned off and Jace jumped out of the door. Visually confirming that it was indeed Tako and Patrick despite the dark.


    Jace walked to the back of the SUV and opened the trunk revealing the box inside along with several pieces of equipment on top of it. The others made their way over and began grabbing some of the equipment preparing themselves.


    Tako has a silenced sniper rifle that was prepared for him along with reflective stealth cloak that would help hide him. Ulin was already armed with several knives but she retrieved her kevlar vest and bow and quiver from the box. Ellis, Patrick, and Vana were all given the same equipment: a laser pistol and a kevlar vest.


    Vana was staring at Ulin in confusion, "isn''t that a bit too old school?"


    Ulin shrugged, "it''s quiet and I can fire it quickly." Then they started quietly joking about their equipment amongst themselves as Jace pulled up a hologram of the facilities layout. Coming up with a plan of attack.


    Jace chuckled as he heard a joke that made Ulin frown, "enough banter. Ulin and Vana, you will be sneaking in from this side. Quietly make your way up the fire escape that is over here and make your way in." Jace explained as he pointed at the holographic map that was projected from his watch.


    "What are we doing with the guards?" Vana asked.


    "Kill them, same with the people that Devan is meeting. Devan is the only one we need to take alive. I will send the signal when to strike the meeting spot. Until then, clear out your side quietly." Jace explained to Vana.


    "What are we doing?" Patrick asked. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Patrick, you are with me. We will be going in through this basement entrance and making our way over here." Jace flipped the hologram around to show Patrick about the route he was talking about.


    "That means Ellis and I are together." Tako pointed out. "Where do you want us?"


    Jace smiled and zoomed out on the image. "I want you two on this guard tower near the entrance of the factory. Ellis will be protecting you in case anything goes wrong." Jace walked over to the trunk and pulled out a scope, tossing it to Tako.


    He caught it and frowned.


    "Tako, I want you on overwatch. Use the thermal scope to tell us the locations of enemies near us. You can switch to the night vision scope if someone gets past us and tries to make a run for it." Jace told him.


    "What about intruders and unknowns?" Tako sighed as he asked. He never got to be in the center of the action.


    "Kneecap them, make sure to also disable any form of communication." Jace declared then thought of something. "Be careful because something is wrong. I think we missed something on our way here."


    Tako frowned and nodded, "understood."


    "Good, now we will take position near our entrance locations but hold off until the group they are meeting with arrives. That will be the best time to strike so that they blame the other group if something starts going wrong." Jace told them. Getting several nods and grunts in acknowledgement. Jace pulled out a small black box out of the back of the SUV and opened it. Popping one of the earbuds into his ear and then handing it around.


    Once they all had one they split up. Jace and Patrick quietly moved to their entrance location. It was a guarded basement access. They had a view of the garage door so Jace would know when to signal for them to begin.


    They quietly waited for half an hour until a pair of vehicles drove in. The one in front is a white van with a laundry company''s logo on the side. The one behind it is a black town car. Jace frowned as he noticed the plates were diplomatic plates. He looked over and noticed Patrick glancing at him as well, silently asking him what they were going to do about that.


    Jace just shrugged and watched as the vehicle pulled into a garage that opened for them. With a few of the guards looking in the windows of the vehicles. Probably to make sure that there were not a bunch of people waiting to burst out and attack. The garage began closing on one of Devan''s guard''s orders.


    As soon as it was closed Jace began quietly moving. His silenced Pyre drawn along with his combat knife. He moved toward one of the guards near the entrance to the basement. There was another on the other side of the gap where the door was located below ground level.


    Jace moved past the first guard leaving him to Patrick and jumped the small gap. He made a very quiet crackling as he stepped on some loose rocks. The guards both looked at Jace in surprise.


    Jace''s knife moved quickly, slicing through the man''s neck like it was butter. The guard did not even get a chance to pull his sidearm. While Jace could hear the bloody gurgling of the guard behind him as Patrick''s knife protruded from the man''s throat for a moment. Jace caught the body and decapitated head laying them both on the ground quietly. He looked over at Patrick in time to see him pull out the knife and stuck it through the guards brain. Killing him and ending his short suffering.


    They exchanged a look and nodded. But before they could move Tako came in with a warning. "Jace and Patrick you have a target coming through the door." Tako quietly told them and not a moment later the door between them was opening and a man was coming out stretching his arms above his head as he yawned.


    The man noticed them less than a second later and gasped like he was about to shout.

 Chapter 106 - 106: Palace Politics?

    Meanwhile,


    "Father this is absurd, I am heir to the throne. I deserve every right to be at whatever secret meeting you are heading to." The first prince was as usual being a nuisance. He had learned about the meeting only earlier today and that was because the emperor had to arrange for a landing zone within the place to be reserved for the ship that would be arriving to take him off planet.


    The emperor was currently sitting on his throne in the throne room. He had just finished with a budgetary meeting. There was a gap between the budget meeting and the arranged pickup time so he decided to oblige his son''s request for a meeting. His daughter had come to watch the fireworks when she learned what her brother was going to ask about. If the emperor had known what his son would be asking about he would have never accepted the meeting in the first place.


    "Son, it is a pleasure to see you as well. How can I help you this fine morning?" The emperor asked delight in the prince''s expression turning a bright shade of red. He glanced over and saw his daughter, the princess, was smiling in a similar expression as him enjoying the show. Perhaps she inherited that habit of reveling in another person''s stupidity. Was that hereditary? Or maybe just a habit that was built up from watching her father.


    "Father! This is serious. You are leaving the planet for a secret meeting that none of the nobles know about! Where are you going? Why was I not asked to come along?" The prince demanded in an annoyed tone that cracked somewhere in the middle.


    The emperor had to quietly bite his lip to keep from laughing. While out of the corner of his eye he saw his daughter quitely chuckle at her brother''s despair. Hiding it behind a hand like any proper noble lady would.


    "Daughter of mine, how about you? Do you wish to accompany me to this supposedly secret meeting that I am going to?" The emperor asked, drawing his son''s attention to his daughter who quickly composed herself. He was regretting not being a bit more discreet but it was part of the plan that they were noticed and watched ahead of time.


    "Not particularly father, although if it was a business meeting I would like to go. You do know how much I enjoy good business meetings." His daughter joyfully responded. Pressing the knife into the wound about the prince''s lack of business acumen while the princess had forgered her own faction using her talent for business.


    "Hmm¡­" The emperor made a show of thinking for a second. "Then no, I do not think you would enjoy this meeting. It is just a very boring and standard treaty talk with the federation. I doubt it will amount to anything. But I am planning to visit my concubine on the way back." The emperor nodded as he explained.


    "Then I will definitely pass." The princess smiled, "give aunty Fenrir my regards though. I would love to see her and talk about trade blockade fleets again." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The emperor smiled and then looked at the prince who was only getting even redder in the face. He looked like a tomato that was about to burst. "My son, how about you? Do you wish to accompany me?"


    "Yes!" The prince yelled with enthusiasm.


    The emperor nodded, "then you should at least be as adept as one of my guards. So you can spar with one of them when they arrive." Almost as if he timed it, the throne room doors opened and two lines of ten people walked in.


    All of them were armored in the latest infantry armor version from the Echo System. It was two generations ahead of anything the military had currently in use. The armor was all in a green and black combination that would make them hidden among most forested terrain. On their right arm there was a pauldron with a symbol. The symbol was of a wolf head that was half dead and half alive, like it was in a zombie state.


    There were four at the front who were different. They had a white pauldron and white helmet. One of them stepped forward and saluted the emperor, completely ignoring the prince and princess.


    "Your majesty, we have arrived to escort you." The voice coming from the soldier was female and young from the sound of it.


    The emperor went to speak but was beaten to the punch when the prince finally snapped in anger. He really had a short fuse.


    "What about me? You come in here and just ignore me. What is your rank? And where did you get that armor?" The prince demanded while yelling in anger.


    The soldier looked at the prince for a moment before turning back to the emperor. "Whose tomato is this?" The emperor burst into laughter of the loud and raucous variety while the princess quite literally dropped her teacup in surprise, shattering it on the ground.


    "I AM THE FIRST PRINCE OF THIS EMPIRE AND YOU WILL SHOW ME THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION THAT MY POSITION HAS! NOW KNEEL!" The prince practically screamed in anger.


    "No." The soldier answered while turning to the prince and stepping toward him. "You may be the prince but you are not part of the military. So you hold no control over me. If you demand something from me again, I will break your nose." She answered in a chillingly calm tone.


    Maybe as the emperor he should stop the girl before she kills his son.


    The prince growled and backed up a step recognizing her lack of fear. He turned to the entrance of the throne room. "GUARDS! ARREST THESE UNLOYAL INGRATES!" The room was flooded with imperial guards most of which were loyal only to the prince.


    The imperial guards pointed their weapons at the Shock Troopers. The Shock Troopers pulled out weapons that were a number of generations ahead of anything the imperial guards had. The emperor sighed but then had to restrain his laughter again as the soldier stepped forward and grabbed the prince by the collar.


    CRACK!


    She headbutted the prince causing him to fall unconscious. Blood smeared his face as his body fell to the ground. While her pristine white helmet now had a splash of color on it. She turned back to the emperor and saluted again.


    "Your majesty, I will remind you that we are on a timetable. As much fun as it would be to slaughter every imperial guard in the palace, it would take up far too much time." The female Spectre pointed out.


    "That''s the issue you have?" The princess was holding her stomach from how much she was laughing. "What a riot? Dad, you should have told me you had such a fun unit of soldiers."


    The emperor chuckled as he stood up and removed the royal robes revealing the armor he was wearing underneath the heavy robes he wore over his clothes when he was on the throne. He tossed the robe onto the chair and grabbed his helmet from the side table next to the throne. "Okay, let''s go. Imperial guards stand down and drag my dullard of a son to his room." The emperor then turned to the princess. "Do not tease your brother too much about his ineptitude. But do make sure this does not cause any issues in my absence."


    The princess stood up and bowed as the emperor walked out of the throne room while putting on his helmet. "Yes, your majesty."


    The emperor walked past the confused imperial guards with the shock troopers marching around him as a protective detail. They walked right to the front entrance past many onlookers and nobles who had come to the palace to do business or their job.


    In front of the entrance was an open courtyard that was usually open and unreserved since it was used for emergency ship landings. But the emperor had the spot kept unoccupied ahead of time for the spaceship that would be transporting him. But now it was occupied by a small ship that was twice as big as a military transport ship. Around it standing on guard were the rest of the shock troopers that would be going with them.


    The transport itself was the latest in space ship manufacturing coming out of the Echo System. Instead of flap wings it had two curved wings that wrapped around to connect to both the bottom and top of the transport with an empty center area between them. It had a long body with a pilot''s cabin in the front for a pilot and copilot. The rear area was the troop transport area with a ramp leading and out of the ship being the entrance or exit to the ship.


    The emperor proudly walked up and took a seat deeper in the ship near the pilots while the shock troopers moved into the ship as well, quickly taking their seats as the rear ramp closed.


    "You seem rather chipper, your majesty." The same female soldier from before pointed out. As she and the other white helmets sat near him.


    The emperor shrugged happily, "She slipped up and called me Dad."

 Chapter 107 - 107: Tent Politics

    "We are arriving in Waterswan now." The pilot told them. The trip to Waterswan was smooth and quick. Just as the reports about the new slipspace engines detailed. These new Puddle-Jumper Transports were quick. It took only a few hours to go from the center of the empire to the edge of the empire.


    Natius Vexical, the Emperor, sighed in disappointment. It was a shame they had to keep such revolutionary advancements to themselves. But it would provide them with an edge for the upcoming civil war. Maybe they could sell them afterwards to allies. Or maybe not. It all depended on how this meeting with the Victorium went.


    "Have our other ships arrived with our leverage?" Natius asked as he stood up from his seat and stretched. Preparing to disembark.


    The pilot took a moment before giving a thumbs up. "Yes sir."


    "Perfect." Natius nodded and turned to the shock troopers who began preparing to disembark and continue their guard duties. They had not openly talked the entire time, instead he noticed them using chat rooms and other private communication channels in order to talk.


    The Puddle-Jumper landed softly and the rear ramp began lowering. The shock troopers were the first ones out as they spread around the area. Moving to surround the large beige tent that was set up in the middle of this open area.


    The emperor walked right towards the tent where a pair of Mar''talic guards were standing on either side of an opening. In front of him were two of the white helmeted shock troopers while the other two walked behind him. The Mar''talic parted the entrance to the tent and the largest white helmeted trooper stepped forward first while the other one stopped the emperor.


    After a moment the big one''s hand came out as he gave a thumbs up. They walked into the tent and the emperor nodded as he looked at the table in front of him where a pair of individuals were sitting.


    They stood up when he entered. Then they all bowed slightly to each other as a form of respect. "It is nice to finally meet the High Priestess of the Victorium Military and the Appointed Diplomat of the Victorium Governing Council." Natius told them and then motioned for them to sit as he moved to sit as well.


    As they sat the Mar''talic, the High Priestess of the Victorium Military, was the one to respond. "It is a pleasure to meet the Emperor of the Vexical Emperor as well, I must say I am rather impressed."


    "Oh?" Natius pulled off his helmet and set it on the table. "How so?"


    "Clan Whix means that for a human species your technology and evolutionary ability are miles ahead of anything your neighbors have." The other creature, the Appointed Diplomat, was the one who talked now. Their voice was a strange set of clicking and wet noises but it still clearly came off as the common language that was developed in the former Grand Hexarian Empire systems. If Natius remembers correctly this species that was made of vines wrapped in the shape of a humanoid form was a Hydragenita.


    Natius smiled and shrugged. He took in the rest of the room. There were no other obvious guards aside from his own that were standing in a row behind him. But he could tell there were some hidden ones. It seemed his own guards had picked up on it as well. They had one of their hands on at least one of their weapons.


    "So should we get right to it? Or would you first like to talk about what you want out of our deal?" Natius asked as he focused on the politicians in front of him. He had dealt with all manner of politicians, nobles, and business people for the entirety of his life. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We should talk first. We are actually very open to joining hands and bringing your human faction into the fold. But we are having some issues rising that will need to be addressed eventually. Which is why I asked a diplomat from the Governing Council to join us." The High Priestess explained.


    "She means that we have not had another race join us for many years and the old rules of a joining have requirements. But that is not the only issue, just the foremost one we should first discuss." The appointed diplomat took a moment before continuing. "The joining requires a political marriage, a Champion''s Tournament, and for all knowledge of the Ancients to be handed over."


    Natius narrowed his eyes and frowned. "A political marriage can be easily arranged. I will need to know a bit more about the Champion''s Tournament. I assume by Ancients you mean the Requiem, we will not hand over any information we collected."


    The appointed diplomat nodded, "we know and are perfectly accepting and understanding but the requirement is one from the Elder Council. In order to not do it we need to abolish the Elder Council. But doing so will cause a civil war since we are removing one of the three councils that have governed over our nation."


    "Which is why we needed an appointed diplomat of the Governing Council to join us. We are open to abolishing the Elder Council especially since it was revealed that the Sima had been enslaving the Ancients'' AIs at their request. So there is already talk to abolish the council and free the AI they still have enslaved after the Rogue Metal Legion made their demand and a show of strength by appearing near our borders." The High Priestess began explaining with what Natius could only decipher as a smile appeared on her face.


    "So you want military help when the time comes?" Natius asked.


    "Yes, it will likely be several months from now but a civil war will break out to abolish the Elder Council. We would like to request your assistance and to that end¡­" The High Priestess slid what Natius could only call their version of a data pad across the table.


    Natius picked it up and raised an eyebrow. "You wish to make a unit composed of both Victorium soldiers and Loyalist Vexical soldiers?" He tapped the data pad for a few seconds thinking and then smiled. "I think I have the perfect group. But I do hope at least one of these Accer will join the unit." Natius waved at the empty air around them.


    The High Priestess made a more obvious smile that showed off her sharp teeth. While the appointed diplomat made what he could only describe as a confused and surprised noise while saying something in a language he did not speak.


    But before any of them spoke one of the Accer disengaged their cloaking technology and stepped forward. "Will the human male that cut off my hand be part of this unit?" She raised her hand showing off the robotic prosthetic replacement she had.


    Natius looked over her body and stopped at the holster at her hip that clearly had a Magnus Revolver in it. It then only took him a moment of looking through his own memories to realize what she was talking about. He looked at her and smiled, "yes actually I plan to have Jace Steel, the one that cut off your hand, lead one of the squads of this unit."


    Nila looked right at the High Priestess causing her to flinch and groan, "fine you can be part of the joint unit. But we can discuss more about that later and work out the fine print. We should talk about a few other things first." Nila nodded and stepped back disappearing again.


    The appointed diplomat let out what sounded like a sigh of relief. "Accer and their libidos are scary. We should discuss which other nations you are friendly with that we should take an allied approach with after the joining."


    Natius leaned back, relaxing his muscles and realizing for the first time that the Accer caused him to tense up a bunch for some reason. "Obviously after the civil war their will be three different factions. We will be joining you then, but the prince has a severe case of xenophobia so do not expect anything from him. Then my daughter has her own faction and plans to split off when the inevitable civil war breaks out, if you can approach them with a favorable deal they will easily join. The Oda Empire and Rogue Metal Legion can both be easy allies. We have an unsteady alliance with both the Cthon Conglomerate and the Montez Kingdom. Then we have been helping the Woltar maintain its independence from the Leonair, but when the Vexical Empire shatters the Leonair will come after them. You should approach them to either have them join or forge an alliance." Natius summed up. "That is about it."


    "Then I think all we need to do now is hash out all the details." The High Priestess said as the appointed diplomat was quickly making notes on a data pad.


    "Actually there is one more thing. A show of good faith and friendship if you will." Natius smiled and then pulled out a data drive and slid it across the table.


    The High Priestess picked it up and looked at Natius in confusion. "What is it?"


    "The Victorium prisoners captured during all of our battles. The largest contingent came to Oculus Station where your Isaiah the Hammer attacked. From what I understand he will have quite the private report for you. Which also brings me to my recommendation to the joint unit''s commander, we should have the commander be Isaiah the Hammer." Natius'' explanation as the High Priestess looked through the data drive reading through the many names caused both of them to be surprised.


    After a moment the High Priestess understood. The Vexical Emperor was always expecting an offer for a joint military unit.

 Chapter 108 - 108: Splat

    As the surprised guard went to scream he was cut off as Jace''s hand raced forward and wrapped his mouth after dropping his silenced Pyre. His other hand went forward a second later and there was a quiet crack as the knife penetrated the base of the man''s skull cutting the brainstem and causing the light to leave the panicking man''s eyes. His body slumped and Jace pulled him up over the ledge and laid him down before picking up silenced Pyre again, making sure it was undamaged.


    Then he looked over at Patrick to see him blinking in surprise. Jace just shrugged and quietly hopped down into the gap that led to the door that led to the basement. He quietly opened the door and moved inside. Patrick followed him a second later.


    Jace moved down the steps into the damp basement. He could smell the heavy scent of blood. He could hear the quiet dripping of water as well as the heartbeats of a few guards that were walking around in this underground area. The quiet creaking of rusted metal gave an ominous sense to the basement.


    The basement was made up of a bunch of machines and offices. So there was plenty of cover as he moved to behind one of these machines. He approached a corner and saw a pair of guards standing in an office with their back to him. They were staring at a screen that had a sport playing on it.


    Jace waited a moment and sheathed his combat knife grabbing a pair of throwing knives from their sheathes. Then after another guard passed them and began walking away, Jace then moved into position so he would have a clear line of sight on the guards. He waited another moment for the walking guard to be out of earshot before he threw the knives.


    They quickly cut through the air at the same time as Jace threw them both at the same time. They sank into the back of their necks and caused them to collapse on the ground.


    The noise of them falling caused the walking guard to turn around and then approach for a moment looking around before turning back around and walking away when he did not notice anything suspicious. He probably thought it was just a noise this old factory made. Jace took the moment while he was hiding to check on Patrick.


    Patrick was on the other side of the room dragging the corpse of another guard into an alcove. He had two more to deal with while Jace had three more.


    Jace quietly moved up behind the walking guard as he approached a pair of guards that were talking while warming their hands by a boiler that was burning wood. The guard came near them and they looked over at him.


    "Hey guys, did you see where the new kid went?" The walking guard asked as he began rubbing his own hands, warming them up by the fire.


    "No I did not, but I think he was going to get a breath of fresh air. You know how off putting this place can be for the first night." One of the guards chuckled.


    "Yeah, it''s not like-" THUNK!


    A throwing knife sunk into the second guard''s eyes, killing him instantly but his body still stood as it took a second for the rest of his body to realize he had been killed. The walking guard blinked in surprise and then looked at the first guard. They exchanged a look of surprise.


    "What the-" THUNK!


    Another knife, this time a combat knife sunk into the first guard''s face. This time the body dropped quickly. But before the walking guard had a chance to react a hand grabbed the back of his head and he was speeding right towards the heated boiler.


    CLANG! SPLAT! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was an explosion of blood and brains as the walking guard''s head impacted with the boiler denting it in the process. Jace stood over the mess for a moment and glanced back at Patrick''s area to see another of the guards fall down while the last one was looking in Jace''s direction in suspicion.


    Jace ignored him as he pulled his throwing knife and combat knife out of the guard''s heads. Then he walked back toward where the other guards were watching a sport. He stepped inside the small office and pulled out his last two throwing knives. Then he began moving over to where Patrick was pulling his knife out of the last guard.


    As Patrick looked over at Jace and then he did a double take and stared in surprise. "You have a little something¡­ on your glasses."


    Jace raised an eyebrow and took his aviators off for a moment and nodded, "you are right." He pulled a cloth out of one of his pockets and cleaned them off before putting them back on. "Thanks." Jace smiled and nodded.


    He was well aware that his front chest was covered in blood after accidently making one of the guard''s heads explode in a bloody mess. But he was going to worry about that later.


    Jace walked toward the stairs that led to the first floor. He quietly made his way up them, stopping momentarily and listening to what was going on the other side of the door each time one of the steps creaked.


    There were six people up there. It was a pseudo breakroom that these guards had made. It sounded like they were cheering as they watched a sport that he could hear on a television screen in the room.


    Jace quietly opened the door. It revealed exactly what he thought he could hear. All six of the guards in this room were crowded around a single screen. This might be why they did not see any patrolling guards. They were too busy watching this game.


    "Yeah!" "Woohoo!" "Get in there!" They all cheered in cohesion as another point was scored by their team. Jace stepped forward with his throwing knives in one hand and a combat knife in the other. His Pyre pistol was holstered for the moment.


    He moved behind the one that was farthest in the back. He would be the only one that would not be noticed by the others. Jace''s knife slid into the back of the skull through the neck. Jace quickly pulled out his knife and tossed the throwing knives at the three to his left who were closest to the door.


    The choking noises and the spurts of blood alerted the last two. But Jace was already moving quickly to them. His knife cut the throat of the first one while he kicked the legs out from under the last one. He fell forward and slammed into a table.


    Before he had a chance to get up, Jace''s knife slammed into his back. Penetrating the guard''s heart, instantly killing him. Jace then turned to look at his work.


    The one with his throat cut was pawing at his bleeding neck trying to stop the stream of blood that was pouring from his neck. Blood gurgled as he made various noises like he was trying to breathe. His eyes wide in terror.


    Of the three he threw knives at, only one was still alive. The first one had a throwing knife going in through his ear and he had collapsed back onto a seat while his head hung to the side. The second one had a throwing knife lodged in through his eye, the knife went up to the hilt with how deeply it went. He collapsed on the ground on his side.


    The last one, Jace had slightly missed his mark as the knife cut his throat but not too deeply. The throwing knife was embedded in the wall by the door. The guard was still alive as he covered his wound at his throat with both hands successfully stopping the bleeding.


    He stared at Jace with wide eyes full of terror as he approached. Jace smiled and the man brought one hand away from his throat causing it to bleed as he stopped completely staunching his wound. His hand went to his jacket pocket trying to pull out a weapon.


    Jace raised his boot and slammed it down on the man''s head. Causing another explosion of blood and brains this time covering his leg and boot in blood. Jace moved away to retrieve his throwing knives.


    "Dude, what the hell?" Jace looked over at Patrick who was looking at the carnage. He was shaking his head in exasperation. "Could you make any more of a mess?" Patrick stated sarcastically. "Here I was hiding the bodies but you are making heads explode causing a mess."


    Jace shrugged and then looked at the television screen when he heard the announcer celebrate. "Is soccer really that popular in Woltar?"


    "Uh, no actually it is a big betting sport since it is so heavily regulated that it is next to impossible to cheat." Patrick explained with a shrug.


    "Huh." Jace nodded absent mindedly before moving to the door and quietly opening it up.

 Chapter 109 - 109: Pssh

    They walked through a few halls. There were only a few that they killed before moving on. Most of the side rooms and offices were empty. The only places that were not empty of living people on the first floor were the garage, their next destination. Then there was the main factory room, where Devan was having his meeting.


    As Jace quietly moved into the garage through a side door, he finally got a response from Anvil regarding the diplomatic plates he saw earlier. Amusingly enough they were from the Vexical Empire.


    Apparently they were being used by a contingent of nobles who were in Woltar for business meetings and establishing supply chains on behalf of the nobility. That was the explanation they had been given but the connected noble families were all suspected of participating in both the regular slave and sex slave trafficking markets.


    Jace was given the go ahead to execute them since they would not be missed. Which had become relevant as Jace spotted not only Devan''s guards but also several mercenaries that were obviously brought by the ''diplomats''.


    Jace glanced at Patrick who was looking at him waiting for orders. Jace nodded and then made several hand signals. Telling him to work his way from this door to the other side of the room. Jace would act as back up and take out anyone that noticed Patrick before he was ready to take them out.


    Jace took up a position behind a wooden box. He ignored the sounds coming from the van as well as it shaking as he could tell there were several people tied up in the back while bound who were struggling and moving trying to escape.


    Patrick moved behind some boxes until he arrived behind a guard that was watching the area from next to a box. He covered the man''s mouth while his knife slid into his back. He quickly ducked behind the box moving behind it while dragging the deceased man.


    There were four more guards, and three mercenaries left in the garage room. Two of the guards were standing on either side of the garage door that led outside. The last two were standing by the garage door controls on the other side of the garage. One of the mercenaries was leaning up against the van that was shaking. Another was leaning on the hood of the diplomatic town car. The last mercenary was walking back and forth along the garage door that led to the main factory room where Devan was having his meeting.


    Jace watched as Patrick moved onto the next target. The guard on their side of the room that was by the garage door. He slid the knife into a spot between the guard''s ribs while his other hand covered the guard''s mouth and then he pulled him behind another set of boxes. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It only took a moment for the other guard to notice and start walking over whispering as he came near, "Ray? You better not have snuck off again to snort some more drugs. I do not want to get punished-" His whispering was cut off as a knife slid into his back and Patrick''s hand covered his mouth. He was pulled behind some boxes with his friend while he perished.


    Jace quietly repositioned as Patrick moved over to the other garage door and waited until the mercenary was near them. Patrick moved forward as the mercenary''s back was to him. He was in front of the truck so he was hidden from view of his mercenary friends when the knife slid into the back of his neck. Patrick quietly lowered him to the ground.


    He then took a moment to compose himself before he moved to the other mercenary that was leaning up against the shaking van. They were unfortunately out of view of Jace as they were on the other side of the van from him. But Jace listened to them and watched their feet.


    Patrick seemed to struggle for a moment as there was an audible grunt and a quick shuffling of feet coming from the mercenary before he collapsed loudly on the ground. The mercenary leaning up against the hood of the town car stood up and looked over. Suspicious of the odd noise.


    "Hey!" The mercenary was frowning before his eyes widened and he raised his weapon to fire.


    PSSH!


    There was the suppressed shot as Jace''s silenced Pyre fired. The mercenary''s head, who was leaning on the hood of the town car a moment before, snapped to the side and he fell to the ground a moment later.


    But the last two guards who were on the other side of the room were suspicious now as they moved toward the center of the room. "Hey where-"


    PSSH! PSSH!


    Two more shots. Two more heads snapping back with their bodies collapsing. Two more kills.


    Jace walked forward and looked on the other side of the van where Patrick had crouched; he was holding onto his bleeding shoulder that had a knife sticking out of it. "Are you still good?" Jace asked with a raised eyebrow.


    "Yeah," Patrick sighed as he stood up. "That sucked. He caught sight of me a second before I struck and managed to stab me in the arm. He was going for my head but I managed to dodge to the side in time."


    "Then you got lucky." Jace told him. "These mercenaries were Vexical born which means they had to spend at least some time in the military. We do not skimp on our training and enhancements. But considering they were mercenaries they were probably forced out or quit after their mandatory service was finished." Jace moved over to the garage door that led further into the building.


    He stood near the garage door and listened as Patrick patched himself with what he had on hand. Patrick had to use some cloth as a bandage after removing the night. He would have to get better first aid later.


    Jace could hear the conversation through the door between Devon and the fake diplomats. He expected it to be bad but he was still surprised by what he heard.


    "As I said before these conditions are unacceptable. You said you could smuggle girls back to our empire if we got you the locations of Vexical Military patrol routes. But now you want us to hand deliver you information on a bunch of military programs in addition! We are going to need some more in exchange for such an outrageous demand." That was definitely one of the nobles from Vexical.


    "I am perfectly fine with that. I can increase the amount of shipments. I can even ship some foreign military goods to help build up your military faction. From what I understand the Archduke himself suffered a severe set back because of the Victorium. I have many military grade goods I have struggled to sell because of the lack of need for them." That had to be Devan, his voice croaky like he is a smoker.


    "Hmm¡­ I would need to see the quality of these military goods to say whether or not it would be acceptable. How about a weapons display?" The noble asked with a smug voice but Jace could hear his heart beat increase like he was excited. He was probably hiding it to get a better deal.


    "That unfortunately, would not be possible. There are far too many variables to successfully do that on this planet. If I get your guarantee I could at least bring it off the planet and you can see it before we ship it." Devan offered.


    "Then how are you so sure it would be what my faction would need? Even if you are well informed I doubt you are that well informed." The noble pointed out.


    Devan began chuckling, "believe it or not there is quite a bit talking about what you nobles are up to over in the Vexical Empire. Your internal matters are not as unseen to the other countries and nations as you might think."


    "Well-"


    "Jace, this is Vana. Ulin and I are in position, we have cleared the second floor." Vana''s voice crackled over the communication channel. Interrupting Jace''s eavesdropping on Devan and his noble counterpart.


    "Tako, double check, are we all clear?" Jace asked as he backed up from the garage door.


    "We are. Aside from the eight people in that other room there is no one else." Tako declared.


    Jace nodded to himself before looking at Patrick, "go to the door controls. Open on my signal then cover this exit." Jace then spoke over his comm device. "Ulin and Vana take up position and wait for my signal, I will be the distraction so capture Devan when you get a chance."


    Jace took a moment to switch out the magazine he was using so he would have a magazine full of bullets in his gun. Keeping his combat knife drawn he looked over to Patrick as he took several steps back from the garage door.


    Then he signaled for the garage door to be opened.

 Chapter 110 - 110: Capturing Devan

    The garage door creaked open for a second and Jace slid through the opening. It was a quick movement and the garage stopped opening after he slid past it. He was hidden behind a box as he listened.


    Devan and his bodyguard''s pulled weapons on the Vexical nobles. "You bastards, I knew you were going to betray me." Devan coldly told them, his tone instantly flipping from the business-like tone he was using before. He began looking around, "The police I have on the payroll were watching the bridge. They saw your buddies get here ahead of you."


    The noble looked around in confusion while his three mercenary bodyguards drew their guns aiming at Devan and towards the garage door that opened. "What the hell are you talking about? You called me here!"


    "Because that was our arranged deal but why are there others here? You were the only one I told to come here." Devan growled out in anger.


    Jace quietly moved around some of the large factory equipment so he was positioned so the noble and mercenaries were between him and Devan with his guards. Jace aimed his pistol and fired at one of Devan''s guards. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    PSSH!


    The guard''s head snapped back as both the noble and Devan shut up and looked at the body that was falling. As the guard was falling he fired his laser pistol hitting one of the mercenaries in the leg.


    PING!


    "Arggh!" The mercenary screamed in pain as he fell to his knee and fired his gun.


    BANG!


    Another of Devan''s guards grunted in pain as he was hit by the bullet. "Fucking- Shoot them!" The guard yelled while the remaining uninjured guard began rushing Devan back into cover.


    The noble went to run behind some factory equipment and ran face first into the bad end of Jace''s silenced Pyre. The mercenaries were taking cover while firing at and killing the injured guard. One of the mercenaries quickly ran back following the noble.


    PSSH!


    The noble crumpled to the ground with a hole on his head. The mercenary was surprised for a moment before he saw Jace coming around the corner. Then he dived away just as Jace was firing.


    PSSH! PSSH! PSSH!


    He missed three times as the mercenary scrambled behind some factory equipment. "Boss behind us!" He yelled out a warning as he returned fire, firing blindly around the corner.


    Jace was already changing his position. Moving around some equipment he had to duck down as one of the mercenaries fired at him. The bullets chipped away at the box he ducked behind.


    WHOOSH! WHOOSH!


    An arrow embedded itself in the back of the injured mercenary, killing him. The last one out in the open dived behind some equipment as another arrow embedded itself in a metal pipe that was behind him.


    Jace stood up from his hiding spot and fired at the one that had earlier dodged his attack. After moving positions he now had a clear line of sight while he was distracted by Ulin who was firing on them from above.


    PSSH! PSSH!


    This time he hit his mark as the mercenary''s lifeless corpse sprawled across the ground. The last mercenary was behind a large metal box that was on wheels. Jace moved to the other side of it while making a quick signal with his other hand telling Ulin and Vana to go after the last guard and target.


    Jace could hear the last mercenary on the other side of the box. The mercenary was looking around the side of it so Jace quickly fired on that side.


    PSSH! PSSH!


    "Arrgh!" He grunted as one of Jace''s shots glanced along his face. The box came racing forward at Jace after the mercenary kicked it. It bumped into Jace but he just hit it aside using the hand with his silenced Pyre as a reaction. The metal box slid away to the side and slammed into a piece of factory equipment causing a loud clanging from the metal on metal contact.


    The mercenary was behind the box so when Jace hit it to the side he was rushing him. The mercenary grabbed Jace''s wrist of the hand with the silenced Pyre and pushed it up in the air. While he pointed his own Pyre pistol at Jace''s head. Jace''s knife sliced through the gun as the mercenary pulled the trigger.


    "Shit!" The mercenary cursed before tossing aside the gun and instead moving to headbutt Jace. Jace saw the attack coming and slammed his own head into the mercenary.


    CRACK!


    The cracking of bones was loud as the mercenary staggered back in surprise waile bleeding from the nose. Before he got a chance to recover Jace raised his silenced Pyre and shot him in the head. The mercenary collapsed to the ground and Jace turned around to see how the other two were doing.


    The last guard was lying on the ground dead with a scorch mark on the back of his suit. While the person he was escorting, Devan, was bawling his eyes out with an arrow through one of his knees. Standing by him looking Jace''s way was Vana and Ulin with both of their weapons at the ready.


    Jace walked over to join them. Both of them frowned when he got near. Ulin went to say something but just shook her head. Turning her attention back to Devan who was looking at them with a mix of fear and anger.


    "Why are you covered in blood?" Vana asked with a confused expression. Jace looked down at his bloody vest and single bloody leg.


    He shrugged, "heads easily explode with enough force." His response made her make an even more confused expression but he moved on from it and nodded at Devan. "Hey you, I need to know all the shipments you made over the last year and where they went."


    Devan looked confused for a moment before he shook his head while flinching in pain, "why the hell would I tell you that? Not to mention you bastards just killed a bunch of people, after this you will be going to jail." He grinned madly, making Jace frown.


    "We have a police car inbound with two officers in the front seats. What do you want me to do with them?" Tako asked, "I know what you said but I figured I should still get your opinion."


    Jace chuckled as he understood. Devan was probably counting on the police he said he had in his pocket to get him out of this. "They must be the police Devan said he had on his payroll. You can kill them, I doubt the Woltar government will care much for two corrupt police officers."


    The blood drained from Devan''s face as he realized his gamble failed. They were not afraid of the police and they heard him talking about having police in his pocket. Jace stared him down for another minute as Devan contemplated his fate.


    Jace sighed and kicked the arrow that was in his knee lightly. But it still caused the man an intense amount of pain. "I suppose we will have to do this the hard way. Grab him, we will take him back and I will spend the night getting the information out of him."


    CRACK! CRUNCH!


    Jace froze mid step as he was beginning to walk away when he heard the noise. It was quiet and came from Devan. He looked over to see him begin to spasm and foam coming out of his mouth. "Son of a-"


    "Damn," Vana crouched and opened Devan''s mouth with her hand as he stopped spasming. "Yeah¡­ that is cyanide. He had a cyanide capsule in one of his teeth." She was holding Devan by one of the arms so she dropped him when she realized he was dead.


    "Umm¡­ search his body, get anything of use. Then we are going to search the factory quickly before leaving." Jace thought for a moment before pulling back out his silenced Pyre and shooting Devan''s corpse twice in the head. "Just to make sure."


    ¡ª-----------------------------------


    Tako breathed out for a moment before holding his breath as he began focusing. He switched his scope from a thermal scope to the nightvision one he already had. Focusing on the targets through his scope.


    The police officers arrived driving quietly up to the factory. They stepped out of their vehicle shining flashlights along the ground. After a moment one of them saw a body on the ground and reached for his pistol while yelling out loud.


    POP!


    Tako fired at the other one who shined his flashlight over at his partner. The second officer''s head exploded in a bloody mist. But his body still stood up as it took a moment for it to register the lack of a head.


    His partner was confused for a moment while Tako cycled the bolt and the sniper shell popped out. Then he let out a breath and sucked in another one before taking a moment while the police officer''s partner began panicking.


    POP!


    As the officer began looking around the second one''s head exploded in another bloody mist. Then Tako breathed out with a sigh.


    "Police officers are dead, you want us to keep watching until we extract the objective?" Tako asked over the communication channel.


    "Negative, the objective is dead. He had a cyanide capsule in one of his teeth. We are searching for any intel he left around then we will extract." Jace''s response caused both Tako and Ellis, who was near him, to curse.

 Chapter 111 - 111: Devans Competitors

    "At least we have his phone that has to be worth something." Vana pointed out while Jace was brooding over their failure. He should have immediately searched the objective''s body as soon as they had him in hand.


    Jace shook his head, "no, Devan is too careful to leave a digital trail we can follow."


    "So this mission is a failure?" Vana asked.


    "Not necessarily, smugglers like Devan like to keep a black book. A record of all their crimes and others crimes. It is a way to prevent being betrayed. We just need to find that. But I am guessing Devan was the only one who could tell us the location of the black book." Jace explained with a growl.


    Vana sighed as they pulled up to the mansion behind the other car with the others inside it. "Well it is a shame we can''t just easily get the information. I mean who would willingly hand out that information?"


    Jace stepped out of the vehicle and froze halfway to the mansion as he realized something. "Except there is someone we can ask. Get cleaned up, we are going out again." Jace told her as he quickly walked inside and then moved upstairs to one of the many rooms with a shower.


    An hour later he was standing downstairs in his tropical shirt with a white shirt underneath and a pair of cargo pants. He had switched out to black jeans and a shirt earlier when they went to capture Devan.


    Vana came down in her jeans and a gray tank top with a leather jacket. "So where are we going?"


    Jace tossed her the keys to the sports car. "We are going to Chen''s to get some information from one of Devan''s competitors. Hopefully he will just give us the information. But I might have to end up buying the information."


    "Smugglers gather at Chen''s?" Vana asked as he climbed into the driver''s seat while Jace climbed into the passenger''s seat. "How have I never noticed that before? I knew it was a hub for Nymph based merchants and soldiers stationed here but I do not remember ever meeting any smugglers before."


    Jace smiled and shook his head, "well that is amusing." He then took a deep breath before sighing, "I do not think I will spoil the surprise."


    They rode in silence the rest of the way with Jace being the more amused of the two now. While Vana was frowning and contemplating Jace''s words now. When they arrived she had to park far down the street in order to not be in the way.


    As usual Chen''s was packed with people who came to party off their stress. The drinking and merrymaking had already reached the beach. Which was not unusual for Chen''s bar. It really was the local place that acted as a gathering place for people from Nymph.


    They walked past several drunks as Jace led the way. He walked right up to the bar where Chen was flipping a bottle and pouring some booze. Vana stepped up behind him with a look of confusion on her face. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Chen, when you have a minute I need some info." Jace told him while sitting on a barstool.


    "Info? Well that will cost you a pretty good amount of coin unless I am willing to just seperate for an alternate form of payment." Chen told him as he finished making the drink and handed it off to a drunk merchant who clearly did not need anymore drinks.


    "Devan''s black book, any clue where it is?" Jace asked as Chen stepped over to them. He began making a drink, Jace recognized it as the type Vana usually drank.


    "Hmm¡­ you asking about Devan''s black book must mean he is dead. Because with a reputation like yours you could have gotten the information out of him if he was alive. You were right to come to his biggest competitor, I do in fact know about Devan''s black book. I can tell you about it but it will cost you." Chen answered and seemed to think as he placed Vana''s favorite drink in front of her. "I am thinking one mil bc?"


    Jace reeled back while making a face of disgust, "please. It is not worth that much. If you know my reputation, You know I am no fool. Now tell me what it will really cost."


    "Ah, but your reputation is kinda the problem. For all I know you could take that black book and become my biggest competitor. But if you tell me why you need it I might be able to bring down the price a bit." Chen explained while he began making another drink for someone further down the bar who called out to him the order.


    Jace frowned and tapped his fingers against the bar. He contemplated what to do for a few minutes before he nodded, "okay." Jace grabbed a napkin and pointed at a pen that was behind the bar. Chen handed Jace the pen and Jace wrote something on the napkin while making sure to hide what he was writing. Then Jace handed him the folded napkin, "this is who we are chasing."


    Chen stopped mid motion as he read it. Then he handed it back folded up again., "in that case this will be pretty cheap."


    Jace nodded in understanding as he held the napkin in his hand and it caught fire. Chen brought over a small empty metal bucket that was usually used for nuts or other snacks and Jace dropped the burning napkin inside. "What is the price?"


    "Well, you have to pay this beautiful lady''s tab at my bar. I then want you to make me a new shell, this one is getting a bit too up there in the years. I am going to need a replacement and make it easy to bartend with the body." Chen declared, "that will be the cost of the intel, but after you are done with the black book I also want it for my own purposes."


    Jace looked over Chen for a moment and Vana chimed in for the first time, "aren''t AI shell''s extremely expensive? Not to mention you make it sound like Jace can just custom order you a body."


    Chen made a mechanical chuckle, "little lady, you have no idea who you are running around with do you. Jace here is quite well known in the AI community. For one when he was fresh out of the academy he managed to create a new AI. Then he discovered another ancient AI. Then he freed an AI from the clutches of AI slavers that are in the Victorium. Finally he and his group have been up to some pretty wild technology development, as far as we could tell he has helped develop at least two AI shells."


    Vana blinked and looked at Jace who shrugged, "what? It is a hobby."


    "A ''hobby'' he says. Then do not even get me started on his presence in the underworld. I mean this kid was competent enough to barter a truce between a bunch of different gangs with different ethnic backgrounds all to make sure his orphanage was not caught in the crossfire." Chen went on and Jace glared at the AI.


    "Moving on," Jace sighed. "I suppose I can work that out. I can get a body down in the next few days. But since it is at the drop of the hat you will have to do the transfer and work out any kinks with the design that pops up. Will that be okay?"


    Chen raised a hand and Jace shook Chen''s robotic hand. "That sounds just fine. Now about the Devan''s Black Book. I will drop off the info in your room in the morning. I need to make a few calls to verify what you told me."


    "Verify, you do not trust him?" Vana asked, still honestly reeling from the shock that Chen was a smuggler that competed with the likes of Devan.


    "Oh, I do. But I would be a fool not to verify the information. I hope you are not offended." Chen responded before making Jace a drink. "Now go on up to your room. I will send up some food, it''s on the house since I am in such a good mood."


    Jace smiled and accepted the drink then nodded his head to the side, indicating for Vana to follow him. They then walked up to the second floor where Jace''s room was. He walked inside and they went to the balcony where there was a table and two chairs set up with a view of the ocean.


    "Is it normal for them to verify information like that?" Vana asked, wondering what exactly Jace wrote on the note to cause him to change the price so drastically. Because if Chen was right, the price went from ridiculous to almost free within a second.


    Jace nodded, "in the underworld getting cheaper information because of a common enemy is normal. But they would also not want to get played, so the standard is to verify what I told him before we get the information at the cheaper price."

 Chapter 112 - 112: Grabbing Arthur Sanders

    Jace woke up to a knock at the door. He climbed out of the bed, Vana groaning as he climbed past her. He walked up to the door and found a woman who looked very exhausted staring at him. She was one of Chen''s waitresses. She probably worked through the night.


    Jace fully opened the door and the waitress looked over his naked body appreciating the view. Jace coughed to get her attention. Her face had lit up as if she seemed to have been invigorated by the sight before her.


    "Sorry, I was appreciating the view. Ahem, Chen wanted me to bring this up for you. He said to tell you he verified the information." The woman handed him a small package. Jace began opening it up while standing in the doorway. Letting the woman get a good view.


    Jace frowned as he began reading the information, "thank you. Will that be all?"


    "Huh? Oh yeah that is it." The woman nodded as she started climbing down the stairs after getting one last look at him.


    Jace closed the door and turned around, "time to get up Vana. We have our next target." Jace told her as he set down the package with information and started getting dressed in a change of clothes. He grabbed his communication watch and called Tako. It rang for a few moments before he answered.


    "What''s up? Do you have a plan?" Tako asked, the others only knew that Jace and Vana went out and never came back. They did not know they were going after Devan''s black book.


    "Yes, I need you and Patrick to go get eyes on Devan''s Boyfriend. Watch him and be careful of the police. I have a feeling they will visit him today." Jace told him and then thought of something. "Also watch out for anyone suspicious, Devan''s competitors might drop by to try and grill him for information."


    "What should I do if that happens? Or if the police pick him up?" Tako asked as Jace could hear movement in the background. He was probably getting ready.


    "If it is competitors you can take them out and kidnap him. If it is the police, just follow them. We need him alive." Jace explained as Vana began getting dressed next to him. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes sir." Tako then hung up.


    "What did Chen give us that made you so energized this early in the morning?" Vana asked as she pulled on a tank top.


    Jace nodded at the package that was dropped off earlier as he pulled out a tropical shirt with a different design from his backpack. "That has got me into motion. We are officially on a very limited timetable again."


    Vana walked over and looked down at the papers and files while she pulled on the last of her clothes. "Son of a- how did he manage to pull that off?"


    "Very cleverly. It now makes a lot more sense why he killed himself. He needed insurance that his boyfriend would not suffer the same fate just because they were connected." Jace explained as he took a breath of air in.


    "But¡­ that makes no sense." Vana moved over to the bed to pull on her boots.


    "It did to him. He must have been dealing with plenty of bad people that would kill him at the drop of a hat." Jace explained as he moved to pick up the files and papers, shuffling back into the envelope they arrived inside of. "Come on, you are driving again. This time we are going to your place." Jace told her with a smile.


    They went to Vana''s apartment that she had on Nymph. It was a small apartment but had all she needed to live comfortably for a few days. Vana changed into a gray pants suit at Jace''s request and then they left for the mansion.


    Once at the mansion, Vana and Ellis took the black SUV while Ulin and Jace went on the motorcycle and in the sports car respectively. Tako and Patrick had been following Devan''s boyfriend, Arthur Sanders, since Jace called this morning.


    Arthur went on his usual routine of heading to the gym and then to work. Which is where he currently was when they called to tell them that the police or more specifically two officers in civies came to pick him up from his work.


    "Are you positive they are detectives?" Jace asked over the line as he and Ulin armed themselves.


    "Yeah they are detectives. They were not lying when they told that line to Arthur. I was watching their heartbeats. There was no fluctuation." Tako answered as he sighed. "We are following them now."


    Jace started thinking while Patrick chimed in, "these talents and abilities are really something else. I still can''t believe the knife wound in my shoulder is all healed up. Not to mention they have such utility to them."


    "Flattery does not work on me." Jace told Patrick who was hoping to get out of work by reminding them that he was injured yesterday. But Jace was already aware of how capable a medic Tako was. He could heal most simple injuries within an hour using his abilities. "You will tail them to the station and then watch the station. Ellis and Vana will go in and take her with the falsified appropriate warrants. Ulin and I are on backup to help if anything goes wrong. We will both be armed."


    "Understood, what about us?" Patrick asked with a sigh.


    "You will watch until we leave. Then you can leave a few minutes later. I want to know how many people they will send out to tail Ellis and Vana." Jace explained, "you do not have to interact with anyone directly."


    Jace arrived at the police station just as Ellis and Vana were pulling in front of the building. They walked up the steps looking very official in their black and gray suits. While Jace spotted the car garage that Patrick and Tako were watching from. Then there was Ulin on the motorcycle some distance away. Jace glanced at the silenced Pyre on the passenger seat next to him.


    This plan was quickly hobbled together because they were limited on time. Hopefully it will work.


    ¡ª------------------------------


    Vana followed Ellis into the police station. She ignored the stares from people as they walked past the front desk and made their way to the interrogation room. Having already quickly memorized the layout from the plans Jace had pulled up and sent them.


    As they neared the interrogation room an older man with his fur and hair turning gray walked up to try and stop them. "Hold up, you two. Where do you think you are going?"


    Ellis pulled out the falsified documents. They could have gotten real ones, but in order to do that they would have to go through official channels. Which they could not do since they were told to not communicate with anyone from headquarters. Instead Jace had spent a few hours making fake documents that would pass initial inspection but not verification.


    The anthro-wolf old man looked over the document and frowned. Then he stepped aside and they walked into the interrogation room where a pair of officers were interrogating Arthur Sanders. The man looked confused and flustered, but when Vana and Ellis walked in he became even more flustered and confused.


    One of the detectives, an anthro-wolf woman with orange fur and hair, was the first to react to their presence. "Who are you? What are you- hey stop that! What do you think you are doing?"


    "Taking your prisoner." Vana answered as she nodded at the anthro-wolf old man. The old man handed over the document that he had folded up again.


    "On what grounds?" The other detective, a human man asked in confusion.


    "National security." The orange haired anthro-wolf woman answered for them. "You realize this case involves two deceased police officers, correct. Two of our own died."


    Vana raised an eyebrow as Ellis put cuffs on Arthur who was looking confused. "Your point?"


    The woman seemed flustered as her face became red with anger. "My point is that you are not taking him anywhere. Document or not."


    "Hold up detective-" The old man tried to calm the woman down.


    "No captain. Two of our officers died in the slaughter." The woman growled as Vana and Ellis escorted the cuffed Arthur out of the room. But the captain closed the door as they left, keeping the detectives in the room.


    The police officers and detectives they walked past while taking Arthur with them stared daggers. It seemed losing two of their fellow officers really had them on edge. As they pushed Arthur into the backseat Ellis jumped in the back with her while Vana jumped into the driver seat and pulled away from the police station.


    As they pulled away she instantly spotted the tail of the three different cars that started following her. All of which were civilian vehicles. Or made to look like a civilian one. She dialed up the open communication channel that the others were using.


    "Hey, we have a tail. I count three different vehicles." Vana told them as she made a few cautious turns.

 Chapter 113 - 113: Devans Black Book

    Jace smiled as he listened. "You only see three. There are at least five from my count. Seems like they are not going to let this go without a fight." Tako pointed out from his vantage point. "Two motorcycles and three detective civilian vehicles."


    "I can take care of the motorcycles. How about the cars? What are we going to do about them?" Ulin asked as they could hear the growling of the motorcycle in the background.


    "We are going ''nonlethal'' people. These are law abiding citizens of Woltar. Ulin, disable the motorcycles without killing or maiming anyone. I have an idea for the other vehicles. Vana I am sending the location of a mostly remote road. Head there, when you drive past me just keep going." Jace told her as he cracked his neck before pulling off the road to position himself.


    A few minutes passed before the growl of motorcycles and then a crash and a smash in the background of Ulin''s communication device. "Motorcyclists are down and their vehicles are disabled."


    Jace watched in his rearview mirror as the black SUV with Vana and Ellis turned the corner and started coming down the street. He watched as the detective vehicles disguised as civilian vehicles began flashing lights and an alarm.


    "They are trying to get us to pull over." Vana told them over the communication channel.


    "Speed up and drive past me." Jace told her as he lowered the window and aimed his silenced Pyre out of it.


    The black SUV zoomed past him. Then the car directly behind them veered into the other lane while trying to get past them.


    PSSH!


    His bullet went into the tire of one of the front wheels causing it to veer off and slam into a car parked on the side of the road. The second vehicle was just as surprised as he shot out their tire.


    PSSH!


    They crashed into another parked car and completely blocked off the road just ahead of where Jace was parked. The third car skidded to a halt and began turning around, likely to go and find another way around.


    "The first two are down. I will follow the last one and immobilize them. Ditch the SUV in a parking garage. Tako and Patrick go pick them up and make sure to disable the cameras just in case." Jace told them as he started up his car and pulled away following the last police car as the occupants of the other two were climbing out of their own crashed vehicles.


    Jace followed them as they transferred to another street parallel to the one they were just on. He fully rolled down the window and aimed his silenced Pyre at one of the rear tires and fired.


    PSSH!


    It suddenly began scraping against the ground and was wildly moving as Jace pulled to the side as he passed them. Placing the silenced Pyre back on his passenger seat. He looked in the rearview and saw an anthro-wolf old man and anthro-wolf woman with orange hair climb out of the vehicle. They had run into the back of another car when they lost control. He saw her pointing in his direction as he drove away.


    "Okay, the last one is gone. Ulin, go hide the motorcycle inside of the mansion. They noticed this vehicle so I have to ditch it and get another. How are you guys doing?" Jace asked as he pulled into an underground garage.


    "Good we are on our way to the mansion. Do you want us to wait for you?" Vana asked, hers and Ulin''s were the only ones that were still on. The others had hung up since they were using Vana''s device for the moment.


    "Yeah we are in the final stretch here." Jace answered as he stopped in a parking space.


    "I am good as well. Are you sure you do not want me to ditch the motorcycle?" Ulin asked.


    "That is my personal vehicle, please do not drop it off somewhere. I can get it cleaned after we finish here so it is not wanted anymore." Vana explained with a voice of urgency.


    Jace smirked as he put a device into a dashboard of the sports vehicle and everything was fried inside. He then grabbed all of his equipment and stepped out of the vehicle. He raised his silenced Pyre and shot the camera he was in view of without looking at it. Then he walked over to a gray van.


    He jimmied open the door and then hopped inside finding the interior spacious. He then plugged a device into the dashboard and it started up a moment later. He pulled out and drove out a moment later as he was driving away he saw a flood of police cars pull into the underground garage from his rearview mirror.


    Seemed they really did not like it when he disabled their vehicles. He took an hour before he arrived at the mansion. He was the last to arrive and climbed out of the van with all of his equipment.


    He walked up and entered, closing the door behind him and walked directly to the living room where the others were gathered around Arthur Sanders who was looking around with a gag and a look of fear in his eyes.


    "Did you tell them?" Jace asked as he set his things off to the side.


    Vana shook her head, "no not yet. Did you want me to tell them?"


    Jace picked up the files and papers he got from Chen that morning and handed them to her. "Tell them while I start this." He instructed before stepping forward and looking down at Arthur. He removed the gag.


    "I do not know what is going on. Who are you people? What do you want? Do you want to know about Devan''s business as well? He never told me anything about it. I swear." Arthur declared, bumbling over his words in a hurry.


    "Not very observant are you?" Jace asked with an eyebrow raised.


    "I mean¡­ I may have known he does something less than legal. But I swear I never asked about it." Arthur was shaking his head to drive home his point.


    Jace shrugged, "I believe you." Jace then took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "Now, I am going to torture you." Jace told him and Arthur froze.


    The life disappeared from Arthur''s eyes and his body went rigid while his hands which were struggling before became relaxed. A moment later he began sitting up taller while he looked directly ahead. His body relaxed far more than before.


    Jace raised an eyebrow and looked at Vana who nodded as she held a datapad and was ready to type everything down. "First question, where is Devan''s warehouse where he collects the goods he is not able to sell or get rid of?" Jace asked while grabbing a chair so he could sit opposite of Arthur who was tied to his own chair.


    "An abandoned Grand Hexarian Empire undersea base. To enter you need to go through an underground passage or use the built-in system it has to connect to spacecraft. The exact coordinates are-" He began rambling off a bunch of numbers. After he finished he stopped.


    Jace nodded and then took another breath. "Second question, what are the names of Devan''s ships which are moving his goods?" He waited until he got another nod from Vana before he asked the second question.


    "There are six spaceship''s, six airplanes, and eleven cargo sea ships which are moving his goods. Cargo sea ships are called-" Jace clicked his tongue as he began listing the cargo ships. He screwed up and said ship instead of spaceship. But Vana was still writing it down so he waited until Arthur got to the spaceships. "Devan''s spaceships are Ram''s Revenge, Hexagonal Savior, Devil''s Advocate, The Goatee, Sacrificial Lamb, and Rigorous Ritual."


    Jace nodded and could hear some of the other''s whisper behind him. "I can not believe that Devan programmed his own boyfriend without his knowledge. Why would he do that?" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Because he wanted to keep him safe, now shut up. Jace is about to finish with the last question." Vana whispered back.


    "Last question, where are the locations where you dropped off all of the goods you were bringing to the client known as Lord Hoodwink?" Jace asked, causing the others to all be confused. Ulin understood who he was so she sucked in her breath. Salem had talked about the monster in human skin who had turned some missing soldiers into monstrosities.


    "There are three locations. The first is an asteroid near the edge of the Artemis System. The exact coordinates are-" Jace listened and memorized the coordinates just in case. "The second location is a Vexical communication station in the Sister System, Communication Station number seventy one. The third location is an abandoned moon in the Uris System. The Leonair had fashioned it into a joint research center with Lord Hoodwink." Arthur answered before he suddenly went relaxed and he blinked his eyes, "umm¡­ was I asleep?"


    Jace looked at Vana who nodded. "Okay then. Time to pack our things we leave in a few hours. Patrick, bring her and come with me. We are going to drop her off at her new home." Jace then turned around and made a call up to their ship. He had a few requests to complete before they left this planet.

 Chapter 114 - 114: Point of Contact

    Agent Ares stepped into the police station and walked past officers and detectives who were frantically moving around. He walked into the captain''s office and raised an eyebrow at the sight of the old anthro-wolf man who had a bruised eye and a cut lip. Seated in chairs across from him were two detectives. One of them had a broken nose while the other one was just plain angry from her expression.


    "Captain, how can I help you?" Agent Ares asked with a smile. He had been called by his bosses out of the blue to straighten out some issues. Supposedly a falsified prisoner transfer document had been found and the police were rather angry about it since it was labeled as national security.


    The old anthro-wolf man spun his monitor around and showed a match search. It had the face of an agent he had worked with before but instead of saying anything the results showed an error code instead. Agent Ares pulled out his communication device and called a number.


    "Agent Ares, what the hell is going on in my town and why do I have two dead police officers because of it?" The captain growled out in anger as he glared at Agent Ares.


    The call connected and he quietly whispered the error code number to the person on the other end. Then he was transferred, then told to hold, then transferred and told to hold again. Agent Ares raised an eyebrow and looked at the captain shrugging as he stepped to the corner of the office.


    "Hey this is Agent Ares I am asking about-" Agent Ares stopped as he listened to the other person on the end of the phone. "I do not understand sir." There were a few minutes of silence as Agent Ares'' expression changed several times. He goes from confused to bewildered to annoyed in those few minutes. Then he hung up. "Good news and bad news. The good news is that this matter is resolved."


    "Resolved? Someone was taken from our custody and we have two deceased officers." The captain growled out in anger.


    "The deceased officers were corrupt. They were killed because they were on a criminal''s payroll and were considered expendable. The government no longer cares about looking for their killers. As for Arthur Sanders, while the document was not originally official it is now official after the fact. So stop looking into it." Agent Ares answered with a sigh.


    "You can''t be serious!" The angry orange haired woman yelled.


    "Completely, if that''s all. I suggest you drop it. Diving headlong into national espionage and the world of spies is a good way to make enemies of both your allies and just about anyone else." Agent Ares explained before he taped a few buttons on the captain''s computer and all recordings were erased.


    He then turned around and walked out of the room. He was not even a few steps out when he could hear screaming from the captain''s office. Hopefully this completely resolved any issues. But he had a feeling it would not. He would have to give headquarters a call and warn them that they might have a crusading police officer on their hands.


    ¡ª--------------------


    Jace packed up his things and then walked down the stairs. He glanced at Chen who was talking with Arthur Sanders. The man was completely confused. "Hey, we are heading out. Tomorrow morning, your new shell will be delivered. Then it is all up to you how you transfer your core. Was there anything else?"


    "No, that is it. Keys?" Chen asked. Jace tossed him the key for the upstairs apartment. "You are always welcome here. Please come back with the lovely Vana sometime." Chen then turned his attention to Arthur Sanders.


    Jace walked to the van where Patrick was waiting. "Are you sure about this?" Patrick asked as Jace climbed into the passenger seat. "I am not comfortable leaving him here." Patrick told Jace as he climbed into the driver seat.


    Jace shook his head, "it was part of the deal. Chen get''s the black book. The black book just happens to be Devan''s boyfriend, Arthur Sanders. So Chen get''s Arthur Sanders, after this it is no longer our problem. I am not going to screw up an important relationship just because you are feeling iffy about the situation." Jace pointed out as he leaned back in his seat.


    Patrick grumbled and then continued the conversation. "But are you not worried about them? I mean do you not have a sense of guilt from handing a civilian over to a hardcore criminal that probably deals in all sorts of unsavory things."


    "Chen does not deal in living beings." Jace sighed as he felt a headache coming on. "AIs find it not worth it to deal in slaves or sex slaves. Sometimes they do run brothels but those are usually run by madames who enjoy studying the human reproductive process." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But I am sure he deals in some criminal things. I am just not comfortable." Patrick pointed out.


    "Get over yourself." Jace told him. "Everyone has committed at least one crime. I have read your file. I know the kind of things you deal in. You may be newer but you need to get over this need to be a good person. We are not good people. We are glorified criminals that work for a nation."


    "You are not bothered by it?" Patrick asked in surprise.


    "Not in the least, I grew up with criminals. This stuff is second nature to me. But if it makes you feel better Chen is one of the more morally aligned criminals out there." Jace told him.


    Jace tapped his communication device and put on his aviators. A moment later a chatroom opened up. [Spectre Jace: Do we have the record about the Grand Hexarian Base hidden on Nymph?] Jace waited several minutes before he received a response because of the distance.


    [The Director: Yes, I have sent you the specifications and schematics through the Anvil. In addition we have a request from the Woltar government to have an agent stay with Anvil and her crew for the duration of the investigation since it might lead back into Woltar space. I wanted to leave the decision up to you.]


    [Spectre Jace: Can I pick the Woltar agent?] Jace smirked under his aviator glasses while Patrick continued to grumble.


    There were a few minutes before he got a response. [The Director: You already have a woman in mind? That did not take long, yeah you can have your pick of who you want. Woltar will not raise a fuss. Now do not contact me for a few days, I will be busy.]


    Jace frowned as the chatroom closed. He sat for a moment before messaged the ship. [Spectre Jace: We will go to the Grand Hexarian Base and then extract from there. I understand that there was a request to have a Woltar Agent accompany us?]


    This time the response was much quicker. [Anvil: Correct. We are already preparing a guest room. Do you have an Agent in mind?]


    [Spectre Jace: Yes, Vana will accompany us. I will inform her when I get back to the temporary hideout. I will contact you when it is time to pick us up. Status of Chen''s new body?]


    [Anvil: Understood. Taylor took to the task with a little too much vigor. She only just went unconscious after working through the night. We are putting the finishing touches and then we will send it. Was there anything else?]


    [Spectre Jace: Were the police handled or will they become a problem?]


    [Anvil: They made an effort but they believe their efforts are for naught. The police will likely continue to pursue the issue. Do you want to directly resolve the matter before we leave?]


    [Spectre Jace: Negative. I was just being considerate, we could have done far more damage to complete our objective. Any blow back from the dead diplomat?]


    [Anvil: Nothing that matters, the diplomat''s crimes were revealed. The ambassador was ordered to drop the issue and he has.]


    [Spectre Jace: Signing off.] A moment later Jace closed the chat room as they were pulling up to the mansion. Jace jumped out and walked through the door and saw them finishing packing up everything. "Vana and Ulin, take Vana''s motorcycle back to her apartment and get Vana a bag packed. She is coming with us."


    "To where?" Ellis asked as he moved a box.


    "To accompany my crew. She is the point of contact for the Woltar if we operate in Woltar space." Jace explained as Ulin and Vana walked out the door. "Your government requested it and I am fine with it."


    "What about the rest of us?" Patrick asked as he went to help the others.


    "Nothing the moment we are done here and all packed up we go our separate ways. Your part in this mission is done." Jace explained as he picked something up and began moving it to the car. "Tako, go and clear the mansion just in case we missed something."

 Chapter 115 - 115: Entrance to Nymph Base

    They pulled up to Vana''s apartment in the gray van. Vana and Ulin were standing outside with a travel bag. Tako stopped the van and they climbed in. "Are you ready to go?" Jace asked as the ladies climbed into the backseats.


    "Yes I am. Am I still not allowed to contact headquarters?" Vana asked as Tako pulled away driving to the hidden tunnel that would lead to the abandoned Grand Hexarian Base. The entrance was located on the edge of nowhere so they would have a long drive until they arrived.


    "For now, when we get on the Anvil you can contact them. But for now it would be best that you hold off on that." Jace answered as he leaned back in his chair.


    She went quiet as the trip continued for a few hours and the time neared midnight. The only thing that was breaking up the silence was the van''s built in music system. When they were nearing the location to the hidden entrance Jace''s communication watch began making a dinging noise.


    Jace tapped his watch and a hologram began playing. It was a hologram of the lobby in the mansion they were working out of the last two days. In the lobby was Patrick making a call on his own communication device. It was still ringing when Jace had pulled it up.


    "You have a surveillance device in the mansion?" Vana asked in bewilderment. "Why?"


    "Watch." Jace answered.


    The call connected and Jace looked out the window, "I am calling to leave an anonymous tip. It is in regards to the two diseased officers at the abandoned factory and the location of one Arthur Sanders." Patrick''s voice was clear as he nervously looked out the window.


    Jace put on his aviators. He began manipulating data on his glasses and making preparations.


    "Is he leaking intel?" Vana asked in surprise.


    "Yeah, your intelligence agency purposefully placed a weak willed person with us in the hopes that he would leak intel. Maybe even catch us, it is a political game. Something we care little for." Ulin explained with a sigh as she pulled out a triggering device. "It is armed."


    Jace nodded as he finished what he was doing. "I am ready as well."


    "Hello, yeah it is about the police officer''s killers, they are going to an abandoned-" The video suddenly cut off with a crackle while a distance behind them there was a small light in the sky.


    "Explosives triggered, the leak is plugged. How about Ellis?" Ulin asked as she leaned over from her seat to look at Jace as he pulled off his aviators.


    "Not necessary, he already left to make an in person report at their headquarters. They will understand what happened to Patrick when I send them a video." Jace answered as he looked back at Vana. "Will that be a problem?"


    Vana seemed to think for a moment as she frowned. Then after a few minutes she shook her head. "No, we work as expendable parts. If he screwed it up and got caught in the crossfire because of political mind games it is not your fault. But I am surprised you were prepared for that."


    "We were expecting it. We were given orders to prepare for one of the people we work with from the Woltar government to betray us. So Jace ordered me to smuggle in explosives and plant them around the mansion where you three would not be able to find them." Tako explained from the driver seat.


    "You knew we were going to rally and group up at the mansion? How? I thought that was last minute." Vana pointed out as she leaned back in her seat.


    "No, it was planned. I chose a property that would not be missed if it was destroyed and that we could in no way be blamed if it was determined to be nonaccidental." Jace explained as Tako pulled up to a warehouse by the beach that was in the middle of nowhere. "I think we are here."


    "This is the supposed entrance. What now?" Tako asked.


    Jace opened the door and climbed out. "Stay in the car." He then closed the door and walked over to the warehouse entrance which were two sliding doors which were locked closed by a simple padlock. Jace looked around and saw a camera pointing to the entrance.


    Jace pulled on the padlock and broke it as he pulled on it. The padlock and bolt it was attached to broke off the door. Jace then pushed the doors open easily, revealing the empty warehouse. He walked inside once they were open enough for the van to enter.


    Inside there was nothing inside but there was some light coming in through a few open windows near the roof. He ignored the wet spots on the inside and walked to an electrical box that was near the back of the warehouse. Behind him he could hear the van pull into the warehouse.


    Jace opened the electrical box and found that it was the ''key hole'' to enter but the key required seemed to be some sort of device. Which they definitely did not have. In the center of a warehouse was a spot where the ground clearly would lower. It was likely an elevator.


    Jace closed his eyes and touched the ''key hole'' and found the interconnecting parts from the schematic. He was right about the elevator but it seemed all the key did was complete a circuit which he could do without the required device.


    "Park the van in that spot." Jace directed and Tako peaked his head out the window to line himself up as he realized what Jace was talking about. Once the van was lined up Jace reached into the electrical box and used his hand to complete the circuit.


    There was a momentary jolt before his body stabilized the electricity that was running through his body. The colored components in the electrical box lit up and there was humm from a machine for a minute as everything began starting up. Jace stayed up for a moment as he waited until the lift would run on its own.


    KA-CHUNK!


    There was aloud metal on metal noise before the spot the van was on jostled and then began lowering into the ground. Jace removed his hand from the electrical box. Then he walked over to the platform that was lowering and jumped onto the elevator. He walked up to the driver window as Tako leaned out.


    "When we get to the bottom you are going to drive further into the tunnel. I have to flip a switch to send the elevator back up. But we have a while before we reach the bottom." Jace told them as he glanced at the walls as the elevator descended further into the ground.


    "How can you tell? We have only just begun descending." Vana asked from the back seat. He did not notice before but it seemed that Ulin and her had begun playing a card game at some point.


    "I got the schematic for the base from my boss. We have a record of places like this but since it is not in the empire''s territory we do not have any reason to come here or use it." Jace answered honestly as leaned against the door.


    "Do you guys just get requests completed quickly like that all the time?" Vana asked in surprise. "We usually have to wait for several different people to make approvals before we can even get a weapon for a mission. I was actually surprised we were supplied with laser pistols so quickly."


    "That was likely in part because of our government." Ulin shrugged, "we managed to sneak into your country with just about no warning. Basically we showed how good we were because usually Inquisitors were welcomed at the spaceship terminal. Instead we just came right onto your planet. Not to mention we have a military ship somewhere near Nymph and they probably still have not located our space ship yet."


    "Wait, you have a military spaceship in orbit? That is terrifying. Especially if my government is really struggling with finding it." Vana took a deep breath. "Anyways, can you tell me a bit more about this person you are tracking? I recall you asking Arthur Sanders and saying his name was Lord Hoodwink?" Both Ulin and Tako looked at Jace at those questions.


    Jace shrugged, "we do not know much except that he is a problem. He arranged some saboteurs to assist the Crystoph Federation. Said saboteurs were Vexical Soldiers that were experimented on and basically brainwashed. The experiments clearly violated the rules regarding nanobots so he made it to the top of the empire''s most wanted list. His experiments also veered into man-machine combinations which got him wanted by the Rogue Metal Legion. Ulin has heard a bit about him from Salem. But the guy is basically a scientist and clearly a former noble from some country." Jace explained with a sigh. "We were able to happen upon Devan''s connection as a smuggler. We already knew about that communication station he was smuggling to."


    "So you came here to figure out what else he knew. Are you hoping Devan has specific files on this Lord Hoodwink?" Vana asked a lot more interested to know that she was learning about their mission. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, but if he was as paranoid as I was thinking then we should find some goods that he would not have wanted to offload. Searching the goods he stored gives us something to do while we are waiting for Chen to get his new body." Jace explained with a shrug.

 Chapter 116 - 116: Nymph Base

    After they reached the bottom they drove for an hour before arriving at the door to the abandoned underwater Grand Hexarian Base. The doors were only a bit taller than the van they drove up in. Jace hopped out of the van again to push open the doors which only took him a few moments. Then they were driving into a dark room.


    Jace walked over to a wall panel he could see near the entrance and opened it up then flicked the switch. Then lights began blinking high above them and then¡­ nothing. The lights switched off.


    "Ha¡­" Jace sighed aloud. "The generator died. Go ahead and start looking through some boxes. I will go and fix the generator and then head up to the command room." Jace told them before he pulled on his aviator glasses and switched something in them so he could see in the dark.


    "Sure, what do you want us to do with anything interesting we find?" Tako asked as Jace walked off into the darkness.


    "Mark it, once I get the systems running I will take a look at everything and we can determine what we want to take with us." Jace called back as he walked to a hatch he found. To the side of it was a sign that said, ''Maintenance, armory, training area.''


    CREAK!


    The metal made a loud screeching noise as he opened it up. It was heavy and difficult to move because of the layer of rust covering the hinges. Once it was open all the way he stepped through the door and followed the signs leading him to the maintenance area.


    He went through several more doors before he arrived at the maintenance area. It was a massive area with three areas. The first area had rusted pipes and puddles of water, a clear indicator that it was the facility''s plumbing. The second area next to it were pipes running into the ceiling and ventilation shafts, for a facility this far underground it was probably air recycling. The third had wires and bundles of wires running into other areas, definitely this facility''s power generator.


    Walking over to it he put his hand on the machine and began reading the schematic in his mind. It was surprisingly still functional, it appeared that someone within the last few years had been making modifications to get it running again.


    All Jace needed to do was make a few tweaks and then jumpstart it. It would take him ten minutes at most. Once he was finished making the final modifications he put his hands on the base''s generator and channeled electricity through his body into the machine.


    The veins on his hands pulsated a bluish green for a minute as he powered so much electricity into the machine then everything began lighting up. The lits in the room began running and then the other two areas began rumbling and making noise as power began supplying them.


    Jace moved over to the generator''s interface and began redirecting the power only into the components of the base they need. The lights, the base''s central elevator, and the command center. Once that was done the other two machines stopped humming.


    He walked back up to the main floor and then started following the signs leading him to the command center. This time it was much easier to follow the signs because the lights were on instead of him using the nightvision function in his aviator glasses.


    Arriving at the command center he recognized the similarity to a Vexical spaceship. But he ignored that and walked over to the windows that were overlooking the facility.


    "Wow¡­" Jace whistled in appreciation as he looked over the facility. The schematics did not do this place justice. It was a massive facility spanning at least five miles across and two miles in width. It seems they had entered through a corner of the facility.


    The base had wooden boxes filling it that had seemed to have been arranged into segments because some were smaller than others while other groupings seemed to have an overflowing amount of things. It seems Devan had built up far more of an abundance of unsellable goods than he had originally.


    Jace then began looking around the command center. He eventually found the systems he needed as he hooked up the control for the large central elevator that sat in the center of the facility. Then he used the base''s communication system to connect to the Anvil.


    After a few moments the captain of the Anvil answered but all that appeared was a blurry message. "Spectre Jace, this is the Anvil do you read? Are you ready for us to pick you up at the specified coordinates?" The Anvil''s captain asked.


    "Not quite yet sir. I was just testing to make sure the communication system worked. We will grab anything we find of use and put it on the elevator. I will send a message when we start ascending from the base. If I am right it will take about an hour for us to reach a height where you could pick us up." Jace explained as he looked over the data about the central elevator that was in this base.


    Since this base was a secret rearming and refueling facility it had an elevator that could directly go up to a waiting spaceship and do anything they could from up there. It was actually pretty clever considering the fact that it had gone unnoticed by the Woltar for many years. But the time these elevators take is abysmal.


    But considering it would be putting a roof above them after they reached the roof of the base he would be lying if he said he was not worried. This elevator had so many components that he had to worry about still working. He did not care if the base flooded after they left but he was worried that the walls and roof for the elevator would no longer be able to hold up to the water pressure.


    "Understood Spectre Jace. We will wait for your call, Anvil out." The call then ended. Jace then began making his way down to the open area of the base.


    When he arrived it was to the sight of all three of them looking at the same thing. He could not see it since it was still in a box but he could pick up their conversation.


    "I think it can still be considered a mecha." Vana told them with a shrug.


    "No, this is definitely a tank. I mean look at that cannon." Ulin pointed out while pointing at something. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah, but it has legs." Vana looked at the machine and pointed to the lower part of the box.


    Jace walked up behind them and got a look at what they were talking about and raised an eyebrow in surprise. It had six legs with a small body probably only big enough for a single pilot. With no obvious way to look out of the body it probably had screens inside that would be used for looking externally. Then on the roof was the cannon they were talking about with what looked like a holder for a magazine.


    "What do you think, Jace?" Tako asked as he glanced behind him at Jace.


    "It''s a mecha. If it was a tank it would have far more protection for the pilot but that pilot''s chamber looks like a heavy round from a handgun could penetrate it." Jace explained with a shrug.


    "Ah damnit, does that mean we cannot use it?" Ulin asked while pouting.


    "Ehh¡­.not necessarily we just need to bring it back with us and make modifications to turn it into a tank." Jace answered with a chuckle. "By the way these groups of boxes are broken up into sections of some type of system. Have you figured out how they were divided up yet?" Jace asked them.


    "Yeah, it is divided into weapons, foods, medical stuff, etcetera etcetera. You get the idea." Vana answered as she pointed at a few other boxes they opened in other areas.


    Jace nodded and then looked over the box with the spider-mecha in it. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the symbol indicating the country of origin. "Saint spiked on a stick. This is from the Imperium." Jace''s words caused the others to race over and see the symbol.


    "How did someone like Devan manage to get a mecha from that nation? They have their borders sealed tight. Did he smuggle them out?" Vana asked in surprise.


    "No, that is not possible. Everyone has tried sneaking into the country without any success." Tako pointed out as he let out a breath of air.


    "Then maybe someone came out with it." Everything began aligning in his mind but he did not want to make a jump to a conclusion without conclusive evidence. "Move all the things from our van onto the central elevator over there. Then move this mecha and its box over there as well." Jace told them.


    Then Jace began looking around for some more useful pieces of weaponry. Eventually finding a clipboard with a list of everything on it in the weapons section. It sped up the work several times as he moved through marking some boxes and leaving others alone.


    Five hours later they were exhausted, tired, and ready to leave.

 Chapter 117 - 117: Enter the Anvil

    The rest of them found a comfy place to sit while Jace started the elevator. It roared to life with several creaks before it began lifting. Jace then sent a message to the Anvil telling them that they were going up the elevator.


    He then sat down at the makeshift table where the other had gathered. They had pulled out the cards again. "What are we playing here?" Jace asked as he sat down. Ulin began dealing out the cards.


    "Poker, keep your aviators off. I do not want you cheating." Ulin answered, glaring at Jace who just shrugged while shaking his head.


    "Are we betting or just playing?" Jace asked as he received his hand.


    "Betting pudding cups. Jace you can front Vana a dozen." Tako answered. Causing Vana to frown.


    "Pudding cups?" Vana asked looking at Jace for an answer.


    "We have some of the tastiest pudding cups on our ship. It is a popular commodity and almost as popular to trade as smokes. So since none of us smoke we will use pudding cups as our currency. Ulin just wants to get hers back. I have an entire shelf filled with pudding cups in my room on the ship." Jace explained with a chuckle as he smiled innocently.


    "Okay then¡­" Vana then glanced at her two cards before nodding. But behind her Jace could see her tail begin to swipe side to side quickly.


    Jace bit his lip and glanced at the other two who were just as surprised. "Who is starting?"


    "I will, let''s start up slow at one cup." Ulin started and then glanced at Jace who matched it, then Tako also matched. Finally Vana raised it to five. Then the three flop cards were revealed, two of which were aces and Vana''s tail began moving side to side much quicker. Ulin matched again, so did Jace and Tako folded. Vana then raised the bet by another five. Then the turn was revealed. A king, two aces, and two were all showing on the table.


    Ulin folded this time then after some contemplation Jace folded as well. Revealing the eight and six he was holding.


    Vana raised an eyebrow and then revealed her three and nine. "Someone needs to learn how to read people again." Vana told them with a smirk.


    "You have got to be-"


    "Hahahaha!" Jace began loudly laughing. "Oh this is going to be fun!" He looked up as the creaking of the elevator began. It connected the walls and the roof was now lifting up with them. After a few more minutes the metal began creaking again as it began lifting up into the ocean and water pressure began pushing against the walls and roof.


    They played several more hands to distract themselves from the ominous creaking that they could hear as they rose. Eventually after an hour it shuddered and stopped for a moment before the roof began opening up and the elevator began lifting again. The bright shine of the morning sun shimmered off of the ocean.


    Jace whistled as he set down his cards and walked to the edge of the elevator looking out over the view. It was an incredible view and they were only a few feet above the water. The sun made the sea have a red glow to it while it also outlined a few of the buildings and islands in the distance.


    After a moment Jace memorized the image and then mentally sent the image to Salem through their connection. He could feel that for the last few days that Salem had been annoyed. Hopefully the image would help her out a bit.


    "Jace, here is our ride." Jace could hear Tako call out from behind him.


    Jace turned around just in time to see the Anvil''s camouflage drop. The bulky rectangular ship looked like a bunch of rectangles stuck together.


    The Anvil was a long rectangular shape with a rectangular at the rear for each of its main engines. Then on the top of the ship was another rectangular for its command and communications node. Finally at the front were another two rectangles coming off the bottom. They were the large hangar bays of the ship.


    The Anvil lowered and stopped so its hangar bays were level with the elevator. Then it began slowly drawing closer to the elevator until it was next to it. Jace walked up to the entrance and nodded at Nina who was coming off of the hangar.


    "Good mission boss?" Nina asked through her mental to text speech interface she had attached to her neck. The machine was the one currently making the noise.


    "A complete mission." Jace answered as Tako and Ulin both quickly walked past them and onto the ship. Jace then turned to Vana, "this is Vana, the representative from Woltar." He then turned to the boxes. "Get everything on board and have Taylor make sure everything is okay before we start using it or taking it apart. Has she sent out the new shell for Chen?"


    Nina looked over Vana as she answered. "She has just finished. We planned to drop it off with a transport ship since we are planetside. She fell asleep in her lab just a few minutes ago. What should I do with this one?" Nina nodded at Vana. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Get her a room near mine, but pick up Taylor and put her in her own room. We do not want her drooling all over expensive equipment again in her sleep." Jace answered as he shuffled and adjusted the bag that was on his shoulder.


    "Understood. By the way, the captain wanted to speak with you. Something about being an overachiever and making the Woltar intelligence community a bit too scared." Nina told him before she held out her hand to Vana. "This way if you would. Tell me, has man-whore known as Jace Steel already gotten to you." Those were the words he heard as she led Vana away, which made her blush.


    Jace walked through the hangar until he arrived at a hallway then he took some stairs and walked down another hallway. Then he arrived at the repair bay where they were working on repairing a transport ship that seemed to have scorch marks covering it. Made him wonder what had happened, but there was a good chance it was Taylor''s fault.


    Their resident mechanical genius had built a reputation of testing new weapons without giving anyone any type of warning. Jace already knew it was probably giving their new captain a headache. For the moment it was fine since they did not have anything that needed repairs from a battle. But hopefully all the toys Jace brought would distract her for a while.


    Jace eventually arrived at the elevators and took the one leading up to the bridge. It zoomed through the floors until it arrived at the command center. He walked out and quietly looked around. Most of the people were working quietly and diligently.


    But standing in front of a hologram table was Captain Hammers. He growled as he talked to his ship''s resident AI. Sitting nearby quietly was Cain whose tail slowly began wagging as Jace approached. "Fine, I just wish they would ask permission first."


    "Sir!" Jace saluted when he arrived behind Captain Hammers. Announcing his arrival on the bridge. "I heard you wanted to speak with me."


    The ship AI which had taken the form of a living flame momentarily blinked in and out of existence. A clear indicator of its amusement as Jace had learned eventually.


    The captain growled and slowly turned around. "Did you know Spectre Jace I have two very big problems aboard my ship? Or rather two people who do not conform and stay in their lane?" The captain asked as he turned around showing his blood red eyes and the scar that covered part of his chin.


    Jace hid his amusement as he stayed saulting, "I was not aware sir."


    "You can stop saluting Spectre." The captain told him. Then he took a deep breath before he continued. "The first of my issues is an overzealous shock trooper engineer that does what she wants whenever she wants and does not ask permission. Whether it is accidentally destroying one of my transport spaceships or making modifications to my Anvil."


    "Yes, well Taylor has always been quite unruly. It is why her parents forced her to join up when she was smart enough to immediately work at her family''s company." Jace pointed out while he relaxed while looking as serious as possible despite his tropical shirt.


    "She is also only one of my problems. My other problem is this annoying gnat who I cannot exert command over because he technically has a rank outside of the normal command structure." Captain Hammers growled out. "So tell me Spectre Jace, why am I annoyed?"


    "Because I would not play the political game to your liking and instead blew up a building?" Jace asked while slowly looking away.


    "Correct!" Captain Hammers yelled, "but if you knew that would make me angry then why did you do it?" This time Jace could faintly pick up the highspeed conversation between Cain and the Anvil''s AI in the background.


    But he had to ignore it as he thought of an answer, "because I am not a politician I am a soldier. If politicians want to play games they should go to other politicians. Besides, aren''t you here to deal with the fallout of when I do stuff like this?"


    Captain Hammers'' face began turning red in anger.

 Chapter 118 - 118: Anvils Captain

    After a few moments the captain began deeply breathing in and out. It continued for a moment as he adjusted himself and stepped back. All in order to calm himself before Jace made the man lose his mind.


    Captain Hammers was a loyalist for the emperor and saw the Tyranus and Union as fools who were dividing the nation. So he was by all means on Jace''s side. He was even a stellar captain who had commanded space ships in a detrimental position and came out on top. But he was also a noble and politician.


    On paper they were good counterparts. Hammers would deal with the overall tactics and politics. As well as any fallout from nobles that would occur during the duration of their mission. While Jace would be on the ground and do whatever it took to complete the mission and come up with solutions to problems that arose.


    "Jace you and your squad are by far one of the most dangerous and deadly units in the entire Vexical military and not just standard military but also out of the loyalists as well. But you are like a wild bronco that needs to be broken in." Captain Hammers momentarily let his accent slip through while he spoke.


    "Sir with all due respect." Jace began getting a glare from the captain. "I have no idea what a bronco is." Jace told the captain.


    "It is a horse. A really good but wild horse." Cain cut in to explain.


    "Oh." Jace nodded and then began thinking while the captain glared at Jace. "Then I think I understand. Well then I will-" Jace began turning around to walk away.


    "I am not done yet." Captain Hammers growled out. "In the future give us a bit more warning and time to make an AI shell. Two days was not a lot of time. I would also like more of a warning if you plan to kill a bunch of people or blow something up. It is less that you did it and more that you did not tell me you were going to do it." Captain Hammers explained.


    "Understood." Jace nodded as he turned serious, "was there anything else?"


    "Yes, you took in a representative of Woltar. Will they be a problem? Will they start nosing around?" The captain asked with a much more serious expression that was a lot less angry then the one he was sporting earlier.


    "Well yeah, that is their job. But I can keep her sufficiently distracted and focused on the mission objective rather than let her wander around. I will have her outgoing messages scanned and looked over to make sure nothing compromises the mission." Jace answered with a sigh. "Although it is a shame Lord Hoodwink is onto us. It was a gamble letting Woltar know we were in the system. Unfortunately, Patrick was already compromised. The only fortunate part about that was that Tako managed to notice it pretty quickly."


    When they had gone to the Woltar government with their request they had been weighing the pros and cons of letting them in on their overall mission. But they decided to develop a wait and see approach. They wanted to see if any of Woltar''s agents were compromised by Lord Hoodwink.


    Unfortunately it appeared they had been compromised since they did not send the three closest agents. Instead they sent the closest assassin, the closest analyst, and a new agent that by all means should not even be an agent of a secret government agency. Then after some digging on Jace''s orders, Tako discovered that there was a hypnotic block in the man''s mind.


    The same type they had found in people that Lord Hoodwink had used to force people to work for him. It usually had a safeguard that would have the hypnotized person kill themself. Instead of just knocking him out and tying him up, Jace had manipulated the Woltar Government into thinking it was a political mind game move. He even lied to Vana about it as well. The only people that knew it was because he was compromised were his squad and the captain''s bridge crew. But they were all under strict orders to keep it a secret.


    While the lie was basically reasserting the Vexical Militaries superiority and showing that the Woltar still very much needed the Vexical Empire''s help and assistance. It was very underhanded and would hopefully keep Lord Hoodwink from noticing their movements. But there was a good chance he already knew. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So she will not be a problem." Captain Hammers nodded, "okay then how about you go make sure your squad does not blow up another of my transport ships." The captain then turned around dismissing Jace.


    "Yes sir- oh!" Jace suddenly remembered something. "Can you send a message to the Echo Base? Ask them to look into similarities between the Metal Screechers and any of the technology we have found coming out of the Kaiser Imperium Krieger."


    Jace''s words caused the captain to wheel around and look at him in surprise while the conversing AI both looked at him in what Jace could only call shock. After a minute of processing Jace''s words he turned back around. "Very well. Make sure you complete your report."


    Jace nodded and walked out of the room. As he entered the elevator he found himself joined by Cain. The elevator started going down.


    "So how have things been with everyone else?" Jace asked as the elevator lowered going to the commander level where his room was located.


    "The Emperor of Vexical has completed his meeting with the High Priestess of the Victorium and a representative of their governing council. Apparently they are looking at a civil war of their own. Apparently your name came up during the discussion. You have very much made an impact on their military division." Cain explained as the cameras and surveillance devices in the elevator were disabled.


    "A good or bad impact?" Jace asked with a raised eyebrow.


    "Good, they like you because of your skill." Cain answered.


    "Okay, then what about Salem? She has been seemingly busy for the last few days. What is her new investigative group up to?" Jace asked.


    "Ehh¡­ she and her group have been jumping right into it. Apparently they found the location of a Tyranus base. They have been quietly organizing a strike team to take out the base. But it has been difficult because of the leaks in the Inquisitors she has already identified several inquisitors loyal to Tyranus along with some that are seemingly loyal to the Union."


    "Seemingly?"


    "I believe they have been misidentified and are more inquisitors loyal to Tyranus and the first prince. He really is not that discreet. How is he not dead yet?"


    Jace sighed and shook his head as they arrived at the commander residence floor. He began walking down the hall. "Because he has a very capable asset. So capable that he is actually just a puppet." Jace answered, refraining from saying any names out in the open. "So did she manage to get her strike squad?"


    "Unknown. The Inquisitor Headquarters is already falling apart in confusion since several things are happening back-to-back. The emperor has not yet revealed the existence of the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division, so they are struggling to find out where their gaps in intelligence are coming from when the emperor and several military commanders clearly know more. Then there is the fact that the emperor completely disappeared for some secret meeting they cannot locate and nor did they know about ahead of time. There is also Salem and her team who are shaking things up with their overzealous activity and interrogations. Finally there is us."


    Jace smirked as he already knew what they must have been doing. "We claim we are part of some military intelligence division that the Inquisitors do not know about and then I killed that supposed noble representative without a second thought. The nobles are probably up in arms but are being completely ignored while they are struggling to comprehend everything I am doing out here. Tell me, have they already sent out an Inquisitor Interrogation Ship?"


    "They sent one out earlier this morning. But the nobles are not just up in arms. They have angrily gathered at the capital awaiting the emperor''s return." Cain explained.


    Jace chuckled as he made his way to his room and opened the door. Letting Cain enter first. "Okay then, what about Cho? I know you specifically avoided talking about her." Jace pointed out, "are you missing your little sister?"


    Cain made an annoyed noise with his voice box as he walked to a corner of Jace''s room. "Yes I am. But she is learning more and getting stronger in the gravity rooms back at Echo Base. I still do not understand why she could not come with us."


    "Because she is basically a child. We need her in a safe place until she matures. We will drop by in a few months when we switch ships. I would not worry about it too much." Jace explained.


    "But did you think she might feel lonely without you?" Cain pointed out and then quietly whispered, "and me?"


    "I did and hopefully Director Fenrir is torturing the students at the new academy with Cho''s existence." Jace explained cheerfully with a chuckle. He collapsed onto his bed as he prepared for a few hours of sleep.

 Chapter 119 - 119: Tyranus Moon Base

    "We are entering the moon''s orbit now." Someone called from the cockpit. Salem was seated in the back with the others. Her small squad of five which had trained with Director Fenrir back at the Echo System. They were all wearing basic Infantry armors at the moment.


    After she left the Echo System she reached out to her Union contact and told him about her disappearance and made a partial report about what she found. Then she dived into her Inquisitor work and gave some tips to the Union when they were getting close to finding a Union cell or base.


    Now after a few days of quiet work she had gotten approval to move on a Tyranus base without giving it away. Since she had arrived at Inquisitor Headquarters she had met pressure from all sides but ignored it and instead had arrested at least one of her fellow Inquisitors when one of the Tyranus bases she found ended up empty.


    She had very quickly become one of the most hated people among her fellow Inquisitors but that was the point of being sent here. She made enemies and now she knew clearly who was supporting the enemy openly and who she could turn to for help. Which is how she found her way to politically maneuver them to secretly attack a Tyranus base.


    "This should do wonders for your stress, boss lady." One of the others told her. His name was Argon, he had grown up on Kamot and was usually under the command of Dakota''s daughter. As the transport ship shuddered. "How are the other landing ship''s doing?" He asked towards the cockpit.


    "They are scattered around us. It seems like their operations commander clearly did not plan this well. But it does seem like they are avoiding us for some reason." The pilot told them.


    Salem sighed as she realized what was going on, "take evasive maneuvers. Command is trying to single us out. When you land you will probably want to stay on the ground until we clear the area."


    "Seriously, we have only been at it for a week. Are we annoying them so bad that they are giving up a base just to try and kill us?" Another of them, JC asked with laughter as he buckled into his seat.


    "Probably, but they will still suffer a backlash from this. I will highlight the clear political maneuvering during a military operation and have them imprisoned or demoted." Salem declared as she moved to look through the window while holding onto a handhold.


    She watched as they neared the location of the moon base she had located. They started firing cannons and surface to air rockets. As the base started appearing she could see most of them flying in their direction.


    The pilot pitched the nose down and dived under the wave of explosives. "They really only aimed for us." The pilot leveled off once they were closer to the sandy dunes of the moon''s surface. "Hopefully we do not get by any small arms."


    They rounded another dune and the entrance to the base came into view. The external security consisted of turrets, some very obvious mines and people in infantry armor that were exiting taking cover behind small walls. One of the turrets fired a rocket and the ship veered to the side.


    The ship shuddered and shook under the explosive impact as it shuddered. Salem just tightened her grip as the transport spun out about to crash. Then there was bouncing and shuddering as they crashed into the ground. The front window cracking and shattering releasing the air into space since the moon was lacking any atmosphere.


    Once the ship stopped rocking Salem walked forward into the pilot''s section. She checked the pilots and confirmed they were okay. Both were alive but the pilot was unconscious while the co-pilot was delirious. She then walked to the back where the others were beginning to climb out of their seats and grabbing their weapons.


    She walked to a weapons rack and pulled her shotgun off a shelf, double checking it to make sure there was no damage. "JC and Angel, you lead the way. Watch for mines as we move." She then walked to the back ramp and hit a button and slammed open.


    The rear ramp was not directly pointing at the base but it was aimed somewhat in the base''s direction. So when they walked down the ramp they had a clear line of sight of base. JC and Angel led the way out, quickly jogging towards the Tyranus base while brandishing their weapons.


    Argon and Lee were a second behind them with their sniper and submachine gun respectively. Salem walked behind them as they laid down covering fire while quickly covering the distance to the base.


    As soon as they arrived at the base they could see the injured and dead traitors that JC and Angel had shot. The injured were slowly dying now that their Infantry armor had been compromised and they were exposed to space.


    Salem looked over the armor and realized it was a mix of mercenary armor while some of the better Infantry armor had nobility regalia. Indicating that they were the children of nobles or nobles themselves. It was an older tradition that many of the Inquisitors still did.


    "Nobles and mercenaries, they will not stand a chance." Lee chuckled out over their communication channel. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Salem rolled her eyes as she opened the exterior door for the airlock. "Do not get overconfident." She entered the airlock and looked through the clear airlock door and saw several more Tyranus soldiers running over. "Put explosives in the airlock." She then stepped out and the others stepped back as Lee tossed a chain of grenades in the airlock and closed the exterior door.


    BOOM! WHOOSH!


    A few seconds passed before a loud explosion threw the external door out into the sandy dunes. Then the air from the base began decompressing as a few bodies were pulled out. As they flew past her squad there were a few gunshots as they made sure all of them were dead.


    "Argon, check the hole." Salem instructed as they pointed their guns at the entrance. Salem glanced in the air and saw that there were several ships still in the air. They were landing farther away because they were avoiding the anti-ship weapons.


    "I see five people left in the hall. All nobles. Seems their armor saved them from the explosion and decompression." Argon declared from his spot peaking around the corner.


    Salem nodded and then picked up one of the corpses with infantry armor in one hand. In her other hand she held the shotgun and marched into the hole where the airlock once was. Using the corpse as a shield as the nobles'' weapons began bouncing off the armor.


    It continued like that for a few seconds before she reached the closest noble in Infantry armor. His armor was severely damaged and when she tossed the corpse aside and pulled him by a collar in front of her he immediately began panicking and making motions with his hands. But his allies ignored him as their weapons began penetrating and breaching his armor, killing him.


    Salem raised her shotgun and aimed it at the next closest noble and fired. There was an explosion of blood as his arm went flying through the air. While he began making panicking motions as well with his arm spewing blood from it. Salem ignored him and turned her attention to the last three down the hall. The one furthest back turned and began running down the hall.


    There was a racing object that passed by her helmet and penetrated their helmet. Causing it to explode in a bloody mess covering part of the hall. Argon probably fired his sniper rifle to kill the running noble.


    The last two moved forward quickly firing their weapons while ignoring their injured and likely dying friend. Once they were closer Salem threw the body she was using a shield at one of them while she quickly pumped her shotgun and dashed forwards so she was point blank with the last one.


    Her shotgun fired and the man''s torso disappeared in a bloody and chunky explosion that covered her and the last noble who had pushed aside the body. She pumped the shotgun again and then aimed at the head of the last one who was wiping blood off of their visor. As they cleared it enough that they could see and then flinched when they saw her pointing her gun at him.


    Then she fired and blood and brain matter covered the wall. Then the body fell to the ground and she turned to look down the hall as the rest of her squad joined her.


    "Was that enough? Or do you need to kill some more people?" Lee asked as they started walking down the hall with him taking the lead and Salem walking right behind him.


    Salem chuckled, "that was therapeutic enough. How is our little spy doing?"


    "Good, she has recorded the conversation and the captain''s orders highlighting how his plans were an attempt to kill us." Argon explained.


    Salem sighed as she started making her way down the hall. It was a shame she had enemies on all sides. But she was sent to the Inquisitors to root out all of the traitors she could and that was what she was doing.

 Chapter 120 - 120: Opposition on All Sides

    They moved to the door to the command center. They had quickly made their way here first. It would be the place to collect confidential information or any secrets the Tyranus were trying to keep.


    Salem was on one side of the door while Lee took the other side. "Minimize damage to any computers or other devices. We want to collect as much information as possible." Salem instructed as she placed a breeching device on the door.


    There were several dings as her squad acknowledged her orders. Angel took up a spot next to her with a disorientation grenade in hand. The others took up their breeching positions.


    BANG!


    The door flew inwards into the command room and was followed up by Angel tossing in the disorientation grenade. As the grenade went in there were sparks and gunfire as bullets bounced off the doorframe and went down the empty hallway that they had come from.


    BOOM!


    There was a flash from the room and Salem turned the corner and dashed into the room. Inside were several computer stations and control panels around the room. Then there were a few people in lighter Infantry armor models. All six of them were moving around disoriented.


    Salem moved quickly to the one furthest back and pulled out her knife. She kicked the legs out from under him and then slit the throat of the next closest one causing the suit to begin to depressurize while she pinned the one she had picked out as the commander to the ground.


    The rest of her squad moved in and killed the lower level officers while taking two other officers that had indicators showing them as higher level officers. Salem and the rest bound the officers and pushed them into a corner so Lee and Angel could watch them.


    "Argon, get set up and watch the door and hall. JC, start going through any local files. I will call it in and have the ships in orbit refrain from firing on the facility while I disable the weapons that are firing on the space ships." Salem informed them as she set her shotgun within grabbing range while quickly accessing the terminal.


    "Command this Inquisitor Salem, my squad has secured the Tyranus base''s command center. I am turning off the defense systems but there are hundreds of occupants." Salem sent the message and a moment later she noticed on the systems one of the ship''s beginning to make a deviation. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Inquisitor Salem, this is Command. We are ceasing fire on the facility and moving in our troops. Apparently there was a miscommunication on one of the captain''s parts resulting in your team heading in ahead of time as well as a strange flight pattern." Command informed her.


    "Understood, arrest the captain for now and I will investigate after we are done here." Salem answered, realizing a specific person was being turned into a scapegoat. There was a shaking as the spaceship that deviated fired on the base. "Command we are being fired on, disable the ship that is doing it."


    There was movement from the other ships as ship to ship fire was exchanged and the explosions could be seen. "The traitor ship has been disabled Inquisitor Salem. Do you want us to destroy it?" Command asked over the communication channel.


    "Negative, seize control of the vessel. We will sort out the traitors later." Salem instructed them as she found a load of private communications that were partially erased. It appeared that they had failed to erase all evidence. They probably had someone that was subpar in handling their digital trail.


    Thanks to what she learned from Director Fenrir she was able to easily reverse what they had tried to erase. It was a treasure trove of information. Including communications with several of the officers that were on the ship''s above their heads.


    "We have contacts. They are in Infantry Armor with armbands indicating they are from the strike force." Argon called out from behind her.


    "JC, have you backed up all of the files?" Salem asked as she began doing the same with all external files as well as all the communication records. They had to do this in case their fellow members of the strike force were secretly members of the Tyranus.


    "Just finished. What are we doing about those four?" Salem looked over to see him pointing at the four Tyranus officers they had captured.


    "We are taking them back with us. Since we are just about done here we will head back out once the others start taking over the base." Salem answered. "I will call for a pick up when we are closer to an external door."


    A few moments later as they were finishing is when the other unit of ten came into the room. "Hey you are the Inquisitors right? Did you find anything useful?" The leader asked.


    "Even if we did it would be none of your business." Salem answered.


    The other unit immediately readied their weapons when their leader pointed his sidearm at Salem''s head. "Let''s try this again, tell me everything you found or I will kill you in the most painful way possible. How about that? Is it my business now?" The man asked smuggly.


    Salem began chuckling as she focused her mind. "It is not very nice or respectful. But I can change that." The leader''s handgun began shaking as it started turning along with his hand. While the rest of her squad pulled out knives and stabbed into their armor, puncturing it and killing them while they were frozen in place.


    "What! What are you doing to me?" The man yelled before the barrel of the gun turned to his head.


    "Killing you of course," Salem answered.


    BANG!


    Salem then crouched over the body and looked over the armor to find out which ship they were from. "Come on, we have to go get a pick up. This unit was from one of the other ship''s that did not turn traitor."


    "Meaning we might run into more if we stick around." Argon asked, already knowing the answer.


    "More than likely. Have our spy organize a safe pickup at the location we were shot down at." Salem told him. "I will lead, then Angel behind me, then the prisoners, then JC behind the prisoners, then Argon and Lee at the back."


    Salem began making her way down the hall. She was taking routes that would avoid pockets of people and fighting. She did the same thing when they were going to the Tyranus Base''s command center. Unfortunately it was not as easily done this time around.


    They arrived at the entrance they came in from but there were a group of soldiers guarding it as they walked up. The leader of them stood at attention moving out from behind their barricades and the cover they had set up.


    "Inquisitor Salem, I was told to expect you. My commanders also ordered me to immediately report your presence but I felt it best to wait for your orders." The leader of these troops reported as he saluted.


    "If those were all the orders they gave you then it probably saved your life to not report to them. Did anyone come to pick up our pilots?" Salem asked as she stood to the side as the prisoners were escorted to outside the facility.


    "Yes, there is a medical team and ship out there. What do you want me to do about reporting to my commanders?" The soldier asked.


    "Don''t, as far as you and your team are concerned, you never saw us." Salem told him with a chuckle. "Keep watch until the order to pull out is given." She then joined her squad outside.


    Outside there was a transport ship landed nearby in an area where all the mines had been clearly set off from the scorched and glassed sand that was around. The medical team the unit from before had mentioned were moving some injured soldiers into a ship.


    Salem walked up to the leader of the unit, "you got room for nine more?"


    "Actually yes, someone told us to expect you and to not report your presence to command when you do arrive." The medical leader told them as she looked them over. "Inquisitor Salem we also found your pilots that flew you in. Would you like to know your pilot''s condition?" She asked as they began boarding, taking the greeting as an invitation.


    "I would indeed. I saw that one of them was unconscious when we disembarked." Salem responded as she joined her squad and the prisoners on the transport. They had four other people who were not members of the medical team on board. Two of them were their pilots while the other two were Infantry soldiers whose armor had been breached but had been given first aid and immediate treatment so their compromised armor did not kill them.


    "One of them just has a concussion. That was your unconscious pilot. Your other pilot has a broken arm and some minor internal bleeding that will likely be fixed by their system within the hour." The medical officer informed them as she boarded the ship last. "I did take a look at the crash site when we pulled them out. I am surprised the rest of you were fine enough to complete your mission despite the severity of the crash."


    Salem shrugged in response, "we are just really durable."

 Chapter 121 - 121: Reporting Tyranus Base Results

    Salem disembarked and watched the hangar crew blink in surprise as they escorted the prisoners off the medical transport. "Argon, Angel, Lee, take the prisoners to the brig and stay with them. Unless I personally come down there no one is allowed to see, talk, or move them. JC, you are with me. We are going to report to Meyer and send all the data we collected. Then we are getting permission to skewer all of the commanders that tried to kill us." Salem ordered without taking her helmet off. She got several beeps in confirmation and acknowledgement.


    She walked to the hallway and quickly made her way to the area her and her Inquisitor Unit had been given for private use. She tapped on the keypad a few times and quickly discovered that someone had tried to access the room while they were away. But the tricks she learned from Jace regarding technology security helped out a lot.


    She opened the door and took a look around the entrance before walking in. Just because she was confident in her technology security did not mean there could be someone better. "Someone tried to access the room. Look around and make sure everything is still locked up tight." Salem told JC as she closed and sealed the door after he entered.


    "Understood. I will look around the room." JC responded before moving around the room.


    "Or I can just jump to the conclusion for you." The holotable they had in the center of the room started up. A hologram of a little chibi of a ninja, it hopped down out of nonexistence. "Nobody managed to infiltrate the room. They started their attempt immediately after you left but stopped pretty quickly when their technicians said it was impossible."


    "Okay, then can you connect me with Meyer. I am going to need some assistance in sorting out all the bad seeds. I have names and lists of several commanders that are in the fleet sent for the strike." Salem told the AI that was assigned to secretly assist her squad.


    Solisa had worked with a research and development team to create this AI and several others who were secretly assisting the loyalist side of the cold civil war. This also included the Anvil''s ship AI. It was one of the many projects she had been intensely interested in.


    "Understood, making long range communication without alerting the main communication channel. This will take a moment¡­. I have made the connection. I am just waiting for her to answer." The Ninja AI told them as its holographic image began doing flips and parkouring off of items it materialized.


    Salem nodded and started making her way through the data and communication logs she collected. Making organized notes as she looked through them. She would leave the logs and data untainted so it could be used as evidence later. Her notes would be used to pick out which pieces of evidence could be used against who.


    "Remember to make the list into three sections-"


    "Hard evidence, suspicious, and not suspicious. I know." JC cut her off as he began booting up his own station to work at. "I will also keep the original data to use as conclusive evidence."


    "I am connecting to Head Imperial Inquisitor Meyer now." The ninja Chibi announced. Her avatar changed into the symbol used by Inquisitors.


    A few moments later the hologram of Inquisitor Meyer appeared. "Inquisitor Salem, according to Commander Innu you are dead. Apparently making false reports is also on his list of crimes."


    "Yes it is ma''am. My team has captured four of the commanders in charge of the Tyranus base. We have also retrieved a large amount of data that they failed to erase. I have only gotten through a quarter of the data but I have seen the names of several higher level Inquisitors and Military Commanders. I wanted to request a full Imperial Trial Fleet to be mobilized so we could try them." Salem saluted after she finished speaking, fully aware that her boss could see a hologram of her like she was seeing of her boss. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meyer raised an eyebrow, "A full Imperial Trial Fleet? That has not been mobilized since the Vexical Empire was formed. It was the main component that helped form the Vexical Empire after the Grand Hexarian Empire fell and a deterrent for other nations." Meyer took a breath for a moment before speaking again, "When the emperor returns in a few days I will make the request but there has to be a clear reason for the emperor to make a move himself."


    "Understood, I will make a list of names from all of this data and highlight the higher ranking Inquisitors and Military Commanders. I will also personally interview and then interrogate the Noble Tyranus Commanders we have captured." Salem declared.


    "Have both a digital record and a transcript sent to me of the interview and follow-up interrogation. You have my permission to use enhanced interrogation if you think you have a need for it." Meyer informed her. "How did your squad operate for this first operation?"


    "Good, we were quick and precise. Even had another unit from the strike squad try and kill us. It was a very expected experience." Salem answered with a chuckle. "I will have all members of my unit make a report and then we will send it to you by tomorrow."


    "Then that is all, I must say you have made a mess with all of the gaps within the Inquisitors you have created. But it has made it easier to seize control of the organization." Meyer told her.


    "Thank you, I have just been doing my part." Salem answered.


    "No, what you were supposed to do was operate undercover and slowly discover the traitors in the military and Inquisitors. Instead you are a stellar Inquisitor that has basically been neutering the Tyranus organization by identifying members within the government." Meyer sighed, "you have completely thrown our plan out the window. Fortunately for you it appears the emperor has taken a liking to what you are doing."


    A moment later the call ended. Salem sighed and moved back to her workstation. While ninja AI appeared again, this time hanging upside down from a rope from a nonexistent roof. JC glanced over from his own workstation.


    "Why did we change our plan?" JC asked.


    "Because I learned from Jace that he encountered an Inquisitor that was abusing his power to rape women. After looking into it a bit I realized he was not the only one and it was only going to get worse. So I decided to go after their support system which just happened to be Tyranus." Salem answered honestly.


    "Statistics show that there is a higher percentage of rape and being taken advantage of when there is more discontent among the higher ranks and superiors like there are. And likely will increase in the future." The Ninja AI jumped in, "by the way, I have been observing the Net while I am not busy. It appears you are getting placed on a pedestal by a few and it is only increasing as more people are in awe of your feats."


    Salem frowned at that. That was not good. Hopefully it will die down before it becomes a problem. Salem turned back to her work fully aware that her subordinate and the Ninja AI were both already placing her on a pedestal just as much as those other people probably were.


    As she dove into her work she suddenly felt something push into her mind. She stopped and stretched her neck as she closed her eyes. It was a beautiful sunrise that reflected off the ocean with the silhouettes of buildings in the background. It was a breath of fresh air compared to her own temporary living quarters aboard this ship.


    "Using the information you are putting in I can label which of the captains and commanders can be trusted. Then we can start sending others to start rounding them up. By others I mean soldiers and unit leaders who are trustworthy." The Ninja AI declared as they pulled up the actual data and plans they had created.


    Salem sighed and thought for a moment, "Make a list but refrain from doing anything. We will wait until the Imperial Trial Fleet arrives before we do anything. Did the others arrive at the brig alright?"


    "Hmm?" The Ninja AI pulled up cameras of the brig section of the ship. "They arrived just fine. The ship captain has already sent someone to try to get possession of the prisoners but Argon already sent them off. Now he is personally coming this way to talk to you. He is coming with an armed escort."


    Almost as if on cue there was a beeping from the door. Salem walked over and pushed a button, "Yes captain? How can I help you today?" Salem asked through the speaker system.


    "Inquisitor Salem, we have to talk about you and your subordinates'' insubordination." The captain somehow sounded angry over the speaker system.


    "Insubordination? If you think what we are doing is insubordination then you have not been around a proper Inquisitor in awhile. Because I read the rule book, I am doing all that I am allowed to do. Now I suggest you go back to what you are supposed to do and command your ship." Salem responded before hanging up. She walked back to her workstation. "Now what are they doing?"


    "The captain is screaming while red in the face. His subordinates are uncomfortable while some are clearly losing confidence in him as a captain." The Ninja AI explained.


    "Good, tell me if he tries to cut open the door or tries to force access to the prisoners. We do not need your digital help for much else at the moment." Salem explained before going back to her work.

 Chapter 122 - 122: Hoodwink Asteroid Briefing

    Jace stood in the situation room with a stoic expression as he put his final touches on the plan. The situation room was a large room with a holotable on a lowered area and seats on raised areas around it. It was the room where any attack plans were determined if there was a plan ahead of time.


    The Anvil had arrived near the asteroid at the edge of the Artemis System. It was one of the points in which they assumed Lord Hoodwink had a lab because Devan was delivering goods for him there. So in following his trail they would raid this hidden lab while another unit scouted out the facility located within the Leonair territory.


    They had started getting preliminary scans from this distance so they could start making plans. The plans were for their entrance into the facility. Since they were mostly going in blind they got a long range scan and learned that the facility had several airlocks and a single hangar entrance. They were not able to get any internal scans of the structure so they would be essentially improvising the whole time once they were inside with a single objective in mind.


    Their single objective would be either to locate and kill Lord Hoodwink. But since it was likely that he was not here the alternate objective would be to find the central control console which controls everything inside of the hidden lab. Either way they would be searching the facility from top to bottom to find everything they could.


    Jace smiled somewhat nervously when his audience arrived. It was not the first time he had been the center of one of these planning meetings. But it always bothered him to have an additional audience. There were the five members of his squad, the four pilots he requested for two different transport ships. Then there was the additional audience who would be staying aboard the ship, Captain Hammers, Cain, Anvil''s AI, and Agent Vana. Usually when the briefing was not classified other commanders, flight captains, and unit leaders could listen in on the briefing. But since this briefing was classified because of the nature of the foe it was a sealed meeting so they could not have any onlookers.


    "Welcome to our briefing regarding the raid on Hoodwink''s Hidden Lab." Jace started the presentation with a sigh. "All we know is that Lord Hoodwink has a facility here that we suspect is one of his labs. Back on Nymph we learned the smuggler called Devan moved things for Lord Hoodwink to three locations. The Vexical communication station, which is how he came on our radar in the first place. A location near the Leonair and Woltar border where the Leonair have been willingly working with Lord Hoodwink. The last of the locations we learned was in the system so we are going to it in order to hopefully find a lead on his current location."


    "This will be a hostile infiltration into an unknown environment. We will be going in the New Infantry Armor types equipped with a jetpack rated for space. Equip your weapons for close range combat in the equivalent of a space station. We will also be divided into teams of three. Myself, Ulin, and Charlie. While Nina will be taking Hielo, and Tako. Each team will be taking a different entrance into the asteroid as well as a different transport ship. One of the teams will be going to the hangar while the other will be entering¡­" Jace moved the hologram of the asteroid around and highlighted an airlock that was on the top of the asteroid. "Through an airlock on the other side of the asteroid."


    "Once inside we will make our way through the asteroid''s interior. We will be focusing on finding main facility functions so we can take control of the place. If we determine that Lord Hoodwink is onsite we will prioritize his capture or death instead. But we also have a secondary objective of retrieving any and all research data that we find. Myself and Hielo will be the ones doing the retrieving and determining if any experimental technology can be handled. The objective might change depending on the interior but in the event of a communication failure it will be up to the team leader to determine the course of action."


    Jace sighed as he took a breath of air. "Now as for the transport ships, you will not be landing in or docking to the facility. Instead you will move a distance from the asteroid but stay hidden nearby after you drop off your passengers. Now are there any questions?"


    There were a few minutes of quiet whispering as the pilots whispered among themselves while his own squad whispered to each other as well. It was normal for a briefing like this so everyone could get on the same page. The same was true of having a back and forth during the question phase because it would help people understand the plan better or in some cases make adjustments to make the plan better.


    The first to raise their hand was Taylor Hielo, the only other technology expert in his squad. Unlike the others she had not conversed with the others during the few minutes. Instead she had become bored with what was going on. He knew she was listening and understood his briefing, but he also knew her personality. Which was why he was the slightest bit suprised by her question. "Can I just not go? I have enough work as it is."


    "Taylor," Jace still sighed and shook his head, "I have seen your workload. I know for a fact you could already be done with it if you were not focused on your personal projects."


    Taylor looked away and clicked her tongue loudly. The rest of his squad began chuckling in amusement while he rolled his eyes. Nearby one of the pilots raised their hands and Jace nodded at him indicating for him to speak.


    "Do you want us to wait in a specific area or just nearby where we dropped off our respective teams? How far are we dropping off our teams from their entrance points?" The pilot asked as the other pilots were completely focused on Jace with data pads out, ready to enter their notes.


    Jace manipulated the hologram and it shrunk the asteroid and caused several other asteroids of smaller size to appear around it. "It is not sitting alone in space. There are several smaller asteroids located nearby. You will do a flyby and drop off your teams before going to an asteroid you pick out ahead of time with your team. You can find your specific team in the hardcopy briefings that I sent you."


    Another pilot raised their hand and Jace waved at him, "why are we waiting nearby instead of returning to the Anvil?"


    "Because there is a chance there is a jamming signal in the base. In the event that there is, we will need you nearby to do a short range transmission burst." Jace answered honestly while getting looks of understanding from the pilots.


    He looked over at the listeners again and saw Vana raise her hand, "how do you know if you have found Lord Hoodwink?" She probably waited until now to ask her question because she wanted to see if the others were done asking more relevant questions.


    Jace raised a finger and then started typing on the console until the hologram image of Lord Hoodwink''s hooded figure with skeletal-like hands appeared. "We do not know his actual appearance but we know that we could ascertain it if we saw him. As well as the fact that he is prideful enough that he will not hide himself amongst a crowd."


    "He will not hide among a crowd but he uses the underworld to accomplish his goals?" Vana asked in response with an obvious and understandable level of confusion.


    Jace just shrugged, "he is a noble. They are usually insane." Jace responded honestly.


    "Hey!" Captain Hammers yelled at Jace.


    Jace chuckled, "okay, are there any other questions?"


    "Yeah," Nina raised her own hand, "you said submachine guns and shotguns for our primary weapons. But can we bring any type of grenade we want as well as weapons for hand to hand combat." Her external voice box is doing the speaking for her in a robotic voice.


    Jace nodded, "yeah, just use your head. I do not want to scrape my squad off of a wall because they blew themselves up." Jace then did another look around and seeing there were no more questions he nodded again. "Then you are dismissed, this briefing is over. Go get ready, we leave in an hour." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Jace began removing the data he used for his presentation from the table, Captain Hammers and Vana walked up. "Jace your squad are using the helmet cameras correct?" The Captain asked while Vana was looking between them.


    Jace nodded, "Yes sir. It is part of the hardcopy briefing but I will remind my teams so there are no issues." Jace guessed the captain''s concerns easily enough and the captain nodded in response.


    Vana on the other hand slightly raised her hand, "why am I not coming with your squad?"


    "Because it would be a detriment and would mess with squad cohesion, not to mention we do not have military grade armor that would fit you." Jace shrugged and waved a hand at her fluffy ears.


    Vana rolled her eyes and then looked at the captain, "I will at least be allowed to watch the helmet cameras, correct?"


    Captain Hammers blinked for a moment before nodding, "of course. It will also help you understand the kind of monster we are hunting if this is a lab of his."

 Chapter 123 - 123: Entering the Asteroid

    "Helmet cameras on," Jace told his squad after he put on his helmet and turned it on. Unlike the shock troopers and other Spectres their new armor was all black. Just to mirror the fact they were doing covert operations in a foreign territory. There were no marks indicating who they were.


    He looked around for a moment as his heads up display had the status of all his squad labeled as uninjured. While his own body outline was in the corner and indicated no damage on any parts of his armor. He moved around his limbs for a moment and frowned at the feeling and then looked over at Nina who was moving around similarly.


    "It always annoys me that these armors can''t keep up with us Spectres." Jace noted through the shared communication channel.


    "Agreed, I wish they would finish our specially made armors already." Nina agreed while the others groaned and grumbled.


    "You know you Spectres are freaks of nature. I mean the nano system barely considers you human at all." Charlie pointed out as she was fixing specially made armor so her missing arm could be replaceable in the field. At the moment she was sporting an external plasma shield component in her arm.


    Jace shook his head as he stepped forward and started arming himself. He pulled out a Pyre and placed it in his holster as he checked it over for damage. He grabbed four additional magazines and placed them on his person in various pockets. He then pulled out the Spectre Combat Knife, he had one down on Nymph as well but he had to return it along with the rest of the equipment.


    The Spectre Combat Knife was different from normal knives because its edge was made of a stable lava material that was sharpened to an edge. It cout through almost anything but the tradeoff was its weight which was not an issue for either Nina nor Jace. Nina had two smaller ones instead of the standard single one like Jace had.


    Then Jace grabbed two smoke grenades, three door breaching charges, and a block of High Explosive Putty. As Jace was putting them away on his person he received a strange look from Tako who was holding a few EMP grenades.


    "Boss? You are not going to take any EMP grenades?" Tako asked in surprise while the rest of the squad began laughing and Tako made a motion like he was about to hit his face in embarrassment. "Nevermind, I realized how stupid of a question it was as soon as I asked."


    Jace turned back to the equipment table and pulled up a Spitfire Submachine gun from its place on a rack. He started adding components to it like a stock and a vertical grip. Then after looking over everything he grabbed five magazines and placed them on his person as well. Then after confirming he had all of his more violent equipment he went over and started grabbing the utility equipment he would need.


    Once he was done he did a walkaround looking at his squad''s loadouts and trying to catch any errors. He stopped behind Charlie and tapped the grenades that were hanging off the back of her waist. "The jetpack will set those off and then turn you into less than half a person. I suggest you find another place for those."


    "Ah! Um¡­ yeah, my bad." Charlie reached back and began moving the grenades to a different position while Jace continued his walk around. He did not adjust anything else. But he did observe that they really took liberty with his nonchalant comment about melee weaponry.


    "Okay, get in your ships. Good luck Nina!" Jace called out as he walked over toward his ship. The pilots were doing their preflight checks since they had the time. Once he was aboard he looked back and waved Ulin and Charlie on to the ship while he looked at the other team as they boarded their ship. Then he closed the rear ramp. "We are good back here." Jace called up to the pilots.


    Then helped Ulin put on her Jetpack attachment while Charlie put on his Jetpack attachment. After a minute the ship shuddered as it took off. Then Jace put on Charlie''s while Ulin checked Charlie''s work. Then Ulin checked Charlie''s pack and afterwards Charlie checked Ulin''s. Once they were done they stood by the rear ramp with their gear ready. Waiting for the pilot to give them a signal.


    For this mission he had chosen to take the harder of the two entrances. That was to say he and his team would be going in through the airlock located near what he considered the top of the facility.


    After a few minutes is when they finally received their notice from the pilot over the radio. "We are closing in on your point of entrance. Open the ramp." Jace did as the pilot asked and opened the rear ramp. They had a view of the asteroids and floating rocks passing them by in the pitch black of space. Then the ship began slowing down, "Go-go-go!" The pilot called out and Jace led the way by jumping off the ramp using his jetpack to propel himself in the atmosphere less and gravityless void of space.


    He floated to the point which he had programmed as their current objective on their heads up display. He landed with a thud on the rocky exterior right next to the metal airlock. He looked over to see Ulin and Charlie land similarly around the airlock. He then crouched down and wiped away the dust from the airlock controls. Then he pulled out his hacking device and attached it to the terminal.


    "Team One has arrived at the airlock." Jace called over the communication channel. "Are Anvil and our transports still picking up our transmissions?" He started hacking through the digital interface of the airlock.


    "This is Anvil, your transmission and live helmet footage is still coming through. Team Two has arrived at the hangar and are about to gain access." Jace heard Captain Hammers'' voice through the transmission.


    "This is AV-03. We are still receiving signals and are on our way to our preplanned point." Another pilot told them, it sounded like Team Two''s pilot.


    "This is AV-08. We are still receiving and are already at our destination point." That was Jace''s team''s pilot as he recognized the voice.


    "This is Team Two, we are here but it will take a few minutes to decompress the interior so we can enter." Nina responded in her default robotic voice.


    Jace nodded as he finally gained access and began decompressing the airlock so they could enter. They waited a minute before there was a ding and they could enter. Ulin dropped in first, then Charlie and Jace disconnected his hacking device before jumping in the airlock with them. He then connected his hacking device to the terminal interface inside of the airlock.


    This time it did not take as much time to hack into the interface. Once he had he closed the external airlock and began the compression process. As it occurred he looked through what other systems he could access but found that all systems were on their own sealed systems.


    Which meant he could access another part of the base from any terminal. He would have to find the master terminal in order to gain master access to all of the systems. It was a good way to keep out hackers but it had its pitfalls. Like doing so meant a delayed action or reaction.


    Then once the airlock finished its process he opened the other door. It slid open in two directions after the locking mechanisms spun around for a moment. Ulin and Charlie dropped to the floor with a thud landing on their feet. While they raised their weapons in opposite directions of the hall. Ulin had a Scatterflame Shotgun and Charlie had a Spitfire Submachine gun.


    Meanwhile Jace used a burst of his jetpack to float and pull out his hacking device before dropping to the ground. He looked down the two direction hallway for a moment confirming their safety before he crouched down and touched the floor.


    In his mind appeared a complex maze of rooms and halls. With the larger rooms being towards the center and the power for the facility coming from a room near there. But there were also blindspots generated in his blueprint of the facility.


    He transferred the blueprint to a device and then sent it to Team Two and Anvil after a moment. "Anvil and Team Two are you still receiving our signal?" Jace asked over the transmission.


    "Team Two hears you loud and clear." Nina responded a moment later. "Are there hidden sections in the map?"


    "Affirmative." Jace responded, "AVs Eight and Three are you still receiving our signal?"


    "Affirmative. Anvil is still receiving grainy footage from helmet cameras but can no longer seem to get a transmission through to you." One of the pilots responded. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Understood. We are beginning our operation." Jace responded while he focused on the map in his mind and found the quickest route to one of those central rooms. He then stood up from his crouched position and began making his way down one part of the white hallway.

 Chapter 124 - 124: Clockwork Chaos

    The white hallway was a bright white when the lights were on but not all of them were on. As soon as they walked a certain distance another light turned on while the ones behind them turned off. Which meant they were motion sensitive. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That could also mean the alarms could be motion sensitive and they could have already set them off. There was a good chance that whatever occupants were here were aware of their presence.


    The first room they arrived at had a clear blindspot when he was looking at the hologram so he would know what that spot was now. But as they entered the pitch black room the door slammed behind them. The lights did not turn on which kept them in the dark.


    "Switching on nightvision." Jace told the others and the room lit up in a dark green hue which allowed him to make out the room. He could see on the far wall across from him where the blindspot was located. It was an indentation in the wall that covered the lower part. It was staticky like the night vision could not see past it. After a few moments he saw something quickly run out from the static.


    He stepped forward and quickly kicked the fast moving object to the side.


    CRUNCH!


    Jace felt a sickening crushing of bones under his foot as the object sped to one of the walls and slammed into it. Leaving behind a liquid substance as it fell to the ground. "Contact." Jace told the others before he looked back at the grainy section of the room.


    They raised their weapons as Jace slowly side stepped to the creature he killed with a kick while pointing his weapon at the grainy section he was seeing of the room.


    Once he was by the creature he crouched down and took a closer look at it. It was a four-legged creature. Appeared to be a canine at some point in its life. But most of its body had been replaced with metallic parts while its organic body had begun the process of decaying. "These are hybrid organic-clockwork creatures. This is definitely Hoodwink''s work. Stay on edge there might be more of them." Jace told them.


    Then as he stood up there were flashes of movement as more came running out. He could see the others began firing their weapons. As six shadows dashed towards them. Jace quickly adjusted his aim and fired at the five shadows that were coming straight at him.


    One of them rolled and fell over itself as liquid plattered on the ground when his bullets removed its head from existence. Its lifeless body fell to the ground. Jace turned to fire at the next one but it was already on him.


    It bit into his left arm with no success but before Jace could kill it with his Spitfire it was pulled from his right hand when something grabbed it, probably with its teeth. He could tell because he could make out the grinding noise as it tried to break it with its teeth. But it was having no success because the materials of the gun were not so easily damaged.


    Jace stopped focusing on it as he had three other shadows that were more focused on him. He could make out the red electronic eyes of the one on his arm. He pulled his knife out of its sheath and stabbed at its head.


    PING!


    His knife bounced off its reinforced skull for a moment and Jace blinked in surprise but switched the angle going in from between where its jaw would meet the skull. It slid in perfectly and the light left the creature''s eyes. Its grip on his arm loosened and it fell to the ground.


    Jace then turned his attention to the other two who were circling him. While the last one was trying its best to bite into his gun to destroy it or even cause damage. Which was an usual way for them to act if they were originally canines.


    One of the two circling canines jumped at him. Jace dodged to the side and grabbed it by the tail as it passed him by. While he grunted in surprise as the other one hit him in the back causing him to lose his grip on the other one''s tail.


    They went back to circling Jace while Jace took a moment to glance at his companions who were almost done with the last two of their six foes. The clockwork canines tried it again and Jace grabbed the first one by the tail again before he threw his knife at the canine that was biting his gun. It slid in and caused the creature to slide a few feet away from his Spitfire. Then he spun around and caught the last one by the head as it tried to headbutt him again.


    Jace threw the one he was holding by the tail across the room into one of the ones that was jumping towards Ulin''s blindspot. They collided midair and flew farther across the room.


    Then he turned his attention to the clockwork canine he was holding by the head it was scrapping its sharp clawed feet against his armor. But Jace ignored it as he grabbed its body and then used his hold on its snout to twist its neck.


    CRACK!


    There was a snapping noise and a strain of metal as he twisted its head killing it. He tossed the creature to the side when he saw its one red eye lose its light.


    He then walked over to Spitfire and picked it up. Then he stepped a few steps farther and pulled his knife out of the clockwork canine that was swiping at the ground with its legs. He had disabled it but not killed it. The knife had stuck it to the ground so the moment the knife was out it jumped up and staggered away.


    But before it could far away Jace grabbed it by the tail and dragged it back before standing up and slamming his armored boot on its head causing the ground and his boot to get covered in a liquid substance.


    He sheathed his knife and turned his attention to the last three which were racing around Ulin and Charlie dodging their shots or the shots were bouncing off a metal shell. He raised his Spitfire and fired one burst which ripped through a soft spot of the clockwork canine he had thrown over.


    Its sudden disappearance threw the other two off their pattern and they were quickly shot and killed by Ulin and Charlie a moment later. All of the clockwork canines that had appeared had been killed. So Jace began cautiously walking over to the other two with his attention on the area they came out of when the light suddenly turned on.


    It blinded him for a moment before he turned off the nightvision on his helmet. He blinked the spots out of his eyes and looked around the room. The area these canines were coming out of was a kennel area that was made out of some type of metal with electricity running along it.


    The liquid that was covering the wall and around all of the dead clockwork canines was not blood. It was some type of dark blue liquid. Jace crouched down to get a closer look at one of these canines now that he had some light.


    "Are you two alright?" Jace asked, glancing at his teammates while he studied these creatures made of gears, metal plates, various dogs, and wires.


    "Yes-"


    Charlie was interrupted by the sound of clapping hands over a some type of speaker system that they were picking up through their external sound system. "Bravo! Bravo! Well done! My master spoke praises of the Vexical Military and you did not disappoint in the slightest bit. Unfortunately you will have to speak up for you will not continue without my consent." There were several noises at the two doors as something mechanical moved around.


    Jace frowned and tried to contact their transport ships, "AV Eight are you there?" There was no response so Jace turned on his external audio transmitter. "Who are you?"


    "Ah, a response! Splendid!" The man''s voice was strangely accompanied by a strange metal on metal sound that Jace could not quite pinpoint. "My name is Daedalus and welcome to my Labyrinth. That is not of course my real name but the one I took on after much consideration. For you see I was put in charge of all of my masters'' failed products, he was not cruel enough to just abandon them so I take care of and maintain them."


    "And your master is¡­" Jace asked as they started to move together making quiet gestures to each other to communicate.


    "Lord Hoodwink of course. He so graciously rescued me from death. Then through his hands I was reborn and now I serve as his keeper of forgotten things."

 Chapter 125 - 125: Labyrinth

    Jace frowned under his helmet. "Then I suppose we will not find him here will we?" He asked aloud.


    "No you will not. He was here a number of months ago. But he has not returned here since. I have gotten a number of his new failures. He was incredibly proud of some of these. But they were unfortunately not what the people who hired him wanted. So they were sent to me as discarded goods. Do not worry about your comrades. Those that entered through the hangar are going to be facing similar trials and tests."


    Daedalus, as he called himself, had just said some very useful but worrying information. Hoodwink intentionally left a trail for them to follow here. This also meant that he intentionally left this follower of his behind as a way to both gather information and to get rid of his failed machines. He also already knew about his other team as well.


    "Now then as a reward for speaking to me I will allow you to go to the next room." There was a metallic noise and then a moment later the door they did not enter from opened up. It led down a hall. "Now come friends, to your next trial. I will continue to speak to you while your friends attempt to overcome their first trial."


    Jace looked at the others and they shrugged in response. So he nodded, "okay then." He spoke over their communication channel. Then he started following them down the hallway that led downwards. There was not much else they could do for the moment. Since they were being watched it would be more dangerous to not follow Daedalus''s request.


    Either way they were going to head in this direction anyways. He was still constantly checking the digital blueprint and was surprised by what he found. The hallways and blindspots were changing. It seemed calling this Daedalus'' Labyrinth was not just some coping in mythical storytelling. The hallways and rooms were changing.


    "Well that''s not good. Charlie, try to reach out to the other team. The map I made for them is no longer relevant. This facility is changing shape." Jace told them as they walked, confirming that Daedalus was not able to access their communications. He was able to stop transmissions but he was not able to get into their encrypted communications.


    "Changing shape, how is that possible?" Ulin asked with genuine curiosity.


    "Well I can only make assumptions but this place probably has many exchangeable parts and sections. Then there is the method of hiding from nanobots, it was probably made with nanohumans in mind. I shudder to think how he discovered such a method. I lack any concrete information to give you an actual answer. So instead I can only collect information as time passes, but in order for that to work we have to play along." Jace answered as they came upon the next room.


    As they entered they had their weapons at the ready. Unlike the last one this one lit up as they entered. It was another white room with the only color being added to it being the blue liquid substance that was dripping off of Jace''s boot. The room was not a square like he had seen on the original schematic, instead it was a round room. There were three doors near each other opposite where they entered. There was a shuddering in the room for a moment, before a hole opened up in the center of the floor.


    All three of them immediately focused on that hole but after a moment Jace stopped and instead started looking around until he stopped at a spot that looked normal on the roof. But he could tell that was the spot where the camera was hidden.


    "Jace." Ulin called his name, dragging his attention away from the camera. He looked at what they were looking at. It was a stone statue of an ancient medieval knight with his sword stabbed into the ground. But the statue was missing its head and the armor was more feminine in nature. "There is a plaque with an inscription."


    Jace stepped forward and looked at the inscription. He then read it aloud into their communication channel. "There stands three paths before you. But only one of them is a true path. The true path is the one which only someone like me can take. The path on your right leads to glory and honor. The path in the center leads to more war and bloodshed. The path on the left leads to death and duty." Jace stood up and looked at the statue.


    "I mean I do not know much about ancient myths and stories but this is a knight. So it has to be the glory and honor that it seeks. So we should go with the right path." Charlie pointed out.


    "I do not know, something doesn''t seem right. Jace, can you tell which door we can take with your ability?" Ulin asked as she looked at the three doors behind the statue.


    "No, at the moment none of the doors lead anywhere. I am guessing that will change after we make our decision." Jace answered honestly as he decided to take a second look at this knight. He walked up and then climbed up on the pedestal to look at the space where the head should have been. Instead there was a flat surface where the head should have been. But instead of it being broken off it looked chiseled, so the statue was made without a head.


    "What about war and bloodshed? This is what soldiers would seek out. And a knight is just another type of soldier. Or they could even just be seeking out death and duty. There is no actual way to tell what the answer is." Ulin turned to Charlie and pointed out. Now that she knew they actually had to figure this out she would put some thought into it.


    Jace on the other hand climbed down and then began walking around the statue. Stopping when he spotted something that was lying on the ground behind the knight. From the front it was hidden by the knight so it could be easily missed. He crouched and looked closer. It was a chiseled helmet with an actual human skull stuck inside. Not a chiseled skull, an actual bone skull.


    He now had an idea of what was going on. But there had to be more hints hidden on the statue and pedestal. So he walked back around and looked closer at the pedestal.


    "Yes, that may be true. But her path has to be related to her appearance or at least to what we can see. So it has to be something we can figure out with knowledge about ancient myths of Earth and anything else that might be considered general knowledge amongst all the human descended nations." Charlie told Ulin before pointing at the mislabeled knight. "So doesn''t this look like a knight?"


    "I mean¡­" Ulin sounded annoyed, "it does. But something doesn''t feel right."


    The speaker in the room crackled to life as Daedalus spoke through it. "Well hopefully you have had enough time to figure out the answer. Because your allies just finished their first trial and are on the way to their second. You have about ten minutes before I have to focus on them again." He told them.


    Jace could tell it was a lie. Daedalus had been watching them the whole time. He just wanted to put pressure on them. He was attempting to create a competitive environment for whatever experiment or study he was doing for his boss, Lord Hoodwink.


    So he ignored the attempt at throwing them off and instead focused on the plaque in front of him. He had already checked the pedestal and found that it was etched to be similar to the blades of grass on the sides of it. Looking at the plaque closer he found it was made out of iron. But in the corner of the plaque hidden from view was the indentation of a horse. It would have been hidden if he had not taken a closer look at the plaque.


    Separated, the headless knight, the bodiless head, and the horse might not have meant anything. But putting them all together Jace realized they were all references to several myths and legends. They were not overtly well known but he had to focus on what the original concept meant.


    Jace turned around as Ulin and Charlie were beginning to argue a bit more. "Ignore Daedalus'' words. He is just trying to rush us. I am guessing part of the experiment or study he is conducting on us needs us to be under a mental pressure. So take a breath and look closer at the statue and plaque. You both focused on answering the riddle instead of looking for hints and hidden pieces of information."


    Ulin and Charlie exchanged a look before they both stepped forward and stared at the statue and then moved around it. Jace on the other hand turned to the camera that Daedalus was watching them through, ready to give his answer. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 126 - 126: Tale of Daedalus

    "Hey Daedalus, I have an answer for you." Jace spoke through his external speaker. "This is a Dullahan from ancient Earth lore. They are creatures that are depicted as only appearing when a creature is about to die. Similar to the more popular Grim Reaper. Meaning the path this Dullahan would take would be death and duty." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was a moment of silence before they could hear clapping coming from the speaker. "I am truly surprised. Master did say they would send someone intelligent after him. But I thought he was just pulling my chain. I figured you would all be a bunch of muscle headed idiots because you were part of the military." There was more of that clicking and grinding noise as he spoke. "First you killed some of my Hellhounds, now you are successfully solving a puzzle about an ancient folklore creature. Did you know that there is a planet in the Montez Kingdom that still believes in Dullahans? They have a whole tradition where they put up wards to keep the personification of death away."


    Jace narrowed his eyes under his helmet as he made sure he would have to look up both the planet and tradition later. Just to see if they could find a connection or lead to Hoodwink. Because that was not some fact that someone would just know off the top of their head. There was even a good chance that this Daedalus was related in some way to the Montez Kingdom.


    "But now that you have solved this puzzle room I also need to know a bit more about you. Just like the last room where I needed you to respond to me. I need you to provide me with your names this time." Daedalus told them.


    Jace tapped his gloved finger against the Spitfire he was holding. He looked at the other two who were looking at him. Waiting for an answer. "If you want something from us, we need something from you. Tell me how your ''master'' found you."


    There were a few minutes of silence as it seemed Daedalus was contemplating this demand. "Very well. But you will start." Daedalus answered with a sigh after some clear and genuine deliberation. He probably determined it would not be detrimental to his master to reveal that information.


    Jace pointed a thumb at himself, "Jace." Then he pointed a finger at Charlie, "Freya." Then he pointed at Ulin, "Astella." There were a few moments of silence before he could feel something shudder and he could see the schematic in his mind change as a hallway was placed behind the ''death and duty'' door on the left.


    "I suppose I did say names and not full names. But that will be sufficient for my purposes. I should also be more careful with my words. But I do wish to praise your ingenuity Jace. I am sure my Master will take a particular interest in you." Daedalus chuckled as he spoke. But it was concerning that he had ended up making himself a target of Daedalus and likely his master''s interest.


    The death and duty door opened up. Jace and the others shared a look before walking through it. Jace switched his external speaker off as they walked into the hall.


    "Sorry, we got distracted and started arguing." Charlie apologized.


    "It is alright. This Daedalus and likely Lord Hoodwink are masters of manipulation. They will say certain words to try and manipulate your behavior that is beneficial to their experiment or their use. Take his words with a grain of salt." Jace told them as he kept looking and finding the cameras along the hallway.


    "My Master found me in an underground dungeon. I had originally been an artist and was arrested for making art that put doubt on our leader''s words. So I was imprisoned by the tyrant and thrown in a prison deep underground. Then a civil war occurred and the tyrant was overthrown. But myself and several other prisoners were forgotten and never freed. Instead we had to kill and eat each other in order to live. One day my Master came. He found the survivors of these unholy trials were interesting specimens and took us in." Daedalus began his tale as they walked.


    "From then on, I swore to do whatever my savior asked. So I undertook the most dangerous projects and trials that turned me into what I am now while most of the others ended up dead or as soulless machines. The few that survived were loyal servants of our mighty Master. Now many years later our numbers have grown while he has saved more people." Daedalus'' voice was full of enthusiasm.


    But the way his story unfolded told Jace something about Hoodwink. Either he was very good at playing the long game or he had been incredibly lucky in finding people that needed genuine help when they slipped through the cracks in society. No matter which one it was Jace felt a shiver up his spine at the thoughts that were coming through his head. As well as the fact that Hoodwink had been roaming the galaxy for years and had never popped up on the Vexical Empire''s radar before.


    Daedalus stopped speaking, a clear indicator that his story had ended while Jace and his team arrived at the next door. "Were you able to reach out to Team Two?" Jace asked as the door in front of them started to open.


    "Yes I was." Ulin answered. "It seems they are not jamming communications inside of the facility. Just any transmissions going out of the facility. I have also got confirmation from Taylor that video and audio that we are recording are making it back to the Anvil. I have no idea how she determined that but she is positive it is." Ulin told them with an exasperated sigh. Taylor probably tried to explain it but it went over her head.


    "Did you get any information about what they went through? Or did Taylor just start talking your ear off?" Jace asked as he walked into the room accessing the brightly lit large room before them. Just like the first room there was a black space that he could not sense on the schematic but knew was there.


    Ulin nodded her head. "They fought a giant bio-mechanical serpent. It seems that it was more biological than mechanical so Taylor was not able to immediately dismantle it. It attacked them in the hangar after it had decompressed. Apparently it came out of a hole that appeared in one of the walls. Now they are in a puzzle room."


    The room they were in had a high ceiling and was three times as long as the first room they had entered. There were scrape marks on the walls where the roof had lifted up. On the ground there were stone walls and boulders which had been clearly lifted out of the ground.


    "What is their puzzle room?" Jace asked as he climbed on top of a boulder to get a better look around the room.


    "It is some type of picture puzzle that they have to use to complete a narrated story. They are still trying to figure out what the lore covers." Ulin answered with a shrug. "I am sure they will figure something out."


    "I hope so." Jace told her as he saw the black space slide open. "Because it seems we have our own issue to deal with now." Out of the space riding on another clockwork creature was a knight made of metal. It looked similar to the Metal Scarecrows but was far more bulky and had clear limbs instead of interchangeable components in place of their limbs. But there was a particular detail that Jace almost found amusing. It was headless.


    "Oh joy, now we get to fight a Dullahan." Charlie signed over their communication channel.


    "Yeah well-" Jace was interrupted in the most unexpected way.


    BANG!


    He flew off the boulder he had climbed on top of. The impact was more jolting than it was painful as he quickly flew through the air. For a moment he saw a shimmer of yellow as the impact occurred. He landed on his back and saw the yellow shimmer disappear a moment later. His armor''s built in shields had been triggered and overcharged.


    Ulin and Charlie both ducked behind a boulder and stone wall respectively. While Jace picked himself up and moved behind the boulder he had just gotten shot off of. His armor was not damaged except for some minor scrapes that are more aesthetic than anything else. But his armor''s personal shield was showing as deactivated for a moment as it cooled off.


    "Ow." Jace spoke over the channel before peaking out from behind the boulder. The Dullahan Knight riding a clockwork biomechanical horse was not the only thing that was coming out of the wall. "Well this might end up being a bit more difficult than those Clockwork Hellhounds."

 Chapter 127 - 127: Ouch

    Accompanying the Dullahan Knight was a Coachman driving an old carriage made out of metal that was being dragged along by two clockwork biomechanical horses. Just like the Dullahan Knight the Coachman was also headless. Then there was one in a roman Chariot with two headless occupants and it was drawn by two of those horses as well.


    "Wow, these are some pretty crazy designs." Charlie popped her head up for a moment and the Coachman aimed his bulky rifle in her direction and then fired as she ducked back down.


    BANG!


    There was an explosion of stone as part of the wall she was hiding behind broke apart. "Yeah, don''t get hit by the Coachman. My armor''s shields are down for the moment." Jace told them as he ducked behind the rock.


    "What is our plan for dealing with them?" Ulin asked as she readied her shotgun making sure all of the shotgun rounds she could have in it were in it.


    "Well," Jace thought for a moment before peaking out and firing a few rounds from his Spitfire at the Dullahan which was making its way around the side quicker since it was not dragging a carriage behind. Then he ducked behind the boulder again as the Coachman fired again. "If these things are anything like Metal Scarecrows then they will use clockwork components for their main functions. So it would be a good idea to get in close and jam those up before destroying whatever core they have."


    "As much fun as that sounds, there is one problem with that plan." Charlie pointed out before peaking out and then immediately diving away from her position when another round from the Coachman destroyed the wall she was hiding behind, sending pieces of rock flying at the three of them. Then a moment later a metal spear embedded itself in the ground.


    Jace raised an eyebrow before peaking around the corner to see the Chariot duo had a large bundle of spears at the ready. Then he ducked behind the boulder again as another shot rang out. "Yeah¡­ I am working on that." These things were mechanical headless creatures with mobility to ride on horses.


    Jace frowned as he realized something. "The horses are the weakness. They are too bulky to actually move around quickly. If we kill those clockwork horses we buy ourselves some time. It will also allow you two to get closer to the Chariot duo and the Dullahan Knight without issue."


    "What about the one with the high powered rifle?" Ulin asked as she partially peaked around her boulder before ducking back when a bullet sped past her and hit the wall near where they entered from. There was now a welt on the wall which warped one of the panels.


    Jace smirked under his helmet as he noticed something. "I have a use for him. So I will distract him. While you two go after the other ones. I suggest you work together to take them down one after another. Do not make things more difficult on yourself by trying to divide up the work."


    He then dashed out from cover and began running to the left side of the room. Doing a dive roll after a few seconds as a bullet whistled past him and hit another wall panel. After completing the roll he spun and popped up firing his Spitfire at the Coachman. There were sparks as the bullets bounced off of its exterior armor. Just like the other three headless beings it had a fully metal exterior but it was decorated to look like a Coachman from Earth''s ancient Wild West lore.


    His bullets did not have much effect on the Coachman but it did turn all of its attention to him and he directed his horses to move through the maze of walls and boulders towards Jace''s direction.


    Jace dove behind a boulder as another bullet whistled past him and hit another wall. Warping another wall panel. He waited a moment as it moved farther to his direction before moving to another boulder. As he moved another bullet whistled past him.


    While he hid behind another boulder he heard a ding as his heads up display showed him that his armor''s shields were powering back up after having enough time to cool down. He peaked around the side of the boulder and saw the Coachman had gotten closer while the Chariot duo and the Dullahan Knight were in the Coachman''s blindspot and focused on Ulin and Charlie. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He dodged back behind the boulder as the Coachman shot again, blowing off a chunk of the boulder he was hiding behind. Immediately after the impact of the bullet he stepped out from behind the boulder and fired his Spitfire aiming at the Coachman''s clockwork horses.


    He aimed specifically at the weaker organic components of the horses. The first one went down quickly before he had to duck back behind the boulder again. Another chunk of the boulder disappeared under the assault of the Coachman.


    Afterwards he emerged from behind the boulder and fired at the not dead clockwork horse, killing it as he moved behind another boulder. The Coachman''s carriage was immobilized when its horses died. When he peeked out from behind the boulder he was not surprised to see the Coachman moving down off of his carriage.


    Just like he thought, it was moving slowly and very mechanically. Jace glanced at the Coachman as it moved. Its mechanical parts were visible for a few moments as it moved. But he had to duck behind a boulder again as it raised its weapon and fired.


    As he felt the impact vibrate through the boulder he ran out from behind his cover and dashed towards the Coachman. Jumping over stone walls as he moved. He raised his Spitfire and fired the rest of the bullets in his magazine. Aiming at a chink in the armor where he could see some gears moving.


    Then he saw the Coachman aim its high powered rifle at him. Jace dove forward into a roll behind a stone wall as he heard the Coachman fire. But blinked in surprise when a chunk of the stone wall three feet to his left exploded. He raised his head above the wall and saw the Coachman was struggling to pull its arm all the way over. It was shuddering like it was trying but it was stuck on something.


    Jace jumped over the stone wall he had taken cover behind and ran at the Coachman. Dropping his Spitfire and pulling out his knife as he moved. He was a few feet from the Coachman when there was a quiet pop and Jace could see a small metallic object fly out as its arm quickly began rotating. It spun towards him and Jace lowered his body and moved further to the left.


    BANG!


    He could see the explosive release as the bullet flew out of the barrel of the Coachman''s high powered rifle. The spinning bullet cut through the air. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw the bullet fly off as the Coachman had over adjusted and shot too far to Jace''s right.


    Jace was in range before the high powered bullet even hit anything. He pushed the barrel of the Coachman''s rifle up and cut through it with his knife. As it fell apart the metal Coachman moved its hands to grab at Jace''s arms.


    Jace flipped his knife in the air and then caught it with his other hand before slicing through the Coachman''s left shoulder as he moved past it. Then he spun around and cut through its right shoulder. Moving too fast for the Coachman to catch him.


    As its arms began falling to the ground he swept the metal clockwork Coachman''s feet out from under him. Then since he had the moment he looked over to see Ulin and Charlie''s progress.


    They were already fighting the Dullahan Knight in hand-to-hand combat. While the Chariot duo were throwing spears at them from their crashed chariot a distance away. Ulin had brought a plasma shortsword with her that she was using. While Charlie was using her arm energy shield while in her other hand was plasma handaxe she was using. It was a very medieval style battle.


    Jace turned his attention back to the Coachman who was swaying back and forth on the ground trying to get up. He crouched down and started using his knife to open it up. It took a moment before he got the most heavily armored section removed.


    It revealed a disturbing fact about these headless creatures. There were bundles of wires running into motors that all went to either a powersource which was very standard or it went to a cylinder of semi clear green liquid.


    The semi clear green liquid had the wires going through it into the gray human brain that was inside. The wires were directly connected to the brain. On the bottom rim of the cylinder was a name and number.


    He wiped one of his armored fingers against it as he read it aloud. "Emma Imalia, 13. Project Number - 020145." After he read the name the Coachman seemed to go still. It also made him realize he had spoken through his external communication channel. "Do you want to die and be realeased from your torture?" Jace asked.


    The Coachman- Emma''s artificial body made a motion like it was trying to nod a nonexistent head. Jace nodded in response and after a moment he pulled a few wires and the illuminated cylinder lost light. Then a second later he watched as the brain fell apart.

 Chapter 128 - 128: Breaking the Rules

    Jace checked his communication system and realized it had been switched by accident earlier when he had been shot. He switched it back as he looked over to the others from his team. "Hey, they have a central powersource and a human brain behind the main armored chestpiece." He then looked down at the artificial body of Emma for a moment before he walked back to retrieve his Spitfire.


    Jace walked over as Ulin and Charlie were clearly panting with exhaustion amongst the cut up bodies of the clockwork Dullahans. He crouched down and began opening up the armored chest plates. Each time he opened one up, he looked for a second before moving onto the next one.


    When he was done is when Charlie crouched down to see what he was doing. "Oh no¡­" She shook her head and then went to the next one. "Are all of them¡­?" She asked Jace.


    Jace nodded after he finsehed looking at all of them. He stood up, he was done with them now that he confirmed they were all deceased. "These are all children. Hoodwink turned children under the age of fourteen into these things. Since our video is still recording and being transmitted I will go through it later and find their families."


    "Just when I start to forget what kind of monster we are hunting." Charlien growled out before looking to the only other door in the room. "I suppose we are off to the next room?" She asked with a growl and clear tone of annoyance.


    Jace shook his head, "not this time." Jace looked over to the dented wall panels. "Now we change the game. This may be a labyrinth with its twists and turns. But whenever I had to do one when I was younger I always cheated. So that is what we are going to do."


    "How do you cheat in a labyrinth that someone controls?" Charlie asked as they followed Jace to the dented wall panels.


    Jace went to one of the corners that was detached from the wall. He pulled and then grunted as there was the loud straining of metal. The corner further detached from the wall but did not come all the way off.


    Jace stopped for a moment before adjusting his grip and pulling harder.


    CREAK!


    The straining of metal was louder for a moment before the wall panel came flying off and flew across the room from the force Jace exerted on it. It crashed into something and fell to the ground. While Jace was already looking at what was behind the panel.


    Piping for wires and another wall. Jace looked over it for a moment before he started walking to the side. Mumbling something under his breath as he calculated. Then he stopped at an unmarked panel.


    Jace looked around for a moment before finding another warped panel nearby. He walked up to it and this time was able to easily pull the panel off the wall. Then after a moment he pulled another one off the wall. Then another one, but this time he was a lot more gentle with how he did it.


    So after a moment it popped off the wall and fell to the ground softly. Behind the panel was a terminal with an interface. "This is how. I am going to hack the labyrinth. Quickly tell the others that I am going to piss off our host." Jace told them as he pulled out his hacking device and plugged it in.


    "What do you think you are doing?" Daedalus over the speaker system asked.


    Jace shrugged, "being creative and a tad bit bad. Why do you ask?" Jace asked innocently as he began hacking into the labyrinth. Before he knew this was an interchangeable labyrinth it did not make sense that everything was on seperate systems.


    But now that he knew it was just a bunch of components all working under a greater system he also knew there had to be a combined system that was overseeing everything and controlling it. Now he just had to hack into this system and see what he could do.


    "Ha¡­ Subject Jace you are being very uncooperative. Here I was thinking we would be able to get along." Daedalus sounded disappointed. "Very well, time to get rid of you for good." A moment later the walls began lighting up with electricity going from the left to right.


    "Back up you two," Jace told the other members of his team. He quickly tore through the security walls and digital security. He already had an idea of the kind of problems he would run into because of the airlocks. So less than ten seconds later when the wall of electricity arrived at the panel he was working out of.


    There was a spark and an explosion as his hacking device exploded in his hand. It did not cause him much if not any damage. Did not even cause his armor''s shielding to shimmer. While the electricity that arced into his body did nothing except make him a bit more energized when he absorbed it.


    Jace stood up and backed up from the electrified wall. "Well that was mean." Jace spoke aloud. "You could have let me finish!"


    "No, I could not. Now get moving to the next room." Daedalus told them as the door, the one that they did not enter the room from, opened.


    Jace then turned to his team members who were looking at him waiting. Jace switched his audio and made sure he was not being listened to by Daedalus. "Okay, we are good. I have programmed a blindspot. He will notice when we arrive at the next room so I hope you two are ready to have just about everything he has available to be thrown at us."


    "You were able to hack into it? What about your hacking device?" Ulin asked in surprise looking at the charred remains that were once his hacking device.


    Jace shrugged, "He destroyed it. But I was already inside, I just needed to transfer control of the facility to my interface. I can see both what is actually going on as well as what he thinks is going on. Now let''s get moving before he gets suspicious."


    Jace led the way through the door. As they walked down the hall there was a slight shuddering as it felt like the entire hallway was moving. "Act like nothing happened. That is me, I am changing our destination. But if you react to the movement you might give away our secret early."


    "What are we going to do when we get to the next room? I assume you have an actual game plan?" Charlie asked as she adjusted her movement so it did not look like she was swaying from the hallway''s movement.


    Jace chuckled, "yeah I do. But I am going to have to apologize."


    "Oh no." Ulin mumbled.


    Jace began explaining his plan as they moved through the white corridor. Eventually it stopped moving when it arrived at the destination that Jace had picked. He walked up to the door and then opened it using his stolen commands.


    As Jace walked in, the lights in the room lit up. Unlike the shiny white rooms that they had gone through so far this room was a lot less clean. It looked like a damaged room, or that it was still under construction that had not yet been completed.


    The room looked like a small hangar. In the center was a giant spaceship engine that was half built. Scattered around the room were parts and destroyed wall panels. As well as bundles of destroyed wires. Then there were the robotic limbs that seemed to have been discarded. He walked through the room moving towards the door opposite the room.


    "Wait a minute¡­ where did you three go?" Daedalus asked over the speaker system. He was clearly confused since the room they were supposed to have just entered was completely different. But he could not see them on the monitor. "Did you¡­ you did! You cheated! You changed my Labyrinth!" Daedalus screamed into the speaker system. As far as Jace could tell he was transmitting system wide because he could not find them. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace grinned under his helmet as he opened the door and they walked into another room instead of a hallway. This room had a bunch of computers and digital interfaces. The room is a data center with enough digital storage space for half of the Vexical Empire''s information. It was the jackpot they were looking for since Hoodwink was supposedly not here. Unfortunately they could not take everything here. They would have to pick and choose what they took.


    "Hahaha!" Daedalus laughed madly for a minute before stopping suddenly and going quiet. But Jace could still hear him over the radio breathing along with the grinding metal noise that he was now realizing was more mechanical gears moving together. "Fine then. Since you want to go against me, the overlord of the Labyrinth, it is only right that you are hunted by the appropriate type of monster. Time to send out my Minotaur!"

 Chapter 129 - 129: Labyrinth Run

    Jace''s hands glided along the mechanical keyboard as he downloaded all of the data he could onto a harddrive. Ever since he hacked into the labyrinth they had been cut off from the other team. But using his access he knew that they were in another room safe from Daedalus'' wrath.


    He could have turned off all of the jammers but decided against it. He did not yet want to show his hand. He would have to wait for the perfect time to show what control he had taken over the labyrinth. Unfortunately he did not have complete control of the labyrinth''s systems.


    For instance, he could not turn off the cameras he switched off. Which was worrying since Daedalus intentionally had been switching off the ones that were part of the route he and his team had traveled through. He could also not stop him from searching through the cameras which is how Jace knew that Daedalus had already found their location.


    Jace was constantly stopping him from interfering in between him downloading data. Whether it was Daedalus trying to switch off the power to this section, trying to overload the systems, or even trying to move the section. There were constant attempts to interfere with them stealing the computer data.


    These data banks were a wealth of information. They had everything from experiment data to untested theories. He doubted it was the most important information, but it was the stuff they could easily access at the moment.


    "I am done over here!" Charlie called out as she put away a hard drive with all of the data she copied. "Most of what I got seemed like personal information on hundreds of different people. Some of them were just observations, but others had tags to experiments they underwent."


    Jace frowned as he started finishing up collecting the information he was aiming for. "I am almost done. How about you, Ulin? Are you close to being finished?" Jace asked as he glanced over at Ulin.


    "Yes, I am just about done." Ulin confirmed as she started disconnecting the hard drive with all of the data she had copied. "I got a bunch of location data and records about what was transported and where. Unfortunately it all appears to be heavily encrypted but I was able to copy it."


    Jace nodded, "good. We can decrypt it later." He finished what he was doing and walked towards a door. As he moved he began using his access to move around hallways and rooms in order to make a path to another central chamber he wanted to check out. "Let''s get moving and-"


    CRASH!


    He could hear a crash and the impact of something heavy coming from the engine room they passed through. He could tell the other two did not pick up on it. But with his enhanced senses he could clearly hear it.


    "Damn. We have to hurry," Jace told them. He led the way through a door that was barely opened in the room. His pace had quickly increased as he was now in a rush, wanting to avoid combat for the time being.


    The others exchanged a look before hurrying after him. The hallway they ran into had panels hanging off of the wall and roof. There were also floor panels missing so they had to hop over the holes or step around them. As they ran the hallway shuddered as Jace tried to move it but was blocked.


    Daedalus must have found a way to restrict his control. Fortunately it appeared he was not able to stop the pathway he had already set up. So as he ran to the door and he heard a beeping noise in his helmet in response to him trying to open it he just grunted in annoyance and lowered his elbow and sped up.


    There was a crash as he went through the metal door. His head rang for a moment as he rolled into the room. He quickly shook it off and stood up to see Ulin and Charlie had stopped and looked at him to see if he was okay.


    "Do not stop! Keep going!" Jace told them in exasperation as he pointed at another door in the room. He stood up and followed them as they started running. Taking a glance at the room they had entered.


    It was another room that was under construction or maintenance. It was a room the size of a small hangar. It had chains hanging from the ceiling along with some blinking lights as the room tried to power up. In the middle of the room was a hole where floor panels were supposed to be. Instead there was a metal square patterned outline where the square panels likely would have been installed.


    He ran to catch up to his team as they arrived at the door. He opened it for them as Charlie glanced back at him. Jace ran through to the new room a moment later and slid to a stop just as the others did.


    "Umm¡­." Charlie grumbled as she looked out over the room. Or rather the large pit. At the bottom of the pit was a floor deep into the ground. But the only door in the room was on the other side of the pit with no ladder or stairs going up to this door or down from this door. "So what is the plan here?" She asked while glancing back at the room they just entered from.


    Jace clicked his tongue in annoyance before he narrowed his eyes as he noticed something. "Its-"


    "There are invisible floating platforms." Ulin jumped in quickly interrupting him. Then she literally jumped to one of these platforms. From their perspective it looked like she just jumped on nothing.


    "Okay then-"


    CRASH!


    This time they could all hear the loud noise as something loudly broke in the last room. Jace glanced back as Charlie glanced at him before making the jump and losing her balance as she landed on something that was not completely solid.


    In the last room he could not see the creature completely but coming out of the hallway they ran through he could see the head of a mechanical bull sticking out. Its electronic eyes were glowing red and to top it off a burst of steam came out of its robotic nostril.


    He turned his attention back to the invisible platform room. Ulin was paving the way and slowly helping Charlie make her way. Jace quickly closed the door he was by and opened the door on the other side of the room.


    Then he jumped to where he could barely make out the edge of the first platform that started. Normally he would be able to register and see the platform if it was using some sort of invisibility technology. But as soon as he stood on the platform he understood it was an optical illusion. He also understood why Charlie lost her balance. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he landed on the platform it swayed slightly and moved under him. He widened his feet to get a better balance as he quickly solved the reason for why the swaying was happening. These platforms were hanging from the ceiling by thin wires. There was probably a wire on each corner of the platform going to the roof of the room.


    After the swaying stopped he slowly walked forward and jumped up onto another platform. This time the swaying was rapid and he started walking one step in front of the other as he realized this was almost like a narrow beam he was walking on.


    Jace looked up from his position while walking forward to see the other two were almost on the other side. They were only one or two platforms away from the door. The doorway had a single light above it which was the only other light in the room besides the light above the doorway they had entered in from.


    He made it to the edge of the beam and almost stepped off of it. But as he was swinging his arms to get his balance again he felt the platform slip under him as his weight caused the back half to raise into the air.


    Jace quickly made a short jump and grunted when he landed on another platform. He pulled himself up and froze as he realized the current platform was not just swaying from side to side it was also moving up and down like a balance beam. So he slowly stood up while looking for the path he was going to take to the door.


    He could not completely visually make out the platforms but he could make out the wires now that he was on this platform. He looked at the others and saw that they were arriving at the door. Then they glanced back at him again.


    "Keep going! I will catch up in a minute." Jace told them as he hopped onto the next platform. This time he jumped to the next platform before the platform stopped swaying. Then onto the next one.


    "Jace we have a problem," Ulin spoke over the channel causing Jace to stop his jumps and frown at the doorway they passed through. "There is a large door with a complex locking mechanism on it. Are we supposed to go through this?"

 Chapter 130 - 130: Door Issue

    Jace clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I knew there would be a door but that is a problem. We need to get into that room. See if you can get through it. I will be there in a few-" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    CRASH!


    This time it was really loud as he glanced back to see the doorway he came through had been completely destroyed. This time the large minotaur man-creature had made it through his metalic head and was still venting steam every few seconds.


    The minotaur had a buff and muscled body that was more than seven feet tall. On his head is a metal bull head. That was clearly lacking in the same clockwork elements that most of the creatures in this labyrinth usually had.


    On his feet were brown furred boots while in his hands was a large two-sided axe. On his chest was a visible metallic protrusion that was glowing red. It looked to be over where the minotaur''s heart would be.


    The minotaur pointed the head of its axe at Jace. Jace could see a red light build up at the head of the spear then it flew through the air.


    Jace blindly jumped away and slid across one of the platforms and then had to grab at the edge of something as he hung off the side. He looked back over at the minotaur who had started to look around.


    "Jace, are you okay?" Charlie called over the channel.


    "Yeah, the minotaur caught up to us. Focus on opening that door!" Jace told them as he started swinging his body. Which in turn caused the platform he was hanging off of to violently swing and shake. Then he threw his body forward, flying through the air before he began falling. But Jace activated his forgotten Jetpack and flew up to the edge of the doorway before grabbing the edge and deactivating his jetpack again.


    He glanced at the fuel and saw that most of it had been used up in that burst. He would not have needed to use as much if he was in zero gravity. But since they were in a gravity environment at the moment so it quickly burned through it to move his overall weight through the air.


    Jace pulled himself up and glanced back around to the minotaur.


    The minotaur was slowly walking across a platform and noticed Jace glancing back at him. So it raised its axe again with another build up of red energy at the head of the axe. Jace rolled through the door and moved to the side of the doorway as the bolt of energy splashed against the base of the doorway.


    He looked around the new room he had entered. This one was just the size of a small bedroom. With the other wall on the end of the room being covered by the door with the complex locking mechanism that Ulin had mentioned. Ulin and Charlie were working on opening the door.


    Jace stood up and pulled his Spitfire out from the position on his hip that he had stored it. He peaked around the corner of the doorway into the room and aimed at the minotaur. He started firing at the minotaur.


    It flinched as his bullets started bouncing off its metallic bull head. Then Jace aimed at the body and frowned as he watched sparks appear. The bullets were deflecting off of the metal protrusion and the skin stopped the bullets like a sponge. For a moment he could see a mark on the skin of the minotaur before it disappeared.


    Jace clicked his tongue in annoyance. The minotaur seemed to realize Jace could not damage it from a distance either. So rather than firing at him again it began jumping to the next platform. Which shook violently under the minotaur''s weight.


    Jace looked up at the roof which was not visible in the dark. He switched his helmet to the nightvision and could see the anchor points on the roof for the wires that were holding up the platforms.


    Jace aimed at the roof and began firing at the anchor points. There were several sparks as some of the wires began snapping. The anchor points themselves were only slightly dented by the bullets he was firing. But the wires were being damaged enough that they were snapping under the weight of the platforms alone.


    A few of the platforms in front of the minotaur fell. It noticed what he was doing and aimed at him again. But before it could fire the platform it was on suddenly slipped diagonally as one of the wires snapped. Its shot flew wide and slammed into a wall of the room. Leaving a red welt of heated metal.


    "Arrrrgh!" It yelled in surprise and then ran unbalanced forward and jumped with its axe raised in the direction of the doorway. Jace stepped out from the edge of the doorway and unleashed the rest of the bullets in his Spitfire at the minotaur that was jumping through the air.


    The bullets may not have done any damage but the impact and force did still stop the minotaur in the air. It fell quickly down out of Jace''s sight.


    He approached the edge and looked down as he could hear a noise coming from the pit. For a moment there was no movement as the red eyed figure he could make out was still. Then it began moving and stood up. It looked up at him and then used its axe to cut into the wall above it and pulled itself up.


    Jace walked back through the doorway and closed the door. He then made his way over to the others. "Please tell me you have made some progress." Jace looked at what they had done so far. Which was next to nothing.


    "Nope, this is more of your area of expertise. We were just about to start setting up grenades to see if we could force our way through." Charlie explained as she stood up from her crouching position.


    "Where is the minotaur?" Ulin asked as she shrugged her shoulders.


    "Bottom of the pit." Jace answered with a sigh as he began looking over the locking mechanism. "But he is climbing up. So you should get ready for a fight. I would suggest using those melee weapons you brought. The bullets from my spitfire just bounced off of its skin."


    Charlie and Ulin shared a look of confusion before looking at him. "Bouncing off of his skin? Should we set up explosives?" Charlie asked before looking at the entrance they came in from.


    "No, this room is too small. Besides we do not know how effective it will be. So chances are we will cause more damage to ourselves rather than to the minotaur." Jace told them. He was still looking over the locked door. It was not that complex of a lock. It had four components which were pressurized to keep the central lock, which would spin to open, closed. Most of the pressurization components were hidden behind the door.


    "This will take a few minutes." He slipped out his knife and stabbed at one of the pressure chambers on this side of the door. There was a whistle as he pulled his knife out and air began escaping. The mechanical component began moving very slowly. Jace went and stabbed at the other three pressure chambers that were on the door.


    The pressure chambers were now all slowly moving so he moved onto the next part. He grabbed the central emergency handle and pulled on it. The central tube slowly moved out as he pulled on it. Once it was fully out there was a clicking noise.


    He used his knife to open a panel on the tube. Inside were a number of blinking lights and small buttons. Jace connected his helmet''s hud to the interface and began deactivating a few things. Then he used his knife to cut through an electronic component. Then he closed the panel.


    Jace then spun the tube the rest of the way and then pushed it back into the door. As soon as it was flush against the rest of the door there was a loud ''whoosh'' noise as another door opened up behind this locked door. There were multiple doors and he just had opened those other doors. But now they were waiting on the pressurized lock to completely open.


    "Okay that is all I can do for now." Jace told them as he stepped back from the door.


    "Why did you not just remove the power from it?" Charlie asked as she was setting down her gear to prepare to fight with her hand axe and arm shield.


    Jace shook his head as he set aside his own Spitfire submachine gun. "That would not have done anything. I would have to remove power from the entire facility. Which would have given away one of my abilities. I can''t do it through my system access either. For some reason this room is on its own independent system."


    "Is that the reason we are here?" Ulin asked.


    "That is correct. So let''s-"


    CRASH!

 Chapter 131 - 131: Minotaur

    The sliding door he closed when he entered the room came flying at Jace. Ulin and Charlie both ducked to the side while Jace grunted while taking the impact from the door. He slid back a bit as he caught the door with his hands, one of which was holding his knife.


    The door fell to the ground with a clatter of metal as they all looked towards where the door flew from. The doorway was completely destroyed with metal bent inwards towards them where the door clearly tried to keep its door in place.


    Stepping down through the doorway is the large minotaur figure with its tan skin that was leathery and had muscles pulsing. Now that it was across them in this small room more of the details were visible. The stitching and an adhesive substance was visible on the edges of the metal protrusion. Clear signs of the experimental surgical procedure that was conducted on this creature.


    While around its neck leading to the metallic bull head were stitching and scars where the minotaur likely had work done. Or it was repeatedly damaged and repaired. It looked more like a form of torture rather than anything surgical.


    But he needed to focus on what was important as the minotaur swung his axe through the air. Cleaving through the air in the entire room. Ulin jumped over the axe as her plasma sword lit up. Jace leaned back as the blade of the weapon was just short of his head. Charlie raised her energy shield while pulling out her hand axe up.


    The axe suddenly stopped with the end pointing at Jace. He could see directly into the barrel as it began glowing red. "Ah shit." Jace cursed.


    Doing a movement to throw his back downwards while bringing a leg up to kick the weapon. He fell backwards as a beam of red slammed into the top of the door and went upwards from the force of his kick.


    Every spot the beam of energy touched turned molten red. It was very distracting for a moment before Jace remembered where he was. The minotaur was forced back as the others pressed forward, swiping their blades at him. The minotaur was being cautious of their attacks.


    Jace pulled himself up and readied his knife watching for an opportunity to dive in. The minotaur was using his axe to block some of the strikes from Ulin and Charlie. Each time the plasma based weapons left a burn mark on the handle of the axe.


    Charlie got around on one side distracting the minotaur while Ulin went to the other side of the minotaur. Its attention was split so Ulin managed to get close enough to strike at its side. The blade passed along the minotaur arm.


    There was a sizzling followed by a scream as the minotaur let go of its axe and back handed Ulin across the room. She flew into a wall and her shield flared yellow as it blocked the damage from the impact. The wall was damaged but her armor was not damaged.


    The minotaur used the last of its strength to throw its axe at Charlie, managing to throw her off guard and fall back. She moved back with surprise as she dropped her hand axe and caught the larger axe.


    Jace went to dash forward but stopped himself as the minotaur charged at him. Instead he flipped the knife in his hand and grabbed one of the minotaur''s horns as it charged at him. Jace grunted as his armor''s shield flared and his back impacted into the partially opened door. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jace''s knife sunk into the neck of the creature as they went crashing through the door. His heads up display showed that his jet pack suffered severe damage. The minotaur grabbed Jace''s body as it tried to impale Jace on its horns.


    They went crashing into the next room and Jace had to move his hand from the knife stuck in the minotaurs neck to its other horn as he got a better grip. He grunted in pain as his back smacked into the ground.


    The lights lit up the room but he was more focused on the bull that was both trying to crush him with its hands and impale him with its horns. The pressure from the minotaurs grip was causing the armor indicator on his HUD to indicate an increase in pressure on his chesplate.


    Jace wrapped his feet around the minotaur shoulders and began twisting him by the horns to turn its head. Trying to spin the body one way while spinning the head the other way. As he spun it he put all of his muscles into twisting the minotaur.


    The minotaur lifted him up and then slammed him down onto the ground. He could see rocks being throwin into the air out of the corner of his eyes. While he managed to manuver and twist his body so the minotaurs head was now slightly twisted and Jace could hear him begin to heavily breath.


    He began wrestling the the minotaur onto its side when the minotaur began screaming then Jace suddenly felt the head give way. He lifted the head and found it was detached from the body. He looked at the body and saw that Charlie and Ulin and worked to there to detach the head.


    He laid back and took a deep breath of air. He felt the sluggish movement of his armor as he sat up. There were damage to the servos that would usually be used to assist him in movement. But he had them deactiviated since they only held his physique back.


    "Boss¡­ you should take a look at this." Charlie''s words pulled him from his thoughts as he looked to them and saw both Charlie and Ulin focused on gazing at the room. They were looking around the room turning in all directions.


    Jace pulled himself up and looked down at the body of the minotaur first. They had used his knife to carve through its spine. Ulin was still holding the blade while a pool of blood was mixing with a dark blue liquid by the body. The neck of the minotaur was pulsing and leaking the liquid continuously.


    He then turned around and sucked in a breath of air as he processed what he was seeing. Covering the walls and roof were engraved words and messages in foreign languages accompnayed by pictures. While the in center of the room was a pedestal. It was a similar type of set up to what he encountered in the Requiem marriage room back in the Echo System.


    "What is this-"


    "Turn off your helmet cams!" Jace told them immediately as he deactivated his own. He hoped Captain Hammers would understand and erase any footage of the room on his side. But just in case he would have to remember to do it later.


    "Almost immediately." Daedalus'' voice sounded over a speaker system. But this time there were no cameras in the room. Mostly because these were ancient carved stones. The only thing in this room that was artificial were the lights which replaced the light crystals he had seen before. It appeared they were pulled out and replaced with basic electric bulbs. "I may not be able to see you but I can still register the signal from your helmet cameras transmitting and you turned them off almost immedailty."


    Jace froze and frowned at the words while he looked at Ulin and Charlie to make sure they followed his orders. Once that was done he signaled for help as he removed his jetpack. Once that was removed he started walking around the room.


    "I will say your encrypted signals are next level. I have been doing everything I can to crack them, but they truly are unbreakable. By the way I can still pick up noises in the room, I just can not see you." Daedalus informed them.


    Jace took a moment as he looked around the room before switched his communication to speak through an external speaker. "Thank you for the complement. I designed them myself. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about disguising those signals." Jace admitted as he made sure to record the room and put the recording on local space to keep it secure.


    "Well then I will be sure to make the report about you to highlight how capable you are and how dangerous you are as well." Daedalus told them. "Now if you excuse me I have to make a hasty exit and escape this place before you turn your attention to me."


    Jace smirked as he looked around the room. "Daedalus if you designed this labyrinth you truly are an amazing engineer. I will make sure to have it thoroughly searched. I think it would be a useful training ground. But unfortunately you will not be escaping today."


    "What makes you think that?" Daedalus asked as the clicking noises became more frequent only reinforcing the idea in Jace''s mind that this Daedalus was a clockwork abomination himself.


    "Simple." Jace shrugged as he signaled for the others to move the minotaur''s body out of the room. "She should be coming through that door in just a moment."

 Chapter 132 - 132: Daedalus

    Nina was annoyed. No, that is not right. She was royally pissed. All they had done after fighting that giant snake was walk after Jace''s plan went into effect. They did not fight hordes of enemies and more strange creatures like she was hoping to do on this mission.


    Instead Jace''s plan called for her and her team to go to the central power source and disable the self-destruct feature. Then they came here to this door, ready to do the next part of their plan. To capture this annoying Daedalus.


    She walked into the room just in time to hear Jace''s words through a speaker system in the room. "-door in just a moment." The room was a giant library with stacks leading up to the roof. There were only a few lights hanging from the ceiling. Across the room from them as they entered was a figure standing in front of a wall of monitors and computers which were providing the most light into the room.


    The figure was standing by the monitors and spun around as Nina suddenly closed the distance in a quick sprint. This Daedalus was mostly made up of metal and gears with its four legs loudly clicking as it spun around. Its torso was made up of organs that were artificially floating in a clear tank of the same blue liquid that they had seen the snake spurt out as well when they killed it. On top of that tank was a neck tube that led to a very clearly human head.


    She knows there are abominations but this thing clearly topped anything they had seen or was recorded. But as she pulled her knives out and cut through its spindly legs and arms all she could think about was how pathetic it was.


    It did not even react by the time Daedalus'' clear tank body and head were the only thing left with its limbs all detached from its body. Nina stood and looked before glancing at the computer behind her.


    "From the noise I can only assume that Nina has finished her part." Jace''s voice came through the speaker. Nina growled in annoyance as she quickly sent a message. A moment later their long range communications were no longer jammed. Jace remotely disabled it and began overtly taking control of the Labyrinth facility.


    "Why? How?" Daedalus asked as he was still processing what had happened to him. All he could do was twist his head side to side. His already feeble body had been further disabled and destroyed to the point of immobility by Nina.


    "You were so focused on Jace, you neglected to watch the rest of us." Hielo spoke up as she walked up. She was gazing at the various books on the shelves. "This is a very expensive collection. Not to mention rare."


    "Ha¡­ yes I suppose it is. Will it be destroyed with the rest of the Labyrinth?" Daedalus asked as his face relaxed and he gazed down at the ground. It seems he has given up completely. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There is no need to worry. We cannot destroy the Labyrinth." Jace answered with a sigh causing Nina to flinch and glance at the monitors before she looked over at Tako and Hielo who were both holding their weapons pointed at Daedalus. "Nina, secure that room and disable the interface system. Then transport him to the hangar."


    Nina sighed under her breath. Then she quickly sent a message to the Anvil. A moment later she had a response. "Spectre Nina, this is Captain Hammers. I will send a ship to the hangar to pick up the prisoner. But afterwards you are supposed to go and guard the room that Jace found."


    "Guard the room?" Tako asked over their communication channel after the message stopped. "I thought the plan was to blow this place up. What changed?"


    Nina shrugged but suddenly darted forward, drawing her knives again.


    TING! DING!


    There was a quick clash of metal as a white figure moving quickly suddenly appeared. Nina barely had time to deflect its two attacks which were aimed at beheading Hielo and Tako. They barely even noticed as she quickly moved to protect them.


    Then the figure was standing on top of Daedalus'' water tank body. Now that it was still they could see it much more clearly. At the same time both Hielo and Tako finally processed what had just occurred. "Thanks." Hielo told Nina getting a nod in response as Nina had all of her attention focused on the new¡­ person?


    This person looked more like a white mannequin that was faceless, but with the impressions and depressions on its head that made it look like it had a face. It had a sleek feminine form that had gold along the edges. Between the edges of the white mannequin plates she could make out gears quickly moving underneath the shell. In one of its hands was a simple white sheath while the other had a simple and straight sword.


    The smooth face stared directly at Nina as it stayed still. The room was quiet as the two warriors faced off. Then Daedalus spoke up.


    "I see. So this is how I die?" Daedalus was looking up at the mannequin. The mannequin simply nodded without looking down. "Ha¡­ then please make it quick and absolute. I am just ashamed I will not be able to see the result of my lord''s magnificent creation." Daedaulus took in a breath of air and then breathed out. "Thank you."


    The mannequin moved a moment later and its blade quickly sliced through the Daedalus. First it went down the middle of both the head and body. Then it sliced several times horizontally. Then the last cuts it made were diagonal.


    CRACK!


    The mannequin flinched in surprise as a spider web of cracks emanated from a single point on its blade. The point was the spot that met Nina''s daggers. Nina grinned under her helmet and dashed forward.


    There was a quick exchange of blows. Each time the mannequin''s sword met one of Nina''s knives there was a spark. It happened over and over until suddenly the mannequin''s sword shattered into several pieces. Then before Nina could get in close and finish the job the mannequin suddenly dashed up one of the book shelves and then ran along the side of the bookshelf towards the door.


    Nina started chasing after the mannequin. But after a moment she stopped as she realized the mannequin was moving far too quickly then she could currently move in the armor she was wearing. As it was, the servos in her armor were showing catastrophic failure. It seems she still does not have full control of her own strength and ended up damaging the new shock trooper infantry armor.


    She looked over at the scattered remnants of the sword she destroyed and then grinned while looking at the direction the mannequin left in.


    SPLASH!


    Daedalus'' body suddenly fell apart with chunks of flesh, organs, and liquids falling onto the ground. It was like some type of delayed reaction to being cut. That mannequin really would have been a danger if she was not a Spectre.


    Nina quickly sent out a message to both Jace and the Anvil. Warning them about the clockwork mannequin she had just encountered. "What the hell was that?" Tako asked in surprise.


    "That was¡­ terrifying. I can now see why Jace had one Spectre per team. We might have been dead if it was not for you." Hielo bowed her head in appreciation again then she walked past the strange corpse to the console. "Now I need to disable this console before Jace gets too annoyed."


    "Spectre Nina, we just picked up a cloaked ship leaving the asteroid and immediately entering subspace. I apologize we were unable to spot them entering or prevent them from leaving." Captain Hammers apologized with a sigh.


    Nina shook her head. "Aw don''t worry you can get them next time. Fortunately those blades of yours managed to destroy that mannequin''s weapons." Hielo complimented as she finished disabling the console.


    Nina glanced down at the knives that were in her hands then she held them up to reveal that both of them had a crack in them. Hielo stopped in her tracks and then glanced at the remains of the mannequin''s weapons.


    "Well that''s not good." Hielo crouched down and began collecting the remains of the mannequin''s sword. "I suppose this means your new blades just went straight to the top of my to do list." Hielo then thought for a moment. "Well after all the stuff that Jace will pressure me to complete first."


    Nina sheathed her weapons and then gave Hielo a double thumbs up. Indicating her agreement.


    "So we are done here now. Does that mean¡­" Tako asked as Nina began walking to the door this time she hunched her shoulders.


    "It means we have to go and do a bunch more walking." Hielo confirmed as she jogged after Nina.

 Chapter 133 - 133: Labyrinth Report

    "Damn." Jace cursed under his breath as he removed his armor. His armor was going to need a complete overhaul. Or he might even just have to completely replace it.


    After Nina came to relieve him of his protection duty he came straight to the Anvil. Leaving the rest of his squad to protect that room. The ''mannequin'' was unexpected but it did not change what they had to do. That room on the other hand was a whole headache that would delay them for a bit.


    Jace''s armor came off in a few seconds to reveal his sweaty second skin suit that was underneath it. He walked out of the changing room with his boots and gloves still on. The engineers that were helping him were cursing and telling him to come back as he quickly marched to the main room where they were watching the helmet footage. He had his armor''s footage along with the recording he took of the room on a drive he was holding.


    The door opened to reveal several of Captain Hammers subordinates along with Vana standing around looking at some star charts. Hammers began frowning when he walked in. "Spectre Jace, I do not know why you-"


    "Requiem Protocol." Jace stared the captain in the eyes and watched as his eyes suddenly widened and then he bowed. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Everyone, leave the room. I apologize, Vana, that includes you." Captain Hammers began quickly rushing everyone out of the room and then stepped out himself. A moment later the lights in the room turned red and there was a buzz of noise as the room scanned for unauthorized recording devices.


    Once it was done the central console pulled up a digital keypad. Jace quickly plugged in a set of numbers he had memorized and then pressed enter. There was a ringing a few seconds later as the channel was attempting to connect.


    Jace stood at attention while he waited. One minute. Three minutes. Five minutes, was she busy? Ten minutes. Then not even a second later it stopped as a very loosely dressed Director Fenrir appeared with a scowl on her face.


    "Spectre Jace, this had better be important." Director Fenrir growled as her glare made him flinch through the holographic communication channel.


    "I apologize, Director." Jace slightly bowed. "We found what appears to be a record room in the Labyrinth. It appears that Lord Hoodwink has been studying it for a long time."


    Director Fenrir''s face changed from angry to surprise then it switched just as quickly to annoyed. "Ah, but it is in a foreign country. Normally the plan would be to immediately turn it over to the Woltar since it is not ours to claim. But for you to suddenly ask for a meeting¡­"


    Jace nodded his head. "I have found Requiem writing. Which was not not odd. I even found the pedestal in the center room that acted as a shorthand dictionary between Requiem''s language and two other languages. But the other two languages in the room were not anything I have seen before and were both added at the same time as the Requiem writing."


    "Well that is disturbing." A man walked into the hologram image beside the Director. He loosely wore a robe. "Can you tell us anything about these other writings that you have seen?" The man asked.


    Rather than immediately answer, Jace looked at Director Fenrir. His action seemed to cause Director Fenrir a great deal of amusement. While the man flinched and made a frustrated expression.


    "You can answer Spectre Jace. Only myself and the Emperor are in this room, I would say we are quite qualified." Director Fenrir told him with amusement while sticking her tongue out at the Emperor.


    "Your Spectres are far too loyal to you." The Emperor grumbled in annoyance.


    "That is their job honey." Director Fenrir answered.


    Jace waited an extra moment to make sure they were done speaking before. Then he cleared his throat. "I have never seen them before but the way they were both written was unique. The images that went along with them were both reminiscent of something but I could not conclusively identify them. The first language which was to the left of the Requiem writing was set up in circles going counterclockwise that spun in a circle going from outside to the inside. Then the second language-"


    "Hold up, what? The words were written in circles and going counter clockwise? How could you tell that?" The Emperor asked in surprise as he crossed his arms over his chest.


    Jace blinked for a moment before shrugging. "Capitalisation and punctuation." He then waved his hand. "Can I continue?" The Emperor sighed before waving at him to continue. Director Fenrir next to him was hiding a chuckle with her hand.


    "The second language I saw was written out like poems or songs. I have to do some research to confirm the specific format. Those things were never really in my area of interest. I have not yet begun translating the language but I can with your permission."


    "Was that all?" The Emperor asked.


    "No, it was not. What did the Requiem writing say?" Director Fenrir jumped in.


    Jace took a deep breath of air. "For those it concerns. Our mighty civilization of science and exploration has fallen. We were passive people and never concerned ourselves with the prospect of war. Until they came. Our galactic neighbors came and wiped us out. They brought war and violence to an otherwise peaceful galaxy. Our science made us a dangerous foe, so dangerous they could not use conventional weapons."


    Jace took a moment before he continued. "They did not care about the young or elderly. They did not discriminate against the other races we had been watching over or had created. All sentient creatures were things to be disposed of. This record room is here so you can understand them. Both are basic pieces of knowledge that have all characters of their respective languages. They were written in the normal format they write their languages. I would wish you luck in communicating with them for a peaceful resolution. But I hope you avenge us and stop these bloodthirsty things from destroying the galaxy again."


    "That''s¡­" The Emperor frowned. "This only further confirms our suspicions. We need to keep hold of that asteroid." He then looked to Director Fenrir. "You should personally go and negotiate. I am already going to be busy as it is."


    "I agree completely. Ha¡­" Director Fenrir brought a hand up and rubbed the back of her head. "Keep it secure. You have permission to secure the sight from all Woltar and anyone else that comes snooping around. Make sure to keep your contact quiet. If this gets out there will be trouble."


    Jace nodded, "understood. When should we expect you?"


    "Hmm¡­ two days. I have to organize and then bring the appropriate amount of people. Keep guard until then. Was that the only piece of Requiem stuff or do you have an update about your mission?" Director Fenrir answered.


    "The facility is called the Labyrinth. It is an interesting design that could be used for training. We have found evidence that Lord Hoodwink has been in operation for years. He had a subordinate, Daedalus, running the facility and taking care of his failed experiments. Most of which appear to be clockwork abominations. Unfortunately a new version that we have never seen before killed Daedalus and then disappeared. I will continue to follow leads." Jace gave a long winded answer.


    "Hm? Good then- ah¡­" Director suddenly moaned as the Emperor began trailing kisses up her neck. "Hold on, I am not done. Just- ah¡­ stop you- Prick!" Director Fenrir suddenly spun around and smacked him on the head. "Wait until I end the call!"


    "Well hurry up. It is not like we have forever. If you are going to organize an occupation in two days then we have only a few more hours together before we are both too busy again." The Emperor backed away after being hit until he was out of the hologram.


    Jace kept a straight face as Director Fenrir turned her attention to him. "As I was saying before. I have your next assignment in mind already. I will hand off the orders when I come to relieve you of your protection duties."


    "Understood Director!" Jace suddenly saluted and then the hologram was deactivated. He stood for a moment longer before scratching the back of his neck. The room''s lights switched to its normal color after a moment and the door opened up. Captain Hammers and Vana both immediately spilled into the room. Jace sighed as he looked at them.


    "What are our orders?" Captain Hammers asked while Vana looked between them with suspicion and confusion since she did not know what was going on.


    "We are to wait here and continue protecting the Labyrinth. Send a full search party and then dock once you determine it is safe enough. I am going back in, apprise me of any ships that are coming near us." Jace then walked past them. "Keep Vana from communicating with her superiors for the time being."

 Chapter 134 - 134: Unwelcome Guests

    "I am tired." Jace answered honestly as he was being glared at by the other occupants in the room. Across from him is a Woltar General that was growling. As well as the Captain of the Inquisitor Ship, Judas. Then there was the head inquisitor from the Judas.


    On his side of the table there was Vana sitting across from the General. While Captain Hammers sat across from the captain of the Judas. They arrived this morning at the same time. The General and his ship had come when Vana had failed to check in with them. They encountered the Judas and came here together to the approximate area where we were located.


    Then the Anvil reached out to them to notify them of their position. But they have refused to reveal anything else about who they were to the Inquisitors or what they were doing here. As far as the General was aware they were out here destroying an asteroid. At least that is the ''official'' story that he was told about.


    "Agent Vana, I was informed that you were attached to this unit and that they were out here destroying an asteroid. But that was it. So tell me what is actually going on and why your communications to the Nymph Headquarters stopped." The General asked with a frown.


    Vana sighed and shrugged, "at the moment? I have no clue. But the entire ship is on communications lockdown for a few more days." It was true, in order to maintain secrecy they had refrained from allowing Vana to even roam the ship let alone contact her bosses.


    The Inquisitor frowned at Vana''s words and glared at Jace. "I understand this Woltar Agent and Captain Hammers being at this meeting. A meeting where the upper management of your ship has been called into question regarding your presence and what you are doing out here. But this is clearly not the Captain''s second in command. So what is he doing here?" He pointed at Jace.


    Jace smirked and shrugged, "then ignore me and get on with the meeting. I need some sleep so I will just stay here and take a nap." Jace then leaned back and closed his eyes.


    Captain Hammers sighed loudly while the captain of the Judas glared at Jace. Hammers then patted Jace''s shoulder, "no can do. Technically, Spectre Jace here is the reason we are in a state of standstill while also being on communication lockdown."


    "Spectre? What the hell is a Spectre?" The Judas captain asked.


    "It is a new rank outside of the normal military and Inquisitor rankings. As far as anyone is concerned the only ones that can give a Spectre an order is another Spectre, the Emperor, or the Director." Jace explained with a shrug. The captain of the Judas'' eyes widened in surprise for a moment before he stood up and saluted. The Inquisitor did not do the same, Jace opened one eye and waved his hand in a shooing motion. "You are fine. Sit and relax."


    "I doubt the validity of your statement considering your youth." The Inquisitor told them in suspicion. He then looked over at the captain, "if you are trying to pull one of over on us I will charge with treason for falsifying yourself as ''intelligence officers'' and then-"


    "I am sorry, I believe you are misunderstanding." Jace interrupted and then took a long sigh. "The rank of Spectre is not so easily handed out that a person can climb the ranks to achieve it. Nor is it one you can buy or get through normal means. Spectres are appointed by the nano system." That was the truth but he disguised it as being picked when it was really the system offering the opportunity with the people training endlessly to step onto the path of being a Spectre. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What do you mean-" The Inquisitor was bewildered completely and was about to ask more questions when a subordinate of Captain Hammers ran in. He whispered in Hammers ear but Jace smirked as he heard the subordinate''s words.


    Hammers looked at Jace and he nodded in response. Hammers then looked at the rest. "I apologize but it appears we have to go down to the hangar to welcome a new guest. If you will join me¡­" Hammers stood from his seat and Jace joined him with Vana hesitantly following suit.


    The others across the table slowly stood up and followed them as they walked out the room. They walked further behind Hammers, Jace, and Vana. Hammers led the way. Vana walked up next to Jace and whispered to him.


    "Why are we going? Actually, more importantly who arrived? You have been in the asteroid up until now and Hammers had me basically confined to my guest quarters. It was definitely not what was promised." Vana told Jace with a frown.


    Jace smileed at her. "Yeah, I apologize I was following orders. Fortunately that no longer matters. But chances are, we will be heading to our next destination before the end of the day." Jace told her honestly.


    "That did not answer my questions." Vana glared at him while making a pouting face.


    Jace chuckled and nudged her shoulder. "Come on, use the context clues. I provided enough that you should be able to figure out the answer to both of those questions, not to mention the answer is the same for both questions." He was intentionally teasing her to kill time.


    "Haa¡­" Vana took a deep breath of air. "You said ''following orders'' and that it ''no longer matters''. So someone who has the ability to order you around has arrived. But their presence and arrival demands your command staff and any other people of note to welcome them. Which is why you are bringing your guests."


    "Good so far." Jace nodded in appreciation as he watched her out of the corner of his eye.


    "Then you said there are only three categories of people that can order you around: other Spectres, or some Director, or the Emperor." Vana''s words began catching the attention of the three behind them. "But the only ones that would have courtesy demand bring your guests is royalty or high nobility. So my first guess would be the Emperor himself."


    Jace made an annoying noise then said, "wrong."


    "I figured." Vana nodded as she took in another breath of air. "Then that means it is either the Director or one of the Spectres but they have the status of being high nobility or royalty."


    "Bah! She copped out!" Hammers chuckled from ahead of them, getting a glare in the back of the head from Vana.


    They walked into the hangar. It was a quick walk from the meeting room they were at since it was just down the hall. As they entered they were welcomed by the site of an armored transport vessel landing.


    "What Spectre Jace failed to inform you of the organization method of the Spectre''s themselves. Because you can''t have them making competing orders. They are organized by strength, and Jace there is the strongest. Therefore¡­" Hammers quietly chuckled as he waved one of his hands to make his point as the ramp of the vessel lowered. "Well you get the picture."


    The Inquisitor looked at Jace with suspicion. While the Woltar General and Vana looked at him with respect. The captain of the Judas was looking at him more with surprise. All because, what Captain Hammers had just implied was that Jace was the third highest ranking member in both the Vexical Military and possibly the government.


    "While that is not exactly right it is not completely wrong. Spectres are special units that can be ordered to operate under lower ranks themselves. Such as having him work with Captain Hammers on their current assignment." Director Fenrir walked down the still lowering ramp jumping off and walking up to them. "The plan was just to hand off your orders while I took control here but I saw someone both unneeded and unwanted appeared."


    Captain Hammers chuckled and slightly bowed. Jace shrugged while lazily saluting. The captain of the Judas immediately kneeled and bowed his head. While the Woltar General gave a deep bow while chuckling as his expression changed to one of amusement. The Inquisitor gritted as well and kneeled while bowing his head. But Jace could hear the grinding of teeth. Vana on the other hand was completely confused how to react.


    "Your esteemed and most glorious majesty, Consort-" Hammers began introducing the Director.


    But Jace interrupted, "yeah yeah yeah. Can we move on? Boss Lady does not care at all about long introductions. Do you want me to stay and help you deal with these three or can I get my orders and go?" Jace asked while the Woltar General sent a glare his way.


    Director Fenrir smiled, "gladly. Fortunately it also has your punishment in there as well." She walked up and handed him a black folder she was carrying. She then crossed her arms and stared at him, clearly waiting for his reaction.


    Jace frowned and looked down at the pages in the folder when he opened it. His face instantly morphed into one of disgust and annoyance. "What? Why? Please-"


    "Nope. That is your punishment and also your next mission. We want to take a more political approach. Just make sure that she-" Director Fenrir pointed at Vana. "-does not leave the ship."


    "Haa¡­ understood." Jace sighed as he read the files and looked at the two tickets. "Do you have the labyrinth?"


    "Yeah, you can call them back." Director Fenrir answered as she walked over to the Woltar General. "General, it is a pleasure to see you again. How long has it been?"


    The Woltar General stood up and shook Director Fenrir''s hand. "It has been too many years, Princess Fenrir."


    Jace began walking away and tapped his watch which connected to the communication channel. "Come on back to the ship and get some rest. Nina, meet me in the briefing room."

 Chapter 135 - 135: Ballroom

    Jace grunted in annoyance as he adjusted his collar. This regal outfit was not his style. He was wearing a black and red outfit that had an open collar instead of a tie or bowtie. The edges of the outfit had a gold trim. The only item on him that was actually his was the watch and undergarments.


    He glanced over at his quietly sleeping companion. Nina was dressed in an evening gown that was in a similar color scheme of red and black with her gloves and purse matching it. With gold lining the edges as well. As far as he was aware the watch on her wrist was the only thing that seemed out of place on her outfit.


    The vehicle slowly came to a stop and Nina''s eyes shot open. While the driver in the front seat looked back at them. He was dressed up in a basic uniform used for Chauffeurs. But his distinct anthro features gave away his race as an Uris while the metal shackle barely visible around his neck indicated he is a slave. "We are here."


    Then the doors by both Jace and Nina were opened by butlers. Jace stepped out and was bowed to by an anthro-tiger in a butler uniform. He glanced over at Nina and saw that she moved over to the end of a carpet that was rolled out of an extravagant castle.


    Jace walked up and joined Nina at the edge of the carpet and offered his arm. She locked arms with him and they began walking up the carpet to the massive castle that was lined with gold with statues of Leonair people and lions around. Along the sides of the carpet were various Leonair guards and attendants.


    They walked up to the door and it was opened up by two guards. They entered into a massive lobby where more attendants and slaves were moving around. A human butler with graying hair bowed to them.


    "Umm¡­ Spectres Jace and Nina. I apologize that is all I was told for your names and titles. Please follow me to the ballroom. We will be entering through one of the upper floor entrances since the King wishes to speak with such unique individuals such as yourself." The butler told them.


    Jace and Nina quickly exchanged a look between them. Jace then looked back at the butler. "Lead the way. I am curious about something as well." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The butler nodded and then led the way up an extravagant wooden staircase. It was carpeted with purple and yellow materials. Around the lobby were various tapestries, paintings and statues. Most of the statues were depictions of lions in different poses. While the tapestries were of lions tearing another creature apart or of anthro-lions leading armies into battle. The paintings were images of families, likely the various generations of the ruling Leonair family.


    They arrived at a pair of wooden doors that had lions resting on their haunches engraved on them. They had gold door knobs and some gold in certain spots on the engravings to enhance the image of the lion.


    As the butler opened the door a cacophony of noise hit them. They walked into the second floor balcony of a ballroom. Hanging from the roof were yellow currents pulled to the side. While lining the floor is a purple and yellow carpet.


    Loosely spread around were small groups of people talking with drinks in hand and servants bringing them food. Most of them had extravagant rings and clothes on which indicated their nobility. Down on the lower floor was where an orchestra was playing music and people were dancing. It was also where the lounges and some more public rest areas were located.


    Meanwhile up on the third floor were much more loosely populated groups. They were having much more secretive conversations. Then there was the fourth floor which had several private rooms for different purposes. Even from down here he could hear the moans and groans of pleasure coming from those rooms with his super hearing.


    The butler led them over toward the top area of a set of extravagant stairs that came up from the ballroom floor. Sitting in thrones at the top of those stairs were three people in expensive clothing. Around these thrones of gold and purple cushions were several guards who were standing at attention. While there were a few people nearby, either approaching and talking to the man on the biggest of the three thrones or just waiting nearby by a guard who had slightly different markings on his uniform.


    The largest of the three thrones had an anthro-lion man and was made gold with purple and yellow cushions. The top of the chair had a roaring lion''s head made of gold. The man was an old man with yellow hair and fur that had stripes of white. Sat atop his head was a gold jeweled crown. His skin was wrinkled but under his cape and outfit, Jace could tell the man had muscles. Even while the old man looked on with boredom at the man in front of him.


    In the second largest throne was another anthro-lion, this one was an old woman. The cushions were the same but it was made of silver instead of gold. While the top of the chair had the image of a resting female lion. The woman had much more white hair to the point that her dark yellow hair was almost nonexistent. She was dressed in a white, purple, and yellow dress with a silver crown on her head. Unlike the man she seemed to be much more fragile. The woman was looking past the guest and instead was looking down at the first floor.


    Then the smallest of the three thrones had an anthro-lion with much less lion features. His chair was made of copper and had the same type of cushions. On the top of the chair had a smaller lion cub on it made of copper. He was much younger, somewhere between fifteen and eighteen. It is difficult to tell with all the genetic modifications people can sometimes undergo. He was dressed in uniform similar to the man but without the extra regal pieces of clothing.


    The butler held out his hand, stopping Jace and Nina. Then he walked forward to the man in gold and whispered in his ear. The older man looked over at Jace and Nina then he smiled a toothy grin that was filled with excitement. The older man then whispered back to the butler.


    Nina made a discrete motion asking him what they were talking about. Jace quietly answered. "The butler told them we were the people from the Vexical Empire chasing their mad scientist. The king then told the butler to go retrieve his special guest."


    The old man, or rather the king, then dismissed the noble who was talking about a marriage alliance. He then looked over to Jace and Nina while motioning to his head guard to hold back the other that wanted to talk with him. "Spectres Jace and Nina of the Vexical Empire. Step forward. I have heard so much about you from an acquaintance."


    Jace stepped forward up to in front of the thrones but refrained from bowing. He also stopped his expression from changing. Because there was no way he should have known who he was through normal means. "I hope it was all good things, your highness."


    The king''s eye twitched at Jace''s clear disrespect. Then he stood up causing the guards to slightly move in surprise while the king approached Jace while both his queen and the crown prince both looked on in surprise. "I was also told that you are also probably the most dangerous person that would be here."


    Now the guards were really reacting as a few of them tensed up. "Well that is flattering. But I doubt I am, especially with your highness being here." Jace slightly bowed his head. He could feel Nina slightly shake for a moment as she chuckled.


    "Ha¡­" The king now looked far more annoyed. "You are intentionally trying to provoke me. Does the Vexical Empire not care about how offended I might feel? I may even declare war." The king told him while Jace could feel a pressure from the killing intent that the king began exuding.


    Jace happily grinned, "we would be delighted if you did that. It would give us an excuse to invade if you did."


    After a moment the king began bellowing out laughter and then spun around and walked back to the throne. "I am not a fool, Spectre. But I would like to make formal introductions first." He sat on the throne and unlike before he was exuding a presence and pressure instead of just looking bored. "My name is King Vinnie Leos, I am the twelfth king of the Leonair kingdom. The second king to rise to the throne since the fall of the Grand Hexarian Empire. To my right is my Queen, Ella Leos. While to my left is my young son and the Crown Prince of my kingdom, Etros Leos."


    Jace smiled after a moment and then introduced themselves. "I am Spectre Jace of the Vexical Military. My companion is Spectre Nina of the Vexical Military. Unfortunately the nature of our position means we are not able to share anything else regarding our identity."

 Chapter 136 - 136: Provoking

    "Preposterous!" The Crown Prince yelled. Which caused the Queen to flinch for a moment while the King looked over at him. While his shouting caught the attention of many others. "Why can you not share something as civil and simple as-"


    "Prince Etros!" The King yelled. Startling the young prince out of his rage. "Calm yourself. Did you not hear what I said about them wanting a war?"


    "The King is right, young Prince." An old croaky voice spoke up. Jace only glanced out of the corner of his eye but he quickly held Nina back as a spike of aggression appeared in her stance. She was tense and Jace understood why as he looked at the speaker and his companion.


    The speaker was a wrinkled man with graying skin. He was wearing a black and gray robe. With a few strands of white hair on his head. His fingers and limbs were almost skeletal with how thin they were. His cheeks were sunken and his eye sockets were deep. He sat in a gray wheelchair.


    Pushing the wheelchair was a bone white mannequin. She matched the description that Nina had written in her report. A feminine form with a face plate that had indentations to make it almost like a face. This time she was wearing a black dress.


    "It seems that your partner for this ball is just as excited as mine is." The gray man chuckled with amusement.


    "Sir Hoods and Miss Yang, thank you for joining us." The King smiled as he welcomed his esteemed guests. "You were correct about them not hiding their contempt. Nor about them hiding their objective. Can you tell us more about these Spectres?"


    Lord Hoodwink as Jace identified him, began chuckling in amusement. "Not much unfortunately. I only learned the names of the people who were sent to hunt me down a few days ago. Although I would not consider either of them on the human level. But I suspect you already thought as much?"


    The King quietly chuckled while the Prince sat back in his seat, "What do you mean teacher?" The Prince asked towards Lord Hoodwink, or Lord Hoods as he went by here.


    "I mean instincts. Genetic variations that rely on animals all have a basic instinct that you are able to hone." Lord Hoodwink began explaining. "You are too young and inexperienced at the moment, but when you get older you will be able to better hone your senses and instincts."


    "As for him not being human," The King chuckled. "Humans can only get so strong. Not even the Grand Hexarian''s Praetorians would exude the type of danger that you do." His words caused a stir among the older people that were present and lived during the Grand Hexarian''s reign. "So I can only assume that the Vexical Empire found a way to create their own version of Praetorians."


    Praetorians were similar to Spectres. They were the most elite troops of the Grand Hexarian''s Empire. They were the faceless troops who only responded to the rightful ruler. But when the nation collapsed they seemingly disappeared. They were what the Vexical Empire mottled their Infantry soldiers after. Soldiers who could take on just about anything. Jace only learned during his last month of training about them, they were practically erased from the history books. But considering the Director and several of the guards and training officers were Praetorians he figured the Vexical Empire has had the ability to make Praetorians for years.


    In fact he figured their country was the reason the Praetorians had disappeared. Something had happened back then that caused them to take refuge in the Vexical Empire. Especially considering many of the training officers were old enough to have been alive during the fall of the Grand Hexarian Empire.


    Jace grinned as the King worked it out. "Something like that. But we do have Praetorians as well. They are just not nearly as fun as us." Jace answered honestly with a shrug. "But I am curious," Jace looked over at Hoodwink. "Why does a royal like yourself associate with a bottom feeding piece of trash like him?"


    The Prince growled toward them. While the King narrowed his eyes. "Lord Jonathen Hoods is an honorable man. He has helped us on many occasions and displayed scientific prowess after helping advance our military technologies."


    "So then you are completely fine with his experiments on living beings, ranging from the elderly to young children?" Jace asked with a chuckle and caught sight of the Queen quietly gasping while her eyes widened. He could also hear a few other gasps and whispers among the listening crowd. But the majority did not speak up or say anything. It was probably a not so open secret that experimentation on living people was occurring.


    "So what does it matter? They were just slaves and other pieces of trash. They were disposable for the glory of royalty like myself and the nobility." The Prince proudly declared and got many nods from the nobles around the room who were listening.


    But Jace refrained from responding to the moron, instead opting to stare at the King who was glaring back at Jace. They stayed like that while the Prince began getting red in the face after realizing he was being ignored. After a few minutes of tense silence the King responded. "It was necessary for my Kingdom''s survival. But I suspect you already knew that."


    Jace glared back at the man before shrugging, "if a country needs to survive off the backs of their lowest class then the country does not deserve to survive. So maybe you should just roll over and let us take over." Jace suggested.


    King Leos growled for a moment before he took a breath and glared at Jace. "It seems our conversation has reached a conclusion. I will remind you to restrain yourselves, otherwise I will see it as a declaration of war if you do something uncalled for."


    Jace grinned and gave a very slight head nod, "understood your highness." He then led Nina away who was still glaring at the creature that was referred to as Miss Yang.


    He listened in on Lord Hoods'' and the King''s conversation for a moment.


    "I apologize for being a shameful scar on your mighty country''s reputation." Lord Hoods apologized to the King. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You are not the one that should be apologizing, teacher." The Prince jumped in. "It should be that unbearable man and his companion. I mean she did not even speak. Isn''t that right, father?"


    Jace and Nina arrived at an unoccupied table on the second floor and waved an attendant down. A young fox beastman slave with orange hair. Then the young beastman raced off to get Jace and Nina their drinks.


    Beastman were another species that were found in the galaxy. Unlike the anthro people they were fully covered in hairs or other features depending on the tribe they come from. Amusingly enough they are not actually a genetic variation on humans and instead migrated to the galaxy only within the last two hundred years. For the most part they were enslaved and imprisoned since there is not an independent nation that would stand up for them.


    "No, the man is a soldier. Not a noble. I am sure he comes from a lower class. So he is only telling it how he sees it. As for the woman, I have seen the scar that was on her neck before. She had her voice box surgically removed, I doubt by choice." King Leos almost spoke with awe as he responded. "I can only assume someone young like her was captured and tortured, yet she still managed to stand before us."


    "So you noticed as well?" Lord Hoods chuckled before continuing, "The one called Spectre Nina fought Miss Yang to a standstill and even managed to break the blade that the young prince gifted her."


    "Then they are both deserving of respect and-" The King stopped mid sentence as an attendant walked up to them. Interrupting their conversation.


    "Your Majesty, it is time to give a speech." The old attendant bowed and went to his knees and everything to show his respect and loyalty to the king.


    The king sighed and waved Lord Hoods away, "we will talk again later. Go and enjoy the party Lord Hoods." He then turned his attention to the old attendant. They then began talking about the mood of the party and a few other miscellaneous things.


    Lord Hoods then whispered to Miss Yang and she then began rolling him in their direction. The young fox beastman slave arrived with their drinks before racing off to attend to another order while carrying a tray of various alcoholic drinks.


    Nina took a sip to savor the mixer of alcohol she was given. While Jace just picked up and spun the glass of bourbon he was given. He then turned to Lord Hoods who rolled up next to them with a smile on his face.


    "I am surprised Lord Hoodwink or should I call Lord Hoods?" Jace asked nonchalantly while Nina went back to having a stare down with Miss Yang. "I truly was not expecting you to come and meet us face to face."

 Chapter 137 - 137: Civilized Conversation

    "Hoodwink will do," Hoodwink shrugged his shoulders. "As for meeting you. I was in the neighborhood. So I thought I might as well meet the heroes who have come to slay the great demon that has been tormenting their lands."


    Jace raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Great demon? So you even see yourself as a villain." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hoodwink chuckled, "of course I do not. I am only doing what is necessary for the survival of all people. I am preparing for a war that will happen at some point in the future. You were at the Labyrinth, and I know you saw it. The writings in that room."


    Jace frowned as he looked at the prey of his hunt. Wishing he could reach across the table and throttle the man. Instead he tapped at his watch a few times and sent a message to the Anvil. "So you are trying to make a weapon that can stand up to the creatures that exterminated the much more scientifically advanced Requiem."


    "Requiem?" Hoodwink blinked for a moment before he nodded in understanding. "I see, I remember hearing that is what you call them in the Vexical Empire." He then waved down another slave that was attending to guests at the party and asked for a drink. "Yes, I do suppose it is a daunting task."


    "Then why do it in this part of the galaxy when you are a prince of the Imperium." Jace asked with a raised eyebrow and watched for Hoodwink''s reaction. He had been given the intel only a few hours before flying down to the planet. Hoodwink was a prince of the Kaiser Imperium Krieger. Or more specifically he was a prince, but he was now believed to be dead. There was not much else they could dig up without a more in depth investigation which was already underway.


    His face morphed into one of surprise and then anger and then he relaxed. Hoodwink sighed in exasperation, "because for the last roughly twenty years that part of the galaxy has been embroiled in a state of civil war. They are good about keeping it suppressed and hidden from the commoners. Just as good as they are about keeping each other in a state of war."


    "So what? You fled to the old Grand Hexarian territories to find test subjects to use without being constantly on guard against the other factions?" Jace asked with doubt. The man was clearly about to spout some sob story.


    "Well I had to avoid distractions so I could peacefully conduct my experiments." Hoodwink answered.


    Jace shook his head. "I doubt that. I am betting that despite all the horrible experiments going on over there, you ended up crossing the line and were chased out. Probably even faked your death since you did not want them to focus on you and they saw you as a common enemy."


    Hoodwink stared at Jace for a moment before he leaned back in his chair and chuckled. "You are right." He rested his head on one of his hands that he propped up using the arm of his wheelchair. "Those irredeemable hypocrites chased me out of the Imperium. I had to fake my death and then smuggle myself out. But I am curious, how could you tell?"


    "Some do-gooder-noble does not run into foreign territory with several crates of experimental weapons technology. I am guessing you had to bargain for help from the anthro-goat smuggler?" Jace asked in suspicion.


    "Actually it was his parents. I gave them technology I had already dissected and understood. Things I had no need for. So the boy still had all of that technology all this time later?" Hoodwink chuckled. "I must say you are holding yourself back pretty well. Are you not worried I will just hide in Leonair territory?"


    Jace smirked and shook his head. "You may be under the protection of the Leonair royal family but the moment you step out of the territory we will kill you. Even if you claim to be part of an ambassadors group."


    "Ha¡­ that is¡­ terrifying." Hoodwink sighed before motioning for Miss Yang to turn him around as the King cleared his throat to catch the occupants in the ballroom''s attention. "Fortunately, the Vexical Empire has enough on its plate. So they will not declare war on this Kingdom. Otherwise, I would be in big trouble."


    Jace looked toward the King as the music in the room and the party goers went quiet. The King stood at the top of the stairs with a scepter in one hand while his other hand rested on a jeweled sword that hung at his hip.


    "My most noble and honorable citizens of this great Kingdom and other honored guests." There was a chorus of chuckles through the room before King Leos continued. "We are here to celebrate the coming of age of my heir and your Crown Prince."


    There was another chorus of claps from the people in the room which the King let continue for a minute before he turned to the Prince who walked up next to him. Joining him at the top of the stairs.


    The King raised his scepter in the air and then turned to the Prince. Who bowed and crouched on one knee. The King brought the scepter over the Prince''s head. "With this the Crown Prince can no longer be referred to as young and will take over my position upon my death."


    The King then handed off the scepter to an attendant and took a chalice from another attendant. "Stand my son." The Prince stood. "Now from my own cup, you will have your first taste of pleasure of being an adult." The King then took a swig of the wine from the glass. Jace could smell the strong scent from the glass. After taking a swig he handed the chalice to the Prince. "Now finish it."


    The Prince then brought the cup to his lips and drank the rest of the wine that was in the Chalice. Tipping his head back as he finished it. After he brought the chalice down from his lips he had to steady himself and shook his head to ward off the dizziness that Jace was sure was hitting the Crown Prince. There were chuckles in the audience at the sight of the dizzy Crown Prince.


    In the Leonair Kingdom the drinking ceremony is a key part of a royal''s coming of age party. It symbolizes and recognizes that even royals are imperfect especially after taking their first drink of alcohol. As well as seen as the only time anyone can make fun of a royal. Before this ceremony, the royals are strictly forbidden from even touching an object that is containing alcohol.


    "With his first drink of alcohol we can now get the second half of this party- KHOFF!" The King was interrupted mid sentence as a spurt of blood launched from his mouth. Then he began hacking and wheezing as more blood poured out of his mouth. At the same time Jace could see blood begin to leak from his eyes, ears, and even his nose.


    The rest of the room was silent as the King collapsed to the ground and then rolled down the stairs. Leaving a trail of blood down the yellow and purple carpet.


    "Father!- KHOFF!" The Crown Prince yelled in surprise as he processed what had just happened. But before he could do anything he began coughing up blood as well. While also bleeding from his eyes, ears, and nose.


    He stumbled toward the nearest guard and grabbed onto him. "Help- KHOFF -me!" The Crown Prince of the Leonair Kingdom yelled in desperation before he collapsed to the ground and then began convulsing.


    The Queen who was still standing by her throne was blinking in surprise but as they began reacting by calling for a physician and other people to help she collapsed and fainted. Some of the guards immediately came in and carried her away.


    Then a man in a military uniform walked up to the top of the stairs and called out for the guards to secure both the King and Crown Prince. As the commotion was occurring several more guards began appearing at the various doors and exits to the ballroom.


    Jace looked over at Lord Hoodwink. The expression on his face was one of pure disbelief. "Should I assume you have nothing to do with this?" Jace asked Hoodwink quietly while glancing back at Nina who was no longer focused on Miss Yang but was instead assessing the room and quickly sending a message to the Anvil.


    "No." Hoodwink blinked and shook his head. "They were my very cultivated protection against the Vexical Empire. Why in the world would I kill them? How about you? Was this your doing?" Hoodwink asked in turn. At the same time he quietly pulled a device from a pocket and began tapping on it.


    "No, assassination would trigger the defensive pact that the Leonair have with the Circle of Yuri, the New Hexarian Republic, and the Holy Empire." Jace answered with a sigh. "This is the work of someone who does not fear retribution from those nations."

 Chapter 138 - 138: Simple Interview

    Hoodwink hummed in agreement as the person in a Leonair Military Uniform at the top of the stairs cleared his throat. "I apologize but I am going to have to ask that all of the guests stay here during the duration of this investigation. We have determined that the King, Vinnie Leos, and his heir, Crown Prince Etros Leos, are dead and unable to be brought back."


    "In a few moments one of my esteemed royal investigators will come around to interview you. I ask that you be patient and not feel insulted by their line of questions." The man told the room before he turned around and then began speaking with some of the guards who began nodding. Then an attendant walked into the room and quickly walked over the man and whispered in his ear.


    The man then turned in the redirection before nodding and waving the attendant away. He then quickly walked over to them after dismissing the people he was talking to. When he arrived in front of them he gave a slight bow before introducing himself.


    "Honorable Lord Hoods, I hope you do not mind if I, Head Royal Investigator Gaius Trebal, do your group interview first." He then stood up straight and stared them down.


    "I do not mind. I just would like to get back to my ship as soon as possible. Which is why I assume you came straight to us?" Hoodwink responded.


    Gaius smiled and slightly bowed his head, "that is correct. Your ship landed at the port and your other bodyguards arrived. So I thought it would be best to start with your group." He then looked over the four of them who were clearly separated between the two groups. "I will also try to get our guests from the Vexical Empire out of here quickly."


    Jace nodded, "thank you for your consideration."


    Gaius appeared to be knowledgeable and wanted to be rid of the two opposing groups as soon as possible. "Now then, I will need a timeline from all of you. From the moment you landed on this planet. Who would like to go first?"


    "Myself and Spectre Nina can start." Jace answered, "We have less details to go through so it should be quick." Jace waited until Gaius nodded and pulled out a datapad before he started. "Nina and I arrived on the planet at the Royal Capital Spaceport by one of our military transport vessels. After disembarking the vessel went back to our ship. While we were given a military escort to the limo and then escorted to the royal palace. We were then welcomed by a gray haired butler who brought us directly to the King through a second floor entrance and we spoke with him for a bit. Then we were joined by Lord Hoods and Miss Yang. Then we were dismissed and allowed to join the party. Then Lord Hoods and Miss Yang came to join us after speaking with the King for a bit. Then we listened and watched the ceremony and saw them share a chalice of alcohol before spewing up blood. They also began bleeding from the eyes, ears, and nose as well."


    Gaius continued to tap away at his datapad for a few seconds before nodding and looking to Nina, "can you confirm Spectre Jace''s story?"


    Nina nodded and made a few motions with her hands. Saying in sign language that it was exactly as Jace had stated. Gaius blinked in confusion before looking between Jace and Hoodwink. "That means yes, she cannot speak." Hoodwink confirmed, probably hoping to push this along.


    "Very well, then Lord Hoods if you can recount your and Miss Yang''s journey." Gaius asked after tapping the datapad a few times.


    Hoodwink nodded, "well we arrived on the planet two days ago. We landed at the private landing pad that is in the palace. In the same vessel that is there now. We were the only two to disembark. We went straight to the King''s office where I asked a favor of him that piqued his curiosity and he obliged."


    "What was the favor?" Gaius asked.


    "I asked him to send an invitation to the Vexical Empire for the coming of age party today. I knew they would take the bait and send someone since they were already wanting to ask about my testing facility that is on the edge of the Leonair territory." Hoodwink answered honestly.


    Gaius looked at Jace who just shrugged. "Okay¡­ please continue your story."


    "After leaving the King''s office we went to see the Crown Prince. Then as I shared with him another story of my travels, Miss Yang showed him a few sword techniques." Hoodwink motioned at his bodyguards. "Then afterwards we went and spoke with the third princess about an experiment."


    "Experiment?" Gaius interrupted.


    "Yes, she was curious about genetically altering for enhancements." Hoodwink answered. "After visiting and talking with her we retired for the night in a guest room. Then the next morning I had breakfast and tutored the eleventh prince. Mostly in the basic sciences and chemistry. It appears he has an aptitude in chemistry but struggles in understanding the basics." Hoodwink took a breath before he continued.


    "Then at lunch I spoke to the King and Queen about Jace and Nina''s unit and my impression of them. Afterwards I went to the slave market and purchased some more slaves and had my ship pick them up. Then when dinner time came around I joined the royal family for their dinner. Then I retired for the night. Then this morning I woke up late and purchased some supplies and sent them to my ship. Then I joined some of the princes and princesses for lunch, but there was something strange about the atmosphere. So then I prepared for the party and I was speaking with some scholars when the king called for me and I came out to join Spectre Jace and Nina. That is just about all that I did." Hoodwink waved his hands. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm¡­" Gaius nodded. "Miss Yang was with you the entire time?"


    Miss Yang, the white mannequin in black dress, gave a slight bow. "Yes, as my bodyguard she never once left my side." Hoodwink confirmed.


    Gaius tapped on his datapad for a few moments before nodding. "Very well, I am having some of my trusted subordinates run down and confirm your story. I apologize but this will take a few minutes. I will have¡­" Gaius waved at a few guards and motioned for them to come over. "These guards stay with you. Then when your story is confirmed I will have them take you all to the Royal Palace''s landing pad. So that after Lord Hoods leaves, the Spectres can have their ship send a vessel to pick them up. I will give special permission for you to leave through that landing pad."


    Jace slightly bowed his head, "thank you for your consideration." He then tapped his communication watch a few times. Telling the Anvil to have a transport vessel on standby to come down and pick them up on their order.


    Gaius gave a slight bow before he walked away. Walking toward another set of tables. Now that the investigators had begun their interviews the people from the third floor and the private rooms on the fourth had been brought down.


    Jace was looking over them and flinched as he overheard something from a disheveled man and woman who came from the fourth floor. Hoodwink noticed where he was staring. "That is the Second Prince and Fifth Princess. They openly oppose the current regime''s tyrannical behavior. They drew a lot of support from lower level nobles and the commoners."


    Jace sucked in a breath of air then spoke. "Seems they do not just share a view of politics. They also share a bed."


    Hoodwink made a noise of surprise. "Well I suppose it does make sense, they are the only two royals with a view like that. But they were both born from the current Queen. Unlike the rest of the Princes and Princesses who were born of affairs and concubines."


    Nina made a few motions with her hands and Hoodwink whistled in surprise. Jace on the other hand chuckled, "yeah I could tell. She is hiding it well, but it appears she is in the very early stages of pregnancy."


    Hoodwink then looked around the room. "Was there a particular reason you looked at them specifically? Because I doubt they are the only incestious couple that is in the room."


    Jace smiled and shook his head lying through his teeth. "Nope, there was no particular reason."


    One of the guards stepped forward, "your stories have been confirmed. I have been asked to bring you to the Royal Palace''s private landing pad." He bowed, "if you would please follow me. Lord Hoods, Miss Yang, Spectre Jace, Spectre Nina."


    A moment later Miss Yang was pushing Lord Hoods'' wheelchair while following the guard. Jace and Nina were following them and behind Jace and Nina were a pair of guards. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of the Second Prince whispering something while he watched them leave the room.


    Seems trouble would be coming their way.

 Chapter 139 - 139: No. No?

    They arrived at the landing pad without anyone getting in the way or causing any issues. Which is how they came upon the spacecraft that was before them. It was in no way a small transport ship or vessel.


    Instead it seemed to be a medium sized Migration-Class vessel. It had a black and gray coloring and design on the exterior. But it was shaped like an attack craft with its bulky center. The front had a visible cockpit. While the back had four different engines, all of which were glowing slightly. Indicating their state of being on. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the side of the vehicle a ramp had been lowered. At the top of the ramp he could see several screens and flashing lights on the inside of the ship. At the bottom of the ramp were a pair of silver robotic guards who had square bodies, heads and limbs. The only exception was the barrel that was coming out of their right arms. Their single eye was glowing red. There was a third guard standing at the bottom of the ramp. It was a black version of Miss Yang.


    Hoodwink made a motion and Miss Yang turned him around. "Well this is goodbye for now. I do hope I do not see you again anytime soon. I would wish you well on your endeavors but that endeavor is killing me so I will refrain from doing so."


    Jace chuckled, "do not worry, we will be seeing each other again soon."


    Hoodwink was then spun around and Miss Yang pushed him up the ramp. After they went up the black mannequin followed them up and when she was at the top of the ramp the silver square things began ascending the stairs. Then the ramp began retracting and the door closed on the ship.


    Jace stepped back a few feet and glanced back at the way they came from. Standing at the doorway was the trio of guards who escorted them here. Jace tapped his watch and connected with the Anvil.


    "Spectre Jace, we were waiting on your message. I will send the vessel down now to come pick you up." The communication officer told him.


    "Hold off on that. Lord Hoodwink is going to make a run for it. Follow him with the Anvil, we won''t have enough time to get picked up. Send a message to the Director and request her to send the Judas to pick us up." Jace began ordering as he continued to watch the doorway. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nina give him a confused expression.


    "Jace, this is Captain Hammers. I will be able to follow your order, we are already tracking Hoodwink''s ship leaving the atmosphere. But what is going on?" Hammers asked quickly. He was probably readying to go into warp.


    "A coup. It appears we timed this horribly. We are about to be detained. I will give a more indepth report after the Judas comes to pick us up." Jace answered and Nina''s expression changed completely as became amused. "We will have to play catch up with you later."


    Not even a moment later the door he was staring at exploded as the guards who escorted them here were thrown off their feet. Then a group of people in black clothes and with gray armor came storming through the exploded entrance. The first ones began tying up the guards who were disoriented from the explosion.


    Then behind Nina and Jace a spacecraft flew toward them coming from a steep atmospheric entrance. "Happy Hunting Anvil. Spectre Jace and Nina out." Jace then hung up and then began encrypting his device. "Encrypt your device." He told Nina and she nodded.


    The first of the black and gray attackers reached them a moment later. "Get on the ground! Now!" The first one screamed.


    Jace recoiled and looked at him. "No."


    "No. No?" He looked at the others and they looked equally confused. As they began quietly whispering to each other Jace took a look at their weapons and gear. They were using hard light weapons. Unlike most weapons they did not have a clip or magazine. So they could theoretically fire for hours on end. But eventually the barrel had to be cooled and the weapon had to be recharged after several hours.


    Not ideal weapons for waging war. But with a situation like this where they were throwing a coup it was probably preferable. Since it would take several hours and they needed short bursts of high fire rates. Not to mention they are easily much more concealable then guns and stacks of magazines.


    "Why- why not!?!" One of the gray and black armored soldiers asked while swinging his weapon between Jace and Nina.


    Jace tilted his head. "Because these are my fanciest clothes and I do not want to get them dirty." Nina who was next to him nodded in agreement.


    "What?" Now another one of them asked in absolute bewilderment. "I- ah, you know what- just keep your weapons focused on them."


    The ship that was quickly approaching began slowing down and then a burst of hot air hit them as it slowed down and then began lowering. It was an old military infantry transport vessel. It was essentially a giant box with thrusters and a basic guidance system. Usually they were used for delivering non-fragile goods to the surface of planets.


    A group of the armored people slowly walked toward it as the rear ramp lowered and several people in Infantry armor began running out. Jace and Nina exchanged a look of surprise as they spread out.


    One of the black and gray armored people saluted as three unique individuals disembarked from the vessel despite thought outside still being red and smoking from its reentry into the atmosphere.


    The one in the lead was an old man with graying hair. He had on an Infantry Armor that was colored green and gray, reminiscent of the old Vexical Commando Armors that Jace had seen in recordings back when he first entered the academy. Jace frowned as he recognized the man. He was once a dear friend to both the current emperor of Vexical and Director Fenrir.


    Former General Henry Trentwood. He was from the station of commoner and eventually climbed the ranks of the military. Throwing out the old idea that only nobility could climb the ranks of the Vexical military. As well as a vocal spokesperson of the abuse of power that is commonly seen among nobles. He disappeared along with his son shortly after his wife died.


    Next to the former General was a skinny anthro-lion. He seemed to be the scholarly sort with his glasses and the data tablet he was carrying with him. But he seemed unbothered by the heat coming off the vessel even when he was just wearing a simple black suit. His name is Al-han Jel, a former intelligence officer of the Leonair Intelligence Agency.


    Then on the other side of the former General was a large man that was about ten or eleven feet tall. He had a full head of beard hair that was unkempt and had patches of gray in it. He carried himself with confidence as he looked around. He was undoubtedly of the giant race, a hybrid from what Jace could tell. Probably mixed between a giant and a human. The obvious reason being that his skin was tan instead of the bright blue colored skin they usually had. His name is Jack, that is it. He used to be a mercenary but became a full blown terrorist at some point in the last few years.


    The two by the former General''s side were well known members of the Union. While the former General was suspected to have joined the Union there was no concrete proof or eyewitnesses that could confirm it. At least as far as the normal intelligence agencies were concerned.


    If the MILD''s analysts, they were not just staring at a member of the Union. Or the head of a faction within the Union. They were looking at the absolute leader of the Union. He may have not founded the terrorist group but he clawed his way to the top. He had expanded their reach to not just include the New Hexarian Republic but every nation they could that had humans or a genetic variation of humans that were ruling others.


    They would have to update the information about the Union regardless. Because many of these Infantry Armors were older models that were modified. They were not the high quality that Jace came to expect but they were good enough to make a difference in battle.


    "Officer Jones, what is the status of the Royal Palace?" Trentwood asked as he returned the Union salute.


    Officer Jones, the officer in black and gray armor that walked up to the trio, relaxed his stance. "We managed to complete the primary objective as well as several secondary objectives. Unfortunately a few nobles we were expecting never showed up and Lord Hoods and his bodyguard escaped before we arrived."

 Chapter 140 - 140: Guests or Prisoners?

    Officer Jones looked over at Jace and Nina. "They were the first one interviewed by Gaius along with those two over there. They were allowed to leave shortly after once their stories were confirmed. Lord Hoods had a ship already prepared and ready at this landing pad."


    They looked over at Jace and Nina. Jace smiled and waved at them. Jack the half-giant grumbled and began storming over to them. "Why are they not on the ground? You should have them in zip-ties and lying on the ground in terror." Trentwood and Jel seemed unbothered by the fact their companion had decided to storm over to them.


    Jace chuckled, "we do not feel like getting our nice clothes dirty." Jace told the half-giant as he approached.


    "You do not get a choice! But since you do not feel like getting on the ground voluntarily. I will just have to crush you into the ground." Jack the half-giant bellowed as he was only a few feet away.


    Jace sighed as he saw Nina grin and look at Jace with a smile. Essentially asking permission from him. "Go ahead, but do not kill him. Only knock him unconscious." Jace told her as he accepted her purse which she slammed into his chest.


    Nina''s high heels were kicked up into the air and Nina was racing across the ground. Covering the few feet between them in less than a second. Then she jumped up so she was right in front of his face and launched a palm strike right into his head.


    BANG!


    The attack was so quick it almost sounded like a gunshot when she struck him in the nose. She then dropped to the ground and turned around, beginning to walk back over to Jace. Her heels landed on the ground just as Jack the half-giant collapsed to the ground. He was bleeding from a very reddened nose but was still breathing as he collapsed unconscious.


    Jace held out a hand to help her step back into her heels. As she was doing it, the other members of Union were realizing what had just occurred. Trentwood and Jel walked over with the one called Officer Jones.


    "Who are they?" Trentwood asked as they approached.


    Jel tapped a few times on his datapad before frowning. "New additions from the Vexical Empire. Added to the guest roster only a few days ago. There is no specific name listed on the guest list, just to coordinate with them when they arrive." He explained while reading from the datapad.


    When Trentwood arrived in front of them, walking past their unconscious companion, the people around them switched from the local Union members to the Infantry armored Union soldiers. Trentwood looked them up and down while Jace and Nina smiled in response.


    "Names?" Trentwood asked.


    "Well hello to you too!" Jace responded joyfully. "My name is Jace and this is my companion, Nina." Nina gave a slight head bow when he said her name. "We were sent to make a request of the King. Unfortunately it appears that will no longer be possible."


    Trentwood grunted and then nodded. "Someone wake up Jack." He called back and then turned to Jace and Nina. "I hope you do not mind accompanying me back to the ballroom." Trentwood told them and then began walking to the entrance that Officer Jones and his local Union members blew up.


    Jace shrugged as he handed Nina back her purse. "I most certainly do not mind." Jace and Nina calmly followed behind the former General. "It does seem like we will be stuck on this planet for a few days. Our ship had to unfortunately leave to make progress on our mission."


    "Oh? What mission would that happen to be? Hopefully it is not a classified one." Trentwood asked sarcastically, clearly not expecting an answer. So when he got one it was entertaining to watch his expression change into one of surprise.


    "We are hunting Lord Hoodwink, or Lord Hoods as the Leonair came to know him as. He is wanted for sabotage and conspiring with the Crystoph Federation. Oh, and unauthorized experimentation on sentient beings." Jace answered honestly. Causing several of the Union soldiers around them to shudder and glance his way for a moment.


    Officer Jones glanced back at him as well, "then why did you not detain him when you arrived? I mean you even walked with him to the ship that was waiting at the landing pad."


    Jace chuckled while Nina let out a long winded sigh. But Trentwood was the one to answer. "Because the Leonair Kingdom is a political nightmare for the Vexical Empire. Especially with how unstable the empire already is. They would not want to risk war from a triggered defensive pact."


    "Mhmm¡­" Officer Jones began grumbling as he continued to lead the way deeper into the Palace. Eventually throwing open a set of extravagant doors leading to the ballroom. The room had drastically changed because there were now Union soldiers lining the doors of the second and first floor. While up on the third and fourth floor were several attendants and slaves who were armed with weapons and looking down at the lower floors from above.


    In front of the thrones were several people who were kneeling with their hands behind their heads. They ranged roughly from twenty year olds to six year olds. They were the members of the Leonair royal family.


    The guards that had been originally in the room were nowhere to be found. But there were several trails of blood leading out of various doors. The investigator from before, Gaius, leaned back on a chair nursing a bleeding shoulder wound. Another guest helped him with the wound.


    "Please go down and join the others." Trentwood told them before he walked over to the only two members of the royal family who were not kneeling. The Second Prince and Fifth Princess, the two outspoken members of the royal family who were well liked by the commoners.


    Jace and Nina walked down the steps to the first floor and walked over to where Gaius was. Nina immediately started helping him with his wound. "Investigator Gaius, we meet again." Jace asked with a tone of amusement as he looked at the terrified guests. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ha¡­ annoyed. I didn''t even complete the interviews before they came barging in. It was perfectly timed and executed. The guards and my investigators never saw it coming. I was one of the fortunate few to only be injured. The others were carried out on stretchers or dragged to the pile of bodies with the other people they have killed so far. How did you and Spectre Nina fair?" Gaius asked while trying to distract himself from the first aid that Nina had begun to do on his arm.


    "Unfortunately we did not have enough to leave the planet. Even more unfortunate is that Lord Hoods managed to leave just before they came for us." Jace shrugged and looked around the room. "I see that the Prince and Princess worked out a deal beforehand."


    Gaius glanced at Jace with a raised eyebrow and then looked up at the second floor where the Second Prince and Fifth Princess were being escorted out of the room. "What type of deal do you think they made?"


    "They helped poison the chalice. In return they are provided with a safe place out of the spotlight where they can live." Jace told him after he eavesdropped on the conversation between Trentwood and the now former Royals.


    "What about the rest of the Royal Family?" Gaius asked, then groaned in pain as he sat up. Nina finished up the first aid on his arm. But now her hands were covered in blood. So she grabbed a handkerchief from a nearby person and wiped her hands before tossing the blood-covered handkerchief. Gaius'' arm was no longer bleeding but now there was a bandage wrapped around the spot.


    "Seems they have outlived their usefulness. The older ones, the ones above the age of fifteen, are going to be executed during a live broadcast. But the younger ones will all be executed quietly behind the scenes." Jace answered. There were murmurs and whispers as the nearby people who were listening began spreading the word.


    Gaius chuckled, "then I suppose the royalty and nobility in the Leonair are about to be wiped out. I do not suppose the Vexical Empire can help?"


    Jace shook his head. "We have to remain neutral. Besides, you brought this on yourselves by having a quarter of your population being enslaved."

 Chapter 141 - 141: So...guests?

    They stayed in the ballroom for another couple of minutes before Jace and Nina along with the other foreign guests were escorted to another room. It was the former throne room of the Leonair family. But people were already going around and tearing down anything that symbolized the royal family. Even the throne was being pulled apart. Being split between useful metals and not useful wood.


    There were fifteen foreign guests in the room with them. Most were couples who came as ambassadors of other nations. There was only one person that was flying solo, it was a priest from the Holy Empire of Gregory. He had grouped together and was discussing the defensive pact with the representatives from the New Hexarian Republic and the Circle of Yuri.


    They were deciding whether or not this coup would count as triggering the defensive pact. It likely would not since the majority taking part were citizens of Leonair Kingdom. The others like Trentwood only arrived after the coup took place.


    Several of the other guests were talking about the impact on trade and commerce. The Leonair Kingdom was a prime trading hub since there were so many trading routes that went through it insead of the Vexical Empire and the Imperium, whose borders were still tightly closed.


    Jace and Nina were standing off to the side listening to the various conversations that were taking place. As they were waiting the door to the room opened up and Trentwood walked in. Walking by his side was Jel and Jack again. But this time Jack had a bandage over his nose and his face was slightly red.


    The foreign guests looked toward them. The group discussing the defensive pact looked at the armor and then looked at Jace and Nina. Jace shook his head indicating that it was not them.


    "I apologize for any issues I have caused the foreign guests of the Leonair Kingdom." Trentwood started. "Before we begin I would like to reinforce the fact that I am speaking to you on behalf of the Leonair Union branch which has seized control of the royal palace and several other buildings. Do you understand?"


    The priest from the Holy Empire stood up straighter before clearing his throat and then speaking. "Then why is the head of the Leonair Union branch not speaking with us? We would like to know what will happen to us and what is occurring in this kingdom."


    Trentwood shook his head, "since you are foreigners the plan is to escort you to your ships and then out of Leonair territory. I am speaking with you since we will be providing security and protection from foreign invasion while they undergo their change of leadership. As such I will be escorting all of you to a ship in orbit where you will be staying until your ships arrive. As for the status of the Leonair Kingdom, it will be up to the new form of government that the Leonair Union wishes to put in place."


    "Is the Vexical Empire assisting in this coup? Because it sure looks like it." The priest asked while glancing at Jace and Nina.


    Trentwood looked over to Jace and Nina as well. Jace shook his head, "no we are not. If you are wondering about the Infantry Armor, it has been salvaged. The same is true of several of their spaceships. It appears the Union had managed to obtain a large number of military hardware that was supposed to be decommissioned. We stopped them from doing it, but the damage has been done since it has been happening for a number of years without us noticing." Jace''s answer caused the priest to narrow his eyes in suspicion. "Hey don''t look at me, I am well aware of how incompetent the Inquisitors have been."


    "Which is why the Emperor of Vexical secretly created a new intelligence agency to replace them." Trentwood responded. "Isn''t that right, Jace Steel and Nina Diaz?"


    Jace raised an eyebrow while Nina blinked in surprise and confusion. She then made several hand motions. He nodded in response, "I know." He then looked at Trentwood and shrugged, "like I said. They were incompetent. I mean¡­ one of the first things we discovered about the Union was that a former General of our military was the head of the organization."


    "Then why are you not dealing with him?" The priest asked with a bit more vigor and anger in his voice. The others were also glaring at him.


    Jace rolled his eyes, "because of the defensive pact that the Leonair Kingdom has. I mean seriously you are part of that defensive pact, how did you not remember?"


    The priest went to speak again but Jel beat him to it. "The Union has legitimacy since we are working with some members of the royal family. Therefore if the Spectres attack or harm their guests it would count as triggering the defensive pact. It is also the reason they did not harm or attack Lord Hoods who they came here to find and capture."


    "It is a political headache. But basically we are stuck here and unable to do anything. But just as we cannot do anything to them, they cannot do anything to us." Jace shrugged nonchalantly.


    "What a load of bull! The little bitch broke my nose!" Jack yelled angrily.


    Jace shook his head, "you came at us with the intention of harming us. Spectre Nina only responded to the threat." He then looked over at Trentwood, "You are aware that we have an Inquisitor spaceship on route to pick us up, correct?"


    "I am, my people are watching out for it." Trentwood nodded. "As for Lord Hoods and the ship you arrived in on. Both have seemingly disappeared. Will that be an issue for me later?"


    Jace shrugged his shoulders, "I have no clue." Then he thought of something. "About Lord Hoods lab on the edge of the territory-"


    "We are aware of it." Trentwood then turned his attention to the rest of the foreign guests. "As for trade, for the time being all trade ships will be escorted through Leonair space by our ships. Travel to and from the country will be temporarily prohibited and trade in Leonair territory is also suspended. Are there any other questions?"


    Trentwood discretely revealed earlier that he had a mole in the Vexical''s new Military Intelligence and Logistics Division. Jace was already aware of who it was. But his and Nina''s reports would both indicate that the Union has a mole in MILD. They would also have to indicate that Trentwood purposefully exposed the existence of the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division to several foreign officials who would likely be informing their country at the earliest possible time.


    After a few more minutes of speaking and exchanges the foreign guests along with Jace and Nina were escorted toward the landing pad that Trentwood arrived at. While they were escorted there was a clear difference in how they were being guarded.


    Jace and Nina had many Infantry armored soldiers around them who were giving the pair a wide berth. While the other foreign officials were being escorted by only a few guards. One of the foreign officials asked Jack who was escorting them about it. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for Trentwood and Jel, they had stayed behind to talk with some others some more. Apparently Trentwood would be arriving back on the ship in orbit a bit later. But Jel would be staying to help his country set up their new government.


    In response to the foreign officials'' questions, Jack told them that Jace and Nina were able to easily dismantle a mecha with their bare hands. It caused the foreign officials to look at the pair in a new light while many others doubted his words.


    So Jack went on to talk about the existence of the Spectres and how the six Spectres were the most elite soldiers in the Vexical Military. They were also tactical weapons that would likely turn the tide of any battle.


    They eventually arrived at the box transport that Jace and Nina had watched land. Jace chuckled in amusement as they walked aboard and moved to a pair of seats away from the controls or the exit.


    "You cannot be serious. This thing is a death trap. How do you expect us to survive while taking off in this?" One of the foreign officials asked as they were escorted aboard.


    "You will be fine." Jack told them and took up position so he would have a view of Jace and Nina. They continued to grumble and complain as they were placed in seats while the guards stood around at the ready.


    After a few seconds the box transport shuddered and then took off. It was shaking violently and Jace felt a moment of nausea before it disappeared. His airsickness reared its ugly head for a moment.


    But it was nowhere nearly as bad as the foreign officials. Some of which began puking or just collapsed unconscious. The smell was awful as they climbed into the sky for several minutes. Eventually the transport stopped shaking as they were no longer in the atmosphere. Then there was an impact and another shudder.


    After a few minutes a door opened and the guards began to escort the puke covered foreign officials out.


    As Jace stood he was prodded in the side to see Nina grinning at him. She made a quick motion with her hands. ''Did you get airsick for a second? You looked sick for a second.''


    Jace rolled his eyes and pushed her forward so they could get away from the awful smelling box transport.

 Chapter 142 - 142: Passing the time with the enemy

    "Should we ask for a deck of cards or something?" Nina asked while resting her head on the table in the conference room they were placed in. The others were sent to other areas of the ship. Seems they wanted to keep them separated from the other foreign guests.


    Nina had pulled her vocal device from her purse and was using it to speak. She kept it in her purse because she did not want to bother speaking before. But now that it was just the two of them it would have been more bothersome to continue making hand signals with her hands.


    "You can ask for them. Just remember the guards at the door are a bit jumpy." Jace reminded her. He tapped his watch communicator as he received a stream of encrypted lines from the Judas. He quickly began translating the message.


    "So what''s the message from the Judas?" Nina grumbled. She saw him sending an encrypted message earlier when they first arrived in this room. He was asking about the Judas'' status and giving them an update about his own status.


    Jace sighed as he read the message and quickly began sending a response. "Captain Arthur, that is the captain of the Judas, is a few days away. He understands the situation but the Inquisitor is attempting to countermand my order. Apparently he wants to bring a fleet of ships in to attack the Union. This is going to be annoying." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You think the Inquisitor will go around you?" Nina asked with a chuckle.


    "Definitely, I read his file. He is eager to prove himself to the first prince, his sponsor." Jace explained as he sent out his message. "Seems I am going to have to make people understand that being a Spectre actually means something." He then quickly sent another message before putting his watch communicator in dormant mode again.


    Nina sighed and wrapped her knuckles against the table a few times before standing up. She walked over to the door and opened it up. Jace could see the guards in Infantry armor flinch in surprise. "Can you grab some playing cards for us? We need something to pass the time."


    One of the guards instantly responded almost on instinct, "Hexa style or four kings style?" Almost as if it was an automated response. The other guard glanced at Jace''s companion and then glanced at the other guard.


    "Four kings style. It is far more versatile. Thank you!" Nina then closed the door and walked back to her seat next to Jace.


    "That''s debatable." Jace told her as he relaxed in his seat. He would get a response to his message in about half a day. So there was no reason to fret over it.


    "Debatable? What''s debatable?"


    "Calling Four kings style playing cards more versatile." Jace answered.


    "Well it is, it has far more history attached to it. Therefore it has far more variations and types." Nina pointed out.


    "But Hexa has far more cards, so it can be used for some variations that four kings can''t be used for. Not to mention it can include more players and lessen the odds for card counting." Jace teased her back.


    "Well-"


    They both stopped talking and looked at the doorway as it opened up. Trentwood was standing there. But this time he was wearing a uniform instead of the Commando armor variation he had on before.


    Trentwood waved at them nonchalantly as he walked in, "hello there!"


    "Hello there?" Nina mimicked causing the man to glance at her in surprise. "You realize you are not just a terrorist but also a traitor to our nation and all you can say is ''hello there''?" Nina scoffed and leaned back in her chair. Amusingly enough she crossed her arms and caused her small amount of cleavage to become more pronounced, but Jace doubted she did it on purpose.


    Trentwood was momentarily distracted as he glanced at her cleavage before he cleared his throat and walked fully into the room with the door closing behind him. "Well, I have no issue with you two. From what I am aware, neither of you have abused your power or position. Not to mention you come from commoner backgrounds. Besides I doubt you two actually have much issue with me either."


    Trentwood looked between the two of them. Nina looked at Jace and Jace just shrugged. So Nina leaned back and relaxed.


    "Eh?" Nina stretched her arms above her head, "hey we getting food or what? We did not get a chance to chow down on those munchies at the party." Nina asked as her stretching caused cleavage to become pronounced again.


    Trentwood stared for a moment at her breasts before he looked at Jace. Jace was looking at Trentwood with an expression of disgust and shook his head. He was more than twice her age. How shameful.


    Trentwood scratched the back of his head, "yeah, I am having some food brought to you. Along with some drinks and those playing cards that Miss Diaz requested. I hope you do not mind if I join you. I wanted to hear about Fenrir and Dakota, well at least as much as you can tell me."


    Jace shook his head and waved at a chair. "We can share a bit but like you said we cannot talk about it too much."


    "I am surprised you were not going to poke around for information." Nina pointed out as the man sat down.


    "Ehh¡­ I considered it but then I realized that I would be playing with fire. Just as I would get information out of you, there was also a good chance you would be able to get information out of me." Trentwood answered with a chuckle. "You are experienced interrogators, although I have heard that Mister Steel here has a rather bloody track record."


    Jace shrugged, "you wanted to ask about Dakota and Fenrir?"


    "I wanted to hear stories about them." Trentwood smiled back at Jace with a nod of his head.


    Jace went to start when the door opened. A guard in Infantry armor walked in, pushing a metal cart with food and drinks from what he could see from his sitting position. The food was on metal trays with metal covers. The drinks consisted of orange juice, applejuice , and some type of red juice. As well as a few different alcohols. The last thing that was placed on the table by the guard was a deck of cards.


    Nina grabbed the cards while the tray of food was pushed in front of her and uncovered. "What do you think? Poker? Blackjack? Or something else?"


    "We are going to be talking for a minute so let''s start off with something simple." Jace told her as he took a whiff of the uncooked meat and cold rice that was on his plate. "Do you guys have actual chefs aboard?"


    "Focus." Trentwood told him.


    "Right, let''s start off with Dakota." Jace told him and then began talking about his time in the academy. He started off by discussing Dakota''s harsh training schedule and annoying habits. Then he went to talk about his and Dakota''s still ongoing prank war.


    Trentwood in turn talked about his time in the military with Dakota as well as how they had constantly pranked each other to the point it became dangerous and they had to stop. He talked about his comrades and how the only time his unit suffered casualties was when a noble in a military position gave a nonsensical order.


    Apparently it happened quite often. It was much better now. But nobles used to be able trigger border skirmishes just because of an argument or disagreement. Sometimes they would even do it because of a grudge.


    Nowadays that was impossible. Originally the Inquisitors would be the reason to prevent foolish mistakes like that from happening. But the Inquisitors'' relevance lost meaning over time when they managed to obtain high speed long range communication methods. Eventually, around fifteen years ago, they also became in charge of investigating corruption and military crimes.


    Trentwood had left the military and even the empire at that point and time. But from what he heard the impact was immediate as a different form of corruption began taking route. Since it was not just the emperor appointing Inquisitors, some nobles began taking up the position. They took payments for coverups, or they actively committed crimes and used their position to get away with it.


    Trentwood explained that hearing about that was the moment that he realized the empire was irredeemable. But he was hoping that the new intelligence organization that Fenrir was in charge of would not end up the same way.


    They talked for several hours. Fortunately neither of them shared anything important to current events. They Just talked about the past. They even heard some embarrassing stories about Fenrir, Dakota, as well as the emperor.

 Chapter 143 - 143: Loosing His Temper

    Jace looked at his watch again hesitantly as the announcement told them the escort vessel had successfully docked at the airlock in front of them. He looked over at Nina who shook her head and shrugged. Jace then sighed and cracked the knuckles on his right hand.


    "Well it was a pleasure having you aboard esteemed Spectres." Trentwood was in his Commando armor again. Joining him was Jack as well as a number of others in full infantry armor. "But myself and my people are going to be glad to be rid of you. You two are like living bombs, we had to constantly tiptoe around you." Trentwood began laughing.


    Nina giggled behind her hand. Jace just shook his head. "You are just saying that because you never managed to win a hand of cards. You can''t live with the embarrassment of someone younger than you whipping your ass in the basics." Jace''s words caused Trentwood to frown.


    "Ha¡­ just get the hell off my ship. I hope I do not have to see you two again." Trentwood clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    Before Jace got a chance to answer the airlock door slid open. He looked over to see Captain Arthur, a pair of guards in Infantry armor, and an Inquisitor. Captain Arthur and the guards saluted but the Inquisitor was just looking angrily at Trentwood.


    Nina walked past them and Jace began walking past them as well. "Arthur, let''s get the Judas underway. We have to catch up with the rest of my unit." Captain Arthur and the guards began to turn to leave with him when the Inquisitor acted.


    "Hold on a moment! A traitor is aboard this ship and you want me to just leave! As an Inquisitor of the mighty Vexical Empire I refuse!" The Inquisitor screamed. The members of the Union began readying their weapons.


    Then the announcement system began crackling to life. "General! We have multiple pings! Several ships are dropping out of warp without warning!"


    "Of course there are!" The Inquisitor yelled as he pulled out his sidearm aiming it at Trentwood. "I am taking all of these traitors and the stolen property into custody!"


    Jace sighed and then clicked his watch sending broadcast to all the Vexical Military ships after they all dropped out of warp. "This is Spectre Jace, I am ordering all Vexical Military vessels in the Leonair system to return to your posts prior to any orders that Inquisitor Maloy had given you. You have ten seconds to comply and acknowledge before you are considered traitors of the empire. If you are not aware of my rank, I suggest you check with your communications officers. You should already have the message."


    Jace stared at the Inquisitor who was looking at Jace in confusion. A moment later Jace''s watch began ''dinging'' as several ships acknowledged his orders and began turning around. Thankfully by the time the ten seconds passed all twelve ship''s had turned and left back into warp. He would not have to declare an entire ship as traitors today. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No!" The Inquisitor screamed still not accepting the situation.


    "No?" Jace asked in surprise, glancing behind him to see that Nina had already disappeared. Why didn''t she have to deal with this shit? "What do you mean no?"


    "I refuse to accept some young punk like you has the authority almost on par with that of a general you are nothing but-" Jace stopped listening as the Inquisitor kept spewing nonsense from his mouth. He was way too busy for this stupid shit. It also looked like the soldier''s on Trentwood''s side were getting jumpy.


    Jace stepped forward and pulled Captain Arthur''s pistol from its holster.


    BANG!


    A single shot and the Inquisitor was bringing a hand to his chest as he felt around the bullet hole. The bullet had gone through but it had embedded itself in a wooden piece of walling. Then the Inquisitor looked back at Jace who was holding the smoking gun in bewilderment.


    Jace glanced at Trentwood who flinched under his emotionless gaze. Then he shoved the pistol into Captain Arthur''s chest and let go of it. Returning the man''s gun to him.


    "Take his gear, uniform, and all official devices that might have anything compromising. Leave the corpse, it will just slow us down." Jace ordered as he walked back onto the ship. He might get in trouble just for shooting him later, but the idiot was delaying their chase. Which was not something they could afford to do for long.


    Rather than go to his room to relax, he went to the bridge of the ship and walked right to the young communication''s officer who was operating it. She looked like a nice young woman. She flinched in surprise when he arrived next to her.


    Jace smiled and leaned on the desk by her. "Hello, I was hoping to get your help with something." Cranking his charm and smile up as much as possible. It appeared to work as well because she blushed and shyly looked down at her fingers.


    "Umm¡­ I uh, how can I help you Mister- or um¡­ Spectre Jace?" The shy woman asked as Jace smiled down at her.


    "I need to borrow the ship''s communication channel, I also need someone to sort through the Inquisitor''s private communications. Can I trust you to do that?" Jace asked as he brought up the ship''s encrypted communication channel.


    They were usually unused because their method of use was complicated. First, each ship had its own encryption method. Then the person sending the message had to know the encryption method of that ship. Only a ship captain, a single designated communications officer, and the inquisitor would know the encryption method for communication aboard a ship. But all ship''s encryptions were also kept at a secure facility in case someone higher up needed to send a ship a message privately.


    That secure facility used to be the Inquisitor Headquarters on Vexical Prime. But a few years ago the codes in that room were replaced with fake ones and the real ones were brought to the Military Intelligence and Logistics Divisions system wide base in the Echo system. The fake codes went to a hidden facility in Echo that then relayed the messages if they were actually important or recorded them if they could be used as evidence for corruption.


    Because of the importance and usefulness of these codes, Jace had decided to memorize them just in case. Not just one or two of the encryption codes. But all fifty three of the encryption codes, one for each military vessel, whether they were classified or not.


    That was only the tip of the iceberg for what he had memorized. But It was relevant for the moment. As for how he knew this was the designated communication officer that had the encryption codes. That was because of a mistake in all of the designated communication officers'' personal files. They all had a mention of training at the facility in the Vexical System. It was an error in how they were set up.


    "Umm¡­ I suppose I can. But why ask me?" She asked cautiously as she slid back from her desk in her chair.


    "Because the captain likely has better things to do. Besides I will be here for a bit sending out a few messages and waiting for responses. So I can take over for you for a few hours." Jace nodded at the door. "So go ahead and take a break before you start sorting through those messages."


    The communication officer frowned and nodded as she stood up from her seat. "Okay," she bit her lip for a moment before leaning up to whisper in his ear. "But come to my room, I will wait for you there." She then backed off smiling shyly at him. "My replacement comes in an hour! Bye!" She then practically skipped off of the bridge.


    Jace watched the closed door she walked out of for a moment before he turned back and sat in her seat. Before he even began preparing his message to the Anvil the door slid open again, but this time the captain of the Judas walked onto the bridge calling out orders.


    "Disconnect and disengage from the Union ship. Then find out-" Captain Arthur stopped mid sentence as he noticed Jace sitting at the communication station. "Better yet, where are we going Spectre Jace?"


    Jace chuckled in amusement as he sent an encrypted message to the Anvil. "For now we are going to the Vexical Empire''s territory. I will give a change of heading when I know our destination."


    Jace then began sending a message to the Director. Informing her of the Inquisitors attempt at starting a war that would have caused issues. His message would also tell her that he and Nina were trailing behind the Anvil and would attempt to catch up to them.


    After he was done sending the messages he stayed at the communication station until the placement arrived. Then he left to find that communication officer''s room, he hoped she had something for him. In more ways than one.

 Chapter 144 - 144: Return to Anvil

    Jace stirred awake in the bed. He pushed the warm body of the communication officer off of his body. She moaned as she was moved off of him. He stood up and pulled on a pair of underwear. Then he walked to the door as someone slammed their fist on the door again.


    The door slid open after he pressed a button on the wall interface. The door slid open to reveal Captain Arthur who flinched in surprise at the sight of Jace. "Umm¡­ we are entering the system that Anvil is located in in an hour. I wanted to come wake you up prior to our arrival."


    They had been with the Judas for a week since leaving Union custody. After half a day they had received an encrypted response from the Anvil. Then they were rerouting to an unexplored and unclaimed system of space which only bordered the Vexical Empire and the Oda Empire.


    The reason it remained unclaimed was because of the unique anomalies in the area. Most of the systems had a standard gravitational pull toward a star or multiple stars and variations on types of planets.


    But this system had developed a glowing blackhole in place of a star. It constantly kept pulling things towards the center, while also maintaining the three planets that were keeping each other out of the blackhole. The contents of the blackhole system were constantly changing because asteroids and other things that were passing by were pulled in.


    The increased gravitational pull caused an anomaly where light speed travel as well as warp travel was impossible. At the same time all of the ship''s through it would either get crushed, pulled apart, or disappear entirely. Which is why it remained unclaimed.


    Apparently the Anvil had followed them to the edge of the system. Then watched as the ship moved to an area of the system and disappeared. They opted to not follow them in since the Anvil began suffering issues.


    Nothing critical or life threatening. But it was enough that they had to stop following Lord Hoodwink''s ship in. Gravity systems failed suddenly. Life support stopped for a moment. A complete power failure for another moment. While the stealth capabilities of the ship completely switched off.


    So now they were surveilling the area where Hoodwink''s ship disappeared. Apparently Taylor was having a field day with all of the new data she was obtaining. But Jace had a feeling that she was running herself ragged as well.


    "Was that all?" Jace asked the captain as he prepared to close the door.


    "Umm¡­ no actually. She is late for her shift." Captain Arthur told him nervously.


    Jace raised an eyebrow in surprise, "I will send her up to the bridge." Then he walked back into the room after closing the door. He walked up to the bed and smacked her exposed backside. The woman let out a moan.


    "Get up. You are late for work." Jace told her as he started pulling on his clothes. He was able to requisition some temporary clothes for himself and Nina. Sweatshirts and sweatpants along with workout clothes. It was really all they needed for their short stay aboard the ship. They did not have to stick to the proper decorum since they were technically ''guests'' aboard this ship.


    "Ah damn. I am late, really late." The communications officer he had been bedding for the last week began to hurriedly run around the room pulling on clothes and getting ready. "Did he really come just to wake us up?" She asked as she held a hair tie in her mouth while pulling on one of her layers of clothing.


    Jace shook his head. "No, we are an hour out from the Anvil''s position. I think Captain Arthur is nervous about reprimanding me." Jace told her with a chuckle full of amusement. The captain of the Judas had been walking on eggshells around Jace.


    The communications officer was almost finished with putting her uniform on. She rolled her eyes, "I wonder why. It could not possibly be because you killed the Inquisitor that was supposed to be directing the ship without any hesitation or remorse. From what I heard the captain and guards you left with the body took a minute to even process your order before they began stipping him of just about everything. But he does put on a brave face when he is around the crew." Her explanation reminded Jace of all the times they walked past each other and the captain gave him a wide berth.


    Jace grunted and shrugged, "whatever." He then followed her out of her room and went to the bridge.


    When they arrived she saluted. "I apologize for my tardiness." She then quickly moved to her station and took the position of the person that was there. They walked off the bridge while yawning loudly.


    "It is fine. It is not like anything is going on at the moment. But you need to set up additional alarms or notices. I do not want to send someone down to get you next time." Captain Arthur told her as he glanced at Jace.


    Jace frowned as he realized something, "why did you come down to wake us up this time? You could have sent someone else." He pointed out and saw several of the officers on the bridge smirk.


    Captain Arthur flinched and avoided eye contact. The weapons officer was the one to answer, "It is because none of us wanted to do it. So we played a game of Bugs-Bats-Birds where the ultimate loser had to come get you. The captain lost. So he came to wake you up and also deliver the message."


    "Bugs-Bats-Birds?" Jace asked and then realized something. "Oh never mind." Bugs-Bats-Birds was one of the many variations of the game called Bear, Shark, and Bird. It was called many other things as well. Like Ro Sham Bo; Rock, Paper, Scissors; or even the lizard, toad, and witch. They were all the same though.


    This variation must have been made on a planet that had a bunch of bugs, bats, and birds. Jace knew Kamot''s version: Bear, Shark, and Bird was made because of the three most dangerous predators of their planet. Bear beat the shark but lost to the bird. Shark beat the bird but lost to the shark. The bird beat the bear but lost to the shark.


    Thinking about it now, it might sound confusing. Because most planets had birds that were only a bit bigger than a person''s fist. But Kamot had some massive birds that could pick up a bear right off the ground. Fortunately the birds usually stayed near the mountains and were kept out of the cities. Otherwise they would have been a problem.


    "Did you send a message to Spectre Nina as well?" Jace asked as he leaned against a railing.


    "We went to her first. But she waved us away. We assumed that meant to go talk to you. She doesn''t like being bothered much does she?" Another of the officers, the engineering officer asked.


    Jace grunted, "actually she just does not like talking. She has a device that lets her communicate her thoughts into speech but she usually takes it off so she has an excuse to avoid conversation."


    "Hey how did someone as capable as a Spectre become a mute anyways?" Another of the officers asked.


    Jace was about to answer saying it occurred before she became a Spectre but his ear twitched as he heard something. So he closed his mouth as Nina quietly walked in through the entrance behind him. He glanced over at her as she leaned up against the railing next to him.


    She began making several hand signals with her hands asking if he was told about their imminent arrival yet. "Yeah I know." Jace responded. She then began asking him something else. "I am not going to respond to that question." Jace told her in annoyance. She slightly giggled before she began asking something else. "That is completely inappropriate."


    Jace then turned to the view screen as the Anvil came into sight. After a few moments Jace spoke again. "But you are right, she does have a very smackable ass." Nina began giggling again while the communications officer''s face turned red in embarrassment. While the rest of the bridge burst into laughter.


    Apparently Nina had noticed the tension of the upper officers and captain as well. So she decided to make a joke with Jace so they would get them to relax. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A second later the communications officer was tapping at her station quickly. "Receiving a communication channel from the Anvil. Would you like me to bring it up on the viewscreen?"


    Captain Arthur turned to Jace. But Jace just shrugged in response. "Haa¡­ go ahead and bring it up." Captain Arthur told the officer. A moment later Captain Hammers and his crew appeared on the screen. "Captain Hammers, a pleasure to meet you. We have your two wayward Spectres."


    "Good because we are going to need them. While the Judas will temporarily stay with us for the time being. I hope you do not mind, but it is the Director''s orders." Hammers informed them. Causing both Jace and Nina to stiffen.


    "Understood."

 Chapter 145 - 145: System of Anomalies

    "Well you look absolutely exhausted." Jace told Taylor Hielo as she staggered into the briefing room. She had a stack of datapads held up to her chest.


    The Judas docked with the Anvil. Jace and Nina came back aboard and properly got cleaned up and ready. Then they had to report to the briefing ready room for a meeting with Taylor about the gravitational anomalies in this system.


    The meeting was not classified like it was before when they went to the Labyrinth. So the meeting would obviously end up having a lot more people in it. This included the captain of the Judas and a few of his officers along with Hammers and a few of his upper level officers. Then there was Jace''s entire unit. Vana, the Woltar intelligence agent that was stationed aboard the Anvil for the time being. As well as dozens of officers and engineers from the Anvil who were curious about the anomalies in the system.


    He was sitting near the holotable since he was one of the more high ranking officers present. Sitting next to him on one side was Nina who was peacefully sleeping. While on his other side was Vana who had been glaring at him since he entered the room. He had a feeling she could smell another woman on him. He recalls seeing something about Woltar being able to pick up on lingering scents.


    "I am more than exhausted. I am spent." Taylor told him as she dumped her stack of datapads on the holotable. She then began sorting through all of the datapads. "Now let''s see this is the meeting about the gravitational anomalies. Ah! Here we go."


    She took a minute to shove a datapad into the receptacle in the holotable. Then a bunch of charts, graphs, and pictures appeared above the holotable. It was an unorganized mess as far as Jace could tell. But he knew that Taylor had a system, so he just waited a moment.


    "Okay¡­ so the gravitational anomalies we are seeing because of the formation of an exploding star at the same time as a blackhole is sucking it in. Which in turn created a loop of spent energy. At least as far as the energy signatures are concerned. But I do not think that is the case."


    She pulled up a picture of the glowing blackhole. It had a white edge that almost shined. "If I am right, then an ancient species either built something around the star or set off a device near it. Either way it created a distortion in space that does not just suck everything into it. If I am right then the device was a gravity device that was supposed to stabilize the star before it exploded."


    "It worked and delayed the star''s detonation but they failed to account for the requirement of additional mass. Which is why it appears as if there is a blackhole. It is sucking in mass to power the machine or reaction."


    "But at the same time there were other high-tech devices or stations in the system that it likely could not suck in. So I believe that the reaction between these stations are causing the other additional anomalies." She brought up a chart of the system.


    The chart had all of the noted anomalies and their approximate locations. Most of the records came from a study that the Vexical Empire did of the system.


    "After taking several scans and studying the records I noticed a pattern." She then brought up an overlay for the chart of the system. It showed three points away from the glowing blackhole that were in a rotational orbit like it was a normal system. "There are three of these stations in the system."


    An engineer raised his hand like he was in a classroom for some reason. Then Taylor pointed at him, "you have a question?" That was why he raised his hand, Taylor must have done a few of these meetings and always treated it like she was teaching a lesson.


    "Yeah, a few actually. Why can we not see them? Why can we not pick them up on our scans? Also how does that explain the anomalies?" The engineer asked.


    "I was getting to those things." Taylor seemed like she was starting to wake up as she spoke more. "We cannot see them because of the reaction between the gravitational pull of the star-blackhole anomaly thingy and the station''s shielding. It acts differently to our own camouflage technology in that the light is forcefully bent around it." She then clicked a button and pulled up a picture of space.


    Jace noticed something odd almost immediately. Taylor glanced at him and chuckled at his expression. "I see Spectre Jace has noticed. Would you like to point it out?"


    Jace sighed, "You can see in this picture that the space is forcefully bent around something. In a larger setting you might miss it but there are several stars that look like they are stretching towards the top or bottom. Which is probably where the shielding originates."


    There were murmurs and whispers as people began looking over it. Most of them were writing down ideas and discussing the feasibility of using this on a smaller scale. But a few others were discussing ways to detect something like this.


    "Correct!" Taylor then clicked another button going back to the chart of the system. "Now as for the station avoiding our scanning technology. I can only make an assumption that part of these stations'' shielding is resistant to our scanning technology. That or the anomaly in the center of the system is absorbing the scans."


    "Then there are the anomalies. We have cited several. All of which are gravity related. These occur because the ships get too close to one of these stations or fly between them and the central anomaly. Which resulted in ships being crushed or pulled apart."


    "Then how can we get close to them and where did Hoodwink''s ship go?" Jace asked, getting a frown from Taylor when he did not raise his hand.


    She pulled up another overlay for the chart of the system. This one had red sections, yellow sections, and black sections. "It is incomplete but I have partially charted where each anomaly occurs. The red is where space ships would be crushed under the pressure. Those as you can see mostly occur when you are flying into the trail of the station, like the wake of a ship. It is because they leave a wake of gravitational effect. This compounded with the effect of the central anomaly causes ships to be crushed."


    "Then the yellow area is where ships would be pulled apart. It occurs between the stations or between the stations and the central anomaly. The reason it occurs is because of the station''s gravitational generators which pull towards it. As well as the central anomalies own gravitational force."


    "Finally there is the black area, I honestly do not know if it is safe to go in those areas. But because the stations are constantly rotating it is safe to assume that the original investigators of this system assumed the anomalies were appearing at random."


    She then looked around the room. "Are there any questions?"


    "Have we sent probes to check the black areas?" Captain Arthur asked.


    "We attempted to, but we kept losing contact with them. So we stopped." Taylor answered with a sigh, "so much lost data that would have been useful."


    "What about the anomalies aboard our ship?" One of the engineers asked. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Taylor snapped her fingers as she pulled up another chart. "It is because of our proximity to the anomaly system and our own gravitational device. For some reason our gravity device is reacting badly with the pull from the central anomaly. So it has been causing power surges throughout our ship. Nothing too strange."


    Jace nodded as he began doing calculations and estimations in his mind. "Hey you know which of these stations that Hoodwink went to correct?"


    Taylor nodded and pointed at one of them. "This one, it is the one closest to the edge of the system. I also figured out its rough flight path."


    Jace grunted and stood up. "Good, fit a transport with an enhanced engine. Remove its gravity device and inertia dampeners as well." Jace told her, causing several people to begin whispering hurriedly in the background.


    Taylor tilted her head for a moment. "Inertia dampeners could cause gravitational problems as well." She reasoned and then realized something and made an expression between horror and shock. "But if you do that the force on the pilots and passengers will be¡­"


    "Deadly for normal people. I know." Jace sighed. "That is why only my unit will be going." Taylor began making an expression of annoyance when Jace chuckled. "Aside from you, you are far too exhausted to be reliable. Just start getting our ship outfitted."


    "Who is piloting? I do not think any of us are certified." Tako asked.


    "I am." Jace answered.


    Taylor nodded, "Jace is a certified combat and test pilot."

 Chapter 146 - 146: Heading Out

    "Do we have to bring rations?" Ulin asked as she packed a box of rations onto the ship. "It is only a short trip that should only take a single day." Ulin reasoned.


    "It is because our communications are going to fail as soon as we enter the system. We do not know what will happen after that so we have to tread carefully. That includes preparations for being stranded on the station." Jace informed them. That was the reason he was giving them at least.


    "Your ship is almost prepared. Are you sure you do not want an additional shielding device like the others for your armor?" Taylor asked as she walked down the ramp of the transport. It was a heavily modified Osprey since they did not need as much space.


    Jace chuckled as he unsheathed an arm blade on left arm. The metal slightly glowed and shimmered before he sheathed it again. "Positive. They need it for the gravitational effects but I need that because it will be annoying if I have to pull out a hacking device again."


    Their armor had only so many attachments that could be attached to them. They all had shielding devices on their armor. But that left only enough power for an additional attachment. Before, when they went to the Labyrinth that attachment was taken up by their jetpacks because of the power needed to keep the jetpacks attached. But now since they were not taking jetpacks they could choose what they wanted. Taylor suggested they all take extra shielding devices because the gravitational forces that would be affecting their bodies would be lessened by the extra shielding.


    "What about the gravitational effects on your own body?" Taylor asked in surprise as she glanced at Nina''s armor. "Or both of your bodies. Are you seriously using a grappling attachment?"


    Nina shrugged and went back to packing some weapons onto the ship.


    "We will be fine. Our bodies can better handle the shock and forces from the gravitational effect better." Jace explained before he began helping his unit put their supplies on the ship.


    "Fine. Just get me some data from your time in the anomaly system." Taylor began walking away. "I am going to the ready room. I will watch your progress from there."


    Jace chuckled as he walked onto the transport and began doing the preflight check. He also checked the map that Taylor had quickly installed. It had the constantly adjusting positions of the gravity anomaly areas. It also had the approximate path that Hoodwink took.


    After a few minutes he got the all clear from the others in the back, they had tied down and secured everything. He closed up the rear ramp. Then he pulled on his helmet and his display appeared. He connected it to the ship. "This is Spectre Jace. My unit is ready to be released."


    "Hold off Spectre Jace. Taylor said to not let you fire the engines in the hangar. We are going to the crane to toss you out." There was an immediate response as the person he recognized as the chief engineer hurriedly told him. Jace was already aware of this, but the chief engineer probably assumed that Taylor neglected to tell him. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Understood, the Osprey is in standby mode." Jace responded with a chuckle as he waited. He watched from the cockpit as a giant crane hand began moving overhead. Jace began putting on the harness for the pilot''s seat. Then he called back to the rest of his unit. "Get strapped in. We are about to leave."


    "All good back here!" He could hear Ulin call out.


    The overhead crane hand was then lowered onto their ship. Then there was a thunk as metal made contact with metal. Then there were strain motors and a thunk as the metal adjusted as the Osprey was lifted into the air.


    Then it was moved toward the side with some shaky movement. Jace could see it was moving to a clear path that would lead to the atmospheric barrier that was in the hangar. The external hangar wall had opened to accommodate their departure.


    Once they were on the clear path the crane then began dragging them forward. It felt like they were on an unstable platform as it shook. Then as it moved forward it began speeding up and Jace frowned as he realized what they were doing. He could hear the others in the back whisper amongst themselves while the Osprey was quickly speeding forward.


    The crane above them came screeching to a halt as the Osprey left the atmosphere barrier along with the crane hand which extended. Then there was a metal clunk as they were released from the crane hand. Jace used stabilizers to maneuver the Osprey a bit further from the hangar and saw as he went parallel with the Anvil that the crane hand was still outside of the ship. They extended it a bit too far.


    Jace was still chuckling as he contacted the ship, "Anvil this is Spectre Jace. We have successfully departed the hangar and made some distance between us and the ship. Starting up engines now." Jace began flicking a few switches as everything on the dashboard began lighting up.


    "Understood. We will watch you from here. Happy Hunting!" Captain Hammers told him. Mimicking Jace''s words from when he and Nina were left behind in the Leonair system. But now it was Jace and most of his unit leaving the Anvil behind.


    The ship lurched forward as the engines started up. He could hear grunts come from the back. "Damn. She overdid it with the engines." He only felt the force of it for a second before his body got used to it quickly.


    He continued flying into the system. He watched as the stability of his communication with the ship became more and more staticky. He was still receiving and could send a signal. But there was something wrong with the connection.


    Jace tried sending a signal just in case. "Anvil, are you still receiving me?" There was no response after a moment so he just focused on flying as he called back to his unit. The ship began shaking violently as he flew. "How are you guys doing back there?"


    "Wishing for a better pilot!" Charlie called up to him. Causing the others to burst into laughter. At least they were still feeling upbeat about it.


    ¡ª----------------------------


    Taylor could barely keep her eyes open as she watched the little blue dot enter the anomaly system. She was still exhausted. After a moment the ship received a garbled message and it was sent to her. It was a transmission that lasted one one-hundredths of a second. She frowned and put it in the discard pile. It was a failed transmission. Unlikely to be anything else.


    But after a moment the little fire that was the shipborne AI for the Anvil appeared. "Umm¡­ madam. Cain and I noticed something that we thought we should point out." Taylor looked at the little fire and then glanced at the door as it slid open and Cain walked in.


    "What is it?" Taylor asked as she looked between them.


    "Well it is about the message we just received. Am I right in assuming you believed it to have been a failed transmission?" The little flame asked.


    Taylor nodded, "yeah. The same thing was happening with the probes."


    Cain shook his head side to side in disagreement while the little flame flickered. "Actually¡­" The little flame pulled up the transmission and began making a show of pulling it apart. "The transmission was condensed like a file. Not on purpose. But rather because it was collapsing in on itself as it was sent to us."


    Taylor frowned. "How did you realize this?"


    "Well it is just a packet of data. Usually it would be slow like usual human communication methods. But after a moment we realized that it was a sped up transmission that sounded like random sound to normal humans. We still processed it as a message but it was not possible for humans to normally discern that it was a human talking really really fast." Cain explained.


    "Then we can communicate with them?" Taylor glanced at the blue dot and realized something. "Oh¡­"


    "Yeah¡­ Then there is that." The little flame flickered again. "It is moving faster than it should be."


    Taylor facepalmed. "Time is traveling faster the closer to the center of the anomaly they go. Well shit, I suppose that means they would arrive back here before I even finish a nap."


    "Definitely, but we are more worried about the stress on their bodies as well as the mental strain from being out of contact." Cain informed her.


    Taylor shrugged. "Don''t be. The reason that we were all chosen for this mission was not just because of our monstrous abilities. But also because of our mental ability to adapt. You would only waste time worrying about us." Taylor informed them. "But that is annoying that I missed that. I suppose I will¡­ get a¡­ talking¡­ to." Taylor fell asleep in her chair and began snoring.

 Chapter 147 - 147: Station

    Jace cracked his neck as he sat in the pilot''s seat. They had been flying for three days. Jace was right to have prepared extra stuff ahead of time. Along with other things to help them pass their time.


    Charlie walked up next to him, using the magnetic locks on her boot to stay on the ground. Steadying herself against the wall because of the infrequent jostling. "For today''s menu we have crackers and another liquified protein pack. For the man that cannot leave his seat to hang out with the rest of us." She handed him a sleeve of crackers and a reflective pouch with a straw sticking out of it.


    Jace just shrugged, "I am just grateful that Nina can take over for a few hours each day so I can get some sleep. How is the attitude back there?" He asked as he glanced at the chart and realized they were less than half a day''s distance from the station where they believed Hoodwink went. It had decreased from the last time he checked.


    "Good," Charlie nodded as she sighed while looking out at the endless horizon of stars that were slightly warped by the gravity anomalies. "We have cards, dice, and other games we can play. How did you know this would happen?" Charlie asked as she leaned up against the wall.


    Jace crunched a cracker and glanced at her for a moment before chewing his food thoroughly and swallowing. "Because I went through the academy with Taylor. When she is exhausted she tends to make critical mistakes or errors. I knew something would go wrong. Which is why I double checked all of her work before we left."


    "So what did she miss this time?" Charlie asked while turning her attention to Jace. Deciding that there was nothing in space that she could watch.


    "Actually, that is exactly what she missed." Jace chuckled and glanced at her confused expression before explaining. "She neglected to account for gravity''s effect on time in all of her equations. Or rather our perception of time with this system''s gravity''s increasing and varying effects."


    Charlie raised an eyebrow. "So high level physics stuff that I will never understand?"


    Jace shrugged and flicked a cracker up into the air. It floated up to his mouth and he grabbed it with his teeth. Charlie sighed and then floated to the back with the others. Turning off the magnetic locking mechanism on her boots.


    Jace realized that something else was wrong as he glanced at the map again. They were closer than they should have been. "Hey get everything wrapped up back there."


    "How far are we?" Tako asked.


    "No clue." Jace answered honestly as he hurriedly began scarfing down his food. The gravity of the station was causing its own time-gravity anomaly. Even he had failed to account for it. But that might be because he failed to comprehend how strong the gravity generator aboard the station was.


    As he was putting away his trash in a bin next to him is when it all started to happen. They flew through a forcefield, he could feel the electricity as it happened. The change was immediate as floating bits of cracker fell to the ground while his helmet which he just left floating next to him fell to the ground.


    He quickly reached out and grabbed the helmet before it hit the ground. Then he began pulling it on as he looked over the Station. Studying the structure as he did so. He clicked a few buttons on the terminal in front of him and those in the back could see the station as well through a monitor that was back there.


    The station is a gray and brown spire. It had small protrusions coming off of it. While around the edges of the shield floated several asteroids and rocks. As he flew forward he scanned the station. Finding there were several closed hangars with only one at the bottom of the structure was open. It was the largest hangar, or one of the largest. The other one was at the top of the station. But that one was closed.


    He directed the ship to the bottom of the structure. Flying past asteroids and other large objects. One thing he even scanned as being an ancient Vexical exploration vessel. But now it was a crushed hunk of metal.


    The ship swayed as he neared the open hangar. The station''s version of the atmospheric barrier was up but the inside of the hangar was dark. The lights were switched off, so all he could make out were rough shapes in the dark.


    Jace double checked to make sure his suit was completely on and airtight. "Are you guys ready back there?" He put it on hastily earlier so he wanted to confirm his armor was secure before he went out into a possibly toxic environment.


    "Ready to land, disembark, or¡­ something else?" He heard Tako ask sarcastically.


    "Land and disembark. I found a hangar we can land in. But just a heads up. There is a good chance that this is a trap." Jace informed them.


    "Combat it is. Understood." Tako said as there were a few chuckles from the back. "Nina has your rifle and pistol set up back here with magazines. We are all ready."


    Jace nodded to himself and pushed the Osprey forward, flying through the atmosphere barrier and into the dark hangar. He only got a partial glimpse at the dark room as he spun the Osprey around and landed it facing the exit. Just in case they needed a quick exit.


    He removed his seat harness and stood up. Stretching his limbs as he moved to the back of Osprey. Jace pulled a pistol out of the case it placed inside of and put it on his holster on his leg. Then he grabbed the carbine rifle from the wall cavity where it was placed. Then stuffed the magazines for the guns in spots on his armor that were set up for it.


    The carbine assault rifle felt strange in his hands since he was used to the heavier version. Then he double checked his guns and all his gear again. When he looked up the others were standing at attention, ready and waiting.


    Jace opened the rear ramp of the Osprey and walked down with his gun raised. It was still pitch black so he switched his helmet to night vision mode. He then walked forward and noticed that there were several pushed over boxes and other objects. They were still slightly glowing from the heat of the engines.


    He walked past them and observed what looked like spare materials. Just spread out throughout the room. As he was looking he noticed a wall panel in the distance. "Close up the Osprey." Jace told them as he moved further into the dark.


    He could hear the Osprey ramp close as he got close to the wall panel. He tapped on it and flinched as the light blinded him for a moment. He switched off the nightvision on his helmet and let his eyes adjust to the bright screen for a few seconds.


    It was not in the common language of the Vexical Empire. Nor was it any in human dialect or version. It was in the Requiem language. So he could only roughly read it from the words he had translated.


    "Let''s see¡­ map, schedule, settings, power distribution. Yeah that seems like it." Jace clicked that button and it went to another screen. "Hangar shields, gravity control, fire control, holo projectors, and¡­ lights."


    Jace clicked the on for the lights and the room lit up. It was blinding for a moment before his eyes adjusted. He then began looking through the panel. As his comrades looked around the room. "Did you find anything?" He asked them as he pulled up the more in-depth portion of the facilities systems and began looking at recently triggered systems.


    It seems that the most recent power distribution occurred in the large hangar near the top of the spire. The last thing that happened was that the hangar was closed and sealed.


    "Just a bunch of rocks, metals, and some other stuff. Nothing groundbreaking." Charlie reported her findings.


    "I have a bit of the same over here." Tako reported.


    "Well then these glowing rocks might be the most interesting thing here then." Ulin reported from a container where rocks were indeed glowing. They were not glowing before the lights turned on but considering he had seen the same rocks before in the Echo System they might be a stone that the Requiem liked using for lighting up rooms.


    "I have a dead body." Nina''s generic robotic voice told them over the communication channel. All four of them turned in her direction where she was staring down at something. It was on the other side of the hangar from their ship.


    Jace walked over and looked down at the shriveled up corpse. Or rather a hollow corpse. It had an exoskeleton and its appearance matched the markings and drawings he had seen in the Requiem Ritual Marriage temple. It was an unnatural shade of white. Jace doubted it was the color white before it died. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What the hell is it?" Ulin asked toward Jace, confident he would know.


    "This is a Requiem. The race that mostly inhabited this galaxy before humans ever came here." Jace then walked over to the wall panel again. Curious about something he saw on the wall panel.


    This time he opened up the schedule and blinked in surprise at what he saw. Quickly making a record of it, to note for later. But he did not get a moment to comprehend it as the lights in the room went red.

 Chapter 148 - 148: Abandoned

    Jace looked around in surprise as the screen he was looking at went red with a strange symbol appearing on it in black, almost like a warning symbol. The lights on the roof also went red. Then appearing above them was the old and withered face of Lord Hoodwink, but this time he looked a bit older and worn out than when they first saw him.


    KAR-THUNK!


    Jace spun around and looked at the hangar entrance to see that the metal door had slammed closed. Preventing their ship from taking off if they tried to fly out of the hangar.


    "If this message has been triggered then that means you have arrived at this station and used enough power in the hangar I left open to trigger it. Now normally I would be up for testing and probing curious specimens such as yourselves." Hoodwink spoke with a concerning amount of certainty.


    "But unfortunately I doubt I could catch someone as strong as you. Even if I did, it would clearly be too dangerous to keep you alive during my study of you. So I am just going to have to get rid of you before you manage to catch up. So this is goodbye. It was a pleasure to speak with you, Spectres Jace and Nina." Hoodwink''s face then disappeared as they suddenly felt the gravity around them lurch to the side for a moment. Then it stabilized just as quickly.


    "Boss!" Tako called out.


    Jace flexed his arm and the arm blade came out of the additional attachment he had on this armor. He stabbed it into the wall panel and began to directly interface with the facility. "On it!" The doors around the room suddenly opened up, including the one next to Jace. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Coming through them were the square automatons that he had seen back in the Leonair Kingdom. The blocky squares that had one of the hands replaced with an arm gun. These ones were all the same as those he and Nina had seen. With the single intimidating glowing red eye.


    "Shit!" Jace cursed and raised his carbine. Firing off several rounds moving his gun as he shot to hit several different spots on the automaton. Most of the bullets bounced off of it but some cut through something and splattered the wall in its purple blood. "Bullets will bounce off the metal plates so focus on the joints and places in between the metal plates." Jace called out. He focused on the electronic systems as the blockhead he just gunned down was blocking the door from the rest of those automatons from entering for the moment.


    Jace then began yelling curses in quick succession as he realized what Hoodwink had done to the ancient Requiem station. He searched and found all of the hangar controls were hardwired to the large hangar on the top floor.


    "I have to go to the top floor! Secure the hangar! I will be back." Jace called out and then pulled his arm blade out of the wall panel and retracted it. Having already memorized the layout of the place and the route he had to take he ran forward.


    "Yes sir!" He could hear someone yell out as he jumped over the blockhead automaton he had gunned down. There was a group of them lined up in the hallway. But he ran past them instead of engaging them.


    They had a limited amount of time before all of the station''s systems failed and it fell into the central anomaly of this system. Then they would all be dead. So instead of fighting he ran past them. They were too slow to keep up with him anyways.


    He rounded a corner out of sight of the blockheads. He arrived at an elevator and pressed the handhold, putting a bit of electricity in the handhold to trigger it. The door opened to reveal a tube that was tall and about the size of a single Requiem creature.


    He stepped in and put his hand on the handhold on the inside. It quickly began flying upwards. He felt his body sink into the ground for a moment. Then it stopped and the door opened. He stepped out of the elevator and looked down the hall where lights were blinking on and off while some were hanging from the roof loosely.


    SHING! BANG!


    Behind him he heard a loud screeching noise and watched the elevator he just rode up in go screeching down with a large dent in the roof. Peeking down from above what he could barely make out was a creature with slithering skin that had a row of teeth that were opening up.


    Jace rolled into the hallway and spun around firing at the creature. His bullets hit the creature as it landed on the ground after jumping out of the elevator shaft. Spurts of blood shot into the air as his bullets went through the thing.


    It recoiled as it was injured and then ran around a corner out of his sight. But it left behind something that looked like a giant wiggling worm or leech. It squirmed for an additional second before going still as blood pooled around it.


    Jace turned his attention back to his current objective. He would have to keep an eye out for whatever that creature was. He walked down the hallway and arrived at a door to the hangar. Instead of just opening it he opted to kick the door as hard as he could.


    CRASH!


    It flew out of the doorway and crashed through the room. Slamming into a barrel and toppling it. He stepped into the hangar, the lights were already on and it was almost completely empty of any people or those automatons. Aside from the several dozen metal drums that were opened or rolling around the room. On the opposite side of the hangar entrance leading to space was a giant clear tube that was mostly clear.


    The giant clear tube had several things slithering inside of it moving along the sides and a bunch at the bottom. It looked like the worm or leech thing like he had seen come off the creature earlier. He ignored it for now and walked through the hangar. The hangar itself was not his actual destination.


    His destination was the control room next to it. So he opened the door on the other side of the room by kicking the door out again. Then he walked to the next door and instead of kicking it he stabbed his arm blade into the door panel on the wall next to it.


    It slid into the door panel and he quickly interfaced with it and opened the door. He cautiously raised his weapon and walked into the small room. It looked clear from enemies so he walked to the consoles. The consoles had plenty of wires torn out and strewn about the room. Seemed it was partially modified so humans would have an easier time using the Requiem systems.


    Jace ignored the modifications to the console and just stabbed his arm blade into the console. He connected directly to the system and began finding what he could still access. It appears this station is already in the process of complete system failure from a mediocre virus. Unfortunately is an irreversible process since the station was already in a precarious situation to begin with.


    He still had access to the hangar doors fortunately. So he opened the doors up. Then he grabbed a bunch of scrambled data that was stashed on the system and unaffected by the virus. As well as the schematics of the station before he pulled out his arm blade.


    Hoodwink really did not leave much for him to work with. But he would have to make do with what he found for now. He turned to the door and frowned at the large figure standing at the door staring at him in curiosity. It was the same thing he saw at the elevator. But he could see the creature much more clearly this time.


    It was like a giant four legged creature. But its body was made up of those pinkish slugs that were squirming around. In its mouth it did not have teeth like he had thought originally; instead they were the pointed heads of some of these slugs. The creature stared its ''face'' at Jace for a moment before it sprung forward.


    Jace was slammed into by the creature, he was thrown into the wall. His rifle flew out of his hand as the creature slammed into him. Jace grabbed it by the face with both of his hands which slowed its attack but the leech skin began wiggling and moving to him.


    Jace channeled the electricity in his body into the creature. His armor''s heads up display fritzed for a moment like snow on a monitor as he had to hold back all of his electricity from surging through his armor at the same time.


    The electricity trickled through his armor and caused the creature to rear back in surprise. Wiggling and falling to the ground as all of the slugs began individually wiggling and throwing apart their cohesion. Jace dropped to the ground and then grabbed his rifle before dashing out of the room.


    "Is the door open?" Jace asked over the communication channel.


    "Yeah and we are done with almost the last of these robot things!" Ulin answered quickly. "But something is wrong, some stuff is just starting to float when we still have gravity."


    "Ah, shit." Jace cursed as he ran through the hangar and noticed what she was talking about as the room had become a mess with the metal drums and wiggling slugs floating in the air. He began running through the room to the other doorway he came in through. "Sounds like the gravity of the station is malfunctioning."


    As he was halfway through the room the power to the entire station turned off. The atmosphere barriers seemed to operate on a separate system, because they did not turn off with the lights and gravity. He began floating through the air, his momentum carrying him through the air to the other doorway.

 Chapter 149 - 149: Slugs

    He slowly reached the door from momentum and pulled himself through. Sling-shooting himself forward with the added momentum from pulling himself through the doorway. But as he was moving the power to the station suddenly turned back on. With it came the lights and the gravity as Jace slammed into the ground. Sliding for only a few inches before stopping.


    He began pulling himself up but as he was moving he heard something and turned around in time to see the four legged slug creature come bounding towards him. As it ran through the hangar more of the slugs attached itself to the main body and it became bigger.


    "Fucking bullshit!" Jace cursed as he scrambled to his feet and ran to the destroyed elevator. The elevator doors were still wide open, broken by the creature earlier. He could hear a thud of something impacting a wall and glanced back to see the creature had grown to twice the size it was earlier. But with the growth came a new weight which it failed to account for, causing it to slam into a wall.


    Without a moment''s hesitation he turned and jumped down the elevator shaft. It would be a painful landing but it would be worth it to escape more quickly. He heard another thud and spun around midair. The creature was slithering down the elevator shaft, abandoning its unnatural four-legged form.


    He aimed his rifle and began firing. Splatters of blood began littering the walls of the elevator shaft. As he fell he felt the gravity around him change again. Slowly he went from falling to sliding down the elevator shaft on his feet.


    He kept firing and as he slowed down but now he was having to watch his stance. Making certain to use them for positioning as he was sliding and firing his gun. He slid for a few minutes before he fell through another doorway in the elevator shaft. It completely caught him off guard as he fell. He crashed into the hallway and glanced back at the doorway trying to figure out what happened. It seemed the elevator shaft doorway had broken apart when the elevator fell earlier. Completely blocking the elevator shaft with the destruction, preventing him from going down further.


    He looked around the hall and frowned. This was not the floor where the large hangar he came in from was located. Using his ability to ready the schematic he realized he was only halfway down the spire. "Take the ship and get out of the hangar." He quickly transmitted as he started running to one of the hangars on this floor he could see with the schematic. It was a smaller hangar but it would still be able to fit the Osprey.


    "What? What about you?" Charlie asked in a panicked voice.


    "Nina can fly for a bit. You just need to get out of the station and up to the hangar I am located at. I will try to find a way to signal you." Jace assured them as he turned around for a moment and emptied another magazine into the swarm of slugs. It was sliding out of the door leaving a trail of goo.


    It was no longer even trying to be another creature now. It was just a swarm of slugs that were falling over themselves to get to him. He ran through the hall and arrived at another door. He kicked the door as he ran through it. Continuing his temporary vigilance against doors.


    It went flying through the air and flew out of the atmospheric barrier. Floating and then pulled toward the left out of his view while in space. He ran out into the hangar and turned around in time to see the massive combination of slugs flooding into the room.


    "Now, how to signal them." Jace asked himself as he reloaded his rifle. Stashing the empty magazine back in one of his armor''s pockets used for storing it originally. After reloading his rifle he slowly backed up and began firing at the slugs. Aiming at the bottom part of the creature. His shots killed some of the slugs. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The slug began taking shape as it fully moved into the room. Leaving a trail of blood and slug bodies in the direction it came from. The form it took was of a giant blob with two arms. The blob swung one of its arms.


    Jace fired his rifle along the slug blob''s arm as he jumped back. He weakened it as he killed several of the slugs and it fell apart under its own weight that was not properly structured for. As it collapsed to the ground the slugs that were part of the arm retreated back to the body and the arm rebuilt itself.


    Jace aimed and fired again. But this time instead of bullets there was just a repetitive clicking noise. He went to replace his magazine and realized that he was out of bullets. So he quickly placed the rifle on his back as the blob of slugs began to swing its arm at him again.


    Jace ducked and rolled out of the way. He did not have nearly enough bullets to take on all these slugs with just his pistol. Fortunately instead of swarming him it was fighting like a hive-mind sentient creature. If it was fighting like an actual swarm he would be in trouble.


    "We are out of the hangar Jace, where are we going?" Nina''s robotic voice came through the communication channel interrupting his thoughts.


    Jace dashed to the side, jumping over one of its arms as it swept the floor. "Go toward the central part of the spire. I am near there. As for my signal¡­" Jace landed on his feet and held out his hand. He could feel the tattoo on his shoulder heat up for a moment as a gladius materialized in his hand. "Look for the lightning."


    The slug went to swing down at him again. But this time Jace met the swinging arm with a swing of his gladius. As his sword made contact with the slugs, electricity began running along them. He cut off the arm and the arm went flopping to the ground. Most of the slugs at the front of the arm began slinking back to the central mass.


    But the ones near the impact point of his sword curled up. His electricity has probably overloaded their nervous systems and killed them. At least that was the plan. In the armor he is currently wearing he cannot completely generate the maximum amount of electricity he has in his body. It would overload and probably damage his armor.


    So instead he was using the elemental sword as a conduit for his powers. The elemental sword is what Director Fenrir nicknamed the sword that he can materialize out of thin air. He had plenty of time to experiment and expand on his powers during that last month of training.


    The slug retreated slightly before its arms split into more parts and its central body began thinning as it put more slugs in the arms it would be using. It began swinging wildly at Jace. Whipping through the air like a bunch of tentacles.


    Jace ran forward jumping over the tentacles and got closer to the central body. He positioned himself so the blob of slugs was between him and the atmospheric barrier. The slug swung at him again. Instead of dodging the arm he cut through it.


    Then he began running forward swinging down at the ground cutting any slug he saw in half. As he closed in on the body the slug brought its main body backwards and brought its tentacles back to its body. It tried to defend itself but Jace was close enough now. So he swung his sword in a downward arc down from the ceiling.


    Electricity materialized in the air in a line of lightning. It began burning through the ceiling leaving scorch marks. Then it cut down through the slug and out the atmospheric barrier. Like a bolt of lightning it shot out into space.


    "KAAAARRRAAAAAAKKKKAAAA!" There was a loud scream as the remaining slugs began exploding after turning black. Causing a chain reaction as blood and slug viscera began covering the entire hangar.


    Jace sighed and relaxed his stance. The elemental sword began dematerializing. He looked out the atmospheric barrier. Still lingering in space was the lightning he shot out. A moment later the Osprey appeared.


    It spun around and backed into the hangar. It could not completely fit but it could get its rear end inside. So then it was able to lower its ramp without venting air into space. Jace walked up and closed the ramp before it even fully opened. He tossed his empty rifle to Ulin and walked to the pilots cabin.


    Nina jumped out of the seat as he walked up. He jumped in and did not even strap himself in as he began flying toward the edge of the system. The area around the station was much clearer now. Which was not a good thing as he began flying away from the station. He tapped a few buttons and both on the monitor in the back part of the ship and on the monitor in front of him appeared the station they had just left.


    It was just in time to see the station pulled apart and crash into another station. Jace turned up the power on the engines. He could feel the gravitational pull on him increase as he was pulled back into his seat.


    "Are you all strapped in back there?" Jace asked as he put in the most power he could as flew. Fortunately they had enough power because of the modifications. But there was no telling what kind of chain reaction was about to be triggered because of the station''s destruction.

 Chapter 150 - 150: Escape from Requiem Station

    The Osprey was vibrating so violently he could feel his teeth shaking. Jace adjusted the course to account for the gravity wake that the station left. The systems on the ship were struggling in these conditions but were still operating.


    Jace watched in the monitor with the view of the rear of the ship as the chain reaction caused by the first station''s destruction was slowing down to almost a complete stop. Seems despite the chain reaction of gravity failing there was still a massive effect on time because of the gravity.


    But for some reason their ship was currently unaffected as they sped towards the edge of the system at an unbelievable speed. He could hear the groans from the rear compartment from the rest of his unit. At the same time he could hear the creaking from the ship.


    He tapped a few buttons when he had a chance and confirmed that he still could not make a connection with the ship. So instead he flew straight toward their location. Initially they would have only been gone for at most a few hours from the Anvil and Judas'' perspective.


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    "What just happened?" Hammers asked as he walked into the ready room where Taylor Hielo should have been watching the situation on the holotable. But as he walked in he could hear her snoring as loud as a bear.


    So instead of looking to the extremely capable but at times unreliable engineer he looked to the other two individuals in the room. Cain, the robotic dog with an artificial intelligence inside it. The other was Ember, the shipbourne artificial intelligence for his ship.


    "Cain and Ember, will one of you explain to me what is going on?" Captain Hammers marched down the stairs while glancing at the holographic projection. He was fuming in anger since Taylor was not answering any communication signals. But he could not do anything to her at the moment since she was sleeping. So for now he would focus on why he came down here in the first place.


    "Which part? You will have to be a bit more specific in what you are talking about." Cain informed the captain. He was currently looking at the hologram, watching it carefully. Jace had double checked Taylor''s work ahead of time. But for some reason he did not actually inform anyone, Cain noticed but did not say anything either.


    "Which part? How about the fact that they are moving so fast?" Captain Hammers asked as he glanced at the hologram and then did a double take as the hologram began changing. "What is going on now?"


    "Well I cannot say for certain but I believe whatever delicate balance that was held together by the various stations with gravity generators and the systems blackhole has been broken." Cain declared. "But before that, the reason they were moving so quickly was because of the time-perception component of gravity. Nowadays it is rare for it to be important when charting a system. But this system seems to have a rather strong effect on gravity because of the various strong gravitational forces."


    "What does that mean for Spectre Jace and the rest of his unit?" Hammers asked as he watched the blue dot race back towards the edge of the system after only being at the black dot that denoted the marked station for only a moment.


    "It means these ten minutes for us were roughly a four day trip there and a day trip back if my calculations about it collapsing are right." Cain declared after a moment. "I would account for a day of error going either way on both estimates. Calculating something like this is tricky even for me."


    "The modified Osprey is about to exit the system. Should we prepare anything for them?" Ember interrupted them.


    "Just prepare the hangar to receive them. Have a medical team in the hangar as well. Will we be able to establish communications before its arrival?" Hammers asked Cain after giving orders to Ember. Then before Cain could answer he realized something and asked another question, "you said the system''s delicate cycle has been broken right? Are we at a safe enough distance to not be affected by the collapsing system?"


    "Unsure, I will begin the calculations now. But just in case you should start gaining distance and warn nearby systems about the collapsing star system. Considering the technologies at play here there is no way for us to know for certain what will happen. For all we know the entire galaxy or even the universe could implode." Cain informed the captain as he moved around the holotable.


    Captain Hammers'' eye twitched as he processed Cain''s words. After a moment he realized that the Artificial Intelligence was making a joke in addition to giving the report. "Basically you are saying that we should be prepared for just about anything?" He walked up to the holotable and connected a channel to the Judas. "Captain Arthur, we need to send warnings to all known inhabited systems in the area. We cannot do it ourselves because of the classified nature of our existence. So I am requesting you do it in our place. I will have an artificial intelligence named Cain that will send you what to say." Hammers looked over at Cain.


    Cain made a humming noise and Hammers could almost swear the lights in its eyes blinked for a moment. There was a clicking and then Cain spoke. "I am done, and I excluded the joke this time and instead gave them a very brief explanation. The explanation avoided detailing anything important or secret." Cain informed him.


    "I will get this done, Captain Hammers." Captain Arthur told him over the communication connection. Then it disconnected and Hammers turned to Ember.


    He sighed for a moment as he composed himself. "I am heading down to the hangar. Alert me if anything disastrous occurs." Captain Hammers then turned around and walked out of the ready room.


    He walked quickly to the hangar. Arriving at the same time as the medical team. As they walked in, the metal covering on one of the hangar doors was opening. At the same time a bunch of the hangar workers were quickly clearing a space near the door. Not even a minute later the modified Osprey flew through the atmospheric barrier landing in the hangar with a loud thud. Metal screeching as the Osprey landed.


    As soon as it landed the Osprey started falling apart. The landing gears collapsed causing the Osprey to bounce on the ground. While one of the wings collapsed and an explosion occurred a second later from the engine.


    There was loud banging coming from the Osprey. Then the front windows of the cockpit came flying off, crashing into a nearby wall. The rear ramp of the Osprey broke open, throwing metal everywhere.


    Out of the front jumped someone from Jace''s unit. While the rest of his unit came out of the back of the Osprey. They were quickly moving clear of the ship while the fire unit on standby in the Hangar ran forward with tubes and tools to extinguish the fire.


    The unit under the Spectre''s command walked toward Captain Hammers and the medical unit that he arrived with. "Spectre Jace?"


    Jace walked up and saluted. "Captain Hammers. I apologize but this was a waste of time. We walked into a trap. I managed to retrieve some data from the station but-"


    All the devices in the hangar began loudly blaring. Jace and his unit all flinched like they suddenly heard something loud. It was the emergency alert noise the Vexical Military had in the event of a catastrophic failure.


    A moment later the announcement came through all the speaker systems and devices at the same time. "Per Emergency Action permissible by- ah screw it, the star system is imploding. We are getting scans of the stations and the facility that is wrapped around the system full of anomalies. The scans show that the facility has suddenly absorbed too much mass and is imploding as a result." Ember''s voice started off generic but they seemed to switch to a southern accent after a moment.


    Hammers opened the full alert on his device. It was detailing how both the Anvil and Judas were about to rush into an emergency warp. The warp would move them into the Waterswan system which they were near. The warning was occurring because it was without the captain''s orders and despite the advanced technology on both ships they still need to make preparations usually. But this time they did not get a chance to do so.


    The ship shook and the metal hangar door slammed closed as everyone was thrown off their feet. Only two of the people in Jace''s unit managed to stay on their feet. Hammers grunted in pain as he pulled himself up. The fact that they decided it was necessary to take emergency measures must mean that something on the sciency side had occurred to cause it.


    He would leave it to the resident geniuses to figure that out. He had to remember his purpose on this ship was just to direct the ship to its next destination. But either way these Spectres were starting to give him a headache.