Our Place Among the Stars: Chosen (IC)

[Charmera]

Yeavis 4, Yeavis system

Yac'Kua stretched her aching joints and as she looked skywards, though all she saw was the top of her guard booth, her insectoid eyes spared from the glow-lights rays by their natural coating. She would have been able to tell the light was green, if she wasn't colourblind like all other Yan-Nai. She smiled, and also she secreted pheromones and sent out low level telepathic rays subconsciously. Any other Yan could tell she was in a very good mood. She was content, despite how menial and tedious guard duty was, in the end it payed absurdly well for a guarding job and she had a husband and two hivelings to come back to. Plus in a few weeks she would be off work due to "Jainath", where all mining would be put on hold, which would give her more time to spend with her little 'lings. She briefly wondered what Gan would be cooking for dinner when she arrive home. She sighed, leaning back in her chair. Still, she had always wondered if there could be something more to her… It was a strange yearning for a Yan, especially one so contented.

Kua got up, she technically still had five cycles left in her shift, but she knew her replacement would come early. Yan almost always arrived at least five minutes early to anywhere they went. It was a very strange trait that even Aheani scientists couldn't fully explain.

She walked out of her booth, sure enough she saw the other female meant to take over the night shift in the distance. Akeva'Juve was her name. Kue never talked to her. One would always be too tired to talk to the other. She did talk to the person she took over for though. Lura always seemed to have energy… Kua had no idea how she did it.

She walked down the dirt road that headed to the mining facility itself, from there she would take a transport up to the mothership in Orbit. She psychically chirped, a nice melody she had learnt as a child. She never remembered the words though.

She suddenly stopped, seeing the figure who came towards her and the guard post. She squinted at it, the chittenous figure not looking quite right. It wasn't Juve…

"Who are…" She muttered. Then tried to psychically contact the figure. No response… In fact nothing at all. As if she didn't exist. The figure seemed to be a female Yan cloaked in rags of some sort.

She was hallucinating, that was the only explanation. Sometimes the atmosphere would do that to Yan, the Xocine was very prevalent in the atmosphere after all.

Suddenly the figure was right in front of her. As if she had been there the whole time. Kua took a step back, very frightened now. The figure responded only by touching Kua's head. Though Kua felt nothing, again, as if the figure did not exist.

"You have been chosen."

Kua had no time to question her words. She fell, collapsing in the dirt. Paralyzed somehow. Suddenly everything went very dark.

---

Kua opened her eyes again, but this time those eyes were different. They had turned red. There seemed to be another Yan standing over her. Kua noticed something different, in fact everything was different now.

"Are you alright?" Nervously asked Juve. She had been late for her shift, which almost never happened, but this time she had… been distracted. She had sensed something… Like a changing in the wind.

Kua got up, "Am… am I alright?" She said, staring strait into Juves eyes. Her voice was confident, something she had never previously possessed"Yes. I've never felt better in my entire life."

Juve was confused. "Oh… okay." She said, taken aback by the sudden tone of Kua's voice.

"Do you want to change the universe Juve?"

"W-What?"

"Do you want to change everything?"

"I don't understand… Why are you using my given name…?" She was close to panicking at this point. Kua sighed, Juve had always been skittish…

"Don't worry. You'll understand." Kua said, lightly touching Juve's head. With this gesture, Juve's eyes now also turned red. Juve first stepped back.

"Yes… I do." Juve suddenly said. "We need… others."

Kua nodded. "Soon, everyone must understand, everyone will." She said. "And if they can't understand… theres no place in our universe for them." She said, a chill to her words.

---

New graduate,
By the the will of the Aheani Council and the New Human Coalition (NHC), due to excellence shown in academy training, you have been selected for an exclusive new program. You will no longer be attached to your core of origin nor will you be reporting to your cores Commander for assignment. Instead you have been reassigned to a new division outside of the cores. You have been assigned to the "Star Wardens" and are now under the command of Admiral Catherine Iseleb, Admiral Akun Kani-Sur and myself.

As part of this elite division, your challenges and responsibilities will be greater. You will be assigned the most vital and some of the most dangerous missions. However if your record is any indication, you should be able to handle these types of situations. Besides the prestige and honour this placement will bring you, you will also reap the enormous benefits of being one of humanities best and brightest, including a greatly increased salary.

Do not discuss this assignment with anyone besides your training officer. As soon as you receive this message, wait in your academy's transport centre, where a coalition appointed vehicle will come and take you to The Sanctum of Reason, where you will be spending the bulk of your time as recruits of the 303rd Core.

We look forward to seeing you.
Admiral Kaur, 154 Core.

---

Meanwhile, Aboard "The Sanctum of Reason"

The Sanctum of Reason was an impressive Battlecruiser to say the least. Though it was relatively small for it's ship class, it was only meant to house the very elite. Known for being fast and very maunurverable, yet still being large enough to house an impressive array of guns. It was an odd hybrid of human engineering and Aheani engineering, as human ships tended to be cheap and easily produced, while Aheani ships tended to be tech masterpieces built to last.

Inside the docking bay, several transports had landed. Smaller ships, about the size of an old earth truck, with a cylindrical outer shell covering several seats. The small ships were capable of incredibly fast speeds, but could only carry about seven humans or Aheani at once, making them useful civilian transports but poor military dropships. They were usually piloted by AI's, though never usually that advanced. Still, they served their purpose well, and the journey would be decently comfortable for those inside.

And those inside were the graduates, taken from several different academies all across Aheani territory. Likely they wouldn't know each other, as thousands upon thousands tended to attend the academies at once, and even though multiple cores did send their students to single academies, the cores mostly stuck with each other. Though only about one or two graduates would be on a single ship.

In fact, the cores were independent to the point where joint divisions like this, while not rare, we're usually only temporary. Often designed to a single purpose.

But not this one… Hopefully…

The cylindrical ships all opened their doors at once, which would allow their occupants to exit the small ships. The respective vehicles AI's would tell their charges to wait in the bay for a commanding officer, before beginning to shut down their systems until they were needed again. Which left the recruits with a bit of time in the mostly empty docking bay, save a few technodrones and Aheani engineers.

[Bunkeranlage]

Docking Bay, The Sanctum of Reason

Stars remained suspended in the blackness of space as a shuttle, one of many, flew by gracefully. Landing gear was deployed expertly, as the small transport vessel came to a halt in the bay of the colossal extraterrestrial vehicle. With an impressive show of synchrony, the doors of the transports burst open, emptying their contents into the larger ship once the airlock closed. In these ships were the Graduates of the War Academy, or rather, those who had done exceptionally well.

From one of the ships, metallic, thumping footsteps rang out as the 20 year old Felix Jakobsson, known to his friends as "红毛" (literally red hair), stepped out of the transport, silently taking in his new and unfamiliar surroundings with an air of youthful dignity. His long, baggy jeans failed to hide the two carbon-fibre blades that replaced what would have been his legs. It was an accident a year ago, just before he graduated. A ship, an explosion, blinding white light and a burning sensation in the lower body...

Let's not think of that, now.

The rest of the landing bay looked huge, though it was only a tiny part of the rest of the ship, as Felix knew. Greeting some of the Aheani engineers reverently, the young man thrust his hands into his pockets, looking at the ship he had arrived in. It was a technological marvel. So tiny, yet able to withstand the ruthlessness of space. Though the trip itself was rather long and dull. Throughout the long journey, Felix had to find ways to entertain himself. Identifying the different tones in the background humming of the ship's engine got dull very quickly, and it definitely wasn't sufficiently comfortable to just doze off. "Well, thank God that's over", he mumbled quietly to himself.

The commission note he had received, he read over and over again. ...excellence shown in academy training... reassigned... do not discuss this assignment with anyone... It definitely sounded like something exciting, a good change from what he was used to. For most of his life, he'd been stuck behind reception desks, stuck in fast food restaurant kitchens, stuck at the guardhouses of private residences... Yes, he was sure of it. It was time to do something that actually contributed to society, to humanity.

From each according to his ability...

Yes, finally, he would get the chance to serve his race. To bring justice to those who lacked it.

...to each according to his need.

A robotic voice blared, informing him that he would have to stay here for the time being to wait for a commanding officer. Not a bad thing, Felix thought. He'd been sitting down for... longer than he bothered to count, and he felt that it was high time he stretched his muscles a bit. He took a few steps around, looking at the other people, whom he presumed were to be his fellow operatives. And a diverse bunch, they were. Some were tall, some were short, some had prominently Asian features, others were Caucasians, some were indeterminate. Felix reasoned that it would do him good to get to know them better. After all, they'd be his comrades in the time to come.

As the robotic voice died down, Felix took some steps around the room, unconsciously scratching at one of his non-existent calf, the last mocking whispers of Phantom Pain coming at him for one last shot. Flicking his smooth brown hair out of his eyes, the double amputee strode around, looking for someone to interact with.

[Republic of Hasgriu]

Docking Bay, The Sanctum of Reason

Nicolas Yan Kun Xing sighed a sigh of relief when the transport shuttle finally docked with the Aheani-Human hybrid battlecruiser. It was such a marvellous ship, that words could not describe, as he had expected from the Aheani.

However, the automated spaceship was such a boring object. It was tedious for Nicolas to wait, and wait, as the ship sped through the infinite vacuums of space. The clean, polished, white environment, was pressing his limits on how long he could keep his inquisitiveness at bay. His inability to express his artistic talent was also frustrating.

His thoughts turned from the transport ship to the note he had in his pocket. He tugged it ever so slightly to ensure that it was secure. Apparently, he had been transferred from his former core, Core 4, "The Red Dragon", to Core 303, "Star Wardens". It was rather peculiar. He thought there were 300 cores for humans. Even if this was a secret core, and its number was not included, what happened to Core 301 and 302? Were they failed projects with the same goal? It was all very strange and foreign to Nicolas. But surely, it was all the will of the Aheani.

Nicolas stepped out onto the ramp of the ship, as the ship's A.I. begin saying something inconsequential in a monotone, flat, voice. Why couldn't they be more lively, more, expressive? 'Hmm.', he thought. 'Ah, well, perhaps its because the voice needs to be clearly identifiable, yes. That most definitely is the reason. Very thoughtful of the Aheani.' As Nicolas took in the magnificence of the spectacular interior, all the while saluting and bowing to the Aheani in the bay, he eyed the other humans exiting the vessels. He presumed that they were those who he would be working with. He giggled softly to himself in glee. It would be fun to learn all about his new friends!

[Bunkeranlage]

On a normal day, according to his biological clock, it would be some time in the late afternoon. Now, however, Felix could only see nothing but blackness with some glowing dots here and there. The planet itself looked more like a soccer ball now. "Hm, that's nice", he mumbled to himself. "I suppose all this'll take some getting used to."

The new atmosphere, while cold and stoic, provided an endless flow of new possibilities for the young men and women part of the programme. The heaps of crates, stamped with serial numbers, were like magical hats filled with surprises. The various doors beckoned to him, and a dull humming noise rang in the background, possibly the engine.

E-Flat. Ah, E-Flat. Sibelius, Wagner...

Apart from the engineers and the droids, the group of young people were mostly alone, looking about awkwardly. Felix smiled to himself. They seemed like a nice bunch, these guys. He looked forward to working with them. Now, though, it was obvious that everybody was still quite uncomfortable with each other. Someone needed to take the initiative to start a conversation, and if it was to be a particular sarcastic, metal-legged Swede, even better.

"Hello, guys. Seems like a real nice place, no?"

[Dustain]

Docking Bay, The Sanctum of Reason

Harriet was jolted out of her quiet slumber as the shuttle came down on its landing gear. The trip from the academy was uneventful, and now she was separated from her old clique of fellow members from her core her journey was devoid of conversation too. It was a moment of privacy that to a Thunderbird was rare, and Harriet attempted to take advantage of it. Her core was one that abandoned the relics of old humanity and so she normally wasn't allowed to listen to old music or read books. Her time at the academy had brought with it new freedoms but all the while her peers were watching with looks of disdain, ready to report her transgressions to the elders.

So she was a little upset that she'd wasted it by falling asleep. She'd used to run off to a maintenance closet with her data pad and read old novels that described worlds and people that seemed more alien to her than humanity's Aheani saviours. Sometimes listen to music, movements that could invoke sombre or even fearful feelings in her that she didn't experience too often, and then other pieces that seemed to use chords and orchestras to describe the uplifting emotions she felt with a jet strapped to her back while she pulled 9 gees.

With her new assignment Harriet was uncertain how much time she'd get to indulge in that kind of thing. For all she knew that would be her last opportunity for a while, according to her assignment she was no longer part of the Thunderbirds and part of an elite division. Was that a trick because she'd been bad again? Would this new core let her fly? Did her family want her gone? For all their flaws Harriet loved those in her core and it was only now hitting her that she might not see them again.

Thunderbirds do not cry, Thunderbirds do not fear, Thunderbirds serve the Galaxy with smiles on our faces and fire in our hearts.

It wasn't their motto or anything like, just something that one of her elders had said time and time again.

She managed her best smile through her weariness as she stepped out of the dark shuttle. She lifted her hand to cover her face from the bright lights of the hanger while her eyes adjusted. Then after she could see again she shuffled the duffle bag on her shoulder before placing her hands in her thick blue and white textile jacket.

The AI said something, but it was too early for Harriet to process it. Food, food was what she needed, but she had no idea where the cafeteria was on this ship, or even if she was allowed to go there yet. Her smile became much more genuine as she reached into her duffle for one f her pilfered protein bars, remembering her operation to acquire them with fondness.

As she slowly munched on the bar she began to meandered through the small crowd of fresh baked nuggets. All of them looked different and wore different colours, it looked like the assignment letter wasn't lying at least. With a self satisfied grin on her face she waited for directions like a good Thunderbird.

[Arkadum]

Docking Bay, The Sanctum of Reason
Jon's eyes flew open as he jolted forward, his in-transit nap brought to an abrupt end by a shrill ping in his ears. He surveyed the shuttle around him, shaking off the grogginess of a restless sleep. The dim lights of the shuttle were just bright enough to keep him awake but not comfortably so, so he had put in the effort to sleep. His reassignment had been sudden, and between packing his things, filling out paperwork and catching connecting shuttle-flights, he had found himself awake more than he cared for. Not that he found much solace in sleeping, the nightmares came often and usually rendered his nights unpleasant. The shrinks had told him it was PTSD, and that unless he wanted to be discharged for mental illness, there was nothing to be done about it.

As he finally shook off the last remnants of sleep he found his mind wandering onto his current situation. At first he thought he was getting a promotion, considering the former Commander of his core had died on that hell-world Sahel-Zema. He could still remember the damn bugs skittering all over the desert, pulling men away into the dunes. However, as deserving as he thought himself, it turned out that this was no simple promotion. He had received the actual notice a week ago, it instructed him to remain silent, and that travel would be arranged. Without even getting a chance to think about it, he found himself on a freighter. He was reluctant to leave the Red Bedouin behind, but he knew that he had little say in the matter.

Perhaps he was to be awarded, or to found a new core, he wasn't sure how cores actually got started but he had a few ideas he'd like to pitch. That, or he was going to be executed for some unintended treason or cowardice. Jon tried not to think like that, so he slid out a data-pad from the cargo-basket next to his seat. Soon he began looking through the limited amount of news he could get in-transit. For what seemed like hours he read the same 4 articles, played the same 2 games over and over again. Just as he thought he'd surely lose his mind, the Shuttle AI buzzed to life and made an announcement in a monotone voice.

"Now arriving at destination, please stow all loose objects and/or individuals."

Jon couldn't feel the sharp bank of the shuttle but he could sense the change in orientation and gravity, something years as a soldier had taught him. Finally the craft settled and he stood up, checking his beige uniform for any imperfections one final time. The door opened with a hiss and harsh light flooded in, Jon squinted until his eyes caught up and he stepped forward.

Around him, a handful of fellow humans seemed to do the same, stepping calmly into the cavernous docking bay of what he could only assume to be a large ship. Someone asked about how nice the place was, he could have agreed had the whole bay not smelled of sterilizing chemicals.

"This place smells like a hospital" he said in response to the earlier comment.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Ereshkigal sat idly on the empty transport ship as it cruised through the darkness of space, remaining almost perfectly still as she leaned back on her seat, waiting patiently for the shuttle to arrive to its destination, the Sanctum of Reason, where she would meet the 303rd core, the Star Wardens, her new core. And, in a sense, her new family, though such a thought was rather disconcerting for her. After all, for the longest time, the only family Ereshkigal had known were the Einherjar, her people. There was always mutual understanding between them, and they all had the same aspirations and goals. Now, however, she was taken from within her family and sent towards a strange new place, to be integrated into a new group. It was strange to think about, and a bit unsettling, as the young woman was not used to dealing with people from other cores, even if she didn't think negatively of them.

However, even if that was what she felt, she knew that she would have to put up with it and carry out her duty, for it was by the will of the Aheani that she had been sent there, to the Sanctum of Reason, and so, not daring to question them, Ereshkigal understood that she would have to endure, as always. She had been born to endure everything for the Aheani, after all. Compared to the rigors of battle, this would be nothing... Or so the woman hoped. Regardless, she was ready to do anything that was required by her masters, just like every other Einherjar. To her, being able to serve them was enough of a reward. Honor was something she did not crave, for there was honor in serving the Aheani, no matter the way. Prestige was unimportant, as notoriety had little to do with how well one served the Aheani. And she was rather uninterested in the prospect of earning more or less money. Usually, she would at least be glad that she would be able to spend it on more food and better products for her fellow Einherjar, but none of that applied here, as she would be among people from other cores, most likely ones who live better than her people, and, in any case, ones that would be making just as much as her. Indeed, serving the Aheani here was more than enough of a reward for her, though she knew, even if she didn't quite understand it, that it was not enough for others, and that the promise of a monetary reward was most likely directed at them.

The hum of the engine, which had up until then been quietly singing along in a constant manner, fading into the background and lulling her into a state of relaxation, stopped all of the sudden, causing Ereshkigal to withdraw from her thoughts and realize that she had finally arrived at the Sanctum of Reason, her destination. She stood up just as the door of the transport ship opened up, leaving open the path to the docking bay. An artificial voice coming from within the vehicle informed her that she was to wait in there until a commanding officer arrived to give her further instructions. Understanding the wishes of her masters, Ereshkigal placed one of her bandaged hands upon the door's threshold, stepping out into the docking bay of the Sanctum of Reason. She was clad in a simple attire, black pants and a white tank-top that allowed one to see the very tips of the blood-stained corners of the wings of the butterfly on her back.

Now out of the transport ship and inside the docking bay, Ereshkigal surveyed her surroundings with her amber eyes. It seemed that many others were here already, people from other cores undoubtedly, but people she would have to learn to work with nonetheless. She observed them quietly, as well as the rest of the bay, noticing that, aside from them, there were also some of her Aheani masters present, performing some work on the ship by the looks of it. Immediately, she averted her eyes, trying not to stare at the masters out of reverence. An engineer walked by her, and she stepped out of his path, making a deep bow as he moved past. Afterwards, she returned to observing the others. They had features rather different from her own. Her bronze-colored skin contrasted with their clearer tones, for one, and most displayed either Asian or Caucasian features, though she did not let this unnerve her. She had been among such people in the past, as men and women from all around the world had ended up among the Einherjar at some point or another. One of them, a fellow woman, seemed quite happy for some reason, much like a young man not far from there. Another man seemed not to be quite as pleased with his surroundings.

One of them in particular, a man with prosthetic blades in place of his legs, raised a question, asking if it was agreed upon that the Sanctum of Reason was a nice place to be. The displeased man from before voiced a complaint about the smell, but Ereshkigal paid that one no mind. She didn't mind the smell, and this ship had been built by the Aheani, so she had no reason to dislike it.

"The Sanctum of Reason was built both by the humans and the Aheani." The Einherjar spoke up, quietly, but clearly enough to be heard at least by the man who had raised the question. "If the masters were involved in its creation, then I see no reason why it would not be... nice." She stated.

[Brusia]

Paul sat quietly inside his transport shuttle as it approached the Sanctum of Reason. In his hands was a datapad which contained the text of a great many books he had copied onto the device before leaving. Currently, the screen displayed a page from a textbook on Aheani Physiology; the same page which had been on the screen when the shuttle departed. Under normal circumstances, Paul would've loved the opportunity to have so much time in relative silence to read, but this was certainly not a normal circumstance. "Reassigned to another core" he thought "I still can't believe it..." He wondered how long this new "assignment" would last, and how it would impact his study of medicine; though at the same time he was glad that this strange new assignment brought with it a pay raise. He hoped to one day become a physician and to study medicine with the Aheani, but he knew if he was to have any hope of accomplishing the latter goal, it'd cost him a pretty penny. Hopefully, this new assignment would speed his progress towards his ambitions.

Suddenly, Paul felt the shuttle shake and, looking out the window, realized it had just landed. "That was fast" he thought to himself, as he turned off his datapad, then stood up and stretched for a bit. The shuttle door soon opened, and after listening to the AI's brief instructions, Paul exited the craft, datapad in hand, and looked around the hanger bay. "I don't see anyone who looks like a CO" he thought to himself "I guess now we play the waiting game..."

[Dustain]

"This place smells like a hospital" he said in response to the earlier comment.

"The Sanctum of Reason was built both by the humans and the Aheani." The Einherjar spoke up, quietly, but clearly enough to be heard at least by the man who had raised the question. "If the masters were involved in its creation, then I see no reason why it would not be... nice." She stated.

Harriet sniffed the air and could tell what they were talking about. She'd managed to filter through the crowds and was now standing behind the woman, still slowly chewing on her bar. A bit of chocolate and gotten caught in the corner of her lip.

"It's a new ship isn't it?" Harriet said, pressing a thoughtful finger to her lips "It's probably the new air filters, they always smell a little funny after they get replaced."

She noticed the bit of chocolate at the corner of her mouth and ran her finger over it, scratching it away with her nail. She looked at it with a surprised smile and exclaimed "Bonus!" before she put her finger back in her mouth and devoured it with a childish grin.

[New Jordslag]

Docking Bay, 'The Sanctum of Reason'
Maxwell, or Max, as what few friends he had called him, preferred not to sleep. He didn't mind being tired, and it gave him more time to think. So he thought... and thought... and thought. Finally, he heard his shuttle slide smoothly into the Docking Bay. When the door opened, he casually strolled out into the bay. He hadn't thought much of the ship; same old Aheani technology as always. He didn't care much more for his masters then the average Human; but he was certainly willing to work with them. Once, when younger, he had had the dreams of the other cadets; those times were so long ago he remembered nothing of them, only that they existed. His experience had long since shot his lofty goals down. Now he lived for one, sole purpose: To keep Humanity alive.

If anybody were to hear his thoughts, they would comment that that in itself is a lofty goal. Maxwell knew this. That's why he planned to use the help of his fellow cadets. Not openly, of course. But, moving on; It was actually a pleasant surprise that he had ben selected for this 'elite' brigade. He had always done well on the written tests and at Logistics and Planning, but he expected the 'elites' to be filled up with Overly-Muscled people with air for brains. Then a thought struck him: What if they plan to keep this unit together? He pushed the thought aside. Joint core units NEVER lasted long; everybody knew that. But that thought continued nagging at him.

Taking a moment to gaze at the surrounding ship, Max carried on. He was dressed in long, baggy pants, and wore a long sleeved shirt, topping it off with a scarf. He didn't care if it made him feel hot; it also made him feel safe. His scarf, in particular, had been a present to him on his Birthday from his sole little sister, the only family member who had been kind to him. She was killed in a vehicular accident the following day. These days, it became hard to hold up his façade of the flawless, cheerful, nice-guy student. Not to say that wasn't a part of him. It was one of many parts of him. But, at his core, he just felt: Hollow. Depressed. Scared. No matter how many friends his kind self made, that didn't change how his life had left him. A broken man, crying endlessly on the inside. But he had to be strong, in his sister's- no, all of Humanity's- name.

As he thought, he was interrupted by a robotic voice blaring for him to stay put. Shortly afterward, he heard other cadets, such as a boy with no legs wearing jeans, strike up a conversation. Tired of waiting to fight for Humanity, he decided that he might as well talk. Walking over to the other group of Cadets, he realized that this was all a new experience for him; other than on paper, he had never really experienced this sort of situation. It was sort of... exciting. Running through a list of things to say, he realized that the boy with no legs had asked how nice it was, and the bronze-colored girl had said that it must be nice, as the Aheani were involved in building it. He decided that this was as good a conversation as anything to get into.

"Reasonable point, friend," He said, nodding at the Bronze skinned girl. "Although I personally find the ship a bit bland. No matter. It seems advanced enough. " He flashed a light smile, then looked at the boy with no legs. "What is your name, by the way?"

[Bunkeranlage]

"Felix Jakobsson. It's nice to meet you."

The young Swede shook hands with the other cadet, who was towering high over him like a giant. It was a good change, meeting someone new. For 19 years, Felix had very little interaction with other people. Most of the people he knew were just coworkers at his various jobs. One person, he knew better than the others. She was a beautiful young lady, just a year younger than him. It didn't matter that she was born blind, for their love skipped that boundary.

They had barely started dating, when they decided to go on a trip together. A trip to Spain, via a boat. It was that fateful day of the departure that it happened. A failure of the engine, the authorities said. A good thing the ship hadn't left the docks yet, they said.

"All it'll cost us is a couple thousand of dollars to fix the damage to the port".

But it cost the young couple much more than that. Felix could only watch helplessly, pinned to the seat by a faulty seatbelt, as the explosion consumed her, before coming for him...

Okay, that's enough daydreaming for one day now.

The two young men stood awkwardly around, one tall, the other much shorter. Felix took off his white hoodie, hanging it over his shoulder and gently smoothing out his lime green T-Shirt. In a desperate attempt to start a conversation, Felix grinned a fake smile, saying meekly, "So, uh, you looking forward to this?"

[Charmera]

Asuna walked next to the admiral, both curious and somewhat nervous about this. She had not expected this would be the start to her military career, not did she have any idea why she had been chosen. Sure, she had been told it was due to her excellences (Which she didn't argue with) but this was a pretty unorthodox assignment. She had been expecting to work with one of the other cores, not this strange joint core that seemed to have come out of nowhere.

Admiral Catherine seemed to sense this trepidation, and raised an eyebrow at the Aheani, a slight smile on her face. The ageing admiral was a little shorter than the alien, her white hair and soft blue eyes indicative of that. She did seem to be definitely fit enough for duty however, despite signs of ageing. "You're worried aren't you?" She said.

Asuna looked over to the human. She paused, then nodded slightly. Even though the Aheani was several hundred years her elder, the Admiral had a wealth of experience and a motherly warmth. Asuna would never think of condescending to the admiral, in fact she respected the human greatly. "It's... strange to say the least."

Catherine chuckled. "I don't blame you. This kind of thing doesn't happen often." She shrugged. "But... The best way to look at it is as an opportunity. I mean, this division really could be a great launchpad for your career."

Asuna nodded, "I suppose." She replied. Some optimistic thoughts went through her head, though she was still sceptical about the whole thing. "We will have to see if that proves to be the case."

Catherine smiled wider, punching in the access code to the docking bay. A moment later the door opened and she walked in. "New recruits," She spoke, skipping the salute and any other formalities, mostly for the sake of time. She had a lot to get through. Her smile faded. "I am Admiral Catherine Iseleb. You are under my command for the duration of your time in the 303rd."

"I know you are all probably wondering what this core is about. Why you have been called here." She continued. "Well, put simply, your job is to stop galactic conflicts before they occur, by any means necessary. Often that will mean armed intervention, and often it will be in the most dangerous parts of our galaxy. Which is why we need the best we can get. Which is why you cannot fail."

Catherine smiled after she spoke, glad the heavy stuff was out of the way."Now that that is out of the way. This is Lieutenant Asuna Ikan-Gai. She will be directly commanding you while on the battlefield." The Admiral paused for a second, indicating Asuna should speak.

Asuna looked at the recruits, all human of varying ethnicities and all very young. So far, she wasn't exactly impressed. These are the best? They've barely graduated... Pups at best... The irony that the same could be said of her did not cross her mind. She forced a smile, mostly for politenesses sake.

"Pleased to meet you all." She said, then paused awkwardly. I suppose I should at least try to be friendly. "You... may call me Asuna if you wish, or Lieutenant."

The Admiral nodded, checking her watch. "If you have any questions. Now would be the time to ask them."

[Dustain]

"Pleased to meet you all." She said, then paused awkwardly. I suppose I should at least try to be friendly. "You... may call me Asuna if you wish, or Lieutenant."

The Admiral nodded, checking her watch. "If you have any questions. Now would be the time to ask them."

Harriet jammed her hand up straight into the air with the enthusiasam of an elementary school student. "Miss Iseleb" She said as though she was adressing a teacher.

There were a few questions going around her head, like where she was sleeping, when was dinner, would she get to see her family again or was this her family now, she never heard of someone moving cores. None of that was super urgent, and she'd been taught not to direct questions like that towards people called Admiral. But there was one thing she could ask that seemed very important, if this was a new core would the way she had to fight change? She didn't want to, she found the ground combat secenarios at the academy fun, but nothing was quite like flying through the sky like a Thunderbird. I would be hard, but she felt that she could accept leaving her family for a new one if only they allowed her to keep flying.

Her mind distilled the conflicted and confused emotions out and translated it into the question; "Will I still get to fly?"

[Bunkeranlage]

Before Felix was able to continue his conversation with the tall person, the whoosh of a door filled the room, followed by the footsteps of two people, walking closer to them dignifiedly. One of them, an old lady, spoke in a soft contralto, informing the cadets of her identity; Admiral Catherine Iseleb, the commander of Core 303 or, at least, of the new operatives. Next to speak was a young Aheani woman, who only introduced herself, as a lieutenant. Felix folded his arms, standing straight.

So these are our... commanders.

Soon, the awkward silence was once again broken, as Admiral Iseleb asked the cadets if they had any questions. The young people looked about in silence, before a young lady thrust her hand violently into the air. Her question? Would they still get to fly?

Flying. It was one thing Felix never had the opportunity to do. Many times, he had stepped onto the balconies of tall hotels and office buildings, decked in a security guard's uniform, watching the skies as people in commercially available jet-packs and mechanical wings whooshed past him. Oh, how he longed to get to do it one day! Even in the Academy, he never got to do it. He spent most of his time assigned to ground combat and espionage. The girl was fortunate enough to have gotten the chance to fly. Hopefully, this would be his opportunity to do so too...

[Arkadum]

Jon listened with forced interest to the conversations and replies of his fellow arrivals, he wasn't quick to judge, but he also wasn't quick to care. His apathy didn't really come dislike, more a feeling of distrust. Hopefully he could shed that distrust in time for their actual assignments, and even if he didn't, Jon could always keep things professional. He crossed his lanky but toned arms across his chest, his soft face betraying no emotion beyond his attention. He did not shift from this stance even when his now-commander entered the hangar.

A women shot her hand up to his left, he couldn't help but smirk at the innocence of the act and her following question. He had never known anything except flying, born on a station, trained on a station and he assumed he would die on a station, if all went well. The constant whirring of servos and hissing of filters was natural to him, in fact, he found it unsettling without such noises. Yet, the Aheani ships had always felt wrong to him, too sterile, too placid. He had no feelings towards his "Overlords" beyond acceptance, they gave him targets and he gave them results. Humanity had been turned into a hammer, the Aheani realized that, humans realized that, so the "Overlords" kept the nails in supply. In Jon's mind the Aheani were on the low end of the relationship.

All humanity had ever done was fight, it was in our souls, our guts. Where the Aheani were ascended and peaceful, humanity was less than a hundred-thousand years removed from contending with lions for scraps of food. Humans still felt the warmth of living blood, the primal hunt was still in them. The Aheani had long ago lost that, the animalistic side of their minds, and so they needed humans, more than humans needed them. Yet, Jon also knew that he was a soldier, and soldiers needed enemies, something the Aheani were happy to provide.

[New Jordslag]

"Pleased to meet you all." She said, then paused awkwardly. I suppose I should at least try to be friendly. "You... may call me Asuna if you wish, or Lieutenant."

The Admiral nodded, checking her watch. "If you have any questions. Now would be the time to ask them."

Felix seemed nice enough already. If nothing else, he would make a good comrade to further Humanity's cause. Just as he was about to reply to the shorter man, a voice interrupted. Snapping to attention, Maxwell recognized Admiral Catherine Iseleb, a semi-famous Human Admiral. She was saying something about dangerous interventions in dangerous parts of the Galaxy. Maxwell feigned attention, but really spent his time memorizing the features of the Aheani brought with her. Lieutenant Asuna, as she was soon introduced.

The name seemed familiar, though he had not heard it before. She seemed shy, though not at all incompetent. Good Aheani Commander. He had a feeling he would like her. He better, as she would be his commander for what would likely be the rest of his natural life. He watched her study them all after she was introduced. She then smiled, a awkward sort of smile that seemed strained. Quite interesting, this Lieutenant was. She obviously wasn't comfortable here. She said she was pleased to meet them, then hesitated. Then, she said they should call her Asuna or Lieutenant. He decided on Asuna. Might as well be familiar with her. Finally, the Admiral took over, ending the awkward 'speech' Asuna had given them.

As soon as the Admiral finished asking if anybody had any questions, a young lady near him asked if they could fly. He decided he had quite a few questions of his own, though none which he cared to ask in front of all these people. He had to be polite to them, after all. Rudeness never got anybody anywhere. Then he realized he DID have a question.

"I also have a question," He said. "When does our first mission start?"

[Charmera]

Her mind distilled the conflicted and confused emotions out and translated it into the question; "Will I still get to fly?"

Catherine turned to the graduate, her smiling widening "Don't worry. You'll definitely get to fly." The admiral replied, nodding. Though she didn't want to say anything more. Catherine wanted to see their faces when she showed them their surprise. "Though, please don't call me Miss Iseleb. Firstly, I am happily married and such formal address makes me feel old..." She continued. "Admiral will do."

She seems... strangely childish. Asuna noted. She seemed to address the Admiral as one would do an instructor at school. She was sure humans were supposed to be more mature at this age. She did have energy however, which she had to admit was good, though Asuna imagined that childishness could be a liability. Though she couldn't really judge that at this stage, so she kept silent on the matter.

-Snip-

Asuna's eyes hovered over Felix, who seemed to be silent. She couldn't quite read him. An amputee? She wondered, some pity going through her mind, though she was very careful not to show it. Perhaps some of them have seen more combat that I though... Or could it have been an accident? She quickly moved on, not wanting to stare or seem rude. She also noted Jon, but was unsure what to think of him, nothing he was doing seemed to give her any sort of impression.

"I also have a question," He said. "When does our first mission start?"

Catherine put a hand to her chin in thought. "Depends. It may be a while before you lot are put into any real combat. First we'll probably have a few training missions to get you all working as a team, then probably some minor assignments... Though... There is the possibility an emergency might come up. Then... Well lets just hope that doesn't happen." She replied.

He seems eager to get started... She thought. She noted how the humans eyes had been on her earlier. Asuna wondered briefly why he was doing so.

"Any other questions? This really is the best time to ask them as you may not get another chance to do so." Asuna spoke. Supposing she should help the admiral.

[Republic of Hasgriu]

Nicolas was just about to initiate a conversation with one of his new core members, when an elderly human and an Aheani, both female, entered the docking bay. He quickly spun around and saluted them, but they did not salute back. 'Peculiar,' he thought. The human identified herself as Admiral Catherine Iseleb, a name he faintly recalled hearing from one of his friends when she was gossiping. Presumably she was somewhat well-known.

Nicolas paid very close attention to what Admiral Iseleb said. Stopping conflicts before they happened? That sounded like a task for diplomats and politicians, not a soldier. Perhaps this core was a peacekeeper force, then? But, why an entirely new core. Nicolas could name three cores off the top of his head that could perform the same task easily. Also, how were they going to know where, or when, the conflicts were to occur? He had so many questions to ask.

Next, the Aheani introduced herself, as Lieutenant Asuna Ikan-Gai. She was smiling, but he found it a forced smile, not genuine at all. Has he not made a good first impressions? He checked his uniform, tucked in his shirt, adjusted his collar. He refined his pose, and stood straight as a ruler, standing at attention. He needed to garner the Aheani Commander's respect in the battlefield.

When Admiral Catherine asked for questions, one girl at the side asked if she could still fly. Strange question. Nicolas had never flown before. Or at least, didn't recall it. He didn't ponder on it too long before curiosity took hold of him, and he asked, "Admiral, what happened to the 301st and 302nd cores?" He had other questions, of course, but he didn't want to rush the Admiral.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

After expressing her opinion on the matter of the ship, Ereshkigal returned to her usual silence, quietly observing the other people present on the docking bay with her amber eyes, but saying nothing and avoiding prolonged eye contact with any one person, merely listening quietly and of course bowing deeply whenever an Aheani engineer walked past her. So far, the others hadn't done anything to drive her away, but she still felt uncomfortable around people from other cores, having lived among the Einherjar during all her life. Of course, this didn't mean that she was remaining silent to avoid attracting any undesired attention; rather, that was simply her nature when around others, to stay out of the way and be quiet unless required to speak.

As she observed the crowd, Ereshkigal noticed a young woman, the one with the happy disposition, moving towards her, ending up somewhere in the space between herself and the wall. She was slightly unnerved by having someone behind her, but she did nothing about it, telling herself that no one had any reason to do anything against another while inside this ship, as they were all humans in the territory of the masters, all of them with the purpose to serve them. Was that not why they had been all called to the Sanctum of Reason, after all? And either way, hearing the girl behind her speak, Ereshkigal noticed that she was rather... The Einherjar didn't really have a word to describe it, as her childhood had not given her the sort of experience that would lead her to identify Harriet's behavior with the word "childish", but the impression she got from the other woman certainly made her relax, feeling now certain that there was nothing to worry about.

Then, someone else spoke, briefly addressing her, agreeing with the point she had made earlier about the ship, the Sanctum of Reason. The man, who easily towered over her despite not seeming very strong, called the ship 'bland' afterwards. Ereshkigal... didn't disagree, necessarily, though she didn't think that the 'blandness' of the ship was a negative quality, like the tall man seemed to believe. In fact, she didn't think that such a quality, or it's opposite, were worth thinking of at all. The Sanctum of Reason performed its duty just fine, did it not? Thus, she saw no reason to mind anything else. Seeing the tall man smile in her direction, the Einherjar merely returned a blank stare, if only because she knew not how to respond.

However, all of this paled in importance to what happened afterwards. A door on the docking bay, one that led further into the ship and not to the transport vessels they had come from, opened suddenly, revealing a pair of figures, a woman with white hair and an Aheani female, who walked inside. The woman, identifying herself as Admiral Catherine Iseleb, one of those mentioned in the letter she had received, spoke to them, introducing herself and stating that they would be under her command. She explained their mission, which was to stop galactic conflicts before they began. It was an important task, certainly, one that would involve danger and combat, which was what Ereshkigal excelled at. The admiral said that they could not fail, and the Einherjar understood why, though she felt that it did not need to be stated. Failing to serve the Aheani was her people's and her worst fear and the greatest disgrace that could fall upon one, and so, it was to be avoided at all costs.

The admiral also introduced the Aheani woman next to her, one Asuna Ikan-Gai, who would be commanding them on the battlefield. She smiled at them, but the smile... It was forced. The Einherjar, clean as they were, could tell when something was off, when someone was not being honest. She could not tell why Asuna was displeased, and did not wish to guess, but it unnerved Ereshkigal a little. Had she somehow managed to disappoint a master even before she had the chance to participate in a mission? That was probably not it, and she tried not to think about it, but the mere thought was unnerving indeed.

The admiral then called for questions, and several of the people she had seen around her made their inquiries heard. They were promptly answered by the admiral and Asuna, as expected, but both the admiral and the Aheani seemed to be urging the group to ask any and all questions they still had before their work began. Seeing this as a bit of an opportunity, Ereshkigal walked up to the two women, though she stayed at an appropiate distance in front of them, and made a deep bow of reverence.

"I am honored to serve you, masters." She said earnestly with her quiet voice, staying like that for a few moments before straightening back up. "Admiral, will I be able to spend my funds to send supplies to the people of my core?" She asked afterwards, curious and also still concerned for them, even though she would most likely be unable to see them again for a while. The Einherjar were a very close-knit, solidary people after all.

[Bunkeranlage]

One after another, Felix's fellow recruit operatives asked the Admiral questions, good questions. He put his white jacket back on, looking around at the others. I'd really look forward to seeing how they are like in combat. Scratching at his phantom limbs subconsciously, Felix listened as the Admiral explained question after question.

I don't think I have any questions I need to ask her, not now.

As the explanations came, he continued to pay attention. Years of self discipline had taught him to pay attention to what the speaker was saying, rather than thinking of other things, like "Oh, that last syllable was an F-Sharp 4" or things along those lines. He had learnt that often, every word was important.

Slowly, he began to get accustomed to the sterilised smell of the hangar, as well as the gunmetal walls. While the colour combination may have been depressing for most people, it was a big change for him. All his life, he had lived alone in a derelict apartment building on the outskirts of the city, barely able to afford his rent. He considered himself extremely fortunate that his landlord, an elderly Swiss gentleman, was kind enough to extend the deadlines for his rent after the few times he had been laid off, be it from the fast food place, or from the security company.

Losing his legs in an accident didn't help much either. The medical bills were an enormous pain, since he didn't have any relatives or family to help him foot the bill. One of his wealthier acquaintances stepped in to pay part of it, but the rest was left on him. It broke him completely, leaving him with almost no money for himself.

I'm not going to complain about a crappy colour combination, because it's much better than anything I've ever had before.

Somehow, he didn't have any questions, despite his eagerness to begin the programme and begin his new life. "Anything out of my control", he said to himself quietly, under his breath, "is beyond my control. There's no use worrying." Hence, even while a number of his peers asked questions, some with the "childish" innocence of a schoolchild, Felix maintained his dignified silence, standing erect on his carbon-fibre blades.

[Charmera]

When Admiral Catherine asked for questions, one girl at the side asked if she could still fly. Strange question. Nicolas had never flown before. Or at least, didn't recall it. He didn't ponder on it too long before curiosity took hold of him, and he asked, "Admiral, what happened to the 301st and 302nd cores?" He had other questions, of course, but he didn't want to rush the Admiral.

The Admirals face fell and the woman sighed deeply. She paused for a moment, about to speak, but she bit her lip. Her smile came back, but it was more a sad smile. "You... don't have to worry about that." She said simply, obviously not wanting to go into those two cores.

Asuna's eyes had widened when Nicolas had asked the question directly to the Admiral. Ayu... he's bold. I'l give him that... She thought. Asuna had asked the same question to Admiral Kaur, and had gotten shouted at by the belligerent man for doing so. Obviously there was something there... something she had not been informed of.

"I am honored to serve you, masters." She said earnestly with her quiet voice, staying like that for a few moments before straightening back up. "Admiral, will I be able to spend my funds to send supplies to the people of my core?" She asked afterwards, curious and also still concerned for them, even though she would most likely be unable to see them again for a while. The Einherjar were a very close-knit, solidary people after all.

Asuna was not especially surprised with the bow. Many humans had a reverent respect for the Aheani, and Asuna was used to being treated with such reverence. Such is befitting of my rank and family name. She thought arrogantly. Otherwise, she somewhat liked this human, the way she spoke to them fanned the fires of the Aheani's ego. Asuna had to stop herself from grinning slightly. That would be rather conceited even for her. Though she had to say she liked this human.

"Sure... I see no reason why that should not be allowed." Catherine replied. Snapping Asuna out of her somewhat vain thoughts.

Suddenly, another recruit spoke, Standing confidently with her arms crossed and her eyes on the Admiral. She seemed indifferent to everything going on. "Is this it? This is pretty small for a core..." Remarked Janett, not a hint of any respect or politeness in her voice. Straightforward and to the point. Another recruit nearby seemed shocked by her forwardness, a black haired and blue eyed girl, who seemed to be quite silent and reserved. Another recruit, male and tall, rolled his eyes.

"True." Replied Catherine. "Though, there are still a few new recruits who are yet to come, and I'm sure a few more will join, but otherwise you lot are going to have to make do with these numbers."

"Fortunately, you've had the best training in the galaxy... and the equipment...well." She smiled widely. "Just wait till you see the equipment you'll be using."

Meanwhile the others may or may not have noticed, but another ship seemed to be docking in the bay, though the recruits were far enough away that they didn't have to worry about getting in the way of the ship, which seemed to be similar to the one they had came one except much larger and seemingly the doors were on the front of the vehicle. Catherine noted the ship. Well speak of the devil...

"Alright, last few questions... then we get into the meat of things." She stated, an eager look on her face.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

As she stood by, awaiting an answer from the admiral, Ereshkigal dared to glance briefly at Asuna once again. Her displeasure seemed to have faded away by now, leaving her with a look of... satisfaction? How odd. She seemed to be less than amused several moments ago, after all, but the Einherjar did not question it. As far as she was concerned, the satisfaction of one of her Aheani masters was a good thing and she, too, was satisfied with that. Turning back to Admiral Catherine, the bronze skinned girl heard her response, which indicated that she could indeed use her increased salary to help improve the situation in her core. That was definitely good news for her, and so, she nodded and bowed once again, before stepping away, back to her original position. Once there, she simply returned to what she had been doing before the admiral and the lieutenant had walked inside: observe the others carefully, indeed quite curious about what her new family was like, even if she still felt a bit uncomfortable around them. Of course, she was also paying the utmost attention to what Admiral Catherine said, as it would not do to miss any important instructions because she was distracted watching.

From her place at the back of the group, she noticed another woman, a disinterested-looking one, ask if every member of the core was present, commenting on how small it seemed to be. Indeed, Ereshkigal agreed that there were rather few people present, considering they were supposed to be a whole core. It was quite small even when compared to her family, the Einherjar, of which there were never too many, as many fell on the battlefields for the cause of their Aheani masters. However, the manner in which the girl voiced her thoughts was unnecessarily bold. She could have been more respectful towards the masters, considering all that they had done and still did for humanity, Ereshkigal thought, though she of course did not speak her mind about the matter, believing that there was little point in interrupting for something like that. Nobody seemed to mind anyway.

Suddenly, a ship seemed to reach the Sanctum of Reason, arriving at the docking bay and settling down some distance away from where she and the other recruits were being addressed by Lieutenant Asuna and Admiral Catherine. Not long after that, the admiral spoke of their training, and mentioned the equipment they would be receiving with apparent bliss. This puzzled Ereshkigal slightly. Certainly, it was to be expected that they would receive new equipment, different from the one they had been training with previously, in accordance with the importance of the tasks they would be performing, but she had no idea what could have made Admiral Catherine so happy about the equipment the Star Wardens were to receive.

Noticing that the admiral seemed to want to get everyone's questions out of the way already, Ereshkigal decided to speak up briefly once again, if only to voice her lack of inquiries. "I have no further question, masters." She said respectfully, bowing her head slightly in deference.

[Republic of Hasgriu]

The Admiral's mysterious reply did not quench Nicolas's interest at all. It merely strengthened its grip. The Admiral was clearly avoiding his question for some reason. She had given clear answers to most, if not all the questions, but his. Well, at least he knew that there was something in the 301st and 302nd cores she was hiding. He completely disregarded the thought that the Aheani were in any way involved.

The Admiral then mentioned equipment. Nicolas kind of missed his old power armour. But sacrifices need to be made, and there was no need to get all sentimental over standard-issue military gear.

But now that he thought about it, he would also miss his old core. Ah, the fourth. He had a lot of friends and acquaintances there. Never were close to them, but still, he felt bad for leaving without a word. They would probably spend their whole life without knowing where he went. Then again, he could also just be lost among the crowds of people in his core. There were ample friends-to-be in the core. He was naught but one of them.

Nicolas could not bear to linger on such depressing thoughts for long, and then addressed the Admiral once more, "Admiral, why was the core founded only now, and why so quickly and emergency-like?" He did realise that the they were given very short notice as to their departure, and, especially after another cadet pointed it out, there were not many recruits in the core, less then ten, in fact. Thatbwas the smallest core he had ever seen.

[Charmera]

Nicolas could not bear to linger on such depressing thoughts for long, and then addressed the Admiral once more, "Admiral, why was the core founded only now, and why so quickly and emergency-like?" He did realise that the they were given very short notice as to their departure, and, especially after another cadet pointed it out, there were not many recruits in the core, less then ten, in fact. Thatbwas the smallest core he had ever seen.

The Admiral did answer this one "Mostly politics... The majority of the council and the coalition is of course in favour of this cores formation, though that could soon change as they grow impatient for results. After all, things like this are... Unorthodox," She explained. "Normally we would have a little more time and your transfer would be a little more smooth, but unfortunately we don't have that luxury"

She was holding something back, though it would be hard to tell that she was and even harder to tell what exactly. Catherine hoped it would put his mind at ease for now. She paused another second to see if anyone else had questions, but their seeming silence and Ereshkigal's confirmation told her that they had no further questions.

"Right, now that Q&A is over with, I can move on with the rest of our plans for today. And before I forget..." Catherine said, turning to the newly landed transport, which was unloading is cargo: Several large boxes, taller than humans, that hovered and unloaded themselves, arranging themselves in a rectangular pattern with a fair amount of space between them. She led the others over to them, and walked over to the crates. She took a data pad from the side of the transport and walked over to the front of the formation of hover-crates.

"You'll each be given a partner. A best friend or companion if you want to all it that. Hell, some people even get romantically attached..." She explained, pressing buttons on the pad. "He or she will be with you for the majority of your life and career, and will save your life more times than you can count. This new friend will make your lives ten times easier and make your enemies cower in their boots."

With a final press of a button, the crates opened. A mechanical hiss was heard. In each of the crates were several tubes, in which humanoid suits of advanced armour were contained. The armour was assembled and stood up, as if it were standing to attention. Each of the tubes had a name on them, the names of the recruits.

"Say hello to your Guardian Angels." She continued. "Eidolon class power armour. Crafted with incredible love and care by the Aheani Technoma. Each customised to your fighting style and fitted with modules to complement your combat skills."

[Bunkeranlage]

The Admiral, having answered everybody's questions, soon proceeded to the next part of her agenda. Felix watched intently as she pressed buttons on a controlling pad. At that moment, a number of large crates were unloaded automatically from a supply vessel that had landed in the Sanctum of Reason's bay, just a distance further from where they themselves had landed.

While she was explaining the so called "partners", Felix was watching the boxes. Gushing noises filled the room as vapour was ejaculated from various parts of the boxes, before they eventually opened up to reveal their contents. Inside each was a tube, containing in itself, a suit of mechanical battle armour, every single one of them unique. Admiral Iseleb went on to explain how these were customised suits of "Eidolon-Class" armour, which they would be using. "State-of-the-art" and "Foremost in advanced technology" came to Felix's mind as an overview of the suits was given during the unloading. Surely they would be much better than the standard issue Academy battle armour.

They exceeded his expectations by miles, however. Felix nearly jumped in surprise, letting out a gasp. "They've customised a suit for each of us!" He looked at the tube directly in front of him, marked with his name and containing a suit of battle armour, his own battle armour. Where leg armour would have been, there was only a removable repulser holding the suit up. "They've even considered my condition…"

It was all very exciting. The metal components were a pale gold colour, rather like the hue of caesium metal. A shoulder belt was slung across the torso, holding various objects and what looked like a communication device. Below the suit sat a metal container, marked with the word "Accessories", presumably the other miscellaneous parts needed for the suit to function better as a whole.

This is most exciting. Should be nice to get to start using this right away.

His previous experience with battle armour at the Academy meant that Felix knew the suit at least a little, as did the others. However, while the suits at the Academy were dull, matte and mass-produced, this one was a masterpiece, a marvel of extraterrestrial engineering and customisation. What other abilities and secrets it held, he would just have to wait and find out for himself...