Chapter 2

"Captain they suddenly entered warp!"

"we monitor them for now" the captain calmly ordered.

"attention we are entering an active battlefield in the nash-raman's territory, all atmospheric fighters prepare for battle. Tank-striker's formation, med-ships will follow behind ... that's all, be safe everyone"

After the ship wide transmission, the ship's crew came alive like ants frantically moving before the rain.

"I'm detecting him sir! His descending to the planet" one of the crew calls out moments before they dropped out of warp

"continue with the plan. Goffer squad assist the Vastran if it enters battle" as the captain opened the line to the fighter dock, the goffer squad was confused. because why would a noble of Elna be in that colony.

The plan went relatively well, they pushed back the enemies; but the city was devastated and most people were gone. No bodies meaning, they were either abducted or hit by an unknown weapon that leaves nothing.

"captain Frung ... that boy" a man in uniform points at someone

"lord Ragnus"

...

"I think your mistaken I'm not a lo—" José was interrupted by a hologram

"it's been a while my friend ... forgive me ... I couldn't get you out of there right away" José was motionless when blue approached them

"empress Janéza ... captain Frung ..." José was confused at this point

"what's going on? Why is captain Frung kneeling to you?" Ash was equally confused as José

"I feel this isn't the place for this ... come my lord" they walked to a makeshift command center

"so how am I this Ragnus person?" José asked the hologram

"captain, lady Valkir may you leave us for a moment? ... please?"

"no ... your captain will leave I will listen to this" as Ash and Janéza was locked in a stare down

"What are you children?" the room fell silent "now tell me t—" José suddenly drops to the floor as he clutched his head

His screaming filled the room when blue suddenly injected him with mult triggering memories to flood in his head.

When he finally calmed down, he slowly got up,

"old man Frung you're a captain now huh? ... my lady your, beautiful as ever" he spoke with a deeper voice

"I hope we're still friends after this" turning to Ash with a smile "captain will you wait for me? There are a few things to sort out ... having an Imperial ship close by might cause problems, give my Ai the coordinates for the closest imperial territory and I'll meet you there"

After a few hours the imperial ship departed.

"Manong the boy is awake" he then turned his gaze away from the sky and went for his ship with Ash following behind

"bring him to the medical tent, his parents might be looking for him" ordered José as he entered the ship

"they … my parents are dead … they took them" the boy said his head lowered; eyes filled with tears.

Ash was about to hug him when José stopped her

"no, you'll just make it worse"

He stood in front of him and gave him the rifle. The boy looked at him

"fix my legs then I'll fight" hearing this from the boy José saw the memories of that man; the day he was selected by his master, the days he spent training, the injuries he endured and the trials he faced. this boy is like him, the steel in the furnace ready for the blacksmith.

"when your legs are healed ill arrange for you to enter the military academy"

"and study alongside smug and abusive nobles? Thank you for your, offer my lady but no …"

"but y—" she was about to say something when a call came.

She was a good distance away when the Vastran flew off "ma-am we can still track them, should we g—"

"no need ..." Ash was left staring at the fading ship.

...

"my king, we have made contact with the Elna empire ..."

"are they as formidable as we've anticipated?"

"yes, they do have more advanced weapons and military tactics"

"so, entering their territory will be difficult if we face them head on" the man on a throne of made of crystallized gold was fiddling with a red box

"we will chip at their forces; at the same time, we build our own. We must not rush, it took us 3000 years to acquire this much ensive; I will not risk it on one strike that might fail, we weaken them first then we enact our plan."

"YES, MY LORD!"

...

"captain, the Vastran ..."

"open the dock ... as soon as they're in the ship yard we enter warp. Plot course for the capital"

Soon enough they were on their way.

"what's your name boy?" asked José as Blue and the other drones were working on his injured legs

"Adreden Glem my parents call me Arden" the boy was saddened by what he saw on the med-bay monitor.

"Manong it's not just his legs that are broken, his lower spine is too. Even if we repair his bones, he won't be able to walk"

"can't we repair it? I did have new nerves for this left arm, why can't we do that with him?" asking the little drone

"we can … well need to implant organic Nano machines first, then have an external shell to support his legs"

"why not give him prosthetics?" one of the nurses mumbled beside José

"but that would mean we—" Blue was interrupted by José

"the combat capabilities of a prosthetic limb would outweigh the cons; but we aren't the ones to decide" looking at the boy José smiled

"whatever you decide about your legs know that, I took you in as my student and I intend to put you through the training that I went through; now this is our first lesson. Decide for yourself, weigh your options and choose the best solution for this hurdle" he then turned around calling Blue

"oh, and from now on I'll call you Totoy and call me Manong" the boy nodded

José and blue went back to the Vastran; as they were walking a call came through

"I've made my choice. I need new legs" Arden's words made José smile "very well" they continued talking, they made their way to the bridge instead of the ship bay.

"captain can you contact the empress for me?" that captain immediately opened a privet line for him

"can you help me?"

"of course, anything you need"

"can I get some Nano machines?"

"ok, but you're going to handover the blue print for whatever you make"

"of course; i forgot many things but not your greed"

"ha-ha no ... new technology is harder to come by these days you know"

As the two finished their call José went back to the med bay.

...

"ma-am is that ok? We just let them leave?" Yann was standing beside Ash in the bridge of their ship

"I'll see him again; my cousin might not know what he is actually. So, I might just have him if i ca—" she stopped and smiled "oh he might not like it if I do that ha-ha"

"what about that arm? It's a secret project of our family" Laros mumbled

"oh, i don't think he's going to sell that if anything he—" as she saw the message, she was equally irritated and amazed.

A projection of Janéza appeared in front of her

"i think that'll be enough payment for the arm? If it makes you feel any better, he made that"

"I'm surprised, you admitted you're not the inventor? Science when have you learned that ... cousin?"

"anyway; i understand you and my friend are under an employment contract?"

"yes" Ash replied with a cheeky smile

"end it ..." Janéza's hair slowly turned bright orange and he face soured a little

"did he say that? You know how he is; the guy knows what he wants"

"he does seem more mature than i thought he'd be" her hair gradually returns to a dark shade of brown

"he ... his a reincarnated ... his ensive is proof. you know the fate of one"

"no... his not. I won't let that happen" the hologram suddenly disappeared

"you'll have to face it later then"

...

"blue as soon as we land go get this" as José was monitoring Arden's condition in the medical pod of the Vastran

the landing platform was lined with medical personnel, they took Arden to the operating room and started his surgery.

because of the advanced medical technology of the Elna empire it only took them a few minutes to perform the amputation.

"how is he doctor?" José was anxiously waiting outside the operating room

"it went well; his organic Nano machines were doing its job. You'll be able to visit him in a few days"

"thank you, doctor," he then called blue

"how long till it's finished?"

"2 cycles"

"good keep me posted … I'll be in the archives"

…

"my lady, why did you give him permission to access the hidden archives?"

"for 2300 years we have faced an enemy that hits us and disappears, takes people with high ensive then appears again after a few hundred years; they have plagued the republic and nash-raman now they are, closing in on us. My friend has had visions of them since we were young, long before the rebellion. I think with this, we might have an idea about what we are facing" she explained while looking out to a vast land beyond her window.

A few days passed; José was sifting through the ancient archive when he saw something. he was startled to find an image of the ship they faced, it was a hieroglyph found in an ancient ruin a few hundred thousand light-years from the galaxy, a cluster of stars harbouring a few hundred planets

"how did this star clusters have life? They are too far from the galactic center"

"it's possible that the star cluster was artificially credit" blue suddenly replied, and it informed him of the progress on the prosthetic legs

"good download all of this … we'll have to depart as soon as he can walk" but as he was walking out the door Janéza was standing outside waiting for him

"I take it you've found something?" she asked with a smile

"yes, I'll need to investigate this star cluster, it'll take me a few weeks to travel there"

"no, you're not … your vastran doesn't have enough fuel to get there and come back" her smile disappeared and she sounded colder

"so, your suggesting I take a bigger ship?"

"no … you're not going any ware; besides, aren't you going to train that boy?" she then suddenly turned around and walked away.

"give the things you've found to the professors, and don't ever attempt to go … don't make me put you on house arrest"

"oh, you underestimate my stupidity my lady" he whispered

…

"are we just going to do this with no doctors around?" Arden sounded concerned

"yea, we actually installed my arm standing up. The only thing you'll need to worry about is not to pee everywhere"

"wait what? No anaesthetics?"

"no; it will interrupt the construction of nerves. now stop wiggling we will begin" Blue then nodded at José signalling that all is ready

Jose then stepped back from the drones as they perform the operation. Arden was screaming in pain, the sound coming from the ship attracted the attention of the other soldiers and the shipyard crew.

"what the hell is happening in there?"

"it's best not to get involved"

As the people were talking crowding close to the ship, they were startled to see the heads of the royal guards approaching the ship, they stopped a good distance from the door when it opened when the screaming stopped.

"well? What?" José asked the two approaching the door

"my name is Gladren 2nd in command of the black guard"

"and I'm Raneya Thresan" said the woman with long dark brown hair

"the cousin of the empress?" the chattering was silenced when a projection of the empress appeared

"am I under house arrest? I don't have a house"

"well you do, and no … not yet at least. They will escort you to Halver your family's garden planet; please don't add to my problems, I have so many things on my plate right now"

"you don't need to … im not a child anymore"

"exactly … I trust you'll do as I say … because the last time … well look at where that got you?"

"seriously your bringing that?" the hologram disappeared before he can finish "mm I guess sitting on the throne affected her …" he didn't finish as he heard Gladren snicker

"hM! anyway lord ragnus, we are to guard you until you get to Halver. Rest assured we--"

"really? It's her first mission away from here isn't it?" José looked to Gladren

"yes, sir for me as well, but she hasn't left the capital ever, she's exited"

"Halver is too far, I will not be able to sustain our warp for that long" blue chimed in the conversation

"well that's why we have the Novarn, the empress lent it to us. It her very own design same as this ship, it can handle long range travel; plus, it can be manned by just a few, because it also has an advanced AI"

"can we dock this ship? I really like this one you know" José was thinking of a plan as the two continued to show him the ship called Novarn.

…

"empress is it wise to give him that ship? He might just leave for the star cluster" as her attendant spoke Janéza continued to read the reports and files that need her approval

"well that's why I had those two are escorting him, I doubt he would do something so reckless" though she paused as she realized her attendant might be rite "no... I don't think he will" she whispers then continued her work.

"Ash … inform me if he attempts to pass there. I'm afraid he might do something"

"you'll just have to come to terms with the fact that destiny's game has started. And your friend intends to play it"

"you're going to help him?"

"yes, if he asks me to"

"aren't you his employer? Can't you tell him not to go?"

"well actually we don't have a written legal contract, I just didn't want him running off at that moment so I told him he'd be safer if he accepted that offer"

"don't tell me you want him?"

"yes… at first, I was just going to tell father that he has an extraordinary amount of ensive, but he has a very … sharp mind that's why my intentions have changed. Plus, his a noble apparently … his not our cosine, right?"

"no, his not … if you're only using him to escape the election I don't ap- "

"you have no authority in this matter" Ash suddenly turned the call off

…

"Blue start docking procedure we depart as soon as were fuelled and ready"

"yes Manong … I've also downloaded the coordinates of the planet in the star cluster"

A projection of the rout appeared on the nav-console

"so, we will have to go through nash-raman … Contact Ash" as the call connected Ash spoke before José can utter a word

"safe passage; I know. I hope you know what you're doing"

"somehow I think I do"

"good I'll come with you then"

"huh? Wa—" he was going to object but he was only met with the cutting of the call and the appearance of coordinates

"damn what does she want with me?"

…

The docking procedure was finished, José was walking towards the bridge of the ship when Blue informed him that they are fuelled and ready for take-off. The two then greeted him as he entered

"is this a warship or something?" José was looking at the bridge controls, there is a captain's seat, an a few stations for the crew

"no, my lord though it is based on the light-interceptor, it can hold two small strikes; but this one wasn't fitted with standard weapons, we ha—"

"2 front rail-guns, 2 drone hives, 10 weaponized drones and 10 utility, laser defence system, kinetic barrier and tank class Armor plating" the ship's AI suddenly spoke

"welcome captain, what would you like to address me as?"

José was silent for a moment "every ship is a she ... so ... Agatha"

"confirmed AI interface code name Agatha accepted"

"good, now ra-- ... you know what I'll call you Ran and you, muscular guy I'll call you Garry, prepare for launch"

"as you wish my lord"

"enough with that (my lord) crap just sir or manong, or nong for short. Ok?"

They all collectively Replied with "yes sir"

"Agatha enter these coordinates" José secretly gave Agatha a different coordinate.

They are in warp when Blue suddenly informed José that Arden just awoke and was attempting to walk.

"should I?" the drone turned to José

"have him clean up and give him some clothes"

The capsule opened, arden started to move. Every motion he made is a struggle against his nerves, every step he made is like a stab at his feet; the world is spinning around him, the room seemed to twist with every turn of his head, the sound of his metal feet was like an explosion and the sound of Blues voice rang in his head. He made his way to the cleaning chamber, as the water hit his skin it was like a million knives.

His scenes gradually calmed down as he was putting on the cloths given to him. A black T-shirt with big AC-DC logo around the chest and black shorts

"what are these cloths?" he wondered while putting it on

"it's a battle suet" José laughed a little while he said it

"come to the bridge we'll be dropping from warp soon"

The boy slowly made his way to the bridge.

"where are we going? "asked arden as he entered

"to halve—"

"to nash-raman" Garry was interrupted by jose

"sir we have orders to escort you home, we—" ran stopped as she realizes she's exited for an adventure

"yes, you were, but she didn't specify when … did she?"

"no sir …" the two sighed but they were secretly exited

They dropped from warp and saw a space station the size of a large moon. They proceeded to dock and as soon as they came out of the ship they were greeted by Ash, laros, and yann.

"you're seriously coming?"

"yes … now we best load our equipment" Ash smiled and entered the ship

"so, you have a crew? … this is Ran, Garry, and Agatha the ships AI. I'm Shure you've met blue, and guys these are the mew members, Lady Ash Valkir, Laros, and Yann Valkir"

"can I be the captain?" Ash turned to jose with a cheeky smile

"nope … im—"

"STUPID! That wat you are" everyone turned around to see a holographic projection of janeza, clearly angry and her hair a burning orange colour

"you know this'll happen … you gave me a bigger ship" jose smiled

"I gave you this ship to take you home, not to go somewhere I didn't want you to. And you two didn't I tell you to st---, you know what? Fine! … GO! But you better comeback safe or else"

"YES MA-AM!"

Everyone went on their work, Ash and the twins went on the cargo bay, Ran and Garry went back to the bridge and Arden just felt awkward so he just went to the bridge.

"why don't you ever listen to me? … the last time you didn't you became a slave, and now…"

"if I did what you said, you wouldn't be empress and scolding me right now … neither of us are children anymore. Destiny decided our paths, why won't you let me follow mine?"

"because you path is one that wi—" she stopped

"anyway; you come back to me, is that understood?"

"yes, my lady, I will"

Satisfied with his answer janeza turned off the call. Jose went to the loading bay to help with things there.

"what are those?" as he saw a large metal box

"it's an EXO-Armor unit" laros replied

"we'll have 3units, 2 are ours and one for a designated pilot" Yann chimed in behind them

"All set, we'll be escorted by two support ships for fuel and other things, they are in orbit of planet Zalp. That'll be our last stop before exiting the galaxy so…" she looked at José

"let's go then …"

…

"my lady another of our colony was attacked"

"seems they are here. We can't let our fleet to be spared too thin … Evacuate the outer and minor colonies near our borders, mobilize the vanguard and the grand imperial fleet, we might face an all-out war so we must be ready, get me the admirals … and inform my uncle of our situation, I don't want the nash-raman admirals getting exited for war—again"

…

The novarn was finally on its way, jose was resting in the captain's room. He didn't sleep for a 3days so he was catching up on sleep, as he slumbered memories started popping up again.

He was on a battle field soldiers around him, explosions all around one shell detonated near him, killing his friends and injuring him severing his left arm. Then the memory changed again, he was beside a boy watching something on a computer monitor.

"what's that?" asking the boy that was so fixated at the screen

"it's anime grandpa" the boy replied

The video showed a ship battle, and flying robots piloted by teenagers, "it's called Gundam, and those guys are the bad guys." The boy explained the scenes as they happen

"that would be so awesome to pilot one, or just to be in a universe that those things exist, don't you agree grandpa?" the boy looked at him with a gleeful smile

"yes … I think it would" he said waking up to Ash looking down on him

"what language was that? I don't recognize it?"

"Waray I think it's called, why?"

"nothing I was just curios that all …" she said walking out and José went back to sleep

…

"is this an EXO-mobile Armor?" Arden was admiring the Mech as Laros and Yann was unpacking it

"yes, it is …"

"want to try?" Ash pointing at a small simulator tucked behind one of the boxes

Arden entered and started the simulation. Though he wasn't good at its Ash said he has potential as a pilot and that if he entered the academy, he would have the opportunity to pilot one.

Arden declined again and Ash asked why his so adamant on not entering nash-raman military academy

"because if I do enter, as a commoner I will be bullied by the nobles and if I try and do something to retaliate, I'll be scolded for it, while the nobles will just get a word or two."

Ash was in des belief that nobles would do such thing, because from her experience they were kind. But then again, she's a noble herself, and a candidate to be the new monarch.

"those are just roomers, the noble don—" she stopped when she saw the twins shaking their head, as if saying what your about to say is just wrong.

"the nobles do bully commoner's cosine …" Yann said lowering her head

"it's true …" Laros added

"nonsense I've never seen that … not even once in my time in the academy"

The three didn't say a word anymore.

"now those things are just in-practical, id rather have a fighter ship that has an inertial canceler so I can turn on a dime, having arms and legs are very problematic in combat"

Every one fell silent after hearing José say those words, because it's kind of true that's mostly the reason why the Elna empire doesn't use mobile Armor. Only the nash-raman and the republic use these weapons nowadays. a few years before Elna was attacked by a rebelling force that uses these kinds of weapons. They were defeated of Corse, and from then on using duel class fighter ships became the trend in Elna. There empress Janéza expanded on this designing ships that have drone assistants that can help them in battle.