The Rush

After a brief talk with the PDF - learning the minimal structural damage and zero civilian and defense force casualty - high representative Mike Bail proceeded to negotiate with the guild master of the AO Guild on a secure line. With the GT suddenly disappearing, which was purposely undisclosed, the Union lost their main mech benefactor.

The AO guild was unaware of this which also provided a new opportunity as they were currently discussing the transportation of 6th Gens to the Union - mainly light mechs with flight capability. And also, the establishment for a new branch headquarter for the mech guild.

Vasquez tapped a finger on a protruding desk from the luminous wall flanking his seat. Uncomfortable with nothing to preoccupy himself, he called out to an E-Tech.

"Bring out the data report for the industrial ship located at the outer rim of the city. Something's off." With that, he pressed a button on the arm of his chair, as the desk withdrew to its storage room before he abruptly stood up.

Just as the E-Tech punched the new order to his computer, he paused for a moment.

"Commander, there's a new message.. but not from the ground forces. It's from the fleet. It should be in your data panel."

Sniffing, Vasquez swiped the empty air as a holographic screen appeared a few inches away from his face. After navigating through the interface for a few seconds, he read the encrypted message. Moments passed, his lazy expression became frozen in shock.

After numerous planning and preparations to dethrone the GT here in the Union, the proud guild did something unpredictable that even he had not anticipated.

They fled.

The commander's body uncontrollably shook with stifled groans before exploding into mad laughter.

GT was not the only mech guild here in the Union. There was a dozen of them deeply rooted in this faction and just as old and powerful. With the leading mech guild abandoning their headquarter, who would stop any of the other guilds from claiming it for themselves? After all, they had the justification to do so since they had been here just as long as the GT.

Flee.

How did they overlook such a simple action? An action which would grievously put them on a collision course with other guilds.

Furthermore, the headquarter was located on the floating islands in Pyr Prime - the heart of the Union. A bloody assault on the planet would surely earn the ire of the whole Union's military forces.

No, no. There must be a compromise between the guilds.

There was no time to alarm the guild master. It was up to his own initiative. The fleet was faraway, and his ship was only a few jumps from reaching Pyr Prime. Even he knew that he will not outrace the other guilds in occupying the floating islands. What's important was that a ship of his guild must be present in Pyr Prime's orbit so they could properly stake their claims in the initial stages of succession.

Shaking his head, another laughter escaped his lips.

The crew on the bridge glanced at the commander who seemingly lost his mind.

'Mike Bail.. you cunning bastard!' Realizing that the high representative had kept the information of the GT fleeing to the Empire of Durn from the public, perhaps manipulating it in someway, he eventually understood that the Union was actually benefitting from this mech guild conflict more than he thought. They were trying to make the best out of it by plucking the ripe fruits with dexterous hands.

These people.. they were so devious that he felt a chill run up his spine. He liked the simplicity of being a mech army commander, only needing to be tactful and leaving the strategy to his higher ups. But now, however, he was being pulled to the strings of schemes, and perhaps even perform in its grand theater.

"Send a message to my second in command. Regroup and prepare for orbital exit. We are leaving." He shouted.

A perplexed look surfaced on the crews faces. When no one moved, he roared, "Now!"

In an instance, the room became lively with urgent movements.

Vasquez himself made his way to the comms suite, preparing to contact the PDF. The defense force should be more than willing to assist them in leaving this cursed desert planet.

-----

Meanwhile, on the desert planet itself, Sy finished all the books he bought from the plaza, and was now contemplating the new knowledges he attained. There was not much, but at least, he finally understood the perspective in how the specialists in the Union designed their mechs.

Just as he was about to summon his System, the door slightly opened and Genevieve's head peeked inside.

"Sy, you should come and see this." She said, withdrawing outside.

He stood up and walked toward the door, casually opening it wider.

Outside, the Runerie was watching the street below. He joined her side and leaned on the railing. His brows furrowed upon witnessing the countless figures seemingly in a state of urgency.

"What is happening?"

The mercenaries were rushing to their vehicles, and abandoning the industrial ship. The mechs guarding it flew to the sky, heading toward the Starport. Nonetheless, they were still acting in an organized manner.

"I don't know." Genevieve answered with a frown on her face. "It's sudden. I hope Logria is not in bigger trouble."

If there was another military force heading to Logria, whether it's from another guild or from the Union itself, the mercenaries should be occupying defensive positions instead of heading to the Starport. That would be most beneficial even if the enemy outnumbered them - they had the city as hostage.

If it was another guild, they'd be declared as criminals for initiating a battle in civilian area. If it was the Union, they risk their own citizens.

Either way, the AO guild was already occupying an superior position and there was no need to surrender it.

Genevieve could not make any sense to the mercenaries' hasty action. If only she could make some interplanetary calls, she could contact her command center and receive an update to the current situation of the Union.

"What a waste." Sy muttered.

The Runerie raised a brow, "What is?"

Sy motioned to the giant spheres, "Those drop pods. There's no way they could transport them back to space. They should just leave them under my name."

Genevieve glanced at the objects for a moment. She then asked, her voice curious, "What would you need them for?"

"Well," Sy sighed, "judging from the composition of their exterior, they were made from Duranium. Excellent material for making a starship hull."

After contemplating his answer for a moment, Genevieve's brow furrowed, "Wait! You were serious? You are really planning to go on an expedition into the void?"

"Now that you mention it," Sy smiled, "I want to purchase some materials from your independent business and I'm hoping for at least 5% discount."

"20%" Genevieve smiled back, "If you would kindly share me the details of your sudden adventure."

Sy pondered for a second. Actually, there was no harm in anyone learning about his coming tasks of unearthing the location of a dangerous species. In fact, it would benefit him if a few people knew. At least they would remember him if he won't make it back.

Taking a deep breath, he explained with serious voice, "I recently learned of a xeno location. I'm going to investigate it. To what I will uncover.. I hope I won't find anything."

At the mention of xeno and the tone of his voice, Genevieve's face turned ashen. She shook her head, "You have no business with Xenos, Sy! We have military protocol for that. Give me the location and I will submit it to my superior. He will then send it to the Empire which will be able to contact the greater factions."

"I have no evidence.. but I'm certain." Sy stated. He could not say that he was given a vision by a black stone or received a mission from an imaginary system. "The Star Network, the Coalition, and the Federation are already preoccupied in dealing with Xenos on the other side of the quadrant. They can't just send an expeditionary force base on a whim."

She was reminded that he was actually from a greater faction.

'Who are you?'

'What are you?'

'Are you a hunter?'

'Are you a scout?'

'Why are you fixated on such a noble cause?'

There were many questions but she couldn't bring any out. Deep inside, she knew that Sy was something more. If it was another person telling her about going out into the void to search for xenos, even if it was her own father, she would have thought them crazy. She sighed.

"50% discount. In exchange, you will reserve a seat for me in that starship."

With that, she turned and left.

Sy watched her go. He knew that she was not certain if she could come. Her faction was about to go to war with another faction. Her presence here would be direly needed. But that was for the best.

He only knew her for a very short amount of time, but felt that they had known each other a lot. Any lives lost in this expedition would be on him, and he can't risk someone he felt attached with to accompany him.

'Maybe I should go alone, after all.'

He directed his thoughts to the three girls. He should probably contact someone from his faction. With all things progressing abruptly, he would have to make some changes to his future plans. It was just like what Genevieve said earlier, 'It's sudden.'

The Federation would still be the best place where the girls could learn theoretical and practical knowledge. He was planning to enroll them in the Pioneer Academy.