-=Chapter 1: Introduction=-
It was just the other day I heard Conkram declared war on Sol, I couldn't believe it. My friends, my family, my compatriots, all would go to fight the warriors of Conkram. I too, would fight alongside the people of Sol, those who have been terrorized for years by the decadent Conkramians.
I would not fail my people, I would not fail my city, I would not fail... Legaia.
"Calm down dude," the man next to me then said, as I recited my soliloquy to the window, and the sunset. The man, Jaku, my trusted friend, walked to my side. "Gaza, it'll be fine, Emporer Etora said the war would be over in a few weeks, we have Uru Mais, they don't!"
Yes, that's correct, my name is Gaza. I was once a Seru Trapper who operated out of the Uru Mais Basecamp. I was probably one of the best trappers too. The war changed that quickly. Only the Imperial Army was allowed to use the Seru, and suddenly only the Imperial Trappers were allowed to trap. I was out of a job. To feed my family, my wife and children, I had to resort to battling in the Muscle Dome everyday. I won't go into that though.
"Perhaps you're correct," I then said, turning to Jaku, "The Conkramian fools don't have any new Seru. Theirs will soon wear out."
"See?" Jaku then replied, "It'll be fine!"
"I hope."
A knock at the door alerted me to the arrival of my wife, Arna. "Hello my dear," I said, walking over to embrace her. "Don't let me be the third wheel," Jaku said with a grin and left for his apartment.
"Husband," Arna started, "I understand that tomorrow you will be shipped to the battlefield, but could you do me one favor?"
"Anything my love."
"Take me to Buma, for a night on the lake, I want to have one good night with you, in case..."
"Do not talk such foolishness!" I scolded, "I am Sol's greatest warrior, ask the Emporer himself! I will return."
"But what if you don't?!" Arna then said, sobbing.
"I will." I replied coldly, her lack of faith made me quite sore for some reason. I attempted to stroke her hair, but she backed away. "Arna," I said, reaching for her, "Arna, what about Buma?"
"Forget Buma!" she then yelled, "I can't hide my grief from you!"
My dear Arna fled from the room sobbing wildly. I returned to the Dome to perfect my training. I would come back, my beloved would see.
-=THE NEXT DAY=-
"Sons of Sol," the Emporer then announced, his arms spread wide across the podium. His back was to the Mother Tree, and the green glow made him seem quite impressive. "Today, today we embark on a grand journey, a trist into the heart of decadence, so that we may cut out the heart of the beats and remove once and for all the threat to our loved ones, and our honor!" The Emporer made a stabbing motion to indicate his intent. "Now, let us don our Seru, and face the evil warriors of eviler Conkram!"
The men gave out a wild cheer. I however, was not as gullible. It was known to many of the High Guard (my legion) that half the men would be lost on the first day. Apparently Conkram's secret weapon was their trump card.
The Emporer continued with his dribble, "Do not be afraid my children, of Conkram, they are no match for us! We have the largest army in Legaia, larger than our allies in Drake, larger than our enemies of Ratayu."
The men cheered again. I scoffed.
"Now," the Emporer said, getting to the good part, "Let us welcome our brother, and the commander of the High Guard, Gaza Ratawu!"
That was my cue. I stepped up onto the podium and unsheathed my sword. Shoving it into the hard stone floor I pointed at my example, "This is how we shall treat the enemy, this is how COnkram will fall, this is how Legaia will be purged!"
The men cheered, I rolled my eyes and continued. "I am quite sure we have all heard of the secret weapon of Conkram, this so called 'Mist'. I have ascertained that the Mist is nothing but a backfiring tool of fear. According to Doctor Usha--"
The men clapped as Usha stood up and took a bow.
"-- the Mist failed in its initial test. As such, the High Guard, and myself, will infiltrate Conkram disguised as tourists. There we will covertly attack and destroy the Mist Generator that Doctor Usha so easily provided details of. Once the Generator is destroyed, the Conkramian Seru will be weak and useless, and we will easily overrun them."
The men cheered gleefully. I felt warmed a little, because my speech raised morale so highly. If only they knew how badly the next day would go.