Chapter 2

On the bridge of the Deucalion

"Captain, there is a massive energy wave incoming from the portside," exclaimed Yutaro.

"What?"

Suddenly multiple explosions erupted around them and even the massive ship was shaken violently.

"Captain, we have just lost contact to several of our Kataphrakts and shuttles," shouted Kisaki.

"What is happening here? What's about Inko, Innaho, Yuki and the others?" asked Nina desperately.

"Don't worry Nina. I still have their signals, so they are okay," Kisaki tried to reassure her.

"Captain, I'm detecting multiple objekts on radar there from where this energy wave came from."

Captain Magbaredge looked to her left and asked herself "Who are those and where are they coming from?"

In the control room of the moonbase

There was an eerie silence.

"What has just happened?" asked a very confused Count Troyard.

"We are detecting seven large ships closing in on the UFE forces flank," answered a soldier.

"Count Troyard, there is a priority transmission on all Vers frequencies," exclaimed another soldier.

"Let me see the transmission."

A well-known face was seen on-screen, but no one expected to see this face here in the Earth Sphere.

In this moment Slaine Troyard didn't know, if he saw the face of his savior or of his executioner.

On the bridge of the battleship

"Your Highness, we have hit all the targetted areas. Various enemy units were destroyed," reported an ordnance officer.

"Well done. Put me through to all Vers forces."

"Yes your Highness."

After a few seconds the communications were established.

"You can speak now your Highness."

"This is Prince Valerius speaking to all Vers forces. By the orders of the Emperor I'm taking command of all Vers forces in the Earth Sphere. Acknowledge."

"Establish a direct communication link to the moonbase. I want to talk to Count Troyard."

Count Troyard's image appeared on a screen.

"Greetings Count. I'm sure you have no problem in following the Emperor's order and giving me full authority over all forces, or do you?" The last three words were uttered in a silky tone full of menace that simply screamed 'Say yes and you are done for'.

Slaine flinched, hesistated and was feeling as if he was sweeting bullets.

But after a few seconds he drew himself up to his full height and answered with an unfazed expression.

"I have no problem following your orders, your Highness."

"That's good to hear. I expect your loyalty."

With these words the connection was cut.

"This went better than I expected."

'He hasn't changed that much from our last encounter, briefly before Asseylum's departure. But I can see much regret and despair in his eyes.'

Valerius's train of thought was interupted by the announcement of a communication officer.

"Your Highness, we are receiving acknowledgements from all Vers forces including the Orbital Knights except for the forces under Count Mazuurek."

'This means Asseylum's message was broadcasted from his Landing Castle. Knowing his character from the past I can not imagine any other reason for him not complying with my orders,' Valerius concluded.

"That's unimportant now".

"Send my instructions to all the other forces and commence operations."

"Yes, your Highness," everyone chorused.

"Soon this war will come to an end one way or another," Valerius muttered scarcely audible.

Character Profile of Prince Valerius:

Full name: Valerius Vers von Lohengramm

Age: 23 years

Appearance: Imagine Reinhardt von Lohengramm before he became emperor

Father: Alexander von Lohengramm

Mother: Relena Vers von Lohengramm

Paternal grandfather: Reinhardt von Lohengramm

Paternal grandmother: Hildegard von Lohengramm

Maternal grandfather: Rayregalia Vers Rayvers

Twin sister: Annerose Vers von Lohengramm

Maternal uncle: Gilzeria

Cousins: Asseylum Vers Allusia, Lemrina Vers Envers

Fiancée: Countess Westfalen

Best friend: Siegfried Kircheis

Little back story:

His paternal grandfather came from an old noble family and possesed a huge fortune as well as tremendous skills in management, which were essential in the cration of the Vers Empire. Besides he and the Emperor were childhood friends.

The families were close so their children grew up together and when his best friend's son asked for the hand of the Emperor's only daughter in marriage he had no problem entrusting her to him and bestowed on his new son-in-law the rank of Archduke. Moreover their union cemented the alliance between the two most powerful families of the Vers Empire.

At about the time Valerius and his sister were born the relationship between his mother and her brother had deteriorated to the point that they barely talked with each other. The reason was their dispute about the future of the Vers Empire. She and her husband wanted to expand into the Asteroid Belt and the Jupiter Sphere and use the unclaimed resources for the well-being of their people. Her brother in contrast wanted to claim the resources of Earth for the Vers Empire, because in his opinion it would be much quicker despite the conflict.

Therefore while his parents were busy building the first Vers colony in the Jupiter sphere Valerius and his sister spent the first years of their lives mostly in the care of their grandparents. But after their parents had completed the first colony, they spent half the year with their parents.

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