Chapter 2: The Briefing

(Time: Nineteen day of Glorification, 80,012 AR Location: Coruscant, Hararius Prime)

It was mid-day when a Torii energy signature was detected over the gulf, near the military district, by a nearby fleet. The fleet immediately heard the location of origin as well as called the anomaly in causing total military preparedness. Many ships of both land and sea formed defensive lines while spare ships are en-route of reinforcement first responded fleet while ground based defensive lines are being filled in. 19% percent of the Coruscant military are fully ready for handling a potential breach.

Upon arrival, they were greeted by the sight of a whirlpool of blue energy at the same altitude with the same fleet, now having enough numbers to make for four fleets including the already out-breed of water-based ships. The various shapes and sizes of the fleet have their cannons ready as the crews of each ship are ready to do their duty and part to the Republic.

Among the first responders, there was a destroyer type ship that was about 279 meters long. It is a dagger-shaped ship with mostly blue and black printed plating specifically designed for taking damage when the shield goes down. On the surface of the warship have an array of weaponry, that derive from the invention of the cannons, that handles other ships and crafters while the underbelly of the ship have weapons to protect itself from anyone willing to attack it from below as well as bringing a rain of fire to support ground-based battles. At the rear of the ship are the very power that makes airships possible as the six cylinders were built from technology and magic to keep them floating in the air as it is protected by plating armor and three multi-firing cannons.

Like any warship, the Mando Classed Destroyer's bridge section is located near the engines and as much as guarded as the cylinders. A destroyer mostly got its name by having a Thunder Cannon and this warship isn't afraid of hiding the weapon in question. There are panels at the middle edges of the story that function to absorb the energy of the sun and the energy lingers in the air making the Destroyer never run out of power. Like most modern warships, the Mando classed Destroyer's edges were designed with unique metals connecting itself to the docking platforms making its landing gears secondary importance. All in all, it's no secret that warships like A.R.S The Noble Knight are built to copy the Empire's Star Destroyers despite the size differences.

Within the bridge of The Noble Knight, it is buzzing with activity as warning bells echo throughout the ship by the use of sound pipes. The only ones not fazed by this sort of nervousness are the navigator and the ship-master.

The former is located where everyone within the bridge can see him/her as navigators are in charge of moving the ships they are in. They are forced to wear a helmet, gloves, and a suit made from a strange substance at all times since it allows operating the ship more easily. The gloves and helmet allows them to see and touch ghostly displays and activities in certain parts of the ship to make the crew to live longer despite the steering of the ship being physical. This helmet also allows the navigator to see like he/she is outside of The Noble Knight since the exterior of Republic ships were built to have mechanical all-seeing eyes which can be accessed by the Navigators. After all, it is required for the navigator to have a cool head when guiding the ship.

The ship-master of The Noble Ship seems to be the elder among the youthful crew as his hair and bread are whiten yet he still felt young as his eyes shine fierce like a lion. Like all Ship-masters within the navy, they only wore chest plated and spaulders as the concept of boarding enemy ships, while in flight, is very rare. Instead, the master of the ship wears a sort of dress uniform with blue lining as well as a thin black sash fastened with the universal insignia representing the first democracy, and black boots with pants. This captain seated at the center of the bridge in a thinker position as his face shows a plan in the making to combat a potential threat. The temporary Fleet-Master Hermen Boltje, who has seen wars for 30 winters and very likely to see more if the Empire launched an attack on the Republic's heart, guides his crew past this nervousness and endorses battle-readiness.

Yet, he hasn't confirmed if the ship is an enemy or not as Ship-master Boltje turns his sight to the only artificial life-form on the bridge, codenamed Jek. Like most droids throughout the galaxy, Jek's arms and legs are shaped like bone as the body seems like it was modeled after a person if said person has a non-organic body with an exposed power source shining on the chest. Unlike the rest of his body, Jek's head is shaped like a saucer as it is fat and thick which makes the entire droid to be made from parts of different droids.

"Jek (catching the attention of the droid), any confirmation about our visitor?"

"Negative, Ship-master Hermen Boltje! The ship hasn't sent Republic codes, but we will be seeing it soon!" said Jek as he focused on the console that determined the ship's loyalties.

True to the droid's word, the ship finally emerges from the Torii portal causing all of the ships present to dismiss the red alert as it was Freedom's Flight. Despite this class of ship having been obsolete since the early 70,000s, it was one of many ship types that was revolutionized by its sizes since it match or a bit bigger than The Noble Knight. It was a common fact that sizes of the airships evolved in the Infinite War era as the Star Destroyers is the latest and newest of air warships to come.

The A.R.S Freedom's Flight is about 300 meters long as it's design seems to be based on an animal rug or a symbol of a spider (4 legged that is). The limbs of the ship are slightly bulkier than the body as the end of these limbs are the fingers or glass-like panels that absorb energy from the sun which converts into backup power generators, which in theory the Freedom's Flight shan't run out of power for a galactic year in continuous operations. It may have numerous hidden engines that keep the Flight afloat, it does have two familiar cylinders ignite the same fire as Noble Knight alongside with two sets of parallel lines shaped engines as emitted similar colored light. The line shaped engineers surround the cylinders as the pairs face each other forming arrow-shaped. At first glance, the Freedom's Flight is merely ship fit for refugees or the rich, but looks can be deceiving as it is armed as well. In hidden spots throughout the ship are numerous weapons to combat its enemies by tricks or front-lines such as two rows of cannons on both exposed sides of the ship, anti-air weapons on random spots, and secret silos for radius-based weaponry. Unlike most warships, the bridge doesn't expose itself at the front of the ship nor rear the engines. The entire cruiser is painted to be angelic as it is either completely white or silver as the rest of its siblings are often painted in gold.

Unlike the average astro classed cruiser, the Freedom's Flight was rebuilt to compete with the modern cruiser counterparts. Still the ship is still undefended, the belly of the Flight is repurposed since there are Bombay doors; possibly revealing this Astro-classed cruiser as a carrier. The Astro-classed warship is not only a pre-fighter ship, but also a pre-Torii ship as well since its golden days all warships rely heavily on the ancients' gateways. Lucky, the Jaddack highly recommended it's engineers to build an additional power generator whose purpose is to contain and harass Asipstone, the power source behind the Bivrost and Torii gateways. Last and not least of the major changes to the Freedom's Flight is that in order to make the ship capable of transporting a small Lipheran army, they would have to sacrifice the crew of 6,750 to 1,750 by having a small band of AI units handling 74% of itself.

All in all, there is only one being in Narnia that commanded what to be the last Astro-classed Cruiser. A being shrouded in dark armor and mystery. No one knows what the being looks like or what it is except the fact that the being used to be a member of the Jedi Order and one of the most powerful Gifted Users at that. They would have to guess since the Being does sound like a man from one of the Border Worlds of West and South and his form does suggest he is an male entity. Regardless of the curiosities towards Infinity, he make up their suspicion by reinforced local forces in repelling the enemy, his skills of his weapons (including his gift) in combat, and his ever-changing battle plans have stopped the Empire from gaining significant worlds or some might said ending the Avalon Republic as they knows it.

Upon seeing the Freedom's Flight within the Noble Knight's bridge, the alarm was cancelled as the crew relaxed at the sight of Infinity's flagship. However, the Ship-master was still a hard man to believe that the ship is under the command of a Republic loyalist since they would be contacted by now as he is still on the possibilities of an illusion or the hijack which is the most unlikely.

Luckily, the communication officer, who stands near Jek, hears a beeping sound originating from his duty in the form of a tower shaped device. In a way like Jek, the communication officer isn't human despite his uniform wear suggests so as the appearance matches that of a Satyrus, a man-like beast that walks on all fours with black hair growing all over its body as it sports a long wriggling tail. The man-beast sees what causes the beep and sees it as important to the ship-master.

The Satyrus announces in its language of growls, "(Ship-master! We're receiving transmission from the Flight!)"

The Ship-master merely nods at the satyrus as a signal for the latter to activate the communication between two ships. The former mentally prepares himself for facing Infinity as well prepared to see to a likely event of an impostor. As he gets off his seat and stands in front, two regulator shaped objects pop out of the floor like turrets and blast some kind of shining dust to each other as two cylinder shaped objects show themselves from the bridge ceiling did the same as well. The blasting of shining dust is centered on one spot, which is located a couple steps in front of the Noble Knight's Shipmaster, and begins to cycle each other like a tornado. Eventually, the dust takes form and colorizes to reflect the Jeddack of the haven world Liphera; Infinity.

The mere sighting of Infinity even in an illusion form was a sight to behold to the brave men and women of Hararius Prime for they must remain in the Republic's capital world at all times and defend it with their lives as they rarely deploy to other worlds.

"Sir Infinity," Boltje said as it is considered weird to call a shipmaster with the horrific befitting of Jedi members or government officers such as Jeddack and upper. Then again, Infinity is a more active Jeddack in the war effort since Liphera's fleets consist of one flyable ship and three water-based ships.

"Ahh! Shipmaster Hermen Boltje, what a pleasure to see you," Infinity said as he was impressed by Boltje with his defensive tactics ensure a Nexsian advance will be too costly on the three worlds Boltje was famous of: the siege of Norolendingafjoroungr, battle for Antlen, and liberation of Uhux.

"I believe the greatest pleasure will be yours instead of mine, Sir" the Shipmaster retorts as Infinity is real in both appearance, voice, and body language so far.

"I guess this is a matter of opinion," said Infinity as he appears disregarding his achievement for the Jedi Order and the Republic, "Nevertheless, I expect this sort of 'welcome wagon' in the end."

Hearing that statement creates shock and surprise throughout the bridge; He expects them to gather around his location and risk being fired upon arrival by friendly fire.

Before Boltje could question him, Infinity explains, "It's completely predictable for ships to send their identification codes onto the worlds they are venturing into by the work of Torii or Bivrost. Even more so when pirates or even our enemies forge their codes so the former have a new hunting ground and the latter can catch us off-guard…"

With that, Infinity brought a horrible realization that no matter how prepared for a strike on the Center of the Avalon Republic that the enemy always finds a new way to surprise them as the fall of reach and random appearance throughout their territory are testaments to Nexsians' will of erasing the ideals of free will.

"... which is why I always give the codes in proper communication. 6, Mike, 2, Romeo, Juliet, 8, Delta, 4!" Instead of saying the identification code of the Freedom's Flight, Infinity utters a different code. One that cannot be ignored or impostor doesn't have the knowledge to no matter what torture the prisoners have to goes through for Infinity cast a curse onto that code to anyone or anything who hears the code, that is Republic militaristic/governmental officials, can not repeat the code in their tongue nor remember no matter what for the curse has been enforce to the point of being unbreakable.

It was clear for all who heard Infinity's cursed code that the Infinity they see is the real deal as Ship-master Boltje says, "You must forgive me, Sir Infinity, about this embarrassment! I am a man who has been in service for 30 years and my mind has been cautious at this point."

"None taken!" Infinity state as he knows the Empire forced the Republic on the defensive with its seemingly unlimited resources and manpower and caution is better than invasions.

"We shall escort you to the Diarmuid docks if that's acceptable to you," Ship-master suggests as the rest of the makeshift fleets reposition themselves to be ready to lead the Flight to the nearest docks.

"It's acceptable!" Infinity says as he ends communication.

The Diarmuid docks is one of the latest docks to be built within the capital world as it have became #19 to be the largest docks due to its expansion about 9 miles more than the standard dock limit including three and a half nautical miles underground. About 70% of the walls and the buildings of the Diarmuid docks on the surface are merely to fool the Nexisan, when they invaded, for the underground can docks submarines can also launch Destroyers and Cruisers also strike the enemy underwater. The secret to that was simple; with the help of master builders like the Dwarfs, there are platforms that deliver the landed ships from the surface to underground as they work similarly to the lesser primate means of transportation. There are at least 6 watch towers with the 7th tower being constructed to this day to oversee landing and launching of surface fleets throughout its vast territory.

As for its defenses, other than the warriors on stand-by or sea-based fleet stands between the docks and anyone who dared, there are numerous anti-air weapons and ship-destroyer turrets ready to unleash an hellish experience. All-in-all, it serves as an example that just because the older tech still works doesn't mean that it can be improved.

Within the bridge of the Freedom's Flight, it is almost too similar to the bridge of The Noble Knight, leading that different types and classes of Republic warships aren't too different to each other; at least the structure and organization. Like the exterior, the bridge brought shame to the ships carrying the royal and rich families despite having a military purpose. The bridge had an equal amount of fleshy and mechanical personnel as there were more back-up positions than primary roles that ranging from communication, detection, and other functions the Spook believes it's importance in the name of combat victory and adventure.

Infinity, who sits on the Captain's seat located on the center rear of the bridge, may see the Diarmuid docks, but part of his mind keeps making connections between the Paragon's summons and the elven woman who looks like a copy of his first love. In his time as a Jedi, including becoming the last Spook and the events 50 years old, he has learned that nothing could be counted as mere coincidence as he will find what sort of connection between the dream, summon, and the war.

When the Flight is on final landing approaches, Infinity speaks to his navigator, "Mr. Shadow. As much as I would want the ship to be docked underground, I would prefer that we landed on the ramp. I doubt we will stay a day in the capital."

As the name goes, Mr. Shadow is dressed in all-black attire that is kinda similar to Infinity with major exceptions. The first half is that his attire isn't completely body armor, but some sort of skin tight that works similar to the leather armor of the elven people. The last half is his helmet and one that is completely unique to the universal helmets designs. Most of the helmets are often designs showing the face of the wearer or with visors, but Mr. Shadow's helmet doesn't give the opinion that it doesn't have a visor of any sort. It does give an opinion that Mr. Shadow originates from a more desert civilization for the seemingly headdress and the face of the helmet resembles an insect. He looked at his Jeddack and nodded his head as one of his long narrow arms had it's four-shaped finger wrapped around the control as the other hand did its work on a screen on the other.

From the outside, the limbs of the Freedom's Flight begin to lower itself as the claws, despite looking fragile, touch one of the ramp-pad's ground as three tudes emerge from the side of the main body and connect itself to the building between the ramp-pads. For extra measure of the Flight's landed stability, four yellow lines (two for the front and two for the back) popped out of the ground and rose to meet the ship's belly. Like a crab, lined metal's ends close in signifying locking mechanism completion.

Once the landing is fully completed, Infinity rises off his walk and begins to walk out of the bridge's exit. Before he exits, he orders everyone within the bridge, "As of now, everyone will have the time to rest or relax, but make sure our ship is refueling and everyone needs to be near the ship for once I come back, we're going back home!"

On Hararius Prime, there is no world within the Republic that has the largest population since it's pretty much the most protected world that ever was. The sublime city of Coruscant is a prime example of the Prime World's population being the largest since it's population is approaching 80 millions.

Although the vast majority of the worlds of the Narnian galaxy, very few have reached to a point where the 1% have achieved the highest state like the city development or the technologies that is wide-spread to the locals more than military officials to name a few examples. The primate city of Hararius Prime is heading there as they have constructed buildings so tall that a primate person could claim they reach the heavens as well as it lacks a wall of steel. Not that he could lack any since it is the center of the world and surrounded by other cities with the wall or the defensive lines of ground forces or fleets. No matter how much Infinity travels around the city by foot or flight transportation, he is still amazed by the city itself as he figures Liphera still has a long way to go. Speaking of transportation, the peoples' Champion watches all of the city from a window of an escort craft while ignoring the fact that other escorts block his view.

The Republic version of the Escort Craft is more bird-like than the older models of combat Crafts or more possibly a hybrid offspring between the Pelican Assault Craft or the "Warbird'' Assault Craft. The wings of the Escort are stationary instead of being able to flap its wings. As replacement, there is a circle-shaped pair of holes; one for both wings and located in the middle or wide part of the wing. Instead of energy spells, the holes emit fire spells to lift themselves up as a sign of great improvement. The Pelican and the Escourt's hatch doors are located at the tail with some difference between each other since the latter have more tail and fancy while the former is long and narrow as the former serves as army transports. All in all, the Escort Craft are for transporting the "nobles" of the Republic within Coruscant including the Paragon.

"You know, It's bad enough that your world is the most developed in the northern sector, but I'm even more jealous that worlds like Coruscant have reached this point. Then again, what I would expect from worlds that haven't experienced wars," said a new voice causing Infinity to look away from the window.

The owner of the voice is a man in his late 20s with blue hair and eyes as his youthful looks makes him look as young as a teenager. Most of his armor is colored in blue as the secondary color is white with shades of black. The armor looks heavy yet its smoothest have Infinity guess that its appearance can be deceiving to say about the least. Like Infinity, there is a cape with a wing-like symbol as the top part covers the stranger's head, but not the face. On a seat next to the stranger, there is a unique-designed crossbow and a helmet that is shaped like an eagle with its eyes as sapphire colored goggles.

"Tributon, that's the worst joke I've heard in my life!" Infinity facepalmed as the now named Tributon winced at a pathetic excuse of lifting the stress he felt when he was also summoned by the Paragon.

"I'm sorry, man! It's just…" Tributon tried to says, but couldn't for he is so nervous that he couldn't make a single joke that doesn't have enough merit to make people laughs

"Overwhelming! Felt like a snake wraps around your wrist too tightly!" said Infinity at an all too familiar feeling he spots within Tributon as this is a first time experience for the young warrior.

"Yes, that too!" The blue knight confesses to a former Jedi causing Infinite to let out a soft chuckle for it's a sort of relieving to meet a friend from the Jedi Order once more even if it's one of the few Jedi who still display some behavior unsuited for a Jedi Knight.

"Well, it's always good to see a friend every once in a while," Infinite said in complete honesty since he has lost many friends due to the war or simply outlasting because he's a child of his mother more than his father.

"You know, seeing a friend in a war is often a good sign, but I can't help to think, are we the only ones summoned by the Paragon?" Tributon said with nervousness mostly because nobody can directly meet the Supreme Leader of the Republic without facing a small army of bodyguards.

"No, we're not the only ones!" Infinity simply said as his hand pointed to the window nearest to Tributon as his hand gesture wanted the confused Tributon to look out.

"Really? What makes you say that, Infinity?" the blue archer questions as he has grown confused with his statement.

Before Infinity could explain, he simply pointed to the window nearest to Tributon, which the latter's eyes followed with the simple finger pointing to his view. What he saw in the window is a couple more of the escort crafts as he is confused why it involved "not being the only ones" since Republic soldiers guarded seriously on the factors of keeping the Republic alive longer.

"Normally, the formation is three of the escorts surrounding the fourth, which is the one holding us, as means of confusing potential assassins/terrorists off since they keep the formation a secret except the pilots, whom are highly chosen for their loyalty to the Paragon, yet there are more than it should be," Infinity states the facts since he have seen how they flew at least three times during his time on the Republic's heart and figured out their pattern.

"Then why are so many summoned from the Paragon?" Tributon asks since it reminds him of how scary Infinity can do if he sets his mind into it.

"To win the war," Infinity simple said as his words shocked Tributon because the Republic and the Empire have been in the war for so long and with the loss of republic worlds on the northern section have plague the minds of many that a complete Republic victory over the Nexsian Empire and the Infinite War will never be achieved. To hear victory is possible from someone who's been renown a war hero and a great leader like Infinity is completely unbelievable, yet Infinity does have the habit of going against expectation or anything deemed impossible. In the end, Tributon wanted to believe in Infinity, but winning a war that lasted 62 thousands of years seems to be too big for anyone, even someone like his friend to be the linchpin enough to win the Infinite War...

True to Infinity's word that they aren't the only ones as soon as they landed on the secure and private airfield belonging to the Praetorians, one of a few peoples that dedicated itself as protectors of the Republic government, at least the ones guarding the Asgardian Palace.

In the limited knowledge about the time before Ragnorak, almost all of Narnians learned about the war and the factions that fought against their end. The Republic knows that Paragons between 17,984 and 18,584 AR ordered a construction of The Paragon's Mansion, as means of paying tribute to an era of peace and an age of heroes, to be Head of the Republic's government.

For a namesake, the Asgardian Palace was built to be a complete imitation to a poem describing Valaskjalf, the hall of Odin, with the finest materials of the time as most of it was the plunge of the strongest Empire or any enemies they had of the time. As the first skyscraper of the Republic, it's foundation nearly reached the length of the Empire's battleships. Nobody knows the height of the Palace, but it is an enormous structure that dwarfs the skyscrapers of tens of thousands years later. The building itself looks exactly like separate towers seemingly tied together as Palace is shaped like an organ pipes. At the time it was finally finished, it had another purpose other than being the home of Republic's leaders and judicial duties. During the time of its construction, the Paragons insisted upon the enormous structure of the Palace to have a host of bedrooms, chambers, and corridors among other rooms indicating that Palace also serves as a sanctuary that can house about a small army and enough people that can keep the economy and government to continue in event of successful Nexisan Invasion on the Capital World.

Even being escorted, Infinity saw the Praetorians at the Asgardian Palace are Elite for their armor may be colored the regular red, but with the black color coexisting as well. The Twenty-One guests, if one excluding Infinity and Tributon, are a mixture of peoples that have agreed to be a member of the Republic. Based upon their attires and sheathed weapons, these men and women are warriors who commanded their armies to oppress the Empires and Kingdoms' thirst of expansion or temporarily aligning the Republic for survival as he knows some of them in records and rumors, but not all.

As they venture into the Asgardian Palace, An Elite Praetorian, who seems carrying an improved version of a Mercury's equipment located at their back, caught sight of the Twenty-three and his hand grab hold of a circular object with a line connected to the metallic box with it's built-in metal rod. He moves the object to the mouth-piece, "Hic sunt!"

After a while, the group were led to a long room where there are no windows as the only source of light are the candles throughout the oval-shaped table. At the center of this table have a wide circle contraption of something with a cylinder fixed atop of the contraption. To the Jaddacks of the group, the way the table is positioned in the middle of the room gives the feeling of their government meeting room while those who are no amateurs to the dark side of the Infinite War are reminded of the Shadow Chamber's debriefings. In all essence, this is a place where the Paragon can decide the fate of their nation on their own terms with only the people the Paragon wishes to share their roles in these decisions.

In front of the group were two more Praetorians waiting for something even through the desired group stands before them. One of their escort comes close to one of the guards and whispers something in their ears that Infinity couldn't hear. But, it faded away as the guards slammed their spears to the ground making a sound that attracted someone within the room before they stood aside. The group's escorts, without a word, retreat out of the room and pass by the group leading them to look at the last of the escort took around to face them and says, "Te exspectat!"

Most of the group were nervous to meet the one who invited them yet nevertheless they wouldn't want him to wait any longer since they are already here. They notice for every corner, there is a guard seemingly acting like statues as they are caught at three figures at one-end of the table. One of the figures is a Mercury version of the Praetorians standing on the left of the middle figure sitting while on the right side is a feminine figure. The female is a young attractive woman with long, wavy blonde hair and red eyes as she wears an apron skirt and a stylish blazer that hugged her body.

However, the greatest need of their attention is the figure sitting down since he is by far the most important person of the Republic. The man sitting before them was in his late 70s with blue tired eyes and his hair had turned from reddish-brown to white. The top of his hair is brushed down towards the forehead and then lifted to a swoop to one side, which creates an added bit of volume in the front, and his sides are trimmed. Even though his face is plagued with wrinkles, he still oozes with strength and confidence worthy of a King!

He wears a slim dark-blue suit (coat and pants) as his shoulders have little padding. His suit consists of a two-button front, two outside flap pockets and a ticket flap pocket with an elevated closing button. Underneath his coat, he has a solid white dress shirt with some instances in light blue. The collar was seemingly of a classic point as he would also wear double cuffs on his shirt. His name is John Kennedy; the 2068th individual elected to be the Paragon of the Avalon Republic and the first non-military person who won the election in thousands of years.

He merely smiles when he said to the guards, "Da nobis secretum aliquod?"

The guards, including Mercury and his aide, leave their positions as they walk to the only exit of the room like clockwork. The aide was the last to leave because she turned around and grabbed both door handles before closing it completely. This left the 23 individuals alone with the King of Kings in the Republic eye as they stood nervous, but ready to obey the Paragon and listened to what his instructions were.

"Jeddacks (eyeing Infinity), Jedi (eyeing Tributon), War-Masters, Generals, Fleet-masters, and Champions! Would you kindly take a seat so we can begin?" the Paragon asked as his hand gestures to the free seats of the table.

And so, each of the individuals have taken their seat according to the name plates with Tributon sitting in the middle and Infinity sitting at the opposite position to the Paragon. Upon sitting, each of the 23 individuals found a small amount of files with the symbol for top secret and a glass of water.

"Ever since the foundation of the Republic, my predecessors and myself have pledged our lives to end the war against the Nexsian Empire for the sake of our survival as a new and independent civilization and to strengthen the ideals associated with individual liberty. In the beginning, our "Great" Society was eager to end the reign of this God-Emperor and commence an age where men and all living things forge their own destinies in a free Narnia. Instead, this war is still continuing in what seems to be endless as the Paragons before me have made our first war to be monopolized to fuel our society despite future generations paying the price now…" The Paragon paused as his words caused his fellow Republicans to murmur with each other, "I am not blinded that there are those among you who believe that the Infinite War shall never end."

Then, he motioned his hand towards the door, "You are welcome to leave and act like this never happened as I will compensate for your war efforts. However, there is a lesson I've learned throughout my years as the Paragon and the lesson: time does not stand still on any worlds of the known Galaxy as change is a law of life itself. Those who only look into the past or the present are certain to miss the future. A future where our children and our children's children shall not carry our scars nor partake any role in the War whatsoever. So I ask you this, will you help by setting the foundation of ending a war that has gone long enough?"

Hearing his words was enough for most to cast away their doubts that the war will ever end as hope rekindled in their minds. Even those who believed that the war is endible such as Infinity couldn't help but feel an obligation to fulfill what might be considered an impossible task. This Paragon… this John Kennedy has this… talent to inspire not just one world, but all worlds of the Republic, even the once neutral worlds aren't immune to him. As a result, nobody has to get up from their seat and leave the room as signs that they wanted no part of this mission, even if a small shed of doubt tells them to leave.

"All of you have been chosen for a mission that is highly dangerous, reckless, and the continuation of the very way of life our government had introduced to Narnia. And so, ladies and gentlemen read what stands before you."

As such, the 23 individuals read through the pages that are codenamed "Operation Digger." The first pages are nothing new per say since the contents focus on Bivrost gates and basically the history of the first people who travel from world to world exploration.

However the next page is basically what today's society knows about James Polo, who claimed that he was a descendant of a famous explorer that traveled from one land to another. James Polo's homeworld was located somewhere dangerously closer to the Dark Zone than the Southern Narnian worlds. At age 21, James Polo was the fifth person of the Narnian Galaxy, but the first to venture into worlds within the Dark Zone and return. Legend has it that James Polo wrote in a small book, that can never be fulfilled, contained not just his adventures but ancient structures that can simultaneously connect the bivrosts in forming a constant bridge without the need of having to walk miles and miles of finding the right bivrost leading to the right world.

It sounds complete hogwash since most structures, before the time of Ragnarok, that are completely or close to being intact are rare and the interest in the past haven't surfaced till the age of the Warrens. Then again, James Polo vanished from the face of all known histories whatsoever for no reason as a rumor suggests that he was buried in an unmarked tomb with his journal in his arms. In a manner of speaking, his disappearance after a successful return to his homeworld after venturing the Dark Zone does prove some merit to the claim.

Another surprising factor is the fact that for about 300 years, the Republic has been gathering resources in secret locations within the southern quadrant of the Republic. The gathering is not limited to recruiting ship-masters or troops regardless of being experienced or finished training. The builders assigned to this "Operation Digger" have built enough fleets to regain the worlds they've lost from the rapidly shrieking Northern quadrant of the Avalon Republic.

"WHAT!?" a female fleet-master yelled in outrage, "You mean to tell us that there have been fleets of ships to not just repelling them bastards off of our worlds, but they can be used to liberate the worlds the Republic have slowly lost to the Empire. WHY DID YOU NOT AUTHORIZE THIS?"

Some would have been frightened of this individual since their leaders often punish everyone who he or she thought have wronged them from merely insults to outright assassinations. However, the Paragon understands this and with the patience of a father, he says, "To earn a victory over a place that is extremely difficult is often lies in deception. To avoid possible leaks, we must fool our friends in order to fool our enemies that their worlds are untouchable."

The key phrase to that statement is 'their worlds are untouchable' that left many wondering what he meant by which they must rely on Operation Digger details. About 30% of the group understands the wordplay as this 'Digger' campaign will put the Republic back on the offensive. The rest have read the last of the files and they were shocked and disbelief at what Operation Digger truly was about.

"I'm afraid we have reached the end of this so-called Infinite War and as such in times like these, our capacity to retaliate must be and has to be massive, to deter all forms of aggression!"

After the Paragon declared that, it has caused a mixed of emotions and responses as the majority seems to think that it's impossible to travel into the Empire's key worlds, including the heart of their empire, through the Dark Zone. Infinity is one of the few who believe Operation Digger can succeed, yet he can't accept because without the mythical journal of James Polo, it would have taken much longer time that leaves the Empire opportunities of destroying the Republic.

"Mister Paragon sir with all due respect, It is completely suicide to even think…" one of the most vocal deniers tried to say before the Paragon reached into his coat and got out a small book.

Mister. Kennedy passes the book to the ones who still believe Operation Digger will fail before they could reach the targets. After that, he passes something underneath his table as the contraption started to light up creating an image of the Narnian Galaxy map displaying mostly red in the Northern and Western of Narnia belonging to the Nexsian Empire while the most Eastern Narnia is in blue representing their government with 25-35% belonging said Empire. There are few gray chunks in the three directions of a compass that could indicate Neutral worlds. Only the South is strongly made up of smaller and independent spheres of influence leaving the Dark Zone to look like a massive hole within Narnia.

"James Polo was truly a man who has proven in what we have believed about the center of Narnia to be quite incorrect. There's a likely chance in what these so-called temples are more than just fiction and maybe very well being the key of winning this war…" then lines were constructed starting from the individuals' home-worlds into the Dark Zone and exits into what might be considers to be strongly important of the Empire's continuation, "Those within this very room can be considers the best of the best when it comes of facing the unknown. Your very skills and experiences are what makes the critical phase of Operation Digger; to find these structures in order and convert it to our cause."

To hear that they are best suited for this job from Mister Kennedy and seeing James Polo's journal have filled enough confidence of seeing this mission through. However, there are certain fears such as the one focusing on the Empire's seemingly indomitable battleships, or questions like which target world they will be creating a Bivrost road to for the fleet.

"Are there any ships in these fleets capable of bringing down a Star Destroyer?" Tributon has to address that fear because when Star Destroyers enter the picture without an equal, then Operation Digger will be the Republic's Doom instead of its hope.

Another pass of the button underneath the table and the map fades away as an image of a new type of warship is displayed, "Ever since the first wave of these battleships, we had been gathering critical information about their weaknesses to design a new ship that can take down a fleet of them if possible. All I can say at the moment is that these 'battlecruisers' are our shot of evening the odds."

The whole group were glimpsing what these battlecruisers look like and in different view-points due to lack of information like the size of the ship or armaments. Most would see it as an equal to the battleships as they would want a front row seat of seeing the Fist(s) of the Empire to fall in ruins. It would rekindle the rebels with hope that the Empire is fallible and putting the fear of their freedom into the eyes of these war-mongers that they aren't the apex predators anymore. Some of them are picky when it comes to choosing their ships as they saw the ship design as ugly, yet they cannot deny its function as a cruiser-destroyer hybrid. The few, who are idealists, saw the 'battlecruiser' as a sign that the Republic is getting one step towards an Empire for they saw it as nothing more than a star destoryer's copycat, but they remain silent for the moment.

"Now onto the next and last matter before the real work starts… it is of the utmost importance that cutting the head of the snake is the only means of ending the war once and for all," Mister Kennedy said as his eyes roam around the 23 individuals, "I know that defeating a Godling is by no means of an easy task, but it's highly necessary of ending their manifest destiny belief that the God-Emperor have installed in their people for generations."

Being reminded that the tyrannical leader of their enemy is a Godling, who are virtually impossible to be defeated by normal means, make the presented audience to gulp in fear as the Paragon will likely assigned one of them to be with the very fleet invading their capital; to take down the God-Emperor himself. Actually, not all of them have the shaking-in-the-boots kind of feeling for Infinity doesn't show any indication that he's nervous or afraid of being chosen for such a task. Unknown to everyone presented, his determination of ending the war and achieving a concept that is completely against the Jedi code or perspective at most.

"Upon my research of candidates, I have drawn the conclusion that you're perfectly suited of confronting the greatest challenge of the Infinite War, Mr. Infinity. I'm sure that Man of Miracles can stop him."

Infinity merely get-up from his seat as all eyes are focused on him as they await his answers, "With all I am, Mister Paragon!"

"Before you leave, please bear this: do not pray for easy lives, instead pray to be stronger for the journey ahead!"

With this, we are going to official of this prequel, but I'm conflicted whether the next chapter showcasing Infinity's world since the chosen ones needed to prepared for coming journey or just goes straight to the path where they arrive the Kuroinu world.

I'm will explains a few things because I have created a forum and looking for forum partners per say in order of helping this story and the main story as good as "the Knight of Death and Rebirth" or "The Irregular." I'm mainly wanted to introduced the Republic's capital world and Infinity's warship. Even more so, I wanted to showcased the event that makes my OC (inspired) character of venturing into the Selenus with a reason. If you wondering about the Paragon, the Paragon job is inspired or based on the President job as John Kennedy is truly based upon the real JFK if he were to lived and by far the only person fits into the role of the Paragon who sicked and tired of the war. However, I am open to answer any questions you wanted to post on the forum on my profile page as there are things I've difficulty of explaining for things that I have research in order of fitting the mood of the story (in my viewpoint that is).

Latin translating (google style):

Hic sunt = They are here

te exspectat = He's waiting for you

Da nobis secretum aliquod? = Please give us some privacy

Harems:

Infinity: Origa Discordia, Celestine Lucullus, Alicia Arcturus, Chloe, Maia, Nol (adult form), Misery Stentrem, Prim, Kaguya, and Delva Celebrian

2nd character: Ruu-Ruu, Grace Campbell, Anna Florence, and Evelyn Celebrian

Please make a review on who you wanted the second harem belonged to these three candidates: Taylor (the Spook's student), Death Bat (the ruthless merc under the Republic's payroll, and Tributon (A Jedi Knight skills in archery)

Uncertain:Claudia, Lucie Menelumia, Firis Hagerhelm, and Elda Ballad.

Until Next time and happy Halloween!