Disclaimer: I don't own starocean
Karin:... dammit. I suck at this.
Don't complain... should i get Fuin back?
Karin:... maybe...
Fayt Leingod stretched in his command chair, turning to his second in command, Kanai Koisk, a young girl with long greyish hair and sparkling blue eyes that radiated literally like a light bulb whenever she was happy, which was practically almost everytime. She was forced to were special shades that prevented the light from escaping and blinding others. She claimed to be half seraph, having her wings appearing and disappearing at will. Her long bangs covered her shades as usual, as she looked towards to Fayt. Fayt was about half a head taller than her and sometimes he wonder about her genetic history.
"Patch me through to the Gateway."
"Right away."
She replied, turning to her console and pressing a couple of keys. Fayt's screen switched on and Sophia's face popped up with Ryoko Leingod behind.
"Hi Fayt!"
Sophia waved in her usual high pitched near squeek.
"Hi, look, i need your help on this one."
"Shoot."
"We are to turn around, rip jump to Vanguard III."
"Really? Is there something over there?"
"I have people there that i know."
"Hmm, alright, so a jump for three fleets, Jiun, calculate rip size."
"Wait, Sophia."
Fayt remembered about Maria.
"What is it?"
Sophia asked.
"Rip jump for two fleets."
"Two? Who's not going?"
"Maria."
"Maria? But that would mean-"
"She volunteered herself, there is nothing much i can do about that."
Fayt turned away, trying to hide his sadness. But Sophia already knew.
"Don't worry, Fayt, i'm sure she'll do fine. She's as strong as you, she can pull this through."
Sophia smiled her warm smile. Fayt found slight comfort in that.
"Thanks Sophia."
"No problem. Jiun, change calculation. Two fleet size, patch me through to the 'nefrada'. Yes, now. Captain Jokim, i want you and your division to assist the Synthesis fleet, the rest of us will be rip jumping to Vanguard III. Understood. Good luck, out. Alright Fayt, we'll be jumping in five minutes, prepare your fleet for jump. Sophia out."
The screen went blank. Sophia sent a quater of her fleet to help Maria. Fayt wondered if he should do the same, but Kanai read his thoughts.
"Admiral, if we split our forces again, we would face serious opposition on Vanguard III."
"I understand that already. Patch me through the fleet's commanding captains."
Fayt sighed. Kanai nodded and pressed more buttons. She was just as efficient as five officers and that was why Fayt chose her to be his second in command. His screen blipped and about twenty faces appeared.
Captains, lieutenants and some non-commisioned officers. Each captain had five battleships, seven cruisers and eight light craft ships. Lieutenants were in charge of the cruisers and light craft ships while non-commisioned officers had control over the ground troops and light craft ships that carried the ground troops.
"Admiral Leingod, what are your orders?"
"I'm not really an admiral, but anyway, prepare fleet for rip jump. Five minutes countdown."
"Understood."
The screen went blank once more.
"Kanai, do you think this war will ever end?"
Fayt asked absent mindedly.
"If you believe so, then it would be."
Kanai smiled. Fayt thought about it for awhile. That may be so. Even though the universe may not be perfect, at least they could try to live it through to their fullest.
"In this ocean of stars."
Fayt smiled.
"Sir, gateway has sent coordinates of rip gate."
"Good, proceed with countdown. Power up the engines to maximum, course given in coordinates."
"Understood. Powering engines to maximum."
The ship shuddered as the engines went to full blast, turning the ship in a different direction. Fayt pressed a couple of buttons and Maria's face appeared on screen.
"You called?"
Maria asked.
"Haha, do i really need a reason to call?"
"Well, considering that you're about to rip jump, i expect you to at least give a small speech."
"Well, i won't give a speech, but i will say, be careful."
"I will, don't worry about me, worry about yourself. You better return to me in one piece, you hear me?"
Maria winked, waving the pistol Fayt left in her care.
"Yeah, i will. I'll be back for that pistol and you."
"Good, now go, before the rip gate closes."
"See you later."
Fayt saluted, and maria giggled, saluting back. The screen went blank once more. Would he ever see her again? He would not know what the future holds, but he will do everything within his power to make sure he will protect her, no matter what.
"Sir! Rip Gate spotted, Gateway's fleet entering the gate."
"Understood, send orders to the fleet, power engines full blast. All LCS are to dock within the cruisers and battleships."
"Yes, sir."
"Pilot, bring us close to the gate, we will lead the fleet through the gate. Full throttle."
"Understood, sir, full throttle."
The pilot, middle age man with brown shoulder length hair who had most likely seen more battles than the rest of the crew on bridge, nodded and sent the ship bursting forward, speeding ahead of the fleet.
"Attention all crew members, this is your captain speaking, prepare for rip jump."
Fayt sat back in his seat, strapping on his seat belt. This would be the second time they would be doing a rip jump and he really did not like the jump. Though physically they can jump from one end of the universe to another within a split second, there may be side effects, such as severe headaches, inside burns and other odd symtoms.
The rip jump was based off Sophia's symbological powers, the key, utilizing sophia's powers to open a "door" to an incredible power that can bend the universe. So far, no fatal casualties were reported. Maria had to stay in bed for a couple of nights rest due to their test jump. Since it takes very long to recharge the system, and also based on whether or not Sophia can manage, rip jumping is not very common for them.
"Jumping in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, ignition, full blast, calculating possible errors in direction, setting calculations within course line."
The pilot called. The ship shook as the engines came to full blast, rocking everything within the bridge.
"Estimating exit. Exit found. Location known. Ten klicks from Vanguard III's outer orbit."
The navigation officer called.
"Engines running normally."
"Engine break limit."
The pilot called. It was normal for the engines to go beyond full blast during the jump, due to the fact that the gate causes stress onto the engines and if not already stressed, the engines may explode, or a rubber band effect, as some call it.
"Pilot, share control over system control."
Kanai called. The pilot and system officer nodded in agreement.
"Sharing control. Breaking engine limit. Lifting limitcircuit. Limit breaker in place. Engines going up. Two hundred percent. Admiral."
"Understood. Set all remaining energies to shields. We're going into a battle zone, and we're not going just blow up right after we show up."
Fayt ordered.
"Understood, energies set to shields."
Kanai said, pressing the buttons on the console.
"Right, patch to all ships of both fleets."
"Right away."
Fayt's screen blinked once and multiple faces appeared. Every single one of them saluted, except for Sophia who had her face strained due to applying so much energy into the machine.
"Orders?"
A captain asked. Fayt looked at the multiple screens. He never wanted this again. He never wanted to make a decision for others. He did not want to be the leader of men. He did not want to rescue the universe. He did not want to be the one who would lead these fine men and women to their deaths. But within this situation, there was nothing he could do. Could he ask the withdraw of these people, only to let others die? These men and women who joined to fight for what they believe in, to protect what they love. Their will to fight, would he just take that away?
"Sir?"
Kanai looked over. Fayt snapped out of his thoughts. He looked over the screens. Each member eager to do their part. Is this where he truely belonged? On the battlefield? Fayt took in a deep breath.
"All members of this great fleet, we are now approaching Vanguard III where the enemy lies. An enemy we all know, and fear. There is no telling what may happen. Many may die, that is given, and it pains me to actually ask all of you to fight."
Fayt said, before managing to stop himself. A captain saluted, shortly followed by the rest.
"Sir, we thank you for your concern, but it is our duty and our wish to at least fight for what we believe in. If we do not do so, then who will? Sir, i ask of you to let us fight."
Fayt was taken back by those words. Every single one of them, had the face of determination. The face that Fayt had during his times of turmoil. The face he had when he faced off with the creator, Luther. He wished he had that face just one more time.
"Alright. All ships, place shields to maximum. Gateway fleet are to establish our exit out of the hot zone. We will pierce through the enemy lines. Eternal front position. Spear head formation. Once within range, despatch all LCS and engage the enemy. Each ship prepare twelve squads each to transport down to the planet. I will lead the ground assault myself."
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Then let's go, operation start!"
AN: I just love the Seraphs, they're so cool. This rip-jump is something i thought about. Imagine a piece of paper being our space, flat and uniformed. If you bend the paper, you can connect one end to the other, that is the theory behind rip-jumps. It's like opening a portal, pretty neat, huh?