Author's note: We are finally starting the story! I hope that you will enjoy this chapter as much as I did. One more thing that I like to mention again is how many Sunrider characters will have different backgrounds in this alternative universe. I hope that all of you will enjoy the changes that I made. Also, thanks to rattler2431 and KrossKriss for being my first subscriber! Anyway, Enjoy!
Chapter One: Calm before the Storm
Simon's point of view
I was sleeping when I was awakened by the smell of food. The food smelled so delicious that I wanted to get out of the bed quickly to eat. That is why I was able to get out of my sleepy state quicker than usual. I was about to get out of my bedroom when I realized that I needed to take a shower and then get dressed first. That is why I reluctantly grabbed the male version of Cera Military officer's standard uniform that I needed to wear after the shower. I then enter the bathroom to take a good warm shower.
As I was going through the process of washing myself, I thought about what I was doing before I went to bed. I was talking with my younger sister Maray in our parent's mansion when we retired for the night. Our parents weren't here as they were too busy checking Cera's fleets readiness. In fact, our parents wanted us to report for duty as soon as we can as the situation with PACT was deteriorating. Cera Military was secretly getting numerous reports that PACT's fleets were mobilizing. PACT would usually claim that this was just usual "Fleet Maneuver" that they did in the past, but we knew that they were saying bullshits. And even if this really just a fleet maneuver, the PACT military buildup and aggression were clear for all other factions to see. It was just a matter of time when PACT would invade.
Although I tried to be brave, I was secretly afraid that Cera would not survive this upcoming galactic war. This is because Cera was in a worse situation despite all preparations. Although Cera was one of, if not, the most powerful planet in Neutral Rim, it was just one planet. That is why Cera formed alliance with other Neutral planets to form Neutral Rim Alliance. While this should theoretically make Cera safer, I questioned whether this was enough. This is because the rest of the neutral planets were not as strong as Cera was. Sometimes it is justified as other planets don't have much resources and manpower, but some planets like Ongess were so backward.
I understand that Ongess didn't have it easy as it is a filthy world with a long history of colonial exploitation. It was mistreated by Holy Ryuvian Empire during the Ancient Era, and then by the New Empire in the Modern Age. Cera was in a similar situation in the past, but Ongess was exploited even more due to its unique resource called Ongessite ore. This Ongessite ore can be refined into liquid Ongessite and this is used in high-grade warp dives and munitions. This is highly desired by many superpowers who need liquid Ongessite to maintain their space fleets. That is why many superpowers often tried to insert their control over Ongess without the consent of people living in Ongess.
That is why I understand their frustration, but I don't like how many Ongessians think that the only problem that they have is due to everyone else. This is because having access to valuable Ongessite ore meant that Ongess could have been a well-developed planet if they used it responsibly, but they squandered it. This is because uncontrolled ongessite mining caused catastrophic environmental damage during the Imperial Era and it has turned Ongess into a bare rock where its population of 38 billion people is now living in the slums. If the Ongess government wasn't such a greedy bastard that discarded everything else in pursuit of profit, then Ongess could have easily rivaled, if not, outmatched Cera in the present time. There is now no legitimate government in Ongess and pirates like Cosette Cosmos rule from Ongess.
Now that I think about Cosette, it makes me mad. Although I don't like her method, she is an effective leader who united all pirates in Ongess into an effective raiding force. That is why with her skills, she could restore Ongess if she could just let go of irrational hate to others. She, however, made more enemies than allies in the region due to her extremism and thus have to rely on raiding other planets to sustain herself. This, however, worsens relationship with other planets in Neutral Rim, and there will be a day where she will face justice.
...Anyway, I prefer other neutral planets like Versta which governed by President Zefiris or Tydaria which governed by Mining Union. I still have a few problems with them as, for example, President Zefiris thinks that we should rely on Solar Alliance more. I have a problem with this as while Solar Alliance might be a better alternative to PACT, Solar Alliance is not a good option either. Solar Alliance can't be trusted as they didn't return planet called Far Port to Ryuvian Empire in the Alliance-Imperial War in year 400 after the Alliance won against the New Empire. The alliance might have a good reason to not give the planet up as it served as a strategic gateway into the Alliance core worlds, but it is still a dick move. This makes it clear that Alliance is ultimately only interested in helping themselves. Not to mention how the Alliance was responsible for the rise of PACT as they funded the revolutionary group called Compact to collapse the New Empire. While it might have been a good move in the short term, it was a very bad move in the long term. This is because PACT is a more effective enemy than the New Empire ever was. PACT wasn't so bad at first as it had a noble goal of uniting all the galaxy to build a new order where everyone is treated equally. Not to mention how PACT was right about a few things like how Alliance was corrupted and divided among themselves. PACT was also somewhat right to say how most neutral planets back then were either puppets of the alliance or corrupt dictatorships. It should be noted, however, even before Arcadius (a leader of Compact who later become a supreme leader of PACT) became to change for the worst; PACT was a totalitarian state from the very beginning. This conflicted with the values of any planets that were democratic (or democratic in theory). That is why the conflict with PACT was inevitable, but Solar Alliance is divided into two parties: The Progress Party which currently controls the Solar Congress and believes that peace with PACT is the best way while The United Universalists Party which believes that war with PACT is the best way. Current President Alythe of the Progress Party wasn't able to form a consensus among the Solar Congress and tried to appease PACT without any success. This is why I strongly believe that Solar Alliance is not the ally that Neutral Planet Alliance should depend on despite what President Zefiris believes.
Mining Union from planet Tydaria, on the other hand, isn't so bad as they are fine trading partners with Cera. I, however, question whether they are a reliable ally. Make no mistake, despite being an economic powerhouse that rival Solar Alliance lobbies and provide 50 percent of steel for the ships constructed in the galaxy; they don't take a side. They are only part of Neutral Rim Alliance as a technicality to gain access to trade routes. They instead do business with any faction and profit. While this neutrality can be good, it can be bad as well. For example, it is great that Mining Union is willing to provide goods and services as long as I pay them, but if I don't want them to supply goods and services to potential enemies like PACT? This might cause a problem when I need to cut the enemy's supplies off. If I handle this poorly, Mining Union might side with PACT instead. Not to mention I don't know if I can trust them to keep supplying us if the situation turns for the worse. If they think that we still have a fighting chance, then sure; they continue to do business with us. If they think that we don't, however, we then lose the support that we definitely going to need at the most critical times. That is why I have a problem with the Mining Union. The fact that they are supplying both sides means that the war will be prolonged. They might even want that as the war will force both sides to buy something from the Mining Union as long as the war goes on. That is why I have been discussing with high ranking officials on what to do with the Mining Union if they keep supplying our enemies. The only choices boil down to either blockade them, ignore them, or somehow persuade them to only supply us instead. I personally think that the first two choices are stupid as I don't think we have the manpower and resources to spare to do the first one while the war will be prolonged if we do the second one. The third choice is an only realistic option, but what kind of offer is going to be better than getting profits from both sides of the war...
All of this was what I had in mind when I finished showering and got dressed. I then head down the stairs to see what meal has been prepared. I could kind of guess from the smell, but I could be wrong. When I reached the kitchen though what I saw surprised me.
It wasn't the food that surprised me as I guess the meal correctly: a bowl of white rice with grilled sausage and vegetables covered in oyster sauce. It was the fact that my younger sister was preparing a meal. I am not surprised that my younger sister could cook as I knew that she could, but she usually didn't have to do so as our butler named Sebas and maids usually did the housework. That is why after saying good morning to her, the first thing I asked was "Why are you cooking?"
Her next response brought me back to reality as she said, "I am cooking because this may be the last time we eat in this house. So I asked Sebas and others to let me cook for my older brother and told them to take care of our parent's mansion after we leave to report for duty."
...I thought that maybe she didn't realize that we were potentially going to war and may not come back alive judging from how she was fine yesterday, but I guess I was wrong. Of course, she was worried. Who wouldn't be? Even I had some doubts and fears despite the fact that I was in the military longer than she did. I felt like I was the worst brother ever when I looked at her sad expression. I felt like an irredeemable scum for letting my precious little sister be on the battlefield even if she insisted that she wants to fight with her family. I didn't care if I was called a tyrant, sexist, or anything else if I could protect my sister. I also have no hesitation with sacrificing myself if I could save her life. I am willing to bet everything that my parents and I will do that without any argument and we would be okay with that. What about Maray though? Will she be able to stand it if her loved ones died horrifically right in front of her? I doubt it. And even if she did, our death will scar her forever. If she was going to lose control of her emotions, I wanted her to cry when she was safe and sound. Not when battle was going around her. I just wanted her to grow up, do various things that she wanted to do, maybe get married to decent guy, and die peacefully with her loved ones around her. If I have to choose only one person who deserves to be cherished and saved, it would be Maray. There is no doubt about that.
This is why I was about to say what I truly felt when I suddenly stop voicing my true thought. What am I doing? Why say this now when it is too late at this point? Why didn't I put an end to this at very beginning if I felt strongly against it?
Although I was questioning myself, I already knew deep down that I was glad. I was glad that Maray cared about me and our parents enough that she was willing to fight in the war that we might lose. I was glad when she proved herself in the field and quickly gotten promoted into captain at the age of 27. I was glad that I could interact with my little sister more easily now that she was in the military like me.
I didn't protest too much because I knew that I will be able to spend time with my sister if I let her join military and this sometimes shame me. What if she could have better life? What if she suffers terrible fate? What if something bad happened to her because of my selfish reason?
This kind of thought is what kept me awake at night than actual horrors. I didn't want to explain my selfish reason to her so I suppressed my true thought to say "I am happy that you are going this far to cook for me, but let me say this. You are NOT going to die. I am NOT going to die. Mom is NOT going to die. Dad is NOT going to die either. We all going to survive and come back home. I bet my life on it. So don't worry."
It seems that is what Maray needs as she tears up a bit, but smiled. Good I thought. I would say this many times if I can make her happy. After saying this, I sat down to eat with her, but Maray said that she already ate and she needed to get ready to leave with me later. So she told me to eat while she gets dressed.
That is why I was eating silently at the dinner table, but I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't alone. I was, in fact, enjoying the meal. This is because what Maray made for me was one of my favorites. It was simple to make, but still delicious. In fact, this is what our mom made whenever she had time. As I was able to finish my meal, I stunned by Maray's appearance. What she was wearing wasn't scandalous at all as she was wearing her female version of Cera Military officer's standard uniform. Her black naval force jacket with gold trim, gold buttons, silver bars on the collar and shoulders, matching black & gold-lined belt, a knee-length black business skirt, black leggings, and flat-soled black shoes looked very refined and professional. I don't know why I was surprised by her appearance as this was not the first time wearing her military outfit. Maybe it has to do with the fact her white hair and blue eyes contrast nicely with her military uniform. Maybe it has to do with the fact that what she is wearing was fitting considering the fact that we might go to war soon. Anyway, whatever my reasons were; I complimented her by saying that she is the most beautiful woman in the world that I have ever seen.
She blushed a bit and replied "What kind of thing you are saying to your sister! Don't you have any shame?! Even if I was the most beautiful woman you have ever seen, you should say that sort of thing to Ava, your fiancé!
I jokingly said, "Oh? so you are not denying that you are the most beautiful woman?"
She stuttered a bit as she struggled to say, "Y-you idiot! That is not the point! What you are saying is so embarrassing! I could sue you for sexually harassing your lovable, little sister!"
I laughed a bit as I said, "I don't mind. Why should I lie about a little sister that I am proud of? If I even get trialed at the military court, I will proudly declare in front of the judge to say how I am telling only the truth was I say my little sister is the most adorable person in the world."
My sister Maray was emotionally overloaded as she was too embarrassed to do anything for the moment. She then forced me out of my seat to get me going. It took over 1 hour to gather our things before we were able to leave our home. I was the last one out as I locked the door behind me. I hoped that this was not the last time the door will be closed.
Author's note: This took longer than I expected. Establishing the lore more was what took me so long as I need to consider the future. Anyway, one obvious change that I made is how Maray is not a civilian and later dies when Cera's capital gets bombarded by PACT's flagship Legion. I always thought that her death in Sunrider was regrettable as we don't get to see her. That is why I made her into space military officer like Simon was so that she has a military reason to stay with her older brother. So what do you think about this chapter? Anything good or bad? Let me know by reviewing this! Also, look forward to a little scene that I am going to write for the next chapter before they finally leave Cera's atmosphere to see their ships!