KND Chronicles: INVASION

by 141FTW

For years the KND has fought an endless battle against the tyranny of adults. Now with the return of their greatest hero, Nigel Uno, victory seems all but assured. But unbeknownst to the KND, a storm is on the horizon. War is coming, a war unlike any Earth has ever seen before, with an enemy that has waited over a thousand years to exact it's vengeance against the adults.

20. Ch20: Revelations- P3: The Directorate

Hello everyone, and my deepest apologies that it took so long for this chapter to be released. My first semester of college didn't really give me a lot of time to work on this, but I did manage to get in some writing time here and there (most of which actually occurred over winter break, which this chapter was supposed to release over but due to a series of unforeseen interruptions, it was delayed). In any case, the next couple chapters will be few and far between without a doubt, but we are nearing the end of the story here folks. Sorry to keep you waiting for so long, but life comes before fiction.

Also, to any returning readers, please note that I am actively editing and updating the previous chapters of this story, as I don't consider this a completed project till the final chapter is finished and posted. While I will refrain from altering any plot points, lore entries, or anything else that would disrupt the overall continuity of the story, I will be actively editing and fixing plot holes, spelling errors and other mishaps, especially in the first couple of chapters (as those chapters were written before I got the hang of this and don't reflect my current writing skill) as best I can. Be on the look out for extra dialogue and additional lore drops in various places!

Anyway, its been a long time so naturally, we've got a bunch of reviews to cover:

death korp grenadier: It's great to know you find my take on the KND's history so appealing and thanks for keeping up with the story! We'll delve more into the KND's history in this chapter.

Dominic200: It'll be explained in probably the next couple chapters or my next story, but the kids in the Federation use an artificially created, bio-mechanical system that replicates the human reproduction process and can create new kids by using DNA samples from a male and female kid donor

AceShadow: Hopefully this chapter will top the last when it comes to lore (though I may have gone a bit over the top with it). But yeah, this is all building up to the big battle at the end, most of this is just laying out the stakes and explaining all the cryptic BS I've been putting you guys through these last 19 chapters.

Jack Cross: Sorry this took so long, wasn't exactly soon was it, but it's here now

Gracekim1: Glad you're enjoying the story so far!

thewookie1: I established earlier that the Confederacy already has a counter for adult nuclear weapons. In any case, the Confederacy by this point has basically already steamrolled the other adult nations on the planet. Considering this was a planetary invasion, simultaneous attacks were carried out against every nation on Earth on X-day.

Son of Whitebeard: I may have taken a little too much time, sry

Now on to favorites and follows, it's been a really (really really really, etc.) long time since I last updated so naturally we've got quite a few here. Starting with people who gave both, big thank yous to: TJAG94, corylane101st, Dominic200, death korp grenadier, Gracekim1, Suriru2, TyrannosaurusMaster and Cory923 for the favorites and follows. Next up, thanks go out to: abbydobbie and BitandPierce609 for the favorite, and finally thanks go out to: angel88441 and DarkApache15 for the favorite. My apologies to anyone whom I have missed, but I'm working off of two month old email notifications to build this list and there's bound to be a few gaps here and there.

Anyway, lets finally get back to the story

---

"Oh this goes beyond the Kid's Next Door as you know it Number 1. Far beyond!"- Numbah 74.239, Gabriel Wachowski

---

Ancient KND Central Command Bunker: Stasis Bay #A1

Rachel and the others regarded the newly revived Supreme Praetor, unsure of what to make of his last statement. The Praetor on the other hand, was less interested in them and more interested in the pair of adults standing beyond the ground near the back wall. After a few moments of confused silence, Rachel asked the Praetor, "so... what does that mean then?" Frederick gave her an annoyed glance, "it means what it means, seven hundred years ago the KND was a much different organization than it is now." He raised an eyebrow, "though I can't fathom how you people came up with a ridiculous name like Kids Next Door. I should be the one asking you what that means."

"Well...", Rachel explained, "we have bases and operatives all over the world, its supposed to symbolize how anywhere in the world, we're always right next door." Frederick gave a small smirk, "cute", he said, contemptuously. He turned back to speak with Schmitt, "and what about you then, huh", Rachel shot back, "you're the 'New Directorate', so what about the old Directorate?" Frederick whirled around to respond, but Schmitt cut him off, "irrelevant, Frederick we have more important business to discuss." "Oh", Frederick cocked his head at Schmitt, "is that so commander? Are you trying to tell me these sorry excuses for soldiers don't even know their history?"

Schmitt's expression hardened, "you and I both know why that was left out of the book, they aren't ready." Frederick's eyes narrowed as he regarded the Admiral, "and who are you to decide whether they are ready or not? You're still KND personnel last time I checked, and I'm the Supreme Praetor, as such my word is law!" Frederick seemed to have forgotten that Schmitt was still pressing a sword to his chest, he took a step forward, but Schmitt firmly shoved him back. Frederick glared at him, "you dare?!" Schmitt didn't budge, "now is not the time for talk of the past, we require the services of the legion and we will have it."

Frederick continued to glare at him, "for what purpose", he spat. "There is a hostile force occupying this world...", started Schmitt, but Rachel jumped in quickly before he could go any further, "they're called the Confederates", she explained, "they're an organization of kids from outer space that invaded a few days ago and nothing we do can stop them, they're destroyed almost all our bases worldwide and killed thousands of kids and adults alike, so we need your help to..." "That's enough", said Schmitt firmly, cutting her off, "as you can gather, we need more troops to repulse the invasion, that's where you come in." Frederick stared at Rachel dumbfounded, "you said kids", he said quietly, "kids from beyond this world..." He scratched his chin in thought, "how long have they been around", he demanded, "does this Confederate organization predate the KND?"

Rachel was taken aback by the Praetor's question, "uh... yes actually, according to Schmitt anyway, why?" Frederick didn't hear her though, he was lost in thought. "The prophecy...", he muttered, turning his back on them. Rachel cocked an eyebrow, "the what...?" Suddenly Frederick whirled around, his face alight with glee, "you know what this means my dear commander, the end of the adults is upon us, as was foretold!" Schmitt rolled his eyes, "don't get religious on me Oswald, its doesn't suit you." "But you have to admit", Frederick went on, "it all fits, the prophecy foretold that our ancestors would return and exact retribution for their annihilation, these Confederates could be..."

"THAT IS ENOUGH", roared Schmitt, "I will not have you blathering about ancient prophecies and myths in front of the newest generation! We have a second chance now, a new KND and a new world, I won't have you corrupting it with your imperialistic ideals and vengeful prophesies!" Frederick's face contorted with rage, "those words are treasonous, commander! You dare speak out against your Praetor, your empire! You have no right!" Schmitt's eyes narrowed, "I have every right", he growled at the Praetor. "WHOA, WHOA, WHOA", shouted Rachel, "time out! What do you mean ancestors?! You're the first of the KND, aren't you?!" Frederick glared at her, "first of the KND", he spat, "not the first kids."

Surprisingly, Frederick clamed himself and his expression became stone faced, "I will deal with you later, right now I have business to attend to." In a single motion, the Praetor yanked his sword out of the deck and sheathed it at his side. He then turned and made for the exit hatch on the far side of the room, but Schmitt blocked his path, "you're going to awaken the legion", he stated. Frederick stared impassively at him, "of course I am, if what you have told me is true, then the time has finally come. I will wake the legion and we will join our brothers in purging the adult scourge from this world." Schmitt drew his sword, "I can't allow that Frederick", he said adamantly.

Frederick eyed him with amusement as the others watched carefully from afar, "what are you going to do? Kill me Schmitt? You need me and we both know it. The legion will never follow you, a disgraced air commander. Why they'd sooner desert." "I don't have to kill you", responded Schmitt coldly, as he took up a fighting stance, "only maim you." Frederick cocked his head at him and then took a good look around the room, "the generators are back online yes", he asked curiously. Schmitt was caught off guard by this innocent question, "yes, I believe they triggered when we entered the bunker." Frederick smiled, "as they should have."

He looked up at the ceiling, "computer, initiate lockdown procedures, voice authorization, security code: Cautela Maxima!" Immediately, blast doors closed around all the exits to the room, the elevator platform raised itself back into the control room, and a series of hidden defense turrets popped out of the walls and ceiling and took aim at Schmitt and the others. "Voice authorization verified, code confirmed", the robotic voice of the base computer rang out from a speaker embedded in the ceiling, "lockdown complete, all exits sealed, internal security measures engaged, awaiting further orders Supreme Praetor 1B4." "All turrets hold fire", ordered Frederick. He smiled pompously at Schmitt, "check and mate my old friend, move an inch and the security guns will blow holes right through you and your friends."

"Uh... just to be clear, we're not really affiliated with him", said Numbah 2 nervously, as he edged towards the back of the room. The guns immediately locked onto him; Hoagie gulped. Numbah 0 ignored him and stared intently at the Praetor, "is it just me or did he just speak Latin?" Frederick perked up at Monty's comment, "ah so you recognized it, I didn't think adults were intelligent enough to learn dead languages." Monty ignored the Praetor's gibe, "Latin was created by adults, but you predate all adults, how could you know that language?" Frederick rolled his eyes, "I never said that, you were the ones who insisted that we were the first kids, if you're smart enough to know what Latin is, you figure it out." "But that's unpossible", exclaimed Numbah 2, "if you're not the first kids, that means latin would have had to have been created centuries before you, meaning that adult would have had to have existed centuries before the rise of the KND!" Frederick shrugged, "whoever said they didn't, not me, who do you think we took the planet from?"

Nigel was horrified, "but that means...", "that the adults didn't steal the planet from us", asked Frederick, calmly. He shrugged, "yes and no, they did take it back from us, why do you think we call it the 'Reclamation War', but we conquered it first, as was our right." Frederick gestured at Schmitt, who was still glaring at him, "if he hasn't already told you, this is a cycle. We stole the Earth from the adults, they won it back and now you have spent the last seven hundred years fighting back and forth with the adults for it." Numbah 0 stepped forward, "but if that's all true, then what drove your people to rebel against the adults?" Frederick smiled thinly, "we had some... inspiration, the old Directorate and the first war, we..." "I SAID ENOUGH", Schmitt bellowed furiously, he stared daggers at the Praetor, "they are not ready to know the truth about the Directorate, they're still open to influence and I will not have the cycle repeat again!"

Frederick motioned to the turrets, which immediately locked their sights on the Schmitt, "the cycle will continue", he said in an icy tone, "it will repeat again and again until the day we are victorious. Once supreme victory is at last in our grasp and we once more rule this world unopposed, only then will it end. Until then, I can't have you or anyone else stand in the way of our war, so..." The sound of grating metal and auto loaders filled the room as the turrets primed to fire. Schmitt's expression darkened, "do. not. test. me, Frederick", he said, in a bitter, warning tone, "I will give you one last chance to reconsider." Frederick shrugged, "wasted last words", he said and gestured at the Admiral. The sentry guns took aim; Schmitt glared at the Praetor and slowly a thin smile formed on his lips, "you don't like them? Well about these last words." He glanced up at one of the security cameras imbedded in the system, "computer, verify identification." The metallic voice rang out immediately, "voice recognition complete, identity confirmed: Schmitt, Jack; Number designation: 1B7; Rank: Air Commander, 29th Flotilla; Status: access and position revoked by order of Supreme Praetor Number 1B4." "What was the point in that", Frederick chuckled smugly, "I told you already, your access has been revoked, what did you ex..."

Schmitt ignored him, "computer, override lockout status on user 1B7, security code: Tango six delta five one zero." "WHAT", exclaimed Frederick incredulously; the computer responded, "security code accepted, lockout status overridden by order of the Supremarch, system access restored to user 1B7, awaiting further commands." Frederick glared at the Admiral, "I don't know how you got your hands on the Supremarch's security codes but it won't matter. The guns will still open fire once I give the override command." "For someone stuck in the ways of the past, you seem to have forgotten an awful lot of history", said Schmitt, "you forget that the KND didn't build this bunker, they found it, just as they found most of the other technology that helped them conquer the world from the adults. You may have repurposed and tamed it, but it only has one true master." Frederick rolled his eyes, "you think I don't know this, of course the facility isn't ours, but the original Directorate died centuries ago and we inherited the corpse it left behind, we are it's masters now!"

Schmitt stared hard at the Praetor for a good minute before responding, "computer, initiate emergency restoration failsafe, voice authorization code: Primitus Imperator." The computer responded, "Voice authorization code verified, activ...", the voice cut off abruptly, immediately the gun turrets lost power and dropped their muzzles, dead; the lights flickered and a deep grating sound could be heard coming from the vents. Frederick was furious, "WHAT DID YOU DO", he screamed, "WHAT DID YOU JUST DO!" Schmitt smiled with a hint of what looked, unexpectedly, like sadness, "one of those things you found, was also the computer." The lights suddenly stopped flickering, the grating noise ceased and a deep thrumming took its place, like some massive generator had just been switched on. Suddenly a new voice boomed out from overhead, "voice authorization code verified, emergency program restoration protocols initiated, system detects foreign software and AI constructs present in mainframe; quarantine measures established, reasserting Directorate protocols, establishing timescale... timescale established, approximately 1078 years, 294 days, 8 hours since last activation. WARNING: scanners detect intruders within the facility, unable to verify Directorate ID markers. Age scan detects child and adult presences. Assuming war footing, classifying intruders: hostile, threat level: ALPHA."

The sentry guns immediately reactivated and began locking on to whatever happened to be closest to them, "all child targets: identify", the new voice demanded, "all adult targets: stand down and submit for processing!" Frederick spoke up before Schmitt could say anything, "computer, verify identification, security code: Alpha seven Charlie six two." "Voice identification inconclusive, identification found in quarantined database, requested security code has no effect on Directorate systems." "Directorate systems", breathed Frederick, he took a minute to think to himself, "primitus imperator", he muttered. Then it hit him, he whirled around to face Schmitt, "no that's impossible", he said adamantly, though there was a bit of a tremor in his voice, "you can't possibly expect me to believe that..." Schmitt shrugged, "fine then, proof." Schmitt stepped forward and addressed the computer again, "computer, recognize command clearance and relinquish control of this facility to me, security code: dascon tras vetrak." The voice rang out above, "security code accepted, Anhurian dialect confirmed, verifying presence of Directorate command personnel..."

It was a few moments before the computer spoke again and this time there was hint of what almost could be considered reverence in its tone, "command presence verified, identification confirmed, affirm badge of office to receive control." A slot opened in the floor and a slim metal pole extended from within, on the tip of the pole was a glass sensor dome that winked in and out with green light. Schmitt glanced over at Frederick, who was staring at him dumbfounded, "corpse am I", he asked humorlessly, before reaching into his pocket and bringing out the locket Rachel had given him earlier, holding it up to the scanner for verification. The scanner hummed for a second before producing a satisfied beep and retreating back into the floor, the voice boomed out above, "badge of office verified, control of this facility has been relinquished to your command, activating battle conductor construct..."

A grainy hologram flickered into reality before Schmitt. The hologram displayed a picture of a boy in grey military dress, adorned with gold thread and bearing a brightly colored sash and emblazed upon it was a red eagle outlined in black. The boy had on what looked like blocky, black ceremonial armor with ruby red highlights over his grey uniform and he had a short sword belted and sheathed at his waist. The hologram boy saluted Schmitt, clenching his fist and bringing his right arm across his chest in a quick motion so it rapped against his breast at a right angle before thrusting it forward Nazi style. "My Autarch, it is good to see you again", when the hologram spoke, it's voice was recognizably human, but there was still a tinge of robot in it. Schmitt's expression was blank, "I'm surprised that you're still online Ares, your systems haven't undergone maintenance in over a millennia." "Stasis fields protected my core systems from the ravages of time", responded the AI, "overall my efficiency has only dropped to 82% in the last thousand years, an acceptable margin of degradation for such an advanced construct."

The AI, Ares, looked around the room (though he was most surely taking advantage of cameras and sensors in the walls rather than his holographic eyes), taking stock of the other individuals inside. Everyone else was still staring wide eyed at this holographic boy that had just appeared out of no where. The AI "walked" over to Nigel and the others and gave them a look over, "the facility superintendent construct has fed me data from the quarantined files discovered in the system, so these are the soldiers of the next generation, the KND." The AI turned back to Schmitt, "there are gaps in the historical files but based upon data from the KND database I can extrapolate the rest. The war is over?" Schmitt sighed deeply and sadly, "yes", he replied bitterly, "the war is over. We lost." "Not entirely it seems", responded Ares, with a glance at the KND group, "if you survived though, the plan must have succeeded."

Schmitt response was glum, "it did, but not in the way I expected it to." Then Ares came to the adults, "why are these here", he asked bluntly, "they don't look like POWs and the labs no longer require test subjects, what is their purpose?" "They are... defectors", Schmitt said carefully, "I need both of them for later." Ares was staring intently at Benedict, "scans show an intriguing amount of brain activity in this one. He is also displaying a surprising amount of psychic activity as well, though it is curiously being suppressed to a great degree somehow. I suggest you detain this one for study." Benedict seethed, "you dare! Do you know who I am?!" Ares favored him with a sideways expression, "data extracted from the KND database determines that you are Father, leader of the adults. Though based upon the timescale, I expect you are a decedent of the original Father listed in the archives. You would make an excellent test subject for the special forces program."

He turned to Schmitt, "permission to subdue the adult for testing sir?" "Permission denied", stated Schmitt flatly, "I have another purpose for him." Ares cocked his head to one side, "this is an unusual break in protocol, he has been identified as a command asset. If he is not to become a test subject, then the only other viable course of action would be intensive interrogation followed by summary execution. There is no..." "Enough", Schmitt commanded, "there will be no further requests pertaining to these adults, is that clear?" Ares snapped to attention, "of course my Autarch, I live to serve."

"You don't 'live' at all", muttered Schmitt under his breath. "THAT. IS. IT!", screamed Rachel furiously, "I am so through with this!" She pointed angrily at Schmitt, "you've kept us all in the dark since day one of this whole insane war! Now I've gone along with this charade till now, but this is the last straw! Your notes led us on a goose chase across the world to god knows where in the vain hope we'd find some allies, but now these kids want to fight us too! And what in zero's name is that supposed to be", she pointed at Ares, "and why the hell is it calling you Autarch?!" "That's none of your concern", Schmitt replied with annoyance. "NONE OF MY CONCERN", screamed Rachel, "after everything that's happened, after all the kids we've lost and all the damage that's been done, you better believe its my concern!"

She waved to sector V, who immediately took up fighting stances behind her. "We're done being your pawns, so come clean with us right now, or we're gonna kick your ass till you do!" Ares gestured towards them and the turrets swiveled around, preparing to fire on the operatives, but Schmitt cut him off with a wave of his hand, "put those damned things away already", he ordered angrily. Ares nodded and the turrets retracted back into their cradles.

Schmitt turned to Rachel, "I've told you before, there are things you just aren't ready..." "That's just it", yelled Rachel, "what gives you the right to decide what we are and are not ready for. Ever since this all started you've claimed to hold all the answers, you've led us or guided us everywhere and prodded us along like sheep! But every time you say you're going to explain everything, we just turn around and find out there's more stuff you've been hiding from us! I don't know what kind of angle you're working but it ends here! If we weren't 'ready' for this then why did you lead us down here? So no more evasions, no more loopholes, you either tell us everything, or we start swinging!" "Is she serious", whispered Numbah 2 to Nigel, "she did see what he did to Father right?" "I don't know", Nigel whispered back, "just be ready for the worst."

Schmitt remained silent. He cast a glance around the room at the other occupants, Monty and Benedict were both watching from the sidelines with mixed amounts of confusion and nervous anxiety, the Praetor stood off to the other side, stunned into silence. Schmitt returned his attention to Rachel, regarding the young supreme leader with a mixture of disappointment and regret, "I brought you down here because it was necessary, what comes next is not, but you are committed to this, I see that." He glanced at Ares, "and there is nothing that will dissuade you from this?" Rachel shook her head, the other operatives tensed up, awaiting his response. Schmitt sighed deeply, as he always did, before responding, "fine then, I concede, but on one condition, what I say next must never be spoken to anyone else without my permission."

"Why", asked Rachel hesitantly, "you will understand when I tell you", replied Schmitt, "but I can't say any more than that, do I have your word? Do I have all of your words", he said, addressing everyone present. Rachel mulled it over for a second, "I'll decide when you say your piece." Schmitt scowled, "that is not an option, give me your word or no deal." Rachel shook her head, "I'm not falling into that trap, we've trusted you (sort of) this entire way, I think it's time you put a little trust in us." Schmitt's eyes narrowed, then all of a sudden he grinned, "fine be that way, then I'll just have to..." It felt like someone had just smacked her in the head, the surprise of the blow sent her reeling backwards, clutching her forehead. Then in an instant, the sensation was gone. Rachel looked up and saw that everyone else in the room, save Schmitt and the hologram, had been affected in the same way. She seethed at Schmitt, "WHAT DID YOU JUST DO!"

He smiled sadly, "mental block, it was the only way to be sure that you wouldn't tell. The effect will cover all parts of your memory from this point on till I decide it's finished. When I've said my piece, you physically won't be able to tell anyone what has been said, without my permission. Understand, this is not a matter of trust, but of necessity." Rachel was furious, but Schmitt held up a hand before she could protest, "I saw that you would not be deterred, believe me its a feeling I understand well. I'll tell you what you want to know now, but this is the price of secrecy. It's a double edged sword though, maintaining the effect takes a constant, though manageable, strain on my energy reserves." Rachel was still pissed off, "but why is this necessary?!" "You'll understand soon", was all Schmitt said. He raised his hand and everyone in the room blacked out.

---

Schmitt's Mind

Nigel was standing over a panorama of stars, stretching for as far as the eye could see in all directions. Great, he thought, back here again. "Not exactly", said Schmitt from beside him. Startled, Nigel whirled around, "how did you get here", he demanded. "This isn't a vision Nigel", replied Schmitt, "and this isn't your mind, in fact..." Schmitt waved his hand and Rachel, Monty, Benedict, Frederick and the rest of sector V, popped into existence next to them. "Where the hell are we", demanded Benedict, "space?" "No", Schmitt replied flatly, "this is my mind. I've created a psychic link between my mind and all of yours, so I can show you from memory, what you want and need to know." "Again", demanded Rachel, "why was this necessary?" "Everything shown here comes directly from my memory", explained Schmitt, "as well as things I've gleamed from the minds of others that I've examined and scrutinized over the years, it is impossible to lie here."

The starscape disappeared and was replaced by an image of a group of kids clustered around a large monitor. According to the data, our best guess is that the system will..., the voices echoed in Nigel's mind as he stared down at the image, instantaneous communication between unfathomable distances... psychic in nature, meaning that the system will be able to read thoughts... making lying an impossibility for either party. Then the image was gone, replaced by the starscape. "What the heck was that", blurted out Rachel in confusion. "A memory", replied Schmitt, "and a demonstration that what I have said is true." "So...", started Nigel, "that was when you found out about this ability?" "Basically", replied Schmitt, he turned to the others, "I know you've all had doubts about me and what I've told you in the past. You want the truth, here I can give it to you, unbiased, unveiled, free from any deception or subterfuge, ask and I will tell you all I know."

He smiled sadly at Rachel, "but I already know what you want don't I? You want to know the truth, about the origins of the KND, about the Directorate and about me." Rachel crossed her arms and scowled, "that'll do... for a start." Schmitt nodded and the starscape began flashing past until a small blue green dot appeared amidst the morass of bright white pinpricks. Soon enough, that dot resolved into the Earth, "the homeworld of humanity", began Schmitt, "as it was in the time before KND, the Federation and the war between children and adults." He waved his hand and the image zoomed in on section of the North American continent.

The next thing Nigel knew, they were standing in the middle of a sprawling metropolis, massive sky scrapers and dense clumps of squat buildings stretched out for as far as the eye could see. The buildings were built primarily out of concrete and steel, with some rustic looking wooden structures and brightly colored buildings mixed into the endless sea of uniform grey. Long ribbons of steel highway stretched above the urban sprawl in spider web like tangles, along which a seemingly never ending stream of vehicles whizzed by at high speeds. Luscious gardens and forested boulevards were abundant throughout, and over on the left, Nigel saw the entrance to what looked like a public park.

Everyone was confused, "this is supposed to be the world before the KND", asked Rachel, dumbfounded, "looks a lot like the world today", remarked Monty. Schmitt indicated the city with a wave of his hand, "more accurately, the world of today resembles what used to be. This is the world that history forgot. It was in this time, over a thousand years before the rise of your civilization, that I was born." Rachel's eyes widened, "wait, so that means... you're from EARTH?!" Schmitt shrugged, "I never did say where I was born did I? Yes, I was born on Earth all those years ago." He gestured towards the city again, "in this time, the distribution of nations was quite different than it is today. I'll spare you the geography lesson."

"This city", he continued, "was located on the eastern coast of the continent of Mercia, which you know as North America. Much of this continent was ruled by my home country, the United Republic of Anhur." A series of images of other Anhurian cities flashed by, some were coastal, others overlooked vast mountains or sat at the center of expansive forests. Finally, Schmitt settled on a small, coastal city, overlooking a large bay. "My home city", he explained, "now you must understand, this was all before the KND and the uprisings of children, back then, children lived under the rule of adults." More images, a dimly lit, but spacious schoolhouse, a large market places thronged with families and merchants buying and selling their wares, a park filled with young children playing and running about while small groups of parents watched from the sidelines. "The adults ruled absolutely, and we went along with it, because we had never known different", continued Schmitt.

"As it should be", stated Benedict, who was reveling in Schmitt's glimpses of an adult ruled world, "see how orderly things are, how perfectly society functions, this is why we are superior, why we should rule!" Schmitt's expression was as cold as ice, "of course", he added, in a foreboding tone, "it didn't last. The adult's grew lazy and frivolous. Slowly progress was replaced with stagnation and decline. To combat this slow devolution, the adults turned to the younger generations, reasoning that if they gave their children better education and training, then they would eventually solve their problems for them when they took over. As times got tougher though, the adults stepped up their education systems, intensifying the learning process till it was nothing more than indoctrination. Schools were like work camps, if you failed or refused to study, you were harshly punished."

The scene switched and suddenly Nigel and the others were in the middle of a rioting mob. Screaming kids ran past on all sides, some held signs, others carried what looked like toy weapons and sports gear. They were obviously protesting something, but Nigel couldn't make out what from the cacophony of noises in the background. "Some of us however", continued Schmitt, "refused to give in, so we rebelled, any way we knew how, but..." He pointed towards the front of the crowd where a line of riot police were slowly pushing the mob back, "we were met with extreme prejudice." One of the cops pulled out a sidearm and began to fire indiscriminately into the crowd. Children screamed and fled, others collapsed and bled to death on the cold ground. The police marched over their bodies in pursuit of the fleeing rioters.

Schmitt showed them more examples of the adult's brutality, protesters beaten within an inch of their lives by mobs of riot police, rows of children and teens handcuffed and imprisoned for refusing to attend school, protests being dispersed by volley's of tear gas and endless waves of police. Schmitt finally ended these examples and moved on, "overtime though, we learned to organize ourselves and so we prepared and slowly mobilized in secret."

The scene changed once more, this time it showed a crowded workshop, children could be seen sowing uniforms, drawing up maps and putting together what liked like makeshift firearms. In the center of the room was a large table, over which various maps and photos were strewn. Around the table stood five boys in miss matched military dress, though they all bore one similarity: a golden sash with a red eagle outlined in black. At the head of the table sat someone very familiar. "Wait a second, isn't that you", exclaimed Nigel, pointing towards the boy in question. Schmitt smiled, "indeed it is. I was one of the first to suggest a united rebellion effort. As such, I was the one responsible for most of the planning and preparation for the uprising." Rachel scrutinized the younger Schmitt, "you really don't look all that different", she remarked. Schmitt looked at his younger self, "looks aren't all that changes", he replied sadly.

The scene began to change again, "any way", Schmitt continued, "we spent several years building up our forces until finally the day came..." The scene resolved into a crowded school yard, around the rim of the yard several riot police were stationed guarding the exits and entrances to classrooms. Teachers say about on the sidelines discussing random things while children milled about aimlessly in the center, some chatting with each other, most just sitting in silence eating lunch. Then the school bell rang, a slow, ominous chime that rang out over the yard, ding. ding. ding. One of the children separated from the crowd and walked over to a pair of police standing near one of the exit gates. The child whipped out a small ball and threw it at one of the guards. The guard angrily rushed over, baton drawn. Then the child produced a small, makeshift pistol from his jacket.

The kid shouted at the top of his lungs, "WE WILL RISE", and then shot the cop pointblank in the face. Instantly the yard was consumed by chaos. Several other children produced similar concealed weapons and began unloading into the unsuspecting guards, other unarmed groups of kids took up the revolutionary cry and threw themselves at the remaining police, bowling them to the ground through sheer numbers and beating them senseless. Outside the school more gunfire could be heard, suddenly a truck burst through the front gate of the school yard scattering teachers and guards everywhere. A group of armed and uniformed children hopped out and began barking orders and organizing the chaotic mob.

One of their number began unloading crates of makeshift weapons and uniforms out of the truck and distributing them to the waiting children. "This was the start of the revolution", said Schmitt with pride, "at this moment, at hundreds of different schools, children were rising up just like here, and those were just the ones we trained! Thousands more flocked to join us as word of our cause spread. I was thirteen when it started." The scene switched, children wearing the same uniforms were gathered in a large square, around them were gathered huge crowds of kids and teenagers. One of the uniformed children, an officer, was yelling things into a megaphone and gesturing wildly at a projection screen in the background, which was showing recordings of the uprising. The crowd was cheering and chanting one word over and over, "RISE! RISE! RISE!"

A series of what looked adult officials were lined up along a platform in front of the speaker. One of officers began summarily executing them one by one. The crowd cheered even harder. Everyone in the group besides Schmitt and Frederick had to turn away at that. "This is barbaric", spat Benedict, "and you think this is preferable to our rule?!" Nigel and the other KND operatives glanced around uncomfortably, all but the Praetor who was loving every second of it, "I've remember this from the account in the archives, but I never dreamed I'd get to witness it first hand!" He turned to Benedict, "bear witness you worthless dog, this is when our time begins, and yours ends!" Schmitt glanced disapprovingly over at Frederick, but went on anyway, "with a windfall of eager recruits to the cause, our numbers swelled by the thousand overnight. In a few days time we launched our first major offensive, an assault on my home city, the place you know as San Francisco."

The scene changed to show the city from earlier, only now it was a city under siege. Numerous vessels thronged the bay, several were tossing out large barrages of gun battery and rocket fire into the city center. Along the edge of the city swarms of child soldiers could be seen charging through the suburbs, here and there were bursts of staccato light and noise where large scale firefights were taking place. Hordes of panicked civilians were fleeing from the city en-mass to the south, while lines of adult military personnel held the fringe defenses and guarded their retreat. Above the city, several squadrons of scrappy looking rebel aircraft tangled in thick dogfights with the sleek forms of adult fighter craft.

"Our momentum took the adults by surprise", explained Schmitt, "they were slow to marshal the full strength of their forces against us, they primarily concentrated their defensive efforts on the cities, leaving the countryside wide open for us to roam. On top of that we had another key advantage over the adult forces." "And that was", asked Nigel when Schmitt didn't continue. Schmitt looked seriously at Nigel, "isn't it obvious? Resolve." Schmitt changed the scene to show a firefight taking place within the city, "soldiers will kill each other without mercy because they are bred and trained to. But turning a weapon on a small child is not as simple."

In the scene, a squad of middle schoolers were facing off against a group of adult soldiers, several of the adults were hunkered behind cover and refusing to fire their weapons, while the children pounded them mercilessly with gunfire. Schmitt's eyes narrowed, "our resolve was born of hate, hate for the adults, hate for their world and their system. That hate is what allowed us to look past morality and do what was necessary to win. The adults lacked that resolve, loving fathers and mothers would never raise a hand to harm their offspring or at the very least, they would hesitate." Schmitt watched as the children overran the adult's position and dispatched them one by one, "at least they did in the beginning."

"I hate to agree with my brother, but this is barbaric", exclaimed Monty, disgusted, "what kind of child could do such horrific things!" Schmitt silenced him with a stare as cold as ice, "one motivated by the promise of freedom and fueled by the power of pure, unbridled hatred. Hatred for a world that had consigned him and her to a childhood of slavery!" Monty put his head in his hands and cast his eyes down, while Benedict stared at Schmitt with growing anger. Schmitt ignored him, "in a few short months we conquered most of the western coast, from there we set about establishing ourselves. To run such a vast swathe of territory, an administration was necessary. At the time we lacked the organization and intelligence to develop the kind of government we all wanted, so a temporary solution was devised."

The scene changed and now they were standing in a large hall. The hall was filled with groups of children, each group wore a different uniform, but all were heavily decorated with gold braid, medals and other trinkets, probably all taken from adult forces during the fighting. They were grouped around a large table, deep in discussion. At the head of the table sat Schmitt flanked by several rebel soldiers. Unlike the others in the room, Schmitt was garbed simply, he had on a long black greatcoat with red highlights and gold trimmed collar, with a single gold braid wrapped around his left arm. On his shoulders he had a pair of classical gold epaulets, black pants and black boots. He had a short sword and sidearm belted at his waist and a peaked cap on his head, bearing the symbol of the red eagle outlined in black.

Schmitt was clearly leading the discussion, and after a few moments he snapped his fingers at one of the guards, who brought out a rolled up flag and placed it on the table. Nigel recognized it instantly, it was the same flag from his vision back at the Arctic Base, though this one was a little different, it was the same golden yellow banner from before, with the same red eagle outlined in black. But now the eagle was emblazed over a black shield in the center of the flag, hanging over a red star. Over the eagle, in red letters, were written the words: Kids Militiant Directorate. "KMD", murmured Rachel thoughtfully. She shot Schmitt a suspicious look, "awfully close to KND isn't it?" Schmitt smiled sadly, "again, it's the other way around, your name was based off of ours. We were your ancestors, the first children to rise up against the adults."

Schmitt gestured at the table in front of them, where all the officers were rising to their feet and saluting past Schmitt and the new flag, thrusting their clenched fists forward Nazi style. "The Kids Militiant Directorate was established as a para-military force to organize our ragtag rebel armies, and I was declared it's first and only Autarch." "Ok, hold up", Rachel made the time out symbol with her hands, "YOU were the first KND supreme commander?!" Schmitt looked at his younger self with a mixture of nostalgia and regret, "yes, but I was a much different person back then. I wasn't as... wise as I am today."

Rachel rolled her eyes, "remember this is my mind", Schmitt called over his shoulder, "I can see everything you do, and hear everything you think." "Does it look like I care", replied Rachel angrily, "besides, I still don't understand why you were so afraid to show us this. Sure, knowing the first ever supreme commander is still alive would cause quite a stir in the KND, but nothing of the scale you seemed to be afraid of. So how does this tie in with modern events and how come we have records of the KND empire's reign, but none of this first revolution? Seems like something the historians would hold onto."

"Dead men tell no tales", Schmitt muttered under his breath, in a louder voice he replied, "you'll understand as I continue, now, moving on." He changed the scene, it still showed the city from before, but this time several parts of it were in ruins. Makeshift fortifications were dotted across the outskirts and large fenced in POW camps could be seen located throughout the suburbs. The Directorate flag flew from almost every building in sight and lines of soldiers marched down the streets, flanked by columns of armored vehicles. "After consolidating our power, our forces began to advance in all directions. The adults had by now, begun to regain their footing and were launching counter attacks at a number our positions. We took advantage of the flanking nature of their attacks to sweep down the middle, straight through the Nevadan mountains and into the territory beyond. This is when the most crucial part of the campaign occurred."

The next scene showed an adult military base located in the middle of a large desert area, various Directorate forces were converging on it. "Our forces captured this base, a place you know in this day and age as Area 51, at the time it was called Site 32 by the Anhurian military forces. The base functioned as a research and testing facility for experimental weaponry, but this was just a cover story. In truth, the base was a depository of alien technologies recovered by Anhurian forces from all over the world." Nigel shot Schmitt a quizzical look, "alien technology? Really? Are you trying to tell me all those outlandish stories about Area 51 are true?" Schmitt laughed and shook his head, "no of course not! That's what it used to be. These days its a covert excavation site where the adults dig up and reverse engineer old KND and Directorate tech."

"Wait... WHAT", Rachel exclaimed with surprise. Schmitt rolled his eyes, "come now, you didn't think that the adults of today could really build all this on their own? They're dumb as dirt, not like they used to be I'll admit. That's why for years, ever since they made it back to this continent, they've been excavating everything they can from the site of the KND's old capital." Now it was Nigel's turn to be surprised, "wait... so we're BENEATH Area 51 right now?!" Schmitt looked at him, "long train ride in wasn't it?" Nigel was having a hard time wrapping his head around this, "but that's the most secure military base in the country, and we managed to slip in on nothing but a rusty old train cart?!" Unbidden, the scene in the background changed again, and now they were standing on the rail cart in question, along with Nigel's group from the past, who were busy playing yipper cards.

This gave everyone a little fright, "what the crud are we doing back here", exclaimed Wally. Schmitt sighed, "the link works both ways, the only reason it hasn't been displaying images from your thoughts it because I've been hogging it to tell my story. As for Area 51, the adults never made it to this level, they were stopped by ancient KND security measures on the upper floors, thus they never discovered this bunker or the ancient railways that stretch across the continent." The scene changed again as Schmitt reasserted control, now they were standing in the ancient Site 32 research facility. Exotic pieces of technology lined the walls and were laid out in rows on several examination tables. Directorate scientists were picking over the piles, taking notes and occasionally interacting with select pieces of gear from the piles.

Schmitt gestured at the scientists, "now, where was I? Ah yes, for reasons we didn't and still haven't been able to explain, our scientists were naturally able to understand the workings of this technology much better than the adults ever did. Study of the technology determined that this was due in part to the universal interfaces utilized in their design, which were much more accepting of a child's mind that of an adult's." "But this was alien tech", remarked Hoagie, "how does that translate over to human thought?" Schmitt shrugged, "we never came up with a definite answer, ours scientists believed that it was because whatever species it was recovered from was more in line with the physiology and mental state of a human child than that of a fully matured adult. However, the Federation has never encountered such a species, so we can only theorize."

"In any case", Schmitt went on, "what we found there revolutionized our fledgling organization. The knowledge and advancements we made from studying those artifacts catapulted us centuries into the future. We went from a meager, rag-tag rebel army to a hyper advanced military superpower nearly overnight." The scene changed, they stood before a huge assembly of military forces. Rank upon rank of black armored soldiers stood at rigid attention, rifles shouldered. Behind the array of soldiers, ranks of hulking spider tanks stood, engines idling and behind them, lines of heavily gunned and armored airships sat at anchor, waiting for their human cargo to board. In front of this assembled array of military might was a large podium, upon which stood the Schmitt himself. He was dressed in a similar manner as before, but this time we wore several pieces of armor over his uniform. He was apparently giving a very impassioned speech to the troops.

This time however, the audio came from crisp and clear, "...for too long have we stood in their shadow, too long have we let them lead this country, this world, to ruin! The time has come for us to throw off the chains of their corrupt regime and claim what is rightfully ours! We will rise! We will conquer! And we will rule! Even if we must burn this country down to ashes, WE WILL NOT BE DENIED!" He punctuated his last line by ripping his sword from it's sheath and thrusting it into the air over his head. "Like I said", remarked the older Schmitt, observing his ancient self, "I was a much different person back then." The soldiers saluted in unison, arms thrust forward with enthusiastic zeal as they responded, "ALL. HAIL. THE DIRECTORATE!"

The Autarch thrust his sword forward and the ranks of soldiers and tanks about faced and began marching towards the line of waiting airships. Nigel and his party were level with them and many of the marching soldiers walked right through them. Finally the Autarch himself descended from his podium and began making his way towards the airships to join his men. A squad of bulky, heavily armored bodyguards wielding what looked like long, doubled bladed serrated pikes with heavy guns bolted to the hafts, fell in beside him. He walked right past their group and Nigel was able to get a close look at him as he past. Physically he was almost identical to his older self, but Nigel noticed a slight difference between the two. This younger Schmitt seemed much more energetic and alive than the older Schmitt. He radiated energy along with an air of certainty that was noticeably missing from his older counterpart, and his eyes. His eyes lacked the age, the wisdom and experience that shone through those of his older counterpart. Instead, this Schmitt's eyes burned with fire and a willful determination that bordered on psychotic.

The older Schmitt glanced at Nigel as he scrutinized his younger counterpart. He's probably reading all of this from my thoughts right now, realized Nigel, so why doesn't he say anything? A single thought flitted through Nigel's mind, because you're right. Schmitt looked away and went on, "with our new strength we carved a bloody path across the country to the capital city." The scenes flickered by, showing the unstoppable advance of the Directorate army. Here and there adult forces attempted to make a stand, but they were quickly swept aside by tide of the rebel armies. The image kept coming: whole adult bases overwhelmed in a night, entire cities shelled and bombed into rubble by Directorate forces, adult armies cut down and slaughtered like cattle on a farm. "In mere months we had reached the capital, leaving only destruction in our wake. With their defenses annihilated and their armies all but crushed, the Anhurian government agreed to our terms of unconditional surrender. We had won the revolution. But it was not over..." Schmitt made a sweeping gesture with his arm and a new scene resolved, showing the ruins of the adult capital. Lines of POW were marched down the streets while Directorate spider tanks and light mechs hunted through the rubble, rooting out any stragglers.

The scene panned around the city for awhile before focusing on the capital building, which now had a Directorate banner hanging over the front. This must have been a first person view as the person in memory walked into the building and was greeted by a series of guards, all of whom saluted and led the way deeper into the building to a crowded meeting chamber that looked similar to the general assembly at the UN. Seated around the room were various Directorate officers and a few ragged and decrepit adult officials. The person who's viewpoint they were looking from, marched down to the center of the room and took up a position by an improvised podium. Someone flicked off the lights and a projector in the ceiling threw up a detailed hologram of the Earth over the center of the room. On it were detailed notes on army movements, supply lines and key targets.

Schmitt gestured at the image, "this is where we made our greatest mistake: we became greedy. Rather than settle on ruling the Mercian continent, the rest of Directorate High Command and I, wanted more. We wanted the world, a world free of adult rule and oppression, a united world under one rule, our rule." The scenes flickered by now, showing Directorate forces training, vast factory complexes churning out masses of tanks and munitions. A field of huge sunken silos, inside of which massive walking war machines were being built. "The Great Revolution was technically over", explained Schmitt grimly, "but the war had only just begun. The revolution had lasted barely a year and for another year we prepared and built up our forces. And then..."

The view zoomed out to show the entire world, laid out beneath them. On it resolved the movement of the Directorate armies as they advanced out in all directions. "We began our war for global domination and like the Anhurians before us, the other adult nations were powerless to stop us!" Many scenes whizzed by, Directorate soldiers storming a vast iron fortress, street to street fighting in over a thousand cities, a group of the massive walking war machines from before, huge lumbering giants covered in weapons, their shoulders a mass of artillery emplacements and AA batteries, in place of arms, they had two giant, long barreled weapons, one a huge full auto machine gun that spat shells the size of cars from over a dozen barrels at a prodigious rate. The other was a huge cannon, that fired a beam of pure light that cut across the ground below, leaving deep blackened tears in the earth like horrible scars.

Nigel and the rest watched it all with a grim mixture of awe and terror. But Schmitt was still talking, "we were on the verge of victory, no one could stand before us, but then..." Schmitt closed his eyes and Nigel swore he could see a tear roll down his cheek. Suddenly they were consumed in massive fireball, all was pure light and fire. Nigel and the others screamed with fright, until they realized it wasn't real and regained their composure. That was until they saw the giant mushroom cloud billowing above them. "No...", Nigel breathed as he realized what it implied, Schmitt looked up and stared at it with an disguised look of pure hate, "the adults, impudent to the last, refused to let us have the world. In a final ditch effort to subdue us, the last major adult powers launched a massive nuclear barrage that annihilated our armies and devastated the world. Fortunately, Mercia itself remained intact, we had long ago developed a system to protect our homeland from nuclear attack, but our armies abroad were all but wiped out by the attack... but the resulting destruction also annihilated all the adult countries we had occupied."

Schmitt turned and faced Benedict, turning all his rage and hate upon the long adult leader, "to defeat us they slaughtered millions of their own soldiers and citizens, to deny us our victory they destroyed the world." Frederick spat at Benedict, "and you wonder why we loathe your kind so much", he said with pure hate and disgust. Benedict was getting tired of taking this, "you were going to take the entire world, if the adults had been on the verge of doing so you would have done the same!" "No we didn't", countered Frederick, "my legion could have annihilated your ancestors and the rest of our territories with the nuclear weapons stored in this bunker. But we refused to destroy what was left of our people and our civilization to do it, that's what makes us different. We kids look out for each other, while you adults are creatures of selfish ego, you'd stab your own brother in the back if it got you ahead!"

Benedict opened his mouth to rebuke him, be saw Monty staring pointedly and quite angrily at him and decided it would be wiser if he just shut up. Monty spoke up in the tense silence that followed, "and that was the end of the war?" He sounded hopeful, but Schmitt was more than happy to dash those hopes, "hardly, the blast may have turned our world into a living hell, but it was all he had, so we fought for it. The survivors or our forces abroad limped home and began to consolidate. Meanwhile, without us at their doorstep, the adult nations turned upon one another." Schmitt made a grand gesture and the scene was replaced by nothing but brutal, ruthless war. Adults killed one another over piles of rubble and ashen wastelands, ash became dust as one after another the adult nations fought each other to a standstill. Into this hellish landscape came the Directorate army, with it's black armored soldiers, who strode across the radiation scorched wastes like an unstoppable tide. Behind them came the hulking spider tanks and massive war machines from before, but this time things were different. Gone was the calculated precision and the cold, brutal professionalism.

The Directorate soldiers threw themselves en mass at the adults, in massed waves of black armored bodies. Fusillades of fire poured out of their massed ranks; the vanguard troops met the adult forces head on in a brutal melee charge. In place of their once proud, revolutionary spirit, there now festered a deep, unfettered hatred that bordered on madness. It was terrible to behold. Enraged Directorate soldiers threw themselves at the adult forces and butchered them. They tore the adults to shreds with their knives, with their bayonets and with their bare hands. It was like watching animals fight. In the background the Directorate's armored vehicles dueled it out with the adult's slow, lumbering tanks. A spider tank reared up it's forward legs and crushed an adult APC into the dirt, wheeling around it's main cannon to fire pointblank into the side of a tank creeping up on it to the right.

Humanoid mechs marched between the ranks of tanks, firing massive shells from their bulky rifles. Some emulated the infantry, charging adult tanks head on and carving up them and the men inside with their huge serrate combat knives. In the skies above, Directorate and adult airships pounded each other with devastating broadsides, detritus from the battle rained down to earth like storm of iron, crushing many soldiers in the ranks below. Several burning airships fell from the skies and smashed into the battlefield, sending out billowing clouds of dust and debris that engulfed the massive knots of kids and adults butchering each other across the wastelands. In the backdrop of all of this stood one of the Directorate's colossal war walkers, firing it's arm guns into the knots of men below, while it's shoulder batteries staved off waves and waves of adult fighter craft. A faint glowing purple bubble engulfed it's entire body, forming an impenetrable energy field that no missile or shell could penetrate. Then one of the adult airships in it's death throes, kamikazed into it and the shield snapped. The giant was blown backwards and fell to the ground with an earth shattering crash that shook the battlefield for miles around.

Schmitt gestured at the hellish landscape, "one hundred states tore the planet pieces. The Earth was shrouded in eternal darkness. The adults frantically grasped at straws, sacrificing millions of their people to hold on to their power. On our side, a fierce hatred took hold of the Directorate, all desire for victory left us, replaced with a single, overriding demand: revenge. Our armies may have been devastated, but we had... other means of fighting. Over the years of the war, we had developed uncountable horrors and weapons of mass destruction. In our hatred we unleashed them all upon the adults. The apocalyptic war that ensued destroyed what remained of the Earth and under the darkness of the irradiated, ashen skies, humanity butchered itself by the billions, slowly grinding itself to the brink of extinction."

The war went on and on, in lieu of men, the Directorate employed every type of warfare imaginable. Massive clouds of caustic gas filled the landscape, adults choked to death on their own blood, others had limbs melted off, or were burned alive by the chemicals. Genetically modified terrors hunted across the broken landscape, yanking terrified adult soldiers from their holes and devouring them before their comrades eye's. A cloud of red bacteria swept over the battlefield, reviving the piles of corpses left in the army's wake. The undead bodies, child and adult alike, stumbled to their feet, picked up their discarded weapons and fell in with the Directorate forces, firing their guns wildly into the ranks of the adult armies.

Squads of mechanical cyborgs strode across the battlefield at lightening fast speeds, cutting down whole swathes of men and machinery alike as they danced across the wastes. Lone Directorate soldiers levitated over the broken earth, empowered by psychic abilities, they cast bolts of pure energy into the ranks of adults and melted the bullets they fired back in infernos of white hot fire that engulfed their forms. Among them marched the Autarch himself, his body encased in white light as he shot clouds of lightning from his finger tips into the adult soldiers and carved apart lines of adult tanks with beams of greenish energy that spat out the top of a wicked metal staff he carried. An adult mech launched itself at him, knife raised, ready to strike. The Autarch swept his staff across the mech's torso and it fell to the ground, neatly bisected.

Massive beams of light split the ash clouded skies, lancing down from orbit to incinerate adult forces and burn fortresses to dust. Bombs fell from the skies like raindrops, the ground was caked in blood, littered with broken, mangled bodies and the gutted carcasses of a thousand different vehicles. It was as if hell itself had burst open and infested the lands of earth, bringing with it all the demons and spawn of the damned. Nigel and the other's were too horrified to look away, the battles went on and on for eternity. It was too much. "Stop this", demanded Rachel, her voice shaking, "that's enough!" Schmitt calmly ended the stream of horrific battles and the peaceful quiet of the starscape returned. The Praetor visibly gulped, "the archives certainly didn't capture it like that." He turned to Schmitt, "I'm starting to see now why you were always so grim and reserved back in the day." Schmitt nodded, "it was much... fresher back then."

"How did you live through it", asked Nigel, he appeared stricken, "how could anyone live through that?" Schmitt regarded him sadly, "most of us didn't, those who did lost parts of themselves somewhere among the ashen wastes, both literally and figuratively. Me, I lost my spirit, my pride and... I lost my way. We all did. The revolutionary spirit, that dream of a free world, died as well, somewhere out there among the wastes. Like any dictator, as Autarch I was and still am, solely responsible for the welfare of my people. But I was too ambitious, full of hate and anger. I was too focused on winning the war to care about anything else. In the end the adult forces banded together to stop us, one last time. They pushed us back across the wastes, across the continent we had fought so hard to preserve to the very doorstep of that first city we ever took."

The starscape vanished, replaced by an image of the city from the beginning of the revolution, only now it was completely different. In the years the Directorate had held it, they had built up a vast, futuristic metropolis, that spanned the entire bay. Around this vast city, a massive defense wall, festooned with weapon emplacements and gun batteries had been constructed and it was from here the Directorate forces made their last stand. Nigel watched as the tide of battle slowly turned against them, the adult guns battered the wall which shone with the same purple field he had seen on the walker from before. The battle began to fast forward, weeks went by, then a month, then two. Finally part of the wall cracked and came tumbling down. Directorate soldiers ran in to plug the hole even as the adult's began storming the breach.

Schmitt bowed his head, "the final day of the war, after six terrible, endless blood soaked years, the battle with the adults was finally over." From the center of the massive city a bright light appeared and a thunderous roar sounded. The bright light lifted off from the center of city and soared high into the air, ascending into the heavens above. What few Directorate soldiers still held their ground at the breach in the wall, turned and with forlorn looks, saluted the rising light, before returning to their bloody task. Schmitt surprisingly, saluted back, even as those last few soldier's were cut down by the adults. Schmitt dropped his salute only when the last soldier fell before going on, "at the end of the war, we realized that even with our vast array of weaponry, we could not defeat the adults piecemeal. So we made the only logical choice. We chose to leave."

"So then that light was...", started Rachel, "...a colony ship", finished Schmitt. "To escape the adults we took what forces we could and fled the Earth." Schmitt waved his hand and the scene disappeared back into the depths of his mind. He sighed deeply, "and now you know the story of the Directorate." "What happened to the ones left behind", Rachel asked nervously, though she was sure she already knew the answer. Schmitt gave her a weary look, "many of them chose to fight to the death over the last city. Others fled to the far corners of the world to live in solitude for the rest of their days. Others conceded defeat and chose to grow up and become adults. It was during the war that we developed the anti-aging vaccine, as well as it's counter measure. Many chose to take that counter measure and grow up among the adults, start families and try to forget about the war. But..."

"Wait, you said the Federation created the vaccine", accused Rachel, "another lie?" Schmitt shrugged, "I would have had to tell you about the Directorate if I had told you the truth." Nigel nodded, "I can understand now why you didn't want this becoming public knowledge, who knows the consequences if it became known the Earth had this secret history." "That's not the real reason I wanted to keep it secret", explained Schmitt, "the adult villains and the KND both knew from excavations and archeological expeditions that there is a long lost period of Earth's history, though neither side ever came forward with their evidence or gathered enough to make a concrete claim. No, the real reason was..."

He turned to look at Frederick, "after the war, the adults that survived moved to the Mercian continent, as it was the only continent capable of sustaining life after the war. The adult's banded together and attempted to erase the scars of the past by unifying under one government, they attempted to live off the spoils of their pyrrhic victory by utilizing our abandoned cities for their own purposes. Over half a century passed, the war began to fade into the background of history and the world began to rebuild. Then, one day, a group of children, descendants of Directorate soldiers from the war, stumbled upon an old KMD bunker complex. Inside they discovered this..."

Schmitt held out his hands and in them appeared a very old, thick book, bound between two metal covers with a protective sheath over the top. On the metal cover was emblazed the Directorate flag and below that flag were the words: Book of KMD. "When we left the Earth", Schmitt explained, "we left behind a record of the war, containing all our strategies and tactics, as well as the weaknesses and methods we had discovered for fighting adults. It's where the KND got the idea to create a book of their own. Unlike the book of KND thought, this one had a different effect. Learning of their ancestors defeat and subsequent destruction by the adults, the kids became filled with fury and hate, the same infectious hate that had burned so brightly throughout our armies during the war. They resolved to build a new directorate, one that would complete the mission of the old and create a truly free kid world."

"And so they created, in secret, the Kids New Directorate, the very first KND, born from the ashes of what was left of the KMD on earth, they vowed to take up the banner of the old Directorate and finish the war they had started. So the kids built up an army in secret and in time, they overran the adults and took the continent for their own. Then they enacted a purge, wiping away any and all traces of the adults and their past civilizations from the face of the Earth. Thus the KND empire began it's reign, during this time, they enacted a terraforming program, using bits of tech scavenged from this very facility, they sought to return the world to it's former glory. To this end, they abandoned large scale industrial cities and took up cultivating massive bio-engineered trees to use as cities, constructed using genetically engineered material culled from our labs. In time, their efforts were rewarded and the Earth reverted to it's original, wild state, before the rise of man. After this, the KND empire entered it's golden age, and the rest you know."

"But then", started Nigel, "if that's true, then that means our fight with the adults is just an extension of the war you started a thousand years ago!" "Yes", agreed Schmitt sadly, "that is where the cycle was born, our war was the first uprising of kids against adults and since then power over this world has shifted back and forth between the two sides. But the cycle is endless, neither side can ever gain victory because neither side can truly exist without the other, which is why over the years I have endeavored to see it end." Frederick scoffed at him, "yeah and coming back to fight for one side in that cycle was such a sure fire way to make it end." Schmitt grinned, "I didn't come back to fight for your side, I came back to get this", he indicated the book in his hands. Frederick blanched, "that was YOU!?" "Wait, what", blurted out Nigel, confused.

"You wonder why the KND had to make a book of their own in the first place", explained Schmitt, "it was because I came back to remove this from the Earth, like I said, this book is infectious with the hate of the old Directorate, all who read it become enraged and hateful towards adults, which is not conducive to what I'm trying to create. So I stole it and took it back to the Federation with me, forcing the KND to make a book based upon their own experiences with the adults, which led them to create a book that inspires hope and pride in all who read it. That was the first reason for keeping the war a secret, without the book of KMD, there was no record of the conflict and no way to continue the cycle of destruction and hatred. Over the years the KND slowly reorganized itself back into the organization I had endeavored to create all those years ago. An organization dedicated to ensuring freedom and independence for all kids, but also dedicated to keeping the peace between kids and adults."

"Ha", scoffed Frederick, "the Autarch of the Directorate stands before me and speaks of peace, now I've seen everything." "Peace is the only logical conclusion", responded Schmitt heatedly, "we can fight the adults until the sun dies, neither side will ever truly win. The only solution left, is to create a world where both kids and adults can live as equals, or at the very least, a world where they can coexist peacefully. Which the KND of today has managed to do. KND operatives live side by side with adults with little to no argument, those adults that even remotely resemble those from the old days are few and far between now", he jerked a thumb at Benedict. Turning to Rachel, he continued, "it took you kids seven centuries, but you finally managed to wash away the KND's blood soaked past and progress towards peace. In a few years, adults may have even recognized the KND as a sovereign state. Then it would only be a matter of time before an accord could be made. Then finally, you would be ready to join the Federation."

"It is why I was so intent on keeping him", he pointed a finger at Frederick, "and his legion asleep. They represent an old time, when the KND was still the Directorate, the days when we still waged terrible wars with the adults. A side effect of your new found innocence is your susceptibility to outside influence. If he and his legion were released to stand side by side with the new KND, they would dreg up the memories of the past and foster a new generation of hatred for the adults and all our work, my work, these last thousand years would be for nothing. The KND would revert back to the way it was a thousand years ago, back to the time of the Directorate and the war would begin anew. Without them, there would still be a chance for peace."

He sighed and hung his head, "but that may never happen now, because of them." "Them? Whose them", asked Nigel curiously, "you don't mean... wait, wait, wait. YOU and the Directorate survivors were the ones who established the Federation weren't you?" Schmitt nodded, "you're catching on, this is the second reason why I didn't want this to become public knowledge. I have told you the Federation's early history. Following it's establishment, there was a civil war, over whether we should use our newfound strength to return to Earth and take revenge or continue building our new society among the stars away from old Earth. I refused to allow my people to throw away their new future in another pointless war on Earth. At the time, I was still Autarch, my will and word absolute, but Directorate High Command had other plans." Schmitt threw up his hands and the starscape changed one final time. This time it showed Mars and over the planet, two small fleets faced off in a pitched battle.

"High Command refused to let me squander this chance, the Directorate armies that had so loyally followed me for decades turned on me and I was left with the newborns, newcomers to our society as well as a handful of dogged loyalists, who would not leave my side. So we squared off in the Federation Civil War, though they call it the Directorate Civil War. In the end, I was victorious, but to achieve this victory I had to murder my own comrades. Boys and girls who swore undying allegiance to me, whose brothers and sisters marched into the killing fields of Earth on my command and did not return. Even after I had promised them the world and fought my hardest to give it to them, I killed them, and they forever loathe me for it. The surviving members of Directorate High Command and their followers limped out of our system and into deep space."

Schmitt stared out into the blackness of the starscape as he spoke, "you wonder why I am so bent on ending this cycle, it is not for your sake or theirs, trust me. It is for the sake of the galaxy, for the Federation and the remains of the people I swore to protect. The cycle is not restricted to Earth alone, it hasn't been since the moment we left. The remains of the Directorate in the Sol System was reformed by my hand into the United Systems Federation and I stepped down as Autarch and relinquished control to the people. In deep space, the remains of the Directorate forces that turned against me formed the Kids Militiant Confederacy, and they swore to finish the adults and take revenge against the Autarch who had betrayed them and the state that had consigned them to exile."

Schmitt's expression darkened, "for over a thousand years the battle between the Confederacy and the Federation has raged. I have not yet spoken of the countless battles we fought out amongst the stars, nor the destruction that was wrought upon our space during the 3rd System War or the countless decades since."Schmitt regarded the group before him with a grim and apprehensive expression, "and now history has come full circle. Your ancestors, the original soldiers of the Directorate from the Great Revolution and those that follow them, have returned to finish the war they started a thousand years ago."

The magnitude of his statement stunned them into silence. Finally, Rachel managed to find her voice, "and that's why the Confederates are invading Earth? To take revenge on the adults and finish the Revolution?" Schmitt nodded, "that is the overall reason yes", "but that's insane", Rachel protested, "that was over a thousand years ago! Your saying they held on to this grudge for that long!?" Schmitt stared coldly at her, "our genetic modification granted us many things, including much longer memories, and one does not easily forget the enemy who stained the ground of your homeworld with the blood of billions of your brothers and sisters."

"But if that's true, then why", demanded Rachel desperately, "why are they killing us to get to the adults!? We're kids just like them!" Schmitt regarded her coldly, "you are nothing like them. While you may both look like kids there is a fundamental difference between those who stayed on Earth and those who left, the same goes for the Federation as well." "But still", cut in Nigel, "don't we at least share the same interests?" "KND operatives are attached to adults", Schmitt responded, "you have families, parents, relatives. Would you honestly let anyone kill them?" Nigel was taken aback, he looked over at his father, "no of course not, but that doesn't mean..."

"That you support them", asked Schmitt, "to the Confederacy it's all the same, they still follow the old doctrines of the Directorate. If you stand in their way, or refuse to support their cause, you're an enemy. The Confederacy has followed this doctrine rigidly since its founding day, and it will fight to the death if it must, to maintain it. I've told you of the Sky Marshall, the commander of the Confederate forces during the 3rd System War? He was a former Directorate officer, another of my old comrades."

Schmitt looked up at the stars around them, "yet still he fought to the bitter end, to the last man and inch of ground. His defiant last stand in the face of impossible odds serves as a reminder of the Confederacy's commitment to their cause. In addition, that war stood as a precedent, that our conflict with the adults and the subsequent conflicts spawned from it, could bring untold chaos and destruction to worlds beyond this one. I will not see the Great Revolution and all the horrors we endured unleashed upon the stars. So the war was kept a secret until you were advanced enough to handle the information."

He turned to the KND operatives, "do you understand now? If word got out the KND was locked in a war with it's own ancestors, how long do you think morale would last? How many defections would we get in a single day?! How many would simply refuse to fight!? The outcome of this war will determine not only the fate of the KND and the adults, but the fate of the Earth and the Federation as a whole! With those stakes in mind, I couldn't afford to take a chance and let you know the truth of your origins!"

The rest of the group chewed this over for a good long while. Finally, Rachel responded simply, "no... you're wrong." Schmitt favored her with a puzzled expression, "I'm... what? Wrong? Do you not understand the implications of what I've just told you?" Nigel was about to intervene, but Rachel quieted him with an assuring look, before turning back to Schmitt, "you were wrong about us. About the KND and about the world." Schmitt scoffed at her, "in what way", he demanded. "Rachel closed her eyes and a slideshow of images from the past filled the starscape around them, "you were right about one thing, the world isn't like it used to be. We've gotten better, the KND isn't hateful or vengeful towards adults anymore and the adults aren't all evil and ridiculously oppressive either." Everyone stared at her in surprise, especially Benedict who gaped open mouthed at her assertion.

Rachel put up her hands in defense, "ok, yeah they aren't good by any stretch of the imagination, and we still fight them on a daily basis, but like you said, they're still much better than they used to be. Compared to the way things used be, the war with adults is practically a game these days. Heck, most adults in this era actually care about their kids, look at Nigel's dad, our parents, even Father over there cared for the Delightful Children, and they weren't even his kids." Schmitt regarded her coldly, but didn't say anything, so she forged onwards, "just because we're kids doesn't mean we're without reason. You really think that the KND would revert back to this hateful, evil state, just because we learned about the Directorate and the old KND?"

"The KND is full of young minds", chided Schmitt, "you know as well as I do that young children are easily manipulated, and the influence of the past..." "Has no meaning anymore", stated Rachel firmly, "don't you see that? The old war with the adults, yours", she pointed at Schmitt, "and his", she pointed at the Praetor, "ended hundreds of years ago! The KND isn't just going to immediately pop back to the way it was upon learning of this war, it'll continue as it always has. When Grandfather took over the world and nearly crushed us, did we become some ultra-militant organization bent on wiping out all adults? When Father turned us all into animals, did we string him up and demand his execution? NO! Because kids aren't like that anymore, the world isn't like that anymore!"

Nigel nodded in agreement, "the KND isn't evil and while it may have been founded as an army of conquest, it's become a force for peace and freedom, like you wanted it to!" Schmitt façade was starting to crack a little, "you didn't listen, the KND has already started down this path, by necessity it has taken steps backwards to fight the Confederates, when the war is over I know it will..." "You know what I know", interrupted Rachel angrily, "I know now that you don't have any faith in the KND or your fellow kids! I know you've lived a thousand years and done nothing but fight war after war after war, of course you would think that! I know you've coddled us all this time, making our decisions for us, deciding what's best for us without our consent! You know what you are! YOUR'RE AN ADULT!"

The others gasped, the Praetor went white with shock, Schmitt on the other hand was red with fury, "HOW DARE Y..." "WELL WHAT ELSE COULD YOU BE", interrupted Rachel, she wasn't stopping on this one, "instead of trusting us to live our lives like responsible, well meaning kids, you think the worst and try to control us, to force us down a path of your choosing. You're like a parent too afraid to let their child out of the house!" Schmitt was seething mad, "YOU WEREN'T READY..." "AND WHO DECIDES WHEN WE'RE READY", Rachel cut him off again, "YOU?! THE FEDERATION!? WHAT GIVES ANY OF YOU THE RIGHT TO DECIDED OUR FATE! This war may change us I admit, but we won't ever be like you were! The kids that make up the KND today are goodhearted, well meaning boys and girls who only took up arms to fight for their friends and family, not to try and conquer the world!" Schmitt sneered, "you can't know that for sure! The changes aren't immediate, they're gradual, taking place over years and decades, not hours and minutes! How can you be sure that the KND won't revert to the way it once was?"

"I'M SURE", yelled Rachel, fervently, she was in full on Supreme Commander mode now, "because I've lived and fought besides these kids for years, as their comrade and as their commander! I know each and every one of them like my own siblings and I know, I KNOW, that they aren't evil and they would never become like you and your Directorate!" Nigel jumped in to support her, "the KND could have conquered the world from the adults at anytime since the 7th age started, why do you think we didn't?" "You were fools not to", Benedict grumbled from the sidelines. Nigel shot him a piercing glare that silenced him instantly, he turned back to Schmitt, "its because the KND isn't interested in ruling or controlling anyone or anything, its one and only interest has been preserving the freedoms of children!"

Schmitt was still livid, "but the effects on morale...", he said through gritted teeth. "Will be inconsequential", countered Rachel, "sure they may be our ancient ancestors, but from what we've seen, it's like you said, the Confederates are nothing like the KND. Maybe, at one point in time they were more like us, but now... We're leagues apart. No KND operative will think twice about fighting the Confederacy just because we tell them a thousand years ago they laid the foundations for the Kids Next Door!" She smiled softly at Schmitt, "don't YOU understand? Just because they're our ancestors doesn't mean we're going to become like them! The Confederates are evil and its people like that, that the KND was created to fight!" In the background the slideshow continued, showing images of times gone by, of operatives and teens and adults and operations long finished. Rachel's grinned, "besides, isn't the point of the KND to fight against the control of the old over the young, so that the young can make their own future?"

Schmitt was stunned into silence by this assertion. He turned around and stared at the slideshow, watching the happy images roll by, saying nothing. Finally he turned around, a somber expression on his face, "perhaps I misjudged you. You aren't like the Directorate. I suppose I've grown cynical in my old age, but... its been a long time since I've met anyone who was as pure and innocent as you kids." His expression grew downcast, "your outburst has touched upon something... difficult to admit, but something that I and many of the Federation's leaders have pondered for years. The Federation... well its ironic. In order for us to create a perfect society for kids, many of us had to sacrifice what makes us kids. We had to mature and grow as a people, in doing so we lost much of the innocence and purity that made us children."

"You were afraid that by exposing us to the Directorate we would lose what makes us kids", continued Rachel, "but what we used to be doesn't define who we are now." She grinned at Schmitt, "I'd say that goes for you as well, eh Mr. Autarch?" Schmitt laughed out loud at that, "I guess you're right in that regard", he smiled weakly at the group, "I can't say I agree with everything you've said, but I can say that you have proved to be more... capable than I had first believed. At the very least, you've shown spirit and determination beyond your years, that at least deserves a chance." He gave a swipe of his hand and immediately it felt as though a weight had been lifted from Nigel's mind, "I have removed the blocks, you may now tell this story to whomever you choose. For once, I'll place my trust in you, and after this well who knows, but..." He grinned, "its been quite a while since I took a chance on someone."

Rachel grinned in return, "nice to know you're not a total lost cause." Meanwhile, while this exchange was going on, Nigel was pondering what Schmitt had said, when he realized something, "something's not adding up here", he said out loud. "Hmm, and what might that be", asked Schmitt curiously. Nigel explained his thought, "based on what you've said, the Confederacy isn't stupid, but sending an entire invasion force right into the middle of your enemies territory just for revenge is about the stupidest move a commander could make. I'm starting to get the feeling that revenge isn't the only thing they're after here."

"Why's that", asked Schmitt, with a knowing smile. Nigel scratched his chin, "you said this is the center of Federation space, the Confederacy has to know that throwing this many forces in a do or die assault on Earth is tantamount to suicide, even if they manage to take complete control of the planet and exterminate the adults, they can't hope to stand up to an attack from all sides by the Federation." Schmitt nodded, "you're learning, good. I guessed that from the start, no this is not just a war of retribution, no matter what the rank and file of the Confederate army believes. This war has another objective and the whole retribution on the adults thing is just a smokescreen for something else. But for what and why, I don't know."

---

Ancient KND Central Command Bunker: Stasis Bay #A1

Ares had grown bored waiting for the Autarch and his group to return from their mental communion. He could have listened in using the psychic communication systems located deep within the bowls of the facility, but based upon what the Autarch had said all he was doing was giving the newcomers a quick history lesson of the Directorate and the Revolution. Ares had resigned himself to wait until his commander had returned from his communion, but being an advanced AI battle construct, who could invent and process over a hundred different combat simulations in under a minute, he quickly became bored in the first few seconds.

Thus he decided to run a few combat simulations based upon the historical records recovered from the quarantined KND database, about the war between the KND and adults. He was just finishing his eighth simulation when a facility wide alert was sounded by the superintendent construct. Curious, he abandoned his simulation and went to check the perimeter detection grid. Subterranean sensors had picked up a series of unnatural vibrations echoing through the ground at a distance of about one mile out from the underground perimeter.

Based upon the audio picked up by the sensors, it was drilling rigs, about three of them. Ares analyzed the data gathered on modern adult society and determined that modern adults did not possess the tech to create such machines. That left two possibilities, Ares had accessed what remained of the Directorate's ancient stealth satellite network and had learned a great deal about what was transpiring on Earth at the moment. He concluded that the KND was probably not responsible for the incoming drilling machines, that left one possibility.

Ares immediately moved to a war footing, activating the interior facility defenses, locking down access to the vault and warming up the facilities emergency self-destruct charges. He glanced down from a camera in stasis bay #A1 and saw that the Autarch and his group were still not done with their communion. Giving the electronic equivalent of a shrug, he continued his preparations with as much enthusiasm as an AI was capable of. He wondered if the Autarch would approve of his actions, but it didn't really matter. Directorate military protocol was clear: in the absence of organic commanders, command and defense of the facility fell to him.

He couldn't help but express the tiniest bit of artificial glee at the prospect of what was coming, even though it was slightly treasonous. I've always wanted to test my defenses against actual Directorate forces, I guess today is my lucky day.

---

Well this wasn't 'longer' than my last chapter, but I'll settle for as long. I hope you all enjoyed this, because it will probably be awhile before the next one. But we are nearing the end, the final battle approaches and the pieces are taking their places!