Going to say this now, but I hate desert sands - they're hot, they get everywhere, and they can screw up your sight if you look at them too long.

So, let it be said that I am glad that when we landed on Scorched Earth, we ended up in a location where there wasn't too much sand. The landing wasn't exactly soft, but I could tolerate it.

With that out of the way, I turned my attention toward getting in touch with Fide and kicking ARK's canon to the curb.

"Fide, this is Flame. How soon until we can get the ARK system under our control and end the Element threat?"

"In exact time or estimations, sir?"

I did not miss the discomfort in her voice. "A generalization would suffice, since I'm guessing something popped up that makes our lives more difficult."

"Well, then, according to our current estimates, the time of completion will be...never."

What? "Explain. Now."

XXXXX

During the Ascension Process

Fide was very impressed with all of the sensory data that she was getting from her commander regarding his ascension. That they came with mouth watering views was also nice.

Still, she had a task to complete. So as much as she wanted to watch on, she pulled herself away from examining her commander's second ascension and focused on her assignment: subverting the ARKs to their control.

Task 1: get in a orbital fabber. Status: done.

Task 2: create an orbital factory, matter synthesizer and solar arrays to get a starting resource base for reclaiming Earth. Status: done.

Task 3: Begin hacking into the ARK network. Status: done.

Task 4: Access Aberration ARK and Remove Rockwell from the system. Status: in progress-"What's this?!"

Fide froze. What was tha-"Who are you?"

"I could ask the same of you."

"Well, it is typically the intruder who introduces themselves, but I will forgive you on this occasion. I am Edmond Rockwell...but I have a feeling that you already know that."

Fide tried hard to suppress a shudder, but failed. "I see."

"Can I presume that you intend to try and remove me from my position on my...well, it seems throne is an appropriate word here."

Fide quirked an eyebrow that she knew Rockwell could not see or sense. "Yes, and I presume that the only reason that we're having this conversation is that you have some countermeasure for us?"

"It seems you do have an intellect of note."

"I'm flattered. But really, what makes you think your countermeasure will stop us?"

"Yes, I am. I've been offered assurances it will."

Fide was about to question him further on this, only to notice several unidentified signatures headed toward the orbital factory. Pulling up an Astreaus' cameras and sensors, she was surprised to find out that they were drones - supposedly from a universe where they acted as fighter craft for giant cuttlefish starships made of people.

Quirking her other eyebrow, Fide sent several finished Avenger fighters to attack the drones. The Occuli all died to the Avengers, but surprisingly, several Avengers died in the process.

Then more of the drones showed up.

And something suddenly booted Fide out of the ARK network. She soon got back in, but when she tried to access the Aberrant ARK, the system ejected her immediately.

Groaning, Fide readied started fabricating additional Avengers - time to dig in.

Fide did consider trying to blow up the ARK, but she presumed that there was some kind of defense in place that would prevent that - after all, if Rockwell was able to boot a commander construct out of the ARK network, it was likely that he had other ways to harry them.

...FUCK THAT MAN!

XXXXX

"So that's what's screwed the plan up."

"Yes sir."

"Well, fuck. Did you actually try to hit the Aberrant ARK?"

"Yes. It has a shield that can resist anything I could fire on it."

Well, had to ask. "Thank you for trying."

"So," began Vivian, "looks like we'll have to do this the hard way."

"Not exactly optimal," I conceded, "but nothing we can't get past. Besides, I like the idea of taming all the beasts on ARK...well, the ones that can be tamed." First, though, let's make camp."

"Already spotted an oasis for us to set up camp by."

Huzzah. "For someone who was once a ROB, you're surprisingly helpful."

Viv scoffed at me. "Are we not past that point yet?"

"I'm still kinda mad about my plan failing. So this is me venting."

"...Fair enough."

XXXXX

We'd ended up arriving here with all of our non-aquatic mounts and tames, so one we had an oasis occupied, we let all of them start guzzling while we killed hte crap out of the aggressive native fauna and used the new levels and engram points we gained to get all the adobe building blueprints we needed. We could use wood, but adobe was more plentiful. Plus I liked being ultra prepared, and clay was a nice building material.

I also managed to tame a giant moth, because silky stuff is so soft...

It was about three days before we met our first group of survivors.

I was not expecting who we ended up meeting.

XXXXX

We had sighted a supply drop when we first met those who had arrived before us. Our first hint to their presence was the sound of something crawling across the sand. Immediately on the alert, we started looking for deathworms, only to none. Instead, we saw what I thought were scorpions...well, actually, tech scorpions, if they existed. Oddly, the shape of their armor looked familiar...wait, no way.

No fucking way!

Unfortunately for my thoughts, those that I was looking upon were exactly who I thought them to be. And they were soon joined by there masters...or rather, their companions. Who looked like tek humans, though I knew that they weren't.

Eventually, Vivian decided to be the one to break the ice. "Hello. I'm Vivian, and the one flubbering like a fish next to me is Mr. Flame. And who might you happen to be?'

"...I am Phijus. Formerly of Po-Metru."

If I had to guess, those scorpions were a type of either Glatoria or Agorii. Or maybe both, seeing how they looked so familiar for the sand tribe.

Could this day get any crazier?

The universe answered my question by dropping a new survivor right between our group. Looking at them, I figured out three things: they were a child, they were female, and they had orange hair...of come on!

XXXXX

AN: Being Flame is suffering when he doesn't try to be a proper commander.

Short Chapter, but not much I wanted to get explained here. Scorched Earth ARK should last five chapters.

Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!