Once more, I welcome you to The Will of Repay! Last time, we've seen the last preparations being made before the start of Operation: Uncharted Shores, as well as the very start of said operation. Now, it is time for the Erecan Dominion and the rest of Andromeda to learn what crossing people of Milky Way and Andromeda Branch ends. How will it transpire? Read on and find out.
Before we begin though, 'reviews'.
To Guest: I do not wish to see reviews with any form of racist or offensive messages. Reviews of this kind are against the rules and will be removed.
So, let's get going, shall we?
Chapter 5
February 1, 2169
15:04
Imperial Palace, Sura, Ereca
Zorzal El Ceasar, Emperor of Sons of Sadera, sat on a bench in the corridor in front of the throne room, awaiting his turn to see the Emperor of Erecan Dominion, his superior. All around him, he could see other people, some lower ranking, other higher ranking, than him. And until now, most of them were let in, even though he was the first to arrive for the audience. He sighed with frustration. If Jikai wanted to show how little did he respect him, he was doing an amazing job. Zorzal couldn't blame him, though.
All of this because of what happened three years ago, during the Liberation War, as it was called by Sons of Sadera. It was going good at the start, SoS forces laying siege to all enemy planets and other off-world facilities. They were winning. True, the time stretched, the one month long Blitzkrieg turned into a three month long grind through enemy defenses, which even if successful, gave enemy time to come up with ideas for their actions. And because of that, not only did they manage to steal his precious Dreadnaught, the flagship of his fleet, but also this gave time for Milky Way to sort things out.
If not for the timely arrival of Milky Way forces during the Battle of Flare Prime, the war may have been won. Maybe they could hold Flare Prime if reinforcements from Milky Way arrived late and could work out some kind of agreement. He actually started thinking about it not long after the war. He could settle for a peace treaty with Milky Way, he would have his place in Adnromeda. But that didn't come to be.
"Your Highness?"general Herm Fule Maio, commander-in-chief of SoS Armed Forces, sitting next to his leader, asked.
Zorzal looked at him.
"Nothing. I'm just thinking about the disrespect we're being shown!"late Emperor replied.
Some of the Erecans around them looked in their direction, but lost interest relatively quickly.
"Your Highness…"Herm replied."As much as I agree with you…I have to ask you to keep some decency. We're…"
"You're saying this, of all people?"Zorzal asked.
Herm sighed, remembering how after losing the Liberation War, Zorzal actually showed some signs of humility. He didn't rage or threatened to kill everyone he thought was responsible. He actually accepted the outcome and Herm thought it was a step in the good direction.
Unfortunately, not long after, Zorzal became his usual, arrogant self again. Fortunately, he didn't start executing people on the spot. Which was good, since Herm knew if that happened, he'd be one of the first to go, no matter how close he was with his superior.
"I'm just trying to make sure our position won't get any worse than it already is."general replied.
"As if it could."Zorzal scoffed."We're nothing more than a mere puppet now! We used to be autonomous! But now, after all that happened, Jikai will never again let us do ANYTHING on our own accord! And we have to do anything he says! The only time I was equally humiliated was when my sister and her Otherworlder masters forced us to run from Sadera…"
Herm leaned his head back. It was so long ago, that he almost forgot that was their start. Just a single army left from the great power that dominated the continent for centuries, trying to find a way how they could reclaim their glory. And then, Erecans appeared, proposing their help and of course they accepted it. So much happened since then…
"…nothing more than puppets!"Zorzal finished.
Herm looked at him and quickly nodded.
"Not to mention the role our forces were degraded to…"Zorzal continued."We're glorified cleaners now! We're being sent to quell rebellions and pirate activity, while Erecans just sit and watch!"
"Excuse my words, but be sure not to say it in front of Emperor Jikai. It can end really bad for all of us…"
Zorzal growled and went silent.
Right then, the door leading into the throne room opened and the person that had audience now left. The Emperor's attendant looked out of the room.
"Emperor Zorzal, General Maio."he said."Emperor Jikai will see you now."
"Finally."Zorzal whispered.
The two stood up and walked towards the door, with everyone else present looking at them. The attendant stepped away from the door, letting them in and as they entered, Zorzal immediately looked towards the throne.
There, he saw him. His once savior. Now, his master, in all meanings of the word. Emperor Jikai ur-Rijis III, emperor of Erecan Dominion and ruler of nearly the whole Andromeda galaxy. He sat on his throne, smiling with his lizard-like face. In his eyes, Zorzal could clearly see nothing more than simple amusement when he saw the two enter.
Even though he boiled inside, Zorzal didn't show it. Not yet, that is.
February 1
15:09
Aboard Queen's Light, Narum Prime's orbit
"Attention!"the penal officer's voice exclaimed.
Decimus, Aulus and Jeos, as well as all other members of their penal battalion, immediately stood on attention in front of their tanks, all placed in neat rows in the cargo bay of the Dreadnaught. Decimus thought it was kinda ironic. It was the same ship that brought them here three years ago, to 'liberate' their home from occupiers. Now, it was carrying them to war again. Decimus couldn't help but shake his head.
"What is it, soldier?!"officer asked.
"Nothing, sir!"Decimus immediately exclaimed."Just having a deja vu!"
Officer scoffed. Decimus didn't like the guy. And from what he heard from the other higher ranking officers in the penal units, they seemed to all get equally shitty commanders.
"Whatever."the officer said."Either way, as you know, Operation: Uncharted Shores is officially beginning! And you, horrible lot, will finally have a chance to do something good for once! Know, that you are nothing more than simple add-on for the Royal Alnus Armored Combat Battalion. If you think that serving your time in the penal unit will make us forget all the crimes you've committed during the last war, you are severely mistaken. Nothing can ever redeem you or your actions."
"As expected."Decimus thought.
"Many of you might die…"officer continued."…but this is a sacrifice we're all willing to make."Officer's face was then decorated with a shit-eating grin.
Decimus could easily feel some people's faces twitch as they looked at the officer with clear hatred.
"That's all I had to say. You can now disperse."the officer said and walked away.
As he did, everyone looked as he walked away, some even showing him middle fingers, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Moron."Aulus said."I wanna cave his face in."
"You're not the only one."Jeos said.
"Yeah."Decimus agreed, nodding.
He looked at the other members of their unit gathered here. They were all people he remembered from his service in 1st Armored Legion. It all felt like a whole lifetime ago and yet, it was only three years ago.
Now, they were working for their enemies. They didn't get too much of a choice, it was either this or staying in the POW camp with sadistic guards. In that perspective, trying not to die in battle was much, much easier. They were going to be nothing more than meat shields, they knew that. But on a brighter side, they would be able to deal with the ones who basically led them to where they were now.
"So."Aulus said."Wanna go and grab something to eat?"
"How can you always think of eating?"Jeos asked.
"Because I can think of more than one thing at a time."
"Yeah, shame that one of these things is usually food and the other anything else than your actual job."
"Screw you."
"Screw you too."
Decimus rolled his eyes. He knew these two for basically the whole time he spent serving Zorzal. He knew very well that the banter and arguments they had were usually nothing to worry about, but nobody knew when can it escalate into something else. Especially since they also differed in their political beliefs. Aulus didn't really care about the whole 'restoring the lost legacy' thing. He just wanted to have a stable job, like his parents asked of him. Meanwhile, Jeos came from a family of hardline Imperials, making him one as well. Although, the defeat of their 'crusade' and years spent in POW camp clearly eased his devotion to the old ways. Nowadays, he barely talked about the Empire or restoring it anymore.
Which was good in Decimus' eyes. He had enough of this.
"Decimus."
Hearing his name, the tank commander quickly turned around. And as he expected, he found her standing there.
"Niva."he said with a smile."What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to see how you're doing."she replied.
She then approached and hugged him. They stood like that for a few seconds, before Decimus noticed another person standing a few feet away.
"Hey."he said.
"Hey there…bro."lieutenant colonel Verius Fegran, Niva's husband and commander, said.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds, Verius with disdain and Decimus with sweat dripping down the side of his face. Each time they interacted, it was as if someone set a nuke in the room. Verius didn't try hiding the fact he didn't like Decimus because he served in 1st Armored Legion that led the charge towards Leender during the defense war and which clashed with 10th Armored Brigade on numerous occasions. But he tolerated him because he was his wife's brother and by the extent, his brother.
Niva and Decimus stopped hugging and Verius approached them.
"So, how do you feel before probably the most operation in your lives?"Verius asked.
"Could feel better boss."Aulus replied, scratching his chin."Just can't shake the feeling of similarity to last time this ship carried us on 'the most important operation in our lives'."
Jeos just sent him a look.
"You know what I mean."Aulus told him.
"I still don't like being here."Jeos stated.
"At least they treat us better than back in SoS."
"Does that include the prison guards?"
"Nobody's perfect, right?"
Verius risen an eyebrow.
"Are they always like that?"he asked.
"They toned down in the camp."Decimus replied."And Jeos isn't as fanatic as he used to be, so that's a plus."
"Definitely."Niva agreed.
Verius and Decimus looked at each other again.
"So."Verius said."How do you like your new position?"
Immediately, Decimus stood on attention.
"I never expected to get a second chance, so I can't really complain."he replied.
Verius nodded his head.
"Good answer."he admitted.
"Thank you, sir."
The two looked at each other for a few seconds in silence. Niva just sighed.
"This is getting annoying."she said.
They looked at her.
"What?"they asked.
"Every time you two meet, you can't strike a normal conversation."Niva replied."By the Gods, you're my brother and husband. We're family. Why can't you two act like that is the case?"
Verius looked away.
"You know it's…not easy."he said.
"Yeah. Not…easy."Decimus said.
Niva just growled from annoyance. Without saying anything, she just stormed off out of the cargo bay. The others just stood there, not doing or saying anything, just watching her go.
"Awkwaaaaaaaard…"Aulus said.
Jeos hit him in the back of the head.
"I…think I will go too…"Verius said.
"Sure…"Decimus replied.
Aulus was right. This was awkward. Each time Verius and Decimus tried talking, it came out uncomfortably awkward.
"See you on the battlefield then."
"Likewise, sir."
Verius turned around and walked away, leaving the three former Sons standing there among the rest of their squadmates, who Decimus just remembered were still here.
"Let's go and grab something to eat."he decided.
Others followed him without saying a word.
February 1
15:13
UNSA San Antonio, mess hall
Ester and Dora walked into the mess hall of the Stealth Frigate, where most people were, listening to Pina's speech before the operation. They themselves listened to it while on the bridge, talking through the plans. After finishing the planning, they decided to join them. Soldiers were drinking and singing, in preparation for what was about to come.
"They seem happy."Ester said.
"Always good to get some fun before something like what we're going to try."Dora replied."We know it best, don't we?"
"Entire teen years spent on warfare will teach you that."colonel admitted.
"Let's grab something to drink and find some place to sit."
"Right behind you."
They approached the counter and grabbed some drinks, after which they started searching for, most preferably, the place where the rest of their team was sitting. It was hard to do so with so many people here.
"Didn't expect my boys and girls to find their place here so fast."Dora admitted.
"Neither did I expect your mercenaries to get along with my operators so quickly."Ester admitted."But good that they do."
"Yeah, makes most of the work easier."Dora said, taking a sip.
"You unruly mercs better behave."Colonel smirked.
"Same for you, you goodies two shoes."Commander smirked.
Next, the two laughed.
"Okay, let's find…"
Before Ester could finish her sentence, she collided with someone. This caused her to spill the drink she was carrying onto herself. She looked down at the T-Shirt, now completely soaked with the drink.
"Hey, watch how you're…!"she started, but stopped when she looked at the person she collided with.
Standing there were two women around the same age as Ester and Dora. Ester collided with the taller, green-haired one, who now stood there, her T-Shirt equally soaked. Next to her stood a shorter, blue-haired woman. Two pairs looked at each other, surprise, shock and disbelief mixing on their faces.
"You!"Ester and Dora exclaimed.
"You!"the other two exclaimed.
Without even waiting, they all threw themselves at each other and closed themselves in tight embrace.
"Holy shit, it's been so long!"Ester said.
"Wasn't it just, haha!"blue-haired woman laughed.
"I'm honestly surprised you're still alive and kicking."Dora smirked.
"I can tell the same about you."green-haired woman snickered.
The four laughed.
"Hey, Ester, Do."Lena said.
The four looked towards Lena, Yuko, Suvi (who, as planned, they snatched from Mars on the way), Aquexymeva and Arlette as they approached.
"Is something…"Yuko started and stopped."You!"
"You!"the two color-haired women replied again.
Another round of hugging and laughing ensued as Yuko, Lena, Suvi and Arlette joined in. Aqi just stood there, surprised, not knowing what to say.
"Um…you know them?"she asked.
The group looked at her, now a bit flustered.
"Oh, right, you didn't go to Titan Academy with us."Ester said, scratching her chin."Aqi. Meet our old friends from that period. Henriette Fergusson and Annabelle Song-Nu. We were in the same training group back then, but once the whole schooling period ended, we kinda…lost contact."
"Who would've thought we'd meet after so many years in a place like this."Arlette said.
"Tell me about it."Annabelle, the green-haired one, giggled.
"We honestly thought we'd never see each other again."Henriette, the blue-haired one, said."What are the odds?"
They all started laughing again.
"Oh, then nice to meet you."Aqi said, shaking hands with them."Nice…hair."
"Oh yeah, unorthodox colors are pretty popular where we're from."Annabelle said, playing with her hair.
"And where are you from?"
"Vega."the two replied.
"Ahh, that explains it."Aqi looked at Ester and the others."Space Vegas, isn't that what you call it?"
"Yup yup."Ester nodded."Human Space's capital of debauchery, heh."
"It isn't that bad."Henriette said."Just a casual murder over money once or twice a week. Other than that, we have beautiful beaches."
"Not as beautiful as in Cassiopeia, but still."Annabelle smiled.
"Are you in SOF or Sharkline?"Ester asked.
"SOF."Annabelle said.
"How come I didn't know you were assigned to us? And how? Didn't you train to become fighter pilots?"colonel continued.
"A lot changed."Henriette said."For example, we spent the last decade serving in Vega's Outrider Corp."
Everyone nodded. Outrider Corp of Vega was basically an equivalent of US Army Rangers and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp combined into one, operating independently from Vega's remaining military. They were responsible for various special operations where regular military wouldn't be effective enough.
Yuko whistled.
"You sure moved up in the world."she said.
"Yes ma'am."Annabelle winked and they all laughed again.
Then, Henriette looked at Aquexymeva. And then, she also realized something.
"Wait. Aren't you Tertan Chancellor?!"she exclaimed.
"What is a Tertan Chancellor doing here?"Annabelle asked.
"Oh yeah, she's our friend."Suvi said."A fellow politician on the team."She smirked.
The two from Vega looked at each other, then at the rest.
"We really have a lot to catch up on."they said in sync.
"Yeah…"Ester looked down on herself."But first, maybe let's get our clothes changed…"
"Huh?"Annabelle looked down on herself."Oh, right, I almost forgot, haha. Let's go."
"We'll be back soon."Ester said.
"Henri, entertain our long-lost friends with tales of our great adventures."Annabelle said and giggled.
"I will gladly do so, Belle."Henriette replied.
With that said, Ester and Annabelle left to get changed, while the rest went with Henriette, who already started telling them everything.
February 1
15:20
UNSA Alvar Eriksson, bridge
Admiral Frederic Richards, commander of the entire UNSA Navy, stood in front of the window of his ship's bridge. Since forces from both Milky Way and Andromeda were to take part in the operation, it was decided to split the command structure into two cooperating parts. Fred was going to be in charge of Milky Way spaceborne forces, with Alvar serving as Milky Way flagship, while Tyuule was going to be in charge of Andromeda Branch space forces, with her flagship being the Queen's Light. This was supposed to assure that in case one flagship falls, another can take over it's duties.
"Sir."he heard.
He looked behind and saw his years-long First Officer and now captain of his former ship, the Battleship Hope, Anna Derigin, approaching him.
"Didn't expect to see you here."Fred admitted."What brings you here?"
"Just wanted to feel like during the old times."she replied, stopping next to him and crossing her arms."When I was still your delivery girl."
Fred rolled his eyes.
"You're not holding a grudge, right?"he asked.
"Nope. It worked out in my favor in the end."she said, smiling.
"True that, captain Derigin."Fred replied, laughing as well.
Anna giggled as well.
"True indeed, admiral."She looked out the window of the Super Carrier."What do you think we're gonna encounter out there?"
Fred followed her sight.
"I have no clue. Except, of course, finding the fuckos in charge of Erecan Dominion and SoS. That we'll surely find."
"I know. But I wonder what else dwells within these uncharted stars…"
A chill came down Fred's spine. Even in a galaxy like Milky Way, full of colonized systems, planets and moons, there were still areas that were considered a territory of a certain nation, yet were still completely uncharted and held numerous secrets. Here, they knew the galaxy belonged to someone, but at the same time, that someone wasn't any of them. So they had no idea what awaited them in the deepness of it.
"Wanna bet what we'll find in there?"Fred asked.
Anna looked at him and nodded.
"Sure."she said."I bet 200 bucks we'll find some ancient, void-dwelling beasts."
"500 for remains of ancient civilization."Fred said.
"1000 for living planets."
"2000 for ancient civilization thought extinct but secretly planning in the shadows to rebuild their empire."
Hope's captain looked at him.
"That was oddly specific."she said.
"I'm just pondering here."Fred replied.
"Then I bet 5000 that these guys will NOT be friendly towards us."
"That's actually for certain."
The two laughed again.
Their betting time was stopped, when the communications officer looked in their direction.
"Admiral, we have received a message from Fleet Admiral Tyuule."he said.
"Play it."Fred ordered.
Comms officer nodded and turned to his console. Soon after, the whole bridge was filled with Tyuule's voice.
"To all units! Prepare to jump! Scouts have sent us the coordinates for jump into the unknown system! We will now officially begin the operation!"
The message ended.
"Short and to the point."Fred said, crossing his arms."Typical Tyuule."
Next, he turned to the main engineer.
"Prepare for jump! Relay the message to all vessels!"
"Yes, sir!"main engineer and comms officer replied.
Soon after, the message was sent to the remaining ships in the fleet. Quickly, they all started preparing their hyperspace drives. Ships from all races of Milky Way galaxy, as well as Andromeda Branch's, lined up ready for the jump. They opened their hyperspace generators and they were surrounded by blue lightning, except Queen's Light, who's hyperspace drive came from Andromeda and operated slightly differently.
Soon, a light show of jumping ships ensued, as they all jumped into the unknown, to meet their destiny head-on.
February 1
15:42
Da'Varr System, orbit of Da'Varr VI
Captain Ferr of Erecan Dominion's Light Cruiser Varangas, sat in his captain's chair, watching the operations unfolding in front of him. The system was uninhabited, but it was one of the frontier hydrogen production facilities. Atmospheres of the system's ten gas giants were full of it. Ferr, a Gardini, race that was very sensitive to all gases, could smell it even aboard his vessel. He observed as gas tankers fly away and towards the gas giants, where special refineries were working hard to bring the hydrogen to the rest of the Dominion, where it was used for myriad of things.
"Captain."Ferr's First Officer, an Erecan youth, said, stepping next to him.
Ferr looked at him.
"What is it?"he asked.
"Well, um…"FO started, clearly flustered."The crew, sir…"
"What about them?"
As much as Ferr liked the FO, he was pretty easy to fluster with everything.
"Speak up."he told him.
"They want to know, why we've been moved here."FO finally said.
"What do you mean?"
"They think that our relocation to this system was relatively sudden. Until now, Frontier Realm didn't really need military presence. Even pirate activity was not high enough to demand it. Why so suddenly so many units are moved to this sector especially?"
Ferr looked at the FO. As the captain of the ship, he was well aware why, unlike total majority of Dominion's inhabitants. Everyone knew that three years ago, Zorzal and Sons of Sadera embarked on their crusade to reclaim what they thought was theirs. Everyone knew they lost and were forced to run back with tails between their legs. But not everyone knew, that ever since the end of that war, the enemy was preparing. This is why fleets were being sent, to stop them from preparing for any kind of retaliation. And when these fleets didn't come back, it was easy to simply come up with some cover up story. Some rebels. Some voidborne creatures. Pirates. And true, it may have been weird that suddenly so many fleets started vanishing without a trace, but every empire had it's bad time, right?
The relocation of forces to the border begun only recently, when a build-up of forces has been detected within enemy space. Expecting the impossible, an invasion of Erecan Dominion, the High Command on Ereca quickly went to action, to ensure nothing like that will happen.
"It will become clear in time, don't worry, soldier."Ferr replied."For now, please return to your duties."
First Officer looked at him for a few seconds before saluting by placing his hand at his chest and bowing.
"Yes, sir."he said and walked away.
"I hate lying. Especially to people like him."captain thought.
Then, he returned to watching the movement of ships on his holo-table. It was a good pass-time in his opinion.
It lasted for several more minutes, before suddenly, radar officer basically stood up from surprise.
"Captain!"he exclaimed.
"What is it?"Ferr asked, concerned.
"We're detecting numerous unknown signals incoming! They are exiting hyperspace!"
Ferr felt sweat going down his face. It couldn't be the enemy, right? No, that was impossible. It must've been the pirates. It couldn't be this day that enemy tried something, right?
His worst fears were confirmed, when hundreds of space distortions appeared in viewing range from his ship. Not long after, they all started turning in ships of unfamiliar designs. Designs that were not anything operated by either the Dominion or the Alliance, except an Erecan Dreadnaught among them.
"Declare general quarters all across the ship!"Ferr ordered."Inform the refineries to immediately pack up and evacuate! And to completely erase all data from their databanks! All ships currently not docked are to immediately proceed to jump out of the system! Other allied ships in the system are to join us!"
"Yes, sir!"the comms officer replied.
Except his Light Cruiser, there were other allied ships in the system. Not enough to defeat the enemy invasion force, but enough to buy enough time for refineries to evacuate. Or at least he hoped so.
He watched as enemy ships slowly created formations, as his support started arriving, consisting mainly of older, but still highly effective Gardini warships. Not long after all of them were gathered, Erecan forces launched the first salvo.
Operation: Uncharted Shores and with it, what would later be called the Andromedan War, has now started for real.
XXX
And this is where we're ending for today! As always, feel free to leave a review, follow and favorite. It will be highly appreciated!
Bye for now!