• Date: January 22, M2100


  
• Time: 1:30 PM


  
• Location: Class V Dreadnought Oblivion


  

  The humming noise and red lights signaled the approach of the Arc Betrayer. Accompanied by his custodian and their official, he advanced to meet the rest of the Warmaster's aides in the War Room, where they would determine the strategy to crush the chosen race of the deities. As they marched toward the entrance, the Kaynian Knights standing guard opened the great doors, revealing the Warmaster and his aides.

  ''The Arc Betrayer has arrived!''

  Shouted the Custodian Official, gaining everyone's attention as they paused. Walking forth to meet his Warmaster. He watched as they strategized the conquest of worlds controlled by the chosen. Two worlds were officially known by them, and they were Mesopotamia and Eden.

  ''My Warmaster.''

  ''My Arc...''

  "...We are preparing to invade two worlds—the ones the chosen race refers to as Mesopotamia and Eden."

  ''Hmm, continue.''

  The Betrayer responded, prompting the Warmaster to signal one of his aides to present the devised plan. The aide, a lord named Cipher, stepped forward. Heeding his Warmaster's command, Cipher took center stage to brief their Arc on the invasion strategy. Given the unique opportunity to disclose their plans for dominion over human space, the Kaynian Lord took a deep breath.

  ''My Arc, we would take two of our flotillas and assign each a world to take over. Our code brokers suggest the demon race is panicking about our sudden appearance. We shall use this advantage to strike deep within their territory.''

  Cipher started as he presented the holographic images of the worlds, their location, and their proximity to them. Taking over, the Warmaster stood before the spotlight before continuing on where his subordinate ended.

  ''As my aide said, we would divert our flotillas to two worlds. While your battle flotilla stays here and accumulates numbers fitting for our final push on their homeworld, Earth...''

  "...Meanwhile, the rest of us will cleave through their colonies. If successful, the chosen of the deities will be forced into a defensive stance, hastening their downfall. Our forces will obliterate them, and when we reach their precious Earth, we will reduce their homeworld to ruins."

  Kostas finished, and so far, the Arc Betrayer was impressed. But all this planning wouldn't guarantee a glorious victory; he would know based on his experience. The technological gap between his Arc Dominion and the chosen race is small, and his Warmaster sees this as a guarantee of his success. He would allow this notion but intended to pose a straightforward question about whether the chosen race would retaliate.

  ''You are confident that victory is at our grasp, my Warmaster?''

  ''Certainly, my Arc! The technological gap between us and the chosen race is considerable. They may fight valiantly and savagely in battle, but in the end, we will reign supreme as we should.''

  ''Hmm, then tell me, what if they retaliate?''

  ''My Arc?''

  ''I've read about a report about a scout squadron of ships headed their way here, when all of a sudden, one of its leading ships, a class one frigate, disengaged from the squadron before engaging its slip space drive...''

  ''...Apparently, all attempts at communication have descended on deaf ears among the occupants of that frigate. Why was this? Did one of the humans, perhaps a survivor, manage to capture and steer it away? If it somehow reaches human space, they will become aware of your approach, turning your plans into a disaster.''

  This revelation shocked everyone in the War Room; hearing such a report from their Arc was beyond their expectations. But no one was more devastated than the Warmaster. He remained unaware of a frigate escaping the planet until their Arc disclosed it. Disappointment and rage clouded his mind as he wondered why his aides did not inform him of this mistake.

  ''My Warmaster, please refrain from blaming yourself and your aides, but this is just one mistake; you and your aides will work together to address it...''

  ''...I am not disappointed. I am merely here to show you a missing detail in your plan. Your plans will still proceed, but if you came across this frigate, investigate it and determine what went wrong.''

  ''Yes, my Arc. My aides and I will remedy this issue immediately.''

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  ''Good, you may perform your duties, and while I busy myself in the meantime.''

  Saying these last words of wisdom, the Arc Betrayer left the premises of the War Room along with his custodians and its official. Seeing his Arc leave the room, the Warmaster's psionic leak from his body and is felt by his subordinates. He harbored a raw anger, desiring to punish those who failed to inform him about the report, allowing their Arc to reveal it to him directly. It was a shame, disgrace, and a front to their leader's presence.

  ''Who? Which one of you neglected to inform about the missing frigate?''

  ''My Warmaster.''

  ''Who Cipher? Who was it?''

  "We were also unaware of this report; you've witnessed us working tirelessly to formulate a battle plan with you, my Warmaster..."

  ''...But if you see it fit to punish us for our failures. We will welcome it. Whatever you see fit, all of us will endure it. We will not inform the Arc of our failures.''

  Cipher stated, but the Warmaster understood that his Arc desired them to investigate the missing frigate. When he finds out that a demon led the frigate astray, he ensures that the chosen race of the deities will burn to the atom. Looking at his aides, he would ensure that their plan goes accordingly. If this frigate ever surfaces, they will do what their Arc has addressed.

  ''No, Cipher. It will not be needed. Our instructions from our Arc were to find out what happened to the frigate, and he did not cancel our plans for invasion...''

  ''...So, this is how we're going to do it. We will send our flotillas to the designated worlds and burn them. If a signal ever appears on your sensors, search for it. It may be the Kaynians from the missing frigate, and when you meet them. I want you to execute them for causing a potential problem with our conflict with the chosen race of the deities. Understood?''

  ''Yes, Warmaster!''

  The Kaynian Lords shouted in unison as they rushed to rearrange their battle plan to include a search for the missing frigate. Unbeknownst to them, the Bane of Flare, the frigate that was stolen by Tale, would be used as a lure to bait them into a trap. Thinking that superior technology could gain them an easy victory would be a wrong assessment for the Arc Dominion.

  

  
• Date: January 22, 2183


  
• Time: 1:45 PM


  
• Location: Doctor Hyle's Office


  

  ''Mako, begin recording.''

  [Understood, doctor.]

  The cameras and microphones scattered around the doctor's laboratory slash office were activated. Completing her task, the A.I. assistant ensured that whatever the doctor was about to say was recorded with the instruments available to her. The cameras pointed at the middle of the room, where a holo table sat being used by the doctor.

  ''The magic output of Ghost Operative Nomad varied during the spar, but the efficiency of the Returned Ghost outpaced his psionic spine implant...''

  ''...The gap between psionic capabilities is too wide. The level that Ghost Operative Tale achieved is something I have yet to replicate with my ten years' worth of research. This means he is beyond my comprehension.''

  Swiping the holo screen, the doctor directed the attention to a video clip his assistant took during the spar. The clip showed Tale throwing his companion, Sarroth, at Nomad but missing. Suddenly, the operative and his weapon traded places, catching the close-quarter specialist off guard. Then, he would deliver a haymaker on Nomad's helmet, sending him crashing harshly to the ground.

  ''The apt relationship between the blade spirit Sarroth and Tale could be considered symbiotic. Sarroth considers the Ghost as her master, so she allows him to use her in combat in the form of a sword...''

  ''...Not only that, but they could also interact with each other with magic. Which they demonstrated by swapping positions to overcome Ghost Operative Nomad.''

  The doctor pointed out as he replayed the clip numerous times. He still found it hard to believe that Tale and Sarroth had capabilities resembling advanced teleportation. Whatever pride he had in knowing psionics was crushed by Sarroth's extensive knowledge, but he couldn't care less as long as he learned and improved his designs. The U.G.E. and its military and intelligence branches will possess an equalizer against the Kaynians.

  ''Sarroth has agreed to teach me everything she knows about magic. However, with time slowly running out, I would need to learn quickly to create a game-changer for Earth's future. A game changer on the level of the Wright brothers in the early twentieth century or the creation of the first sentient A.I. in the early twenty-first...''

  ''...I will start by revolutionizing psionics within I.C.E.'s Ghost Operatives, but ultimately, my goal is to grant psionic abilities to everyone. It won't just be Ghosts who would be given this gift. Civilians, soldiers, and explorers will be equipped with psionics, and it will propel us forward. To a future: I could not comprehend, and it will be glorious.''

  ''Always a visionary, are you, Hyle?''

  A sultry voice called out from the entrance of Doctor Hyle's office. Glancing at the source of the voice, he beheld a woman in impeccable shape with purple hair.

  ''Ugh, Doctor Lilith...''

  ''...Mako, stop the recording.''

  [Of course, doctor.]

  Responded the A.I. assistant, as Hyle's mood was immediately turned upside down. Entering his office was Doctor Lilith Lie, one of Hyle's most esteemed scientists he has on his team, but she is also quite problematic. Her talents were considered rare even for her state of mind. She was the lead scientist of the fourth-generation Ghost Operatives and instrumental in manufacturing them on military research bases on Earth's moon, Luna.

  ''Why are you here? And with a bottle of champagne, no less.''

  ''Why are you asking that? Can't I have a chat with you?''

  ''Speak your purpose here, Lilith.''

  ''Hmpf, meanie...''

  ''...Alright, fine. I want to meet the Ghost I raised on Luna.''

  This halted Hyle's movement all of a sudden. Observing the purple-haired woman, he pondered what had brought about this change in her. She had never shown any interest in her past; this was evident in her interactions with colleagues in the fourth-generation program. So, this begs the question, why was Lilith interested in the Returned Ghost.

  'Hmm, interesting...'

  '...For you to come here because of him.'

  He whispered as he thought of a logical reason why she was interested in Tale. Meanwhile, Lilith approached her superior with sultry body language. The mask disguised Hyle's scarred face underneath, making it difficult to discern his expression. Observing his standing perplexed in response to her question aroused her. Nevertheless, she would get what she wanted. Meeting with the Ghost she gave to Parka ten years ago and the changes he has adapted throughout his journey.

  ''Confused, Hyle?''

  ''In a way, yes...''

  ''...Why do you want to meet with the Returned Ghost? I thought you didn't care for them, stating that your past self may have cared, but you don't, and that they are merely tools against a threat. What brought this change in mentality?''

  "Hmm, is it truly so difficult to believe?"

  ''Yes. Now, answer.''

  The purple-haired doctor paused for a moment before giving a disappointed sigh. Taking a picture of her bosom and putting on Hyle's peripheral vision, she allowed him to analyze the photograph. Doctor Hyle's response was to magnify his optics to see the picture in full detail.

  ''It's a photograph of you and two operatives.''

  ''Indeed, and apparently. These two were the ones who saved me on Luna during the First Contact War. I want to figure out why they have done it...''

  ''...One of them in this picture is dead. While the other is still alive. I aim to ascertain whether saving me was due to an order or an instinct.''

  She answered, which got her superior's attention, but that didn't matter as long as she got what she wanted. This conversation would allow her to talk with the Returned Ghost to figure out her question. It didn't take Doctor Hyle long to grasp the underlying motivation behind his subordinate's actions.

  ''You want to search for your past.''

  ''In a way, yes. Now, will you allow me to assist you in interacting with the Returned Ghost?"

  Contemplating his options. This decision could either be the greatest he had ever made or the worst in his career. But to learn from Sarroth in a short amount of time, he would have to agree. Releasing a deep sigh, Doctor Hyle would grant his colleague what she wanted.

  ''Hmm, very well.''

  To Be Continued.