I am awoken by the sound of knocking on my door. It's not very gentile either. WHoever is knocking wants my attention immediately. I get out of bed, rested, and much more calm. I open to door fully and see a man wearing what looks like an imperial officer's uniform. He looks me up and down for a second and then speaks with a flat voice,

"Alright. You seem to fit the description of Mike Richardson. My name is not important, but my office is. I am the head investigator for the Solar Empires' most esteemed Royal Protection regiment. I am here to ask some questions. Normally I would ask you to come with me to a more secure location, but due to the nature of the incident the night before last I will conduct the questioning here."

I nod and step aside to let him in. I may not care for the intrusion but I understand this situation is very dire and they lost a lot of kids in that attack. I don't blame them for interrupting my rest. I also feel a deep need to help out anywhere I can. I can't explain it but somewhere deep inside I feel the urge to help, almost as if again I've been here before.

The man steps inside and I let the door swing shut. I pull the desk chair near my bed and motion for him to sit. He thanks me and I sit on my bed across from his chair. He sits down and produces a collapsable tablet from his jacket pocket. He extends it and begins the questioning,

"Okay. Let us get this started. I know here in the USA you have many extra rights when it comes to questioning so understand you can decide to not cooperate if you want, but I do recommend doing so. My first question is simple, did you know any of the terrorists? Some were apparently students here."

I shake my head and say back,

"No, I also didn't get much of a good look at any but the one I had a fight with."

He notes that reply down and then continues,

"You acted quickly and professionally according to our video analysts and from eyewitness reports. Are you part of any form of military or paramilitary groups?"

I again shake my head and say back a little confused,

"Well no. I am a pilot doing gladiatorial fights. I'm good under pressure and I am a skilled marksman when piloting."

He nods noting again and then asks,

"You live next to our most beloved empress and her attendant. What kinds of interactions have you had with them?"

I reply,

"We generally keep our distance. We started off rocky due to a dispute on housing. Recently they both hired me to help them become more physically capable. I gladly accepted the offer as per request I will eventually receive entertainment devices. Aside from that we rarely interact except on rare occasions."

He nods writing for a few moments before letting out a sigh and falling to a more relaxed sitting position before he just starts talking.

"Listen up. I'm off the record at the moment. Everything you said checks out and whatnot so don't worry. I'm sure you aren't part of the terrorists considering they have a bounty on the pilot in your AMS. That and you really did a number on them.

What I want to say is thank you for stepping up. The majority of students here are imperials and so are the majority of casualties. Your actions lowered the potential greatly and you are owed by the Solar Empire a great debt. I am saying this here because you won't hear it again from other imperials. I'm one of the rare ones who only care about merit and fact, none of that elitist bullshit.

I'm gonna tell you something very surprising. That guy you killed hand to hand is imperial. He was a well-respected officer in the failed conquest of earth. Although shorter than normal he is a first-gen meaning he was born in fairly high gravity. This guy's record was impressive and I'm just impressed you survived, much less killed the old guy. I guess age does take its toll. There were also two other imperials in the dead terrorists and most of the weapons used were of older, but still imperial design and make.

I can guess we are on the same page here. We both smell a conspiracy. Their attack wasn't very targeted so it is difficult to pinpoint an exact motive for this attack. I know it is my job, but do you have any insight?"

I think over his words and reply,

"To me, it looked as if they were going for accuracy through volume. Their hope was to probably have a huge clusterfuck and during the pandemonium do a targeted strike. Use the regular terrorists as camouflage and the conspirators would then go in and kill their target. I messed up the arena attack pretty bad so they couldn't perform what they wanted. I don't know but they could just be sympathizers?"

He nods for a moment and we sit in quiet then he starts speaking,

"If you were wondering your opponent in the arena did survive the attack. It's quite surprising but the good news is good news.

Well... I will leave you be."

I nod and stand up to follow him out. I extend my hand and he looks at it for a moment before shaking it firmly. We let go of one another and he steps out the door wishing me a good day. I give the same farewell and return to my bed and sit down thinking a little too much about the information given. If his words were true, and I am guessing they are, there is a massive shitstorm on the horizon.

I may not be the most well-versed political analyst or even the smartest individual, but this kind of attack is the kind that starts a war. Another war may actually be the end of humanity, or possibly an end to normality. As I sit and think there is a soft knocking on the door. I barely notice it. I move to open it and crack it open slightly. On the other side of the door is Seraphina and Genevieve, they are accompanied by a squad of soldiers in heavy combat armor. I notice the imperial seal on their shoulders. They all carry rifles I don't recognize.

Before I can greet them the soldiers push through the door and shove me to the far wall. They give no orders and say nothing. All I can hear is a dull beeping every time I assume they are communicating with one another. I am turned around and slammed against a wall as the one holding me gives me a thorough patdown. The others then proceed to toss my room looking for possible threats. To my surprise, I am cuffed with zip-ties and kicked to my knees. I fall hard with a grunt and find myself starting to get angry.

I am turned around and made to lie face-first by a rifle butt to the back of my head. I lie face down on the carpet a look of bewildered anger on my face. I don't struggle knowing that if these people wanted me dead I would have been so a while ago, and also I have no way to fight them.

Seraphina approaches with a look of disdain and regal indifference on her face. I look up at her angrily and ask,

"To what do I owe the pleasure, my lady?"

She doesn't say anything as I am kicked in the ribs causing me to recoil and cough. The one who kicked me says to me in an icy female voice,

"You are not to talk before the empress trash."

I glance up to Genevieve who with a hidden motion, motions for me to calm down. I take a deep breath and lie there waiting. Frustration growing along with a great sense of confusion. I look the empress in the eyes. She locks eyes with me and her steely expression breaks during the staredown. My intensity to much for the royal. Her eyes after showing her true emotions reveals to me that she is sad and in a state of confusion herself.

She then starts talking,

"Mike. Listen here. The situation that happened recently was a major tragedy for both our nations. I am in the process of making many difficult decisions. Many of which are beyond standard mortal comprehension. The reason for your current bondage is because the prime minister has charged you with aiding the terrorists and has called for your extradition. The United States has refused this claiming your actions just but to the Prime minister, this has yet to be seen. We have taken it into our hands to arrest you and take you to face trial.

Do you now have anything to say? Any defense to try and have your bondage ended."

I look up at her and say in a calm voice choosing my words carefully and with utmost decision to piss them off,

"Are you all fucking blind? I assume you watched the film where I clearly killed the terrorists, and not only that I have been investigated by your investigation bureau or whatever. My defense is fuck you, and fuck your prime minister. I hope you eventually tear your own heads from your asses and then maybe, then maybe you'll stop being such a shit sniffer."

While my tirade may have been a little incoherent it did exactly what I wanted it to. Seraphina recoils as I swear at her. The guards seem utterly stunned by my little speech. Genevieve looks at me in shock when suddenly there is a knock on the door. I hear a loud male voice shout,

"US Marshalls! Let us in and give up the hostage!"

The imperials stare at the door shocked and confused. I hear a loud roaring and suddenly a flyer appears outside the window weapons aimed through my window. I'm impressed at the pilots' ability to fly this low without worry. I lie there and chuckle to myself my initial anger subsiding with acceptance for death.

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To my surprise, the situation is de-escalated by Seraphina who surrenders to the marshalls. She looks very embarrassed as the marshalls are let in. The captain steps through the door and lets out a long sigh seeing me on the ground and he then says to me,

"Didn't I say we would come to get you?"

I laugh and say,

"Well, I thought they were just coming to say hi and then leave. How was I supposed to know their prime bastard was charging me with bullshit."

He shakes his head as I get to my feet. I realize the cuffs are made of some very weak plastic. I twist my wrists and pull and I break them easily. These are not the good kind of zip ties. I rub my wrists and just stand there awkwardly as the captain and Seraphina talk. Seraphina tries to look noble but is clearly a little scared, and also greatly embarrassed. Eventually, she leaves with the goons and I make a kissy face at the guard who kicked me in the ribs as they leave.

The captain takes my desk chair and sits with a huff as the strike team with him goes outside and the flyer leaves. He lets out a sigh and then explains to me.

"Alright. I should've been more precise. We failed to tell you that because some imperial support was found within the terrorists. This has caused a shitstorm on Titan. There are like four factions within their nobility and all want something different. None have the support of the empress. This action taken against you was in order to appease the prime ministers' faction. Our stance is to clean up and sniff out as many terrorists as we can and arrest them.

This is a war brewing. Either a solar civil war or another war against earth. This is bullshit and I am sorry you got caught up in it. You did good and a reward is justly deserved. This is just stupid. A lot of nobles lost their kids, they are grieving and I understand that. They just want to blame someone or something but thanks to you most of the terrorists are dead. This is just a bad situation.

Now onto business. I am now ordering you to stay inside your damn room and answer the door only to a marshall or if I send a message to you or give you a call allowing someone else. Do you understand? Good. Now just behave."

I nod and respond as needed. He stands up and marches away without a word and I am again left alone. Bored and without anything to do.

A day passes and everyday food is delivered to me for three meals a day. I spend my time pacing back and forth going over everything from the tournament and what I could have done better, to the terrorist attack and how I could have reduced the death toll by my actions further. Eventually, I get a single text, and it's the captain letting me know I can answer the door. Just as I finish reading there is a familiar soft knocking.

I open the door to find Seraphina, Genevieve, and a lady I do not know. The lady looks very solemn and apologetic. The others have neutral expressions. I don't invite them im still a bit salty at my prior treatment. I ask them,

"Here to talk, or here to attack me again?"

Seraphina shakes her head and then says to me with a shaky voice,

"I would like to sincerely apologize for my actions. The past attack was a great shock to everyone and my empire is on the verge of violence within itself. I had only attempted to appease a very vocal faction in order to avoid political maneuvering. I am very sorry for what I did and for what my subordinates did. Anything and everything is at your disposal to say, or ask for. "

I just shake my head any frustration from before going away slowly. I know it was unfair what happened there, but at the same time, she is nineteen and has the weight of a whole damn empire on her shoulders with a very volatile situation. I shouldn't expect her to make a completely rational decision. I take a deep breath and say,

"I won't say it's fine, but I do forgive you. It's not your fault either and in a sense, you are a bystander. You didn't cause this attack nor did you ask for a bad political situation at home. I do forgive you and accept your apology but I will be quite apprehensive in the future around you. We are in dangerous waters. I hope we can just move forward and ignore the past."

Her eyes light up a little but her face remains neutral and she replies,

"Thank you for your mercy. "

I nod and then the other lady speaks up with her face a little flustered,

"I would also like to apologize to you as well for your poor treatment. I was too rough on you when there was no proof you were a terrorist. It is not like the royal guard to harm innocents. I apologize."

It takes me a second but I recognize the voice as the one who kicked me and frisked me. I give a big smile and reply,

"Well you're forgiven but I ask, next time you feel me up like that, let's have dinner first."

I give a laugh as she turns away from me ripening like a tomato. Seraphina is just shaking her head at my humor. I bid them a good day and farewell and they give the same. When they leave my smile drops. I really hate this situation. I did nothing wrong but I have to be on house arrest. This is bullshit.

I wait for another few hours before I get a text telling me that classes are canceled for the foreseeable future but we are allowed to remain on campus. This is good for me since I both don't have anywhere to go and also I am captive in my own room. My lonely wait was interrupted by a call on my handheld. I pick it up and greet to my surprise, Kassandra. She answers me with enthusiasm,

"Mike! I firstly want to commend you for all the hard work you have done. We have a steady stream of data coming in every single day you pilot Wendigo. This information is bringing us further forward as expected. I also looked over your battle reports and took note of possible tweaks and upgrades Wendigo could use. Since there is some downtime I am sending a full engineering crew to get on that, plus to bring you the bigger guns we forgot to send with you. Oops, our bad. Oh well, I can't stay. I hope you are doing well, goodbye."

With that onslaught of words, she hangs up as suddenly as she called. I shake my head as I put the device down letting out a long sigh. I really could have used a good conversation that wasn't over either my possible arrest or the terrorist attack.

A few more days pass by and I slowly come to full terms with my actions and with what I saw during the attack. I won't say I am not completely right in the head, but I am far better than before. I can think about it without feeling overwhelmingly upset. Still greatly upset, but I no longer find myself upset to the point of feeling drained or sick. I guess my isolation has this one positive. Aside from that, I am going stir crazy and I just hope I will be let out soon.

Suddenly I slap myself. I had forgotten about something. I had completely ignored I still had internet access. Although no video games or movies, I still have educational material. I can look up all that I missed. I haven't had time to truly sit down and read about world happenings since my "death".

I grab the big tablet and decide to look up the marshalls. I knew they existed in my time but were more or less federal policemen who just sorta arrested politicians if needed and rode on airplanes. If that is correct even. I look them up on the tablet and get a surprising amount of history, from their creation to the news of the past week.

From what I can read, ever since all standing militaries have been abolished, including national guards the United States picked their federal police force and militarized it. It by all means is still a law enforcement agency but is more akin to the national guard, mixed with special forces. Apparently, rather than have a bunch of basic national guardsmen they decided to make a huge police force with training equivalent of rangers at the minimum. Which is absurd but thinking to the attack those marshals had some cool gear and didn't act like cops or SWAT. They were well trained and skilled.

Looking to more modern news it turns out the Empire has shit its britches over this situation. A lot of noble kids were killed. It truly is a tragedy. Some may have been pricks but they didn't deserve to die. The US on the other hand seems to be handling it well, hunting down terrorists and taking care of any affected people. It's honestly cool to watch the news feed. Politically it still is a clusterfuck as some call for a second war on terror, and others call for appeasement of the actual fucking terrorists.

I go through the news for a few hours before I start running into opinion pieces and turn off my tablet just as my door is opened without my permission. In steps the captain. His face is grim and his eyes are hard. He walks close to me and stares at me for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh as the door closes. He takes my chair again and sits down in a relaxed manner. I remain seated on my bed. His expression softens and then he speaks,

"Alright. I got good and bad news. I'll give em both. The good news is you are gonna be allowed to get out of this room. The bad news is you are gonna have to start some work. It's not confirmed yet, but the powers that be are gonna start an all-out war against the perpetrators of the attack. As you know there is no military body to do so and the marshals cannot leave US soil by current policy. Whats was put in place is that anyone at any AMS academy or graduate from such academies are viable to conscript in the event of a war breaking out. It was in the contract you signed at some point.

If the policies follow through you will be recruited, and will have to go fight terrorists. I am telling you this first, before any other pilot as you have a good head on your shoulders. You understand combat, you keep your head straight during combat, and you followed correct tactics when fighting with a squad. Since each nation in this coalition that will be formed gets to choose who goes to fight the US government has given me jurisdiction to choose our volunteers. I choose you to be our guy. At least for AMS pilots.

I know this sucks, but you will be of higher rank than just private or recruit. I will make sure of it. I recommend combat training which will be held on campus soon to help get any remaining students ready. I recommend you participate. That's all."

He quickly leaves me to my thoughts and I just give a "Yes Sir". I guess I am a soldier again.

Time flies before I am suddenly released and called down to the training yard. I show up and I am alone. The captain approaches me with a confused look on his face and then says to me,

"We did some digging on you, of course, and eventually it came to us asking the Hussain foundation. As soon as we asked for your file the higher-ups called in and told us to stop looking. That is odd within itself. I was then given a briefing on you. It says you have had military training and also you are kinda a badass. What's with this?"

I blink a few times thinking and then respond,

"I am kinda not sure myself, I kinda have slight memory loss. It is true I have some form of military training. Maybe PMC for the Hussain Foundation? I honestly can't remember past my eighteenth birthday..."

The man shakes his head before shrugging it off. He then says to me,

"Well. Congratulations sergeant. You just got a promotion as you have now joined the Coalition of the Burning Eagle or CBE. It's not been released publicly yet but the governments on both sides are declaring a war on terror and a few other unsavory domestic foes. Once public we will allow other countries to join of course. You are the first conscript of the first war humanity has had in nineteenish years. You also were in the first fight. Lucky you, you might get a song."

The man laughs,

"Just because you are what you are don't think you are gonna train your squad. No. You will be trained by the man who made the marshals the way they are today. Apparently, you already know him. But lemme introduce Staff Sergeant Darius McManly. "

I look over to see the old man from the school's daily PE class. I was right. The old fuck looked like an old drill instructor. He smiles when he sees me and then says to me in a calm voice,

"You are the highest in command of all the conscripted forces at the moment. Of course, that won't last long, but, since you are ranking. I expect you to lead all these soft-bellied pansies through my training. I will have your skin personally if I don't think they're up to snuff. Understood?"

I nod and click my heels together giving a salute to the old man who just smiles at me. Not a kind old man smile. The smile that only a sadistic drill instructor can give. I give a big gulp as the old man says to me,

"There's an old saying 'cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war' and if that holds true. I am the obedience school trainer..."