“Today, the funeral for formal NASA Director Galloway was complete. The closest family members gather along with the White House and senior members of the agency. Among them were many members from the previous administration, all paying their respects.
Three weeks ago, on March 2nd, a terrorist attack happened at Space Base Raymond, Galloway, and dozens of other key senior military, engineers, and researchers were gathered to witness the next-generation engine for space travel propulsion. Unexpectedly, Eco-terrorist group, Gaia Salvation Front destroyed the research facility.
The organization is known to oppose Mankind expansion, fearing we would destroy other worlds as we did with Gaia. They went on to rant about all of humanity’s sins against the environment, that the only way to save the world is for nations and their people to leave, allowing the Earth to heal from centuries of abuse. The leader stated that this attack is only a warning and that they will continue to demand Congress to divest all industry.
However, one of our channel content creators, IronBunny3A1, received an anonymous message from a member from within Gaia Salvation Front stating that the group had nothing to do with the attack. That the leadership is only accepting the blame because they want the public fame. The FBI has provided detailed evidence of their involvement and has made three arrests, all admitting to the plot. However, there is some disagreement within the organization's ranks.
Serving for two unprecedented terms under different political administrations. The Director has been credited with reforming NASA into the modern form we see today. Struggling with inefficiencies and an overbearing bureaucracy, and all major programs behind schedule. When Galloway entered the office, there were many believing that the space agency days were coming to an end as Congress was considered the need for such a government program. Many considered it a relic from a bygone era where highly centralized organization was common.
The formal director got the Jupiter missions back on track, bringing the manned exploration program back on schedule and on budget. There have been three missions, with the third currently exploring Europa. He provided key reforms to allow quick expansions of the United States Astro-Outposts and clear principles on mining, pushing for private sector to take the lead in noncritical areas of responsibility. But most important of all, providing key channels of dialogue with the Indian Republic, prevent a Great Power competition on Mars and the Moon.
While the two Great Powers have not seen eye to eye in the Middle East and Southeast Asian region, Galloway made sure that the two nations could operate peacefully and maintain their own interests. From what we understand, the Indian Prime Minister Sarvesh Dixit called the family and gave his personal apology for their loss. Stating how they had their differences but had respect for the man to maintain peace in this new age. – Indie News
March, 17th, 2068 (military calendar)
Salva, the former Confederacy of Daru'uie
Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore
*****
Captain Ryder found sitting on an uncomfortable straw bed—not that the quality bothered him. Being in the Special Forces, he had to learn to sleep on nothing but the dirt on the ground. It was more that he was not used to these types of beds. He found it fascinating that a city like Salva would use straw beds, marking a sharp difference compared to the residential in the United States, where foam mattresses became standard.
With the City-State Salva in American hands, support units had arrived to assist the Minutemen and 2nd Rangers in fortifying the city. Looking around the room, Ryder couldn't tell if this was a larger tavern or an Inn. All he knew was that 2nd Battalion, 2nd LBCT, established an Aid Station because of the volume of spare buildings throughout the city.
The military had moved in and made themselves comfy. Thankfully, Hackett had prevented the infantry from looting and occupying any of the Salva Militia homes. Or at least the best he could within an emergency military setting.
Hearing the screams from wounded Rangers in an adjacent room, forcing reality to kick back in for the Captain. Most likely, soldiers came from the outer perimeter battling the Aristocracy and their local allies or were struck by one of the enemy's thaumaturgy artillery shells within the city limits.
Hearing the wounded soldier made Ryder place his hand on his chest, still feeling a sting from his encounter with the Akuma. The warrior-construct energy blade sliced through his battle armor like butter, cutting into his chest slightly. His battlesuit was the only reason he survived, blocking the sword just enough to prevent deeper penetration.
The three healing potions he took back-to-back during his escape from Forlace did accelerate his healing, leaving only a light scar. However, they did not heal the burning sensation in the interior. While the surgeon was no longer worried about long-term damage from everything he had been through when he was captured and escaped, Hackett wanted him to have a complete medical examination.
Outside of the blade scares, the rest of his body had recovered. The bit marks from the Laryenas were gone, only leaving small engraved. His daily responsibilities were no longer a chore. He only got tired after a long time toward the end of his shift, something he refused to inform the medic or Hackett as he wanted to rejoin his team.
Regardless of his medical needs, Ryder saw this as an opportunity to make sure Assiaya was healthy. Being a formal slave, he had no idea what conditions she was forced into, including their travels through the wild. During her first inspection, they discovered that he had multiple infections like him. Luckily, all were minor enough to be cured with antibiotics.
That also explained why he wanted to bring Assiaya along this time. He was convinced that her formal master, Kallem Verliance, never touched her in any inappropriate manner, as the girl couldn't name an incident. However, the Vampire Lord's son was different. Recently, under the direction of the Unity religious representative, he installed fear and trauma into her life—all because the son wanted to punish his father for some reason.
From what Ryder understood, Kallem's son started doing to her, which was the final straw that compelled her to free him. While he was grateful that this was the trigger that led to his freedom, he was also fearful that the vampire son might have done something to her physically. So, he secretly informed the combat medic, and she agreed to do an examination to confirm that Assiaya was alright.
After what felt like hours, Ryder saw the female combat medic, Sergeant Bryant, leave the back room that had been transformed into a makeshift private examination room. After closing the door, the woman removed her gloves and picked up the tablet before pressing buttons, acting casually.
"That took a while," Ryder stated. "Is she okay?"
"Sorry about the delay, sir," Bryant said. "The translation app is very limited compared to their language, so communication was an obstacle, and the girl loved to talk. Once she gets going, she gets going and that took a while to translate, too. But I will say, she seemed to be able to understand me far better than I could with her."
Ryder noted what the medic said, as he had noticed that character trait. He wondered if the reason was that English had Latin roots. Hence, the translation was more accessible for them, and Assiaya was younger, possibly about to pick up concepts more quickly; however, the Captain was unconvinced. Still, he had not seen that smooth transition apply to the others in Salva.
"Is she okay?" Ryder asked.
"In short, yes," Bryant replied. "She is changing right now in the room, and I told her to join us when she is ready. I gave her the necessary vaccinations, so she was sore, which will wear off by tomorrow. There are bruises and cuts from your two escapes. Still, I couldn't find anything any signs of abuse, sexual assault, broken bones, or at least nothing that predates your two adventures."
Ryder gave a surprised but relieving reaction. He then responded, "She was a slave half of her life for one of the most powerful men on this continent. She said she was assaulted," he said.
Bryant checked her notes and nodded. "From what I am reading, sir, she was threatened but not touched, besides the two-bit marks. I inquired her about past trauma, and she couldn't provide any examples besides the ones we already talked about. The only concern I had was the lack of nutrients, but I believe that is a more common issue in this world than a form of abuse."
Ryder felt relieved as his deepest fears were disproven. He asked, "Is there anything else I should know about her?"
"Yes. Assiaya is young, I believe eleven or twelve, but it is hard to tell now as there are no records, and their calendar is different. I did confirm with her that she hadn’t begun her menstrual cycle, but with her age, I do expect that in the near future. So…, be prepared for that. I can give you the proper information, so you know what to do."
"I…, had a wife," Ryder said. "This isn't unknown to me, but it would be appreciated."
Bryant wrote details down on the tablet, recording everything said. While Ryder was surprised by the news, he was thrilled to hear that Assiaya was overall physically healthy. Comanche Captain still had questions, such as why Kallem had a slave while the rest of his staff were moduia's, as that seemed to be the norm. He was convinced the Vampire Lord allowed them to escape, but why? After going through so much trouble to capture him, it made no sense. The only answer he could conclude that checked the most among the boxes was her.
Seeing Assiaya in her red-white maid uniform open the door and exit the back room, Ryder knew he would not get those answers anytime soon and focused on the matter at hand: her welfare.
The dual-eyes colored girl approached Ryder while holding her arm, where the vaccination shots were injected. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
Assiaya glared at him and said, "Ego odium acus."
While he couldn’t understand the words of what she said, he had a good idea of the intent based on seeing her arm mannerisms and how she looked at him with anger in her eyes.
"It is okay," Ryder said. "We all hate those things, but the pain will fade away soon enough. Now, come have a seat."
Assiaya sat on the star bed next to him, so he wrapped his arm around her, gently rubbing her arm to provide comfort before looking toward the medic. "What is the damage?"
"For her," Bryant said. "I want her to take these multivitamins during meals for the next month. For life if possible. Keep her hydrated and clean."
"Simple enough," Ryder said.
"Now with you," Bryant said, writing on her tablet. "I think we removed the infection."
"How long will I have this stinging feeling on my chest?" Ryder asked.
"It will pass. The burnt tissue is still recovering. You might continue to feel the sting for a few more weeks, but after that, it should fade away."
"Can you not give me a cream or something?"
"Your wound is too sealed for burning cream to have an effect. I do not know what those magical potions are, but they covered your wound so there is nothing I can do about that. The best I can do is provide CBD cream to help with the pain. That healing potion you overdosed with does wonders. Outside of the scare, the exterior of your body is healthy. Shockingly, a medical wonder could have such a negative side."
"Everything has a cost."
"It seems so," Bryant said. "We know nothing about the effect of these potions, so I recommend you not take any more anytime soon. Your body might not be able to handle another overdose. Regarding your bruises and black eye, they are almost gone."
Ryder stood from the straw bed, with Assiaya following suit. The medic handed him the tablet so he could provide his signature regarding their check-up. "I do not intend to go through that mess again.
"We will see about that. Men like you prefer being in the thick of it, which is fine with me. It provides me with some level of job security."
It took a moment for Ryder to catch the joke. He smirked and said, "Thank you, Sergeant."
"If you or the girl feel any changes, please come here immediately," Bryant said. "Until then, I will see you two for her next check-up. We need to get her up to date and monitor your recovery."
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Once the two were finished at the Battalion Aid Station, they left. Standing outside, a squad of IRiSSs walked past, most likely heading toward the western wall.
As the robotic soldiers passed, Ryder noticed Assiaya leaning behind his head while staring at the IRiSSs. He could understand why, after their encounter with the Akuma, she would have a natural fear of robotic warriors.
"Hey, Assiaya," Ryder said, catching her attention. "You don't have to fear them. Those robots are on our side."
"Robotum et conversus et occidere nos," Assiaya said.
"I know," Ryder replied, assuming she had stated her fear of robotic androids. How about this? Since I don't have to report for duty for another two hours, let's tour the town."
The fear vanished within Assiaya's eyes and was replaced with a new level of excitement. She then grabbed his hand and started pulling him forward.
*****
Hearing a convoy of large military trucks driving past the tavern, Natilite glanced toward the giant broken window covering her ears. The Templars understood the sound of war. However, she was convinced these Americans made their vehicles louder than they needed as if they were overcompensating for something.
Glancing toward the broken window, she saw two unmanned ground vehicles called Duces passing by with these giant crates in their cargo bay. A third vehicle followed behind and was manned with a large cement mixer. Since arriving in Salva, the Valkyrie had witnessed multiple types of cars coming and going. She recognized some of them as logistical, like the APC, but others were alien enough, being Altaerrie technology.
She found it fascinating that the Altaerrie had no legged vehicle. There were these dog-like drones called, but those were the only exception she had witnessed. Everything else had rubber wheels or tracks, which surprised her.
The noise was bothersome for everyone in the tavern, who covered their ears or held their drinks to prevent spilling. The loud sounds became disturbing, with no glass barrier on the front of the building. The rainwater that gathered outside on the brick street splashed inside through the broken glass from the vehicle tracks. This problem persisted throughout the city as reconstruction had been on the back burner, but everyone had adapted and moved on with their lives.
When the convoy passed, everyone could return to what they were doing, as if nothing had happened, which impressed her with how quickly they accepted a changing reality.
Regardless of what the Americans were doing with the equipment they brought into the city, she was thrilled that they took the situation seriously. Rebuilding the city wall was crucial to outlast anything the enemy threw at them.
The Verliance Aristocracy and Unity of Cordinlane knew they would have to take this city if they wanted any chance to retake the Bridge. While the Second Siege of Indolass was an American-Salva victory, it was expensive. Some considered it a near disaster, but as time passed, the Templar started to believe it was a blessing in disguise.
Seeing the type of strength the Altaerrie had and how different they were from the people of Alagore, she was concerned those differences would lead to arrogance. Their bias from their history, like how sword warfare was overall phased out two centuries ago because of changing of offensive technology outpacing defensively, even on Alagore, while the Templars used a melee weapon like most elite warriors and units, it had fallen out of fashion for similar reasons. The main conclusion was that the sharp difference she could come up with was because Alagore had superior protection. Thanks to Magitech development, the concept of infantry protection never went away compared to Earth History, according to her Comanche friends – where there was about a five-hundred-year gap.
Regardless, Natilite wanted to avoid getting stuck in an academic philosophical debate about cultural differences. One day, the sages will love to investigate those matters; however, this was wartime. Still, she hoped both worlds could determine how to utilize their strengths to complement each other.
With Colonel Hackett taking over as military commander of Salva, Natilite was pleased that the Americans were taking the enemy seriously. If the Aristocracy had not nearly won the first major battle, the Americans might not have taken the situation this seriously, allowing them to be less prepared when the Unity appeared. Because warfare was different in their world, the Colonel understood they shouldn't discredit how it was fought on Alagore. That was the lesson from Indolass, which is why she now considers it a blessing.
"Here is your tea, my lady."
Natilite turned toward the Nagal owner of the Green Leaf Tavern, Torelous, who was setting her Asher tea on the table. To her surprise, he also placed a small plate of food in front of her—a third of a loaf of bread, a few grapes, and four cheese slices.
"Excuse me," Natilite said. "I did not order any food."
"That is okay," Torelous said.
"But I cannot afford this. I hate to say it, but I am short on coins and banknotes."
The Nagal stared at the Templar and then laughed. "Who does? If you have not noticed, no one has money in this city."
What the Nagal stated baffled the Valkyrie at first. She couldn't understand how an entire city ran out of money. However, the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. The Aristocracy took everything of worth, and there hadn't been commerce in months. If the citizens had any remaining income, it would have dried up, or their current value would have imploded by now.
With the Aristocracy blocking the city, all trade had ceased. Food, water, equipment—everything had been prevented from reaching the town, forcing the Americans to provide food and water for everyone. While it was sweet of them to do so, whatever economic opportunities there could have been were ruined as no one could compete with free meals.
"I see what you mean," Natilite said. "But you are giving out free food? I am surprised there is nothing left."
"It is that or let everything rot in the cellar," Torelous replied. "I do not have much, but it is better than nothing. I am trying to bring some sense of normality."
He started to walk away, heading back to the kitchen. "I will charge you later."
Smiling from the joke, knowing that Torelous wouldn't charge her at this point, she grabbed her other tea. Taking the cup to her nose, she gently sniffed and enjoyed the herb smell before taking a sip.
Enjoying the warm taste, Natilite lifted the screen device the Americans call a tablet she received from the Minutemen Headquarters. The personnel officer said the language program would help her learn English. The translation application had a shockingly limited vocabulary of the Lat language, which the Americans called Latin, and she found it humorous that they considered it a dead language.
However, she was surprised that the English language had a similar structure to the Hispanic language, making her wonder if they had been connected long ago. Similar letters have made learning more accessible, but there are fundamental differences. There were multiple words with the same meaning but in different contexts, such as the number of theirs. In addition, the level of detail regarding the grammar matched the quality of noble classes, making it hard for her to catch on to the language.
After going through a few sections of the language training application, Natilite felt a headache from the screen. Being a Valkyrie, her species had sharp eyes, allowing for bird-like focus, which was great for fighting and hunting but hurt her eyes when staring at screens for too long.
She set the tablet down to relax her mind and take her tea for another sip. That was when she noticed Fraeya entering the tavern. "Hey, Fraeya. Over here. Please join me," she said.
Noticing the Valkyrie, Fraeya rushed over with excitement and then sat down. Once seated, the Elf Girl let out an exhausted breath and said, "Hi there."
Seeing the tired elf girl, Natilite asked, "Why are you so tired?"
"I have been in meetings all day at Indolass," Fraeya said. "I only recently arrived and asked where you were. I'm sorry; I wanted to be around a non-Altaerrie friend for a little while."
Natilite chuckled at the statement, saying, "No need to apologize; nothing wrong with feeling like that."
"It was the Academy all over again," Fraeya cried. She then noticed the plate of food with wide eyes. When getting the Templar approval, she started picking at the grapes.
Finding the food-picking sight adorable, Natilite then inquired, "You said you came from Indolass. Did they inquire about the Bridge?"
"That is correct," Fraeya said. "I explained how I activated the portal and connected our two worlds' Bridges. From what they said, they wanted to create a program to allow their Antikythera mechanism computers to control it."
Natilite chuckled and responded, "I think they just call them computers."
"You are correct, but I am not joking. We discovered another chamber adjacent to the main one. The first thing they did was fill it with all these giant terminals connected to the Bridge. They are taking everything very seriously."
“I get the impression their leadership takes everything seriously,” Natilite said. “But, after everything that has happened, I do not blame them.”
“I guess they’re right,” Fraeya said. "After the enemy somehow closes the Bridge on us, I do not blame them. Still, it is funny how advanced their mechanisms are compared to ours. Even this small device provides many daily uses, so if anyone can figure out how to master the Bridge, the Altaerrie can."
"I think that is because they did not have thaumaturgy in their world. Because of that, it might have forced their kind to innovate with non-infused technology. It is fascinating to see how different everything is."
"Was there anything else?" Natilite asked. "You were gone all day."
"Most of the day was answering these questions, and sadly, I struggled to answer most of them as I am not an engineer," Fraeya said. "I had to hand over my father's journals so they could make copies."
Hearing that shocked the Templar as those journals were precious to the elf girl. Natilite said, "You surrendered your journals?"
"They gave them back," Fraeya said. "But I will admit, it was emotionally stressful. Apparently, they have a mechanism that can quickly copy paper. However-."
"They still do not understand what they are reading," Natilite said.
"And that is the reason for all the meetings," Fraeya said. "I see why you wish to avoid joining military gatherings."
"That is why," Natilite said. "Being a Templar, I can come and go when I please without having to get involved in local politics. They always want my help but never my opinion, which is fine with me."
Seeing a fearful look in the Elf Girl's eyes, Natilite asked, "What is the matter?"
"You said come and go. Does that mean you are leaving us?"
It took the Templar a moment to understand why Fraeya was upset. The Valkyrie did not state that she was leaving; however, she realized that she had implied that leaving was an option. This was common for a Templar, as they only stayed in one place briefly.
One detail that Natilite noticed was how Fraeya said us, implying that the Elf Girl saw herself as part of Comanche rather than an outsider, which made her feel uncomfortable. Up to this point, she saw herself as an ally, not a teammate.
"No, no…," Natilite said. "I am not leaving, so you do not have to worry."
"Okay. That is good. I would hate for us to break apart. I enjoy everyone being together and being part of a group. I never believed I would be part of a group that goes on adventures like this and has been loving every moment."
The Valkyrie glanced at the naive Noble Elf, recalling the panic attacks Fraeya had endured. "You enjoyed getting shot at?"
"Well…." Fraeya tapped her index figures together and said in a soft voice. "Besides those parts."
Natilite giggled at the comment, reminding her of when she wandered the world, fighting crimes and monsters. The adventurer or soldier life is only for some, especially for the simple-hearted like Fraeya. The Valkyrie were surprised by how much the Elf Girl endured in such a short period, as most would have given up by now, seeking safer occupations.
"Fraeya," Natilite said. "How are you feeling? From what I understand, you did not go to the academy for combat."
"I did not," Fraeya said. "I wanted to be a researcher sage, like my father. The idea of fighting frightened me too much to consider it a profession. I wanted to stay as far away as possible, especially with the war. Anyone with combat skills gets drafted these days, knowing magic."
"I understand. One of the downsides is being a woman who knows magic," Natilite said. Even females can get drafted with that skill set. These are dark times, but there is hope for the first time in a decade."
"I always believed there was hope. My father always talked about how it was darker before the sun rose and that his research would improve Alagore."
"Following in his footsteps. He would be proud."
"Thank you, but I do not know." Fraeya took a deep breath and leaned onto the table, holding her hands together. "I have to admit, I find it hard."
"It is okay, Fraeya." Natilite reached over, grabbing the elf girl's hands for emotional support. "It is not easy to enter this life. All societies glorify fighting, adventuring, combat so much because it is one of the cruelest ventures life has to offer. Not everyone can be part of such a lifestyle; the soul must be strong enough to ordeal the worst Alagore offers."
"I understand that."
"You should. You should be proud of yourself. With little training or preparation, you chose this path. When things seemed impossible, you never ran away. Trust me when I say this: You have earned the respect of everyone around you, including myself and Comanche."
Fraeya took another deep breath as if she was shedding stress from her body. "Thank you for saying that. I sometimes feel like I am an anchor on everyone with my inexperience. But that is not what I have been concerned about."
The response needed to be clarified for Natilite. She understood that the Elf Girl believed that she was struggling to fit into Comanche, which was never confirmed. "Then what is bothering you?"
"I am starting to wonder if I am a horrible person."
"What?" Natilite responded, leaning back into her chair in shock.
"I mean-" Fraeya stopped herself, looking concerned. She leaned back into her seat to match the Valkyrie while holding her arm. "Before all this started, I never killed anyone. The concept had never entered my mind; the idea scared me, so I didn't want to be near the front lines. But I wanted to follow my father, and since summoning the Altaerrie, I have killed so many people."
As Natilite listened, she couldn't help but smirk at Fraeya's ramblings. The Templar had never met someone so transparent, so full of joy and eagerness. However, she understood the Elf Girl's dilemma, as many people were killed for the first experience.
Once Fraeya completed her rant and requested Natilite's opinion, she said, "Are you saying that you feel guilty for the lives you have taken?"
Fraeya leaned toward the Templar, ears lowered, and whispered, "That is the thing. I do not. At first, I was terrified after killing someone. Since then, I have slowly started to feel nothing. I am not implying that I enjoy killing people, but I do not feel guilty or fearful anymore. Does that mean I am a bad person?"
"Fraeya, sweetie," Natilite said. "I understand how you are feeling. Many go through the same thing after they first take a life."
"They do?"
"Yes. Everyone experiences it differently, but, in the end, there are a few reasons why you are numb to it. For one thing, it is war. If you didn't kill them, they would have killed you or your friends. You were obeying Captain Ryder's orders, and let me ask you, do you think anyone in Comanche are bad people because they killed their enemies?"
Fraeya thought about the question and replied, "No."
"Exactly," Natilite said. “During my early days as a Templar, I searched for missing children from bandits. When I found them, I killed them all in my rage. After completing that quest, I thought everything had changed—that I had become the monster the Temple I serve warned us about. What shocked me the most was when I felt normal the next day."
"I do not understand."
"Before orilla, we all lived in huts and caves, fighting for survival. Even though we have tall cities with walls around them for protection, the strength to kill a person is still there. My point is that it is natural, and soon enough, you become accustomed to it."
"But, is that bad?"
"Yes and no. You should never fall in love with taking a life because then you become consumed by it. Also, we are talking about war. Soldiers fighting soldiers. Murdering someone in cold blood because it brought you joy is different than fighting for your people. The fact that you were this concerned is a good thing, Fraeya. It means you still have a heart."
"Okay," Fraeya said. "I think I understand."
"Take some time to reflect on what I said," Natilite said. She leaned in and grabbed Fraeya's hands, holding onto them. "We can continue these conversations if you have more questions or need an ear to listen. Remember, you are helping your friends, so you do what you do. As long as your heart is pure, you are okay."
"Thank you, Natilite. I needed to hear that. All of this is still new to me."
"I know, and it's okay. I just want you to remember that everyone is proud of you, and if your father were here, he would be."
"I hope you are right. It still bothers me that I was so close to saving my father, but I failed."
"We will find him," Natilite assured. "Remember, he is also important to them because of his research. That means there is hope."
Natilite stood from the table and held out her hand, saying, "Let us walk around the town. I think fresh air would do you wonders."
Fraeya stared at the hand and smiled. She took the Valkyrie and stood. The two then exited the tavern.