Trinity made quick time, her faster than light engine was top of the line, only next generation battleships being outfitted with the latest advancements in technology.
The Adamin system was on the fringes of Bastion’s territory, the inhabited planets had sizable ore deposits however the system's main attraction was its twin gas giants. They contained trace amounts of rare materials needed to manufacture high grade ship fuel, even in small amounts it could make a small fortune.
It took Trinity two weeks to make it to the Bastion system, the heart and capital of the nation for which it was named. The battleship exited FTL at the edge of the system, travel within heavily restricted.
Many other civilian and merchant ships emerged from FTL nearby, the thousands of space faring ships crowded into designated space highways under the constant watch of military patrol vessels.
Trinity was saved from the crowded lanes however, the military having large swaths of space for their personal use, letting them move around quickly without being hindered. Two patrol vessels came alongside the battleship, the customs officers onboard quickly communing with the bridge before flying away. More a formality than anything.
The Bastion system housed 7 planets all orbiting around its sun. Every planet was terraformed, shaping them into liveable planets overflowing with population. Trinity was on course for the capital planet, Citadel, home to the senate and centre of Bastion's government.
Bastion was once a monarchy, however even after the crown was dissolved various noble houses still held onto power. This split the senate in two, on one side was the nobility and on the other was the revolutionaries, a gathering of politicians and businessmen that worked to keep them in check.
Leonards house Vallum fell into the revolutionaries' party. Even though the military centric elders abhorred politics, they were still a family that helped topple the monarchy 200 years ago and so couldn't completely retreat from the senate.
Besides, some of those old bastards were still kicking about. Life prolongment treatments were widely available to those with enough money, however the prices quickly became astronomically high the older one got that very few could afford them.
Leonard sat in the medical bay, having not been allowed to leave his room. His condition had steadily improved over the days of FTL travel, however he could feel some of the memories forced into his head slipping away.
It forced him to constantly repeat random strings of incoherent information if he didn't want to forget. And after speaking with Agent Smith he knew even more about their importance. He had a theory about the nature of these memories, however it would require testing to make sure. Testing outside of the ever watchful eye of Bulwark.
All in all the faster he could get off Trinity and into the safe confines of the Vallum estate the better.
His release from Bulwark custody was not without its conditions however, the value of a core was immense and they weren't going to just let it go, even if Leonard had already unintentionally consumed it.
He was required to meet with a Bulwark agent once a week, and have them run medical and other such tests to record the changes his body underwent. Fortunately this would only last the two months he was on sick leave in Citadel, even a powerful organisation such as Bulwark couldn't do as they willed when he was back in the Mech Corps.
Trinity quickly docked at one of the many space stations orbiting the capital planet. The military installation was home to various different frigates, destroyers and cruisers, even a single carrier was docked to resupply.
Carries were as large as battleships, sometimes even slightly larger, swapping out the vast weapon emplacements with hanger space and stuffing as many mechs as possible inside. They were self-sustaining, from refineries to workshops everything needed for create and repair their fleet of mechs was stationed onboard.
A pair of security officers entered Leonards room. He was looking forward to getting off the ship, being stuck in a single medical room for two weeks without access to the galactic net or news from outside was tiresome. The novelty of being on a battleship could only go so far when you couldn't actually see any of it.
His military issue comm unit had long since been confiscated, and even if he still had it its access to the outside world was heavily restricted. Still it would have been nice to contact his squad. He had often wondered about how they were doing. With how half of the squad was now gone Leonard thought it might be dismissed, the remaining pilots re assigned elsewhere.
He hoped that didn't happen however, they had been together 2 and a half years and had grown close in a sense. Well with Arming and Becker anyways, he never really got along with Gaits, however that didnt mean he wished the man ill, as soon as he could he would check on everyones status.
“Sir,” one of the officers began. “If you would follow me, there is a vessel waiting to take you to the surface.”
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Leonard quickly followed the officers out of his room and through the medical bay. The medical bay was large, and Leonard realised how good he had it having a private single room, such things often reserved for high ranking officers. The area reserved for the rank and file was much more spartan, the open space was crammed with as many beds as possible. Even if the medical equipment was still top of the line, space on a ship was at a premium so some sacrifices had to be made.
Leonard was led down a long complex of corridors, which took some time considering the average battleship was 10 kilometres in length. At the centre of the starship was a transportation system that allowed for cargo and such to be moved about with speed, however in general sailors didn't need to move from one side of the ship to the other so they needed to walk.
Small pulleys allowed them to traverse faster thankfully, protruding handles on the walls that pulled the holder back and forth with greater speed than what walking allowed.
The group quickly made it to one of the many hangar bays onboard, a small civilian shuttle adorned with a lion crest parked within, looking very out of place surrounded by various military vessels and equipment. The symbol of house Vallum, a valiant lion atop a shield, face proudly looking out to the heavens stamped onto its side.
A man stood before the shuttle’s open door, dressed smartly in a tailored suit. Rupert was his fathers assistant, the pair had served together in the Mech Corps for 50 years before retiring to help manage the various businesses of the Vallum estate.
“Good to see you again Leo.” Rupert pulled him in, slapping his hand on his back. “My how you’ve grown.”
“And you're as old as ever.” Leonard returned the gesture, Rupert had been with him since he was born, as much invested in his upbringing as his mother and father. “Please don't tell me your driving.”
“Ha I wish. But your old man still wont let me anywhere near the controls of a vehicle.” Rupert had built a reputation for totalling any mech he piloted in the Corps, the only reason he was kept on was he was just that good. It was said he was unrivalled by any pilot below the realm of expert, those monsters being in a realm of their own.
The pair entered the shuttle, a small transport meant to cart passengers between the planet and space. The inside was fairly spacious, Leonard took a seat in a leather chair, the lion crest sewn into its headrest. Rupert sat across the aisle after briefly speaking with the pilot, and the small vessel quickly took off.
The battleship’s hangar doors were wide open, a thin film like barrier was covering the exit letting the hangar keep its artificial gravity engaged while letting ships deploy. The barrier allowed objects to move through it while still letting the inside maintain its air and gravity systems.
In wartime the barrier would be deactivated, enemy weapons would pass right through and tear into the ships internals. Instead the hangar would be depressurised, its large armoured doors only opening briefly allowing mechs and smaller crafts to deploy before being slammed back shut.
However while docked in friendly territory such as this the energy barriers allowed for much easier movement in and out of the ship.
The shuttle didn’t descend straight through the atmosphere, such actions being heavily restricted. Instead they made their way over to one of the many designated entry corridors into the planet.
The corridor was very busy, various civilian and merchant ships hurrying about. The vessel quickly descended, however the luxury ship had a vast amount of methods that left the inside cabin completely undisturbed.
“I hear you had quite the accident.” Rupert spoke up. “Your mother was awfully worried when she heard of your extreme injuries.”
“Aye,” Leonard sighed, it certainly wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have. “I did get cut up pretty good.”
“That's one hell of an understatement. I’ve read your medical reports.” His medical report had been heavily redacted, Bulwark had gone through and scrubbed any possible link back to their elusive cores. Leonard’s complex mental state had simply been written off as trauma and PTSD. “If Trinity wasn't there you would have died.”
Leonard couldn't help but agree, these past few days had brought him to terms with his own mortality. He wasn't a fool, Bulwark would have never saved him if the benefits didnt out outweigh the costs.
“What's done is done.” Leonard sat a little heavier back into his seat. “Would it not be enough to say I didn’t intend to die?”
“You know your mother,” Rupert shook his head. “Why do you think your father left the Corps after all?”
“She really shouldn't worry so much, we all know what I signed up for.”
“Don't think I don't understand. I was in the Corps longer than you’ve been alive. But your mother is a civilian, sometimes they just don't understand why we do what we do.”
The shuttle quickly breached the atmosphere and entered Citadel. The sprawling planet was home to over 20 billion residents, vast cities stretching out across its surface. The shuttle was descending into the largest one, the capital and seat of power of Bastion.
The Vallum estate sat to the side of the capital city, a large walled complex home to its hundreds of members and their families. A vast green lawn sat in the middle, a rarity on a planet so densely populated as Citadel, surrounded by various buildings and halls lined neatly at its sides.
The complex bustled with activity. Besides the hundreds of direct members, the estate also employed a great number of associates. Over its years it had acquired vast amounts of wealth and business, all funnelled back into advancing the estate and training the Vallum descendants into future soldiers.
The shuttle landed before the largest building, situated at the head of the lawn. Its 6 stories standing tall overlooking the entire estate.
“Your father would like to see you,” Rupert and Leonard exited the shuttle. “He is up in his office.”
Leonard took a deep breath. He had missed the air here, somehow it always felt much more welcoming.
“I’ll go right up.”