The purplish hue of warp space began to fade, replaced by the golden rays of a star, announcing the dawn over Aorous. Amid this celestial transition, Zephyr and Ayame drained from their recent presentation for the Summit, slumped over their respective chairs.
Zephyr leaned back, taking deep, even breaths. Beside him, Ayame's hands rested limply on the armrest, her eyes closed in a brief respite as the Astra Star Fortress loomed ahead.
They were set to warp into the system by noon. With the summit set for the following day at the Magnus Emporium Hall within the Astra, they had a brief moment to rejuvenate upon arrival.
Alarms blared, announcing, “T-minus 10 minutes to insertion.” The crew hustled around, preparing for their entry into Aourus. Amidst the commotion, Zephyr nudged Ayame gently. "We're almost there," he whispered, nudging her gently. "Time to wake up."
Ayame stirred, yawning. She leaned on Zephyr for support, rubbing her eyes to shake off the grogginess accompanying interrupted sleep. She blinked slowly, "How long were we out? What time is it?"
Zephyr gently took a moment to brush a stray strand of hair from Ayame's face, tucking it behind her ear. As Zephyr brushed a strand of hair from Ayame's face, a distant memory flashed in his eyes, a memory neither of them had spoken of in years, but one that was bound to resurface soon.
The weight of those memories made his voice softer, more intimate, as he replied, "It's almost noon in the system."
Feeling the warmth of his touch, Ayame took a deep breath to centre herself. Shaking off the lingering drowsiness with a light slap to both her cheeks, she declared, "Alright, let's head to the Bridge," her voice filled with renewed vigour as she led the way out.
As they stepped onto the Bridge, crewmates bustled around them, completing entry checks and preparing for the warp.
As Zephyr entered, Lieutenant Allegro promptly called out, "Attention! Captain on deck!" Everyone immediately saluted in respect.
Zephyr raised his hand, commanding, "At ease!" This signalled the crew to resume their tasks. He then took a seat, with Ayame standing by his side.
Lieutenant Allegro stepped forward, informing Zephyr, "Captain, we're experiencing some traffic delays in the system. However, we should be joining the fleet shortly."
Zephyr nodded in acknowledgement. Simultaneously, the onboard system began its countdown, "Exiting warp in 5...4...3...2...1." The world around them swirled back into existence, leaving behind a trail of purple light.
As the ship decelerated, revealing the system in all its grandeur, it was a spectacle worthy of the history books. Hundreds of warships of various designs were gradually converging towards the rendezvous point near the Astra.
As they drew closer, the star fortress came into view. An impressive feat of engineering, the Astra spanned over 200 km and served as the headquarters for the American Outer Ring Management Association.
The structure, constructed in the 2070s when America first ventured into the Outer Rings in search of resources, was a testament to the era's ingenuity. It was currently functioning as the Forward Operating Base due to its formidable arsenal, which boasted everything from railguns and lasers to drone swarms of thousands of Reaper Anti-Ship drones. This impressive array of weaponry dwarfed even the Sentinel command by a significant margin.
As they fell into line for the docks, the Flagships of the five powers came into view, their imposing presence dominating the scene.
Each flagship was a formidable beast in its own right, with the Enterprise standing out as the largest of the bunch due to its status as an Assault Carrier. The Russian Gagarin followed closely in size.
Ayame, brimming with excitement, dashed towards the artificial windows of the bridge for a better view of the ships. She spotted them one by one, exclaiming, "There's the Zhongquo, the Enterprise, the Ashoka, and the Europa!" as she listed off the names of each flagship.
Understanding Ayame’s excitement, Zephyr also allowed himself a mild grin, delving into the files for details about each ship. As he activated a file, a hologram sprang to life in the centre of the Bridge, announcing:
"Enterprise: The flagship of the American Space Forces, reserved for inter-system conflicts. It hosts two fully armed mechanised divisions for planetary invasions, alongside a special ODST unit for rapid insertions. Armed with a planetary division of manned spacecraft and a spinal-mounted railgun spanning nearly 70% of the ship, it focuses on system-wide offensives and can serve as a mobile command. It also contains American Peacekeeper Missiles for planetary bombardment."
The hologram paused, prompting him for confirmation, "Should I continue?" Engrossed in the details, Zephyr pressed 'yes', and the holographic presentation resumed.
"Zhonquo: The only battlecruiser ever to serve as a flagship. It features similar invasion capabilities to the Enterprise but lacks any ODSTs. Armed with the Union’s Ion Cannons, it can decimate most ships in seconds but is limited in range. It has various drone swarms, missile batteries, and Gauss cannons for short-range engagements. It is famous for its use in the Xiangzhi Rebellion.”
The mention of the Xiangzhi Rebellion sent a palpable wave of unease through the Bridge Crew.
Memories of the Union's drastic measure of dropping an asteroid onto the garden world in hopes of quelling the rebellion were still fresh. The catastrophic event had obliterated the garden world's biosphere, extinguishing all life forms, and transforming it into a barren, icy wasteland.
Whispers permeated the room as crew members exchanged uneasy glances, their faces reflecting a blend of sorrow and unease. Yet, the hologram, unaffected by the emotional undertones, proceeded with its presentation, with Zephyr swiftly selecting the next file."
“Ashoka: A massive superdreadnought designed solely as a deterrent to any invasion of Sovereign Indian Space. It is the only ship of its class with the Indian Space Force. It lacks any form of planetary invasion capabilities but is famed for its Duryodhan Armor, which is nearly indestructible.
Instead, it lacks any weapons of its class containing hundreds of Brahmos Mk-20 nuclear decimator warheads, supplemented by UV lasers and proton beams for extended engagements. It is the only flagship with dedicated planetary bombardment capabilities and hosts a small spacecraft division.
Europa: This battleship is the mobile HQ of the Force spatiale européenne. It excels in Blitzkrieg tactics due to its unique solar sails. Armed with Solar Lances and high-yield proton torpedoes, they can annihilate any other ship of its class. It also hosts a division worth of troops for planetary invasions.
Gagarin: A modified supercarrier designed for deep invasions behind enemy lines and serves as the flagship of the Russian Federation. Its armaments are largely unknown as it is a newly constructed warship but is speculated to feature the new Snayperskiy rel'sotron. It is supposed to contain a large number of fighter craft as it is a carrier and may have planetary invasion capabilities."
As the hologram concluded its display of the ships' schematics and dimmed to black, the bridge burst into animated chatter. Crew members eagerly exchanged opinions, debating the merits and capabilities of each vessel.
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Ayame leaned forward, scanning the vast expanse outside the window with wide, bright eyes. "Where's the Gagarin? I don't see it near the Astra's dock," she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.
Before Zephyr could answer, Lieutenant Allegro chimed in, "Lieutenant Commander, both the Gagarin and Nkmurah started from points farther out, near the edges of their territories. They're expected to be slightly delayed."
Ayame's eyes widened in realisation. "Oh!" She turned to Allegro, curiosity evident in her voice. "And their diplomats? Are they already here?"
"They've already arrived, Ma'am," Allegro replied, adjusting his glasses with a slight push. "Thanks to a treaty with the Americans, they can use the Outer Ring Stations."
Ayame's eyes narrowed in thought as she nodded, absorbing the information. Sensing her keen interest, Allegro leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "You see, the African Union finds itself in a rather unique position," he began, pausing briefly to let the words sink in.
"They're financially constrained when it comes to Outer Ring Colonization. Instead of embarking on grand, government-led expeditions, they've had to adapt. Now, private companies spearhead the charge, establishing mining planets and staking their claims wherever an opportunity presents itself."
Noticing Allegro getting too engrossed in his banter with Ayame, Zephyr felt his headache worsening. He swiftly approached, coming up behind an unsuspecting Allegro.
"Lieutenant Allegro," he said firmly, "prepare for boarding. We'll be docking shortly."
Allegro jumped as Zephyr's voice was unexpectedly close, catching him off guard. "Uh... I... Yes, Sir," he stammered, his usual confidence wavering. "I'll see to it immediately."
Allegro quickly exited the bridge his face tinged red to oversee the docking procedures.
Seeing Allegro's departure, Zephyr turned to Ayame, who was bustling about the Bridge. "Ayame," he called, trying to get her attention amidst her flurry of orders for system checks.
At the sound of his voice, Ayame rushed over, sweat glistening on her forehead. She leaned in, asking in a hushed tone, "Yes... What is it?"
"Get the Rider Squadron ready. They need to be at the summit," Zephyr ordered, massaging his temple, the strain of too little sleep evident.
Ayame snapped a salute. "Understood, Captain!", she responded and dashed towards the ship's elevator, heading for the lower deck.
As the elevator descended towards the lower deck, Ayame's thoughts raced, her eyes downcast. "This is going to be our first real battle, right? I'm not as confident as I'd like to be. With someone as skilled as Zephyr at the helm, I might just end up being a burden," she pondered silently.
Her head hung low, lost in thought, she soon found herself at the entrance of the crew quarters.
Situated at the heart of the ship, the quarters were neatly divided into two sections by gender with either section housing pristine white rooms designed to accommodate four crew members radiating from a spacious central corridor, which led to the showers and provided an emergency exit in the event of a catastrophic failure.
Ayame struggled to find Mariya's room since it had been assigned only recently. To her chagrin, she mistakenly entered several wrong rooms. After the fourth misstep, she leaned against a corridor wall, exasperated. "Why is this ship so ridiculously large for its class?" she muttered, her eyes flashing with irritation.
Just then, she caught a glimpse of Hui Ling tiptoeing around. Seizing the opportunity, Ayame jumped her, hoping she might know Mariya's whereabouts.
"Hey, have you seen Mariya?" Ayame called out, grabbing Hui Ling's shoulders and shaking her frantically. Startled, Hui Ling pushed Ayame away, trying to steady herself.
Catching her breath, she quickly responded before Ayame could approach again. "Yes, I have! She's in room F503, just to your left. Now, please, just calm down!"
Upon hearing the room number, Ayame wanted to bury her head in sand. She had checked every room in that row except that particular one, simply because it was tucked away in a corner.
However, as she processed the information, something seemed off. She eyed Hui Ling, who appeared rather fidgety. "Why is she here?" Ayame wondered internally. "Wasn't she scheduled for the training simulator for the past few hours?"
With a piercing gaze, Ayame demanded, "Corporal Hui Ling Li, what are you doing here?"
Hui Ling was caught off guard by the confrontation since she hadn’t planned to encounter Ayame at this time especially after she carefully avoided her the entire week following the fiasco.
Nervously twirling a strand of her hair, Hui Ling responded with a meek, forced smile. "I just needed to grab something from my room before my next session," she explained.
Ayame didn’t buy her sloppy excuse for a second as she had recently noticed that Hui Ling had a habit of playing with her hair whenever she wasn't being truthful. However, before Ayame could press further, a sudden alarm blared, flashing a message in bright blue: 'Docking in 30 minutes.'
Deciding to prioritise the immediate task at hand, Ayame set aside her suspicions and turned her attention to the upcoming docking procedures.
She gave Hui Ling a curt nod, signalling her to leave. Catching the hint, Hui Ling made a hasty exit, her right hand clenched unusually tightly.
Ayame then proceeded to Mariya's room, anticipating the need to wake her. However, to her surprise, Mariya was already awake, carefully pulling on her stockings and adjusting her signature twin tails.
Ayame had come to admire Mariya's discipline, a stark contrast to some of the other Rider team members.
As her gaze wandered around the bland room, she spotted several postcards scattered about. One particularly caught her attention which depicted Mariya on a stage, gracefully bowing to an audience in a pristine white dress.
Mariya, sensing Ayame's presence, turned with a bright smile. "Good morning, Lieutenant Commander Ayame," she greeted warmly. "I'll be ready in just a moment."
Grateful that at least one Rider team member was being responsible, Ayame nodded in acknowledgement putting aside her curiosity about the picture in favour of first getting closer to her and headed to the male quarters to rouse Karl.
Thankfully, she knew the room this time as Zephyr had previously mentioned it to her during a meeting about the team’s battle plan.
Upon entering, she found Karl engrossed in a game on his holopad, wearing casual clothes and noise-cancelling earpieces.
Something about the scene irked Ayame as she approached him silently and tapped on his bedpost. Startled, Karl looked up shouting in fear thinking he saw a demon and tumbled off the bed.
"Wing Commander Karl," Ayame began, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her irritation, "may I inquire why you're here, engrossed in a game, when we're less than twenty minutes from docking?"
Colour drained from his face as Karl realised the gravity of his oversight under Ayame's intense scrutiny. "I... I lost track of time," he admitted, his voice shaky. He quickly clasped his hands together, bowing deeply. "I'm truly sorry, Ma'am. Please forgive this oversight."
Ayame's stern expression morphed into a devilish grin. "Alright," she began, placing her hands on his shoulders and pressing into them, "I won't mention this to the Captain. However, you'll be responsible for cleaning the toilets for the entire month."
Karl's eyes widened in horror. "Anything but that! Please, I can't handle the toilets!" he pleaded, his face a picture of despair.
Ayame leaned in her voice firm. "It's either this or I tell Zephyr. Your choice."
Defeated, Karl sighed, nodding in resignation. Clearly enjoying her moment of triumph, Ayame added playfully, "And hurry up! You need to be front and centre when we dock at the Astra."
Karl, feeling dejected, gave a resigned nod and began to dress in his blue dress uniform, the straps signifying his rank, in preparation for greeting the UN diplomats.
Having completed her tasks, Ayame made her way to the bridge just as the ship began its docking procedure. As she entered, the onboard computer's voice echoed, detailing the process:
"Aligning hooks in 3...2...1. Alignment complete! Initiating docking…”
As the procedure engaged, the Rigel gradually approached the docking station. The hooks from the fortress promptly latched onto the ship's locking joints, securing the Rigel firmly in place. The onboard system continued its announcements:
“Releasing port side airlock... Connecting pressurised mating adapter...”
With a final confirmation, the system declared:
“Docking complete. Boarding may now commence.”
Simultaneously, a tube made of superformant material extended, forming a secure pathway between the ship and the Astra.
Zephyr, having overseen the process, turned to Ayame elegantly. "Alright, let's go," he said, signalling for her to follow. Together with Allegro and the members of the Rider Squadron, they assembled at the airlock, poised and ready to disembark.
As they disembarked and walked through the pristine, chilly white corridor connecting the ship to the Star Fortress, they were greeted by the UN delegation. Leading the group was Jacques Starweaver, with a young brunette standing beside him.
…
TBC