And The Old Benefits

The next day, Heian Ciemnosc and the Team arrived at the hangar with the first batch of crew members. Their Fighters' spots were beside their Defensive Frigate. They walked there with most of their Frigate's crew members. Heian Ciemnosc went to open the main personnel hatch to let everyone inside, which the other spaceships did, too. This was the first time anyone other than Heian Ciemnosc's Team entered, and while it was momentous, it didn't bring any thrilling excitement.

Other than the crew members’ mouths ‘woooh’ and ‘woah’ spout as they entered the Defensive Frigate, it was calm. Heian Ciemnosc’s Team immediately walked to the central command with the experts’ team behind them. They wanted to see the place they could step on whenever they desired.

The central command was filled with experts, and Heian Ciemnosc’s Team looked everywhere to see the slight aesthetic changes and the different sensations their Spirit Sense gave them when carefully scanning the place. Heian Ciemnosc sat on a side chair beside the center where the Frigate commander would’ve taken a seat. Nobody could take that place unless Heian Ciemnosc gave the Frigate away. Thus, it was removed, and an additional chair was installed at the side.

Everything had to be done by Heian Ciemnosc himself. He basically knew everything, every corner and screw in the spaceship. If anything wrong occurred during the training, it would be on Heian Ciemnosc. If ‘his’ people were at fault for missing or messing up something, he was to blame also.

Beep, beep, beep… A constant beeping sound went off at the central command, signaling an incoming message. After a few minutes, with Heian Ciemnosc’s Team ignoring it, one of the experts spoke to grab Heian Ciemnosc’s attention. “Co-leader, a message has been popping up all this time. Should I open it?”

“Finally, oh,” Heian Ciemnosc said as he looked down at the panel from a podium that extended before his chair. As the expert nodded and opened the message, with a Spirit Sense trail traveling towards Heian Ciemnosc’s emblem, Heian Ciemnosc ordered, “That was your test, failed. I don’t command miscellaneous situations unless we’re at war. Kalavera, replace him.”

“Yes, sir~.” The expert who asked fell silent, startled, and wordless. The ordered expert walked from the side, away from the lined-up fellas against the wall, standing by, and took the previous expert’s seat in the communications-centered panel. Heian Ciemnosc nodded and received his message. It was from one of commander Choliac’s second-in-command.

“Heian Ciemnosc, your Team has been officially recognized with a new Team Leader for days. You’ll receive an errand boy to let you decide your Team¡s name. In case you want to give it one. Only your Fighter Team will have the name if you choose one. Your Frigate isn’t completely yours in the military yet.”

“Hmm…” Heian Ciemnosc became pensive as he formed ideas. Meanwhile, his Team seemed to notice something, and they looked at him as if he had something important to say. After 20 seconds, with the team of experts reporting the Frigate’s status rapidly, footsteps sounded from the entrance as a middle-aged man entered the module.

“Team Leader Heian Ciemnosc, co-leader of this Frigate. I’m here to take any names or refusal to name your forces… Have you decided?” The ‘errand boy’ said as he came in with a clipboard and a digital pen to write on the physical documents.

“...!” Heian Ciemnosc was astounded as he looked at the Security Elder that appeared. He was a handsome fella, not more than Heian Ciemnosc, far from it. But he had a cultivation base at the Farsighted realm! Heian Ciemnosc had a hard time taking such a cultivator as an errand boy, but he had to answer. Thus, he opened his lips and nodded, “I have chosen one. Do I need approval from you first?”

“Indeed, but only to check if it’s already used… or against the natural norms. You can’t name your little forces as the Crimson’s Head or Crimson Heart or something— you know.” The middle-aged fellow said, nodding and appearing very amicable. Heian Ciemnosc’s eyebrows jumped slightly before responding, his voice turning calmer. “Then, how about Eternal Return Team?”

“Woooh!” - “Aah~!” - “Hmm!” - “Hooh~!” Heian Ciemnosc’s Team members immediately reacted, each in their own way. The Security Elder looked at the ceiling with upturned eyes, and his body seemed to go through something as if verifying something. After 10 seconds, he returned to the Frigate and nodded, “Mn. That can be used. Any reason for naming it that way?”

“A little silly thing, nothing important,” Heian Ciemnosc said, crossing his arms and smiling at the senior. The middle-aged fella nodded and wrote the name down. From now on, Beto’s unnamed Team would become the Eternal Return Team. The Team members’ eyes shone, excited to have a name. At last, while they didn’t care before, it made them a little emotional after receiving it.

“Very well, your Team is now known as the Eternal Return Team. Your abbreviation in the reports has to be ERT to avoid further complications with other Teams,” the middle-aged fella said. Heian Ciemnosc nodded, and the Security Elder added before turning around. “Good luck, then. Kid. If you don’t bite the dust early, you might pilot a bigger thing sooner than expected.”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc clasped his hands and bowed, not intending to say something. It was already too much to be praised in public. Doing more would overdo it, and Heian Ciemnosc disliked this much attention. After the middle-aged man left the module, the team of experts in the central command murmured to each other as low as possible.

“Heard what that Security Elder said?!” - “So… we’ll be called the Eternal Return Frigate in the future?” - “Ha! Then what, the Eternal Return Flotilla? Incomplete Fleet? Ah, it’s actually kinda thrilling…” Their words didn’t last long. Heian Ciemnosc received a message from his highest superior, the Medium Flotilla’s commander, and ordered the experts. “Quiet. Prepare for ascension. Fighter Teams to their Fighters, now.”

Heian Ciemnosc looked at his Team members and nodded. They nodded back at him and walked outside the module with Heian Ciemnosc in tow. The team of experts was told already, but they weren’t used to having their ‘semi-commander’ leave the central command just like that. They had to get used to it, though.

Heian Ciemnosc walked through the corridors and rushed in a transporting vehicle towards the main hangar, where the other Fighter Teams were waiting in their Fighters, already passed orders by the piloting experts’ mouths. When the Eternal Return Team arrived, they were greeted with nods by the few soldier units and all the auxiliary units managing the hangar. A slight nod, a short bow, or a few respectful words.

This wasn’t new to Heian Ciemnosc, but after experiencing what he had undergone, it was a bit of a new sensation for him. He ignored these sensations for now and led his Team to get prepared. Then, as Heian Ciemnosc had worked with this Frigate, his baby, for days without a visible end, Heian Ciemnosc closed his eyes and connected with it using his Spirit Sense.

“We have the green light. Start the thrusters. We won’t move too much right away. Just keep the Frigate in formation without lagging behind. We’ll only move when I’m back at the central command. For now.” Heian Ciemnosc received instructions before ordering his team of experts. The Frigate, just like any other spaceship in the hangar, started ascending into flight. The Carrier’s hangar hatch opened, and they moved with discipline.

Unlike before, with the Fighters outside, adhered to the armor of their respective spaceships, all Fighters were inside them. Usually, the Crimsonbreaking Faction always exited the Carrier or base like this, only joining when it was time to move. Or after no enemy or suspicious activity in the surroundings was confirmed. The Crimsonbreaking Faction’s Carrier had already departed from the base for a day and stopped to start the new space training.

Now, however, that has changed. The Crimson spaceships would always come out of their base or Carrier with their Fighters inside. Meanwhile, Fighters could only adhere to their respective spaceships’ when they were about to join the battle or already in one. Additionally, they could join other spaceships for a direct surprise instead of showing to the enemy’s radars. Although the latter situation would put the Frigates and Destroyers slightly vulnerable, it wasn’t life-threatening.

Thus, Heian Ciemnosc ordered the Frigate to follow after another Cruiser in the Medium Flotilla while exiting the Carrier and reuniting elsewhere 15 kilometers from the Carrier. On their way there, every Flotilla could see the others that came with the Carrier. It wasn’t like a system to decide which incomplete Fleets come along the Carrier and join the main force to travel, as some Flotillas of said incomplete Fleets always accompanied the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s armada Fleet.

When Heian Ciemnosc’s Frigate arrived at the spot, the Medium Flotilla’s commander spoke in their Flotilla channel. “Okay, here’s how things will go. The Frigates and Destroyers, who have a Team Leader co-leading them, will exit them now. They’ll show us a few things as they work with a Cruiser. The Cruiser’s Fighters will remain inside, don’t rush. The other Fighters. You better observe carefully!”

“While we don’t even have a Low class Battleship, we’ve been given 3 different co-leading Team Leaders for a reason. This isn’t a time for you to grow unsatisfied. If I hear any channel communications as I work with your future, possible superiors, you’re out of the army!!” The Flotilla commander said, immediately quelling any boring thought in his people’s mindsets.

Heian Ciemnosc remained silent as his ERT prepared. The other Fighter Teams in the Frigate knew what to do. Since they were under one of the co-leading Team Leaders, they would become Heian Ciemnosc’s military units whenever he asked, and the space training required it. This was in case this much firepower and numbers were needed in order to achieve a goal.

“Out,” Heian Ciemnosc calmly said. The Frigate’s main hangar opened, and half the other Fighter Teams flew out, with Heian Ciemnosc’s Team taking flight in the center as they came out upside down according to the universal focus. When Heian Ciemnosc’s Fighter group exited, they were equally seen by the rest of the Medium Flotilla. Only a few other Flotillas had the same happening on their side of space.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Good!” The Flotilla commander’s voice sounded but didn’t finish until his Cruiser moved towards the one Heian Ciemnosc was supposed to follow. The commander thus announced without a care. “Hey, lass. Let me give the first rodeo to black monster myself. I’ll show everyone what I’m expecting.”

“...” - “...” - “...!” The Cruiser commander, a female Perkanai, with her liquid showing under her metallic, semi-solid skin, remained silent but seemed to acquiesce. Heian Ciemnosc and his Eternal Return Team were also quiet, with Heian Ciemnosc not giving them any indications to do or say anything, so they remained like that. Finally, Heian Ciemnosc’s Fighter groups were pressured, knowing what black monster’s maneuvers were capable of and feeling a little underclassed.

“Good, we’re settled now,” the commander’s voice echoed one last time in the Flotilla channel before becoming private to the parties in the demonstration group. “Now, each of you has new Fighter Teams with you. The Faction has made changes according to the best possibilities. So, co-leaders, don’t hesitate and treat your Fighter group as if they already know you. And… don’t give them any chances. Make them sweat!”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc’s face became stern. He finally came to this point again. He was leading people. To battle, to their deaths, to formulate a glorious killing… to war. Heian Ciemnosc pushed his Fighter upwards, ascending it without spinning or tilting his Ornament a nanometer. His Team followed him without needing to say or ask a thing. Heian Ciemnosc’s Fighter group watched as they worked in perfect coordination, nothing less expected of the black monster and any team leader.

“Black monster, you’re with me,” the Flotilla commander spoke to Heian Ciemnosc’s Ornament. Heian Ciemnosc breathed in his chest, inflating quite a lot before dropping the air into his lungs. He talked into the private channel before addressing his Fighter group. “Heard, commander. Waiting for your movement.”

“All of you, form a bell below me. One of you belongs to the middle as its clapper. Bulldogs take an inner integration while SC and General Fighters on the outer perimeter.” Heian Ciemnosc’s words echoed in his Frigate’ Fighter Teams. At once, the Fighter Teams moved, with the clapper being formed by a Fighter Team immediately. Thus, 4 Fighter Teams were positioned at the sides, while ERT and the remaining Fighter Team were above and within the bell formation.

The bell formation had an exemplary shape, even when the Bulldogs in the Fighter group were a dozen meters or slightly more meters into the bell formation, and SC and General Fighters acted like a shield to them. It was a rare occasion, but nobody asked questions. As for the onlookers, it was entertaining.

Veeeeeem!! The Flotilla commander’s Cruiser suddenly arched and formed a gradual, diagonal flight from their lower left to their upper right. Heian Ciemnosc’s Fighter group immediately followed, impulsed by Heian Ciemnosc’s Ornament’s smallish engine, throwing dark, thin streams that semi-connected the other dozens of Fighters to his Ornament.

Pew… The Fighter group in a bell formation zoomed in the distance, accompanying the Flotilla commander’s Cruiser. They were immediately followed by another Cruiser whose Fighter group had already taken a different formation and flew behind it. They were slower than Heian Ciemnosc’s Fighter group, but they still had their own means to speed up and gradually catch up to that other Cruiser.

Thus, the demonstration began, and 3 Cruisers were followed by the Fighter groups led by co-leading Team Leaders. The Medium Flotilla observing on the same spot watched as a screen opened, displaying the space battle simulation the Faction owns, where both the Fighter group and Cruiser started firing at the simulated enemy. Of the 3 Cruisers, only Heian Ciemnosc was the nimblest and fastest.

His Fighter group’s accuracy was second, but his dodging and certainty at destroying the enemy’s simulated Fighters and Frigates, as well as defending from missiles and cooperating with the Cruiser to defend their sped-up tactic, was first without a doubt.

After 30 minutes of several rounds, with the Cruisers forcing the Fighter groups to take extra risky positions and situations where they had to rush back and forth between their Cruiser and the enemy, protecting and annihilating respectively, and even orbiting around the Cruiser to help it repair without casualties or suffering further damage, among others. The demonstration finally ended.

Heian Ciemnosc returned with an intact Fighter group that, despite their tremendous reaction speed and maneuvers, clearly making his first and new Fighter group sweat like pigs, never crashed against the Cruisers or bumped into each other. Heian Ciemnosc made them move up, down, sideways, diagonally, and dive while completely rearranging the bell formation, causing brain spasms to the pilots after it all ended and they could finally rest.

The bell formation’s simplest change in battle was the sides rotating upside down, with the clapper Fighter Team moving to take Heian Ciemnosc’s Team’s spot as they followed Heian Ciemnosc’s Fighter Team as if they were all controlled by Heian Ciemnosc at once. Their synchronization was impeccable, but their firing accuracy and smoothness when accomplishing similar changes to the formation were below Heian Ciemnosc’s standards of a fitting Fighter group in his darkest eyes.

“... Well done,” the Flotilla commander’s voice resounded in all 3 Fighter groups’ co-leaders Fighters. Then, his voice sounded on the Flotilla channel, “Today and tomorrow, we’re training only Fighters so they can learn their formations. It’s been a long time since the Crimsonbreaking Faction had shown its battle array formations in this world… It’s your turn to prepare the next generation of wars and operations, kids.”

“Huaa!!!!” Hearing the commander’s words and revelations, adamantly encouraging their raging, beating hearts. The Medium Flotilla’s spaceships responded in unison, making their spaceships tremble slightly collectively.

“The Carrier will begin a new trip in 3 months and a few days from today. If you don’t manage to learn enough, you’ll be left behind, not even allowed to come out of the base to take hunting missions.” The commander’s last few words immediately made his people incensed. There was no way they would let this opportunity pass!!

“Co-leaders, it’s time to administer punishment and start training your Fighter groups. And being training those lazy rats in your spaceships already!” The commander’s last words were heard before letting the other Cruisers and Destroyers begin space battling capabilities and instruct the remaining Fighter groups in the Flotilla. Heian Ciemnosc immediately opened a call with all Fighter Teams of his Eternal Return Team’s Defensive Frigate and looked at each of them through the holographic screen, taking his time.

“Fighter Team#?!?, Team#?=!, and Team#~@!, at least one of your pilots nearly hit another Fighter or the Cruiser. Before you say anything, even if you had a small deviation, if the Cruiser was under heavy fire, it would also mean an enemy Cruiser or at least a Destroyer would try charging against it, stop it, and eliminate us as soon as a much as a 1-second pause is formed in our tactic.” Heian Ciemnosc started distributing words and punishment.

“Additionally, your Fighter Teams had the worst accuracy and stability in charging formation’s shape and took more than enough seconds to adjust. You’re not First Step cultivators. One of you is even Third Step. I won’t allow you to think of these ‘negligible’ faults as expected.” Heian Ciemnosc firmly stared at them, and the respective Teams looked at Heian Ciemnosc, somewhat afflicted, but they didn’t seem open to refute Heian Ciemnosc.

“You 3 will make immediate circles on the spot with your Fighters. Do it at a regular pace, using only thrusters, and all automatized features must be inactive… I’m sure I won’t need to remind anyone what happens if you disobey,” Heian Ciemnosc paused before saying, putting weight on his words.

“... Co-leader… will this truly help us? Somehow? At the very least?” One of the punished Fighter Teams’ team leaders spoke out, politely asking, albeit with a slightly challenging attitude. Heian Ciemnosc looked at her and was surprised. He expected a much harsher lashout from these soldier units.

Although everyone except Sandra and Moy were now at the peak of the Light/Dark realm, the other Fighters in the Second Step were also like that, and the Third Step Fighter Teams were even more so untamable for someone like Heian Ciemnosc or anyone in the Second Step.

If it was someone in the Third Step’s first realm, the Mythical realm, they would’ve listened, but it was unusual, to say the least, if they did with Heian Ciemnosc. Someone not even at the last realm of the Second Step.

“Yes, in one way or another,” Heian Ciemnosc said, nodding solemnly. But he added, in case they weren’t convinced enough, “But anyone, not just your 3 Fighter Teams, have any doubts, questions, or suspicions. You talk to me, and I’ll try to answer them to the best of my capabilities.”

“... Very well. For how long do we have to do that?” The Fighter Teams’ team leaders looked down and rubbed their emblems as they talked with each other. Their attitudes took a turnaround, becoming explicitly smoother and acquiescent but still hinting at some challenges to Heian Ciemnosc’s authority. However, Heian Ciemnosc could understand. He would do the same if a trifling lower Step cultivator dared become his superior and tell him how to train. Although Heian Ciemnosc might be too much of a unique case to consider.

“Mn,” the first team leader to have spoken nodded. Her Fighter Team moved to the side, a few tens of meters from the Defensive Frigate, and started spinning with their thrusters and motors on, doing so personally without letting the Fighter in automatic.

Watching them do just that, Heian Ciemnosc felt a strange calmness, stillness, and fitting sensation. He stared at them a little longer before turning his head to stare at the other Fighter Teams, who did well. “Your cooperation and synchronization were pretty decent for your first time. Any questions?”

After Heian Ciemnosc said the magical words, he and his Eternal Return Team were bombarded with questioning. It nearly appeared like an interrogation. Heian Ciemnosc answered each of them, with his Team members answering what they knew and passing their questions to Heian Ciemnosc, who explained them, and they told the others. This could also work for his Team members to catch up with the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s slight changes to its military.

After all, these changes were slightly familiar to Alyona. Many years ago, she had made him think what could be done to her Faction. Heian Ciemnosc had answered, half-knowing he couldn’t tell shit and half-wanting to prove he could learn. In the end, after several years, with Alyona clearly making helpful and thankful changes to Heian Ciemnosc’s ideas back then, the Faction welcomed what were once his words.

“... Yo, co-lead, what do we do now?” After the questioning finished, Heian Ciemnosc scribbled several notes after recompiling his evaluation of his Fighter group’s soldier units and Fighters to later send a report when he was finished formulating a well-thought training regimen. A pilot asked him. It was someone from one of the Third Step Fighter Teams.

“Now, me and my Team will guide you through several changing formations. It won’t be one or a few in specific. Just our Fighters moving together, constantly, and with… certain passive complications.” Heian Ciemnosc said, wearing a neutral expression. His pale red lips opened again after a pause, “I had planned to train the other crew members, as it is required in the new regulations… But I have to first train you… unless you want to be possibly replaced by any of them?”

“When do we start?!” - “What are we waiting for? Come on!” - “Formations? Let’s go, then!” - “Black monster, have you learned the battle array formations yet? Or were you too busy last week? Heheh…” - “Shhh! It’s time to practice. Don’t ruin the atmosphere!”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc looked at these excited fellas, not sure how to respond. When he was ready to start ordering them, he grinned and had to turn his camera off…

…