* Date: January 22, 2183
* Time: 3:00 PM
* Location: UGS Hollowing Knight Bridge
[Commander West of Sword and Shield, your team has been selected to conduct a special operation...]
[...I acknowledge that it's unusual for you to still be on your escort mission with the returned Ghost, but circumstances have evolved.]
The hologram of an A.I. I.C.E. agent stated, and West would reluctantly agree with the agent. I.C.E. would typically wait until they accomplished their mission before contacting them. But he wasn't one to question this sudden change. Perhaps this was so significant that they had to bypass Ghost-handling protocols.
[The Fleet Admiral has issued a counter-offensive against the Kaynians.]
This triggered the suspicions of the seasoned Ghost Operative. A counter-offensive? But that's impossible; everyone knew that Kaynian FTL was faster and couldn't be intercepted due to its nature of opening a wormhole. How could the Fleet Admiral issue a counter-offensive with the knowledge of such a disadvantage on their side?
"Ma'am, I'm not one to question, but Kaynian FTL is much faster than ours. We shouldn't be able to catch up to them in any realistic scenario.''
[I understand your confusion, Ghost, but worry not. We have a solution for that...]
[...Before sixteen hundred. You will depart for Atlantis Space Station and establish contact with several I.C.E. agents there. Subsequently, you are to equip the returned Ghost, codenamed Tale, with a new set of power armor and retrieve the package for your upcoming mission.]
Finally, he and his Ghosts were getting somewhere, and here he thought they would stay for more than a day at this research facility and be tested against Tale. But the secretive nature of this counter-offensive makes him anxious, but the aged operative brushes it off. With a new mission in sight and a destination given, West couldn't care less about how secretive this offensive was.
''Understood, ma'am.''
[Very well, Doctor Hyle will be informed shortly, and he will be compelled to release you from his research, effective after our current conversation concludes...]
[...No one else besides you and your team will be made aware of this.]
The I.C.E. agent stated, and West would keep it to heart, knowing what will happen if he doesn't. Nodding at the agent, he acknowledged his purpose for this new mission. It was nothing new to him; he had grown accustomed to receiving missions of this nature.
''Will that be all, ma'am?''
[Yes, that will be all, godspeed Commander West.]
With that, the hologram vanished before him, and lights began to illuminate the Hollowing Knights bridge. Turning around, he noticed his partner's avatar materializing. Approaching her, West wanted to ask her something.
[How was the briefing?]
''Well, we got a new mission.''
[Oh, fun, is it another-]
''No, it's a counter-offensive.''
A brief pause ensued between the Ghost and the A.I. Merci was taken aback by her partner's response. Considering it might be due to her age, she thought it could be a hearing issue on her part, but looking at her Ghost. She could tell immediately that what he said was fact, one that she couldn't believe because they never tried before.
[An offensive? Am I hearing that correctly, West?]
''No, what you heard is a fact. I.C.E. and the A.F.E. are conducting a counter-offensive on the Kaynians...''
''...The agent I talked with didn't tell much, but she said they had a 'solution ' of dealing with FTL disparity between us and the enemy.''
[I see.]
Merci responded, but the question lingered in her mind. How could A.F.E. launch an offensive against the Kaynians? Their unique FTL method renders them invisible to A.F.E.'s instruments in transit. That was something that I.C.E. considered impossible due to the complexities and difficulty of tracking a Kaynian vessel. Suppose her partner asserts that I.C.E. has a solution. Then, she would rather see it with him.
''Merci, where are Tale and the others?''
[Ah, they are currently located on...]
[...Huh, that's strange. I thought Doctor Hyle was supposed to be the scientist responsible for handling Tale?]
''Where is he?''
[Tale is currently in Doctor Lilith's office.]
* Date: January 22, 2183
* Time: 3:15 PM
* Location: Doctor Lilith's Office
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Within the confines of Doctor Lilith's office lay a multitude of devices and objects designed to assess the returned Ghost's magical capabilities. The purple-haired doctor was responsible for conducting the necessary tests to evaluate Tale's limitations in psionics. Although reluctant, Doctor Hyle saw it fit to allow his colleague to take his place while learning magic from Sarroth.
''Ghost Operative Tale prepare for psionic testing~...''
''...First test. Crush these objects in front of you using only your magic~.''
''Understood.''
In front of Tale were several pieces of equipment of different shapes and sizes. The items varied, ranging from scrap metal to military-grade helmets and a single Kaynian Knight breastplate. This test would aim to understand how much stress the Ghost could output onto an object with his magic. With this in mind, Tale would exert force to crush these items.
''Ready~...''
''...Commence~!''
Upon hearing the command, the returned Ghost lifted the three objects simultaneously, channeling the utmost magical power drawn from his reserve and directing it at the presented items. Ascending from the ground, the metal scrap, the MK60 helmet, and the Kaynian Knight breastplate endured several thousand pounds per square inch of crushing force. Meanwhile, Doctor Lilith tapped her holo pad, checking several lists as she observed the metal scrap being compressed into a sphere, the helmet crushed into a sphere with uneven sides, and lastly, the Kaynian breastplate resisted for a moment before being subjected to Tale's magic force crushing the plate into a sphere.
''The subject's magic output seems to meticulously crush even a Kaynian Knight breastplate with ease~...''
''...Alright, Ghost, stop. We will proceed with the next test~.''
''Understood, ma'am.''
Letting go of the objects in front, Tale relaxed himself as the items thuds to the ground. Several drones approached the deformed objects and carried them to the doctor's scanners for evaluation. Proceeding to the next test, the returned Ghost observed several weights in front. Included in these items were links for forty-millimeter ammunition, a wheel for a light mobility vehicle, and a track from a main battle tank.
''The objective of this upcoming assessment is to gauge the amount of weight you might be able to lift off the ground~.''
''Understood, ma'am.''
''Ready~...''
''...Commence~!''
Upon hearing the command, the returned Ghost lifted the three objects simultaneously, but that was not all; the Ghost's magic also lifted several pieces of equipment. The doctor looked in awe as most of the equipment present in her office was lifted without issue, and not only was Tale lifting the items she had selected, but also lifting her entire office's worth of equipment with ease. At the entrance, Ghost Operative Nomad smirked as he observed his comrade. Meanwhile, Bishop, his partner, watched the unfolding events. At this juncture, they have not seen the complete range of Tale's psionic abilities. But it did give them an idea of how capable he was compared to them. He was proficient in magic and equipped with a wealth of knowledge that he could tap into through inquiry with Sarroth. Doctor Lilith was busy listing the feats presented to her by the returned Ghost. Her assessment of his psionic abilities was exceptionally high; if she were to make a guess, she believed that this was not the complete extent of his magical prowess. Tapping her holo pad, Lilith was overwhelmed with data presented by her A.I. assistant, Cerberus.
[Doctor Lilith, according to my calculations, the returned Ghost could feasibly lift multiple Knoigstiger main battle tanks effortlessly.]
''Elaborate, Cerberus~.''
[The scanners indicate that the psionic residue from Tale in your office is a minor speck compared to the significant amounts emanating from Ghost Operative Nomad and Bishop at the entrance.]
''That is quite an observation~...''
''...Alright, Ghost, stop. You have done well, and we will proceed with the next test~.''
Tale nodded as he gently placed down the objects and lab equipment. Proceeding to the next test, he saw a machine of sorts; it was spherical and had wires entering a socket underneath it. For whatever reason, the Ghost could tell that plenty of operatives had tried that machine before. The device in front of him was one of Doctor Hyle's inventions. It was a device that could identify the amounts of psionics within a Ghost's body due to their spine implant. Now, the test would revolve around that. The device would analyze and calculate the amount of psionics stored within his body.
''This device in front of you, Ghost, is a psionic sphere analyzer. That will calculate how much psionics you have in your body~...''
"...Your sole task is to manifest the utmost amount of magic within your body, and from thereon, we will take care of the rest~."
''I see. How shall I proceed, ma'am?''
''Place your hands on the device and activate your magic~.''
Advancing, Tale followed the instructions and positioned his arms on the sphere. Upon touching the device, a pulse of energy erupted from it. The Ghost's sensors flared with warnings as the energy pulse made contact with his armor, but it didn't take long to dissipate.
''Ma'am, is this normal?''
''Yes, no need to worry, Ghost. Just make yourself comfortable~...''
''...Inform me if you are ready to proceed~.''
Lilith informed as she tuned on sensors a little bit. The Ghost, meanwhile, was in a trance on the device. Seeing how it reacted to his magic made him uncomfortable, but this had to be done. He has to adapt and achieve the desired outcome for this test.
''I'm ready, ma'am.''
''Very well. Ready~...''
''...Commence~!''
Suddenly, the psionic sphere analyzer illuminated intensely upon coming into contact with the magic manifesting within Tale's body. Sparks of electricity erupted from the sphere as the Ghost started to place his magic within its psionic sensors. The lights began to blink rapidly in succession as magic coursed through the psionic sphere analyzer.
''Cerberus, give me readings~.''
[Magic magnitude rising...]
[...Ghost Operative Tale has exceeded the existing record for the highest concentration of magic within his body, and it continues to increase...]
[...Twenty times the amount compared to the current record.]
''Oh my~!''
The sphere then radiated a brighter light, casting its brilliance across the shadows within Doctor Lilith's office. The equipment, designated for recording and analyzing the psionic test of the returned Ghost, became inoperable upon detecting the seemingly impossible levels of magic emanating from him.
[Fourty times the amount compared to the current record...]
[...Sixty times the amount compared to the current record...]
[...Eighty times the amount compared to the current record.]
From Doctor Lilith's perspective, she had never witnessed anything of this magnitude before. The earlier tests had already surprised her, but this was an entirely different level. Her office shook, lights flickered, and magic residue spilled everywhere. Evacuating the premises might be necessary, but doing so would mean missing out on understanding the true potential of the Ghost who had saved her a decade ago.
[One hundred times the amount compared to the current record...]
[...Doctor Lilith, you should seek cover!]
The A.I. assistant warned, but her words reached deaf ears as the psionic sphere analyzer shattered and blasted everyone in the office with a powerful shockwave of psionics. Doctor Lilith was thrown back into a wall and sustained a minimal concussion. Meanwhile, Nomad and Bishop hunkered down as their reactive energy shield took the brunt of the shockwave.
[Doctor Llith!]
''Ugh~...''
''...Status~.''
[Psionic outburst fried most of the sensors and cameras present. My last analysis was the returned Ghost's magic reaching three hundred times the amount compared to the current record.]
Cerberus stated as she regained her footing, and looking at Tale, she saw the shattered form of the psionic sphere analyzer. The Ghost Operative stood unfazed by what just occurred. The psionic residue permeated her entire office, but witnessing the outcome of her savior was deemed worthwhile.
'I may need a new pair of panties~.'
Lilith thought as she crossed her legs while standing. Suddenly, the slide noise of the doors from the entrance revealed the Ghost Commander West, who immediately saw the psionic residue littered around the doctor's office. Looking around, he saw Nomad and Bishop's energy shielding regenerating as a recognizable flicker of light erupted before disappearing.
''What happened here?''
''Commander West, sir.''
''Bishop, at ease, what happened?''
"Sir, the evaluation of Tale's magical capabilities resulted in him overloading the psionic sphere analyzer, causing a shockwave that led to all of this."
Bishop answered as he pointed at the returned Ghost, looking around at the destruction he had caused. The commander saw this and approached Tale. As his commanding officer approached, Tale swiftly saluted and braced himself for what lay ahead.
''Sir!''
''Tale, mind telling me what you did?''
''I did as I was told, sir, but my carelessness led to an accident. I would accept any form of penalizing for what I have done.''
Tale expressed that, in his perspective, this was his responsibility. However, it wasn't entirely accurate, as this was a test, and such occurrences were expected, particularly with psionics or, in his case, magic.
"No need for that, Ghost. I.C.E. just assigned us a new mission. We're heading to the Atlantis Space Station to equip you with an MK60G3 power armor for the mission...''
''...And where is Sarroth?''
''She's currently with Doctor Hyle, commander.''
''Hmm, retrieve her before boarding the Howling Knight. We'll be moving out before sixteen hundred.''
''Understood, sir.''
To Be Continued.