* Date: January 22, 2183

* Time: 7:10 AM

* Location: Kaynian Frigate

'Alright, here we go.'

Moving forward, the Ghost, now unseen by the naked eye, made his way slowly but surely toward his objective. Upon leaving the holding cell of the frigate, Sarroth proceeded with charting several locations within the ship. Thus far, they have only identified several rooms of the frigate, but none led to the bridge. Firing faint levels of magic, she had identified sectors of the vessel. Thus far, she has not located the bridge, meaning it was far from their position. They needed to move forward near the bow to find it. However, she needed to be careful because her magic, although faint, could still be detected by a warlock if they were nearby.

''Master, I detect several Kaynian farers crossing paths with you.''

On cue, several pings on his minimap identified a column of Kaynians crossing paths with the Ghost. Holding still, Tale waited patiently as the farers passed by the invisible Ghost.

''...Stated that we will be arriving on-''

''-Has the Arc Imperium noticed our presence?''

''...I believe they-''

The Kaynains chatted as they hadn't realized Tale was inches from their path. As the last Kaynian farer passed him, the Ghost immediately poked his head to observe if there were any more.

''Clear.''

''Take a right, master. We should see a hallway. Hopefully, it would lead us to the bridge.''

''Affirmative.''

Moving forward, Tale stuck closely to the side to ensure no Kaynian would collide with him. Turning right, Tale quietly proceeded on his way toward an empty hallway. No Kaynian were insight, but that could soon change.

[SLIP SPACE EXIT IMMINENT! SLIP SPACE EXIT IMMINENT! SLIP SPACE EXIT IMMINENT!]

''Activate magnetic boots!''

[INITIATING.]

The Ghost commanded, and the failsafe A.I. obliged. Tale's magnetic boot function kicked in and locked his power armor in place as the frigate shook. The event only lasted a few seconds before returning to normal, giving the slip space drive time to calm down. Reorienting himself, Tale deactivated his magnetic boots and took a moment to analyze his surroundings. There wasn't even a warning about exiting slip-space. It's only been a few minutes, and they haven't even located or found any info regarding where the bridge was.

'Dammit, this is bad if we've reached the destination of the Kaynians. Whether this is a base or fleet, they will probably look for us and bring us to whoever is in charge. We got to locate that bridge and steer this frigate to U.G.E. space.'

Tale thought as he knew time was of the essence if they wanted to survive. But before he could move, Sarroth would appear over his heads-up display. The blade spirit looked like she had just seen a ghost now. Maybe their time had run out, and a warlock finally caught up. That could explain Sarroth's facial expression.

''My master! I'm receiving a signal, and it's A.F.E.!''

The Ghost was surprised; did they pick up on an A.F.E. signal nearby? It seemed impossible; such an occurrence could only be possible if they were near Earth's solar system.

''What type of signal is it?''

''It's a distress signal.''

''Can you play it?''

''Of course.''

Proceeding with her orders, Sarroth placed the signal through an audio player. There were also several key details regarding the signal. The date was January 22, 2183, and the sender was an A.I. code-named Krampus of the U.G.S. Wisconsin. It's only a few seconds long, and Tale hoped it would explain the current situation of Earth and her people.

[This Krampus ship A.I. of the U.G.S. Wisconsin. Fleet Admiral Lowe Mendelez has ordered a full retreat of all remaining vessels off Babylon! I repeat! Fleet Admiral Lowe Mendelez has ordered a full retreat of all remaining vessels off Babylon!]

Fleet Admiral Lowe Mendelez? Babylon? A full retreat? The Ghost hadn't anticipated this turn of events. Instead of resolving his situation, things only took a turn for the worse. Looking at the details of the audio. It only fueled his desire to figure out what had happened.

''Master, are you alright?''

The concerned blade spirit asked. She hadn't seen the Ghost this quiet since learning the truth about the Kaynian fleet that assaulted Earth being a reconnaissance flotilla. And how completely outnumbered and outmatched they were against the Kaynians.

''I- I am alright...''

"...The A.F.E. would have progressed without us, and this signal is evidence of that. When we departed, the conflict between Earth and the Kaynians was concluding. However, this signal indicates their resurgence, and they have just devastated another colony of the U.G.E..."

''...We need to get to the bridge to find out where the fallback point of the A.F.E. is. Once we do that, we could do something about the Kaynians.''

The information presented brought several questions lingering in Tale's mind, but that would have to wait. They needed to reconnect with the rest of the A.F.E. New resolve flowed through his veins as he was determined to accomplish whatever task to return home.

''Sarroth, increase the output of your magic. We need to find the bridge of this vessel to be able to return to U.G.E. space...''

''...Ten years, Sarroth. Let's see what kind of galaxy we came back to.''

''Understood, master!''

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Heading the Ghost's command, Sarroth sprung forward, her movements graceful yet determined. The ethereal glow of her magic intensified as she focused on locating the bridge. Meanwhile, Tale pressed on, steadily advancing towards the convergence of three paths at the end of the hallway. The Ghosts' minimap pulsed with a sea of red dots, a stark warning of the impending threat—Kaynians lurking ahead. Undeterred by the ominous display, Tale knew navigating through them was his only gateway to U.G.E. space. With a deep breath, he steeled himself for the impending challenge and plunged into the labyrinth of adversaries. His training would be placed to the test as he remembered his former mentor, Parka. Failure wasn't an option, and that sacrifice was their way of protecting Earth and her people no matter the odds.

TALE: Arc Killer

On the bridge of the frigate, Kaynian Farers tirelessly calibrate their instruments. They moved around, tapping panels and hologram consols in anticipation of their arrival to the star system. Observing the planet ahead of them, they found it wasting with nuclear fire and radiation. Husks of warships littered the exosphere as the remnants of the A.F.E. fourth fleet floated.

''We have arrived! Quickly informed the Lord of this!''

''Understood.''

A lesser-ranked farer responded before turning his back on the helmsman of the frigate. But before he could exit the bridge, the door slid open. And behind it revealed nothing, which confused the Kaynians present on the bridge.

''Huh...''

''...Who opened the entrance?''

Asked the lesser-ranked Kaynian Farer, and turning around, no one spoke out. The face of confusion on his colleagues' faces had the farer perplexed as he could tell that no one had performed the act.

''Is there a problem?''

The helmsman of the frigate asked. Turning his attention to the confused farers, looking at them, he saw something was amiss.

''No, I am merely asking who opened the entrance before- Argh!''

The Kaynian screamed as a blade erupted from his chest cavity. Liquid spewed out from his chest as the blade glowed with intent before being pulled off his body.

''Intruder!''

Shouted the helmsman as the silhouette of a decloaking Ghost caused him and his subordinates to point their pistols. The Ghost in question took a stance before his adversaries as he wielded his companion, Sarroth.

''It's a demon!''

''Kill it!''

''Open fire!''

In an instant, Tale sprinted at the nearest Kaynian before slicing the poor sod in two. Seeing how the Ghost killed one of their own caused every Kaynian to open fire. Direct energy beams peppered the Ghost's power armor instead of being penetrated. Sarroth's magic shield automatically reacted and stopped the incoming energy fire. Tale, in turn, approached the hail of energy fire coming his way and impaled another Kaynian in the face before pulling it off and stabbing another Kaynian in the waist. Another Kaynian decided to charge head first. Tale reacted by throwing Sarroth at the Kaynian's head before pulling the blade spirit out and throwing her at another Kaynian. Moving forward, the Ghost quickly reached the others and brought devastation upon them. Each time he swung his blade, a Kaynian fell, and as he pushed, they fell back. Until soon, only three Kaynians left for him to slay.

''How did that demon escape?''

''By the Betrayer! How should I know!''

''Enough chatter, here it comes!''

Charging at the last Kaynians, energy fire peppered his magic shield, but due to the low power output of the pistols. They didn't do much before he sliced off the head of the first Kaynian and sucker punching the second, disorienting him. Attempting to grab hold of the Ghost's weapon, the third Kaynian tried to disarm him but failed as he delivered a headbutt, knocking the alien out.

''Kaynian's down.''

''Well done, master.''

''Let's get to work. Our entrance wasn't exactly subtle.''

Moving toward the control panel, Sarroth immediately transformed into her avatar to interact with the panel. Finally, it was time for her to test the knowledge she absorbed from her Tale's power armor and the data left behind by Vee relating to hacking Kaynian tech. As she entered the panel's extensive connections and data, the spirit saw unaccountable amounts of information flowing past her.

'Alright, I'm in. Now let's see what lay outside of this vessel.'

Upon searching through several data and information, she was shocked to learn that they were above a U.G.E. colony. Its designated planet Babylon, with a population of nine hundred million humans and one point four billion A.I. She also noticed the floating debris of A.F.E. and Kaynian vessels scattered across the exosphere along with extreme radiation signatures across the planet's surface. The radiation readings she was detecting a peculiar resemblance to the A.F.E.'s nuclear torpedo. However, aside from the radiation, there were other unexplained elements. What caught her attention was the presence of two Kaynian flotillas floating above the planet's exosphere. In the center of the flotillas was a hundred-kilometer-long dreadnought and its escort. Now, it all made sense. This colony must have engaged the Kaynian flotilla but got overrun when reinforcements arrived at the Kaynian's aid. The fleet that guarded the planet must have given fierce defiance against the Kaynians but eventually succumbed to the Kaynians' numbers and firepower.

''My master! I have important news!''

''What is it?''

''You were right. We are above a U.G.E. colony, but it seems the Kaynians brought with them a one-hundred-kilometer-long dreadnought and two flotillas to crack the defenses and fleet of this planet. Evidence suggests that the Dreadnought and its two flotillas arrived here to aid another flotilla's advance.''

''You mean that there was another flotilla that arrived here first?''

''Yes. My scans indicated that the fourth fleet engaged with a reconnaissance flotilla and wiped them out, but the flotilla itself called in reinforcement. Which arrived later on and destroyed the fleet.''

Sarroth explained to her master, seeing how this was quite a discovery. Not only was the fourth fleet capable of engaging the Kaynians head-on in a defense. They single-handedly obliterated an entire flotilla and were only subdued when reinforcements arrived. However, this doesn't clarify the radiation readings on the planet's surface.

''But I cannot explain why the planet has large readings of radiations across its continents.''

''Scorched Earth Protocole.''

''Scorched Earth Protocole? What is that, my master?''

''It was a proposal by I.C.E. to deny ground, information, and prisoners to the Kaynians by using nuclear torpedoes to destroy U.G.E. planets.''

Sarroth was shocked about the revelation of this sensitive information. Did I.C.E. seriously propose a radical plan to destroy everything to deny the Kaynians? However, it implied that the radiation readings she observed were from such a protocol.

''By the pantheons!''

She shouted in horror, while Tale merely stared at her, watching how she took this information. Suffice it to say the Ghost was disappointed that the proposal got through. While he didn't elaborate much on the subject, employing a nuclear strike on an overrun colony could potentially eliminate several hundred thousand Kaynians. As questionable as it was, the Ghost assumed that Babylon put up one hell of a fight before initiating the protocol.

''What about the people? What of the soldiers that fought on the surface of the planet!''

''If things got this bad. Then, the last remnants of Marines still standing knew what would happen. They died fighting until the very end...''

''...And for the civilians, I theorized that after defeating the reconnaissance flotilla, the Fleet Admiral in charge must have evacuated the planet before transforming it into a fortress, preparing for the Kaynian reinforcements and buying time for the rest of the U.G.E. to prepare.''

''You mean to say that this world's purpose is to slow down the Kaynians?''

''In a way, yes.''

Sarroth winced, her master's response cutting through her like a dagger to the heart. Never had she realized until now about how disparate the A.F.E. was. She knew her master's people fought ferociously and brought their weapons to bear against the Kaynians, but never had she imagined them performing such a plan to face the Kaynians.

''Sarroth, I need you to understand that Earth and her people are the top priority of the A.F.E. and I.C.E. I know the method used to deny the Kaynians is questionable, but the Fleet Admiral probably didn't have a choice knowing that he and his fleet won't survive.''

Tale explained, and somehow, Sarroth found it strange to hear her master so calm about the matter. She knew that Earth and her people were at a disadvantage in a technological and numerical sense, but seeing how desperate things were was something else.

''I- I understand...''

''...Unlike Eldrant, Earth is at war with the Kaynians proper. What happened to us elves is nothing compared to what your people are currently facing.''

''I wouldn't call destroying a ten-kilometer-long dreadnought as nothing, Sarroth.''

The Ghost remarked after all. The A.F.E. hadn't fought against a Kaynian capital ship until now. But right now, their main priority was to contact the A.F.E. and inform them about the development happening in Babylon. The mere mention of the Dreadnought that arrived on Eldrant two hundred years ago brought a smile to the spirit's face. It was a time of great warriors and leaders when every kingdom stood together to face the Kaynians.

''You are right. I shouldn't be belittling the achievements of my people.''

Responded the spirit, and Tale merely nodded at her response to him. His way of calming the spirit down was a success and meant they were in the clear to escape.

''Alright...''

''...Sarroth, can you steer the frigate and activate its slip space drive?''

''Of course, I've already begun charging the drive for our departure.''

Sarroth answered, and Tale was happy to hear his companion's preparation, but this left a question. How would they deal with the surrounding Kaynian vessels? They would notice that one of their ships would divert their attention elsewhere.

''My master, when we do this. All Kaynian ships will have their eyes on us.''

''I know, and the only thing we could rely on is the confusion we'll steer when we commence our escape.''

Tale replied, and the blade spirit knew they couldn't do anything about it either. They have to rely on sheer luck and confusion. It's their best bet in reuniting with the A.F.E.

''We both know what happens if we do this...''

''...So let's do it.''

''Understood, master. I'm starting now.''

In an instant, the frigate shook as it changed its trajectory. The kilometer-long frigate instantly gained the attention of its squadron and started hailing. But the blade spirit gave them no thought as she maneuvered the Kaynian vessel to open space.

''Bane of Flare, why are you diverging from your squadron?''

''Lord Atone, why is your frigate diverging?''

''Do you copy! Bane of Flare, why are you diverging?''

The voices of Kaynian farers called their concerns on why one of their own just diverged from its squadron. Soon, two frigates move to pursue the Bane of Flare. Meanwhile, inside the hijacked frigate, its crew was perplexed on what was happening.

''Ignore them, Sarroth. We're almost there.''

The Ghost comforted the focused spirit as she activated the slip space engine of the frigate to operational status, and their destination was input into the system for launch.

''My master, slip space engine ready!''

''Greenlight! Greenlight! Get us out of here!''

When the spirit heard those words, she immediately started the slip space drive as the radiation readings of the frigate went off the charts. The pursuing frigates started to bank away from the Bane of Flare before it could enter slip space.

''Initiating...''

''...In three...''

''...two, one...''

''...Entering slip space!''

To Be Continued.