* Date: January 22, 2183

* Time: 7:40 AM

* Location: UGS Yorktown Bridge

''Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft. This is Fleet Admiral Sasha Zveroboy.''

A female Russian accent spoke through the comms of the battle carrier. The Vice Admiral in charge of the vessel heard his superior loud and clear and smiled at the sight of her. The Fleet Admiral had a stoic look even though she was still in her thirties.

''I hear you loud and clear, Fleet Admiral.''

''Have you discovered the faint contact that appeared near our solar system?''

''Negative, ma'am. No Kaynian Vessels have appeared in our search.''

Abraham responded, and it turned the mood of the Fleet Admiral into sour. Seeing this, Gaft immediately wanted to converse on another subject to distract his superior from her worries. Because in his career, never had he seen the daughter of the Famed Defender of Pluto this stressed and paranoid.

''Um, Fleet Admiral. Any news from Mesopotamia? Are there any Kaynians that appeared on their end?''

This broke the trance the Fleet Admiral was under. Mesopotamia was the third planet colonized by the U.G.E. after the first contact war. She was six light years away from Eden. If Babylon was hit first, it was inevitable that Mesopotamia was next.

''Nothing as of late, although I did hear that Fleet Admiral Jaxing Sun has issued a traffic lockdown over Mesopotamia's spaceports and stations.''

''Hmm, probably for the best.''

''Indeed, and it won't be long until I issue something similar.''

Sasha responded, although her intentions were for the good of Eden. There will always be those who would counter her ways of protecting the peace. Stated that such orders could only be given if the Kaynians were headed their way, but she'd find a way, much like her father.

''Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft, you will receive your new orders.''

This jolted Abraham into action finally after spending a few minutes observing for nothing. This thought of returning to the fleet and spending time with his wife made him smile.

''What are they, Fleet Admiral?''

''You are to return to Eden with your strike group and reconnect with the fleet.''

''Aye! Aye! Fleet Admiral, on my way.''

''I'll be waiting...''

''...Fleet Admiral Sasha Zveroboy, out.''

Saying her farewells, the Fleet Admiral signed out and left Abraham to his devices. Sitting comfortably on his chair, the Vice Admiral eyed his terminals. Appearing on his holo screen was the ship A.I. on board the Yorktown, Luck, his wife.

''Luck, ready our FTL, and inform the strike group that we're going home.''

[Of course, my dear...]

[...Warming up real space drive and transmitting orders now.]

The entire strike group soon turned portside to prepare for their launch to Eden. All ten vessels are neatly spaced between each other and warming their individual FTL drives. It would only take a few minutes for a space drive to 'warm up' before initiating the launch to its destination, but sadly. The entire strike group wouldn't be able to go home just yet.

''Luck, you up for a restaurant for dinner?''

[Why not? With all this talk about the Kaynians returning, it would feel nice to experience the fine things in life.]

''Alright, we just need to-''

Before the Vice Admiral could finish his sentence, a slip space portal manifested at the stern of the strike group and took everyone by surprise. Emerging from the portal was a kilometer-long Kaynian frigate, and immediately, the instruments of the ships on the strike group warned them about the appearance of a new contact.

[Slip space portal detected...]

[...New contact, verified as Kaynian warship, class frigate. Distance one hundred seventy-seven thousand kilometers away.]

Luck informed, and this brought forth panic amongst the crew of the battle carrier. Officers immediately went into action and double-checked that the new contact was of Kaynian origin, which it was.

''What the! Turn us around, and the strike group! Ready the hell cannon, tell the destroyers and corvettes to their load torpedos, and launch drone craft squadrons!''

[Understood, my dear.]

The strike group turned around in unison and faced the lone Kaynian frigate. The strike group launched their respective squadrons of drone craft and loaded their torpedo tubes for fire.

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[Hell cannon percentage at fifty percent. The strike group reports all torpedos loaded and awaiting launch. Anti-ship lasers and drone craft squadrons are ready to engage.]

''Tell the strike group to fire their torpedos! We'll crack its shields when our hell cannon is heated.''

[Transmitting orders...]

[...My dear, torpedos and drone craft squadrons on the-.]

But before Luck could initiate the launch of all torpedos from the destroyers and corvettes, an unidentified signal emerged from the Kaynian vessel. The signal was outdated and wasn't even encrypted by their standards.

[My dear, I have detected a signal originating from the Kaynian frigate.]

''What? Clarify, did I hear you correctly? A signal?''

[Yes, to be precise, an outdated I.C.E. distress signal...]

[...Shall I play it?]

Abraham looked at his options as this was very odd. How was this particular Kaynian vessel transmitting an I.C.E. signal? The only way he could know whether this was real was to hear its contents.

''Do it.''

[Very well, my dear.]

A pause occurred as everyone on the bridge waited for the signal to play. What felt like seconds was an entire lifetime for those on Yorktown's bridge.

''This is Ghost Operative Tale. Do you hear me over?''

Abraham's eyes widened as he heard the voice of a human over his comms. Observing the contents of the signal, it was positive that it came from a Ghost Operative, although it was outdated.

''Luck, isolate that signal.''

[Understood.]

''Ghost, this is Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft. Do you copy?''

The Vice Admiral responded, wondering how a Ghost was onboard a Kaynian Vessel. Waiting patiently, the Ghost in question would answer Abraham's response.

''Affirmative, sir, I've commandeered this Kaynian ship to escape Babylon.''

''Babylon? I thought all A.F.E. personnel died stalling the Kaynian forces for the Scorched Earth Protocole?''

''They did, sir...''

''...I arrived on Babylon a few hours after the protocol was issued by Fleet Admiral Lowe Mendelez.''

Arrived? What the hell was this Ghost Operative talking about? Was he suggesting he was outside U.G.E. space as the Kaynians assaulted Babylon? Gaft eyed his terminal as he processed what he was hearing.

''Ghost, listen up, I have no idea how you got here, but I don't care. We're gonna bring you home!''

The Vice Admiral stated with dedication in his voice. And Abraham knew who to send for this type of mission. Attached to his strike group was an I.C.E. stealth ship named UGS Howling Knight. The stealth ship and its Ghost Operatives of three should be able to rescue their stranded comrade.

''I'll be sending Ghost Operatives to your rescue until they arrive. Go to the frigate's teleporter chamber; they'll arrive through there.''

''Understood, sir.''

''Break their legs, Ghost. Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft out.''

Signing out, Abraham immediately stared at his wife as he formulated his plan before issuing them to her.

''Luck, inform the strike group not to engage their hell cannons and torpedos. We have a stranded Ghost on board that ship. Only drone craft squadrons and anti-ship lasers are permitted to engage.''

[Very well, and I've already informed the Howling Knight about the situation. They say they are already preparing their ship for departure.]

''Good, the sooner they rescue that Ghost, the better.''

* Date: January 22, 2183

* Time: 7:45 AM

* Location: Kaynian Frigate Bridge

''Break their legs, Ghost. Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft out.''

The Vice Admiral responded before cutting off the communication between the Ghost and the battle carrier. This left Tale and Sarroth on their own devices about escaping this vessel undetected. That would require time and planning, both of which are unavailable.

''Looks like we're on our own for now.''

''Indeed, master, but at least we have made contact with the A.F.E. is all that matters.''

''Indeed, the Vice Admiral mentioned that Ghost Operatives would rescue us. So, we'll be in good company.''

Tale added, which was true. It had been quite some time since he had come in contact with his brothers. He hopes that not all of his batch during the first contact war were wiped out.

''Wait a minute. Sarroth, could you even interact, let alone hack Kaynian tech?''

''Lady Vee left instructions on how I could interface with Kaynian technology. Although I am not as proficient as her, there is a possibility.''

''Good, that should come in handy...''

''...Scramble and corrupt the data of the terminals on the bridge. At least we could cripple their ability to move the frigate.''

''Of course, master. Already doing it.''

Doing what she was told. Sarroth immediately placed herself into the terminals of the frigate and started wreaking havoc across its systems. Although it took a few seconds from the spirit's perspective, it was minutes, if not hours.

''Done. I have crippled the systems present on the bridge.''

She responded with a smile to her master.

''We need to get to the teleporter chamber...''

''...Sarroth, could you possibly teleport us there? It's our only way out of this mess.''

''Yes, but I wouldn't recommend it without a range weapon on your person, my master. The warlocks present would react to the burst of magic and the residue that would come after.''

''I see...''

''...Then, we're back to old school.''

The Ghost stated before moving out of the bridge and heading towards the center of the Kaynian frigate, the teleporter chamber. Utilizing invincibility magic, Sarroth ensured her master was unseen by the naked eye of the Kaynians. Moving through the corridors of the frigate, the Ghost displays his expertise in stealth as he maneuvers his way undetected. Thus far, the strike group that came to their rescue was currently bombarding the Kaynian frigate with drone craft strikes and anti-ship lasers. Meanwhile, the Kaynian crew of the frigate panicked about how there were ten A.F.E. warships. But with the entire crew of the bridge dead, there was no one to steer the ship to safety nor change its direction to return fire. Kaynian farers and guardians rushed to their battle stations as the squadrons of drone craft and anti-ship laser bombardment impacted the frigate's shields.

''My master, it seems the strike group is pummeling the frigate's shield.''

''It would seem we need to hurry and reach the teleporter chamber.''

As he passes through the hallway of the vessel, several Kaynian farers cross paths with the Ghost. The features of their faces spoke of fear and panic, but where were they headed?

''What's the status? Is the bridge not responding?''

''Not yet. It seems the bridge is not communicating with us at all!''

''By the Betrayer. Those damn fools...''

''...Our orders from the Lord is to execute those traitors and take their place!''

''Understood!''

The lead Kaynian barked out, and his fellow Kaynians followed him. This was bad because not only had they realized that something happened on the bridge, but it would only take a small amount of time for them to realize that he escaped his cell.

'Shit, if they found out that bridge crew is dead, then it would be a matter of time before we're found out.'

Tale thought, and at the rate, things were going. The Ghost will have to fight his way to the teleporter chamber, but without a weapon, it's gonna be hard to pull off.

''Sarroth.''

''Yes, master?''

''I'm gonna need a weapon. Can you make it so I could use a guardian's rifle?''

He asked his companion because, without a ranged weapon, they don't have a chance of escaping if that's the case. Luckily, Sarroth has had ten years of research and theorizing of Kaynian technology. It was at this moment that her knowledge was put to the test.

''Why yes, master! Since your body is already imbued with my magic from staying in contact with me for ten years. Your magic could act as ammunition or energy source for a guardian's rifle.''

That was good; now the question is. How would the Ghost acquire a weapon, maybe an armory of sorts? Sarroth did search the entire ship utilizing magic. Perhaps she could point him to an armory.

''Sarroth, during your search for the bridge; did you identify an armory?''

''That I did here; I'll mark it on your head-up display.''

A second later, a waypoint was placed by the weapon spirit. With a heading on his heads-up display, the Ghost could finally make some progress. The narrow hallways and red lighting gave the feeling of being watched, and the Ghost's senses screamed for him to stay hidden. It also didn't help that at any moment. The Kaynian Lord could appear out of nowhere. But despite that, he followed the waypoint, and it led the Ghost to an entrance to the armory.

''This is it, the armory...''

''...My master, I detect several guardian's inside. Looks like they're gearing up.''

''Okay, we wait for them to get out before we go in.''

As the Ghost responded, the door slid open, and a squad of eight guardians rushed through and bypassed the invisible Ghost. As the Kaynians ran out, Tale was given the opportunity and got inside the armory.

''That was close. Anyway, we're in.''

Looking through the premises, Tale found most of the weapons already gone, all except for one. Taking a closer look, the Ghost picked up the rifle. It was gray, but usually, he'd see these weapons on guardian's glowing blue or, in this case, red.

''Sarroth, how do I do this?''

''All you need to do is imbue it with magic to function.''

''Understood.''

Concentrating on his magic, Tale slowly imbued the rifle with his magic. The amount of which was ginormous. The Ghost doesn't know it, but his magic reserves far outpace the likes of Sarroth or her daughters. But as he slowly built up the magic to power the rifle, it glowed a bright blue.

''Well done, my master!''

The blade spirit commented on seeing how much control the Ghost had over his magic already. Sensing the massive magic reserve of her master, Sarroth couldn't help but be proud of herself for giving her master such an advantage.

''Weapon loaded...''

''...Now, let's head to the teleporter chamber and greet our captors.''

To Be Continued.