The sounds of celebration were heard from a distance. The new recruits of the 101st Expeditionary Company celebrated. Fine wine, barrels of ale, native cuisines of exotic kinds were seen in the mess hall of the Outpost of Ahegany Prime. Cheerful singing and playful banter can be heard even from outside the outpost.

Although, not the same could be said for Privates Ray and Zaya Astis, fraternal twins. The two were in their separate dorms, away from the partying recruits. They, too, were newly recruited, but they did not hold much fascination with partying. They were soldiers, of course. They have to be ready at all times.

Their rooms were nothing too special, as was every other room in the barracks. The room was spacious enough for two to three people to enter without much squirming. The left side had bunk beds to accommodate the two people residing in the room. To the right was a steel table with a light. It also came with a round chair with neither a backrest nor an armrest.

Ray was busy exercising in his room. The steel table and chair, retracted back into the wall and floor. His camo green shirt was highlighting his lean muscles, and his baggy pants were hiding his calves.

While he was on his fourth set, the door slid open to find a man combusting with laughter as he held a half empty bottle of beer. The man was one of the celebrating recruits that were in the mess hall, wearing the same uniform as Ray.

“Hey, Ray.” The man gurgled out with a dazed smile. Ray stopped his workout and stood up to face the drunk recruit. The man continued to drink from the half-empty glass, but he also had another bottle in his other hand, still closed.

“Hey, Randy.” Ray took a towel and used it to dry his skin, which was filled with sweat. Randy reached out his hand with the closed bottle of beer to Ray. Ray gladly took the offering and opened it with one hand before taking a large sip.

“Good brand?” Randy asked before taking more sips of his own beer.

Ray hissed at the flavor before giving it back to Randy.

“No flavor makes me want it.” Randy took Ray’s bottle.

“Shame.” Randy frowned before finishing his own bottle of beer. He smiled. “More for me, then.”

“Yeah, you can have it.” Ray removed his shirt before wearing another one.

“Ray, I have a question. Why don’t you and your sister celebrate with us?” Randy asked curiously. Ray just glanced at him before replying back.

“I’ve said this many times, we aren't the type to celebrate all that often.”

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“Live a little, Ray.” Randy tried persuading him. “There are one hundred or so people in the company, and you and your sister are the only two to not celebrate with us. Outside these rooms, there’s a life to be enjoyed.”

“I-”

“Come on, Ray. You only live once.” Randy put a hand on his shoulder. “One life, one opportunity. You don’t get another chance in life.”

Ray took his hand and removed it from his shoulder. He was not moved by his words, and he remained adamant.

“You just want to hook up with my sister.” Ray stated as if it were a fact. Randy’s face morphed as if he got caught in the act of something. Ray stated it again. “You just want to hook up with my sister, don’t you?”

“Fucking hell, yes.” Randy admitted. “But that’s not the point! I’m talking about you. If I wanted to talk about your sister, I’d have been less discrete about it. Just have fun with us, Ray.”

“Fine, I’ll try.” Ray finally relented with a sigh. Randy was his friend, after all. He’s been with him since the start of training camp. They’ve been through hell and back during training camp and have created a brotherhood together. Randy was the only one Ray could talk to other than his sister about personal things.

Once Ray gave in, Randy smiled and grabbed his hand. He rushed out of their room and quickly went to the mess hall to celebrate with their comrades.

There, Randy drunkenly introduced some of his friends to Ray. Some of them were Ray’s squad members too. The celebration lasted all night, with many people getting drunk and shouting in joy.

As for Zaya, she was forced out of her room by the female members. With an angry gaze, she forced herself to listen to the chatter of the females. In the end, all of them ended up drinking as well.

Whilst the recruits drank themselves to a blackout, Admiral Stern was drinking coffee to keep himself awake.

Inside the command center of the Romulus, Admiral Stern glared at the screen in front of him with fierce discontent. His second-in-command, and the officers were behind him, silently waiting for commands to adhere to.

The 104th Company had not been able to contact them for days now. After the drop pod descent, storm clouds gathered upon E-759-R and blocked all communications with the company. It was too dangerous for any ship to go blindly in. So, it was either to wait for the storms to dissipate or to send in another company to set up a radio station. The latter was not too possible for their lack of companies was a problem.

The 7th Expeditionary Fleet had not seen that much action. Only Wasteworlds lay in the Hester System so it seemed that they did not need any more than two to three companies at their disposal.

Of course, Admiral Stern saw this as disrespectful. He had been serving the Navy of the Grand Empire for more than he could remember. He had served them in the Reunification Era, served them in the battle of many rebel colonies, and the war council decided that he would be best positioned in an Expeditionary Fleet.

‘Utter bullshit’ As Stern remarked to his new position. He deserved better than being the commander of an Expeditionary Fleet. Now, one of his companies was lost on a waste planet with no reinforcements to drop down to help aid them.

Stern sighed. The Axallor System was the nearest system from here.

“Ackerson, be my envoy for this.” Stern said. Ackerson stepped forward and saluted.

“Why, sir? What shall I be an envoy for?” Ackerson asked. Stern said his next few words with silent regret and disdain.

“House Goran.” Ackerson went pale as well as the other officers behind him. Out of every house in the known universe, they had to ask House Goran for help.

“That is all.” Admiral Stern left without another word. He left Ackerson stunned. But before Stern fully left, he turned to him. “The ship is already prepared, they have been informed as well. You are to arrive at Huxor Airport. Good luck.”