The flight back to base was quiet. Everyone was alone with their thoughts, and Aidan thought they were likely checking their character sheets. He decided to look through his notifications. He had Astra consolidate his earnings from training with Yanovna with the battle for a more straightforward study.
Stealth has increased to level 35! You have earned 1,525 experience.
Athletics has increased to level 40! You have earned 1,925 experience.
Discipline has increased to level 35! You have earned 1,120 experience.
Targeting has increased to level 45! You have earned 2,850 experience.
Medium Armor has increased to level 40! You have earned 1,175 experience.
Small Arms has increased to level 50! You have earned 3,895 experience.
Light Weapons has increased to level 40! You have earned 2,475 experience.
Melee Weapons has increased to level 50! You have earned 5,325 experience.
Psionics has increased to level 45! You have earned 1,845 experience.
Telekinesis has increased to level 45! You have earned 2,535 experience.
Leadership has increased to level 35! You have earned 1,525 experience.
AI Operations has increased to level 45! You have earned 2,025 experience.
Hand-to-Hand has increased to level 40! You have earned 2,070 experience.
Congratulations! You have reached level 50 in Small Arms. You may choose your first perk.
Congratulations! You have reached level 50 in Melee Weapons. You may choose your first perk.
(543x) Lvl 30 Human Soldiers slain. Group Experience earned: 145,932
You have earned 145,932 experience.
(27x) Lvl 35 Elite Human Soldiers slain. Group Experience earned 14,514
You have earned 14,514 experience.
(54x) Lvl 25 Human Pilots slain. Group Experience earned 9,450
You have earned 9,450 experience.
(118x) Lvl 20 Human Researchers slain. Group Experience earned 20,650
You have earned 20,650 experience.
(108x) Lvl 40 Elite Hybrid Dragon Warriors slain. Group Experience earned 176,896
You have earned 76,896 experience.
(643x) Lvl 15 Kobold Hunters slain. Group Experience earned 96,450
You have earned 96,450 experience.
(1) Lvl 20 Elite Hybrid Broodmother slain. Group Experience earned 350
You have earned 350 experience.
Congratulations! You have reached level 31. You have thirty-two free attribute points to assign.
Aidan wasn’t surprised by the growth he experienced from the raid. Raids on enemy bases seemed the most optimal way of leveling. However, he checked his character sheet and found he was still level fifteen.
Hey, Astra? Aidan called to his companion.
Yes, Envoy?
My notifications say I’m level thirty, but my character sheet only shows level fifteen. The commander was hoping his AI would have a sufficient explanation.
I automatically held off your levels, Envoy, Astra explained. If I had allowed them to proceed, the changes to your body would’ve taken you out of commission. I thought it wouldn’t be prudent while we were still in enemy territory.
Aidan sighed thankfully. He hadn’t even considered how bad that could’ve gone.
We’re safe enough now, Aidan said. Can you allow them through?
Aidan heard his AI agree before he blacked out. When he finally woke up, Astra informed him they were less than an hour from the base, and she had distributed his free attributes on his behalf. He opened his character sheet and looked over the changes.
Commander Aidan Steele. Human. United States of America.
Level-31 Envoy
Attributes:
Strength 167 | Constitution 168 | Dexterity 168 | Intelligence 167 | Perception 167
Parameters:
Health 1680 (8.4%/min.) | Stamina 1680 (8.40%/min.) | Mana 1670 (8.35%/min.)
Social:
Notoriety 10 | Authority 30
Skills:
Stealth 35 | Athletics 40 | Discipline 35 | Targeting 45 | Medium Armor 40 | Small Arms 50* | Light Weapons 40 | Melee Weapons 50* | Psionics 45 | Telekinesis 45 | Diplomacy 8 | Leadership 35 | AI Operations 45 | Linguistics 22 | Hand-to-Hand 40
The changes were hard to conceptualize. He was about ten times stronger and faster than the average human on Earth. He couldn’t bench a car, but he could undoubtedly leg press one. His regeneration was more impressive than his strength. He would also heal from just about any life-threatening injury in less than fifteen minutes. Those kinds of abilities put everything else in perspective. After looking at his character sheet, he decided to pick his specializations.
For small arms, he was given over fifty options to specialize in. Some were pretty simple. He could reduce the weight of his weapons, decrease their recoil, or make them more accurate. At the same time, others seemed more situational, like having more accuracy while airborne. Aidan decided to pick a perk that fit his psionic weapons and abilities.
Gravestone: Headshot kills on enemies spawn a psionic focus that can be used to power psionic weaponry or overloaded to be used as a psionic grenade.
He had another reason for picking the perk. Back at camp, the commander had asked his Director of Finance and Resource Management, Amir Aswad, to start thinking about forms of currency the settlement could start using. The task was complicated because dollars or even precious metals like gold might not be universally valuable to the other races in the System. However, psionic energy was ubiquitous across the races and had intrinsic value. Aidan saw these psionic focuses as a way to create hard currency and further advance the human economy.
A vague plan forming, he decided to move on to his melee weapons perk. Just like small arms, there were options to increase durability, speed, strength, and other attributes. Instead of picking the arguably more practical options, Aidan doubled down on his psionic weaponry. He found a perk that allowed him to absorb psionic energy through physical contact.
Devour: While a melee weapon is touching an enemy, it absorbs psionic energy. This energy can be used to charge psionic weaponry or create psionic foci. An enemy completely drained of psionic energy is incapacitated until the energy is recovered.
The perk served double duty for the envoy. First, he could absorb psionic energy from his foes with every hit. When fighting Smith, that ability might have prevented her use of the psionic fireballs she had lobbed on the battlefield. Second, had he been able to drain all of her psionic energy, she may have been subdued without needing to kill her. He would’ve been able to fully complete his mission instead of eking out a shallow victory. Thankfully, the System considered the mission complete even if Marsh was unlikely to.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The last thing Aidan examined before the Ibis landed was the engram for human hybridization. He wasn’t sure what he would do with it. He could see how having warriors like the PRC would be helpful, but the technology came at a horrific cost. He was reminded how the Allies in World War Two had benefited from the immoral scientific experimentation conducted by the Germans and the Japanese. The research had pushed human medical progress by decades, but the cost had been too high. The commander was holding a chip built from the distilled essence of human suffering.
Part of him wanted to throw it away, but the other part knew that he couldn’t waste such an opportunity. Even if he didn’t want dragon warriors, it might help him develop augmentations that would be useful for the Spectres. He resolved to give the engram to Agano and see what she could come up with.
Aidan was already standing when the Ibis touched down outside of Camp Plymouth. He descended the ramp, and his team of Spectres and infiltrators followed. A cheerful group awaited the returning heroes. Weir and Faraj started the clapping, but the assembled leadership of the camp soon took it up. He saw directors cheering alongside the combat team leaders in a sign of unity. If Aidan was thankful for anything, it was how a crisis had brought the base together.
Aidan stopped short of the group and gestured for silence. When the crowd died down, he spoke.
“We’ve delivered a definitive blow against the Chinese. Their ability to strike Camp Plymouth has been completely neutralized. They may never be able to recover their position in the System.”
Authority increased to level 31! You have earned 155 experience.
He paused to allow the words to sink in and used his psionic abilities to shift the emotions of his audience. After talking to Marsh, he knew he needed to capitalize on this victory, or the months and years to come would be treacherous for his faction. He needed to show his people the stakes while giving them the confidence to face them.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re finished. More foes in the System wish our faction harm. They aren’t just our traditional adversaries but our allies too. Who wouldn’t want to remake the world in their image? Who else has grievances with American influence in the world?”
Aidan could see that his words, combined with his psychic manipulation, were having the desired effect, so he continued.
“History teaches us with unmistakable clarity that appeasement only leads to more bloodshed. There has been no instance where passively sitting back and focusing on scientific and leisurely pursuits has led to anything more than a sham peace. Instead, it lays the groundwork for greater and greater demands from our supposed allies until, once again, violence becomes the only option.”
Diplomacy increased to level 9! You have earned 45 experience.
“Right now, I don’t speak to you as a representative of the American government. I have no idea what our politicians on Earth will do or say about our operation tonight. Frankly, I don’t care.”
Authority increased to level 32! You have earned 160 experience.
“I come before you as the leader of Camp Plymouth—the leader of our faction within the System to deliver three promises. First, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to create a safe, secure environment to grow. I’ll forge trade deals and cooperation agreements that strengthen the position of our faction. I’ll grow our forces so that no adversary will have the arrogance to invade our home again.”
Authority increased to level 33! You have earned 165 experience.
“Second, I will prevent the politicians and the bureaucrats in their ivory halls from interfering in the work we’re accomplishing. They don’t respect the System or us. They don’t consider it the real world—merely an unclaimed environment to extract resources from. They treat us as their pawns to move around in the games they play on the world stage. We know differently. The System is real—it’s the final frontier of our civilization, and we’re the pioneers risking our lives for the benefit of humanity.”
Aidan saw the crowd was nodding. Even his Spectres had thoughtful looks on their faces. None of them were stupid, but he hoped they could read between the lines. Other countries were a threat, but nothing was more dangerous than internal division within the System. He needed to unite his people—all people—to counter the greater danger of assimilation.
Authority increased to level 34! You have earned 170 experience.
Diplomacy increased to level 10! You have earned 50 experience.
“Finally—no matter what the System says—this is not a military dictatorship. I’ve put you into positions of authority because I know that a single person can’t be an expert in everything. I promise that I will put the best people in the right places to ensure the continued success of our faction. You will have the freedom to do what you’re skilled at and the opportunity to prove it. I only ask that you help me to do the same.”
Authority increased to level 35! You have earned 175 experience.
Diplomacy increased to level 11! You have earned 55 experience.
Like last time, Guzman was the first to cheer. The rest of the group picked up the cheer, and the commander solemnly accepted their praise. Aidan knew the men and women standing before him were the keys to his success in the future. Although they would be assailed on all sides politically, militarily, and socially, he could count on their friendship and guidance to light the way.
He walked past the small crowd, and the cheering died down. As he walked by with the Spectres and infiltrators in tow, the reception party slapped hands on their shoulders and congratulated them on their safe return. When the last warrior returned home, the camp leaders also went their separate ways.
Aidan went straight to his quarters within HQ and stripped off his equipment. He stowed the disgusting gear in the ultrasonic cleaner and then sat on his bed with a heavy sigh. Although his body had healed, his mind was exhausted. He hoped he successfully planted the right seeds, but like any harvest, it would take time to come to fruition.
That was a pretty speech, Envoy, Astra teased.
I hope it was enough, Aidan deflected.
It was. Astra assured him. What are you going to do next?
Aidan started listing off his concerns.
I think I will distance myself from Marsh and the rest of Earth. I’ll have Gray send a report to the System Coordinator, but it’s going to be too dangerous for me to leave the System anytime soon. We need to develop better technology and a strategy for the other factions. I want more people to join our coalition and…
As he was thinking, he grabbed a nearby datapad and began cutting orders to his people. He penned his ideas for a central currency and sent them to Aswad. He asked Cooper to come up with battle strategies for the other factions. He summarized what happened at the PRC base over to Gray and asked him to interview all the operation’s participants before sending his report to Marsh. He asked Kuhar to coordinate with Yanovna over a Spectre development camp. He ordered Ostlund to send a list of needed personnel to Marsh and noted his idea about recruiting gamers. Finally, he told Pierre he wanted him to focus his teams on vehicles. He wanted ground transport and aviation support. As a long-term project, the director needed to start drawing up plans for aircraft that could operate in the atmosphere or above it.
Aidan was about to send a report to Diaz about implant communications, but the envoy was interrupted by his door opening. He looked up and found Nikita ghosting into the room. She was wearing her customary skin suit and camouflage cloak combo but had neglected to put on the bodysuit and armored plates that made her fully combat-capable. She looked like she’d already showered and seemed surprised that Aidan was sitting on his bed, still filthy.
“You going to change over, Commander?” She asked as she took a seat at his desk.
Aidan ignored her question and asked one of his own. “How do you keep getting in my room?”
The shadow trooper shrugged before replying, “Astra gave me permanent access.”
The envoy frowned but decided not to reprimand his AI companion. He wasn’t bothered by Yanovna’s presence. It was comforting to know that she was close by in case he was in danger. Instead, he answered her question.
“Yeah, I was going to shower, but then I got distracted with the camp’s next plans.”
Yanovna nodded but changed the subject. “Did you get any information from Smith?”
It was Aidan’s turn to shrug. “No. She wasn’t that stable from the beginning. Whatever the PRC did to her warped her mind even more.”
The trooper crossed her graceful legs and swung them over the desk to recline back. “That’s not good. It would’ve been nice to know if she worked with anyone else.”
“I know,” Aidan agreed. “I’m sure Marsh is going to give me an earful.”
Nikita bolted upright and fixed her gaze on him. “You’re not going back to Earth, are you?”
“No,” Aidan denied. “I’m going to send Gray with a full report. I don’t think I should be under the thumb of our government right now.”
His teammate relaxed again. “Definitely not,” she firmly stated. “Especially after that speech you gave.”
“Too much?”
“Not necessarily, but it will create problems for you in the future. It only takes one of the directors logging out and accusing you of a coup,” she answered.
“What happens when our politicians discover that this is the real world and all the power and influence they’ve accumulated isn’t worth anything?” Aidan shot back.
“Is this the real world?” Yanovna asked. “You certainly seem to believe it, but no one else has definitive proof. Did Astra tell you?”
“She did,” Aidan nodded. “Eventually, our world will be assimilated by this one. When the other side learns the truth, it’ll be a gold rush on Camp Plymouth, and everything we’ve built so far will crumble.”
Yanovna stood up from the desk and sat beside Aidan on the bed.
“I see,” her obsidian eyes gazed into his own. “That’s why you’re trying to make them loyal to you instead of their government.”
Aidan looked away from the woman. He was uncomfortable with her proximity and the topic of their conversation.
“I don’t see what else to do,” he admitted.
“God keeps those safe who keep themselves safe,” the woman shrugged. “I think you’re making the right decision.”
“What are you doing here, Nikita?” Aidan sighed. “You’re a CIA operative. You shouldn’t be protecting me—you should be reporting me yourself.”
Yanonva stood up from the bed and crossed her arms as she peered at Aidan. “Do you know what happened to Caesar?”
“Caesar?” The envoy was confused.
“Plato believed in a concept called the philosopher king,” Nikita explained. “He thought that the evils of society could only be cured when they were ruled by someone who had the presence of a warrior, but a temperament of a philosopher.”
“You’re taking a little liberty with the warrior part,” Aidan commented. “What does that have to do with Caesar?”
Yanovna ignored his question and continued. “You’re as close to a philosopher king that humanity can produce. You’re a born warrior with all the knowledge of an advanced artificial intelligence downloaded to your brain. If you’re allowed to develop, you’ll be the epitome of savagery tempered by wisdom. You’ll be the leader we need if our assimilation comes to pass.”
The woman paused for Aidan to think about her words.
“But right now, you’re not a philosopher king. You’re preparing to be Caesar. You’re collecting the loyalty of your troops in case the real emperor decides to call you home.”
Aidan’s eyes widened as he realized the woman was right. He knew the history of Julius Caesar. Every military commander worth their salt knew the cautionary tale.
“I’m your Mark Antony, Aidan, or maybe… I’ll be your Brutus,” The woman declared. “I’ll protect you. I’ll guard your secrets as if they were my own. I’ll be your right-hand woman while you develop into the philosopher king you might one day become.”
The woman lowered her voice, and Aidan could feel an implicit threat in her body language. “But if you let ambition override the common good, I’ll plant the dagger in your chest myself. Our world had enough Caesars. We don’t need to bring them to this one.”