Secretary Andrea’s announcement was successfully heard by all of the industries within the Imperium; Nighthawks Engineering, Metallurgist Association, Flying Steels Corporation, Legion Company and Optimum Industry.
Gen. Torres was sitting on his beloved wooden chair wearing his orange casual uniform as the stand by unit of the Association. He is interacting with the file reports placed on folders containing sensitive pictures and other legal documents above his wooden glass covered with gentle cloth on the tabletop. Pile of reports were placed on his left side table while his personal radio was placed on the right inclined slightly facing on him.
Despite of small office, he makes it eye pleasing by decorating textiles around it. The door in front of his table was made with Chavakan Wood; a genetic engineered tree aims to mimic the properties of a dark oak wood. Between the door and his table, an elegant green carpet designed with bright yellow stripe and brown textile loose around it. The floor was made of furnished light brown gravel. On General’s perspective, there is window in his left side around 10 o clock from the table with displacement of around 2 meters to 3 meters. There is a plain smooth wall on his right. There are light sofas facing each other along the sides of room perpendicular to the alignment of the door and the table. They have both dirty white color with 3 square pillows arranged horizontally with color of orange, green then orange again. His room filled metallic armor and external pipes of the station, he covered it with a large sheet of wood planks and paint it with orange with darker hue on the upper 60% area of the wall while lower 40% of the wall was dark brown. The room was illuminated by 3 ceiling lamps placed along the wall smooth wall on the right and a simple chandelier on the center.
A moment later, knocks on the door was heard.
General Torres: “Yes, you may enter.”
A man wearing gradient of blue and yellow Hawaiian polo with a coconut tree design entered the Gen. Torres. He is also wearing red shorts showing his hairy legs and a pair of rubber slippers. He is carrying a file report on his right hand and a box of a pizza on his right hand raising above his head.
General Torres: “Urgh, Jerome, can you please wear your uniform! We are about to duty in 30 minutes!”
Jerome: “Don’t so harsh dude! There is some time to take time and do some pleasure. 30 minutes is long enough.”
General Torres: “What if you have been seen by others wearing that Hawaiian suit? You want swimming? If you…”
Jerome: “Actually I’ve met General Warsaw earlier and gave him some pizza. He said that I make his day a good start seeing me like this HAHAHA! I’m so touched HUHUHU! Oh, here grabbed one. Hawaiian pizza with fresh pineapples plus cheesy crust. I’m the one who cooked it!”
General Torres: “Nah thank you. I’m full right now. Or I should pick that report on your left.”
Jerome: “Oh yeah, yes yes.”
Jerome hand over the file report to Gen. Torres. It has the title of “Living Metals.”
General Torres: “Living Metals? You are joking. You edit this file don’t you?”
Jerome: “No man, Fred just give me that folder as ordered and he said, give it to you immediately.”
General Torres opened the file folder and saw pictures of the gooey silvers making on his own. According to the witness, it likes a little slime crawling on the surface of extraction sites of Crystaroid – 07. Based on different pictures, crowd of miners gathered on that spot cornering that goo and preventing it to escape. It is –
Jerome sat loud on one of the sofas and eat his pizzas.
Jerome: “AAHHHHggrowmm…”
General was interrupted on reading and stare at him a bit then returned reading.
It is now contained on a crystal container which controlled temperature and oxygen level. Artifacts were also recovered from the site. Giant metal clubs, axes and broadswords. Gray helmets with spiky decorations that is too big and too heavy to be worn. Armors were so big to the point that 2 miners can wear the armor to the same time. There are metallic boots that are big ¾ of miner’s height. The extraction site was located near planet of Purim (7th planet of the stellar system). Mining Directory James Florencio decided to increase the mining rate in order to recover relative artifacts deep inside on the crystaroid – 07 —
Jerome still eating his pizza on the sofa leaving crumbles of crust on his seat.
General Torres: “Can you please eat nicely? You causing dirt to my place.”
Jerome: “I can’t! This pizza is so yummy WIEEEE!”
General Torres: “If you can’t stop eating the pizza of your then go outside of my room!”
Jerome: “Hang on mate, I’ll finish this in a minute. Just continue reading the report. We have to tackle some important and I want to know something that intrigues me lot. It was written down in that report… I guess…”
General continue reading the report.
2nd Part of the report file; President Martin declared an executive order “Operation Crystalline.” This is an urgent mission for Sojourn Teams under Exploration Department. Our objective is to reach the south eastern sector of the Revenants; Lendron and find out what are hidden items that Cosmic Consortium’s scouts found out. It is vital to retrieve these quickly as possible because there is a chance that these items could help our main attack fleet stucked at Umbra sector to continue at bombarding Revenant’s sectors.
Jerome: “Now you know? I heard that announcement hours ago aired from our headquarters. I didn’t understand it clearly since I’ve preparing my breakfast. So Torres. What was that “hidden items” they’ve talking about?”
General Torres: “I’m interesting. I should check my records a while.”
Jerome: “Hidden items? Maybe they are jewels! It makes me excited man! Hmmm what it could be? Silvers? Gold? Treasure chest? No no no, there such no pirate on space except the Syndicate. Diamonds? Come on, I can’t stop dreaming. WE GONNA RICH MAN!!”
General grabbed the files that takes about the exploration and researches of Xenophilium Academy. The report was filled with organized pictures of natural and synthetic power crystals they’ve discovered. He vigorously check every file related to academy’s log until he found the Lendron Expedition. He was stunned what he discovered.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
General Torres: “Hey Jerome, come with me, there is a job waiting for us.”
Jerome: “What you’ve discovered mate? Is it all about hidden items they’ve saying? Treasures? Jewels! Come on at least say to me. It makes me excited man!”
General Torres: “Just come with me. I’ll show you what I mean!”
Torres stood up and grab his pitch black general clothing hanged on a stand beside him. He wear his 2 black gloves and his elite belt in waist. Shoot his feet to his mighty dark metallic boots an armed his rapier on his side.
Jerome: “Hey wait man, I should grab my foods in my quarters. Just hang on.”
General Torres: “We don’t have to time for that. Just come with me. We have to make haste.”
Jerome: “I’m still hungry man, I want to eat more.”
General Torres: “Hayzt, you’re such a gluttonous fat boy. Here, change your clothes immediately. Cover up your torso.”
Torres grabbed his general hat and wear it.
Jerome: “But! I’m still yawning.”
General Torres: “Don’t make any such ridiculous complain. That was an order Admiral! You’re such a childish man!”
Jerome make a sad impression. He sadly grabbed the clothing and cover up his Hawaiian suite.
General Torres: “Now, let’s go outside.”
General Torres firmly walks on the majestic carpet on the room. His footsteps were loud and suppressing even it sounds quiet. He now opens the door made in Chavakan Wood. It sounds a nostalgic creaking sound from the screws of the door.
Jerome: “Hey mate, wait for me!”
General Torres: “MAKE HASTE! Or I’ll leave you here and claim that treasures of yours!”
Jerome: “Wait did you say treasures!? ALRIGHT I’M MAKING HASTE! DON”T DARE TO TAKE MY TREASURE! I’LL KILL YOU!”
Jerome dress and groom quickly wearing an old Grey Waffenrock Uniform of himself. Armed himself with a GB – 05 Rapier on his left side. Wear his sharp aviator glasses and get a piece of tobacco, light it up and smoke a bit.
Jerome: “Wooh, It’s been nostalgic to wear this again.”
General Torres: “Are you coming or not?”
Jerome: “I’m coming!”
The station’s speakers voiced Sec. Andrea Pierce’s announcement once again. Throughout the orbital station, secretary’s voice was heard including General Torres and Jerome.
The two climb upstairs toward the main bridge to the station. Walked on the hollow corridor that connects the ring module from the center bridge of the station.
General Torres: “This must be the official announcement you’ve talking about. Now is the chance to understand it clearly, Jerome.”
After couple minutes, the two reached the main bridge (command center) and welcomed by 2 stationed Grade 3 pilots and salute to them.
*Salute* “Greetings General!”
The two saluted back an praised them.
General Torres: “Greetings my fellowmen. Are your test flights good?”
Pilot 1: “Yes Sir! Test are all accomplished! All are running smoothly”
General Torres: “Good, Then reach our shipyard and prepare our Voidliners for our next operation.”
Pilot 1 and Pilot 2: “Yes Sir! Right Away.”
The two continued to walk inside the bridge and approach the communication deck where the Captains are all standby. General Torres grabbed the radio and speak.
General Torres: “This is Gen. Torres Edward, the 3rd Sojourn Admiral of Exploration Department under the Metallurgist Association speaking from Caravel Station orbiting Martumbres, stellar system of Evergreen, Sector of Honorado. We copy your announcement Ms. Pierce. My men will be gathered and prepared immediately. Requesting a permission to enter main sectors for inventory management and for fleet dispatch registration.”
Communication lag spans at least 1 minute and 15 seconds.
Communication Clerk: “This is the communication section of the Imperium. Access granted! The Metallurgist Association pending to join the Operation Crystalline. We expect your departure in 3 Earth days.”
Torres switch the communication target to stellar level.
General Torres: “Greetings to all of pilots and engineers of the Metallurgist Association, I hereby declare an expedition towards Revenant territories as obeying the executive orders of the president. This is another chance to demonstrate our industry’s influence and power and outshine other industries. All individuals who wants to accompany us in our journey must rally up on planet Igneous. Signing out General Torres Edward.”
Torres dropped the radio and turn backwards.
General Torres: “All Captains who wants to accompany us, follow me and build the Sojourner Fleet. Those who don’t want, fortify our stationed fleets, patrol our surrounding sectors. Be prosperous during our absence. Without further ado, let’s go. ”
The Metallurgist Association’s Headquarters was based on sector Honorado (lies within the western side from the United Imperium main sector), stellar Evergreen, planet Martumbres. Martumbres is a rocky planet with numerous satellites orbiting around. It also reflect a beautiful forest green color on the atmosphere flexing its prosperous agricultural practices on its surface. The Association was given the title of “The Providers” because of their capability to produce tons of raw materials that can be used in manufacturing consumables. In stellar system of Evergreen, 4 out of 7 planets was already producing raw materials under the Association’s supervision while the other 3 were still under terraforming and surface renovation. There are also rings of asteroids and rouge asteroids orbiting the stellar system near the orbit of Martumbres. 67% of the asteroid rings were under material extraction, 20% of them were converted into asteroid station that serve as void residence for the industry’s miners, and 13% of them was terraformed into Floating Hydroponic Farm. Crystaroids were one of the exclusive extraction site of the Association. Miners can collect an average of 320 thousand metric tons of metals and crystals here on this site with the help of MCB-45 Carrier class from the Georgian Confederation. It was equipped with Type III Radio Laser which greatly helps the miners to extract materials at great speed. It can also carry great numbers of raw material on board and can travel vast distances without refueling because there are 2 Neutrino nuclear reactor on board and 4 large fuel tanks on board. Nighthawks Engineering modified its thruster and engine in order to further improve the gathering rate. Vendetta-10 Cruising Engine/Thruster set was installed which can generate outstanding top speed to the Carrier despite of its slow rate of acceleration. Legion Company also donate their mighty AI expertise that could help them. Promethium is a void roaming drone equipped with small Gamma Burst Laser which can penetrate and cut through hard object and a set of robotic arm which can collect materials from the site and place it in carrier’s inventory. A number of Promethium was installed inside the Carrier for logistic purposes. Each planet has an array of MCB-45 rallied into their orbits waiting for cargoes to be shipped on Association’s stellar inventory located at one of Martumbre’s satellites. The Association also earned their title of being the “Metallurgist” because it was mainly composed of skilled engineers which developed numerous variants of armor that can be installed on any class of Voidliner. On every planet that they’ve controlled has a metal foundry but in the planet Igneous have the most powerful metal foundry plus the shipyard on the surface and on orbit where they create a prototype Voidliner and test its potential and capabilities. On the foundry of Igneous, numbers of turret designs, types of armament, Voidliner frames and pile of armor sheets are all lined up on organized manner. There are reserve pre-made materials and Voidliners displayed on the surface of Igneous that has been commission by different industries or relative guilds. We can also see artifact museums and warehouse where the crystals are all stocked and managed;
Quartize Ores an agitated orange Garnet that are been used for engine power fuel/additive.
Liptune Ores are light blue crystals derived from Aqua Lemurian that are been used for dropping
temperatures.
Zeeptyr Ores are fusion of Onyx and Yellow Jasper with excellent super conductor properties.
Bahm Ores are deteriorated Amethyst used for treating sickness such as cancer.
Pyromaxis Ores are mutated Rubies used for increase heat intensity.
Veritium Ores are Amethyst with immense gamma emission that can be used as nuclear fuel.
Kryptonites are crystals that create natural luminous light inside like Tritium.
Etc.
This crystal management center have strict protocols that must been followed who want to enter the vicinity for safety measurements. All of crystals were called “Power Crystal” which releases amount of radiation around it changing their molecular properties if the crystal is not properly controlled and the subject to radiation is not properly regulated. Most all of this crystals lies within 8 levels of radiation. These range of levels are still manageable by human to manipulate and use. However, all crystals that release tremendous amount of radiation which have a level of 9 and above are called “Empowered Crystallines.” These are too much dangerous for humans to handle because there are no such technology capable of insulating their radiation emission so all of Association’s collection of crystals with level 9 or above were stored to an orbital inventory of a planet without any residents (under rehabilitation planets).