Book 4: Chapter 186: Ties

Book 4: Chapter 186: Ties

USD: The next day

Location: Meltisar, just outside Fort Glisson.

The technical thumped as they hit a bump and Elis raised her arm to the handhold by her head. A heater roared away, filling the cabin with warmth, but the driver had cracked his window like he was used to the frosty conditions. The young man was silent, his focus on navigating the icy road taking them to Fort Glisson.

She glanced back out the window, watching the straw-colored fields that were brushed with a light coat of scattered snow. The conditions reminded her of her first arrival on the Federation Marines training world for bootcamp. Meltisar seemed to have kept up with the tradition of shoving new recruits and trainees into a frozen hellhole.

As they entered the main compound and pulled up to the vehicle bay, she checked her watch. They were early.

The driver looked over at her apologetically, a nervous tinge entering his voice. Maam, Im sorry for the early arrival. If you could wait here, Ill go fetch an officer.

She stared at him for a moment, then nodded. Sure, dont worry about it. I can wait.

As soon as the private shut the door, she turned her attention to the nearby rows of barracks stretching out around her. There were a few signs at the nearby intersection detailing where the mess hall, rifle range, and each organizational letter group was hosted. A prick of curiosity entered Elis eyes before she stepped out of the vehicle and headed toward the nearest set of buildings.

Moving down the row of barracks, she caught sight of trainees as they moved about their dorms, their activities a blend of mundane tasks and military drills. A few caught sight of her and paused, their faces etched with confusion. It took her a moment to realize that her red and black uniform was something they had probably never seen before, outside of a historical holovid maybe. It certainly stood out amidst the sea of gray and gold uniforms that dominated the Meltisar military.

She turned her gaze and paused at a building that had a unit of trainees doing marching drills in the buildings square under the watch of their DI. Their synchronized steps echoed through the crisp air. It had been so long since shed done drill that she wasnt even sure shed be able to knock the rust off before making herself look like an idiot.

Thankfully, shed received a promotion so that wouldnt be tested.

Continuing down the access road, she came to a field with another unit composed of young men and women engaged in another familiar form of exercise. Buckets full of water were moved back and forth in a relay, the recruits faces flushed with exertion as they hurried in some sort of competition. It was impossible not to notice that some of them were carrying barrels, likely weighing more than the person weighed themselves.

Glancing at the barracks designation, it was marked with a capital S painted over the main entryway. Shed maybe found where Alex had spent her time here, then.

One of the recruits fell, the others lifted them up and took some of their weight. Elis watched them all with interest, taking in the training grounds atmosphere. It was the same and yet slightly different from her own experience in small ways.

The architecture was alien; the uniforms had changed form, and certainly the noon sky of Meltisar was a vibrant mix of orange and purple hazes. And yet the underlying essence remained the same: the camaraderie among the trainees, the rigorous drills, and the watchful eye of their instructors.

As Elis turned to walk toward the rifle range, a woman with a sergeants badge moved to block her path.

A stern gaze locked onto her, a no-nonsense crease of frown following it a second later. Who are you, and what are you doing here? she demanded, her tone brusque and authoritative.

Elis met the sergeants gaze evenly. Master Sergeant Elis. Im here for an appointment with the base commandant.

Confusion appeared on the sergeants face as the woman furrowed her brow. Im sergeant Riley, drill instructor. All visitors are required to be escorted, she pointed out, her frown not disappearing. Wheres your escort?

I arrived early. The private left to go find an officer and I decided to take a little tour while waiting, Elis admitted.

Rileys frown disappeared into the flatness of professionalism as she waved over a recruit that had stopped to watch the strange encounter. Go find her escort, the woman instructed, before turning back to Elis.

If thats the case, Ill be your temporary guide, Riley stated, her tone leaving no room for argument.

A slight smile appeared on Eliss face, appreciating the efficiency. Thank you, Sergeant Riley. Thats no problem with me. I was thinking about taking a peek at the Rifle Range.

Riley nodded and gestured toward the building in the distance. There was a short lull where neither said anything, but then the sergeants curiosity finally got the best of her. If you dont mind me asking, that uniform isnt a Meltisar one.

Elis nodded, understanding the confusion. Federation Marine, Master Sergeant, E-7.

Riley did a double take, her expression even more interested. You realize the Federation Marines havent existed in almost a hundred years?

As long as I am alive, they still exist. Elis countered.

Riley accepted the statement without questioning it and launched into her next question immediately. So, youre a corpsicle, or were those old rejuvie treatments just that good?

Its complicated, but mostly the former, yeah.

Must be a bit of a shock to wake up and find the world all fucked up. Riley commented.

It was a bit of a bumpy ride. Elis acknowledged.

Sergeant Rileys gaze remained fixed on Elis as she asked, So what brings you here, exactly?

Im here to select some candidates for a special team, Elis replied.

Riley raised an eyebrow. From the green recruits? she asked, clearly puzzled by the idea.

Elis shook her head. No, not the newbies. I was just observing them because thats where my driver left me. Ill actually be reviewing some of the new specialist groups that have already been pre-selected.

Understanding dawned on Rileys face. Ah, so thats why they pulled back those groups, she mused aloud. I thought it was odd that they had all been quartered here at the same time. Its been quite rowdy and cramped. Usually, only one of the groups are here while the others are out on rotation for training.

Elis nodded. The pre-selected group had been split up.

Thea shook her head. She flipped her hand at the wall and the projection changed back to her corporations balance sheet. Ive earned enough to buy one of the navys battleships already. It is all legal, just business dealings with legitimate Meltisar companies and helping them with certain issues. In return for tons of credits and toys.

Tia shook her head. We dont need to do that! We already have the entire navy at our disposal. Who the ship belongs to on a piece of paper doesnt matter as long as it is shooting at our enemies.

Thea crossed her arms, a stubborn look appearing on her face. I dont trust the navy. They might turn on us. If we have money, we can at least afford our own forces.

Tia shook her head. There is no way we could buy a force that could withstand the system military, even if it was even legal in the first place. Besides, they cant betray us Nameless and LivI have complete control over all the infrastructure in the entire system. What could they do?

Thea shrugged in response. I dont know how. But theyre the ones who started the AGAI project, arent they?

Do you trust me, Thea? Tia asked, her voice softening. Thea stared at her as the question hung in the air, but remained silent. Tia shook her head slowly. What about Alex? You trust her, she prodded gently.

Thea exhaled a breath, then looked away. Only because shes like a kid, she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Theres more to it than that, isnt there? Tia asked, her voice steady.

Thea turned back and looked her in the eyes. She let me livenoshe saved me when she didnt have to. Thatwhen I tried to kill her.

And she set us free. Tia added quietly.

As free as a NAI can probably ever hope to be, Thea muttered, her voice tinged with bitterness.

USD: Several days after SR Fleets arrival to 92 Pegasi

Location: 92 Pegasi, A3123Y Ackman Station Rendezvous, SR Shuttle

Amy winced as she felt the pinch of the abrupt reduction to her ANUF systems. The sensation was akin to a sharp pinch, her shuttles single computronics module shifting to work overtime as they separated from A3123Ys command hangar.

The console beeped, pulling Amys attention away from the sight of the retreating battlestation. Abbeys face appeared on the screen, her expression as cheerful as ever. Portmaster Whitely is waiting for you on Ackmans primary flight deck, she said, her tone brisk and military.

Amy nodded in acknowledgement. Ill be there in five minutes.

Abbeys professional demeanor cracked as her face erupted into a smile. Tell him I said hi! she added, before giving a cute salute and signing off.

Left alone in the shuttle, Amy turned her attention to the local navigation map. Hundreds of SR vessels trailed A3123Y as the fleet matched orbit with Ackman Station. The station had been entirely transformed and there was no sign of the old and decayed station that had been her and her brothers home for so long.

But the new structure had already taken its own set of scars. Battle damage had caved in one of the habitation domes, and gouges and puncture wounds were all being addressed by the many repair units that Abbey had deployed to assist with the repairs. None of it had occurred in the most recent battle, but the corporate occupiers had not been gentle.

The personnel left on the station when their fleet had been taken care of had surrendered without causing any further harm, though.

Amy took a deep breath, trying to steady herself for her return and upcoming meeting with Whitely. She was not the same person as when shed last set foot on Ackman, or even when she had discussed what the fledging Starlight Revolution Corporate could do to work together with the independent system authority that Whitely represented.

Closing her eyes, she tried to clear her mind, focusing on the steady thrum of the shuttles systems and the rhythm of her own heartbeat. The calm didnt last long. She could sense when her MainComputer informed her of their landing a second before the shuttles airlock clamped down to its mate on the station. A confirmation beep proceeded a hiss of atmosphere exchange as she stood up.

A quick check on her power armors bracer indicating the atmosphere was safe and Amy retracted the suits helmet. She hadnt really wanted to wear the armor, but Abbey had insisted, and she couldnt find a good reason to refuse.

Rising from her seat, she moved to the airlock, her boots thumping heavily on the floor. The hatch opened without hesitation, and she made her way through the tube. On the other side, she was met with a small group of security personnel. In front, she immediately recognized Portmaster Whitely. The older man looked exhausted, his eyes shadowed, and his posture bent.

He held out his hand, and she shook it. Welcome to the new Ackman Station. He looked up at her and his small smile faltered as he took in her eyes. Theyre blue. They changed color.

Amy nodded weakly in acknowledgement.

Youre a NAI now, he concluded, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Yes, Amy confirmed softly.

Whitely blinked at her, then nodded slowly. Come girl, lets go have a drink. You will have to tell me what all has happened since you left.

Amy nodded and started to follow as he turned and led the way. She glanced at one of the guards as they passed, then froze.

She hadnt recognized the uniforms because they had their jackets off. But shed recognize Corporate Systems rank insignia anywhere.

While shed not had any real personal combat training, that wasnt true for her MainComputer, which had integrated control of the combat armor. A metal spine erupted from her back, a cloud of blue nanites swirling along with it as it snaked out to grab the closest security guards ankle and yank him into the air.

She raised her arm and her fist morphed into a semi-automatic magnetic SMG. All the security personnel dropped their weapons and raised their hands above their heads, shock at the sudden display of force.

Ms. Tanis! That is not needed! Whitely protested as he looked up at the man held aloft.

They are corporate personnel. We were told they surrendered. What is going on? Amy demanded.

That is true, and they did. Weve hired some of them as security personnel since we lacked the manpower. We can discuss this in my office. Whitely said quickly.

Amy looked at them again and frowned before slowly lowering the man to the floor. All of them stared at her, terrified expressions solidified on their faces. Why did that send such a regretful pang through her chest?