I suppose there really is only one choice right now. “Nova, please come to my quarters.” Though Fernando would give me an extremely powerful army if I gave him the ship, Nova would grant me a more specialized division. I’d be able to use her Ghosts, and any Wraiths the ship produced to undergo stealth operations.

When she arrived I admired her for a moment. “The ship is yours, Nova. I know you’ll need personnel for your force as well, but I simply don’t have the people. Colonial Command is sending at least two-hundred more Civilians though, go through them. Find anyone you feel will work, Scientists, Civilians with high Psionic potential, take from the Marine pool if you need more people to work with, but no more than twenty.”

I could feel my hand clench at the last statement. Fernando would probably not like that, but having Nova set up a Ghost Division would solidify my hold on this sector a bit quicker than Fernando’s forces would be able to. Most importantly, however, it would lessen the loss of life on my own forces. A unit made of Ghosts, stealth, assassination, information gathering… It was the right choice, it had to be.

System Announcement!

Congratulations Player for completing the Social Mission ‘Nova’s Request’ Star Base (Mobile) has been specialized for units dealing in stealth. All unmanned fighters are now built with miniature Stealth Fields -Advisement- the range of unmanned fighters has been decreased to half a mile. Star Base (Mobile) will now act as a Ghost Academy, and all Marines, regardless of rank, may be trained into Special Ops Ghosts at the facility. -Advisement- Due to low Commander level you may only have three SOG (Special Ops Ghost), five Elite Ghosts, six Veteran Ghosts, eight Ghosts, and ten Trainee Ghosts.

Hero Unit - Nova Terra - Loyalty and Trust has increased to one-hundred, respectively. You may now see more information in her status, all Passive gains have been restored for having a combined point value over fifty.

Congratulations Player! You have gained maximum Trust with one of your Heroes! You have been provided with one Hero Upgrade Card!

Congratulations Player! You have gained maximum Loyalty with one of your Heroes! You have been provided with one Specialized Gear Card!

Specialized Gear Card - Grants you schematic upgrades for one unit types standard equipment set!

Well, that was good to know. The gains from maxed Trust and Loyalty made me feel dirty though. I’d use the Hero Card on Fernando this time, Nova’s Ghosts would gain the Gear Card. I looked at Nova, she seemed stunned at my choice. She quickly composed herself and gave me a salute...What? I wracked my brain and couldn’t remember a single time she had ever actually saluted me.

“Thank you, Damian, I will begin screening Civilians for what I need right now. You will have a force dedicated to you and any cause you feel is worth fighting for. Those under my command, and I, will ensure you rise to power.”

Errr... It took a moment to process that over the fact she just called me Damian. Ignore it, move on, take it as a thank you. I refused to get trapped into thinking it was only a game again. I could lose it all just as easily as I gained it if I did something stupid again after all.

“Right, I have to limit your forces to fifty at the most, Nova. I can’t provide for more. Your people will have to craft your own gear, I can gift two SCV Riggs for that, the rest remain with Fernando while he constructs our settlement. Your Division will be placed under your direct command, you only take orders from me. The rest is up to you.”

She smiled at me, and I was fairly certain I lost time because before I realized it she was gone, and I was alone in my quarters staring blankly where she stood. What the fuck was that? Did I get cold clocked somehow?

Sighing, I rubbed my head lightly. Now to inform Fernando, I wasn’t really looking forward to this conversation. “Fernando, please report to my quarters.”

When he arrived, he seemed to be his normal, stoic, self. “Fernando, Nova has been given command of the Star Base.” he nodded, standing at ease when I motioned for him to do so.

“I may not like it, Sir, but I do agree with your choice. I know my strengths, with that facility I could have trained a ground force unlike any other, the key word being ground. We may have eventually gained personnel to help me with my own shortcomings, but at least with her, we should retain some form of air power, once we gain the schematics to construct them.”

He took that a lot better than I thought he would, but Fernando was a military man through and through. He sure as hell was a better strategist than me. “I had another reason for calling you here. I need to know what’s been done around the settlement and our surrounding lands while I was...indisposed.”

A single brow was raised at my choice of words, but ever the professional he went on to do his report.

“We have continued construction of the Shelters, I believe the dropship I saw on my way in can attest to the need for those. Our immediate problem is food reserves though, Sir. The influx of Civilians has shortened our supply down to, at most, a single month. That’s if we start rationing now. Our resources are steadily climbing, I have half our current SCVs working on the gathering of our resources, the rest are continuing to build Shelters.” He paused, momentarily, as if thinking about what else there was he could report on now.

“The Marines are continuing their training, I have also sent out scout teams deeper into the Wastelands in an attempt to find more resources be they Minerals, Vespene Gas, or Metals we may need in the future.”

Good, he continued along our main lines of discussion before. “What about our wall?” he seemed pained when I brought that up.

“I’m sorry to report, Sir, that we have not been able to begin construction on the wall yet. I have the plans laid out, but we lack the manpower and resources to do it right now.”

That was frustrating, but we could make do for now, more so with the Star Base flying high above us. I’d begin figuring out what the hell it used for fuel soon as well. Rising from my seated position, I motioned Fernando to follow me out. “You’re right about our population increase. I know the food shortage is an issue, but I’m heading toward Tarsonis in a few days to commemorate the claiming of Mar Sara for Confederate rule. I’ll find a way to bring back more supplies to hold us over until the farms are producing.”

Fernando made a hmmm sound, seemingly lost in thought, so I continued. “I’ll be taking the Star Base, Nova and the men she recruits from the new influx of Civilians and any Marines that have Psionic potential will be joining me. The settlement will be in your hands during the time I’m away.”

“Sir, I have few enough men as..” - “I limited her to a total of twenty, and she will only take them if she must.” - “Be that as it may, Sir, I am not sure about this.” Good Lord he was a quick one. Didn’t even pause to take a breath when I interrupted him.

“I know, Fernando. I have no idea why you hate Nova so much, but you will both be working together for a long time. You as my General, she as the head of our Ghosts. You will need to find common ground.” Yep, spouting bullshit I’d heard from CO’s my entire Military career right now, after this it got mean.

“Our common ground is your protection, Sir. Beyond that, we have little need of liking each other. It will never interfere with our duties.” I think Hell just felt a chill run through it, based on the coldness in his voice. Right, don’t mention their enmity anytime in the near future.

“Alright, I’ll trust you both with that. This load of Civilians should have people we need as well. Nova is on the lookout for scientists she can use, I want you to do the same. I’m hoping enough show up that we can use. Look for horticulturists as well, anyone with knowledge on growing plants so we can optimize our farming. Recruits for the Marines will need to be on the low end for now. I’m hoping to solve that issue in the near future.”

Fernando nodded, asking a few more questions in regards to what I’d like to be seen before he went off to where the Civilians were unloading from a dropship, Nova was already there with her team and a few other Marines to stem the chaos of people rushing to enter the settlement.

I’d be heading there myself in a bit, but I had a stop to make first. I bee-lined toward the monument to our fallen, a few of the female Civilians were gathered around the side with names. I assumed they were family of some sort. I’d need to check if Greer had anyone later, but I don’t think he did at this settlement. I imagine I’d have someone trying to kill me if he did.

I spent a few moments reading the names of the fallen, ignoring the odd stares by the women, then moved toward the Civilians that were being processed at a steady pace, Fernando having fully taken control of the situation.

I sidled up beside one of the Marines that was seeing Civilians past the final checkpoint. I looked up into the visor as he slowly moving people forward, then eyed Fernando, who was closer to the ship with Nova. “Does that man ever leave his armor?”

I asked it in passing, not really realizing I’d said it aloud when the Marine answered me. “Sir, all the men in the Military have banned him leaving the armor in public. Ain’t no right one man should look that perfect.” Ah, I see...wait, what?!

“What the hell does that mean?” I looked askance at the Marine who was steadily continuing to move Civilians through. “It means, Sir, that he is a living statue with no visible flaws. We had to literally bar our doors for an entire night because of the slew of women that assaulted our Barracks. It was during your construction of that monument, thank you for that.”

I didn’t respond to the thank you but looked at Fernando. Who the fuck was that man? He was literally perfect in every known way now. I blinked, suddenly very concerned that if I never left this fucking place, obtained a wife, and he took that armor off that I’d need to shoot him on principle. “Right...he shouldn’t be allowed to remove that armor in public.”

“We have had an influx of female recruit requests into the Marine Core due to it, I imagine he doesn’t want that known though.” No, I imagine he does not want that known. Curiosity at just what the fuck he looked like aside, that man was a Monster through and through. I shook my head, moving along the Civilian additions toward Nova and Fernando, they seemed to be arguing over something, a small man standing in front of them seemed to be the cause of the fight as well, and he looked terrified as hell.