Left alone, the entire class of cadets glance between one another in silence. A bridge currently in the midst of a simulated battle, time paused as vessels begin to engage.

Minato speaks first, leaning towards the windows as he watches the form of Vice Admiral Fujisaki sprint out of the drydock. “He isn’t what I imagined a vice admiral to be like. What do you guys think?”

“I think he’s a nice change of pace.” Chloe smiles as she runs fingers along the ship’s wheel. “He’s funny, has a sense of humor. Not like any of the usual teachers.”

“It’s Okiani charisma.” Akane adds. “But he is very irresponsible, I wouldn’t want him as a commanding officer. He was late and he forgot critical materials.”

“I think it’s not too bad.” The Class Rep. eases. “I think it’s good we get to do sea training with someone who won’t push us too hard.”

“The purpose of training is to discover one’s limits.” Akane coldly replies, quickly stopping herself against the boy. “But I mean, it can be… relaxing.”

The class takes a moment to snicker at the girl, interrupted by Cadet Natlan who speaks up from his engineering console. “The Archipelago is equipped with an arcanite reactor.”

“What?” Isaiah turns at the word.

“According to the readout the central power system is capable of generating 3.4 megawatts and operates without refined gas fuel.” Natlan continues.

“No fuel?” Iska questions with care.

“It’s an arcanite reactor.” Natlan answers blankly. “Most likely salvaged from the Boneyards of Stygia. Vessels equipped with such central reactors have been able to travel at upwards of forty five knots.”

“That’s not possible.” Akane dismisses.

A gasp from the helm, Chloe scanning over a console. “Gods…”

“What’s wrong?”

“These navigation maps are incredible.” The young woman continues in shock, pulling up the internal database of maps upon her screen. “I’ve never seen these before.”

A world imaged by satellites above, a foothold in the stars peering down towards the endless oceans. Grids crisscrossing across waves and cityships, a full categorization of Kalish available upon a low resolution monitor at the turn of a dial.

“According to this we can contact Fleet Command.” Isiah suddenly speaks up from the communications station.

“In the boneyards?” Chloe breaks.

“If this simulator is accurate, and based on the distortions present in the communications array, it is. Yes, we can still get reception in the boneyards.”

“I get the feeling the Archipelago is more secretive than the criers have been leading us on.” Minato comments, eyes running alongside the central planning table. “If this thing

Vessels frozen in time, red shapes in the midst of approach to an unknown god of war. Decimation from massive main batteries in the minutes to come, preparations for conflict found in the moments of tactical analysis.

“What great secrets must you hold, oh grand machine…” Iska begins the prayer, adjusting notches upon the gunnery control panel.

“Do not let your dogma blind you to the fact that this is a mechanism meant to kill others.” Akane severs the line of religion. “It is simply a tool for combat, nothing more.”

“All created deserve respect from their creators.” Iska responds with the quotation from scripture. “All creation is imparted a soul from its maker, after all.”

“As long as the creation understands its purpose.” Minato eases his two classmates’ argument. “Can we both agree with that?”

An argument stifled in the first minute of contact, the Jraad and Benuli rivals stepping back from each other in the reorientation of goals.

“Familiarize yourself with the consoles please.” The Class Representative continues as he implies orders. “Let’s try and impress the Vice Admiral when he gets back. We are the best class this…”

“Silence.” Akane raises her hand in interruption, ears perking up. “Do you hear that?”

A subtle roar of engines against meters of concrete armor, sound loud enough to travel through the camouflage roof of the drydock.

“Yeah I hear it.” Minato confirms, jogging towards open windows at the edge of the bridge. “Gods below what is that?”

“Type 4 engines, Gaelsin.” Natlan suddenly answers. “Axial compressor based jet turbines, manufactured in sector zero four of Gaelsi.”

“What are they doing here?”

Akane bridges the intelligence gathering gap, internalized news reports expunged from memory. “The Gaelsin 3rd Combat Fleet is holding station about ten kilometers from here along with Task Force Komo consisting of fourteen minor kith.”

“But what are they doing here?” Minato clarifies.

Silence from the cadets as they listen to the roar of jets overhead.

“I do not know.” The girl shrugs, looking at the Gaelsin Cadet with a predatory stare. “Perhaps they have decided to attack us.”

A form huddled in the corner, Natlan pushed back by social forces. Minato interrupts Akane with a stern voice. “Why would the Gaelsin decide to push for a break-off with an attack on the home of the Coalition rather than a council vote? It makes no sense to declare war.”

“Jraad Surface Group A-41, the Galidan Royal Guards Saber Fleet, and The 44th Guard from Benuli are currently docked in Fortuna Harbor. These fleets are part of the larger Coalition Task Force Eighteen alongside the Okiani 9th Battlegroup. If Gaelsin attacks they will be able to destroy a significant part of the Coalition’s…”

Tearing through camouflage netting the massive air-dropped bomb makes contact with the concrete dock. Fuse ignited, silence as its deliverer roars over the top of the semi-enclosed space.

Cadets watch it, Minato quietly whispering under his breath. “Gods…”

The entire drydock explodes.