The yearly traditions of the Earth Federation are deeply rooted in the previous era. Influenced by the ones who pioneered the current present, this was their way of giving thanks. Floating in his bathtub, Shay stared at the white tile ceiling, wet from the moisture the steam in his bath had given off. Navigating the suspended waterproof tablet in front of him, he read the daily evening news. It was all the same. War, war, and more war. With a swift motion, he sent the device back into its socket in the wall. He wouldn’t need it for the rest of tonight.

Stepping out of the tub, he grabbed a nearby towel and dried himself off. Letting the heat work its magic into his skin. Moving out of the bathroom, he entered his bedroom, neatly packed and ready for departure at a moment’s notice. On his bed, a white military cadet uniform had been laid out neatly and ironed as to not leave any wrinkles. Ignoring it, he walked in front of his window, gazing out at the starting festivities on campus in the distance while drying off his hair. A group of girls were outside, who, with one look, ran off.

Sighing, he closed his blinds. The day had finally come. Putting on the white uniform, he took care not to dirty it. Even though he was no longer in the Cadet Training Program, he had to wear it, with an additional symbol that showed he had been discharged honorably. It felt stiff, much more than the suits he had gotten used to wearing while being with Lily. Adjusting his collar, he gave himself one good look over and slipped the included armband on. It was time.

Waiting outside his dorm complex, Lily had on a pink dress, with straps that curled around her neck, sparkling jewels that adorned almost the entirety of the gown and silk gloves. She had an entire limousine ready, with an entourage of security guards and maids at the ready. Through the windows, Shay could make out the distinct figure of her father, General Hawthorne inside.

“You’re very much like a soldier Shay.”

Lily giggled as she wrapped her arm around his.

“I’m not much for being a killer.”

“Oh, don’t be like that. You know my dad can get you back in there if you wanted.”

“Thanks, but not in a million years.”

Inside the limousine, Shay sat almost still as General Hawthorne’s eyes focused in on him. The drive to the military side of the academy is short, but with the almighty General burrowing into Shay, it felt much longer than that. Pulling into a complete stop, the large assembled crowd of students waiting to get in were all ushered to the sides. More fancy rides like Lily’s began to pile in, and their occupants began to exit.

“Let’s have the lovebirds go first.”

Motioning for Shay to Move, General Hawthorne crossed his legs. Trying not to seem intimidated, Shay psyched himself out, reached for the door handle, and pushed.

#

The ruined test ground of St. Clara Academy is little more than a graveyard for disposable military equipment. Tests of numerous weapons, and vehicles had been handled here for many years. It was the perfect place to show to news reporters or any documentary crew.

Char sat in the cockpit of her Armored Suit, a Vyran Commander Type painted red. Sipping on a straw, she sucked out what remaining flavored water was in her pouch. The main monitor of her machine is offline, but the various instruments were not. She could monitor the heat, the wind speed; the status of her Armored Suit without having to go outside and check. With her, three other Vyrans colored brown were on standby, their pilots most likely either finalizing checks or just relaxing.

The testing grounds were more than just a graveyard. It was the perfect place to hide and launch a surprise attack. St. Clara relied on heat sensors to detect anything outside the base, a fault that meant that during the summer season, the immense heat waves would confuse the sensors, allowing a team of Armored Suits to slip in undetected. Char couldn’t understand the Federation’s obvious act of cutting costs. Then again, they were on the losing side of the war.

“Get ready everyone. Almost time to start the show.”

With a rumble, the Vyran’s main engine started up. Using a Nuclear Fusion Reactor, Armored Suits were like mini walking nuclear power plants. The only reason the pilots weren’t affected by the radiation was the work of scientist Earl Takan. His particle rendered the radiation produced by nuclear fusion void, effectively canceling it out.

The rest of the team followed suit. The eyes of the Vyrans all lit up one by one.

“Jack and Jill. Your mission is to assault the Military Hangers and surrounding area. Make sure everything is gone. Klain and I will target the second half of the base. Make sure the Federation’s prototype is scrap metal.”

“Roger!”

“Roger!”

“Anton, you’re with me.”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

Char smiled. The Federation wasn’t taking Bardone seriously. Only a hard lesson would have to be imprinted to change that. The Armored Suits all began to move, firing their thrusters off simultaneously. As they raced off into the hot desert night, they kicked up mighty clouds of dust. If anyone were looking, they might have mistaken them for dust devils. If they were observant, they would notice something off. As the four-man squad approached the perimeter of the base, their scanners showed that the usual posts were empty. All the heat signs were coming from the other side of the base.

Using hand signals, the squad broke into teams of two and headed off into separate directions. Char couldn’t understand why the base was mostly empty. Was it a trap? Or had the Federation on the West Coast simply gotten used to not being attacked?

“Commander. Look at that.”

Anton pointed to a large blimp in the distance, its surface covered with a monitor screen. On it, it broadcasted a speech from an important looking individual in a blue suit. Char recognized the figure immediately. It was the Federation Prime Minister.

“Looks like our lucky day.”

“Remember the mission. That comes first.”

“Tch, roger.”

#

A long white corridor stretched out before Shay. It reminded him of a scene from a horror movie, where the lights would flicker, and the corridor would begin to change to one covered in blood. His footsteps echoed off the polished marble, and the walls carried the sound back and forth. At the end of the corridor, two sets of double doors, with golden frames stared back at him.

It wasn’t unusual to see such an extravagant display. The Earth Federation spent top money for its high-ranking officers to have the usual comforts of the rich. What that meant was separating the army into different tiers and status symbols. No one complained. It was just how life went about in the Federation.

By his side, a woman who told him her name was Pvt. Cindy Anderson escorted him to his destination. He didn’t know much about the person escorting him. What he did know was that she was under the orders of General Hawthorne. Their short journey had been one of silence, and any questions he directed her way were either deflected or handwaved away. It felt much better to just walk in silence.

Through the doors on the right, the pair walked into a scene straight out of The Great Gatsby. Federation officers and officials all mingled with one another, beautiful women were escorted around by both the younger and older men, the room was gluttony personified. The air smelled of smoke, alcohol and cheap perfume. It took Shay self-control to not run out for fresh air.

“We’re almost there. Don’t fall behind.”

Keeping up his pace, Shay snuck a few quick looks at the soldier. She was clearly Caucasian, with slightly tanned skin and strawberry blonde hair that reached her shoulders. Her gait reminded him of the readings in the military textbooks he had read. You could tell a lot about the way a person composes themselves. And right now, it was clear Pvt. Anderson knew what she was doing.

The soldiers at the tables they passed by gave off crude remarks as she walked past. When they saw Shay, they gave him a crooked grin, and cheered at him. For that, he was sure they had the wrong impression on what his business was.

“Here we are.”

After several twists and turns through several rooms they closely resembled the party they had walked into, Pvt. Anderson had led him to a secluded area. Here, many clothed Federation officials of older age had found residence. They spoke softly, drinking aged whisky and talking about the younger men under their command or of just homely things. They mostly ignored Shay and Pvt. Anderson, choosing to focus on their own little world. Except for General Hawthorne that is.

In a little booth in a corner of the room, he sat alone, drinking red colored wine. He had an unopened bottle of pink Sake, with two Japanese styled shot glasses side by side. Upon seeing Shay, he grinned a bit and downed his glass the way a professional would. Getting the message, Shay seated himself on the other side of the booth.

With a courteous bow, Pvt. Anderson left the two alone.

“Did you like what you see? Bunch a damn fools this base is. Partying like its friggin peace time.”

The General slurred his words, almost seeming to slip over and go headfirst into the table. Somehow, the man kept his balance, almost as if he were putting on a show.

“How about that girl? Did you like that view?”

“I’m already taken.”

“Hyaaaa! You’re a cunning one. If you had said otherwise, I’d have sent your ass back to bootcamp!”

With a gentle chuckle, he unscrewed the Sake bottle and poured it into the two shot glasses.

“Drink up.”

“I’m underaged.”

“You think right now the army cares? Drink up, unless you’re a damn lightweight!”

With a roaring laughter, General Hawthorne downed his glass. Bringing the drink closer, Shay could smell a faint fragrance of cherry and honey. With slight hesitation, he downed it all in one gulp. He could feel the drink sting his throat, all the way down into his stomach. Yet, he didn’t hate it.

“Goes down smooth am I right? But let’s get serious for a second.”

Pouring two more, he looked Shay right in the eye.

“Are you really in love with my daughter?”

The two downed their drinks at the same time, not wanting to hear the next part of what the other might say.

“Would I be with her otherwise?”

“I’ve seen men with the same words break other girls’ hearts.”

“I’m not them.”

“Not them! Boy! I have heard many boys and men say the same exact line!”

“I don’t know what else to say.”

“Rightfully so. Because I see some damn potential in you as a soldier. Why did you get kicked out? Tell me the truth. Not what the damn suck ups say, but what you said what happened.”

“I doubt it would make a difference.”

“Trust me, this war needs all the people it can get. If we’re not accepting actual volunteers, we’re forcing people, and that doesn’t look good for us. Now spill it.”

A third drink downed.

“Maybe the General isn’t that bad a person.” Shay thought as he began his story about Drill Sergeant Nicolas Pyne.

#

Ensign Arthur Ashton stared off into the depths of space. His mind was convinced that he was floating, but his body knew otherwise. The effects of Virtual Reality weren’t as pronounced if you weren’t in one of the full body machines, but it would have to do.

The Aegis had been transferred to an underground block of St. Clara, an incomplete underground facility meant to house the base’s personnel after an attack that would have left the surface scorched. Most of the non-essential crew had been given leave, allowed to join the party up topside. Grunts like Ashton were left to look out for the ship and were given jack to do.

The experience wasn’t as invigorating as he thought. Taking the headset off, he returned to his quarters, still clean and orderly as he last left it. Usually, he’d be sharing bunks with his fellow crewmen, but his pending license into being an Captain had given him one of the best rooms on the ship.

He wouldn’t have much time to dwell on that fact however. His PC suddenly turned on, a video message was pending. Taking a seat at his desk, he checked the sender.

“Mother? At this time?”

The time on the West Coast was almost midnight. Most people would be asleep by then, except for all the night shifts of course. His mother had long retired from working, his Stepfather being the rich man he is seeing to that. Accepting the call, he made sure he looked the part of an important Federation Officer and waited patiently for it to start.

“Arthur?”

The voice that came out from the speakers wasn’t his mother’s.

“It’s me, John Hills.”

The smile he had prepared faded away. John’s camera turned on, showing a light skinned man wearing a tanned business suit. His hair had been combed to the side, and his nails were filed so perfectly you wouldn’t guess he had a pedicurist he kept employed for just that.

“I can see that. What do you want? I’m busy.”

“I have some good news. Your mother is pregnant.”

“What?”

“You know what I said.”

John smiled, his usual smile that meant he was above anyone that he didn’t recognize as his equal. Ashton hated that about him, not just that, the very thing he embodied was the opposite of his father.

“Okay, congratulations.”

“That’s not all, we decided to name him after your father.”

“!”

Trying not to scream, Ashton held back the rising anger boiling just beneath the surface. It was all a trick he thought. Some mindless, horrible joke that John always liked to play on people he knew. But deep down inside, Ashton knew the man was telling the truth.

“That’s great. I hope you two have a wonderful time together.”

Before he could hear John’s response, he shut off the monitor, unplugged the camera and rolled his chair all the way across the room. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine himself floating with the stars. Perhaps space, in its vast unforgiveness would take him away to paradise.

“Goddamn that smart bastard. What I wouldn’t give to punch him across the face.”

Getting up, Ashton went to his bed, crouched down and began to search underneath it. Pulling out a suitcase, he entered in the code and opened it up. Inside, all of his father’s old military trinkets and photos were perfectly preserved in time. He had taken it with him when he left for the academy and was glad he did. John would have continued to desecrate his memory.

“Ring, ring. Ring, ring.”

The telephone mounted to the wall beside Ashton’s door began to ring. It was connected directly to the bridge, allowing him, if needed, to contact the Captain anyone else present at the time. It also worked the other way around as well.

“Hello? This is Ashton.”

“We got a problem. Since the Captain is out, chain of command dictates it goes down to you.”

Technically, he wasn’t a Captain, much less fit for duty in that aspect yet, but he wasn’t about to argue about the semantics.

“Alright. I’ll be at the Bridge shortly.”

Hanging up, Ashton shot one last look at the computer and walked out.

#

“What’s wrong?”

Walking onto the Bridge, the silence was unnerving. Ashton had been here plenty of times with the Captain, watching how he conducted himself, how he gave orders and the sheer simplicity he seemed to make the whole ordeal. Now, with the crew mostly gone, and the Captain away, the Bridge seemed lonely and less of a place that people worked at.

“Something tripped off the base’s sensors. I ran the captured images through some filters, but nothing came up. I wanted to double check and, lo and behold, the sensors keep on sending more images.”

“So, there’s nothing out there?”

“Not how that works. See, the sensors pick up motion. At specific speeds, the sensors pick them up and snap a picture at where it’s detected. Sometimes, the sensors may be a bit finicky and they make mistakes.”

“Is that the issue here?”

“No, take a look at this.”

Sgt. Payne selected an image from the numerous that had been uploaded to the Aegis’ databanks. Ashton didn’t know how the man could easily sift through that much information so quickly, but then again, he never trained to be part of the bridge crew’s communication department. With several broad strokes on the keyboard, Sgt. Payne magnified a spot on the image. Applying several filters, he managed to zero in on the disturbance the sensors had caught.

“What the hell?”

“Exactly. It’s a blur of red. A tornado in the middle of the desert? Here? Not a fat chance. Especially red.

“That is a cause for concern. Have you contacted the Captain?”

“He’s not answering if he is still sober. That’s the problem with top ranking officials from rich families. They get hitched on the booze once they get the all clear.”

Ashton wanted to defend the Captain, but he knew that something wasn’t right. The Captain hadn’t been acting his normal self lately. Letting Payne’s comment slide, he stared intently at the red blur. Something felt off about it, more so than normal.

“Keep monitoring the situation. Inform the security team topside.”

“Already did. No one’s picking up.”

Groaning, Ashton left the bridge, quickening his pace. He had to get someone topside notified. Having a big party didn’t mean you could just slack off. A war is going on, and they couldn’t afford to relax. On the wall, a panel half hidden by a sign began blinking. Then the tremors started, which began

#

The atrium that stood in the center of Mase Hall is a spacious one. It was designed to be both a concert hall and a place where public forums could take place. There hadn’t been a concert performed there in decades, instead it had been retrofitted to be more accommodating towards politicians and their tendencies for maximum comfort. However, for just the night, the atrium had been transformed into its previous state. A place where people could have fun and where music could float freely through the air.

A band onstage had been playing for several hours. They were the sort that had been common back in the previous century. Nowadays, it was either Girl Groups, Boy Bands, or Jazz. They didn’t play any original songs, their entire line up were classics during Anno Domini. That didn’t stop the guests on the dancefloor from having a good time.

Almost in perfect rhythm, Shay and Lily danced the night away. The songs played were ballads, and rock ballads, slightly fast, but not so fast that one needed a higher level of coordination to follow through. Shay had learned a bit about formal dancing, but since the songs were at a temperate pace, all he had to do was move back and forth, his hands entwined with Lily’s as the music moved through them.

Out of the corner of Shay’s eye, a boy stood in the shadows, his back against the walls. His eyes bore into Shay with an intense flame, and his hands gripped the sleeves of his white uniform, so tight, they became slightly wrinkled.

Kent Arthur is a top tier candidate for graduation from the Cadet Training Program. He had been present when Shay was still enrolled in it and witnessed his failure that led to him being booted. Standing next to him, his friend, Jimmy Macks chatted with his date, a girl of Asian descent named Mei Li. He had never wanted anything in life. He had it all, money, power, and the connections that came from being the son of a rich man with deep pockets.

There was nothing he couldn’t obtain. Nothing too expensive, or too far out of his reach. That is, until now.

“Hey man, you alright?”

Jimmy, his arm locked with his date were ready to head out to the dancefloor.

“Yeah. You go and have fun.”

With a simple shrug, Jimmy left Kent to his devices.

“Shay Kisaragi…. I’ll remember this….”

The music continued in its slow rhythmic march. The dancers became one with the music, letting the natural order of it all take over. What was mere minutes melted into hours, and then those hours became an eternity. Shay never really understood what the magic of romance might have in store for him, but if it was like this, he would never let go.

Eventually, the band began its final song. An old classic called “1 2 3 Kind Of Love.” Shay had never heard it before, but the melody entranced him.

“Hey, Shay?”

“Yes?”

“How long do you think we can keep this up?”

Young love never lasts forever. That was what Captain Hawthorne had said. However, if it did, that love would forever transcend space and time. Maybe Shay wasn’t the best candidate for falling in love, but he wasn’t going to just give up.

“Forever if it has to be.”

Leaning in, Shay’s faced inched closer to Lily’s. Closing her eyes, she didn’t resist as their lips touched together.

Then it all faded to black.