[b]Chapter Three-On the Road Again[/b] Victor was working with Kersina to get a hover transport working again. It was one of her peoples as they spent the last two days getting out of the crater and salvaging both bases. They managed to find a few Hover Scooters but they would not be of any use for long distance travel. Luck seem to be with them as they found a hover transport. Not to mention some supplies from both bases. Even weapons but no power armor or anything like that. Victor surmised that both sides had everything the could field when the incident happened. Anything electrical was fried so were the extra suits. It was strange but both of them had to focus on matters at hand. Getting back and reporting in. " I think that did it. You are more familiar with this tech than i am. I am no great mechanic i just know a bit to fix my tank." He smiled. Kersina came over to inspect his work." It looks good. Even so i am glad i found the technical specs for this thing." Waving to the drivers seat. " Fire her up. I have no idea where the on switch is." Kersina slipped into the drivers seat from the top. Her fingers hit the controls and it came to life after a few hours of work. Lucky for them it had been in for some minor repairs. Whatever had happened to the two armies it did not affect the bunker or what was inside. " We can leave soon." She hopped out and he started gathering the gear. Food water and energy clips. The weapons came next as they found an assortment of weapons from each side. He chose the ARP-12 Assault Rifle. She chose a pistol and they left the rest in the weapons racks in the transport. Back of the transport could hold anything with modular space and compartments. So they could be moved or tucked away to hold large cargo. While Victor was doing that Kersina was inside the fortress accessing maps and downloading them to her Personal Device. She also saved the video or other data on the event onto a Data Crystal. Both of them glad they were heading out now as they were done with the tasks. Both of them quietly got in then drove off down the road leading from the Knights Base. It was an hour before they spoke." I think we need to talk.'"Victor was not surprised at this and he expected it. Kersina continued as she looked around paying attention to the road or any threats. " I do not know how you will be treated if you go with me. If it were up to me i could do what i could for you then send you on your way." Victor sounded very resolute." I do not care. All i had died with my Brigade.I want answers and i will help you find them. We owe it to those who died back there." He was right and they had to get this information into the right hands. Victor admired the Knights. Even a simple transport looked like some kind of alien vessel with a fighter like driver cab. It was dark and it would take him hours to figure out what buttons did what. Yet Kersina drove it as if she belonged. He had to see this thing through. It was the only way they could both live with it. " I know they might not treat me kindly. But a war is still on. Stonewill Brigade holds this area and the Stonewill Regiment is suppose to attack the base here soon. We were suppose to delay you here but that seems moot at this point." Victor sighed." The Local Planetary Government did not like you Knights getting involved and the Kith situation was border skirmishes So now you have a full war on three sides." " The Government here is corrupt. They tried to cheat us out of everything and they refused to send back what our farmers grew. So we had no choice. They stole from us and sold it off. They made an agreement and it would have been honored. As for the Kith they want the rest of the Planet so they see this as a time to prove they can take what they want." It got heated fast yet they were talking in normal voices. " That is why Mercenary work is rewarding if you live through it." Victor sighed as he changed the subject." Speaking of conflict. Did you see what happened? I want to be sure." Kersina sighed glad they were not talking about that. She nodded yes as he continued." It was strange i was heading back to my tank with some reports and coffee when a big ball of energy appeared. Lighting shot out of the sky and fried everything in the crater. Even the trees exploded." " Our recon teams had made contact with you and we were about to engage. Where it came from or how it could do so much damage was crazy. I keep seeing it in my mind and i keep seeing my tank some how shielding me. I woke up being blow ten meters back. When i came to my tank was beside me and some kind of metal out cropping shielded me." He remembered crawling out as the air smelled of Ozone and burned flesh. His tank was upside down burned to a crisp. " I was alone and for the first time i found myself regretting all i had done. I stood in awe of all that happened. But i came on you and one survivor was all i needed to go on. Still i keep seeing that Crater. Monument to my deeds of war or all of war. The hard part is knowing the people are gone." He looked pained quietly finishing. Victor was looking out the window as silence echoed for hours, " We are here." They pulled to a stop seeing smoke fire and war once again. Stonewills Brigade was engaging the Knights base. Thousands of troops were in the area all trying to kill one another. One side or the other will have victory. Fighters flew overhead as other fighters chase them. The sun was setting and they made good time. Much shorter trip than expected. Kersina gunned the vehicle speeding out as a squad of merc's fired on them from the prepared positions they were in. The transport had military grade armor so it was not exactly a tank but it could shrug off small arms E-weapon fire. Making sure the cockpit was sealed as well Kersina swerved the transport back and fourth avoiding fire. A tank tired to hit them but was soon engaged once the Knights inside seen the transport. They barely made it before the tanks second shot hit the top of the base door. opening then quickly shutting the bunker sized door. The had made it under a storm of fire. Kersina stepped out first and then Victor who left the rifle inside. He had his hands up and moved slowly when he got down. A security team took him away and she gave a pained look. Kersina was taken by security over to the knight in charge. " Ah Lady Kersina i was not expecting you? Where are your troops and why are you here?" Kersina pursed her lips." Second Rank Rivistal Jurmund. My troops were lost in battle. Something unexpected happened and i need to get to my Father. " He smiled as it was just an act. But she really knew he desired her more than anything. " That mercenary you have with you? Is he apart of this?" She nodded yes." Do not hurt him. I am taking him to see my father as well. We both were in that event." Rivistal shook his head no." I cannot do that your Ladyship. You see we are under attack as is your father. Simply letting him go with out knowing what he knows would be unfortunate." " As for you, you will stay under my protection. If you say something wiped out an entire force or your forces to be exact then i would like to know what did it?" Kersina shook her head no." I refuse to tell you." Rivistal gave an evil smile." So you say, what if i beat the mercenary silly. He will tell me then so will you. If you wan't me to not hurt him i need to get that information or else i will send in the inquisitor. To pump you full of drugs." Kersina was taken aback. She had no idea he was this ruthless. " Only if you promise that no harm will come to both of us while we are here i will tell you. If not then you will answer to my father." Rvistal expected that." Oh my darling little knight. He has no idea you are here. So you will stay until i have everything. Show our guest to some quarters. She is to stay under guard at all times." Kersina had not expected this. Rivistal was ambitious but she did not think he would go this far. Victor was tossed into security holding area. He landed on the floor. They missed his boot knife so that was good for now. All he needed was a solid plan in case Kersina did not come through. Then he would find her. Standing up all he needed to do was wait a while. His chance will happen. Besides they needed him alive to tell about what went on. He could not explain it but Kersina was his only ally on this forsaken planet. Standing up now and glad to be free of restraints. This was pretty high tech and nothing on the inside to pry open. No he would have to wait when they interrogated him. If the rumors were true the Knights would be pretty brutal so best if he was not interrogated. Sitting down on the bed he waited. He had to be ready for anything. It was the only chance this will work out. Hopefully he could make it back and explain to the Mercenary Board what took place or else this would be his grave.

[b]Chapter Four-Turning Point [/b] Victor expected some one to show but it was the man in charge of this place. The man in black armor had red hair. His smile was cruel as any he had ever seen. Victor had seen that before, so it did not strike him the way the man thought it would. " Am i interrupting you?" The man addressed Victor." I can come back but granted by then you both will sing about all you know." Victor stood up as he was calm collected. The man was trying to unnerve him. " My schedule is open. So let me guess, since she is not with you i take it things have gone bad?" The Knight nodded." Oh yes as she is in custody until i can find out what happened. So the information she copied was encrypted. But it will be a matter of time before i have it and know." The Knight seemed to be very up front about his affairs. " You are a mercenary, one who no doubt will take money for information. I can let you walk out right now. Granted you tell me what happened." Victor smiled." Well before we get to that first i am Sergeant Victor Nelson. Storm Brigade Armor Company. You are?" Victor was starting to get the picture here. He was forming a plan and spring it here. It was his only chance for both of them to get free. " Knight Second Rank Rivistal Jurmund" The man said proudly." I command this Base. As you no doubt seen we are under heavy attack. But i am confident the mercenary's outside have no chance of winning." Giving that arrogant smile again. " So now that we know one another Knight Rivistal, i have an offer. As one man of honor to another. I would like to ask to duel you." Rvistal was surprised. Yet he grinned like a wolf who would devour sheep." So you wish to Duel me? Interesting. So tell me how would this work? Seeing how you are locked up and i can break you both at any time." Victor was certain of that but he would not let that happen. " Good i am glad you are interested. The Deal is if we win you let us go and we in turn do not tell any one about this. So we can continue our mission. I know what you want. If you win we will both tell you what we know and cooperate. It is pretty simple." Rvistal stroked his chin. " Or i could drug the both of you. Beat you until she tells me or you break down when i can have everything. But you do amuse me and it would be much more fun to see you hurt or even die. She will stay here if you win. So that way you never tell any one. Prepare yourself as in the next hour i doubt you will be alive." The Knight walked out confident he would win. Victor could only smile as he had no idea who he was dealing with. Victor was brought out and a practice area was cleared to allow the duel. Rivistal stood with a energy blade in his hand. It was not actual energy. But a blade surrounded by energy to enhance it. The technology of it was quite common to the Knights. Energy cell in the hilt with groves and conduits made it a lethal weapon. A squire handed him a blade as it was the same as Rivistal's. Kersina stood under guard as at least a dozen were guarding. A few snipers lurked above so anything happened he would not last. It had been years since Victor held a blade let alone use one. He swung it around to get a feel for it. " I have snipers watching your every move. If you even try to do anything out of line then you will die." Rvistal pointed them out to make certain it was clear to Victor. It was time to bring back the skills he thought he would never use again. It had been years but he figured he would have to wing it until his form came back. " I understand." Both men got into fencing position. They both fenced but Rvistal was playing with him at first. Then he tried to slash then break Victors defense. A swift parry as he knew the stab would come next. This move was drilled into him as he spun around. Rivistal stabbed nothing as the pommel hit Rvistal in the temple. It only intensified the duel as the two blades sent blue sparks with each cut. Victor was getting his form back when Rivstal sliced into his arm. Yet it had left Rvistal open and he grabbed the other mans arm. Pinning it under his armpit. Head butted Rivstal then disarmed him. Blade to the mans throat. Victor could have killed him. The Snipers got tense as they were aiming for his head. Rvistal started laughing. Standing up." Oh you think you won now. That i will let you go?" Rvistal stood up." I lied to see what you were made of. You clearly had training with our blades. Instead of the sport i was seeking now i will bre-" Then a huge explosion rocked the base. Apparently Rvistal under estimated the mercenary's. Mercenary Commando teams rushed in as well as light hover vehicles. Every one was thrown off feet and the guards were engaging the enemy. Grabbing Kersina hand he stabbed one guard cut down the other. Running before the snipers shot them into the hangar bay. Energy blasts followed as Rvistal was ordering his troops around. Four M.A.S, Knight Types were in the hangar. They stood about thirty feet tall. Hiding behind the legs a pair of guards walked passed and he jumped out catching one by surprise. Victor turned as Kersina took down the other. They grabbed the energy rifles and the weapons belts. " Help me get into one of the M.A.S. Victor. Both of us can get out of here and come back for the information later." Using a terminal Kersina was busy while Victor had the rear covered." Got it." An Accesses ladder came down." Now you also." She moved over to the next terminal and that one was ready to board. More guards showed up so they shot at one another. One guard was hit trying to stop them from boarding the M.A.S. and getting away. Soon Victor was sealed inside the cockpit. Nothing about the manuals he studied on M.A.S. would help here." Hold on a moment while i walk you though how to pilot it. Did you ever study to become a M.A.S. pilot?" " Just the books and a few simulators. It was too expensive for me to do it." he figured out how to radio back." Put on the Knight Suit inside.The spare is inside the seat. Kersina had dispersed the guards with one foot as they were trying to climb aboard or stop them. Victor was able to figure out how to get it out and on. It adjusted to his size then a blue light scanned his face not to mention his body." Unlike normal M.A.S. our armor is connected to it. I was able to bypass the codes using the emergency ones or you would never be able to power it up." The Guards Stood back or were pushing back the enemy. Other Knights soon appeared driving back the Commandos. " Now jump into the air when i do. The engines will kick in. So far only our M.A.S. are able to fly." Base alarms were still going off as Kersina some how opened the docking bay." Now!" Victor thought about jumping and did it as well. The system worked well but he was not used to it. He spun around doing a one eighty before he was able to right himself. " I am going to engage your auto flight system. It will follow me until you get used to it. They flew for about a few hours before they landed in a small canyon. A small river fed into a forest. It was a beautiful place. Wazzit's a kind of bird creature flew off when they landed. Powering down her M.A.S. she came over to help him get out. As he stepped off the lift. She hugged him as it was a joyful moment. Then backing away she came back taking off the armor and using a medical kit. Applied some kind of black goo onto the wound. He did loose some blood but light headed was all. " We can rest here for now. I used to come here to get away. Sensors and Radar do not work well with wildlife." Kersina smiled while patching up his arm." You were lucky as if it hit dead on it would have cut your arm off." Victor smiled as well." Well you know i got lucky. But sometimes you got to make things happen. Be worth it if we were able to be let go like i planned." " How did you learn to fight with a blade? You seemed to have had training at some point." Victor had hoped she did not notice but she was smart." That stuff? Oh it was when i was younger. I wanted to be a Knight but it never worked out." Rubbing the back of his head. " You are strange but in a sort of nice way. Hard to believe you are a mercenary." Victor shrugged." When things don't work out you got to eat right?" She kissed his cheek whispering." You don't fool me. You are a Knight at heart. Thank you for rescuing me." Victor turned beat red." Well umm right." " Now i am going to contact my father. Keep your armor on and inside the M.A.S. I am not sure if they tracked us or not. But likely Rvistal will tell everyone i some how betrayed our Order. He will never break my codes as only my father or my self can open it." She took the strange medical kit with her and got into her M.A.S. Victor did the same as he needed some rest. Loosing blood and all the action was wearing him out. Kersina called over." I can't get any signal. The Area is being Jammed by the Mercenary's and Rivistal. We should move out and head to my father." Both of them flew up and Victor could see a waypointed course Kersina had put up. Victor hoped things would get worked out for Lady Kersina. It did worry him she would want to know more about a past he tried to keep buried for years now. Yet he was thrust into another conflict with Knights. All he could hope for is this time it turns out better. As a mercenary people don't ask many questions.

[b]Chapter Five-Fallen Knight[/b] Kersina landed in her fathers private hangar untouched. Rivistal had lied about that as well. Victor getting the hang of the M.A.S. learned fast as he set down with a bit of help from the computer. They both met up into the tunnel leading into the castles inner sanctum. Security was very tight here and only the most elite knights who have served many years could be sent here. They breezed past the security checkpoints as they seem abandoned but that was wrong. entering her fathers private chamber at the end. Normally it had two knights at all times. Paintings or Holo images were displayed on the walls sort of like a collection of paintings. Victor stopped once looking at one with a knight." Wait that looks like my grandfather."Kersina turned around to look as well. The Champion and a Order she never heard of. " Knight Champion Guarld Nelson of the Order of the Gryphon" Victor spoke out loud. She tugged his hand and they kept moving as the door cycled open. Her father stood waiting for her just like when she was little. As it was then she ran over to him and hugged him. He held her in his arms as her tears came out. He held her with comfort until she could compose herself. Stepping back next to Victor who stood looking around while the father and daughter moment happened. Kersina dried her tears and reported in. " Knight Third Rank Kersina Lancaster reporting in." Bowing to her father as Victor followed her lead." I see you have a mercenary with you. Ah let me have a look at him." Her father studied Victor." Just as i suspected. Durant Nelsons Son i take it. Grandson of Guarld The Champion." Victor seemed pretty shocked as did Kersina. " I wish i could tell you both that you are welcome here. Rvistal was able to talk to many including me and your Grandfather. We know you did not kill all those men. But as Champion of the Order of the Dragon i had to issue the order for you to be captured if you were seen." Kersina's father looked distressed as a face appeared on a huge monitor. " We know you would never do such things with out good reason. So your father will give you a sum of credits. Before you go a few things must be said. We do need to know what really went on as that is why you cam here." Kersinas Grandfather spoke from his red white throne. " We were attacked by some unknown alien weapon. The kind Grandfather used to tell stories about. The First Ones, I think it is. A ball of energy exploded destroying both sides in mere seconds." Kersina handed a data crystal to her father." I have made copies and you know the password father." Kersina followed her father over to a terminal. " Come here closer to the monitor as i need a good look at you. Ah yes Geruald's grandson. You look like your father but you have your Grandfathers bearing." Victor got closer." My Granddaughter will need protection and help. We are in a way paying for that." Victor understood now. " My lord if i might. I would do so free of charge. We have pledged to do this together. Find out who or what devastated us before battle. Many good men and women were lost. I will take care of her and i will do all i can for her. I swear it." Kersina's Grandfather smiled. " Very good now i need to look at what they are viewing. We are paying you so you do it right and i owe your late Grandfather. We were friend's and Knights who wanted to take on the universe." Victor stepped away from the monitor and joined Kersina. " I am Duncan Lancaster. Champion of the Order of the Dragon. I knew your father when when we trained. He was my rival for many years. Unlike my Father we never became friends. But i did respect him and his talents. Tell me is he still alive?" Victor shook his head no." I am sorry my Lord but my father became a mercenary and died in the battle at Tursen Flux. My mother still lives but i have not seen her in ten years." Duncan smiled while working the terminal." It was just like him to get into a huge battle he could not win." " Now both of you will take a ship from here. Your M.A.S. are loaded on board. After seeing this i can see you were falsely accused. However it does not serve the interests of our order to start infighting when we are under heavy attack. I am permitting you to both leave for a mission." Kersina was shocked as her father was going to be fine with this? " This quest is the same one you started. Rvistal has many younger knights ears and should it be a conflict we will loose the coming battles ahead. I am sorry Kersina but we must use this to get to the weapon. Rvistal is needed to fight the mercenary's." Duncan sighed putting a hand on Kersina's shoulder. " You would never betray us that we knew but this confirms it. Also he has a data crystal as well. So both of you will travel to Orbitius. Gather troops then search for this weapon. You will be on your own. Once you have succeeded. We will reveal the truth. Be warned others might be searching for this as well." Kersina's father handed them a small credit box the size of an old music box. " I cannot say what you will face or the struggles. But i am trusting the Sergeant to protect you Kersina. You are my pride and joy. If he succeeds then the Order of Gryphon can return. This discovery can not fall into the wrong hands. It is likely we will never be able to talk again until you find it. Once you do contact us." Her father giving over the codes needed. " Now i ask both of you to depart. Grandfather has much work to do and as do i to cover our tracks. If you are captured by the Order of the Dragon we will not be able to help you. I pray both of you can bring this war to an end. So we may face the Kith united. Even now they are making bold strikes while we battle one another. The central government has no intention of giving up power or control." Turning they both left through another door and an assault shuttle waited for them. Both M.A.S. Knight Mechs were on board. They blasted off and coordinates to a mercenary cruiser in orbit were locked in. Soon they would hitch a ride as Kersina had to leave the life she had lead behind. Falsely branded a traitor she had to bear it for the good of all. The both of them were survivors. Both of them took this burden and then will use it to bring the war to an end. Kersina piloted the shuttle as Victor was in the other seat making sure they were on course. She would be entering his world and would need him more than ever in the coming days. Yet she had strong feelings for him. He seemed to not notice at times. All this at once was pretty scary.

[b]Chapter Six-A Knights Tale[/b] Kersina was in the [i]Strikebreaker[/i] mess hall with Victor. Apparently this cruiser they spent the past few days on had been apart of the Storm Breakers transport. Thinking back to the meeting with the Captain of the ship. He did seem a bit odd. Kersina with Victor entered the cluttered office. The Captain enjoyed collecting old Terran books. He had a bookshelf not to mention a few things like a hat rack made of solid oak. Some of it was new but it was crafted as antiques. A few paintings hung on the wall of ships. Some of them were old sailing ships. " Glad both of you could make it." The Captain waved to both comfortable chairs. They sat down as the Captain stood addressing himself. Also he had the shutter opened as that was an excellent view into space through the window. " I am Captain Wagner Deleterious. Commander of the [i]Strikebreaker[/i]. You won't find any finer vessel that is mercenary. Now Sergeant or should i say Major. You are in command of the ground complement. Whatever you decide to do i must inform you of two things." They both listened to the captain as he looked out into space. " First that this vessel's name not be changed. It was stipulated before i took command. Second i run the naval part of the unit. I am an owner so that would make me in command for the time being. However once things get straightened out you likely will be commanding the ground forces." Victor looked a bit shocked. " I am assuming since the Knight came here of her own free will she is going with us yes? Also i have no intention of being in command. You can rename the unit as you see fit. Now the survivors will need to be taken care of and funds will be needed for you to get a ground complement." Victor seemed a bit depressed on this mention of things. Kersina felt the same way as her troops were annihilated at the same time. " We did find a few survivors in the area you both gave us. My marines have them stabilized but it will be months before they are able to return to duty. A total of sixteen survivors. Seven of the Order of the Dragon. Nine Storm Breakers. Five are in critical condition. The others should make a full recovery." " We documented the area. All findings will be forwarded to the Mercenary review board. The information you both gave me was helpful. Now was there anything else you wanted to discuss?" Victor stood up and addressed the Captain. " So am i brevetted to Major then? None of the other commanders survived?" pausing for a moment Victor collected his thoughts." What i would like to do since you forwarded the company TO&E, Our investments and other information. Our extra armor weapons and anything out of date except a few to honor those who came before us." Victor said this with a heavy heart. " Half of that should go to the survivors to help those family's. A quarter of that will help us get new gear. The other quarter the payroll we have now. Not to mention when we hire again. Also this is going to be another part owner. She is investing into the unit." Victor waved at Kersina who smiled at the Captain. " We talked about it on the way here. The Order of Sin. Will be the new unit now. Also we have a mission that will need to be done after we do a few contracts to get money in and our unit established.I cannot go into details about it now. With the funds we should have we could gather an entire regiment but were going to make a special forces battalion." Kersina talked with him as they came to an agreement. That alien super weapon could take out an entire army. They needed more than standard troops. " Model it more like a Knight Order. I know we will have to pay extra but it will be worth it as we can travel with cover names and identity's. We got the partial payment for this contract so that with the rest should be plenty for us to shop around for troops and the equipment we will need. If i missed anything let me know Captain." Victor sat down and Kersina stood up now. " Captain, while i have not been here long i wish to convey that the details of the event be kept in secret. That who i am will be kept that way also. I Kersina Landcaster of the Order of the Dragon am falsely accused of treason. In order to get the information needed i plan on investing into the unit with the money i was given." Kersina was being resolute but in a cute way. " Both of our units suffered great loss. The Major has pledged to find out what did this as i have. Further i plan on training the Major to become a Knight. I shall help train any or all i can. I forwarded my skills and i have trained several hundred soldiers to knights." She sighed as it was hard speaking about the ball of energy that nearly killed her. It took her friends away. It shattered so many others lives. Now she felt better but so much needed to be done. " Thank you Lady Kersina of the third rank. Once we get to Orbitus they can convert your rank into mercenary terms. You are equal to a captain but since i am a captain of this vessel. Those addressing you will call you Major. Thank you both as i am sure we will get along just fine." Kersina had been playing with her instant mash potatoes for a while now. " It will be fine Kersina." Patting her hand as he some how sensed she needed that." Lady Kersina i must say you look stunning in that jumpsuit. You know we can head down to deck seven. Shoot pool and drink beer to those we lost. Give them a proper send off." Victor was smiling at her. " Knights hold a parade and honor them." He patted her shoulder." We will i promise." Kersina looked into his eyes. He really means it." We should have a memorial with honors so everyone can pay respects." Nodding Victor cheered her up." Once we get you cleared i am sure that will be in order." " Better hurry up were jumping soon." Kersina could hardly eat and Victor did not eat much as well. Both of them had bad dreams at night. They both had Survivors guilt and she thought about going to the doctor for treatment. Also she was worried for Victor. He seemed fine on the outside but inside she knew he was going through hell just like she was. A woman approached putting her hands down on the table. A fierce look in her eyes. Victor had emptied his tray and sat down at the empty table. No one wanted to sit with the both of them." So you are the dirty tramp that killed my husband." Two other women were with her. " Come on Linda. I told you this was a bad idea." Linda was a pretty blonde who wore a tech jumpsuit." You want to walk away from the table. Leave us alone before i order it." With that Linda cast Kersina a venomous glance. Kersina looked down at her food the entire time. " Come on you are not going to eat that anyways." Kersina agreed dumping the tray following Victor who took her to the best spot in the ship. The Park was a small park with real grass and plants. It also had a great view into space. A cherry blossom tree grew on the grounds. Huge transparent duraglass windows that had shutters for battle. Yet the view was unmatched. They sat silently on a park bench looking out. Then the both of them went to the Club having a few drinks. Toasting the people they lost. Kersina lost track of time after that. She woke up next to Victor. Both of them had passed out in his officers Cabin. She was fully dressed and he was sleeping. She just fell back to sleep next to him. They had jumped but the both of them had been drinking at the time. A buzzing later woke up both of them. Victor hit the terminal. A young Ensign smiled as her voice was chipper." Major the Captain requests you on the bridge. We are docking into Orbitus." Nodding as Victor rubbed one eye and yawned." Tell him i will be there soon." The terminal on the nightstand blinked out. " Well lets get to the bridge. Wait till you see Orbitus." Kersina rather seduce Victor but she had plenty of time to do that." Right the bridge!" They did what they could to wake up. Both took a shower. Then headed up to the bridge. The Captain with the crew had been waiting. " So reports of you drinking on deck seven were correct." Victor looked embarrassed." Sorry Captain if we were too loud." Captain waved at him." I would not worry about it. You broke a few glasses and while loud were very entertaining or so my X.O. Said so when she came in late for her shift. " I heard that Captain Sir!" X.O. Carla Brown said with a smirk. " Don't mind the Captain. I really do things around here. If he did not have me this place would fall apart." The Captain smiled." Carla don't you have to go see the Chief Engineer. Last time we came into port he was drunk as a skunk." Carla stepped into the lift." Yes sir Captain, make sure you be nice!" The doors closed and Carla was gone. " Helmsmen bring us into Orbitus." The man at the helm nodded." Aye Captain." The Communications officer from earlier. The young Ensign called in." This is [i]Strikebreaker [/i] to Orbitus control. We are ready to dock. Is it clear?" They heard back from Orbitus Flight Control." Copy [i]Strikebreaker[/i] you are cleared to dock at hub twelve." The ship accelerated slowly as other ships were flying all around the huge asteroid. Orbitus was one huge asteroid in space. It was a former mining station before pirates then mercenary's used it. It has state of the art defenses. A fleet dedicated to the Mercenary Guild to keep the peace. They take no sides and maintain relations with many. If you need a mercenary to do a job this was the place. Kersina was in awe.

[b]Chapter Six -Founding of Sin[/b] Victor sat enjoying a drink at an old dive his old buddies used to drink at. The Storm Breakers were gone but he still remembered them in his own way. The past month was hectic with knight training and meetings with the Mercenary Review Board on what happened. The video Kersina showed and the promise this secret never got out. If anything the Mercenary Guild was discreet and kept information private on all sorts of matters across the stars. The Order of Sin was created after he had gone through the painful process of getting the Licence to operate as a special forces unit. Kersina had to go through qualifications as well as he did. He inherited the Storm Breakers old facility's and the debts were settled. Those lost who had family's were happy when they heard he had added more than what life insurance could cover. It was not much but many of them would be supported for years. Plus any future contracts will add to the fund. Lawyers and other legal affairs is what consumed most of the month. Not to mention the rest of it. Getting it all sorted out he decided to have a drink alone. He was Major Victor Nelson now. Once they leave he could use an alias with the unit and no one would be the wiser. Thinking back to a conversation he had with Kersina. After they had gotten done with training for the day. She invited him to share a beer and talk. " You are getting better. Soon i will have you drive that M.A.S. as if it were second nature. All the skills here will help you with that. But i wanted to talk to you about something." He sat down taking the offered beer. They both cracked open it. If anything Kersina had good taste even in the mundane. Taking a swallow yep he knew it. " Sure Kersina ,i mean we been jumping through so many hoops. I feel like my ass will catch on fire." She giggled as he did get her cracking up at jokes sometimes." I want to get serious. What do you know about the Knights?" Victor thought back over twenty years ago. " I just know that my Grandfather was betrayed and he fought for what he thought was right. My father told me this but never explained. I know very little that is not common knowledge. Like how the Orders were established by the Dark Ones or the Alekenish race. That once they were in service to them and a great hero was able to repay a debt." Kersina listened then nodded. " Correct, we then set out searching for a planet to settle on as was intended before. We had no intentions of being apart of the Dark Ones forces for long. Our colony had gotten lost and we came to Maelstrom with the technology we had been allowed to keep." Kersina took a swig of her beer sliding down the wall of the practice area. She took a seat cross legged. " It is why we guard it so well. Why no other can used it. It is genetically encoded to us. It took us a hundred years to win our freedom. The price was imprinting those Knights who were allowed to form Orders. That is why both of us can Drive the Knight M.A.S. and use the technology." Victor was amazed at all of this. He was never told this at all. Not once by his father or mother. " The Central Government had peaceful people but resentment grew and they could not understand why we were not able to share. We did in our own way. Then the Incident with your grandfather made things worse. Some one manipulated it all but no one could figure it out. Not even my Grandfather." Kersina sounded unusually depressed when she spoke about the subject. " So your order was disbanded for protecting those who had instigated it all. It is not war it is genocide to us as they will have to kill each one of us or find some way of getting our genetic material to use our technology. Had they listened then this whole stupid war would not have started." Victor nodded as he finished the beer. " You have seen ten years of war. Things i have yet to see. Good or bad, people hire mercenary's to get the job done. But i am glad you are here and now. That we can both find answers some how. That is why we need to protect our identity's. You will be Lord Sin and i will be Lady Sin." Victor did agree but it made it sound like they were married. " So be it then. Once we get our special forces licence we can start recruiting." Victor remembered all this well. Finishing his drink he was going to be late to meet the new recruits. Grabbing his black leather jacket off the chair. It had the new Order of Sin logo on the back. Checking his watch then moving through the crowds of people before getting on a lift. Stepping off he walked into the old Storm Brigade compound. Order of Sin banners hung outside and inside. Kersina stood in a black leather outfit. The Sin Logo was on her back as well. They had two dozen men standing at parade rest.Waiting on him to arrive. Greeting Kersina with a simple nod Victor came to a halt in front of the men." Greetings, i am Major Victor Nelson. This is Captain Kersina.Lancaster. Each one of you were hand selected by both of us." Standing aside letting Kersina speak. " Both the Major and my self had you run though those hologram training rooms. Not to mention others who applied. You all have over four years in the Black Ops field. Granted we are both new to it. We will learn from you." Victor smiled stepping forward. " We are grateful each one of you are here. Those who did qualify and might be selected will be up to each of you. That will form the teams. Teams of Six Commando's lead by a officer and sergeant. In some cases this might not happen but one of the two." " Yet to succeed in your missions. You will need support. We have gotten some pilots and gunships. Tanks and even M.A.S. to Artillery. I have recruited some of the best mercenary's i could find. From this pool our Commando's will be able to train others." Victor paced in front of them. " No one outside of this room knows who we really are. We will be addressed as Lord and Lady Sin. Each one of you have your assignments. Make sure you are on the [i]Strikebreaker[/i] at 0900 tomorrow with your team fully selected. Her ladyship has gotten us a contract with some old contacts. " Dismissed." Kersina and Victor headed back to the Commanders office. The commando's all exited the common room" Nicely done." He opened a bottle of scotch." Drink up this is from earth. Don't ask how much." He handed Kersina a glass and they sat quietly enjoying one another company. It was moments like this in the quiet you love to enjoy. They both knew this would be rare in the future. They were taking a whole battalion of well trained troops into battle. It was a huge undertaking and yet they knew they could not fail. It took all they had and then some to get to this point. Three months later after that day. Victor kept dreaming about it. Kersina did as well. They had to one day face those Nightmares.

[b]Order of Sin[/b] Table of Organization. Mercenary Company: Extended Battalion C.O. Lord Sin(Major Victor Nelson) X.O, Lady Sin(Captain Kersina Lancaster) M.A.S. Company Captain: Jeffrey Jones 14 pilots. /52 techs Two Knight M.A.S. Non-Knight M.A.S:. One Scout Lance. One Medium Lance One Heavy Lance One Company of Tanks Captain Abigail Dubai 64 Tankers/ 48 Mechanics One Lance of Medium Tanks One Lance of Medium APC's One Lance of Scout Tanks One Headquarter Lance 1st Marine Combat Company Captain Trevor Bronze 112 Marines/ 11 medics 1st Platoon: 35 Troops 2nd Platoon 35 Troops 3rd Platoon Artillery .35 Troops (3 Artillery guns) Headquarters squad 7 troops. 2nd Marine Company Captain: Ling Sing 112 Marines/11 Medics 1st platoon combat engineers 35 troops 2nd platoon Military Police 35 troops 3rd platoon Heavy Weapons 35 troops Headquarter squad 7 troops Commando Company Captain: Hernandez Rodriguez A squad 7 Commandos B squad 7 Commandos C squad 7 Commandos D squad 7 Commandos E squad 7 Commandos F squad 7 Commandos G squad 7 Commandos H squad 7 Commandos I squad 7 Commandos J squad 7 Commandos K squad 7 Commandos L squad 7 Commandos Squads have one Officer or Sergeant in command. One medic per squad. One Sniper and a Demolitions expert. Squadron of Gunships:12 Medium Gunship Transports/96 mechanics/flight crew Flight of Six Medium Fighter/Bombers/51 flight crew/6 pilots Naval Assets: [i]Excalibur[/i] class Cruiser. Six Armored Transports and one Assault Shuttle. Six Medium Fighters

[b]Chapter Seven[/b]-Tides of War Lieutenant Jasmine Mai sat down in Echo squads meeting room to hear Lord Sin speak. [i]Strikebreaker[/i] was one of the best ships she had ever been on. Holo table to the Commando's weapons lockers were well kept. Even for a fifty year old T.U.F. ship it looked nearly new. Not like some of the mercenary ships she had been on in the past. Ageing rust buckets that were pulled from scrap yards. Yet here the air filters were not thick. Nor did they have a decay smell to them. The rest of her team sat down as the Holo table lit up. " Ah good they are starting." Gunnery Sergeant Mathew Crenshaw her heavy weapons expert sat down. He had skin like bronze and he was large even for some one from New Alexandria. It was 10:00 hours Orbitus time as Jasmine had just met her team. " Thank you all for being apart of the founding of the Order of Sin. We took only the best and put others on hold." Lord Sin spoke to everyone in some kind of black armored suit." We have a contract to get to and Lady Sin was instrumental in it. So i will let her give the briefing." Lord Sin was replaced by Lady Sin. She wore the same kind of armor. " Thank you Lord Sin. Our first contract will be on the planet Zilos three. Our job is to rescue Doctor Bryce Schultz a lead scientist on Xenology. Intelligence indicates they are at the main compound. We believe it is a Corporate security force who has tried to scare off any from the dig site." Lady Sin had opened a star chart then a three-d render of the planet. " Also we have no idea what mega corporation it is but they could not have landed a sizable force with out ships. So we have contracted a few other ships to escort us in. Our employers have faith in us. So let us do this right. We do our job and go home." Maps had changed to a small Jungle area where the dig site was. Plenty of places for enemy's to hide. But the main compound was built like a bunker into a rock face. Signals changed as this was only for Commandos as the holo image flickered. "Commando's it will be your job to locate enemy forces. Call in gunships or airstrikes to artillery. We need to cut the enemy's communications or figure out how many they have. You will be sent down first in a pod." Lady Sin was being through and concise. "Your LZ will depend on the squad. Yet know the rest of the main force will arrive three clicks back. If you can get to the doctor do so. You will have a free hand in what you do. Information is top priority then anything you can destroy or learn. We are treating this as it we are heading into a hot zone." Lady Sin expanded all the drops sites and Echo squads lit up as a green carrot. " As normal we will drop decoy pods in case they have triple A guns. Fighters will be on station in case of air strikes. Gunships will take some time. We have way pointed areas of interest in the ruins. Our employer is concerned about any damage to them or artifacts being removed. That is all" Lady Sin vanished as her image faded. It was replaced by Zilos three. " Looks like we have our Mission right L.T. ?" Shade spoke the team sniper. Jasmine nodded." Right i know were all new as a team. Like me you all have what it takes to be Commandos. I chose each one of you due to your skills that match up with hitting hard and fast. Lets get prepped before we jump" Her squad sprung into action. All of them were four year veteran commandos. Not to mention four years as a mercenary before being allowed to enter the program on Orbitus. To think they had twelve squads of commandos just like those under her command. Not to mention the rest of the outfit. The equipment lockers were open as each commando dressed for battle. On the far wall were the powered armor suits. Each one enhanced the users strength and agility. They came in three types. Scout, Normal and Heavy. Powered armor varied from race to race and each company made different styles. Jasmine had a special normal model that was a blend of scout and normal combat suit. It was paid from her own pocket but allowed her to command a squad from a distance. Commando's were allowed to have customized weapons. Even special equipment that normal soldiers did not. Mercenary's were not like the shiny militia or regular units you see. Some could look dirty or unkempt. Yet it was the care of the equipment that told a different story. Any good mercenary unit took good care of it's equipment. Jasmine had seen one merc unit that did not. They ended up loosing due to equipment failures. Good thing she never signed on with them. She checked the egg like pods. Each was painted white. Each normally was guided in by a sensor beacon but then she felt the ship jump. It was in her nature to make sure all the equipment was working right. Green lights on the pods mean they had been checked over. Satisfied now as she went to hop into her armor. Jasmine had some free time till they launched so she grabbed a touch screen personal Information Device. or PID. She sat down and began to read her book from a data chip she got from Orbitus. Her equipment had been checked over three times to make sure nothing was missed. Victor stood on the Bridge with Kersina and the Captain. It was a good thing the Captain had friends on independent ships. A small corporate fleet of ships orbited the planet. Besides the [i]Strikebreaker[/i] a destroyer, light cruiser and a carrier all were contracted to escort them in. The Captain sighed seeing the symbol of the ships." Damn it is Matrix Unlimited. I bet they are artifact hunting."Captain Deleterious stroked his chin. "Captain, looking at each ship we come up with at least a regiment of troops on planet." Carla Brown hung off the back of one of the crewmen chairs. She was studying the readings. " Looks like were about equal."Victor said as the Captain agreed." We will get you to the ground. Then pull back as those are all light cruisers. They will have reinforcements in soon. Our employer did agree to get a force here in due time. But if we get you on the ground now you can be resupplied pretty easy with out detection." The Captain mulling over this as he had to take them by surprise. " Alert the other ships Carla. Deploy fighters and let the crew know to be ready. I suggest Lord Sin you get your troops into the transports. I do not want to hang around long. We do not have the numbers for a prolonged space battle." Lady Sin was heading to the bridge lift and was on her way giving orders. " Do not worry Captain we will not tarry. Godspeed Captain." Lord Sin followed Lady Sin Once the bridge was clear the Captain started giving orders. They closed in on the corporate ships and they let loose with a volley of javelin missiles. They were trying to radio his ships before one of them was hit pretty bad. The Light Cruiser had gotten it's energy barrier up just in time. Still the kinetic force took it down doing major damage to it's port side.If anything Matrix Unlimited did not spare any expense on new technology's for its private fleet. The other ships launched fighters and proceeded to get into E-weapon range. Fighters were having a huge dogfight as the [i]Strikebreaker[/i] took on two ships at once. Space was silent with flashes of light only being the indicators that any kind of fight was going on at all. The Carrier [i]Apocalypse[/i] sent in fighter bombers while it's interceptors were engaging the corporate fighters. They swooped in to hammer the Light Cruisers but were met with laser anti-aircraft turrets. The Captain knew his chance had come when one of the Light Cruisers were crippled." Carla let Lord Sin know it is time for them to launch." Carla smiled." Right Captain." " Captain says it is time now Lord Sin." Victor nodded." Thank you Carla." Switching over his Com." Attention to all Order of Sin Personnel. We are dropping in hot. L.Z. might be contested so be careful down there." His Knight M.A.S. cockpit glowed softly in the now depressurizing launch bay. His M.A.S. Like Kersina's were fitted with heat shielding for reentry. Six black fighters would escort the transports as well so that was a good thing. Engaging engines like he had been practicing letting his body do the work. He jumped in the cockpit and was followed by Kersina. Once they were formed up with the Transports they could see the space battle unfolding. Captain true to his word kept up the attack until they were clear. The four ships pulled back from the Matrix Unlimited ones. Victor now had the job of getting his people on planet.

[b]Chapter Eight-Planet Fall[/b] Lieutenant Jasmine Mai launched her pod. It had a small booster engine that separated once they hit atmo. Her pod rotated onto the homing beacon. The pod was the most advanced one person travel system ever invented. The outer shell was a plasti shell that acted as a heat shield on reentry. Her pod bounced as the controls or other sensors blinked. She always got panicked a little. Past the shell was a gel layer she could see. A control console was mounted in front of her chair. Once the turbulence stopped it was free fall. Small thruster jets adjusted her course. It helped her keep a decent speed. Screaming in like a meteor was not how you end up in once piece. Then the outer shell becomes a soft gel and fills up the pod. It is like a rubber ball hitting a surface. Instead in this case it bounces on the ground rolling into trees. The pods are able to float on water. The pod slammed into the Jungle as the plasti shell broke away. Her pod came to a stop. Then the gel turned back to liquid again stowing away into the pod. She was upside down. Her power armor hung suspended in the air. Now feeling the gravity of the planet. Hitting the restraint release Jasmine pulled her self out of the soft ground. Animal sounds came off distant. Getting her feet under her she made her way to solid ground before calling in. Weapon ready for anything. The power armor had no internal weapons so her E-Weapon was a Scoped Assault Rifle. " Echo Four calling Echo Squad do you read?" Waiting a few moments before calling again." One-three reading you loud and clear boss." The voice of Sergeant Jaxon Lexington her demolitions specialist." Some solid ground ahead meet up with you at that location." Jasmine shook her head yes" Copy" Half an hour later she met up with Jaxon. They quietly moved through the jungle finding the others using the squads locators on the HUD. Gunny had the rest waiting for them to arrive." Ma'am" Crenshaw looked like he was at home out here. The rest were waiting with weapons pointed in every direction. " Matt lets head to a point of interest and see what we can see. I am sure command will like that." Nodding to the L.T." You heard the lady lets get a move on. "Corporal Elnora you are on point." The Medic did not look like much but she was an expert with knifes. Not something to take lightly. All Jasmine could think of it is a stroll through the jungle. You needed EVA suits due to bugs animals not to mention anything else here. The powered armor acted as such giving assistance to a person. It was a sealed environment for underwater or use in space. The Mercenary version was a military model with armor and sensors that allowed it to fight in any weather or conditions. It had armor not to mention the mechanical strength to rip steel like cardboard. The seven commandos vanished into the jungle. " Sir were under attack. Those Corp Security were waiting for us when we landed!" Captain Trevor Bronze was shooting while he reported to Victor." Get the Armor out to help you. Lady Sin and my self will fly over to assist you." Captain Bronze spoke quickly." We have the armor out sir. The Artillery can't be set up until we get the area clear. Can we get gunship support?" " Hold them off we will come right away." Switching to a private channel to Kersina." We got to help the marines." Kersina radioed back." Lets go." Before he left issuing instructions to head for the Doctors Compound. Both Knight M.A.S. flew up in the air. Victor knew sending the fighters would not help. Not in this dense of a jungle. Exact coordinates were needed. Even the M.A.S. sensors had a hard time penetrating the jungle canopy. They landed where the friendly carrot's, showed his marines and armor were. He landed then fired the E-beam guns. They destroyed two armored Matrix Unlimited tanks. He next opened the mini-Eball launcher bays. They locked onto the security forces and sent the small balls of destruction raining down on them. The Corporate forces fell back as the marines kept shooting until they were gone. Tanks showed up to fire a few shots and soon the Jungle was silent. Two smoking scout tanks were a reminder to all here that. The enemy would not leave with out a fight. Victor planned on giving them a fight that would send them begging to the mega corp to leave this place. In about an hour they were able to off load all tanks and set up the fire base. Second Company's MP's would guard it as the rest would push on forward. The Gunships arrived and soon were ready to do missions. The fighters much like the gunships would need space. Combat Engineers arrived to take care of that. They set about fortifying the Fire base. It took about three hours to get everything combat ready. Troops headed further into the jungle with armor and M.A.S. units to link up with the Commando squads. The overall objective was to reach the Doctor. Victor was glad now that the huge 120mm artillery guns were ready to fire. Each could rapid fire three round bursts. He was stuck coordinating things here at the Fire Base command center. Kersina was leading forces deeper into the jungle. He had hoped to learn more about what is going on here and why a Mega Corp wants to risk open war to be here. As information came in it became clear. Matrix Unlimited wanted to steal what it could. So they had to put a stop to it right away.

[b]Welcome V-net user.[/b] Search: Zilos 3 [b]...loading..connected[/b] [b]Zilos 3 is a planet that was Terraformed 200,000 years ago. Ruins dot the jungle planet surface. Class two hard suits and weapons are advised as it has a very hazardous environment. Not to mention lethal animals. All of the ecosystem is very primal.Who or what changed a dead planet into the live one today is being investigated. For more information contact the Terran Xeno University Group.[/b] Search:Orbitus [b]...Loading..Connected[/b] [b]Orbitus is home of the Mercenary Guild. It is also home to dignitary's and is neutral ground for any government. Best known as a training ground for mercenary's. The Huge 300 Km asteroid started out as a simple mining station. Current Population is two million. It has been twice that during big wars.[/b] Search: Maelstrom [b]Processing...Connected. Malestrom:A world settled by humans three hundred years ago. Kith settlers also landed on the planet about the same time. Named for being near the Maelstrom of cosmic events. Ships have gone missing in the dark nebula. The planet and it's system are not far away from the phenomena. Currently Home to the Knights, Settlers and Kith. Population is just over twenty million. [/b] [b]User:LOS logging out. Thank you for using V-net[/b]

[b]Chapter Nine-Pay Dirt![/b] Jasmine was watching a mobile command center from a small hill. Her commando's were spread out in the trees. It had taken them hours to find anything. The Security Forces were clever but she was able to figure out the layout of the base. A vehicle yard was hidden behind digital cammo panels. The panels were perfect for setting up ambushes or keeping hidden. Sensors could not pick them up and they reflected the background. All you would see is the jungle had you not known what to look for. Security Patrols of four guards. seem to be guarding the perimeter. Stand up automated defense turrets were placed at each corner. Hidden camera's.not to mention probes that would investigate any anomaly if it got close. Worst of all was that they also had power armor as well. So only one thing to do. Gunny had set down his backpack mortar launcher a long time ago. He had been quietly setting it up to fire. Crenshaw just needed her to give the word. Unlike the tubes of the 20th century. This incorporated many advances. Light weight metals to make it strong but light. You could slide an ammunition clip into the base. It came with three and could be modular. Most Heavy Weapons carried it as a backpack on the Heavy Powered Armor they wore. Other advances like advanced targeting system and ordinance design. One of those rocket like rounds could nail a earth squirrel while he tried to get into his hole. The missile system allowed for different types of warheads. Crenshaw had selected EMP type for this strike. Jasmine made a bird call over the com alerting her team that this was the signal to attack. Crenshaws EMP rounds came in as they detonated on key areas. The Command center went dark. They had to hit before the back up generators kicked in. Shade's sniper rifle E-beam smashed into the engine of the first Hover Military Vehicle. It had an automated mobile 2Omm E-weapon Gatling Turret. Now it was a smoldering wreck of metal. Shades sniper rifle could take out tank engines if she could get the right shot. Jasmine brought her own E-Weapon up scoping in on the suited figures ahead. She fired several shots taking down two and wounding another. The fourth ran behind cover and was firing wildly. Shades Second Shot took out the the second HMV engine as it pulled up to engage any targets. It met the same as the first. Jasmine ducked down behind a tree as E-bolts hit trees from near misses. Vegetation was so wet that the beams left steam impacts once the hit the ground or trees. The trees behind her began to fall as she moved forward firing staying low to avoid fire. Shade shot one hidden up in front of her as the man had no head, once she got close. Jaxon met up with her with the rest of her Commandos except the two providing support. Jaxon had placed a charge on one of the powered down gun turrets then meeting up with Jasmine hit the button. An explosion lit up the jungle and they had reached the command center door. The power had come back on. Gunny called out on the team com." Three inbound don't move." the motor rounds guided down on target.they hit two squads of Matrix Unlimited Security. The third hit one of the auto guns sitting on a tripod. Dirt was flying all over and even in Powered Armor it was natural to flinch. The rounds were far enough away that they did nothing to the Commandos. Raven her slicer was at the door cracking it while the rest covered her. It felt good having a team. They were all hand picked by her. Jasmine could feel they would be together for a long time." Door is open L.T." Jasmine got ready for a door breach as the door unsealed. Corporate techs had hands raised with no weapons. They had them all line up with hands behind the backs. Searching rooms for any they missed. Strange thing was they had not one weapon on them. Jasmine tasked Raven with pulling info out of the computers. She would talk to the prisoners." Who is in charge here?" The other commandos searched through closets and any storage compartments they could find. " I am." One woman in a nice mini skirt suit. It was black with low heel pumps. middle aged blond dressed as if she were on earth." Can you tell me why you are her?." The woman tried to not give away any information." Look i am just a minor executive. All we know is that we are studying the artifacts. The Terran United Nations would not give us a proper grant saying the Doctor refused." The woman sighed. " So now we had to come here with armed troops to get a look for ourselves. We do not plan on stealing but we might take a few samples. See for your self." The woman waved at the lab in the back." I can only say that for this section here. The rest you will have to speak to Vice President of Research Howard Valentine." Jasmine nodded." Thank you." Waving to the woman to kneel down with the rest. " Corporal Elnora check that lab since you know something about medical. See if Raven can help you if she is not busy." Elnora nodding as she went into the lab to check it out. " Nothing here ma'am" Jax came out munching on a nutrition bar." Sgt, Jaxon do not hurt them if you can. Get me a line to command. Tell Matt were good here." Jasmine had her work cut out for her but no one needed to die today unless it was necessary. Victor paced around the Fire Base as he got more reports in. They were winning the battles and taking prisoners. The Combat Engineers were putting up SAM Turrets. They had just finished with mines around the walls. Matrix Unlimited was falling back or surrendering. Something was amiss. He could not put his finger on it. Kersina was out there right now suppose to be meeting up with the doctor. Yet what was making him feel so uneasy?

[b]Chapter Ten-Revelations[/b] Kersina landed her Knight M.A.S.crushing a M.H.V. under her foot. Then jumped into the air bringing her mech's sword out cutting the turret off a tank while charging. She was leading the marines in this part of the Jungle to the doctors compound, A few Commando squads had joined her as well. The Matrix Unlimited forces were retreating now. Kersina radioed back to Victor." Lady Sin here. We pushed them back. We should be at the Doctors compound here soon. We are really close." Victor shook his helmeted head." Copy that Lady Sin. Let me know what is going on. Were getting artillery and gunships ready. I expect some kind of response at some point." Kersina could understand that well. " You are right Lord Sin. Lady Sin Out." Kersina felt kind of bad he was not out here leading the rest of them. Some one had to mind the store. The Knight M.A.S. engines kicked on as she got closer to the compound flying ahead of the others. " This is Lady Sin of the Order of Sin. Doctor do not shoot i am here to speak with you." She played the message on replay until some one would pick up. " Team Fox i am heading over to talk to the Doctor. Keep moving ahead and Tell Captain Bronze to keep moving." A mans voice came over the com." Roger That Lady Sin. Fox Three will relay those orders." The leader of Commando team Fox replied. As she approached guns trained on her M.A.S. as she flew in a low pass around the compound. Kersina had reached it and in doing so the hangar bay opened. The Knight M.A.S. lowered down into the dark as what looked like other Knight M.A.S. were in with her. Confused for a moment she did not move. " Speak intruder. you are not with the others outside." Said a female voice apparently from one of the M.A.S." I am of the Mercenary Unit Order of Sin. I am Lady Sin. We were sent here to rescue the Doctor. I was suppose to play a message once i got here." Kersina played the message like she was instructed. A dark ebony face with skin like Onyx. Stringy white hair that ended with pointed ears. It looked middle aged and it had golden eyes. A pause once the other M.A.S. seen the face as it spoke. " Sister, I did get your message. I am not able to come but i got lucky in finding these mercenary's. I told you that running off with out the rest of our order was reckless. Father is upset and mother is very worried.I will arrive soon as i am done here. I hope you found something as they will help with unwanted guests." The message ended with." The leaders are Knights, so i hope you show them respect for coming to save you. Also Little Sister can you stop being a pain in my butt." Message ending now as it was totally silent. " So i guess those other forces are yours that just smashed those Corporate goons?" A Dark One M.A.S. moved forward. into the light." Yes they are." Kersina gave a smile." Good we are close to a breakthrough. I had thought my brother was not going to be able to come." The woman sounded worried. " Lord Sin and my self will make sure that you see your brother again." The Hangar closed now as the lights came on. Kersina was out of her cockpit in no time. Meeting up with the other pilots." The Doctor is this way. Kersina noticed they all wore the same armor. It had grove lines and looked similar to the Knight armor she wore. Except hers looked more human with clean lines. Heading inside two Dark one guards nodded to them as they entered the main complex. Doctor Bryce Schultz was waiting for them with two of her lead scientist. After shaking Kersina's hand in the earth custom." Greetings you must be the ones here to rescue us." Doctor Bryce was a natural blond with good looks. Yet it was her brains that interested those here. " We are studying artifacts here we think are related to the first ones." Kersina was whisked away by the Doctor who explained as they passed through the corridors. " I have a full research staff of over two hundred. Not to mention assistants and students. A small security force before the ladies you met here came to join us. We can stay unsupplied for two months and also we are stocked up for any emergency." Stepping over to a room she typed in a number into a vault. Kersina walked into some sort of white room. It had artifacts all labeled and categorized on metal shelves." All of these are two hundred thousand years old. I have been studying them for a long time. But we found something that no one else did." Pressing other buttons a false wall came down and another vault opened." These are from an armory we think." The weapons looked clean and strangely could be ready to fire. But the two swords caught her eye. They were suspended in air in a shatter proof tube. Kind that museums use to show case old earth blades. Both blades thrummed with power even in the scabbards. One was light blue and dark grey. The other was golden/brass that was elegant to look at. They stepped out of the vaults as each one sealed behind one another. Security was tight as Kersina now noticed automated turrets and armed guards." I need to speak with my men so i can coordinate our efforts." Doctor Bryce nodded as Kersina headed to the hangar bay. Victor needed to hear about the rest as well. Something had touched her mind for just a moment. She was trained to resist such things. Yet did she imagine it or was it real? Something was not right here but it felt distant. Not being able to put her finger on it she got inside her Knight M.A.S. then lifted off to find her forces.

[b]Chapter Eleven-Bad Omens[/b] Victor looked from his monitor to the Matrix Unlimited Executive that Echo squad brought in. They were in his office. All the furniture could be reconfigured or broken down. The whole complex was built like that, yet it could withstand attack. His desk was hard plastic. The monitor slid into the slot for use. As he watched the construction of the entire firebase. His office even had a few cheap paintings and plastic plants. Yet the information he looked over on the monitor troubled him. It was getting dark out and Lady Sin was reported heading back. " I am Lord Sin Commander of the Order of Sin. I am curious why a matrix unlimited executive is hiding in her command center?" The woman had two M.P.s beside her and another two blocked the door. They were waiting quietly at ease and fully ready. " I am Doctor Lisa Kallin, Junior Executive and in charge of the science group. Doctor Valentine with his group were suppose to find anything of value to study. The doctor did not want to share so we had to come on our own. We lost good people and Doctor Valentine found a blade. After that a nano virus started killing people." She sighed sitting in the chair trying to compose herself. " We were working on a solution to it but i fear the source was from the blade. If you noticed you were fighting walking corpses. The other personnel i told to go and hide. The ones you are fighting now are Nano Zombies. That is why we sealed ourselves inside." She began to cry into the sleeve of her navy blue suit jacket. She was not a bad looking woman. Skirt even some low heel dress shoes. Yet the ordeal had taken a toll on her. " I am sorry, just so many died. Vice President Valentine still has the sword. He must be stopped before it spreads. It is a virus that makes them smart. So they can still pilot tanks or powered armor. Just not the way they did in life. I have the coordinates to where the dig site is." Dr Kallin stood up using the terminal near her as a marine helped her log into the map network. Soon he was looking at the site.as he wished they could afford a stealth sat right now. He would have to rely on drones. Kersina arrived stepping in past the M.P.'s as they were finishing up." See to it she is secured and two men stay with her at all times." M.P.s escorted Dr Kallin away as he now sighed with relief. "Tell me some good news Lady Sin?"Kersina shook her head no." Sorry sir as the Doctor seemed fine but she was unconcerned about anything. I felt odd the entire time i was there. Also some Dark Ones were with her." Kersina paused a moment." I did notice people acting as if they were in a trance. Only the Doctor spoke to me and the Dark Ones." Victor did agree that was strange. " Well if they are safe for now we can focus on the new development. A blade was found and i am sending drones to check it out before we send in a team. I am going to lead the team." Kersina blinked for a moment." You..you found a blade? The Doctor had two locked away in a vault with other artifacts?" Victor was in shock for a moment. " Yes that executive said another blade was found and corrupted the Matrix Unlimited force here. Turned them into Zombies i think. We need to make an assault on that place and get the sword before it does more harm. Last thing we need is to turn our own guns on our troops." Kersina agreed as well." Yes, Sir. Also might i make a suggestion?" " Go ahead." Victor nodded. " We have a heavy weapons team standing by in case we need help." Kersina leaned on his desk now. He nodded as that was a good idea. " I agree. We need to get busy so we can hit that place hard and end the conflict. Then deal with the Doctor." They both went about getting things ready. The Drones found some forces did indeed block the cave. They would have to send in an advance force. The good thing was the Artillery could zoom in on them. A few gunships with two Knight M.A.S. would land where the assault force is. The Artillery guns hammered the area and targets. Anti personnel magma shots that could burn through anything. They dropped bomblets that were red balls of death. Anything in the area would be burned or turned into super heated plasma. thirty meters of jungle turned into super heated plasma.The big guns shook the firebase as Victor climbed into his cockpit of the Knight M.A.S. He sent out the task force to cut a path to the door. He would do the rest. He was proud of this unit. They fought knowing he would die for each one of them. He hoped to live and get answers. Powering up the M.A.S. he with Kersina flew off leaving behind the base to a trusted captain. Victor needed answers to understand what was going on here. They would not have much time since the Matrix Unlimited team did not report back. Likely they are readying other mercs to come here to secure what they can or destroy it.

[b]Chapter Twelve-The Legacy[/b] Victor was wearing powered armor like the rest of Gamma Squad. A squad of M.P.'s also accompanied them with a Heavy Weapons Squad backing them up with the rest of the assault force if needed. Fighting also drew attention from beasts. Yet that was behind him as he entered the broken building. It was self evident it used to be a temple of some sort. Old bricks layered with newer technology. Matrix Unlimited had cut the way inside as trees grass and other vegetation were removed. A path was made as they followed a slope that headed down. Soon they were ankle deep in water with lights still being powered by generators.. That is when the Necro Zombies came. Masses of them that were mostly unarmored or had no powered armor. The few that did were cut down pretty quick. E-Weapon fire cut through the bodies like a hot butter knife. When it was done they moved forward. Victor spent a few years as an infantrymen before transferring into tanks. He could hear his old sergeant whispering to him" Still got it Killer?" Yes he still had it. Climbing A Ladder as a lift did not work. They cleared the upper level of the temple that looked old but it was made of metal. They went from room to room burning out or shooting down the dead. A few times Victor punched them off him as his fist smashed through the bodies with ease. They however would be more than a match for humans outside such armor. They numbered sixteen yet they held back the mass amount of Zombies with brutal violence. Soon they came face to face with Valentine and his research team. He had many guards who wore power suits. Dead it made them clumsy. Yet they had the numbers. Both sides rushed one another. E-Beams fired as one M.P. was cut down and brutal force was needed to make room. Kersina had his back as he fought firing hand held E-weapons or tossing grenades. Valentine rushed him with the black blade in his hand. Victor grabbed the hand wrapping his own around the blade struggling. Even for the Power Suit the mechanical strength was straining to hold the super human monster in check. That was when his hands crushed through the soft flesh of the zombies hands like clay. He touched the blade standing still as did all the Zombies. He then was in some kind of dream world. The place he sees in his dreams every night. The Crater of death with machines wrecked. Bodies mixed with the Devastation. Yet other battlefields he did not recognize stretched out around the crater. A man in black armor strode out of the mist of the dream. It wore a black cloak that moved when the wind blew. It removed it's mask as it looked human but more god like. " Greetings, you are the one who i have been seeking. A worthy master to carry me. You carry the scars of battle. You who cheated death. I am the spirit of this blade. I used to be a first one. A Battle master who had no equal. That was until our great empire fell apart." It spoke with strange glittering eyes. " You hold a relic of our age. Our minds have touched as i know you. You who are much like me in my youth. Before i began my fall from greatness. You who have the strength to survive. You who defied death when our army killer fired at you. Many do not know the true you." They Viewed the Crater as he came back from Coffee. The Explosion happened as he grabbed his tank with his mind shielding himself. Victor must have blocked that out as Telekinetic powers were rare in humans. He used his own tank to absorb the impact. How could he have not known? Yet that was the truth of the matter. Zombies rose from the Crater to threaten him and a small band of survivors. He remembered taking Kersina's hand. He was viewing it out side his body. Then his body acted smashing the dead left then right. He would not let them die. He moved fast punching smashing or kicking. The dead fell before his fists. He moved around so they had to go where he wanted. They battled till the last one fell. " I am on a mission. To reclaim my family honor. To uphold my promise to my father and grandfather. I shall not die now." The man in black nodded." Then so it shall be young knight. I shall guide you on that quest. Do not let your ego get the better of you. Do not stop having faith. I was even lucky to have my mind put in here for what i did." Victor understood. " Then we shall meet again." The man in black put back on his mask fading into the dream mist as he looked around. Kersina was worried as he fell to his knees. They all were worried as she held the tired Victor." Victor are you Ok?" As the words now were understood. " Yes i am fine. I need a moment to rest. Kersina please help me." She helped him up to walk. The men spoke in hushed tones as they made it back outside to friendly forces." You the man." One of the M.P.'s said to him. They had lost two men. One a commando the other a M.P. who died trying to end this. The Necro Zombie threat had ended as they fell over or they stopped moving. Clean up operations made it easy once they got back to the firebase. This first mission proved more than a test for everyone. People spoke about what he did and rumors spread he had super powers. That was silly as he was a mortal man learning how to use his gifts. He was no better than they. Yet he could feel many would speak of him as if he were some kind of knight of legend. The ones of old on earth or the Samurai who were devoted to duty. He took the sword spirits advice. He should not squander others faith. Nor should he let his ego blot out others. Kersina was close to him as one could get. Yet all those who were here were his brothers and sisters. He must be humble and selfless to lead such into battle. He wrote reports at his desk mulling this all over. That use of his power left him drained. He would let Kersina handle the Doctor. The blade was now at his side with the black scabbard it came with. Both were stripped from the once Doctor Valentine. He would have to be gentle in breaking the news to Dr. Kallin yet she should be glad to gather her people to go home. Some good could come out of this whole mess. He could still see the crater in his mind. What he felt seeing himself do such a thing. Nothing would have changed what happened except he would have died. How did he blank that part out? It was a mystery to even himself. Victor had fought for causes that were never his. Yet this time he felt a little ashamed. He had to make it up to those who died. He had to.

[b]Welcome V-net user. Orbitus Database:M.A.S [/b] [i]History of the Mobile Armored Systems. A Mech class robot generally between thirty feet to fifty feet. They first appeared in Dark Ones forces. Kith and Humans started development into the giant machines. Weapon Developers, including Companies were the first to engineer these new marvels. [/i] [i]The idea existed in science fiction during the twenty first century. T.U.F. was credited to have the only M.A.S. that could transform from a robot into a fighter. Kith liked huge tanks that were more like floating battleships. They used M.A.S. as fast scouts or support for it's forces.[/i] [i]The Dark Ones employ a Knight M.A.S. reflective of the Knight culture that governs that society. A contrast to the Kith Houses. This M.A.S. is the few that can fly. No one yet has been able to figure out the Technology.[/i] [i]Mercenary's,Corporate Security Forces and even pirates or other criminal elements use M.A.S. Mech's to fight wars. Planetary Militia that can afford such can turn most tank lances into scrap. No doubt the M.A.S. is a versatile weapon on the battlefield.[/i] [i]Many manufacture the great war machines. Some are even custom models or have upgrade packages for older models. The T.U.F. uses both the Australia Zone and the Mars Protectorate to produce it's M.A.S. units for the United Nation Terran United Forces. Kith have many production centers in major sector capitols belonging to each house.[/i] [i]Mega corps and other corporation's round out the list of manufactures. (See list below.) In essence the M.A.S. has changed war. Yet its role or function depends on what is needed. For more on this subject see Orbitus M.A.S. Pilot Qualifications. [/i]

[b]Welcome V-net user. [/b] [b]Understanding The Political Landscape of 3020. By Dr. Kisner of the London University.[/b] " Hello once again as we discuss political landscape of not only today but yesterday as well." The V-Net cast goes on. The man in the white lab coat continues speaking." For our human viewers i would like to discuss a bit about how we came about. The famed Domino war happened eight hundred years ago." The man sits on a stool. He wears glasses from another time. " Now as many of you know. We were at the end of our rope. We plundered the earth for all it had. After the Domino war left so many nations in ruins as many had made pacts with one another during the 23rd century or farther back. We expanded to the stars once the T.U.F. saved us from utter annihilation." The Earth was behind him moving. " We encountered other races. The Kith were the first. Then we started to colonize planets. The first to break off was Shandaria. Declaring it's government independent of the T.U.F. The earth sprung into action sending forces to subdue the rebellion. The Earth Lost and Only could govern a sphere that reached out to Alpha Centari. Plus two other planets. The Rest became independent or seceded from Terra." Showing the galactic map of human colonization efforts. We terraformed planets that were suitable to live. No mans land exists from Shandaira and the other developed planets out to the Kith Border. Maelstrom is the one rare oddity. It is a contested world right at the moment. Now turning to the Kith." " Our Kith Viewers know most of this but for those of you who don't. The Kith Empire is a vast collection of warrior houses. Each house has a Say in the Great Council. In times of war they appoint a Warlord to lead all the houses. To have a warrior house you must be born into one or become a savior of the people or a great warrior." Adjusting the glasses the man keeps speaking. " The Kith houses each have a system they rule. The original planet they hail from is neutral ground. This is where the Great Council Meets. Also know that some of the bigger houses have more than one system. Thus ruled by family members. Houses for the most part do as they wish. Unless it is going to harm the empire as a whole." " This gives them the reputation of being bullies or brutes as they have invaded planets taking them over. Many honorable tradesmen and warriors serve each house. Power plays happen against other houses and political alliances can shift overnight." Nodding now as he stands up. " The Dark Ones are an alien race we really do not know much about. The Kith hate them for many unexplained reasons. They are broken into Knight Hoods that break into the Lower Council and the Lords Council. The Knights Five Star or Grand Master is in charge of his or her Knights plus servants serving them. " He stands to the side cleaning his glasses. " Each give a oath to the Grand Master who in turn gives his oath to the First Knight who is Chairmen of both the Lower and Lords Council. Politics or alliances are very secret. what is known is many orders live on the same planet with the same goals. Rarely they will attack others and distrust the kith greatly." " However they do have genetically made clones that serve them besides any slaves they normally have. Unlike the Kith they invade for good reasons or against threats. Rumors of the Golden Ones or the Fleet are that as the Dark Ones are unsure where they are. This supposed other race. Nothing yet proves they exist. But they just might." "Thank you again this is Dr, Kisner signing off." The man bows as the screen goes blank.

[b]Chapter Thirteen-The Golden Compass[/b] Doctor Bryce convulsed as Echo squad with Golf shot gas canisters into the bunker like fortification. Non lethal chemical compound that matrix unlimited worked on. It absorbed through the air or skin. Staff went down pretty fast as Lady Sin was in the hangar talking with the Dark One protectors. In less than half an hour they had things done. Entering now Lady Sin with the Dark Ones who were not infected with the Nano Virus. Likely due to the suits they wore that were very much like Lady Sin's. Mai had her suits filtration on as she did not want to be breathing that stuff. Soon medical personnel arrived to help those gassed. The Dark Ones knew something was wrong but had no means to do anything about it. They were concerned with the artifacts." We shall remain here to guard the Artifacts. I think you are done here." Lady Sin shook her head no. " Matrix Unlimited had sent a distress signal weeks ago. They had ships in orbit when we landed. Our ships cannot get to us for the time being. We are likely going to be facing another mercenary unit. We detected more ships in orbit. They look to be mercenary with only a few Security Forces ships that arrived." Lady Sin looked at her wrist display that fed her information. " We do not have long before they invade. At least a Regiment in strength. For the time being they are in low orbit. As you are going to be here then i shall detail a few commando squads and other personnel assist you. We sent a signal out to our ships. Likely they know the situation better than we do." Kersina nodded over to Mai as she approached. " I can signal my brother again. Our equipment cannot be jammed. So the signal should be good. I should contact him right now." Walking up to the Command Center where Mai's medic was tending to those inside. The Leader of the Dark One Trio she went over to a strange non human device. It was a communications device. The Leader of the dark ones trio touched the device as purple light filled the air. Then an image of a Dark One male the brother appeared." Ah sister good to see you. Is everything well?" The Sister shook her head no." I am sorry brother but the mercenary's are about to engage another mercenary unit of the corporation." The image was purple in stunning 3-D Holo quality. " They did fix the other problems. Can you see Lady Sin the second in command next to me?" The brother nodded." Sir" Was all Kersina said as she gave a salute." The Artifacts are secure. Doctor Bryce will be treated for the nano virus." The Brother Understood." Good now as to the situation. The enemy is in low orbit is that correct?" Kersina nodded yes. " Yes they are sir. At least a regiment, about two thousand troops and support personnel. Far too many ships for our ships to engage. We barely got here through the corporate ships in orbit. Lord Sin is digging in as we speak. We will fight them if it comes to that. " The Brother Smiled. " Can you connect me to the enemy ship. Get Lord Sin as well so we may talk with the enemy. I do not think they fully grasp the situation." Touching her wrist display she used the nearest console to get Lord Sin present." Oh i see our employer is here with all the others. Greetings Fourth Rank, Sir." The Brother Nodded." Open a channel to the enemy." Lady Sin did just that."A face appeared with a few others. No doubt looking over things in a 3-D holo tank." I am Fourth Rank and Lord of the Knights of the Eternal Moon Eraith. I assume i am taking to the mercenary commander?" The man with a bushy mustache and high tech monocle nodded." That would be me sir. Colonel Bernard Shaw of The Iron Fist Legion. Come to talk terms or will we be fighting?" Eraith simply looked at the human with disdain. " Let us say it does come to fighting. Even if you defeat the mercenary force i have here. I am currently in route to the planet as we speak. So your victory would be your destruction." The Mercenary Stepped aside to let a well dressed Matrix Unlimited VIP stand in front. " I am President Karl Williamson of Research. We had gotten word that some sort of virus was turning our people against one another. We were trying to gather information on things. None of our teams are responding. We do have groups of survivors who do need rescue. All we want is our people with some information we dug up." Apparently the Executive wanted to re coup his losses but that would not be possible. Distaste was on the mans face. " All artifacts and information pertaining to them are the Dark Ones. You may take your people. Lord Sin will see to it. I have gathered a small fleet and shall be in System soon. I hope for your sake you are not still around when i arrive." The Dark One console went dark. " My Brother does have a nasty streak. We will return your people. Lord Sin will you see to the transfer?" Lord Sin nodded." Right away. Send down shuttles to these coordinates. You will be escorted in." Soon that was all done as each channel disconnected. L.T. Jasmine Mai was glad it was all done now. It was time to rest for a bit. Her squad deserved it. Tracking through that jungle was plenty for her. She left Lady Sin to handle all the command details. She found her squad playing cards." Deal me in." They all smiled as you take what you can get in the field. Soldiers get few luxuries in life. Victor had personally seen to the transfer of Matrix Unlimited personnel. At least they will get to go home. It had been a traumatic experience for some. He had no regrets to doing what needed to be done. Some one had to do it. Things turned out pretty well. It was a few weeks later as Doctor Bryce with Lord Eraith Lady Sin all stood outside the safe as she opened it. No one discussed the blade on his hip. Lord Sin figured some sort of discussion would take place. The Dark Ones seem to accept the blade chose him. As they went further inside many artifacts were labeled. The two blades floating in the sealed air tubes made the blades spin. " As i stated in my reports. These two blades-" Then suddenly Victor felt the blade on his side darken the room. He could see a woman and a young man. " The Blades of His Wife and Son." The Vision was so real as all stopped speaking to look at the glowing blade." Those blades belonged to his wife and son." The Vision faded as the great blade stopped glowing." Lord Sin are you sure?" Victor nodded." Yes, They were first ones. I am sorry Lord Eraith. The blade wants to keep them close. I don't understand why too much. Just a feeling they were important." Every One was looking at one another before Eraith spoke. " Now i understand. The Ruins we found were not of any First One. A powerful Lord who ruled here. We have little information about our creators or why such a great empire failed. Our Race and the Golden Ones who have the Golden Fleet are the legacy. It is our job to preserve such for the future." He explained it a bit more as the Dark Ones never shared any real information before. " They chose you a human to carry out that will Lord Sin. The first human to be chosen in many century's. The blades of the first ones have spirits inside them. Some of our most powerful knights attain these weapons. Wars have been fought over them. The blade chooses it's owner." Victor now understood more as this made sense. " I am honored yet also concerned. A conversation for another time as you know what i refer to Lord Eraith." The Elder Brother Nodded." Sister do you feel it?" She nodded." It has been whispering my name. Vatallia over and over." The Dark Ones were a Psychic sensitive race. It was very common unlike humans. Doctor Bryce cut the power to the blade in question. Opening the case then handing it over to Vatallia with white gloves." Do not worry. I felt her touch so i can handle her." Doctor Bryce easing any concerns. Doctor Bryce also returned with the scabbard out of a sealed container. " I plan on understanding more and passing on what i know to the Dark Ones." Doctor Bryce Smiled as Vatallia was getting acquainted with her blade." Also i would like to request the Order of Sin stay for six months as i finish here. Once i document everything i shall send for a ship. I am sure you are needed elsewhere Lord Eraith." A nod from the brother. " Study this blade if you can. It has not chosen another. It might do so in the future. Let us go sister." The woman shook her head no." Brother i want to join Lord Sin. He will need training and guidance. Most of all i can learn so much about where he goes. This will help us Dark Ones understand the other races or planets." The Brother reluctantly agreed. " Father will be happy to know that you have grown. I am proud of you for staying here. Father might not say it but he is as well. I shall tell him you chose your own path. He will say that you go where you are needed most." Eraith spoke like a true brother leaving the planet as he left in his shuttle. " So what adventure are we going on next?" Vataillia bubbled at a surprised Lord Sin and Lady Sin.

[b]Mercenary Review Board Update:[/b] Order of Sin Guild Officer Colonel Randon Page to Mercenary Review Board Command. This unit has fought for the last five years against all manner of opponents. Most of it's contracts are for classified dig sites. The unit has grown. It is the only Knight Order known to be mercenary. Typical contracts are six months. Wartime contacts are three. It seems the side who hires them shortens any war. They specialize in wrecking havoc behind enemy lines. Special Operations combined with air strikes armor and M.A.S. units seem to wear down opponents. Flexible tactics with strategy's makes them hard to beat. They have shown that they can fight in any weather or conditions. Currently they are at regimental strength. All contracts completed or were reviewed with good standing. Lord Colonel Sin and Lt. Colonel Lady Sin. Are still in good standing. They can renew the special forces licence in the required time limit. I have investigated this fully. Colonel Randon Page formerly of Pages Company.

Authors Note: If you find any Errors Let me Know. I plan on making a book two that will tie into the first. This is something i made up years ago but never put down till now. It is complete. Book Two will be on the same post. A good story needs a finish. I hope many enjoy it.

[b]Book Two[/b] [b]Chapter One-Coming Storm[/b] Victor Nelson stood on the bridge of the [i]Strikebreaker.[/i] He was using the holo tank for preparations for an Invasion. Kersina entered as well as she carried a sword these days. The Captain was busy in his quarters so for the time being they were left alone. " Will it work?" Kersina looked at the company displacements on the digital map." Yes it will work. It has been five years. Your father and grandfather were made out to be traitors. Two other Knighthoods were absorbed into the Order of the Dragons. The central government has been cornered. The other knights currently are fighting Kith." Victor looked at the table as he did not have the answers he had hoped for. " Rivistal Jurmund has much to answer for as that is true. How are we going to deal with everyone?" Kersina asked as he nodded." Fair question. We will know more once we get on planet. We dug into our pocket on this one. The question is what do you want done? I have an idea of what i want to do." Victor had been like that after that first mission. Kersina wondered where that Sergeant went to? or was it that blade he carried at his side. " I want to restore the Knights and bring peace if i can. We need to be united if we are going to face the Kith. Otherwise we will be easy prey for the Kith invasion bound to happen." Victor could not agree more." Agreed as it will be done. We should focus on getting your father back to the Order of Dragon. Your grandfather can establish things more once we have control." Vataillia joined them as she stole a kiss from Victors lips. She loved him this way for some reason. " Sorry if i am interrupting. I came to see what my Lord is doing here so late. Oh another invasion?" Victor shook his head." No a liberation. Maelstrom the place i told you about. We should arrive in a few days. Did you contact Dr. Bryce ?" Victor turned now to look from Kersina to Vataillia. " I did. she has a ship these days so she should be here soon. Tell me more about this planet. I looked up what i could as it was not much. " Victor smiled." Any chance the Doctor has of studying first one artifacts she will move planets to achieve. Ask the expert" Victor nodded over to Kersina. " I am hardly an expert. I know plenty about Maelstrom." Vataillia draped an arm around Victor with a cheek on his shoulder." The Kith live with humans. We knights offered to help the settlers who needed protection and technology to grow food. For years we lived in peace. We fought the Kith. As time grew resentment grew in the settlers. The technology they wanted so bad was genetically encoded into our DNA after leaving the Dark Ones service." Vataillia stood up nodding. " So why are we fighting?" Victor took over." Five years ago the both of us some how triggered a first one weapon. We escaped to form the Order of Sin. Kersina's grandfather and father were leaders of the Dragon Order. The most powerful knight hood. Rivistal Jurmund has intimidated the other orders. Cast out Kersinas father and grandfather. He is a cunning but brutal man who wants power." Kersina nodded as her face turned ugly. " My grandfather and father are the rightful keepers of our order. We have to return before it is too late. Set things right and most of all face the Kith. Vataillia nodded." Then i third rank Vataillia. Knight of the Eternal Moon. Shall see to it you are restored with good faith. Normally i do not go fight but this time i must help you both." Victor kissed Vataillia as she was as energetic as ever." Thank you love." Vataillia just smiled." Doing my duty sir. See you back at our quarters." " I am a lucky man. That or she cast a spell on me." Kersina giggled." Spell on you? You could not stand her for about a year. Then some how she won you over." Victor nodded." Yes well like just now. I used to hate her doing that. She wants to have kids and us to settle down. I have to see this through first." Kersina laughed even harder." You are in love. We all know it." " True as i have been pretty happy these years. You told me once you will not settle down until your Order is Restored." Kersina nodded." Yes i did. So i can tell my children of the man who saved me. Look i got to go check on the troops." Victor Nodded looking back at the plot. As Kersina left the bridge. So much has happened in the last five years. Soon the answers to many questions will give insight. They can understand what happened at the Loxburg Crater. Victor kept seeing it in his dreams so often. The spirit of the blade whispered to him. " That event still lingers with you. She try's to hide it well as you do. Yet you both must resolve it before you can put it behind you. It is good you are helping to restore order to the planet. Once you get at the site i can tell you more. Not before you are ready." The Black Armored figure whispered before it faded. His men were taking big risks as well. They all were in this mission. The entire planet could fall to the Kith as that could not be allowed. He wondered if the events of five years ago set in motion all of this? Or was it just some kind of cosmic joke? It was hard to say as the circumstances were strange. He had plenty to think about. All the battles he was in. He was alone just like on that day. It was quiet and that could strike fear into any man. He wrestled with it. It would not overcome him. Even now he was faced with uncertainty. When he found Kersina he found hope. It could have been a love story. Yet it did not turn out that way. Life was funny that way. Things happened you never expected. The universe is a huge place. He did not expect to find love. Nor to find a blade. Nor to find the strength to go on when all was taken from him. It amazed him that people followed him. That his strength gave others the hope that they can survive. If you put aside the the tactics or the strategy's. You will see the human spirit behind it. It will persevere as it had for over a thousand years. Yet such as it is. It will be the sacrifice of others to accomplish goals in battle. Locking the holo tank he stepped away heading to the bridge lift door. He felt at times the shadows of his demons clawing to get out. To have him commit a random thought or action. He kept his self control not to mention composure. Sometimes he wondered if he was going crazy? Being human was plenty crazy in a universe filled with crazy events.

[b]Chapter Two-Gathering of Foes[/b] First Knight Rivistal Jurmund paced around the Grandmasters room. His father sat on the stone throne of the Order of Dragons. They had achieved what took years of work. They had been beset by enemies now they could address the Kith but since word of those they exiled or who fled joined together. It was bad news as Knight forces were able to regain what was lost during the conflict with the central government. The reports on his desk and archived holo battles gave him understanding they were winning the war. Striding over to the holo tank with all the battle units he looked at the map. The Central Government was boxed in as what they controlled was slowly shrinking. The problem was that they used guerrilla tactics in secured zones. Farms that once belonged to the Central Government were still being used to funnel food and anything else they needed. The one good thing is that the money for mercenary's had dried up. The Loyalist were fighting from the hills or evading them. It would be years before they could explore every tunnel and crush every hidden stronghold. Kith were getting bolder as well. They had been a problem before but they sensed weakness. Now with this other threat arriving this would throw the plans to face the Kith into ruin. His father appeared as the quiet man sat down on the throne." Ah my son. i know your mind is troubled yet we may prevail." His father seemed to have the uncanny ability to know what some one was thinking. " If we are to face the threats of both the Kith and the Renegades. We need to make peace with the Central Government." Rivistal looked over at his father." Father they wan't what we cannot give. They refuse to accept surrender feeling we were controlling them." It was true in some ways as they did have the technology that the colonist needed. The war used satellites normally used for harvests and weather as spy tools. " My son you need to thing of other paths than using direct force. You can divert a river by building a dam or make another river. We are going to try a different approach. It is nothing new but should allow us a measure of peace. You are gong to marry the Governors daughter. Other Knights will marry into the Lords family's thus allowing the sharing of our technology with them." Blinking Rivistal understood as the spouse would not gain the ability the child would. " You sure they will go for that kind of solution?" His father nodded." Yes they will, as we will tell them that the Kith will kill us all if we do not unite and that a force is on it's way here to subject them to more war. I am sure they will more agreeable. Thus in doing so we help one another." Rivistal had to admit his father was more cunning than he even imagined. " I still have not cracked the codes for that weapon yet. Only if we had gotten one of the Lancaster's. We could have that weapon. To quickly end this pandemic." Rivistal was frustrated as he had been blocked at every turn. " My son our best weapon is controlling the flow of information. I want you to start the peace process." His father touched a call screen. " I will ready the other knights for war. If we act fast we can end it quickly before turning to fight the Kith. I did not come this far to destroy the Order of Gryphon and take my place as the Grandmaster of the Order of the Dragon. Our family has sacrificed too much to imbeciles." Rivistal could not agree more. They have suffered more than any other. It was time for them to gain what they had lost. " Father i think Grandfather would be proud of what we have done. All we need is to have a few things go our way. Then we will rebuild our greatness. We as Knights should rule over the others and they should show us loyalty for protecting them. We will make Grandfathers dream come true." His father smiled." We shall my son. We shall." The Kith fortress of Bleak Hollow was busy with the sounds of machines. Ships landed at the landing docks as weapons or other goods were off loaded. A huge ship too big for the docks was sitting outside unloading tanks, crates and artillery. Kith were busy getting ready to go to war. Warlord Argmash was pleased with what he saw. He could finally rid himself of the Knights and Pathetic human government. He bought these House weapons at great discount. He could finally establish his house. His people had to scratch out a hard living. They tamed the badlands. The humans had gotten the better land. His people did not complain. They joked that each day brings hardship. " That is the full list of your order. Our Lady is grateful to you. While they are slightly used the tanks alone are well worth the money. One of those fortresses can demolish any army." Argmash grinned as his face plates mirrored that of a Kragcat. The Quartermaster trotted off leaving Argmash to admire his new weapons. " So my lord it seems we have three Fortress Tanks that are armed like dreadnoughts yes?" A female voice as his second in command joined him." Yes First Fang Lieasha, not to mention the other tanks or arms we had gotten. Just those alone will give us victory." She smiled as it was impressive." I cannot wait to see the looks on those humans faces. Even the Knights will bow down to our might." Argmash was very pleased as well. " Then let us celebrate. As we will have human slaves help us rebuild this planet in our image. I had hoped to find some worthy foe to face as the humans seem to prefer to fight from the shadows. Soon they shall tremble at our might. Any who try to stop us will be crushed underfoot. Long have my ancestors wished to tame this land. To bring peace and most of all give them hope." Agromash headed off with Lieasha to the great hall as they would feast. If anything was true it would be a worthy battle as many would not see the dream that had been for so long. A dream made reality on the blood of his people and the hardships they had to endure.