LOGINThe journey back to the Earth was surprisingly silent.The Liberation Fleet sailed in formation, the Reclamation dreadnoughts on either side of the captured Consortium ring station like guards escorting a prisoner. Within the station the remaining Boarders were kept in their own cells, with the help of Eva's elite troops.Siera was standing on the observation deck on the Retribution, gazing out at the black emptiness of space. The excitement of the battle had left, and there was a lot of tiredness. She was holding a cup of instant noodles, and the steam from the cup was rising and fogging the glass in front of her.Julian walked up to her, "You're brooding.Julian approached her, "You're brooding. He had two cups of coffee and gave her one of them.Siera accepted it, and set her noodles aside for a while. "I'm thinking.""About what?"What happens next, Siera said, "about what happens next. "The Board is removed, the Consortium is dissolved, the simulations are down and the real world
Inside the hangar bay, a whirl of kinetic blasts and plasma fire.Siera was like a ghost in the middle of the mess, her kinetic rifle clicking out sharp rhythmic bursts. The Consortium soldiers were expecting an attack, but the boarding party was far too aggressive. Eva and her team were a well-oiled machine, in and around the opposition and downing their defence.Julian fought by Siera's side, his moves deadly, exact. He shielded her flank, putting down an excessive shot bearer before he could turn his weapon."Clear!" “Over the comms,” Eva shouted. “Hangars are safe, we have a way to the central lift."Move!" Siera ordered.They ran through the flames of the enemy fighters and stepped into the large glass-sided elevator which led to the command deck of the station.The elevator zoomed up to the ring station while looking out at the station, Siera noticed the ring. It was an engineering marvel, a city in space. It was dead, sterile and cold, though. There were no parks, no homes, no
The Aegis space station had undergone changes.It had been the stronghold of oppression, but now it was the headquarters of the Terran Liberation Fleet. Modernized fighters, Reclamation dreadnoughts and heavily armed dropships filled the huge hangars.Siera was on the bridge of the flagship, Retribution. Below her, the earth turned, a healing bruised marble. In front of him, was the blackness of space, cold and endless.They were ready for the jump, Elias said from the navigation console, "Queen Siera.Have the coordinates been fixed? Siera asked."Locked," Elias confirmed. It is the data chip of the Admiral, and it will take us directly to the hidden slipstream corridor, to the Consortium Board's stronghold in the Outer Rim.Siera looked at High Admiral Vance who was standing in the corner of the bridge. He was wearing a new uniform, one that was a dark blue to indicate that he was a tactical adviser and not a commander.Are there any sudden changes I need to be aware of? Siera asked
The result of the London server farm was a logistical nightmare, only a manageable one.The Reclamation Fleet's cargo haulers carried the newly awakened survivors to Aethelgard. They were provided with hot showers, clean clothes and an abundance of real food. The young doctor's name was Maya and she had already offered to work at the hospital in the city. Former security chief Dorian was being interviewed by Eva for the militia.The moment had arrived, and Siera was sitting in her office, enjoying a moment of quiet, when the heavy blast doors to her suite opened.Elias was standing in the doorway, his cybernetic eye glowing dimly in the light. Two Alliance guards, with guns in hand, stood behind him with a man in a white uniform in pristine condition.High Admiral Vance.The Admiral was no longer bound. He was permitted to shave and his face was now covered in light scars from the burns. He appeared very calm for someone that's been under its ice for a year.“Queen Siera,” Elias said,
The white light dimmed and was replaced by the smell of burning rubber and sulphur.Siera blinked; her sight became accustomed to the intense red sunlight. She was in the middle of a destroyed city street. But this wasn't the real world and this wasn't even the zombie invasion she just dealt with!This was a warzone.The buildings were razed to the ground. There was a huge amount of smoke from large fires. But in the background, there were sirens, a constant, depressing sound that barked at her.She was joined by Julian, who was a little stumbling, as he came into being. His gun was out of his hand and in his fist, eyes scanning the perimeter as soon as."Where are we?" Julian asked.It's another simulation," Siera replied. She gazed at her body. Her customized dress was missing. She wore a worn tattered grey military uniform. She carried a big rifle over her shoulder. “Well, we're in the middle of a war, it looks like.”Suddenly, a loud ROAR came from the sky! Siera looked up. A larg
One year later.The city of Aethelgard was none that had been known to anyone. The concrete crumbling ruins had been removed, and replaced by bright white buildings, with solar panel walls and hydroponic skyscrapers. There was a harbor with trade ships, and the old military runway was now a busy airport, with restored cargo planes.In the heart of the city, the place of the old fortress of New Order, there was the Queen's Citadel, a large and extensive complex of glass, steel and repurposed stones.Siera was sitting in her office, on top of the Citadel. She had removed her combat attire. Rather, she wore a sleek, cut black suit, and the jade pendant was displayed right on her chest.She was reading an article from the Southern Continent, and Julian walked in with a tray of two bowls of instant noodles.“Breakfast, Your Majesty,” Julian said, placing the tray on her desk.Siera raised an eyebrow. "Noodles? A fleet of cargo aircrafts are arriving with fresh produce and coffee. Then you







