75 Terra

After the members of Eclipse were done on Asure, the MK.1 sped through hyperspace and headed for Terra, the capital of the entire Federation and one of the most populated planets in the galaxy.

During the trip, everyone rested in the ship's mess hall. They reflected on how the events of the last couple of days had been immensely difficult, but that couldn't keep the mood from being cheerful. Everyone shared expensive food and drink, celebrating their recent victories over the Dungeon and Hyrule.

While everyone else chatted, the Apophis and Lotus slipped into the crew quarters. Shortly after they left, Antanria also excused herself from the mess hall to use the ship's lavatory. On her way through the ship's main passage, she heard the two lovers.

Antanria was both very curious and just approaching adolescence for her species. She knew little about relationships between adults, but only what she had read in books and the shallow education she'd received in her old life in the royal family.

That education had done nothing to sate her curiosity, however, as it had focused on what her duties would be when she one day married, more than anything else. Her own happiness was not exactly an important factor as far as her family was concerned. She certainly hadn't been taught anything about seduction.

So Antanria paused outside the closed door to the ship's quarters, her eyebrows furrowed as she listened to what was happening inside.

After a few minutes, White, drunk and on her own way to the lavatory, caught her eavesdropping and burst out laughing!

This outburst interrupted the two lovers, making them freeze inside the quarters.

Someone from the mess hall shouted at White and asked what was so funny. So as not to humiliate Antanria, White said, "Sorry, it's all the Red Whisky's fault!"

Antanria hurried onward after White, leaving the two lovers to their business.

***

By the time the MK.1 arrived in Terra's orbit, everyone was in a lighthearted mood—and, thankfully, no longer drunk.

This was a good thing, because the actual arrival on Terra was quite difficult.

The Federation was close to a state of all-out war with the Orc Empire, so Apophis had to ask special permission from the Federation Army before they could enter the planet's atmosphere. Fortunately, Apophis had all the credentials of his military rank, not to mention the presence of Colonel Ralfot.

After some communication, which felt like it took forever, Apophis and the ships which had assisted him on Asure could break through the blockade. Through the MK.1's windows, hundreds of thousands of not-so-lucky ships could be seen waiting to be searched before they could enter.

Once Apophis provided all their information, the operator replied, "Welcome to Terra, Major! The Grand Admiral has been informed of your arrival and has asked you to land on Military Platform 74."

They entered the atmosphere, descending through the clouds and viewing the cityscape that stretched to the horizon in every direction below them.

Terra was a planet of the Ecumenopolis type, a planet entirely covered by a single immense city with over a trillion inhabitants. It was, of course, one of the great prides of the United Federation of Planets!

At the same time, however, Terra was an abomination in the eyes of the Human Supremacists. While they longed for a capital planet with only human inhabitants, Terra was a cosmopolitan haven. Only 5% of the planet's population was human, while the rest were xeno species from all over the galaxy.

The MK.1 landed on the military platform which had been pointed out. The party was quickly greeted by several officers and soldiers who gave them a fantastic ceremonial welcome with drums and music, truly worthy of an important personality like Major Apophis.

Delighted by such politeness, the crew happily followed the chief officer, who guided them to a flying car. This officer seemed taken aback at Apophis's uncanny appearance, but there was no mistaking the Major's identity, so the officer acted as though nothing at all was out of the ordinary.

The luxurious vehicle sped through the district's skylanes, leading them to an enormous palace that rose a kilometer into the sky: the Chancellor's Palace!

Hulk shouted, "Oh! Look over there!"

At the base of the palace, stretching across the cityscape as far as the eye could see, was a vast military parade of several million soldiers, war machines, and mechas. In the sky, battleships, cruisers, and hundreds of thousands of corvettes soared majestically.

More than a simple celebration, the parade was a genuine show of force. The Federation wanted to give a demonstration of their overwhelming military power for the sake of all the ambassadors of the Galactic Council who were present—including the Orc ambassador.

Of course, this was nothing like most of the players had ever seen, and they were captivated by the incredible sight! Among his party, only Apophis and Ralfot were unfazed by the spectacular sight.

Their flying car landed under an overhang attached to the face of the immense palace. A new military officer greeted Apophis and Ralfot, then led them to a huge balcony where Grand Admiral Azerof waited.

Free seats awaited them, so Apophis and Ralfot sat and watched the glorious parade as it ended.