Illogical Choice

"We will support the Federation!" Apophis said triumphantly.

Everyone was surprised by this answer.

To begin with, the Federation had just lost a major battle and would be at a disadvantage in the next phase of the war. Beyond just that, there was another issue in everyone's minds.

Though they hadn't raised the issue yet, everyone else wanted to join the camp of the Eternals who were founding a player-owned state. After the fall of Era, there weren't many players who felt sympathetic to the Federation! In fact, even some members of Eclipse deeply hated the Federation.

Since that day, it had been a common goal of the players to free themselves from the Federation-afflicted status of "subjugated people" by force. Despite the fact which most players were unaware of, that Azerof's treacherous Human Supremacist agenda was opposed to the values of the Federation itself, and the Federation would never have condoned the destruction of Planet Era in such a way.

But despite Apophis's surprising choice, everyone in Eclipse accepted their Supreme Leader's decision.

Lotus said, "It is your choice to make, Apophis. I trust you. After all, it is thanks to you that we are where we are today! With the money our guild has, I think we can buy four corvettes from the Federation and recruit fifty skilled pilots as guild members. Though not many players have experience with piloting ships here, there should be a good overlap between some players with real-world piloting skills and high power in Horus.

"Aside from this, I think it will be a good idea to recruit slowly and carefully to ensure our new members will be of utmost quality—at least until we have a solid guild hierarchy in place. After that, we can recruit intensively, like the big guilds do. Considering the time to buy and recruit, we should be ready to leave in two days!"

Apophis nodded. "Well then, we leave in forty-eight hours. Prepare the provisions, potions, weapons, and ammunition. Once we're on Cronos I, the situation will be very uncertain. We won't have much opportunity to buy more provisions. In addition, it's very likely that the game will force players to respawn off-planet, so that the battle doesn't last forever, so we should plan for that eventuality. 

"On the bright side, we can use this occasion to test our new recruits. What better entrance exam than a trial by fire? Oh, and on the topic of corvettes and crew, I propose that each one of you orders a corvette for yourself to command!"

Everyone gratefully accepted, being eager to own a ship and be a commander! After that, the rest of the meeting dealt with minor matters, such as the class composition of new recruits.

***

After the guild's strategies and plans for the coming battle were settled, Apophis dismissed everyone. He then contacted General Ralfot and requested a meeting.

Apophis had noticed something strange about the quest Grand Admiral Azerof had previously given him. Normally, when a quest giver died, the quest automatically canceled. However, the massive recruitment quest which Azerof had given him remained active. In fact, its recruitment counter was steadily rising!

This meant Azerof must have survived the plummet to the planet's surface, against all odds. It was the worst situation possible for the Federation, because Azerof had already been declared dead, and had been celebrated as a martyr. 

After all, his Supremacist beliefs weren't public, so Supreme Chancellor Souley had nothing more to lose by celebrating his ideological enemy. Azerof had been posthumously decorated with the Star of the Federation, the highest distinction the nation could award, because Souley had wanted to make his once-opponent a symbol for the people.

If Azerof came back now, nothing could stop his rise to power! However… Apophis kept this information to himself for the moment. It would give him an edge in his maneuvering against all the other players in the galactic scene.

Ignorant of Azerof's survival, General Ralfot agreed to meet Apophis. He invited him to the Secret Service building where he'd previously been imprisoned.

Apophis traveled there alone. He didn't miss the place at all.

Ralfot waited for him in the entrance hall, then led him into a soundproof meeting room. This one was considerably less foreboding and dramatic than the last one they'd met in, which annoyed Apophis. "Well, Apophis, what is the emergency?"

Apophis answered, "Given my rank as a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Federation Army, as well as my title as Commander of the Eternals, I wish to take command of all my people's volunteers on the battlefield of Cronos I within two days." 

His promotion to this rank, of course, had come as a result of his agreement with Ralfot to assassinate Azerof. Apophis hoped that reminding Ralfot of their agreement would make the general more likely to give him what he wanted.

But Ralfot just smiled grimly. "You think we're going to let an officer of your rank command several million Ascensionists? You're asking for far too much. Your usefulness since Azerof's death has rapidly diminished, Apophis. I have honored our agreement, but you will get no more favors from me." 

In response, Apophis clenched his fists. His purple eyes turned bright red and two of his ~Susanoo's~ hands manifested around him. Then, with this display of his incredible power surrounding him, Apophis continued.

"I have recruited almost all the 10,000,000 Eternals Azerof requested of me. Considering recent events, my people will make up a large percentage of the Cronos I battlefield. Either I join your side as a commander, or I join the Orc Empire. You can decide which you'd prefer. Moreover, be aware that the assassination mission that you gave me is unfinished. Azerof is alive! I have it from a reliable source."

Ralfot really hated Apophis. This demonic monstrosity was a disgusting opportunist who cared nothing about the fate of the Federation. All Apophis wanted was more power for himself, even if it meant hurting his own side. It was for this reason that Ralfot knew he could never trust Apophis's honor. He wanted to have as little to do with him as possible.

In this instance, Ralfot doubted Azerof had survived. Surely this was a lie to make Ralfot think Apophis had vital information and was an asset beyond simply his physical power.

On the other hand, the Federation couldn't afford to lose Apophis and his Ascensionists to the enemy. So, Ralfot answered, "I'll talk to the Chancellor about it, but expect some conditions! I will share the information you have given me, but will offer no recommendations of my own."

Apophis accepted this, and the two men left.

Now it was time for Apophis to do as he'd instructed his teammates and prepare for war. Fortunately, he was very rich! He could buy anything he wanted in terms of war supplies, including weapons and ammunition. Considering he was on Terra, one of the most populated planets in the galaxy, everything imaginable could be had for the right price.

After purchasing a huge order of consumables, Apophis traveled to a particular building, the temple of the goddess Valor. She was a benevolent goddess who had granted the intelligent beings of the galaxy their use of Cosmic Energy. Valor was renowned for loving peace, even though many of her recipients had used their cosmic powers for war.

But Apophis wasn't traveling here for purely religious reasons. This temple was special because it also served as a military training center for Federation Ascensionists!