A New Ship
Since first entering the sect, Lorne and his friends had cultivated in the Water Rock Sect for more than three hundred years. From the mortal realm level, they were considered just past middle age. They had less than two hundred to break through to the immortal realm and become True Core Cultivators. However, given everyone's cultivation, no one was worried. Lorne wasn't worried at all, first, his body was much younger than the others since it was new. Second, if his body wore out, he could just create a new one. He could create new bodies for his friends as well, but he didn't tell them this.
Truthfully, they could be considered friends now, but they never became as close to each other as they were to Malkus. Lorne was the odd man out. It didn't matter to him, how long would he spend on this planet? Why make long-term friendships again? Lorne became jaded over the idea of family and friends. He was already on his third life and his fourth body. He left his family and friends in the Zimwarn Empire over forty-five thousand years ago. If this universe was a Time Disfasia Universe, the amount of time could be even greater. For all, he knew it was a million years later!
During the last three centuries, BS42 was very busy. Not only was he the Director of the Tech Center, The Path of Soul trainer for the Water Rock Sect, a scientist researching his own interests, but he was also overseeing the creation of a new Samsara Pod based on the knowledge they acquired.
It was decided by BS42 that he wouldn't begin the construction of the new Samsara Pod until after he completed the Three-Five Paths. He knew anything he created before completing this training would be substandard. A little over sixty years ago BS42 along with the help of Lorne and the other Warboxes on the Samsara Pod worked together to build the new Samsara Pod. Lorne wished to name the new Samsara Pod "Victory."
Lorne felt the name of the Samsara Pod represented what they as a crew were striving for, victory. Victory over life, death, and Samsara itself. It was Lorne's hope the name of this ship would help his people have a goal. One thing Lorne learned in his life up to this point was he was fighting a battle for survival. Victory meant life and defeat meant death.
The Victory wasn't simply a Samsara Pod, it was also a battleship. It was armed and ready to fight if he ever needed it. The Fairy force they created was not just weak creatures who scouted and looked for information. It was now an elite fighting force. In fact, Lorne felt the name Fairy Force was too effeminate for these soldiers and decided on something more manly sounding. Finally, he settled on calling his special forces the Buxiu Elite or the "immortal" Elite. This was a fitting name for his special forces. Lorne also wanted to create a regular army, but this was something he would do over time. He wanted both the Buxiu and himself to reach the immortal level before training an army. However, materials were being gathered for this army.
Plans for atmospheric and space fighters, ground vehicles, and sea ships were being created currently. Lorne was tired of dying because he was too weak, but he also realized that gaining power by himself would always leave him open to attack by more powerful forces. If, however, he had his own army, air force, and marine force he would have a lot more power to bring to the table. If his army were strong enough, even cultivators several levels above him would think twice before going toe to toe with him.
Without realizing it, Lorne began to walk the path of an Emperor. The desire to survive changed many of his previously held beliefs. Even though he knew he could escape death through the Samsara Pod, he also knew this kind of happy go lucky approach to life could only lead to him never being able to just live life! Until he was in control he couldn't feel safe, and if he couldn't feel safe what was the point in having a family and friends? Lorne began to harden his heart against the world. He lost too much, he wouldn't lose anything again!
The Victory was much larger than the old Samsara Pod. It was at least five times the size of the old Samsara Pod and the old Pod was pretty big. The new Samsara Pod, the Victory, wasn't just a survival and research pod, this was a battleship. It was also a factory and a military base. When they were ready they would begin recruiting for their new army. Lorne decided they needed to call themselves something, they needed a flag for his people to believe in and fight for. After discussions with BS42, Lorne decided to call his group the Wudi Mercenaries. Lorne wasn't wild about being mercenaries, but it was a good way to grow an army without seeming like a threat to others. He could also conceal the size of his organization, it was always with him.
Lorne had BS42 create two additional Samsara Pods, one was called the Plymouth, it was more of an exploratory vessel. It was able to set out on its own and explore the universe, but it was also built as a battleship only its mission was different. BS42 chose his friend Warbox Dozier as the Captain of this vessel. Dozier was a leading Admiral in the Space Navy of the Zimwarn Empire. He also rebelled with BS42.
Dozier desired a new body, he was tired of living as a robot. BS42 created an extremely powerful body. The body possessed three battle forms. The first was a human looking form standing two meters tall. He was slender and looking like a diplomat with short cut black hair. He had an air of nobility to him. The second form was a Five-Clawed Gold Horn Dragon with a combined Zimwarn-Dragon-Ascended body. He possessed Laser Vision, Ridarn Vision, super speed, super senses, extreme durability with his micro-scaled dragon body, and for the extra defense, he could activate his golden body power. The final form was his most powerful. When in this form his Liopleurodon genes were activated. The Liopleurodon was a dinosaur man species who lived in the wild and dangerous waters of one of the dinosaur water worlds. These dinosaur men were extremely huge. In his full form, Captain Dozier stood over twenty meters tall. Using the fairy shrinking ability, he stood at three meters tall. This body was all about physical power. Even though Captain Dozier was only at the Master Student Realm Peak Level, in his final form he could contend with cultivators at the True Core Realm Middle Level.
Captain Dozier was assigned five subordinates, a medical doctor, Quartermaster, a second in command Commander, a Xenobiologist, and a Navigator. To qualify for his crew, every member had to complete the Three-Five Paths.
There was a third ship that was still under construction called the Conqueror. It was a Warship. It was twice the size of the other two ships and once completed would have much more firepower than the other two combined. This would eventually become Lorne's Flagship. Lorne was very satisfied with BS42's progress.
One of the best things about these ships is Lorne could store these ships in his soul in their soul form they would shrink and resonate with Lorne's soul. However, Lorne could immediately bring these ships out and they would go from soul form to material form. This technology was based on the armor Big Bear created for Lorne. BS42 and his fellow scientists were able to analyze the technology and reproduce it for these ships. It was possible that Lorne could eventually carry an entire armada within his soul one day.
These matters were secret and Lorne didn't tell anyone about them, not even Master Que. As for Tower and the others, Lorne was pretty sure he would split ways with them somewhere in the near future. Lorne stayed this long with them because it was convenient and he wished to pay off his debt to Malkus by making his friends and his brother strong. Otherwise, Lorne could have left the sect at any time and still progressed without help on his own.
When Lorne first awoke from his sleep into his new world; he thought the technology of the lower world was weak compared to the knowledge and abilities of the upper world. Eventually, he realized he was very wrong about this. At least in this world, the powerful knowledge of technologies made him far more powerful than even those in higher realms. However, until he grew his forces he wasn't willing to take any chances and kept a low profile. To everyone else, he seemed to be very gifted for his age and a genius, but many still thought if he were conspired against he would be too weak to survive. This comforted many.
Speaking with Captain Dozier and BS42, Lorne decided to begin a discreet recruitment campaign within the sect. Master Que was fine with them poaching a few students who were nearly ready to graduate. In fact, the sect only trained students to the Immortal Realm. Once a person was about to break into the immortal realm, Master Que would recommend them to another sect. If these individuals chose another path that was fine too. It was their life. They only asked them to remain faithful to the sect and always live according to the values of the sect.
The Plymouth was given to Captain Dozier and stored in his soul. He took those interested in joining the Wudi Mercenaries with him as he went forth to continue a membership drive. Very few realized they were signing up for service aboard a spaceship. Once they were outside the sect, Captain Dozier brought all the new recruits into the Plymouth. He gave everyone a second chance to sign up for the ship. Those who agreed had soul seals placed on them preventing them from relating confidential information about the Plymouth and Lorne. Those who weren't interested had their memories erased and were left to go where they will.
Captain Dozier's orders were to find enough people for a skeleton crew and begin training them. After six months of training, they would ship out to explore the stars. Captain Dozier would be the first to explore the new universe they were in. After the training period was over, Captain Dozier said his goodbyes to BS42 and Lorne. He went to a hidden area far away from civilization. Bringing out the battleship, Captain Dozier quietly left the planet without anyone coming to learn of his departure.