Astral's Rise Part 59: Return to Polemestis

A handful of days passed as Astral and the AI's were on the bridge. They all were analyzing the pattern in which the Sacramentum attacked, how potent their weapons were, and how their ships were designed. As the recordings were going at fifty times the speed the twins just watched with blank stares unable to keep up as Jaimie was chatting to Adam.

"Astral has encountered them before and yet he still studies them to this extent. I say we load up before we take them down." Adam looked to Jaimie who nodded silently in agreement.

"Not the homeworld of the twins, their abilities are nice but I won't allow ridicule of them from the armies." She took a glance as Angel rested her head onto James as they watched their film separately, to try and improve. "That means one option." Jaimie pulled out a chess piece of a pawn and placed it on a solar system.

"So you have read his library, it's even larger than Alexandria." Adam nodded. Reading back the notes on the planet, there could be a high likelihood that the earth civilians and them don't mix. But a lot of the station was still empty. "Deal, Red Merle?"

"Yes General Adam? Where shall I take us good sir?" The AI asked, looking at their holomap. "Ah, I see, Polemistis, a planet full of warriors, ruled by only one. We will be on our way momentarily." The AI faded into the table as he went to maneuver the station to warp.

"You have any plans on how to do it? Taking over a planet?" Jaimie asked. Knowing Adam was already a step ahead.

"Warriors always follow whoever is the most powerful, meaning that we simply land, challenge their leader and beat the shit out of them. Ask them whoever wants to join can and bam." Adam clapped as Astral finally turned around. As the space outside the station became blurry. "Only problem is, we don't know their current strength. Meaning we could be dealing with someone as weak as Prophet or someone as strong as Titan."

"That's where you are wrong." Astral stood at the table. "The people near Titan's power would have been inside of the tournament. Meaning anyone we face is to be weaker or." Astral thought about it for a second. "They sent a weaker opponent to protect them from immediately falling by the gods." Astral knocked the pawn over with a knight, then a rook, and lastly a king.

"So we are sure planned on this idea? Taking over Polemistis for the fun of it and absorbing as many of them as possible?" Jaimie pulled up their eye chart on the holo display as they all smiled.

"Walking through the valley of death laughing in its face." Astral looked at the cyan eyes as they were the death omen. "Who should we bring with us?" He asked the two.

"If your memory treats you right all we need is two squads. The dogpound isn't healthy yet. But Fireteams Wolf and Falcon are ready. Proto, and Omaha would be great tagalongs." Adam pulled the reports up.

"Have some clones be prepped with riot shield training, move in two groups before joining up on wherever their throne room is?" Jaimie smiled as Astral gave her a thumbs up. "I will go pick out the clones for this mission." She walked out the door standing in the doorway, almost waiting for something.

Astral kissed his hand and blew her a kiss, once it reached its destination she finally rolled out of the doorway. "Lovely girl." Astral rested his head in his arms as the thoughts of love filled his mind as Adam summoned Proto, Omaha and Airsoft.

Once the three entered the room the station arrived at its target. Red Merle popped up from the table. "Sir's and Mad'ams, may I welcome you to Polemistis, a planet where the eyes rule all!" He stretched his arms as Astrid looked over in awe. Alexa and Shiro stayed focused on the dissection of the Sacramentum. "Planetary scan shows equipment that reaches levels of earth! Meaning with our armor and shields, they shouldn't be able to scratch us." Astral patted Red Merle on the head as he vanished into smoke.

"Can you three ready up Fireteam Wolf and Falcon, I imagine they are playing with their new toys. Mission is simple: we walk right into their throne room and challenge their leader to a battle for the crown." Adam smiled as he spoke. The trio stayed puzzled for a moment before Airsoft laughed.

Simple stuff, meaning that we just got to beat them on their own turf with their own rules, seems doable, I'll ready up Falcon if you prep up Wolf." He looked behind him and saw two smiles. "What is the caliber of weapon we are facing?" Airsoft asked the two men.

"From the report, nothing greater than five five six or seven six two. Looks like earth style weapons and similar levels of weapons." Astral handed over two reports. "As for numbers, since we are surprising them, the capitol won't have more than three thousand ready to start."

"Ah, and we are taking this planet over cause the civilian force isn't up to par?" Airsoft asked.

"Mentally they are much better than what we could hope for from these people. The difference is the size. People here make Zane look small." Adam spoke as Astral started to stretch.

"Us being short handed means that you need to get more hands quick, and four billion looks alot better than two million." Proto spoke as he read the report.

"Great, now the facility is going to fill up more? Wait, is that what the empty space on the east side of the ship was for?" Omaha asked, realizing she let the secret slip.

"You three have potential to be the best. I like it. I cannot wait for the Dogpound to become healthy enough to partake in missions and catch up to your excellence. And no shame in harmless snooping. You want to know as much as possible." Astral handed over a keycard to Alexandria.

"After this deployment, you three should go there for a month and study up. By that time we will be done with the Sacramentum, but you should be filled in on all the information needed to be up to speed with us." Astral extended his arms pointing to everyone around. "Oh, and Jaimie and Anders." Anders was still rehabbing with the Dogpound.

"But we want to join in on the action too!" Proto and Omaha exclaimed as Airsoft raised a fist for them to not push the issue.

"We are at a major disadvantage when it comes to information. If you two can tell me how these people came from nowhere and why we lost on earth until he showed up right now, we can fight the Sacramentum." Airsoft turned to face the two as silence was all that came from their mouths. Tilting his head back he smiled at Astral and Adam. "I'd rather learn it from you two directly, but we don't have that luxury of time to keep the civilians happy." Astral nodded as Airsoft walked out the door followed by the other two.

Adam looked over at the collection of papers Astral had. "You have a queen in Jaimie, a rook in Astrid, Zeta and Airsoft. I'm your bishop. Sal, Jax, Zane, Dogpound, Proto, Omaha, and the twins are all knights. We both know the gods will hit us with everything eventually. Is this just to make sure we win?"

"When you put it that way, the sleepy heads over there are pawns, they have the most potential out of all of the knights. The three fireteams are pawns as well. However." Astral looked at the planet. "Why not another bishop and an army of pawns?" Astral spoke as he walked to the door.

"Oh, and Adam, respect yourself and your abilities." Astral tossed a piece that looked like the king and queen. "You play a powerful role like me and Jaimie. Now, are you ready?" Astral smiled as Adam held the piece in his hand before putting it in his pocket. "Once we begin the battle phase, send down the twins, they will be needed as a test." Astral walked out the door as Adam looked over at the two sleeping, despite the injuries they suffered, not a scratch on them.