Enduring Hope

Seventh Sword Company: Cloud Jumpers

Pierce Christophe Gage

Rank: Sergeant. Squad Captain

Homeworld: Terra

Race: Human. Sex: Male.

Ridge Essern

Rank: Private. Gear & System Engineer.

Homeworld: Ma'dim - Mars

Race: Her Deh'shari. Sex: Male.

Thella Oswin

Rank: Private. Navigator.

Homeworld: Ma'dim - Mars

Race: Her Deh'shari. Sex: Female.

Vronica 4HM-U02

Rank: Private. Pilot.

Homeworld: White Cradle, the Orbiting Pygmy Factory

Race: Pygmy. Sex: Female.

Rayce Vaun

Rank: Sergeant. Combat Expert

Homeworld: 1A 0620-00

Race: Monocerian. Sex: Male.

"Captain General Thalia, reporting for duty." Vronica greeted the officer waiting outside their barracks. Meeting her salute, she opened the door and followed her into the room.

"Oh the droid is back, well I was meaning to have my bunk adjusted, how about you shift it closer to the porthole, I do enjoy the glow of the Blue Marble below"

"On your feet, Sergeant Rayce'' Captain General Thalia dragged the soldier off his bunk onto the deck, landing with a thud that caught the attention of the rest of the company, who rushed to attention. At the same time, Vronica helped a reluctant Rayce to his feet.

Choosing to hold his tongue after seeing the fury in his superior's eyes, he silently got to his feet and joined his companions in formation.

"Where is your company leader? I asked for all of you to be present. Well?"

Her gaze scanned the room before Vronica once again spoke up:

"Ma'am, Squad Captain Gage is currently sparring with Captain General Kord, they've been at it since the morning."

"Unacceptable. Retrieve him within the next hour and assemble in the Inner-Rim's Hangars to be briefed. Dismissed" Leaving the room after relaying her order alongside Vronica.

"Well then, Essern, did you finish my maintenance tasks?" Rayce spun around with an annoyed look about him.

"Dammit. it's not like I had a choice. Your gear is in your trunk now can you leave me alone"

"Hey hey, don't get snippy with me. Our leader isn't here to watch your ass" Mocking him before heading to his bunk to get ready.

"Ignore him, we should get ready" Thella tried her best to cheer him up by handing him a data slate with an update on the equipment he had requested.

Near the edge of the Alphus Sphere, the current Training Centre for all Blades and Enforcers within the Sol System, the artificial gravity varied depending on which facilities were being used.

For the majority of the training spaces, the gravity was generally kept at around 2.3G to ensure that the conscripts were kept in adequate shape lest they lose bone density and muscular strength in the low gravity environment.

Aside from the Alphus Sphere, there is the Lunarian Gardens that houses all the colonists of Luna aside from the Silver Council and its force, Silver Command which is the Headquarters for the Silver Council's operating branch within the Sol System found at the Copernicus Crater, Camp Insularum where the Council trains and houses members of its force and finally, Procella, Luna's largest trading hub and one of the wealthiest cities in the entire Inner-Rim.

But for those that seek to advance their training or simply require an environment that simulates their overbearing homeworld's pull, there are more reserved facilities. They are kept high and away from the rest of the facilities in the event that there is a failure, the entire room can be ejected before it destabilizes the habitable regions of Luna.

Within the Acceleration Rooms, the clang of steel and shortened breath echoed with the beat of footsteps adding a hum to the ambience.

"You have yet to impress me, Sergeant. I asked you to show me something I haven't seen from you and yet I am beginning to feel like you may just disappoint" Blocking several blows with the swing of his staff before blasting him away with a shockwave.

"With all due respect, Captain...your use of psychokinesis is far from fair." Dripping sweat only for it to sizzle from the scorching heat of the room.

Taking a few steps back before rushing towards the glistening figure, he struck at the Captain-General's carapace with a fluid motion of several rapid attacks, before moving to land his finishing blow. His instructor swung his staff, sending out a forceful blast only for Pierce to duck below, aiming for the Captain General's legs...his next move was cut short when the Room was deactivated.

Flooding it with coolant and releasing the occupants from the oppressive pull of the high gravity setting as someone waited outside in the Viewing Area.

"You're wide open" Landing a surprise heel kick with an impressive level of flexibility that sent him hurtling into the door.

"If I were to guess, I'd say that She-Devil Thalia is waiting for you. You best not keep her waiting." Picking up his staff before separating it into twin collapsing batons and slipping them into the holster on his hip, he put on his uniform coat.

"Sir. At what point will my duty as your punching bag stop?" He dragged himself up against the wall as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Once you graduate and actually earn your stars. So for now, you'll simply have to work at entertaining me, it's not often that I visit Luna" Patting him on the back as Vronica entered the room.

Saluting the Captain, he simply waved her off, when he noticed the appearance of cracks in his carapace.

'So that's it huh...' He wondered before a grin filled his visage, something had to see on the faces of your average Centaurian.

"Until our next bout, hold onto this for me. In my old age, I'll probably forget to bring it the next time I stop by" Handing over the batons to a surprised Pierce.

"Sir? Did the Acceleration Room cook your brain inside of your shell?"

"Absolutely not Captain Kord. Millenium Treasures are not to be held by anyone who has not earned the honor. If word of this were to reach the authorities in Silver Command…"

"Oh, you worry too much. Those old wigs only care about our duty being fulfilled, what I choose to do with a trinket gifted to me is my choice" Stuffing it in Pierce's hands before he could refuse.

"Now, I have my own business to attend to, so I'll be on my way.. And Sergeant, I better see it in good condition, the next time I'm around. You hear?" Waving goodbye to the conflicted pygmy as he left the room.

"V. To avoid inciting the Council's wrath, make no mention of this to Captain-General Thalia"

"Sir. We were instructed by the Captain-General herself to meet in the Inner-Rim's Hangar"

"Is she planning to send us off-world?" Grabbing a nearby towel and drying himself only to realize that she had already left the room.

"Hmm." Taking a moment to admire the work that went into crafting such works of at. With neither a nick, chip or scratch anywhere on its gleaming surface, even in his hands, it felt like fantasy given form. Heading to the training room lockers and getting ready to meet with the Captain General.

"Seventh Sword Company: Cloud Jumpers"

"Sergeant Gage"

"Private Essern"

"Private Oswin"

"Private Vronica"

"Sergeant Rayce"

"All present and accounted for" Pierce and Veronica slipped into formation much to his senior's displeasure.

"Were you anywhere else on this base and I would have floated all the way to Venus?" She warned him, her chilling gaze doing a good job implanting a sense of dread in them all.

"Captain General Kord, can be beyond words at times. But why Venus ma'am?" He thought, shooting a glance at his team members, all of whom were ignoring him.

"Because Sergeant Gage, that is where your Graduation will be held. You are all expected at the Floating Cities in four days. After that, you'll be assigned to a senior office according to your direction. Be it Enforcer or Blade."

"Are we traveling with the other companies ma'am?" Thella asked.

"No. You will all meet there. Your group will leave for the planet right away. A ship has already been prepared for you." Pointing at an arriving vessel that parked ahead of them.

"Get to it, there are some supplies that need to be loaded on it before you can leave. I leave your squad in your hands. You are to be a pillar for them." Taking off after sharing a few words with Pierce.

"Well then. Are you done saying your goodbyes to your mother, you need to help too" Rayce blurted out with two crates in hand.

"..." Sharing nothing but a cold stare, one that only builds disinterest in the private, before he takes off. to the ship's hull.

"Seriously, how do you get him to back off?"

"You too, Ridge, we have to get going." Thella pushed with her own crate in hand.

"Sergeant, I hope you can demonstrate the competency needed to lead us. We'll be counting on you" Vronica said before heading into the ship

"Thank you, V." Noticing her smile as he followed after.

The hangar door creaked open, revealing a ship unlike any other the Cloudjumpers had seen before.

The IMS-EHJ, affectionately known as the Enduring Hope for Justice, stood before them, bathed in an otherworldly glow. Its hull bore the marks of countless journeys across the stars, each scratch and dent a testament to its storied past. The standard white panels were now covered in a deep indigo paint, a symbol of its uniqueness.

Ridge couldn't help but marvel at the ship's appearance. He ran his hand over the smooth surface, feeling the craftsmanship beneath his fingers. It was clear that this ship had undergone extensive retrofitting and improvements to transform it from a combat vehicle to a transport vessel.

As the group approached the Enduring Hope, they noticed intricate markings made by the skilled hands of mechanics from various shipyards across the star systems. Each symbol told a tale of the places the ship had visited, the repairs it had undergone, and the battles it had survived. It was as if the ship bore the marks of its own journey, etched into its very being.

"She truly is a marvel of her time" Ridge exclaimed, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"This ship may be an older model, but it's been fitted with some of the most inventive tech the Council has. Though I can't say I'm not surprised since they aren't exactly lacking in terms of resources. "

Vronica nodded in agreement.

"I heard rumors that these ships had some advanced navigation systems that allowed them to navigate through even the most treacherous cosmic storms. And those sublight engines…it seems like they were able to modify them though at the cost of their AE-T Drives"

Thella chimed in,

"I've read reports about the ship's AI, and it's said to have unparalleled predictive capabilities. It can anticipate enemy movements and plot the most efficient courses across the stars."

Pierce observed the ship with a mix of pride and admiration.

"Despite its age, the Enduring Hope has become a symbol of resilience and fortune. They say she's known for her luck in always bringing her passengers home. The navy may have considered decommissioning her, but Captain General Thalia recognized the true value she possesses."

The group began loading their supplies into the ship's spacious cargo holds. Ridge was especially enthusiastic, eager to explore every nook and cranny of the vessel.

"Oh, look at this!" Ridge exclaimed, holding up a small, sleek device.

"My guess is that it's one of the original ship's multi-tool that can analyze and repair just about anything on the ship. It's like having a dozen mechanics in the palm of your hand, but most their job is automated in the newer models"

Thella examined a console covered in holographic displays.

"This navigation system is unlike anything I've seen before. It has integrated data from countless star charts and maps, allowing us to chart our course with unparalleled accuracy."

As they continued exploring, Vronica showed off the impressive piloting station.

"This ship practically flies itself! The control interface can sync directly with my neural implants, giving me precise control over every maneuver."

With each new discovery, their excitement grew. It was evident that the Enduring Hope had been well equipped, or overwhelmingly so for newly graduating Blades. The ship had been lovingly upgraded and cared for by skilled shipwrights.

As they prepared to depart for Venus, where their graduation would take place, a sense of camaraderie and excitement filled the air.

"Sergeant, please join me on the bridge" Ridge's voice chimed over the intercom, filling the space with a loud volume surprising the group before he managed to fiddle with the audio settings.

"Oh, that's a new voice. I don't believe we've met." Pierce expressed as he walked onto the bridge.

"It's a pleasure. I am the Ubiquitous Personal Assistant in charge of the maintenance and operation of this ship. I am designated IMS-EHJ 07771. Please refer to me for anything that you may need."

"Hmm, that's quite the mouthful. Will it still work if I shorten it to EJ?" Ridge said, with excitement still fresh in his voice.

"The description may be used for any interactions you may have with me but will not be my official designation, does this satisfy your request?" The voice answered.

"That's fine. Most nicknames are rarely official." He excitedly got into his seat while the rest of the group arrived at the bridge.

"Get to it, Captain my captain." Ridge spun around in his chair before passing Vronica a data slate. Checking it for a moment before returning to her seat.

'"The coordinates are set. The Captain-General seems to want us to do this on our own, We have the clearance for our ship. Please buckle up before I get started."

"Don't mind if I do" Rayce nudged the Sergeant out of the way before seating himself in the Captain's chair, expecting to finally get the fight he wanted from him on for the Sergeant to find a place by the scanner beside Thella.

"Psst. Droid, all the pre-flight checks are done, would take off already."

"My name is Vronica. And you don't have the rank to issue orders"

"That doesn't mean you weren't built to serve. Now serve." He pushed his back and forth meanwhile...

"Thella, has the course been plotted?" "Yes Sergeant, it should be a little bumpy though" "That's fine, we'll have our pilot accommodate"

"Ridge, what's the condition of the ship?"

"All systems are operational, Captain."

"That's good"

"Vronica, can you work with the chartered course, if so you can use the EJ for support"

"EJ...yes sir" Turning away from Rayce.

"Well then, Rayce, we should be ready to go." Looking at him and expecting him to give the order, the Centaurian spoke confidently.

With the engines roaring to life blasting clear of the dock before the Black Body drive hummed its awakening song, fuelling the ship as it blasted off, leaving the Moon in its wake of stellar vapor.