Solus Council IV; Assault

In the vastness of space, hovering in disturbing silence was a twisting tower. Connected rings circled up the entirety of it. Perched on the rings - sentry turret muzzles perused the void. The thrusters of the ship shot out in similar silence, keeping it in place within the ever-expanding space.

The building that is usually left vacant for all but once in a galactic year - is receiving visits from its regular attendees for a second time. An event that has happened only a few times since the Council's inception.

The first to have arrived, a golden ship with the symbol of stars adorning its carapace. The vessel belonged to the creators and one of the hosts of the councils, the Solituls. Leaders of the great Solitul Galactic Empire, their people, birds that glide the stars as they were called.

A species recognized as some of the mightiest warriors to traverse space, seen as equals to the great Detrid people, all without directly using Flauna within their forces. Though, it is not their people's most notable achievement.

No, that achievement is their conquering of stars. An action that was seen as impossible and insane to be even thought of, but they accomplished it and went even further. They harnessed them; turned them into sources of power and energy, building power plants and multitudes of energy farms.

They've built their empire from the rubble of what it once was with the crowning of their Emperor, the Golden Falcon, Falcion.

At the base of the ship's ramp, towering humanoid men with the heads of birds - tapped the butt of their large gun blade spears. They stood in an orderly manner when another figure descended the ramp, followed by two more bird-headed men donning swords and armor.

The man they were following after similarly had a bird head, a Falcon with golden feathers, and a midnight black beak - a Golden Falcon. He was draped in regal robes that fell over his body, dragging behind him as he strode through the halls and onto the Council Tower.

He towered over the other bird-headed men following him and walked with an intimidating stature that showed and gave off his strength and intelligence, a monocle over one of his eyes while his hands interlocked behind his back; it was Emperor Falcion.

The man himself paused in front of the door to the main lobby.

"You all, stay with the ship."

The guards slammed the butt of their staffs against the floor, marching back the way they came, leaving behind an attendant.

Entering the lobby, his eyes went over the open room. Varying different groups were seated in separate sections, waiting for whatever purpose.

Strolling over to the front desk, his attendant informed the tower of his presence, grabbing the key to his rest area.

The person behind the desk was a person of Yuill origin. Easy to spot from their heavily modified body. A person who could be trusted from the knowledge of their place of origin.

Following his attendant, he paused, the attendant doing the same, looking at the Emperor for answers.

Falcion approached the section of another group in waiting. Sitting on the reclining chairs were two girls huddled close together. They were chatting with each other but stopped with the appearance of the Golden Falcon.

The older girl had shoulder-length golden brown hair that sparkled down her shoulders, her eyes being a galaxy of stars. She stared up at the large man with unwavering eyes while she sat without moving.

Besides her was a girl who was quite a bit shorter than her. She had long crystal-blue hair that went down her back. Her bangs slightly covered her face, which she continuously brushed aside in nervousness.

What stood out about her, besides her extra long ears - were the several pieces of machinery on her body - especially the complete metal arm prosthetic - it, along with the others, certainly had a story behind it.

"Can we help you, your majesty?" The older girl asked.

"You two, you are in the area for the Detrid people. Who are you?"

Even though he asked the question, seeing the orb and half circle around the sparkling girl's head, he could guess who she was. The other girl, though, he had no idea. She held no signifiers of her place of origin or workforce.

"Hmm." The older girl thought with an audible hum, tapping a finger on the side of the younger girl's metal arm. "Our introductions were planned to be held off until the end of the council meeting, but seeing as you came to us first. I see no problem in informing you, your majesty."

Sitting up in her seat, she whispered into the bluehead's ear, continuing to tap on her metal arm.

"I am Tavella Concordia, Head of the Concordia household, heir to the mantle of Everion, next foreseen rule of Ivingard and the Twenty-Nine Collectives. Next to me is my friend. Lulia Bavel, granddaughter of General Bavel, not to mention the next head of the Bavel household. It is our utmost pleasure to make your acquaintance."

She finished with a slight bow of her head.

Emperor Falcion looked the two girls up once more upon Tavella's introductions. He could guess who Tavella was before, but the fact of who Lulu was, was a great surprise. Especially with her nervousness making it hard to believe.

Lulu was more surprised than Falcion upon being given that introduction. The first few things that Tavella had said about her were, of course, true. But her last words were something she had never heard before.

Next head of the Bavel Household? When did this happen? Who made that official?

She was so surprised that she started muttering whispers at Tavella in a questioning tone, the girl in question only continuing her rhythmic tapping on the metal arm.

"It is my pleasure as well. I hope to hear more from you, Concordia. Lulia Bavel."

With that, the Emperor turned back around and left the two girls to their business, thoughts on these new individuals running about his head.

After he left, Nizael came to retrieve the two girls, taking them to their lounging room.

***

With a large gust of wind. Leaves and dirt were blown away as a vessel unveiled itself from its cloak. The ship opened moments after, the side falling as a ramp; three soldiers, fully geared in lightweight tactical gear, stepped onto the forest ground with heavy breaths.

"Spread out. Lawrens, check the tree line. Keep watch on that base below the cliff. Lukules, run a sweep across the ground. Look out for any traps or signs of life outside the fauna. Clarkins, run a check on the equipment."

A commanding voice sounded out from above the ramp. Nellia stepped off the ship with a sharp gaze. While she was giving their orders, a hand always remained on the bulky handgun holstered on her side while the other hovered over her sword.

"Five ticks, get it done."

"Aye!"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Right away!"

With a salute, they quickly, albeit a bit clumsily, made their way to do as they were told, leaving Nellia to sigh while watching their departing backs.

Pulling a device from her pants pocket, Nellia clicked it on, and a virtual map of the surrounding topography appeared in front of her. Clicking buttons several times, the image zoomed in on the open area hidden below the near cliffside.

Zooming back out, she looked for vantage points and other points of access that would make it easier to infiltrate the device, but those points seemed to be few and far between - perhaps only two access points, but they would be under heavy watch. She would have to see it with her own eyes first.

"I've checked all the equipment. Everything is functioning correctly. There will be no issues, though I would like to ask why we need-"

"Good."

Cutting Clarkins off, knowing he was going to ask an annoying question. Ignoring his grumbles, she looked toward the approaching Lukules, waiting for him to speak.

"I ran a sweep. There weren't any traps for most of the surrounding forest, but I did find a mine planted in the ground from where I just came from.

"What type of mine?"

He rubbed the back of his helmet, "No idea. I'm not too knowledgeable about the different types of mines. Most of it was implanted in the ground, but the part I dug out, the top, was round and blue."

Nellia blanked out, leaving her squad in awkward silence, "Sounds like a large pulse mine."

"Is it in the way of where we need to go - or obscuring any of the potential paths we had discussed on the ship?"

"No, Ma'am."

"Right, then let's leave it. We have other things to worry about. We'll join Lawrens, but mark where the mine is so we know where it is."

"Right away."

Joining Lawrens on the cliffside, Nellia accepted the binoculars from her hands, looking over the hideout.

"Report what you've noted."

"Yes. From what I could see, multiple points would need targeting, while the primary focus is an underground area to the far right. I've seen a few high-profile targets enter and exit.

Also, they have untagged heavy machinery that was most likely built and sold under the table. One more thing I've noticed. Their buildings seem to have been morphed from the surrounding earth."

"Great, you've noted a majority of it. Make sure you note who their leaders are. The ones with the purple shoulder capes are in charge. Aim to get rid of them first. Now, the heavy machinery seems to be repurposed construction units. We will take those down before launching a full assault.

The fact that the earth has been morphed and transfigured means they have at least one Transcendental in their ranks. They're of mid to high-tier risk. Be wary."

Handing the binoculars back to Lawrens, Nellia pulled the large bulky gun from off her back, an AMP Cannon.

One of her favorite guns.

Clicking some of the buttons on the side of the cannon, it breathed to life, the panels on the side lit with blue energy. Putting it on the ground and pointing the barrel to the sky, Nellia took a breath.

"We have two entrance points. As Lukules is a Transcendental, he will join Clarkins to the right, infiltrate the camp and be ready for the signal. I will remain here before joining Lawrens to the left. We will distract the smugglers. You two will then attack them from their backs. There aren't any lookouts watching the cliff but remain wary."

Lukules spoke, "What do we do when the Transcendental makes themself know?"

"Leave them be. I will deal with them."

Nodding in affirmation, Lukules and Clarkins checked their magazines before sliding down the side of the cliff. Right after the two left, Lawrens started down the dirt path going down the cliff to one of the entrances.

Seeing them off to their positions, Nellia placed the AMP Cannon on her shoulder. Getting on a knee, she aimed it at the two repurposed construction units. Taking in a deep breath, she pulled the trigger.

The panels on the side pointed outward, blue flares shooting out of it. The cannon shook as a bright beam shot across the sky, into the hideout, straight into the two construction. After making contact, a large explosion caused the surroundings to tremble in fright.

The ground was charred, the machines turned into scrap, and all the surrounding smugglers were reduced to charred corpses.

Nellia looked on in awe at the aftermath of the weapon being fired. The cannon had died down as the energy subsided, and the panels rested back in place.

Placing the AMP Cannon back on her back, Nellia unsheathed her sword while unholstering her handgun.

Jumping off the cliffside, she landed right in front of the entrance, next to Lawrens. Taking advantage of the chaos - she fired at a nearby smuggler. Blasting his arm off.

Lawrens didn't need any orders. She took cover behind some rocks, firing her rifle, the bullets ramming into the surprised men and women like a train, their bodies slammed against the ground and the walls of their buildings.

The two continued to take shots with the smugglers, their advantage from the surprise fluttered away quickly, and they started returning fire, forcing Nellia to take cover behind a building.

Luckily, things were going according to plan - the smugglers' attention was on the two women. Pulling out from behind cover, Nellia popped a bullet into a smuggler's head, shifting behind another building.

Pushing a palm out to her side, a smuggler that had tried to sneak up on her was slammed into a wall, to which she took out her sword and stabbed it into his throat.

Looking over to Lawrens, she caught her firing rounds into several smugglers that tried to fire at her before pulling out her magazine and replacing it.

Hearing a machine stirrup, the two hid behind their cover once more. A machine gun rang out, littering the area around them with bullet holes.

"Now, now. This attack was out of nowhere. Hows about you two come out of hiding? We can discuss this like reasonable people, hm? We might spare your lives."

A deep voice rumbled out the throat of the large man holding the heavy machine gun, smirking as he spoke to the two, the smugglers beside him smirking as well.

Ignoring the man's words, the two kept their heads ducked. Nellia flexed her fingers, preparing to use Flauna to get rid of the man. Before she could, several gunshots rang out, the sound of multiple bodies hitting the floor as the man began firing the machine gun in response.

Nodding in Nellia's direction, Lawrens peaked from cover and fired at the man, riddling his body with bullets until he fell to the ground.

After seeing that he was down, Lawrens brought her rifle down at the sight of Clarkins and Lukules aiming their guns where the man once was. Sighing, she surveyed the area littered with bodies and small fires.

She turned to face Nellia, "Ma'am, it seems-"

Lawrens was suddenly covered in a blue box as she was thrown through the air and against a stone wall.

"Lukules, Clarkins! Take care of Private Lawrens!"

Not bothering to listen for their responses, Nellia turned back to the man who had risen from the ground next to the machine gun, had multiple holes in his clothing, and was slightly covered in blood.

The earth around him rose with the wave of his hand; he said nothing but fiercely glared toward Nellia.

Twisting her blade, she holstered her handgun. This type of opponent would be hard to deal with from a range.

Flexing her fingers, she launched a boulder toward the man, only for it to be stopped before hitting him. Sprinting at him, she rose off the ground, surrounded by Flauna - she was launched like a missile at the man.

He brought up the earth only for them to be pushed out of her path. He was moving slowly. The wounds from earlier were hindering his Flauna use, working in part with a lack of focus.

Slamming into the man, she kneed him in the face, and with a loud crunch, he was sent flying into a nearby wall. Not giving the man a chance, she stepped in front of him; With two sharp swings of her sword, she severed his hands.

Forcing his mouth open, she severed his tongue.

Watching him slide down the wall, her gaze pierced him. She put a hand to his neck, checking his pulse. He had passed out.

She called out, "Clarkins!"

He quickly made came over to Nellia and the heavily injured man. Following him, Lukules assisted Lawrens in standing.

"Tie this man up. He won't die from these wounds."

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"How are you feeling, Lawrens?"

"I'm not too hurt, Ma'am. Um, why aren't I in a worse condition?"

"I protected you."

"Oh." She was surprised, "Thank you, Ma'am." She said with a small smile on her face.

Humming in response, Nellia wiped off her blade. Locking eyes with Lukules, "Report."

"Right. We eliminated the higher-ranking smugglers around the underground area, after which we cleared out the cave, but we discovered..." He stopped in the middle of his sentence.

"Speak."

"... There were children chained, in cages, Ma'am."

At his words, Nellia pursed her lips.

"What are we going to do?"

"Give me a time reference for the next mission."

Lawrens clicked at the machine on her wrist, "The Council meeting should be starting soon."

"Good. Let's finish up and... get those kids home."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Yes, Ma'am."

They saluted. Clarkins and Lukules returned to the cave while Nellia supported Lawrens back to the ship.

They had adjusted their schedule.