Chapter 7: The Formal Meeting

The Solar Guardians watched their possible ancestor with an intrigued look. They used firearms that were considered primitive. All of them were indeed genuine older versions of the Terran military.

"My name is Captain Raias Seloce, leader of the 5th Recon Team from Prometheus Arcology. Team, introduce yourself." Raias said with his vox-enchanted voice.

"Mal Eisobar, Apotechary Auxilia. Nice to meet you." The helmetless man said with a charming smile, which Raias could quickly tell that smile is intentional.

"Nathaniel Varus, Devastator Specialist. I hope I can become the best acquaintance with all of you." The Solar Guardian beside Raias said, opening his helmet as a tanned man with a bald head came to view.

Beside Mal, a crackling noise could be heard. There, from thin air, manifested a bulky armor of a certain person. The JSDF could guess this newcomer was a woman from its slim hips.

"Greetings! I am Maiya Jacillev, Demolisher Specialist. I hope I can learn many from you, Japanese people.' As Maiya opens her helmet, the crimson hair lets loose into the air. Thanks to her augmentations, her flawless skin and unnatural beauty made all JSDF men and even villagers stare at her in awe.

"Men," Nathaniel remarked with a chuckle.

"Raphael, introduce yourself," Raias said within his vox channel.

"Roger," The reply was short and neutral.

Another crackling noise behind the Japanese made the JSDF turn their face to the source. Another Solar Guardian manifested, yet this one is different. The aura radiated from this man was intimidating, but it was not like predatory intimidation. It was like a man who was always ready for war and vigilant for everything. A perfect soldier. All Solar Guardians were perfect soldiers from the Japanese eyes, but this is different.

"Name Raphael Trax. Sniper Specialist." The answer was neutral like it was bordering emotionless. His helmet opened,

For most of the JSDF look at them with transpired dread and awe at the same time. And one certain brunette girl in the Humvee of the JSDF looks at Raphael with a slight blush.

Raias walked in front of the JSDF man. "You can introduce yourself, honored JSDF."

"P-please. Drop that honorific title. I did not deserve such a thing." Itami waved his hand awkwardly.

"I have to do that. After all, you are my ancestor." Raias waved the question.

"Ancestor?" Itami muttered, seemingly lost in his own thought. The rest of the Japanese also have big question marks on their heads.

"I will answer that later. Your name, soldier." Raias said softly.

"Ah, yes. First lieutenant, Yoji Itami." Itami replied with a smile.

"Glad to meet you, Lieutenant Itami." Raias offered his hand, which Itami take it.

"This is my team, the 3rd Recon Team." With that, the entire team exited their Humvee. They introduced themself to the Solar Guardians.

From beneath his helmet, Raias could see every member of his team taking their liking person. The most obvious would be Mal, who stole some glance at the medic Mari Kurokawa in just milliseconds.

Sighing, he chooses to remain silent. Until Itami approached him.

"I want to ask you something, Captain." He said slowly.

"Ask anyway." The Solar Guardian replied.

"My apologies. But what is the Imperium of Man?" Itami asked.

At this question, he glanced at his teammates. All of them gave him a slight nod. Sighing, Raias stared deeply at Itami.

"Imperium of Man is a galactic spanning country across the Milky Way Galaxy. A nation of millions of worlds, led by His Majesty, the Emperor of Mankind." Raias proudly proclaimed.

And what follows is total silence from the JSDF. They were baffled by Raias' words.

"W-What? A-A galactic spanning Empire?" Itami asked, trembling.

"Yes, and for all of you were our ancestors. We came from M29 671. Basically twenty-seven thousand years from the future." He said casually.

"T-T-T-Twenty-seven," Itami exclaimed, barely able to move his lips.

"Thousand years from the future?!" The rest of them screamed in shock.

"Are Old Terran have very strong lungs? Are they augmented?" Raias asked UR-982 in his helmet.

"Based on old records. Human gene and bionic augmentations have not yet been discovered at M2." UR-982 replied.

"Then, how?" Raias wondered for a while.

"Yes. Like our Captain said, we came from M29. 671. it would mean Millenium 29, age 671." Nathaniel told the Japanese with a smile.

"How?" Tomita asked.

"We came from another Gate at Zalvus Hills," Mal informed them.

"So there exists another Gate, huh. We need to report this to General." Tomita muttered.

"Speaking of your General. I want to meet him to fully explain our intention here." Raias said to Itami.

"We gladly take you to him. But," He stared at the villagers.

"I understand." Raias walked to the villagers.

Taking a deep breath, he used UR-982's psychic capability to translate everything he said.

"Citizen of Coda Village. I, Raias Seloce. I am Solar Guardian from the Imperium of Man. the Fire Dragon has been killed. Even though it will be saved if you do not return to your village because the Empire had enforced a scorched earth policy. But I have one offer for all of you. The Imperium of Man shelters all. If anyone of you wants to be part of it, I will be happy to bring you there. A world of wonders and power like you've witnessed pale of comparison to our greatest works. Shall you join us?" Raias speak in flawless Falmartian.

His transhuman aura and charisma made the villagers stare at the Captain in awe and amazement. Not only by his alone, but UR-982's psychic power also made them fully understand the complete picture of his words. They began to feel a sensation of hope from Raias' words, an intangible feeling that made them start to receive a foreshadowing of what Imperium is.

Lelei and Cato could feel the aura even better. They could feel their souls resonating with the Solar Guardian's words; glory, pride, and wealth beyond measure.

Tuka, as an elf, feels something even beyond. She could feel the entire light of the whole civilization of this Imperium of Man. Love and a warm embrace for all.

Rory did not feel anything. Instead, she saw flashes of images. Buildings that reach the sky, floating cities, and even a gigantic ship blackened the horizon.

For JSDF, they did feel something. Like destiny before their path, a birthright for their species. Is there, waiting to be claimed.

____________________________________________________

Only most villagers remained for extraction, and the rest decided to resettle elsewhere. Raias smiled beneath his helmet.

"82, connect me with Gax." Raias said to the Ferrous Mind.

"Right away." Then a video call came to his HUD.

"Ah, Raias. From the pinpoints that have been established, your mission has proven successful. Now, what can I do for you?" the Colonel asked.

"I have villagers that wanted to be part of Imperial citizen." Raias simply answered.

"That was unexpected. Are they armed?"

"No, they are just simple villagers."

"Very well, I will send you a coordinate to teleport them." Gax said, tapping on his table.

"Thank you, and also want to report that the first contact is established. I repeat the first contact is established." Raias informed with a stern tone.

Hearing this, Gax's expression changed drastically. The Colonel stared deeply into Raias' eyes. "Can you provide me with a video feed?"

"Of course, Gax." Raias did what his superior told him. Using his visor, he directly connects his Noosphere with the arcology to show what he saw in the stronghold.

"So, you've interacted with the Japanese," Colonel concluded, holding his chin with a thoughtful look.

"Yes, sir. Like what the old records said about them. They are pacifists." The Captain stared at the Japanese, who was currently talking with his teammates. Friendliness and innocents radiated from them.

"But the rest of the Old Earth wasn't. Well, the teleportation coordinate is complete. It would be 100% accurate now." Colonel smiled fondly at the Captain. "you never failed me, Raias."

"Keep that compliment for later, Gax. We have an important job to do." Raias waved the question, answering it nonchalantly.

Sighing in surrender, the Colonel-ranked Solar Guardian replied. "I will report this to Lord General Sol. I assume you've asked for their General audience."

"I have, Gax. Don't worry." A smile cracked on the Captain's face, which made the Colonel smile in return.

"Good job, Raias. Colonel Gax, out." The transmission ended.

"Team, use the Teleportation Beacon to the villagers. We will send them back to Prometheus Arcology." Raias called the entire 5th Recon Team using vox channels. With a nod, they approached the villagers. Gently putting a small circle-shaped device on their shoulders. The villagers obey without question, staring at the device with astonishment. Not only the human but also the carriages affixed with the device.

"What you gonna do, Captain?" Itami asked, standing beside him with a questioning look.

"We will teleport them back to our base." To Raias, it was a very simple procedure. For Itami, it was mind-boggling to the extreme.

"T-teleport them?!" The JSDF shrieked in shock and disbelief.

"You will see." The simple answer did not stop Itami from slightly trembling.

"All clear, Captain!" Maiya shouted. Inviting the JSDF, the Warp-born, and the psyker attention. Raias noticed that Aeldar was also curious about it. His hand clenched into a fist.

"82, do it." With that simple command, a bright flash of light exploded. As the light dies out, the entire villagers, alongside their carriages and belongings disappeared.

The remaining people stared in shock, frozen by what have they witnessed.

"What all of you've done to them?!" Mari shouted in panic as the Warp-born tightened her grip on her halberd.

"Easy there. We just teleport them to our base." Nathaniel said to them with a reassuring tone, smiling to make them believe him.

"T-teleport?!' They shouted in shock.

Raias only sighed.

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Using their vehicles, the JSDF returned to their base. Yet, the Solar Guardians decided to walk on foot. Surprisingly, the Guardians managed to keep up with them by jogging.

After a few hours, they arrive at the outside line of the base.

"You know. It was weird when visiting this place for the second time. Well, first, if you consider the previous one as infiltration." Mal pointed with an awkward tone in their vox channels.

"I know your feeling, man." Nathaniel retorted with a small sigh.

"Just pretend we've never seen this base. That would be fine," Mal said, but from her tone, it was clear it was directed at herself.

With some arguing between Itami and guarding soldier, they managed to pass.

All of the base inhabitants saw the Solar Guardians with caution and awe. Watching an 8-foot tall human with a metallic suit is like a dream of a super soldier come true to their mind.

"I will be reporting to the General. All of you can wait here." Itami said with a smile.

"No problem," Raias replied. With Itami gone to report to his superior, the rest of the 3rd Recon Team began to talk with Raias' teammates. Eyeing the rest of the base, he could see they distancing themselves from him. Indeed, his status as a Solar Guardian makes him distant from them. It was not the case back in the Imperium, as the entire society was augmented near his level. And those Japanese only mere humans, mortals that only live barely one century.

Distance, weaker, and somehow simpler. Deep within his heart, a tingling sensation manifested. A sensation that he only feels when War for Retribution occurs. A sentiment that longing for a long-lost fragment.

_________________________________________

"What do you mean by this, Itami?" General Hazama asked the man before him.

"Like what I've said, sir. Not only do we make contact with the natives. We also seemingly made contact with civilization from another Gate." Itami said while caressing his neck.

"And you said they came from twenty-seven thousand years from the future?" The General said ludicrously.

"They claimed so." The Lieutenant avoids eye contact with his superior.

Then click on the door came to their ears. It was Yanagida; his eyes stared dagger at Itami, causing the said man to yelp.

"General." He saluted the sitting man.

"Lieutenant Yanagida," Hazama addressed.

"I've heard we make another contact with another Gate." The glasses man said sternly.

"Yes, Lieutenant. Those so-called Solar Guardians are undeniable evidence. And based on your report, they killed the Fire Dragon, correct?" Hazama said, glancing at the report on his table.

"Yes, General," Itami answered, trying to remember that event. An event when he saw a mighty creature being torn apart by only four people.

"In that report. You mentioned they... Used laser and plasma weaponry. Are you sure about that?" The report directly mentioned how the dragon was killed and the weapon used to kill it.

"One hundred percent sure, General. I mean, what else could generate blue projectiles and a red line that is capable of burning the entire land? Though, I still could not recognize all of them. Like a weapon that generates a green light that somehow ben the gravity?" Itami said with a wry smile.

"Weapon that bends gravitation?" Yanagida asked, narrowing his eyes with a calculating look.

"I mean, yeah. Look, it was very fast, and I could barely see it. What I see is the green light crushing the dragon's wing like... Crushing it from all sides." Itami shrugged, sighing in tiredness.

Hazama closed his eyes, furrowing his eyebrows as he burned his entire thought to process the data before him. If this was true, it would shape humanity's future.

"I think I have no choice. Bring their leader here. I will talk to him." The General said with determination.

"Yes, sir," Itami taking his leave from Hazama's office.

"Yanagida, I need your help on this." the General told the bespectacled person.

"Of course, sir."

____________________________________________________________

Raias only watched his team with the Japanese, silent as if he was a statue.

"So these are medical technologies from M2," Mal said, examining all pieces of instruments within the medical tent.

"Actually, no. It was for medical field operations. If you want to see our medical technologies, you must visit the hospital then." Mari chuckled as watching Mal's genuine curiosity about JSDF medical technology.

"It will be classified as artifacts if they came to my world." The black-haired man remarked.

"Wow. Then, what kind of medical technologies does your Imperium have?" Mari asked with a smile.

"Don't be shocked," Mal smirked. "We have many. One of those is Panacea STC, being upgraded countless times so that it can cure anything."

"Anything? Like AIDS, Ebola, Cancer, Dementia, and all of Earth's incurable diseases. All of those?" The female medic widened her eyes and could not believe her own ears.

"Those are primitive diseases to us. Panacea would only need seconds to heal them completely." Even for Mal, it was usual. Mari is utterly frozen by the revelation.

Mal only chuckles in amusement.

Redirecting his eyes, Raias could see Nathaniel speaking with machine specialists, especially tanks.

"What a wonderful relic," Nathaniel said.

"What do you mean by relic?" One of JSDF speaks with a curious tone.

"We have Grav-technology for almost all of our tanks." The simple answer alone made their jaw open wide.

Again, Raias saw Maiya interviewed with all the JSDF presents in the base. Her towering figure and bulky armor, combined with her jovial attitude and broad smile, made the interaction very discomfiting.

And the last one, Raphael. He stands like a complete automaton. His aura and presence are completely gone as if he is a ghost. Even psychic detection could not feel the sniper's essence, turning null like Blank. This only left Raias with one speculation about that man's history.

"My team is indeed something," Raias muttered to himself.

"Captain Raias, General Hazama want you to come to his office." One of the JSDF said to him. While trying to avoid direct contact, the Japanese still hold his demeanor as a professional soldier.

"Affirmative." With that answer, Raias walked to meet the General.

As he walked into their base, Raias could feel his brow twitching.

"Feeling familiar and yet trying to deny, Captain?" UR-982 suddenly asked.

"Quiet ." The Captain said with a severe voice.

"All right, all right. I will be quiet until you need me. After all, I will be upgraded into Ultima-class arcology." The statement made Raias stop for a moment in split nanoseconds. His mind processed the entire possibility of why such arcology was needed.

"I will have many questions for you later, 82." The Solar Guardian ended the communication. He stood before the familiar door, opening it, and thus he saw the General beside the four-eyed man.

Mentally grunting, Raias stepped in.

"Captain Raias, I presume." The General addressed him with a smile.

"General," Raias replied.

"I will say that you can sit. But," The General scanned Raias' entire figure. "I think we can't afford a proper chair for you, Captain."

"I won't mind it. Please, General. Let's head to the business." Raias said neutrally, which made Yanagida slightly flinch.

"If you were kind enough, Captain Raias. Please, open your helmet." Yanagida said with a smile. A cunning and warm smile.

"Yanagida," Hazama scolded his subordinate.

"I have my own reason. But I hope it will not cause you some problems." The Captain replied, still maintaining his professional demeanor.

The General sighed. "My name is General Hazama. This man is Lieutenant Yanagida."

"Glad to meet you two."

"Now, Captain. Can you explain to us where you came from and what the Imperium of Man is?" Hazama said calmly, darting his eyes at the super soldier.

"We came from Zalvus Hill, roughly more than two dozen kilometers from Alnus Hills. We came here because another Gate materialized on Cradle World, Terra. This Empire attacking us, and our presence here is for a counter-attack." The words Cradle World and Terra burned within the JSDF mind.

"A Cradle World. I read from Itami's report that the Imperium of Man controlled millions of worlds." Hazama said, intrigued by the topic.

"You are correct, General. We dive into the stars through millennia, and humanity colonized world after world. The founding of our Imperium enforced our position across the stars as Terra serves as Imperium's heart. For you, Terra is Earth." Spoken softly and with his charismatic nature as Solar Guardian, the JSDF fell silent.

"Imperium of Man. I'm a General, so I have no right to judge on this matter, but does that mean your country is human superiority ethic, Captain?" The question itself is unexpected but predictable. A General is a symbol of the guardian of their country, and asking this would confirm his intention. Raias know this as he opens his mouth to speak.

"To some degree, yes. But it was for a very good reason. Cosmos is full of horror beyond our moral ethic, General. Many of them only want us to be destroyed and eaten alive. And with that ideals, we stand still to fight those horrors." Raias said softly, trying to touch their sentiments.

"What horrors?" Yanagida asked.

"Ignorant is a blessing, Lieutenant Yanagida." The Solar Guardian answered with a cold-neutral voice.

Shaking his head in disapproval, Hazama stared with patience at Raias. "You said it was a counter-attack. Did you have any intention to this Special Region?"

"Previously, Lord of Italica has sworn an oath of loyalty to our Emperor. So that the entire region of Italica is now Imperium's territory." Raias reviewed the Italica region within his helmet. Examining it with data he had stolen from Hazama's office. Thus, he knows every future operation the Japanese will do next.

"That was unacceptable to our term, Captain. By our world law, that will be recognized as an aggression act, Captain," the General said with narrowed eyes.

"I know. But the loyalty has been spoken of, General. Lord of Italica himself gives his territory. So that we only answer." The answer is simple and undeniable. But it was blunt, causing the JSDF to stiffen.

"May I know, Captain? Your country consists of millions of planets. Then why were you expanding on this primitive planet?"Again, a reasonable question came from Hazama.

Raias only smiled wryly. "Only the Emperor knows."

The silence follows the rest of them. Hazama cannot see other rooms for discussion. He deepened his gaze at the Solar Guardian.

"Captain, I think we can make a non-aggression pact for now. As the old say, enemy of my enemy is my friend." The General says fluently, smiling with serenity.

"I would love to, General. But I'm a soldier, and furthermore, I'm a low-ranking Solar Guardian. I can't handle that kind of deal." It was an honest reply from Raias. He is a soldier, augmented to protect the Imperium from its physical threats. Diplomation is out of his reach.

"Pity. But I still proposed a non-aggression pact with the Imperium of Man. Can you send it to your superior?" Hazama pressed further.

"If that was a delivery mission. I can do that for you, General." Raias nodded his head in affirmation.

"Thank you, Captain." The General gave an eye signal to Yanagida, which made the said man exit the room.

Not long after, Yanagida entered the room with a document. From a simple scan, it was a non-aggression treaty.

"Here, General." Yanagida handled the document to the General.

"Thank you, Yanagida." The General opened the document. "I will send you the message about this treaty. I hope I will receive the answer soon, Captain."

"Of course, General." Before Raias could reach the document, a box notification appeared in his helmet. He quickly recognizes the name, smiling with satisfaction.

"What happened, Captain?" Hazama asked.

"It would not necessarily, General." The answer made both JSDF raise their brows.

"What do you mean by that, Captain Raias?" Hazama stared at the Solar Guardian with narrowed eyes, prepared with everything.

"Lord General will speak directly with you." Did not leave any room for the General to ask; Raias touched his temple, manifesting a hologram.

A golden armored man taller than even Raias manifested before the JSDF. The hologram bordered a genuine realistic, like the form f the said Lord General made of hard light. His armor defined the regal concept of impossibly advanced technologies and arts.

"Greetings, General. My name is Lord General Sol, Agral Velhico. I'm here to discuss this non-aggression treaty." The voice is regal and flawless Japanese. Supernatural charisma bloomed across the room like a gentle sun, showing the mortal men with its bright appeal.

Both Japanese lose their capability to speak, feeling infinitely small by the being before them.

"General?" Agral said softly.

"Ah, my apologies. I-I just can't bare the sheer information in front of me right now, Lord General." Hazama replied nervously; sweat began to form on his forehead.

"That was expected, General. It was my fault I did not inform you first." The golden armored man waved his hand in dismiss.

"It would be much easier now. You can read it first." Hazama tried his best not to tremble, pointing his finger at the paper.

"A standard non-aggression treaty without any further involvement or deals. I see your intention here, General. I praise you as a good leader." Agral put his index finger on top of the paper. In an instant, a signature appeared.

This man is a hologram, and they were aware of it. Yet, the said hologram can mark his own signature like the actual person is here with them.

"T-thank you very much, Lord General. I very much appreciate it." Hazama pulled the document back, giving it to Yanagida, who was still dumbstruck by the Imperium's General.

"General Hazama. I have another intention to come here. I want to propose a deal that every Japanese non-offensive operation could be conducted in Italica. I also want to create a good relationship between our respective countries." The Lord General's words are put deep into Hazama's mind for consideration.

"I will think about it, Lord General," Hazama answered firmly.

Agral extends his harm. Hesitated, Hazama reached for the giant's hand. Surprised by the revelation, he could literally grab it and feel the warmth of light from the Lord General.

"I would love to meet you in person, General Hazama," Agral said softly.

"I would love to."

With that, the golden General disappears as the hologram dies out.

"I guess my job is done here. I hope Japan and Imperium can become a close ally in the near future." Raias said to Hazama; even with his helmet, the JSDF could see a ghost smile.

"I will use all of my strength to make that happen, Captain." The General only smiled with respect to the Solar Guardian.

"I take my leave then." With that, Raias left the room.