A Laxtros with long blonde hair and a tan spider body stood in front of a large black metal building, tapping one of her spider legs on the ground. The building stood apart from similar ones around, but in general the structures were sparce. Most of the land was purple, putrid dirt and rock with very little vegetation. Plants that grew were also purple as well as weedy and spindly. After tapping for a few minutes, she got impatient and knocked hard on the oversized door.
"Hey, we don't have all day!" the Laxtros yelled, "Our mission is from our Mistress directly! You're the last one I need to pick up, so let's go!" Finally, an Uthid clad in shiny black armor carrying a greatsword came out of the front door.
He apologized, "Sorry, Lady Selena. I couldn't decide which weapon to bring. After all, we're going after a dragon, can't be too careful."
"A dragon child," Selena scoffed, "But the Mistress thinks it might be a special one. I'm not that concerned except for the requirement to bring them back alive. So, don't kill them, Bryce."
"Anyone else we encounter is fair game though, right? It's been a while since I've gotten to cut loose," Bryce pouted.
"Yes, of course, but don't expect anything exciting," Selena cackled, "These are the people that had trouble kicking out the Mantoan. The team I led to clean-up their mess cut down these humans like grain."
Bryce frowned, "Damn, I was hoping for a challenge, but something is better than nothing." The two walked a little way away from the buildings towards a strange ship that looked like a massive dragonfly. A bay door opened out, revealing two black Mantoan in black armor and two other Uthid in the same black armor. Bryce sat with the others waiting while Selena moved to the cockpit and sat in the pilot's seat. He called up to Selena, "So how long until we reach the last sighting?"
"Three days until we land," Selena replied coldly.
September 18, 2152
As the red morning light began to shine over Temia, Nephenee stretched her arms in bed and patted around sleepily for Innes. She opened her eyes to find Innes sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, channeling magik. She sighed, "Innes, come back to bed. It's too early in the morning to be worrying about training."
"One of us has to greet the newcomers today," Innes joked, "Who knows when they'll get here. So, I'm just training until they arrive."
"You're probably right. My aunt isn't known for being tardy. Fine, I'll get up too," Nephenee groaned as she sat up. Slowly, she got off the bed and got dressed in her normal military attire before brushing her long teal hair.
"Speaking of your aunt, is there anything we should be worried about?" Innes asked with a hint of worry in his voice, "I don't know much about the Council, so if there's a problem, we can just."
Nephenee cut him off with a finger pressed to his lips, "Don't worry about my aunt. She won't bat an eye about our relationship. I'm more concerned about the crazy training she's going to have planned."
"What do you mean?" Innes furrowed his brow as he looked up at her, "We've got a pretty intense training program as it is. And with all exploratory missions put on hold, there's not much to do."
"She saw a lot of combat during the first war and saw what a dramatic improvement that made on the clan's strength. Before the war, she was only level seven overall, tied for the weakest leader. Through combat, she gained two levels in less time than it took her to get from six to seven. So, when she returned, she restructured the clan's training methods to a combat-centric model," Nephenee explained.
"What's so bad about that?" Innes shrugged his shoulders, "We've seen conflict already, and the Apleem know we're here. So, it seems likely to me they'll send more forces here first."
Nephenee bit her lip, "You're probably right. Maybe I'm just a little nervous too. It is the Council after all." Innes stood up and put his hands on her shoulders.
"It'll be fine. Why don't you get some coffee and check the scanners while I stand by the pad and wait for them?" Innes lightly suggested. Nephenee nodded and stood up as well. They walked together for a little bit before splitting up to go in different directions. Innes headed through the cargo bay and out of the ship to survey the outpost before going to the teleport pad. Only the nightguard was walking around at the moment, leaving the sounds of the wild to echo through the area. The animals of the plains had largely adjusted to the new residents and steered clear of the outpost. Still, it was common to see herbivores of all kinds and small birds just outside of the gates.
Once Innes made sure the guard rotation had been completed without issues, he stood by the teleport pad near the front gate and meditated. He only waited about thirty minutes before the runes around the edges began to light up. The light glowed so bright that Innes had to shield his eyes, but when it dimmed, he was truly shocked by the sight before him. One thousand men and women clad in pearl chainmail stood at attention with a variety of different weapons at their sides. Under the armor were long, off-white robes that stopped just above the ground, though cloaks were probably more appropriate to call them due to the hoods covering all their heads. That was except for the woman in front. She was almost as tall as Innes with a slender figure and a blonde ponytail.
"My name is Clarine Violet, leader of the Violet clan. I'm here by request of the Supreme Witch," she bowed slightly to Innes.
"I'm Innes Blindside, subcommander of Temia's outpost," he bowed in response, "The commander will be with us shortly. Let me show you to your quarters." Clarine nodded as she followed Innes towards the new barracks. Whispers spread through the camp as it started to wake up that the Witches had arrived. As they walked, Clarine peppered Innes with questions.
She started, "Where are the rest of the troops?"
"Not here yet," Innes replied quickly, "We don't expect them here for a couple more weeks. It takes a long time to mobilize such a large force, and they're traveling the old-fashioned way too."
"Have you encountered any Mantoan, excuse me, Apleem forces yet?" Clarine questioned.
"Yes, about a week ago, a platoon ship landed on the edge of our perimeter," Innes answered, "General Reiss killed one hundred seventy-five Mantoan and one Uthid while the commander and I took out twenty-five. The ship they arrived on was destroyed at the beginning of the skirmish."
Clarine rubbed her chin, "She did well for her first taste of war. Speaking of the general or Lady Supreme, whichever you prefer, do you know where she is now?"
"She's on the Fae home world, solidifying our alliance with them," Innes smiled, "She called the evening before last to check on everyone. Oh, I guess I should mention that the commander and I are part of her clan now as well."
"I figured as much. If she's half as smart as she seems, she probably had all of her leadership join her clan. Though I wish my niece would have asked for my blessing first, I am happy with the choice she made," Clarine sighed as they arrived at the barracks. The Witches spread out and selected beds by placing a duffel bag onto of it. Then Innes felt his wrist vibrate and saw a message from Nephenee.
"Come to the Command Center and bring my aunt. Immediately."
Innes tapped Clarine on the shoulder, "The commander has requested the two of us to meet her in the Command Center. Can we leave your troops here for the time being?"
"Everyone, stay here for now," Clarine nodded before commanding her people, "Let's go." The two walked briskly to the second floor of the Research Center which had been converted to the Command Center after installing the new long-range satellites. When they entered the room, Nephenee was standing in front of one of the many screens talking to Jask.
"How long until they arrive?" Nephenee squeaked with worry in her voice.
"Based on the object's current speed, it is projected to arrive in seventy-seven hours," Jask chimed, "Though I have only determined their trajectory only has an eighty percent chance of collision at this point."
Innes murmured, "Damn, and so soon after the last one. What are we looking at, Nephenee?"
"Another ship inbound," Nephenee turned to the pair, "Thanks for coming, Aunt Clarine."
"I was asked to do so by Lady Supreme, so thank her, not me. What kind of ship is it?" Clarine replied bluntly.
"Ship signatures match similar signatures to a specialized reconnaissance ship last found at the end of the war," Jask beeped, "This ship matches the last one entering the Sol System several years ago. It landed on Triton, stayed for a little over an hour, and then left. The ship is actively attempting to cloak its position."
Clarine narrowed her eyes, "Well that sounds like a bag of shit."
"I agree," Innes admitted, "We need to let Emory know right away."
"I've already called her. She said she'll be here tomorrow night with weapons," Nephenee responded.
"We've brought equipment as well," Clarine added, "But if it's a recon ship, it's not a numbers issue, it's a strength issue. The strike team aboard that ship is probably filled with elite troops. What level are you two now?"
Innes answered, "When I became a Hexblood, my sphere reset to between two and three. Since the sphere level is determined by purity now, I only know that I'm somewhere between two and three."
"My Force sphere is level three, and my Arcane sphere is level one," Nephenee continued, "But I don't know how to undergo Meta Form yet."
"Okay, so we've got two days to get you two as strong as possible. Innes, unfortunately, I can't help you with purification training. However, Nephenee, I can help you unlock Meta Form. I'll instruct my clan to begin training the forces you've assembled," Clarine decided.
"Do you think that will be enough time?" Nephenee worried, "I thought Meta Form training could take weeks."
Innes tensed his muscles and said firmly, "It will have to be. Good luck." He took her hand and kissed it lightly before leaving the room. Nephenee blushed and watched him walk away before noticing a smirk growing on her aunt's face.
"Not a word," Nephenee hissed, "I'm not ready to talk about it."