Samuel's Personal Spacecraft
The ship was SMALL. Compact. Built for two people maximum. Efficient. Practical. PRECISE.
But what caught Juli's attention was the sigil. Emblazoned on the interior walls. On the control panel. EVERYWHERE.
A tree. Elegant. Intricate. With sprawling roots and reaching branches. Beautiful.
"Nice tree," Juli said casually.
Samuel glanced back. That ever-present smile. "Thank you, Captain Weiper. That is the sigil of House Barragan. The Eternal Tree. Representing wisdom, longevity, and the interconnectedness of all things."
"Cool. So you're like... tree people?"
Samuel's eye twitched slightly. "In a... manner of speaking. Yes."
Juli stretched. Yawned. Then just... plopped down in the passenger seat. "Man. What a day. What a CRAZY day."
"Indeed it was, Captain Weiper. You should rest. We have approximately two hours before we reach Sagittarius headquarters."
"Yeah... gonna do that..." Juli's eyes were already closing. "Hey, your earrings are cool by the way."
Samuel touched the small green serpent earrings dangling from his ears. Surprised. Pleased. "Thank you, Captain Weiper. That's very kind of you to notice."
But Juli was already OUT. Asleep. Instantly.
Samuel piloted the ship. Smooth. Practiced. Effortless.
Then he glanced back at Juli.
And nearly LAUGHED.
The boy was sleeping like an ANIMAL. Head tilted back. Mouth WIDE open. Drooling. Actual DROOL pooling on the seat.
His blonde hair was a mess. His posture completely undignified. Snoring softly.
Samuel's smile widened. Genuine. Warm. AMUSED.
"What a rascal." His voice was soft. Affectionate. "Now I'll have to clean all that up. But... an adorable rascal nonetheless."
He returned his attention to the controls. But kept glancing back. Entertained. CHARMED.
Pietro's step-son. The youngest captain in history. And he sleeps like a puppy.
Two Hours Later
"Captain Veiper. Ve haff arrived."
Juli's eyes SNAPPED open. Alert. Ready. "Huh? Where? What?"
"Sagittarius headquarters. Median Sector. Planet Chiron."
Juli looked out the viewport. And his jaw DROPPED.
Planet Chiron
The planet was BEAUTIFUL. Lush. Green. With sprawling cities visible from orbit.
But what dominated the view was the BASE.
MASSIVE. At the planet's CENTER. As if the entire planet REVOLVED around it. Because it literally DID. The base was the AXIS. The core. The HEART.
The structure was ENORMOUS. Bronze and gold colors gleaming. Technological marvels visible even from space. Towers. Spires. Platforms. All interconnected. All PRISTINE.
"Whoa," Juli breathed. "That's... that's HUGE."
"Indeed. Sagittarius headquarters. Home to approximately fifty thousand personnel. Androids. Support staff. And my units."
Juli squinted. Looked closer. "Hey. Does that look like... a horse's hoof to you?"
Samuel's smile widened. "Excellent observation, Captain Weiper. Yes. The base is designed to resemble a centaur's hoof. The symbol of Sagittarius. The archer centaur."
"That's actually pretty cool."
"I'm glad you approve."
Landing Bay
The ship descended. Entered the base through a massive hangar. Security was TIGHT. Scanners. Drones. Automated defenses. EVERYWHERE.
But all recognized Samuel's ship. Granted immediate clearance.
They landed. The bay doors hissed open.
Juli stepped out. And was immediately struck by the COLOR.
Bronze. EVERYWHERE. The walls. The floors. The lighting. All bronze. The squad's signature color.
And the TECHNOLOGY. Holographic displays. Automated systems. Androids moving with purpose. EFFICIENCY personified.
"This place is like... super high-tech," Juli observed.
"Sagittarius prides itself on technological advancement. We are the most scientifically oriented squad in ARMADA."
As they walked, several androids passed by. All carrying datapads. All focused on tasks.
One stopped. Turned to Samuel. Its optical sensors glowing. "Captain Barragan. Mission Report 447 requires your signature."
Samuel smiled. "Ah, thank you, Harvey. I'll review it shortly."
"Acknowledged." The android continued on.
Juli blinked. "Did you just... did you name the robot?"
"Android, Captain Weiper. And yes. This is Harvey. Over here is Margaret." He gestured to another android. "And that's Theodore."
The androids all nodded in acknowledgment as their names were said.
Juli felt a chill. "Dude. They're ROBOTS."
"I prefer the term 'synthetic colleagues.'" Samuel said cheerfully. "They're very helpful. Reliable. Some of my best friends, honestly."
This guy is WEIRD. Like, actually weird.
They reached a large office area. More bronze. More technology. MORE androids.
A figure stood at a desk. Reviewing holographic displays. Clearly in charge.
She was a CHELONIAN. Turtle-like features. Shell visible beneath her bronze Sagittarius uniform. Older than Vela. More weathered. More SERIOUS.
Her eyes locked on Samuel. SHARP. Annoyed.
"Barragan."
Samuel's smile didn't waver. "Ah, Rovera! Allow me to introduce—"
"DON'T 'AH ROVERA' ME!" Her voice was STERN. Commanding. "Where have you BEEN?! We have TWELVE pending missions! SEVENTEEN overdue reports! And you've been gallivanting across the galaxy doing WHO KNOWS WHAT!"
Samuel held up his hands. Placating. "I was at the tournament. Official business. And look! I brought back our newest captain!"
Rovera's eyes shifted to Juli. Softened slightly. "Captain Weiper. An honor." Then SNAPPED back to Samuel. "That doesn't excuse your NEGLIGENCE!"
"But Rovera, my dear friend—"
"I AM YOUR VICE CAPTAIN! NOT YOUR FRIEND!"
Samuel leaned toward Juli. Whispered. Stage whispered. Loud enough for Rovera to HEAR. "Every squad captain has a vice captain. A second in command. Unfortunately, mine is a little too strict. And annoying."
He WINKED.
Rovera's shell seemed to BRISTLE. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, SNAKE BOY?!"
Samuel's composed expression CRACKED. "Ah! Nothing! Nothing at all! I said you're WONDERFUL! ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!"
"DON'T LIE TO ME! I HEARD THAT!"
"Captain Weiper needs a tour! Urgent! Must go! BYE!" Samuel grabbed Juli's arm. FLED.
Rovera's voice echoed behind them. "GET BACK HERE! WE'RE NOT DONE! BARRAGAN!"
Juli was LAUGHING. Actually laughing. "Okay. Okay. I'm starting to like you now."
Samuel grinned. Genuine. Relieved. "I'm glad. Rovera is... intense. But she's an excellent vice captain. Keeps me organized. Mostly."
"She seems scary."
"Oh, she is. Absolutely terrifying. But loyal. Competent. ESSENTIAL."
Mess Hall
They arrived at a MASSIVE cafeteria. Bronze walls. High ceilings. A GIANT clock on one wall. And a holographic dashboard showing current missions. Tasks. Assignments. All updating in real-time.
And the FOOD. Oh, the food. Sections for different sectors. Different species. Different CULTURES. Everything imaginable.
Juli's eyes went WIDE. "Whoa."
"The mess hall. Available to all personnel. Twenty-four hours." Samuel gestured. "Please. Eat. You must be starving."
"STARVING. I'm DYING."
"Then let's remedy that. I'll give you your orientation while you eat. Multitasking. Efficient."
Juli grabbed a tray. Started LOADING it. Meat. Vegetables. Pasta. Rice. Bread. Desserts. EVERYTHING.
Samuel watched. His smile widening with each addition.
The tray was becoming a MOUNTAIN. An actual mountain of food.
"Hey, Sammy. You eating too?"
Samuel blinked. "Sammy?"
"Yeah. That's your name now. Sammy."
Samuel's smile widened. "I'm... honored, Captain Weiper. But no. I'm fasting."
"Fasting? Like, you haven't eaten?"
"For two years now."
Juli FROZE. Stared. "...What?"
"It's a personal discipline. A spiritual practice of House Barragan. We can sustain ourselves on minimal nutrients for extended periods."
Juli looked at his MASSIVE plate. Then at Samuel. Then back at his plate.
"This feels awkward now."
Samuel nearly LAUGHED. "Please. Don't let my choices affect yours. EAT. Enjoy."
They sat. Juli's plate looked like a FEAST fit for ten people. Samuel sat opposite. Empty plate. Just water. Watching with amusement.
"So. Let's begin." Samuel's tone shifted. More formal. More TEACHER-like. "First. Captain Weiper will also receive a planet. Similar to Chiron. For your squad's headquarters."
Juli grinned through a mouthful of food. "Cool! But hey. If you ever visit my house, you better EAT. And eat HARD. Otherwise I'm gonna kick your head in."
Playful. Teasing. But genuine.
Samuel smiled. Warm. CHARMED. "Noted. I shall make an exception for you."
"Now. While ARMADA is the primary military force in the galaxy, it is not a governing body."
Juli looked confused. Chewing. Processing.
Samuel smiled. Time to simplify. REALLY simplify. "Think of it this way, Captain Weiper. ARMADA are the police and soldiers. We enforce laws. We protect. But we don't MAKE the laws."
"Okay... so who makes the laws?"
"The Unified Galactic Council. The UGC." Samuel's tone was careful. Precise. "They are the governing body. The lawmakers. The rulers of the known galaxy. ARMADA answers to them. Specifically, the Four Titans answer to them. And we, the squad captains, answer to the Titans."
Juli looked BORED. His eyes glazing over.
Samuel noticed. Changed tactics. "Let me explain the ARMADA hierarchy instead. Much more relevant to you."
Juli perked up. "Yeah. That sounds better."
"At the top. The Four Titans. Lord Aether, whom you've met. And three others. They are the face of ARMADA. The ultimate authority. They answer only to the UGC."
Samuel held up one finger. Teaching like he was explaining to a TODDLER. "Below them. The squad captains. Us. Thirteen now, thanks to you. Each captain must have a deputy. A vice captain. Like Rovera."
Juli nodded. Gave a thumbs up. Still chewing.
"Excellent, Captain Weiper. Now. Below the captains and their deputies are the UNITS. Multiple teams. Each led by a unit head. These units handle missions. Patrols. Operations throughout the sectors." Samuel's hands gestured, illustrating. "This ensures effective policing and military presence throughout the vast galaxy."
Juli grinned. Swallowed. "So I get to recruit LOTS of people?"
"Indeed."
"That'll be FUN! Big family! HUGE family!"
Samuel's smile widened. His enthusiasm is... refreshing.
Then Samuel's expression shifted. Subtle. But noticeable. More SERIOUS. More focused.
"There is one more thing you must know, Captain Weiper."
Juli looked up. Sensing the change.
"ARMADA has eternal rivals. Thorns in our side. A constant threat." Samuel's green serpent eyes gleamed. "The Raiders."
Juli's hand stopped. Fork halfway to his mouth. His red eyes LOCKED on Samuel.
"Space pirates. Criminals. Terrorists. They operate in packs. Attacking colonies. Stealing. Murdering. Pillaging. DESTROYING." Samuel's voice was cold now. Clinical. "They are the antithesis of everything ARMADA stands for."
Juli's blood started PUMPING. His heart racing. Memories flooding back.
The colony. The attack. The screams. The fire. Mom...
"In this generation," Samuel continued, unaware of Juli's internal shift, "the Raiders are stronger than ever before. More organized. More dangerous. More LETHAL. They have leaders. Commanders. Some even rival squad captains in power."
Juli's smile changed. Widened. Became SHARP. Dangerous. DEMONIC.
That same possessed expression. That same HUNGER.
"Tell me more, Sammy. Tell me EVERYTHING about these Raiders."
Samuel noticed the change. The shift in energy. The INTENSITY.
And his smile returned. Knowing. UNDERSTANDING.
Ah. So that's where your true passion lies, Captain Weiper. Vengeance. Justice. VIOLENCE.
How... fascinating.