Pacific Command, Pacific City

Admiral Petrov stood with eight vice-admirals behind him. The martians might have concluded that the terrans were taking time to strengthen and secure the resource asteroid bases they had retaken. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

A hologram of the combat between Athena and the unidentified haisnaf kept replaying itself in the center of the command room, surrounded by ringed desks occupied by the retired admirals that serve as the high command, EFSF officers, and also representatives of many Earth’s nations’ armies. Not that they were aware of the identified exo-armor’s haisnaf name.

Varoufakis was also in attendance with his closest cabinet members.

“This is our concern,” stated Admiral Petrov as all within the room examined the footage with agitation. Many of the officers, though well-trained and should rightly be stoic in nature, couldn’t help but feel restless at the footage.

“We already wished to finish this war quickly. Rush the martian forces without giving them any time to regroup. Now, there is the additional possibility that the creator of this unidentified unit might interfere in the war proceedings.”

“Vice-admiral Duterte.” A man introduced himself to all within the room as he stood. “Do we know who built this new exo-armor?”

“No conclusive evidence,” answered Petrov. “It could be something newly-built by Neurorevo. It could be built under cooperation of other conglomerates. It could have been a nexarm modified by those in the Saturn and Jupiter moons. Or pirates, unlikely as that is.”

“But not Mars.”

“Not Mars,” Petrov repeated Duterte’s words with a smile. “That is precisely why I have summoned you all here.”

He tapped his neuro circlet and all these key officers of the EFSF received a new plan.

“Originally, we aimed to deprive the martians of their resources and force them into a surrender. Now, I believe it would be foolish to drag out this war.”

“High command has already agreed.” Petrov’s gaze met the retired admirals one-by-one. “However, we do need additional input to work out the knots and kinks within the revised plan.”

“Currently, the martians have deployed forces to protect their three remaining resource asteroids, Vesta, Pallas and Interamnia. The idea is to trap their forces in the belt while we capture Phobos and Deimos, both highly defended moon military bases for Mars.”

“Unlike us, the martians do not have a complete defense umbrella. If we are able to quickly capture the moons… disabling the few key buoys of their incomplete umbrella and setting up orbital weapons that can strike any martian surface targets…” Petrov did not need to finish the sentence. All within the room knew that in such a situation, Mars would have no choice but to capitulate.

Such a plan was undoubtedly more costly than patiently sieging and recapturing the resource bases that Mars still had. 

Executing this revised plan would not be easy. Phobos and Deimos are, after all, armed to the teeth. This defense system is naturally more effective than Earth’s lunar base. The defenses of Phobos and Deimos were built to cover and work in tandem with each other, and thus, the incomplete defense umbrella of Mars was less of a glaring issue.

The incomplete umbrella would still provide support to both of the martian moons. Then there was the fact that surface-to-space weapons are viable on Mars due to the lower gravity, unlike Earth. The ring of the Wolf’s Coil might have artificial gravity on the planet surface, but other areas of Mars do have bases with surface-to-space weapons.

In some ways, this was effectively a four-stage defense that the EFSF would have to penetrate. At the very least, Petrov knew that they would have to expertly separate their forces, and simultaneously attack the two moons, the umbrella, while locking down the martian forces in the belt. Any mistake could lead to disaster.

A tension filled the room. Many knew that whatever plan they choose to employ would need to be precise and swift. 

“We have already been keeping a close eye on Phobos and Deimos, and the half-hearted dysfunctional umbrella, as well as their surface-to-space weapons. Examine the data. Provide your suggestions. The operation will begin in two weeks. Any longer and we run the risk of this… unidentified exo-armor becoming an unknown element in the war.”

_____________________________________________________________________________

Area 51, Pacific City.

Varoufakis, current President of the EFSF, had come to the depths of Area 51 to visit the dome again.

The image of Denys formed before his very eyes.

“President Varoufakis. Out of all presidents, I’ve seen you the most,” commented the AI Denys.

“These are troubled times after all,” Varoufakis noted.

A moment of silence, and Varoufakis broached the subject he had come to ask of.

“Denys. I wish to know of that unidentified exo-armor. The nexarm imitation.” His heart had been restless upon the sighting of that unit. He knew it was not Neurorevo-- he trusted the current CEO of Neurorevo’s, Vergera’s words. They had known each other since university.

“Do you think of me as a God?” Denys calmly shook his head. “I am just a sophisticated AI. What I can compute and sense depends on the hardware I can access, as well as whether there is a channel through which I can enter another system.”

“Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of this unknown exo-armor. It must have been built under a closed network. In order for me to observe outer space, I need to send a copy of myself in a closed system such as a starship. And only when this copy can reconnect with myself, likely through a communication channel an officer opts to open, will I gain its knowledge.”

“Well,” he corrected himself. “I could always activate the ship’s communication channels to transfer myself. But you get the gist of it all. I am not some all-seeing god, President Varoufakis.”

“You mean to say…if someone built and ensured the stability and isolation of a separate network…” Varoufakis muttered with a depressed tone.

“Yes. It is, of course, highly unlikely. Data transfer occurs on a daily basis everywhere in the Solar System. Even if someone were to build something new, sooner or later, they would interact with the existing systems,” Denys nonchalantly stated.

“But you have no knowledge of this unidentified nexarm.” 

“I thought you’d be relieved, President Varoufakis,” chortled Denys. “You never seemed comfortable with the possibility of me being behind human history for the past thousand years. Rest assured, I have… almost never interfered.”

Varoufakis soon left Denys’ dome with mixed emotions. The AI Denys was right-- ever since he came to know of Denys, he disliked the idea that Denys had been watching over human history ever since its creation. Now… a part of him wished that Denys could watch more closely and dredge out the information that is this unknown nexarm imitation exo-armor.

He could only exit Area 51 empty-handed with his heart in turmoil.

____________________________________________________________________________

Lunar Base

Upon returning to space, Athena had felt immeasurable relief. It was a sense of freedom, as if she had stood under a gentle waterfall that rinsed away the dirt and grime that is Earth.

The EFNSF had refilled its ten member roster.  The three new members? Moise Benteke, Saanvi Patel, and Einar Thorsson. All three had already received training when they were placed in the reserves.

Neurorevo had also already sent replacement nexarms. That was not all. The nexarms were also undergoing modifications to enable more close combat capabilities. This decision was rapidly agreed on due to Athena’s experience battling the unknown exo-armor. At least, the EFSF believed that close combat might be more useful than they had first thought.

James MacLeod had also been informed by Petrov of the change in plans. He would need to prepare his NSF team and integrate the new members in a short two weeks…

Currently, James gazed out of a large picturesque window wall at the dim lunar surface. In the distance, he could see the earliest American flag placed into the moon’s surface.  Not that this land belonged to the Americans. This was very much the domain of the Earth Feds. The flag was simply kept as a commemoration of space exploration.

He turned to sit down opposite Athena on a soft duck-feather sofa chair.

“Athena.” James did not bother with military rank customs today. “I may not be the right man for this job, but it is necessary nonetheless. As the leader of the NSF, I need to know. How exactly are you feeling? With regards to what occurred during our visit to the west coast of North America?”

“I…” Athena did not wish to speak of her mind during the riot suppression process. Frankly, she had done her best to forget that incident.

“Athena.” James was determined and leaned forward as he stared deep into Athena’s eyes. “You  have to face the reality of our lives as soldiers. I’m here to lend you an ear.”

Athena began recalling the lives of those terran citizens that had crumbled under the barrage of rounds from the crab automatons, their bodies full of holes squirting blood and the limbs limp as they collapsed to the ground.

Then there was their meeting with Xeight. When he spoke, he sounded just like any other young man who had lost his grandfather and sought repayment. One who had taken Smirnov and Levy’s lives. Perhaps he was also the one in that nexarm imitation!

Again, Athena’s ears began ringing as those memories filled her mind.

“Athena.” James’ gentle voice sounded in her ears. “Focus your mind. Think of an image of serenity. Of letting go. Anything you’ve experienced in the past that has filled your heart with contentment.”

It was then that Athena found her mind recalling the image of Clio tending to plants in her recovery garden in the Rebirth Bunker. She still recalled the white acacia that Clio had spoken of with a loving expression of wonder etched onto her face, and her small smile at having chosen to return to Egypt.

The ringing in her ears slowly decreased until it was no more.

“Sir… how do you do it?” Once Athena calmed herself, she beseeched James for his answer.

James did not expect Athena to directly seek answers from him. After all, everyone dealt with such issues differently.

“I am not sure I will be of help to you specifically. Me, personally…?” James leaned back and sighed. “If I am being honest… I grew up in the MacLeod family. We are expected to… separate ourselves from your average citizen. We’re expected to think as elites. Making decisions that influence the average citizen. They are nothing but sheep. We, the shepherd. A few lost sheep is nothing in an elite’s eyes…”

“So… you… dehumanize the individual?”

Feeling somewhat ashamed, James nodded while looking down at the ground.

“Not at all helpful to you, right?” He chortled in a bid to hide his wavering heart.

“Beyond that,” he continued. “I’ve visited the T3ST colony a number of times and dined with them. I knew early on exactly what I was signing up for. I suppose that also helps. Recognizing from the very start, the lives of those on the opposite side. At least one would not enter a state of shock upon learning of their normal lives.”

What else could he say? James wracked his brain.

“It’s also a matter of accepting the reality of us. As humans.” He once again turned his gaze out of the window wall. The extraordinary image that is Earth was just rising over the moon’s horizon.

“Sometimes… I think of us as nothing but biological robots. Our programming etched into our genes, our souls.” James rarely spoke of this thought of his. “I look at all those around me. And also myself. Do we not just repeat history? Fighting for resources and opportunity. Seeking to govern our own lives. Seeking to control and set our cultures. Competing against others to guarantee prosperity for those most similar to ourselves. We had peace for so many years, and yet here we find ourselves in a war, once again. And yet… somehow we humans are still alive on this planet.”

“I think of myself just… cleaning up the mess started by those before us,” he concluded. “Someone always has to do the clean-up duty, right?” James shook his head, wallowing in a bit of self-pity.

“Hah, listen to me,” James’ lips turned upwards in a small grin. “I thought to provide assistance. Instead, it is you listening to me.”

Athena’s eyes had turned crystal clear, looking at her superior James MacLeod with a newfound curiosity. She herself felt refreshed after hearing his words.

“Thank you, sir.”

A signal sounded in the lunar base-- mealtime.

The two stood up and Athena saluted Special Lieutenant James MacLeod. Her back couldn’t be straighter.

Then, an impulse filled her heart and she suddenly stepped forth and gave the handsome blonde man a tight heartfelt hug. James froze in surprise, but responded after a few seconds and gently wrapped his arms around Athena’s back.

“Thank you for listening as well, Ensign.”

______________________________________________________________________________

EFSF Lunar Base, September 23, 1000 Solar Era.

Fleets of starships began warping towards their intended targets. It was a combined force of seven S-class starships, fourteen A-class starships, fifty B-class starships, vastly dwarfing the enemy they would be approaching. Earth naturally had absolute superiority in numbers with their many resources!

Once again, the EFNSF operated independently. Their goal remained ever the same-- interfere with the actions of the T3ST unit.

Special Lieutenant James MacLeod had received his orders. The NSF was to hover around on the outskirts of Mars. They were to engage any exo-armor units that attempted to interfere with the forces targeting Phobos, Deimos, or the incomplete martian defense buoys.

Will Kyle, Liu Long and Ariana Bellucci had rejoined the main group. However, they were given orders to split again if the situation demanded it.

The NSF’s previous failure only prompted one change. James MacLeod would no longer direct their carrying starship. EFSF command had made the judgment that their previous failure came from James being placed in a position where he had to lead both the nexarms and the starship.

An incredibly high-ranked individual had been placed on Starship Atlas-- Vice-admiral Son. He was to control Starship Atlas while coordinating the unit’s cooperation with the other fleet commanders of the EFSF.

____________________________________________________________________________

Interamnia, The Belt, September 23, 1000 Solar Era

Commander Khan certainly felt ready for action. The area around Interamnia had been completely mined, while strengthened with many buoys.

Some of these buoys were artillery weapons, or containers that carried many swarm automatons.

They had also successfully installed and tested an additional railgun, among other artillery guns and missile systems.

She also had an A-class starship and a few B-class starships integrated into the surrounding defense of Interamnia.

Khan had also been notified that the T3ST unit would immediately provide assistance to any asteroid resource points if they were to come under primary pressure from the EFSF.

Yet, when she received details of the EFSF’s departure from the lunar base, she couldn’t help but feel something was off.

She requested footage from Lieutenant Sanchez, and upon viewing the gathered strength of the EFSF, her face turned white with trepidation.

“Quickly.” She made a snap decision. “Lieutenant Sanchez. Take two of our B-class starships and return to Phobos!”

But it was too late. At that very moment, an EFSF fleet had arrived, triggering a sensory buoy on the outskirts of their defense.