Astraeus Tower
Starlight Headquarters
Orbital space station
Agartha, Anu Solar system
Divine Federation
Pleiades star sector
Leon and Rex sat in the Strategium Sanctum, the air thick with the hum of anticipation and the weight of strategy. The chamber was vast, its stone walls adorned with silver banners, each bearing the intricate sigils of the Twelve Celestial Houses. The banners fluttered gently, as though alive, the threads of light woven into their fabric pulsing with raw mana, casting an ethereal glow over the room. Leon's gaze lifted to the dome-shaped ceiling, which flickered with the shifting map of the Divine Federation, a living tapestry of worlds, systems, and borders. The map seemed to breathe with the heartbeat of the cosmos itself, its vastness both awe-inspiring and overwhelming. Leon's mind raced as he attempted to process everything they had witnessed—an impossible feat when every memory felt like it had been etched in the deepest corners of his soul.
It had been some time since their return from the Ebony Zone, and Rex had brought Leon here, to the Sanctum, to meet with Admiral Wilcock. The Admiral was known for his sharp intellect and his cold, calculated approach to the Federation's military strategies. While waiting for Wilcock, Leon's thoughts drifted to Aria, who had excused herself earlier. Her spell, one she had perfected to split her essence between two locations, was beginning to take its toll. The strain on her was evident, and soon she would need to rest. With her absence, the Sanctum felt quieter, the weight of their conversation pressing down on Leon.
Leon's mind, ever restless, turned to the memories he had recently acquired from Alexander. He had tried to sift through them, to pull threads of meaning from the tangled web that was his family's past. Yet, every attempt to connect the pieces was thwarted by a persistent, almost suffocating influence. His mother. Her presence, even in absence, seemed to bleed into every thought, every memory, making it impossible for Leon to focus.
With a quiet exhale, Leon pushed aside the haze that clouded his thoughts and redirected his attention to the intelligence gathered from Delacroix. The intel was crucial, yet as he examined the data, the pieces didn't seem to align in any coherent pattern. There was too much missing—too many gaps in the story. And then, there was the larger question that lingered in the back of his mind: what was his mother's true goal? What was it that drove her to manipulate the pieces of the celestial chessboard with such careful precision?
The ongoing tension between the Divine Federation and the Ganymede Empire was another puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. It had been building for years, with skirmishes breaking out across various border worlds. But something felt off. There should have been full-scale war by now—an all-out battle between these two galactic superpowers, a conflict that had been simmering since the Lamentias Event. Yet, here they were, with only small clashes in the outer rim, a far cry from the devastating war that should have erupted by now.
Leon's mind churned as he examined the geopolitical landscape. The Federation's strained relationship with the Ganymede Empire had always been cold, frosty even, like two wolves circling one another, waiting for the first move. But now, with Terra's Awakening, the situation had changed. Small-scale battles were erupting along border planets—clashes that were only a fraction of what they could escalate into. The stars themselves seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the spark that would ignite the powder keg of the galaxy.
Leon's mind drifted to the recent series of events that had set the galaxy on edge, the small-scale battles that had erupted almost a year before he emerged from seclusion. It had been a mere spark—a single, seemingly insignificant item—that had ignited the powder keg of conflict. Just in time for him to be dragged into the mess, as though the universe had waited for his return. He had been pulled from his self-imposed isolation by the very thing that had driven the first clashes between the Divine Federation and the Ganymede Empire. It was almost as if fate itself had conspired to draw him back into the fray.
As he pondered this, the door to the Strategium Sanctum slid open with a soft hiss, breaking his reverie. Admiral Wilcock entered with his usual air of authority, his movements deliberate and sharp. Behind him, a young assistant scribbled notes rapidly, trying to keep up with the Admiral's stream of commands. The room seemed to grow colder as Wilcock's steely eyes landed on Leon, his gaze narrowing with an unspoken judgment.
"Haravok," the Admiral barked, his voice rough with the weight of pent-up frustration. "You're here. Well, well, you've got some nerve showing up now, of all times. I suppose now that you're done with your little parties, you care to grace us with your presence?"
Leon met his gaze with the same cocky, nonchalant expression that Wilcock knew all too well. It reminded him of Jonathan, the resemblance was very striking. He sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of too many burdens.
"Admiral ," Leon replied coolly, his voice unwavering. The Admiral's eyes lingered on his face for a moment longer, searching for any hint of the cocky arrogance that had defined his younger years. But Leon's expression didn't falter.
"You just had to make a mess at Ebony Zone, didn't you?" Wilcock's voice was tinged with annoyance, the edge of frustration cutting through his words. "Do you have any idea what it took to keep things from spiraling out of control? What the hell did you do to Delacroix?"
Leon remained calm, unfazed by the Admiral's outburst. He reached into his dimensional band and withdrew a small vial, delicate and clear as glass, though within it swirled a faint, ethereal light. With a subtle shift of his fingers, Leon used his Odic force to propel the vial across the room, sending it gliding effortlessly into the Admiral's waiting hands.
Wilcock raised an eyebrow, inspecting the vial with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "What's this?" he asked, his voice betraying a trace of uncertainty.
"Delacroix's consciousness," Leon answered, his tone steady. "I was able to strip his astral self from his body. As long as it remains separated, you can always revive him. Sector Zero will think he's dead, that I killed him. But they won't know that he's in suspended animation."
The Admiral's eyes widened for a fraction of a second as he processed the gravity of what Leon was suggesting. He turned the vial over in his hands, his gaze never leaving it. "So, keep him alive until the trial," Wilcock said, his voice flat with begrudging admiration. "That's quite the technique you've got there. But how the hell did you use your power in there without authorization?"
Leon's smile was knowing but fleeting. "State secret," he said cryptically. It was his semi divinity that had granted him an edge in that environment. His divine essence amplified every aspect of his being, allowing him to bypass the suppression that had been placed on prisoners and keep his abilities intact, something no one else could have managed.
"Hmm," the Admiral muttered, clearly less than pleased with the answer. "So, what do you want, Haravok?" His tone shifted, becoming more pragmatic, a sharpness returning to his voice. "You do realize I'm busy. There's a whole war to manage out there, and I'm only here because Rex assured me this was important."
Leon straightened in his seat, the weight of his words heavier now, more deliberate. "It is important, Admiral. You've been dealing with the Ganymede Empire's small-scale attacks, but there's something much bigger at play here." He leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Wilcock's. "What if I told you there's a reason Ganymede is on the offensive right now?"
The Admiral's gaze hardened, his lips thinning into a tight line. "Those bastards always wanted to establish a foothold on Euripython belt system," Wilcock replied, his voice laced with bitterness. "The treaty that kept both sides out of that damn asteroid became meaningless the moment Sector Zero made an attempt on Terra. And now, here we are, with skirmishes breaking out all over the Outer system. But what's your angle, Haravok?" He paused, a flash of understanding crossing his face. "You know something we don't, don't you?"
Leon's silence was all the confirmation the Admiral needed. The tension in the room thickened, as the weight of the unspoken truth hung between them like a sword poised to fall.
"In the Euripython asteroid belt, there's an object—an item of immense value," Leon said, his voice steady but carrying a weight that seemed to draw the room's attention.
"Is there?" Admiral Wilcock's tone was skeptical, his brows furrowing in curiosity. "You do realize that the Euripython belt is infamous for being a breeding ground for criminal activity, don't you?"
Rex leaned forward slightly, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. "Yes, but that's due to the treaty between the Galactic Empires. Euripython was left alone, largely ignored—especially since the asteroid field lacked any real resources that would be worth fighting for," he explained, his voice calm, but with a hint of lingering knowledge.
Leon's gaze hardened slightly, the flickering light from the strategic map overhead casting shadows over his features. "But it does have one thing of great worth," he said, pausing as if weighing the impact of his next words. "A connection—an interspatial network, a jump point that links the territories of the five Galactic Empires."
Wilcock's interest piqued at that, though his expression remained guarded. "The five empires, you say? The Divine Federation, the Ganymede Empire, Asterion, Genesis, and Valinor? You're talking about the most powerful factions in the galaxy. And you're telling me that this jump point connects them all? That's... more than significant. It's a strategic lifeline."
Rex nodded, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface of the table as he spoke. "Exactly. The Euripython belt, despite being overlooked, is crucial because of the jump point. It's like the artery of galactic travel, allowing instant access between the territories of the five empires. In the blink of an eye, you can traverse the vastness of space, shifting from one empire's borders to another's."
Wilcock leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he processed the weight of the information. "A long time ago, a war was fought over control of this jump point," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "It was a brutal, unrelenting war. The five empires waged it without mercy until a neutral party finally brokered peace. A treaty was formed, and none of the empires were meant to control Euripython—or the jump point."
Leon's voice cut through the Admiral's thoughts. "That didn't stop them, though."
"No, it didn't," Rex agreed, his voice tinged with a dark knowledge. "The empires found a way to get around the treaty. They used the criminal underworld—organized gangs, mercenaries, and shady alliances—to seize control of the belt near the jump point. It's a subtle, under-the-radar kind of control, but it's enough to shift power without breaking the peace accords directly. Now, Ganymede and the Divine Federation's forces are clashing over it in the outer rim. Small skirmishes, but tensions are rising."
The room seemed to grow heavier with the weight of the unsaid truths lingering in the air. Admiral Wilcock's gaze turned back to Leon, a mixture of disbelief and apprehension crossing his features. "So, this 'item' you're talking about—Delacroix was one of the criminals with a foothold in the belt?"
Leon nodded, his expression hardening. "Yes. Delacroix had his hand in the pie. He was one of the key figures in controlling the flow of information and trade through the belt. And now, with the Federation and Ganymede forces clashing there, it's only a matter of time before everything blows wide open."
Wilcock was silent for a moment, processing the information, his thoughts moving like gears behind his calculating eyes. "And Delacroix—he's involved in this mess somehow? What exactly did he steal, Haravok?"
Leon's gaze flickered momentarily toward the vial of Delacroix's consciousness, still resting on the table, before meeting the Admiral's eyes again. "He didn't steal anything. He was after something much more dangerous—something that can tip the balance in the conflict brewing in the Euripython belt system."
"And what exactly is this item?" Admiral Wilcock asked, his tone sharp and expectant.
Leon met the Admiral's gaze with an air of practiced indifference. "I don't know," he replied, a smooth lie slipping effortlessly from his lips. Of course, he knew precisely what the item was—the artifact of unparalleled importance. But there was no way in hell he was going to divulge its true significance to Wilcock. This was something that Sam needed. Leon's goal was clear: he would secure the item and bring it to her as a peace offering. It was the perfect way to make amends for his prolonged absence. Maybe, just maybe, they could pick up where they had left off. Yes... that was exactly what he intended to do.
He allowed a calculated pause before continuing, shifting his gaze to the table, avoiding the Admiral's piercing eyes. "What I do know is that Delacroix was supposed to retrieve it for Mallus. I bet you anything that the skirmishes in the Outer Rim are just a cover for Sector Zero to get their hands on it."
Wilcock's gaze narrowed, his expression unreadable. "Is that so?" he replied slowly. His voice was laced with skepticism, but his mind was already turning. The Admiral was no fool—he could tell when someone was hiding something. And right now, he could sense that Leon was keeping key information from him, something important. He could almost smell Julia Haravok's influence in the room, though he couldn't see through the woman's webs of manipulation. But Leon? He could see right through him. A faint grunt of disapproval escaped him. "Hmph. You need more experience if you're going to pull that off like your mother." Leon straightened in his seat, trying to maintain a composed exterior.
"What do you need from me,?" Admiral WIlcock asked.
"I need a cover," Leon said plainly. "As both a member of Starlight and a representative of the ruling family of the Twelve Celestial Houses, I can't just waltz into the Euripython belt. I need a reason to go, a plausible excuse." Before Wilcock could respond, the door to the room slid open with a soft hiss, and in stepped Meridien Karajan.
Meri was a striking figure, her business attire immaculate, tailored perfectly to fit her lithe frame. It was sharp, elegant—designed for someone who knew how to command attention without uttering a word. Behind her, Effie Long'Shadh, her ever-present attendant and the half-breed elf, followed silently, a quiet figure that seemed to melt into the background.
"If it's a cover you need, then I'm the girl for you," Meri said with a confident smile, her voice laced with an effortless charm.
The Admiral's brow furrowed. "Meridien, what are you doing here?"
Meri's smile didn't falter. "I'm here to finalize the deal for the last batch of Xeta dust to be sent to the Outer Rim," she said smoothly. "We were supposed to discuss the protection details, given how dangerous that place has become."
"Protection details?" Wilcock repeated, a little incredulous. "What happened to your mercenary organization? Can't you just use them to protect the shipment?"
Meri's eyes glinted with amusement. "Now, now, Admiral," she chided playfully. "Under the contract we signed, the safety of the crew falls under the Federation's jurisdiction, not my mercs'. That's what I agreed to with the government."
The Admiral muttered under his breath. "Those damn fools..."
Meri, undeterred, pressed on. "Anyway, I couldn't help but overhear your little conversation, and what better excuse to get to the Euripython belt than being part of my protective services?" Her smile was laced with just a touch of mischief.
Leon raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "Hmm, that makes sense," he said. He turned his gaze to the Admiral. "What do you think, Admiral?"
The Admiral leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepling as he considered the proposition. He let out a slow, resigned breath. "Fine. I can assign you a team for this mission. But keep in mind this has to stay low-key. It can't get out that the Federation is getting too involved in the Euripython system." His eyes hardened, the weight of the command settling into his voice. "This is more delicate than you realize."
Leon gave a subtle nod, the gears already turning in his mind. It was a dangerous play, but it was the only one that would work. And with Meri's involvement, it seemed he had just found the perfect cover.