The wind on R22 was different this time. Heavier. Hungrier.
Kael stood atop the ramp of the newly deployed spacecraft, a high-tech vessel gleaming silver beneath the ever-dim skies. The landing had been smoother than expected, but the terrain told another story. Radiation had thickened. The ground crackled subtly underfoot. And above all, something new had begun brewing in the atmosphere—a low-pitched hum they couldn't yet explain.
Behind him, Tyren unloaded the last crate of heavy anchor plating.
"Third time landing here, and it still smells like a rotting furnace," he muttered, shaking his head.
Kael chuckled slightly, then tapped his private comm.
> Bzzzzt.
Incoming connection: [Ryssa]
Her voice came through crisp and direct. "Tell me, Kael. How many Kaiju are you planning to butcher this time?"
Kael smirked. "You keeping score now?"
Ryssa's voice lilted with amusement. "I'm just trying to guess how many battleships will be trembling after the next report."
Tyren turned from the crate pile with a wide grin and a mocking tone. "If she starts sending you heart-shaped ammo packs, I'm putting in a transfer request."
Kael replied without turning. "You can transfer your mouth shut."
"I'm sorry," Tyren said, dramatically holding his comm like a rose. "Commander Ryssa, your black knight awaits his next blood-soaked waltz—"
Kael threw a wrench at him. It missed. Tyren laughed and dodged behind the lugger's frame.
Ryssa, still listening, chuckled through the comm. "Tell Tyren I did send him something. A new auxiliary cooling system for the Brawler. Can't have his overheating tantrums getting worse."
"Tell her I love her now."
Kael rolled his eyes. "Get to work."
---
Over the next few hours, the base camp came to life.
A reinforced perimeter, a collapsible hangar for Ravager and Brawler, radiation-filtered barracks, and a satellite relay dish aimed straight back to the Helios Ark. Their base wasn't huge, but it was efficient—designed for survival and war.
Kael was adjusting a shield emitter when his comm buzzed again.
> Incoming transmission: [Ryssa]
Her voice was different this time—more serious. "Kael, listen. Word's spreading. The other battleships are getting… curious."
He paused. "About R22?"
"About you. And the metals. And the Kaiju density. A few exploration units have requested authorization to land on the outskirts. But I made something clear."
Kael's tone sharpened. "What?"
Ryssa spoke firmly: "They don't land until you give permission."
Kael's fingers tightened on the emitter. "And if they do?"
"Then they're violating Black Void jurisdiction, and I'll rip them apart through command protocol."
He was quiet for a moment. "Why protect us so much?"
Ryssa hesitated, then replied with unusual softness. "Because for once, someone deserves to choose for themselves."
Tyren, who had been eavesdropping from behind the hover-crate, whispered mockingly, "She's gonna marry you, bro."
"Do that again and I'll feed you to the next Kaiju."
"Fair. But make sure it's a cool one."
---
Later that evening, as the dim light bled into darkness without ever truly becoming night, Kael and Tyren sat by a temporary plasma fire, checking their gear and scanning heat signatures around the perimeter.
Suddenly, a ping came from the main relay.
Kael opened it.
> REQUESTING LANDING CLEARANCE – Vessel Origin: Battleship Silvarion
Requesting access to outer grid sectors of R22. Purpose: Research and mineral analysis.
Tyren glanced at it and whistled. "Silvarion? That's a Class-1 research carrier. That's heavy interest."
Kael looked over the coordinates and noted: close enough to monitor us, far enough to avoid direct contact.
He tapped back:
> Denied. R22 perimeter restricted. Active Kaiju zone and sovereign ops base. Recommend redeployment to Zeta-9 or Nebulae Line.
Moments later, a second request came.
This time, from a different battleship: The Starborn Lance.
Kael's jaw tightened. "Another."
He denied that one too.
---
Back in Helios Ark, Ryssa leaned against the cold glass window in her command chamber, watching the data pulses light up across R22's orbit.
"Everyone's watching you now," she murmured. "And somehow, you're still the one they can't touch."
---
Meanwhile, inside the base, Ravager stood like a silent sentinel—reforged, renewed, and feared.
The onboard system pulsed once.
> Update Received: Combat Configuration Variant 3.7a Installed
Welcome, Kael Ravio
n.
Kael ran his hand over the console.
"Let them watch," he whispered. "We'll show them what the dead left behind."