Aboard the HFAX Silent Night orbiting Odeus 5, two months after the initial assault.

It was a long two months but we finally routed Elunari forces off of Odeus 5. Their fleet jumped away last week, and there were only small pockets of resistance left on the planet. It was a shame we couldn’t just bomb them from orbit, saving a countless number of our soldiers' lives. The lush world was just too valuable for Humanity’s future colonies to be devastated in such a way. 

All of Hades Squad were currently gathered in our shared “multipurpose room” as the engineers called it. It was just a tiny fighter hangar that had been retrofitted to fit our needs. The room had everything, from our training grounds, to Hepestus’s engineering bay, to Apollo’s medical station. Even Nyx had a little spot with a couch for her naps. But I couldn’t for the life of me remember where she got that thing. 

I was rhythmically smacking my hand against a datapad confirming these damn reports. I had long since given up on reading these tedious AI-generated reports. They were just the same thing over and over again. Weapon replacements here, munitions requests there, armor repair over there… get me out of here. As if responding to my request, the hangar filled with the chimes of our communicators getting a ping.

That’s odd. Usually, everybody doesn’t get a ping about a mission unless it goes through me first. 

I scrolled through the packet that had been sent to my datapad which described a search-and-clear on an abandoned Elunari space station? The Elunari rarely used space stations. It didn’t make sense for them when they had so many habitable planets to live. Not only that, they were orders from a Fleet Admiral, the highest-ranking officer in the Navy. 

Artemis, who was practically smashing her datapad with her finger, groaned aloud. “Commander, this is some BS. Why the hell are we going to some abandoned station in the middle of nowhere!?” Artemis asked fiercely. 

That is something I wanted to know as well. According to the maps, this station was at the fringes of Elunari space. Not only that…

“Who is a part of this Elysium Squad that we know?” questioned Apollo. 

It seems I’m not alone. I’ve never heard of this Elysium Squad. And it was the lack of details about the squad that bothered me.

“According to the briefing, they are a fairly new team put together only a week ago. This is to be their first mission,” informed Nike.

Not only that, it was a Death Commando squad wholly composed of the new third generation. So it was also abnormal that at least a second-generation wasn’t leading them. Usually when we worked with a squad, I could pull up everything from medical records, past missions, even their specialties. But this Elysium Squad had almost no available information. Some of them didn’t even have names. 

“I mean, I guess the information is incomplete if they are new. Makes sense to me,” shrugged Zeus.

“Doesn’t matter. Orders are orders. We won’t be taking the Silent Night out there, so get ready. We depart in two hours for the Stormspike,” I ordered.

—

Two weeks later on the bridge of the dreadnaught class capital ship, HFAX Stormspike. In the fringes of Elunari controlled space.

Another two-week trip to the middle of nowhere, but we finally reached our destination. Currently, I found myself alone meeting our commanding officer for this mission. I gazed out from the glass windows into the black void of space. 

My eyes drifted towards a short, older woman with blonde hair in bright white officer attire who stood at the helm of the dreadnaught, Stormspike. Very few people outranked a Commander of a Death Commando squad. I technically only answered to officials on Mars. Still, as per orders, I was to follow the commands of Rear Admirals or higher, sometimes even Marine Major Generals or higher as well. 

To be issued an order by a Fleet Admiral was a first for me. But, of course, there were only about twenty of them in the entire Human Navy, and they were responsible for whole fleets. I imagine they had far more critical things to deal with than handing out missions to Commandos, but I guess it’s time to find out. 

The Fleet Admiral turned and gave me a professional smile while extending her hand and saying, “At ease, it’s an honor to finally meet you, Commander Kronos. I’ve been looking forward to giving you my thanks in person for years now.” 

I returned the tiny Human’s handshake. Had I met her before somewhere? 

I must have had a dumb look on my face as I thought this because she answered for me. “I don’t suspect you would remember me, Commander. I was just some lowly Captain when you saved the life of my crew and ship at the battle of Ingor. You knocked out the planetary guns just in time to save us. So, thank you, Commander. I owe you one,” she said thankfully with an awkward smile.

Ah, the battle of Ingor was a particularly bad battle for the Navy, if I remember correctly. The Zantons were an aquatic Xeno race with living bio-weapons that ate away at even our most robust metal. It was a gruesome fate to be blasted by one of their weapons.

“Just doing my job, Admiral. But I suppose I’d like to call in that favor early. What can you tell me about the situation?” 

“Straight to point with you, huh? Well, this mission has two objectives, Commander. First, you are to search the space station for anything of importance along with the reason the Elunari abandoned it. And you are to be with Elysium Squad on their maiden voyage.”

I see. What a roundabout way to ask for my guidance on a mission. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to lead another squad to teach them the ropes.

“I understand. I’ll do my best, ma’am.”

“I know you will, Commander. In regards to the space station. All bio-scans have come back negative for signs of life. However, the station’s defense systems are still online. We will jump as close to the station as possible. Then the fleet will engage with the station’s automated defenses. Once we wipe them out, you will board the station with Elysium Squad, understood?”

“Understood, ma’am. We will complete our objectives at all costs.”

“Good. We plan to make the jump in two hours. You are dismissed, Commander.” 

At least Admiral Wilson moves quickly. I imagine everybody doesn't want to be out here any longer than we have to be. But I have to agree with Artemis. This does seem trivial indeed.

—

Hangar bay of the HFAX Stormspike, thirty minutes before assault.

I jolted awake in my harness. Another nightmare. This time was different, however. This time I was that Xeno child. I was falling as a long black arm stretched out to grab me. I felt so afraid and confused. 

Afraid? Fear… is that what it’s like to be frightened of something? I’ve never felt that way before.

But what does this damn dream mean? And why would it change now all of a sudden? While combating my conflicted mind, I peered downwards. Nyx was crouched down in front of me, staring into my eyes intensely. Her nearly black eyes gazed right through me.

“Are you okay? You normally don’t doze off before a mission. That’s normally my thing,” she asked with a hint of concern.

“I’m fine. Just a dream, that’s all,” trying to reassure her as much as myself.  

She stood up and furrowed her brows at me. “Actually, I’ve never even seen you sleep before. Do you even sleep, Commander?” she asked honestly with a tilted head.

“Yes, Nyx, I do sleep when I need to. I just don’t have to very often. I’ve been exhausted recently, is all,” I said, shrugging off the feeling these nightmares left me with. 

After Odeus 5, I’ve had this lingering feeling of fatigue over me that I can’t seem to shake off. Not only that, I wasn’t sure why I was telling Nyx my problems. Maybe I just felt comfortable around her. 

Nyx transferred to my squad after her entire team was wiped out. She was the sole survivor, and she has been with me ever since. She should have been promoted to a squad Commander by now, but she had turned them all down. Maybe I was just looking too much into this. Not everybody wanted to be a Commander. 

Nyx gave me a quick nod and stood up. “If you say so.”

Currently, Hades Squad was making its final preparations for the assault. However, it shouldn’t be much longer before we launch in a Tiger class transport craft. The Tiger class was a flying tank designed explicitly for boarding enemy stations and spacecraft. The craft used an onboard AI to fly the ship, which allowed the vessel to forgo having a cockpit that was usually a weakness on most spaceships and enabled the craft to boast an immense amount of frontal armor and a more robust plasma shield. 

While walking out the back of the craft to grab my bolter, the door to the hangar bay opened up. A group of twelve individuals wearing Navy blue and Marine red Death Commando armor sauntered into the hangar. 

Why isn’t their armor black? I had never seen Commandos not use the standard black armor. 

Not only that, why was the squad double the standard size? Most Commando squads utilized five to seven members. Perhaps they were trial-running everything with this new squad? 

A tall, lanky man with short-cropped dirty blonde hair swaggered over to me. He was wearing the bright red version of the armor. He extended his hand. “It feels good to finally meet the famous Commander Kronos. Not only that, I get to go out on my first mission with him. It’s an honor, sir.”

I took the man’s hand. This was always an awkward situation. Although we share the same rank, I was technically his senior. However, he was nearly double my age and had probably been serving before I popped out of my growth tank. 

“Likewise, Commander. Say, what was your callsign? I didn’t catch it? And it wasn’t in the documents.”

In truth, I didn’t know any of Elysium Squad’s names. Apparently, I hadn’t been privy to that information.

“Ah, sorry, that was rude of me. Commander Nicholas Clarkson, former Marine Force Recon turned Death Commando.” 

No callsign? What was the purpose of that, I wondered? Why would they give the squad a name associated with Human gods but not assign names of gods to themselves? I didn’t understand Doctor Octario’s logic on this one, but then again I rarely understood her genius. 

Not noticing my internal struggles, he continued talking, “Anyways, I figured since the station has two wings, we can just split the station in half and work through it that way.”

“That’s fine with me. Do you want us to take a few of your members with us? Balance things up a bit more?” I suggested.

Clarkson had to reach high but he just gave me a pat on the shoulder. “Nah. No need. Might as well start working together as a team now, you know?”

“Sure... we can do it that way.”

I would have liked to take a few of his men and show them how we operated. But I was just ordered to go with them on this mission, not hold their hand. This was Elysium’s Squad’s mission. I should just defer to Commander Clarkson. 

Only the best of the Marines joined Marine Force Reconnaissance, and an even smaller portion got chosen for the new 3rd generation God Program. So let’s see what the new guys are capable of accomplishing.

“Awesome, man. I’ll see you out there, Commander. Glory to Humanity,” he said while giving me a large grin. 

Guess the guy is a patriot. That’s nice.

“To Humanity,” I shot back with a salute. 

We parted towards our respective landing crafts. I walked up the ramp and everybody was strapped in and ready to launch. We should be dropping out of warp any time now. I strapped in alongside everyone else and awaited the gut-churning suffering that was about to be bestowed upon me.

As we came out of warp the thunderous blasts of the dreadnaught’s heavy rail guns battered away at the station’s defenses. So far, no Xeno race had managed to defend themselves from the sheer destructive power of a dreadnaught class rail gun as they thundered. 

A few volleys later, and the ship’s onboard AI voice rang out in our helmets. “Launching in three..two..one.”

We blasted straight out of the hangar, barreling towards the station. The Tiger class transport would breach into an enemy ship or station by slamming into it using its plasma shield as a sort of battering ram. 

Once the shuttle gained access into the target, it would seal the breach using a metallic foaming agent. Of course, any sort of environment would be sucked out into depths of space but our suits were more than capable of surviving the vacuum or any hostile environment. 

Just moments after launch we were violently thrashed around as we slammed into the station. Hephaestus and I would lead the charge using portable plasma shields almost like riot guards as we forced our way onto the station. Of course, we weren’t expecting resistance, but it was better to be safe than sorry. 

The gangplank slammed down, and all of us charged into the station as our white plasma shields flickered to life. We were greeted by long hallways painted pastel blues and greens. Although the Elunari used plastics for construction, it seems they used metal for this space station for whatever reason. I pinged both squads and got all green lights. Elysium Squad must have had a successful breach as well.

We walked carefully down the hallways clearing each and every room we passed. We didn’t even use our built-in communication systems. Instead, relying on tried and true hand signals to clear the station. 

So far, the station seemed relatively simple in design—plenty of rooms made to fit one or two occupants comfortably. We even cleared a large room with lime green lounge chairs facing large flat screens. Yet, it felt odd for some reason. The design, although simple, was all over the place almost like a melting pot of Elunari and Human influence. 

Another odd thing was the station still had power. Oxygen levels were perfect, and all the lights were on. So far I haven’t seen a single sign of somebody even living here. No messes or clothes were panically thrown about in the rooms. The lounge room sparkled with cleanliness. It was hard to imagine anyone had lived here. There were no signs of a hasty evacuation.

We reached a large atrium, an artificial ecosystem was set up, and plenty of lush greenery that was common on most Elunari worlds was put out on display here. It seemed almost like an indoor park with benches and tables to sit down. A running artificial waterfall supplied a gentle white noise to the room. 

Could this station have been built to house people, but nobody ever occupied it? That seems like the most likely answer. Was the Navy worried that this was supposed to be dangerous? This might be one of the weirdest missions I’ve ever been a part of.

I was getting lost in the moment when I peered back up at my radar. Suddenly all of Elysium Squad’s pings had disappeared. They weren’t killed, or they would still appear as deceased. There hasn’t even been a single sound besides us stomping around and the ambiance of the waterfall.