TA419 - 21/04,

  Orbit of Planet Bhaile, Edge of the ‘No man’s land’.

  Sesha Thoth was the fifth-ranked of the Five Great Aces and the first to hold that title. She was most likely the most powerful to ever have that title; however, history would largely forget The Wise Bedine. Her students would go on to hold greater renown than she, and her own achievements - though many and plenty notable - were seldom flashy.

  This had never bothered Sesha, at least not until a couple of days ago.

  ‘We regret to inform you that Commander Sef Abey has fallen in battle–’

  Would anyone remember Abey? Of course, his name was on paperwork; in very niche history books, it might sneak in, and Remembrance would proclaim to remember all who had fallen for them - but would anyone really remember him?

  Had she gone with her original plan and tried to dodge the ‘hassle’ of becoming one of the Five Great Aces entirely, would she be of even less note in the grand scheme of things than she was right now? How many aces had died today? How many who ranked below the arbitrary number five would be completely overshadowed dying deaths not even worthy of description like Abey had? Dieing as humble soldiers to be trodden over by those who came next.

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  ‘What if,’ Sehsa pondered as the thin blade of her rapier struck again and again at the enemy Casnel’s joints - as their two machines danced around one another, as that stubborn Goibhnui armour began to falter and bit by bit, her enemy’s joints became open to shattering - ‘I beat the enemies’s best ace, in fair and equal Casnel combat. Would they remember that? Would that be so memorable people even looked to those who supported and got me this far. Would that be enough for Commander Sef Abey to be remembered?’

  In that moment of weakness, that moment of emotional vulnerability for her lost friend, Sesha had made a terrible mistake. Perhaps deciding to fight the G-Type like this at all, was an even greater one, telling her battalions to hold their formations while she dealt with it.

  But this second mistake would have no coming back. Her power, the great boon she’d been so careful never to lean on, opened up.

  The whole battlefield flooded into her open mind. In that instance, she felt the emotions, the feelings, the passion and determination and drive to survive of the nearest thousand soldiers.

  One hand rushed to her mouth, and her lungs heaved. It was just a moment; she reacted nearly instantly. One thrust of her sword was all she missed, just one. What could that possibly cost in the grand scheme?

  The enemy's spear collided with her mech's pointed chest once again - it wasn’t just the enemy's joint armour gradually failing… Their unseen duel continued on.