TA419 - 21/04,

  Orbit of Planet Bhaile, ‘No man’s land’ between Remembrance and TSU forces.

  Chas had thought himself finally ‘aware’ as a person - he’d seen the many skirmishes of the guerilla war, seen Kigen’s rampage at Platform 2, witnessed the state of the occupied Abhailen people - but upon arriving and entering the battle taking place around Defence Platform 1, the young man got his first authentic taste of warfare at scale.

  For an hour, he had been doing everything in his power to help. Upon arriving, some Vice Admiral took command of Chas, directing him to many of the harshest hotspots. To call it exhausting would be an understatement. He had lost count of how many enemy machines he’d cut down, but likewise how many friendlies he’d seen fall. The flight here had already drained him, and now his mind was rapidly growing numb at the sheer cacophony of battle he’d endured in so short a time.

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  He was nearly about to stop, request a break aboard one of the ships, give the Casnel time to cool its components and himself time for a nap, however brief, when the Vice-Admiral from before called him once more, “Ensign, I trust you’re holding up well? You’ve done us proud, son but indulgent of me as it is, I have a favour to ask, not an order.”

  Chas frowned, “I’m not sure I follow, Sir?”

  “I believe the enemy may be trying to break through and capture the Grand Admiral. I want you to stop it.”

  Chas blinked. Then he stretched a little, checked his machine’s reading, and lightly slapped his cheeks. Now was no time for a break; it was time to make good on the dedication he’d found down on the red planet - for who else would be assaulting the Platform directly other than that man.

  “Roger that, Admiral. This is Chas Collins, heading out!”