Report Courtesy of Dock-C Laboratories, Helania University, Computer 110-1, Model C.

  Dock Used: C

  Capital: Roklav, West Riconsilla

  Soldier: Francis Van Allsburg

  Occupation: West Point Squadron

  Space Module: Stingray

  These were the words typed into the CX12 Computer of Mila Wurshall, at a dock in West Riconsilla. Mila was a Typographer—Her Job was to print out names of new inmates for the West Riconsillan Space Force (WRSF). She had no choice in this decision, as it was a drafting for all women all over this part of the Octavian Plennea. This was war.

  I think that it would do you some good to know exactly how this war came to be. About 20 years ago, by this point, Riconsilla was one nation—They had no choice, as they had racked up so much debt and so many enemies, that they simply had no other choice but to stick together.

  Around this time, another Empire began to build itself up from the ground; The Solomon Empire (At this time the Solomon’s Republic.) had slowly begun industrialization of the growing market of space pods—by the order of their leader, Joseph Isaiah, they began to open more and more factories; Soon, they were a powerhouse.

  It had been ten years—only ten years, but they were now entering a new phase as this powerhouse—Until, that is, Joseph died of food poisoning and his Vice President, Niko Esteron, took over.

  His first order of business was ripping up the constitution; Anyone who dared even support it would be publicly executed. He began to put his citizens to work; Life became a hellscape.

  And so, the neighboring countries and nations of The Octavian Plennea went to war with The Now-Solomon Empire.

  It ended in bloodshed.

  In the end, only the nation of Riconsilla and their allying country, The Drikshav Republic, were left to the disaster; And Drikshav was losing badly as well; Riconsilla’s President, Elinor Mikan, was desperate...

  ...It was at this time that space itself opened up, and out came a slithering humanoid figurine—with noodle-like limbs and feet; It sported white robes in an angel-like fashion; It carried long, bendable swords that seemed to come out of nowhere...And its face, why, it had no face, just a spiraling whiteness to it that stood out against its blackness.

  The thing called itself IKO—It could speak English, but in a queer, white voice—bland for better wording. It hinted at being boy nor girl, so there were no signs of humanity for it. Still, It promised a way to win this war to Elinor, in trade for her power...And her.

  In desperation to save the Octavian empire, she obliged.

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  After this, IKO was able to beat The Solomon Empire; No one knew how, just that IKO seemed to summon the whiteness of the sky itself through to the empire's direction; He then turned to the sky, and he grew to the size of the sky itself; he said:

  People of Riconsilla,

  You are now under the control of IKO.

  THERE WILL BE NO MORE RELIGION, NO GOD BUT ME.

  THOU SHALT BOW DOWN TO MY GREATNESS,

  OTHER GODS WOULD GIVE THOU CHOICE: I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GIVE YOU NO CHOICE.

  ANYONE WHO WILL NOT ABIDE THESE RULES, HERE AND NOW, WILL BE THE ENEMY. THERE WILL BE NO HOPE FOR YOU.

  When these words were uttered; The brilliantness of Space turned black; People could no longer see the light of space or the stars from their home pods; they were now under the black hand of IKO.

  After this, there were rebels who slipped past IKO’s leadership; They tied their ties with the neighboring Nokalvian Empire; And with their help, they pushed back IKO’s power Half; Creating West Riconsilla.

  And now, they were at war.

  This is how we got here.

  Mila whirled her chair around, toward the printer and button and away from the setup.

  click.

  In a few seconds, out came the neatly typed report; Mila took no notice of this, of course. You wouldn't either, if this is what you did all day. Like clockwork, Mila took the paper, rolled it up, and put it in its tube. She then typed some numbers into her computer--her SCI (Suction Cup Identity) into the terminal prompt she had pulled up onto the screen. She entered it.

  ding.

  And up it went, going into the main tube system, through the different bits and bobs, and eventually flying out onto a conveyor belt, where it was inspected by General Theodore Uzyan.

  "ALLSBURG!"

  And Allsburg came forward.

  "BOARD!"

  Francis got into his Stingray; The colors of grey, its sleek shape, three windows, and jets. The gold that ran through it; Francis looked out through the mainframe window onto the galaxy before him. Soon, he would be undocked, and, led by General Theodore, he would follow suite and fight other ships in different parts of this galaxy; He would leave the comfort of his city, his home unit, and go off into the universe--Fighting the Dynastic Space Force of Riconsilla. Francis knew the history; On the other side of this world, there was a hell worse than the real thing. They were fighting IKO.

  Suddenly, the voice of General Theodore came into Francis’s Speakers.

  “TROOPS!”

  “YES, SIR!” Came the Reply—One of 45 Other soldiers ready for their squadron.

  “WE ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE, CORRECT!”

  “YES, SIR!”

  “TURN ON YOUR MAGNETS!”

  “YES, SIR!”

  The magnets were so all of the other Stingrays could trail the General in autopilot with ease; And so, with their clothes and hearts, the Squadron departed from Dock-C; A mainframe ship, gold and red, making the entire squadron flee before it; And a sea of Stingrays, guns at the ready, creating a school of fish like none other seen before. They were well and truly off to fight for the liberty of Riconsilla—a liberty that a good chunk of them would carry to an orbiting grave...