I had little to no idea what building would work best, but I crushed the card anyway. When I did, a list was brought up before me. Four options, two were ones I wanted, the other two were different, and kind of confusing to me. Engineering Bay, Ghost Academy, Star Base (Stationary), Star Base (Mobile).

What the fuck were those two buildings? I mean, the list had every building available for the Terran in it. I remembered a lot of them, but not those two. Descriptions were available, so I checked it out.

Star Base (Stationary) - Primary building, capable of mass producing all known Terran air units. -Advised- requires schematics

Star Base (Mobile) - Unique primary building. A floating fortress capable of space battle, and able to construct all known Terran air units -schematics required- Mass produces unmanned fighters, limited range, and health.

What in the hell? What was that amazing thing? I sure as shit did not remember a building like that in the game. Capable of space battle, space travel, producing air units, and mass producing unmanned fighters. Didn’t seem to need schematics for those fighters either.

I blinked slowly, going over everything in my head. It had benefits, dear lord did it ever, but would it really help out my people now? I could see how it might. Mobile, launches easily replaced units as long as we had the materials. But the Engineering Bay would allow upgrades weapons, armor, research in general for my ground forces. Ghost Academy would mostly be used to equip and train Nova and the Ghosts she made in the future.

Admittedly, I should be able to acquire the means to make those buildings without using the card, but the Star Base (Mobile) was even labeled as ‘unique’ which meant there shouldn’t be others, or if there are more, then it is a hell of a lot less than anything else out there.

The fact it was so capable meant I’d need a crew to pilot it as well though, or at least I think I would. I had to few people as it was, and I had to earn a lot of what I lost back the hard way. I still didn’t regret getting rid of the easy fix.

I chose the Star Base (Mobile) a box popped up, and though I wanted to ignore it, I couldn’t this time.

Congratulations Player! You have gained the Star Base (Mobile) a unique primary building!

Star Base (Mobile) - A massive automated factory for the production of Terran air units. Capable of producing up to one-hundred unmanned fighters with a maximum range of one mile from the Star base. Requires no crew beyond one pilot, capable of space travel.

System Announcement!

You have gained your first Unique Building! You are rewarded with a population card - adds two hundred more Civilians to your command. -Advisement- Some Civilians will be uniquely qualified for special roles, keep a lookout.

Holy fucking shit, I just gained the equivalent to a Battle Cruiser, only from the look of this hologram in the fucking reward, it was easily twice the size. To be fair, it probably had to be to produce them. Why didn’t I use this thing before the Pirates? Fuck, the way it was designed it might be termed a Unit itself. I’d find out another time. For now, right, ok...calm down. “Fernando! Nova! Could the both of you come to my quarters, please.”

I called them, not sure if Nova would show up at all. Surprisingly she did, Fernando gave a small solute while Nova just stared at me. I showed them what I’d obtained. Nova was the first to react. “How did you get this? It’s still in the developmental phase!”

Ok, not the reaction I thought I’d get, but it told me a lot about this Universe. “It doesn’t matter how, only that I have it. It is fully functional. Fernando?” I looked at the man, seeing him shocked, mouth agape.

“Sir, please give this to the Military. I will personally ensure nothing will ever threaten your people again.” Ok...again, not the reaction I had to expect, but closer. No sooner than he spoke that Nova shot out a withering reply.

“No, grant it to me and I will ensure you have a mobile stealth force, dedicated solely to you”

System Announcement!

Social Missions granted. ‘Nova’s Request’, ‘Fernando’s Defence’

Nova’s Request - Grant ownership of the Star Base (Mobile) to Nova. Instant Loyalty and Trust increase to one-hundred.

Ability to train all Ghosts at Special Ops rank. -WARNING- Star Base (Mobile) will become a specialized structure dedicated to Ghosts, will retain the ability to create stealth based air units.

Fernando’s Defence - Grant Ownership of Star Base (Mobile) to Fernando. Instant Loyalty and Trust increase to one-hundred. The ability for all ground units (not including specialized units) to be trained at Special Ops rank. -WARNING- Star Base (Mobile) will lose its function to train and equip air units.

What the ever living fuck just happened? I dismissed the messages as quickly as they came. I mean, what the actual fuck? I didn’t want to have some instant increase to this bullshit, and here the System was forcing me. “Nova, why?”

Well, that was intelligent. She seemed to understand though. “Because regardless of how foolish you were, it was still a battle. I stand by my statements regardless, however.” Of course, she did. I sighed, looking at the two of them. “Is there any way…”-”No!”-”No!”- I was cut off before I even finished by the both of them shouting no in unison, and then glaring at each other.

I sighed again, what the actual fuck was I supposed to pick here? Keeping it for myself would just be idiocy of the highest order. Mostly because I had no fucking clue what I’d do with it, it wasn’t like I could just take off in it whenever I wanted. I was a ‘leader’, I use the term loosely at the moment’, and couldn’t just leave as I wished without some reason.

Both options had their upsides and downsides. Choosing neither and waiting would maintain initial functions, but specializing a unique, one of a kind, the building would provide almost immediate rewards. Special Ops Ranked units, for one. I also had the Population Card I’d need to use later as well.

“Give me a few days to think it over. Both of you have more than earned the right to it, but choosing just one is...difficult. Can you wait?” Please, for the love of God say you will!

Before they could answer me, Dr. Green rushed into my quarters, I instinctively hid my body behind the massive armored frame of Fernando while she screamed in sheer joy. “Sir! A massive ship entered our orbit, it flies under your crest! I want it, give it to me, I could create a specialized Medical facility to shame all others in the Sector!”

I could literally FEEL the life draining from me as she continued, Nova looked dismayed, and Fernando had gained a blank look in his eyes. I didn’t even look at the notification before shouting “No!” at her and shoving her outside as fast as I could, using Fernando as the main shoving tool.

“Well, she’s going to be an issue. I don’t believe you can wait.” was Nova’s calm statement, even as she continued looking at the door in dismay.

“Sir, please, resist her voice!” was all Fernando said, looking devoid of energy. Jesus Christ, what had she done to them both to cause that reaction? I knew my own, but how did she torture these two monsters?

“Nova is right...I suppose I will have to choose sooner, rather than later.” The only actual reason I denied Green was because I needed Military might to defend my people, and my territory. Her Medical specialization of that ship would certainly help my people, but it wouldn’t keep the ship in my hands either.

“Go, I’ll call you both when I’ve made my choice. I’ll lock the door when you leave just in case the good Doctor decides to ambush me alone.”

For some reason they both looked relieved, whether out of context or not, I had an entirely new found fear for Dr. Green, the woman was a Monster herself, though in an entirely different way. When they left, I locked the door like I promised, and took a seat again. I closed my eyes, going over the choices, not sure how I would do it, not sure how I could choose to begin with.

I’d have to wait for the choice, for now at least. Taking out the Population Card, I crushed it, adding another two-hundred Civilians to my people, making a grand total of four-hundred and sixty-four. I looked sorrowfully at that number. Thirty-six people under my command dead and gone. It would happen again, likely to the point where it numbered in the hundreds, but I had a very real feeling that it would never stop hurting like it did.

I looked at the partially melted, charred tag I had beside my elbow on the desk. No, I don’t think I would ever get used to their deaths, nor should I.