A deep breath, the smell of sun soaked skin and freshly tilled dirt. I closed my eyes to savor the scent. It reminded me of home. I was walking through the farms, inspecting the progress with the Horticulturist, Stacy, explaining to Fernando how she and her people were proceeding with the first sowing of the fields. I was only half listening though. Mostly because the woman had this distant, dreamy, look in her eyes when she spoke to Fernando. It made me laugh, he was not comfortable with the apparent abject worship she was showing him.

It was his own fault, he’d invited her to his office at the Barracks for an update report the day after she was settled, and had not been wearing his armor at the time. I still remember the events that followed, him calling for assistance, and her trying to rape him. It was all highly amusing and infuriating. The lucky bastard didn’t even seem to realize how freakishly attractive he was to the woman around Bastion.

I threw a glance back at them, grinning secretly. Let him suffer, yes, he must suffer! Beyond this little tour though, I’d made rounds all over the Settlement. I’d joined in on the Marine training course Fernando had made, I like to think I’d made it at a decent time, wheezing the entire way. The man was a demented bastard, at least I had thought that, until Nova decided I had to do the same physical course as her four Ghosts (three SOGs, and one Elite Ghost), Pierce, Thompson, Stone, and Hendricks.

I learned the hard way just what freakish endurance the Psionically gifted, and properly trained, Ghosts had. I was left in the dust and made to keep going until I kept up. It made me really regret the bet I’d made with Nova about being able to keep up with whatever she threw at me. My only consolation was that even her ‘best’ were breathing hard at the end of it. I’d just collapsed and refused to move at a point. My legs still burned from that.

I had discovered, through Nova, what happened to my gear as well. The armor had been destroyed by my rampaging power, and the gun had been melted into Greer’s armor when he fell. That meant I needed new gear, so I was back to using a Marine armor, though I had Caspian working on the new Ghost weapon he’d sent me designs on. I’d chosen that to be my personal baby, I’d even name it later. Nova was disinterested in it, but her weapon was already powerful, so it made sense. I doubted there was any other weapon or armor like hers in this Universe yet, at least working ones.

I’d ended up using the Gear Card as well, and learned that I had to select from the Units I had under my command, it even included the SCVs. That part was actually pretty neat. When I selected the Ghosts, a chip formed. According to the chip, I had to install it into a Ghost Academy, or equivalent building and it would take it from there. The results were useful, more so when I considered the route I was currently taking in stealth-based units.

S-10 Rifle Mod - Scope. - Increases all Ghost Unit accuracy by twenty-five percent.

S-10 Rifle Mod - Stabilizer. - Increases all Ghost Unit accuracy by ten percent.

S-10 Rifle Mod - Barrel. - Increases all Ghost Unit range by three clicks.

S-10 Rifle Mod - Body. - Increases all Ghost Unit damage by fifteen percent.

Stealth Suit Mod - Stealth Field. - All Ghost Units will no longer consume energy to remain cloaked.

Stealth Suit Mod - Armor Padding. - All Ghost Units gain an additional five armor.

Stealth Suit Mod - Detection. - All Ghost Units have a form of detection, randomized by mod placement.

Stealth Suit Mod - Cybernetic Joints. - All Ghost Units move with increased speed and power.

Each of the Mods were built into the gear during production. It made them cost a whole hell of a lot more, but I was only making four for now. I felt the expense was worth it, though Fernando had argued with me over it. It was a good argument as well. Each fully modded armor and weapon cost two-hundred and fifty Minerals and fifty Vespene Gas to produce. It was a huge sum. We had the resources for it though. Mostly because I’d gotten together with him and we made it so we had shifts of SCVs working around the clock.

Caspian had sent me more blueprints as well, a few of them even being odd variations of the Wraiths, stealthed Terran flying units. I’d told him they would be approved when we had the resources. For now, he needed to focus on the newer S-10 model.

This was my last round of the day, after this, I would have to go to the Orion, now fully fueled up, and begin the trek to Tarsonis. Thankfully someone in Nova’s crew knew the needed route for us to take.

I was personally excited because I’d finally be able to go into space, a long-held dream of mine. I was also terrified. I’d been forced to spend an hour each night over the last three days with Nova learning etiquette, in all its forms. The only thing I’d actually had down was the dancing. Thank you crazy ex! It had been fun to see her look of surprise at that one. Thought I think she was upset that I was better than her if that training course had been any indication.

As for the other Noble shit that I had to know, yet didn’t, I’d become ‘passable’. In so much as it wouldn’t get me killed. A frightening fact that failing anything badly and embarrassing myself or another might get assassins on my ass. The Old Houses didn’t play around at all, apparently. Which I had learned Nova was a member of, at least in the game. She’d seemed sad and pissed at the memory, so I had let it lie at the time.

When we finished our rounds of the farm, making small talk with the Civilians that worked the land there, Fernando and I left Stacy to her work and went to the Orion. We made small talk but remained mostly silent until we arrived at the Orion and I asked a question. “How’s the wall going?”

“Construction has begun, Sir. We still lack the materials to finish it anytime soon but it is a start. I’ve ordered the construction of more SCV Riggs, it will help with our resources. I’ll send updates as I get them to the Orion, however, the lag time will delay the information by at least half a day, Mar Sara time. That’s a rough estimate.”

Thorough as always. I smiled somewhat. “Good enough, Bastion will be in your hands while I’m gone. Keep her safe.” I was walking up the ramp, Nova at the entrance waiting for me.

“I will protect Bastion. You will hardly recognize the place when you return, Sir.” He smiled at me, telling a very small joke. We had actually gotten closer, at least in my mind, over the last few days. Even the people in the Settlement had changed their recent negative views of me somewhat. I was happy with that.

I waved lightly, the ramp closing off my view, then turned toward Nova. “Alright, shall we?” I asked, extending my arm forward. I knew the general layout of the ship, but she was its Captain now. I was looking forward to the tour.

“Welcome aboard the Orion, Damian. We have roughly half of the facilities up and running. I’m told that we will be able to operate the others once I have the appropriate people to do so. If you look to our left there, you’ll see the fighter production line. We have twenty at the moment, I stopped having them produced until we have more available resources.”

I looked at the production facility for the Fighters and tilted my head slightly. It really was automated. I saw what looked like a single command station meant to operate the activity and speed of the line, but the rest was done by machines. The Orion really would be perfect for Nova, a small team would be capable of running this massive ship with ease.

We continued our walk, she showed me where her crew quarters were placed. The ship itself could hold two-hundred crew members. That part surprised me because the Orion itself was massive. I knew Battleships held crews in the thousands, I can only assume that the main reason was that this place was meant to be an automated production facility. The fact I could specialize it made for an interesting concept if I managed to obtain more ‘unique’ Units, or Structures, in the future.

The tour was a bit lacking, the Ghost Academy section was the only other working area of the Orion right now, in terms of production. I knew how that looked though. I was feeling disappointed, to be honest. I enjoyed the ship itself, of course, though I hoped the takeoff would be more interesting.

The Bridge almost made up for the rest of it. It was fully capable of being operated by a single person, prior to this, but with specialization, it became something more. The entire bridge of the Orion was amazing. Sleek, beautiful, consoles littered the area. Data was streaming along, one of the Scientists in Nova’s team was checking some of the data, while three of her people were in official looking grey suits seated around the frontal section, checking systems.

I paused, admiring the fact Nova has trained her people to move that smoothly over the course of a few days. I’m sure that each person had some experience in their jobs prior to joining her people though, in fact, I was certain that was the case.

“The Captain's chair is yours if you want it.” I looked at Nova, tempted beyond words, but...no. The Orion was her ship, and placing me in that chair would just confuse matters if something actually happened. “No, thank you, but no. The Orion is wholly yours, I’ll make myself comfortable in one of the spare chairs around the Bridge.”

That earned me a smile, apparently, she enjoyed the fact I had no desire to usurp her command, and position with her people. She pointed to a seat just in front of the Captains Chair. “Take a seat there then. We’ll be taking off shortly. Once we leave orbit we will be using our slip drive to expedite the trip. We should arrive roughly eight hours before the event. Barely enough time to get ready.”

I blinked at that, eyeing her. How the hell was eight hours barely enough time? I mean...yeah, you had to go through procedures I’m sure, but really? I shrugged lightly. Personally, I wasn’t as concerned about it.

When I was seated, Nova took over completely. “Grace, open ship wide com.” The black-haired woman, I assumed that was Grace, pressed a few things and gave the affirmative. “Attention crew, we will take off in T-minus three minutes. All hands prepare.”

Prepare? Weren’t we just going to lift off the ground? I lifted a brow in question, earning me a somewhat sardonic looking smile. Three minutes later I was trying to maintain my center of gravity as everything seemed to want to drop out through my ass during liftoff. What the fuck was with the amount of force as we lifted off the ground? Sweet Baby Jesus this was frightening. Fun, but I was very glad I hadn’t eaten yet as well.

Seeing the view as we rose was something I enjoyed greatly when I managed to adapt to the force being exerted. Vast amounts of sand, with spatterings of green as far as I could see. “We have three other Settlements in that direction, no contact has been made yet but I do advise it upon our return.” Nova said from behind me, I nodded in agreement to that. Friendly neighbors and all that.

“All hands prepare for jump on my mark!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the Orion. We had finally made it into orbit, and just to be safe I went ahead and death gripped my chair. “Mark!”

From there, I felt like I was going through a blender set to puree. It last all over maybe three seconds, but when we finished our jump all I wanted to do was vomit and curl into a ball. None of the others on the Bridge, not including Nova, seemed to be faring much better though.

Systems nominal were being called out from the Bridge, the Scientist stating a minor error occurred in the Fighter Bay, but the two men stationed there were taking care of it. I was tempted to bitch, just to vent and take my mind off my heaving stomach. The view stopped me though.

Pure blackness all around us, sparkling stars in the distance, asteroids drifting along in their lazy, deadly, paths around us. We had exited jump right beside a moon, and I could see the dark rock as we moved past it. I was in space, a lifelong dream, and it was so very much more than I ever imagined! The dark beauty of everything in front of us, that surrounded us, took my breath away.

“Everything from here should be smooth sailing, Damian.” I barely heard her, simply absorbing everything I could while muttering. “It’s so beautiful..”