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【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 1: Ascendance

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【VAF】Chapter║: 26 ─ The Doctrine of Unintended Consequences

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On returning to Earth Admiral David Brown was invited to Crystalorb where he would be formally thanked by the Council of Elders for his decision to rescue the Crystalans in the battle of GG54171 system. Present in Crystalorb are Military and Government officials from the United Atlantic Federation and from the African Federation of City States

At the bottom of the pyramid in Crystalorb Admiral David Brown is called to the podium.

Scarlet : " For Honourable Courage and Distinguished Service, Crystalorb awards Admiral David Brown of the United Atlantic Federation the Crystal Heart! The highest honour Crystalorb can bestow on an individual" Commander Cyris hangs the miniature replica of the Spirit Stone around Admiral Brown's neck "Admiral Brown defied the Executive Council of the United Atlantic Federation, and chose to act honourably, to follow the calling of his duties! This has earned him the respect of the Guardian Council, and that of the Council of Elders!"

Admr-Brown: " Thank you Guardian Commander!" Shaking Guardian Cyris's hand “Thanks!"

The ceremony then moves on to Naole.

Scarlet : " In recognition for his Distinguished, Selfless and Courageous service the Crystalorb General Council, the Guardian Council and the Council of Elders have decided to promote Guardian Naole to the rank of Guardian Commander! Naole will from now onwards be known as the Governor of the Crystalorb Moon and Deputy Guardian Commander of the Crystalorb Engineering Division! The protection and defence of the Crystalorb Moon will now form part of your responsibilities! Thank you Master Guardian!"

Naole : " Thank you for this great Honour! Thank you all for the trust you've shown me and the people who serve under my Command!"

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Following the conclusion of the ceremonies Naole shows Admiral Brown around Crystalorb.

Admr-Brown : " This place is incredible, words can't describe it!"

Naole : " You should see the Crystalorb Moon, the work that we're doing there will ensure the survival of the Human race!"

Admr-Brown: " Speaking of the Crystalorb Moon! You must be happy to have reached the rank of Deputy Guardian Commander?"

Naole : " The promotion is just a ruse; For over 200 years no Deputy Guardian Commander has been directly involved in a battle." Naole laughs "The Crystalorb General Council is unhappy with my decision not abandon ship on GG54171, and they think that by promoting me to Deputy Guardian Commander they will be able to keep me safe."

Admr-Brown: " I know what you mean, I'm also being promoted to Fleet Admiral, and that often means a desk."

Naole : " Fortunately I'm a scientist at heart, and I don't mind taking a back seat and letting the younger generation handle the heavy lifting, but I don't care to be retired."

Admr-Brown : " Me too! But you still look young?"

Naole : " Looks can be deceiving! My spirit is tired of these endless wars! I hunger for peace! I hunger for simple pleasures!"

Admr-Brown : " What about your Family?"

Naole : " I've outlived my children, and soon all my grandchildren will be gone, but I remain! I don't know if longevity is a blessing or a curse!"

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Characteristic of the Hakum, there was silence; no secondary raid, no trace of their activities in the region, nothing! It was as though the battle in the system of GG54171 was just a test of Human capabilities, and having found out what they came for they left. However some believed that the Hakum had been drawn to the area by Vipun Imperial Frigate # 4152, and by destroying it they achieved their objective.

Crystalans were amongst those who believed that the Hakum were brought to the area by Vipun Imperial Frigate # 4152, and the Narvpun may have know something that the Hakum did not want us to know. Crystalans believed that since the Vipun Empire was once one of the most powerful Interstellar Civilisations in the region they had to have come into serious contact with the Hakum, and may have information on locations of their Capital planets.

Crystalans believed that the Migon and the Hakum would have made the destruction of any Vipun Imperial knowledge a high priority. However most experts disregarded the concerns of the Crystalans, and only the African Federation took them seriously. Over the 3 decades that passed the Crystalorb Forces had withdrawn from an active military role as more BattleCruisers and SkyCruisers became available.

The role of Crystalorb Forces as a fighting force had become less pronounced at the insistence of the African Federation. The African Federal Security Force took on more of the roles that used to be performed by the Crystalorb Forces, and the African Federal Parliament insisted that Crystalorb focus more on economic and strategic matters. Of particular interest was the development of the Nalen Class SkyGarrison.

The African Federal Parliament needed Crystalorb to continue building more products for the Interstellar Trade Markets, and this generated the revenue that they used to secure more minerals for African Mineral Reserves. The African Federal Government and the Crystalorb Leadership believed that the Hakum would return in larger numbers, and that it would mean the beginning of the Migon advance.

The other 4 Human Governments believed that they had sufficient numbers to repel any future Hakum attack, and because there had not been any Hakum attacks in 31 years they felt confident in their beliefs. To avoid being ridiculed by the other 4 Human Governments the African Federal Government and the Crystalorb Leadership worked in secret to prepare for what they believed would be a defining moment in human history.

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In the 31 years since the battle in the system of GG54171 the 5 Human Governments had invested a lot of resources in deploying their respective SkyCruisers, and this meant additional ships to serve as SkyCruiser escort. Enormous resources were expended in a race to full deployment before the next Hakum attack.

By 01-01-2287 there had been established Human colonies on 72 nearby Solar Systems. The United Atlantic Federation had 22 colonies, United Indian Federation had 15 colonies, Islamic Alliance established 12 colonies, Asian Consortium had 17 colonies and the African Federation of City States had reduced their number to 6 colonies. The Silenia 5 Colony is a joint project belonging to all 5 Human Governments.

The African Federation's Ra Solar System Colony had become a major settlement with nearly 4.38 Billion people living in the system, and that includes the 1.08 Billion Crystalans living on the Crystalorb Moon. The focus on the Ra Solar System had led to the reduction of the number of African Federation Colonies to Six. The other 4 Human Governments lamented the fact that the African Federation participated less in the frontier defence of routes to earth since the 5 African Federation Colonies were very close to earth and therefore needed less forces for protection.

The Bulk of the African Federation Forces were based in the Ra system, and the protection of the system was a primary focus of the African Federation. In 2261 the African Federation restricted access to the Ra Solar System to African Federation ships and Military vessels from the other 4 Human Governments. This meant that only African Federation registered ships could enter the Ra Solar System.

The African Federation moved all their ship building facilities to the heavily defended Ra Solar System. The 4 Human Governments were puzzled by the behaviour of the African Federation, and from time to time they would conduct spying operations to determine the size and strength of the African Federal Security Force. The spying proved difficult since African Federation ships use Crystalorb stealth technology that make them difficult to detect.

The Ra system Construction facilities consisted of; 6 Construction docks for the Afruika Class SkyCruiser, 8 Construction docks for the Vanguard Class BattleCruisers, 32 Construction docks for the Nubia Class Destroyers, 6 Construction docks for the Apollo Class Destroyers and 20 for the Valiant Class Corvettes

It was during this time that Crystalorb updated its fleet of Crystalorb Ships and Crystalan Ships; Introducing thicker Armour and increasing the size of Crystalan Ships, Increasing the Crystalan Ship's Energy Crystals to Six by including an Energy Crystal on each side, Increasing the density of the Crystalan Ship's Energy Crystals and lengthening the Casara Class Cruisers to give them more reserves. The updated Casara Class Cruisers have a slightly diminished Cargo storage capacity, but their large numbers allow them to still fulfil this role.

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By 01-01-2287 the Human fleet had grown in size to;

United Atlantic Federation fleet consisted of:

111 Atlantis Class SkyCruisers

297 Aries Class BattleCruisers

10 Vanguard Class BattleCruisers

30 Nubia Class Destroyers

1780 Apollo Class Destroyers

222 Juggernaut Class Frigates

498 Valiant Class Corvettes

8500 Additional Gunship Class StarShips

United Atlantic Federation Total = 2948 Galaxy Class StarShips

African Federal Security Force fleet consisted of:

88 Afruika Class SkyCruisers

174 Vanguard Class BattleCruisers

840 Nubia Class Destroyers

241 Apollo Class Destroyers

401 Valiant Class Corvettes

6000 Additional Gunship Class StarShips

African Federation's African Federal Security Force Total = 1744 Galaxy Class StarShips

The Crystalorb Fleet Contingent consisted of:

475 Adult Intrepid Class Ships

153 Juvenile Intrepid Class Ships

260 Intrepid Class Baby Ships

91 Adult Indigo Class Ships

45 Juvenile Indigo Class Ships

58 Indigo Class Baby Ships

300 Esara Class SkyCruisers

1411 Casara Class Cruisers

African Federation's Crystalorb Fleet Contingent Total = 2793 Galaxy Class StarShips

African Federation Total = 4537 Galaxy Class StarShips

The United Indian Federation fleet consisted of:

92 India Class SkyCruisers

216 Indus Class BattleCruisers

1010 Apollo Class Destroyers

233 Valiant Class Corvettes

7800 Additional Gunship Class StarShips

United Indian Federation Total = 1551 Galaxy Class StarShips

Islamic Alliance fleet consisted of:

74 Dragon Class SkyCruisers

187 Asia Class BattleCruisers

865 Apollo Class Destroyers

220 Valiant Class Corvettes

7500 Additional Gunship Class StarShips

Islamic Alliance Total = 1346 Galaxy Class StarShips

Asian Consortium fleet consisted of:

92 Dragon Class SkyCruisers

247 Asia Class BattleCruisers

1552 Apollo Class Destroyers

293 Valiant Class Corvettes

11000 Additional Gunship Class StarShips

Asian Consortium Total = 2184 Galaxy Class StarShips

Human Total = 12566 Galaxy Class StarShips

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On 12-11-2287 Earth Standard Date the United Human Civilisation with its 5 Human Governments formally joined the Galactic Alliance. All Human territories celebrated the joining of the Galactic Alliance, and the hope for increased security was at last a reality. The United Human Civilisation would now gain access to restricted Galactic Alliance technology, but more than that, the United Human Civilisation would gain access to new and larger Interstellar Markets.

For the first time Humans would be free to purchase advanced military technology from Galactic Alliance Civilisations. Human military analysts and scientists were eager to get their hands on Galactic Alliance Fusion Beam technology, and with Galactic Alliance Fusion Beam technology they hoped to increase the energy output of the Human Fusion Beam Cannons, something that had so far eluded Humans.

Unique Fusion Beam Convergence technology had allowed for an increase in the energy output of the Human Fusion Beam Weapon systems. A Single Human built Fusion Beam Cannons energy output range from 4 to 60 megatons of energy per second 〘max = 200.68 Petawatts〙 with a build up time of 90 - 300 seconds depending on how long the previous Fusion Beam lasted. Crystalorb Fusion Beam Cannons energy output range from 15 to 84 megatons of energy per second with a build up time of 30 - 90 seconds.

Fusion Beam Convergence technology gave Humans more firepower than they would otherwise be able to achieve. Human ships could Convergence multiple Fusion Beams, Particle Beams, Plasma balls and in the case of African forces also Thunder Force Strikes on a single point for maximum effect. This particular ability gave Human SkyCruisers attack capability that is only equalled by the more highly Advanced Interstellar Civilisations.

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On 15-11-2287 Earth Standard Date, and 19:30 GMT, a little over 2 days after the United Human Civilisation formally became a member of the Galactic Alliance a United Atlantic Federation BattleGroup conducting routine patrols of the Silenia cluster detected coded transmissions at the edge of the Zilenia Solar System.

The Silenia Cluster is 4 stars surrounding Silenia that mark the only safe routes into the Silenia Solar System. The Vilenia Solar System is 16 LightYears from Silenia, the Pilenia Solar System is 29 LightYears from Silenia, the Zilenia Solar System is 32 LightYears from Silenia, and the next star is Cutela, a Solar System which is 93 LightYears from Silenia

Silenia 5 is the Fifth planet in orbit around the Star Silenia, and Silenia 5 is a Mars size planet with Nitrogen, oxygen and methane atmosphere not suitable for human Breathing, but with significant Teraforming potential. The moon of Silenia 5 has a Joint Operations Military Base and the primary Cargo Freighter loading area. The Silenia 5 colony had grown to a population of 756 million; 60% of whom were Human.

When the United Atlantic Federation Fleet Command received reports of coded transmissions in the Zilenia Solar System they despatched 3 Apollo Class Destroyers to the Zilenia Solar System with a mission to investigate. UAF Fleet Command expected to find a probe from one of the neighbouring Developing Interstellar Civilisations, and from time to time unauthorized wormholes were detected in the Vilenia, Pilenia, Zilenia and Cutela Solar Systems.

The Vilenia, Pilenia, Zilenia and Cutela Solar Systems are called Gate systems, and on each there's 2 Apollo Class Destroyers on permanent station protecting a Joint Observation Post under the command of the Joint Operations Military Base on the moon of Silenia 5. The Joint Observation Posts are tasked with controlling traffic to Silenia 5, and their secondary function is a parameter defence. Each Observation Post is commanded by a Watch Officer 〘Watch-O〙.

As per the Silenia Defence Agreement, the 5 Human Governments have each stationed; 12 Destroyers, 2 BattleCruiser BattleGroups and one SkyCruiser BattleGroup supported by an additional 1000 Gunships from each of the 5 Human Governments. However the United Atlantic Federation, the United Indian Federation and the Asian Consortium use the Silenia Solar Systems as a base to support peace keeping operations in the region.

African Federation and the Islamic Alliance are not that heavily involved in peace keeping operations, electing to conserve their resources, but the UAF, the UIF, and the AC had been supplying many of the regions Developing Interstellar Civilisations with advanced weapon systems, and they therefore felt a responsibility to keep the peace. The last thing they wanted was for these Developing Interstellar Civilisations to kill each other using advanced Human made weapons.

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With the expectation to find smugglers , spy ships or probes on the outskirts of the Zilenia Solar Systems, the UAF Fleet Command sent 3 Apollo Class Destroyers System Action Group as a mere formality. The Silenia Defence Agreement demanded that every breach in security be investigated, and the Federation running patrols that week was responsible for the Investigation of the Breach.

The Formation leader of the UAF System Action Group is the Apollo Class Destroyer UAS Curtland A2278; Commanded by Group Captain Maria Bennet. The UAS Curtland A2278 is an updated version of the Apollo Class Destroyer; Equipped with 4 Multidirectional Fusion Beam Convergence Cannons

The UAS Curtland A2278 and the other 2 Apollo Class Destroyers arrive in Zilenia Solar System. Onboard the UAS Curtland Captain Bennet checks in with the Observation Post before she begins the search.

Capt-Bennet : " Control this is Group Captain Maria Bennet of the UAF System Action Group Curtland reporting in!"

Watch-O: " Confirmed Group Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " We have directive 4868 in this System"

Exec-O: " We're almost at the site Captain!"

Watch-O: " Tasking Confirmed Group Captain! Good Hunting!"

Capt-Bennet : " Curtland out!"

Capt-Bennet : " I want a full spectrum Search of the Area!"

Exec-O: " Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Tactics; Find out who's been near Zilenia in the past month, and cross reference with signal broadcasts and cargo logs!" the captain turns her attention to the surveillance officer "Surveillance; If it's a probe it will be small like the others, so look where they wouldn't expect you to look!

Tact-O : " Aye Captain!"

Surv-O : " Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Such a waist of time!" talking to the Executive officer "Every time these clowns send a probe we have to go looking for it."

Exec-O: " Yes! And the worst part is that when we find it, it self-destructs. Leaving no evidence."

Capt-Bennet : " Always chasing shadows!"

Exec-O: " Why would anyone keep sending these probes?"

Capt-Bennet : " They're testing us! Testing our coordination capabilities! Timing our response times! Acquiring tactical profiles of our Warships." a brief pause "The kind of information that would be valuable to any number of Nations."

Exec-O: " You think that someone is out there, watching us?"

Capt-Bennet : " Definitely!" speaking cautiously "Don't tell anyone I said this, but the Crystalans believe that the Hakum and the Migon are watching all of us!"

Exec-O: " Is this why they’ve been in seclusion for 25 years?"

Capt-Bennet : " Perhaps!" shrugging her shoulders "The Crystalans are a complicated bunch! Now these days the Africans have began to behave more and more like the Crystalans."

Exec-O: " Military strategists think that the African Federation and their Crystalorb Guard like to play up the Migon factor to the rest of Humanity to encourage us to buy their weaponry. It's believed that now that we're in the Galactic Alliance we'll have access to a wider range of technologies, and we won't be so dependent on O'con Federation based Crystalorb Technology."

Capt-Bennet : " The Military strategists are forgetting human history, and in particular the history of the Crystalorb Guard." shaking her head "The Crystalorb Guard was always advanced. Long before they even met the O'ltana! And for some strange reason Crystalans are very close to the O'ltana! There are rumours that the Crystalans have independent relations with the Andronians. Some say that Andronians have been seen on their Crystalorb Moon."

Exec-O: " Is it true?"

Capt-Bennet : " I don't know, but you have to wonder?"

Exec-O: " Wonder what?"

Capt-Bennet : " What is it that the Crystalans know that the rest of us don't know? Why are they so concerned? Why are they ...?"

Coms-O : " Sorry Captain!" the communications officer interrupts Captain Bennet "We are receiving a priority message from Fleet Command!"

Capt-Bennet : " On screen!"

Coms-O : " On screen Aye!"

Admiral Jim Andrews appears on screen.

Admr-Andrews: " This is Admiral Jim Andrews of the United Atlantic Federation; Commander of the UAF Silenia Operations. Under section 214 of the Silenia Defence Agreement I'm authorizing Alert Status One! We’ve detected coded transmissions on the outskirts of the Vilenia, Pilenia, Zilenia and Cutela Solar Systems. The Cutela Solar Systems experienced multiple contacts with Probes! A long range Cargo Freighter reported possible contact with an armada. Now we don't know who's responsible for all this, but we have to react accordingly. All Human Warships in the area are to make their way to Silenia 5 in preparation for a possible assault on the Joint Human Civilisation colony!"

Transmission ends.

Exec-O: " What the Hell?"

Capt-Bennet : " Navigation; Set a course to base! Maximum speed!"

Nav-O : " Aye!"

Exec-O: " What the fuck is going on?"

Capt-Bennet : " I don't know, but we’ll find out soon enough."

The UAF System Action Group disappears behind wormholes into Hyperspace.

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When the UAF System Action Group approaches Silenia 5 it's greeted by full military mobilization.

Capt-Bennet : " Fleet Command this is the UAF System Action Group Curtland reporting in! Requesting clearance to vector 12364S!"

UAF Fleet ComD: " Curtland this is Fleet Command! Take vector 12364S to station, and await further orders!"

Capt-Bennet : " What's the turn around? Because I'd like to go to base Command"

UAF Fleet ComD: " Hold steady Captain! All ship personnel are to remain onboard until further orders!"

The link with Fleet Command is terminated.

Exec-O: " Are those Casara Class Cruisers? There're about a hundred of them!"

Capt-Bennet : " Yes! And their Enhanced Weapons Arrays are activated and active! Looks like the Crystalorb Guard is expecting trouble!"

Exec-O: " For a while I forgot that they aren't just Cargo Freighters!"

Capt-Bennet : " I think that's the intent! This way they have a fully deployed fleet everywhere; Even within the borders of our trading partners. A fleet capable of reacting at a moments’ notice."

Exec-O: " That's why they were able to get here so quickly! Rapid Mobilisation!"

Capt-Bennet : " I can't help getting the impression that the Crystalans are smarter than the rest of us! They've been preparing for this type of situation for over 50 years!"

Exec-O: " I guess we wait now."

Capt-Bennet : " Yes! Run a full systems check! If this thing goes hot, I want to make sure we're in top form!"

Exec-O: " Aye Captain!"

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Onboard the Atlantis Class SkyCruiser UAS Rome B2265 the 5 Fleet Commanders meet to discuss strategy. The 5 Fleet Commanders are; Admiral Jim Andrews of the United Atlantic Federation, Admiral Thana Kondi of the African Federation of City States, Admiral Mahidra of the United Indian Federation, General Aziz of the Islamic Alliance and General Chan of the Asian Consortium. Representing Crystalorb is senior Vanglead; Luke Carter.

Admiral Andrews welcomes everyone and explains all the data that had been gathered by UAF intelligence. The strategic proposals begin.

Admr-Andrews: " The overwhelming feeling is that this is a Hakum probing force."

Admr-Mahidra: " We think that they may just be trying to determine our regional expeditionary capabilities."

Gen-Chan : " They could be targeting one of the less capable Nations in the region?"

Gen-Aziz : " There have been reports of a force of significant size very close to the Silenia Cluster."

Admr-Kondi : " We think that they're coming here!"

Admr-Andrews: " Why? Would they risk a direct assault on a heavily fortified base?"

Admr-Kondi : " Yes! Crystalorb believes that the battle of GG54171 was to hide something from the Human race, and now we are about to find out their secret."

Gen-Aziz : " We haven't seen any data to support this view, or is this another one of the assertions derived from Crystalan feelings?"

Admr-Kondi : " I'll let Luke explain"

Luke : " I'm a senior Vanglead with the Crystalorb Ilesian Guards!"

Gen-Chan : " You’re a spy?"

Gen-Aziz : " Why didn't Crystalorb send a Guardian?"

Luke : " We prefer to call ourselves watchers! The Crystal Guardians are in seclusion. They've been in seclusion for 25 years now, and it will continue until they understand what they need to do to fulfil their purpose." a pause "The Crystalorb Council of Elders thinks that the Hakum will attack a large human settlement. They are convinced of this because the Crystalorb Council of Elders as a unit is intuitive." with a serious expression on his face "They can sense intent." Shaking his head "I know this is difficult for some to believe, but it's true. This isn't about strategic military objectives on the part of the Hakum or the Migon. This is about terror! They want to spread terror throughout the region, and there's no better target than the most recent members of the Galactic Alliance."

Admr-Andrews: " I've seen this ability of the Crystalorb Council of Elders, and it's a real phenomenon."

Admr-Mahidra : " If Crystalorb's Council of Elders thinks that the Hakum will attack here, then why didn't they send a larger force?"

Gen-Aziz : " In any case we must secure the Cutela Solar Systems"

Gen-Chan : " They would have to come through the Cutela Solar Systems."

Admr-Andrews: " That would split our force!"

Admr-Mahidra : " However if they take the Cutela Solar Systems, the could cut us off from reinforcements"

Gen-Chan : " If we are going to dig in, then we must make sure that we can reinforce our positions"

Gen-Aziz : " This shutdown of our major trading outpost will cost our economies tens of billions of Dollars!"

Admr-Kondi : " We think that we should secure Silenia! Abandon the gates! At least until the reinforcing BattleGroups arrive. If they arrive!"

Admr-Mahidra : " What do you mean by if?"

Admr-Kondi : " We Humans have a tendency of thinking that the Hakum are mindless monsters, and we don't think that they're able to come to the same conclusions we have. We don't know what their force size is? And until we have some Idea of their numbers we can't split our force! The Hakum obviously know that there are reinforcing BattleGroups on the way, so whatever it is that they're sending is big enough to hit us and finish the job before reinforcing BattleGroups arrive."

The Screens come alive with activity as the Cutela Observation Post broadcasts a Hakum raid showing the destruction of the Observation Post and its 2 Apollo Class Destroyers. The broadcast is terminated by the apparent destruction of the Cutela Observation Post

The Fleet commanders do their best to hide their anxieties.

Admr-Andrews: " We have confirmation, it's the Hakum! And they're within jump range!"

Gen-Chan : " There had to be at least 100 Sky Spears and Sky Super-Spears!"

Admr-Mahidra : " Too late to evacuate Silenia!"

Gen-Aziz : " We still have a fighting chance!"

Admr-Andrews: " Perhaps!"

Admr-Kondi : " Those ships are the ones we know about. Hakum Sky Spears and Sky Super-Spears tend to have a large escort." She stands "I must get back to my ship; the Hakum will be here at any moment now."

The Fleet Commanders return to their respective SkyCruisers.

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