Earth, GP-1151.

GP-1151, one of the many cities scattered throughout the world for the human survivors of this post-apocalyptic war-torn period. Surrounded by solid concrete walls and defensive systems, each of these cities were assigned a number, mostly the cities with 4-digit identification numbers were managed by a platoon of soldiers under the lead of a Lieutenant ranked officer from the I-CA Military Command.

The walls of the city with the identification number 1151 were covered in dust and dirt with various cranes situated on the top to move supplies. Slums and small such settlements were located near the border zones of the city close to the walls. Houses stacked on top of each other made with makeshift metal sheets scavenged from ruins barely holding together surrounded by sewage tracks were a daily sight here.

In one of the corners of the slum area, there was a house which stood apart from the rest. Made from a few loading containers, surrounded by fences and barricades, it felt luxurious. A sign hung on the entrance of the house which said ‘Antiques’. People could be seen moving to and from on the pathways outside the house. Some would glance at this house with the sign while sighing.

“MOVE!”

Just then a deep roar sliced through the noise penetrating the ears of the people dressed shabbily and moving on the pathway, as a man dressed in a luxurious tuxedo guarded by military personnel shouting to move entered the sights.

The man had a sharp face, brown hair and rosy complexion, which far differed from the malnourished and dirt poor citizens of this city.

One of the men guarding him pointed at the sign, to which the man nodded.

The surrounding people hurriedly moved towards the side, squishing themselves afraid of even trying to touch them. Some of them would glance nervously at the ‘I-CA’ logo on their clothes, afraid of making eye contact with them.

Just like that the group reached the entrance and entered the house with the sign ‘Antiques’.

Once inside they could see various transparent display tables with various products in them. There were various old guns and equipment, along with jewellery and artifacts mixed. There even existed a bookshelf full of books dating back to the pre-apocalyptic period. But from among all the things the gaze of the man in the tuxedo was fixated on a revolver locked inside a transparent container.

“36 caliber Navy Revolver made back in the year 1851 of the pre-apocalyptic period. A beautiful piece.”

The man muttered.

Right then, a middle aged man dressed in common attire entered from the back. He frowned his brows as he looked at the men inside his store.

“Yes, how may I help you?” He asked.

The man in tuxedo looked towards the shopkeeper and gestured to the person guarding beside him.

“This person here is Major Adro Malak, from the I-CA Malak family. He would like to buy that revolver.” The guard explained pointing to the man in the tuxedo.

“I see. I am Jason, the owner of this shop. The price for the revolver is five million I-CA credits. No installment, no bargaining.” The owner of the shop, Jason, said not being bothered with the lack of introduction and the thug-like personality.

Major Adro frowned as he heard the price.

“Mr. Jason, are you sure that is the actual price?” He asked with a threatening tone.

“Yes. That’s the price. You can buy it or else the door is behind you.” Jason retorted, totally unbothered by the hidden threat as he moved from the counter to the front of Major Adro moving his jacket and displaying the gun holster on his waist.

The guards behind the Major tensed up and took defensive posture. Major Adro raised his hands ordering them to stay still.

“You shall regret this decision.” Major Adro said as he left the shop.

Soon silence and peace descended again inside the shop.

***********

Central part of GP-1151.

The military barracks of the I-CA platoon.

Major Adro sat on a soft couch drinking tea in leisure as a chubby man sat beside him spewing all kinds of pleasantries and flattering him.

“Lieutenant, I must say that the people here have got quite big guts.” The Major said.

Major Adro said as he placed his teacup on the table.

Lieutenant Ray, was the one incharge of the security of the guard post. Unlike the Major, he did not possess a solid background. Listening to the words from the Major, his heart shuddered from fright.

“Did something happen, Major?” Lieut. Ray said.

In his mind, he was disgusted by the Major. He very well understood that the Major was using his family and background in order to literally steal the thing that had garnered his attention in the shop. After all it was him who mentioned the talk about the revolver when the Major arrived here for inspection purpose.

“Hmm, the owner of that trashy shop tried to threaten me earlier.” Maj. Adro said.

“He dares! Don’t worry Major, I will instruct my men to arrest him right away.” Lieut. Ray added.

Suddenly, a soldier entered the room and spoke to Lieut. Ray.

Lieut. Ray was surprised by the news as he said.

“Forgive me Major, I would like to excuse myself. It’s an urgent message from the High Command.”

Maj. Adro nodded and gestured to him to continue with his work. Military discipline in this post-apocalyptic war period was strictly enforced. If anyone was found to be disrupting the chain of command then it was crime worthy of capital punishment.

As Lieut. Ray moved towards the office, he picked up the communication device.

“Lieut. Ray reporting for the mission.”

The communication went on for a few seconds as various codes and details were exchanged.

“Yes sir. We await your presence sir.”

Lieut. Ray ended the communication and went back towards the room.

“I am afraid Major your matter will have to wait. High Command just issued an important assignment.” He said hurriedly.

Maj. Adro was still seated on the couch, leisurely watching the projection of a pre-apocalyptic movie. Listening to the words of Lieut. Ray, he frowned but did not interrupt him.

After Lieut. Ray left, he asked one of his guards to ask around what was the important assignment.

The guard returned after an hour or so, just as the Major finished his movie.

“Sir, there is news that an important personnel is about to arrive at this post. Someone high above from the Naval Command.” He reported.

The Major was shocked by this. The arrival of an important personnel from the Naval Command was definitely an important matter. It must be known that after the establishment of the I-CA, the Naval Command was considered as the most powerful armed force throughout the world.

“Did you find out who this person was?” Major asked.

But the news only felt shocking only for a moment. After all the Malak family was a member of the I-CA senate, they too had personnel stationed at higher ranks in the Naval Command.

“The information about the identity of the person in command is confidential, but I did hear that a Captain would be dispatched.” The guard replied.

“For them to send a Captain to this desolate place? Is there a unique reason? I guess I will have to meet them in person.” The Major mumbled lightly.

Next day, Lieut. Ray along with a squad of five other personnel were present on the landing pad at the military barracks. Such landing pads were used by the military for emergency transport.

Glancing sideways, he noticed Maj. Adro and his guard team standing at a distance. His mouth twitched in response to the smile on the Major’s face.

The very next moment, the sound of engines could be heard as a MH-60G Pave Hawk entered the airspace of the GP-1151. These types of aircrafts were conventional planetary transport used by the higher ups in the Military Command.

The air flow produced by the latest C-Drive engines created a little storm on the ground. As the aircraft landed on the ground, the engines cooled down and the door opened.

Alighting from the aircraft was an old man dressed in white uniform with a captain’s insignia on the shoulders and ‘I-CA’ logo on one side and ‘CL’ logo on the other side, along with him was another person with the same uniform and one-star insignia on the chest.

The old man walked ahead as the other person followed closely behind with a small briefcase in hand.

Lieut. Ray swiftly moved towards them along with the squad and saluted.

“At ease, soldier.” The old man commanded with an authoritative tone.

Just as they were about to move inside, Maj. Adro along with his guards approached them.

“Hello Captain. I am Maj. Adro from the Malak family, pleased to meet you.” He said taking his hand out for a handshake with a smile plastered on his face unbefitting of the military etiquette.

The old man looked at the hand and then at the person, before he could say anything the other man beside him stepped forward and shook his hand.

“Good to see you here, Maj. Adro. But right now we are a bit busy, we shall greet and meet afterwards.”

Although Maj. Adro frowned at this but then he gazed at the one-star insignia and laughed it off as everyone entered inside the barracks.

As everyone neared the quarters, the person with the one-star insignia whispered something in Lieut. Ray’s ears, who in return hurriedly started instructing his team. Then the old man and the person who arrived with him left towards their quarters.

After they left, Lieut. Ray let out a deep breath as his nerves could finally relax. He very well knew that the rank of Lieutenant was considered even less than a cadet in the face of the higher ups in the Naval Command. A word from them could land him, who just wanted to spend his life living like a local tyrant in this city, in a life and death situation.

Just then a hand landed on Lieut. Ray’s shoulder, crossing his eyes he noticed it was Maj. Adro with his disgusting, greedy and arrogant smile on his face. A sense of repulsion even greater than the magnetic force ushered in his heart but he managed to suppress it.

“Lieutenant, the time to submit my report is approaching. I am indeed very disappointed by the security of the city. What if the people from the Naval Command notice such misconduct? Hmm. Shouldn’t you try to improve it?” Maj. Adro said with the same smile and manner.

A drop of sweat rolled down Lieut. Ray’s back as he thought.

Godammit, is my luck really about to run dry?

Hurriedly changing his expression, he spoke.

“Maj. Adro, don’t worry. I shall send the law enforcement squad along with you. You shall be delivered justice. But forgive me, as I must tend to the Captain and his needs thus I wouldn’t be able to join you.”

His speech warned the Major to not push him too much or he might bite him back very hard.

“No worries Lieutenant, I believe in your words.” Maj. Adro took a step back.

After all he knew that he could only do so much under the banner of his background.

The very next day, Lieut. Ray and the Captain were discussing something. Along with them stood a squad of soldiers lined outside the transit area of the barracks.

Just then two GMV-N transport vehicles roaring their engines left the barracks.

“What is that brat doing here?”

The Captain turned his head towards the direction they left as he asked.

“Ah you mean Maj. Adro, he is here for the routine inspection.” Lieut. Ray explained.

“Che, good for nothing trash. All of them in their family are the same greedy bastards.” The Captain said in annoyance and disdain.

Lieut. Ray smiled wryly, as they resumed their discussion.

“Let’s roll out everyone.” Lieut. Ray instructed on the ground radio channel after being briefed by the Captain.

The group of soldiers boarded the GMV-N vehicles and with the one driven by the person with one-star insignia, the Captain and Lieut. Ray in the front they left speeding towards their destination.

Gazing at the condition of the city and the people who looked malnourished and dispirited outside the barracks, the Captain’s brows twitched.

“Lieut. Ray, is there a reason for the city to be in such a condition?” He asked.

“Yes Captain, due to limited resources we had to prioritise the well being of the troops who are responsible for the safety. I did submit an application for an increase in the resource allocation since we had to frequently clear the surroundings from the Terra-formed beast. The higher ups too won’t interfere unless it is a calamity class Terra-formed creature. Thus we had to deal with the threats ourselves. Recently we cleared a major threat and had many casualties, thus the current mood.

[Lieutenant approaching the outskirts, permission to clear the roads ahead.]

The silence was broken by the ground radio.

“Acknowledged. Permission granted. Try not to harm the civilians.” Lieut. Ray radioed his command.

Two vehicles from the fleet roared past the one in the front and moved ahead in order to clear the road.

The fleet proceeded smoothly and soon reached their destination. Outside the ‘Antique’ shop.

The Captain alighted as he gazed at the shop and sighed.

He along with the person with one-star insignia walked towards the shop entrance along with the Lieutenant.

As they neared the shop, they could hear a commotion ahead. Noises of glass breaking and people shouting could be heard.

The Captain furrowed his brows and his gaze turned cold.

Lieut. Ray’s expression turned nervous as he remembered something while he hurried inside.

Meanwhile inside the shop, the law enforcement team was smashing the glass cabinets as Maj. Adro and his guards watched the scene with delight. Jason, the shop owner, was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that Maj. Adro along with the law enforcement team had entered the shop and found the item and the owner to be missing. In rage, Maj. Adro ordered the team to smash the shop.

Just then Lieut. Ray entered, his mind went blank looking at the scene of rampage in the shop.

“STOP!” He shouted at the top of his lungs.

The team stopped and Maj. Adro turned his gaze towards the Lieutenant in anger.

“Lieutenant, it seems you do not wish to punish the person who tried to threaten an army personnel.” His gaze was cold with a glint of ruthlessness.

Before the Lieutenant could answer the Captain and the person entered.

The old man’s eyes emitted a heavy killing intent as he gazed at the destruction.

“Confine them.” He commanded.

The troops behind looked towards Lieut. Ray as he nodded, ignoring the words of Maj. Adro.

The troops entered the shop and shackled the team along with Maj. Adro and his guards.

“Take the team outside. Leave Maj. Adro and his guards here.” The Captain said to which the Lieutenant followed.

By the time Maj. Adro came back to his senses from the heavy killing intent aimed at him, he was bound in cuffs.

Soon anger took over fear as he locked his gaze with the Captain.

“Good. Very Good. You dare do this to me, Lieutenant. It seems you long for the frontlines. As for you old man, do you know who I am? I can make you lose your position and power anytime.” He roared.

“Insolent!”

-Slap-

No one noticed how, but the person with the Captain stood in front of the Major and landed a solid slap on his left cheek. The Major immediately spat a mouthful of blood and a few broken teeth from his mouth in retaliation.

Just when he raised his other hand to land another slap, a voice cut him.

“Enough, don’t sully the shop with his filthy blood.”

It was Jason who entered the shop from behind.

The person stopped and returned back.

Maj. Adro returned to his senses and started screaming.

“Just you wait. I will have my revenge for this slap. My grandfather is a Rear-Admiral, you shall pay for this.”

Misunderstanding the silence for fear he grinned and continued.

“Now if you want to keep your position there is still a chance old man, chop his hand and cut your tongue in return, only then would I be able to calm my anger.”

The Captain ignored his blabbering and placed a hand in his pants pocket and took out a communication device. Fiddling with it he placed it on his ear and said.

“Hello, yes this is me. Ah yes yes, I am here. Hmm, yes I will take care of it. By the way there is a brat here from the Malak family obstructing the task. He says his grandfather is a Rear-Admiral. Okay I will put it on speaker.”

The Captain held his device.

[You there brat, you are not permitted to open your mouth from now on. Any further obstruction will lead to punishment by the laws of Naval Command.]

The voice of a woman could be heard from the device, loud and clear.

“Heh, I am really scared now.” Maj. Adro said with a tone filled with sarcasm and disdain. In his eyes the rank of a Captain was not worthy of any connection high above the Rear-Admiral rank officer.

After a brief silence, the woman continued.

[Captain Brad, feel free to use force. The task must be completed.]

-Beep-

The Captain then grinned widely, shoving the device in his pockets rapidly, he held out the other arm and caught Maj. Adro by his hair. Clenching his now freed other fist, a shower of jabs and punches rained down on poor Maj. Adro’s body.

The Major tried his best to struggle free but to no avail. Soon the struggle calmed down as he lost his consciousness.

“Now that was fulfilling.” The Captain said, letting go of the Major’s body which lay convulsed on the floor.

“Lieutenant, get this idiot out of my face or I might kill him.” The Captain said.

The scene was soon cleared by the squad. The whole time Jason stood there expressionlessly apart from stopping the one-star ranked commodore. He looked at the unconscious Major and sighed.

“Really now. I can’t even spend my days in peace.” He mumbled as he moved towards Cap. Brad.

“Sorry for the trouble.” Cap. Brad said.

“He would have left after smashing the shop. There was no need for interference. Now I will have to change my location again.” Jason said dejectedly.

“There was no need for you to stay in such a place in the first place, Vice-Captain Jason.” Cap. Brad said.

Jason frowned at the mentioning of his rank by Cap. Brad. It was the bitter part of his memory. His gaze turned sharp as Cap. Brad felt his heart being gripped by fear and tension. Beads of sweat rolled out from his back and head just as he locked gaze with Jason.

-Sigh-

“Forget it. Why did you have to poke me where it hurt?” Jason said, retracting his gaze and moving the pieces of glass from the table one by one.

Indeed one of the original members from that group.

Cap. Brad thought as he took a deep breath suppressing the terror he just felt.

By this time the commodore and the Lieutenant had returned back.

Cap. Brad nodded towards the commodore who placed the briefcase on the shelf and pressed his finger on the scanner.

The briefcase opened with a click, Cap. Brad moved the top and took out a small palm pad.

Jason too by this time moved his gaze towards the briefcase in curiosity.

“What’s that?” He asked.

“See it for yourself.” Cap. Brad said as he tossed the palm pad towards him.

Jason hurriedly caught the pad with both hands.

Switching it on, a blue screen with the ‘I-CA’ logo popped up.

[Facial recognition in progress. Please do not move.]

A mechanical voice spoke.

[Recognition complete. Identity confirmed. Vice-Captain Jason.]

Jason frowned as he looked towards Cap. Brad, who shrugged his shoulders in return.

The device booted up and a page filled with a detailed report and information opened.

After going through each and every page of the report, Jason’s gaze deepened and a troubled expression appeared on his face.

“What is the current status?” He asked, looking towards Cap. Brad.

“I have no idea about it. Currently Rear-Admiral Valerie is stationed at the I-CA High Command Center. You would need to ask her for more details in person.” Cap. Brad said.

Jason seemed troubled by this. He went silent for a few minutes and continued.

“Did you inform the others?”

“So far we could only contact you. The rest either refused to be contacted or could not be found.” Cap. Brad said.

“Hmm, this is troublesome.” Jason said.

“There is an escort ship docked at the nearest Military Command base, ready to be deployed at the moment’s notice. There is no time to delay. If the news is really true then I am afraid we should start the preparation.” Cap. Brad said. His voice contained a hint of dread and fear.

“Alright, let me gather some things. I will report at the barracks in a few hours.” He said as he moved inside.

Cap. Brad saluted as he left.

After a few hours Jason stood at the gate of the barracks waiting.

The commodore with Cap. Brad came running towards him and saluted as they both entered the barracks.

“Cap. Brad has been waiting for you.” He said, to which Jason nodded.

Jason met Cap. Brad as he shook hands with him after saluting.

“Let’s hurry.” Jason said.

Just when they were about to move, a commotion could be heard outside.

“Where is that Captain? How dare he touch my son, a member of the Malak family?” A man seemed to be shouting loudly.

As they went outside they saw a man wearing a white uniform with the one-star insignia on his chest screaming and berating Lieut. Ray, who stood there with his head down. Jason watched this coldly, just then the man lifted his foot and kicked the Lieutenant who fell on the ground with a thud. His clothes were stained with dirt as the man kept kicking him.

“Stop.” Jason said with a tone devoid of emotion.

The man turned his gaze towards Jason as he foot remained on top of the Lieutenant.

“Remove that foot.” Jason said with the same tone.

“Who are you brat? Do you want to die?” The man said as he turned his gaze towards Cap. Brad.

“So it was you? You were the Captain who hit my son? Is this how you act when you see your superior?”

The man started spewing code of the Naval Command.

“I will deal with you afterwards. You there, civilian, come here.” The man said, pointing towards Jason.

Jason started walking towards the man step by step. Cap. Brad beside him gulped his saliva as he prayed for the man.

The man was slightly taller than Jason. So when he neared the man moved tilted his head downwards, his eyes flashing with disdain and superiority. Jason had his eyes straight as he refused to move his gaze upwards.

“Hmm, this isn’t the correct level. Kneel.” Jason said calmly as he reached the man.

The man felt an unknown force surge inside him as his legs seemed to have lost all energy. His knees bent downwards as he knelt in front of him with a thud.

Confused by this sudden reaction, the man looked upwards. His gaze locked with Jason’s as an intense sense of terror and fear bloomed in his heart.

“YOU!” The man said.

“This seems to be the right level.” Jason said.

The man grit his teeth and his muscles started to squirm. A glow seemed to be emanating from his body. He shouted, screamed and used every means in his disposal but he could not stand back up.

“Impossible, what have you done to me? You devil!” The man said, pointing his finger towards Jason.

Jason said nothing. He traced his fingers on a device he took out from his pocket. After a series of beeping noises a voice was heard from the other side.

[Vice-Captain Jason to what do I owe your call?]

The voice said.

The man on the other hand immediately recognized the voice and then identified the person in front of him. The fear in his heart turned deeper as he was about to almost wet his pants.

“Senator Noor, there is a person in front of me from your family. He seems to be getting on my nerves quite a lot. It’s been a long time since I last had blood on my hands and I do not want your family member to become my target. My mood currently is not nice.” Jason said, his voice crisp and clear.

[Hmm. Forgive me Vice-Captain. Please give me some face. I will definitely punish the said person.] Senator Noor on the other side said.

“Make sure to teach values to your family members.” Saying so, Jason disconnected the call.

He turned his gaze back towards the man.

“Get lost now.” He said coldly.

The man gained control of his legs and hurriedly ran towards the barracks bowing repeatedly towards Jason on the way.

Jason ignored him and helped the Lieutenant to get up.

“Sorry for the disturbance, but we have more urgent matters to tend to.” Cap. Brad moved towards Jason as he said.

Jason nodded towards Lieut. Ray as he and Cap. Brad moved towards the landing pad.

Boarding the MH-60G Pave Hawk, the C-Drive engines roared to life as it rapidly took into air.

Lieut. Ray stood there agape with his mouth open.

I can’t believe I was able to meet the legendary Vice-Captain from that team. Who would have thought that a person with such strength and power would prefer to stay among the poor and poverty stricken people? Or maybe to such a person money and fame does not matter that much? Hmm, I would never be able to understand the personality of such a person.

He thought as he sighed multiple times.