On day twenty-seven, David, Rick, John, and his new wife Lounoni worked tirelessly to assemble the fifty exo-suit frames Master Silve and his people had made for him. To David’s surprise, Lounoni was a natural. Seeing it done once, she had already outpaced David setting them up to three to one.

Which was not as fast as Rick, whose class was specifically for power armor work, or John, who knew the armors inside and out, literally. So it only took a few hours. With them assembled, David had them pulled out into the open, with a few guards to watch them, set them up on stands, and then added a stand in front of each. On each of the stands, David placed a display to hold three items.

The first is a stargazer revolver. Not to be confused with his Legendary Stargaze. These were new ones made by the dwarves. With each of them was five .500 S&W rounds.

The second item is a 40’ Ka-Bar, just like his own.

The final thing, which David considered the most important, was a brown emblem of the five fists in white. He then took a few banner poles and started displaying banners with that same symbol.

With the prep work done, David called for an assembly of the order. Slowly they began to gather from their bunks and other duties. No one knew what was going on, but they all understood it to be big.

“ John Richards, Rick Lorn, Jake Morris, Daniel Smith...”

David continued to list off names from a list and they each assembled in five by ten rows as their name was called. When David said the fiftieth name, he folded the paper up and put it in his pocket, then took out another one from the opposite.

“ I am not a perfect man. I have my faults. I have my desires, dreams, and shortcomings. You know, I have this speech I spent several days on for this moment.”

David then put the paper away.

“ I am just a guy. A guy who had way too much money and no real ambition before the change. And here are my two friends. Went to separate colleges so they can make me the coolest suit of armor in the universe.”

David pauses and pulls a couple of cards out of his storage. Soon the Dreadnaught armor appeared on a stand for it and at its feet was the M-134.

“ Impressive aren't they? Most of you know me via this suit as the Dreadnaught. But you know, I wish the man who wears that suit was half as impressive as the suit. I am sure you all might not think so, but I am scared. Oh, so very scared. Not of the bugs. Not of failing or dying. But of success. That means I can no longer live that comfortable life I had before. That means I have to live up to a higher standard. To this standard.”

David taps the chest plate of his armor.

“ All those whose names I called, take a knee.”

As one fifty people took a knee and planted a fist on the ground as they bowed their heads.

“ Why are you bowing your heads? Raise them, proudly. Look at the symbol of our order then look around you. The cause of our order. For we are Wardens and we are not meek.”

David waited a moment for them to look around a little.

“ I said, for we are Wardens and we are not meek.”

Only a few caught on to repeat the phrase.

“ Again.”

“ For we are Wardens and we are not meek.”

This time they were a little out of sync with each other.

“ Again!”

“ For we are Wardens and we are not meek.”

This time Daniel detected a bit of pride from them and considered that good enough.

“ For we swear to be protectors of the weak.”

“ For we swear to be protectors of the weak.”

“ For fools, we do not aid.”

“ For fools, we do not aid.”

“ Or we risk being unmade.”

“ Or we risk being unmade.”

“ To our brothers we offer everything.”

“ To our brothers we offer everything.”

“ For without them, we are nothing.”

“ For without them, we are nothing.”

“ And to our enemies, we shall give them everything they deserve.”

“ And to our enemies, we shall give them everything they deserve.”

“ Rise Initiates of the Free Wardens. Rise and claim your armor and weapons and rights. Rise and be ready to fight, for war is coming.”

For every one that stood a new message appeared, save for three.

Your secondary combat class has been overwritten to now be {Initiate of the Free Wardens}. Ranking system goes as Recruit -> Initiate -> Warden -> specialization. With each rank afterwards having a suffix applied before your specialization. Adept -> Senior -> Master -> Grandmaster.

For John, Rick something else appeared.

Your secondary combat class has changed to Warden. As your primary class reflects your individual specialization already. Your secondary class has become a supplementary one to your main. Growing in tandem.

As for Jake, his was completely different.

Your primary class has changed from ‘Bronie’ to Warden Juggernaut. All skills changed to complement your new class. Level reset to 1

As for David himself. He got one as well.

Freelance secondary class removed. Faction rank of Dreadnaught Master replaces it. No benefits are applied till the main class matches the faction rank.

As the new initiates focused on their new status and gear, several more messages started appearing to everyone who watched the events.