Ensign Arthur Ashton took a good long look at the red, white, and blue Armored Suit. It stood out from the dull gray color scheme the hanger bay had going on. He had been on-board the new prototype battleship, The Aegis, for a total of three weeks and today would be one of his few days back on the ground. As much as he liked being onboard the Federation’s latest ship, it felt comforting knowing that he had solid ground to fall back on.

“Ashton, take a good look at that.”

Captain Mick Jones lifted his cap, showing off his silver hair. He had never seen an Armored Suit up close before, sure, he had engaged them before plenty of times, but he was a ship captain. The closest he had gotten would be the cameras displaying the battlefield. Capturing nearly every movement imaginable.

“This war is as good as won. Once we mass produce this, Bardone will have to deal with all the pain and suffering they have caused to the earth and her people.”

Ashton looked over at the Captain. He couldn’t tell if it was the lighting playing tricks on his eyes, but was that a tear in the Captain’s eye?

“Ensign. Walk with me for a bit.”

The Captain had seen enough war to last a lifetime. An old grizzled old man like him should be off surrounded by loved ones. Enjoying the few remaining years he had left in peace. Yet the war couldn’t be ignored. Far too many young men had died on the frontlines, and yet the rates wouldn’t stop. That’s why the Federation needed its veterans.

Ashton and Captain Mick began the long trek back to their rooms on the other side of the base.

“You are relatively young, are you not?”

The Captain’s words caught Ashton by surprise.

“Yes Sir. I graduated from the academy a few months back. Ever since then, I was put on the reserve list for commandeering a ship.”

“I see. Many young men like yourself are going to war.”

“I’m twenty-one sir. I enlisted, like my father and his father before him.”

“So, your family is military?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I have also heard that boys are even being put into the frontlines. Old enough to still be attending school.”

“I have heard that as well.”

“Younger than you Ashton.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Captain scratched his nose. For far too long, the Earth Sphere had never seen a war as bloody as this. Not even the Resource Wars had seen this much carnage and damage. If he had to compare it to something, it would have to be the Verizone Chronicles.

“Do you know why old war veterans like me have come to fight, when we could just wait around for our deaths?”

“…..”

“It is because we have a responsibility. Those with power should fight to protect those without it.”

“I see.”

The visitor building came into sight. Contrary to what one would expect from a military base, the Federation poured extensive resources into maintaining a good public image. If their guests weren’t happy, no one was happy.

“I see this is where we part. Have a good night. Ensign.”

The Captain vanished into the revolving doors. As though he couldn’t wait to be out of the public eye. Ashton took a step forward, hesitated, then continued through the same doors the Captain had entered. Inside, the lavish lobby would have amazed anyone that would have walked in. Not Ashton. He had seen plenty of lobbies during his time in the academy. In a warzone.

Walking up to the counter, he dug around in his pocket for his I.D. and showed it to the woman. The woman looked to be about in her early twenties, with light blue hair and gold earring in right ear. Her pale blue Federation uniform was designed for those in managerial duties, but the stripes on the arm told a different story.

“So, what’s a 2nd Lieutenant doing all the way here in the middle of nowhere?”

Leaning against the counter with his left arm, Ashton flashed a bright smile as he relaxed himself. The woman scanned his card through the scanner fixated on the side of the large computer in front of her. Her eyes flickered towards Ashton, as though they had seen a ghost.

“I was in New York.”

Ashton’s smile disappeared. He wanted to take back those words, but he knew he couldn’t.

“I see.”

“Yeah. Your room is 414. One of the bellgirls can show you there.”

On cue, a girl wearing a bright blue uniform suddenly appeared from the employee entrance. She had on bunny ears, and as she moved, looked to Ashton as though she were bouncing around. He couldn’t image a more ridiculous scenario. Was the West Coast always liked this?

“HI! I’ll be your CUTE tour guide from on! Follow me and I’ll show you to your SNUGGLE DEN!”

The girl had a high-pitched Valley Girl accent that pierced Ashton’s eardrums. If he had ear muffs, he wouldn’t have hesitated to put them on.

“Ignore her. She lost a bet during PT.”

Nodding, Ashton hesitantly followed the bouncing bunny girl.

#

Bright colorful images suddenly appeared on screen. Ashton had been fiddling around with the computer that came with his room. He had received an order from High Command, one regarding the Aegis and its recent deployment from the Central North American Zone to the West Coast. Captain Jones would have undoubtedly received one as well.

“Until further notice, the Aegis is to be stationed at St. Clara Base!?”

Slapping himself in the face, Ashton groaned. Why would High Command do this? The Aegis would be a sitting duck! Not to mention, the Armored Suit stored in the hanger bay would eventually be discovered!

“Damn bureaucrats! Just because they don’t agree with funding Project R they pull stupid shit like this!”

Pounding his fists into the table, he kept rereading the message. No amount of reading and hoping were going to change the facts. The army had caved into the demands of its blasted investors. Unbuttoning his jacket, Ashton leaned back in his chair and heaved a heavy sigh. Pouring himself a glass of wine, he then took a sip. The taste of hard apple cider, along with the alcohol made his world a happier one.

When he had been a child, his father was one of the most well-respected navy generals in the Earth Federation. Years of training, which then hardened into experience made him one of the most looked and sought-after commanders of the previous generation. When Ashton was a mere child, he had boldly declared to everyone that he was going to surpass his father. He was going to pilot a spaceship and be the best dang Captain there ever was.

Chuckling to himself, he poured another glass.

During his tenure at the academy, he had heard stories of the massive landfall operation Bardone had initiated. Every Federation base had been put on high alert, and the sightings of the then uncommon Armored Suits had put a vast fear in the earth’s population heart’s. In a show of force, the Earth Federation had assembled its mightiest powers and resolved to force Bardone off earth.

“I might need more.”

Shaking the empty wine bottle, Ashton closed his eyes. He could faintly smell the ashes. The scores of weeping women and the red eyed men surrounding him. While Ashton himself was forced to the sidelines. Unable to say or even see for the last time. He kept a brave face. All the way until the dust had settled and the drizzling rain became a powerful downpour.

#

Stein walked though the empty hallways. It smelled of septic, of sterile chemicals meant to cleanse the world of foul infections that would take root. He hated the smell of hospitals, but he especially hated coming here. Opening the door to his room, he stepped into what should have been the safest bastion to a person like him.

His dorm room had been ransacked. Defiled to its very core. Spray painted on the wall that connected into his kitchen, a message had been put down. “Go back to space, Spacenoid.” He simply shrugged. This wasn’t the first time this had happened.

Closing the door behind him, he took off his jacket and tossed it onto the overturned table in the living area. Untying his bowtie, he lumbered over to his fridge, which had seen better days. Rooting through the messy contents, he found the only thing untouched by the rampage. Quickly popping open the cap, he downed an entire glass bottle of Tomato Juice. Wincing, he placed it onto the kitchen counter and went to inspect the scale of the damage.

Compared to the previous rampages the dorms’ inhabitants had previously inflicted on him, this time it wasn’t as bad. The most important thing they didn’t always get to he kept on his person. Taking his phone out from his right pocket and his wallet from the left, he dialed the number that he had grown so familiar with.

“Hello? Yes, this is Krueger. Yeah. I’m going to need your crew again.”

“…….”

“Yes. I know. At least you’re getting paid.”

“……….”

Hanging up, Stein gave a tired yawn. Throwing himself onto the ripped-out cushions of his chairs, he stared at the ceiling, still untouched by the events below. Sometimes, he wished he were back in space. He grew up in the colonies, surrounded by the infinite expanse of space. Trips would always consist of floating through zero gravity and the different space colonies cultures as they would go by VIP Shuttle. Earth was different. Everything is grounded, the people too serious. The war had simply cranked that attitude up to eleven and he had to bear the full force of the blow. Closing his eyes. He felt as though he had begun to float.

#

“What the hell do you mean the machine isn’t ready!?”

Spittle flew out from Captain Mick Jones mouth. With wild hand gesticulations, he howled at the top of his voice. The passing by engineers all scurried on by. Their eyes cast downward to avoid catching the Captain’s eye. Ashton couldn’t believe what he was seeing or hearing. The Captain had never in his life or career acted in this manner before.

“I already told you. The initial checks haven’t been finalized. The machine just isn’t ready currently. We can’t work miracles!”

The Captain simply stood still, his hands rolling into clenched fists. His veins began to pop out from his forehead and his body trembled. There were others inside the meeting room, many on duty officers who had wanted to see the drama unfold. Ashton simply stood beside the Captain, tugging at his own collar.

“When will it be done then?”

Ashton answered in place of the Captain. He hoped that he could defuse the situation enough that everyone would have a nice laugh.

“In three days. On the day of the Ball.”

Ashton looked over at the Captain. No longer trembling, he seemed as though he had wanted to say something.

The Federation had its share of hotheads, power tripping officials and the like. Captain Mick Jones had simply been one of the ones who preached about the rules being absolute, and who set forward that saying by acting by it. Known as the Captain of Steel, nothing had ever fazed him.

“I’m sorry. The Captain must be having a bad day.”

Almost running, he chased after the Captain. Ashton didn’t have to look far. The old man was leaning on the railing outside the hanger bay on the second floor. He gazed out at the faraway academy in the distance, his eyes glazing over as if he had begun to sink deep into his thoughts. Approaching slowly, Ashton looked out towards the same scene the Captain saw.

“I know you can’t see what I see Ensign. Its like us old war vets can understand the world in a different way. We see it differently as well. The times that we have lost will never again be there for us to use.”

The sun had begun to set. Casting an orange tinge on the horizon, a group of birds flew overhead, all in place for the V formation. The Captain tipped his cap over his eyes and scanned the ground below. More parts for the Armored Suit had begun to be moved elsewhere, along with the machine itself.

“One day you will understand what I mean. This war won’t end unless we beat them and force them onto their knees. Their hatred of all earthlings cannot be quenched with a simple victory. If they win, their hatred will continue to fester and spread like a disease upon us all.”

Ashton thought back on his own father. He had dedicated his life to the military. What was it that drove him? To sacrifice it all to serve a power that could care less if he had less than a medal to his name. Watching the setting sun, Ashton couldn’t understand what the Captain or his father saw in the distance. And he probably might never will.

“Captain.”

“Yes?”

“Permission to attend the Ball?”

“Denied. Only officers can.”

In the distance, far from the abled eyes of men, the city of New Angeles began to shine brightly. Its multicolored lights from its high-rise buildings began to light up the darkening skies, blotting out the stars. The streets began to overflow with traffic, the sidewalks filled with both natives and tourists. Parades for the newest movies began Downtown, and the worries of war faded away for the night as it always did.