The shuttle from the Green Swan stopped when it was about a hundred paces from the Silver Tiger. Tribunus Maruko Haru Manuella of the Legion Vagaris bit her lips as she felt a Domain encompassing them. It was a familiar feeling, but she was certain she’d never felt it before. She’d only been in Vagaris for the past twenty years and was Tribunus for ten of those.

Legate Segawa had been in Vagaris for sixty years and had become Legate for forty, almost as soon as he ascended to Knight Dominus. He was considered a genius and had joined the three hundred Knights Domini of the Empire pretty young. Of course, that’s when he stalled out. Most Knights Dominus, if they were ever going to advance to that level, did so in their second or third century. If she didn’t advance to Knight-Captain, she wouldn’t even see the end of her third…

Sighing to herself, she snorted in amusement at the fact that a Legion’s second-in-command was never the second-strongest warrior. It was always the one who was good at paperwork, diplomacy, and of course, managing the egos of their powerful Legates. It wasn’t a coincidence that they were often the opposite gender, too, though the two of them had not devolved into anything sordid. Jiro was a gentleman, and hardly interested in anything of the sort. If he was, then he would have been wrapped firmly around the finger of the Mishala Clan back then…

Of course, that was what it was. The Silver Tiger was a Mishala Clan vessel and judging from the domain, one of their Knights Domini was in there. Maruko rummaged through her memory, using a Facet technique that allowed her to access partitioned storage. Aside from the Clan Progenitor, there was the Prima, who was probably still at Realmheart, and the former Vagaris Legionnaire, the Sorceress Sadeen.

The latter was most likely, and she hurriedly reviewed her data. Sadeen was a Sorceress at the Luminous Circle. Practitioners of Sorcery followed a different track from the Imperial Path, though they were closely linked. She wasn’t sure if Sadeen was a Knight Dominus, but since she had a Domain, she couldn’t be far. Spellweavers, Jade Circle, Luminous Circle. Progress was characterised by how many Sorcerous Implements were within their Anima. As a Luminous Circle Sorceress, Sadeen must have at least five Implements, and each resonated with the others to create the Domain… She wondered which Ennoia the woman had touched and if she had advanced it.

Oh, who was she kidding?

Mishalas were easily adept at their hereditary ability. For a long moment, Maruko was jealous. Who wouldn’t be when their lineage didn’t stop at the Knight level but progressed infinitely close to Dominus? Ancestors, Knight-Captain and Commander were only a step in their path; the Mishala Mien was definitely a wondrous thing. Of course, the Mien often turned them into slaves of their own passions, and unfortunately, it turned everyone around them into similar slaves. She would have to guard her mind carefully. She wasn’t attracted to other women, but the Mien…well, she wouldn’t be surprised if she suddenly developed that itch.

Communication came from the Silver Tiger after the shuttle hailed them. Every Imperial Chaos ship used a specific pattern inside their Animus engines that allowed them to link to each other. It served as a temporal anchor, allowing each ship in a fleet to arrive at its destinations at the same time instead of spreading throughout the week, or worse, Season. That link also allowed their crystal screens to send information to each other. Maruko was seated behind the pilot, but both of their built-in crystal screens projected an image of an annoyingly pretty woman.

“Green Swan shuttle, state your purpose,” the woman said in an authoritative voice.

Maruko answered evenly, “On behalf of the Legion Vagaris and the Empress, Legate Jiro Segawa wishes for the Silver Tiger to join us in breaking through the forces of Chaos.”

“I will…” The woman began to say, only to pause and tilt her head. Maruko waited in silence then the woman finally said, “Lady Sadeen wishes to confer with the Legate. An island will be formed between the Silver Tiger and the Green Swan to facilitate this meeting.”

“That is unnecessary,” Maruko protested. “He could just as easily come aboard the Silver Tiger or your delegation to board the Swan.”

“The Lady insists,” her counterpart said decisively. “Within the hour.” The communication link cut off, giving Maruko a flash of annoyance, but she had little recourse.

“Return, please.” She said to the pilot who nodded and turned their ship around.

No sooner had they reached the Green Swan when Maruko looked back towards the Silver Tiger. Her eyes widened as something emerged from the pleasure yacht cum battleship. The Chaos around them converged as a vortex. Dirt, stone, and earth coalesced and formed an island, and in less than an instant, it had grown to a longstride in width. A perfect circular disc.

Dirt and stone coagulated underneath it, turning it into an inverted pyramid, while the surface was covered by greenery, a river, and a pond. A gazebo made out of fluted marble rose from the centre, evidently the meeting place.

The shuttle didn’t even get the chance to dock before Maruko had it turned around. Legate Segawa had emerged from the bridge, and from his expression, he wasn’t all that pleased. In the distance, the allied fleet skirmished with the Chaos dwellers’ squidships, and every minute they delayed might mean someone dying.

The Knight Dominus floated in midair and landed on the shuttle’s roof. A droplet of water appeared next to her and vibrated to send his voice, “Let’s not waste any more time.”

They approached the new island, with the shuttle landing at the edge. Segawa and Maruko alighted and hurried towards the gazebo. Halfway there, she finally saw what it was that came out of the Silver Tiger, and she froze. It was a Colossus. Five…six paces high. A Vasi.

Where did that come from? And from the design, the colouration, and the symbols, it was not any of the known Vasi Colossi.

“An unknown?” Maruko asked.

Jiro Segawa frowned, then shook his head. “No, known. Its pattern is recorded. But an old one, predating the Empire, I think.” He nodded towards the chassis. “Look at the pauldrons and the skirt, they’re incredibly ornate. And the pattern on those certainly date farther back than three thousand years.”

Maruko snorted and said, “Now that Sorceress Sadeen Mishala has a Vasi Colossus, I believe the balance of power has shifted.”

“Sadeen would not pilot one without grave cause,” the Legate said. “A Colossus will inhibit her ability to cast spells.”

“And yet I think that thing was instrumental to forming this place.”

“That’s what I don’t understand.” He sighed. “A Sorceress is at risk in the open Chaos Sea. I only ask for the Silver Tiger’s aid, not hers. That thing has enough power to make the Green Swan look like a dinghy.”

Maruko glanced back at the skirmish. The Chaos dwellers were keeping close to their fortified Fysalli, not willing to fight without advantage. They weren’t fools, after all. One would have thought that Chaos dwellers would have the advantage over plane-borne in the Sea, but with Animatech, that advantage was easily overturned. The Green Swan and her sister ships weren’t just vessels to travel through the Waypoints, they were a weapon in their own right, and when wielded by a Knight Dominus…

As they came closer to the gazebo, it became apparent that the structure was bigger than it looked from the island’s edge, and that the Colossus wasn’t the only one there. A bevvy of servants, or more likely, lesser members of the Mishala Clan–considering how each of them, if placed in a village, town, or city anywhere else in the Empire, would be considered the most gorgeous creatures there–were arrayed in a welcoming line.

The Colossus had knelt down at one end of the gazebo, and as they came closer, the back hatch opened and two women came out. Maruko blinked, as one moment, the two were wearing skin-tight core pilot uniforms, and the next, they were in regular clothes…? Well, the taller one was, but the shorter woman was clad in battle robes.

Sorceress Sadeen Mishala.

Maruko looked at the other woman and thought that she looked familiar. After frowning for a moment, and she activated one of her memory Facet techniques, then the name and an image came to the forefront of her mind. She had met the young woman before, back in Faron’s Crossing, in the healer’s quarters after a travesty of a Wyldling Wave. Yuriko Mishala Davar. A curious young woman who came into possession of an artefact, one that old man Yama Kinohara had been unable to properly investigate. Hmmm, wasn’t it too soon for the Apprentice-level woman to be a Colossus Core Pilot?

No. She couldn’t be an Apprentice anymore. No one at that level would even be able to enter the Colossus’ Core, much less serve as co-pilot. Then again, she was Sadeen’s daughter, right?

“Lady Sorceress,” Jiro said with a polite nod as they approached. The Mishala Clan’s servants bowed to them and ushered them towards a table. As soon as they were seated, they brought tea and pastries.

Maruko’s mouth watered at the delectable sight, but she waited until everyone was ready. Aside from Lady Sadeen and her daughter, another man joined them.

“Virgil Davar,” the Legate said in an even tone. “You were gone a long time.”

“A mission brought about by an Inquisitor,” the man answered in a neutral tone. “You’ll have to ask her why. She never disclosed the particulars.”

“I see. I will be glad to have you join us in the field of battle once more.”

Virgil seemed to hesitate and Sadeen’s eyes flashed, but the woman smirked. Virgil answered after a long moment. “It has been a couple of decades, Legate,” he offered, “but I would welcome the challenge.” His grin was savage, and Maruko noticed their daughter, Yuriko nodding along.

Jiro turned towards the young woman, and after staring at her for several moments, one that the girl easily met, he said, “I see that you have grown much stronger, young Davar.”

“Many things have happened since then,” came the younger woman’s confident answer, “but please tell us what you’re planning to do.”

“Do? Why, we’re going to destroy the Telurian Court. As simple as that.”

Yuriko frowned, however, and said, “Is it really that simple?”

“A bit more complicated than the Legate’s thoughts,” Maruko hastily interjected. “Different polities and alliances are embroiled in this fight, but the Telurian and Asheron Courts have pushed too far. The third Chaos Court had turned against them and it is with their aid that we’ve pinpointed the Telurian’s location…”

Legate Jiro put a hand on Maruko’s arm, cutting her off. She looked at him in confusion, then at their counterparts. Lady Sadeen’s lips were twisted into a subtle grin, while Virgil Davar blinked innocently. Yuriko stared at her for a long moment, then said, “Please continue.”

“Oh sure,” Maruko began, before Jiro stopped her again.

“Please stop, young lady. Maruko will tell you everything you need to know, but…”

The young woman shook her head. “We know what the Chaos Duke wants, and it's not in his hideaway. He’s aiming for Rumiga plane itself and we need to stop him there.”

“I see, where does this intelligence come from?”

“She Who Whispers in the Light. We encountered her in Siderious…” the young woman spoke about their incredible experiences, while Maruko shifted in her seat and drank her tea.

A droplet of water nestled in her ear spoke with Jiro’s voice, “She’s a Knight. So young. And a true Mishala too.” Ah.

After Yuriko finished, Jiro Segawa spoke decisively, “Waiting until the last moment to foil the Chaos Duke’s plan is the height of folly. We will stop him here. Destroying his base of power will leave him vulnerable no matter what else happens. Now that you are here, Lady Sorceress, and with the Colossus Eli’Theria, we will be able to use tactics that would be too dangerous if I am the sole Domain wielder.”

Lady Sadeen’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, tell us more.”

“Gladly.”

The rest of the meeting took less than an hour, and by the end of it, the Mishalas had agreed to help. Maruko sighed in relief. The danger was lessened, but she reminded herself that battle is always perilous.

But with this, she would have another sortie under her, and it would bring her closer to the next step on the ladder.