Volume Nineteen - Enlistment

==Chapter 217 - Sirius==
It had been a few weeks since that first rough week of training, those few weeks, of course, being spent training as well. The four were a bit exhausted, but also excited, as barely an hour ago they had gotten on a Transport Ship to Sirius A Xa, the Primary Colony in the Sirius System. They looked on in wonder at the blue stars the system orbited, and at the icy moon they were heading towards. It was about as large as Earth was said to be, and orbited a blue gas giant along with various other moons, all in the gas giant’s frozen rings, made from asteroids. It was beautiful to look at, as they flew down through the rings, and came across a space station.
After confirmation from the pilot as to the identities of the people in thee Transport Ship among other things, the ship descended a bit shakily into the atmosphere, which seemed rather cold and cloudy. It didn’t take long for the ship to come to a slow and steady stop, as everyone got out, a train waiting there for them. Jack was amazed at what he saw. Shiny chrome buildings, flying cars, holographic screens and roads. This looked like a city envisioned centuries ago, by people attempting to imagine the future. The train, too, was very shiny and smooth, resembling a Bullet Train most of all. They got inside as it rushed forwards through a tunnel and then across a cold lake.
Eventually, they reached their true destination, a massive complex that seemed to be made of many interlocking buildings, many of them cylindrical. “Woah…” Jack remarks, looking on, as did Andromeda, Candice and Shunsuke. Everyone took in the grandeur of the perfectly smooth, shiny buildings that actually looked like they were from the current time period. “This place is like nothing I’ve ever seen…” Shunsuke breathes. “It’s…so shiny…” Candice said breathlessly. “This doesn’t look all that much like a human structure…” Andromeda remarked. “Yeah…I guess being in the cold forced them to build things like this…” Jack replies, still amazed by the massive structure.
“Welcome to Sirius A Xa.” A female voice says suddenly, startling almost everyone, as a thin woman with short black hair and green eyes, clad in white robes walked out of the entrance of the building. “Uh, hey there.” Jack replies. “My name is Judy.” The woman, Judy, then says. “I will be your guide throughout this whole world.” “Thank you.” Candice responds. “We’re here to see General Buchardt.” Jack explains. “Right this way, then.” Judy says, beckoning them to follow, which they do, noting the various paintings of conquerors and the like from across history, as they eventually came across a door. “The recruits are here to see you.” Judy says, as the door slides open.
==Chapter 218 - The General==
General Buchardt appeared to be a pale man of average height, with faintly bluish black hair which, aside from bangs covering his right eye, was cut to a military standard. He wore golden glasses with orange lenses, which hid whatever color his eyes were, and he wore a blue military uniform with five stars on each shoulder. He had an assortment of medals on his suit, along with a name tag reading ‘BUCHARDT’. He seemed to wear a simple blue military cap, and had a sly smile as his head rested on one hand, which was currently clenched into a fist, but Buchardt didn’t seem at all angry. It seemed everyone but Judy, who still wore that smile that Jack now thought was a bit creepy, was looking at Buchardt with contempt.
“Two Socqreath in my group of recruits?” Buchardt asked in an almost bored-sounding voice. “How interesting.” “I already have a bad feeling about you…” Andromeda replies under her breath. “Would you care to hear of my reputation?” Buchardt asks. “Sure?” Jack replies. “The Battle of Tau Ceti, the Siege of AD Leonis, the Liberation of Epsilon Eridani, among many more, are all battles that were won by humanity, because of me. My strategies were far too complex for the Netraxians to understand, and they were driven out of all the systems my armies engaged them in. Every day, due to my tactics, more and more planets are liberated from the Netraxians, and become part of the Human Star Realm.”
“You don’t seem at all full of yourself.” Andromeda retorts. “Heh. Sorry, but those victories are objective. My strategies got us the win each time.” Buchardt replies, his tone of voice not changing at all, nor did his expression. “Wouldn’t the fleets have to do with that as well?” Shunsuke asks. “Yes…Grand Admiral MacDonald…that Nightmare Division, the whole fleets, are little more than glorified privateers.” Buchardt answers. “Yes, they did help in some of the victories, but normally they just rushed in without a plan. I have a…complicated history with the Grand Admiral.” “Well, when do we start training?” Candice asks, as Buchardt smiled darkly.
“Today, if you all want. Though I will warn you that you all may find it a bit boring.” Buchardt answered. “You see, I prefer to fight with the mind as the primary weapon, and the opponent’s minds as the primary targets. Physical weapons are great, but the mind is the greatest of all weapons. It is ultimately whoever has the greater wit, the more intelligent strategy, that determines a battle. Physical prowess among individual soldiers? Not so much.” He then stood up, as they could see a sheathed Rapier on one hip and a holstered gun on another. “If you will all follow me, we can begin your first session.” He says, as they follow him to another room.
==Chapter 219 - The Art of War==
Inside the room was what seemed like a statue of a humanoid…dragon, ten feet tall, red, shiny, with orange eyes and razor-sharp teeth and claws, as well as spikes on the wings and tail, which the tip of was a sword-like blade. “Uh…is…that a Netraxian…?” Jack asks, intimidated. “Yes, it is.” Buchardt answers. “How did you beat something like that…?” Andromeda demands. “And that is our first lesson,” Buchardt replies, drawing his sword to thrust at the scales, which aren’t at all damaged. Then, the Netraxian swings its claws at Buchardt, who leaps back. It was clear now that the statue was actually an animatronic! Buchardt then weaves out of the way of a fire blast, before thrusting into the mouth of the Netraxian, which then arcs back before falling to the ground.
“Lesson One: When strong, avoid them. If of high moral, depress them. Appear humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses, emerge to their surprise.” Buchardt instructs. “You actually took a Netraxian out that easy…” Candice breathes. “Oh, no. One wrong move and I would already be dead.” Buchardt replies. “Netraxians are the physically strongest sapient species in the galaxy, it is effectively impossible to overpower one, even with our advanced suits.” “So we have to train to beat…that…” Jack remarks, gulping afterward as he looks at the sparking animatronic, trembling a little.
“Exploiting weaknesses…what weaknesses do they have?” Andromeda asks. “If you stab or shoot them in the eyes or mouth, then it’s an easy kill. Their armored scales can be cut through at certain points such as the underbelly if using an extremely sharp sword or, more effectively, extremely high-powered lasers.” Buchardt explains. “Because they don’t have Huscil as far as we know, keeping a distance from their fire breath and firing at their underbellies is the best option right now. They don’t tend to wear much armor due to, again, their scales. And that traditional, regressive nature of them makes them even easier targets, despite their immense physical prowess.”
“So, err, when do we go to fight them?” Jack asks. “A few more lessons first, at the least.” Buchardt answers. “But please, be patient. Patience is a virtue, those who don’t have it will lose.” “Don’t worry, we will.” Jack responds. “Good.” Buchardt replies as he turns to walk out of the room, sheathing his sword. “Judy, watch over them, will you?” “Yes, Sir.” Judy responds, turning towards the rest with her smile still up. “Might I show you around Blizfort? The city we are in.” “Uh, sure.” Jack replies, as Judy leads them out to the city, which still looked majestic in its sleek designs. It looked like the perfect utopia, it was almost forgettable that it was built on a frozen world.
== Chapter 220 - Blizfort==
It couldn't be overstated that Blizfort was the most beautiful city Jack had ever seen, sleek and shiny, with holographic roads and flying vehicles, circular, spherical, dome-like and cylindrical were the primary shapes for the buildings, and bridges connected to artificial islands in the middle of lakes. It was simply breathtaking to look at. And all of this was aided by the snow, which made the whole thing look almost like a winter wonderland, but a current-era winter wonderland. And Jack knew that this, though seemingly the Capital of Sirius A Xa, was simply one of many cities on the planet.
"I am sure you are all gazing in wonder at our city." Judy says. "We are the most advanced when it comes to architecture, and we rather liked the visions of our current time from the 20th and 21st Centuries." "It's so...shiny..." Candice breathes. "I think you already said that." One of the other recruits retorts. "It's still true." Candice replies. They continued their walk, as they reached one of the bridges. "These islands are greenhouses, that dig deep into the planet and grow all our plants." Judy explains. "On the top of each building is a dozen turrets that can fire lasers, bullets and missiles for defense."
"It's amazing." Shunsuke remarks. "How long ago was all this built?" "The two types of buildings I just mentioned are some of the oldest." Judy answers. "Defending ourselves from asteroids and growing our own food was crucial to survival during the Early Colonization Stages." "I can see why." Jack replies. "It's so cold, here." "Yes. The only reason life is possible on this world is because Sirius A is a much brighter star than the Sun or Barnard's Star." Judy says. "The atmosphere acts as natural protection from that brightness, that heat and radiation, that does get here, while reflecting almost all light away."
"So you turned a harsh winter Hell into a utopian paradise." Andromeda says. "Good for you." "Yes, very good for us." Judy replies. "Sirius A Xa has the highest standard of living out of all worlds in the Human Star Realm." "Thank you for this tour." Shunsuke says to Judy, who chuckles. "The tour isn't over yet." She responds. "Come and follow me into the greenhouse. I'll show you all the optimized plants we have here." She beckons them to follow her, which, once again, they do, though much more uneasy than earlier.
==Chapter 221 - Ulterior Motives==
"Andromeda and Candice...candidates for being the Socqreath Queen..." Buchardt remarks, his hands together as he sat in a dimly lit room. "...now that I have that kind of power in my armies, I am unstoppable. It shouldn't take much longer to become Supreme Commander of all the military divisions of the Human Star Realm, and then not long after that to become Rosenstock's right hand man. Then, when he dies, his bloodline ends, and so the government system would need to change. With me as the right hand, I would take charge, and reshape the Human Star Realm in my image..."
==Chapter 222 - Asteroid Defense System==
A few days later, Jack, Andromeda, Candice and Shunsuke all heard an alarm go off, as they turned their heads towards the sky, which was now glowing brightly. A meteor was rushing towards the city! "What...?" Andromeda demands, glaring at the meteor, but Buchardt seemed to be completely calm, with the same small smile as always. "Prepare to destroy it." He says, as the recruits saw the turrets turn towards and fire at the meteor, beginning to rapidly chip away at it as what seemed to be Mining Drones flew up to attach themselves to the meteor, beginning to drill into it.
"Woah..." Jack breathes. "You...dealt with it that easily?" "You didn't?" Buchardt responds. "Meteors are nothing more than free minerals, these days."
==Chapter 223 - Strength and Weakness==
The recruits walked into the arena-like room they had been told to enter, as they see Buchardt standing there, carrying seemingly no weapons at all. "What does he think he's doing?" One of the recruits, who had said his name was Daniel, demands, taking out a combat knife and running at Buchardt, ready to stab him, however, cannons suddenly appear from the ceiling to aim at Daniel, who, seeing them, freezes in place, shocked and terrified. "Appear weak when you are strong." Buchardt instructs, as the cannons spew out confetti. "Appear strong when you are weak, as well."
==Chapter 224 - Lunch Break==
Jack and Andromeda sat together at a table with Sunsuke and Candice, eating various meals from Sirius A Xa. "Does anyone else get a creepy feeling about this place?" Jack asks. "Judy constantly smiles wide, and Buchardt just seems super shady." "I lost any hope of trusting Buchardt from the moment I laid eyes on him." Andromeda replies. "We have yet to see him prove he's anything other than a coward with creepy assistants." "I think we need to be careful about saying things like this." Shunsuke says. They nod, agreeing, and drop the topic in favor of something else to discuss.
==Chapter 225 - Warfare Flux==
Buchardt stood in front of the recruits, holding out his sword. "Please, point your own blades at me." Buchardt says, as the recruits take out their training swords to rush at Buchardt, who parries each and every slash effortlessly. Right when it seemed the latest slash might hit him, he leaps back through an opening in the recruits' formation, taking out his gun, which seemed to be a Mauser C96, but shinier, and firing, as everyone frantically dodges the bullets. "The nature of war is constant change." Buchardt explains. "Just as water retains no constant shape, in warfare there are no constant conditions."
==Chapter 226 - Stealth==
Clad in a black suit meant to obscure his identity, Jack walked through the dark hallways of the complex, searching for anything that might support his suspicions about Buchardt. As he walked, he overheard a number of female voices saying "Welcome to Sirius A Xa. My name is Judy, I will be your guide throughout this whole world." The hairs on the back of Jack's neck stood up when he he heard that, but he continued to walk without checking the room he had heard the eerie chorus from. Eventually, he comes across the door to Buchardt's room, and, inhaling and exhaling, forces it open.
==Chapter 227 - Revelations==
But Buchardt wasn't sitting there.
"What?!" Jack shouts, as he hears Buchardt's voice from behind him. "I know it's you, Jack." Buchardt says, as Jack whirls around to point his gun in Buchardt's face, right as Buchardt points his own gun in Jack's face. "Sneaking around a superior's offices? Are you trying to get kicked out?" "I'm trying to figure out what the Hell your deal is." Jack answers. "What's with all the Judies? What's with this Art of War stuff? What's with your smug attitude and all the other secrets you're no doubt keeping?" "If you want to stay in the military," Buchardt starts. "Then you will drop this all. Now."
Jack glares into Buchardt's glasses for a few moments, before sighing and lowering his gun. "Good." Buchardt remarks.
==Chapter 228 - Off to Alpha Centauri==
"I am saddened to see you all go so soon." Buchardt says. "But it is important that you go and face the Netraxians now that you have some basic training done. Just don't expect anything more than simple combat at the moment." Jack looks on at Buchardt, knowing he was lying through his teeth and that he couldn't do anything about it. Regardless, they walk into the Transport Ship, ready to fly towards Alpha Centauri as the ship lifts off and into space. "Oh, what's Alpha Centauri like?" Andromeda asks, as the pilot chuckles. "Oh, poor girl..." He starts. "...Proxima Centauri II is nothing short of Hell itself."