Admiral Damian Rochefort stood at the center of the command bridge aboard the SSV Invictus, his sharp eyes flicking between the screens that displayed the tense, escalating situation below. The waters of this strange world—so similar to Earth, yet so alien—were churning with the heated conflict between the Eagle Union and Ironblood shipgirls. For days now, the two factions had been on the brink of all-out war, using him as their center of attention in a twisted, possessive game of control.)
(He was an N7, an elite among soldiers, yet he had never faced anything quite like this. The shipgirls—humanoid warships from another dimension—were powerful beyond anything in the Systems Alliance's databases. But their emotional volatility, their fixation on him, was what troubled him most.)
(Damian had enough. He wasn't a pawn to be fought over, and he wasn't about to let these nations tear each other apart over their misguided obsessions.)
XO: Admiral,. It looks like things are getting worse down there."
(Damian's jaw clenched, and his decision was made in that instant. He'd tried to remain diplomatic, tried to let them resolve their issues on their own, but they were only escalating the conflict. If neither side was willing to stand down, then he'd show them why he was the one in charge.)
Damian: (coldly) Order the fleet to target both Ironblood and Eagle Union naval bases. Disable their military infrastructure. I want them forced to the negotiation table. Now.
XO: (nods) Yes, sir.
(Within moments, his fleet moved into action, firing precise strikes at the naval bases of both factions. He made sure the attacks were calculated—enough to disable their capabilities but not to cause unnecessary casualties. He didn't want more bloodshed, but he needed to show both sides that the Systems Alliance wasn't to be trifled with.)
Damian: (comms) Get me Enterprise and Bismarck, now.
(The tension in the air was palpable as the two leaders, Enterprise from the Eagle Union and Bismarck from Ironblood, sat across from one another in the hastily arranged negotiation room aboard the Invictus. Alliance Marines, fully armed and armored, stood at attention, ensuring that neither of the two volatile factions could make a move against each other—or him.)
(Damian paced the room, his presence commanding.)
Damian: I'm done with the games, ladies. (glares) Your petty rivalry has gone too far. I've had to order strikes on both of your bases to get your attention. This ends now.
(Enterprise and Bismarck both shot dark glares at each other but remained silent, their competitive spirit barely restrained. Still, neither of them dared to speak out of turn under Damian's watchful gaze.)
Damian: As of this moment, you will cease hostilities. Both of you have a choice—either work together to resolve your differences, or I'll make sure your fleets are no longer a threat to anyone."
Enterprise: (eyes narrow) You'd really do that, Admiral? Turn against both the Eagle Union and Ironblood?
Damian: (sharply) Try me. This isn't a game, Enterprise. You've both made it clear that you want something from me, but you'll follow my rules, or there's no deal.
(Bismarck crossed her arms, her eyes never leaving Damian's. She was used to command, used to respect, and the thought of bending to anyone else's will grated on her. But there was something about the way Damian stood over them—something that sent a thrill down her spine despite herself.)
(Enterprise's pride warred with her growing desire, but she nodded stiffly.)
Enterprise: We'll talk.
Damian: Good. (steps back) Now, let's resolve this properly.
