(The wind howled over the island colony that the Systems Alliance had established, the scent of the sea blending with the sterile, metallic tang of high-tech machinery and orbital ships. It had been several months since the Eagle Union and Ironblood had first clashed over Admiral Damian Rochefort's presence, each vying for his attention, each trying to outmaneuver the other in a dangerous game of obsession. Now, word of Damian's command—and his fleet—had spread further than he had ever anticipated.)
(New players had entered the field.)
(The Royal Navy, Northern Parliament, and Sakura Empire had all sent fleets toward his new colony. The Systems Alliance had managed to establish a foothold on a dozen large islands, creating a small but growing colony. In orbit, ships of the Alliance, mostly the Normandy SR-2 Class Frigates, docked with the large stations they had built. The battlecarrier SSV Invictus remained stationed at the center of it all, a symbol of the Alliance's dominance and Damian's iron-fisted control.)
(Despite his leadership and growing influence, Damian knew these nations weren't here for diplomacy. Like the Eagle Union and Ironblood before them, they wanted something more. They had heard about him—about his abilities as an N7, his tactical brilliance, and perhaps most importantly, the way both Eagle Union and Ironblood had been fixated on him. It wasn't long before they too began scheming, setting their own traps.)
(But Damian had faced this game before. He wouldn't fall for it again.)
(On the Ground, in the Colony's Main Compound)
(Damian stood on the balcony of the main compound, overlooking the activity below. The Alliance Marines moved with purpose, overseeing the defenses, working alongside the shipgirls from Eagle Union and Ironblood. A partnership born not of trust, but of necessity. Tensions had eased somewhat between the two factions, but the possessiveness of the shipgirls toward him still simmered just beneath the surface.)
(Today, though, things were different. He had received word that the fleets of the Royal Navy, Northern Parliament, and Sakura Empire had arrived just beyond the outer perimeter of the islands. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.)
Bismarck: Admiral.
(The voice behind him was low and steady. Bismarck approached, her presence as commanding as ever. Her cold crimson eyes met his, and though she was fiercely loyal to him now, Damian could sense the quiet yearning beneath her professional demeanor.)
Bismarck: They're here. You know what they want.
Damian: (nods) I do. But they'll learn soon enough who's in control.
(Before Bismarck could respond, another figure appeared beside him—Enterprise, her long silver hair flowing in the wind, her expression calm but intense.)
Enterprise: Royal Navy, Northern Parliament, Sakura Empire—they're not just here for an alliance. They want you, Admiral.
Damian: (coldly) I know. And I won't let this spiral out of control. I'll deal with them the same way I dealt with you.
Enterprise: (eyebrow raises) Oh, I'm sure they'll be eager to see your methods.
Bismarck: Shall we begin?
(At the negotiation room, the leaders of the Royal Navy, Northern Parliament, and Sakura Empire had arrived for what was meant to be diplomatic negotiations. Belfast from the Royal Navy, Sovetskaya Belorussiya from the Northern Parliament, and Akagi from the Sakura Empire sat across from each other, their eyes sharp, their demeanor cold. Behind them stood their loyal shipgirls—some calm, others visibly tense.)
