A Tale Retold, RED MIST

Reunion

   The proof had been sent.
   The UHMF has declared a state of emergency. For the first time in fifty years, all representatives of each forces will make a return back to Earth. Each vessel will connect to each other with BVA as the main dock. A giant and magestic formation will be made.

...

   "Yea.. I'm sorry. This several months will be busy for me. I'll meet you if I have the time to. I love you." A message sent through phone. It was 7 towards 491.
   7 sighed. She was in the command centre, taking phone calls from all over the galaxy, from force to force.

   "How many forces the UHMF has currently?" 2 asked.
   He was at the podium with 0.
   "Fifteen, including us." 0 said. "We’ll move our station into outer orbit, around five hundred kilometres from Earth. That way their ships can dock, fusing from one ship to the others, creating a long gigantic line."
   "Damn.." 2 replied.

...

   The whole station were busy, people were preparing for the upcoming event. The amphitheatre was decorated with many ornaments. The names and insignia’s of the fifteen military branches were displayed on the giant monitor, each was taking turns to be portrayed.

...

   Soon, they came. One by one, their ships docked and interlinked with one another, creating what 0 said, a massive line. The station became a giant horizontal cruiser, spanning to about 5 kilometres in length.

   The U.H. Space Force,
   The Red Horizon,
   The Galactic Swan Force,
   The Rhinoceros Star,
   The Fallen Angels Assembly,
   The Golden Eagle Agency,
   The Nova Lexus Force,
   The U.H Engineering Force,
   The Chrystaria Laboratories,
   The Aeon Galactic Association,
   The Confederate,
   The Black Vulture Agency,
   The Void Abyssal Group,
   The Galactic Traversal Group,
   and lastly,
   The Timekeeper.

   15 branches, all made up for what called the giant military, the United Humankind Military Force. They all gathered in the amphitheatre. The hall filled with many different colours of uniforms. 15 colours in total, creating a sort of rainbow.

...

   After the welcoming ceremony, they all dispersed, with most being in the dining hall. Many were chatting with the BVA members..

   "Fine lady, do you have the time?" A man called.
   Luna shocked after she heard the man’s voice. She turned around to face him. "Edward.." She called his name.
   He was wearing the GSF jumpsuit, a dark blue in tone.
   "Reminiscing the past, I see?" He asked as he saw Luna put on the gray BVA jumpsuit.
   "I came here with my ceremonial attire." Luna rolled her eyes while chuckling.
   "Ah.. I see.. looks like someone forgot to bring her clothes?" He replied.
   "It's still on the ship, isn't it? Those damn crew totally forgot to pick it up when I came here." Luna said.
   Edward nodded, followed by a chuckle.
   "So.. you're part of them now?" Edward asked.
   "For several months to come, yeah." Luna replied. "I made a few friends."
   "Oh.." Edward seemed surprised. "How odd of you, making friends. Actually, you changed.."
   "How so?" Luna wondered.
   "It's just.. you know.." Edward smiled. "You're more lively now. You're only been here for quite a while and things had changed a lot for you."
   "I guess..? I don't really know.. I'm still the Luna you know."
   "Luna I know always grumpy and complains all the time." Edward said. "This is not what I see here."
   "Yea yea.. whatever.." Luna replied, followed by a smile.

   Over at the other side, 6 was conversing with a man wearing a black jumpsuit with a red linings on it. An uniform from the Red Horizon.
   "So, 6, how is it?" The man asked 6.
   They shook hands.
   "It's been quite a chaos this several times." 6 replied.

...

   Away from any people, in a dark storage room, over the dim illumination of candlelight, a couple were sitting together.

   491 parted his lips from 7's.
   "I miss you so much.." 491 said softly. His breath was heavy.
   "Yea I know.." 7 replied. "I'm sorry I couldn't be with you often."
   It has been a month since their last meetup. The work had tire 7 so much.
   "They're just way so many people, don't you think?" 491 asked.
   "Yep.. the UHMF really trying to retake the Earth now.." 7 said.
   "Why? Haven't they lost interest on it?"
  
   491 never really know about the situation. In fact, outside the top 20, no one knows. So the coming of other branches really surprised them.

   "We found something on Earth.." 7 said.

...

   "Something so sinister." Luna stood over the podium, in front of her was hundreds of people from many different branch. "Something that we have never seen before."
   They showed 28's video over the giant screen.
   "Ever since then, one month ago, we have inspected the area from up here and we noticed." A topside view of Earth was shown. "The storm, that many of you knew should've moved.. never moved. It has been in that same exact area for the last month. On Fort Magnus, directly on where the reserve ship was."
   Luna stared at every each of them. She then backed up from the podium, letting 0 to occupy the place.
   "This is why you are all here."

...

   "A storm capable of disabling any ship?" amongst them words were traveling.
   "Don't you think this is a bit too dangerous?"

...

   "The UHMF had ordered you to gather here for this very reason. To retake the Earth and to gain knowledge for whatever is out there."

...

   "Who does he think he is? Sending us to a suicide mission?"

...

   "For the greater of humankind is dependent on what lies there!" 0 began to raise his voice. "For the sacrifices of those who had fallen will finally be worth it!"

...

   "We could try to clear up the storm first."
   "How?"

...

   "Soldiers! Devote your lives!!"

...

   “How you asked?” The man stared in such serious eyes. "Nuke the sky."

...

   "For the greater of humankind, devote your life!!"

...

   All quiet..
   3 was staring down to Earth from the observatory. He thought about what has happened over in Earth. Both of his hands were in the back, as he fidgeting his antique pocket watch.
   The artificial wind caressed him gently. He was in a state of solemn. Soon he'll be placing his foot back on Earth, and no one knows if he'll come back alive or not. For even the toughest soldiers, the Earth is still a living hell.
   3 then brought his pocket watch to the front and stared at it. The glass had cracked and the clock stopped working. Over at the top cover, a picture in which 3 glazed over it. Staring at it deeply.
   He sighed. 3 closed the pocket watch and put it back into his pocket. He then pull out a cigarette box from the other pocket.

   "You said you'll stop smoking." A voice of a woman reached 3.

   3 turned his head to glance at that woman.
   "For what I care now..?" He pulled out a cigarette from the box. He returned his eyes into the scenery.
   The woman stared at 3 as he about to light his cigarette. "You'll break your promise if you do so." She said.
   Hearing that, 3 stopped his lighter mid lit before it could reach the cigarette.
   "You're a man of your words, aren't you?" She asked.
   3 closed his lighter. He put the cigarette back on the box and tossed it into the trashcan near him.
   "Thank you.." She said.
   3 didn't reply. He kept staring at the scenery.

   "Hey.. does all of this even matter anymore?" 3 suddenly asked after a long silence.
   No answer from the woman.
   "After all of this.. is this even.. worth it?" He continued. "The dead will still be dead.. the living will continue to suffer.. is this what greatness really is? Is this what I really need to continue to do? To keep fighting? To only.. postpone my death?”
   But the woman didn't answer.
   "Hey.. answer me.. answer me!!" 3 turned to face her.
   But there was no one. There was only him in the observatory.
   "Even after everything I've ever done.." 3 was trembling. "I can't bring you back.."

   Inside his broken pocket watch was a picture. A picture he always came back for in desperate time. A picture where a woman was potrayed.

...

   The plan has been set. It was for them to go back into Earth, capture Alexa, contain one nest, and destroy the other one. The plan was simple and straightforward. four teams will be send, each with their own task to do.
   The only problem was, they didn't know how to get pass the storm safely, and about how strong Alexa is. Further inspection that has been done for the past month showing that the storm has reached a critical point in which even with modification, it could and would shut down any ship.
   The Red Horizon was offering a solution, it was risky, so risky in fact. It could harm and damage anything that deemed valuable. A solution to nuke the sky, pushing the storm away to any random direction, clearing the sky above Fort Magnus instantly, but in risk of destroying whatever lies there.
   Another solution was to land approximately two hundred kilometres from Fort Magnus, and then move via land from there. It would significantly reduced the chances for damages, but then, after they entered the storm zone, all communication will be cut off, leaving them alone.
   That was until, the Galactic Traversal Group suggested an old way. To install a physical communication line, 200 kilometres in length, from where they landed all the way to Fort Magnus. It was so resource consuming, but by that way communication will be preserved. There's still a risk however, as soon as the line enters storm zone, it would getting a risk of cut off by lightning strike.
   The whole issue for this simple and straightforward mission was that the logistics and communication were hard to come by due to the storm. With every solution leading to many risk, and Red Horizon who persisted to nuke the sky, the meeting was held to a break. They were all dismissed for a while.

...

   "Elisa. Do you have time?" 1 called 7.
   1 brought her into the upper deck of the command centre.
   "I heard from people that.. you're in a relationship with someone." He said. "Is that right?"
   7 knew this conversation will come.
   "Yes father.." She said.
   "Don't I tell you?" 1 stared at her.
   "Yes father. I know." She quickly responded.
   "Listen.. you know why I forbid you to have any deep relationship with someone, right?"
   "Yes, I know, father." She replied.
   "Then why? Why didn’t you listen to me?" He asked. His expression began to show anger.
   7 didn't answer.
   "Why did father joined the BVA? Even though you have a family. Mother and I were saddened because of it, you know. Sure, we got wealthy because of that, but we thought you're dead!" She shouted.
   People began to look up to them.
   "Mother and Kassandra still think you're dead and I can do nothing about it. Why is it father? Why did you leave us?"
   7 had turned the whole conversation into her side.
   "Why can't I experience love, father? Why? Is it because you're envious of me? That you can't meet your family anymore? Is it because if that? Then quit. Face them. Apologise to them. Stop running away anymore. Whatever the problem is.. please.. just return home.."
   7 stared at 1 deeply, straight into his eyes.
   "I know the risk. I know the burden I will face if somehow he died in an expedition. I've readied it all.  So please.. let me be."
   7 then left him alone. 1 looked at 7, slowly fading away. Her words echoed in his mind.

   One thing that has haunted him for years..
   "Why did you leave your family?"