NanoTec: Flight to a Distant Star

(2)05: 2115: The First of Many

Saegen walked alone in the basement of his office, the bridge section of the NNT TeraNova. With every footstep, the sound echoed throughout the dimly lit hallways. Saegen descended down into the depths of the underground section of the administrative, all the while checking that he was not being followed. Eventually, he came face to a triple layered blast door where he stood in front of. His RIG lit up, referring to the room before him merely as "Idrytis". He placed his left palm onto the wall of the blast door and sighed. "I will get you fixed soon. Don't you worry." He mumbled to himself.

Elleno's GEV fleet had returned about a year ago in early 2114. By that time, seven 'Omaha' class destroyers and a single 'Mirai' class cruiser had already been built. For the past year, small raiding forces of two destroyers each have been sent out to provide reconnaissance data of the enemy territories and if possible, raid supply lines. The travel time to the territories often stretched up to about five months and sometimes up to seven for the return trip due to damaged engines. Therefore only three such squads have ever been sent out. Now, in early 2115, Elleno was getting impatient.

Putting on his simple respiratory filter, Elleno opened the two step airlock out of his habitat and made his way over to the main engineering administration. He walked along the now paved pathways, dodging manual materials and component transport lines, all the while staring up into the sky which was clouded with dense smoke clouds. His eyes felt itchy and he forced down the urge to rub them. 

The new engineering administrative is the upgraded main engineering facility. It's machinery and industry had been transferred to the new buildings constructed adjacent to it and now the main building, walls now painted white, is used to test new prototype equipment and technology the guys at the scientific administrative were too afraid of testing themselves.

The first person Elleno saw was Aquila walking out towards the main entrance. Her RIG was up so she did not notice him. Behind her was a massive gun turret installed within the fire testing chamber. Even though it was braced with shock systems and covered with sound-proof glass, its firing was terrifying.

"Aquila?'

She was stunned for a moment by the sudden question.

"Y-Yes? Sir?"

"I would like to speak to you. May I tag along?"

"Um... Yeah sure."

"Thanks, and relax with the 'sir' thing. It feels a little weird you know."

"Oh, OK. Sorry... Elleno."

Aquila opened the blast doors to exit the facility. Elleno clicked his tongue. The haze was really getting to him.

"Aquila, what are your engineers doing? I really would like to know how long more is it going to take before the fleets are ready?"

"Well..."

"I mean to say, you guys are doing something and it feels wrong to be sitting around and doing nothing so I have a favor to ask."

Aquila stared down at the ground as though she was severely disappointed.

"... I understand Elleno. But we really need more time."

"Yeah, sorry. I thing I was being a little rash. I mean..."

Before Elleno could finish his sentence, the air raid siren began blaring. Following shortly after, Elleno's RIG changed to a deep red hue before lighting up with emergency warnings telling him to take cover immediately. There were incoming strategic bombers. Twelve of them flying in a 'V' shaped formation, closing fast. The anti-aircraft guns and missiles emerged from the ground, armed and ready.