Power and strength coursed through every fibre of Leung's being. The soul rending pain that he had suffered became a dim memory as if it had never happened as wave after wave of comforting warmth encompassed him. He stood up, feeling taller and stronger as if his body had been changed. He recalled a scene from some movie about a man bitten by a spider and felt it very similar to how he was experiencing things now.
He heard a choking cry and he turned around, seeing two women struggling on the floor in a deadlock. Every panting breath, scrape of cloth, and the tightening of hands against the throat coming from both women was so clear despite the distance he was from them. Even as he looked, he somewhat even could see individual dust motes being stirred up in the air by the fight and the beads of sweat flowing down the side of the faces of both women to even their pores if he looked hard enough.
The desperate gurgling cry from the Duchess snapped him back to his senses and Leung quickly rushed over to pull the masked girl away from her. Despite the wild struggle put up by the masked girl, he found that he could very easily hold on to her without effort. Even her kicks and fists did no more than tickle him.
When she realized it was him holding her, her struggles and through her mask's eye slits, he saw a fervent look of adoration. Once released, she dropped to her knees and kissed his bare feet in worship, "Hail Lord Ramuh, congratulations for successfully crossing onto the mortal realm!"
Leung was stunned by her proclamation before he quickly recalled that the earlier painful experience brought by the God called Ramuh. He touched his body, feeling his once skinny frame now covered with firm muscles and he wondered what happened between Ramuh and Apep. Was he still he or did he became a puppet of Ramuh or Apep.
He frowned as he did not feel any changes mentally and that made him worried, as he was not sure if there was another additional presence hidden in his body. As he was despairing at his fate, he met the despondent eyes of the Duchess sprawled on the floor. She stared wistfully at him for a moment longer before she looked away leaving Leung confused by her.
"Lord Ramuh! It is time to announce to the world of your return!" Nerssia suddenly said. She remained kneeling and added. "Your wisdom shall bring law and order to this world once more!"
"I..." Leung's frown deepened as he looked at the masked girl, wondering how did she mistake him as the God Ramuh. And at the same time, he wondered how best he could make out of this situation. In the end, he decided to play it by ear and he needed more information of where he was at. He cleared his throat and tried to make his voice sound wise as he once did with the Bluewood Empire in the New World when he was known as the Sage there.
"Ahem... eh... Can you tell me more about this... Protectorate nation?"
-----
UNS Vengeance, Conference Room
Words of greeting and well wishes bombarded Princess Sherene when she entered into the conference room together with Blake. Their child was currently being watched by the dragons down at the hangar while they attended this meeting.
The officers and senior staff in the conference room had smiles on their faces as Blake called the meeting to start. The usual military reports of their current situation started first, followed by intelligence reports and finally, the overall report of their mission.
"We will reach Fort Anchorage within a week at our current speed and heading," Captain Nimo of the Vengeance stated. "As per your orders, a Vector wing ship is being prepared and will be ready for departure back to the New World once we returned."
"But we are still picking up a large number of airships around the vicinity of our sensors," Captain Nimo added. "We are beyond their vision, but if we return to shore, we might get spotted by the airships."
"And we do not have enough strike craft to efficiently destroy every single one of those airships to prevent any alarm being raised..." Captain Nimo frowned as he gestured to the map. "Our position will be leaked out either way."
"Ignore the airships at the edge of our sensors," Blake replied. "Only engage if they come within 20 kilometers of the fleet."
"As for Fort Anchorage," Blake cast a glance to Sherene before he addressed everyone. "Order them to shut it down."
The senior officers and staff inside the conference room were shocked by his order. Captain Nimo half rose from his seat as he enquired, "Shut down the base?"
"Yes," Blake nodded. "Prepare the base to go into cold storage. We will be pulling back from the Old World."
"B- But, Sir!" An engineering staff protested. "We spent so much effort and resources in building up Fort Anchorage as a forward operating base... Isn't it a waste to just give it up?"
"It may seem wasteful, but at this point, keeping the base fully staffed and running is just wasting our resources," Blake explained. "There is nothing we need here."
"The costs of keeping this base running isn't worth the expenses," Blake continued. "And besides the only useful trade, we can get is aetherium which in the past few months, we have already acquired a huge stock of it."
"And besides, I am thinking of having the Banished people become the caretakers of the base here," Blake said. "The majority of the base will be sealed off and if required, it can be reactivated if there is a need in the future."
"But, sir," Trism voiced out his concerns. "Wasn't the original plan to take over part of the Old World?"
"A- Ahem..." Sherene stood up and answered for Blake. "I have... looked over the plans for the UN expansion into the Old World, including... reports from Commander Ford sent over from the New World."
"What we need now... is not land..." Despite her wane face, her eyes were bright and alert as she addressed the gathered officers and staff. "From what I understand, building this ship... taking over Mecca and the Isles, has placed a huge burden on the UN itself, financially."
"While taking over the Isles would help lower the financial burden, but there are still thousands of things needed to be done back home," The more Sherene spoke, the stronger her voice became. "We need to settle the problems at home first before we can even think of doing anything else!"
"But my Princess," Trism did not give up. "Getting across the End Zone to here could be easily completed within a day, instead of months or weeks."
"And if we try returning with the Vengeance, there is a high chance this ship would be unable to make another journey back to the Old World!" Trism pointed out. "And as you said, the UN won't be able to build another Vengeance for years to come due to our current finances."
"That is why," Blake suddenly spoke out. "The Vengeance will not be returning to the New World with us."
"What?" This statement further shocked the gathered officers and staff as they stared at Blake. To them, the Vengeance was like a second home, a beacon that reminded them of the great things that they could do. To abandon the Vengeance in the Old World was something that had never even dared think about!
"Yes, the UNS Vengeance will be mothballed and hidden inside Waterfall Cove," Blake stated. "Her weapons will be decommissioned and her systems shut down until the day, she will be needed."
"Sir!" Captain Nimo hopped to his feet and objected. "This ship is the home and dreams of thousands of sailors and soldiers! To leave it here..."
"What if the enemy or someone comes and steal it?" Captain Nimo was very unhappy with Blake's decision and it showed on his expressions. "We will be practically handing over a super weapon to them!"
"That is why I want the Banished people to become the base caretakers!" Blake replied his tone broking no agreements. "They will be given training and take oaths to protect and look after the Vengeance and the base for as long as they live until such duty is discharged from them!"
"Sir, is this wise?" Trism asked. "The Banished are a people of... unknown quality... We do not even know if they will betray us!"
"They will take an oath with Plee," Blake said while looking at Magister Thorn who has a thoughtful expression and stroking his beard. "I recall she is a Goddess? She should be able to do something to bind them to her to ensure their loyalty?"
"Erm... that, might be possible..." Magister Thorn replied after a moment of consideration. "While her memories of being a Goddess is still incomplete, I think it is a worthwhile try."
"Than do it," Blake ordered before he turned to Major James. "The Marines will take over the training of the Banished people. We have more than enough time for the Banished people to become proficient with firearms before the base shut downs."
"What level of training, Sir?" Major James asked. "Marine standard? Spec Ops? Or militia?"
"Marine standard will do," Blake replied. "Just focus on ground and defensive operations for them."
"Yes, Sir," Major James smiled as he noted down the orders. He was very certain some of his men would enjoy doing some teaching.
"Sir, I still think it is not a good idea to leave the Vengeance here," Captain Nimo protested. "There are only so many Banished people we could train. How will they be able to hold off a determined attack by airships?"
Blake shook his head as he gestured to the map. "The Old World is in chaos, who will even bother to come here? And the Banished people are good at hiding, with training, keeping the base and the Vengeance a secret would be easy for them."
"Bu-"
"Captain Nimo, I understand and respect the passion and commitment you have to this ship," Blake cut off any further protests of Captain Nimo with a raised hand. "I have been in your shoes before and not just once."
"The Vengeance as you said, could only make one more trip back home," Blake stood up and placed a calming hand on Captain Nimo's shoulder. "It will not be able to return once more to the Old World when needed. Therefore, the best option of us is to leave the Vengeance here in the Old World."
"As much as I want to bring the Vengeance back, " Blake said. "I am very certain that when the time comes, the Vengeance will certainly be much needed here than back home."
"Yes, Sir..." Captain Nimo could only sigh and gave in. Orders had to be followed no matter how unwilling he was to lose the command of his beloved Vengeance.
"The important thing we need to remember is our duty to our own people!" Blake declared. "Why do we want to fight a wasteful war for? Land? Resources?"
"We have all the land we need in the New World," Blake sighed. "Hell, there's still so much land not even properly explored or developed. And for resources, what do they have that we don't? Aetherium? We could already fly before we even knew of aetherium! It is just a good to have resource and not a MUST have resource!"
"Now that we recovered my wife," Blake gave a loving look to Sherene before he continued. "Our main objective is completed. And for this mission, our people have given up a lot."
"Let's not waste their efforts and sacrifices in starting a fight that will not do us any good and instead, let us focus on repaying our people instead!" Blake said. "But of course, if they come looking for a fight... We will give one to them that they will never forget!"