The next day arrived and eager to uncover the purpose behind Lyra's cryptic summons, Kashima raced to finish salvaging compression coils from the gutted A-class frigate. He came in early before dawn to fill in his quota. The sun rose above Olympus City's skyline as he bade Zaoul farewell for the day, promising to meet him the next day for their next military scrapyard assignment.
Weaving between the chaotic rush hour crowds flooding sidewalks linking the central metro hub, Kashima felt renewed as he marched forward. Whether merely a physiological reaction or true extrasensory intuition, he sensed a stirring in the unseen forces governing fate's weave. The mysteries of past and future called to him equally today…
He made his way outside the metro hub where landing pads awaited him.
At the pickup point specified, Kashima spotted an imposing armoured air car with angular jet black panelling idling - the "Abyssal Hawk" as labeled on its sleek dorsal badge. Kashima whistled under his breath "That is one mean piece of machinery, all decked out." Admiring the military-grade customised features including sensor jamming pods and mounted plasma casters as a uniformed Voltar driver gestured politely for him to embark swiftly.
The Abyssal Hawk's muffled turbines raced them towards the towering epicenter of the Elysium Plaza in the Business District, a citadel home to corporate powerhouses administering half the systems' interplanetary trade and trillions of investment credit flows.
Kashima had toured the museum grounds surrounding the legendary Voltar headquarters before, but penetrating within those lustrous obsidian walls was an honor afforded only the financial elite and Clan family members controlling the megacorporation's dizzying reach.
Stepping onto the private landing pad reserved for Voltar's senior officials, Kashima was immediately struck by the sweeping scale and elegant lines of the headquarters' soaring architecture. Seamless walls of smart glass absorbed then reflected golden hour hues from Icarus Prime's sun, mingling with the artificially lit interior glow. He self-consciously ran his fingers through tousled hair, regretting his utilitarian machinist clothes already dirt-smudged compared to the starched suits of attorneys and administrators striding efficiently about polished marble floors.
"Well, if it isn't the scavenger who keeps refusing to die!" joked a gravelly voice behind Kashima. He turned to find Lieutenant Marco grinning, his large body obvious despite wearing a fitted jacket with Voltar insignia pins instead of his regular field tactical gear. "Come on, Commander Voltar needs you to come up to the Aeries for a priority briefing." I'll accompany you past the private lift banks that aren't shown on public building schematics."
Kashima nodded his appreciation and followed Marco towards an alcove off the main concourse thronging with corporate personnel. After submitting to multiple biometric scans, they stepped into a cylindrical lift pod with transparent composite walls rapidly ascending the innermost executive spire. Views of weather control rigs floating serenely in the bright blue sky gave way to visions of lofty penthouse fairylands showing exotic flora from two dozen explored worlds blended into several VIP meditation gardens.
When the lift finally slowed near the pinnacle tier, Kashima tried processing what urgent matter may warrant his unorthodox visit. But no revelation prepared him for the expansive vista unfolding as Marco led the way into Lyra Voltar's private corner executive office. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed silhouettes of Olympus City's grand landmarks with Lyra standing pensively before the staggering panorama...sipping an emerald kale-infused vita smoothie judging by scents wafting.
Turning with a wry smile that reached her eyes, attired in a sleek business suit uniform with hem slits permitting easy concealed firearm access on her hips, Lyra was every centimetre an apex leader shaped by dynastic shadow disciplines. But her features softened slightly when addressing the newly arrived scavenger. She walked gracefully towards Kashima with so much elegance it was intoxicating to watch.
"Kashima...so glad you could come on such short notice. Vital developments are unfolding I'm afraid, rippling effects could be felt in the city soon if we don't get ahead of it." she began solemnly.
"I apologize for any initial cryptic tones...occupational hazard I suppose. Please - take a seat and let me explain more about an emerging threat identified by our intelligence with disturbing ties to the occult going back aeons."
Kashima settled onto the contoured polymer chair across from Lyra, intrigued by what revelations warranted such a dramatic setting for their meeting compared to previous transactional encounters in her bustling field operations base camp. He listened silently as she continued.
"For decades my family dynasty has monitored the activities of fringe groups and fanatical cults across allied sectors who could one day menace Voltar interests. Rarely do these radicalised cells command sophisticated resources matching our own until recently. Worrying intelligence suggests a reclusive circle of occultists have steadily built a dangerous network threatening regional stability and beyond. They have been gathering more and more followers to their cause at a fast rate which is concerning."
Lyra entered commands on her desk, holo displays emerging showing esoteric runic symbols and footage of excavations at ancient sites. "The Covenant of Unveiling Realms...an enigmatic order hunting artifacts believed to be tied to mystical celestial powers and guardianship lore.
Kashima thought to himself "Perhaps this could be linked to the sigil imprinted in my hand, those symbols are similar to the ones I saw in the underground temple, but they seem slightly different. Maybe if I get a closer look at some of these artifacts I can learn more about my mark."
"These fanatics are said to wield unsettling abilities attuned from objects of power beyond present science comprehension, but our intelligence has yet to confirm this." I invited you here since you appeared to be able to interact with these items in the facility. This made me believe that these cultists could be more dangerous than I had thought. What do you think about working together to learn more about these symbols and everything from these crazy fanatics?"
She locked eyes with Kashima, deadly serious. "I confess upfront this request might be a bit personal too. Years ago before my promotion earned me this panoramic view, my mother led an ill-fated raid against a suspected Covenant hideout never to return. When operatives inspected the aftermath carnage, no remains were recovered for funeral rites. I aim to find out what happened to her now that I have this information about this new Covenant threat."
Kashima processed her words silently, reflecting on parallels to his own marked destiny. If the Covenants' powers and the disappearance of Lyra's mother were somehow tied to greater universal riddles, this emerging alliance held profound meaning. He met her gaze directly. "I still have much yet to understand regarding these strange forces that have been part of my life lately, it seems fate has brought us here. What can I offer toward exposing these occultists you describe?"
Lyra's expression softened further. "For now, knowledge and preparation while we investigate likely next targets. In about a month when the twin moons align, our squad will depart to an icy excavation site on Aurorion following clues of newly unearthed relics. Until then, I would ask you to train day and night with Marco plus another operative, Thorn, who will be your covert partner as a salvager crew front seeking atmospheric ores."
She smiled gently. "I know you possess formidable survival talents Kashima...now we hone those so you withstand darker confrontations ahead."
As the space elevator descended from dizzying heights, Kashima replayed the swirling conversations with Lyra about occultists steeped in cosmic secrets from ages past and future missions to root out such clandestine dangers. He felt the marked sigil subtly vibrating still, or perhaps that was merely quickened heartbeats announcing accelerated transformations ahead.
Stepping off onto the fortified training levels, Kashima steeled his resolve seeing Marco beckoning brusquely. Yes - skills at salvaging index drives or restarting fusion cores mattered little with reality distorting forces at play he barely comprehended. The next weeks would push endurance to grow the scavenger into a warrior the coming trials demanded...