The meeting with Valen and the Free Traders had gone better than Luka expected, but it was still just the beginning. He could sense the unease in her, the way she had weighed his words carefully before agreeing to even consider an alliance. The Aether's power had intrigued her, but it had also made her wary. Luka understood that. He was still learning to trust the Aether himself.
Back at the asteroid base, Luka, Kaela, and Orris regrouped in the command center. The flickering holographic map of the galaxy spread out before them, showing the fractured state of the galaxy under the council's control.
Orris stood with his arms crossed, studying the map with a skeptical frown. "The Free Traders are a good start, but we're going to need a hell of a lot more if we want to take the fight to the council. Valen's cautious—she won't commit her forces until she sees a clear path to victory."
Kaela, leaning against the console, nodded in agreement. "And we don't have that path yet. We've shaken the council, but they still hold all the cards. If we're going to rally the factions, we need to show them that we can win."
Luka stared at the map, his mind racing. She was right. The factions were scattered, divided by old rivalries and distrust. The council had ruled through fear and control for too long, and breaking that hold wouldn't be easy.
"We need to be strategic," Luka said quietly, his voice thoughtful. "We can't just ask for help—we have to show them what's possible. We need a victory, something big enough to give people hope."
Orris raised an eyebrow, his eyes sharp. "And what exactly are you thinking?"
Luka zoomed in on a particular sector of the map—a heavily fortified council installation deep in the outer systems. "This," he said, pointing to the blinking light on the display. "The council's Aether research facility. It's one of their most closely guarded secrets. They've been trying to understand the Aether for years, but they're still in the dark."
Kaela's eyes widened. "You want to hit that? The council will defend it with everything they've got."
Luka nodded, his expression resolute. "Exactly. If we take it out, it'll cripple their research and give the factions a reason to rally behind us. It'll show them that the council isn't invincible."
Orris rubbed his chin, considering the plan. "It's bold, I'll give you that. But pulling it off won't be easy. The facility's heavily fortified, and they'll see us coming from a mile away."
Luka's mind raced as he formulated the details. "We'll need to hit them fast—before they have time to react. If we can disrupt their defenses, we'll have a window to get in and destroy the facility. We can't afford to play it safe."
Kaela straightened, her wings fluttering slightly as she studied the map. "You're right. We need a statement—a real blow to the council's power. If we succeed, the factions will start listening."
Orris nodded, though there was a glint of caution in his eyes. "All right. I'll start prepping the fleet. But just remember, this is going to put us on the council's radar in a big way. Once we hit them, there's no going back."
Luka's gaze hardened. "I know. And I'm ready."
---
The days leading up to the assault on the Aether research facility were tense, filled with preparations and last-minute strategies. Luka spent hours in the command center, going over the details of the mission with Kaela and Orris. They would need to move quickly, using the element of surprise to overwhelm the facility's defenses before the council could bring reinforcements.
As the plan took shape, Luka couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him since the battle with Thalia. The Aether's power was vast, and he had barely scratched the surface of its potential. Every time he tapped into it, he felt its pull—the temptation to take more, to push the boundaries of what was possible.
But Luka knew that path led to destruction. Thalia had shown him that. He couldn't let himself become consumed by the Aether, no matter how powerful it made him.
On the eve of the mission, Luka found himself alone in the hangar, standing in front of Vigil. The mecha stood tall, its sleek frame reflecting the dim lights of the base. Luka ran his hand along its surface, feeling the hum of the Aether deep inside it.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this," Luka muttered under his breath. "But I don't have a choice."
Kaela's voice broke through the quiet, her footsteps light as she approached. "You always say that."
Luka glanced over his shoulder, offering her a small smile. "Because it's true."
Kaela studied him for a moment, her golden eyes soft with understanding. "You're carrying a lot, Luka. But you're not doing it alone. We're in this together."
Luka exhaled, the tension in his chest easing slightly at her words. Kaela had been with him through everything—since the tournament, since the discovery of the Aether. She understood him in ways no one else did, and that gave him strength.
"I know," Luka said quietly. "But I can't help feeling like I'm walking a tightrope. One wrong move with the Aether, and everything could fall apart."
Kaela's gaze softened, and she stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. "You've learned from Thalia's mistakes. You won't let the Aether control you. You're stronger than that."
Luka nodded, though the weight of the mission still pressed down on him. "I hope you're right."
---
The mission to the Aether research facility began under the cover of darkness, their ships slipping through the void like shadows. Orris's fleet moved into position first, using the asteroid field around the facility as cover. Luka, Kaela, and a small strike team followed closely behind, their mechas ready for battle.
The facility itself was massive, a sprawling structure built into the side of a barren planet. It was heavily fortified, with rows of turrets and defensive drones patrolling the perimeter. But Luka wasn't focused on the defenses. He could feel the Aether inside the facility, a faint pulse that called to him like a distant echo.
"They're going to know we're here soon," Orris's voice crackled through the comms. "You sure about this, Luka?"
Luka's eyes narrowed as he scanned the facility. "We don't have a choice. Once we take out their defenses, we move in fast."
Kaela's voice came through, calm but focused. "I'll handle the drones. You take the main facility."
Luka nodded, his heart racing as they approached the outer perimeter. The facility's defenses came to life, energy blasts lighting up the void as the turrets locked onto their ships. The strike team split off, dodging the incoming fire as they prepared to engage.
"Go!" Luka shouted, his hands flying over the controls of Vigil as they launched into battle.
The first wave of drones met them head-on, their sleek forms darting through the battlefield with deadly precision. Kaela moved in front of Luka, her wings flaring with energy as she unleashed a barrage of plasma rounds, cutting through the drones like a blade through water.
Luka powered up Vigil's primary cannon, the Aether pulsing through the mecha as he fired a concentrated beam of energy at the facility's turrets. The blast hit its mark, sending one of the turrets crashing to the ground in a burst of flames and debris.
"They're scrambling," Kaela said, her voice tense as she dodged another volley of fire. "But they're bringing out more drones."
Luka gritted his teeth, his mind focused on the mission. They had to disable the facility's defenses before the council could bring reinforcements. He powered up Vigil's thrusters, launching himself toward the main entrance.
As he neared the facility, Luka felt the pulse of the Aether grow stronger. It was more than just the research being done here—there was something deeper, something ancient that the council was trying to unlock.
"We're getting close," Luka muttered, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the final push.
The strike team moved in unison, their mechas cutting through the defenses with ruthless efficiency. But as they neared the heart of the facility, something changed. The air grew heavy, and Luka could feel the Aether shift around him, its energy becoming chaotic and unstable.
"Luka, something's wrong," Kaela's voice came through, filled with urgency. "The Aether—it's..."
Before she could finish, a massive shockwave erupted from the center of the facility, sending Luka and Kaela's mechas tumbling through the air. The force of it was overwhelming, and for a moment, Luka struggled to regain control.
"What the hell was that?" Orris shouted through the comms, his voice filled with shock.
Luka's heart raced as he steadied Vigil, his mind reeling from the impact. But even as the dust settled, he could feel it—the Aether was out of control, spiraling into something far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
"They've been experimenting with the Aether," Luka said, his voice tight with fear. "And they've unleashed something they can't control."