The hangar buzzed with the steady hum of activity. Mechanics moved between the towering forms of the 299th's KPAs, making repairs and adjustments, preparing the machines for the inevitable next battle. But Caius wasn't just overseeing the process this time—he was neck-deep in the mechanics of his own KPA, the Death Knight.
His hands were covered in grease as he worked on the armor plating of his KPA's left arm, adjusting the shield arrays embedded into the armor. Every clang of metal and hum of the magical energy resonated with his own racing thoughts. He had barely known the Vulture pilot. Their service together had been brief, a matter of weeks. But they had been under his command, and now they were dead.
It was the first loss of his career, and it hit him harder than he cared to admit.
"You didn't even know them," he muttered to himself, his hands tightening a bolt on the Death Knight's wrist-mounted shield projector. "It wasn't your fault."
But that didn't change the reality. They had died under his command, and that weight pressed down on him. The only way he knew how to deal with it was to work—focus his energy into upgrading his KPA. It gave him something to focus on, something he could control.
The Death Knight had come out of the last battle in good shape, but there was always room for improvement. Caius needed to make sure his KPA was better prepared for whatever came next. He'd learned one thing from the 3rd Armored Division: they couldn't rely on brute force alone.
He was currently installing an upgraded energy shield array on the Death Knight's left arm, designed to increase its defensive capacity. The existing shield had held up well, but he needed it to recharge faster and absorb more impact. The upgraded array would allow him to deploy the shield more frequently, buying precious seconds in battle.
Caius wiped his brow and moved to the other side of the KPA, where he had set up his next upgrade: a new long-range communications array. During the last battle, their squad comms had been effective, but as they faced larger-scale operations, they needed something better. This array would allow him to coordinate with other squads more effectively, ensuring that the 299th wasn't isolated if things went wrong.
"You really do like getting your hands dirty," a voice called from behind him.
Caius didn't look up as Victor approached. "It's either this or pacing around the hangar like a caged animal."
Victor leaned against one of the workbenches, watching Caius tinker with the Death Knight's arm. "I get it. But you've got a whole team of mechanics who can do that for you, you know."
"Not like this," Caius replied, his voice a little too sharp. "I need to make sure everything's perfect. I need to know that this KPA will do what I need it to do."
Victor gave a half-smile. "If you say so, Commander. But don't wear yourself out before the next mission. We need you sharp."
"I'll be fine," Caius muttered, adjusting the bolts on the shield array. "I just need to make sure this thing is ready."
Victor crossed his arms, his expression softening. "This isn't about the KPA, is it?"
Caius paused for a moment, his hands stilling on the armor plating. "It's about being prepared. The Vulture pilot is gone because we weren't prepared."
Victor sighed. "You didn't know that was going to happen, Caius. Hell, none of us did. It was a lucky shot. If you hadn't overwhelmed the enemy KPAs, we'd be having a much different conversation right now. They could have wiped us all out."
"I know," Caius replied, his voice barely a whisper. "But that doesn't make it any easier."
He took a deep breath, turning his attention back to the Death Knight. "I need this thing to be perfect. We're going into another fight soon, and we might not be so lucky this time."
Victor watched him for a moment, the usual humor gone from his expression. "Well, if you're looking for suggestions, I'd say add some enhanced targeting systems. Might help with precision when things get chaotic."
Caius considered it for a moment. "Could work. The Death Knight's targeting system isn't as advanced as it should be."
Victor smirked. "And maybe you should consider a few more smoke grenades. You never know when we'll need a quick exit."
Caius finally cracked a small smile. "I'll take that under advisement."
Victor pushed off the workbench and started toward the exit. "Don't work too late. We've got drills tomorrow, and I'd hate to see you passed out in the cockpit."
Caius chuckled softly, returning to his work. But the weight hadn't lifted. The loss of the pilot was still there, a reminder that even the best preparation couldn't account for everything. But he had to try. He had to be ready.
As he tightened the last bolt on the energy shield, he mentally noted the next upgrade: magical capacitor arrays that would allow the Death Knight to store more mana for emergency uses, like boosting the Telekinetic Push spell that had saved him from close-range attacks more than once.
The hangar was quieter now, most of the crew having gone to get some rest before the next operation. But Caius remained, still fine-tuning the Death Knight. He'd finished the shield upgrades, installed the new communications array, and had started on the enhanced targeting systems. His mind was racing through every possible scenario that could unfold in the next battle.
He knew he couldn't control everything. War was chaotic by nature. But this was how he coped. Every time he adjusted a bolt, calibrated an array, or improved a weapon system, it gave him a sense of control in a world that was spiraling into madness.