Dominic sat alone in his quarters aboard the UOP battleship Elysium, staring out the small window. The vastness of space stretched before him, infinite and unyielding. The stars flickered in the distance, a silent witness to the tension that had been building up in the galaxy.
He hadn't had much time to rest since the last battle, and his body ached from the constant wear of combat. The events of the past weeks had taken their toll. Losing Zara had been the hardest blow, and though he had buried the grief deep inside, it still haunted him. Every time he closed his eyes, he could hear the sound of her last breath.
Focus on the mission, he told himself. Focus on what comes next.
Dominic had risen from the depths of a scavenger's life to become one of the most formidable pilots in the UOP. But as the galaxy neared the brink of full-scale war, he knew that his role was about to change. He had been promoted, yes, but with that came new responsibilities—and new expectations.
His mind wandered back to the conversation he'd had with his commanding officer earlier. There were whispers of an upcoming offensive, one that would involve the full might of the UOP's fleet. The stakes were higher than ever, and Dominic could feel the weight of it on his shoulders.
His gaze shifted to the corner of the room where his new mech was being prepped for deployment. The Vanguard—a heavily modified, custom-built machine that had been specifically designed for him. It wasn't the most advanced unit in the fleet, but it was powerful, a machine born from both his skill as a pilot and his expertise as an engineer.
He ran his hand along the cold metal surface of the mech's hull, taking a deep breath as the familiar hum of its systems began to power up. The AI implant in his skull pulsed softly, a reminder that he was never truly alone when piloting the machine. It was his connection to the machine, an extension of his body that allowed him to do things no normal human could.
But even with the new tech and the upgrades, Dominic knew the real challenge lay ahead. The CMC had not been idle. Their forces were growing stronger, and every time they clashed, it felt as if the galaxy took one more step toward total devastation.
He wasn't a soldier by nature. Not really. He had joined the UOP for the promise of something greater—of making a real difference in the galaxy. But now that he was in the thick of it, he found himself wondering if the fight was worth it. The destruction, the deaths, the constant uncertainty—it was a far cry from the life he once led as a scavenger.
He shook his head, trying to banish the dark thoughts. He wasn't here to question the cause. He was here to fight.
The door to his quarters slid open, and Lieutenant Jonas entered, a stack of documents in his hands. He was a new face in the UOP command structure, one of the many who had been assigned to work directly with Dominic after his promotion.
"Captain," Jonas greeted him with a nod. "We've received word from high command. The next operation is scheduled to launch soon. It's going to be a big one."
Dominic didn't respond immediately, his thoughts still elsewhere. Jonas continued, seemingly unaware of his commanding officer's distraction.
"The mission is risky, but we've got your Vanguard ready to go. You'll be leading a small strike team against a CMC supply convoy. If we take it out, it'll weaken their logistical chain significantly."
Dominic finally tore his gaze from the mech and turned to face Jonas. "And what about the Arclight?" he asked, his voice low.
The mention of the CMC's new warship was enough to make Jonas pause. "It's been reported in the sector," Jonas replied, his tone serious. "But we won't be going after it just yet. The fleet's focus is on disabling their supply lines first. If we're successful, we'll be in a better position to strike directly at the Arclight."
Dominic nodded, though his mind was already running through the possibilities. The Arclight was a monster of a ship—heavily armed, heavily armored. The kind of vessel that could turn the tide of an entire battle with its firepower alone. If the UOP didn't neutralize it soon, the war would tip in the CMC's favor.
"We'll need to be fast and precise," Dominic said, his voice cold and focused. "The convoy won't be easy to find, but we don't have the luxury of waiting. Let's move out as soon as we can."
Jonas looked surprised at the sudden shift in Dominic's tone, but he nodded. "Yes, Captain. I'll relay the orders to the strike team."
As Jonas left, Dominic stood up from his seat and walked over to his mech. His fingers brushed against the metal once more, feeling the power that pulsed beneath the surface. There was no room for doubt now. The battle was coming, and he would be ready.
But as he gazed into the cold depths of space once more, a flicker of unease crept over him. The Vanguard was just a machine. A tool, no matter how advanced. He was the one who would have to wield it. And in the end, it was his choices that would determine the outcome of the war.
No pressure, he thought bitterly, before shaking his head.
With that final thought, he turned back to the battle ahead.