12 hours later
The announcement system crackled to life once more.
"Attention passengers, we are now approaching the Galactic Council's citadel. Please prepare for docking procedures."
I gathered my stuff and met the rest of the gang at the observation deck.
The view was breathtaking, the citadel, a massive space station, loomed ahead, It's numerous different sized bays protected by blue energy barriers which not only prevented the air from leaking out but also served as a second line of defense In case the shields failed.
"Wow,"
Airid muttered, his eyes wide with awe.
"That's some advanced tech."
"Yeah,"
Julian agreed.
"Makes the UNOE's stations look like a pile scrap of metal put together by kids."
Paul nodded, his gaze fixed on the citadel.
"No kidding it makes humanity look like country bumkins which truth be told we are"
I commented genuinely awed by the galactic council's technology.
As we drew closer, the spaceship slowed, guided by invisible artificial gravity tractor beams.
The transport spaceship seamlessly, passed through the energy barrier without any problems.
As the spaceship entered one of the many bays, a vast expanse illuminated by soft, ambient lighting.
The space stations anti-gravity engines hummed gently, preventing the spaceship from crashing.
The bay was filled with ships of all shapes, sizes, and designs, each one docked with precision.
"Holy f*ck"
Darius cursed out loud, pointing at the sleek full of all artistic look battleship armed to the teeth being held In It's berth by the space station tractor beams with his gloved index finger.
"That monstrosity should be at least 5 kilometers long"
He finished genuinely shocked at Its scale after all It was one thing to see something big like this In a movie and to see such monstrosity with youre own two eyes was a completely different kind of feeling.
It made one look extremely small like an ant standing In front of a giant.
"Oh common guys it's just so, so..."
I scoffed not hiding my disapproval one bit causing the gang to focus their shocked gazes on me.
"Drac you do know that thing Is at least the size of 15 aircraft carriers put together"
Darius said looking at me Is If I had a few screws loose which I did, only a psycho would decide to freeze himself and his best friends Into a popsicle for a slim chance of getting unfrozen In the future.
"So what our future juggernaut class flagship will be at least 20 kilometers long"
I answered back casually while shrugging my shoulders causing my battlebrothers to Inhale sharply.
"Youre f*cking crazy Drac where the f*ck we would even get that much money In the first place, not to mention the resources needed to build It and the manpower to operate It, and lets not even talk about getting a license for one In the first place...''
Airid started wording out the problems one by one only to fall silent as he started massaging his temples after remembering our brainstorming moments after we would get dead drunk, dreaming about what we would have done If we were born In the space age.
''...oh f*ck me don't tell me youre actually planning to become somekind of space warlord, you do know that Its just a drunkness induced wild fantasy of yours right?''
Airid asked looking straight at my crimson eyes.
''You used to say the same about us being In the space age and look where we are now?''
I asked spreading my hands while grinning In my trademark grin, hearing this Airid and everyone else couldn't help but swallow hard.
''Y... youre f*cking nuts Drac''
Robert muttered out.
''You figured that out only now? Why do you think I joined and stayed In the military for so many years only nicotine addicted helpless alchoholic masochinist psychos do that''
I said while laughing out loud only for the spaceship to stabilize, as it did an energy bridge extended from the citadel airlock, connecting itself to our airlock, attracting my boy's attention like a magic spell.
The technology was sleek and seamless, a testament to the Galactic Council's technological level.
''Enough staring lets go''
I barked to my battlebrothers who stared at the energy bridge In a daze completely forgetting our earlier conversation.
It didn't take long before the airlock hissed open, and after being escorted by the s*xy flight attendants we stepped onto the energy bridge.
The sensation was strange, solid yet slightly giving underfoot, like walking on a dense cloud.
The moment my eyes darted down towards the ground I felt my stomach start churning.
''F*ck I f*cking hate heights''
I couldn't help but curse under my breath feeling more nauseous by the second and my battlebrothers comments didn't help me one bit.
''I think Its about a few hundred meters at least, f*ck If we fell down theyd have to scrape us off with a f*cking shovel''
Paul commented as he looked down to the space station's alloy floor only to get his shoulder nudged by Julian.
''We better speed up otherwise we will have to carry our big bad ex paratrooper vamp across''
Julian said while pointing with his glowed thumb at me, hearing this the gang turned around only to see my face which looked like I'd eaten s*it.
''Need a shoulder our mighty ex paratrooper?''
Airid asked playfully fully aware of my height phobia, I had no problem with flying but I could barely force myself to jump out of an aircraft, and in this case, because the bridge didn't have any railings I could barely prevent myself from getting on all fours.
''No lets just pick up the pace''
I answered gritting my teeth refusing my weakness which was a constant stain on my military career to control me.
Finally, we made our way across, entering the citadel's pristine corridors full of humans and xenos of all shapes and sizes as we did I leaned against the straight corridor's alloy wall.
''Give me a sec''
I said as I started stabilizing my breathing while looking around.
''Sure thing take youre time bro''
Airid said while encouragingly patting my shoulder while giving me a thumbs up with that sarcastic grin plastered on his face.
The difference in technology was immediately apparent.
The walls were lined with advanced displays and control panels, each one integrated smoothly into the architecture.
The air was filtered and purified, carrying a faint, pleasant scent.
Out of nowhere, a holographic projection of an entirely blue human female with a short bob cut haircut, whose clothes seemed to be integrated with her body, appeared before us.
"Welcome to the Galactic Council's Citadel,"
The holographic figure greeted us with a warm smile that was as real as a human's and a voice full of life If you didn't know that It was an AI you could easily mistake It for a real person.
"I am Positronic Artificial Intelligence with a self-evolving logic module you can call me Zeta, the assistant AI for the UNOE GC branch. I have detected that you have applied an application to the galactic council for a PMC which has been approved..."
The AI began but before she could finish my battlebrothers Interrupted her.
''Holy s*it, I thought AIs got crazy back In the 21st century but this Is next level s*it''
Robert couldn't help but comment.
''Yeah those features are no joke I don't think there was or will be a human female that can even compete with this hologram In curves department''
Airid couldn't help but comment as he inspected the holographic AIs body which looked like It was sculpted from marble by g*d himself only for me to but In.
''Alright enough gawking let the...''