Space travel times in the 23rd century, thanks to technologies developed primarily by the U.S.C., were significantly shorter than in the not-so-distant past. The 150-day journey between Earth and the planet Mercury had been reduced to three months, and with the new technology of the starship Avalon—the same shrouded in mystery that empowered the five units of the Aegis project—the voyage could be completed in just twenty days.
The Avalon space cruiser, now with its number increased to four units, was a marvel of technology. Merseyside had, very rapidly, developed a ship capable of rivaling, and in several aspects surpassing, the U.S.C.'s cruisers. Capable of comfortably supporting a crew of over one hundred, the Avalon possessed the infrastructure for long voyages without compromising its team's quality of life.
In the ship's main recreation lounge, there was a large room with several sofas and other forms of entertainment, in addition to a beautiful garden that extended throughout the entire compartment. Gabriel Sirghi observed the stars through the large window that ran the full length of the room. The place, usually always occupied by groups of the crew enjoying their rest hours, this time hosted only the R.A.F. pilot. The room's lights were off, lending even more brilliance to the already impressive sea of stars that enveloped the Avalon during its journey.
Gabriel had received two messages on his personal communicator and was there to listen to them while watching the immensity of space, which gave him a sense of tranquility and, at the same time, deep terror. He clicked the communicator in his left ear, and the first of the messages began to play.
"Biel, it's a shame we couldn't talk before your departure, but I wanted to speak to you even if it's a one-sided conversation through this message... The stars you always dreamed of reaching are now beneath your feet, brother.
I know that every time you get closer to them, your scars increase. The same ones you fight so hard to hide, by remaining silent... I know the terrible things that are asked and ordered of you all; I've dealt with your colleagues my entire career. But I only ask that you remember, what you believe in is and always will be the most important thing. Just as he believed in you, Biel, we always will too.
Come back to us, okay? And Julie has something she'd like to ask."
"Uncle!"
His niece's voice made Gabriel close his eyes, smiling.
"Bring me a star, Uncle! The brightest one you can find!"
The concluded message from Samantha and Julie brought a lump to the throat of the pilot of so many battles. What did he believe? The days of travel and preparation for the mission he would undertake in less than 48 hours had been consumed by the doubt Gabriel felt. He clicked the communicator again, and the second message began.
"Biel, I'm so sorry my farewell message is like this, but our duties ended up making it the only way. When you receive this message, I'll probably already be on the Moon, at our new research center. They've moved up some sectors, so we'll start before the work is fully completed. I guess it won't just be you and my father who will be a little closer to the stars!
I want you to know that not a moment goes by when I don't imagine our future together, and I'd like to believe that all this fighting will ensure it's a future filled with peace. I love you, Gabriel, and that grows with every minute. And not even the brilliance of the stars will outshine it.
See you soon, my love."
After the message ended, Gabriel removed his communicator, placing it in one of the pockets of his blue and black uniform, which by now had become his second skin. He would fight for them, for his friends, and no one else.
The door to the large recreation room opened to Henry Enfield's arrival. He simply raised the bottle of whiskey he was carrying towards his friend, along with two glasses. And with a small smile, Gabriel followed him to the small bar in one of the corners of the large room.
With the lights still off, the two friends toasted against the backdrop of the immense expanse of space. After a few drinks, Henry placed his glass on the counter and lifted the bottle to read its label.
"I hate this thing, and no, I'm not talking about the whiskey."
Henry gestured, indicating the entire ship.
"It's an incredible machine to pilot, but what pilot is satisfied without even knowing what moves what they're piloting? It's the same for you, right? With Arthur and Excalibur, what in blazes are these monsters we're dealing with!?"
Gabriel observed his friend after another sip of his drink. Henry wasn't the honest type, not with things he deemed unnecessary, but his feelings were clear. And they were also shared by a good part of the Avalon's crew and the Amaterasu base. And the pilot was right; it was also something that bothered Gabriel. What were they using? What was that power, capable of turning the war so quickly? Henry continued.
"And besides... This order, Gabriel. Yes, they killed billions, yes, they committed crime after crime, but to exterminate 3 million lives, in this manner? We're going to kill millions for having the misfortune of being born in the wrong place!"
Gabriel responded to his friend with a sympathetic smile, and Henry's shame quickly became evident.
"...Telling you these things, when you're the one who's going to pull the trigger, I'm sorry, my friend."
Gabriel took the bottle and refilled both their glasses before answering.
"The things you just said, you're right. I think the same about our weapons and about the mission we've been given. There are two ways to see this order, two philosophies that have governed human actions from the beginning. There are those who will tell you: What are 3 million lives compared to peace in the solar system? And also those who will tell you: There is no peace worth three million lives. Which side are we on, Henry? Will these millions of lives really bring us this peace? And is a peace bathed in blood worth it?"
Gabriel took his last shot and decided to retire. Henry did the same, and the friends headed towards the recreation room exit. Midway, however, the M.M.U. Arthur's pilot stopped, looking one last time at the impressive sea of stars. Somewhere in that immensity, Kiyoko, Marco, and their colleagues were also preparing for a terrible battle, and he wondered how close a victory would bring them to that peace Major Pellegrini had asked him to help achieve.
<>
In the Hangar of one of the Avalons crossing space towards Mars, Kiyoko Ogata, tablet in hand, helped the engineering team make the final adjustments to M.M.U. Izanagi. The young pilot's and her machine's first mission in space demanded changes, and the training exercises during the journey helped define those with the highest priority.
"Lieutenant Ogata."
The young woman, hearing a voice she didn't recognize, turned to respond. The gentleman before her wore the same navy-blue uniform she had seen First Lieutenant Sirghi wearing a few times at the base. The tranquility on the man's face, even so close to the mission as they were, impressed Kiyoko, though it shouldn't have. The feeling of the entire Avalon II crew was not one of apprehension, but of an excitement and a revanchism she would be incapable of understanding. Her life had been affected by the war, but not directly like that of most of the men and women taking part in the mission.
"It's an impressive machine, don't you think?"
Kiyoko prepared to answer, but the familiarity with what had just been said to her made her look at him again, surprised.
"I'm sure that's exactly what he told you, wasn't it?"
The smile on the man's face triggered Kiyoko's recent memories.
"Are you Miss Theresa's father?"
He saluted the young woman, who awkwardly returned the gesture.
"Captain Marco Vazquez, Third Assault Battalion of the Royal Air Force. And yes, Theresa is my daughter, and Gabriel is my son-in-law. We didn't meet during your visit to London, but I've heard a lot about you, Lieutenant. Gabriel believes in your abilities, so I will do the same."
It was the first time she had heard that from a colleague. Samantha and Theresa had told her something similar about the First Lieutenant's opinions of Kiyoko, but this coming from one of her captains meant a lot to her.
The group of mechanics making the modifications to Izanagi had finished their work.
"Lieutenant, the adjustments are complete. If you need any last-minute changes, don't hesitate to call us."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Just our duty, Lieutenant. Show them the true power of Earth that those bastards look down on so much!"
Kiyoko clenched her fists, a trick she learned from her squadron mate to hide her trembling. The action did not go unnoticed by Marco Vazquez's trained eyes, who then revealed the reason for his visit to the young lieutenant.
"Lieutenant, have you seen the update to our battle plans?"
"Yes, I read them a short while ago, Captain. I will fight alongside your squadron; they want to prevent our units from becoming isolated and susceptible to an enemy attack and capture."
Vazquez just nodded.
"I won't take up any more of your time, Lieutenant Ogata. Let's make sure that besides completing the mission, we return to our friends and family. There's still a lot of London we need to show you."
"Yes, Captain."
Alone again with her M.M.U., Kiyoko repeated the gesture she had seen Gabriel make so many times when he was about to take off with Arthur, touching her hand to the feet of the black metal giant.
"Let's go home, Izanin."
<>
48 hours later, in different corners of the solar system, the hangars of the Avalons and the other terrestrial forces' cruisers were already clear of mechanics and engineers; their spaces were now exclusively occupied by M.M.U.s, prepared for launch. On the Avalon destined for Mercury, however, only one M.M.U. was prepared. Arthur looked different than usual; armor with the same natural white and blue details of the M.M.U. coated its exterior. The Excalibur cannon was also different, more robust, and with two new external connection channels. In the cockpit, a new, considerably larger optical sight had been installed. The piloting suit Gabriel wore was also different, as was that of the entire fleet—thicker and prepared for the cold of space, if necessary.
But the difference that held the pilot's attention was one that would go unnoticed by anyone who didn't know the machine as he did. On the display with the Excalibur Cannon's information, the Stage 3 indicator appeared for the first time, but that wasn't all; there was a quote accompanying the message. Before Gabriel could deliberate on what he had read, the Avalon's command spoke for the last time before takeoff.
"Permission for takeoff granted, First Lieutenant. Docking procedure is also aligned."
"Understood."
Arthur's main monitor already showed the Avalon's hangar hatch opening, gradually revealing the distant stars. Slowly, Gabriel initiated his M.M.U.'s acceleration process.
"Gabriel Sirghi, M.M.U. Arthur... Initiating Mission."
The lights from Arthur's wings illuminated the hangar. The metal giant took flight, and the message that appeared alongside Stage 3 on Excalibur's display now also occupied the machine's other screens. The quote from the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was as follows:
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."