Days like today were exactly the kind that Elias cherished above all others. The kind of days that were quiet, peaceful, and totally uneventful. The kind that didn't involve some cargo freighter going missing, a civilian cruise liner experiencing a horrific malfunction, or some smugglers trying to slip through their territory undetected. Yes, these were the kind of days that the green-eyed Captain lived for, the kind where he could just kick his feet up, relax, and watch the world go by without a worry.
'Now, this is more like it!' Elias smiled to himself as he casually scrolled through some documents on his terminal.
In truth, the man was a bit disappointed by the lack of action today. This was mainly due to the fact that he was trying his best not to think about all of the drama surrounding his possible promotion to Rear Admiral, or the people who were trying to use that promotion to curry favor with him. In his mind, Elias already had enough on his plate as it was. The last thing he needed was to invite any more unnecessary stress into his life on account of his unconfirmed career advancement. However, such was the nature of the beast.
The man then shifted in his chair as he tried to get a better look at all that was happening on the Victory's bridge. All while making sure that he didn't accidentally activate his arm with his sudden movements. These days, the absence of his left arm was only slightly noticeable now after a decade of adaptation and continuous use. The cybernetic limb that had long since replaced the stump of his former arm now felt like an actual part of his body. Even so, it was hard to believe that so much time had passed since he had lost it.
'Ten years, huh?' Elias then began to reminisce about all of the things he had experienced during that time.
How the man somehow managed to make it this far was a complete mystery to him at times, especially when one factors in all the times he came dangerously close to losing his job after disobeying orders from his superiors. In his defense, though, he always made sure that it was worth it in the end. And although the task of looking after an entire squadron of ships hadn't been easy, Elias was proud of the fact that he never lost a single man under his command. It was an achievement that very few in his line of work could proudly say. And that very same achievement was a part of why so many of the people above him thought so highly of him.
Elias's eye then narrowed as he glanced out the window of the Victory's bridge. Right now, their ship was on the way back to their home station of Lowestoffe after having been ordered to return to the 2nd Fleet's headquarters. And what was the reason for this sudden change in orders, one may ask? Basically, the entire reason for the ship's abrupt return to base was so that Elias could discuss his future with the higher-ups. Something that the man really wasn't in the mood for right now.
The mere thought of having to sit in a room and get scrutinized by his superiors made the green-eyed Captain want to throw himself out of the ship's airlock to save himself the trouble.
In truth, bureaucracy and politicking had never been Elias's strength, and dealing with it now felt like a disservice to his service. The absolute last thing he needed right now was the people above him stressing him out over a rank he hadn't even gotten yet. Even the idea itself was enough to cause him a slight headache.
"Captain." Commander Nakagawa interrupted the man's thoughts. "We've received an encrypted message from headquarters. It's urgent."
Elias blinked, shaken from his reverie, before taking a moment to recompose himself. "Patch it through, Commander."
A moment later, the face of Vice Admiral Daphnie Rousseau, Elias's direct superior, appeared on the screen of his terminal. Her grim expression clearly showed that this wasn't going to be a pleasant call.
"Captain Thorton." The woman said, her voice steady. "Sorry, but there's been a change of plans. A group of pirates has set up a blockade around the ports of the Trafalgar colony. Apparently, they're low on supplies and, for some reason, decided that the best way to get more was to raid whatever ships tried to leave. We need you to mobilize your squadron immediately and secure the area. There's no time to waste."
Elias's mind quickly shifted from the dissonance of politics to the tactical precision that he was widely known for. "Understood, ma'am! My squadron will be there within the next three hours."
Just like that, the transmission ended. And Elias didn't waste any time addressing the crew of his ship, along with the other ships within his squadron, via the Navy's communication lines. "All ships, prepare for battle! Petty Officer LaSalle, set course directly for Trafalgar. Let's make sure we show these pirates that they picked the wrong fight!"
As the Victory hummed to life and the crew moved with practiced efficiency, Elias felt the familiar rush of excitement fill him once more. The politics could wait. The bureaucrats could wait. He was a sailor, and sailors had a job to do.
-(o)-
[Thorton Residence, Trafalgar Colony, L-2 Colony Cluster]
Back on Trafalgar, Elias's family had their own set of struggles that they were dealing with.
The man's young son, Remy, had been notably restless over the last few weeks. The boy, all of ten years old now, had a uniquely inquisitive mind. One that wasn't too dissimilar from his father's. And on top of that, he had a curiosity about the stars that almost matched that of Elias's when he was about that age. However, where Elias' innate curiosity had driven him to life within the Navy, thriving on the discipline and structure of military life, Remy's curiosity led him was leading him in an entirely different direction. One that was a far cry from what others expected of him.
Part of Elias had hoped that Remy would follow in his footsteps, but it didn't take long for the man to realize that military life was not the path that his son would eventually walk down. He'd seen it in the way the boy's emerald-green eyes would glaze over whenever talk of battleships or strategy came up at the dinner table. Elias had come to accept that his son was more interested in space exploration and the scientific wonders of distant planets as opposed to a life flying aboard a Naval vessel.
Of course, that wasn't exactly a bad thing either. Humanity was going to be expanding even further into space in the near future, and there would be plenty of opportunity for Remy to do something in that line of work when the time came. On top of that, it would be interesting to see what kind of role the boy would play in it. Assuming that's even what he wanted to do with his life.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" Remy's voice was soft and hesitant as he entered the living room where Marida was sitting in her chair. The raven-haired woman was reading a breaking news report about some clowns who had blockaded all of the ports in the colony to try and get some extra supplies for their ships.
"Of course, sweetie." The woman said, glancing up from her tablet. "What's on your mind?"
"Do you think it's okay if I don't want to be like Dad?" Remy blurted out.
Admittedly, Marida was confused by what the boy meant by that. "What do you mean?"
Remy shifted uneasily, looking down at his shoes. "I mean... I don't think I want to be a sailor like he is. Everyone at school says that's what I should do, but I really don't want to. I don't like the military like Dad does. I don't want to be a commander or anything like that. I want to do something else, but I don't want you guys to be mad at me either."
Marida took a moment to study her son's face before recognizing the uneasiness in his eyes. "Remy...neither me nor your father have ever wanted to force you into a life that you don't want. You're your own person, and we both want you to do what makes you happy. I'll support you in whatever path you want to take. Whether that's science, art, or even something I can't even imagine yet."
Remy's expression brightened just a little, but Marida could tell the boy was still a bit unsure.
"It's just hard..." Remy muttered. "Everyone expects me to be like Dad and live up to his legacy. Even some of the other kids at school talk about wanting to be just like him when they grow up. But I just don't want to do that. I don't know what I want to do...."
Marida sighed before putting a hand on Remy's shoulder. "Sweetie, your father didn't always know what he wanted to do either. You've got time to figure it out. You're only ten, so don't try to rush yourself. You're not disappointing anyone because you still haven't decided yet, not in the slightest. You're your own person, and that's more than enough."
-(o)-
The pirate faction, apparently named Kagetaka, was certainly formidable as far as small-time pirates go. Their ships, a collection of vessels that were both swift and ruthless, were specially made for lightning raids and bombardments. The exact kind of combat that Elias wanted to avoid, since they were so close to the colony. That being said, even if this wasn't how he wanted to play the game, there was little more that Elias could do to get the situation under control.
And with all of that information in mind, Elias wasted no time engaging the enemy pirate ships and taking them head-on with the combined power of his entire squadron at his back.
The resulting battle was a fierce one. From the moment it started, the void of space was filled with the flashes of cannon fire and the shrill warnings of damaged systems. As the battle raged on in front of his home colony, Elias directed his ships with surgical precision.
However, despite the man's careful planning and maneuvering, disaster struck.
The Blue Saber, a trusted vessel in his squadron, was struck by a lucky torpedo round amidst the chaos. A mishap that resulted in several of the ship's crew members getting severely injured. Elias was forced to watch on the Victory's main monitor as another one of the squadron's other ships went to save the sinking vessel while the fight continued right in front of him. It was an image that made the man's stomach churn.
Fortunately, the Blue Saber held strong. However, Elias felt a lump begin to develop in his throat. His men, his responsibility, had been hurt. And the man couldn't shake the nagging doubt that came as a result of watching such a scene unfold right before him. Had he done enough to protect them? Or had his overconfidence finally gotten the better of him?
An hour later, as the dust finally settled, the rogues that once called themselves Kagetaka were completely dealt with. And not a single one of their ships made it out of Trafalgar's orbit in one piece. However, that didn't stop Elias from looking on at the aftermath of the fight through the helm of the Victory with a heavy heart.
"No one dies on my watch." The man whispered to himself, the weight of his role pressing down on him. He'd sworn to protect his people-all of them. And as long as he drew breath, he wouldn't fail them. Never again.