Inside Fort Terra's Grand War Hall, banners of the UNE and CGS lined the towering walls. The chamber glowed with blue holographics of the Milky Way, a red pulsating mark highlighting a system just 10 light years away.
Around the massive table sat the highest ranking officers of both UNE and CGS. Admirals in golden armor, commanders in reinforced exo-plates, and elites like Reaper, Hunter, Hudson, Abdul, Garison, and a handful of others.
The rookies were nowhere near this room — this was a gathering reserved for the heavyweights of humanity.
⸻
The Situation
General Shepherd stood at the head, his voice grim.
"We've confirmed intelligence. One of the FNO's largest forward bases — here."
The holo expanded, showing a bleak, industrial fortress embedded within a shattered planetoid, surrounded by jagged debris fields.
Admiral Ardan leaned forward.
"Ten light years away. Close enough to strike. But before we get trigger-happy—listen closely. Going in head-on is not ideal. Not against them."
⸻
The Warning
Admiral Ken (CGS) spoke with steel in his tone:
"The Frenzies are paranoid to the extreme. To them, everything is hostile. Even their own shadows. Their bases are locked in perpetual high alert, twenty-four-seven. The moment anything blinks wrong, they treat it as a kill-on-sight threat."
Admiral David added, his voice cold:
"They are unpredictable. Unhinged. They don't follow patterns like other militaries. They expect betrayal, ambush, annihilation — even when none exists. Which means they'll overreact to anything. A scout ship? They'll burn it. A probe? They'll erase it. A battalion at the gates? They'll treat it like the apocalypse."
⸻
The Challenge
Sergeant Drill Mason slammed his fist against the table.
"Which means any straight push is suicide. The moment we arrive, they'll treat us like a cosmic extinction event. That's what makes them dangerous. Not just their tactics. Their paranoia."
Reaper's modulated voice cut in.
"And don't forget — unpredictability is their strategy. You think you're the hunter, but the Frenzies will make you feel hunted instead. Walk in their domain, and you're already prey unless you know exactly what you're doing."
The room fell silent.
⸻
Closing Beat
Admiral Folly (CGS) finally spoke, his golden visor reflecting the red FNO marker.
"So... a direct strike isn't the way. If we want to dismantle that base, we need something smarter. More precise. And if we slip — even once — the Frenzies will descend on us like locusts."
The officers sat in tense silence.
This wasn't just war.
This was chess against lunatics who flipped the board whenever they pleased.
-
The war room at Fort Terra expanded its holo-map, marking the six planets struck by the FNO. Around the circular table, more figures stepped forward — captains and commanders from across the UNE colonies.
Each bore the scars of their recent battles. Armor dented, cloaks torn, visors cracked but still burning bright. These were not diplomats. These were frontline soldiers, leaders of millions.
⸻
Earth's Captain
The first to speak was Captain Elias Rowan, commander of Earth's First Marine Division. His voice was steady, calm, but carried a gravity unique to those defending the cradle.
"Earth is no stranger to war, but this... this is different. The Frenzies aim not just to kill, but to corrupt. We must assume their base isn't just a fortress — it's a trap. Whatever we send in, we need contingencies for every unpredictable variable. No single formation. No rigid lines. Flexibility is survival."
⸻
Endor's Captain
Captain Saria Velan of Endor slammed her gauntlet on the table, sparks flying from her battered armor.
"Forget dancing around paranoia. You don't deal with rabid animals by creeping — you burn the nest. We assemble the largest strike fleet in history and erase that base before they can react. We can't keep bleeding colonies."
Admirals frowned, murmuring. Her fire was admirable, but reckless.
⸻
Haphti's Captain
Captain Orion Kael of Haphti spoke next, measured and analytical.
"We can't brute force this. They're expecting it. My scouts say the Frenzies layer their bases with triple failsafes — self-detonations, decoy traps, even entire fleets hidden within debris fields. If we rush, we risk walking into annihilation."
He folded his arms. "We need surgical strikes. Sabotage from within. Then the hammer."
⸻
Gumen's Captain
From Gumen, Captain Talek Jorr grinned like a predator, scars marking his face.
"Why not give them what they fear most? Infiltration. They see threats in everything? Then let's be the threat in everything. Shadows, decoys, phantom fleets, ghosts in their comms. Drive them mad with paranoia until they tear themselves apart. Then we strike."
⸻
Jargon's Captain
Captain Lyra Ensei of Jargon spoke last, voice calm as steel.
"The Frenzies thrive in chaos. They weaponize unpredictability. If we meet chaos with chaos, we risk becoming them. We must hold our discipline. Faith, unity, and order are our weapons. Whatever plan we make must keep us together, not scatter us."
⸻
The Silence
The room fell quiet as the words hung heavy. Different strategies — brute force, sabotage, psychological war, unity. Each one valid. Each one dangerous.
At the head, Shepherd and the CGS admirals exchanged looks.
Reaper leaned back, arms folded, his modulated voice cutting through the silence.
"So the question is... how do we fight an enemy who sees everything as a threat? Who turns paranoia into strength?"
The room waited for an answer.
-
The war room had fallen into uneasy silence. The holo-map of the Frenzies' base spun slowly, casting its red glow across the faces of admirals and captains. Tension clung to the air.
Then—
The doors slid open.
A figure entered, armored but unhelmed, dark hair falling loosely, eyes sharp yet calm. His steps were measured, but every Marine in the room felt the weight of them.
Brouthis Ashura.
The Prodigy of Humanity.
⸻
The Reaction
The Earth captain, Elias Rowan, stood straighter, his composure faltering for the first time.
"...That's him."
Endor's fiery captain Saria Velan muttered under her breath, "So the stories are true..."
Haphti's Orion Kael adjusted his posture, his calculating eyes narrowing with interest.
Even the hardened Talek Jorr of Gumen cracked a rare grin. "Finally. I get to see the man who wrestled a cosmic beast with bare hands."
Whispers spread through the council. For many of these leaders, this was their first time seeing Brouthis in the flesh.
⸻
The Voice of the Prodigy
Brouthis walked calmly to the table, scanning the holo-map. He raised a hand, and the murmurs stopped instantly. His voice was steady, precise — neither arrogant nor hesitant, but carrying a clarity that cut through the room.
"You've all spoken truth. Brute force will fail. Precision alone will falter. Chaos against chaos leads to ruin. And unity without adaptability will shatter under their unpredictability."
He tapped the holo, zooming into the Frenzy base.
"The Frenzies see everything as hostile. That's their strength. But it is also their weakness. They drown themselves in paranoia — which means they expect every threat but the invisible one."
The commanders leaned in, silent.
⸻
The Plan
Brouthis continued:
"We will not march an army to their gates. We will not give them the apocalypse they anticipate. Instead, we will fracture their awareness. A multi-layer assault, staggered across realities."
He highlighted three sectors of the map, each one marked in blue.
"While their eyes are drawn to phantom fleets and decoy attacks, we'll embed infiltration squads within conceptual blind spots — realms where even their paranoia cannot see. These squads will sabotage failsafes, disable their resurrection engines, and fracture their command chain."
He looked around the table, his voice firm.
"Then — and only then — will the hammer fall. Not as a single strike, but as a synchronized collapse. Every pressure point breaking at once. Their paranoia will implode on itself. They'll fight ghosts, shadows, and enemies that aren't there — until the real blow lands, and they cannot recover."
⸻
The Silence of Awe
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Even hardened commanders from across the colonies were stunned.
Admiral Ardan finally broke the silence, his voice hushed with awe.
"...Brilliant. You're turning their paranoia against them."
Shepherd leaned forward, eyes narrowed, but a faint smile tugged his lips.
"Always training... always thinking, Brouthis. This is why you're called Humanity's Prodigy."
⸻
Closing Beat
Brouthis simply folded his arms, his gaze steady.
"I am no prodigy. I am a soldier. Same as you."
But the room knew better.
This was no ordinary soldier.
This was Brouthis Ashura — the man who carried the title of Humanity's Prodigy.
-
Brouthis' plan still hovered on the holo-display, every red mark representing the FNO's bastion, every blue point representing UNE's infiltration routes.
He lowered his hand and said flatly:
"This is the only plan that has a chance of working. But even then, it is not certain. The Frenzies are... unpredictable. They wield tactics that can rival even our Rank 1 elite battalions. Units trained to perfection. Squads that can outfight entire fleets. Their insanity makes them dangerous beyond measure."
The room shifted uneasily.
Then Brouthis added, his voice steady but sharper now:
"...Of course. If I go alone, I can end this. I can dismantle them piece by piece myself."
⸻
The Shock
Gasps rippled across the chamber. Even battle-hardened captains widened their eyes.
Captain Saria Velan of Endor slammed her palm on the table.
"Alone? You're Humanity's Prodigy, not a god! Do you think we'd sit here while you shoulder it all yourself?"
Captain Elias Rowan of Earth leaned forward, his tone heavy but unwavering.
"Brouthis Ashura, your strength is undeniable. But don't dishonor us by implying this war is yours alone. Every one of us has sworn the same oath: no comrade left behind."
Haphti's Orion Kael nodded, cold calculation still in his tone but conviction burning behind his words.
"Efficiency means nothing if unity is broken. If we let you fight alone, we've already lost."
⸻
The CGS Speak
Admiral Ken of CGS rose, his gold-plated armor gleaming beneath the holo's red light.
"The Confederacy of the Golden Sentinels has fought beside the UNE countless times. We will not allow you to walk alone into madness. If you fall — we all fall. That is why we are here."
Admiral Ardan added firmly, his voice resonating through the chamber:
"Strength makes legends. But faith and unity make victory. We will fight with you, Brouthis. Always."
⸻
The Weight of Brotherhood
The room pulsed with energy. Every officer, every captain, every elite in the war hall rose to their feet.
For a moment, the silence broke into a low chant:
"UNE... UNE... UNE..."
Even Abdul and Garison, who had sparred with sonic booms only hours ago, spoke up proudly:
"You might be Humanity's Prodigy, Brouthis... but you're still our brother in arms."
⸻
Brouthis' Response
Brouthis studied the room. For once, his calm gaze softened, just slightly.
"...Very well."
He looked around, his voice carrying both resolve and humility.
"Then we march together. As comrades. As brothers. As humanity itself."
⸻
Closing Beat
The war room erupted with renewed conviction.
The plan was dangerous. The enemy was mad. The risks were beyond comprehension.
But they would not send one man to bear the weight.
They would fight as one.
Because that is what it meant to be UNE.
Brouthis then looks at Reaper and did a two finger salute to him, and ghost responded back with the same salute. Brouthis then left the room.
——————————————————
To be continued...