Clash of the Navies

[The Golden Knight]

(I want to start with an out-of-character preface that I wanted some in-game way to contribute to a career of active military duty in the Elite Dangerous setting...and the particular Community Goal involving Marlinist refugees is as close as the game will realistically allow to that desire.)

Hyperspacing into what was known as the LTT 1935 sector, the number seemed easier to remember because it was during the period of the tech involving the first two World Wars, which is just as well given the full might of both the Imperial and Federal Navies had concentrated in bulk within that one star system. Where did the Alliance weigh in on this? They absolutely operated too loosely for their own formalized military - much less an "auxiliary navy" comprised of "independent" pilots, but given their Libertarian ideologies, it made sense that Mahon and his most loyal would coincide with the Federation and the mission objective to protect the refugees from the plight of the Imperial superpower!

That is where the "hero" came in. Admiral Golden-Knight flew to the meetup station, Wolf Port, making doubly sure to engage his Stealth Module that came with every ship registered under the Pilots Federation. His ship had been dubbed "Hero Leader", after the famous individual of World War Three, which had been a remarkable Federal Corvette coated in a shiny metallic gold luster that just broadcasts "high-value target" to the troublemakers of the Pilots Federation...the reason a "Stealth Module" had been invented in the first place. Even if such a marvel of modern technology hadn't existed, "Hero Leader" had been outfitted specifically for maximum shields, so without a particularly cunning Commander (or four) against him directly, this Corvette was fabled for bringing down entire squadrons all by itself. Admittedly that was nothing new in the graybeard community of the Elite Pilots Federation, but the Admiral still gleamed and beamed as he could lavish in the rewards of being part of this top-tier club.

"Core Dynamics, Golf Oscar Lima, we're happy to have you at this Federal station. Priority access will be granted - "

Docking request sent.

"Access approved, your assigned landing pad is number Zero Niner."

While Golden-Knight fit through the opening of the spinning polygon, the traffic controller came on, and asked a suspicious question: "We're picking up rumors of double allegiance; Imperial records are on file. Please explain."
The Admiral, still shockingly young enough to still have the color in his hair (particularly given his full-time service of excellence and bulk slaughter of pirates) snapped, "That's above your pay grade!" To say nothing about the "classified information" about a specific covert strategic objective designated as "Operation Blue Lightning," a top-secret mission to infiltrate the other superpower's intimate permit-locked systems for the specific goal of undermining them...and blowing them up where it hurt. Basically a lot like being a spy, but with nonexistent surveillance and equally nonexistent consequences. Similarly, a token participation for the other side had been demanded, just to keep them believing Golden-Knight was on their side...even when the numbers clearly showed his true colors. But, that had to wait as a bigger and more urgent opportunity to hurt them had spawned.

President Hudson gave the word to his most trusted Admirals - and there were dozens, if not hundreds, in that holographic conference which portrayed a simulated board room - with the President understandably at the head of the digitized table. "Gentlemen," the president spoke tensely yet while keeping an "indoor voice", "I am well aware this could very well lead to a full-blown war against the Imperials on the whole, but for now, your directive is simple. Kill as many of the tyrants as you can. Make no mistake, they have the greatest military hardware on the market, but I'm confident you'll find ways to meet or beat them. And remember you are all Admirals, the best of the Federal Navy."

The President wasn't joking; normal pilots could pop in a matter of seconds given an ordinary assassination contract from the stations, but something about "conflict zones" proved magical. All the ships there had been decked out in ridiculously effective shields and hull, making it unrealistic for any mass quantity to die without either a masterfully kitted miniature capital ship (such as the Corvettes of the Admirals), or an entire wing of looser Commanders. Even the reported "Captains" for both Federation and Imperial would need more than a lone Admiral to bring down...that'd take concentrate fire, and more to the point, friends that Golden-Knight simply doesn't have. Plus "Enemy Spec Ops" can just go to Hell.

But what Admiral Golden-Knight liked most was how clean-cut the mission parameters were: no intrigue or shenanigans, no fetching or doing menial chores for random aides...it was a plain and simple "to kill in bulk" objective, just like the old-world Super Soldiers.

So, he rode out, and upon arriving at the pitched battle between both navies, he (like the rest of the main Admirals) could trigger the commoners' COVAS to report "A Hero Unit has arrived," much like how it picks up on Capital Ships, or other voices announce the presence of a tanking Captain. Even weirder was that Admiral Golden-Knight could blow through the Imperial capital ships no problem as if they've never heard of shields. They sort of just SIT THERE, firing tiny pellets and the odd beam from the underbelly...but what was supposed to be the pinnacle of Imperial firepower had proven to be a JOKE compared to the resiliant Cobras and Pythons of the ordinary Navies. The only downside was that there had been no satisfaction garnered from blowing them up; they'd simply phase out and activate their unusually large Frame Shift warping effects.

Still, only a couple days in, and Commander Golden-Knight could just leave entirely and say "I've done my part." But with days to go, and with a great enthusiasm for destroying the forces of terror, this had been the moment he'd been waiting for: to lead the charge headlong against tyrants who could only wish to deprive this young pilot of his freedoms.

 

[The Golden Knight]

One week...one week later, with barely a break to take care of basic needs, and the Federal Navy - with help from the Auxiliary Navy - had secured a one-sided victory against the Empire. Conspiracy theorists plead that a significant chunk of Imperial merit had been from double-agents who "just wanted the ranks". Still, even though there were Federal casualties on the list, the measures that outweighed the Empire almost encroached the realm of embarrassing.

The fight had been long and hard, against tedious yet harmless capital ships, invincible Captains, and Spec Op Wings who could just burn in hell. Many refills had been needed on the Carrier "Outer Heaven", assuming the description had been fit. It was a Drake Class Carrier, with a flat-bed appearance for landing pads, neatly lined into rows and clear of any complications such as a spinning "mailslot" or even most walls to bump around at. It welcomed many - specifically Admiral Golden-Knight - to help expedite the rearming and repairing process, getting them into the fight much faster while also shaving precious minutes off the grueling competition.

Yes, even though the fight had been long and hard, the top most leaders of the Federation's Auxiliary Navy had gone about it like a contest...not so much of skill, but of pure stubbornness. And the Golden-Knight bloodline had been blessed with legendary willpower, from WWIII running on to the present era in 3306. It would require a masterfully kitted out Federal Corvette (or similarly heavy equivalent) to even attempt reaching for the top rungs, but this was something that our hero had been prepared for...in his ship dubbed "Hero Leader".

A few incidents had grown out of hand that forced even the Corvette to rout, though they were few and far between (usually up against the aforementioned Spec Ops Wings). Such exceptions aside, the normal combat circumstance entailed white-knuckle fretting of the joystick, nonstop, with toggling Flight Assist ON and OFF, oftentimes so rapidly that the COVAS couldn't keep up with all the "Flight Assist ON" "Flight Assist OFF" announcements. The pilot Golden-Knight kept a truly serious face, even as the rest of his allies vomited jokes about "The Emperor's Feet" in the public comms channels. Woe to those peers, for when this Admiral chimed in, he certainly wasn't joking...and a scowl on his face let anyone know he had absolutely not been in the mood for "jokes".

The routine battle had his Corvette boosting to and fro, slipping and sliding across the void of space, spinning frantically to try and keep the countless Eagles and Vultures lined up in his sights, as they had the annoying habit of performing an actual barrel roll (not to be confused with an aileron roll) and blasting past his ship, forcing him to spin 180 and repeat the act of "jousting"...when it'd be more efficient to just spin around in a mutual orbit, both sides hammering away until the shield tank Corvette inevitably blew up the target. But, getting back to normal pirates after such an immersed experience in the "high intensity conflict zones" made them seem like puffballs in comparison. But, with extremely hardened vessels now the norm at the time of this event, a lot of rinse-and-repeat followed, trying to lock onto the nearest enemy target as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible.

When all that had been said and done, the actual death numbers had been garbled, but 600 billion credits in "combat bonds" had manifested...and a 9 digit number going to each of the top heroes of their internal contest. All that had been the culmination of nearly nonstop force for this goal...and it wasn't until the final day that Admiral Golden-Knight saw the board letters decree "TOP 10 COMMANDERS". Within the last day, his personal morale soared, frustration of "Top 10%" melting away, because for that one glimmer, he saw...he could WIN!

One 6-hour sleep later, on Veterans' Day, Golden-Knight went back to work hammering away at the Imperial Fleets. The race for the top stayed neck-and-neck up to the end, with Golden-Knight bumped back down to "Top 10%" multiple different times. But as the sun had set well over Europe, and the Witching Hour encroached onto the Americas, the top tier spot became secured. More importantly, the public comms had been ablaze with cheerleading messages rooting for a quick and decisive Federal victory! And when total victory was secured, there had been an hour and a half to spare, hardly any margin for goofing shenanigans...even with the help of the Navy's best!

Cheers erupted and exploded, with a flurry of "o7" posts going through, among numerous political "jokes" referencing ancient history from well over a thousand years ago. Upon the final docking at Wolf Port, Golden-Knight took a deep breath as he let the weight off his spiritual shoulders. The push for the grind had been OVER! Even if it'll be back...he'll be ready for it, just...NOW, we PARTY!

An after-party had been hosted, albeit short-lived, around the Wolf Port starport in the system that saw the battleground. Admiral Golden-Knight added, "And I would like an Honorable Mention to those who made the push for Top 10...so satisfying. My heart goes out to whoever was so unfortunate to be shoved into #11, lest we forget your efforts that made these spoils worthwhile. And, although we have a community of OVER NINE THOUSAND grand pilots doing their part, big and small, the best of us didn't even give a PERCENT to that overall goal. That shows how this is so much bigger than any one...or two of us. But, drinks are on me, as we toast...the Federation's Navy, to FREEDOM!"

"TO FREEDOM!"

A couple days later, there had been a medal ceremony at Mars High to commemorate the "Valiant Leaders of the Navy who inspired the rest of the forces to press on day and night." Quite the speech had been written, and while Admiral Golden-Knight had been one of them, nine other names had been listed. While the exact details are classified, rumors persist that some of those were already Admirals, and to those who were, rather than grant the redundant reward of promotion to Admiral, President Zachery Hudson saw it fit to award the Navy Cross to that handful. With that in mind, Commander Golden-Knight had specifically been presented that medal. To the nine thousand others, a Meritorious Unit Commendation had been bestowed across the board, from the humblest Krait to the fabled Corvette "Hero Leader", and to the mad pilot who took a Sidewinder in just "for the jokes". They were ALL heroes, all nine thousand two hundred and eighty individual men (with theoretically few women) in those leagues.

As for Golden-Knight personally, Prime Minister Mahon of the Alliance also loosely congratulated him for "The tenacity and enthusiasm the young pilot has displayed in fighting for freedom and democracy."

Once the celebrations had finished, Golden-Knight retired to the sleeping quarters of his Corvette, when a single call interrupted his much-needed break. "For the combat displayed over the past week, destroying hundreds of ships of all ranks, we see it fit to grant you the rank of Deadly."
"That's one rung from Elite. Still got a ways before I'm ready to go chasing myths, but...I'm getting there."
"You bet. Have a good week."
"Semper Bellum."

 

[The Golden Knight]

EPISODE 2

The adventures didn't stop there. Hardly. A couple weeks later, and politics had gotten to the brink of war. Even though the true loyalties were amongst the Alliance, any chance to kick the Empire in the teeth were appreciated by Admiral Golden-Knight.

President Hudson still made no comment regarding the pilot's own ego or performance. And while offering a shiny platinum decal was technically "a step in the right direction", it was hardly a medal ceremony broadcast over GalNet.

So, the enthusiastic young pilot had to head back in his hauler, a Type-9 stripped to the core for just cargo...except a single FSD Booster. The Alliance awarded most everybody the Prototype FSD, particularly after the unprecedented surplus of research resources provided by the excited community representing the bulk of the Pilots Federation. That, however, would not be needed here, but still influenced politics and galactic policy on the whole. The decision of Sirius Corporation (arguably in collaboration with Aegis) to distribute such an "exclusive advantage" had been controversial, but all Admiral Golden-Knight enjoyed was the simple fact it was an unfair edge.

Back on track, hauling took hours upon hours, involving a very specific route not very populated by other pilots. The specifics he kept a closely-guarded secret, lest the fleet of Carriers deprive him of his competitive edge...and his next shot at winning a juicy medal.

So begins Take 2: hauling tens of thousands of tons of materials to build more Federal capital ships and to again prove himself as an ultimate "Hero Unit"! Oh, and chipping in on some bounties on the side, time permitting, just to help emphasize Golden-Knight's point that heroism runs in his family. But one thing kept burning in the back of this aspiring hero's mind:

"President Hudson still owes me a medal."

 

[The Golden Knight]

Admiral Golden-Knight definitely has loyalty to the Alliance above all, but has reluctantly worked with the Federation for 2 profound reasons. First, the Federation has special assets, specifically including THE Corvette and the home base of Aegis (at least supposedly). Second, in the name of "FREEDOM", the Admiral would want to kick the Empire in the teeth with every chance he gets. And if that means in cases of Fed vs Imp, where the Alliance is nowhere to be found, then hoo boy is his heart in with the Federation. Besides, they have EARTH under their jurisdiction, his very home.

While finishing up the secondary objective, Admiral Golden-Knight had been sitting in the pilot's chair at the time on his Corvette Hero Leader, at which point a small fireteam of crew minions came through the door to the rear of the bridge, and opened fire with energy weapons. Several attempts had been made on his life during that work week. And each time he had to tussle with an enraged dissenter or double-crossing pirate who found a way to infiltrate the crew of his corvette, the ship had stuck dead in the water until the action silenced long enough for the loyal crew to jettison the bodies out the airlock. "Traitors and scum deserve no proper burial," his exact words dictated to the well-oiled machine of manpower that orchestrated his ship's logistics. All of this left him shaken, with difficulties in focusing on the goal of producing capital ships (which required something other than his favorite corvette).

This massive disruption, and the many hours required to sort it all out, had hamstrung the Admiral's efforts in the community's competition! Even still, with Alliance channels ablaze with controversy including but not limited to Mahon's imminent election campaign (and his opponent), he had to press on for the shiny platinum decal. One hundred thousand tons of building materials, and somehow, that STILL wasn't good enough! And that was achieved DESPITE the stinging web of lies and underground shadiness, as well as simple inevitable disagreements which underpinned the dark context. The key to freedom is understanding that disagreement is inevitable, and like the ancient George Patton, Admiral Golden-Knight definitely had that hawkish steel in his blood.

What's worse, he found on GalNet that he had been the target of a smear campaign accusing him of numerous unspeakable atrocities, with the accusations specifically extending beyond the empty utterance of a handful of "mean words". Security forces worked on sealing the leaks, and fact-checkers aided in dispelling the "Fake News", but the damage had already been done. Since that one week in military service, leading by example against the parasite pirates and constructing the weapons of the future, his Admiral peers have affirmed he has become "jumpy" and "on-edge" consistently. The civility in debate and calm voice could do little to conceal the trembling body language of all individuals directly involved or related.

It's not just the near-death brush, but the backstabbing and deceit that had led to his shaken state on top of these discussions. From the humblest grunts to the most intimate playmates, it felt like ANY AND/OR ALL of them were out for his head. Admiral Golden-Knight went on public record to address the concerns: "It's not any grievous instability, it's not some sickness, and hopefully not a cause for serious concern. It's simply that recent events have left me injured. It's just an injury, like any other. Give it time, and if the dust can settle, I should be fine in the end."
Other rumors around this comment are circulating, most consistently referencing a niche of loose acquaintances in Alliance space that have offered their support to help the aspiring hero make a full recovery. GalNet tabloids have attempted to exaggerate these events by calling it a "meltdown" and "full-blown PTSD", but that has been dismissed and discredited by fact-checkers. On the other hand, the rumors about that niche have become contradictory. Some say the process has started to smooth over, others accuse hypocrisy concerning free speech and edgy words, plus a new debate regarding censorship raged on, and still others seek to antagonize the pilot regardless. The Admiral's efforts to "exercise FULL Freedom of Speech" have become startling, with emphasis on not just about the pilot himself, but the very ideology he attempts to debate which blurs the line between Libertarian and Anarchy. All put together, and "the truth" about the situation couldn't be more "open to interpretation".

As for the performance at face value, even dismissing and intentionally ignoring any behind-the-scenes context, the consensus agrees that this success was nothing short of spectacular. Signs of a medal ceremony were unconfirmed, but unsubstantiated rumors circulated that a nomination has now been penned at the desk of Cabinet, and sent to Federal Congress for discussion. Even IF an official nomination now actually exists, the discussion about it in the chambers of Congress are very slow and very deliberate.

But for right now, with the whole episode behind him, he had been haggard, sleep-deprived, shaking in his seat, and with visible grime on his uniform. The story had put him to hell and back; lesser wills would have given up on life if faced with the same ordeal. But, almost as if unintentionally demonstrating merit to the ideology of "Hereditary Meritocracy", heroism runs strong in the Golden-Knight bloodline.

At the end of this goal to build capital ships, and with these reports flooding in, the after-party commenced at Evans Port in Parutis. Some very mild mingling later, and the Corvette "Hero Leader" set to reactivate the stock Stealth Module and head out to destinations only its lone-riding pilot would be allowed to know. Everything now said and done, Admiral Golden-Knight had been cleared for medical leave due to psychological trauma.

 

[The Golden Knight]

EPISODE 3

"Pride stems from when a person feels invisible."
~KSS~
"Oh, Hector, I'm in love with another MAN!"
~KSS~
"Tonight, on The Fatherhood News - "
~KSS~
"I just want to hear you SCREAM!! Now what specifically am I in the mood for?!"
~KSS~
"We now return to the Dramatic Reenactment of HARAMBE!"
~KSS~


A few days had passed now, where Admiral Golden-Knight had been taking his leave by flipping through the channels on the Space TV. Inevitably, one news station reported on Sirius Corporation with ammonia terraforming, as well as the implication about ground combatants being not too far over the clock's horizon.

"Ah, a leisurely cruise through space? Maybe following the footsteps of others? Could be relaxing for a change. And besides, that scanner might be nice, especially if it's anything better than what's on the market." Memories of the prototype FSD were prevalent, and given the medical leave as well as stress in general, this time there had been no intention of pushing for "Top 10 Commanders". A much more casual pace had been in order, which would make this episode a break in comparison. Still, not the total rest that was initially planned, but there had been little reason to completely sit this one out.

 

[The Golden Knight]

About one week later, the Admiral had been sitting at the nearest bar in neutral territory, the sort of place where a cease-fire could be honored and matters can be solved using words rather than guns. Next to him had been a bear of a man, trying to give some advice (or just form a sense of camaraderie) to the frustrated pilot.

"I came to space to feel indomitable! And that's hard to do when there's a 13-year-old screaming at me through a microphone the moment he blows up my spaceship!"
"Come on, GK, we all know a badass doesn't run from a hard fight."
"Yeah, but a badass doesn't DIE, either. What to do when I have to PICK ONE OR THE OTHER?!" After a beat for pause, he had yelled, "And on top of THAT, the search for Raxxla-Personified showed me the ladies would sooner procreate with a STINKING PET than an aspiring hero like me! It's like Beauty and the Beast where I'm playing the role of Gaston and the Beast ain't a prince in disguise!" With one raging howl later, he attempted to down an entire bottle of Everclear. It was a fitting choice to reflect his "Go Hard or Go Home" mindset, since the brand name is well-known for being almost completely pure alcohol. The only reason he didn't die of alcohol poisoning is because not more than three seconds later, he vomited up the whole pint he DID get down up to that point.

Then the Space TV turned on in the background had a report: "We present to you an update to the galactic political climate. Federation and Imperial tensions continue to escalate over the discussions relating to the fate of the Marlinist refugees. While all-out war is not yet guaranteed, experts are divided on the probability of such a declaration yet the public consensus feels strongly that armed conflict IS inevitable." The caster had been interrupted on-screen by some whispers, then amended the report: "I'm sorry, breaking news just this second! Sirius has pledged to do all it can to resolve the conflict in a neutral and independent manner. No special rewards are being offered this time, just another shot at glory."
Just then, as the news rambled on in the muffled background, the Admiral noticed an armband on his new buddy...the shape of the eagle, an IMPERIAL supporter. And THIS is why any discussions needed to be in NEUTRAL ground. "Look," Admiral Golden-Knight said while getting his coat off the rack near the door to the tiny restaurant / bar, "This is why I ride ALONE, and why I try to follow a Gentleman's Code. Because that's the only way I can think of where I can be myself, and NOT find myself anally violated by any number of scum in their 'meta-Fer-De-Lances'. You don't go after me, I don't go after you, and life is OK-ish. Now, the rest of the 'unregistered' pilots in the big Navies? HEH, we all know they're EXPENDABLE. Now I must go; Triple Elite isn't gonna hand itself over to me on a platter."
"I've got things to do, too. Stay in touch, OK?"
"Yeah, sure," Admiral Golden-Knight grumbled as he departed. Good news, though, assuming Sirius keeps its promise, he should at least be entitled to their prototype planetary probe mechanisms. Either way, some of the rumors WERE proven: that he WAS mingling a bit...and that "the truth" had definitely been "contradictory". Regardless, the stock Stealth Module thankfully made such a concern completely moot as he went back out to the isolation of the void.

 

[The Golden Knight]

EPISODE 4

"So what's the reward this time?"
"From the looks of it, just money and glory!"
"And maybe not even the glory part!"

Almost immediately after the event was announced, Golden-Knight was on the scene. With a quick o7, he started deploying and scouting. Not a lot of pirate hotspots yet on the map, and he had been going around looking for neighboring star systems that would offer massacre missions, so he could grind bounties in bulk. Trade Elite was done, so that would be a secondary concern this go-round (particularly remembering the harsh haul of recent memory...but at least he got his spiffy platinum decal now).

Sirius was serious in saying it wanted to provide a neutral means to ending the Marlinist crisis. And while this could potentially defuse the political scenario, Golden-Knight had subtle disappointment he would not get the chance to kick the Empire in the teeth. Furthermore, with glory so far off (or mostly just an illusion), there had been little to drive him to Top 10 Commanders this time. Maybe he would, maybe not, there was no telling at this point.

But what mattered was giving these refugees a nice new home...one way or another. And to that end, "Hero Leader" was ready for action!

 

[The Golden Knight]

"All's well that ends well," the Admiral pondered in hindsight. There had absolutely been a valiant effort to push for the heroic rank of "Top 10 Commanders" this latest episode, but for one the climb had been far too exponentially trying with minimal reward to show for it. And plus, this had been when the "Galactic Zenith" just opened up, and that prompted a vacation since it had been exclusive to Carriers.

But, with the Marlinist crisis now winding down, it's safe to say that this chapter had officially closed...and without needing to go to war. A disappointment since the Corvette thirsts for Imperial blood, but it is understandable that the governments would prefer peace.

Now at Triple Elite, where does this aspiring hero go to now? While waiting for that medal to come from the President...the search for Raxxla contniues!

 

[The Golden Knight]

EPISODE 5

Some weeks later (almost 2 months), there had been a good long break. The Marlinists have been settling down, the Alliance are still trying to wrangle with aliens that even Admiral Golden-Knight can't be bothered dealing with, and still no sign of that blazing medal from the President. On top of that, one Sassia Bianchi has been stringing him along, bored Elite pilot that he is. GalNet had been abuzz about all the shenanigans and scandals in "The Bubble" up until this point, all the while Golden-Knight could do little more than knock back quarts of milk and go to digging into ancient politics - specifically about THE Third World War (which may or may not have sparked around the time known as the "Trump Administration"). Even still, it had been good to visit the old home of Earth, pampered in a position of privilege by all the gawking tourists who couldn't believe they met an Elite pilot face-to-face, much less someone as proven as this particular Admiral.

But he had been interrupted by Hudson's Secretary of Combat - what used to be the American Cabinet's "Secretary of Defense". Terse and stressed, the call was clear:
"Admiral, we need your help, with all the guns and zeal you can bring to bear."
"Oh yeah? And why should I partake, when I can comfortably retire untill I die, if I ever die at all?"
"Because this comes from the top of the chain. President Hudson personally authorized the judgement of Jupiter Rochester, the former corporate head honcho for Core Dynamics now found guilty of treason. He's brought a massive, massive fleet that has engaged a military-grade skirmish. We need everyone who won't stand for corruption of the highest levels. We NEED Hero Leader!"

There was a silence, as the Admiral had to deeply process the insight and the Cabinet representative speaking to his sentiments. Then he spoke:
"On one condition...if there be a way, I would personally like to see Rochester's sentenced to DEATH, ideally by MY hand!"
"That I can not promise, but if your voice has any weight at all, I will make sure it reaches the right ears."
"Thank you. I'll prepare for departure immediately. Semper Bellum."

And the call ended.

 

[The Golden Knight]

A long and hard battle had been fought in the formerly forbidden HIP 54530 system. Over 12,000 different independent pilots rallied around the Iron Wings of Justice, with varying levels of determination. Along the way, one female actually spoke to the Admiral, even though it almost seemed to be his perfect match. One such night, in the middle of high-intensity combat, he swore he might've found Raxxla. But alas, it was not meant to be. One or two matters came between the two of them, but it gave a glimpse into a perfect timeline.

The fighting had been long and hard, with numerous Spec-Ops Wings destroyed by the Corvette Hero Leader. Once or twice, those wings would concentrate fire upon the lone rider, chasing it out of the battlefield in the void. Multiple heavily armored Captains fell as well, with Hero Leader aggressively ramming into their similarly unbreakable shields. But the shields on Hero Leader had been built with the best tech known to humankind - nothing other than erratic Commanders could threaten it...and not even them, because the Pilots Federation ensures all registered ships have a "Stealth Module" stock.

Tending to basic needs had been a struggle throughout the week. Having to eat, sleep, and deal with "Bachelor Blues" all prevented the theoretical ceiling - plus more urgent crises at home on Earth. Much had been distracting, as always, but such is "life". Even despite this, the report coming in had been astounding.

"Top 10 Commanders. You've done it again."
With a long yawn, the Admiral asked, "How goes the politics? Any word?"
"NADA! Sir, it's almost like the Congress is deliberately ignoring all our nominations. I'm sorry."
"And what of Jupiter Rochester? Or the vacancy of Fleet Admiral?"
"No confirmed sighting of the big man himself. And that title, just like your other nominations, seemed to have been intentionally disregarded. I'm sorry."

There had been a snarl of frustration and the sound of a fist slamming a desk. And the Admiral yelled, "What does it TAKE?!" With some deep huffs, he regained his composure. "No matter. Wherever there's more to blow up, you can be sure I'll be there, ready and eager for another helping."
"That's the spirit. How's Bianchi coming?"
"Y'know, now that you mentioned it, I saw some Spec-Op ships using caustic missiles. I wonder if they had a hand in these matters. Other than that, it's all just hearsay and conspiracy theories. I'll have to look into this, as soon as GalNet can validate our victory against Jupiter Division this fine night. Semper Bellum."