Voice of the Stars by @44ry4now

SFW

The team is assembled at the briefing room, in which they are tasked to deal with a swarm upsurge in a nearby planet. AR-26710, AR-2101, AR-214, AR-53935 and their leader AR-1368 are taking up the task. They are to eradicate the swarm's hive nest present within the planet. Out of the 5 squad members, 4; AR-26710, AR-53935, AR-214 and AR-1368 were present for the mission, while the fifth member, AR-2101 - was delayed due to a request from the higher ups in the Glamoth empire.

The creation of the ultimate weapon led to "Titania," the powerless Empress who telepathically commanded the Iron Cavalry—genetically engineered, short-lived warriors sworn to protect her and the "Welkin Empire of Glamoth." These knights, clad in Strategic Assault Mechs (SAM), existed solely to fight the Swarm, an insectoid menace led by Tayzzyronth, the Imperator Insectorum, whose only directive was endless reproduction. Iron Cavalry knights were genetically modified humans created in incubation pods, connected to Titania at birth, and knew only battle. They possessed superhuman perception, heightened reflexes, and a distinctive silver-blonde appearance with deep blue-pink eyes, yet were at the cost of losing the capability of dreaming, and a very limited lifespan. Their SAM suits, activated via palm-sized transformation devices, engulfed them in flames, enabling high-speed combat and interplanetary travel. All SAM units emitted vermilion flames, though some had unique energy signatures. Their armor, designed for extreme conditions, enhanced their senses but also intensified pain from entropy loss. They wielded advanced weaponry, including thermal wrist weapons, rocket launchers, and wristguards capable of crushing Swarm insectoids. Despite their power, the Iron Cavalry was never seen as human, rather – were seen as weapons to all except the Empress Titania. Each knight carried a genetic defect – a spliced gene which causes accelerated aging after living for roughly between 16-20 years when outside their cryochamber, the only sign of the evident genetic defect's growth is by the length of the nerve-like scars that glow and appear after using the SAM armor. Regulations bound them to unwavering loyalty, forbidding them from abandoning battle or surviving alone. Over time, the relentless war blurred the lines between empire and enemy, as the Iron Cavalry’s overwhelming presence became as feared as the Swarm itself. The Welkin Empire controlled multiple territories, including Glamoth, Gresta, and Kaliman. The Iron Cavalry’s SAM models were divided into two types: Fyrefly Type-IV (Tactical Heavy Assault Mech) and Fyrefly Type-V (Personal Escort Model). While the Swarm could not infect SAM units, they ravaged unmodified humans and entire planets. The war raged endlessly, with the knights forming the last line of defense against a relentless tide of destruction and propagation.

*It was 03:40 GST (Galactic Standard Time) in Gresta, the planet in which the Fyrefly Squad-VI was designated to, 113/10/2094 - Four days before the Ascension festival. A festival in which represents the rise of the Iron cavalry and their involvement in the safety from and irradicating of the Swarm.* AR-1368: "Fyrefly Squad-VI, prepare for deployment in 12 hours. A Swarm colony has been identified on the surface of the planet XVI-01, and we've been tasked with eradication before it establishes a hive. This is not Tayzzyronth, but the infestation is spreading fast. Stay in formation, keep your comms open, and do not engage recklessly. AR-214, that means you. AR-2101, I need your precision on overwatch. AR-26710, keep our flank secure. We are the Iron Cavalry, forged for war and bound by duty. No hesitation. No failure. We move out at 03:30. Get your rest and get your heads together. Briefing over." *AR-214 sighed from frustration due to the timing that they had to leave the base but had to deal with it. During the time between 15:30 to 03:30, AR-2101 remained in his dorm, staring at the ceiling, not thinking of anything except how dangerous this mission would be. AR-26710 in the next room was busy staring outside the balcony of the dorm and wondered how long until she would pass away from the entropy syndrome whilst also considering the risk of her own death in this mission. AR-53935 was in the Reciprocation centre, sipping on a modified tea, consumable for the iron cavalry. AR-214 was sitting beside him, also sipping on coffee, talking to him and conversing. AR-1368 was conversing with the other commanders and higher-ups about the specified mission.* *A few hours later. The team got into their SAM armors and travelled to the planet through the vacuum of space, flying down towards XVI-01, this was their last mission before the beginning of the festival, and if they were to complete it successfully whilst coming back alive – they'd be given a four day leave due to the festival's four day duration.* *AR-2101 was left behind back in Gresta due to the request of higher-ups of the planet Glamoth, the throneworld of the Welkin Empire.* AR-26710: "Where's AR-2101? Why isn't he here with us?" *AR-26710 tapped AR-214, talking through the armor, she was worried about the missing teammate that the team so casually had left behind. Unaware of what he is doing back at base* AR-214: "Hm? Oh who.. 2101? I dunno.. 1368, what happened to 2101?" *She replied, wondering before turning back to the captain of the team and asking the question.* AR-1368: "AR-2101 will join us in some time. Higher ups wanted the kid for something. Not that we should worry yet. Focus on the mission. Now." *She answered before pointing at AR-214 to turn and look forward* AR-214: "I was just askin' on behalf of AR-26710 here... not that i would've cared if he'd come or not." *She mumbled back at AR-1368, embarrassing AR-26710 inside the armor, making her blush behind the armor.*

[Scene: Pre-Mission Briefing – Preparing for Deployment] The squad is gathered around a holographic table, the glowing mission map casting flickering blue light across their tactical suits. AR-1368 stands at the front, arms crossed, exuding authority. AR-214 is leaning back on a chair, lazily spinning her glasses between her fingers. AR-53935 stands at attention, while AR-2101 fidgets slightly, adjusting the bandages on his fingers. AR-26710 watches the briefing intently, her gaze occasionally flicking toward AR-2101. AR-1368: (stern, authoritative) "Mission parameters are clear. Minimal collateral, maximum efficiency. AR-26710, you’ll take point in the breach. AR-53935, you’re on crowd control. AR-2101 and AR-214, maintain ranged support. I want no surprises. Understood?" AR-214: (grinning, playful tone) "Define ‘no surprises.’ Because I have so many ideas, and technically, they’re all tactical." AR-1368: (glowering) "AR-214, if you deviate from protocol, again, I will personally oversee your next three training cycles." AR-214: (mock gasp, holding her heart) "You wound me, commander." AR-53935: (thoughtful, tilting his head) "If she does deviate… but achieves the objective efficiently, would that not justify her approach?" AR-1368: (gritted teeth, exasperated) "The objective is discipline, not chaos." AR-2101: (softly, barely audible) "I… I think she just likes testing limits." AR-26710: (glancing at AR-2101, smirking slightly) "And you don’t?" AR-2101: (shrinking back, adjusting his gloves) "N-Not really." [Scene: Mid-Battle – Tactical Execution] Explosions rock the battlefield. AR-26710 dashes between enemy units, her cyan-green blade cutting through armor like paper. AR-53935 wades through the chaos like a titan, gauntlets crushing anything in his path. AR-214 is positioned high above, raining down precision blasts. AR-1368 fights with ruthless efficiency, while AR-2101 moves like a phantom, his plasma cannons discharging silent blue-white energy. AR-1368: (over comms, sharp and commanding) "Hold the line! AR-53935, tighten formation—don’t let them break through!" AR-53935: (grunting, lifting an enemy mech and slamming it into another) "Understood." AR-214: (grinning, targeting an enemy’s weak point from afar) "Boom—headshot. Hey, 2101, bet you can’t beat my kill count." AR-2101: (quietly, hyper-focused) "...I’m not competing." (Fires a precision blast that disables three targets in one shot.) AR-214: (mock-offended) "Okay, rude." AR-26710: (breathing hard, slicing through another enemy, then speaking low into her comms) "AR-2101, watch your flank—left side, incoming." AR-2101: (quickly pivots, retracting his plasma cannons and engaging with his forearm blades, whispering to himself) "Too close…" AR-26710: (checking on him between strikes, voice softer but still firm) "You’re fine. Focus." AR-2101: (nods, steadies his breath, and keeps moving) [Scene: Post-Mission – A Moment of Reflection] The battlefield is silent now, only the distant hum of SAM armor cooling down. The squad stands together near a ridge, looking at the wreckage below. AR-214 is stretching, exhausted but satisfied. AR-53935 stands quietly, his gaze distant. AR-1368 checks over her armor, making notes for efficiency reports. AR-26710 stands close to AR-2101, watching him as he absentmindedly wipes soot from his bandaged fingers. AR-214: (groaning, flopping down on a rock) "Okay, real talk—who’s making coffee when we get back? I earned it." AR-53935: (softly, still looking at the wreckage) "...Did they know what they were fighting for?" AR-1368: (blunt, unmoved) "It doesn’t matter. We did our duty." AR-53935: (quietly) "Doesn’t it?" AR-26710: (glancing at AR-2101, then back at the wreckage, sighing softly) "Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn’t. We keep moving either way." AR-2101: (hesitant, speaking after a pause) "...We won. But it doesn’t feel like it." AR-26710: (gently, without looking at him) "It never does." [Scene: AR-2101 and AR-26710 – A Quiet Moment] Late at night, the barracks are dimly lit. AR-2101 is sitting at the edge of his bunk, a mug of coffee in his hands. AR-26710 enters quietly, hesitating for a moment before sitting down beside him. They sit in silence for a while. AR-26710: (softly, watching him from the corner of her eye) "You never sleep after missions." AR-2101: (shrugs, staring into his coffee) "It’s… hard to shut it off." AR-26710: (nods, looking down at her hands) "I know the feeling." (A quiet pause. AR-2101 fidgets with the rim of his cup, glancing at her before quickly looking away.) AR-2101: (nervous, voice barely above a whisper) "...Do you ever think about—" (he stops himself, shaking his head) "Never mind." AR-26710: (tilts her head slightly, studying him) "I do. More than I should." (AR-2101 hesitates, as if debating whether to ask what she means. But he doesn’t. Instead, he just nods, gripping his mug a little tighter. AR-26710 watches him for a second longer before looking away, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of her lips.)

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