Let there be peace (for now)
The vast hangar of Porto Interplanetàrio on HuEOS 289 was eerily silent. The distant hum of the spaceport’s machinery barely reached this desolate fringe of the asteroid’s bustling hub. Shadows from the harsh overhead lights stretched across the cavernous space, playing tricks on the few who dared to venture here at this late hour.
Edward Okiro adjusted the weight of his armored exoskeleton as he stepped inside, his every movement accompanied by the faint creak of worn servos. The suit, a battle-scarred relic of countless skirmishes, bore gray plating dulled by time and wear. His helmet hung at his side, a ready companion in case things went sideways. Beside him walked Hsien Peng Huizhong, stripped of his CommLog and Combat Armor. The once-proud and arrogant Hsien was reduced to wearing a simple work jumpsuit, his hands bound by a web of reinforced plastic restraints.
Edward’s dark eyes scanned the hangar, searching for any signs of a trap. The open space provided little cover but plenty of potential for ambush. A voice crackled in his earpiece from one of his squadmates in the shadows: “All clear. No movement yet.”
“Let’s hope it stays that way,” Edward muttered. He felt the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders; he had no desire for bloodshed tonight.
As he approached the designated meeting point, an individual came into view. He was Tang Shun, his white cloak catching the light as he strode forward with the confidence of a seasoned warrior. His DaoFei armor gleamed beneath the folds, pristine compared to Edward’s battle-worn suit, even if some weathering was still visible.
Tang Shun’s companion, Joline Sandoval, walked unrestrained beside him. Her calm demeanor betrayed no fear, but the slight tension in her jaw revealed her eagerness to rejoin her comrades.
Edward stopped just shy of the center of the hangar and waited. Tang Shun mirrored the gesture. For a moment, the silence between them was deafening, the weight of countless battles and unspoken words hanging in the air.
“You’re alone, as agreed?” Edward’s voice carried a sharp edge, each word measured.
Tang Shun inclined his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. “I am alone if you are.”
Edward smirked faintly. “Then neither of us is.”
Tang Shun’s lips curled into a small smile, and the two men advanced until they were within a few steps of each other. Edward gave Hsien Peng a slight nudge forward. “Your man,” he said flatly.
Hsien Peng took slow, deliberate steps toward Tang Shun’s side, his eyes flicking to Joline as she moved in the opposite direction. Her pace quickened as she closed the gap between herself and Edward’s battalion. A murmur of relief greeted her as she was embraced by her comrades, though the group kept their distance, alert for any sign of treachery.
From behind Tang Shun, the faint shimmer of a cloaking field faded, revealing a Guilang operative. Silent and efficient, she stepped forward, taking custody of the Hsien and guiding him back toward their waiting shuttle.
The exchange was complete, but neither leader made a move to leave. Tang Shun spoke first, breaking the fragile silence. “Thank you, Edward Okiro. Cooperation is not a virtue often seen in these times.”
Edward chuckled softly, the sound devoid of humor. “Don’t thank me yet. It’s only today we’re playing nice. Tomorrow?” He shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll be shooting at each other again.”
Tang Shun’s grin widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Perhaps. But for tonight, let us consider this... a rare moment of peace.”
He extended a hand, his white cloak shifting with the movement. Edward hesitated, his gaze flicking to the hand and then back to Tang Shun’s face. A moment passed before he grasped it firmly.
“Peace,” Edward repeated, the word foreign on his tongue. For a fleeting second, there was a glimmer of understanding between them, a shared recognition of the futility of their endless conflict.
Then, as if on cue, both men released the handshake and turned away, retreating to their respective groups. The quiet of the hangar returned, the sound of their footsteps swallowed by the emptiness.
As Edward walked back to his team, the familiar clank of his exoskeleton echoing with each step, he cast a glance over his shoulder. Tang Shun and his entourage were already disappearing into the shadows, their figures silhouetted against the faint glow of the shuttle ramp.
For a moment, Edward allowed himself to feel the weight of the melancholy that lingered in the air. Tonight, they had traded lives instead of bullets, but he knew the fragile truce would not last.
“Let’s move,” he ordered, his voice gruff. His team snapped into motion, guiding Joline toward the safety of their waiting transport.
As the doors to the hangar slid shut behind them, Edward took one last look at the empty space. The silence that greeted him was no longer tense but solemn, a reminder of the fleeting nature of peace amidst the chaos of war.
- - - - - - -
The shuttle jolted forward with a roar of thrusters, accelerating sharply as it broke free from the thin atmosphere of the planetoid. Inside, the cabin was dimly lit, the soft hum of the engines punctuated by the occasional tap of a console. Geming Tien, the Guilang operative, handed a sleek, gilded CommLog to Hsien Peng Huizhong.
The Hsien studied the device with suspicion, his wrists still aching from the restraints he had worn during the prisoner exchange. As he powered it on, the interface flickered erratically. “This thing is broken,” he muttered, his voice laced with irritation.
“It’s not broken,” Tang Shun replied, standing with his arms crossed. “It’s locked. To unlock it, you’ll need to accept and sign the document it displays.”
With a subtle flick of his finger, Tang Shun activated the CommLog. The screen lit up, revealing a detailed text—an official imperial decree.
Hsien Peng’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the document. “What is this?”
“Imperial pardon,” Tang Shun said smoothly. “For the entire Recon Platoon Detachment 42, also known as the Task Force Tundra Wolves. For exemplary service in the field, all charges of insubordination and treason are to be expunged.”
Hsien Peng looked up, his jaw tightening. “I won’t sign this.”
Tang Shun shrugged, his expression calm but unyielding. “If you sign it, you can return to Yutang with your head held high. You’ll report that the Tundra Wolves are loyal servants of the StateEmpire, unfairly accused. And they are eager to resume service immediately.”
“And if I don’t?”
Tang Shun’s tone didn’t shift. “If you don’t, I’ll kill you here and now. Your body will disappear into the void, never to be recovered.”
The shuttle seemed to grow colder. Hsien Peng’s gaze hardened, but Tang Shun remained unfazed, meeting his glare with a predator’s patience.
“And even if I did sign,” the Hsien said slowly, “what’s stopping me from exposing this blackmail when I return to Yutang?”
Tang Shun smirked faintly. “Two things. First, the disgrace of it all. Imagine the headlines: An Hsien’s life exchanged for that of a port worker from a worthless planetoid. Captured by a gang of miners, no less.” He leaned in slightly. “How do you think your peers will react to that?”
Hsien Peng’s lips tightened, but he said nothing.
“Second,” Tang Shun continued, “Pheasant Rank Agent Qin Tengfei knows everything. He personally drafted that document. When you sign it, you’ll be sealing your agreement with him, not just with me.”
The Hsien hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He glared at Tang Shun, fury simmering beneath the surface. “Fine,” he growled at last, snatching the CommLog. “But this isn’t over.”
Tang Shun’s expression didn’t change. “Oh, but it is,” he replied. “You’ll sign, we’ll release the official announcement, and you’ll return to Yutang with all the honors. These skirmishes are best left to those who know how to handle them.”
With a reluctant hand, Hsien Peng signed the document on the screen. The device beeped, the interface unlocking to reveal a stream of preloaded messages and the insignia of the StateEmpire.
Tang Shun took the CommLog from him, glancing briefly at the confirmation before giving a satisfied nod. “And once again, the StateEmpire is saved,” he said, a hint of irony in his voice. “From outside threats, but mostly from those within.”
The Hsien glared but said nothing, his fists clenching at his sides.
As the shuttle continued its ascent, the glow of its thrusters illuminated the hull of a massive ship looming ahead: the Spirit of the Forge. The vessel’s silhouette cut a sharp profile against the void, its design equal parts elegance and intimidation.
“Flight control, we are ready for docking.” The voice of the pilot came from the cockpit, barely audible in the noises of the engines. “Prepare a welcome fit for a Hsien, for Peng Huizhong has made return!”
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