It took about three days to travel from my home planet to the Federation's capital world at standard military cruising speed.
A commercial vessel would've taken five to seven days. On the other hand, if our military ship had pushed its engines, we could've made the trip in under two.
Tiago and I stood by a reinforced window, looking down at the colossal planet below—far larger than Earth, and even more massive than my own world. Verdant forests stretched across its surface, broken by mountain ranges and sprawling oceans. It was wild, alive, and heavily defended.
We could see the enormous planetary shield covering the atmosphere, satellite networks in constant motion, and patrol fleets standing ready to intercept threats—whether Zergs, cosmic beasts, or anything else foolish enough to attack.
Sections of the shield pulsed and opened briefly to allow civilian ships through, forming orderly queues in space. But our vessel bypassed them entirely, directed to a separate entry route—clearly reserved for military use.
Then came the transmission from the planet's entrance control:
[Ship, transmit identification number.]
The officers at the comms responded immediately.
[Welcome, ship of the 4th Army. Honor acknowledged. Access granted. Proceed.]
Tiago and I watched in silence as a massive metallic ring shimmered with blue energy. A portion of the planetary shield peeled open, just enough for our vessel to slip through. The ship passed into the atmosphere, descending smoothly toward the surface.
That's when Leonardo's voice came through my smart communicator.
"Alex?"
"Yes, Leonardo?"
I was surprised but couldn't help smiling. Over the past three days, we'd spoken several times. He was surprisingly easy to talk to—composed, kind even. Nothing like the cold, dangerous general most people described. Still… something about him felt deeper. As if there were things hidden behind that polite smile. I had my suspicions, but I wasn't planning to ask—for now.
"How's the trip going?"
"Smooth so far. Which city are we heading to?"
"Arthurian. It's where the Federation's top military academy is located. The 4th Army has one of its primary bases nearby. Most other armies have outposts in the region too," he explained.
"We'll arrive in about twenty minutes. I'll meet you there and accompany you to the academy."
My smile vanished.
"No."
There was a pause.
"...Why?"
His voice had dropped to something that sounded almost wounded. I sighed.
"It'd draw too much attention. Ask Pedro—he'll back me up. We'll meet later."
He was quiet for a moment, and I could hear a distant murmur—Pedro, probably. Then Leonardo's voice returned, softer:
"Can I still contact you through the communicator…?"
"You can."
"Anytime…?"
I frowned, but eventually nodded, even if he couldn't see it. "Yes."
We exchanged a few more words before ending the call. When I looked up, Tiago was staring at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said, turning away with an exaggerated air of innocence.
I let it go. Instead, I focused on the world beneath us—massive trees taller than skyscrapers, the distant roars of beasts echoing from the surface, and enormous flying creatures circling far below. Some looked like dinosaurs, others like mythic birds. Most ignored the ship. The few who didn't were calmly repelled by defense pulses—flashes of light or arcs of electricity.
This planet, chosen as the Federation's representative Selvagian world, was as wild and untamed as it was advanced.
Arthurian City.
A sprawling city that stretched across land and sky. Dozens of floating platforms hovered above the surface, held in place by powerful anti-gravity systems. Each had its own energy shield.
Leonardo rejoined us as we approached and began explaining:
"Each platform has a specific function. Some are residential—ranging from simple apartments to luxury estates. Others host commercial districts, factories, or corporate offices."
"And security?" I asked.
He smiled, always ready with an answer.
"Every platform has its own defenses. Plus, patrol ships and drones are active at all times. Wild beast attacks are rare—they know their limits. Even when they go berserk, instinct usually keeps them away from Federation zones."
I nodded in understanding.
Tiago chimed in.
"What about the academy?"
"It's on the surface, along with most major military bases," Leonardo replied. "Lower altitude means stronger defense positioning and more stable infrastructure."
Our ship finally began descending toward one of the surface platforms—one near the academy, judging by its size and design. The landing zone was busy: ships of varying types, autonomous vehicles, mechs and loading robots coordinating like clockwork.
Leonardo turned to us.
"I'm heading to the control room. Did you bring everything?"
"Yes," we both replied. Neither of us had much, and I kept most of my gear in my personal storage space.
Before leaving, he glanced at me one last time.
"Your room on the ship will still be yours."
Then he disappeared—faster than I expected. I stood there, momentarily thrown off.
Was this his way of trying to pull me into the 4th Army?
I sighed. It might be his ship, but that didn't mean I had to follow his path.
Soon, the ship touched down. The descent had been seamless.
Tiago and I exchanged a look, then stepped toward the exit—into the heart of Arthurian, and whatever came next.