Matthews stood for a moment, catching his breath. The command centre was eerily silent, save for the hum of broken consoles and flickering lights. He turned, ready to move out when every screen in the room suddenly crackled to life. At first, it was static—then, slowly, the image sharpened. Ajax’s face filled every display, his expression calm and unnerving. His pale eyes gleamed with the same cool detachment that had sent the system into chaos decades ago. Matthews’ heart sank.
“A new age is dawning,” Ajax’s voice echoed through the command centre, smooth and steady. “An age where humanity will be truly free to embrace its destiny among the stars.”
Matthews’ jaw tightened as he watched the screens. Ajax leaned forward slightly, his presence consuming every inch of the displays. “The system may have forgotten the power of true conviction. It has forgotten what men like me, General Westland Ajax are capable of. Yes, my brothers and sisters I live! The EF and the other Star nations are fighting to save a crumbling order—a system that has lied to you, deceived you all. But soon, they will see. All of them.”
Suddenly, the lights in the command centre flickered again, and a low hum reverberated through the room. Matthews glanced around, realizing with horror what was happening. Ajax was transmitting this message to every corner of the system.
“Let me show you.”
Above Eris the battle between the Star Core forces and the Red Brotherhood raged on. Talon fighters weaved in and out of deadly skirmishes, their laser fire lighting up the darkness as explosions tore through capital ships.
On the Camelot, every comm screen aboard the ship flickered. The same interference rippled across all fleet ships. All at once, communications went dead. In the cockpit of her Talon, Valdez’s eyes widened as Ajax’s face appeared on every display, his voice cutting through the comm chatter.
“Soldiers of the corrupt Star Nations,” Ajax’s voice boomed, clear and commanding, “you fight for a broken regime. You sacrifice yourselves for lies. But now, you will hear the truth. The power that has been kept from you... the secrets that Earth hides... they will soon be laid bare.”
Valdez stared in disbelief as her ship’s systems were hijacked, Ajax’s voice overshadowed every other communication.
