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It was high noon, the overhead sun baking the hardpacked salt flat in the North Western Democracy desert. Heat waves rose from the ground, distorting the optics of every Bot stationed at Ducal's home base. It was for this reason that RJ was positioned on an elevated platform, the precariousness of it only allowing the smallest and lightest of Bots to perch atop for their round of overwatch sentry duty. Some passed the time by picking up human radio waves for news and music (though mostly music Herbs would admit) but RJ, with her enhanced eyes and long-scoped rifle liked to watch traffic pass by on a far distant highway. It was nearly beyond the curvature of the earth which truly made spotting the vehicles a game. She'd rolled a six-sided cube before climbing to the platform's lofty heights and the color she'd be looking out for today was white.
RJ settled in and began to scan the horizon. As she did so she noticed a gleaming speck. Adjusting the lenses of her scope RJ confirmed her suspicions: the speck was a ship, and it was getting closer.
*********
Ducal was preparing a mission briefing in his private quarters, a sectioned off portion of what had once been an aircraft hangar on the abandoned human military outpost when the general warning klaxon blared from overhead speakers. Grabbing his sword and rifle where they hung on the wall, the Commander of the terrestrial-bound Valiant forces threw the door wide and strode forth with purpose.
Beyond the faded black asphalt and its surrounding wall Ducal saw a bright white spacecraft currently configured for atmospheric flight on final approach, preparing to settle down. Its sleek, angular design and flowing lines bore the unmistakable influence of The One. Every Valiant present was rushing towards it, some with weapons drawn and held at the ready. Ducal needed to take control of the situation with a quickness.
Arriving at the base’s outer perimeter, Ducal was in time to witness the boarding ramp of the craft lower and its occupants exit. Many present raised their arms to shield their eyes against the radiant brilliance of the warrior's pristine white armor. At their head marched a figure Ducal remember well; had in fact begun to question if he would ever lay eyes upon again.
Tall and slim of figure, hidden strength betrayed by the ease with which she handled the great Valiant artefact all present recognized as the Eternity Blade, Swordana Bladefast descended at the head of her small but not unimpressive procession. Weapons were lowered as Swordana's five companions took up honor guard position behind her. Ducal stepped forward and made the sign of ceremonial greeting, lowering his head in respect. A collective murmur sounded from the gathered crowd. Ducal, Right Hand of The One, was neither equal nor below anyone on Earth to afford them such respect. Though this newcomer wielded the Eternity Blade her face was unknown to them. Sensing the disquiet and uneasiness growing in the gathered throng, the newcomer spoke, her voice ringing out loud and clear like the peal of a silver bell.
"I am Swordana Bladefast, Commander of the Gate of Revelation and keeper of the Eternity Blade. I and my White Knights are here under direct order of The One to render aid to Ducal and eliminate the dark threats standing against humanity."
********
As Ducal led Swordana and her White Knight cadre, now increased in number to a total of nine as it was revealed that one of her companions had been hosting three symbiotes, through the Valiant's encampment Swordana forced her features to remain impassive. She couldn't decide if she wanted to frown in pity or sneer in disgust at the squalor her long separated Valiant brethren had been forced to make their home; a small, human-sized military outpost that had been added onto with ramshackle scrap metal structures draped with cloth and tarp coverings flapping noisily in the stiflingly hot desert breeze. Ducal had simply told her during the tour that his ship had been destroyed while in space. She knew that his ship was meant to be reconfigured into a ground-based headquarters once it had made planet fall just as hers was and would be. Glancing at him out of the corner of her optics she could tell by the stiffness of his movements and slightly stilted nature of his words that he was embarrassed by the surroundings he currently found himself in while in her company, accustomed as he once was to the resplendent palisades surrounding The One's inner sanctum. Pity then, she decided, though she would never dare express it to Ducal. At least not while in public.
As the tour continued, Swordana dismissed each of her companions in turn when they passed a station suited to their particular talents with instructions to be brought up to speed on the Earth's state of being in that field. It was difficult for her to view so many noble Valiants in their current state. Though some, like Ducal and his ever-present shadow Battlestar, were still pure of form as The One had intended them to be, others bore the unmistakable quirks and flaws that betrayed troubled downloads and improperly altered codes despite The One's best attempts at defragmentation. Would that she could help them all, but such was beyond her doing. The most she could do was dispatch her companion Gravity Corecode when they arrived at the medical bay, stinking with a layer of organic fossil oils that could never be fully removed no matter how many times the place was scrubbed from floor to ceiling, to offer whatever aid he could from his vast stores of knowledge to the Clerics and Priests who claimed the area as their domain.
As Ducal gestured towards the actual purpose-built structure that served as the base's central headquarters, Swordana noticed a group of Bots engaged in what appeared to be less target practice and more of a sharpshooting competition. One of the Bots, body coloring a sharp contrast of blue and orange, managed to keep an oil drum suspended in midair with a series of precision low power shots from his energy pistol.
"Who is that?" Swordana asked Ducal, nodding slightly at the Bot in question.
"That one has chosen the moniker of Artomas." Ducal replied, feeling the slightest swell of pride.
As the pistol's charge pack ran dry, the well dented oil drum fell to the ground with a clang. A round of cheers arose from the group as a collection of small green energy cubes were collected from the crowd and presented to the champion of the hour. As Artomas turned he caught Swordana's watchful eye upon him, offering a subtle salute with his blaster pistol before returning it to its hip holster with an artful twirl. Swordana returned the gesture with a slight nod of her head before the sharpshooter turned away.
"It is good to see that your soldiers are able to make competition out of a training exercise. I remember during the war many fell victim to ennui."
Ducal did his best to school his facial expression as neutrally as possible, offering only a slight grunt in response. He would never admit it, but after all this time on Earth it was becoming more and more difficult to think of those under his command as soldiers instead of family.
As Swordana turned away to follow Ducal into the HQ proper, she noticed Artomas offer some of his winnings to one of the competition’s onlookers.
********
Once inside Ducal dismissed Battlestar, the slim female warrior leaving with only mild protest. The tour inside was short, ending at Ducal's office and private quarters. As the door closed behind her Swordana suppressed a sigh. She despised what she would have to now do, but it was necessary. The mission came first above everything.
"Swordana..." Ducal began, the simple act of speaking her name carrying volumes in his tone.
Swordana planted the tip of her relic blade into the floor, her hands resting upon its pommel. "Ducal," she stated, hardening her voice, "Though we shared a bond during the Great War, The One did not send me here to continue what we once had between us. I am charged with a mission of the highest order which comes before anything else."
Ducal's great stature sagged fractionally. "As it should be." He whispered.
Swordana allowed a slight softening of her voice, though she lost none of the steel her posture displayed. "Perhaps once all this is over and we put the Material Plane on the far side of the Great Rift, we may perhaps explore what could have been."
Ducal's optics glowed brighter for an instant at that.
Swordana renewed her grasp upon The Eternity Blade and leveled her voice. "Until such time, however much time it may take, professionalism in all things."
Ducal squared his jaw and drew his shoulders back up, standing ramrod straight. "Agreed."
Swoardana relaxed, grateful that bit of unpleasantness had been delt with. Ducal placed his weapons back upon the wall and gestured for her to sit on the bench across from the welded steel construct that acted as his desk.
Once she was settled Swordana laid out her mission to Ducal. She and her White Knights would deal with fighting against the enemies that aligned themselves against humanity, freeing up Ducal and his Valiant warriors for their hunt of Galaxy and his vile Deceivers. She would convert her ship to a ground base at Ducal's location and would offer aid when necessary, but she and her cadre did not answer to him, their base off limits to any personnel not given express permission to enter. Ducal nodded through the briefing, agreeing with the terms laid out before him, knowing that the will of The One was not to be questioned.
"One last thing before I take my leave." Swordana said as she stood. "The One has granted me leave to bestow a modifying code addition to those I deem fit to join my cause. Though not often I may in time call upon you to relinquish personnel for attachment to my crusade. As such, I find my number currently a bit shy of what I need to adequately accomplish my task here."
Ducal narrowed his optics, unhappy at having to lose one of his number yet, knowing Swordana as he did, knew she wouldn't abuse this permission.
"You have someone in mind I suppose?" Ducal attempted to keep his voice carefully neutral.
She smirked slightly at his put-out tone and cast her mind back earlier to the sharpshooting competition she had witnessed. Oh the possibilities with that one.
"Yes, I think I do..."