Chapter 115

　　Atlas emerged from the Jump directly in front of the Starship, its movement through space sending a shockwave outwards from its entry point. The Stashipship rocked slightly from the turbulent energy its passage released.

　　Massive and menacing, the green-eyed Atlas floated in space, waiting for its master to board it and unleash its power against all of its foes. With wings outstretched, the Engine in its chest spun slowly, building up energy in anticipation of combat.

　　Inside the storage room, Kal stood on shaky legs. Blood trickled down his lips from his nose, leaving crimson drops on the metallic floor. Mare gripped him tightly by the arm to steady him while the Guards raised their Lasrifles, pointing them at the Baron.

　　"What are you playing at, Baron!?" The Captain shouted, her aide whispered fiercely next to her, showing a datapad with a holo of Atlas. The Guard Mobile Suits, all Medium and Heavy Class, that guarded them surrounded the Titan, waiting for orders to attack.

　　"I`m not playing at anything, Captain. Allow us to leave peacefully with Princess Marella as she has requested, and there will be no need for unpleasantness between us." Kal threatened. His skin was pale, and his hands shook, but he drew himself upright, attempting to project strength.

　　"There will be no Unpleasantness,` Baron. Your Titan can do very little without a Pilot." The Captain replied with confidence. She knew some things about the Atlas Mobile Suit from the Baron`s use of it over Terra several years before. She didn`t know its full capabilities but could make some assumptions.

　　"You`re right. It cannot do much without me Piloting it. But if I ask Atlas to come to me, nothing in the galaxy can prevent it from reaching my side. Not the few Mechs you have out there or the walls of this Staship`s storage hold." Kal explained.

　　"Emperor`s Mercy! Captain, see reason. Let us go. Uncle Argyle can come to Caledon if he needs to discuss the attack. You`re risking your lives over nothing." Mare reasoned.

　　The Captain paused for a moment, studying Kal carefully before nodding. The Baron seemed resolute, willing to die to take the Princess with him. The Captain recalled the rumours regarding his close relationship with the Empress. Perhaps he was betrothed to Marella.

　　"Fine. You may leave for Caledon, but I will inform Prince Argyle immediately. Do not doubt that he will come for you soon." The Captain threatened, gesturing to the Guards to lower their weapons. Mare breathed a sigh of relief as she led Kal to the shuttle.

　　In moments, the transport was leaving the hold, Ouroboros below it in its towing harness. Passing through the shields protecting the interior from the vacuum of space, they approached Atlas. Closing his eyes, Kal felt the connection between them, pressing on it to increase his control of the Titan.

　　With shaky hands, he pointed at the empty space beside their vessel.

　　"Home." Kal whispered before collapsing into Mare`s arms, unconscious.

　　The Engine inside the Titan spun rapidly, forming a Jump portal. The Turbulent energies drew them all in, leaving nothing but the Guard Starships behind.

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　　Prince Augustus woke slowly, groggy and confused. He was in a soft bed in an unfamiliar and sparsely decorated room. His eyes were blurry, and his head felt stuffy, similar to awakening after a night of intense drinking.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it`s taken without the author`s consent. Report it.

　　Running his hand through his hair, he winced at the greasy feeling left on his fingertips. He was wearing his black and gold silk suit. The top button was undone and showed creases from his slumber. Twisting, he set his bare feet on the metallic floor, wincing at the cold.

　　"Mackenzie." Augustus tried to shout for his aide, but his voice cracked, and he cut off his yell with a cough. Trying again, he waited for a response, only to give up after another minute.

　　Rubbing his eyes in an attempt to clear them, he looked around for his shoes, only to see the large window to the right of his bed. The portal showed a sea of stars, and a white sun shone in the distance as the Starship he was travelling in orbited an unfamiliar gas giant.

　　He could see the light reflect off something closer to the planet, a mining platform judging by the large tanks lining the top and the few smaller vessels travelling to the planet below.

　　"Where the hell am I" Augustus whispered in confusion. His last memory was of the meeting with his siblings, where they had agreed to eliminate Kalen Caledon. He had left and had gone&.somewhere?

　　It was a confusing mess. He certainly didn`t have any travel plans arranged. How had he gotten off Terra?

　　Standing, he moved to the nearby washroom, washing his face to clear away the last of the sleep from his eyes. Slightly refreshed, he pressed the button to open the door to his cabin, revealing a long, empty hallway.

　　Looking both ways for any crew, or his staff, he turned to the right and headed for the Command Centre. Surely a Starship would have a Captain, and they would explain what was happening.

　　Passing through the doorway to the command centre, a few crew greeted him and the Captain, all wearing Imperial Guard uniforms. They saluted at the sight of the Prince while the Captain, a middle-aged man, stood from his chair, walked forward and shook the Prince`s hand.

　　"Ah, you`re awake! A pleasure to see you again, Prince Augustus. We were warned that you would be tired, but I didn`t expect you to sleep for two days! It must have been quite the party on Terra!" The Captain exclaimed, releasing the Prince`s hand with a smile.

　　Augustus knew the man! He had travelled on this vessel before. It was normally assigned to the Royal family, staying close to Terra unless one of his siblings or himself needed to travel somewhere. He hadn`t been on board it for at least a year.

　　"Two days?! Captain, where are we? How did I get on board?" Augustus asked, trying to keep calm.

　　"You don`t remember, Sir? I`m not really surprised. Your aide informed us you were under the weather,` so to speak. You were escorted by a shuttle two days ago over Terra. We were ordered to bring you here by the Emperor himself." The Captain explained.

　　"My Father did? You spoke to him personally?" Augustus asked.

　　"Well, no. It was an order delivered to our terminal, bearing the Emperor`s seal and authentication codes. There is also a letter to you as well, Sir. I was to give it to you when you awoke. Your aide was quite explicit about that." The Captain replied, turning around and pulling out a leather portfolio and withdrawing a letter from inside.

　　"Mackenzie? Where is she?" Augustus asked, taking the envelope from the Captain.

　　Made of expensive, creamy white paper, it was affixed with a wax seal bearing his Father`s Imperial Seal, an archaic method that Aurelius insisted on maintaining. As if someone could not easily scan the interior of the message or use some other means to lift the wax and replace it once they were done.

　　"No, Sir. It wasn`t Mackenzie. I`ve met her before. It must have been one of your other aides." The Captain replied.

　　"I have no other aides." Prince Augustus replied. There were very few people he would trust to handle his affairs. Mackenzie had been in his service for centuries. Pushing the thought aside, he cracked the wax seal and pulled out the short, handwritten note inside.

　　It was from his Father.

　　My Son,

　　Reading this now, I am sure you have many questions, but I am afraid I have few answers for you. Forgive me for sending you off Terra in the condition that I did, but I could not risk anything happening to you.

　　Argyle plans deceit. Your agreement to act against Baron Caledon was merely a ruse for him to consolidate his forces. I suspect he plans an attack on Terra from the information I have intercepted. If this comes to pass, it is up to you, my son, to follow in my footsteps and take your place as Emperor.

　　I have faith in you, Augustus.

　　Aurelius.

　　Augustus re-read the letter in shock before carefully examining it. The handwriting was the Emperor`s, and his father used other small things as a code to his children in his personal correspondence. A small double dot over an I` and a seemingly random smudge or a scratch that indicated it was truly from him.

　　The letter was real! Argyle was planning a coup, and his father had sent him away to protect and avenge him! Augustus breathed deeply, the rage swelling in his chest. He flushed red, crumpling the letter in his grip.

　　"Captain! Set a course for Terra immediately!"