Chapter One:

            “It was horrible; I could barely comprehend what was going on. I was on a mission working recon when it happened. I had just been shipped out from Berlin when I heard it; the ear shattering sound, the resounding echo of death that plagued my hometown. It isn’t something that will escape my memories in my lifetime. But…that is to be expected of war. All of you are here today because you believe in your pride as EAP soldiers. You have succeeded where many have failed and become true MF pilots. I am proud of you all.” The youthful officer announced. His bright radiant blonde hair flowing through the artificial gravity inside the EAP moon base, Dämmerung, while dozens of wide eyed teens stared back at him in awe. It was graduation day for the young soldiers, the day where they would be officially recognized as EAP pilots. Their commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Nathan Leviticus had survived the nuclear bombing on Berlin only a year ago. He carried the scars of his past deep within his reluctant soul, and shared his tale of the TA’s tragic attack to those who he would consider his comrades in arms.

The moon had only recently been outfitted with TA and EAP bases in order to act as a medium between the Earth and the in construction space stations that were being built by both military factions. With the appearance of Red Fury on Mars it was no longer safe or logical to continue parading around with their weapons. Red Fury was recognized as a terrorist outfit and was considered highly dangerous and unpredictable. No one knew where or when they would strike, both the TA and the EAP could handle such outbreaks on their own, but in the current state of the world and the war neither had luxury of focusing on just one threat. If the EAP focused on the Red Fury threats then they would be open to attack from the TA and the same goes for the TA. The war, in the eyes of the citizens of Earth and even of the ones currently migrating to Mars was nothing more than a dispute between children due to the lack of rational excuses. Most felt the war was a test of testosterone, an arms race much like the ancient Cold War in the far history of America and the extinct USSR. The TA and the EAP were fighting to prove their superiority over the other and in turn control the World’s economy and eventual prosperity into space and the unknown. Naturally both the TA and the EAP were blind to this method of thought and continued fighting with full force, soldiers drowned in their pride in their nations. Pride however, is the deadliest sin of all.

“Lieutenant Commander Leviticus.” A thunderous voice echoed on the side of the auditorium instantly grabbing Leviticus’ attention.
Nathan smiled at his graduating class rubbing the back of his neck.   

“Dismissed for now!” Nathan screamed. With a quick salute the class scattered throughout the room leaving the Lieutenant Commander with his superior officer, General Ritsuzen, a Japanese MF pilot who survived the attack on Japan a year ago during Rebel358’s Tribulation. He and Nathan were close friends most of their lives in service to the EAP, both graduated from the same MF training school located just south west of Berlin. Despite the immense gap between their scores the two most recognized pilots in the MF training academy were close friends, rivals even. Hayate Ritsuzen, the number one pilot in the academy and Nathan Leviticus, the worst pilot in the academy. Their friendship transcended normal human understanding and fell into its own category of extraordinary. The two separated just after Hayate was promoted to General leaving his battalion which was once under the command of the late Fenrir. Nathan quickly snapped to attention bringing his right hand perpendicular to his forehead, Hayate did the same. A brief moment of silence swept through the oval shaped auditorium but quickly shattered as the two friends broke out in a fit of laughter.

“How long has it been Hayate?” Nathan remarked. His crisp blue eyes stared at the collage of scars that covered Hayate’s rough face. His square like face emanated a feeling of sternness and strict obedience but his thin slit eyes told a different story, Hayate’s night like eyes were filled with torment and regret, only Nathan could see and understand the sorrow in his friend’s eyes; they were in fact the same person.
Hayate sighed while his fingers grazed slightly across his right cheek. The tips of each finger gliding over the star shaped scar that was burned into his skin.

“It’s been at least a year and a half.”

“Really, it’s felt like much longer.” Nathan replied.

“It does, I know you’ve been roaming around Earth on the various EAP tours and have been up here for 6 months. So I’m not sure if you know.”

“Huh? Know what?” Nathan asked, he never liked it when Hayate knew something he didn’t. It was just like in the academy when Hayate would always have a much tighter grip on reality and the events that went on in the outside world.

Hayate shrugged his shoulders, as a soldier he was expected to be able to toss emotions aside, as a General he was expected to act with eloquence and grace at all times, but as a human he was expected to act in regards to his emotions. The inner conflict that stirs in the pits of each and every soldier, TA and EAP alike, do you become completely numb to one’s own humanity and be labeled as a monster, or do you keep your humanity and be unable to protect the ones you love to the best of your ability? It was a question that every soldier had thought about at one time or another.

“Fenrir-sensei….he’s dead.” Hayate mumbled.

“….” Nathan glanced away from his friend, this was one of the few times that he knew something that Hayate did before Hayate spoke of it. “I know…but this isn’t what you came here to tell me is it?”

“Heh….no.”

“What’s going on then Hayate?”

“It’s Red Fury. We still have a small amount of bases left on Mars; we thought that with the current colonization process going on that we wouldn’t have to worry about Red Fury. But we were wrong.”

“I’m sure, that was pretty ignorant of the higher ups to come to that conclusion. Think about it, Red Fury was a small organization that dwelled in the TA. They left to Mars and started a rebellion, 3 men is what I’m told. 3 men started this rebellion and with the colonization of Mars and the cities in construction it is only natural for Red Fury to begin to act up. They’re looking for members Hayate, and the people going to Mars are people trying to escape the war or hoping for an end. This Carlos Rendetore, I heard he’s a persuader, someone with the natural ability to manipulate people’s minds and actions. He’s the perfect politician.”

“I know Nathan. But it’s not just Red Fury; the TA is taking advantage of the bombings of our bases. They too still have some bases left, mainly around the area of the South Western territory. You remember that don’t you?”

“The place where Utopia lays….I’ve heard rumors about it yes.”

“Well Red Fury refuses to go near that area for some reason and because of that the TA’s forces on Mars remain strong. Much stronger than ours.”

“So what’s you’re point. You’re not one for small talk Hayate, I know you.”

“Heh, you’re right. You do know me. Well then, here’s the situation. Recently a battle has broken out on the outskirts of Myosin Grad. We were able to subdue the TA as much as we could and in the process were able to get hold of a few POWs. MF pilots mainly, and good ones at that.”

“I see, so how does this involve me?”

“Well you see, the attack itself doesn’t, you’re a teacher on the academy remember? You no longer are assigned to missions. You’ve been labeled mentally unstable for action.”

“The kids? You’re here for the kids aren’t you?”

“*sigh*…unfortunately I am. I know what you’re thinking Nathan, that they just graduated and are not ready for actual combat. But the severity of our situation on Mars is too great to be ignored. With this Red Fury attacking randomly and with the TA still equipped to fight we are out numbered. That’s the truth of the matter, we’ve made it seem like we have the upper hand, and the TA believes we do too. But I’m not sure how much longer that is going to last. I’ve been ordered to take the top 20 graduates and bring them back to Mosin Grad to pick up their Night-Wings.”

“Hayate….if you throw these kids in a battle so suddenly….”

“They’ll die, I’m fully aware of that. But you of all people should know that death is a part of war.”

“Hayate….”

“You need to get over your fear of death Nathan. It is tragic and appalling that your family died in the way that they did. But that was their predetermined fate, there was nothing you or anyone else could have done to prevent that.”

“Predetermined eh?”

“Yes, I firmly believe that everyone’s destiny is planned in advance.”

“So we lack free will?”

“Nathan, it is not that we lack free will, we still have to make decisions in our lives. But with each decision there lies a path, a path that leads to a determined fate. Each person is born with a limited number of fate variations, which one they do choose is up to them. But that person can not achieve something outside of his predetermined bag of destinies. We as humans are limited to the future that God has laid out for us. We just get the chance to choose what path we take to our inevitable future. Don’t get confused, there is one ultimate fate awaiting all of us, but there are small variations to that fate, and that is where our free will comes in. Say you’re destined to die in battle, with free will you can choose which battle you die in. But you are not able to escape the fact that you are going to die in battle.”

“Hayate….always preaching. You feel so superior don’t you? That only you can understand human potential and its reason for living.”

“Nathan…it’s not that I am preaching or acting superior. I have just come to terms with my existence and the existence laid out for all humanity. Once you accept this I feel a great burden will be lifted off your shoulders.”

“….”

“I will be going to talk with the soldiers that are being transferred to Mars……one last thing before I leave Nathan. Get some help, I fear that if you do not then you’re fate will become dim and fade from existence soon.” Hayate mumbled. He prepared to salute his friend but half way through the motions stopped. His eyes quivered with sullen intent, as such a close friend he too shared the same pain that Nathan felt. It was unfortunate to know that his friend was no longer able to go on missions or even actively participate in defensive strategies; he was labeled as a threat if he were to sit back in the cockpit of an MF.

Nathan stood surrounded by emptiness as the door slowly shut with a creak. 

“Am I…..am I really that messed up? heh…” His eyes closed tightly, both of his fists were shaking at an alarming rate. “I’m sorry Hayate, but I do not believe that our destiny is predetermined, as humans, we have the power to change the course of our destiny….”