~Xandar, Nova Corps Headquarters~
Rhomann Dey strode forward in his blue uniform, three luminous points glowing on his chest, the rank insignia of a Denarian in the Nova Corps.
As one of the few neutral forces maintaining order across the cosmos, the Nova Corps maintained a strict hierarchical structure. From freshly graduated rookies and first-tier Nova Corpsmen to fourth-tier Denarians, each rank carried distinct authority. At the apex stood Nova Prime.
Since his promotion to Denarian, Rhomann no longer had to clash with space pirates and mercenaries in brutal skirmishes. His once-robust physique had gradually grown soft and portly.
He absently touched his receding hairline, wistfully recalling his days as a lowly Nova Corpsman.
Entering the high-security conference room within headquarters, Rhomann straightened his uniform, preparing to meet Nova Prime.
In the spacious hall, the Nova Prime was in the middle of a video conference with a Kree Empire Accuser. A crisp holographic projection hovered in midair, displaying a blue head adorned with vertical black stripes.
Rhomann halted his steps. As an elite senior officer of the Nova Corps, he was well aware of the escalating conflict between Xandar and the Kree Empire.
That lunatic, Ronan the Accuser, had rallied the empire's militarist warlords, igniting a sweeping military coup aimed at toppling the Supreme Intelligence's rule.
The Kree Empire and Xandar had once signed a peace treaty, halting hostilities and gradually withdrawing their fleets. But pressured by rising militarist sentiment within the empire and the warlord faction led by Ronan, the Kree Empress had unilaterally torn up the agreement in a bid to appease domestic tensions...
"Kree fleets landed on four of Xandar's resource-rich planets yesterday, destroying thirteen outposts and five military bases… Lord Palk, neither you nor I wish to see war reignite. According to the Supreme Intelligence's simulations, this benefits neither side." the Nova Prime said, her expression grave.
Xandar held little desire to prolong this conflict.
Unlike the Kree Empire's rigid culture, Xandar championed multicultural integration with extraordinary inclusiveness. Its open, liberal ethos attracted vast waves of immigrants, fueling a highly developed trade economy.
This was precisely why Ronan denounced Xandar as a plague of inferior beings deserving extermination.
Thriving commerce and a free, open society had forged a diversified capitalist nation that drew countless immigrants, accelerating Xandar's colonial expansion far beyond other civilizations.
Yet this very success threatened the dominance of the three great empires, especially the perpetually antagonistic Kree.
The militarist warlords relentlessly pushed to colonize Xandar and plunder its wealth, while the aristocratic faction deemed endless warfare meaningless, merely inflating military expenditures.
"My apologies. I am powerless," Palk, leader of the moderate faction, spoke with regret, "Ronan has gone mad, no one can reason with a lunatic."
Also a member of the Accuser council and a high-ranking Kree noble, Palk believed war only drained imperial coffers and hindered trade. The Supreme Intelligence had reached the same conclusion, that was why the original peace treaty had been signed.
However, that lunatic Ronan had rallied warlords to declare a military coup against the Supreme Intelligence's longstanding rule. This plunged the Kree Empire into unprecedented turmoil.
In peacetime, regional warlords would gradually lose influence while nobles ushered in a new era of governance.
This fundamental contradiction could not be reconciled. Thus, Ronan's madness unexpectedly garnered widespread support, and the warlord faction grew ever stronger.
Now the Kree Empire was consumed by its own chaos, leaving no capacity to concern itself with war-ravaged Xandar.
"I, too, wish to avoid reigniting imperial warfare, but it appears this tide cannot be stemmed." Palk shook his head helplessly and terminated the transmission.
On one hand, Ronan continued stoking internal conflict within the empire; on the other, he relentlessly plundered Xandar. Full-scale war would erupt before long.
The Nova Prime slammed a fist onto the table. As leader of the Nova Corps and a senator of Xandar, she bore dual responsibilities.
Though the Nova Corps ought to remain impartial, any sentient being possessed emotional inclinations.
Xandar's liberal, open culture had earned the Corps' deep admiration, otherwise this formidable force would never have established its headquarters here.
More crucially, Xandar's senate had long funded the Nova Corps: building academies, organizing fleets, exploring and developing uninhabited worlds; which all required immense investment.
The Nova Corps had begun as mere pioneers who formed a militia-like unit of roughly five hundred to withstand planetary exploration hazards.
Through gradual development, it established strict hierarchies and internal regulations, evolving into today's organized force.
But after leaving pioneering hardships behind, these space militiamen discovered that maintaining starships and replenishing personnel demanded constant resources. Relying solely on frontier worlds could not sustain the Corps' growth, that was when Xandar stepped forward as a benevolent patron.
Through prolonged nurturing, the Nova Corps, ostensibly guardians of cosmic order, had effectively become Xandar's planetary defense force...
After prolonged contemplation, the Nova Prime sighed and issued the order, "Inform Xandar's senate to initiate Level One war readiness."
War was a savage, merciless beast, insatiably devouring lives without restraint. The Nova Corps' daily duty involved combating notorious space pirates, apprehending criminal mercenaries and thugs.
But warfare between civilizations far exceeded the Corps' capacity to control.
Seeing the Denarian, the Nova Prime managed a faint smile, saying, "Rhomann, do you have any good news to brighten my day?"
"I'm not sure if this counts as good or bad." Rhomann replied, habitually running a hand over his thinning hairline before stepping forward to hand over a report.
Such tasks normally fell outside a Denarian's duties, but having promised to spend time with his daughter this week, Rhomann had rotated back to Xandar from the fleet under the guise of work.
"Three days ago, a large-scale conflict erupted at Knowhere." Rhomann activated the file's video feed, projecting it into the air, "Twenty pirate gangs plus several hundred mercenaries... over six thousand combatants total. One Hailer-class warship and twelve smaller fleets… This level of armament could easily conquer a pre-colonial civilization."
The Nova Prime frowned at the densely packed battle formations and asked, "I recall Knowhere's owner was Taneleer Tivan."
"That's history. It now belongs to someone else." Rhomann expanded the image, and a blurred figure materialized. His voice grew solemn, "The Nova Corps has no information on this figure. The sole verified fact is that this man is from Earth."
...
{T/N: Is anyone here a fan of 'The Irregular at Magic High School', and happens to be looking for a good fanfic of the franchise to read?
Well, look no further... I happen to have taken up one such fic as my next project. Just click on my profile and look for 'The Mob at Magic High School'... That one will definitely get you hooked!}
With that out of the way, for every 40 power stones, you'll get a bonus chapter of this book. Alternatively, you can read the remaining chapters ahead of schedule here: [email protected]/matengelem01