War Core 2, Chapter 51 and Epilogue.

We've reached the end of book 2. The last chapter and epilogue are short, so I've included both here. 

What's next? I'm working on Limitless Seas 2, but we'll also see new chapters of War Core 3 every Wednesday. Have a great weekend everyone, and we'll be back on the high seas with Captain Larson and the Sea Venom on Monday.

Chapter 51.

The campaign for the Krixnas homeworld is complete. Your allied forces were unable to stop the enemy from its conquest, but you did complete your secondary objective and covered the evacuation of the Krixnas civilians to their new home. Prepare for final campaign calculations.

Post-battle calculations are commencing.

Base reward: 25 points.

Victory bonus for battles won: 250 points.

Campaign objective bonus: 0 points.

Campaign secondary objective bonus: 100 points.

Observation bonus: 100 points.

Total points awarded, 475.

War core termination calculation. Please note that this campaign has a higher lethality rate than a standard campaign. All additional lethality factors gained or lost will be implemented in the final calculation.

Congratulations! Your core has survived the campaign.

Reward point total: 600/1000.

You will now be reconnected to your home core location.

The time it took for Hugh to return home was welcome. Flying his consciousness through space helped him to try and sort out his thoughts. They had lost the campaign, but sort of dug themselves out by protecting the evacuation. The Ssath had proven that they were deadly, but not unbeatable. It was a close-run thing, and it could have turned out completely different with only a few small changes. If he hadn’t purchased the ammo earlier, if he had chosen different upgrades, so many things could have altered the outcome for good or ill. He knew it would serve no purpose to worry over it, the only thing he could do was work harder, learn from what went well and what went wrong.

Earth pulled into view, his point of view hurling toward the small oil rig off the California coast. Once inside the base, he felt a nudge as he returned to the war core. He was back, and it was time to find out what had been happening while he had been away, as well as find out just what this campaign had cost him.

“Welcome back, Hugh, we’re glad to see you’re still with us,” Admiral Nix announced as Hugh took a look around the combat bay, watching as pods containing the live soldiers opened and the men emerged, willing the green lights to keep coming on until all his men were back.

“Thank you, sir, it was a rough one,” Hugh replied.

“I know, this time, we were able to work out a deal where we could see most of the battle. We’ll hold a debrief when we’re done here,” Nix said. The admiral didn’t leave, he stood by Hugh’s side as they watched the survivors return. Other advisors arrived, Maddison, Smith, the other commanders that weren’t on the mission, and even Markum, their intel liaison.

None of them said anything as the last of the living exited their pods, the commanders that had fought with him in the battle were groggy as they emerged, walking over to join Hugh and the others. Almost all of them did, Tremaine wasn’t there, his pod was among too many others with a red light on its side. Maddison let out a soft sob, and while the others maintained their military bearing, more than a few eyes were glistening with tears. They stayed there, silent as the medics came and did their job, removing the fallen.

“Present, arms!” Nix called out, the military members of the group saluting, the others bowing their heads in reverence until the last casualty was taken away.

“Hugh, we’ll debrief when you’re ready, there’s a lot to go over, but you and the other cores did a hell of a job, even bought us some time before the Ssath can continue their assault,” Nix told him.

“Any news on the other cores?” Hugh asked.

“We can go over it in more detail later, but it isn’t good. The Krixnas cores were wiped out entirely. As for our cores, we lost Stephan Wagner and Felicia Rose. The others are all back, but their forces are as beat up as ours,” Nix advised. Hugh had expected Stephan’s loss, but losing the British core, Felicia, was another blow.

“I think I need a bit, sir, I know we’ve got a lot of work to do, but at least we’ve proven that we can meet the Ssath in battle and hold our own against them,” Hugh said.

“You did a little better than hold your own Hugh, you totally blew that Ssath avatar away,” Maddison added, a small smile appearing on her tear-streaked face as she walked to the conference room. She was right, he did finally get some payback on Hssim, but it didn’t feel like enough, the cost was too high. Sure, he had taken out the enemy core, but the fight was just getting started, and Earth was next on the Ssath menu.

Epilogue.

The campaign for the Krixnas homeworld is complete. You have conquered the Krixnas homeworld, but allowed the prey to escape, preventing a complete victory.

War core termination calculation. Please note that this campaign has a higher lethality rate than a standard campaign. All additional lethality factors gained or lost will be implemented in the final calculation.

We’re sorry to inform you that your core has been slated for termination.

Termination paused…alternative options identified.

Ssath, do you wish to live? Y/N.

“Yes, of course I do!” Hssim shouted into the ether.

A new assignment is being prepared for you, it will be dangerous and has a high likelihood for eventual termination. Knowing this, do you still wish to proceed, some races feel a comfortable and painless death is preferable to a painful and protracted life? Y/N.

“Yes, I’ll face any foe, complete any challenge if it means life. Pain is nothing to a true Ssath and I’m not some weakling that wishes for an easy death. What would you have me do?” Hssim asked.

Your core is being transferred to the Battle Pits, please standby, this experience will be painful.