Schemes In Sync

Back at the squad’s private space, Mira grinned at her teammates, clutching a small metallic drone in her hands. Its reflective, polished surface shimmered under the lights, faint blue pulses of chrono energy coursing along its edges.

Mira wasn’t called one of the most brilliant and crafty minds in the whole of Time Tower for no reason. And naturally that talent of hers pushed her to constantly invent new things. That’s why she couldn’t let Jessie’s suggestion just go to waste…

“Alright, team, listen up!” The team’s tech wiz announced, holding up the drone like a proud inventor. “Meet the newest member of the squad; the latest and most advanced model of my shield drone: Tidus!”

Jessie raised an eyebrow. “Tidus? I believe we agreed on Chrono-Pathfinder?”

Mira ignored him, tapping a button on the drone. With a soft hum, Tidus floated into the air, its angular design catching the light. The chrono energy pulsing through its body glowed warmly blue as it hovered, scanning the room.

“Go on, Tidus,” Mira prompted, crossing her arms. “Say hello.”

The drone’s eye-like core rotated slightly, then a mechanical, monotone voice echoed through the room. “Greetings, fellow knights. I’m the Chrono-Integrated Defensive Utility Sphere, Tactical Operations Model-437-X9. But you may refer to me as Tidus, for your convenience and because I have calculated that your attention spans are suboptimal.”

Jessie blinked, “It said what about our attention spans?”

Dax chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, it’s not wrong for some of us.”

Talia crossed her arms, “Mira, is this… intentional?”

Mira smirked like a proud parent. “What can I say? Tidus has personality. Go on, Tidus, tell them your main function.”

Tidus whirred again, its tone unwaveringly robotic. “Primary function: ensuring your survival because, frankly, your current track record is statistically depressing.”

Jessie suppressed a laugh. “I think I love this thing.”

“Of course you do,” Tidus replied, its tone unchanged. “My data tells me your approval metrics are easily achieved. A banana sticker would suffice.”

The room fell silent for a moment before Jessie doubled over with laughter, and even Talia cracked a smile.

“Finally somebody to put Jessie in his place.”

Mira grinned smugly, crossing her arms. “Told you. Tidus is the upgrade we never knew we needed.”

“Looks good,” Rhea said with a wry grin. “But if it gets sassier than Jessie, I’m shutting it down.”

Tidus’s blue energy pulsed once, almost like a wink. “Challenge accepted.”

So, uh… what else can it do?” Jessie asked, leaning back in his chair. “Apart from hovering around and being smug?”

Before anyone could respond, the holographic interface on the wall blinked to life with a sharp ping. The imposing figure of Commander Lorne materialized mid-sentence.

“Squad GX,” she began curtly, “report immediately.”

The squad was startled at first, but soon everyone composed themselves.

Rhea cleared her throat, as she turned to face the holographic Lorne. “Yes, Commander?”

Lorne’s piercing gaze swept over them, “The invitation card you recovered,” she said in her crisp tone, “it’s finally decrypted… and provided coordinates. We’ve identified the meeting point.”

Her gaze hardened. “Meet me in the briefing room in half an hour.”

With that, the holographic projection blinked out, leaving the squad in a stunned silence.

“Guess it’s finally time.” Dax grinned.

◕

As Squad GX gathered in the briefing room, Commander Lorne stood before them, arms crossed, her gaze steady and piercing. On the other side of the projection board however, unlike the usual briefings, was a man whose military white coat was adorned with more medals than was strictly necessary. His figure was tall and commanding, and his gaze sharp as he scanned each squad member’s face. His short graying hair was swept back, and his beard was well-kept to accentuate his strong jaw. No doubt another high ranking figure, Jessie thought, yet his squadmate’s faces said otherwise. It may not have been just another powerful man in the tower.

“Squad GX,” Lorne began, her tone sharp and formal. “This isn’t just another dealer bust. Our intel suggests we’re dealing with a highly organised network. They’re equipped with technology far more powerful than the ones we’ve seen in black-market circles. Storming in isn’t an option.”

Rhea nodded, her posture straight and steady. “Understood, Commander. What’s the plan of action?”

“Inflitration.” The other commanding figure in the room spoke firmly. Commander Lorne stood off to the side, and turned with a respectful nod towards him.

“Supreme Commander Ambrose Thane and his network have found the information on the auction site.” Lorne began, her voice changing slightly from her usual authoritative tone. “Thank you for joining us, Supreme Commander.”

Ambrose Thane inclined his head, his eyes glinting with the kind of authority that came with years of service. “It’s my pleasure to assist in this operation. This intel was hard-won,” he added, gesturing toward the projection. “This auction is a rare event, and the tech they’re trading is… unique. It’s crucial we proceed with precision.”

The room darkened as the holographic interface flared to life, displaying a sleek, futuristic train coursing through an endless expanse of barren land. Supreme Commander Ambrose Thane stood at the helm of the briefing, his imposing figure silhouetted against the glowing projection.

“Our operatives intercepted partial transmissions indicating movement between key points outside Neotera. These, coupled with patterns in recent temporal distortions, led us to surmise that the auction’s location was not static but mobile. Further analysis confirmed a hidden high-speed rail line active only during these events—its stealth tech made it nearly undetectable. That’s where we’ll find them.”

He flicked his hand, and the hologram zoomed in, showcasing the train’s layout—a series of interconnected cars, each one brimming with security measures. “This auction is unlike any we’ve seen before. They’ve chosen a moving train for a reason: it minimizes risk, keeps them mobile, and ensures that any interference will be dealt with swiftly.”

Commander Lorne, standing beside him, nodded curtly. “Storming a fixed location is one thing. Infiltrating a train running at full speed through barren territory is another. This mission will require precision, subtlety, and flawless execution. That’s why you’ll be going in low.”

Thane turned to the squad once more, his gaze piercing. At the powerful man’s words a set of masks blinked into the screen, “The organisers have mandated masks, so use them to your advantage. It’ll keep your identities secure, but the crowd will still be watchful. Captain Solstice, you’ll pose as the primary buyer, with Lieutenant Vanon and Officer Vespera as your entourage. Stick close, and don’t raise any suspicion.”

Rhea nodded, her eyes steely with determination. “Understood, Supreme Commander.”

Thane’s gaze shifted to Jessie and Mira, his expression remaining unreadable. “The auction will take place in the central cars, but security is tight. We’ve identified an entry point near the front—a cargo car used for supplies. Officers Chen and Valis, you’ll infiltrate from there, accessing the train’s network and securing the data on their clients and inventory. From what we’ve gathered, their servers are located in the third car.”

He turned to face Jessie fully, studying him with the faintest trace of something unreadable—a flicker of nostalgia, or perhaps a shadow of something deeper.

“Remember,” Thane continued, his voice low. “Stealth is paramount. We’ve been given this opportunity because they’re growing confident—reckless, even. Let’s not disappoint them by showing our hand too soon. Chen will handle the devices you’ll be using so our tech can bypass their detection radars.”

The hologram shifted, showing the train’s planned route through desolate lands marked with faint, swirling distortions. “And one last thing,” Thane added, his voice dropping slightly. “The train’s path cuts through areas affected by residual time distortions from the war. If anything goes wrong, the consequences could ripple far beyond this mission. Keep your chrono anchors calibrated and be prepared for anomalies.”

After a few final instructions, the briefing concluded.

“Ad Tempus…”

“Ad Futurum!”

Thane lingered as the squad filtered out of the room, watching with careful, almost paternal interest as Jessie passed him.

“Valis,” he called out softly, causing Jessie to stop and turn.

Jessie offered a nod, his easy grin present but slightly cautious. “Uh, Supreme Commander Thane?”

The older man’s gaze softened, a mix of contemplation and something else hidden beneath his calm demeanor. “Valis, or rather… Jessie. I knew your father well,” he began, keeping his tone gentle yet deliberate. “Thoma was a brilliant man—a man who saw possibilities most wouldn’t dare imagine. I’m not sure the Knights truly understood the weight of his work.”

Jessie shifted, his expression wavering between curiosity and the weight of his family legacy. “I get the sense the Knights don’r exactly see things that way.”

Thane let out a low chuckle, filled with a touch of bitterness. “Yes, well, our perspective can be… limited. Bureaucracies have a habit of that.” He paused, holding Jessie’s gaze firmly. “But don’t let them reduce you to your father’s shadow. You’re his son, yes, but you’re not his echo. I see potential in you, Jessie. Potential that goes far beyond what most here could even begin to understand.”

Jessie’s grin faded into something more genuine, a look of respect tinged with confusion. “Thank you, Supreme Commander.”

“Good luck in your mission.” Supreme Commander smiled coolly at the young man, dismissing him.

As Jessie saluted and left the briefing hall, Mira grabbed him by the arm.

“What the hell?! Did you know who you were just casually chatting with?!” Her tone was frantic and hushed, as if in the presence of a celebrity.

“Uh… a supreme Commander?” It was fair to say Jessie wasn’t fazed, or rather aware.

“A Supreme Commander my gears! That’s THE Ambrose Thane!”

“Is he that big of a deal?”

“If by big deal you mean only second in command to the High Arbiter, Viktor Magnus, then yes he is.” Talia affirmed, still lingering near after the briefing, “He’s the head of all the divisions, including ours, as well as the intelligence, and the specialists divisions. What business did someone of his caliber even have with you?”

Jessie froze for a second, his usual wit caught on his throat 

“Eh, just that he has high hopes for me. I get that every second Tuesday.” However he soon regained his attitude, winking at Talia who rolled her eyes.

“EH?!” Mira on the other hand was positively shocked, “Supreme Commander Thane has his eye on you?!”

“Well Mira, it seems your beloved Supreme Commander has keen eye for talent. Now let’s scram and see if we make it in time for the dinner meal at the canteen.”

After all this time spent with his squad, Jessie had started to trust his teammates fully. And although he knew their stance on his past, for some odd reason, he just couldn’t bring up Thane’s affiliation to his father. Not yet.

◕

As the still freshly graduated Chrono Knight left the briefing room, Ambrose Thane’s gaze followed him out the door, before he produced a short sigh.

“Valis… Will your bloodline help us… or ruin us once again?”