CHAPTER 5 (PART 2): LOST IN THE SEA
<hr>
ECF Space Center – Commander Control Room
The holographic screen flickered, displaying real-time footage from Phoenix Lair’s surveillance drones.
The scene of Ramirez and the Ghost Fangs securing the slave market played on multiple monitors. The freed captives, the defeated enemies, and the young Commander standing in the middle of it all—sword in one hand, pistol in the other.
Field Commander Ackerman sat at the central console, his cold green eyes locked onto the screen.
He leaned forward, fingers interlocked in front of him. His jaw tightened as he watched Ramirez’s every move.
Finally, after a long moment of silence, he muttered under his breath.
"That boy really did it."
His voice was calm, unreadable, but those standing nearby could sense the frustration beneath it.
He suddenly stood up, walking toward the metal railing overlooking the command floor. His gloved hands gripped it tightly.
"Too reckless."
A general standing nearby, a man with years of experience under his belt, crossed his arms, watching the same footage.
"Well… at least he succeeded, sir."
BANG!
Ackerman’s fist slammed against the railing, causing a few nearby officers to flinch.
His gaze darkened.
"A commander should not be that reckless."
He wasn’t truly angry—no, it was something else.
Frustration. Annoyance. Even… grudging respect.
Before he could dwell on it further—
"Aww~?"
Ackerman’s entire body froze.
That damn voice.
Slowly, he turned his head—only to see Supreme Commander Alice Nova standing right behind him, arms crossed, a teasing smirk playing on her lips.
"That Ramirez boy actually pulled it off?" she mused, her sharp blue eyes gleaming with interest.
Ackerman’s expression tightened, but he remained silent.
Alice took a step forward, standing beside him at the railing, watching the same battle footage.
"Let’s see… this is only his second week as a commander, right?" she continued, her tone amused. "Yet, in just a few hours after I approved his authority, he already achieved his first victory."
Ackerman’s grip on the railing tightened further.
Alice’s smile widened slightly, sensing his frustration.
She wasn’t just teasing him—she was genuinely interested in Ramirez now.
Her gaze softened, her voice lowering slightly.
"You know, we’ve been stationed here for centuries, just watching. Observing. Waiting. And what have we done?"
She tilted her head, watching the flickering footage of Lyra hugging her little brother.
"Nothing."
Her voice lacked its usual playful tone.
"We watched them suffer. We watched them get beaten, raped, enslaved, and butchered… and we did nothing."
Ackerman stiffened slightly but didn’t respond.
Alice sighed, shaking her head.
"And yet… in just two days, Ramirez took action. He didn’t hesitate. He moved when no one else would."
Her sharp blue eyes flicked toward Ackerman, watching his reaction.
"Who knows?" she mused, stepping away from the railing. "Maybe, one day… he could be the next Supreme Commander."
Ackerman’s eyes widened slightly, but before he could respond, Alice had already turned on her heels, walking toward the exit.
She paused at the doorway, glancing back.
"Try not to overthink it, Ackerman. Let’s just watch a little longer."
And with that, she walked out, leaving the room dead silent.
Ackerman simply stood there, eyes locked onto the footage, his mind racing with new thoughts he wasn’t ready to confront.
<hr>
Slave Market – Aftermath
As the dust settled and the remaining enemies were either dead or restrained, Ramirez’s NPU buzzed to life.
"It’s already over?" Sarah’s voice rang through his head, her tone almost… disappointed. "Geez, I was ready to give this little guy a try."
Ramirez smirked, tapping the side of his helmet earpiece.
"Sorry to ruin your fun. Maybe next time."
Sarah sighed dramatically. "Fine. But you better let me have some action next time, Commander."
Ramirez chuckled. "Noted."
He then turned to face the freed captives.
The slaves stood together, their faces full of uncertainty, some still clinging to their chains as if they couldn’t believe they were free.
Ramirez raised his voice.
"Alright, everyone. We’ll send you home."
The moment those words left his mouth—
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Some of the children hesitated, their eyes filled with uncertainty.
"W-We don’t have a home…"
Lieutenant Voss furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
A young beastman boy—his **ears drooping, tail tucked between his legs—**stepped forward hesitantly.
"We were captured by pirates… They raided our village and burned everything…"
A deep sadness settled over the squad.
Sergeant Riley sighed, glancing at the squad before looking back at Ramirez.
"What should we do, sir?"
Ramirez exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
He spoke to Sarah through his NPU. "How many can we transport?"
Sarah responded immediately. "The Super Stallion X has room for twenty, but we can call in additional transports from HQ."
Ramirez nodded. "Do it."
Then, he faced the former captives, speaking firmly.
"You don’t have a home? Then we’ll take you somewhere safe."
The children and surviving adults looked at each other, confused.
"Where…?" One of the elves hesitated.
Ramirez smirked slightly.
"You’ll see soon enough."
<hr>
As the Super Stallion X Helijet hummed in the distance, preparing for landing, Lyra turned to Ramirez, her green eyes unwavering.
With her little brother beside her, she slowly stepped forward.
Then—she bowed deeply.
"Sir, thank you for rescuing us… You are now our master."
The entire squad froze.
For a solid five seconds, absolute silence filled the air.
Then—
"PFFT—COUGH!!"
Jenkins, who had just taken a sip from his canteen, immediately spit out his water, choking. "WH-WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?!"
Dante nearly dropped his rifle, staring at Ramirez with wide eyes. "Oh. My. God."
Sergeant Riley’s head snapped toward Ramirez, his expression unreadable.
"Commander." His voice was calm—too calm. "Is there something you need to tell us?"
Lieutenant Voss crossed his arms, smirking. "Huh. So this is how you operate, Commander? Save a damsel in distress and suddenly get yourself a loyal girl?"
"Huh?! HUH?!" Ramirez stepped back, panicking, his face twisting in horror. "W-Wait! WAIT! That’s NOT what this is!!"
Jenkins snorted, elbowing Dante. "Our commander’s a womanizer. I respect it."
Dante nodded sagely. "Truly a man of culture."
"I AM NOT A WOMANIZER!" Ramirez shouted, completely red in the face.
Lyra tilted her head slightly, blinking in confusion. "Did I… say something wrong?"
Sarah, watching from the side, was clearly amused, but her tone remained neutral.
"Commander, would you like me to prepare a marriage contract?"
Ramirez snapped his head toward her in horror. "SARAH, NOT YOU TOO!"
Sarah simply smirked.
Meanwhile, the rest of the squad struggled to keep a straight face.
Lieutenant Voss shook his head. "You better take responsibility, Commander."
Sergeant Riley sighed dramatically. "I had high hopes for you, sir. But I see you work fast."
Jenkins wiped fake tears from his eyes. "We lost our commander today. He’s someone’s master now."
Ramirez groaned, rubbing his temples. "I hate all of you."
<hr>
Before the teasing could get worse—
VROOOOM!
A deep, thunderous hum shook the air as the Super Stallion X Helijet descended from the clouds.
The former captives looked up, eyes wide with shock and awe.
"W-What is that?!"
"Is that… a divine bird?!"
"No, it must be a spirit’s vessel!"
The Helijet’s sleek black armor gleamed under the moonlight, its massive twin thrusters glowing with blue energy instead of traditional rotor blades.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
As it hovered just above the ground, the side hatch opened with a hiss, revealing the interior lined with high-tech consoles and seating.
The children and former captives stared, frozen in fear and amazement.
Lyra’s brother gripped her hand tightly, eyes trembling.
"S-Sis… are we going inside… that thing?"
Lyra, though shaken by the sight, stood firm.
She looked at Ramirez, who offered her a confident smirk.
"I told you. We’re taking you somewhere safe."
With that, the Ghost Fangs began guiding the freed captives aboard.
Lyra hesitated for a moment, before nodding. This man… was not normal.
And for some reason—she trusted him.
<hr>
As the last of the Ghost Fangs boarded the Super Stallion X, Ramirez stepped inside, taking a seat in the front co-pilot chair.
Right beside him, in the pilot’s seat, Sarah was already flipping switches, her hands moving with precision across the glowing control panels.
Ramirez buckled in, glancing out the front windshield as the thrusters hummed louder.
He exhaled. "Alright, Sarah. Let’s go back home."
Sarah nodded once, her expression neutral.
"Acknowledged. Engaging thrusters—taking off now."
The Super Stallion X trembled slightly, then—
WHOOSH!
The aircraft ascended swiftly, leaving behind the ruined slave market as the ground below grew smaller and smaller.
Inside the cabin, the Ghost Fangs sat along the sides, securing their weapons while keeping an eye on the rescued captives.
The former slaves sat quietly, many of them still in awe of their surroundings, their eyes flickering across the glowing blue panels and reinforced steel walls of the gunship’s interior.
Some of the children gripped their seats tightly, unused to the feeling of flight.
Lyra sat close to her little brother, holding his hand as she scanned the room with cautious curiosity.
Meanwhile, in the back—
Dante leaned back, adjusting his rifle against his leg. "So… this might be a dumb question, but…"
Sergeant Riley sighed. "Dante, don’t—"
Dante ignored him, glancing at the other Ghost Fangs. "Has anyone here actually been to the base we’re heading to?"
Silence.
Jenkins blinked. "Wait… now that you mention it—"
Riley crossed his arms. "Nope. Not even once."
Voss chuckled, shaking his head. "We’ve been taking orders from an AI for years, and not one of us has ever seen the damn place."
Jenkins frowned. "So, uh… does anyone know where we’re going?"
The squad collectively turned their heads toward Ramirez.
Ramirez blinked, looking up from the controls. "Huh?"
Dante grinned. "Commander, you do know where we’re going, right?"
Ramirez paused.
Then, slowly, he turned to Sarah.
"Sarah… I know where we’re going, right?"
Sarah didn’t even look at him as she continued piloting. "Affirmative, Commander. I do."
Ramirez leaned back in his seat. "Cool, cool… that’s good."
Silence.
Dante raised an eyebrow. "So you don’t actually know."
Ramirez sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, as long as Sarah knows, we’ll be fine."
Jenkins muttered, "Not exactly reassuring…"
Voss chuckled, while Riley shook his head with a smirk.
The rescued captives, unaware of the squad’s usual banter, simply stared in confusion—wondering if these soldiers were really as professional as they appeared.
Meanwhile, Lyra watched Ramirez closely, her expression unreadable.
For the first time in years, she was going somewhere unknown.
And yet… she wasn’t afraid.
<hr>
<h4>Super Stallion X – Approaching the Hidden Base</h4>
The Super Stallion X glided smoothly across the darkened sky, its thrusters humming softly as the towering mountain range came into view.
Ramirez, still seated in the co-pilot’s chair, watched as the Phoenix Lair drew closer.
The mountain looked completely normal—just a vast, rugged rock formation stretching endlessly into the clouds.
Sarah’s voice was calm and matter-of-fact.
"We are here."
In the back of the gunship, the Ghost Fangs shifted in their seats.
Dante suddenly leaned forward, glancing around the cabin. "Wait. Where? I don’t see anything."
Ramirez smirked, leaning back in his seat, raising a hand to point ahead.
"There."
Dante squinted at the mountain, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Commander, that’s a rock."
Jenkins tilted his head. "Maybe it''s one of those metaphorical ‘home is where the heart is’ kinda things?"
Sergeant Riley sighed. "No, dumbass. Just wait."
Sarah pressed a sequence of buttons on the control panel.
A low mechanical rumble echoed through the air—
KRRRRRSHH!
Before their eyes, a massive section of the mountain’s cliffside began to move, splitting apart like a mechanical gate, revealing an enormous, high-tech hangar embedded deep within the rock.
The once solid stone facade was now an entrance large enough to fit entire battleships.
Inside, the hangar was lit with glowing blue lights, lined with ECF dropships, fighter jets, armored vehicles, and robotic support units.
Dante’s jaw dropped. "What the hell…"
Jenkins, eyes wide, muttered, "Okay… that''s not a rock."
The rescued captives—especially the children—gasped in awe, clinging to their seats, their eyes filled with fear and wonder.
Lyra stared in shock, unable to comprehend what she was seeing.
Ramirez smirked, glancing at his squad.
"Welcome to the Phoenix Lair."
<hr>
<h4>Phoenix Lair – Hangar Bay</h4>
The Super Stallion X slowly descended into the massive underground hangar, its thrusters stabilizing as the landing gears deployed.
The moment the ramp lowered, a cool, artificial breeze swept through the cabin, carrying the faint hum of active machinery and the distant chatter of ECF personnel moving around.
The rescued children hesitated.
The sheer scale of the hangar—with its glowing blue panels, massive transport ships, towering robotic units, and futuristic soldiers walking in formation—was beyond anything they had ever imagined.
A young beastman boy with fluffy ears clutched his sister’s arm, his tail wrapped tightly around his waist.
"S-Sis… are we in a god’s temple?"
An elf girl, no older than ten, whispered, "I-Is this… a floating city?"
Another kid, still shaking, muttered, "This doesn’t feel real…"
Even Lyra, who had remained strong throughout their journey, found herself speechless, her green eyes reflecting the neon lights above.
Ramirez stepped down from the gunship, turning back to the group.
"It’s real. And it’s safe."
For the first time, a flicker of true relief crossed their faces.
<hr>
Squad Banter – A Commander’s Burden
Meanwhile, the Ghost Fangs squad exited the ship, stretching after the long ride.
Dante whistled. "Still gets me every time. This place looks straight out of a sci-fi movie."
Jenkins chuckled. "Yeah, and we’re the badass elite soldiers." He flexed his arms. "I mean, just look at us."
Sergeant Riley shot him a flat stare. "We just shot a bunch of swordsmen who thought they had the upper hand. I wouldn’t call that ''elite''—I’d call that ''target practice.''"
Jenkins smirked. "Still counts as a win."
Voss raised an eyebrow at Ramirez. "So, Commander. What’s the plan? Gonna introduce these kids to their new home, or are you just gonna stand there looking pretty?"
Before Ramirez could respond—
Sarah’s voice cut through the comms, her tone professional.
"Commander, we have an incoming message. It’s a video message… directly from Field Commander Vincent Ackerman."
Ramirez froze.
He slowly turned to Sarah. "Field Commander?"
Sarah nodded, her blue eyes glowing slightly. "Yes, sir. Field Commander Ackerman is responsible for Andromeda Galaxy Selection 3, which includes this solar system."
The squad immediately stiffened, realizing the weight of the situation.
Jenkins leaned in, whispering, "So, uh… he’s a big deal, right?"
Dante scoffed. "Dude, he’s one of the highest-ranking officers in the entire ECF."
Riley crossed his arms. "And he just sent a personal message to our commander."
Ramirez gulped, feeling the weight of their stares.
Sarah tilted her head. "Shall we go, Commander?"
Ramirez hesitated.
This was his first direct interaction with ECF high command.
Was it a commendation… or a reprimand?
Either way… he had to face it.
<hr>
<h4>Phoenix Lair – Command Center</h4>
Ramirez and Sarah stepped into the Command Center, the room dimly lit by the blue glow of holographic screens.
The main display flickered to life, connecting to an encrypted ECF channel.
And then—
"RAMIREZ!"
The voice boomed through the speakers, nearly making Ramirez jump.
On-screen, Field Commander Vincent Ackerman appeared—his piercing green eyes locked onto Ramirez, his face as sharp as the iron walls behind him.
His military uniform was immaculate, and the three golden stars on each shoulder immediately confirmed what Ramirez already knew.
He was speaking to a real Field Commander.
"S-S-Sir?!" Ramirez straightened up, his face immediately filled with nervous sweat.
Ackerman’s expression was unreadable, his arms firmly crossed.
"Do you have any idea what you just did?"
Ramirez gulped hard.
"Uh… saved people?"
Ackerman narrowed his eyes. "You led an unsanctioned military operation. You publicly displayed ECF weaponry. You engaged hostile forces without direct clearance—"
Ramirez quickly raised his hands. "Okay, okay—! First off, that slavery ring was messed up, and you know it! Second, do I even need clearance if I have full planetary command?"
Ackerman’s eye twitched. "That’s not the point!"
Sarah, standing beside Ramirez, tilted her head slightly, a hint of amusement on her face.
"Commander Ramirez’s actions led to the successful elimination of a hostile group and the rescue of captives. Estimated civilian casualties: zero. Estimated damage to local infrastructure: minimal. Mission outcome: success."
Ackerman pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply.
"You’re lucky that Supreme Commander Nova is on your side, boy."
Ramirez blinked. "Wait, she knows?"
Ackerman glared. "Of course she knows. She’s the Supreme Commander. She watches everything."
Ramirez felt a chill down his spine. "That’s… kind of terrifying."
Ackerman was about to continue his lecture, but then—
"Aww~?"
The moment that feminine, playful voice echoed through the command center, Ackerman froze completely.
His entire face twitched as his body locked up like a statue.
"Not that bitch again." He screamed internally.
From the side of the holographic call, a figure slowly stepped into view.
Alice Nova.
Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief, her long coat swaying elegantly as she leaned into the frame, her smug smirk unmistakable.
"Field Commander, you’re being mean to my new little commander~."
Ackerman visibly clenched his fists, looking like he wanted to slam his head into the nearest wall.
"Supreme Commander… I was merely reminding him of military protocol."
Alice waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, relax, Ackerman. The boy’s doing just fine."
Ramirez, still nervous, slowly turned to Sarah and whispered, "So… do they hate each other, or is this flirting?"
Sarah paused for a moment. "…Unknown."
Meanwhile, Ackerman inwardly screamed.
This was going to be a long conversation.
<hr>
ECF Space Center – Commander Control Room (Hologram Feed)
The tension in the call was already thick—then, it snapped.
"Time out, Ack. Move."
Alice Nova’s voice was playful, almost lazy, but laced with an undeniable authority that brooked no argument.
Field Commander Ackerman tensed. "But, Supreme Commander, I—"
BANG!
Before he could finish his sentence, Alice’s boot slammed into his chest in a flawless roundhouse kick—
Sending him flying.
On the other side of the hologram, Ramirez and Sarah froze.
Sarah blinked. "…Did she just kick a Field Commander?"
Ramirez, jaw slightly open, muttered, "Did she just commit high-ranking assault?"
Meanwhile, in the background, Ackerman crashed onto the floor with a loud grunt, rolling awkwardly before scrambling back to his feet.
Alice didn’t even spare him a glance.
With an elegant motion, she shrugged off her long coat, revealing the full ECF Supreme Commander uniform beneath.
Not many had ever seen her wear it—she rarely appeared in full regalia.
Her navy-blue officer’s attire was pristine, accented by sharp red stripes along the shoulders. On each side, four golden stars gleamed like miniature suns, marking her absolute authority.
But the real statement was at her collar—
A crown insignia.
The unmistakable emblem of the highest-ranking military figure in the entire ECF.
She sank into Ackerman’s chair with unbothered grace, crossing her legs as she rested her chin against her palm.
Then—
Her piercing blue eyes locked onto Ramirez.
A shiver ran down his spine.
This wasn’t just a high-ranking officer.
This was Alice Nova.
The Supreme Commander.
The most powerful, most unpredictable, most dangerous figure in the entire ECF.
And she was staring directly at him.
In the background, Ackerman gritted his teeth, pushing himself upright. "Damn it, Nova, you didn’t have to kick me!"
Alice’s lips curled into a smirk, still not looking at him.
"Yes, I did."
Ramirez gulped.
This was about to get very, very interesting.
<hr>
<h4>ECF Space Center – Command Room (Hologram Call)</h4>
Behind Alice Nova, Field Commander Ackerman straightened himself, his expression locked in a deep scowl.
The impact from her kick still stung, and as he straightened his posture behind the chair, a sharp pain shot through his back.
"Tch."
A few nearby generals stepped forward, offering to assist him, but—
He brushed them off immediately, waving them away.
Alice?
She ignored them completely.
Her attention was fully on Ramirez.
"So… you’re Ramirez."
Her sharp blue eyes studied him, analyzing every detail.
Then—she smirked slightly.
"I believe you’re around my daughter’s age."
Ramirez blinked.
His gaze instinctively shifted toward Sarah, who stood beside him.
"Her daughter?"
Sarah turned to Alice, her expression neutral, but there was something deeper behind her glowing blue eyes.
"It’s Sarah."
For a second, Ramirez’s brain broke.
He looked back at Sarah, then at Alice, then back at Sarah.
"Wait, what?"
Sarah shook her head. "No, not me. The real Sarah. I’m just an AI. We were based on her."
Ramirez slowly nodded, taking a moment to process that information.
So the real Sarah—Alice’s actual daughter—was the blueprint for the AI Sarah standing beside him.
That meant…
Sarah was originally a human.
Ramirez didn’t know why, but something about that information made his stomach feel strange.
But before he could dwell on it—
Alice leaned forward in the chair, resting her chin on her fingers.
Her voice turned calm, serious.
"I should introduce myself properly, Commander Ramirez."
Her gaze never wavered.
"I am Alice Nova, Supreme Commander of the entire Earth Confederation Forces."
She crossed her legs, her golden stars reflecting the dim light.
"You might not know this… but there’s an interstellar war happening out there."
She gestured toward the holographic window behind her, where the distant stars glowed faintly.
"I’m currently managing full-scale conflicts across multiple systems, keeping the ECF alive while ensuring humanity still has a future."
Her tone remained cold and professional.
"That doesn’t concern you anyway."
Ramirez raised an eyebrow. "Then why—"
Alice cut him off.
"I’ll just go straight to the point."
She leaned forward slightly.
"I believe you know about that Navy Base."
The room fell silent.
Ramirez’s expression shifted.
That base—
The one that was buried under the ocean after the storm 34 years ago.
The one whose communication systems were completely cut off.
Ramirez exhaled slowly.
"Yeah… I know about it."
Alice’s eyes narrowed slightly, her expression unreadable.
"Then it’s time we talked about it."
<hr>
<h3 style="text-align: center">---CHAPTER 5 (Part 2) END---