Chapter 146

　　In the future, Kal`s removal and reorganization of the Nobility in his sector would be known to history as The Culling of Caledon.`

　　Dozens of noble houses ceased to exist once he finished his purge. Kal`s father had promoted and changed the Nobility in his region of space to encourage loyalty to himself, allowing them free reign to do what they wanted.

　　In a short decade, those loyal to Kal`s grandfather, who embodied the best of Caledon`s ideals, were driven into obscurity and forced to give up their titles or lands.

　　Kal fought to change all that, and he sought those who he remembered had been virtuous and faithful to his grandfather`s vision of a unified and peaceful Caledon and brought them back into the fold.

　　By the time of the Peace Summit`s onset, the Duchy of Caledon had expanded to over fifteen hundred systems and hundreds of billions of people.

　　He had cast aside those Nobles that could not be redeemed, their crimes and natures incompatible with his way of life. Instead, he promoted others in their place. Often, they were from defunct Noble Houses that still had living members.

　　When word of the culling reached Prince Argyle`s ears from desperate corporations and those few remaining exiled Nobility that Kal let live, his response had been simple.

　　"You reap what you sow."

　　Argyle didn`t care if Kalen Caledon put the entire sector to the sword as long as he was loyal to the Prince and could provide a Titan for the peace talks. Once Argyle became Emperor, he would stabilize the galaxy, and Caledon would not be allowed to run wild.

　　But for now, he needed strength, and it was clear that Kalen`s actions would provide him with that. Even Argyle`s Imperial Guard was impressed with Caledon`s gains, studying their military doctrine and tactics to adapt to their own.

　　The Succession War had been fought mainly by the Houses, leaving the Imperial Guard to protect their chosen Prince. They hadn`t fought an actual, large-scale conflict since the rebellion.

　　Kal`s campaign gained momentum, and even though they had to step back from the front lines to attend the Peace Summit, Kal knew his Consolidation War against the independent planets and Houses of his sector would continue without him.

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　　They met in space above Venus. The blue planet was the first terraforming project by a private organization before the Empire existed and humanity accomplished incredible feats using their A. I fueled technology.

　　When Terra had been nearly destroyed in their conflict against the artificial intelligence collective, many escaped to Venus, bringing with them all the same problems that had plagued Terra. Divided by race, religion and inequality, war and conflict were visited upon their new home.

　　Today, Venus is inhabited by families descended from those original settlers. Their massive cities, inspired by the architecture of ancient Terra, were some of the finest and only examples in the galaxy of humanity`s oldest cities, replicas created from the colonist`s memories of their homeland.

　　A single Starship would carry Argyle`s delegation. Augustus and his entourage would meet above Jupiter, where all their transports that had brought the Houses, and their Titans, would remain until the Summit was over. The Imperial Guard would maintain the peace and keep anyone from interfering.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

　　Once Argyle and Augustus met on Terra, no one would be allowed to enter or leave the surface without both parties` complete agreement.

　　Kal watched as Atlas was carried into the Starship`s storage hold. Wearing a Pilot bodysuit, he had his arms crossed while two mobile drones lowered the Titan to the floor. Two clamps secured its shoulders. Free of their load, the drones drifted away once more.

　　Initially, no one would know the identities of the Titan`s Pilot, but part of the peace talks had been a requirement for both sides to reveal their hand.

　　The Titans would be brought to the surface by their Pilots, where they would all disembark simultaneously. That was the moment everything hinged. On one slight sign of mistrust, and they would all likely join the dead on Terra.

　　Kal`s focus was drawn to the eyes of the Titan. Shining green, they were unnerving to see in the dim storage hold. He had thought that while the Mobile Suit was in standby mode without its Pilot inside, its eyes would darken, but it appeared as if Kal`s mere presence and the connection between them kept the Titan awake and ready.

　　While he was staring at Atlas, Mare came up beside him. Gripping his arm silently, she watched as Ouroboros was loaded next. The drones lifted the massive machine with magnetic restraints under its shoulders.

　　Drifting into the storage hold from where Kal and Mare had Jumped above Venus in their own starship, the drones deposited the Titan next to its counterpart. Like Atlas, the eyes of the Ouroboros glowed blue. They seemed to be locked onto their Pilot, observing her.

　　"It`s intimidating. No matter how often I`m near it, I can never shake the feeling that it`s alive and detests me." Mare whispered. Kal felt her shiver beside him, and he shared the feeling of discomfort the Titan gave her.

　　"Amelia told me that the Titans aren`t aware, that whatever emotions and thoughts we think they have are things we carry from outside. But I`m not sure anymore. There`s more to them than can be explained through genetic memory." Kal admitted.

　　"I hope that we won`t have to use them. We travel to the surface and exit our cockpits without conflict. I don`t know if I could stand to fight in it, Kal. The few times I tried to pilot it, it was like it wanted to devour me." Mare confessed, and Kal wrapped his arms around her in response.

　　"You won`t have to. One of us needs to look after Caledon. If the worst happens and we need to fight, I want you to take the Ouroboros and run." Kal said, drawing back to look Mare in the eyes.

　　"I won`t leave you." She stated firmly.

　　"Both of us can`t risk our lives, Mare. I know we`ve left samples with the doctors, but we can`t leave our children parentless. I won`t have them raised like I was." Kal said, and Mare could feel the revulsion in her husband at the thought of their children being treated in the same manner as Kal had been. He was neglected and abused, left to suffer alone for a crime in which he had no part.

　　"Don`t worry." Kal said, running his thumb along her cheek to wipe away a tear Mare hadn`t been aware of. "It`s not like I`ll stick around for long. I`ll cover your retreat and make for orbit behind you."

　　"And Argyle? Augustus? You`d leave them to kill each other?" Mare asked with surprise. She had thought he would be more committed to the Empire.

　　"You and Caledon are my priorities. Everything else is irrelevant." Kal stated, and Mare found that she agreed with him.

　　While they were talking, another Titan was being loaded into the storage area. On the opposite side of the massive room, the drones were lowering the Mobile Suit. It was as large as the others but seemed more sleek and graceful.

　　Like the others, this one also seemed to be active, its eyes glowing a brilliant yellow.

　　"Impressive, isn`t it?" A woman called out from behind them. Turning, they saw Mare`s cousin Katherine. She was wearing a Pilot Bodysuit in House Havencroft livery, the white boar prominent on the chest piece. She held her helmet in her hand, waving it through the air back and forth as she walked toward them.

　　Katherine looked exhausted, and even her cheerful expression couldn`t mask it.

　　"Katherine? What-" Mare began to ask before connecting the pieces quickly. "Uncle entrusted Hyperion to you? Why didn`t you say anything? I thought you hated Mobile Suits. You always said I was silly for training in VR."

　　"You were silly for training in VR! Real-life experience trumps anything else. And you know why I couldn`t tell you. By the time Father asked me to Pilot, you were already promised to join Caledon. We might be allies, but we can`t trust outsiders. No offence, Kal." Katherine replied, flashing Kal a smile that he returned.

　　"None taken."

　　"Are you both ready? Prince Argyle wants everyone in the command center before we arrive." Katherine asked.

　　"We`re as ready as we`ll ever be." Mare responded, and Kal nodded. Talking amongst themselves as they walked, the trio didn`t notice the glowing eyes of the Titans following their Pilots as they moved.