Chapter 180 - Epilogue: Part 4

　　Operating under their new aliases, Kal and Mare meshed in rather well with the Caledonian settlers. There was a palpable excitement in the air of the City, and the Dyson Sphere was always abuzz with the anticipation of finding a new home for humanity.

　　Andromeda meant so much to so many people that it quickly evolved into something like a new paradise for them, a mythical Eden. Even the threat of the Vore couldn`t dampen the spirits of the settlers.

　　The Imperial Guard and House troops that would be expected to fight them were a different story. While the civilians made plans for settlements and new governments, forming alliances and forging relations that would see their colonies flourish or stagnate, the troops were spending every waking moment training.

　　Merit and Ella, who hadn`t trained in a Mech since returning from the first Vore War, found they were rusty. It took them months before they were comfortable in their new Mobile Suits, and the Lag was manageable.

　　Each day, Merit would return to their home exhausted and sore, all while wondering how he had managed to spend the entire conflict with the Vore in Atlas. It had been a miracle that he could remain awake from the Neural Burden.

　　After a year, they were veterans of Mech combat once more. With their skills and abilities, they gained a place amongst the leaders of the Caledonian forces. Considered Aces,` their Valkyrie and Tyr would become the vanguard against the Vore when the time came.

　　After a decade, everyone on the Dyson Sphere and the flanking Starships were eager to reach their new home. The City was excellent and filled with everything that humans could ever want, but there was something about standing on a planet that could never be replaced.

　　Flo was busy during the trip as well. She and the other Titan Pilots were placed together in a group for their training. Over two dozen strong and hailing from every Ducal House, it took them years to even learn to work together.

　　After a decade, they were coordinated and capable, although there were still problems with some stronger personalities.

　　Flo slammed the door of her locker, hitting it with her closed fist for good measure. Not satisfied with taking out her anger on an inanimate object, she turned around to her cousin.

　　"He`s an asshole! I don`t care that he saved my father`s life. Nothing gives him the right to treat me that way!" Flo cursed as Katherine stood with her arms crossed. Still wearing her Pilot Bodysuit, Katherine shook her head at the younger woman.

　　Despite being in her forties, Katherine and Flo could have been sisters of the same age. Both were beautiful and vibrant and shared the noble features of their Houses of being a head taller than most other people and having perfect facial structures.

　　The only contrast between the two women was their hair colours. Katherine had the blond hair of Havencroft, while Flo inherited Mare`s straight, jet-black locks. Unfortunately, Flo hadn`t inherited her father`s temperament. She was more like her grandmother, Amara.

　　"Praxis may be unlikeable, but he`s got real experience in facing the Vore aboard a Titan. There was no one better to lead us to Andromeda except perhaps for Kal. And there was no way Argyle was going to convince your father to leave Caledon to come with us." Katherine replied.

　　Praxis had volunteered to command the Titans during the expedition and developed a training program that he felt could best prepare them for what they faced when they reached Andromeda and once again came face to face with the Vore and their Monarchs.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

　　Passing the Earldom of Praxis to one of his children, Richard Praxis Piloted a newly built Titan using a similar frame as the Prometheus that had served him well in the first conflict with the Vore. The only changes he had requested from Kal during its development were additional weapons to combat the Monarchs.

　　Unfortunately, despite his skill as a Pilot and his experience against the Vore, many of those serving under him were having trouble with his methods.

　　Flo had butted heads with the former Earl from the first moment they had met. Praxis had a habit of comparing her to her father, something that she despised. She wanted to be judged on her own merits and make a name for herself with her abilities.

　　She knew her father accomplished incredible things, but she didn`t need to be reminded that she would likely never meet the expectations others had of her when compared to Kalen Caledon.

　　"So do you! Why can`t you take the lead in our training or even split the duties? Why does Praxis need to be the one in charge?" Flo replied, her tone laced with frustration. Katherine sighed, running a hand over her face tiredly. It was the same argument they had for years.

　　And each time, Katherine had to remind Flo of the reasons. The young woman could be heedless at times, not recognizing the pain that the reminder caused her cousin.

　　"Because Praxis is a better Pilot than me. He had more experience, and his insights into fighting the Vore are second to none. I`m only here because Kal saved me. If I had been fighting alone, like Praxis had done, I would have died, Flo. I can`t very well teach you what I know about combat when I relied on your father to protect me for most of that battle." Katherine admitted.

　　Hyperion was lost, and the remains vaporized by the detonation of the original Dyson Sphere. Katherine was Piloting a replacement based on its model.

　　Eos was an improvement on the original design. Kal himself had worked with her father to oversee its construction, using a combination of real-world experience and the A.I. Collective`s knowledge to create a Titan that could be considered the pinnacle of weapon technology.

　　But the problem with Mechs was often not the design or construction but the Pilot inside. Katherine had decades to try and process what happened, and it had led her to volunteer to join the expedition to Andromeda.

　　She wanted to prove to herself that she wasn`t the scared and helpless person she had been when she first fought the Vore.

　　Kal had told her she had nothing to prove, that she had performed superbly against the Vore. But the fact remained that he had to rescue her in the end.

　　Since then, Katherine had worked hard to improve, and her connection with the Titan Eos was second only to what Praxis had with Prometheus. It was why she was currently the second in command of the Titan Pilots.

　　"I`ve seen you, Pilot, Katherine. I doubt even my father could defeat you in a spar. He may have been talented once, but he hasn`t been inside a mobile suit in decades. I don`t know why Praxis constantly compares him to me like he would be a better Pilot. Father admitted before I left that I`m more skilled than he was at my age." Flo bragged as her anger faded.

　　"Your father hadn`t even been in a Mobile Suit until he was twenty years old, Flo." Katherine muttered, but the young woman wasn`t listening. This was how their conversations typically went, with Flo having an emotional outburst and Katherine just calmly waiting until it passed.

　　"We`ll be arriving in a few months, and I`ll show them. The Vore won`t know what hit them." Flo promised.

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　　"I yield! Emperor have mercy, Merit! I`ve never seen anything like that before. I`m glad you`re on our side. We need people who have fought the Vore before." One of the Imperial Guard soldiers shouted as Tyr pinned the Imperial Assault Class Mech to the ground.

　　Kal`s cover story was that he was a former Caledonian House Guard who had followed Kalen Caledon to the Dyson sphere as a medium-class pilot. He had fought the Vore before being wounded and transported to one of the Starships.

　　Things had been hectic during the operation, and even the other veterans often didn`t know who was fighting next to them. It allowed Kal to seamlessly become Merit.`

　　"You`re doing well. Just remember to watch each other`s backs. The Vore will pick off isolated Mechs one by one. You should always have a partner to cover each other." Merit advised, stepping back and allowing Tyr to power down.

　　"I`ll keep it in mind. I can`t believe you all fought on the Dyson Sphere without anywhere to retreat! I hope the Vore doesn`t arrive in Andromeda for a few decades, and we can have our defences ready." The Guard replied.

　　"I hope so as well."