Chapter 140

　　As time passed, things in the galaxy began to settle. While not perfect, the Armistice slowly calmed the conflict between the Ducal Houses. The borders as they were when it was announced solidified, and over a period of six months, there were only a few instances of one side or the other violating its terms.

　　Negotiations on the time and details of the Peace Summit progressed, and it looked like it would take place on the anniversary of the attack on Terra, a symbolic gesture to demonstrate the return of peace after the horrific attack that was the cause of the War.

　　With another nine months left before the date`s arrival, it gave ample time for both sides to prepare. Behind the scenes, skeptical of the outcome, each Ducal House trained their chosen Titan Pilot and organized their forces.

　　There was doubt that the peace would last, and each House planned to capitalize on the resumption of hostilities by seizing as much territory from their opponents as possible.

　　In consultation with Prince Argyle, Kal learned that Samuel was correct. Along with a small retinue of advisors, the only security allowed during the Summit would be their Titan.

　　Like the threat of Nuclear War in Terra`s ancient past, the Princes were relying on the theory of Mutual Assured Destruction to keep everyone present honest and peaceful.

　　Who would dare attack the other side when it would mean the death of both Princes and most of those attending in the ensuing brawl between the most destructive weapons of war that humanity had ever created?

　　For Kal, time passed in a blur of activity.

　　The Duke had taken to Piloting the Heavy Class Colossus every day, not just on guard duty at the estate but on training exercises across the planet. He had quickly learned that for someone used to the speed and agility of a Light Class, the Colossus was a slow-moving fortress that required intense situational awareness in order to not cause accidents with its footsteps.

　　To help with his training, Mare and Talha both went through training activities with him. Talha had finally made her Bulwark functional, and the Medium Class Mech`s Neural Burden made the Lag comically high. Sometimes it took the young woman a full second to respond to a change in terrain or an incoming attack.

　　But she persevered, and after six months of long days spent training, she could use the Medium Class competently.

　　Mare was given Samuel`s Throne` to use for her training. The enormous flying Heavy Class Mech was considerably more complicated to Pilot than the Colossus. For Kal, regulating the Mobile Suits shields, limited movement, and weapons systems put a strain on the Neural Link.

　　But for Mare, the Throne was a former Imperial Guard Mech, and it came with significantly more options and power than the Colossus. The first time Mare had used it, her head had nearly split in half from the strain. There was a deluge of information fed directly into her mind.

　　Sensor information, reactor power flow, weapons guidance and shields were funnelled quickly to her brain. Even the flight velocity and direction required her attention. It was like splitting her mind into a dozen pieces, each focusing on the tiny details. Each needed her attention, and she was quickly overwhelmed.

　　But the Princess persevered, and after six months, although she couldn`t say she mastered it, she was no longer embarrassed to operate the Mobile Suit in front of others. While she wasn`t as graceful or in control as Samuel had demonstrated, she could hold her own against Kal during their sparring sessions.

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　　"Calculating parabolic arc, modulating input. Sensors locked, adjusting for environmental variance." Kal muttered as the Hud traced a line from the giant cannon on the Colossus` right shoulder to the Mare`s Throne that was speeding toward him from over a hundred miles away across the flat, desert scrubland of Caledon`s southern hemisphere.The author`s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

　　It was astounding how accurate the Mobile Suit`s sensors could be. In his mind`s eye, he could see the terrain spread out in front of him in all directions, while he could also faintly detect energy signatures from other Mobile Suits. He could even sense the towns and cities far away, their power giving the horizon a faint, yellowish glow.

　　It took time to adapt, and he still found it overwhelming at times. Finishing the calculations, he sent a thought to the cannon, lifting its angle of attack slightly. With a deafening crack, the cannon spewed a jet of flame from its opening as it launched a round.

　　The Colossus rocked back on its four legs from the force of the blast. The cockpit`s gel cushion absorbed the blow and protected its Pilot. The effect it had on the Heavy Class was a testament to the weapon`s power.

　　He watched the Tungsten slug filled with high-energy explosives crest the horizon. Following the curvature of Caledon, it was soon out of sight. His Hud displayed the arc, and in a few seconds, it had reached its highest point before falling back toward the ground.

　　In his sensors, he could detect the moment Mare detected the projectile. The Throne veered off its original course. A slight adjustment meant the Tungsten round would miss by more than a mile at that distance. Clicking his tongue, Kal reached out with his mind to the projectile.

　　The Neural Link connected him to the gyroscope contained within. With a slight modification, the round began to follow his sensor readings of Mare`s Throne.

　　Kal closed his eyes. His Mobile Suit was linked with the defence satellites in orbit, giving him a view of the terrain below. With a thought, he focused on Mare.

　　"There you are." Kal whispered, smiling as he was the Throne flying through the air, its shield a blue haze as it surrounded the Mech. Turning his eyes, Kal could spot the trail of vapour trailing behind the round as it tracked her.

　　Kal watched as Mare slowed. She must have caught on that the round was tracking her. Raising her weapon, she aimed the extended barrel of her Lasgun at the metallic object.

　　Her gun was a heavily modified version of a mobile suit Heavy Lasrifle. Three times the size of the ordinary variant, even at over twenty feet in length, it appeared just right in the Heavy Class Mech`s hands.

　　She carefully aimed at the round with extended range and power before pulling the trigger. A streak of Bluish-White light shot out of the rifle. At nearly a foot in diameter, the line of energy was capable of piercing through a hundred feet of reinforced concrete.

　　"Not this time, Mare." Kal whispered, smiling as he saw her try to defeat his attack. The last time they had tried this, she had struck it accurately despite his every attempt to move the round out of the path of her lasgun.

　　But he had a trick up his sleeve.

　　Before Mare`s counterattack could reach the Tungsten round, Kal sent it a signal with his mind. The slug separated into dozens of pieces. Mare`s strike obliterated two parts, but the rest continued toward her.

　　Kal had practiced this maneuver for weeks but lacked the focus and ability to pull it off. It required splitting his attention to each individual piece, directing them to attack Mare separately.

　　Their internal systems responded to Kal`s mental touch using the momentum retained from their descent. Weaving and twirling through the air, they descended on the Throne like a flight of diving birds. Made of slivers of Tungsten, they impacted her shield with force.

　　Typically, they would all explode, doing enough damage to potentially knock out the Throne`s shield, but since this was a training exercise, they lacked the explosives to do so. A notification came through both channels indicating that fatal damage had been sustained.

　　Their spar was officially over. If this had been a real battle, Mare`s Mech would have been disabled or destroyed, by the attack.

　　Mare`s frowning face appeared on his HUD.

　　"Learned a new trick, I see." She said, and Kal caught the hint of a pout. She hated to lose. Kal laughed when he caught sight of her expression.

　　"It took me a while to work it out. It looks like dinner will be your treat tonight." Kal teased. They had a standing bet that the loser would need to pay for dinner at a restaurant of the winner`s choice. While it didn`t seem like a big deal, they tended to pick options the others despised.

　　For Kal, he hated fish, while Mare loathed spicy foods.

　　"Fine. But don`t get used to it. I`ll figure out a counter." Mare responded, flashing him a wide grin before cutting the communication link.

　　"I`m counting on it." Kal whispered, thinking of the upcoming summit. They needed to push themselves to the limit in order to Pilot their respective Titans.

　　It was part of the reason why they practiced in the real world. VR would hold them back, and its safety reduced the experience`s effectiveness.

　　There was another reason as well.

　　Kal flexed his left hand. The spasms that had plagued him were nearly gone, his body was adapting to the Neural Link and the damage done by Atlas was almost repaired. But there was still a risk that it would harm him if he Piloted Atlas to its full abilities again.

　　Placing his hand firmly on the controls, Kal pushed the thought aside. He would do what he must to protect Caledon and everyone who relied on him for their safety.