Chapter 10: New Deployment

Pluto, the dwarf of the Solar System. This frigid planet of ice and rock did not allow for much surface development, so humanity took to the earth, building an underground community that thrived over the years. That did not mean that the surface of the planet was without bounty. No, it was quite rich, but every bounty came with its hardships.

On the highest peaks, and the coldest ice lands, deposits of Rilon could be found in abundance. It was extremely difficult to mine this resource, as most machines would freeze up just by being in such cold places. Even then, that did not stop humanity.

Whoosh!

A transport frigate passed through the open dock of the underground military base on Pluto's surface. It hovered over the metal dock for a few seconds as it adjusted the positioning of its thrusters for a smoother landing. With a dull clang, it landed on the docking platform, and several large hooks extended from the platform below to clamp down on the frigate's 'feet'.

Pssssh!

The back of the frigate opened up, showing its cargo bay, along with the silhouette of multiple people. They quickly stepped down from the frigate, allowing the bright lights of the dock to shine down upon them. They were wrapped up in very thick and purpose specific coats that had been designed and layered with heaters inside it. Even then, they still felt a bit of the chill in the atmosphere.

A man that had been standing on a platform to the side quickly strode over. He was decked in a light combat armor that was a bit more decorated than that of an ordinary guard. He was most likely an officer.

"Good day, pilots. Welcome to Nagarka, humanity's Pluto stronghold. My name is William, and I have been assigned as your guide for the short time before you become familiar with the base's structure." The soldier, William, introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you." The four Paladin pilots greeted William curtly. They quickly introduced themselves, even though they were sure that he was well aware of who they were.

"Please, follow me and I will lead you to your living quarters. You will be holding a meeting with the base commander in the next four hours, so you can use that time to familiarize yourself with this new environment." William turned around, and began marching to the blast doors that led into the base.

Moses and the others quietly followed the man as he led them through the expansive base. There was not much that they could see at the moment, as he prioritized taking them to their living quarters first above anything else.

As they walked, they came across a large number of armed soldiers and other personnel that worked at the base. They were all dressed up in thick clothes, even though the temperature of the base was adjusted to livable conditions.

"Here we are. I will return to fetch you in four hours. Use the time you have to relax and rest." William nodded at them then left. Each of them had a room to themselves, and after they opened the doors, they turned and exchanged a look, then a short nod, before entering their rooms.

Moses closed his door behind him and let out a sigh, letting his shoulders sag. He was tired. The trip to Pluto had lasted two days, and during that time, he had spent every moment exploring his new capabilities. While he was quite limited in what he could do aboard the frigate, he still gained a general idea of his new capabilities. And he loved them.

Moses was a versatile mech pilot. He could pilot ranged mechs, melee mechs, and other types of machines, and Hex perfectly complimented his style.

[Your Willpower is strained. Only sufficient rest can allow you to regain your full strength.]

A tiny, ethereal version of Hex manifested beside Moses, floating beside his head. The mini Paladin floated over to his shoulder before sitting down. Its dimly glowing eyes flashed briefly.

'My Willpower? What are you talking about?' Moses asked as he trudged over to the bed. He pulled off his coat and uniform, before slipping under the covers on the bed and laying down. Hex sat beside his head, with its tiny mechanical legs crossed sagely.

[Your Willpower is the foundation of your strength. It is through your Willpower that I came into existence, and it is what sets you aside from normal people.] Hex replied.

'Uhuh. And how do you know all of this?' Moses asked, already feeling his mind beginning to drift away into a state of sleep.

[I do not know...]

Three and a half hours later, Moses woke up feeling much more refreshed than before. He recalled the short exchange he had with Hex with a frown on his forehead.

'My Willpower, huh?' He thought as he stood up. He looked around the room. He had not bothered exploring it before, as he had been too tired, but now, his curiosity burned like a bonfire.

The room was quite grand, and large. A large, king sized bed was placed in the center of the farthest wall from the door to the room. To its right was a wide nightstand and table. The left side of the room had a single door, which led to the en suite bathroom. To the right side of the room was another wider door that held a closet full of uniforms and vacsuits that could be worn under the uniforms. Basically, they were standard clothes for any soldier that served in an area where he could be forced into the vacuum at the slightest accident.

Moses took his time to explore every bit of the room. All in all, it was pretty standard and had no signs of personality. He would need to design it himself or add some personal touches to give it a hint of life.

But that could come later. Moses quickly put on his uniform once again, before stepping out of the room. William had come to take him and the others to see the base commander.

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