[SYSTEM OPERATIONS CONFIRMED, 540MM GUARDIAN R19 TYPE RAILGUN ONLINE, MONITIONS ELEVATOR ONLINE, FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS ONLINE, TARGETING SYSTEMS ONLINE, SATELLITE HANDSHAKE HOLDING SOLID WITH 4MS SIGNAL DELAY. KINGSTEAD DEFENSIVE TURRET #3 ONLINE.]

"Good. Show me the satellite relay route and sim a 95% system failure."

Standing on top of the capital city of Kingsetead's outermost wall Dax had to arch his head a good ways back just to look at the high calibre railgun which was housed on top of a 350 meter tall spire. It had been half a year since the fall of the magic academy and life was slowly getting back to normal after the tragedy struck the central Kingdom, but for Kingstead's residences their life the past month had been quite strange. Every day from first light to sundown, Dax had been sky lifting in pre a.s.sembled blocks of equipment the size of a normal 3 story house using a swarm of brand new heavy lifting transports. Being supplied daily by metric tons of material around 5000 drones of different sizes and types tore into the terrain surrounding Kingstead, constructing truly ma.s.sive underground bunkers which housed fusion generators, substations and monition plants along with other essential subsystems. At the same time construction had also started above ground, with 24 500 meter deep open pits being dug out and then filled again with a mix of high tensile tungsten alloy and concrete to form a st.u.r.dy foundation for the capital cities new defences.

After a full month of construction, the first 3 railgun turrets stood ready as construction paused on the rest. Reason being that the n.o.ble houses of Kingstead had come together and demanded that the reason for all that building be told, leading Dax to decla.s.sify the project and to the current day where the first live fire exercise and demonstration would be held.

"ICI please delay that. Dax you're overreaching."

Seeing how tense Dax was Lux spoke out to him in an attempt to make him calm down.

"No, I'm not, the entire world is watching. This needs to be perfect."

Even with the brand new surveillance system working in overload and the 14th sanctuary directly a.s.sisting in stopping any intelligence for leaving Kingstead Dax was sure the entire world would eventually learn of the central Kingdom's new defences, therefore the first of such demonstrations had to be entirely flawless.

"Even if this test goes off without a hitch we'll still have to deal with attempts of sabotage and spying for the next few years."

"Yeah, but I would rather do that than having to deal with a bunch of invasions and smaller skirmishes."

Seeing Dax's unwillingness to calm down Lux breathed a deep sigh before offering an alternative.

"Then what if I go over the systems and try to poke them for any weakness instead of all these meaningless tests?"

"... That would be more effective, please go ahead."

-

"Commence pre charging of primary coils and cool down the supercapacitors please. Enter the final ready phase for weapon demonstration."

[ORDER CONFIRMED, KINGSTEAD DEFENSIVE TURRET #3 READY, SYSTEM HOT. AWAITING ADMINISTRATOR AUTHENTICATION.]

As a siren was heard all over the city of Kingstead, Dax started the weapons demonstration in the audience of the cities elite.

"Has the target area been evacuated?"

Even as she had practised for this demonstration more times than she would care to count, a hint of unease was still visible on the crown princess' face as she and Dax started the firing procedure.

[NO LIFE SIGNS DETECTED IN TARGET AREA.]

"Good, then as the administer of this system I, Teresa Vi Gruffydd XI, authenticate this live fire exercise."

[ADMIN BIOMETRICS CONFIRMED, NO SIGNS OF CORROSION. WEAPON SYSTEM ONLINE, PLEASE SELECT WEAPON PAYLOAD.]

"I leave that up to Dax."

[PLEASE CONFIRM TEMPORARY HANDOVER OF FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS TO: COMMANDER DAX, 125TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND.]

"I confirm, hand over fire control of turret number 3 to Dax."

[ADMINISTRATOR HANDOVER CONFIRMED, RAILGUN #3 READY FOR TASKING.]

While a siren was once more heard all around the city, a high pitch hum could be heard from the railgun turret, indicating that the cooling system operated correctly and that the system was live.

"Target."

With a single command from Dax, the 3rd railgun tower came alive. As the defensive blast s.h.i.+elding around the top of the tower was removed visible streaks of lighting could be seen leaping from the Guardian type R19 540mm railgun that was housed within. The gun itself was a bit larger than an 18 wheeler semi truck, being around 20 meters long, 3 meters wide and 5 meters tall and could be simply described as a ma.s.s of supercapacitors and cooling systems that surrounded a single quad rail configuration.

"Weapon system trail to bearing 023.2. Target Range: 4805 meters, send one times 540mm highex with deep impact fuse. Confirm."

[TARGET ACQUIRED: 

TYPE: SYSTEM LIVE FIRE TEST.

TARGET ACQUIRED, LOAD UHV-HEI.

RANGE TO TARGET: 4805.2 METERS.

FUSE: 10 METER SENSITIVITY.

SYSTEM READY.]

"Fire at will."

Having obtained final confirmation from Dax the system which supplied the railgun sprang into action. About 600 meters below the railgun turret its monitions stowage unlocked and a mechanical arm gripped the sole sh.e.l.l which was housed inside before transporting it up the primary munitions elevator. On the way up the elevator, the sh.e.l.l was encased in a conductive sabot which would act like the railgun's armature and discard on the way towards the target. Being loaded into the railgun's magazine, the high explosive sh.e.l.l was immediately chambered, then the weapon fired.

Appearing more like a streak of lightning than anything else to the countless spectators both within the Kingdom and outside, the single round of high explosive incendiary buried itself deep into a small hill almost 5 kilometres away before completely obliterating it, sending a strong message to anyone observing.

-

After the successful live fire demonstration Dax spend a few minutes answering quick questions from the n.o.ble's, repeatedly rea.s.suring and demonstrating them that the capital cities new defences could only be used with the royal crown princess' permission.

"Are you free now?"

On the way back home Dax ran into Lilly, which looked like she had been seeking him out.

"Not really, but what's up?"

Asking even though he knew he would regret it, Dax looked at the smug elver in front of him as he felt his smile slowly crack at what she said next.

"It's time for you to repay the favour you owe me, refusal is not allowed~"

"When di-"

"The village of White lagoon after you visited."

"f.u.c.k… Okay, what do you want?"

Being reminded that he did indeed make a promise to Lilly, Dax resigned himself to his fate as he felt the strength drain from his body. Seeing Dax's subservient att.i.tude Lilly only grew happier as she latched onto Dax's arm.

"Even after all this time I still don't know much about this city, take me on a tour of the city."

"... Is this a date?"

Putting two and two together in an unprecedented display of social intelligence Dax saw trough Lilly's att.i.tude, much to her surprise.

"So you are at least somewhat aware deep inside that thick skull of yours… Yes, this is a date. Do you have any problem with that?"

"Not at all, although Lux might be different."

"... I'm starting to wonder who exactly is the parent and who's the child in that relations.h.i.+p of yours. But don't worry about Lux, I already obtained her permission~"

Puffing out her chest(?) proudly, Lilly took Dax by surprise by having obtained Lux's permission to approach him. The reason for such an agreement between Lux and Dax stemmed from years of the qiton's habitually bad decisions and awareness when it came to the opposite s.e.x, leading to two particular sisters (and by extension Lux who was partly raised by them) forcing Dax into an agreement that they would need to bless a potential party before they could freely a.s.sociate with him, something Dax really didn't have issue with as he didn't much care for such things.

"How?"

"I have my secrets~ Now let's go bar hopping!~"

(She just wants to go drinking? It could be worse I guess…)

"Okay then, do you have any preferences?"

"You already know my preferences~"

"Right, hard alcohol it is… Let's start off light with some mead."

-

"So how did that happen?"

"What did?"

"Don't be stupid now, your arm and all those other things."

The time the pair of borderline alcoholics reached the 3rd bar it was slowly starting to get dark out, but Lilly didn't seem to either slow down or care about such things as she rather struck up a somewhat serious conversation with Dax.

"Ah, yeah I guess I haven't really explained this at all huh... I switched over from cybernetics to bioengineered cybernetics, except for my eye, which is only covered by a lense that makes it look like my other eye."

As he started explaining Dax rolled up the sleeve on his left arm to reveal a fully 'flesh and blood' arm instead of the varying cybernetic ones he had been using so far. If Lilly didn't know that he originally was missing his left arm and a large part of his shoulder socket she would believe that what she saw was his normal arm, as even Dax's characteristic bright white scars were visible all over his toned muscles and dark skin. As for Dax's left eye that still was entirely cybernetic in nature, Dax made sure no one was looking too closely at him as the green cat like eye split open to reveal the bright red 'eye of Argos' cybernetic eye below.

"So that isn't your real arm that you just re attached?"

Lilly, however, was entirely focused on Dax's arm as she casually poked it and asked whatever was on her mind.

"Nope, this one is the first viable prototype I developed with the help of Iris and Lux. It was grown in a tank over the course of a month in orbit. As I have no need for the bone marrow in that part of my body the bones are entirely metal however, that way barely reach the lowest tensile strength I will allow while further development will enable me to do some quite interesting stuff."

"So it's grown, like a plant… Isn't that strange to you?"

Being a being of magic Lilly held strong disdain for artificial life, something that was poorly hidden in her tone.

"Not at all no, is the artificial creation of life frowned upon among elvers?"

"Are you kidding!? The act of creating life is something only the G.o.ds are allowed to do, any poor replication of such acts like homunculi are the deepest form of heresy!"

As Lilly stood up and became enraged by Dax's question she created quite a scene in the cheerful bar, making the other patrons quiet down as their attention focused on the demonkin and elver pair that appeared to have a heated discussion. Realizing that she had acted out of therm Lilly quickly sat back down as she blushed all the way to the tips of her ears in embarra.s.sment, requiring Dax to apologize for her behaviour as he bought a round of beers for the entire bar.

"... Sorry."

Offering a timid apology once she had calmed down slightly, Lilly hugged her legs close as she looked like a toddler that had been scolded for misbehaving, making Dax breathe a deep sigh as he also apologized.

"No, I'm sorry as well. It was an insensitive question I asked and I didn't mean to offend you…"

"... What is it?"

Looking like he really wanted to say something after he trailed off in his apology, Lilly timidly asked him to state his mind, something she would come to regret.

"It's really hard for me to say this as I quite value you as a precious comrade, but I think we should part ways."

"Why?"

Feeling anger build up in her body, Lilly managed to restrain herself as she asked Dax for his reason behind such a statement.

"Because I am by definition what you define as heresy, being born in a tank I, and every single one of qiton brothers and sisters, are artificial beings created by a race of s.p.a.cefarers that has since been lost to history. Even though I inherit genetic material from my mother, I have no male parent as my DNA was grafted from the qiton birth chambers of my holy homeworld."

With hints of emotional pain clearly visible on his face even as he did his best to hide it, Dax got up from his chair and paid for his and Lilly's drinks before leaving her with a parting message.

"If you can't come to accept me in your life I understand, I have dealt with religious conflicting views on my race's existence before so I know it's not personal. I will be leaving town tomorrow morning to oversee the development of another defensive fortification, if you want to no longer a.s.sociate with me you can use that time to gather your things form the compound, I will have Lux prepare a generous severance package in recognition of all you have done."

"I…"

In the end Lilly couldn't get her words out, her mind was black as what was supposed to be something special in her life turned to ash in mere seconds.