Eden's Ore: Atonement

By B.V. Bayly

The new world Gabriel has been fighting for is about to collapse.

TERA’s retreat from North America was only temporary. Warships fill the Atlantic Ocean, armed with everything TERA needs to retake the radiant zones. The only chance to defend is if the PFC – the new government birthed from the Resistance – and the Spheres stand together.

But the relationship is about to sour. A gang of ore users has been recruiting members of the Spheres to riot against the PFC over their current treatment of ore users. Gabriel is torn as Jay chooses to side with the gangs.

In the midst of the struggle, an unexpected ally reveals to Gabriel where the Horsemen are hidden. Gabriel and his friends must make the decision to either hunt down the Horsemen or stay and defend the new world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.V. Bayly
• Release date: Apr 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311184689

Book preview

Chapter

1

I’m almost there! Gabriel jerked open the side hatch of the small helicopter. It darted between the high-rises over the downtown core of Washington City. The blast of the cold night air howled through the small cab behind the pilot. Every hair on his body stood on end. His eyes watered as he faced into the wind.

You need to stop the Commonwealth soldiers from engaging with the gangs. Thaddeus’s voice bounced inside Gabriel’s comm. I’m heading to the Senate to find out what’s happening.

Gabriel’s grip tightened around the rough handhold bolted to the side of the helicopter. It banked hard to the right, drifting around a tall residential high-rise. The pull of gravity jerked his body towards the open door. His stomach lifted into his chest as they dropped towards the streets below. Who authorized the General to engage them? He could see the street ahead was on fire.

I don’t know...Chriselda, maybe? Thaddeus spoke to another then continued his conversation with Gabriel. We don’t know yet. The gangs are the Sphere's problem, not the Senate's. The more they fight with them the harder it will be for us to get these ore users back.

Ore users had been breaking away from the Spheres for the last several months. They had joined an underground movement that protested against the Provisional Free Commonwealth’s servitude of ore users. The movement had started with peaceful protests, demands that the Sphere be allowed to live free within the radiant zones. It was more of a nuisance than anything, it spread to every radiant zone. The movement became bolder, and the protests transformed into riots.

Find Riley and get him to order the General to stand down. Gabriel needed to stop the fight from happening. He doesn’t care about their cause – he’ll just shoot them. The more ore users that were killed, the larger the gangs grew. If Gabriel couldn’t keep the peace, the Sphere’s alliance with the PFC would sever.

Well, find him – Now! Thaddeus barked at someone. Gabriel, look - I know you don’t get involved in the politics, but you have had the Sphere’s full support to stop this from happening. Don’t let them kill any more of our people.

Gabriel hated his position. Most of the gang members were simple ore users who wanted a chance to live a normal life. They felt the PFC had failed in promises that had been made to allow their freedom. So they went to extremes to get their message out. It had spun out of control. They rioted across all the zones. It was sporadic and difficult to predict where they might strike next. The zone’s police force had handled the problem up until two weeks ago. Several officers were killed in an ugly fight. The PFC was no longer going to tolerate the riots – the military had been order to quell the gangs.

It had only gotten worse. The more riots there were, the more the public rebuked the Spheres and the ore users within them. Gabriel had been vocal about the issue for months with the Senate. Now he was stuck between both sides. His loyalty to each was tested as he tried to keep the peace. Please tell me you know where Jay is? He was afraid of the answer.

No idea. Thaddeus’s voice dropped off. I haven’t seen him around.

Gabriel’s whole body tightened as he cursed. Find Riley and tell him to stop this. He tapped the small silver disc behind his ear. He exhaled and stretched out his neck. He needed to focus.

The helicopter swung low through the massive apartment buildings. It swayed back and forth as it approached the conflict. Gabriel shifted his boots in anticipation, ready at the open door to stop the impending fight. The narrow street below glowed like a fiery snake, fuelled by the angry thoughts of the dozen gang members below. It was a display of power, one that could ignite into a fury of destruction in an instant. The gangs marched. A blockade had been prepared at the end of the street to stop their march.

It was filled with soldiers. The Provisional Free Commonwealth had been ordered to intervene by the Senate. Armored PFC military vehicles stood spread out across the street. They joined the local police and fortified their position. Within minutes the gang of ore users would meet them head on. The military had full authorization to stop them and, with the General on site, any chance for a peaceful resolution was gone.

Gabriel’s pulse quickened as the helicopter neared the front lines. The gang members weren’t afraid to show their superiority. They didn’t hesitate to attack. The PFC soldiers scrambled against the explosions of fire and columns of water aimed at them. They strengthened the blockade. Their armor was thick and wasn’t going to crack easily.

Gabriel shouted at the pilot. Hold here!

The small craft jerked backwards and held its position above the fight. He leaned out the side of the open door. The rotors spun overhead, and the rush of air pushed down against his back. Heat surged through Gabriel’s body. The white ore’s power streaked through every vein and muscle in his body, ready for his command. His heart pounded in his chest as he nervously watched the gang press into the PFC soldiers. The gangs targeted everything – cars, homes, shops, all of it was set ablaze.

The armored military vehicles spaced out along the street came to life. Their armor plates shifted and twisted off of their chassis. The alloyed plates rolled down off the sides of the vehicles and dug down into the street. Heavy bolts shot out from the armored vehicles on either end. The bolts dug into the concrete bases of the apartment buildings on each side of the street. Soldiers swarmed around them, linking each vehicle together with heavy chains. The heavy winches tightened. They pulled the armored vehicles into place – a wall of plated armor. This was it. The military wasn’t about to back down.

The scene below was all too familiar for Gabriel. It was the third conflict this month; each one had ended with the deaths of ore users. The military had only become more aggressive in how they handled the riots. Come on..., he whispered to himself. Make the call, Riley. All he could hope for was an order for them to stand down.

You are all under arrest by the authority of the Provisional Free Commonwealth. A light Mech stomped forward. It stood behind the armored barrier of military vehicles, several feet taller. The beak-like cockpit flashed as the spotlights turned on. The light flooded the street in front of them as the loud speaker continued to blast it’s message. We have the right to use any force necessary. Lie face down on the street and surrender.

Idiots. Gabriel shook his head at the demand. The gangs fought against the oppression of ore users. Orders to surrender would only piss them off. He triple tapped the silver disc behind his ear and tuned into the military’s channel.

Two red ore users rushed forward in defiance. They unleashed a torrent of fire against the cockpit of the light Mech. Blue and orange flames shot out of their hands and curled around one another into a funnel. The blast wave scorched the cockpit. Falling back! The pilot shouted and twisted hard to retreat.

Bad move. Gabriel sighed. The red ore users had invited a counter attack.

Shock ‘em. The sharp growl of the General’s voice gave the order. Fire! It was exactly what the General wanted – a reason to retaliate and kill them.

The armored plates of the barrier flickered. Each plate split open several inches wide and snapped closed again. In the seconds they were open, a volley of quills hit the two red ore users. The slender three-inch spikes each contained an electrical charge. Enough voltage to knockout the target. Too many and the target’s heart would stop.

The two men dropped to the ground instantly, they twitched on the ground, frozen in pain.

Gabriel's jaw tightened. Leave! He banged his fist in frustration against the side of the helicopter. He could only hope the rest of the gang would disperse. They didn't stand a chance against the PFC’s military.

Move in the heavies. The General's voice was calm. Too calm. If they don’t surrender, cut them all down.

Gabriel ignored the burn of the wind against his face. He didn’t blink as he watched from above. The General was a butcher. He didn't care if he had to kill every single one of them. Two heavy Mechs stomped towards the barrier of armored vehicles. They towered over the wall, standing side by side with their chain guns pointed into the open street.

In position, weapons are hot. The pilots awaited the General’s command.

The gang of ore users glanced at one another, unsure of what to do. Their feet shuffled underneath them, ready to turn and run. One of them marched forward. A young woman.

Her voice rang out in the streets as she lifted a megaphone. We will not be ruled! Kept on reserves like outcasts! We have a right to live the way we choose! she screamed at the two heavy Mechs.

The General's voice echoed on the loud speaker. Surrender or be shot.

The young woman took a step forward towards the barrier. Her fist raised high in the sky as she repeated her message. We will not be-

Gabriel’s body jerked as the blast of gunfire erupted below. The woman’s voice was silenced by the roar of the chain guns mounted on the heavy Mechs. The shells tore into her body, cutting her down where she stood. His gut wrenched as her body slumped down and collapsed onto the street.

The other ore users roared with fury as their comrade was slain. A red ore user rushed forward, his arms ignited in flame. He set two cars ablaze beside him. They exploded into a blue hellfire. A woman behind him knelt down to the street and her hands flushed with a green light. The light pulsed across the street in front of her and a pair of gnarled, bright green tree trunks burst through the pavement and rocketed the two cars towards the barrier. Their steel frames crumpled against the line of armored vehicles, unable to break it.

Open fire! The General hollered.

The chain guns buzzed. The shells cut along the pavement towards the gang. A streak of light pulsed from a nearby alleyway and intercepted the gunfire. A wall of luminous energy flashed out against the barrage of bullets. Its surface ripped as the shells pounded into it.

Gabriel didn't think. He let go of the handle on the chopper and stepped forward. He dropped through the air and landed in front of the PFC’s armored barrier. The ground underneath him cracked as his feet hit the hardened pavement. His arms glowed with light. His spear flashed out from his hands, and the tip of the blade touched the wall of light in front of him. It flooded with energy and expanded out behind him. The surge of energy thickened the barrier’s luminous surface into an opaque wall of protection. Gabriel was furious.

The hooded figure in front of him lowered his arms. The glow of white light vanished back into his body. Jay pulled back his hood. I won’t let them kill anymore of us.

Gabriel’s whole body vibrated with anger. I told you to stay away from this! The massive barrier of light behind him held.

Stand down! The General roared through the comm at Gabriel. Lower the barrier now!

Gabriel refused to respond to the General on the comm.

You don’t control me! The gangs are right, Gabriel! Jay shouted at him. The PFC is never going to let us have a normal life.

You risk everything being here with them. Gabriel couldn’t believe Jay’s stupidity.

Risk what? The cage they keep us in? Jay wasn’t going to listen.

Enough! Gabriel cut him off before he could say anything else. I’ll deal with you later.

Whatever. Jay turned and streaked away in a blast of light towards the other gang members. The other gang members eyed Gabriel before they joined Jay’s retreat. Each of the ore users knew who Gabriel was. They cursed him and disappeared into the fires behind them.

Gabriel’s heart raced. His energy pulled back into his body and the massive wall of bright light faded away to nothing. His spear vanished as he twisted around and faced the PFC blockade. Every soldier held their sights on him. He stared up into their spotlights and clicked his comm. That’s enough killing for tonight. He faced the three ore users on the ground in front of him.

This is Commander Riley. The comm echoed in his ear. All units stand down immediately.

Gabriel peeled the comm off of his skin and snapped the small disc in two. He walked towards the young woman’s bullet riddled body and knelt down beside her. His hand glowed as he touched her face. He sighed and gently closed her eyes. The soldiers worked around him. They picked up the bodies and put them into bags – their ore would be salvaged. They edged towards him. He lifted the young woman and carried her towards an open black bag.

This wasn’t the future he was supposed to have made.

When TERA’s headquarters fell in Pittsburgh, the war within North America ended. The radiant zones opened to everyone, power was free – made available to every class and person. The entire country surged towards a new goal and, from the ashes of all the fighting, a new government rose up from the people. They formed a Senate with Chriselda and Riley. A new government the people would respect and follow. Something the public had forgotten, being under the heel of TERA’s boot for so long.

Everything increased – productivity shot through the roof: building, manufacturing, settlements, research. All of it was active within a month of TERA’s retreat. The public embraced it. They praised it, but it wasn’t perfect. The dream of humans and ore users being able to live side by side didn’t last. The public feared ore users. They demanded they be kept in isolation, monitored by the Senate and controlled. It was absurd. The Spheres had risen up and fought against TERA. They had freed the public from TERA’s oppression, but within weeks of TERA’s fall, the Spheres and its ore users were no longer seen as heroes.

It wasn’t long until the Senate realized they need the Sphere’s help as they struggled to meet the needs of the people within the new world. A decree was made that ore users were to be protected as a vital piece of the future. Entire blocks within each of the radiant zones were transformed overnight. The Spheres were given a place to call their own within the radiant zones – with a separation between them and the public. A declaration was made that these compounds were temporary. Everyone hoped that humans would learn to accept the ore users and eventually integrate them back into the regular world. To show their dedication to a new future, the Spheres took over the provision of food and water for the radiant zones – a sign of their allegiance to a better world.

Blue ore users worked on sanitation and provided everyone with clean, unlimited amounts of water. They used their abilities to redesign the waterworks throughout the radiant zones and expand the service out into the dark zones, free to anyone who needed it. Green ore users managed farms throughout the zones, taking over entire apartment structures and turning them into huge hydroponic farms. They grew thousands and thousands of pounds of food every day that was available to all who lived within the zones. Red ore users built recycling centers. They melted down the wreckage TERA had left behind into raw materials for the manufacturing centers across the zones. It was the start of a new world. Everyone was safe, had work and their needs were met.

Gabriel stood back as the soldiers carried the bodies of the ore users away and took down the barrier. The fires on the streets smoldered as he strolled up the dark street alone. It wasn’t long before people came out of their homes, upset and angry. They demanded the PFC soldiers kill the ore users involved in the riot. They shouted for justice. Gabriel stayed out of the way. He couldn’t believe their audacity. Despite everything they had gone through, there were still individuals on both sides who couldn’t accept a future together.

Chapter

2

The next morning Gabriel pushed open the double set of doors to the Senate’s chamber. The leaders of the PFC had summoned him to discuss the events of last night. It was an unauthorized use of Gabriel’s power, a stupid rule the General liked to enforce whenever he could. Gabriel could care less what the General thought. As long as the man didn’t see Jay involved, Gabriel would just get a slap on the wrist. As he entered the Senate’s chambers, he could feel the General’s eyes bore into him. The man was nothing more than a bigot. Gabriel completely ignored him and took the podium opposite of him. He kept his head high and his hands behind his back as he stood at attention.

The members of the Senate filed into the room one by one. Gabriel watched each of them as they took their elevated seats in front of the two podiums. In the center sat Chriselda Viven. The people’s chosen leader and the Resistance’s partner when they had driven TERA out of North America. To her left and right were her advisors – Jordon Marquis and Gerald Cullin. They were the heart of the Senate. The real decision makers of the Provisional Free Commonwealth. The next three to enter the room were merely supporters. Their roles were administrative and they rarely spoke out against the other three's decisions: Henry, Isla and Cassandra. Gabriel exchanged nods with each of them as they made their way to their seats.

Thaddeus and Riley followed. Riley represented the PFC’s military as a Commander and overseer of all military operations – an equal to the General in rank, despite their different views on ore users. Thaddeus grinned at Gabriel as he took his seat. He carried the mantle of leadership amongst the Spheres – an endorsement Gabriel was happy to support. The majority of the Spheres acknowledged Gabriel as their true leader, a position he didn’t want. Thaddeus was dressed in a button up shirt and slacks – a sight Gabriel still couldn’t help but smirk at. Lastly, the Council men and women filled the seats on either side. Each one represented one of the radiant zones under the PFC. As everyone took their seats, the room dimmed and a holographic map sparked to life. It hovered overhead in the center of the room.

The riot began at roughly 2200 hours. The gangs proceeded to ignite the entire street in the 500 block of the core and threatened the lives of civilians as they continued to defy the local police force. The short General paced as he described the skirmish in detail. My men arrived and deployed a controlled wall to stop the chaos from spreading any further. The situation was intact and under my total control until an unknown ore user, whose identity we all can guess, he glared at Gabriel, used his...abilities...to protect the gang members. Several seconds later, the barrier expanded and blocked us entirely. The General hesitated. This...man...rendered my entire force useless. We couldn’t pursue the criminals. He blatantly aided the gang members escape, including the unknown ore user who seems to mimic his abilities. His actions left us no recourse or follow up to discover where the gangs are hidden. I ask, again, that the Senate respond appropriately to this act of treason. The General sneered at him.

Chriselda’s hair was pulled into a tight bun, as usual. She eyed Riley on her left as she addressed Gabriel. Is the General’s report true, Mr. Roberts? She was all business.

Gabriel cleared his throat. The General's malice eliminated any opportunity to end the skirmish peacefully so I intervened. As for a second ore user with similar abilities, the General is mistaken – I came through the alleyway and shielded the gang members.

That's a lie! The General glared at him from the other podium.

Gabriel kept calm. Prove it.

The General roared. You’re protecting him!

I am explaining to the Senate the reality of the situation. Gabriel’s eyes darted between the two suits on either side of Chriselda. If the General has proof, let him show it.

We have footage of the entire event. The General slammed his hand down on the podium in front of him.

Riley was quick to respond. Your footage simply shows a flicker of a figure in white...then the wall is summoned and blinds the camera. He locked eyes with the General. With Gabriel’s speed, it’s easy to conceive that you might be mistaken and think he was actually two people.

The General’s face was a deep purple. Protecting him as usual, Commander?

Riley leaned back in his chair. Gabriel prevented a dangerous situation from getting worse. Those are the facts. I’m simply stating the obvious.

Gabriel wanted to punch the General in the face. You would have butchered them!

This is what I am talking about! The General glared at him. He’s an insubordinate little bastard! He pointed at Gabriel.

Gabriel raised his voice. You gunned down a young woman with two heavy Mechs! You also killed two young men with electro-darts! Most people can't handle three yet these two men were hit with over 20 each. All of that was done under your orders! If you don't see a problem with that, then I have to question whether these gangs of ore users aren’t right to rebel against this government.

So you do side with the gangs. The General pointed at Gabriel.

Enough! Chriselda took control of the room. This is a hearing to discuss the events of last night, not a trial. Gabriel’s loyalties have always been to support the PFC. What happened last night was unfortunate, but it's a reality of the struggles we are facing with the Spheres. The general public is not ready for ore users to be free within the radiant zones. They still see ore users as a threat and these outbursts are only fuelling their fears. She looked directly at Gabriel. Did the gang members see you? Did they recognize you?

Yes. Gabriel scoffed. So what? I am not their king. These gangs formed because ore users within the Spheres want the opportunity to have normal lives and the PFC is denying them that. They’re trying to find a way back to what they had before TERA. Sending the army out to try and convince them of some new authority over their lives doesn't help – it only worsens the problem. They want to be free – left to their own dreams and plans for the future. Gabriel didn't blame them for their desire. They want to be accepted like equals.

But they’re not like everyone else, are they? Gerald noted.

Yes...we are different. Gabriel wasn’t going to win this argument, he never did. The vast majority of the Spheres live in the complexes you require us to be in. They are happy to have jobs, homes and some sense of normalcy. The Spheres understand the public’s concern, but we aren't criminals. Gabriel stared at Thaddeus. He needed to join the conversation.

But they are! The General's voice boomed. We restrict guns and weapons for the average citizen. But what you are...how are we supposed to keep that in control? What's to stop a man or woman from using their strength to get whatever they want?

The Law. Thaddeus leaned forward on his elbows and stared at the General. We are subject to the same set of laws that you are. We don't see ourselves as different. Why should you? He stood out from all the other leaders in suits. His collar was opened wide to show off his dark muscular chest.

Because you simply are, Thaddeus. Gerald reinforced the General’s point.

The gangs are a Sphere problem. Thaddeus swiveled his head to Gerald. We’re doing our best to bring these rebellious members back to the Spheres, but if this Senate continues to authorize military force against them, it makes it even harder for us to handle the situation.

Gerald raised his eyebrows. So, we should just let the streets burn while you attempt to find them?

Of course not. Thaddeus sighed. The Sphere leaders are trying their best to deal with our people. If ore users stop joining the gangs, they will eventually disappear. Gabriel could see the glow of the red shards under the sleeves of his shirt. The conversation annoyed Thaddeus.

When? Gerald challenged him. Months? Years?

Thaddeus took a deep breath. We are doing the best we can.

Chriselda put her hand up to Gerald. This is not Thaddeus’s fault. She sighed. Discrimination, social injustice, inequality – these problems never die. We will halt all military involvement for now. The room erupted in shouts.

She raised her voice. Enough! She slapped her hand against the arm of her tall chair. I understand everyone’s point, but I also can understand what Gabriel and Thaddeus are dealing with. The people in the Spheres want to return to their lives – the places they grew up. The current housing situation for the Spheres were supposed to be temporary. We can't keep the Spheres in the complexes forever, but for now it's the safest place for them. She addressed Thaddeus. Until you can deal with the rogue gangs, and we can calm the public, I would ask that you remain in support of our decision to keep the Spheres within their compounds. Just for now. We will work out a permanent solution for the future – I promise.

Thaddeus crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair. Time is not your friend, Chriselda. The Spheres are restless. Every day we lose more of our people to the gangs. They want to go back to their lives.

Chriselda nodded. I know, Thaddeus. She waved her hand at the holographic screen. Enough of this, we have other matters to attend to.

The General refused to drop it. That's it?

Yes. Riley glared at him. You're dismissed.

So, this folk hero is free from command? The General pressed Riley.

General, Riley leaned forward, you're dismissed. Their eyes locked.

The General took a big breath and saluted. He turned sharply on the spot and towards the exit. Harrison stepped through the double doors and met the General head on. The General barked for him to move. Harrison smirked and stepped up to the podium.

You can step down, Gabriel, but please stay. Chriselda thumbed through a small Cube in front of her. Thank you for coming in, Harrison. We haven’t had an update from you in a while.

Gabriel's uncle addressed the Senate. Just like last time, I don’t have any updates. Harrison ran his hand over his shaved head. His jaw was framed with a thick growth of stubble. Frankly, I’m not sure why you asked me to attend.

Jordon tilted his head at him. Because you've had TERA's complete database and a dozen of our techs for months. We would like to know what you’re working on?

Harrison crossed his arms. Something's there – I just haven't found it. He sighed. There are hundreds of thousands of gigabytes in the database. All encrypted. This isn't something I can just wave a wand at and open. It's going to take more time.

Jordon twisted around and grinned at the other Council members. Forgive me, but it seems like a waste of time. He shrugged.

Harrison laughed at Jordon's bluntness. That’s cute.

Do you have any information that makes the Horsemen a creditable threat? Gerald leaned forward on his elbows.

Outside of Gabriel and I being targeted by death squads and Hunters every time we stray too far from the zones? No. Harrison’s nostrils flared. But they’re still here. They still want a war to happen. Pure and simple. They don't care which side starts it – you or TERA. They just want you to kill each other.

Harrison, Chriselda gave an amiable smile. Why don’t you remind us why the Horsemen need to be a priority.

Fine. Harrison took a deep breath. The Horsemen have been in control of TERA from the start. They are the brain and TERA is the body. Attack the body and the brain simply adjusts, it keeps going. You kill the brain and the body will wither and die. He swallowed. When we beat back TERA six months ago, the Horsemen vanished. Every member of the Horsemen we identified through TERA’s databases turned out to be a fake – a human placed there to be killed off, so we would stop looking for them. They’re vulnerable and they know it.

Gabriel remembered when they had rushed to get to the head of TERA, Alexander Torvo, at the top of the PPG Tower. They were ready to meet the black soul, but only discovered a human imposture ready to die in his stead. Before they could get any answers from him, a bullet punched through the imposture’s chest. Someone made sure they didn’t find anything out.

Harrison continued. The Horsemen are governed by the Dark Council – a family of bloodlines with incredible power. Their connection to the ore is hundreds of times stronger than the average ore user. Six members are left – the rest have been killed by Gabriel and the Spheres. The ones we’ve killed included high-ranking Hunters, TERA military commanders, TERA board executives...they were all set up in positions to manipulate power. Now they’re all gone. With the shift of power we know they’re going to seek out those positions again, but we have no idea who they might become. The Horsemen’s goal is annihilation – they believe the world will be reborn through ore users, not humans. Once the vast majority of humans die, they will be able to rule what’s left. At the head of the Dark Council is a man named Kain. Finding him needs to be our priority. That’s who I’m searching for and, when I find him, I will let you know. Then we will kill him and all of this will end.

So if the Dark Council is eliminated, Riley spoke up to support Harrison, TERA will crumble. Once TERA begins to crumble – wither and die as Harrison said – then the world will have a chance to recover and have peace.

We've been fighting with TERA for six months along the east coast. They’ve been scouting the shoreline for weeks with small boats, looking for a weak spot. They know they can’t land anything on shore without us destroying it. Gerald leaned back in his chair. Chriselda, we have more pressing issues than to devote resources for searching for someone no one even knows exists. I'm sorry, Harrison, but there's a serious lack of evidence to support any claim that the Horsemen are a threat. The techs need to refocus on finding any remaining TERA caches of ore. That should be our top priority. We’re going to need more black ore to keep the power grid strong.

Gabriel eyed Harrison and shrugged. There was little they could do. The Horsemen had vanished. It wasn't that the Senate didn't believe the Horsemen were dangerous, but the Dark Council had been cut in half – only six of them remained alive. TERA needed to be the priority again.

Chriselda nodded. I have to agree. TERA is our primary focus. We need to strengthen our defensive capabilities and our infrastructure. Discovering the rest of TERA's ore caches would be a big boost to that. She held her chin up. The techs efforts will be redirected for a couple of weeks, then they can return to their search for any information on the Horsemen.

Harrison crossed his arms and shook his head. Forgetting they exist is exactly what they want you to do. He stepped back from the podium. That’s why they vanished in the first place.

Chriselda lifted her hand. Harrison, we have followed every lead and location you’ve given us for months. Quantico - abandoned. Mountain strongholds - abandoned. Hunter camps - abandoned. We have turned over every stone and nothing remains. Perhaps they’re really gone. It’s time we focus on the threat that is right outside our doorstep.

Harrison held his ground. There's something missing. Something under the surface. We can’t just stop now. The longer they have to cover their tracks the smaller our chance of finding a clue gets.

We're not stopping. Resources will still be granted for you to search for the Horsemen, but it is no longer a priority. Gerald added.

The decision is made, Harrison. No more discussion. You are dismissed. Chriselda once again waved her hand at the massive hologram. Commander Riley, update us on TERA's military occupation of the Atlantic.

Gabriel stood up. No one was going to listen to them any further. Harrison twisted