[Katherine’s POV]

  “He’s heading for one of the spaceports.”

  The officer’s voice came through the comms just as Katherine’s transport touched down on the tarmac of Mars’s capital. The landing thrusters hissed, kicking up red dust that swirled around the landing pad like smoke.

  “Again?” Katherine snapped, her voice sharp enough to make the officer flinch. “Tell him to wait for me—or I’ll shoot his ship out of the sky myself. He’s acting like he’s running from his sister.”

  The officer hesitated, clearly unwilling to test her temper. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll relay the message.” He turned away quickly, barking orders into his communicator.

  Katherine exhaled through her nose, forcing down her frustration. Her boots hit the surface of the landing platform with a heavy thud as she strode toward the line of waiting soldiers. The air was thin, the Martian atmosphere filtered and pressurized through massive domes that shimmered faintly above the skyline.

  “Move,” she ordered. Her troops fell in behind her as they made their way toward a row of autonomous vehicles lined up at the edge of the dock.

  They climbed into the lead transport. The vehicle’s systems came alive as soon as she entered, the AI greeting her with a soft chime.

  “Destination: York Military Spaceport,” the onboard voice announced.

  “Override. Manual control.” Katherine commanded.

  The soldier in the driver’s seat turned, startled. “Ma’am? You sure?”

  Katherine’s tone left no room for hesitation. “Take it off auto. We must get there before he lifts off."

  The soldier exchanged wary glances with the others, then nodded. “Understood.”

  He placed his hands on the control interface. The dashboard shifted, panels sliding open to reveal manual controls, something rarely used by anyone outside of combat pilots. The AI flickered, warning symbols flashing before vanishing as the override took effect.

  The hum of the engines deepened, the vehicle vibrating with raw power.

  “Manual control engaged. Speed and altitude restrictions lifted,” the system confirmed.

  “Good,” Katherine said, her voice cold and focused.

  The soldier gripped the controls and slammed the throttle forward. The vehicle shot down the lane, the world outside blurring into streaks of red and gold.

  The planet had long since traded its wilderness for industry. Even above the surface, the sky was crowded with movement. Cargo drones zipped between towers of glass and iron, while massive freight trains glided along magnetic rails that crisscrossed the horizon.

  And yet, in rare pockets between the sprawl, there were glimpses of green. Artificial gardens broke the monotony of red dust and steel. Civilians wandered these small sanctuaries, their faces pale under the filtered light of the planet’s sun.

  The vehicle surged forward, a blur of matte-black alloy cutting through the arterial highways of the capital. Its engines roared, the anti-grav stabilizers whining as it pushed well beyond standard speed limits. The other transports on the road might as well have been standing still.

  Inside, Katherine sat rigid in her seat, eyes fixed on the window, watching the world streak by. The faint vibration of the car, the rhythmic hum of the engines, and the endless flicker of lights outside worked together like a lullaby.

  Her mind drifted.

  She wanted to stay awake, but the exhaustion of the past few days was catching up to her. The adrenaline that had carried her through Fantasia-3 was finally gone.

  Her eyelids grew heavy. Her head tilted slightly, the faint motion of the car rocking her into a daze.

  “Princess!”

  The word cut through the haze like a blade.

  Her eyes snapped open, the world rushing back into focus. For a heartbeat, she didn’t recognize where she was. Then the soldier’s voice registered.

  “We’ve arrived, ma’am.”

  The vehicle had come to a stop. The doors hissed open, releasing a wave of cool, recycled air. Outside, her escort was already waiting.

  Katherine blinked hard, forcing the sleep from her eyes. Her body ached, but her mind awoke immediately.

  “Thank you,” she said, her tone steady even as she stepped out into the open. The dry Martian wind caught her hair, whipping it briefly across her face. “Take me to John.”

  The soldiers nodded, falling into formation around her as they moved toward the entrance.

  The York Military Spaceport loomed ahead, an enormous structure of black metal and reinforced glass that stretched across the horizon like a fortress. Inside, it was a chaotic sea of soldiers and cargo.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The main hall was vast, its ceiling high enough to fit entire vessels within. Holographic banners of the York House hung from the rafters.

  Everywhere she looked, soldiers moved with haste. Veterans in worn armor brushed shoulders with fresh recruits, their faces hard, their eyes focused. Officers barked orders, technicians rushed to and from the hangars, and the deep rumble of engines echoed from somewhere far below.

  “Prep the cargo haulers for departure; Hangars X1 through X3.” “The Heir ordered rapid-assault ships ready at those stations!” “Damn it, that’ll delay the launch schedule. We still need refueling.”

  The voices of officers and technicians overlapped, a symphony of urgency. Holographic displays flickered above their stations, showing flight paths, cargo manifests, and the glowing outlines of ships being fueled and armed in real time.

  Katherine caught the sound of a familiar name cutting through the noise.

  John.

  Her brother’s name.

  She followed the sound, weaving through the crowd of personnel.

  On one side stood soldiers in red uniforms, those responsible for the planet and its infrastructure. On the other, soldiers in black uniforms were tasked with the attack and protection of the York.

  In the center, officers were arguing over what should be done.

  “Soldiers,” Katherine called out, her voice slicing clean through the noise.

  The officers turned immediately. Conversations stopped. The moment they recognized her, every man and woman straightened and saluted.

  “Your Highness!” they said in near unison, fists crossing their chests.

  Katherine’s tone was clipped, commanding. “Where’s my brother? Has he already departed?”

  The Martian officer nearest her, a man with dust still on his boots and exhaustion in his eyes, stepped forward and saluted again. “Not yet, ma’am. He’s in Hangar X1, overseeing final preparations.”

  The others nodded in confirmation.

  “At ease,” she replied curtly before turning on her heel.

  The hum of the spaceport deepened as she approached the hangars. The air smelled of fuel and burning jets.

  Dozens of soldiers marched between the ships. Cargo droids trundled past, hauling crates marked with the York sigil. Technicians shouted over the noise as they calibrated systems and secured payloads.

  The hangar’s massive blast doors were open, revealing Mars’ horizon.

  And there he was.

  John York, the Heir of the House, stood near the ramp of an assault cruiser. His golden armor gleamed under the hangar lights. He was surrounded by his officers, a cluster of hardened veterans and tactical aides.

  “Fueling complete?” John asked.

  “Almost, sir. Final checks on the reactors.”

  “Good. Launch in thirty minutes. Send the recon ships ahead. I want the route cleared before we approach to attack.”

  Katherine approached quietly, careful not to interrupt. Yet one by one, the soldiers and aides began to notice her.

  Their conversations faltered. Helmets turned. Salutes snapped into place. Some stepped aside entirely, clearing a path for her.

  John looked up from the tactical hologram, confusion flickering across his face.

  “Kath? What are you doing here?” His voice carried over the hum of machinery, breaking the rhythm of commands. He turned to his officers. “You can continue the preparations. We’ll launch soon.”

  As the staff dispersed, Katherine crossed the distance between them.

  “What’s going on? You’re deploying again already?” she asked, her tone sharp with disbelief.

  John nodded. “A mercenary group’s been hitting convoys across the outer sectors. This time, they struck a shipment carrying Z-Crystals and another belonging to the Lot fleet.”

  He turned toward one of the ships, his gaze cold and focused. “We’re moving to intercept before the Republic does. We can’t let them get their hands on the Crystals.”

  Katherine exhaled, her anger giving way to concern. “I understand. But I need a word. Alone.”

  John hesitated, glancing toward his officers, then nodded. “Fine. Inside.”

  They stepped into the nearest assault ship, the cargo bay humming with power as drones loaded munitions into the hold.

  John turned to her, his tone softening. “What is it? I saw your report from Fantasia-3. You’re fine, aren’t you?”

  “It’s not that,” Katherine said, lowering her voice. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot. “I think I know who the Green Ranger is. I think it’s Atlas of Aquarius.”

  John blinked, processing her words. “Atlas? But wasn’t he in the Senate during one of the attacks?”

  “Yes, but there’s something off about him.” She leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “He was on Fantasia-3. The way he fights, the way he reacts. It’s too precise. Too refined. He moves like someone who’s seen real war.”

  She paused, her eyes narrowing as she remembered the fight. “And during the battle, he reacted to my Boon before I even activated it. The only people who could do that are the ones who’ve fought me before.”

  John crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “So you think he’s the Green Ranger because he’s fought you before. But what if he’s someone else? A past ally? Someone from the Academy? Or a Ranger?”

  “Maybe. But who among them could build a Great House?” she countered. “And not just any House, one powerful enough to rival the other factions. On a remote planet. Under the shadow of the Children of The Past.”

  John’s jaw tightened. He looked down, his voice dropping. “Only one name comes to mind.”

  Katherine’s heart sank. She didn’t need to hear it. She already knew.

  “Yes,” she said quietly, nodding. “But it can’t be him. He’s dead.”

  John didn’t argue. For a moment, they stood in silence.

  Then he changed the subject. “What do you plan to do?”

  Katherine straightened, hardening her eyes. “I need to get closer to him. I need to know who he is.”

  John gave a humorless smile. “Then you’re in luck. I just confirmed your attendance, and he’ll be there.”

  “Where?”

  John tapped his Gauntlet, and a holographic projection flared to life between them.

  | Wedding Announcement: Louise Dardanus & Nico Dardanus