A couple of Zoner parents, one researcher and one transport pilot made the move to this colony for work and to rejuvenate the Zoner life in exploring the edge of Sirius. With them were their two twin sons; Trex and Whesto Dwanian.
The early years for Whesto were pretty normal for a child with two working parents, education and spare time. Whesto did decently in the academics but found no real joy in it, he was more of a social person who took interest in the exploring part of the Zoners and pilot simulations. In his early teenage years this grew when joining his father on his work, transporting various commodities between Freeports along with Zoner escorts. Usually short distances for a Zoner with minimal altercations.
Whesto admired the fighter pilots and opted for that route when it came to further education and practice when he turned 18 in 816 A.S.
Whesto's desire for the combat part of piloting grew with the Corsairs presence in the system and on the planet, causing his peaceful family much distress and they questioned their settlement in the system for some time. A year later, Border World Exports settled on the opposite side of the hemisphere and further activity was noticed on Planet Gran Canaria but also in the system.
Whesto had begun his active duty as an initiate escort pilot, often on the same missions as his transport pilot father. His brother Trex had delved into exploration and business all over Sirius, with time most often spent in house space or independent systems.
The Dwanian's plan to move again came to fruition with the fact that the systems beta star were going to create increasingly worse cyclic ice ages on Planet Gran Canaria. The mother and Trex moved closer to Ames Research station to continue their works, Whesto's father adapted and moved his place of employment closer to them as well. Whesto stayed a bit longer to keep Zoners safe in the Edge Worlds.
MOVING TO OMICRON THETA
Leaving Planet Gran Canaria
Then the time came when Bretonia sent their forces to occupy Planet Gran Canaria and the mass exodus happened. Whesto still feeling he was an integral part of the Zoner life out there, moved further out into Omicron Theta and Freeport 9 with its biodome. There the seriousness of the Omicrons started for him and he was tested as an escort pilot and patrol of the stations NFZ.
Whesto still felt unaccomplished and unsatisfied and accepted more missions with exploration teams and researchers in their security wing. It was on one of these missions he stumbled upon a leader of the Zoners Trading Consortium named Johann Boll in a Freeport bar. Whesto was intrigued by the more adventurous nature of this consortium and was offered a job by Mr.Boll, if he could pass their intense fighter pilot training.
After hard work, failure and many lessons he passed the tests and successfully carried out minor missions for the ZTC and was added to their ranks.
Whesto eventually got tasked to secure Freeport 11's NFZ aside from his other obligations. Here he encountered many different factions and individuals, as well as The Order and the Nomad threat. Which skirmishes and wars he had to partake in for the sake of Freeport 11. This was Whesto's main concern, but not everyone seemed so distressed about it in the ZTC and Whesto wondered if The Order's initiative was more worth the cause or not.
Since Whesto was seen in these battles his reputation with The Order grew, but he was still a Zoner and they treated him as such. He did however in his diplomatic efforts manage to acquire a license for The Order's gunboat, Hathor, but only fitted with Zoner tech. It came with a hefty fee but aided him in combat, which The Order took advantage of.
OMICRONERS AND LOSING FREEPORT 11
Whesto - Omicroners
As time passed the ZTC's internal organisation stirred and was remade into the Omicroners. Whesto felt hope that this would increase their efforts at Freeport 11 and the Nomad threat in general. This would in the end not be true, apart from him and a couple of his wingmen. Omicroners organisation ultimately didn't unite and a big part of it departed on a voyage with a few staying, rebranding themselves into Phoenix.
At this time Whesto and his wingmen were also left to die by The Order more than once, who failed the Zoner calls for aid when attacked by Nomads at Livadia Shipyard among other incidents. The rug was swept underneath his feet and his concern about Freeport 11 reached none of his peers. Even the Zoners on Freeport 11 started acting delirious with some claiming that Whesto was infected by Nomads coming back from battle.
This was obviously not true. Now Freeport 11 was lost to him as well, and the Nomad hatred grew.
FREELANCER EXILE
Whesto - Freelancer
Whesto feeling powerless in his efforts decided to depart and become a Freelancer in the Border Worlds and Independent Systems until further notice.
The chaos of the Omicrons only continued which grieved him but he did not know any course of action in any case. He also took out his anger on the idea saying "I told you so", most often to himself. Omicron systems safety and fighting the Nomad threat had been his goal for a long time after all.
He was under the impression his concerns fell on deaf ears. Whether it was true or not.
ATTACK ON FREEPORT 11 AND THE CORE
In 822 A.S. he heard of a massive battle between the Corsairs and The Core. It intrigued him, seeing he never got along with Corsairs ever since Planet Gran Canaria. In fact, he despised them, almost as much as The Order.
The year after, he heard of an attack on Freeport 11 and deaths of Zoners caused by The Core. It was another "I told you so" feeling out of frustration and grief from Whesto's end, who had given up on it for some time. The Core however slowly grew inside his head for some years as other pilots spread word about The Core's Omicron agenda.
BACK TO THE OMICRONS - 830 A.S.
Eventually, Whesto was under the impression The Core's cause and hatred lined up with his own. He decided to learn more about their cause and their deal.
A visit to Dagger Station would turn the tide in Whesto's mind. He saw his reignition of a life in the Omicrons, alongside a faction and individuals who strive for the systems control and stability, at any cost. Waging war against Corsairs, The Order and Nomads in their efforts. Perhaps Whesto glorified it inside his own mind.
In any case, Whesto prepared to leave for Omicron Rho.
DAGGER OUTPOST - OMEGA-55
The interaction with the local Core representatives at Dagger Outpost was short and non-personal. Whesto did however get instructions on how to send his request to the Core command. He went to his ship, an Osprey, and took a seat in the cockpit and started his recording. Whesto was clear and honest with his intents and history and as to why he sought to join their ranks.
He sent his transmission and a sense of emptiness and silence hit him. Only the Dagger Outpost control chatter could be heard on low volume over the open comms. Perhaps old memories and grief caught up with him, perhaps that is what he let go of. The good memories left a bittersweet aftertaste, seeing it was all gone now. Thus, the determination and hatred grew again.
Whesto took a while to reset and await a response on his transmission, if any.
BACK TO OMICRONS
Whesto - Dagger Outpost
Whesto woke up by a beep on his dashboard, new transmission received. It was a short one. Good or bad news?
Mr. Dwanian, we'll be delighted to have you. Your application is ACCEPTED. Expect your briefing very soon. - Jack Daniels, Guildmaster, The Core.
Whesto's pulse quickened and a grin covered his face for a moment, he then transitioned into seriousness and focus. The briefing instructed him to make his way to Durban Station in Omicron Rho as planned. There he would get the appropriate setups with callsign, ship, equipment and other necessities.
Seeing his history in the Edge Worlds, finding his way out there was not an issue. Whesto decided to make his way through Omicron Gamma, Kappa and Delta. Upon reaching Omicron Kappa he felt like a stranger, being away for so many years. He did wonder if any of his old wingmen had come back or were alive at all, not a certainty in edge space.
The Omicron Delta jump hole glowed with an indifferent silence in front of the ship. Whesto jumped with the same indifference, perhaps more skeptical than before. Setting course for Omicron Rho, Whesto spotted Freeport 11 in the distance. His skepticism became more noticeable. The events that took place were a complicated mess in his mind, even the ones occurring in his absence. Either way Whesto felt the Zoners stationed there had lost it, although understandable to some extent.
Whesto had heard rumors of them treating pilots just like himself, with paranoia about infection and rigorous testing of visitors, even of some of them disappearing. At least they had a similar level of determination as himself, he thought.
DURBAN STATION
Whesto's 'Sawback' fighter craft.
Exiting the Rho wormhole, the blue star covered the ship's back and the pale blue Planet Rio shone in the star's reflection in front of him. As the cruise went on, Durban's appearance made itself known. The docking request was granted and Whesto was received in the docking bay.
After some interviews, briefings and tests, Whesto traded in his Osprey and paid the equipment dealer to move some parts over to his new Sawback. It was a Core fighter that Whesto had never seen before and he was eager to test it with some g-force, perhaps against the Nomad threat.
It took a few hours to get everything in order with the registry, quarters and equipment. Whesto had some time to exhale. For a moment he felt uplifted by this new chapter, he then reminded himself of the constant danger of being out there, he got tempered and serious again.
GUARDIAN DWANIAN REPORTING FOR DUTY
Because of Whesto's history and years of experience, he was immediately promoted to the rank of Guardian. It may be the first rank after Initiate, but he appreciated it nonetheless. The internal comms beeped and a voice on the other side told Whesto he was needed on a patrol mission. No time to waste it seemed. Whesto put on his new Core pilot gear, started up his Sawback and left the station.
Knowing of all the various threats out there, Whesto entered space for the first time as a pilot of The Core.
Patrols with live engagements, Nomad incursions, Corsair raids, AI altercations, Order battles. Life in The Core and again in the Omicrons was ramped up to max. Whesto pressed on, sometimes returning unscaved, whilst other times with a battered hull or picked up in an escape pod.
He hardened, got colder.
His focus was set despite the harsh environment and his determination for his and The Core's goals only grew stronger. The bond to his compatriots also grew with each mission or battle.
Most of all, his hatred for the Nomads increased, even more so with the encounter of some kind of Nomad sympathizer, who to Whesto, seemingly out of nowhere, engaged his ship. When intel reached him of these people being present he was almost shocked with rage. What kind of madness would drive someone to that point, he wondered. At the same time, decided they all need to be destroyed all the same.
It wasn't all chaos though, with periods of silence in the void, neighboring Zoners doing their hauling, research and exploring. Whesto having Zoner origin and complicated history himself, was neutral to them. Most not knowing who he was, a few questioning how a Zoner could join The Core. He didn't mind and had no interest in explaining past events all over again.
There were also time to explore and take in the strange views of the Omicrons. Sometimes on deep recon missions further into Nomad space. Whesto took a fancy to Omicron Zeta and spent a decent amount of time on Capetown and patrolling the area. He also managed to acquire a Core Destroyer and named it the Voidmourn.
Its armaments caused a lot of destruction and Nomad annihilations. The crew synced and got more experienced over time, Whesto decided to bring Core marines "just in case". It was the largest ship he's ever commanded at that point.
Although dangerous, the overall situation seemed stable, or at least preassure was routine. This would take an abrupt turn when the Guildmaster disappeared, and one day Whesto woke up to a distress call, relayed from Yaren Base in Omicron Delta.
The Guildmaster was in need of assistance, aboard an enemy Overlord.
Whesto was coming in and out of consciousness from his wounds and pain. His Core marine group, The Voidstalkers, promptly arrived with him at the H+ Clinic and handed him over to medical staff. Sedation was administered immediately. Before it could take effect, Whesto promptly grabbed one of the staff by the arm and sat up, he shouted "AUGMENTATIONS!". Then passed out.
The marines informed the clinic that Whesto had been in battle and hit by some Nomad-related weaponry and had been screaming for augmentations in hatred since then. The medical staff noted and sent the marines away and took Whesto further into the clinic, rushed for surgery. Whesto was scanned and evaluated with extreme precision.
At first, Whesto was out cold, just a black void. Staff was working diligently with their advanced equipment. Seeing to the fatal wounds themselves first, a body broken, cut and lacerated in many places. These parts would be replaced with augmentations, especially the eyes since Whesto couldn't see.
Then the process started.
Images, recent memories and emotions started to flood Whesto's mind. Still sedated, but in some dream-state. At first he felt fear, everything was spinning, nothing made sense. Then he relived the battle and he remembered how easily he'd been defeated by an infected. Then hatred arrived like a cold shower. It balanced out, turned into determination once again but with lingering anger.
Suddenly, an electric shock surged through his nervous system and jolted his entire body. Whesto started to gain some consciousness. A sensory overload hit his brain and everything was spinning again, Whesto grunted. "Hold on Centurion, we're almost there" he heard someone say. "There, now relax". Whesto's vision was still like a black void, but he realized he could feel his body to some extent. He didn't recognize it. Things didn't feel like they did before. Sedation still in his system.
"We need you to focus, Centurion. We need your eyes open for the next step". Whesto opened his eyes, a black void. He then felt his eyelids being held in place. Strange sounds, muffled voices and weird sensations. His eyes were being augmented.
Time went on, Whesto did not know for how long. He struggled to stay awake or conscious during the procedure and went back to dreaming. It was calmer now, silent. A relaxing, almost euphoric sensation washed over him. A counter-drug to the sedative. He came back slowly.
"Welcome back, Centurion. Your vitals and statistics are looking really good". Whesto didn't answer, half awake, half stuck in dreaming. He remembered why he had been sent to the clinic, and the helpless frustration hit him again and he got mad. He clinched his fist over the railing on the table he was laying on. A creaking noise and a crack echoed in the room. He tore it right off.
Safety measures kicked in and strapped Whesto's limbs to the table. "Easy, Centurion. Focus. You should be alert soon, when you are ready open your eyes". As the medical drugs cleared Whesto's senses came back, but they were elevated. Very unfamiliar. He opened his eyes, seeing a staff member behind a transluscent screen with various images and texts alternating.
"Welcome back, Centurion. Your wounds have been repaired and necessary augmentations have been installed. As per your request, additional augmentation upgrades have been as well. The Core sends its congratulations".
Whesto now fully aware looked at himself, feeling his body. There was no pain, his sensory input and reflexes like nothing he'd experienced before. He noted his new augmentations by looking, feeling and being showed a chart on the screen in front of him.
Visual augmentations
Cybernetic enhancements, arms and legs
Skeletal replacements
Spinal regulators
Neural upgrades
Various minor repairs and tuning
Whesto didn't know what half of it meant, but after his initial empty thoughts, he was relieved. He certainly didn't want to get severely wounded, but he did want his upgrades. Some were needed to save his life and some would aid his crusade against the Nomads, among others.
A moment was dedicated to standing up and walking around. Whesto moved around and got a feel for his new body, looking at his arm and hand he'd used to tore off the railing previously. A camera was on and showed Whesto on a screen underneath it to let him see himself. He noticed his eyes glowing with a faint blue glow.
"Very good, Centurion. Now please sit in this chair so we can calibrate and upload the AI". The staff member held out his open hand towards the chair.
"AI?" Whesto asked both himself and the H+ clinic specialist. He knew the Guildmaster had access to his own and also Guardian Taden Harrs had his, with their vessels.
"Correct, Centurion. Part of your neural upgrade is the AI assisted augmentation, it needs to be uploaded to the hardware integrated with your brain. Later on it will also integrate with the ships you fly or command".
Whesto sat down in the chair, looking over at the equipment and yet another panel with information the specialist was operating. Whesto wasn't sure what to expect and had questions, something that must have shown in his face. The specialist informed him that this particular AI is a tool, and won't take over his mind. It will assist with analysis, information, tasks, identifications and communications, in battle, among other things.
This was reassuring to some extent. "Sounds good", Whesto said. "I don't want some hostile autonomous Gammu AI in my brain". He laid back and closed his eyes by instruction from the specialist. The upload itself was uneventful, Whesto was told to sit back and relax.
"Upload complete, Centurion. Commencing boot and sync sequence now. Try to focus, it may be overwhelming and disorienting at first".
Whesto braced with anticipation but tried to stay calm and open minded. A massive influx of sensory stimulation came charging in, through Whesto's neural system, augmentations and body. He was involuntarily shaking slightly in the chair, but it was manageable. The tension and stimulation slowly eased. Whesto opened his freshly augmented eyes. Data, numbers and text started to appear in his view. Information also seeped into the back of his mind. Nothing major at the start, a peculiar experience nonetheless.
"Good, Centurion. AI integration status is a success. We will now dedicate some time to learn the essence of operating it".
For the next several hours, Whesto got to not just learn how to use the AI integration, but also his other augmentations and get a feel for his new body. He was taken to another part of the compound to move around, jump, climb, lift as well as hand-to-hand combat- and firearm practice. The more Whesto used it, the more pleased and rejuvenated he felt, his senses and reflexes now also boosted. He also got less distracted and less overloaded with impressions. This reminded him again why he was there, what had happened and his mission moving forward.
A silent rage ignited.
Whesto respected the H+ Clinic deeply, although he was now eager to be done. In the end, he was very pleased to have survived and gotten what he asked for and more. Much thanks to the Guildmaster, his Rheinland mercenary and Guardian Harrs. Not to mention the rest of Whesto's Core compatriots who had been outside in space, waging relentless war. Their fates he did not know for now.
Thinking about it filled Whesto with adrenaline and anger. A rehabilitation- and combat trainer specialist entered the hall Whesto was in.
Centurion Stella Pleiade
"Centurion Dwanian, This is Centurion Stella Pleaide, she was also in the battle, suffering similar amounts of damage, and later treatment here, as you did. You are to train together for a while before leaving. Centurion Dwanian, your new combat armor is also here for you".
Unbothered at first, Whesto turned around, at least thinking it was pleasant to see another Core compatriot again. His anger settled immediately. Centurion Pleiade stood unfaced, looking at him. Seemingly as eager to leave as Whesto was. "Hello, Centurion Dwanian. Shall we get this final augmentation calibration over with?". Stella had her combat armor on already. Whesto recognized they had suffered a similar fate, and saw some augmentations that he had gotten, like the eyes, faintly glowing in a light blue hue.
"Yes, Centurion Pleiade. Lets." Whesto said and put on his new Core armor with a faint smile.
The training hall was vast, with plenty of square meters to move around, fight and scale obstacles. The room could be modified with various presets to change the layout of the room, like an arena. This compound was not in the H+ clinic, but close by. Some would call it a physical rehab center, but getting augmentations doesn't necessarily need conventional rehabilitation. It is more about getting to know your new limits and possibilities before heading back into reality and live action.
Whesto and Stella squared up on opposite sides of the hall. They had been practicing augmentation combat for three days, on and off. CQB, hand-to-hand combat, assault rifle course, among other things. Both had been augmented to a similar extent, with AI assist included. The scores were essentially even at this point.
- "Centurion Pleiade,ready for a final round? We need to get back to The Core and re-join the fray before I go mad", Whesto said to Stella. - "As you wish, I wanted to leave days ago, and call me Stella already, we've been stuck here together long enough", she replied.
They stood ready, able to leap forward in a split second, staring at each other. They put on their combat armor helmets. The practice alarm sounded, strobing lights flashing on the walls. The room took shape and various obstacles raised from the floor and out from the walls.
3.. 2.. 1.. lights switched to a faint blue and in that instant both of them rushed forward. They scaled several square feet with an incredible speed, augmentations doing what they are supposed to do. The AI in Whesto's vision fed him information constantly, scanning the layout of the room, looking for heat signatures, tracking his "opponent". Whesto knew Stella did the same thing.
Whesto held to the left side and sweeped the maze of walls, nothing yet. Then his system beeped intensely, indicating movement above him to the right. With his new reflexes, he turned and leaped up to reach the top of the maze, but Stella was already pouncing at him and they clashed mid-air. First landing on the edge of an obstacle, tearing the top off from the impact. No damage to themselves. Then, landing on their feet they drew their practice sticks, charged with electrical stun charges and began hand-to hand combat.
It was a fast-paced fight with decent impacts from both sides. Neither getting the upper hand yet but both serious to do so. Suddenly, an alarm sounded, they paused in front of each other and looked up. Two tungsten combat rifles dropped from the ceiling.
- "Now that's new", Whesto said raising his eyebrow and picked up the rifle and looked at it.
Stella picked up the other rifle while looking around.
- "Incoming, over there!", Stella shouted and put the rifle against her shoulder and started to send superheated tungsten rounds down the maze.
Practice drones, coming in from all sides mimicking the movement of Nomad infectees , it was time to team up. Someone, probably the combat trainer, had devised a final test. The drones may not be lethal, but their rounds were designed to stun and cause pain if they connected, perhaps failing the duo on the test. Whesto covered Stella's back and let the rifle sing as well, shredding drones that kept pouring in.
The duo moved in sync, as they'd spent a decent amount of time rigorously training together the past days. After a few minutes, rounds were running out. Whesto grabbed drones with his augmented arms and clenched his fists, metal creaking and composites tearing. The duo moved fast across the room, dodging incoming fire or blocking it with disabled drones, AI processing at max level. Eventually Whesto took a stun round to the back of his armor, bringing him to his knees.
- "What kind of APM punishment is this", Whesto thought to himself. He couldn't help but laugh, holding his chest while catching his breath. He'd never been able to move and fight like this before in his life. Stella was right behind him but there were too many and she too went down, also letting out a short laugh on the floor.
The drones froze and a voice spoke over the intercom.
-"Round over! Well done, clearly above the needed level, and you fought 'til the end, together. For The Core!", said the combat trainer.
- "Great, now can you let us the f**k out of here!?", Whesto said with a smile, recovering from the floor.
- "We're done with exercises and calibration, we have a duty to carry out, thank you!". Whesto now stressed to continue and feeling ready and able more than ever.
Remaining drones went back, the room cleared of obstacles and the combat trainer came into the room with the H+ specialist. Stella stood up.
-"Certainly, Centurion Dwanian. You have of course been able to leave whenever you wanted. However, getting augmentations is one thing, being lethally wounded beforehand is another. Therefore some extra calibration was offered, for the both of you. Good seeing you and good luck out there.", the combat trainer replied.
Whesto and Stella nodded and made way to the hangar. Whesto's Core destroyer, The Voidmourn was parked. He stopped outside the entry and turned to Stella.
- "I'm heading back to Durban Station, I appreciate the time and effort together. Where are you headed? Where's your vessel?".
Stella looked at him with her usual calm and neutral look.
- "You have no clue, do you?", she said with a hint of sarcasm and a concealed grin. Whesto was perplexed. He realized they hadn't talked much about anything, both focusing on their clinical procedure and calibration.
- "I was in the battle as a fighter wing leader. My wing flew with The Voidmourn to Omicron Nu and covered your boarding vessel upon breach. My Sawback took punishment from an enemy cruiser before it went down and I ejected. My pod took severe shrapnel from a torpedo blast in my proximity right before I was recovered by The Voidmourn. Then I ended up at H+, with you.", Stella shrugged slightly, awaiting Whesto's reaction.
Still a bit perplexed, Whesto replied.
- "I see. Well fought, I wouldn't expect anything less at this point. I'm glad we got to this point together. Now let's get the hell out of here".
They both entered The Voidmourn and booted up the systems, starting the engines. The Voidmourn left the H+ premises, headed for Durban Station.