While the technomantic mercenaries of the Blue Pentagram had been secretly working out of a base on Earth for a number of years, they were beginning to fear exposure by the Wizard’s Council and the human mages of Earth. Now, that their war with the beast-like Er was heating up again, they needed a way to keep tabs on their Earthly cousins.
Commander Darius had entrusted Michele Ken with the newest recruits to the legions of the Blue Pentagram under a special program. He had named her Daemona Emerita and head mistress of the Terran Academy which operated under the guise of a girl’s school in New Jersey. She was responsible for the rearing and training of a new covert special operations section comprised of teams of six girls each. These girls were top of their class in agility and technomancy, but they were still very young. The youngest were barely fourteen. Some had lived on Terra while others had just arrived from other bases or even the homeworld, Bellicose, itself. But, no matter their origin each was considered a Bellicosian and member of the Blue Pentagram Mercenary Legions.
She looked at the faces of her new charges. Some had the white skin of a Terran or Galan half breed while others had varying shades of blue skin common to Bellicose. The room full of girls had been noisy before Michele took to the lectern, but now it fell silent. The girls straightened as she looked them over-- each girl tensing as her gaze passed over them. As a daemon succubus Michele could take on any form she wished, but for these purposes she had chosen to be a tall blonde with long hair that cascaded down to her mid-back. Her blouse was low cut but presentable, her blazer tight fitting, and her skirt was cut above the knee.
She smiled at the girls and they seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Michele figured they would be putty in her hands using her ability to read and manipulate emotions. The girls shouldn’t give her any trouble whatsoever. More importantly, she could feed off their feelings and dreams without having to hunt for food. It wouldn’t harm the girls, and it would be a great advantage to her.
“Welcome to the Terran Academy, girls. You are about to begin some of the most rigorous training in all the legions. We will be trusting you to safeguard our most secret plans and mysteries, but before we get into all of that let us start with a review of Terran history for those who are new to this sacred world. Who among you can tell me of the Four Ages of Man and why they are important. Yes, you in the third row.” She picked a lighter skinned girl who had raised her hand. “State your name and answer.”
“I’m Acea, ma’am. I’ve lived on Terra for most of my life.” She paused briefly to collect her thoughts, “The Four Ages of Man predate written history. First, there came the Age of the Gods. Our cousins the humans were filled with powers left to them by the last of the Great Race known as the Nephilum. They ran amok with their powers, and many legends survive from that time even though the powers diminished. Next, there was an Age of Great Magick, but warring wizards sealed up the magickal energies that flow from the other dimensions so that the magical potential of this place declined and magick could only be accessed by a lucky few. That is why we developed Technomancy which allows us to use the lower power levels here via our magick items.”
“Someone else. You girl.” She pointed a slim finger at a girl with dark blue skin, an obvious native of Bellicose.
“Papilia, head mistress. The Age of Heroes leads us up to the modern era. The Seed of the Nephilium still blooms occasionally, but not as often and not as powerfully as before. There are only a handful of empowered people each generation and their powers are nothing like they were in the Age of the Gods. The age we are entering in the Age of Ascension when the Seed of the Nephilium begins its next cycle and mankind is once again ruled by its powers.”
“Thank you, now which one of you would like to explain the Seed of the Nephilium?”
“Flora, ma’am. The Nephilium were a race that genetically engineered themselves to have god-like powers through their use of superior science. They could change their abilities to suit their own whim. They were wiped out over a million years ago by the other races. Only Terra is known to harbor any trace of their Seed.”
“Good.” Michele was pleased and her students basked in her approval. “Now what are the natural powers of man?”
Acea answered again. “The natural powers of man are: Magick, by which man can access the spark of creation called mana energy, Psychic or psionic power which is the powers of the soul and the mind, and Chi which blends magick and psychic power through discipline of the body, soul, and mind. The natural powers are the powers we can access.”
“Very good, girls. You have learned well. Our mixing of technology and magick puts us on equal footing with those natural powers, and it even gives us a chance against those that have inherited the Seed of the Nephilum. We must use our power to protect this planet, which is a precious shrine, even from the other races of man throughout the other systems and the wars they would bring. You girls will be an important part of that protection.”
Michele dismissed her students to their respective classes. After the girls had filed out, she noted a flight soldier in formal uniform dress waiting patiently by the door. She went over to him and asked his name.
“Miles Felix Forte Fulvus. I was told you wanted to speak with me.” His face covering covered his nose and mouth, but expressive, dark blue eyes peered back at her contrasting with his cyan skin and light brown hair.
“Indeed, come walk with me for a bit. There is a nice balcony where we can relax at the end of the hall. Let us talk there. I have a message for you to deliver, but I want your opinion first.”
They walked to the end of the hall where there was a terra cotta tiled balcony overlooking the school’s gardens. “You may relax if you wish, Miles Forte.”
Forte rolled down his face covering revealing a handsome face and took out a pack of black papered cigarettes. He offered one to Michele, but she declined, and he took one for himself and lit it. “What do you wish from me?”
“I want to know your opinion of the school.”
“I don’t have one. Commander Darius decided we needed a covert ops squad, so we get one. I think we need one too, and this place seems adequate to the task. Opinions are for higher ranks than me.”
“And what of me?”
“You were given this commission. I’m not going to question it either. You seem quite capable.”
“I understand.” She handed him a bundle of rods, a Pentagram fascia. “Carry this to your Commander and let him know all is ready at the school. He will have his first set of covert troops shortly.”
“Yes, ma’am. By your command, I will deliver this personally.” Forte finished his cigarette and replaced his face cover. He nodded to Michele and strode out the door.
Michele regretted not being able to feed off the handsome soldier, but things were moving quickly now. Yes, soon all would be in readiness.
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