OLYMPUS
STARDATE 06.14.26
OLDE KINGDOM – INVERSE SPACE
Zeus entered Engineering on the Olympus. The first thing he saw was a huge imprint on the wall of a hammer, an anvil, and a pair of tongs. He smiled.
All of the humans in Engineering paused to stare at the imposing, eight foot figure who was their Captain. Then they quickly returned to their work. Zeus approached his Chief Engineer, Hephaestus.
Hephaestus was a short, broad shouldered man who walked with a limp due to a curved foot. A long beard hung from his chin. He wore the uniform of a Keeper, but he was not comfortable in it. Hephaestus made a type of gesture meant to be a salute toward Zeus, another thing he was not comfortable with.
“Hephaestus, my friend! How are you? How is your new Forge?”
“As well as can be,” Hephaestus said under his breath. His eyes shifted left and right while talking. “What is your command, my Lord? You didn’t just come here for idle chat.”
Hephaestus was in one of his usual moods, Zeus thought. How terrible life must be to be constantly miserable. Perhaps it was his foot that made him so. Perhaps not. Either way, I will have to send Aphrodite to improve his spirits.
“Straight to the point as always, my friend. That’s what I have always liked about you. We are hurtling into a war zone. I’m going to need the improvements to the Tachyon Missiles posthaste. How is your progress?”
Hephaestus stroked his beard slowly as he thought about it. “Well, we just received all the materials and parts. I’m almost done with the first missile…”
Zeus firmly interjected, “I need at least three completed before we arrive. Make it your top priority, understood? Am I correct in remembering each Tachyon Missile will be faster, more armored, and deadlier upon impact?”
“That is correct, my Lord. It will be done. I’m sure I can complete three if my team works around the clock on rotating shifts with no breaks.”
“Do whatever it takes, my friend. I have full confidence in you. How goes your armor enhancements, shield enhancements, and Tachyon Gun improvements?”
“Honestly, my Lord, I haven’t had much time to work on them. As you know, this Human Technology is so…foreign. I’m sure I can create advancements, but it will take time. I will provide you with regular updates.”
“Let me know if you need anything. We are far from the fires of Home and this battlefield is a strange one, but I assure you, it is a battle worth fighting.”
Hephaestus bowed before Zeus as he said, “Of course, my Lord. You can always depend on me.”
Hephaestus resumed an upright position and raised one eyebrow at Zeus. He has a smirk on his weathered face. “Do you remember what happened with the Fire Breathing Bulls I built for you?”
Zeus smiled widely. “Of course, my friend! We unleashed them upon the advancing Theoran Army. They were so confused and panicked! Chaos ensued as the Bulls incinerated the bulk of their army. The rest scattered. It was a glorious day!”
Hephaestus smiled, remembering his old creations fondly. “Yes…yes it was, my Lord.”
Zeus shook Hephaestus’ hand firmly. Hephaestus felt a low shock of electricity.
“COMPLETE THOSE TACHYON MISSILES AND IT WILL BE GLORIOUS AGAIN, MY FRIEND. I PROMISE YOU THAT.”
