Red Dragon Spaceship Awakening: I Gain Alien Abilities on Mars-Chapter 216: Mobilization

The commander called Riven and Lyra.

It took less than five minutes for both of them to arrive at the office, slightly out of breath from having rushed over after receiving the summons. They stepped inside, exchanging quick glances with each other and then with Tatehan, clearly sensing that something significant was happening.

Tatehan briefed them on everything. He told them about the group chat message from Bjorn, about the two newly constructed Obscuron bases in the North, about the plan to strike fast and hard before the bases became fully operational. He explained the coordination between the cities, the decision to send fifteen fighters from each settlement, and the opportunity to capture soldiers for interrogation and seize weapons and equipment.

When he finished, both Lyra and Riven were nodding, their expressions serious but focused.

Tatehan turned to Lyra. "I need you to select fifteen good fighters. People who can handle themselves in a real fight. We’re moving fast, so get them ready within the hour."

Lyra nodded sharply. "Understood. I’ll handle it."

The commander, who had been listening quietly from her desk, leaned forward slightly. "Good luck," she said.

Tatehan nodded.

He and Riven left the office together, moving quickly through the corridors of the Red Crest Clan base.

Their destination was the weapons and vehicle building, a large hangar-like structure on the far side of the compound where the clan stored its combat equipment and transportation.

When they arrived, Tatehan wasted no time. He moved through the rows of parked vehicles, scanning the options available, his mind already calculating what they would need for this mission.

He selected two Skyblades.

The first was a larger model, designed to carry up to ten people, though only if they were standing. It was not the most comfortable setup, but it was functional, and it would get the fighters to New Helios quickly.

The second was a smaller, five-seat variant. This one was more maneuverable, faster in the air, and better suited for someone who actually knew how to pilot it properly.

Tatehan glanced at Riven, who was standing nearby, checking the weapons lockers. "You’re riding with me," he said. "Lyra will ride the other."

Riven looked up, raising an eyebrow. "You sure you can fly that thing?"

Tatehan grinned. "I’ve done it before. I’ll manage."

Riven smirked but did not argue...

They all had flown a Skyblade when they took on the Mech monster. But that had been a one person Skyblade, would Tatehan be able to handle something like this?

A few minutes later, Lyra arrived with the fifteen fighters she had selected. They were a mix of experienced soldiers and younger recruits who had proven themselves in recent battles.

All of them were armed, armored, and ready to move.

Lyra had already assigned herself and Riven to be among the fifteen, which Tatehan had expected. Both of them were strong fighters, and he trusted them to hold their own in whatever they were about to walk into.

"Alright," Lyra said, addressing the group. "Ten of you are with me in the larger Skyblade. The rest are with Tatehan. We’re heading to New Helios. Stay sharp, follow orders, and don’t do anything stupid."

The fighters nodded, their expressions grim but determined.

Determination...

Determination was the biggest win before a battle.

Lyra climbed into the pilot seat of the larger Skyblade, the ten fighters filing in behind her and grabbing onto the handholds built into the walls of the cramped interior.

The vehicle was not designed for comfort, but it would get them there.

Tatehan moved to the smaller Skyblade, Riven following close behind. The remaining four fighters climbed in, taking their seats and strapping in as Tatehan settled into the pilot’s chair.

Due to riding a Skyblade when they went to take out the Mech Monster, Tatehan had gained quite a bit of experience with these things. He was not a professional pilot by any means, but he knew the basics, and he had flown at high speeds before. He could handle this.

He powered up the Skyblade, the engines humming to life with a low, steady vibration that ran through the entire craft. The holographic interface appeared in front of him, displaying navigation data, speed controls, and environmental readings.

Lyra’s voice crackled over the comm. "Ready?"

Tatehan glanced at Riven, who gave him a thumbs-up, and then he keyed the comm. "Ready."

"Alright. Follow my lead."

And with that, both Skyblades launched into the air.

The acceleration was immediate and intense, the engines roaring as they lifted off the ground and shot into the Martian sky. Tatehan gripped the controls, his hands steady as he followed Lyra’s trajectory, keeping his Skyblade in formation just behind hers.

The city of New Helios was not too far from Waython Hollow. At normal speed, the trip would take about twenty minutes. At fast speed, they could make it in ten. And if they pushed the Skyblades to their limits, flying at the kind of speeds that were normal for experienced pilots on Mars, they could get there in five minutes.

Tatehan was not an experienced pilot. He was competent, but he was not going to risk pushing the craft to its absolute limits with passengers on board.

So they flew fast, but not recklessly.

The landscape below rushed past in a blur of red city buildings then dust and rocky terrain. The sky above was a pale, washed-out stuff, streaked with thin clouds that seemed almost fragile against the vastness of the Martian atmosphere.

Tatehan kept his focus on the controls, adjusting the Skyblade’s speed and altitude to match Lyra’s lead craft. Riven sat beside him, silent but alert, her eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting trouble to appear at any moment.

Ten minutes passed.

And then, in the distance, Tatehan saw it.

New Helios.

The city rose from the Martian surface like something out of a historical epic reimagined for the future.

Massive stone structures blended seamlessly with advanced technology, their exteriors carved with intricate knotwork patterns that glowed faintly with embedded circuitry.

Towering walls surrounded the city, and at the center, a cluster of longhouses built from dark, nano-forged alloy stretched toward the sky.

But Tatehan’s attention was not on the city itself. It was on the military base just outside the walls.

The New Helios fighting base was a sprawling complex of landing platforms, training grounds, and armories. And it was already crowded.

Dozens of flying vehicles were parked on the platforms. Hundreds of fighters were gathered in formation, their armor gleaming in the pale sunlight, their weapons ready.

The air buzzed with energy, with anticipation...with the kind of focused intensity that came from warriors preparing for battle.

Lyra’s Skyblade descended toward one of the open landing platforms, and Tatehan followed, bringing his craft down smoothly beside hers.

The moment his Skyblade touched the ground, the engines powering down with a low hum, Tatehan stood.

He did not waste time.

With a single thought, he summoned his armor.

Silver liquid dusts erupted from thin air, hardening into metal that cascaded over his body.

It did the norms: flowed across his chest, his arms, his legs, hardening into interlocking plates of sleek, futuristic design.

The helmet materialized last, segments sliding into place around his head, the visor clicking shut as the internal systems came online.

The transformation took less than two seconds.

Tatehan stepped out of the Skyblade, fully armored, the red glow of his visor cutting through the dim light of the Martian morning.

It was action time.