The atmosphere in Cradle 7 buzzed with urgency.
Less than a week had passed since Nura's assignment to Scorpio Squad, and already they had their first mission—a high-security deployment for the inauguration ceremony of Earth's new Prime Minister. A symbolic event, watched across colonies and stations. The first leader in nearly two decades with hopes of rekindling unity across the Earth Sphere.
Ten squads had been dispatched for protection.
Scorpio Squad was one of them.
Their assignment: airborne defense over the orbital city of Valkiron. A sprawling floating arcology above the Pacific's remains, rebuilt as a neutral platform for diplomacy and broadcast.
> "This is a zero-failure mission," Graven had said. "Eyes from every colony will be watching."
And that meant pressure.
But Nura didn't flinch. He sat quietly in the briefing room, reviewing the specs on their units:
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MS-SC Type: Scorpio
> Model: Scorpio-Type FL-07
Class: High-altitude Flight Mobile Suit
Role: Aerial Interceptor / Defensive Patrol
Specs: Twin vernier boosters, integrated stabilizers, lightweight armor plating
Weapon Loadout:
Beam Carbine
Reinforced Flight Shield
Multi-lock Onboard Sensor Array
Optional shoulder missile pods
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The Scorpio-class was agile—designed for atmosphere or low-orbit aerial combat. Each unit had been custom-tuned to the pilot's specs.
Nura's model, FL-07-C, came equipped with enhanced stabilizers and targeting relays—ideal for command and coordination.
> "You're the eye in the sky," Graven had said. "Keep everyone tight."
Their mission was airspace lockdown. Their patrol zone was Sky Sector C4, alongside Uranus Squad, the 8th Division's mid-range formation specialists.
Nura had read their file. Uranus was disciplined, by-the-book. If Scorpio was fire, Uranus was ice.
Perfect contrast.
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Operation: Horizon Guard
The launch deck opened with a roar as the Scorpio Squad launched in formation.
Each Mobile Suit soared into the upper atmosphere using their synchronized boosters. The curved horizon stretched below them, glittering with sunlight and clouds.
In the comms channel, Raya "Bloom" Vannis began cycling frequencies:
> "Comm lines open. Public and encrypted feeds stable. Broadcasting wide-spectrum silence zones now."
Juno "Flare" Kenri let out a whistle.
> "So many damn satellites… makes me wanna paint a bullseye on my helmet."
> "Not funny," Kaelen "Drift" Muro muttered, already locking in sniper marks on his HUD.
> "I hope we can participated too," Nura said calmly. "Eyes up. Stay in arrowhead formation. Bloom, talk to Uranus."
> "On it."
Soon, Uranus Squad's signal chimed through.
> "Uranus Leader to Scorpio Leader. This is Lieutenant Rade. We are in position. Confirming patrol overlap in Zone C4. Syncing grid lines."
> "Scorpio Vice-Captain Nura here," he replied. "Copy that. We'll hold western altitude and loop back every 8 minutes."
The two squads formed a loose net, locking down the stratosphere above Valkiron.
Far below, the inauguration ceremony began.
Broadcast towers glowed. Civilian drones hovered. On every screen across the solar colonies, the new Prime Minister stepped forward.
Her name: Celene Arctura.
A reformist. Young. Idealistic. And controversial.
> "Let this day mark a new chapter," her voice echoed through open channels. "No longer divided by gravity or fear. We stand beneath the same stars."
Nura hovered silently above the clouds, watching.
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