The lines between right and wrong were non-existent at this point.

It was impossible to tell who was in the right, and who was in the wrong, when practically everyone had some sort of good reason as to why they did what they did. The same goes for Carla.

The same goes for you.

Burning all of the Coral wasn't a hard decision to make–you'd convinced yourself that–but with it came consequences. Ayre left, your betrayal practically destroying her. Most of your 'friends' were dead by now.

All that was left was you, Carla, and the cold, empty space surrounding the Xylem.

Destroying the fleet attacking said Xylem was like shooting fish in a barrel. With the strange energy readings and all, giving your AC practically infinite energy levels, it wasn't hard at all. She'd even made it into a game it was so easy.

After the last ship started its decent into the atmosphere, Carla's voice crackled over the radio, "Good job. That's this sector dealt with..."

Explosions rang silent from the destroyed ships, the lot of you no longer in the atmosphere of Rubicon and all, there was no air to carry the sound waves. It didn't take long for your radio to crackle back to life...

...though this time Carla sounded a bit more alarmed.

"Wait, what's that–," a small pause, "We're under attack?!"

"Tourist, unidentified AC on the Xylem! Head back, pronto!"

The roar of your AC's boosters went unheard, as the Xylem's far away form quickly grew to be just in front of you. The sight of explosions greeted you...

...as did the unidentified AC.

It wasn't like anything you'd seen before–not at all, no. And then, your radio crackled back to life.

"Here we are...buddy. I was right all along..."

Steel Haze Ortus stood waiting for you, Rusty inside, his eyes hard as diamonds, though his demeanor calm.

Like it always was.

"You were just another threat to Rubicon."

His boosters spat flames behind his AC, as he rocketed towards you.