Chapter 9: The Orbiter

Maximus and his companions flew over the rough terrain of Skagos, their destination clear. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows over the jagged landscape. Ordis guided them towards a small island southeast of Skagos, its untouched shores promising a safe haven.

"Ordis, analyze the most suitable location for our camp," Maximus instructed, his voice steady but weary.

"Analyzing," Ordis replied. After a brief pause, Ordis continued, "There is a small island southeast of Skagos, devoid of inhabitants and optimal for establishing a base."

Maximus nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. "Let's head there."

By sunset, they arrived at the secluded island. The Kaithe descended gently, and they dismounted. Dacey held the sleeping Lyanna in her arms, her eyes wide with curiosity and concern. "Why are we here?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Maximus, his voice filled with determination, replied, "This will be our future seat of power."

He pulled out the card ROB had mentioned and dropped it into the valley below. Suddenly, Ordis moved the Kaithe away as a meteorite streaked towards the island. With a resounding crash, it impacted the ground, sending a shockwave through the air.

Maximus realized what had just happened. "That's the orbiter," he said, awe in his voice.

They descended to the valley, where the dust was settling around a structure resembling the orbiter from the Drifter's camp. The front was open, inviting them in. The orbiter was nestled in a natural hollow, shielded by towering cliffs and surrounded by dense foliage, making it nearly invisible from a distance.

"Ordis, connect to the ship," Maximus instructed.

"Connecting," Ordis replied. The orbiter hummed to life, its exterior gleaming with a faint, otherworldly light.

Maximus opened the door, but Dacey, frightened, held his hand tightly. Lyanna, woken by the commotion, started crying. Maximus took her in his arms, whispering soothing words. "This is our future home," he reassured them.

With some coaxing, Dacey and Lyanna followed Maximus into the orbiter. The interior was a blend of advanced technology and sleek design, reminiscent of the ships Maximus remembered from his past life. The walls were lined with panels and displays, showing various readouts and holographic images. The air was cool and clean, a stark contrast to the rugged wilderness outside.

As they explored, Maximus noticed an additional panel outside the quarters' door.

"Ordis, what's this panel for?" he asked.

"Operator, you need to place your hand on the panel to access the following segment," Ordis explained.

Maximus did as instructed, and a text popped up on the panel:

ROB: Upgraded the quarters to your harem room. They can't get out without your permission. No need to thank me, kid. Enjoy. ;)

Maximus cursed under his breath, "Bastard."

Ordis began detailing the changes. "You can add more bedrooms by consuming 10 energy each."

Maximus thought for a moment. "Use the energy to make three rooms."

"Operator, there are already three rooms available," Ordis informed.

As they walked further in, they entered a vignette setting similar to Cetus. A large fish tank filled with fish from all the open-world regions of Warframe dominated the room. The tank's vibrant ecosystem was a mesmerizing display of colors and movement, a stark reminder of the world Maximus had left behind.

"Ordis, what's with the fish tank?" Maximus asked, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

"The fish will be replenished periodically, consuming the ship's energy," Ordis explained.

Maximus nodded. "And the ship's energy reserves?"

"The ship is currently in low energy mode, absorbing energy from the atmosphere to operate. Due to low energy, actions will take longer to perform," Ordis replied.

As Ordis spoke, Dacey and Lyanna started exploring the quarters. Lyanna was fascinated by the fish, her eyes wide with wonder as she pressed her face against the glass. Dacey stood still, hesitant to venture further into the unknown.

Maximus led them towards the rooms opposite the fish tank. The corridor had two doors opposite each other and one at the far end marked with an "M."

"Ordis, what do we need to do with these doors?" Maximus asked.

"Place your hands on the door panels to configure them to yourselves," Ordis instructed.

With some skepticism, Dacey and Lyanna followed Maximus's lead. The doors opened to simple rooms with large beds, monitors, and adjoining restrooms. The design was minimalist, yet the technology integrated into the rooms was advanced and efficient.

As they explored, Maximus ordered Ordis, "Show them a tutorial on how to use everything."

Ordis materialized in the orbiter, guiding the girls through the functionalities of their new home. Dacey and Lyanna watched in awe as Ordis explained everything, from the monitors to the restrooms. The girls' initial hesitation gave way to excitement as they discovered the various features of their quarters.

Maximus felt a small sense of relief. For the first time in days, they had a safe place to rest. He knew their journey was far from over, but this was a start. They would rebuild and reclaim their future, no matter the challenges ahead.

Maximus entered his room, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing heavily on his shoulders. "Ordis, give me the unknown card," he instructed, needing to understand the full extent of ROB's gift.

"Here it is, Operator," Ordis replied as the card materialized in Maximus's hand.

As soon as Maximus touched the card, new memories flooded his mind. He saw visions of ancient rituals and powerful spells, understanding that this was the knowledge of oath magic—a contract he could use to bind people to him, their loyalty unbreakable. The capacity for this magic was five times his current energy reserves.

"Ordis, show my profile," Maximus requested, his curiosity piqued.

A holographic display appeared before him:

Name: Maximus Mormont

Energy: 210 (180 + 30)

Polarity: To be unlocked

Warframes: [2]

Weapons: [5]

Companions: [1]

Mounts: [1]

Orbiters: [3]

He nodded, satisfied. "Unlock the polarity."

Maximus saw that he could unlock one polarity. He chose the Zariman polarity and unlocked the Wellspring ability.

"Wellspring will increase your meditation and energy recovery speeds," Ordis informed him.

Maximus thought about the other rooms in the orbiter. "Is the remote operation room available?" he asked.

"Yes, Operator," Ordis confirmed.

Maximus headed to the remote operation room and sat in the pod. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the orbiter. He felt a pang of nostalgia as he remembered the countless hours spent playing in his past life. "Ordis, open the map."

As the map displayed in front of him, Dacey dressed in Cetus kids outfit walked in. "Here you are. Lyanna is playing in the warm water tub and is asking for you. What are you doing? If it isn't important, come. It's good to unwind for a day."

Maximus pointed at the map. "I'm planning to destroy on the North Lords that attacked our house."

Dacey stared at the map, then at Maximus's face, which was full of anger and conflict. "Do you know their motive? We did a lot for the North. And I agree, I want to burn them like you did our keep. But I don't want to scare the snake by hitting the monkey. We attack only after knowing the motive and mastermind."

Maximus was stunned by her words and muttered, "When did you, the muscle head, become smart?"

She smacked his arm. "Hey!"

She moved in front of him, kneeling. "I swear my fealty."

Maximus got up to pull her up, but she was adamant. "I want power to take revenge. As your god gave you power, guide me. I want blood for my mother, for my home."

Maximus pondered for a moment before initiating the oath magic. He felt the energy bind them, and Dacey felt new strength coursing through her. He could control how much energy she received in return for her loyalty, so he gave her half his energy levels. Since she already had some energy, she ended up with 123 energy.

Dacey looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "I feel the blessing of the god. I can finally have revenge. I know it's selfish, but I want to personally kill every lord that attacked us. I know Bolton's dead, but I want to kill the rest, including Eddard, after knowing everything."

Maximus nodded, understanding her pain. They stared at the map together, seeing three tribal settlements around 500 people on Skagos Island. They started planning their next moves while Maximus explained to her about Warframes and how only he could use them. They spent another hour making plans, with Ordis providing inputs.

Eventually, Dacey headed back to take care of Lyanna. Maximus, still deep in thought, asked Ordis, "How can I unlock new weapons and Warframes?"

"You need to buy new slots with magic items from this world. You currently have 2 additional Warframe slots, 4 more weapon slots, 2 companion slots, and one Archwing slot," Ordis explained. "Necramech also needs energy from the world to unlock."

Maximus nodded, considering his options. "Thank you, Ordis."

He headed back to his quarters, his mind racing with the possibilities. As he lay down to sleep, he pondered what to unlock with his limited energy. The journey ahead was fraught with challenges, but with Dacey's loyalty and the power of the orbiter, he felt a renewed sense of purpose.

 ................

Suggest which Warframe to unlock next:

Nekros 

Revenant 

Nidus

Other

Dacey's personal weapon:

Cinta

Syam

Azothane

Sun & Moon

Argo & Vel

Edun