Astrais drifted silently toward Earth's orbit, its advanced sensors continuously scanning the blue-green sphere below. Axel stood in the command chamber, his gaze locked on the HUD display, which flooded with new data about the planet.
At first glance, it seemed like his Earth. The continents, the oceans, even the atmospheric composition—all identical to what he remembered. But as Astrais' systems gathered more detailed intelligence, the subtle differences became clear.
Borders of nations had undergone minor alterations—nothing drastic, but enough for Axel to notice. A few states had merged, some regions had shifted control, but there were no entirely new countries.
More unsettling was the political landscape.
The names of world leaders didn't match any in his original timeline. Presidents, prime ministers, and monarchs were all different people, yet the historical events leading up to their rise remained largely the same.
Even global corporations were slightly off. Some companies that should have been industry giants were missing, while other unknown organizations had taken their place. The world had diverged, but not in a way that was immediately explainable.
It was his Earth… but altered.
And then came the most alarming reading of all.
Astrais' deep-space sensors picked up an anomalous energy reading—something powerful, unknown, and unnatural.
It originated from deep within the United States, specifically a mountainous region with no known scientific or military facilities.
Axel's brows furrowed. If such an energy source existed, it should have been recorded in Earth's technological databases. But there was nothing. No reports, no news articles—nothing publicly available.
It was hidden. And that meant it was important.
"CHM-002, analyze energy classification."
"Unidentified. No matching records within database. Estimated power output: High. Possibility of anomalous origin: 87%."
Axel's pulse quickened. Anomalous origin.
This world had something beyond normal science—something that didn't belong.
He needed to investigate.
But bringing Astrais down would draw too much attention.
Axel activated the Machine Caliber, his personal combat and reconnaissance unit—a highly advanced AI-controlled mecha, originally designed for deep-space warfare and adaptability in unknown environments.
From the Suisei no Gargantia universe's Machine Calibers, this unit was both a weapon and a mobile command center, able to operate independently while maintaining full integration with Astrais' systems.
As he stepped into the cockpit, the AI greeted him.
"Pilot Axel Leo detected. System synchronization at 98%. Ready for descent."
"Engage optical camouflage. Patch me into Earth's satellite network."
The Machine Caliber disengaged from Astrais, drifting toward Earth's atmosphere like a ghost.
The AI instantly breached Earth's satellite feeds, pulling real-time military, scientific, and civilian data.
But to Axel's surprise—there were no records of extraterrestrial activity. No evidence of aliens, no classified government experiments with otherworldly artifacts.
This wasn't a world shaped by contact with the unknown.
It was just Earth—with a few differences.
And yet, this energy source existed.
Which meant someone, somewhere, was hiding something.
The Machine Caliber entered the low atmosphere, gliding over dense forests and rugged mountain terrain.
Axel locked onto the energy signature, zeroing in on its exact coordinates.
As he approached, he spotted the cave entrance—the source of the energy reading. The dark maw of stone was nestled deep in the cliffs, untouched by human development.
But there was something unexpected.
Three figures stood near the entrance.
Axel immediately zoomed in, activating facial recognition scans.
Teenage boys. Roughly sixteen to seventeen years old. No weapons, no protective gear—just ordinary humans dressed in casual clothes, looking like they were… camping?
Axel's brow furrowed.
"CHM-002, confirm identity."
The AI scanned them, cross-referencing civilian records.
A moment later, their names and backgrounds appeared on the HUD.
Normal humans. No criminal records, no military ties—just three teenagers who had gone on a camping trip.
Then why were they here, at the exact location of an unidentified anomalous energy?
Had they noticed something strange? Or had they just wandered into something far bigger than they understood?
Axel narrowed his eyes.
This world had no known alien activity.The governments had no records of this energy anomaly.And yet, these boys had stumbled across it before anyone else.
Coincidence?
He doubted it.