Another idea I thought of inserting as crossover of Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon. This time, focusing more on the aftermath of Mana, who get some special help in the process. Chapters will be separated between missions, intermissions, and acts in between.
I do not own Command and Conquer or Rondo of Angel and Dragon.
Prologue
A large machine remained on standby within the darkness. It looked like a large insect with its feet tucked in, waiting to be awakened. Although the huge machine looked asleep, it was far from inactive as red lights and visors shone on the head and body of the machine. Its back was open with a black ramp extending to the ground. The dim red lights were possibly the brightest lights in the room, matching the volume level of the dampened sounds of aerial drag.
Behind the machine was what one would call a commanding officer. Under normal military standards, she'd be too young to enlist, but her uniform and background to those who know her were more than enough to recognize her as one.
The torn ends of her blonde hair looked as if she used to have long twin-tails. Now, they were shortened closer to the point where the hair bands were. Her silvery eyes remained wide as they always had been in her childhood years, but instead of showing joy, there was a sense of sadness, desperation and determination. The emotion matched the spiritual feeling and color on her black outfit. On the shoulder bones of her suit were red circles that gradually shifted diagonally from white to red and black, followed by a white ring divided slightly in half by thin, black lines. On her actual shoulders and left breast was a very recognized symbol, a black truncated triangle encasing a scorpion's tail, all over a red background. While this was normally found on major commanders, it was more than a suit specifically made for her age. There were also linings of blue-green and short black frills on her shirt complete with red trimmings.
The new young commander stood by between two lines of humanoids encased in black armor with the same malevolent symbol. They wore knight-like helmets, wielded deadly weapons and the scorpion tail on their symbol was replaced with a black hand. Normally, they wouldn't be escorts for special guests, originating from a group of assassins in their precursor era. However, this was a major exception and their stillness demonstrated their extra care, especially in front of the man across.
Recognized by all who serve under the bald man, whose facial hair only exists as a short mustache and beard, he approached the newly instated commander. He walked in a slow stride that demanded respect from those around him. His very presence even shook those behind the little girl. A large group of mostly ragged members in a disorganized fashion were close to bowing down to swear their fidelity. The only one who showed emotion that wasn't fear was the young officer herself, even when he was close enough to raise a hand over her.
"Sylvia," the bald man spoke. "It is now time to begin your mission."
Sylvia only swallowed as she nodded. She showed hesitation upon doing so, but her acknowledgement also represented her courage and obedience.
"Your training has completed. You have now become an important piece of Nod's quest for reunification. A quest for purification and redemption for those fallen under the temptation and darkness of the false god before," The man stopped see more emotion coming for the new commander before him, her eyes twitching more as to resist tears. "Is something wrong, my child?"
Sylvia shook her head, but her new leader knew the truth. Usually, he'd find loyal followers tearing over achieving major ranks in the inner circles of his command. However, he knew that wasn't the case; her training was only a year at least and one and half at most. The training was hasty, but it was expected when her needed skills were clumped into such a small time frame. Even with her rank, a Vizier as her uniform indicated, she was only in control of a world that knew little about war.
But because of that, there wasn't any need to give long training either. She just needed enough to command her forces and defend herself against the obstacles she had to overcome. That was the same for her small force behind her, who were given the necessary training to operate Nod's machinery and the special substance that they controlled.
The major concern, as he always knew, as the main objective of Nod's campaign. Or at least a major objective of Nod and Mana's campaign.
"Do not fear, my child. The prophecy, Nod's plan, was made to ensure happy endings for the faithful. Even your faith is needed and more importantly, that of your family."
"I apologize, K-Kane," Sylvia spoke to her leader. "It's been so long since we've meet. And I've done so much to her. We have done too much."
"And yet it was not your fault," Kane objected calmly. "Misguided as you were, it is the original mindset for those bewitched from birth. Artificially warped without control, by the influence of your great Lucifer, who never knew the true gift of Tiberium. Just like the Norma themselves, who were manually mind-twisted the same."
"And Ange-," Sylvia stuttered for a moment. "O-Onee-sama."
"Your sister is still a major pillar, even to Nod. While she has fallen, yes, the power of Tiberium and Nod are limitless, as are the miracles that we produce."
Sylvia didn't know what to say. She remembered learning such information during her time with the Brotherhood of Nod and their great leader, Kane. Once despised by the original True Earth, the showed themselves as the true heroes in the end. With their own strength, faith and power, they succeeded over what their enemies failed to accomplish. First believed to be harbingers that would destroy the world, they instead saved it, bringing them to a golden age that history never knew. To think the mysterious saviors would bring that day once more...
"However," Kane's voice stopped Sylvia's chain of thoughts. He raised his hands, as if he was calling Sylvia's followers to stand. "The day will not come unless we start today. With your act as the sword of Mitsurugi and with the faith, power and resources of Nod, we shall reunite all those within this forsaken world. Not just those who've suffered long and abused oppression, but also the puppets who were left to take the blame. Everyone, who was left with nothing, but decaying wasteland and a disgraceful legacy that was never their own! Mana and Nod will become one and the very empire shall strike back once again to retake the savior who was stolen away from this world's misguidance! To bind with the old world of the beasts left to clean it up when it was left in the ashes. Humanity, Mana, Norma, and Dragons...all shall be reunited as one. Only then, should humanity and their descendants...and deviations shall find salvation and become glorious once more!"
There was some recruits rising in response to Kane's speech. Since it was only composed of those who followed Sylvia, the chants were all positive as they called for their sudden visitors and their current Empress. The child leader eventually succumbed to the chants from the former Mana wielders, her body now embracing the given emotions.
The new hope given to the former Mana people was followed by shining light behind them. At first, the noise from the air turbines entered the containment hanger, which continued to die down to softer level. As Sylvia and the others turned around, they found the Nod aircraft already very low to the ground, the heavy door wide open to light into the room. The light also revealed the details of the massive machine within the room. A large quadrupedal walker of dark metallic colors and red lines was standing by for its commanding officer, just like a huge insect perched and waiting to strike. Appealing to the newcomers were the blue-green linings accompanying the red and the blueish background and emblems representing the old Mitsurugi Empire.
As soon as the aircraft touched the ground, the new followers were shaken up to regain their footing. Sylvia only stood still as did the leader of Nod. Inside one of her pockets, she took out two bushels of hair wrapped together by extra hairbands she had. While one would call it reminder of her past self, Sylvia found it more of a promise. A promise for her lost sister since she accepted her new role in Mana and as Vizier to the Brotherhood.
"It is time to test yourself, child," Kane spoke to Syliva, cutting her out of memory lane. His words were both of promise and an order. "Redemption and salvation is at hand."
"I understand," she complied as she placed back her clippings.
"Peace through power."
...
Next Chapter:
ACT I: Ascension
Mission 1- Mitsurugi Plaza
...
At the end of each chapter, whether it's missions, briefings or intermissions in between, I'll be writing some "Intelligence Data" for whatever new findings are found. Like in Tiberium Wars, they'll cover the know how and information of what's going on. This may not be much to Command and Conquer fans, especially since some of this is copied, but viewers for Cross Ange should check these every now and then.
INTELLIGENCE DATABASE
Brotherhood of Nod
Nod Orientation Briefing to Sylvia
...
Welcome to the Brotherhood of Nod.
As one of many recruits, you have become part of a universal order that extends its reach across the stars. Composed of countless members all working together in harmony, the Brotherhood uses its power and knowledge to help others extend beyond their limits and serves as their guardian. Not only is faith in the true potential of mankind part of our power, but so is our mastery of a powerful substance in many forms. The originators refer to it as Ichor, those of the now tainted Earth call it other names like Dracunium and Mana, but one word gives praise to this alien power...Tiberium.
Our relationship with Tiberium has always been greatly misunderstood. Most people do not realize that the roots of our faith extend back several millennia, long before the emergence of the green crystal on Earth in 1995... an event prophesied by our great leader, Kane. The Brotherhood worked tirelessly to acquire samples of the precious crystal... to study it, to unlock its potential as a new energy source, to explore its possibilities. But Nod and Kane never did this alone, no other event contributed to our cause other than the Visitors who brought down the crystal to Earth and the infinite library known as the Tacitus. Through our research and faith, we have understood more of Tiberium and affirmed that it is the ultimate gift to mankind, the key to the future.
Our progress was both bolstered and hindered by various elements during our struggle. However, the fiercest adversary was the Global Defense Initiative, a militaristic band of first-world states that saw Tiberium as a threat to their power and made all attempts to eradicate the sacred crystal and us along with it. Their mainstream media branded us as "terrorists", but we showed GDI as the real criminals. They unilaterally redrew international border lines, relegating Nod followers into inhospitable "Yellow Zones", while claiming the utopian "Blue Zones" all for themselves. The result was four long crusades of struggle, costing billions of lives and resulting in widespread destruction.
Our movement grew as fast as Tiberium spread across the Earth. Using the crystal to fuel and fund our efforts, Nod worked tirelessly to bring order from the chaos. We made the streets safe, distributed food and pure water to the hungry, provided emergency medical care, ministered to those who feel a spiritual vacuum, and inspired hope in people who would otherwise have none. And on the day of Ascension, our purpose showed its colors, defeating the fascist ideals of GDI and granting Nod its status in the universe.
We, the Ascended, now uses our achieved prosperity to help those in need. Nod champions the smaller of powers: the common people, the populations that struggle, the oppressed, the innocent, the victims of war, the impoverished, the disenfranchised, the abandoned, the forgotten. When the powerful oppress the weak in the hollow name of freedom, the only counter is the Brotherhood. Nod meets strength with strength in the name of peace and progress.
One Vision. One Purpose.
...
