Chapter 2: Defence of Bruhl
A/N: I'm quite impressed to have received reviews this quickly, so I'll say my piece about one of them. Thanks for it, Fir100, and GJO1088
About your review, GJO1088:
-Yes, Sanae is aware of the history and events of the Valkyria Chronicles, all about the mainline game events, and some canon works. She will most definitely exploit her knowledge of the fandom as best as she could. Expect her to tell the team about what might happen, but remember, she will have to be careful that she doesn't end up making herself look like a spy, while telling them about it. In fact, Richard, or Rain as he uses as his name here, knows just as much.
-Unfortunately for you, I'm sorry to tell you that Richard and the others aren't going to be revolutionising Gallia for the war. Richard and the others aren't exactly the kind of people who would be able to create ideas that would actually work, even if they have a gist of it. That's more of what the UGF engineers and researchers' jobs, especially the kappa genius Nitori Kawashiro, and they are still in space. What's more, Richard wouldn't dare to make Gallia too powerful, lest the Federation get their eyes on them, and decide to try and take Gallia for themselves. The saving grace, however, is that Richard will have Nitori discreetly hand him military blueprints that are a significant upgrade for the Gallian units, under the guise they are prototype Imperial blueprints that Richard managed to steal through raiding enemy bases and supplies. I imagine that Richard and the others will get amazing weapons quite early, and that Squad 7 will get the benefits as well.
-About your third point, I kind of have both problems and understanding with these. Richard will try and point out the fact that exposing the radiators would make a tank vulnerable. But because this is solid canon, Leon and Kreis will counter with the fact that with their current engine technology, placing the radiator in a enclosed space would be suicidal, due to the fact that doing so will cause pressure to build up, resulting in a tank-blowing explosion. However, Richard will tell them the fact that they should find a way to make it so that the Edelweiss's radiator cannot be hit by standard means, such as that it is placed so that only a shot from above can hit it, or that the attacker would have to aim really low to bypass the plating that overhangs it. In both cases, do note that there are such things as anti-tank snipers in VC1, so they aren't entirely protected from heavy-fire at the radiator, even if they followed the suggestions that Richard and the others would make.
-That may be true. But still, Valkyrias in the settings are pretty much nigh-invulnerable and all-destroying. I mean, gameplay-wise, the overwatch shots alone of Selvaria would tear a lot of holes in tanks, and outright murder anyone she points her beam lance at. And Selvaria has been a Valkyria for at least an decade, so she's not going to easy to beat, even with all Squad 7 has. But... Do note that Richard and his team are more powerful than he lets on, and he knows a way to fight Selvaria on even terms, and still keep his identity unquestioned, although with some confusion and doubt. What is the method? You'll have to find out soon enough.
-I'll take a gander at your suggested manga, but there won't be anything I will be adding, if it's not entirely related to canon.
In the town of Bruhl...
The group leisurely strolled through the streets of the developed town, as they looked around, for anyone who might have missed the orders for evacuation, and the large windmill that stood in the centre of the town. They passed be a few people, who were leaving immediately from the town.
"Seeing that old mill spinning again... really makes it feel like home, sweet home." Welkin remarked, as his gaze was locked onto the spinning parts of the windmill.
"Ha ha. I hear that." Alicia responded back with a joyful tone. "It really is one of the most beautiful things about this town."
"Yeah, I can testify to that. It's quite well-developed." Marisa responded back, as she had her hand over her eyes to shield the sun from getting into them. "I'd say that it's a famous landmark of this place on its own."
Alicia merely huffed, placing her hands on her hips, before turning to the others. "Well citizens, our enemy can't be far behind." Alicia stated, as she saluted at them respectfully like a devoted guard. "I thank you for your help. Goodbye and take care."
"Thank you too, for trusting in us before." Richard responded back, as he returned a salute of his own. "It's rare that I meet someone who knows the right people to trust in this world."
Alicia then left, as she waved at them, before separating from the group. Isara then turned to Richard's group, as she had hands clasped together in front of her.
"I'm sorry to ask of this all the sudden, but could you help us pack up for the evacuation, if you could?" Isara requested. "We would be very happy to get things done quicker."
"How could I refuse the genuine request of another of my kin?" Richard answered back, as he smiled back and nodded. "We don't have anything to do here, so we're happy to help everyone while we can. Take us to your home, and we'll get started right now."
At Welkin's and Isara's home...
The group immediately arrived at the house, as the group stopped at the doorstep.
"How's the packing coming along, Is?" Welkin asked Isara.
"Almost done. I only need to take the everyday basics." Isara answered back.
"Well, the Empire's got to be close by. Let's hit the road by sundown." Welkin stated.
"Don't worry." Sanae assured them both. "If the Empire really arrive while we leave, we can help to drive them away with our weapons. The three of us should be enough to help you clear out any Imperial infantry in our path."
Isara then called out towards the house. "Martha, look. Welks is here."
When the door opened from the inside, it showed a woman dressed in a yellow and brown dress, with a large white maid apron on her upper body. She also was slightly plump around her waist, and she had short hazelnut-coloured hair, brown eyes, and blue earrings.
"Ohh, welcome back, Welkies! And I see that you have brought back a few friends." Martha stated, as she bowed courteously.
Richard and Welkin were both flustered by Martha's words, as Marisa couldn't help but giggle at Welkin's nickname of 'Welkies'.
"You're still calling me that? Martha, I'm 22 years old now!" Welkin whined back, rubbing the back of his head as a gesture of embarrassment. "And more important, you shouldn't be running around! Aren't you due any day now?"
"M-Miss Martha. Let's not get hasty. We were just people who encountered each other on the roads." Richard hastily responded back. "We just met him, and he seemed to be quite the interesting person. We wanted to find someone to go with, so we stuck along with Welkin and Isara for it."
"Aww, a light jog won't hurt the little spud. I should know, I've already got four of them on the way!" Martha stated with a warm tone, patting her plump pregnant belly slightly, before she then looked at Richard. "And I'm quite surprised to see another Darcsen in these parts. Especially one as handsome as you are, hehe."
"Four of them!?" Gus exclaimed in shock. "Wow, ma'am, you sure are quite strong, and lucky to have quadruplets on the way!"
Suddenly, Alicia appeared behind them, holding a large paper bag with sticks of fresh bread in it. "Hello there... Mind I give you something, Welkin?" She asked, walking towards Welkin.
"Oh, hello Alicia? What brings you here?" Welkin asked.
"I just wanted to apologise... for before." She answered back, before handing the bag of bread to him. "Um, here! This is for you."
"Really? These are for me?" Welkin said, curious about why Alicia handed him something in apology.
"I work at the bakery. Well, I did until the war started anyway. It's where I live, too." Alicia responded back. "That's preserved bread, so it's really hard. Heat it up before you eat it, all right? And don't forget to share some with your new friends. I baked it myself, so the flavor's guaranteed! Best you ever had~!"
"Thanks. Uh, do you want to come in?" Welkin offered, as he moved to the door, and opened it for her.
"Yes, of course I would." Alicia answered back, as she entered the house with Welkin, as the others followed them in. Welkin, Isara, Martha and Alicia took seats on the dining table, while Richard and the others stood near them, as they conversed about the events that occurred up to this point.
"Arrested AND shot at? Hah. You've had a busy day of it, haven't you Welkies?" Martha inquired with curiosity, before turning to Alicia with a mirthful expression. "And what a lovely lady you are for all the adventuring. Good job, Welkies!"
"What?" Welkin asked back, before he blushed when he realised what Martha was implying, as he frantically waved his hands. "Wait, no! It's not like that! Alicia just saved my skin, that's all. Rain also did that, as he literally charged the Imperial soldiers and shot them without hesitation."
"And a brave one! I knew that Darcsen were quite skilled in reality!" Martha exclaimed.
"He's right, we just met. I'm not his girlfriend, just his hero." Alicia responded back calmly. "Although I'm really hoping to be his friend."
"Oh well, I'm sure that you all will. Be good to my Welkies here, won't you?" Martha asked, with a caring tone.
"We can promise that we'll treat like one of our own." Gus assured Martha. "He's in a good crowd among us."
"Okay, seriously Martha." Welkin stated with a flustered tone. "Enough with the Welkies already."
Alicia then looked up, as she saw a greyscale picture of two men posing before a large tank, on the battlefield, with black signatures on one corner of the photo. "That's a lovely portrait. Is that General Gunther?" She asked no-one in particular.
"Yup. It was taken before I was born, but's that Dad alright." Welkin nodded.
"You have a army general as your father? That's amazing!" Sanae chimed in with a astonished tone.
"That's Dad... you're a lucky guy to have him as your father." Alicia remarked. "And who's that with him there?"
"My father, Theimer. He was an engineer. The General's tank was his creation." Isara answered the question.
"Wait a minute. But I thought the general was your dad?" Alicia asked, confused about what Isara was saying.
"My birth parents died when I was a baby..." Isara solemnly explained, before she smiled back. "The general was kind enough to take me in as my own after that."
"I guess he's the kind of guy who would help others out of the goodness of his heart." Marisa quipped, as she smiled. "I'm sure that people like him would be well-received by many."
"Yeah. We're not related by blood as siblings, but she's definitely my little sister." Welkin added.
"Sorry, was that question too personal?" Alicia asked with concern.
"No. I don't mind at all. I was blessed with two wonderful fathers." Isara told Alicia back with a grateful tone.
"Yeah... I guess you were, huh...?" Alicia replied back with a slightly longing tone, before she then remembered something she almost forgot, as she looked at the house's clock. "Oh, is that really the time? I've got to get going."
"Why don't you see her off, Welks? I can take care of the rest of the packing on my own." Isara told Welkin.
"All right. I will. I'll be right back." Welkin responded back, as he then got up to leave.
"Wait, Welkin. Allow me to come with you." Richard quickly called out, as Welkin looked at him briefly. "Let me come with you two. I want to get to know you both a little more, even if it may be the only time we will meet. I can hope that I could find a true friend in all of you. The rest of you, stay here and help Isara. She shouldn't have to do the rest of the work alone, should she?"
"Aye aye, we'll get it done in a few moments." Marisa stated back with a casual manner.
"Alright, then you can come with us." Welkin agreed.
"Thank you, Rain. The help is appreciated." Isara thanked Richard.
"See you later, Isara. Safe travels!" Alicia said, as Richard and Welkin followed her out of the residence.
In the streets of Bruhl...
The trio made their way down the streets, as they noticed that the transport trucks were already leaving the town quickly.
"Wow, look at this. Bruhl's really becoming a ghost town at this rate." Welkin stated, seeing the truck come and go past them all.
"They've been leaving for a while." Alicia stated. "Just about everyone is evacuated now."
"I can't blame them. Tensions are rising with the Empire, and their invasions." Welkin stated, as Richard grimaced, which he noticed. "Oh, sorry about that, Rain... About your town..."
"It's no problem... I won't let my past drag me down." Richard told them with a confident tone. "I can only hope that this war will end with the least amount of destruction and death possible, even if it's in vain."
"We'll survive though. The town watch will protect and guard the homefront. Everyone will come back someday." Alicia stated. "They'll all come back when it's safe again, right?"
"Mm-hmm." Welkin grunted, as he nodded back.
"So Welkin, I'm curious, are you going to join the army like your father?" Alicia asked. "What about you, Rain?"
"Hmm, I don't think that's for me." Welkin shook his head, before he then noticed that the birds were taking flight above them. "What I'd really like to do is be a teacher."
"Huh? A teacher?" Alicia asked surprised.
"Animals and insects, flowers and plants. They've always been my passion. I've learned a lot from nature itself." Welkin commented. "See, my dad, he protected this country as a general. But it's just that I... I want to give back, in my own way. My own way, you know what I mean?"
"No wonder that book of yours is filled with so much information on the various fauna and flora in the nation." Richard recalled the time he read through the book, seeing various detailed diagrams of animals and plants in it. "I'm not too surprised that you would want to be a teacher or professor, to spread this kind of information to everyone in the nation."
"That's deep, in your own way..." Alicia replied as well, placing her hand on her chin in deep thought, before she was then blocked off by Richard's arm, as Welkin was too. "Waah!"
"I hear something..." Richard muttered, as he seemed to be quite alert, before there was a explosion that assaulted their ears, and shook the ground.
"What was that?" Alicia questioned.
Welkin listened closely, as he could hear the whistling sound of a tank shell flying through the air. "That sound..." Welkin muttered, before he then looked up, as they all saw a fiery tank round fly towards the windmill.
"Look out!" Richard cried, as he pointed at the approaching projectile, as it connected with the large structure, before exploding, as it blew a large hole in the structure, raining dust and debris onto the frightened onlookers, as they ran away from the windmill, as it began to fall apart before the eyes of all three of them.
"I don't believe it... The mill..." Welkin muttered in horror.
Richard then pulled out his weapon, as he immediately slammed a clip in, just as gunshots could be heard.
"There's already Imperial troops in this town! We need to get armed immediately!" Richard exclaimed, just as soon as a town watchman rushed over to Alicia, panting.
"Miss Melchiott, the Imperials are attacking. There's a squad of them in town right now!" The guard quickly relayed to Alicia.
"Get all the town watch together, now! We've got to fend them off!" Alicia ordered, as she loaded rounds into her rifle.
"They must be at Mill Plaza. I'll help." Welkin stated, as Richard turned to Welkin.
"Welkin, do you even know how to use a gun!? You don't want to get into the firefight that is about to happen!" Richard exclaimed in pure shock.
"I can. I mean, I made it through training with weapons anyways, in these situations. I can use one of those scout rifles well." Welkin responded back.
"I see. Alright, but keep your head down. I've fought the Imperials before a lot of times, so I should know how to deal with them." Richard stated, as he turned to Alicia. "Alicia, is there an town armoury nearby, to arm Welkin with?"
"Yes, it's just a block away." Alicia stated. "I'll get him there."
"Good, and bring some extra rifles and ammunition. Mari and Sally need something to arm themselves with." Richard stated. "I'll help your town guard fight off the Imperial vanguard."
"Thank you, Rain. Now, move out. Stay low!" Alicia shouted to Richard, as she and Welkin headed for their target destination.
Richard then cocked his weapon, priming it. "Alright, I can do this... I have back-up and a weapon that should make mincemeat out of them. I just need to thin the numbers and hold out..." Richard muttered, before he then sprinted towards the source of the gunfire sounds, where the battle was already starting.
He then ran towards one of the makeshift barricades made of sandbags, as he slid into cover, before any of the Imperial soldiers could even notice his arrival. Two of the town guards were already returning fire, as they fired off shot after shot at the enemy, before they ducked behind cover to reload, and noticed Richard.
"What are you doing here? This isn't the place where civilians like you should be!" The town guard shouted. "Give us that gun, and get out of here! We'll cover your escape ourselves!"
"No can do!" Richard yelled back with a firm tone. "Your captain, Alicia, sent me here. I'll help get rid of the enemies in front of you. Just draw their fire, and give me some covering fire. I have one of their sub-machine guns, that should tear through their armour like paper!"
"If you say so. Just keep your head down." The town guard stated, as he reloaded his weapon, before firing back. "Now's your chance, go while we have their eyes on us!"
"Already on it!" Richard shouted, as he vaulted over the sandbag stack, while the townsguard fired off shots that forced the Imperial soldiers into cover. When they got back up, they fired off several shots that hit the padded suits of the town guard, hurting them slightly and causing them to flinch in pain.
Richard immediately pressed himself on the side-wall, as he hid himself under the low-cover, watching the Imperial soldier shoot a few times, before hiding behind cover, and then repeating after he reloaded his weapon.
"You looked at the wrong place!" Richard shouted, catching the Imperial soldier's attention, as he fired off a burst of bullets that hit the soldier's torso and head, as the bullets pierced through the armour, and downed the soldier in but a few shots. He then took the moment to reload, before he then rolled into the cover that the soldier was using before, avoiding the shots coming in his direction.
Welkin and Alicia then arrived, as Welkin had one of the standard-issue rifles in his hands, like the other town guards, as they made their way to the sandbags, as Alicia motioned for the town guards to move up, as they did so, while evading the rifle shots coming their way.
"Our targets is the Imperials in Mill Plaza. Focus on taking down their captain." Alicia stated the objective. "Breaking the chain of command of the Imperials, should buy some more time for the townspeople to get away."
"All right, I got that. Let's all be careful out there." Welkin responded back, before he turned to Richard, who was taking cover. "You got it, Rain?"
"Take down the soldier in red, who is the captain of the invading squad!?" Richard yelled back. "Yeah, I'm clear! Alicia, tell your men to give me some more covering fire! I can't get a good shot when I'm too far from them! You help me too, Welkin!"
Alicia and Welkin immediately complied, as they fired at the two Imperial soldiers that were hitting Richard's cover, as the town guards did the same, ensuring that the soldiers were suppressed. Richard then took the moment to move from his cover, to a much more closer one, as he then flipped over the cover, and shot one of the Imperial soldier point-blank. The other soldier got up slightly to get a clear shot of Richard, but before he could fire, his head was shot multiple times by Welkin.
"Good shot, Welkin!" Richard cried back. "You've got good arms to hold your rifle steady like that!"
"Thanks!" Welkin shouted back, as he and the others moved to the next set of covered positions, as the plaza was in sight, as there were several soldiers who were already in battle with a group of town guards, who were hiding behind the rubble of the destroyed mill for protection. "Target in sight!"
Alicia noted the soldier in red, who was barking orders to his non-coloured squadmates. "We'll have to take them out in one blast. Are you ready?" Alicia asked.
"Ready when you are!" Richard shouted back, as he slammed a fresh new clip into his weapon.
"Alright... CHARGE!" Alicia ordered, as the town guards under Alicia's command immediately shot at the Imperials, taking out two of them, as the rest turned to face the group, as they fired off several shots that managed to clip them in the chest. However, Richard ran through the fire, as he slid low to avoid getting shot in the head, before he then blind-fired from behind his cover, as the powerful shots managed to take out the rest of the soldiers, leaving only the commander standing.
Welkin immediately corrected the face, as he fired off several shots to the head, that brought down the Imperial commander.
"They're down!" Richard called out. "Come on, we need to get in position, before the next wave comes in-"
He was then interrupted by the sound of an powerful engine rumbling, as several Imperial soldiers came in, as one of them gestured for something to come in, as it was revealed to be a light tank in Imperial colours. It rolled over the mill rubble, entering the plaza, before it then aimed its main cannon at one of the places where the town guard were hiding, before it fired off a powerful shot that blasted the rubble and the people behind it, as the victims screamed while they were torn apart by the tank shot.
"T-Taaannnk!" A town guard cried, as the rest of the covered town guards fled, before the tank's secondary turret revved up and gunned down the speaker.
"No way! Ruuun- Arrggh!" Another one shouted in fear, before the machine-gun rounds tore him apart.
The Imperial soldiers used the tank to advance further, as they took their places in the alley that the group came from.
"Welkin, tank!" Alicia cried out.
"That's not good. We're not equipped to take out a tank..." Welkin stated with a grim tone, as he didn't like the development of things currently.
"I hate to say it, but we should probably pull out for now." Alicia answered back. "Get off this road and into the alley to the east. It's too narrow for a tank to follow. And try to stay behind cover while moving! One blast from the turret, and it's over!"
"Tch, what about you, Alicia?" Richard asked.
"I'll get the town-watch to regroup at the main gate. We need to ensure that we suffer as little causalities as possible." Alicia answered back.
"Got it. Welkin and I will find a way to get to the place. But it's been blocked by Imperial soldiers, and the tank has its sights trained on us next..."
"Rain!" Gus cried, as he arrived, holding his rlfle, as the other members of Richard's group arrived. "Thank the gods we managed to get here on time."
"Gus! Good time to get here! We've got trouble here!" Richard shouted in relief. "We need to escape, but the Imperial troops are blocking our path out! We need some help clearing them, before the tank manages to get a bead on all of us!"
"Here! You'll need these weapons!" Alicia cried, as she threw the rifles at Marisa and Sanae, who caught them. She then threw small pouches of rifle rounds at them, which they caught as well.
"Aw man... A rifle...?" Marisa moaned in complaint. "Guess I can't complain. A weapon is still a weapon I can use. Better than nothing I guess."
"Remy, can you snipe them all out from here?" Richard asked Reisen, who immediately leapt and climbed onto one of the trucks, as she laid prone on it.
"It will be done." Reisen stated, as she immediately shot the Imperial scouts in the way one by one, as they tried to return fire, but their target was too faraway to get a accurate shot to hit her. "Piece of cake."
The Imperial tank seemed to have noticed the threat that Reisen was posing, as it aimed its main cannon at her, and the truck she was using as a makeshift platform to snipe from.
"Remy, look out!" Richard shouted, as Reisen immediately hopped off the truck, and sprinted for cover, just as soon as the tank shot the truck she was on to pieces. "Now, Welkin! It's our time to get across! Run across the cover! Remy, Gus, Sally, and you Mari! You help Alicia defend the town with the others!"
The duo immediately sprinted across, as they hide behind cover after cover, while the turrets fired at them, as several of the rapid shots were dangerously close to hitting them. However, they managed to shake off the tank, as they rushed through the alley, which allowed them to escape the tank.
"Whew. It looks like Alicia was right... We managed to shake them." Welkin panted.
"Where do we go next...?" Richard asked, before he then realised something. "Wait, if the Imperials are already in town... Then that would mean...!?"
"We need to get Martha and Isara out of here immediately!" Welkin cried, as they both ran for the home, where Isara and Martha were.
At the hillside home of Welkin and Isara...
Richard and Welkin sprinted across the path, as Welkin seemed to have a expression worry on his face.
"Isara... Martha... Please be okay...!" Welkin hoped.
When they reached the house, they heard the sound of the front door being kicked open, as Welkin stopped, before he looked for an alternate path into the house, before he looked at the fence, and then at one of the open windows into one of the rooms.
"Come wth me, Rain!" Welkin shouted for Richard to follow, as they vaulted over the fence, as they then hopped through the window, as Richard readied his gun at the ready.
"She pregnant, or just fat?" They both could hear the voice of a Imperial soldier, which was accompanied by footsteps. They could also hear Martha's strained breathing nearby. The group then slowly opened the door, as they saw two Imperial soldiers in the dining room.
"Who cares? Not gonna make any difference when she's dead." The other soldier stated with a eerily casual tone.
"Bastard...!" Richard cursed under his breath, as he slowly peeked over the corner, as he saw Isara near the pained Martha on the ground, as she stood up.
"Stop this now!" Isara shouted, as she glared at the soldiers with intent.
The first soldier then kept his eyes on the covering scarf on her, before she turned to his partner. "See what's she wearing? Take a good look at the shawl. She's a Darcsen." The soldier snorted.
"Then that explains it. I thought this place stunk. Now I know it does." The other soldier chuckled darkly. "So, we got ourselves a fat one, and a stinky one. Pee-eew, it's a regular pig farm here."
Isara then looked at her side, as Welkin noticed that there was a loose fence-post just outside. He then moved out of the window, as he hefted the pole out of the earth, while Isara shifted her weight to the side, as she rolled quickly, picking up the rifle hidden behind the crate, as she cocked the weapon.
"I will thank you to watch your tongue in this house." Isara warned the soldiers, as they took a step forward, as she steeled herself and her aim. "You have to leave, now."
"That's a big gun for such a little girl." The first soldier mocked. "Drop it."
Isara kept the gun in her hands, as Welkin managed to hop through the window, as Richard turned to him.
"On 3... We'll take them both down. That okay with you...? We don't have the time to keep hiding...!" Richard harshly whispered to Welkin. "Make sure you don't miss."
"I won't." Welkin assured Richard.
"Good. 1... 2..." Richard stated, as he slowly got up, as he flipped the gun around, so that he was using the stock of the weapon in his hands.
The Imperial soldier then took another step, as Richard then prepared himself. "...3!"
"Isara!" Welkin cried, as Richard slammed the door open with a strong kick, as both of them rushed at the Imperial soldiers.
"Huh? Hold it right there!" The other imperial soldier threatened, as he turned around to face both of them.
However, before he could have a chance to fully turn, Welkin immediately beaned him in the front of his head with the heavy wooden fence-post, as he was knocked aside. His partner then turned around, as he cocked his weapon towards Welkin, as his finger was on the trigger.
"Die-" The Imperial soldier was about to shout, as Welkin's eye moved towards the other solider. He was then interrupted when he saw Richard rushing at him with a furious expression, and his weapon raised up over his head.
"Eat stock, Imperial bastard!" Richard roared, as he swung the rifle's stock right into the soldier's face with enough force to break his nose, as he cried out in agony, while falling backwards onto the ground, clutching the ground.
Richard didn't spare any time, as he immediately mounted the Imperial soldier, as he smashed the back end of the weapon into the Imperial soldier's face over and over again, giving the victim no chance to even react.
"Stay down! Stay! DOWN!" Richard accented each word with each blow. "STAY DOWN!"
"Rain! That's enough!" Welkin shouted, as Richard didn't hear him. "He's down!"
This time, Richard managed to hear him, as he dropped his make-shift bludgeon, as the end of the weapon was bloody from the soldier's blood. The soldier was groaning in agony and barely conscious.
"Damn... Damn it all..." Richard stated nervously, as he slowly picked up the weapon, as he looked at the sorry state of his target, before then turning to Welkin. "I'm sorry, Welkin... I couldn't risk it... I didn't want to take chances..."
"It's alright, Rain..." Welkin comforted the tense Richard, before turning to Isara, who lowered her rifle with a relieved expression. "Isara! Are you okay?"
"I'm OK thanks to you and Rain. But Martha, I think she's..." Isara answered back, as she moved back to reveal that Martha was writhing in agony, as she was breathing heavily.
"Martha!" Welkin cried, as he walked over to check Martha for any injuries, only to find none, which confused him.
"It's labour... Her children are coming at this very moment..." Richard noted, as Martha was clutching her abdomen.
"Moving her would be dangerous at the moment..." Isara added.
"Right... well... we can't just leave her here! What are we going to do?" Welkin asked back desperately. "There are a lot of Imperials out there, Is. It's only a matter of time before they take over the Mill Plaza and the town with it..."
"I'll help fight. You just focus on taking care of the soon-to-be mother. Her safety is our top priority now!" Richard exclaimed, as he checked his weapon, if he may have banged it into a jam when he used it to assault the soldier with it.
"Welks, Rain... Listen, the barn out back..." Isara said.
"What about it?" Welkin asked back.
"Our fathers have left us something. Something that might get us out of this mess." Isara explained.
"Really? Take us there, Isara, please!" Richard answered back hastily. "We need anything we can get to help now!"
Isara nodded, as she then motioned for Welkin and Richard to follow her, as they moved to the barn by the house's side. Richard and Welkin heaved the wooden doors open together, as inside of the barn was a medium-sized blue tank, painted with blue and red emblems, and there was also several leather bags for supplies strapped on top of the tread covers, as well as on the sides.
"Dad's tank! Whoa... I can't believe it's still here..." Welkin exclaimed with astonishment, looking at the tank lying in wait before them.
"And it's one-of-the-kind. Here it is, the Edelweiss. Theimer built it especially for General Gunther." Isara added.
"Yeah, and it worked great too." Welkin remarked. "So, it's just been parked here in the barn?"
"I wanted to make sure that it would still operate, you know, in case of emergencies." Isara responded back. "I enrolled in a maintenance class given by the military. I wanted to be able to do what my father could do."
"That's brilliant! We can use the Edelweiss to combat the Imperial tanks!" Richard exclaimed with joy. "With this thing, we'll be able to drive the Imperials out of the town long enough for the rest of the civilians to make a safe retreat!"
"It really didn't need much, hardly any alterations at all." Isara stated. "I just fitted it with a new turbine engine. It really improves on the power-weight ratio. The Edelweiss is fieldworthy. Its firepower and mobility are more than a match for recent models."
"Well, assuming it works, what's next?" Welkin asked.
"Alright. Welks, you took the armoured vehicle course, didn't you?" Isara questioned Welkin in response. "We'll bring Martha here. She's be safe inside the tank, and we can move to a better location."
"Of course... The tanks should be able to protect her, and prevent any harm from getting to her. As long as we drive it slowly, we should be able to avoid inflicting further pain onto her." Richard commented, before he then ran towards the house. "Welkin and Isara, get the Edelweiss ready, I'll get Martha in the house."
"Alright, got it." Welkin said, as Richard then dashed into the house, as he then picked up Martha gently, before holding her in a bridal carry, to minimise stress on her body.
"Oh my, I'm being carried by a handsome man..." Martha chuckled, as she groaned a little as she was still in pain. "...Your hands are very soft, Rain. I'm surprised that you're a fighting person."
"Just hang in there a little longer, Miss Martha." Richard responded back in a concerned tone. "We'll get you out of here safe and sound."
He then left the house, and entered the barn, as Welkin was about to enter the tank.
"Hey, Isara, is there a gunner's porch on the tank's body?" Richard asked.
"Yes, there is one, right in front of the tank cannon." She stated, as she clambered out of the hatch, and pointed at the gunner hatch just below the tank's cannon, which had a mounted machine-gun on it.
"Thanks, Isara. I'll man it for you guys." Richard stated, as he climbed up the tank, as he slowly passed Martha to both of them. "Take care that you don't accidentally drop her. Her labour is progressing further."
"We understand." Welkin stated, as they moved Martha down into the tank, as they laid her on the ground, and placed a blanket over her, to comfort her. Isara then took her place on the driver's seat, while Welkin placed the communication headset on his head, before he then climbed up, and saw that Richard was inside the gunner's porch, giving off a wave and a smile, while he had one hand on the mounted gun. Welkin gave Richard a thumbs-up in return. "Isara, we ready to roll?"
"Engaging engine." Isara stated, as she ignited the engine, as the tank hummed to life, rumbling on the spot. "The Edelweiss is ready for deployment."
"Whoo, this thing is really giving her best!" Richard whooped, as he felt the tremors of the lively tank around him.
"Alicia could still be out there, dodging bullets. And so are Rain's friends, buying time for people to evacuate. Here's the plan. We're going to pick up Alicia and Rain's friends, and get out of town."
"Roger that, Commander Welkin!" Richard saluted back energetically. "We'll carve a path through the Imperials, and get our friends back."
"All right, Edelweiss, move out!" Welkin declared, as the tank moved out of the barn, as it followed the road into the town central.
"Hang in there, Alicia and my friends... Help is coming on the way...!" Richard stated with a hopeful tone.
In the town plaza...
Reisen, Sanae, Alicia, Gus and Marisa were being assaulted by the Imperial troops, as they couldn't even stick their head out for a second, without risking themselves to get shot by the tank's mounted turret, and the shots from the other Imperial troops.
Reisen immediately took a quick-shot at one of the soldiers with her sniper rifle, as she managed to kill the soldier with a shot to the head. However, in doing so, she used up the last bullet in her weapon, as she grunted in frustration, before placing the rifle back into her backpack.
"I'm out of bullets!" Reisen called out. "You all are going to have to do this without my support!"
Gus immediately stood out of cover, as he fired a few shots at a soldier, hitting them several times in the torso, before retreating back into cover, to avoid the fire from the other soldiers.
The tank immediately readied another shot, as it fired another shot at the wooden gate that was blocking the Imperial advance, as everyone nearby flinched and cried, as the gate was close to being blown apart, as there was already a large hole from the repeated tank shots fired upon it.
"Rrgh... This gate can't take much more...!" Alicia exclaimed.
"Even if we got the soldiers down... We don't have any way to take down the tank, which is the thing that is spearheading their assault... As long it's there, more Imperial soldiers are just going to pour in here, until the path is clear!" Sanae stated with a worried tone.
"Come on, Rain... Where the hell are you now...?" Marisa growled under her breath.
The Edelweiss then managed to reach the town plaza, as it was from the directions that the Imperials came from. Welkin took a look out of the tank's periscope, as he could see that they're close to it, although there were a broken fragment of wall blocking the shorter path to it.
"The tank should be able to breach that wall. It may provide us with a shortcut." Isara told Welkin. "Although I'm worried about Rain, who's at the front side of the tank."
"Don't worry about me, a few rocks and pieces of plaster or wood won't harm me." Richard assured Isara. "But still try to be careful. I need my eyes to shoot what I can see."
"All right, let's give it a shot. Hang in there, Alicia!" Welkin responded back, as the Edelweiss immediately fired its main cannon at the wooden wall in the way, as it shattered to pieces, that bounced off the tank's armour, and none of them managed to hit Richard, although he flinched and covered himself to protect himself if any would have done so.
It then pressed forward, as it then turned, and faced the Imperial soldiers, who noticed the Edelweiss coming.
"Uwaugh! T-Tank! It's a Gallian tank!" A Imperial soldier cried in fear.
"You're not going any further as long as we're here! Eat bullets!" Richard yelled back, as he then levelled his gun at the Imperial soldiers, before he then fired off a rapid burst of machine-gun bullets that cut through the soldiers, as they fell one by one. Welkin then opened the hatch, as he stuck himself out of it.
"Alicia! I'm sorry we're late!" Welkin cried.
"Welkin!? You have a tank!?" Alicia responded back.
"What a surprise, right? We can bring down that Imperial tank now!" Richard shouted back, as he waved at her and the group.
"Rain, thank god you made it back!" Gus cried. "The main gate is about to fall, we need to take out that tank, ASAP!"
"Enemy tank sighted, Welks. Switching to anti-tank combat. Armor-piercing shells loaded." Isara reported, as the cannon reloaded itself.
"All right, let's go take it down!" Welkin said. "Everyone, stay in cover! We'll deal with this!"
"I'm going to get off. The MG ain't going to do much against armour that thick." Richard also said, as he immediately exited the gunner's porch, and moved behind the Edelweiss. "Aim for where the engine's radiator is, Welkin! Damaging it should allow you bypass its armour and deal massive damage to the tank itself!"
"Alright!" Welkin stated, as he then aimed the cannon, using the crosshairs in the periscope, locking it on the glowing blue radiator plate on the back of the Imperial tank. "Aim carefully... FIRE!"
The cannon shell then shot out of the Edelweiss's main gun, as it made contact with the radiator plates, blowing them apart, and setting off a chain reaction inside the tank that blew it up, leaving behind a immobile wreck.
"Yes! We stopped it! Nice work, Is!" Welkin cheered.
"Good shot, Welkin! You nailed that bastard in one!" Marisa screamed back with excitement.
"Woo hoo! Now, you're MY hero, Welkin!" Alicia complimented Welkin.
"The Imperials are running off now. Without their tank, they won't be able to make a effective assault, especially with our tank defending it for the moment." Welkin stated. "Looks like we bought some time at least."
"Welks! Welks! It's a boy! Martha had a boy!" Isara exclaimed with joy.
"Sh-She gave birth in Dad's tank!?" Welkin exclaimed, as he looked down to see that Isara was holding two freshly-born babies in her arms, as they were crying loudly.
"Holy... Talk about new life in war!" Richard gasped with shock. "Would you look at that, Alicia! Your wish actually came partially true!"
"Yes, and without complications as well! They're both perfectly healthy."
"Good... That's fantastic! Now, let's stay sharp as we head out of town." Welkin responded back. "Everyone, get in or onto the tank!"
Alicia nodded, as she was the first to go in, as she then tended to Martha, who was much more peaceful than before, having given birth already. Gus and the others immediately hopped onto the tank, as they clung onto the sides, while Richard took his place in the gunner's porch, as the tank then rolled out of town.
In the outskirts of the town...
Welkin and Alicia were standing on the hill, as the Edelweiss was parked flatly on the road, as they both looked at the town, which was smoking from various places. Alicia then clenched her fist, and gritted her teeth in contained anger.
"I thought I would be ready for this. I knew war meant this would happen." Alicia softly stated, before a melancholic look appeared in her eyes. "But it still hurts... Seeing our town overrun like this... Seeing all those people killed... It's just not right. How could all of this happen?"
Alicia then teared up, as she sobbed. "It isn't human, Welkin..." She said, as she wiped the tears off her face with her hand. Welkin then wrapped his arm around her shoulders, as he patted her with a sympathetic expression, before turning to the town again.
"We look at the birds and see how wild and free they are." Welkin replied back, as he looked up to the flying birds. "But they all have their own territories. If anything threatens their home, they'll risk their lives to defend it. People are animals, too. We do what we have to, when we have to. Animals are in a constant struggle to stay alive, but I've also seen them help each other, almost like they were cooperating in order to survive as well."
"Cooperating?" Alicia asked softly.
"That's why I'm so into studying natural science." Welkin explained. "That coexistence... I want to know how it works. If we could figure that out, mankind could put it to use for our own survival. That's why I want to be a teacher, Alicia, so that I can pass that knowledge on to the children of the next generation. I mean, even if we can't completely eliminate war, at least we might learn to live together as one people."
"You think so?" Alicia said.
"That's what I striven for, Alicia." Richard stated with a serious tone, as they turned to find that Isara and Richard were coming around, as both of them were holding Martha's four babies, in bundled towels wrapped around their small bodies. "I want to live in a world, where everyone would be able to treat each other equally. No more of the Darcsen discrimination, no more of petty disputes that always cost so much from everyone involved... I want it so that everyone can live happily, and be able to settle their difference in peace."
"Rain..." Welkin answered back.
"On a brighter note, I think that Martha's babies seem to have made an attachment to me. Look at them smile at their big guardian." Richard smiled warmly, as he showed Alicia and Welkin the babies.
"Martha fell asleep, so that makes me the babysitter with Rain." Isara chimed in. "See, Alicia?"
Alicia looked down at the male baby in Isara's arms, as he had a tuft of brown hair on the top of his head. "Ohh, he's adorable!" Alicia cooed.
"Just like you said, even in war, new life happens around us." Welkin stated, before he then motioned for Isara to hand him the baby, as she did so. "Come here."
He then walked over the hill, until they were both in clear sight of the town. "Look, that's your hometown." Welkin told the baby. "It's going to be much better when you grow up to return to it."
"Someday..." Alicia stated. "We'll come back again, when the war is over."
"Yes." Welkin said, as Richard, Isara and Alicia walked to stand beside him, as they watched the burning town, and the distant gunshots. "Someday soon. I know it."