By the time Alicia and Welkin reached their assigned gate, The rest of Squad 7 and the Kalugan soldiers were preparing for combat. Sandbags were carried to good defensive positions, while the tanks present were moving into alleyways or hastily prepared firing pits. Several soldiers were stationed on the Battlements, crouched behind cover. Civilians from the building were being evacuated, being given orders from a Kalugan Captain standing on the back of a Medium Tank.

"All Civilians able to fire a weapon assemble on Lilac Street! Those who can't are to move towards the port! Accommodation and medical services will be applied!"

Largo rushed over to Welkin. "It's not looking good. The Scouts reported 4 Regiments surrounding the city. They're armed with Mortars, Medium Tanks, Well-equipped soldiers, and Salinas swears he saw another Batomys."

"Has that been verified?" Welkin asked.

"Not yet. O'Hara's up there with several scouts trying to find it. So far, The Imperial Artillery has just been targeting the port, but I reckon they'll mount an assault soon." Largo looked at the crowd and spotted a Kalugan Officer trying to get to them.

"Lieutenant Gunther, Thank The Valkyria you're here. My superiors wanted me to inform you that Air support will be here in Half an Hour."

Welkin Blinked. "Air support?"

The Kalugan Officer looked confused, before realising. "Oh yes...I see... The Federation gave Kaluga A few Airships to launch its Air force. Most of them will be on station to launch a counterattack in 30 minutes, they're approaching from the south, from November City. Try to hold out until they arrive." The Kalugan Officer ran off, presumably to inform the other squads.

Alicia, looking at the hasty preparations for the siege, sighed. "I swear the Defenses during Maiden's Shield were better than this."

Welkin looked at her. "It's the best we've got, so we have to do our best." A frown appeared on his face. " I just hope Isara's doing ok..."

"Well Liesel, you were the Imperial Soldier. What would happen during Capital Assaults?" Werner asked, nodding the the hassled-looking Gallian Officer who was taking notes.

Liesel looked thoughtful. "Standard Doctrine said that the Tanks would advance first, and the Infantry would advance behind them, while Artillery pummeled the area in front of them. If that failed, The Officer in charge would decide the next course of action. I won't be able to help you on that. I don't know who's leading them, but they finite reserves."

The Officer adjusted his glasses. "So if we inflict enough casualties..."

"It may force them to retreat, giving us the Opportunity to advance." Isara finished. The Officer nodded, before rushing off. A few minutes later, the ground started rumbling.

"What in the name of the Valkyrur is that?" Liesel asked, confused.

A lookout from the battlements called down to a sergeant. "They've sent several dozen tanks to rush us! We need Lancers up here no-!" The section of the wall he was on was blasted apart by a tank shell, sending the soldier flying. The soldiers on the ground ducked as Masonry tumbled down onto them. A squad of Lancers rushed up the staircases to return fire, sending Several rockets into the approaching tanks.

Werner glanced at a cafe on the corner of the street. "Derek, Isara! Take cover in there, move!" He turned to Liesel, Ossa and Radi. "Stay on the street. The Kalugans will need your help."

As the three took cover in the Cafe, Liesel turned to Radi. "Sir... do you even know what lenghts we're going to to keep your identity secret? If Someone was to find out...!"

Radi chucked. "What should we be more concerned about? My safety, or the Imperial Army trying to break down the doors? What do you say, Ossa?"

Ossa frowned. "If it was up to me, I would do a little bit of both. I would Keep up the Radi Altmann ruse, and fight the Invasion, in order to remove any doubt."

Liesel look at her. "By the way, you never told us about your past."

Ossa, loaded her Sniper Rifle. "And I don't intend to."

Lucien Moss surveyed Squad 7's defensive positions, then waved his adjutant over. "They don't have a tank."

"Pardon me, sir?" The Black-haired, shaggy-maned officer asked in confusion.

Lucien glared at him. "Did you not hear me? I made myself very obvious, Lieutenant. Squad. 7. doesn't. have. a. tank."

Lieutenant O'Sullivan looked at him in confusion. "Sir...you didn't ask us to bring the Edelweiss. As far as I know, it's still in Bruhl."

Moss slapped him. "It should've been obvious to you, dolt! Welkin Gunther belongs in a tank, like his father! After this battle, send someone to get the tank. Get him a driver, too. I don't care who it is, be it male or female or dark-hair."

"Like Squad 13's Isara Gunther? His sister?" O'Sullivan asked, looking at his clipboard, He was immediately seized by the lapels and pulled face-to-face with a livid Moss. "No! I had her shipped to Squad 13 for a reason! Gunther should have died without her! He has to go, one way or another. He cannot survive this conflict. If he does, he may find out about our plans."

O'Sullivan was sweating profusely by now. "Y-y-yes sir. Who should we assign as driver t-to him?"

Moss let him go, before thinking. ...Lieutenant, do you have records of the Edelweiss development team?"

O'Sullivan nodded. "As per your instructions, all documents related to Professor Theimer's research were obtained after his death. I have the files in our Embassy near the Kalugan Parliament."

"What does Empress Yamazaki have to say about our intrusion?"

"She suspects our motives are not as they seem, Colonel, but she does not have enough evidence to remove us from Kaluga."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SUSPECTS!?" Moss hissed.

O'Sullivan braced himself for the worse. "A courier of ours was knocked down in a traffic accident. He was transporting some files related to old Valkyrur ruins in the north to my office. The Kalugans intercepted them before I did."

Moss waved him away. "Find a way to get them back. And also, Select a driver for the Edelweiss from Theimer's Research team immediately. Find whoever's availible, even if they're not in the military anymore."

Lieutenant O'Sullivan saluted. "Yes sir." He then walked briskly back to the Embassy. Moss surveyed the defenses for a few minutes, before making his way back to his HQ."

Alicia watched him go. "He's up to something."

Welkin nodded. "I agree, he wants us here for a reason." He looked around, and mild surprise was etched on his face when he saw Rosie separate herself from the crowd nearest where the two Federation Officers were talking.

"Were you eavesdropping on them?" He asked when Rosie finally got to them. she shrugged.

"Sorry, Boss. They seemed shifty. I could only overhear a bit of what they said. I think they said they would be sending the Edelweiss and a new driver over here after the battle. Everything else was drowned out."

Welkin and Alicia looked at each other in confusion. "A new driver? But Isara's here as well. Wouldn't it make sense to restore her position as Driver of the Edelweiss?"

Rosie did a double take. "W-what? Isara's alive?"

Alicia grimaced. "Yeah, but I think the Good Colonel has something to do with how she ended up here. That Doctor said she was dead!"

Welkin thought. "There are many questions, but little time to find the answers. Rosie, tell the others that Isara's ok, then get to your combat posts."

"Sure thing, boss!" Rosie saluted, before running off.