As the Rose-Order and Dragon Company are heading for Italica, the heat from the sun slowly began to put a light toll on both the New Republic soldiers and the knights. Some began to sweat while others began to drink their remaining liquids from one of their rations. Luger and his friends were doing the same.
"Huhgg...how long are we from Italica anyway?" Luger wondered.
"It shouldn't be that far ahead." Krel assured while checking his chronometer. "We should be there by early afternoon at 1402 local time."
"Thank goodness. I could last that long."
"I know that we are under the mercy of the sun but we have a job to do."
While Luger was battling the heat, Tuka has her own methods of doing so. Because she has the ability to use spirit magic to some extent, she began to chant a spell.
"Spirits of the Wind, I pray that you bless us with your winds and help these poor souls suffering from the sun."
The winds suddenly blew slightly harder, indicating that the spirits heard her prayer.
"Whoa! How did the winds blew all of a sudden?" One soldier wondered alongside the others. "What's goin' on?"
Luger also wondered and began to approach Tuka.
"Tuka, you did this?"
"Yeah." She answered. "The spirits heard my prayer and they gave you some cool winds to keep you alright."
"Oh, thank you." Luger sighed. "We really needed a cool weather."
"I usually do that when I use my bow, you see. It helps my arrows reach their targets and hit them with ease."
"No wonder you asked for the winds."
"Anyway, just relax for a while. When we reach Italica, there are numerous shades for you and the rest to use."
Piña also began to wonder about the winds before finding out that the spirits were the ones responsible.
"Princess, they have brought us winds." Hamilton said.
"I know. Let's enjoy this blessing while we still can."
Her horse began to neigh its sighs as it wanted to take a rest after some time moving along the path. Max noticed it almost immediately after.
"Get everyone to stop here for a while." He requested via comlink.
The soldiers complied and decided to stop for a while as well. Making use of their time and the winds, some began to inspect the rations and the vehicles to clear out any doubts.
"That heat sure just put some slight jitters on all of us." He sighed before removing his helmet for a brief moment. "A few more miles and we would all be at Italica with a nice shade for us to stand in."
"What about the tarp we packed for the exploration?" Luger asked.
"We won't be staying here for long but it would be nice if we use it for this time."
The two began to make a shade for the soldiers and the knights to shelter in. In under 12 minutes, it was set and many made use of it to cool themselves down.
"Whew. Now that's more like it." Krel sighed while taking off his helmet.
While the group continued to entrench themselves in the temporary shades, the blonde knight closed in on one of the T2-Bs out of curiosity due to its repulsorlift technology.
"Uhhh...is this "thing" floating on the ground?" She asked the tank commander.
"Well, yes it is. It's possible due to repulsorlift technology." He explained. "That's why it floats."
"Ree-pul-sor-lyft...is that magic?"
"Not exactly magic, though. Some people think it is magic doing the work but many of us know it is done by science."
""Science?"" She wondered.
"It's a field where we figure out ways to advance civilization." He continued. "And if you see us wearing and using different stuff, they're few of the results."
"Uh, is that true?" A feminine voice asked which spooked the two.
"Huh?" Both uttered as they see a young girl with blue hair standing beside the tank.
"What are you doing here?" The knight asked her.
"I was just curious about that thing and he said that it wasn't made by magic." The girl explained. "I only stayed here for a few minutes and some of the men saw me."
"So you are curious as well, eh?" The commander assumed.
"Yes, I was."
Then, the voice of an old man can be heard.
"Lelei, where have you been?" He called. "I was worried about you."
"Nothing to fear, master." She assured him. "I was just looking at this and the men were very tolerant enough for me to get a closer look."
"Oh, is that so?" He then turned his attention to the blonde knight "Eh?"
"Uhh..."
"What is a female knight doing over here?" He uttered with suspected indecent behaviour.
"Just calm down, sir." The commander requested. "We don't want this fight to escalate."
"But I just wanted to..."
The old man was suddenly hit with white unknown objects.
"AAWWAAAAHH!"
One of them knocked him out cold after being hit on the head.
"Pervert!" The girl uttered as a sign of disappointment before turining her attention to the two to say an apology. "I'm sorry if he's displaying lewd behaviour to you, ma'am."
"That's okay." She replied. "We almost escalated it into a bloody confrontation."
"By the way, who are you people?" The commander asked.
"I'm Lelei La Lalena, and he's my master, Cato El Altestan." She introduced themselves.
"Speaking of which, what to do with your master?"
"We'll return him to our wagon to allow him to recover. His injuries are not serious."
"Oh, good." The commander sighed before Luger and Krel arrived to check what's going on.
"I wonder what's the commotion about." Luger wondered.
"Yeah." Krel followed. "We heard the screaming close enough for us to check what's going on."
Lelei was surprised by the Besalisk.
"Are you a monster?"
"No need to worry. I'm a friend." He assured her. "I'm just with these guys."
Lelei began to sigh in relief.
"Whew."
XXXXXXX
Five hours have passed and the team continued moving along with their new companions Lelei and Cato. The latter began to wake up after what happened earlier.
"Uhh...what happened?" Cato wondered.
"I'm sorry, master." Lelei apologized to him. "You were about to display lewd behaviour and I have to intervene."
"But...you used magic, didn't you."
"Yes. I know it was meant to be sacred, not to be abused but I had no choice."
Her master began to sit on the wagon after getting up.
"Listen, I'm sorry for earlier. I shouldn't have done that."
"That's okay, I know that's who you are." Lelei forgave him.
Max was using his electrobinoculars to scan for Italica when he spotted a walled city in front of the convoy.
"I think that would be Italica, guys." He said before handing it to Luger.
"Where?"
"Over there." Max then pointed at the direction where he first found it before Luger saw it as well. "Go to Princess Piña and show her the find."
"On it." He then got out to rush to Piña. "Princess, we found a city."
"I'm not that familiar going back there in this direction." She replied before dismounting from her horse. "Can you show me?"
"Right there, milady. Just use this." He began to hand over his electrobinocular. Piña was confused about its appearance.
"What is this contraption?"
"I'll help you." He began to teach Piña how to operate it and her eyes can see the image being displayed. Luger also began adjusting its focus. "Just a little twist here and here and there you go."
To her surprise, she can finally identify the city.
"That's Italica. Thank you, Luger."
"You're welcome." He returned a smile.
XXXXXXX
The city of Italica began to bustle with the many shops and markets sprawling for business activities. The citizens were out looking for goods needed for their families or other businesses. On the south gate, two soldiers were guarding the area when they spotted a convoy heading towards them.
"Who do you think it is?" One asked.
"I don't know." Another answered. "Get someone down there to confirm what we are meeting."
"Aye, sir!" The guard began to head down toward the gate before the others began to signal the gatekeepers to be prepared.
Once the guard exited the town, he can see the Rose-Order coming alongside a group of unknown men and objects.
"What are these doing with the knights?"
Nervously, he began to wait until Piña came in front of him.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness." He greeted. "How's your journey with the Order?"
"It's kind of complicated." She answered. "We have visitors coming with me as well.".
"Who are they?" He wondered while looking at the group more closely. "And how come their wagons float without wheels?"
"They are not ordinary soldiers. They are called the "New Republic" and they are here to open relations with the Empire."
"You sure, milady? I'm about to get scared right now."
"They are no threat to us, don't worry." She assured him before a man with different clothing came closer to him.
"Who are you, sir?"
"I'm Max Mikrak from the New Republic and we wish to talk with your government for opening of relations." He replied. "I even have a message from one of our diplomats to be shown to your leaders."
"Oh. If that's the case, I'll inform Count Formal about your arrival."
"Thank you." Max said before the guard ran to inform his colleagues.
"We have visitors! Tell Count Formal we have visitors!"
"We're on it!" One soldier shouted as the news of the new arrivals begins to spread.
Piña has some things to do in preparation.
"Luger, tell your superiors I'll go on ahead to the mansion." She suggested. "We'll talk there."
"Okay, Your Highness." Luger agreed before she left for the mansion.
Not far ahead, Shadow Troopers watch as the New Republic soldiers began to head inside.
"There they are." The lead captain confirmed on his electobinocular before relaying his findings. "This is Hyena Team, we found them. Republic forces are in the city. Transmitting coordinates now."
"Affirmative. Air support will be on their way to your coordinates." The officer replied. "Await further orders."
XXXXXXX
The citizens were fixiated on the "New Republic" men due to their wagons which floats for most of them and some of the soldiers who aren't human.
"Feels like news material for the guys back home." Krel said. "Italica is sure warmly welcoming us."
"You said it." Luger agreed. "Coruscant and other worlds would be fixiated on this if news was leaked out."
"C'mon, you two. Let that part of fame pass by. Remember, we have a mission to accomplish." Max responded.
"Oh, right."
Then, the Italica guard arrived with a message.
"Count Formal wishes to see you in his mansion." He told them. "He express interest with your government as well."
"We'll do. Belce, inform command about this."
"Yes, sir." The Republic trooper affirmed.
As the guard began to lead the four people into the mansion, the citizens began to wonder who they are.
"Are they from another world?" One asked. "If true, it could be that the gods sent them here."
"It could be a miracle for all the lands." Another followed.
"Yeah, news material alright." Max uttered quietly.
When they arrived at the mansion, an man in his elder years was waiting alongside his maids, most of which who look human with animal features.
"I welcome all of you to Italica." He greeted.
"It's also a pleasure to meet as well." Krel replied. "We are from the New Republic on a diplomatic mission. I'm Krel Daslik."
"I'm Luger Sternbolt." Luger introduced himself.
"And I'm Maximilian Mikrak." Max formally followed.
"I am Colt Formal and I'm in charge of the affairs of the city."
"So...this place is a trading town, judging by the baskets of goods they have?"
"Yes, the town is an important one for the Empire and many get their goods from here after the peasants and traders sell their products. Anyway, come inside."
"Thank you." The Count, soldiers and maids entered inside the mansion to start the talks.
Inside, they walked along the halls that are finished finely by this world's standards. After a while, one of the maids opened the door to lead them to the study room where Piña is waiting.
"Count Formal, I have a message from Leia Organa and she is waiting to speak to you."
"Please show."
He began to tell Rocky to come forward with a pre-recorded holo-message. Upon displaying the hologram, Piña and the maids were shocked by Leia's appearance though Colt stood calm.
"Good day, politicians of the new world. I'm Leia Organa, last princess of Alderaan and representative for the New Republic, and if you are listening to this message, we are here to open talks to form relations between the two entities. I know it's kind of weird not being here and seeing me in a hologram but in due time, we will see each other face to face. Your people will be provided protection for the duration of our stay. As well, you may gain training to handle our technolgy for this world's development. Rest assured that this will be for the better...not for the worse as we experienced before. I will see you there."
Piña was dumbfounded by the message.
"SHE'S A GHOST?!" She reacted.
"Not exactly." Luger assured her. "The person you are seeing is talking to you in a hologram. And no, she's not dead."
"Whew!"
"Besides, that is a message. It was made a few days before." Max elaborated. "The hologram technology is commonplace in the New Republic."
"Oh." Colt was interested. "So she's here to talk?"
"Yes, we will contact her shortly."
"Thank you." Colt and the soldiers began to exchange a handshake.
"So everything's gone good, right?" Tuka asked.
"Yeah." Luger agreed. "This is an important diplomatic victory. When we head for the capital, things would never be the same."
Tuka smiled. Suddenly, a explosion can be felt as screaming can be barely heard. The occupants were getting scared before more of it was followed.
"What is that?!" A maid with cat ears reacted.
"That doesn't look like a siege from an army." Colt wondered.
Then, a transmission was heard.
"This is Sergeant Lasskiy, we are under attack by Imperial forces!" Lasskiy reported while under fire. "Requesting assistance! They have Shadow Troopers here!"
Luger and the others were shocked.
"Damn!" Luger uttered.
"They have been performing recon on this world?!" Max followed. "What do they want with it?!"
They decided to perform the next course of action.
"Tuka, Luger, Krel, assist our allies in repelling these bucketheads. I'll stay here and guard our new allies." Max ordered before arming his A280C blaster rifle.
"On it." Luger agreed before leaving with Tuka and Krel.
A/N: Prepare your thermal detonators, blaster rifles, starfighters and helmets! The next chapter will be the first battle since the Galactic Concordance is signed!
And some apologies. There would be changes in the previous chapters in regards to Madine due to an event that happened in Aftermath: Life Debt that supposedly leaves him dead. A new officer would take his place if confirmed by official sources.
See you.