(Alnus Hill - May 1, 1945, 1850 hrs.)

Piña was following an OSS soldier towards the hospital after learning that someone claimed that he knows her. She was unsure of who to expect as she thought that the person is the king of Elbe based of what the soldier described. When she reached the hospital, she was surprised to see personnel tending the wounded after their missions with things she didn't see before.

"Stay calm, milady." The soldier assured. "We're almost there."

After reaching the king's quarters, she nodded in gratitude. The soldier saluted back before leaving. She then saw Duran lying in his bed comfortably.

"I was expecting you would come." He said to her.

"Y-your Highness!" Piña uttered. "I didn't know you are coming here."

"Sorry to interrupt you in times like this. I was just here to get a look at the newcomers after hearing the testimony of some of the citizens."

"You mean the OSS?"

"That's their name?" Duran asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Piña answered nervously. "And they are different to the ones with the iron cross."

"I see. So what the people told me is true."

Duran then began to think of another topic.

"Piña, there is something I want you to listen." He requested.

"What is it, then?" She replied.

(Rondel - 1938 hrs.)

Patterson was scanning the ground looking for Rondel. He then began to ask Rory if the information she told during the flight is correct.

"Rory, from what you said earlier, does it mean that the city is what the Germans are after due to it being a center of magic and research?" Patterson asked.

"Correct." Rory agreed. "Originally, the city was built by the gods of study and knowledge, La and Elange, during their time as apostles. Eventually, would-be masters came there to study and show recent discoveries."

"Let's hope that they didn't steal much information from there."

The C-47s were under fire shortly after entering German-held Rondel's outskirts. The American fighters were constantly fighting the German Bf 109s and Fw 190s while evading fire from multiple sources.

"Say hello to Rondel, boys!" Rory shouted with enthusiasm.

"Mac, get us lower!" Patterson requested.

"Roger, sir!" The pilot replied before the planes began their descent. He turned on the red light to signal the paratroopers to prepare for the drop.

"Everyone, stand up!" Patterson shouted. "Hook up!"

Just as his subordinates hooked up, a shot from a Flak 88 hit the left side of the cockpit, injuring the pilot.

"AAAARRGH!" He uttered. "Dammit! My arm!"

"Lieutenant, we have an injured pilot!" The co-pilot reported. "We need help!"

Patterson noticed the injured pilot and began to head for the cockpit to take control of the plane, which was slightly off-course due to the impact of the shot. Some soldiers helped him tend the pilot at the back before Patterson took control.

"I didn't know you could fly a plane." Travers commented.

"Well, I honed my skills with other birds in my previous years of service." Patterson replied. "It's a long story."

Then, Patterson began to order Travers.

"Travers, you'll lead the attack from here." He said.

"But what about you, sir?" Travers asked.

"I'll get the plane and the pilot home. Don't worry about us. You showed bravery before. I know you can."

Travers was having a hard time coming to terms with the situation.

"Travers, it's gonna be fine." Gallahand assured.

"Yeah, we have your back." Harvey followed.

"So do I." Rory finished. "We'll get through this."

"Thanks, guys." Travers said in reply.

As soon as the plane was on the drop zone, Patterson switched the lights to green. Travers, with renewed confidence, began to order the men now in his command to jump.

"Go, go, go! Let's give 'em hell!"

The paratroopers then got off the plane as Patterson began to steer the plane to safety. Braving through the AA fire, the men slowly descend towards the rooftops for an advantage. Once there, they assemble towards Travers to receive the orders.

"Listen up! We have a number of objectives here to accomplish. I need three men to go with Cross towards the motorpool and sabotage fuel depots and tanks."

"You got it, chief." Gallahand agreed.

"Erston, get at least four men with you and sabotage communications. Provide cover fire and relay targets to our birds above if you can as well."

"Affirmative." Harvey complied.

"The rest will stay with me and take out the AA and any vehicles, tanks and trucks. Rory, watch out for any enemy elite units nearby."

"It will be my pleasure, Boyd." Rory agreed before giggling.

"Move out!" Travers shouted and the team split to complete the objectives.

On Gallahands side, they encountered some heavy German resistance.

"Damn, they're putting up one hell of a fight!" Gallahand commented while firing his StG-44.

"Sure is!" One soldier agreed. "I wonder why they are amassing a good number of their experienced men here."

"Didn't you hear?! The city is all about magic and knowledge!"

Just then, a German soldier was about to fire his G43 at Gallahand from a nearby balcony.

"Cross, look out!" An OSS soldier warned.

He then quickly spotted the soldier before evading the bullets. He fired back at the German and quickly killed the flanker.

"Thanks for spotting that bugger." Gallahand commended.

The soldier nodded before firing at the enemies in front of them. Grenades and bullets were exchanged for a short while. Then, the OSS cleared the area of resistance before resuming their navigation to the motorpool.

"Whoever built this city has a lot of explainin' to do." One soldier commented regarding the nature of the city. "It looks like they built a maze or something."

"Yeah, I agree." Gallahand replied.

On Harvey's side, they already encountered similiar resistance as they close in on the communications equipment. Using his Garand, he shot three Germans before the magazine clip was spent.

"Reloading!" He shouted.

"Sir, there is a building that leads to their communication post." One scout reported. "We can take that area."

"Is there any Germans within that path?"

"Just light resistance. It could take a bit longer to reach the post but we would have little trouble using that."

"Affirmative." Harvey agreed. "Everyone, follow me!"

As the men began to move to the building, some provided cover fire. In the process, one German began to toss a grenade towards them.

"Grenade out!" The German shouted before tossing it but it missed its mark before exploding.

On Travers and Rory's side, they already reached one of the AA guns after encountering some tough resistance. They found some S.S. officers within the German ranks and the two sides began shooting at each other.

"Rory, see those guys in black uniforms with a red band on their left?" Travers asked Rory.

"Yeah, I did." She replied.

"Those are one of the guys to watch out for, the elite of the Schwarze Wespe and of the Germans. Take them out."

"On it."

While Boyd stayed behind to shoot, Rory, taking advantage of her status as an apostle, began slashing the officers with her halberd. Many of the Germans were surprised by what they saw, but only for a brief moment before being shot dead.

"Alright!" Travers said. "This area's clear. Put some Comp B on that ack-ack."

Once the charge was armed and in place, Travers' team left to head for the other AA guns. In the process, the charge detonated, rendering the gun useless. Gallahand's team then reached the motorpool after a while.

"There's the fuel tanks!" Gallahand confirmed. "Shoot 'em!"

Some of the soldiers began unleashing bullets at the fuel tanks. While both sides continued opening fire, the fuel tanks exploded shortly after. Then, a soldier found two empty Panzer IVs on the right.

"Cross, look!" He told Gallahand. "Two empty tanks."

"Alright. Thanks for the heads-up." Gallahand replied before running to add Comp B charges.

"Cover fire, now!" The soldier ordered

Gallahand and a fellow soldier armed the charges on the tanks. They escaped before the charges destroyed the medium tanks. Then, another Panzer IV showed up. This one was manned.

"Get out of here!" Gallahand shouted. "Tank incoming!"

The tank aimed its guns at the retreating OSS soldiers. It fired one shot but it missed.

"Dammit!" Gallahand uttered. "Not now!"

Then, the tank began aiming for Gallahand. He sprinted to shake the aim off. While doing so, he fired at the German soldiers. Suddenly, he charged towards the tank which is about to finish the turn of the turret.

"Where is the target?!" The tank commander asked.

"He's gone, sir." The gunner replied.

"Someone find him!"

Unknown to the crew, he slipped behind it. As one of the crew popped out from the tank, Gallahand shot him with his pistol. This surprised the others inside as Gallahand began to arm another Comp B charge. He ran before the charges exploded, killing everyone inside.

"That should be the last of that." Gallahand hoped.

In the area where the communication post was set up, the Germans were losing men faster since Harvey used his Springfield to shoot machine gun nests and any flanking areas. His men then stormed the building, firing bullets and tossing grenades at the opposition. Harvey then ran to the relay.

"Sir, area clear." The soldier reported.

"Good work." Harvey replied. "Now let's..."

Suddenly, another soldier rushed towards Harvey to report something.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we have a problem." The soldier said.

"What is it, McHaller?" Harvey asked.

"We intercepted information that reinforcements are coming. Plus, there are soldiers and officers in a building."

"Can you tell me where?"

"From what I heard, he said that 'any available soldiers assemble at the meeting hall'. Reinforcements would arrive from the north as well."

Harvey thought before he noticed a large conical building with two columns on the roof.

"That building must be where they are, judging by the size and the two columns of the conical roof." Harvey guessed while pointing at the suspected structure. "Let's move. Get some of the men to man the radios and relay our aircraft to engage the reinforcements."

"Affirmative, sir." McHaller agreed before returning to his objectives. Then, the sound of large explosions signal the end of the German AA guns.

"Guess Travers, Rory and Gallahand finished in the nick of time." Harvey commented.

(Near Rondel - 2003 hrs.)

Nearby, a flight of five A-20 Havocs and six P-38 Lightnings were approaching the city to launch the planned air support. The Havoc commander, Antonio Gonzales, began radioing his flight to prepare.

"Alright, guys. We're approaching the city so stay sharp." He said before a radio transmission was picked up.

"This is Sergeant Lancke of the OSS strike force in Rondel, we are reporting enemy reinforcements from the north." The soldier said. "Requesting air support."

"Copy that, we're proceeding." Antonio replied before reaching the city. "Alright, let's get to business. Everyone, break!"

When the airplanes broke formation, they scanned the ground with the help of landing lights on the Lightnings. After locating a German convoy filled with tanks, transport trucks and half-tracks, the planes proceeded to fire.

"Bombs away!" Antonio shouted as he released his bombs. The bombs managed to hit the front tank.

"Nice shot, boss." A subordinate commended. "Now its my turn."

"Go ahead."

Back on the ground, Harvey and his team was outside the hall when Travers, Rory and Gallahand arrived.

"You got the message?" Harvey asked the three.

"Yeah, we did." Travers answered.

"So did I." Gallahand followed.

"Then let's move in and fight back." The team then entered the building to clear out the Germans.

"There's an Elite!" Travers uttered. "Get him!"

Rory suddenly dashed towards the soldier as the MG42-wielding man began firing. Unfortunately, he was slashed to death after unleashing almost half of his bullets.

"Go! Go!" Harvey ordered and the team moved on.

Room after room, hallway after hallway, the Germans were slowly being killed. After a while, it seems that the building is free of hostilities.

"Guess that's all of them?" Rory wondered.

Then, footsteps were heard. The team noticed them.

"Looks like we have a couple of rats still here." Gallahand commented.

"Alright. Everyone, split up and triple-check." Travers ordered. "Meet us outside."

"On it, Travers." Harvey complied. "We'll do."

Travers was searching at one of the explored hallways. He then heard some glass being shattered and some crunching noise from one room. After noticing the commotion, he went to the source. He then discovered a Waffen officer searching on a table. Travers stayed quiet to not attract attention.

"What is that Kraut doing when all of his friends are Swiss-cheesed?" Travers wondered quietly while looking "Better think of something."

He then got hold of his pistol and began to aim it. The German noticed and began to arm his as well.

"Oh shoot!" Travers uttered and took cover as the officer fired his bullets.

The officer then proceeded to find Travers while keeping his weapon armed. Just as he was about to look at the left, Travers began to charge.

"HHHHAAAAARRRRGGGH!"

The two were locked in a fist fight. The soldier punched the German in the head. The the opposite happened on the abdomen. Kicking also occured. Boyd dodge the attacks while the German began to take the beating. After a couple of minutes, it looks as if both men are going to be knocked out. Suddenly, the German grabbed hold on his pistol and fired a bullet at one of his pockets.

"AAARRGHH!" Travers shouted as his hands began to touch the impacted pocket.

Suddenly, he surprised the German as he got hold on the dragon scale from the pocket. The officer was frozen with shock as his pistol began shaking.

"Guess I have some surprises." Travers said as he began to knock out the German with a punch. The German was laid flat on the floor.

"Okay, that's that." Travers quietly said as he began to search the room for the item the officer was trying to find.

After a short while, he noticed a book. He began reading it and noticed something.

"Hmmh...why would an officer want the book full of spells?" He wondered. "They are just a bunch of unproven techniques. Unless..."

He put the book in safe keeping and before he left, he noticed a young woman with brown hair and laying on the wall. Travers got close to her and noticed she was unconscious.

"I better get her out of here." Then, he carried her to safety outside where the rest of his team were waiting.

"Why did you brought a girl with you?" Harvey asked.

"Unconscious. Probably from that officer I just knocked his lights out a while ago." Travers answered.

"Anyway, what did you find in the hall?" Rory asked.

"Found a book, full of spells which were a failure." Travers explained. "I decided to bring it with me, just in case the Krauts might perfect it."

"That's a good thing you did." Harvey agreed.

Then, two C-47s arrived with the paratroopers. As men began to descend towards the city, American tanks and trucks arrived to support the efforts.

"Looks like our job is done, guys." Gallahand said. "Let's go home for now."

"Right." Rory agreed.

"...after we make sure that the Krauts didn't touch any research papers or spells." Travers finished.

Rondel was free, but it will take a while before the peace can be restored.

(Alnus Hill - May 3, 1945, 0833 hrs.)

Travers' team and the unconscious girl took more than a day to return home as the C-47s carrying them landed on the dirt runway. Patterson, Tuka, Lelei, Piña, and Bozes were waiting near the unoccupied P-47s. As the planes stopped, the men disembarked to get some needed rest.

"How's your first time acting as a leader, Travers?" Patterson asked.

"Did well, sir." Travers replied.

"Good. I knew you can do it. I'm counting on ya'."

"Thank you, sir."

Then, Bozes rushed to Harvey with something.

"Are you okay?" She asked Harvey.

"I'm fine." Harvey answered. "Nothing to worry about."

"I'm glad that you returned here safely. Please, I have something back at the tents."

"What? Really?"

The two walked away as Travers and Patterson were just saw what happened.

"Do you think that young knight is attached to Harvey?" A confused Patterson asked. "I'm starting to think that she is in love."

"Ummm...Probably." Travers replied before Tuka came.

"I so glad you came back." Tuka expressed her relief before hugging.

"Yeah, as always." Travers replied. "That scale you gave me saved my life that day."

"Really? Thanks."

"No problem."

Suddenly, Piña arrived with some news.

"What do you got, milady?" Travers asked.

"There is someone who wants to see you." Piña responded. "It's the King of Elbe, His Majesty Duran."

"Wait!" Travers uttered. "A king?!"

"Yes, my good sir. He expressed some interest in you."

Travers nodded before he decided to see him.

"Guys, I'll see him." He said to his friends. "See ya'."

"You, too." Tuka responded before Travers and Piña left to see Duran.

"Stay calm Boyd and good luck!" Patterson followed.

(0840 hrs.)

The two then reached Duran's room where he was waiting for Travers.

"I believe you are Boyd Travers, correct?" Duran asked the soldier.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Travers replied calmly. "I am ths soldier you are looking for."

"Good, because I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?"

Duran took a short breath before moving on with his question.

"Are you responsible for the death of the flame dragon?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Travers confirmed. "I was the one who killed it, alongside my allies."

"So it is true." Duran sighed. "Now that the beast is slain, I beleive that we can reach an agreement."

"Come again?"

"What?!" Piña was shocked.

"Would you mind if we propose an alliance with the Kingdom and your army?" Duran asked. "I believe that we can do great things."

Travers was having a hard time deciding but due to the nature of the proposal, he agreed to give it a shot.

"You got yourself an ally, Your Majesty." Travers replied before shaking Duran's hand.

"Good thinking, my boy." Duran replied.

Piña stood speechless but she still have her resolve.

"Maybe the land has a chance end the crisis once and for all." Piña thought. "There could be hope."

(0901 hrs.)

After the meeting, Travers went to see the girl who he rescued back in Rondel. She was still resting on her bed when he came. Surprisingly, Lelei was also there.

"I thank you for rescuing my sister." Lelei said to Travers. "Without her, I don't know what would happen."

"Wait. She is your sister?" Travers asked with some confusion.

"Indeed. Her name was Arpeggio."

"That's a good name." Lelei then nodded.

"Before, we had some disagreements over who is stronger. There are magic battles to test our abilities but neither of us wanted to harm each other. Also, she still cares for me, giving me some precious things."

"I see." Travers was feeling some sadness. "No wonder."

"Anyway, from now, things would be different than before." Lelei declared.

"Let's hope it does, Lelei." Travers agreed. "Let's all hope it does."

Travers gave her a comforting pat and the young mage smiled.

A/N: Now that Rondel is done, the next offensive would take somewhere northeast. Also, I was planning to add some of the other allied agencies to the fight, but the OSS will be the leader in the fight of the Special Region Front.

Peace.