Valkyria chronicles is the property of sega
Star-craft is the property of blizzard
"Talk"
"Telepathy"
"SHOUTING"
~Radio~
Chapter 21 A Valkyrur,s Training
May 7th Friday 12:21 pm 2010
Randgriz Castle
Aliasse's Dream
Aliasse felt Princess Lily pulling her by the hand as they ran through the halls of the castle, asking her to slow down.
"Sorry, I just, want to show you something, follow me" Lily said as she walked off, Aliasse sighed and followed her through the castle halls, down a lot of stairs and to a large room that must be the castle's basement. It was full of wood box's a few old stone status, and empty sets of old knights armor. The place gave Aliasse the creeps.
"Um, miss Lily-"
"Over here Aliasse, this way" the princess called from across the room as she pulled back a large red curtain hanging from the ceiling, behind it was a large cylinder shaped recess in the wall with a round spiral pattern platform in the floor.
"Whats this?" Aliasse asked.
"Just trust me, get on it"
Aliasse took a breath and stepped inside half expecting something to happen but nothing did, until princess Lily stepped into it and pressed a button like object. Then the recess started to glow with neon blue lines along it, then two sets of curved doors closed around the recess and Aliasse realized it was a elevator which then dropped down quit abruptly but in a controlled descent.
Both girls felt their stomachs lurch upwards as they moved down for a good 30 seconds before slowing down and stopping, then the doors opened as Aliasse held her hands to her mouth.
"Sorry about that" the princess spoke. "are you ok."
"Ugh, yeah, I just don't like elevators"
Both girl exited the ancient elevator into a hallway as they walked princess Lily explained that only the Royal family and Valkyrur were allowed in this place. They continued walking until exiting the tunnel into a massive domed chamber directly under Randgriz Castle. As they walked across the large chamber Aliasse saw that both the floor and dome ceiling had concentric spiral circles converging at the rooms center where a stone altar lay with three objects resting on it. One was a ornate dark blue and white book with a white metal like material forming a ornate spiral on its cover and and on the book,s edges. The other two items we're with a spiral pattern lance with a shell over the handle and spiral pattern shield both made of the same white material as the book.
Aliasse stared at the ancient weapons for a moment thinking both seemed far too small to be useful in real combat.
"What are they?" Aliasse asked her eyes fixed on the altar.
"Ancient combat arms used by the valkyrur. Their made from a extremely pure form Ragnite and another material thats some kind of carbon nanotube laced with Ragnite. Only a valkyrur can use them properly, and now they belong to you Aliasse" The princess explained as a strange beeping sound started.
Aliasse looked around for the source of the annoying sound and then turned to the princess who grabbed Aliasse and started shaking her, Aliasse realised the beeping noise was coming from the princess and everything started to go hazy.
Aliasse/princess Lily's room
Aliasse blinked her lazy eyes in the morning sun light as the annoying beeping continued. She looked to her right as the alarm clock continued to beep and flash 7:30 AM on the table beside her bed. The young sliver haired girl reached out from under the covers and turned the annoying clock off. Then she stared out the window as the curtains blew in the wind for a moment before sitting up and stretching her arms.
Aliassa yawned and looked to her left to see Princess Lily was already up and had made her own bed and was reading the book from the alter. Both girls we're now sharing a bedroom ever since Aliasse came to the capital with her uncle Kurt and both we're now living in the royal castle as it's kind of hard and stupid to turn down such a invitation by the Archduke.
Aliasse also noticed that Princess Lily had already changed out of her night clothes and was wearing a yellow flowered sundress.
"Good morning Princess Lily," Aliasse said as she yawned again.
"Good morning" Lily replied glancing over at Aliasse and turning a page of the ancient book, "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah.., Is that the same book that was on the altar under the castle" Aliasse asked staring at the book.
"Yes, it contains information on the powers of a valkyrur and other things. It's written in a ancient Gallian language but I know how to read it, I'll need to read it to know how best to train you on how to use your powers."
Aliasse Sighed.
"Does that mean we're doing tougher training than before? " Aliasse asked tired of all the training she's gone through since agreeing to help fight the zerg. Alicia never made her run laps when she was training Aliasse, and Zerion for the short time that he trained Aliasse only had her focus on her self control.
"Yeah, im afraid so, don't worry you'll get used to it. Come on get your clothes on or we'll be late for break fest."
"Sigh, ok," Aliasse somewhat regretfully replied as she slid out of the bed large and got dressed and both her and the princess left their bed room and walked down the hall to the kitchen which was as big and lavish as one would expect from royalty.
There were two large double door refrigerators, two large tables, two large sinks for cleaning dishes and all the cooking tools one would expect to have in a big restaurant.
"Good morning princess Lily, lady Aliasse," Samuel the chef in charge of cooking the food for the Gallian royal family asked from behind a counter as he finished cleaning some cups and placed them on a drying clothe by one of the large sinks.
"Morning Samuel. I'd like some french toast and sliced bannan's please,"
"And what do you want lady Aliasse," Samuel asked now walking to the refrigerator.
Aliasse hesitated as she's still hasn't gotten used to living in Randgriz castle let alone being treated like royalty herself. Not that she's complaining but it's a little overwhelming going from living in a old homestead at the edge of a small community in the middle of nowhere, to living in the home of the royal family of the country.
"Um, i'll have some eggs and pancakes please" she replied as Samuel repeated the orders and got started. Minutes later both girls sat at one of the tables and started eating. Aliasse neatly cut up her eggs and pankcakes into smaller pieces so as not to get the sticky syrup on her new and no doubt expensive dress, as the princess did the same.
About half way through their meal the Archduchess came walking in wearing a blue and white dress with gold lining on the edges .
"Morning Samuel is the tea ready?" Archduchess Maria Gi Randgriz asked.
"As always lady Maria" Chef Samuel replied placed a platter with four cups of tea on a food cart.
"Morning mom" Lily said as she wiped off her mouth with a napkin.
"Morning dear, are the two of you doing the more training today?" The Archduchess asked as ever since Aliasse came to live in the castle princess Lily has taken it upon herself to help train Aliasse in how to fight like a valkyrur, even training with her, well as much as the princess can anyway.
"Yes, we're doing some more training today, and what about you, are you still going to that meeting?"
"Yes I am, Oh and before I forget, Aliasse your uncle already left the castle a short time ago, he said he needed to pick something up back at your homestead. And girls I want both of you to stay safe and don't hurt yourselfs, and please don't damage the castle.
"Umm yes mom, we won't" Lily replied understanding her mom's warning as she left the room pushing the cart with the try of four tea cups on it.
"What meeting is she going to" Aliasse asked as Lily faced her.
"Oh some meeting with people from that international alliance. Gallia is going to join so their just going to talk formality and stuff like that. By the way what did your uncle need to get back at your old home?"
Aliasse shrugged her shoulders and replied.
"Beats me, he doesn't tell me everything he does" Aliasse said taking a sip of her milk.
"Well after breakfast lets run ten laps around the Castle like last time" the princess replied.
"Ok..., but let's pace ourselves this time, yesterday we were out of breath by the third lap and my feet still feel sore," Aliasse said not as enthusiastic as the princess.
Archduchess Maria walked back down the grand hallway which ran through Randgriz castle end to end and arrived at a room with a open door.
The room she entered was used for informal and relaxed talks involving things that don't need to be as public. As she entered the room with the cart, the four men watched as closed the door behind her.
The meeting room was simple with one window, two couches and a short table between it which she walked to and set the try of tea down on the table.
"Archduchess you really didn't have to get the coffee yourself," general Radi Jaeger one of the leaders of the Gallian army spoke sitting in one of the couche's beside their guest general lions.
"Don't worry about it general, my wife likes to use any excuse to get up and move around, she's not the type to stand around and be waited on hand and foot," Archduke William spoke as he reached out to grab one of the tea cup's."
"My husband is right, I like doing little stuff like this to keep myself active. Dont want to be lazy and fat now do I," Archduchess Maria replied as she sat beside her husband. "And I don't like to just sit around and let others do all the work, even if I am Archduchess," Maria replied as she picked up her own cup of tea and took a sip.
"I see" Matthew Lions spoke taking his cup of tea. "The trappings of wealth and royalty hasn't affected you then?" he said taking a sip.
"No it hasn't general," the Archduchess replied. "And by the way, is it true that the leader of the zerg is a valkyrur" she asked in a serious tone as the american general stopped drinking his tea and placed it back on its table.
"I see you already know about it then," lions replied as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a overhead satellite picture of a blue armored figure fighting the brazilian army.
"Yes we do" The Archduke spoke as he and his wife examined the picture. "And we understand that only a valkyrur can match another valkyrur in combat. Sending anything else would be... a waste of lives. But as it just so happens there's a valkyrur living here with us" Archduke william spoke getting a look of surprise from both the american and his own generals.
"This is the first i've heard of this," the gallian general Radi jaeger said wondering why he hasn't been told any of this sooner.
"Don't worry Radi, we told you now so don't feel like you've been left out" the Archduke spoke.
"Ah,hem with all do respect Archduke, how am I supposed to protect our nation of I don't know about all of our military assets" the general asked as both the Archduke and archduchess shot him an evil eye.
"General do you consider a 13 year old girl a military asset" the Archduke asked in a serious tone looking the general in the eye's.
General Jaeger slumped his shoulders down and replied.
"Ahh, no sir, my lady, i'm sorry for my remark. But it was both of you who considered using her to fight another valkyrur."
Both William and Maria the generals meaning.
"Yes I know we did general Jaeger, but in that case we have no choice. Besides Young Aliasse will hardly fight alone. I'm sure your army will provide as much support for her a possible."
General Jaeger closed his eyes and opened them knowing it was his duty to do such.
"I and all of my men and women of the Gallien army will do whatever is needed to aide our young Valkyrur in combat."
Both the archduke and duchess nodded accepting the generals answer.
"Good, now we can get back to businesses, general lions, i've heard that your force's have had their first victory yesterday" the Archduke asked.
"Yes we did, in a joint operation between Chinese and American forces successfully defended Hong Kong from invasion by the zerg. Even though the fighting only lasted a day the casualties were still quite high. Even delta team, our elite special forces lost six members when they encountered what we believe to be a high ranking zerg leader and her elite guard."
"Her?, you mean the zerg leader is female " the Archduchess asked.
"Yes Archduchess, that was the report given by the surviving members of delta team's sub unit blue team after they encountered her. The zerg leader with a force of only sixty other new types of zerg which we believe to be an elite guard and shock troop of some kind, wiped out a civilian air base the chinese military was using for rearming and refueling their aircraft. But a heavy artillery barrage leveled the area, and shortly after that, all the zerg stopped the attack and returned to their hive cluster. But we never recovered the body of the zerg leader and I don't think we killed her."
"So you think the zerg leader was injured but not killed and that she had her forces retreat," general Jaeger spoke up.
"Yes, I believe so, the zerg may attack Hong Kong again in the future, so the forces there will remain for the time being. Also Archduke, about this Valkyrur you say you have, you said she's only 13, do you think she can even help in the war?" General lions asked as the Archduke closed his eyes and replied.
"She may be young but" the Archduke opened his eyes looking at general lions. "It was her decision to fight, and currently shes training here at the castle and will continue to do so until I, my wife and daughter feel she's ready to fight" the archduke replied with a dead serious look on his face.
"I understand, but that doesn't mean the zerg will wait for her to complete her training," lions countered and both men stared at each other.
"Well," Archduchess Maria started. "If you want mister lions you can meet with her and see the power of a valkyrur for yourself" she suggested.
"Hmm I think i'll take you up on your offer Archduchess. When can I have this meeting?" lions asked.
"She should have started her morning training right now, so sometime around three a clock should be the best time for a demonstration of her power" Archduke William answered.
"Also general lions" The Archduchess started. "Have you heard of a new company in Brazil thats selling hydrogen at a unusually low price,"
The general thought a moment and realized what company the Archduchess was referring to as hes heard about it to but only because of a random report he got concerning the Zergs impact on the economics of south american countries .
"You mean Horizon, am I right,"
"Yes" she replied.
"It seems to be a rather new company" the archduke started. "But it's growing quickly because of the demand for cheap fuel sources like hydrogen caused by the appearance of and war against the zerg has driven gas and fossil fuel prices up quite a bit,"
"Gallia has already made a few purchase's of hydrogen from that company" stated general jaeger.
"It is quite strange for a company to sell hydrogen at such a low price" general lions spoke. "And considering their only facility is so close to zerg territory, theres a question of how can such a small group afford to sell hydrogen so cheaply,"
"Unless" the Archduchess spoke." They have some new way of making hydrogen that's a fraction of the cost of other methods. William why don't I take a trip down to Brazil and see this Horizon company, for myself,"
The Archduke turned to face his wife with a look of surprise on his face.
"Why do you have to go, we can send someone else,"
The Archduchess smiled at her husband and replied, "Because it's been years since I left the Gallia and I feel like stretching my legs, and before you worry about me I already have two body guards in mind."
The Archduke signed knowing his wife has made up her mind over the matter and won't change her mind. "Just stay safe dear"
Castle Randgriz perimeter
After finishing breakfast both princess Lily and Aliasse changed into shorts and plane white shirts which are more comfortable for exercising. And both girls started jogging around the castle like they have been for the past few days. The princess's training plan was to first develop Aliasse,s body and then her technique's in using her aura. Both girls jogged around the castle for two hours off and on taking breaks as the royal guards watched them from afar.
After physical training both girls changed out of their sweaty clothes and then traveled by helicopter to a military firing range miles away from the capital next to a forest.
Lily watched through a pair of binoculars as Aliasse wreathed in her blue flame aura ran across open ground far faster than a normal human could while evading and blocking the artillery and mortar fire exploding all around her with her new flame aura shield which princess Lily helped Aliasse develop after reading that ancient book of the Valkyrur. It was a blue flame covering Aliasse,s body and it boosted her speed, strength, jumping ability and served as a reactive shield that allowed Aliasse to move around faster and more freely but if an attack connected with the flame it would then instantly become a solid barrier at the point of impact and block the attack.
later Princess Lily again watched from a distance as Aliasse used her aura to form different types of weapons and strike down dozens of dummy target's made of metal.
Lily watched with two royal guards standing behind her as Aliasse swung a large aura sword in a wide horizontal arch slicing seven steel rods in half then shifted the aura sword into a spear and throwing it at another target hanging between some trees piercing all the way through the steel target.
Princess Lily and the soldiers were all surprised at how fast Aliasse picked up everything and how good she got at hitting the targets. It was as if fighting was in Aliasse,s blood or rather something all valkyrur have in common.
Aliasse continued on to another area where more targets were set for her to destroy. Lily and the royal guards followed keeped out of the path of destruction as two remote controlled tanks charged in and fired at Aliasse. But the 30mm cannon shells deflected off Aliasse,s flame aura as the young Valkyrur formed two large aura lances and throw them one after the other at the tanks, piercing right through their armor and into the engine blocks destroying them both just as a remote controlled attack helicopter appeared overhead and started firing a barrage of rockets at her.
Rockets exploded around her as Aliasse zig zagged side to side and then jumped hundreds of feet in the air right at the drone helicopter and formed her aura into a giant hand and swatted the copter out of the air. Aliasse landed softly thanks to her flame aura while the helicopter crashed into a broken hep of twisted burning metal.
Princess Lily heard some of the royal guards around her talking about how impressive Aliasse power is and something about staying on her good side when the princess's cell phone rang in her pocket.
"Hello dad what you calling for?"
"Lily I just wanted to tell you that I scheduled a demonstration of Aliasse,s powers at three o'clock" her father the Archduke spoke over the cellphone.
"Ok, but don't you think it's a little too soon for that dad" Lily asked worried Aliasse won't be able to control the power of the valkyrur arms.
"That's why we need to conduct a test before giving her the valkyrur arms for real combat," her father spoke making a point.
"Ok dad I understand, i'll tell her," the princess replied as she turned her cell phone off and looked back towards Aliasse as she landed behind another remote controlled tank and cut it in half with a giant aura axe.
Another few hours later both girls and their royal guard escorts returned to the castle as another craft entered the atmosphere high overhead but was undetected by any technology but Aliasse easily sensed the psionic presence with in. It was the same one that left gallia with Zerion days ago, but Aliasse couldn't sense her friend's psionic presence anywhere, this got the young girl worried about her friend.
As the helicopter landed on one of the helipads atop Randgriz castle a alien craft landed on another helipad close by. The girls got out of the helicopter and heard two of the castle guards talking.
"Is that the same craft from before?" Guard 1 asked.
"Yeah it's the same one," guard 2 replied as the crafts rear ramp dropped down and a 7 feet tall grey alien wearing black and red armor stepped out with a large golden box hovering on the ramp behind him and was greeted by another of the castle's royal guard.
"Tell the Archduke I have returned and I have brought a gift" the alien spoke in a echoing voice.
"What... who is that? " the princess in a surprised tone asked one of her royal guard's.
"Oh that's another alien, but he supposed to be on our side, but I don't really trust him though" the guard answered.
Kainok followed the human across the castle roof to a stair way as the golden box floated behind him. They walked down the stairs to a very large hallway that looked like it ran from one side of the castle to the other. The two of them continued down the hall until reaching another set of stairs and dropping down to another level then the human stopped in front of a pair of large double doors. Kainok recognised as leading to the Archduke's throne room.
"Please wait here, the, the Archduke will see you shortly" the short human guard said in a half stutter as he entered the throne room first. No doubt intimidated by the protoss which Kainok liked, the lesser races should bow before the greater protoss.
After waiting around for a few minutes the doors opened and Kainok stepped through and walked across the large room with the large hovering box following behind him. Kainok saw the human sitting on his throne across the room with ten guards standing around the room.
"I welcome you back Kainok your armor is... different then last time we met. What word do you have of your leaders decision" Archduke william asked.
"Archduke of Gallia" Kainok started. "The leader of my people has decided to join with you in an alliance, but only until the zerg threat is eliminated. But because we are so few in number we cannot send any warrior's to help in battle, but instead we will for the time being give you a piece of our technology so that you can better fight the zerg" Kainok finished and glanced to the right seeing two young human females watching him through a small crack in a pair of double doors and sensed that one of them has great psionic power and is the same psionic presence he felt on the roof.
"I see, Kainok what is this technology you brought?" the Archduke asked.
"It is a simple fabrication matrix, it will allow you to build weapons to fight the zerg and it can build many other things as well."
"So it can build anything we want it to?" the Archduke asked.
"Do you want a demonstration."
"Yes" The Archduke replied
Kainok then waved his hand over the floating golden box and then it dropped gently to the floor and opened up revealing two large gold orbs pulsing with a light blue they slide to both sides of a flat platform, then a moment later the platform glowed white and a object roze up from the platform the shape becoming clear for all to see, it was a perfect replica of the Archdukes throne.
"It is a impressive piece of technology, we'll have great use of this in the future, i'll have a room prepared for you Kainok thats is if you wise to stay here?"
"A private room will be... adequate. And if you wise you can have your scientist begin studying the technology of my shuttle, you may do so" Kainok replied.
As the Archduke and Protoss continued their conversation Lily and Aliasse watched from a side hallway through a pair of double doors.
"Wow this is the first time seeing a real life alien" princess Lily spoke softly as she and Aliasse peaked through the crack in the double doors.
"I don't trust him" Aliasse said as she stood back from the door.
"And why's that"
"I... I don't know. it's just his attitude I guess" Aliasse replied.
Lily stood up and closed the double doors.
"Well, if you don't trust him, nether do I" Lily replied as her mother walked up to them.
"Lily" Archduchess Maria spoke. "It's almost time for the demonstration, let's go and retrieve the Valkyrur arms."
Lily turned to her mother realizing how late it was.
"Ok mom."
11 minutes later Aliasse stood on the edge of the large navel loading dock overlooking the lake behind Randgriz castle. Behind her stood the Archduke, general's lions, and Jaeger. And walking up to her was Princess Lily holding the Valkyrur shield, and the Archduchess holding the Valkyrur lance.
"So your the young Valkyrur i've heard about" Lions said looking at Aliasse, "You don't have to go through with this young lady if you don't want to" general Lions spoke with a little bit of concern in his voice, Aliasse looked at him and replied.
"No it's fine... I... I chose to fight so" Aliasse took the lance and shield. "I can't just back out" Aliasse replied in a determined tone, as general Lions heard the courage is the young girl's words.
Upon picking up the lance and shield, both reacted to Aliasse's psionic power and flashed bright blue for a moment and they both expanded in size. The lance became longer and a little wider, and the shield became thicker and wider, much to the surprise of everyone watching.
Aliasse's Flame aura erupted over her body but was flickering faster and brighter then normal and she felt intense power coursing through her body. Aliasse took a deep breath and focused gaining control over the power welling up in her.
Aliasse then turned around and saw her target, a old gallian destroyer left over from W.W. 2 resting on the shore at the other side of the 12 mile long, 9 mile wide lake. Aliasse pointed the lance at the wreck of a ship and focused her power into the lance which started to spine past the hand guard. Slow at first then faster and faster glowing as psionic aura energy gathered in thin wisp's along the spinning lance to its tip as everyone watched in anticipation.
When Aliasse felt enough energy was gathered she released it. A blazing silver blue bolt shot out from the lance and quickly flew across the lake and out of view. A moment later there was a bright flash of light and a loud blast as it impacted the side of the ship sending a giant plume of water into the air as it detonated blasting the ship in half.
Everyone watched and marveled at Aliasse,s destructive power with the valkyrur arms as a ripple of waves spread across surface of the lake.
"That was... impressive" General lions spoke to the Arc duke. "I understand why your people revere the Valkyrur so much now Archduke William gi randgriz. And getting to the real reason i'm here, I would like to formally invite your nation to join the allied forces" general Lions said extending his hand.
"It would be my pleasure general, we have much to discuss" the Archduke spoke extending his own hand grasping the generals and shaking on Gallia being the newest member of the global military alliance. Both men began talking as Aliasse continued to stare at the remains of the ship she destroyed wondering in trepidation of when she will have to fight for real. Both the Archduchess Maria and princess Lily watched her from behind easily seeing the emotions and worry going on inside her.
Lily walked up to Aliasse and started comforting her as the Archduke William and General Lions continued talking about some secret project.
Watching them all from the castle was the tal'darim spy Kainok staring intently at the young Valkyrur.
"Everything is going according to my masters plan. I need only wait for the proper time to act" Kainok thought to himself as he backed away from the window and started meditating continuing his training on gaining more control over his psionic powers.
Barious Forest
Kurt's family homestead
The road was bumpy and snaked through the forest and mountains and in some places it could hardly be called a road as the black top highway turned into dirt road as Kurt drove his truck back to his family's homestead.
Gallia was a small country like most others in europe, and as a result it had only taken a hour and a half on the main highway to drive across Gallia to the Barious forest, but it then took another hour to drive through the rough terrain in the forest till reaching the homestead. The reason for the trip was for Kurt to retrieve his gallian military uniform, even though he could easily get a new one, Kurts old uniform has... sentimental value to him.
Hours after starting their trip Kurt finally parked the truck in front of the homestead and his passenger spoke.
"It's been years since I was back here" Nathan Gunther spoke as he looked around at the old but sturdy buildings, and Kurt agreed as he remembered all the holidays, hunting trips and adventures both men spent here many years before when they were younger.
After spending a few moments remembering the past both men got out of the truck and walked to the house, as a woman in overall jeans opened the front door and stepped onto the porch.
"Kurt?, why are you back so soon" she asked as Nathan looked at Kurt and then to the woman and back to Kurt.
"Umm Kurt when did you get married," Nathan blurted out much to Kurt and the women's bewilderment.
"She's not my wife, Martha's just... a neighbour I asked to take care of things here while I was gone" Kurt corrected.
"Oh sorry. Are you going to get married?" Nathan asked in a joking tone and Kurt shot him a glare.
"Well... anyway why are you back so soon. The way you spoke over the phone it sounded like you were going to be gone for a lot longer than a few days?" Martha asked stepping off the front porch.
"Well Martha i'm just back to pick up some stuff, and then i'm leaving again" Kurt answered.
"Is that all, you could have called before hand and I could have got the stuff out for you already"
"Sorry Martha but the things i'm here to get are from when I was in the military and... I would prefer to handle them myself" Kurt said walking past her onto the porch"
"Oh... I get it, well call me if you need anything," Martha replied as Kurt and Nathan entered the cabin and Martha followed, she still had to clean the dishes from her morning breakfast.
Kurt walked up the stairs to the second floor hallway and pulled a cord hanging from the ceiling as Nathan reached the second floor. A set of stairs unfolded down from the ceiling, both men stepped up the new set of stairs and into the dark attic. Kurt felt around in the darkness for a bit before he felt the light switch and turned it on illuminating the attic. There were a dozen boxes pilled around the room some with labels and others without.
"So which one is your uniform in" Nathan asked.
"That one over there" kurt pointed to a large box with the words military uniform on it.
"Oh" Nathan replied as Kurt walked over and started to open the box.
Nathan looked around and saw a box next to him with the words family pictures on it, which got his attention. Nathan walked over and kneeled down, opening the box and inside was a pile of pictures, some without color going all the way back to the 1890's. Nathan rummaged through the pictures and he came across an envelope with a few pictures in it, Nathan opened the envelope and the first picture caught his eye, it was a photo of a Darcsen family of three, a father in a Gallian military uniform from W.W.2 and a mother and 6 year old daughter wearing matching sets of baker uniforms.
Nathan turned the picture over and on the back was written.
Welkin, Alicia, Isara Gunther.
Nathan recognized the little girl Isara as his grandmother, remembering his family tree, Isara Gunther had two kids of her own a boy and a girl, the boy became Nathan's father and the girl changed her last name to Irving after she married and then gave birth to her own kids a boy and a girl, the boy was kurt and the girl was his now deceased sister. The homestead being from kurt's fathers side of the family. Kurt and Nathan were cousin's even though they don't talk much about it since they consider each other friends first and cousin's second.
"Hey I found some old pictures of our great grandparents"
"Really" Kurt replied as he pulled out a plastic bag containing his old military uniform.
"Yeah come look"
Kurt stood up and walked over to Nathan who passed him the picture. Kurt looked at the photo for a moment before a thought hit him.
"Hey Nathan you think that story grandmother said about great grandmother was true"
"What? you mean that story about great grandmother Alicia being the Valkyrur that turned the war around and kicked nazi ass" Nathan replied with a curious look at Kurt.
"Yeah" Kurt looked back to Nathan. "It would explain why Aliasse is a Valkyrur" Kurt replied the logic making sense to Nathan who then stood up.
"That does make a lot of sense... hey you don't think that Valkyrur you told me about the one that's controlling the zerg is maybe related to our family" Nathan spoke as both men thought in a moment of silence.
"Naaa couldn't be" both men spoke.
New york
Jaeger Pharmaceutical corporation HQ
Genetics Lab 4
Doctor Normen sat in his chair as he went over the date on the computer screen. He had ran the DNA test four times and looked through records found by the field agents he sent to Gallia, but no matter how many times he looked over the date the results where the same and pointed to one thing.
Normen stood up and down loaded the date onto his tablet and then opened the security door and walked out of his lab, down the hall turning to the elevator, he pushed the control panel for the floor Director Richards office was on. The elevator trip took a full minute then the doors opened and Normen walked out of the elevator as two other people working for the company passed him and the doors closed behind and he walked down the hallway arriving at the desk of Richards secretary who told Richard of his visitor.
The wooden double doors opened and Richard looked up from his pile of paperwork to see Dr Normen as he entered his office.
"Director Richard I have something important to show you" DR. Normen said as he walked up to Richard's desk and sat in one of the chairs.
"Dr Normen, couldn't you have called me from your lab" Richard spoke in slit annoyance considering all the work he had to do.
"Umm... yes... I could have I guess, but this is something quite surprising" Normen replied as Richard realized the man seemed to have found something of great interest otherwise he wouldn't have come all the way up from his lab.
"Ok what did you find" Richard asked.
"Well it's nothing ground breaking. But I thought you'd want to see it all the same. I crossed referenced all of CV1 {Ellen} and CV2's {Aliasse}" family records and compared their DNA from what you were able to get from CV2 during your time in Gallia and," Dr Norman passed the tablet to Richard. "This is what I found,"
Richard looked the tablet over and then his eyes opened wide in realization.
"Your right Dr Normen, this is very interesting, who would have guessed CV1, Ellen and that little kid Aliasse where distant family," Richard spoke continuing to look through the date showing matching family genes.
Dr Normen continued his explanation.
"From what I found both CV1 and CV2 both have a distant family relation to each other, based on my experience in genetics and the records I found, it seems that both CV1 and CV2 are related by a pair of sisters who lived in a orphanage in the small town of Bruhl in northern Gailla, their names are-"
"Alicia and Isala Melchiott," Richard finished as he continued reading through the date which indicated that in the year 1931 Isala was adopted and separated from her sister Alicia when they were 9 years old and moved with her adopted parents to another town to southern Gallia and changed her last name. And later on was married and changed her last name again to Baker. "Hah, it's almost exactly like the game" Richard said under his breath musing at the names.
"Um, game sir," Dr Normen asked a little confused at what anything here has to do with a game.
"Oh it's nothing important, it's just the names and places are similar to a game my son play's is all... Now I wonder how we can use this information," Richard lied, he's had suspicion's ever since he bought the game called Valkyria Chronicles for his son's birthday 2 years ago. It was J-RPG game loosely based on the Gallian legends of the Valkyrur, and inspired by the real life Valkyrur that appeared during W.W. 2, key word 'supposed' to be. The details concerning the valkyrur powers awakening after suffering a fatal or near fatal wound plus other little details here and there in the game are far too detailed to just be lucky guesses. Richard had thought something strange concerning it, and also the detail's and information about the zerg and Protoss from the game StarCraft are the same way. It's as if someone who knows everything about the Valkyrur, Zerg, and Protoss influenced the creation of or maybe even started both games in the first place. Whatever the truth is something very big was going on, and Richard felt as though someone or something was manipulating both people and events on a large scale but for what purpose he knew not.
Hong kong
USS Ranger
The city of Hong Kong day's after the battle, millions of people that called the city home and the chinese and american soldiers who defended it were all relieved the fighting was over and in a time of mourning for the dead, and of recovery. Over the course of the battle nearly 20.000 chinese, 2.450, american soldiers lost their lives along with some 4000 civilians who were caught up in the fighting and there was tens of thousands of Zerg bodies scattered for miles around.
News agencies from all over the world reported on the attack on the city of HongKong and many field reporters were present during the battle although few got any shots of zerg during the battle but all of them were quite busy reporting on the recovery.
And something of a strange and uneasy truce was going on between the humans and Zerg as hundreds of drones moved about the former battlefield picking up and transporting corpses of dead zerg back to the hive cluster while also keeping their distance from the humans and their armored vehicles who were also working to recover their dead, it was a surreal sight considering the intense battle just days before.
The hospitals of Hong Kong and the medical personnel of the american fleet were overwhelmed by the number of wounded and dead, luckily many of the same international humanitarian aid organizations that came to the help of Brazil, where now becoming free to turn their attention to China and India since the zerg forces in south america seem to have entered a dormant state and were no longer attacking human towns or city,s freeing up personnel and resources.
Many ships and planes from other parts of the world started arriving at Hong Kong airports and ship docks as Captain Adamson stood at the side balcony of his ships bridge tower overlooking the flight deck, giving him a good view of the new arrival's to Hong Kong's crowded Kowloon bay as the wind started blowing strongly across the bay. Many ships moved around the harbor ranging from small fishing and tug boats to massive cargo ships and one cruise liner. All moving past or around the docked American ships, by now everyone in the city, American and Chinese, tens of thousands of soldiers and millions of civilians and the newly arriving aid workers were all working to put the pieces back together.
"Captain" Lt,col Randolph spoke as he joined captain Adamson on the balcony.
"Lt,col" Adamson replied. "I see the recovery efforts are going well. We were lucky those mutalisk and scourges didn't attack the fleet otherwise we wouldn't have been able to support the ground troop's as much."
"I wonder about that" Randolph spoke voicing his concerns over the zerg commitment to the battle.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that if they really wanted to finish us off they would have focused on destroying the fleet first.., but that's just just my opinion on their Tactical move sir."
He had a point that Adams couldn't deny.
"So what, you think the Zerg intentionally avoided attacking our fleet. If so then why?" Adamson replied even though a few of the american ships were fitted with the new Phalanx guns. Still a focused zerg rush still would have sunk a few ships.
"I don't know captain Adamson, but that's why I gave miss Sarah permission to return to the U.S. mainland. Hopefully when she returns she'll have a answer for us" Randolph said as he gestured to the flight deck where a C-130J super Hercules was being loaded up with the bodys of many American soldiers. Six of which were from delta team the first losses they have suffered.
Jacob and Mason with a few bandages on his face, where standing along the open rear ramp of the transport as Sarah walked up to them with a duffle bag slung over her shoulder and wearing a green jumpsuit for the long trip back to the US mainland.
"Are you sure you don't want a member of delta to escort you Sarah," Jacob shouted over the roar of the C-130Js engines as everyone on deck braced against the strong gust of wind.
Sarah looked at him with a sigh as she dropped the duffel bag she was holding to the deck.
"I can take care of myself Jacob, besides if the Zerg attack again you'll be needed here more than me" she replied.
"Well ma'am" Mason started." Just be careful, you've been the brains of our unit along with the Lt,col, so come back safe as soon as possible."
"I will first lieutenant, both of you take care" Sarah said as she picked the duffle bag back up and walked onto the rear of the C-130J as the pilots finished the pre-flight checks. The copilot looked back to see that their passenger was securing herself in with the buckles in one of the folding chairs along the wall.
"Ok everything's secure" the copilot spoke as the pilot flipped a switch and the rear cargo ramp lifted up and closed.
The control tower sounded over the radio and gave the all clear signal for them to take off, the pilot revved the engines up as Jacob and Mason and everyone else left the flight deck for the safety of the carriers bridge tower and a few moments later the carriers deck catapult launched the C-130J across the carrier deck and into the air on it's long trip back to the U.S. mainland.
As the C-130J Super Hercules took off from the USS Rangers flight deck flying out over the bay, Sarah Ava got comfortably for what was going to be a long flight but she had questions that only the zerg queen that delta team had captured before could answer like why the zerg stopped attacking human towns and city,s in south-america and why they stopped attacking Hong Kong when they were winning.
May 8th, Saturday morning, 9:32 AM
Ten hours and two mid air refueling's later Sarah's plane landed at a military air base on the U.S. west coast. But to reach her destination she had to hop onto another plan that transported her to The Raven Rock underground base in Maryland on the US east coast. Originally it was a Alternate Command Center, or Site R, from which U.S. forces would be commanded in the event of World War III or a nuclear war, but now it was a anti zerg, weapons and bio research base.
Sarah's security clearance gave her access and got her through the front gate and into the base and it helped that Randolph called ahead of time to make sure everyone on the base knew she was coming.
A pair of elevator doors opened and a female scientist in a white lab coat greeted Sarah as she walked out of the elevator.
"Good morning miss Ave, It's good to see you again" Lucy Darrington spoke as she walked with Sarah down the white security hallway one of the main entrances to the underground base.
"It's nice to see you again too Lucy, how's our... guest been,"
"Umm if you mean the zerg queen, not too well," Lucy replied, as the two of them walked through the base passing other base personnel guards and scientists. Lucy explained about the tests they've conducted on the zerg queen that have included nerve gas like VX and various other kinds of poisons in small amounts to test how resistant to them zerg physiology is. To say the least the test's where striking failure's the only thing they did was give the queen a chance to do what all zerg do and do very well, adapt and evolve, resulting in the queen becoming completely immune to the very same nerve agent's and poisons used on her before, even when exposed to 10 times the normally fatal amount.
After that the scientist tried different types and amounts of radiation which didn't even seem to bother the queen.
And then they tried directed energy weapons like lasers and the The Active Denial System (ADS) a non-lethal, directed-energy weapon developed by the U.S. military designed for area denial, perimeter security and crowd control. Informally, the weapon is also called the heat ray since it works by using microwaves to heat the surface of targets, such as the skin of targeted human subjects, it works on a similar principle as a microwave oven only much bigger, this too failed to do anything but force a evolutionary adaptation in the zerg queen, after which the ADS was mostly useless.
The researchers then started getting more serious and creative and started using lab engineered viruses to attack the queen at a cellular and genetic level, this actually seemed to be working as the queen was incapacitated for a whole day giving the scientist a brief window to get blood samples from the zerg queen, but they lingered in the containment cell a little to long and a scientist by the name of Bob was just about to leave when the queen suddenly got up and grabbed him and much to the horror of the other personnel the zerg queen ripped Bob into pieces and ate him bones and all.
After this... incident the containment chamber was modified with a pair of napalm flamethrowers and machine guns hanging from the ceiling, along with the armored camera's already in the room, all constantly pointed at the Zerg queen.
Sarah and Lucy walked through the base passing several security checkpoints, a cafeteria, on base living quarters and past the armory as they walked to their destination.
A pair of large armored double doors opened as the two women entered the observation room overlooking the containment chamber the Zerg queen was in.
A few other scientist and guards we're in the observation room and one man noticed Lucy and the new arrival.
"Ah miss Ava, it's good to have you here again. I haven't seen you since you picked up those prototype weapons for delta team," A man in his early 40s said as he walked up to Sarah and held out his hand
"It's nice to see you again to DR, Emerson," Sarah replied shaking the Dr's hand. "I hear you've had a tough time finding weapons that work against the zerg queen."
"Ah yes, we have had a difficult time of it. But finding a weapon that works against the zerg isn't the problem, what is the problem is finding a weapon that keeps working against them. The zergs ability to adapt is... simply amazing, to think such a thing exist's in nature is_" Dr Emerson continued to explain how impressive the zerg ability to adapt is for a full 5 minutes before finishing. "The most incredibly part is that we've found that the zerg actually have nano-cells smaller than a virus that function just like a nano-machine is speculated to work. I believe this is how the Zerg can evolve and adapt their biology and DNA so fast."
This last bit of information grabbed Sarah's attention.
"I see that is amazing. Dr Emerson how do you think the zerg gained such a thing as a organic nano-cell." Sarah asked now interested in the subject.
"Hmm, well... it's just a theory but I believe that when the Zerg first evolved they somehow... became interdependent with a virus that lived inside the primordial oceans of their home world with the first ancestors of the zerg, and over time the... proto zerg and the virus became one on a genetic level and then evolved to become something far, far, greater then what ether one could be alone, and eventually became what" Dr Emerson glanced at the large armored glass window. "We see today."
"That is a rather interesting theory Dr, and I would think you hit the nail on the head," Sarah said complimenting Emerson on his theory as she walked closer to the window and looked out at the chamber below.
The containment chamber was 50 feet lower then the observation room and is a 100 by 100 foot wide room and made from reinforced steel; and the floor and walls were connected to the facilities power grid; just in case the zerg Queen tried to burrow out.
As Sarah looked down she was shocked at what she saw, the queen was now almost double the size it had been when Delta team captured it, and it had a thicker darker carapace armor with horns and spikes small and large over its body on the top and sides of the armored head crest, the shoulders and arms, and on the six large legs and the armored back of the lower half of the body.
The zerg queen stood in the center of the chamber staring off into space. The humans haven't tried any new weapons on her for a few days now and she was getting eager to return to the swarm. The taste of human flesh was a treat but a costly one after she had made a meal of the scientist, the other humans installed four turrets into the ceiling. Two 50 caliber machine guns and two flamethrowers. The guards tested them on her, the large bullets of the guns cracked and penetrated her armor, and the extreme heat from the sticky liquid burned her body and cooked her internal organs, although the zerg queen regenerated, after words the humans told her from the safety of their little room above that if she did that again they would kill her.
They even tried questioning her, not that the zerg queen had nothing to say to a human so she ignored them and focused on the war her sister queens and fellow zerg where fighting on the other side of the world.
Even though her body was confined to this room the zerg queen could still observe the rest of the swarm through the hive-mind which is what kept her mostly occupied. The zerg queen was both a prisoner and a commander mostly observing the swarm as a whole and gaining experience watching her older sisters command their packs and broods; but the prisoner queen also acted as sub commander to the zerg naval armada in the pacific under the leadership of Solus while also monitoring the growth of the two new behemoths still growing at the primary hive cluster in south america. All of which the Swarm Empress had ordered her to do, all being apart of her education. Also as the humans did their tests on the queen they unknowingly made the swarm stronger as the adaptations the prisoner queen had gone through was transmitted through the psionic hive mind to Abastein who used the information to improve the swarm giving the zerg more resistance to those human weapons used on the captive queen.
As a part of the queens mind was focused on a battle, another part recognizing the human female watching her from the window above, it was the same one that was with the human soldiers that had captured her before. The zerg queen connected to her Empress as she was instructed to do if that human female was ever to return.
"She's returned then, i'll possess your body now" the powerful psionic voice of the swarm Empress reverberated in the queen's mind as she gave control of her body to her Empress and her eyes started to glow purple then queen possessed by the Empress stared up at Sarah ava.
Sarah saw the as the zerg queen look up at her and noticed that the queens eyes started to glow purple. Sarah remembered that happened the last time the Empress of the zerg spoke through this queen.
Sarah looked to her left and saw a inter comm; she walked over to it and turned it on.
"Hello, do you remember me," Sarah asked her voice being transmitted into the chamber through the speakers.
"Yes," Ellen answered through the zerg queen. "I suppose you have come here to ask a few questions."
The other scientist in the observation room stopped what they were doing to listen along with Dr Emerson and Lucy.
"Firstly, am I speaking with the leader of the zerg swarm," Sarah asked wanting confirmation.
"Yes you are."
"Then may I ask why did your forces attacking Hong Kong; give up so quickly," Sarah asked with a skeptical look on her face.
"Hmp, so you noticed," Ellen spoke crossing the zerg queen's arms. "Good for you, but to answer your question that small bit of land really doesn't interest to me, so you humans got off easy. It isn't worth losing so many soldiers for such a small bit of land compared to the rest of southern china,"
Sarah smiled noticing a few lies in those words.
"That's a lie, you zerg can recycle your dead and grow new zerg very quickly, so even if you did suffer heavy casualties so long as you won you could just recover the losses in just a few weeks."
Ellen was a little impressed that she could tell that much about how the zerg operate.
Sarah continued.
"And second, if you were not interested in Hong Kong why did you attack it in the first place," Sarah finished and there was a moment of silence as Ellen through the Zerg queen and Sarah both stared at each other then Ellen the zerg queen laughed with that her raspy voice.
"I like you, your sharp. What's your name,"
"Sarah Ava."
"Well Sarah Ava, i'll give you a straight answer. The real reason I had my swarm attack Hong Kong and retreated so quickly, is so you humans could have a victory, it wouldn't do to have human civilization collapse, so I... let you have a win for morale. In truth, if I was serious about conquering the planet the war would already be over by now."
Sarah like everyone else in the room was speechless at this information until Sarah regained her composer and replied.
"Is that why all zerg forces in south-america have stopped attacking humans"
"Yes, I have no interest in ruling over or destroying human civilization,"
Sarah became angry at that last statement.
"Then why are you attacking us and killing so many millions of innocent people in the first place" Sarah spoke in a raised angry voice, not understanding what the zerg swarms motivations are now.
Ellen uncrossed the queens arms and stared at Sarah.
"I'll give you a hint and a question. The threat of death is the best motivation for?"
Sarah blinked and repeated. "The threat of death is the best motivation, motivation for what?"
"Well If your so smart... you'll just have to figure the rest out by yourself. Now then I have things to do, we'll talk again sometime."
With that the eyes of the zerg queen stopped glowing purple and Sarah was left with a puzzle to solve.
Zerg Primary Hive Cluster
South-America
Ellen's eyes stopped glowing underneath the mask that gives her a supply of air from outside the liquid filled organic pod resting along the wall of the Evolution chamber.
Abastein monitored his Empress's condition and essence as her body undergoes the long over dew evolution. The simple upgrade of her genetic and cellular physiology allowing her body to process and use the minerals and hydrogen in creep.
Abastein was fully engrossed in his work keeping his Empress's essence as pure and uncorrupted as possible so as to retain her massive psionic power while receiving the evolution. A job which he used his microscopic remote parasites for, they allowed the zerg Evolution Master to monitor and modify Ellen's essence in real time remotely. Abastein normally has to ingest essence and place it in the special green sacs along his body to make changes to it, then create a custom virus and inject it to the organism but such is no longer necessary with the essence weaving parasite.
A job made even more difficult by the fact that; as Abastein discovered when he placed his parasites inside his Empress body. The Empresses essence is constantly mutating, most of the time the process makes only small changes, but the changes increase while her body is undergoing heavy stress or using her psionic powers like what she did just now psionically talking with the human through the captive queen. Even though she's in a pod undergoing a genetic evolution, Ellen can still communicate with the swarm since she's not unconscious.
As Abastein continued monitoring and guiding the progress of the evolution he noticed that a certain part of Ellen's essence is similar to the parts of zerg essence that allow zerg to devour, analyze and integrate new and useful types of essence into their own. But as Abastein looked more closely at this part of the Empress's essence he discovered that it is not completely the same as what the zerg have but at the same time it seems incomplete and its level of design like the rest of the Empress's essence is far beyond his current level to completely understand. This left Abastein feeling partly irritated that he can't unlock this mystery but mostly feeling a sense of being unworthy to even touch this masterpiece of bioengineering but then he got over it and continued with his job.
As Abastein continued working he got the impression that what the Empress is now is but a fraction of what she could become. If that was the case then as a evolution master Abastein had a responsibility to help his empress unlock that full potential.
"Abastein how's the work going" Ellen psionically asked from inside the pod looking like she was sleeping but not.
"Work difficult. Essence of Empress very complex. Takes great effort to maintain purity of essence. Will take more time."
Ellen sighed mentally and felt that sense of deja vu again.
"Well if my evolution will take a few more hours, I may as well check on everyone," Ellen thought.
Ellen then focused her mind moving from one battle to another monitoring the progress of the invasion of Asia. First focusing on Na,kool's Seath Brood in India.
Ellen looked through the eyes of a few dozen locust, from the eyes of one she saw a building full of human soldiers firing down on the horde of zerg further down the street, a group of roaches unborrowed from underneath the building and sprayed a powerful corrosive acid on the support structure. Concrete and steel melted until the building collapsed into the street turning it into a pulverised pile of concrete and a cloud of dust and crushing the human resistance inside while the much tougher roaches just burrowed out from under the giant pile of debris.
At other locations across southern India human resistance forces are amassing for another charge into zerg held territory as dozens of artillery guns fired in the distance.
And at another area a locust watched as a group of soldiers escorted hundreds of civilians to safety through the destroyed city streets.
And at many other locations Na,kools brood are destroying and dismantling all traces of human infrastructure they find like roads, bridges, power lines, power plants, gas stations and any and all buildings they can find all over southern India killing any human resistance along the way.
Ellen then turned her focus to In,karra and watched as she used the swarm crawler to quickly build up another hive cluster, faster than the airforce of India can find and destroy them all with their bunker buster bombs, securing the swarms territory in south eastern China.
Ellen turned her focus again to Zavaras Quelaag Brood In China which is doing much the same thing.
The swarm is continuing to spread throughout Asia with little real difficulty although the military of china is slowing things down with their constant air and ground attacks.
Ellen then redirected her mind to the pacific ocean where it was a different situation. The Allied forces have started forming dozen's of fleets consisting of both surface ships and submarine's all hunting for the zerg armada and its splinter fleets or patrolling the Territorial waters of nations that have joined in the global alliance.
Ellen made a mental sigh of relief as everything on Earth seems to be going at least close to what she expected it to.
Ellen then redirected her mind far out to the outer solar system to the new zerg hive cluster on Titan which is the largest moon of Saturn. It is also the only moon in the solar system known to have a dense atmosphere, and the only object in space other than Earth where clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found, which is why Ellen traveled their with Solus and placed the zerg space platform in a stable high orbit above the moon to begin the zerg colonizing of titan and unlike Earth Ellen didn't have to keep her swarm on a leash as Solus was allowed to spread new hive clusters across Titan's as quickly as possible which was much faster thanks to the swarm crawler. Leading to a explosion of the zerg population there.
"Solus hows the new hive clusters coming along?"
As Solus floated high above the surface of Titan close to the space platform he sensed His Empress's psionic call and replied.
"The hive clusters are coming a long well my Empress. We have almost completely adapted to the environment," Solus replied.
"That good to hear, I'll call if I need you Solus, till then continue with building up the swarm there and commanding the armada in the pacific."
"I will await your call my Empress and continue my work."
With everything seemingly going perfectly Ellen now only had one problem to deal with, her clone's date with her former co-worker Sam.
[Chapter End]
Author,s notes
I hope this chapter explains a little more on the back story concerning Alicia and Welkin the main characters of Valkyria Chronicles and how they are related to Ellen and Aliasse, Oh and don't worry there will be more battles later on .
And remember this FANFIC is placed in a alternate universe to the original games and storys so in the future when this story moves into the Koprulu sector things will be DIFFERENT. The situation and history between the Overminds swarm and the Protoss will be different as well and at that point in my story there will be a few twists and new arrivals and at that point this will no longer be a crossover between starcraft and valkyria chronicles since earth is not the main setting.
Till next time please read and review if you like my story or if you think I suck, i'm still developing my skills so one day I will no longer be a noob.