Fullmetal Alchemist
Invaders of Gallia
Episode 37
A DESPERATE MISSION
Audrey's Final Defeat
Opening Theme: Kanashimi Rensa (Valkyria Chronicles)
"We can't hold them back!" A rebel soldier shouted just before he and one of his comrades were taken down by Gallian fire. The Gallian army had pushed their way into Randgriz only hours earler and already, only Castle Randgriz remained in rebel hands.
"We can't hold them back," a rebel commander realized, "where are Lady Audrey and Commander Dirk!?"
"They've already taken the main force and left to join General Baldren in Anthold," a soldier replied.
"Good, then all that's left is to deal with the Archduchess," the commander declared.
"Don' like the sound of that," Vine's voice declared, terrifying the two soldiers. The commander never saw him and the soldier caught only a glimpse before both were rendered unconscious.
"If they've already sent men down to the dungeons, I won't make it," Vine realized, "guess I'll just leave it to my trump card and I'll deal with retaking the castle," he decided as he continued with his attack.
….
Down beneath Castle Randgriz, in the castle dungeon, Elysse and Cordelia had nearly forgotten how long they had spent in their cell. They were both startled when the dungeon door opened and two rebel soldiers rushed in.
"What is happening out there!?" Cordelia pleaded.
"That ain't none of your concern, Dark Hair," one soldier replied.
"You can't talk to the Archduchess of Gallia like that!" Elysse protested angrily.
"Quiet rat," the other soldier ordered, "we're leaving both Randgriz and Gallia behind for a while, but we're not letting them put you back on the throne, Dark Hair. You're going to die in this cell you little…" his threat was never finished as a stone pillar slammed into him, sending him flying.
"What the…!?" the remaining soldier exclaimed in fear as he pointed his rifle in the direction the attack had come from, only to be confronted by empty darkness. "How… the reports said the alchemist was on the upper levels heading up into the towers… he couldn't have gotten this far this quickly!" As he spoke, three spikes suddenly fired from the darkness, impaling his rifle and cutting deep wounds onto his wrists. He yelled with pain as he dropped his weapon.
"I guess someone should have warned you," a voice declared as a Darcsen girl clad in a short, black tank top that left her arms, shoulders, and stomach bare, black gloves and black pants with no shoes covering her bare feet emerged from the shadows, "my brother isn't the only skilled alchemist in Gallia."
"Karen!" Cordelia shouted happily as a second stone pillar struck the final soldier and knocked him out. Karen walked up to Cordelia's cell, casually leaned against the bars, and looked in at the cell's occupants.
"I can't believe you let yourself get kidnapped, again," Karen teased, "you know, Sis, if you want me to come visit, you just need to ask."
"I apologize," Cordelia teased back, "you're just so busy these days, it seems the only way to get your attention is to need you to come and rescue me." Both Darcsen young women couldn't help but giggle.
….
"Keep your head down!" Welkin ordered as members of the Gallian military took cover to evade fire from three rebel tanks that were set up in the Castle Randgriz courtyard. "Vine, we've got three tanks that are keeping us from advancing into the castle!" he shouted through the Edelweiss' radio."
….
"Not for long," Vine replied as he inched carefully onto a ledge outside a tower window high above the courtyard. Far below him, he could see the three enemy tanks harassing his comrades and he fired three quick blasts down at them.
….
To those on the ground, it seemed the wrath of god had been unleashed on the tanks as three powerful bursts of red light crashed down on the tanks, destroying them.
"Show off," Rosie declared as Gallian forces poured into the castle courtyard and began mopping up the remaining rebels.
"Well, that should just about finish it," Largo declared.
….
Castle Randgriz was soon retaken and Cordelia restored to her throne, but the battle was far from over.
"Looks like the Gassenarl's fled before we arrived," Welkin revealed as he joined Vine in the castle throne room.
"Doesn't matter, there's only one place left for them to go," Vine revealed.
"Anthold Port," Kurt declared, "it's the only major city left in rebel control and the perfect place to go if you need to flee the country.
"So they're getting' lost," Rosie realized, "so that's a good thing, right?"
"No, letting them flee to the Federation would be the worst move we could make," Vine revealed, "if they escape and manage to gain Federation support, we'll be in even bigger trouble."
"So, we goin' to Anthold then, or what?" Largo asked.
"We are, but you won't be joining me just yet," Vine declared.
"What do you mean, Vine?" Welkin asked.
"Gather the troops and I'll explain."
….
Vine wasn't the only alchemist preparing to depart for Anthold. At Lanseal, all non-defense essential squads had prepared to depart to assault the port, including Edward Elric and Class G.
"So Vine and Welkin managed to retake Randgriz," Ed smirked as he looked at a map, "now all that's left is to keep Baldren from fleeing to the Federation and this war will be over."
"Anthold is a port town on Gallia's western shore, and is the starting point of the fastest shipping lane from Gallia to the Federation. It's also the rebels' final stronghold, so I doubt they'll let us in without a fight," Zeri declared.
"Even so, if we pull this off, Gallia will be safe again, so there's no way we can afford to lose!" Avan declared firmly.
"Right," Ed replied, "alright guys, let's go finish this."
"YEEAAHH!" was Class G's unanimous reply.
….
Saying they were going to finish the war and actually doing it would soon prove to be two very different tasks. As soon as Lanseal's squads and southern regular forces met on the outskirts of Anthold,m they began their attack, and almost instantly found themselves in trouble.
"Darn it," Julianna cursed, "those fools should have known a frontal assault would never work!"
"With this many tanks, I'm guessing Audrey must be leading the last of the rebels' armored corps to defend her brother's escape. The regular army's vanguard unit was completely wiped out!" Zeri revealed.
"And we'll be next if we don't think of a plan," Ed cursed as he looked around, "I wonder if we can use the city's aqueducts to our advantage somehow."
"That's it!" Avan exclaimed, "what if we use some explosives to destroy the aqueducts!?"
"With Audrey's forces set up right beneath them, we could disable her entire force with one shot," Ed said considerately, "but… it's too much of a risk."
"What do you mean, Ed?" Cosette asked.
"Well, in order to bring down the entire aqueduct and do the damage we'd need it to, the explosives would have to be placed in the center of the overpass where the ducts cross the road. Whoever's arming the bomb would have little time to escape the blast zone before it went, and if he didn't, then there's almost no chance he'd survive the fall," Ed replied.
"Darn, I didn't think about that," Avan revealed.
"Even so, we can't gain any ground by just rushing them head on," Julianna declared, "we may not have a chance but to risk it."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Alright, I guess I'll have to take care of it, then," Ed sighed in response.
"That won't work," Zeri declared firmly, "the rebels know you're with us, and if you're not here, they may become suspicious."
"Zeri's right. If this plan is going to work, it's vital that the rebels not realize what we're doing," Julianna revealed, "what's worse, Audrey Gassenarl is familiar with Hardins and me from Rohendahl, so it's doubtful we'd be able to get away with it for long if one of us attempted to plant the explosives."
"Then it looks like I'll have to do it," Zeri declared.
"What!? No way man, I'm Class Chair, I should do it," Avan protested.
"You heard what Julianna said," Zeri replied, "sending you would be too risky. On the other hand, I wouldn't likely be missed, which means I have the best shot of getting into position and planting the explosives before we're discovered."
"But… Zeri…" Julianna began to protest nervously.
"I'll be alright. After all, I certainly can't afford to die in a place like this. That's no way to become a hero," Zeri declared confidently.
"No, it's not," Avan replied, "so I guess you'll just have to not die."
"I don't like this," Ed admitted, "but what choice do we have at this point? Fine, I'll just have to leave it to you then, Zeri."
"Don't worry, Fullmetal," Zeri replied, "you all just focus on holding off the rebels and keeping them occupied. I'll handle the rest."
"He says that like we've got the easy job," Ed sighed.
"Alright, we gotta hold 'em here!" Avan ordered the members of his squad, "Class G, MOVE OUT!"
"We shall not give the rebels time to think," Julianna ordered, "Class A, COMMENCE OPERATION!"
….
With their chairs' orders, both Lanseal squads engaged the rebels and a fierce battle soon erupted. Julianna charged aggressively, using her Fencer sword to begin cutting down any rebel she could reach. Two rebel fencers charged her from behind, only to have their swords parried by Alexis who quickly dispatched them both.
"Thanks for the help," Julianna declared as she and Alexis stood back to back to face the rebels.
"You're thanking me?" Alexis replied, "It's amazing what a war can change."
"I suppose so," Julianna replied as four rebel Fencer's surrounded them.
"Can you handle two at once?" Alexis inquired.
"I could handle all four of them," Julianna replied, "but you're welcome to help if you want."
"Fine with me," Alexis replied as the two Lanseal Fencers attacked.
….
Two tanks suddenly found themselves facing skyward as Ed and Al ran past them and continued to disable tanks by dropping them into pits or using pillars to raise them into the air.
"Darn it, I was hoping we might be able to make some progress like this, but there're just too many tanks," Ed cursed as he realized that the two Elrics were barely making a dent in the number of enemy tanks, "I guess we'll just have to settle for keeping them busy for now! Don't take to many unnecessary risks!" he shouted to Franca and Marion who were taking cover nearby, "we just have to distract them."
"You're one to talk, Elric!" Franca shouted back as she poked around her cover and opened fire on a group of rebel Scouts with her Assault Rifle.
"Heh, I guess not," Ed replied as he resumed his attack.
"Elric, can you hear me?" Zeri's voice called over the radio.
"Zeri!? Good, where are you!?" Ed demanded.
….
Unfortunately for Ed and the others, Audrey had already grown suspicious of their change of tactics. "Their tactics are oddly passive. What changed since Rohendahl?" she wondered, "are they waiting for reinforcements from Randgriz, or is it something else? Fetch me a scout!" she ordered one of her soldiers.
"Yes ma'am!" the soldier replied.
….
"I've reached my target," Zeri declared, "I'm setting the timer for 3 minutes to give me time to get off the duct, and then it'll blow."
"That was quick, great work, Zeri!" Ed declared, "alright, get out of there."
"You don't have to…" Zeri began to say but a gunshot sounded and static filled Ed's wireless.
"Zeri? HEY! ZERI!?"
….
"Darn it!" Zeri exclaimed as his wireless radio was shot out of his hand by a rebel scout, "not now!"
"We've got a Lanseal cadet on the aqueduct!" the scout shouted as another scout joined him.
"I don't have time for this. I've got to get out of here!" Zeri realized as he turned to run, only to find two scouts standing on the other side of the duct, trapping him.
"No!" Zeri cried in dismay as he glanced down at the timer on the bomb. Of his three minutes, only 30 seconds remained. "I'm trapped… there's no way out!" Zeri realized as he watched the last of the seconds tick from the timer.
….
"ZERRRIIII!" Julianna cried in dismay as the bomb detonated. The initial explosion gave Zeri a final chance to escape as the surprised rebel scouts were knocked off balance allowing Zeri to run past them in a mad dash for the safety of the cliff. Unfortunately, before he could reach it, the duct beneath him fell and he was barely able to grab the edge of the cliff wall as the ground beneath him fell away, leaving him dangling by one hand high above the ground below.
"Oh man, not good!" Ed shouted in dismay, "HANG ON ZERI!"
….
Audrey heard the explosion, but was unable to see where it had come from.
"What's going on out there!?" she demanded. She got her answer when debris from the aqueduct slammed into the ground behind her, crushing several of her tanks. "What!?" she cried in dismay as water from the ducts flooded the streets and engulfed her tank.
….
High above her, Zeri was still desperately trying to hold on!
"No, I'm not going to make it!" Ed realized in dismay as a wave of water crashed into Zeri, nearly knocking him off of the wall. Ed watched with dismay as the rock Zeri was holding began to crumble and Zeri began to fall. Suddenly, a second figure appeared on the cliff wall, and grabbed Zeri's hand. While Ed couldn't tell much about the figure, he could tell that whoever it was, they were a Darcsen. That Darcsen… was Imca!
"Are you alright!?" Imca shouted to Zeri as she pulled him back up onto the cliff wall.
"I'm fine, thanks," Zeri replied as he stood up.
….
For once, Audrey wasn't sure what to do and was beginning to panic. Her tank was completely surrounded by water and she knew it was only a matter of time before her tank was crushed. She had to do something, but she didn't know if there was anything she could do.
"No… no, no, no, no!" Audrey cried as she began to realize that if her tank didn't hold up, she was going to die, and there was nothing she could do about it. "Is this it? Is it really over?" she cried, "darn. Darn, darn, darn DARN IT!" A sound above her caught her attention, causing her to look up just as a hand grabbed the front of her shirt. Seconds later, a spark from the compressing Geirolul struck the tanks ammunition supply, detonating the ammo and causing the tank to explode.
Closing Theme: Heart of Sword (Rurouni Kenshin)
"Alright, that's one down and two to go."
"Alright, then let's finish this!"
"Commencing Battle!"
"Wait, Leon, it's me, Avan!"
Next Time: An Explosive Confrontation ALI VS DIRK
"Gramps!"