Hey everyone, we're back with a big update! Sorry that it took so long to get this out but I can assure you we aren't dead and the story is still being worked on. The holidays are busy, aren't they?
Two things. First, this is part one of two that will cover the Battle of the Third Garden. Second, at the end of the chapter you'll find links to some simple layout drawing of the Garden and a little something extra that you won't want to miss.
"Cobalt, what's your status?" you say, voice echoing through Delphinium's cockpit. The moisture from your breath hangs in the air in the brisk spring morning. The morning is so cold in fact that a light snowfall has begun. The flakes lazily drift down from the sky before landing on the packed powder from the night before.
"We are nearing the objective," the squad leader's cool voice rings out, tone nearly matching the morning. "How are things progressing on your end?"
Looking through the monitors that depict your surroundings, everything is quiet. Delphinium is perched below the crook of one of several hills just north of the Garden. To the east lies a forest of conifers. The green of the trees is complemented beautifully by the powdery white of the freshly fallen snow.
Two FranXX stand guard at the northeast corner of the facility. To their west, another two pickets are stationed. According to the information you have about the defenses, three additional pairs are acting as lookouts at similar intervals around the perimeter of the Garden.
In addition to the FranXX is the massive wall that surrounds the Garden itself. High caliber cannons, much larger than those the plantations sport, are visible on the battlements along with a variety of point defense systems and other hidden weapons.
A slight click draws your attention to Sylvestris, who is sitting cross-legged in the valley below. The FranXX in question is adjusting the dials of her crossbow just to the right of its receiver. Changing the positions modifies the magnetic field used to propel the bolts from the crossbow, and over the past several months she'd taken great care to learn everything there was to know about them. She had proved to the most capable marksman in the entire rebel force, consistently outshooting Chlorophytum at a distance of over two miles.
Two additional FranXX wait nearby. Argentea twitches nervously and plays with her hands, which causes you to smile. I teach her all that combat discipline and she still can't sit still. Heliconia isn't much better, polishing her blades of her tonfas vigorously. Neither speaks, but it's clear that the FranXX are past ready to get the ball rolling.
"We're ready, Cobalt," Delphinium replies. "You're clear to proceed." There is a brief pause before Kyo says, "Roger that, Strike 1. Cobalt, Crimson, Charcoal, Coral, move out."
"Think they'll be alright?" Argentea asks after the line falls silent. "Valkyra is strong and a capable leader," Sylvestris says coolly, not looking up from her work, before stopping as if that was all there was to be said. Translation: they'll be fine.
The pink mech doesn't seem satisfied with the answer, but doesn't press the subject further. On your private line, Delphinium whispers, "They'll be alright, won't they?" You give a small sigh. "I don't know, love," is your answer. "Valkyra will do everything she can, but in the end that might not be enough." She puffs her cheek in response. "I hate this feeling of being uncertain," she groans. "Me too," you agree, as silence falls upon the group once more.
Now for the hardest part: waiting.
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Atop the battlements of the Garden, an APE soldier huddles beside a small heater. It isn't nearly enough to make the frigid morning comfortable, but it does help with alleviating the worst of the cold. Rubbing his hands together before peeking over the edge, he isn't shocked by the group of FranXX he sees approaching from the south-east. It isn't uncommon for the Garden's parasites to sortie and deal with the occasional Klaxosaur, and monitoring the comings and goings was frankly more effort than it was worth.
As this group grows closer, the man notices several inconsistencies. First, there are more than he remembers seeing leave this morning, at least twenty in total. Second, they are painted in a variety of colors, which is odd, because normal FranXX are all grey. The third and most telling is that a FranXX familiar to everyone is among them, as her white, red, and gold exterior had been a sign of APE's dominance until she defected.
The man falls backwards when he attempts to move, but his body remains frozen. He finally manages to crawl to the nearby guard post and reaches for the phone connecting him to the command center.
"What is it?" the operator snaps. "W-We're under attack!" the guard cries. "By whom?" an uninterested voice asks. "The rebels," the man shrieks. "Strelitzia is leading them!"
There is a click and the line goes dead. "B-But!" the terrified guard shouts into the receiver. "They're coming!" The line remains silent, but a whistle pierces the man's ears and red lights flash in the corners of his vision.
The earth trembles as the elevator to the Garden's underground hangar lowers, leaving a gaping hole where it had been moments earlier. A minute later, two squads of FranXX step off and rush to the south gate. Cannons realign themselves, and the previously hidden defenses in the walls are revealed. All around him the Garden is preparing for war.
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Valkyra can see the Garden readying itself for the coming conflict as the rebel force approaches. Thirty FranXX strong they are, and thirty FranXX strong they will be when this is over if she has anything to say about it.
It's time.
Valkyra holds up a closed fist and the formation halts. The group stands roughly two miles from the Garden's outer wall, just outside of the main cannons' effective range. "Remember," the blue and gold FranXX says to her comrades, "fight for those to your left and to your right and we'll make it through this. Together, as one."
With her speech finished, she begins broadcasting on the general comm channel. "Parasites of the Garden, I am Kana, formerly Code 030. APE has taken someone precious to us and we have come to liberate her and all the others held captive. We do not wish to be enemies. Lay down your arms and join us in pursuit of a better life and you shall be spared."
Thirty seconds pass in silence before a gruff voice says, "To the traitorous rebel forces threatening the sanctity of my Garden, surrender now and I will see to it that your deaths are quick." After the transmission finishes, ten FranXX file out of the southern gate and reinforce the two lookout pairs gathered there already. This force moves to stand some several hundred feet from the Garden's walls.
Making us come to them, and drawing the battle line so we'll be within the defenses' line of fire. It was probably too much to hope that the defense commander would be foolish.
"This is your final warning," Valkyra's tone holds a grim determination as she speaks. "All parasites who side with APE will be treated as hostile. Stand down and you will be spared."
No reply is given.
"Everyone, I expect nothing but your best today! We'll show APE that someone will stand against them!" Valkyra thrusts her spear into the air. "Move out!"
The order given, the rebel force begins their advance. The twenty-five melee FranXX break into even groups of five and march toward the Garden. Laevis, Chlorophytum, and three other FranXX settle themselves in the rear and then all at once begin to bombard the walls and defenders waiting below.
In a similar fashion, the cannons atop the battlements open fire on the advancing columns of FranXX. The ground trembles as shellfire rocks the earth, throwing dust and snow into the morning air. However, despite being automated, the distance is still too great for them to be effective against the agile FranXX.
APE's forces are less fortunate. Of the twenty missiles Laevis had launched at the facility, most are shot down by the defenses, but two find their marks. The first strikes a FranXX directly in the chest plate and penetrates before detonating. The resulting explosion leaves little remaining. Two additional FranXX are thrown by the second missile, which narrowly missed its target. Off-balance and in the open, they are subsequently picked off by other marksmen.
Beams of light fired by Chlorophytum batter the cannons and point defenses on the walls, as well as the cover that has been tactically placed outside the Garden. One cannon melts under the assault, while a number of the point defenses are destroyed by the continuous beam that sweeps across the wall. The perimeter defenses suffer minimal damage as the scorching rays are absorbed by the black material they're made of.
Having now advanced to a point where the Garden's defenses are a danger to them, the vanguard changes pace. Valkyra stops at the head of her squad and shouts, "Activating Aegis!"
A whirring sound fills the area and the rims of her circular shield fly out to either side and begin to hover. The central bubble glows a brilliant orange as the space between the rims and shield begins to shimmer. Several seconds later a tangible barrier has formed, connecting Aegis itself to the floating rims of the shield.
As the transformation completes, several cannons fire on the stationary target. Each detonates across the shield, bathing it in flame, but it does not waiver. A second cry can be heard, this time from Valkyra's pilot. "Now, we're your shield!" Without wasting time, her squad takes cover behind the barrier and resumes their march.
This is going much better than expected, Valkyra tells herself. Which means something is going to go wrong very soon.
A low whistling draws her from her introspection. It grows louder and louder until something hits the ground near the middle of the squad some several hundred feet to her right. It is a strange blue cartridge that had traveled in a steep arc originating from within the Garden.
The squad barely has time to react as the cartridge explodes outward, delivering its payload. Arcs of electricity jump to the nearby FranXX and deliver powerful shocks. Two FranXX collapse from the voltage, and a third drags an inoperable leg behind itself to keep up with the advancing column.
In addition to this new threat from above, ten gunners have appeared atop the battlements and have begun harassing the rebel force. Aegis could handle the cannons alone, but with the added strain from APE's ranged FranXX it will quickly begin to buckle.
"Strelitzia!" Valkyra shouts. "Get them off us!"
The red and white mech smiles devilishly. "Here we go, Darling!" Strelitzia steps forward a little ways away from the group and pauses. She crosses her arms over her chest and doubles over. Throwing her head back and arms out to her sides, skeletal wings burst forth from just below her shoulder blades and splay themselves outward. The spindly appendages twitch as she steps behind Gladiolus and wraps her arms around the other mech's waist. "Please don't drop me," the roman look-a-like half jokes, before the pair takes off.
Strelitzia and Gladiolus quickly leave the advancing rebel forces in the dust, arcing toward the riflemen that have populated the battlements. In response to her sudden appearance, the firearm-wielding FranXX have ceased their assault on the rebel ground forces and are instead focused on bringing down the winged attacker before she reaches them.
To protect herself from the wall of incoming lead, Strelitzia interlocks her wings in front of her, using them to absorb or deflect the brunt of the gunfire. As she nears the Garden's walls Strelitzia enters a deep dive, making her too fast to track with a gun, while freeing her wings to be used as weapons. When she comes out of the dive, she is practically on top of the battlement and releases her cargo.
Gladiolus lets out a war cry and plunges into the final leg of the journey. Drawing her trident and holding onto the unfortunate FranXX she lands on with one hand, she drives the pointed weapon forward as it pierces the weak frontal armor of the enemy's chest piece. The roman warrior rolls to avoid the fire of a nearby rifleman and responds by reaching into the pouch on her waist and throwing something forward. The click of her net's activation is drowned out by the roar of the surrounding cannons, but it reaches its target just the same. The FranXX in question is left helpless as her arms and legs are pinned to her sides by the magnetic restraint, and she proceeds to fall unceremoniously onto her face. A quick heel to the head is enough to render the operators unconscious and Gladiolus moves on to her next target.
At the same time, Strelitzia finds herself facing three other members of the riflemen. With her lance at her side and a wicked smile unfit for the grim battlefield, she sets about the task before her.
The first order of business is to reduce the advantage of numbers that her opponents hold over her. This is easily accomplished with a lightning-fast thrust from her lance, made possible by the still-active thrusters on her waist and legs, and it removes one FranXX from play before the others have any time to react. Leaving the weapon embedded in her target, she dives toward the second.
This unit has discarded her rifle and drawn a short sword from the scabbard at her waist. Swinging with the might of both hands, the FranXX looks to cleave the rebel invader in twain. The air whistles as the sword nears Strelitzia, but is casually batted away by one of her wings. The FranXX groans and drops the sword before collapsing, a clean hole in her left pectoral in the shape of the end of Strelitzia's other wing.
The last of the three FranXX, eyes wide in horror, fumbles with the rifle in her hands and drops it as the winged terror approaches. Strelitzia seems to notice something and rapidly places herself behind the frozen FranXX before a lance of pain shoots through the defender's chest. She has no time to process that she's been accidentally shot by her fellow defender as Strelitzia picks her up and throws her toward the still-smoking barrel of her squadmate's gun. Both FranXX tumble over the edge and fall into the Garden's interior. The last conscious memory they has is of the white ground rushing toward her before a sudden impact, and then the world fades to black.
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Delphinium peeks over the hill to see the Garden's walls full of life. "It looks like they've got their attention." You critically watch the defenders. "We should get moving then," you state. "Sylvestris, you ready?"
The white FranXX lays prone on the hill and her cloak shimmers. A moment later she is indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape, and from prior experience you know that she is invisible to both the naked eye and all manner of sensing equipment. She had come to fondly refer to her garment as "The Coat of Many Colors."
"I am ready," she reports.
A quick glance confirms that Argentea and Heliconia are as well, when both of them nod.
"Do it," you order.
Sylvestris nods and begins whispering to herself. "Dear Lord, please let my hands be steady…"
A silent crack rings forth and the first lookout falls with a bolt between her eyes.
"My feet be swift…"
In a matter of seconds there is another, and the second lookout clutches at the new hole in her chest.
"My aim be true…"
Two more shots ring out and the final APE lookouts drop dead.
"And above all, I ask that my enemies fall in a single shot."
"Path's clear! Let's move!" Delphinium shouts. Argentea and Heliconia take off, making a beeline for the wall with Delphinium close behind them. Meanwhile, Sylvestris trades the empty magazine of her crossbow for a full one waiting nearby. "Amen."
As the trio of FranXX charge across the snow-covered landscape, the northern gate of the outer wall opens. From within, a squad of spear-wielding mechs emerge to intercept the incoming attackers.
"Looks like whoever was in charge planned for us to try a surprise attack," Delphinium murmurs. "Doesn't matter," you reply through gritted teeth. "We've still got to push through."
"With respect, commander," Sylvestris' cool voice cuts through the chatter, "scaling the wall will be quicker than engaging APE's forces. I can make the process simple." "Whatever it is you're going to do, make it fast," you order.
A distance from the gate, several bolts find themselves embedded in the reinforced concrete. Spaced at regular intervals, they would be perfect for use as handholds to climb the wall. "Tea, Coni, up the wall," Delphinium shouts as inside her cockpit, you initialize her overdrive.
The FranXX are hot on your heels as the strike squad reaches the base of the wall. With an impressive show of acrobatic ability Argentea scales the wall, jumping past the first handhold and subsequently skipping every other on her way up. Not to be outdone, Heliconia attempts to imitate her. She unfortunately suffers from being the second to use the bolts to climb. Three-quarters of the way up the wall, a bolt snaps beneath her feet and she begins to fall. However a gauntleted hand catches her, and with the assistance of her pink counterpart she makes it to the top without much loss of momentum.
Delphinium, now floating with her transformation to Hierax complete, tucks herself low and fires a burst from the thrusters mounted on her arms, legs, and waist. With the impulse of propulsion, she easily clears the wall and "lands" beside the other two members of her team. This gives you the first good look you've had at the Garden's interior.
From her position atop the north wall, Delphinium affords you a commanding view of the facility. To your immediate south is a cluster of three buildings that Freya's intel marks as the Nurseries. There is a patch of open land between them, and another adorned with the pink symbol of the roman goddess Venus: the Maternal Ward. Nearby is a small lake beside the parasites' dorms and classrooms. Just below the eastern wall, a series of much smaller buildings dot the landscape along with large circular arenas drawn in the ground for use in FranXX training. The gray concrete of the Replacement Division stands out against the otherwise immaculate white of the walls, and then there's the black spire that is the Lab. Finally, above the training grounds, great holes have been created that grant you a view into the underground hangar and docking bays.
As you study the state of the Garden, one of the elevators begins to ascend, carrying more FranXX to assist in repelling the rebel onslaught. A high-pitched screeching pierces the air as a previously unseen mortar located directly in the geographic center of the facility fires. The projectiles arc up and over the walls before crashing somewhere on the other side.
Following the trajectory of the shells also reveals that Strelitzia and Gladiolus are fighting on the rampart opposite you. It appears to be going well for them if the number of inactive FranXX littering the surrounding area is any indication. The red and white mech looks as though she's having the time of her life fighting against real opponents. A spear-wielding FranXX charges her from behind while her attention is drawn to another in front of her, and Delphinium tries to call out in warning. However, before the unseen attacker reaches her, a pair of razor-tipped wings attached to her back twitch and skewer the unit.
You marvel for a moment at Strelitzia's newfound weapons and how much she resembles a fallen angel. That is, until a nearby cannon turns to face her and fires. Even from your position across the three mile diameter Garden, it is almost as though Strelitzia is standing beside you when she screeches in pain. The round violently tears through her left shoulder and the appendage falls limp, thankfully still attached. In an instant, she turns on her heel and hurls her lance at the offending emplacement. It impales the gun, which promptly explodes. Letting out a guttural roar, Strelitzia takes flight and charges the nearest cannon. Using her wings, she tears it from its mount, tosses it aside, and proceeds to the next.
As this unfolds, Argentea and Heliconia drop into the Garden and move swiftly to silence the central mortar firing on the advancing rebel forces. You open the general comm and whistle a seven-note tune before offering a silent prayer the signal will be answered. Pulsing the jets once more, Delphinium displays her own acrobatic skill, doing a front flip before extending her right leg for a flying kick delivered to one of the defenders waiting below. Rolling to her feet, she draws her swords and joins the fray.
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Outside, Valkyra's force had resumed their march once Strelitzia and Gladiolus removed the riflemen from play. In that time, they had suffered several more casualties thanks to the constant shelling by some unseen mortar, but their morale remained steady. Now, they had reached the first defensive line of FranXX and finally broke ranks to engage APE's forces in single combat, where their highly personalized mechs and unorthodox fighting styles would give them the advantage.
At the forefront of the raging battle, Valkyra shines. The blue and gold warrior maiden takes on her opponents in scores of two or three to one, but still she holds strong as a beacon for her troops to look to. Currently she faces against three FranXX, one each at her ten and two o'clock along with the third behind her at her six.
The FranXX continue to circle Valkyra as she formulates a strategy for dealing with them. Aegis can stop any attack from the front, so the one behind me is the biggest threat. They're first.
With the plan complete, Valkyra takes the initiative. Turning on her heel, she bolts at the mech that had been flanking her. The FranXX seems to be more than slightly surprised by her prey's sudden actions and is barely able to bat aside the thrust of the warrior's spear with her own. As the tip of Valkyra's spear rebounds off the frozen earth, she swipes at the still-recovering FranXX's legs. This results in her legs being swept out from beneath her and the head of Valkyra's spear disappearing into her chest.
By the time the first threat has been dealt with, the two remaining APE lackeys have closed the distance separating themselves and the Viking FranXX. Spinning to face them and leaving her spear still embedded in the first FranXX, Valkyra swings Aegis. The first spear bounces harmlessly off the shield, while the second passes under and sinks into her calf.
Inside the cockpit, Kana grits her teeth and wills the FranXX forward. Valkyra slams the rim of Aegis against the shaft of the spear. It shatters and the onlookers are shocked to see her withdraw the spear's head and what little shaft remains from her leg and brandish it as an improvised dagger. "Kyo," she says calmly, "I'm losing feeling in my leg, we've only got a few minutes before it gives out." He sighs. "There's no way we can end this that quickly," is her partner's reply. Valkyra sighs as well. "I know, we just have to try our best and fight as long as we can. The others will take care of things from there."
As Valkyra steels herself, she fails to notice a soft blue glow. All across the armored portions of her body, Norse runs have manifested themselves. Each is different from the next, but a surge of strength pulses through the girl and she feels refreshed. Even the pain and numbness of her wound fade. A two-word sequence flashes through her mind: "Einherjar Activated." She thinks of the words for a second before blinking in surprise. "So this is what it feels like," she whispers in awe. "It's not as flashy as Strelitzia or Delphinium, but it'll get the job done."
With her strength restored, Valkyra pounces on the two FranXX that had been watching in amazement. The first is dispatched with a roundhouse kick to the temple. The second, whose spear had been broken, is forced to the ground as Valkyra tackles her. The blue mech straddles her grey counterpart and pushes down with all her might, intending to return the improvised dagger to its rightful owner by jamming it into her chest cavity. The fight is only momentary as the newfound strength of Valkyra's snaps the wrist of the struggling FranXX and the weapon pierces her chest.
"You lost this," Kyo whispers.
"Valkyra," a voice addresses her over the radio. "What is it, Laevis?" she asks. "Bad news," the rebel replies. "Some parasites must have been out dealing with a Klaxosaur before we got here because you've got incoming!"
The platoon leader looks up to find another two squads worth of FranXX rushing out of the forest by the frozen lake and toward the ongoing battle. "We have to retreat!" someone yells. "That's right, we've gotta get out of here!" another agrees.
"Everyone, stand strong!" Valkyra raises her spear and readies a charge. "Do not falter, not when victory is within our grasp! We will win the day, I promise this!"
Without hesitation she turns and charges. Laevis, having joined the front lines, waves everyone on as she follows with a cheer of her own. Bolts of light rain down from above as Chlorophytum assails the reinforcements.
Their commander's rousing speech seems to light a fire in the remaining members of the rebel force, and with a renewed vigor they follow after her. The two sides clash and the battle is made new once more.
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On the opposite side of the Garden's walls, Delphinium, Heliconia, and Argentea are engaged with the defenders stationed inside. To make matters more complicated, the squad they had bypassed on their way in has returned and now harasses the girls from behind. Compared to the three rebels, the force of fifteen standard FranXX have quite the advantage in numbers, and it's all each of you can do to keep from being overwhelmed.
"We can't keep this up!" Delphinium hisses at you while narrowly avoiding a spear thrust. "I know!" you shout back. She grunts in frustration. "Then do something about it!"
The mortar, which had been your primary target, has yet to be dealt with. No doubt your forces outside are suffering for it. If only we had more bodies. They wouldn't have to win, just be a distraction and even the odds. We could easily take them if it was three-to-one.
The Fates must have heard you, and in their typically cruel fashion, chosen to make things worse rather than better. The elevator leading to the docking bay squeaks and another seven FranXX begin to come in to view. "You guys!" is Argentea's high-pitched warning, as she is the closest to the elevator and would be on the receiving end of the reinforcements first.
As much as you want to help her, you are stopped by the loyalists the moment Delphinium makes a move. They form a semicircle around you, blocking Delphinium from making a move towards Argentea. This leaves you helpless to watch as the incoming FranXX level their spears and fire the tips in Argentea's direction. You wait for a scream, but it never comes.
The battle seems to come to a momentary stop as both the strike squad and APE's FranXX look on in shock at what has transpired. Of the five FranXX that had been harassing Miku and Zorome, two have collapsed with spear tips in their backs and a third has been caught in the mess of cables. The newcomers don't hesitate to recall their harpoons and take aim once more.
For the second time they fire into APE's ranks and two more FranXX, those closest to Heliconia, drop. A cheeky voice comes over the general comm.
"Sorry we took so long, 38. Did you miss us?"
And that's a wrap for part one. Now for your goodies. Don't forget to replace the [] with dot and com!
Garden Layout: imgur[]/a/q2cRoY1
Strelitzia Altus: imgur[]/a/fv4tsN4