While the battle for the wreckage of Cosmos station raged on, the northern rampart had been suspiciously quiet. A large rebel assault force had appeared in the south and subsequently engaged with the perimeter defenses along the wall there, concentrating on the southern rampart. Troops had been siphoned from the remaining bastions to shore up the active front, leaving them weaker and more open to a surprise attack.
Nine Alpha was aware of this, but holding three sections of the outer defenses would be worth nothing if the fourth fell to the rebellion. The traitors had been making concerning headway until their legs had been quite literally swept out from beneath them by one of the fort's traps. Rigging the bridges with explosives had been Beta's idea, an excellent contingency that left the rabble easy targets for loyalist gunners as they attempted to ford the river.
The young man was almost pleased with how well the battle had progressed so far. Most everything was according to plan. The Klaxosaur Princess and her FranXX... Klaxosaur, whatever it was, were certain to show up at some point. Though not even she could stand up to six Nines, psionic abilities or no.
"Omega!" Psi shouts at the depiction of Delphinium on screen. The wideness of her eyes, saliva in the corner of her mouth, and bulging veins in her temples are more than enough to show how much of an animal she truly is. The burns from her previous battle have healed thanks to her time in a hypervital unit but the blue locks have yet to return, leaving her hair patchy in some places and downright nonexistent in others.
"Omega, my love, I am coming for you!"
Alpha pinches the bridge of his nose. He cannot wait to be rid of her after their decisive victory this day.
"For the last time, he no longer pilots that FranXX."
Psi's gaze snaps to him as she lets out a snarl. "You don't know that. He could be waiting for me to free him from that bitch right now!"
Before the lead Nine can reply with something less than courteous, another speaks up.
"You know, Psi, we confirmed in the assault on their base that the FranXX known as Delphinium was piloted by Codes 390 and 666. You know, Omega is piloting with the Klaxosaur Princess after the loss of Code 015," Sigma reminds her.
"Kill… her too," Tau grunts, unclenching her fist into an open palm.
A wicked smile overtakes the leader of the second class and the flames of rage and passion burn brightly in her eyes.
"Yes, yes! Omega and I will be reunited even if I have to kill every last Klaxosaur. I will skewer them, slice them, slash them, vivisect them, cut ribbons from their entrai–"
"Enough!" Alpha silences the crazed woman, having become tired of listening to her ravings. In a single motion he pushes himself from his comfortable seat in the middle of the crowded room. "Beta, ensure our FranXX are ready. Lingering in this stuffy command center has grown dull. It is time we take to the field."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the distance beyond the walls of the hastily erected fortress, three colossal canine figures crane their necks and cry out to a moon drowned out by daylight.
These wolves are unknown to many of the defenders, but some of the more senior recall the stories of a trio of Klaxosaurs destroying Plantations 26 and 59. Terrible creatures that devoured a whole plantation and its inhabitants without a second thought. Ones that felled retreating defense squads before drinking their fill of orange lifeblood from their kills. Ones that match the descriptions of what the defenders are seeing now.
Two are smaller, though calling them pups would be inaccurate. One is black as a starless night sky and the other is with a mane as white as freshly fallen snow, each with distinct Klaxosaur blue veins dotting their coats. The third dwarfs them both, surveying the landscape through its only eye. A hollow socket is all that remains of the other, the organ having been lost to the lance of an enemy turned ally.
To counteract this new threat, APE reinforcements headed to the southern rampart are pulled back. Strength in numbers has always been APE's advantage, and the sheer size of these Klaxosaurs makes it clear they will be needed to bring down the beasts.
Now that their presence has been announced the wolves set their sights on the prize to be won. Taking off at what is first a trot before turning into a dead sprint after several strides, the massive canines cover the no man's land in less than a minute, all the while shrugging off cannonfire from the fortress.
The defenders give a strong showing, throwing everything they have at the approaching hounds. It simply isn't enough. Shots from the riflemen and cannons alike glance off their armored hides while missiles do little more than blacken the pristine coat of the white wolf.
It had taken the rebels nearly five times longer and a multitude of casualties to gain the same stretch of ground in the south.
Upon reaching the outer rampart, the two smaller wolves jump the fortification entirely. This move is entirely unexpected by the loyalists, which causes the inner rampart to open fire on the Klaxosaur attackers. They pepper the Klaxosaurs well with gunfire, but also their own brethren as a result.
Above the noise and confusion a voice cries out. "Fenrir, Hati, Sköll, slaughter them all!"
Hati and Sköll, the smaller of the trio, snap at the defenders on the outer barricade, their powerful jaws capable of biting a FranXX in half. Even the mighty Dauntless class are not out of harm's reach.
Sköll proves this by snatching up a heavy mech who had discarded its sword and shield for a spear to poke at the much larger Klaxosaur. There is a resounding crunch as fangs crush steel, after which the struggling of the unit ceases. The body from just above the waist down crashes to the rampart, while at the same time Sköll tosses the torso above its head only for it to disappear into its gullet a moment later.
APE's forces are further demoralized by Hati raking its claws back and forth across the rampart. Some defenders are crushed between the paws of the great beast and the very fortifications they cling to for shelter, while others are thrown from the battlement itself. Matters only grow worse for those displaced as many find themselves in the immediate danger of being trampled.
While Hati and Sköll focus on the outer rampart, the infamous great wolf Fenrir has turned its attention to the fortification beyond. As with the other facilities of the loyalists, the further in one proceeds the more impressive the defenses become. Prototype rail guns line the walls, hidden amongst the more typical array of autocannons.
Puffs of flame caused by the detonation of the explosive rounds fired by the autocannons leave Fenrir caked in soot but don't deter the Klaxosaur's advance. If anything, they only serve to annoy him further.
After several minutes of intense fighting, APE begins to gain the upper hand thanks to their superiority in numbers and the arms they bring to bear.
Hati's shriek of pain is how it begins. Incapable of penetrating Fenrir's skin, the railguns had turned their attention to the white wolf. Now its formerly pristine hide is marred by wounds and luminescent blue blood.
With a groan the canine sinks to the ground, the damage to its hindquarters from the inner rampart too much to endure. The loyalists swarm the fallen Klaxosaur, which is left largely defenseless in its weakened state.
Fenrir and Sköll rush to aid their kin but it comes too little too late. So many puncture wounds line the exposed underside of the white wolf that it is beyond saving. The dying animal lets out a weak howl before ultimately falling silent, with its tongue lolling from its mouth.
The death of Hati sends the surviving members of its pack into a frenzy. Any natural feeling of self-preservation is lost as the mixture of rage and sorrow fuels the colossal wolves to even greater destructive heights.
Sköll throws itself at the outer rampart, not caring as much about the defenders but instead damaging the structure itself. Blood begins to flow from newly opened wounds torn by the jagged edges of the exposed steel framework. The damage mounts though, as groans from the understructure betray how much punishment is being doled out by the massive creature. Thanks to its repeated crashing against the rampart, within two minutes an entire section comes crashing down.
Meanwhile, Fenrir has set its sights on the railguns responsible for the demise of its brethren. Between crushing the emplacements underfoot and using its powerful jaws to pull them from their mounts, the loyalists have little choice but to abandon the weapons or find themselves victims of the rampage of the one-eyed monster.
In order to repel the more dire threats to the fortress, APE issues the order to pull back half of its troops to the northern side of the inner rampart. This relieves some of the pressure on the rebels' main force, but it is necessary to combat the Klaxosaurs. With significantly fewer guns firing at them and a more equal footing in terms of manpower, the tide begins to shift in the south. Emboldened by the arrival of their Klaxosaur allies, the rebels in turn redouble their efforts. It is still a slog but progress is finally being made.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After Fenrir and its brood had been dispatched as the opening act to the Klaxosaur offensive, Apocolysta had watched and waited to see how APE would react. If they overcommitted then it would be necessary to overplay her own forces to ensure the rebels were able to breach the southern defenses. Should the wolves be ignored, an opportunity for the biomechanical menaces to strike at the fortress' core unabated would appear.
The chittering mass surrounding her is barely contained. Conrad and Mohorovicic classes make up the bulk of her forces, but several Gutenberg are present among the horde. There were more shapes and sizes than she could count: those that could crawl, those that walked, some who slithered, and others who burrowed beneath the surface.
All of them ready were to strike at a moment's notice, to fight and die on her order. Many would perish in the coming hours. They weren't expendable, not her in eyes, but any price was justified if it meant Papa and the council could be confirmed dead. APE would crumble without its figurehead, and those that didn't surrender to the rebellion would instead be crushed by the Klaxosaurs. A most agreeable arrangement.
"Shouldn't we get involved?" a weak voice asks her.
Apocolysta sighs. She would like to but the time to reveal herself hasn't yet come. Activating the internal monitor she is greeted with a most distressing sight, her pilot sweating profusely and already short of breath after being connected for only a short while.
"No. The time has not yet come and you must save your strength. Our enemy's most devoted pawns are surely waiting, and only we can hope to defeat them."
Covering your mouth to stifle a cough you reply, "I'm fine. Just feeling a little under the weather is all."
"Brave and foolish, the captain of the royal guard would have found your company most agreeable," Terra states, surveying the battle on the horizon.
You adjust yourself to sit straighter, which helps with the cough you'd developed in the last several hours. "Oh, and who was he?"
Terra's tone turns somber as her expression changes from steely commander to something entirely different. "He was to be my mate. An honorable male who exemplified the traits we Klaxo-sapiens held in the highest regard."
"I'm… I'm sorry," you say, clearly realizing that you'd unintentionally broached such an unpleasant subject.
It is quiet for a moment in Apocolysta's cockpit. Only the sounds of the nearby Klaxosaurs and cannons in the distance can be heard.
Eventually the reigning monarch speaks. "You are very much like him. He would be pleased to know that humanity could offer a champion capable of meeting my 'stringent expectations.'"
Apocolysta gives a small chuckle after finishing. Clearly she is remembering the moment in time when that phrase had been used.
"Ichigo would have liked you too," you tell her, sharing your own experience. It was only natural to open up to someone when they did so with you, after all. "She was strong and brave. She had to, needing to put up with someone like me. But still so gentle and kind. I couldn't have asked for a better partner or mother for the girls."
Terra's smile is shown through Apocolysta and a hint of joy can be felt via your connection. "It pleases me to hear that. To be both a fierce warrior maiden and a loving mother is a compelling feat all should aspire to."
At that moment, a flash of sorrow mixed with great anger courses through Terra and into you.
"Hati has fallen," she says without betraying any emotion. "APE has made their decision, and we are the greater threat. The time to strike is now."
The monarch's tone becomes steely and she raises her voice while at the same time thrusting her arm forward. "Klaxosaurs, the hour has arrived. Rush forth and claim victory for your princess! Wash over them like the tide and paint their fortifications red with the blood of our enemies!"
For hours the horde had been contained by only Terra's will, and now she has cut them loose. Over a thousand of the machines shriek, roar, or cry out as a mass of black and blue bodies charge the northern rampart.
Apocolysta falls in step behind them. It is more of a leisurely stroll compared to the rushing about of her forces, as she wishes to avoid putting unnecessary strain on her pilot before it is absolutely necessary. The enemy she needed to face would survive long enough for her to arrive anyway.
In the meantime, Fenrir and Sköll have succeeded in inflicting significant casualties and sowing untold chaos among the ranks of APE. They are approaching their limit, however. Against the unending hail of lead, Sköll's hide has fared poorly and rage is all that has kept the beast going. But even such a powerful endorphin cannot will the body function when all of its vital organs have been pierced or punctured with thousands of little holes. Ultimately the creature succumbs to its injuries, leaving the haggard old wolf alone against the loyalists.
Before the battle Fenrir had only one eye, and now it has marginally less. A stray shot from one of the rail turrets had found purchase in its orbital cavity and severed the nerves in the back of the empty eye socket. While some of them were already out of use after the loss of its first eye, there were several still assisting in the vision of the remaining one. As a result its vision has turned into a blurred mess, making distinguishing the finder details of anything impossible. Even the difference between a large Dauntless FranXX and a lithe gunner or a static gun emplacement cannot be discerned by the rampaging Klaxosaur.
Before reaching the third and final bastion, Fenrir stumbles into the remnants of a spire, one of many pieces of the station that litter the battlefield. The structure groans under the weight of the great beast but remains standing. Despite this, a sharp edge teeters at the precipice, holding on by only a few frayed steel cables.
While the Klaxosaur is still regaining its bearings, a high explosive shell detonates against the spire. Such a loud explosion followed by a great concussive force further disorients the canine. In an unfortunate turn of events it also causes the cables to snap.
Fenrir howls in pain as the tip of the spire pierces its side, driving the creature to the ground. The Klaxosaur remains pinned against the earth, thrashing and snapping at any who come near with the vigor befitting of a cornered animal. Time is against it however, as over the course of several minutes Fenrir's agility severly deteriorates and its bark becomes even weaker than its bite.
Rather than continue to waste resources against the doomed Klaxosaur, APE instead leaves the old wolf to its fate. It isn't long before Fenrir succumbs to its injuries, but not without taking any FranXX foolish enough to step within reach down as well.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
With Fenrir's death, the loyalists have successfully contained the threat of a Super Lehmann-class Klaxosaur accompanied by a pair of Gutenberg allies. It is a feat that few can claim to have accomplished. In their wake comes a ravenous horde of Conrad- and Mohorovicic-class Klaxosaurs ready to eliminate whatever still draws breath.
On the horizon, a figure slowly makes their way toward the facility, seemingly unmoved by the destruction and with no sense of urgency. She is graceful and stunningly beautiful, yet terrifying. Apololysta is the angel of death come to claim those for whom the bell has tolled. The loyalists manning the walls make no mistake: they've heard the chime and their time is up.
Guns blaze and explosions rock the landscape as the tide of Klaxosaurs rushes toward the first rampart. Utilizing their ability as natural climbers, the biomechanical beasts scale the walls or clamber over one another to reach foes who are too worn and haggard after fighting off Fenrir's brood to put up any more than token resistance.
It takes less than a minute for the outer rampart to fall. The tide of black and blue rolls on unabated toward the second, letting out all manner of war cries as they trample across the scrap-covered no man's land between fortifications.
They have nearly finished covering the distance when a blinding flash of light erupts from the ruins of the first barricade.
For several seconds all any onlooker can see is a pure white light. Many were unprepared for this sudden eruption and had been facing in the direction of its source. Were it not for the synthetic eyes of the FranXX through which they see, they would have been left blinded. Those manning the cannons and other static defenses are less fortunate. Some drop to their knees clutching at their eyes while others stumble in whatever direction their feet take them, including over the edge of the rampart.
The flash is terrifying, but it lasts for only a moment. What comes is the true danger.
A wave of heat nearing 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit, greater than the surface of Earth's sun, radiates in all directions from the source of the detonation. Accompanying it is a pressure differential that flattens everything in its path and scatters the dusty remains of those caught in the blast to the wind.
Though visible for but a moment, a pillar of fire approximately a quarter of a mile in height could be seen by those with sharp eyes. It is quickly obscured by a mushroom-shaped cloud rapidly ascending toward the heavens above. Towering over the battlefield at its peak of nearly 45,000 feet, the plume of smoke and debris is visible from satellites in orbit as well as those on the ground many miles away.
When the ground has ceased its shaking and the dust has begun to settle, all that remains at the site of the detonation is a barren waste. Everything within a mile radius is simply gone. The outer rampart, the majority of the Klaxosaur horde, any loyalists left fighting desperately for their lives, nothing had been spared. Cracked and charred earth in places turned to glass by the intense heat is all that remains.
This was not the first nuclear weapon APE had employed. In the past, several low-yield tactical thermonuclear bombs had been employed against the Klaxosaur menace after it first surfaced. These weapons were quite effective against the masses of smaller creatures. Even if their use had resulted in the creation of the Australian Exclusion Zone, which would be devoid of life for hundreds of years.
When it became clear the first rampart would fall into the talons of the Klaxosaurs, the order to play the loyalists' trump card had been given. All that remained was to wait until enough of the monsters had entered the zone of total annihilation, and… poof.
Nothing was off limits if it meant victory would be achieved. Nothing.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Several miles from the facility Apocolysta stands frozen in shock. The seasoned warrior hasn't seen nuclear fire in over a hundred years. Klaxo-sapiens had never developed such weapons and not a day went by that she wasn't thankful for it. Such power belonged in no one's hands.
While Terra remains awestruck, you are immediately overcome by a feeling of intense dread. The explosion had originated from within the first rampart. That meant a nuclear weapon had been intentionally hidden away there for employment if it was certain that the position couldn't be maintained.
Furthermore, there is no doubt that others have been placed in strategic locations around the facility. Most likely, this was to give complete coverage of the outer walls and possibly the secondary bastion as well. The clock was ticking before the next would be used. The Klaxosaurs lost were a setback, but ultimately there are tens of thousands more. Should the warheads along the rebel front be used, almost all of the rebellion would be consumed by the resulting explosion.
"We have to end this!" you declare, drawing Terra from her stupor. "Only one man could have given that order. Kill him and we save everyone."
Shock and sorrow melt away from the monarch's expression. Steely conviction and a desire for blood take their place as Apocolysta plants her heels and prepares to charge. Time meant more than anything at this instant, the consequences of using her full power be damned. With the wail of a banshee she takes off toward the facility at top speed, crashing through the second rampart and then then third as though they hadn't been there at all.
Dust and rubble settle as the slim figure steps forth from the wreckage, a halo of blades slowly orbiting behind her. A snarl graces her lips but it is the voice of another who speaks.
"Alpha, this ends now!"