The clashing of blades and the shouts of pain filled the ears of all present.

"Down to me!" One cried out - the woman, Longinus, holding up an incomplete lance, the tip of which appeared weakened, fractured.

"You heard the lady - move!" Shouted the man in riot gear, as the two angels took flight overhead; the figure in dark armour striding into the field, his sword blazing with twin white and black flames in hand as he struck out.

And Vogel -
He stood at Longinus's rear guard with Emilia, as instructed, combating the waves of darkness that flooded them, his bone-hilted blade reaving a path through his foes; his left leg striking through his foes as the plate armour that he oddly wore only on his upper half caught blow after blow.

Pulling up red constructed shields, Vogel hunkered down for a moment beside a man with blue-tipped hair, who nodded at him as he used the cover to fire blindly into the crowds of demon as Emilia pointed into the air, her skull cannon humming to life as it charged - and fired, bleeding through the enemy to clear a path, a path swiftly leapt onto by Vogel, Longinus, and another man, a man with dual white and black blades that leapt into the fray alongside the others.

Striking out with one heavy hand, Vogel struck into the chest of one of the minions of evil, his hand squeezing the first organ it could lock on to as the other swept the sword across its neck, dropping it to the ground.

"Excellent, Red!" The large armoured man bellowed as he struck through another wave with his sword - only to shout out as a wave of demons slammed into him, pushing him back to slow the might of his advance.

Vogel made a move to help him - but his eye was caught, his mind tugged, and he gazed upward, his eyes locking into the brilliant red of Timor, who nodded at him - and with a point and an inaudible word, Vogel let out a sharp gasp, his breath coming out in wheezing bursts as he collapsed onto his knees.

"Vogel!"

Longinus - she had spotted her fallen soldier, and had skidded over, dropping the Lance beside him as she pulled up his head - and pulled a knife free from his chest. Where had that come from?

"Vogel, are you okay?"
The man coughed, slamming the palm of his hand onto the lance's tip, and it was a testament to how wounded he was, since he did not even cry out as the lance pierce his skin, merely pulled his hand back to him, clutching it against his chest.

Longinus muttered a curse - the words illegible, but she snatched up the Lance and her sword, spinning gracefully.

"I am sorry, Vogel - but victory here is more important. We will come for you, if we win."

She stalked off, leaving him to choke as he slumped forward, his vision blurring as he fought for air.

He barely registered as he was rolled over and lifted into the air - but he did remember seeing her face, the pale grey gaze meeting his red with confidence as she hurried away.

"It is okay, Harley." she assured him as she ran, the sounds of combat growing distant as she stopped near a door, and kicked it - a small, swirling gateway opened in it, and she kissed him gently on the head.

"All is going to plan."

His head rolled back, and his vision faded, all that remained was the memory of the clouds.

"Excuse me, Frisk."

She blinked, her gaze returning from her intrusive dream - another in the long line of ones that have begun to creep back into her mind at the worst times imaginable.

Like in the middle of a war meeting.

Her gaze refocused on the only person present that would dare address her like that, in front of the most respected generals of the various armies that she now bore command over - Chara.

"Commander, General." Frisk corrected, trying to not let her annoyance seep into her voice. "You would be wise to-"

"Whatever, Frisk. Are you back to Earth now?"

Waving her hand, Frisk leaned back over the table, poking one of the stationary figures to the side.

"The bases in the UK were easy enough to secure." Frisk began quietly, drawing a line from the island to the mainland. "But the swath we cut through to get there hasn't been the easiest to maintain, so my advisor has been suggesting we cut our losses and pull our troops back to the shores, and if needed, back to the Island - it would be easier to defend with the anti-air we established there, and with the open sea at our backs - the US has refused to join the war, but they have set a perimeter of trade to flow in and out of the western seas, and Pride will not risk engagement."

"And I think that is a stupid-ass plan, which is obviously why you support it."

All eyes slowly moved from Frisk to Chara, and she spoke, not a hint of shame in her voice from the clear disrespect she was showing.

"We lost men fighting to take that front, and you want to make the cowardly decision and run? What type of pussy-ass commander are you, Frisk?"

Frisk opened her mouth in protest - the collected generals from the various countries clearly looked unhappy with how Chara was talking, after all, so she couldn't let this continue - but Chara steamrolled on, pressing one slender finger against a base, one sectioned in the middle of France.

"Look, you made the stupid ass choice to fight through hundreds of miles of enemies to secure your former home, so we may as well move to the next position, right? And that is right here - the NHDS in France, the one that has troops sequestered to continue the assault on the bases we took."

"We can't push into France, General." Frisk said quietly, pointing at the little flag she had set against the country - one clearly marking it as unaligned. "We pushed into the UK because they served as an excellent opportunity for allies, and they requested aid in exchange for it. However, France has made no such delegations, and pressing in for open combat that could potentially lead to civilian casualties can set the French against us."

"Yeah, and? Pressing in would at least let us know where their loyalties lie - and where they wish to fight!"

"No, Chara. That is final."

Chara opened her mouth to speak, but Frisk cut her off by raising a single finger. "Dismissed. Leave my tent."

With an angry growl, Chara spun around, striding from the tent - the two royal guardsmen that had accompanied her, Dawn and Grillby, followed.

"Apologies for that." Frisk muttered, then once again pressed a finger against the shore of Belgium. "So… the plan will have our troops pull back here, and retreat to the UK if needed. Got it?"

The collective generals across the room nodded in agreement, and Frisk waved her hand, dismissing them as she sighed.

"Sans, she is such a chore."

"look, i dont know why you made her general." the skeleton said from where he stood at the back of the tent.

"Because the position fits the member of the Royal Family. Same reason Asriel is a General."

"yeah, but the goat doesnt treat you like a moron at every turn."

"Ugh."
Was Frisk's only reply as she stormed over to makeshift cot, flopping onto it.

"-and in further reports, with a casualty toll of 15% on the Allies side, the MHDS, under the command of General Chara Dreemurr, has found success within the new fort Azeal in France."

Frisk sighed, tossing the report on her desk as she turned to face Sans and Freddy.

"she went anyways?" Sans's eyesockets were stretched wide in disbelief. "how did she manage to section that many troops?"

"She apparently gathered them as she crossed the borders - told them orders were changed. Now, as expected, France is hesitant to open talks with us, especially as Chara blazes through their country side to hunt down the survivors from the fort."

"Fucking…" Freddy muttered, but didn't finish his statement.

"I'll attend to her when she returns." Frisk muttered, spinning in her chair. "Now I need to figure out how to smooth things over. Great."

A/N- As of next chapter, we will have finally reached Arc V.