Chapter 21: Ace in the sleeve
Weiswolf, December 1st, 2.41pm
It had been three weeks since the first attack launched by the invaders, which had destroyed as many as 50 large terrestrial cities (including Paris, Tokyo and Pendragon), killing tens of millions of people. A few hours later the armies of Gerel had landed, composed of cyborgs, frames and Fighter aircrafts, which, like swarms of locusts, had spread across all continents, sowing destruction and death and causing countless victims. The imperial army, orphaned by the FLEIJA warheads, had engaged in battle against them, but this had not prevented the fall of the entire southern hemisphere and of vast regions of the northern hemisphere (Iberian Peninsula, Poland, North Africa, Middle East, China, India, Burma, Thailand, Caribbean islands etc.). In the rest of the world it was a total battle between the alien and human forces. The latter had quickly lost air superiority, as the alien aircraft were equipped with deflector shields that protected them from any external attack. Ground forces, on the other hand, were equivalent, because for some reason the infantry and the alien frames had no shield and therefore could be destroyed by the imperial armies. Besides the regular forces the invaders had to deal with resistance movements formed in all the occupied areas, which led to a ferocious and systematic guerrilla war against them, and to which they responded with ferocious reprisals. The fighting raged everywhere, from ruined cities to deserts, from rainforests to the countryside, and there were losses on both sides, and even among civilians. Cornelia stood in front of a virtual map of the world, on which the front lines, the position of the armies, etc. were represented. The map was updated every 24 hours. The empress had a distraught expression on her face.
Damn it ... I'm responsible for this situation! I ignored the warnings of Ajatar, I stayed watching as they positioned their spaceships on our cities! And in doing so, I sent tens of millions of civilians to death.
She thought, with shining eyes.
Leila was in her room and was writing in her diary.
Third week of war ... The situation is becoming increasingly critical. The armies of Gerel gain ground everywhere, whole cities collapse in front of them, and for each enemy regiment that we destroy another 10 they take their place. They seem to never end...
She snorted, disconsolate.
Suddenly she sensed a presence. She turned and saw Esdeath staring at her with her arms crossed.
"Leila ..."
"Esdeath ... What do I have to visit?"
The blue-haired woman sat on the bed, and then fixed her interlocutor in the eyes.
"I know we have not talked to each other for three weeks, and last time it was not pleasant."
"Come to the point."
Esdeath gave a long breath before resuming:
"Your father, Bradow, was a charismatic politician with the right cards. I saw some of his speeches on Yourtube. He would have been a great president for Euro Universe. "
"It's true…"
"When I saw your speech, 13 years ago, I immediately realized that you were at his height, if not more. With the strength of your words you have restored order in Europe. The people adored you, you were the idol of the masses. And I admired you very much, in fact I venerated you ... You were a goddess for me. "
Leila was surprised by that statement. In three years the ice queen (nickname of Esdeath during the war against Britannia) had done nothing but prick her and offend her. She did not expect the admiration below.
"I was sure you would lead us to victory. Then that bastard Smilas said you were dead ... And the world collapsed on me. I cried for a week, you know? "
Leila continued to remain silent, too stunned.
"After the fall of the Euro Universe, I gathered a handful of soldiers and gave myself to the bush, continuing the guerrilla war against Britannia, even after the conquest of the world by Lelouch. I swore to myself that I would liberate Europe and the world, restoring freedom to the people. Unfortunately, I deluded myself. "
"But if you admire me so much why treat me so rudely?"
"And you ask me? For years I thought you dead, only to find out that instead you were hiding somewhere. I felt teased ... "
"What should I have done, in your opinion?"
"Return to Paris and take the leadership of Euro Universe against the hordes of Schneizel!"
"Esdeath ... We have already discussed this. I was tired of wars and intrigues, I just wanted a quiet life together with my friends, far from everything. And anyway the situation was irreparably compromised: most of the territory of EU was in Britain's hands, the army was unprepared for war. I could not have done anything. "
"You could have followed your father's footsteps ..."
"And die in an terrorist attack like him?"
"I did not mean that…"
"I'm a good fighter and an orator, but I'm not a deity or a superhero. I do not do miracles."
"I know…"
"I'm sorry for making you cry, and for disappointing you. And know that I greatly admire your determination and your confidence. "
"Are you serious?"
Leila nodded.
"You are a strong and autonomous woman, and also an excellent fighter. I respect you very much despite our bickering. "
I hurt her ... And she esteems me ...
She swallowed, as she felt her eyes moisten. Instinctively, she stood up and hugged Leila, catching her by surprise.
"Esdeath, but what ..."
"Leila, forgive me! I was unjust towards you! I did not want to understand your reasons and I treated you badly for no reason! I was really stupid! "She stated, as tears ran down her face.
After the initial amazement, Leila smiled and hugged Esdeath in turn.
"I forgive you." She whispered in her ear.
"I ... Thank you! You really have a heart of gold! "
At the same time, Tony and Kyoko were in a corridor.
"Is she still locked in her room?" The boy asked.
"Yes ... She never goes out, she does not talk to anyone, she's always sad." His wife answered.
"I'm not surprised ... She lost two of her dear friends."
At their destination they saw Katyusha, Erika, Miho and Maho standing in front of a door.
"Anchovy? Come on, open! "Katyusha begged her.
No reply.
"You've been locked in there like a mole for three weeks! In this way you only hurt yourself! Those two will not come back to life! "Said Erika, annoyed.
"Excuse me?" Tony called to her.
The four girls turned to him.
"You're Anchovy's boyfriend, are not you?" Maho asked.
"Her lover." Kyoko intervened, giving her husband a threatening look.
"Yeah ... Can I talk to her?" The latter asked.
"We are trying, but it does not come out. It's walled alive." Miho said, disconsolate.
I suspected it…
He thought, snorting.
"I try to talk to her."
He stepped forward and opened the door.
"Anchovy, disturbance?" He asked.
The girl lay on her bed, her eyes focused on the ceiling. Her appearance was depleted.
"Leave me alone ..." She said, in a ghostly voice, a whisper from another world.
Worse than I thought ...
"I know you're sad for the death of Carpaccio and Pepperoni ..."
"If you know, leave me alone!"
"I'm worried about you ... Like everyone out here!"
"Nobody asked you to!"
She turned to the wall.
"I should have insisted that they come with me ... I was wrong to leave them to Pendragon!" She said, her voice broken by tears.
"Anchovy..."
"GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE! HOW DO I HAVE TO SAY YOU? I DO NOT WANT TO SEE NOBODY! GO FROM THAT SLUT OF LEILA AND DO NOT BOTHER ME! "She shouted, furious.
Though reluctantly, Tony closed the door.
"It hurts my heart to see it reduced like this ... It's usually cheerful and sunny." He said.
"I doubt that will return that before ... She lost everything: home, friends, her city ... There is nothing left." commented Kyoko.
"Nothing? She has us! "Katyusha exclaimed.
"She do not think so, unfortunately ..."
"We'd better go back to our rooms ... We can not do anything here. She's too pained to listen to us. "Maho said.
"Do you think you're the only one who suffered loss? Nonna, Lina, Klara ... All death! And yet I do not whimper! "
"But if you cried for three days, locked in your room ... However it is true, we all suffered losses. Right, Miho? "
"Right, sister ... Hana, Yukari, Mako, Saori, Anzu ... Now they will become piles of ashes. "
"Koume too." Erika interjected, sad.
"Damn it ... We should fight the invaders, do not stay here and turn their thumbs!" Ashley exclaimed furiously.
"Orders are accurate, dear ... We must defend this fortress from possible enemy attacks," Harley said.
"But I feel useless like this ..."
"We would be useless anyway, until we find a way to deactivate the deflector shield of enemy fighters and especially City Destroyers ... In three weeks they have annihilated several cities around the globe, like Damascus, Moscow, Beijing, Mumbai and so on."
"I know ..."
"As long as the big guys do not have a plan of action, we have to stand still."
"Good, those! Each of their strategies only serves to make us resist but not to counterattack! It would serve a real strategist with the counter-flakes to organize a valid strategy ... But unfortunately there is no such one! "
"With all due respect, Lord Ashra, you're wrong."
"Evergreen? What are you doing here? "Ashley asked.
"I know a person who can elaborate superfine strategies, which have allowed him to win many battles in the past."
"And this person is here in Weiswolf?"
"Yes, if you follow me I will show you."
"Ok ..."
"One moment! I want to come too! "Harley exclaimed, intrigued.
"Come on."