Tales from the First Panzer Division
Mission Three: Welcome to the Neighborhood





Author's Notes: I will finish Eratos, eventually. But right now, this seems to perk my interest! And hopefully I'll get around to writing that Karl/Thomas lemon





Mission Log: #8998652372. Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz reporting. The next mission takes us to the far reaches of the Western Continent, and to Yvette's old neighborhood. For all pents and purposes, this is not a good thing for Officer Yvette. But the person we're after is Yvette's sadistic father, Drako. This'll be a LONG mission. Just hope Barticelli keeps his piehole shut.




"Gods, this place sucks." It wasn't Chuckles who said it, it was Scotty. "Looks like a whore house shit room."

"..." Callisto remained quiet, her blue eyes glittered with sorrow and regret.

"This place reminds me of home." Chuckles was for once without a remark to say, which surprised Callisto.

"I thought you grew up good."

"I did. Doesn't mean I grew up in a white-picket neighborhood." Chuckles looked around at all the rundown buildings.

"Now I knew what they meant when they call this place 'The City that Shames the Empire'." Karl kept his comment to himself, but Leon heard rather well.

The place was totally rundown, women with tons of make-up and dresses with a lot showing walked up and down the neighborhood. They were kind of frightened when they saw that the Empire had sent their best Division here, some of them ran into alleys. Leon looked around and frowned sadly. "A lot of the bad neighborhoods of Earth were like this. Druggies and pimps all over the place."

Jinx was saddened at the sight, she turned back toward her commanders. "Can we save these people?"

"Most of the time, they are too far gone to be saved." Doc answered her, very sad himself. "They're so stuck in their ways, there's no sunlight left... no rope. No help."

"...no hope." Leon finished Doc's sentence, then stopped the König Wolf. "What's the gameplan, Colonel?"

Karl turned the Iron Kong Mk-II to look at his troops, then tried to remain focused. "We're here to find Drako. He's a well-known, well-feared pimp here. I'm sure these ladies want him dead after all, he's done his fair share of tormenting them. But also keep in mind, we're here for one man. Leave all others alive if possible."

"Yes, sir."

"I don't like this." Scotty frowned, remaining at Doc's side, looking around at the neighborhood.

"Neither do I. But we got a mission."

Jinx and Callisto traveled together, walking down the road in their Great Sabre and Dark Horn.

"My mother was a prostitute." Callisto began, her voice low and sorrowful. "When she went out to put money on the table, she'd lock me in a closet. That's where my father found me and.... well, after that, I learned to hate all men, no matter how noble they present themselves to be."

"Yeah, but look at the men here in the 1st Panzer Division. They're not the typical 'bad men' and Col. Schubaltz and Mjr. Aethelwulf has proven themselves over and over again."

"...I know. I want to see."

"Then what's holding you back?" Jinx asked.

"My father."

"I admit, I wasn't close to my pops either. He died when I was 2." Jinx frowned, the Great Sabre by Callisto's side.

"But at least you didn't know your father. I didn't want to know mine. He was a brutal man."

"...you're luckier than most. You're in the 1st Panzer Division instead of out there..."

"I.... I have to agree there." Callisto nodded, then looked around.



"I feel weird leaving Callisto alone like that." Karl looked around the buildings for the incriminating stairway. "She's still hurting after the whole thing with her father."

"I know." Leon answered him, also looking for the stairway with the neon paint. "But she's gotta have to learn to trust us."

"It'll be hard for her to." There was a moment of silence, Karl's eyes fluttered shut. Leon looked up at his comlink, clearing the air by clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry about the other day..."

"Leon, there is something that I been meaning to ask you." Karl asked softly, his eyes glittering like pretty emeralds.

"Yes, Karl?"

"Why did I end up...." A light blush tinted his porcelain-white cheeks. "...in bed?"

"You fell in the shower. You would have drowned if I didn't walk in to check on you."

"You saved my life?"

"Yes, Karl." Leon began, a sweet, charming smile on his face. "The truth is... I...."

"Sir!!" Their lovely moment of solace were interupted by Jinx's cries for help.

The rest of the Division rushed to the street they were in, the girls were sustaining heavy fire from 2 Gun Blusters. Getting up on a ruined building, Leon took aim at the Gun Bluster as a pair of visors appeared over Leon's eyes. The Third Eye Emerald materialized on Leon's forehead, the psychic Exemplar was ready to strike.

"PSYCHIC ASSAULT!!!!"

The Gun Bluster fell down, its' cockpit smoking and it caught into flames. Chuckles and Jinx shielded Callisto from the heavy bombardment that she was getting. The blonde opened her eyes to see of all people, Chuckles's Great Sabre firing at the Gun Bluster and taking the damage for her.

"Skeet.... n-no...."

"Hey, maybe I can get you to notice me, eh, Callisto?"

"Chuckles! Get out of there! Your Great Sabre's taking a heavy amount of firepower!" Karl commanded, seeing the Great Sabre start smoking.

"Chuckles!" Jinx gave him one BIG push, knocking him to safety. Doc rushed in to shield the fallen Great Sabre with the modified Lightning Saix's shield.

"Damn it! Where is he!?" Leon looked around with the visor. "Karl! This Gun Bluster's got stealth capabilities!"

"It's Drako." Karl growled over the comlinks. "The Gun Bluster of his is said to have it!"

"Drako?" Callisto opened her tearful eyes, looking up at the Gun Bluster. She aimed her gatling gun and tried to aim, she could somehow see the Gun Bluster even with its' capabilities on. "No, father. You shall hurt none of my friends." She fired, getting the Gun Bluster in the canopy. It fell to the ground, dropping its' shield. Callisto finally collapsed, the Dark Horn still.

"Gods..." Scotty leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temples. His Dark Horn fell to its' knees.

"Is everyone okay?" Karl asked, looking at his troops cautiously.

"Yeah, A-OK here." Chuckles moved the Great Sabre's head to face him.

"I'm alright." Jinx nodded, the rest gave Karl a salute... except Callisto.

"MacLean? Are you--??"

"I'm fine, Colonel." She sobbed, collapsed on the Dark Horn's panel. "I just want to be alone right now."

".... yes, MacLean..."

Callisto sobbed on her panel, a dirty, ragged and torn doll in her hand.




Mission Log: #8998652372. Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz reporting. Mission: SUCCESS. However, Officer Yvette MacLean decided that enough was enough. She is officially retiring from the 1st Panzer Division. We shall soon be getting a new flanksman.... I hope he can bring to the table that Callisto always has... She will be missed dearly... not only as a comrade-in-arms... but as a loyal friend.



"We'll miss you, Callisto." Jinx hugged Callisto and smiled sadly. "I hope you will do well where you go."

"I'm going to travel the world... I'll send you all a postcard." Callisto smiled and slung her bag over her shoulder. She turned to face the jeep when Chuckles caught her eye. Callisto turned to face Chuckles, the look in their eyes tells everyone that there is much to be said, but the fear of saying it. Without saying a word, Callisto jumped into the jeep and it drove off.

"Dun worry, Chuck... there will be others." Scotty patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, but the way she calls me 'pig'... sounds romantic." Chuckles walked into the base, not saying another word.




-Continued-