Author's Note: Well I'm back from the dead. To my readers I am deeply sorry that I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy with summer (i.e. vacation and camps). Well to all you hungry for more here Soldaten: Part V.

A platinum blonde woman held her sword close to her chest as she scanned the horizon of the Third Impact World. The sky was blood red, the soil; poisoned, and the air had a stale taste. She looked at her companion, an eight-foot tall cyborg, who was the silent monolith overlooking the landscape, keeping his vigil over the war-torn world. His face was hidden by a mask, with only slits for eyes. The woman turned to the cyborg, sensing that he was troubled. She loosened the grip on her sword, and looked towards the Prototype Mobile Evangelion Unit 14.

"You're tense, aren't you Brian?" said the woman in a mother-like way.

"It's just that these Anarchists use these tactics to 'persuade' people to join their cause. All this show of force, just for one objective, for one purpose."

"Yes, they are quite crude aren't they? You've fought them before Brian, and you still have second thoughts about their motives? Figures; you were always second guessing yourself, even when you were in dire straights."

"Veronica," Brian sighed "if I remember correctly you weren't always this, well, sarcastic. You were a nice girl, once upon a time ago, and now here you are bossing your older brother around."

Veronica looked at her brother, eyeing his armor. She knew it wasn't so much for protection, as it was keeping his intestines together. "You've changed too, Brain."

"Yeah, except all that's changed for me is that I'm incased in this armor, if you haven't noticed Miss Veronica Sanchez, Lieutenant of the Empress's elite guard." He turned around to look at the regiment he and sister had in their command. Their army of SBHM was quite small compared to the Anarchists moving through the remnants of New York City. However the Anarchists were known as "blood donors" for a reason. Their armies were huge, and their causalities just as large. The Anarchists only won by the skin of their teeth, or by overwhelming odds. Either way the SBHM's objectives were clear: capture preferably, or kill Field Marshals, Asuka Langley Soryu, or Kensuke Aida. Second objective was to kill Anarchist command in this area. High command had already determined that the regiment would move in after the Anarchist's or the Refugee's were through.

Brain eyed the soldiers in his regiment. Most of them were young, idealistic, and stupid. Most of them had not seen much actual combat, mostly because they were stationed on guard duty in the fortress cities or "sacred provinces" as their formal name went. The others in the army were actual robots, made for combat in the absence of actual human beings. The philosophy that the SBHM had was that machines and humans should co-exist in the Third Impact, and having a mixed regiment was only putting the philosophy to use. Most of the soldiers were armed with Kreig Commando 500's; rifle's capable of sniper operations and full out combat. They were armed much better than the Anarchist's who mostly had AK-74u's which were still sturdy and reliable, but not as versatile. Brian's scouting of his army was cut short by his sister, who had received news from high command at New Cana in the Mojave Desert.

"Brian," she said in calm voice "you're being sent to the Anarchist mobile command center. Your mission is to dispatch of the commanding officer, Colonel Braxis."

"Sounds simple enough; get in, assassinate some colonel get out." Said Brian without a touch of emotion.

"Your mission starts in 2 hours, at which time; you should be at the base."

"What? No transportation? They are really pushing it aren't they?"

"Oh quit complaining, transportation shouldn't be a problem for an EVA like you."

"Right, just make sure command doesn't fire on me, alright sis." With that Brian leaped 70 feet into the air, spreading his 'wings,' gliding towards the battle below. With his ax-sword in hand and handgun in its holster, he tilted downwards to the ground.

"Be careful." Sighed Veronica as she watched him go. Her brother always returned home in one piece, even after his accident. It pained her never to see his face again, but she knew it was better to have some form of her brother then none at all. A human corporal came up behind her and gave her a quick salute. "At ease, what's the problem?"

"It's the Empress, milady. She demands that guard have a council immediately regarding NERV."

"Alright corporal, ready my chambers."

"Yes, milady." The corporal turned around and pointed to two privates to Veronica's chambers. Veronica glanced back at them, and then looked back the bleak landscape. NERV, the name of a dead organization that built the Evangelion's and led the world into the 3rd Impact. Veronica thought the SBHM would've hated the organization, however the SBHM used NERV's tech for their armies, and their cities. Countless improvements were made to their armies, such as better weaponry, control of the machines, and better power outlets for their fortresses and mechs. She turned around from the battle to her quarters where the preparations were being made for her meeting with the Empress. Her quarters had air conditioning, a fanciful excuse for being an officer, so it was considerably cooler then the outside world. She walked in her private quarters where all the preparations were made for the Sync Conference with her and the other council members, as well as the Empress. She took off her officer's jacket, and unclipped her combat vest, because they limited transmission signals between her and the other council members. She was only left with her dull cut off and tight short shorts. She sat down on her chair in a meditative posture to calm herself, as she felt up her down her neck for her neural links. She picked up a cord that was lying on the ground like a dead snake. She then carefully thrust it into her neural link. A rush of cold, numbing pain seared up and down her body. She gritted her teeth, reminding herself that it would last only a few moments. The pain finally stopped, leaving only a cold sensation in her brain. Soon her feet, then her legs, torso, chest, neck, and then finally her head, went numb. Veronica's eyes rolled back into her head as she collapsed in her chair, unconscious.

She "awoke" in a grand, cathedral-like complex, sitting in a chair across from the other council members. Most of them were Scholars of the Imperial Archives; however some of them were commanders of the Queen's guard, like herself. Others were generals and magistrates from other provinces. She looked at her "clothes," which had changed from the military skivvies she was wearing earlier. She was wearing Nobles' robes, colored in maroon and silver, the imperial colors. On her shoulder, was the symbol of the Queen's guard; twin silver swords outlined in gold, guarding a maroon crown. She looked up at the council again, in which most of them were looking at the Queen, although some were getting used to this Sync conference. In this dimension, your image would be self projected, however your choice of clothing was limited by the occasion, and you could only use two of your five senses: sight and hearing. This was a little disorienting to some who could not feel anything with their hand, giving them a sense of weightlessness. The Queen, who was seated in the middle of the table, rose up and began the meeting.

"The 23rd council of New Cana and the new age of the Sacred Bond between Humans and Machines is now in session." She was greeted with enthusiastic applause by the council. "Today we have discovered a new weapon that will make the Mages and Anarchists tremble in fear! Council Member Dornan if you would please." A brown haired young man with blonde streaks in his hair rose above the council.

"Today, Strike Team Bravo of the Wolf Army has found something buried within NERV headquarters site two, about three weeks ago." Another council member rose across the table.

"Why was this not reported sooner? They should've made their report sooner than three weeks! What held them up so?"

"If council member Orofino would hold his tongue, I will explain" Dornan slashed back. "They were held up because one of the squad barely made it to New Cana with little but his life and a spent rifle. Thank the Queen he was spared death! He reported that Site 2 was not entirely destroyed as we previously thought, but a strange cross between an EMP bomb and a Nuclear Explosion."

"What makes you say that?" said a tall man with bronze skin and a mop of curly, dark brown hair.

"Because only the cage that held the Evangelion Units was turned into pure energy, along with the top levels. However lower levels of the facility were spared with the exception of all electronics fried and disabled. Also another factor was found that is currently under investigation."

"What is this other factor?" an old woman spoke out.

"Zombies." There was some murmuring among the council about the proof this accusation had.

Veronica was the first to speak to the council directly. "How can this even 'factor' possibly exist? I mean there is no way for actual undead to come back to life per se. If you mean with like an electrical shock like a defibulator, than yes we would accept this accusation."

"However you do know," Dornan began "that each AT field generated by Angels and Evangelions alike consists and is powered by a soul. At the time of NERV 02 destruction there could've been some form of energy that brought back the deceased and gave them souls back. It's in the theory stages but it's one of the best ones we've got."

"Thank you Dornan," began the Queen "now share with us more interesting information about the Evangelions, please."

"Oh yeah," Dornan furiously flipped through his data pad searching for the information. "Here it is, I think this will all interest you." In the middle of the table a huge hologram appeared in a light blue tint. "You all know about Veronica's brother, Brian, and how he is the prototype for our mobile Human-Evangelion hybrid. However effective, he is still a prototype and lacking in an adequate power supply and armor capable of withstanding battle. With just his strength along with his augmentations, He can only have about an hour's worth of power, which is a huge improvement over the maximum 5 minutes the original Evangelions had, but is still not capable of contious battle lasting days. We needed a better power supply and that is what we got. In the 02 site, there was a smaller version of the S2 engine was found. In other words a dummy plug with the power of a nuclear reactor, without the risk. I think it would greatly improve Brian's movement and power intake."

"Thank you Dornan," the Queen interjected "Is there anyone in the council who would like to comment?" Veronica stood up from her chair.

"Excuse me, but I will not have my brother infused with a dummy plug and an S2 engine at the same time. Aren't the S2 enignes combined with the dummy plug a way of causing extreme bloodlust, rage, and insanity within the Evangelions. My brother is not just some mech you can pull the plug out of. What if this backlashes or has even worse effects for him?"

"It is only a theory," Dornan reassured "We have no motive to try out on Brian just yet. First we would design a unit, non-human of course, to test this S2 engine on."

"Would anyone else like to comment." The Queen told the council. "Then it is settled. Commander Dornan will begin the S2 projects to improve our Evangelions. In the meantime, commanders report back to your duties, and scholars return to your libraries. Vive un Imperium!"

"Vive un Imperium!" the others shouted. They all disappeared back to the world seconds after.

Veronica awoke feeling like she had a hangover from a long night with some scotch. Her eyes rolled around in her sockets, trying to see depth and perception again. She tried getting up but her legs were too weak. She cursed silently to herself; this was one of the worst side effects of Sync conferences. They took all the energy out of the council members and Queen. She sat back in her chair trying to regain herself, when her colonel walked in. He turned away immediately.

"I I I'm sorry m m m milady." He stammered as he started to sweat bullets down his face.

"Never seen a woman naked huh? Don't worry you're not missing much." Remarked Veronica.

"Sorry ma'am but its a little…well…uncomfortable seeing your commanding officer half-naked."

"What? I don't look that bad, do I? I mean I stay fit, and I'm only in my early 20's. I don't look like your grandmother do I?

"No ma'am you don't!"

"Good, 'cause if you said I did…"

"I'd be demoted?"

"Worse, cannon bait" The soldier shifted uncomfortably in his stance. "Anyways has been any word from my brother?"

"No ma'am, no word. It's been only 17 minutes so we have nothing to worry about."

"Good and one more thing." She extended her hand "Help me up." The soldier smiled.

"Yes ma'am."