Alrighty. In the last chaptyr, Gartier attempted a sting operation, and failed. In this chaptyr we will see the results of the attack on the Presidential Palace. Oh, Squall, why'd you have to leave at a time like this?
I own Gartier, Kaytsu, and... some dead folks, but all others are the intellectual property of SquareSoft.
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President Dincht and company headed over to Caraway's mansion. It wasn't fit for presidential matters, but at least it wasn't on fire... They all sat in the mansions large living area as Zell gave out the orders.
"This is a challenge that we aren't prepared for. A rebellion from within our own state..." Zell's mind slowly began to plan things out. "Get the security up to maximum. No one simply disguised as an officer should be able to penetrate our defenses. The trains should be halted immediately; they could carry as many as 500 of the enemy's troops into the heart of the city. Man the sewers as well." He paused for a moment at the stinging solution the nurse was applying. "They too provide easy access to the city. Kumi," Dincht asked, "calculate the numbers for me. SeeDs are worth 20 men." Kumi nodded and readied his calculator. "We will call upon our reserves and the Galbadian Garden. We will also tell Squall we're going to hire all the SeeDs we can get."
"Squall doesn't lead Balamb Garden anymore, Mr. President," Caraway corrected.
"Oh, right. Then buy every SeeD in Balamb Garden from Quistis. We will also need contracts to find and infiltrate the enemy base. Now, if that takes 10 SeeDs, and securing the boarders take 4 thousand soldiers, what is our strength, Kumi?"
Kumi punched in the last few digits on the calculator as everyone waited in silence. "...Approximately 125,800."
Everyone looked to President Dincht for approval. "Sounds good," he answered as he leaned back into his chair to let the nurse finish bandaging him up.
"What of the people, Mr. President?" Caraway asked.
"Shit..." he cursed. There was no protection for them until his forces were at maximum. "They can either gather up arms or take shelter atop the Golden Gate..." Everyone looked at him bewildered that he would suggest such a thing after he had worked so hard to keep his people out of the line of fire, but these were desperate times. "Move it!" he commanded and everyone was suddenly up and in motion. He rubbed his head.
"How are you holding up?" General Caraway approached the young president.
"I've felt better."
"I know what you mean. Here," Caraway tossed an X-Potion over to Zell. "you have more points to renew with that GF equipped, remember?" he winked.
Zell used the item and replied with renewed vigor, "I almost forgot! Thanks, Caraway."
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General Gartier's squad had stopped transmitting signals, and since the small devices ran on the energy generated by the heartbeat, that could only mean...
"General Gartier, sir. The squad has failed, sir," reports his informant, Ian.
The general cursed under his breath, then growled, "Well, tell the troops to move in then! That would be our next move!"
"Sir, yessir!"
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The former Galbadian soldiers turned 'Arturine' were outside the train. Some were still up playing cards by the fireside, but most were asleep. Suddenly the train whistle howled and the train started to move along. Everyone scrambled, waking their comrades, or gathering their winnings. Soon the train was moving through the night and heading to Dealing, which was just on the horizon.
The Galbadians rode from Dealing in their hummers along side various tracks to their posts at the borders. A man stood up through the roof of the hummer and let the cold wind whip over his body. He stared into the darkness of the night seeing nothing except the tracks catching the light off of the vehicle's own lights.
The man started when the big shadow of a conductor raced in the other direction. He ducked down and yelled for the hummers' about face. The dozen or so hummers performed a well-coordinated tight u-turn and soon caught up with the train. One hummer strayed far to the front to disable the tracks, in the meanwhile, the others raced alongside the train.
The Arturine soldiers began to stir, but they didn't know what to do with the Galbadians outside. The leader of the G-Unit had the soldiers simultaneously throw their grenades, which stuck to the target, and pulled away from the train. Those aboard the train scrambled to return the sticky bombs, but they just found themselves sticking to it. The train blew up in a glorious fire that lit up the night. The group of 200 took out 500 enemies just like that.
The Galbadians hosted many victories over the train wars that night, but the Arturine soldiers had assembled too fast for the Galbadian soldiers, and managed to ride 3 trains into the city. The Galbadian forces were still unprepared as of that night, but managed to stop them just before the Golden Gate.
In the morning, it was announced that the boarders were secured, but Galbadia had suffered a great many casualties within Dealing. 1,500 soldiers raided the city. 2,300 lives were lost to stop them. The odds were not in their favor for close-ranged combat.
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Somehow General Gartier found it in him to wake up at 6am and spring merrily out of bed. He threw on his uniform, but hardly did his tie or buttoned close his jacket. He smiled a toothy grin while he asked, "So, is he dead or alive?"
"President Dincht hasn't been captured, if that's what you mean, sir," Ian replied adding, "He has resisted all of our troops."
"All...?" Gartier repeated to himself. His eyes were wide with surprise. "Impressive. How did you beat 11.5 thousand, Dincht, in one night?"
"...It would seem he knew that the troops would move via train. All train ways are down."
"Well, let's keep sending the soldiers in. Dincht will run out of manpower long before we do," he sounded very sure of himself. "But, let's finish this off before the Garden arrives. Prepare the machines and 50 thousand men. I want them all there and fighting today!" he shouted.
"Sir," Ian began, "we don't have enough vehicles for 50 thousand men..."
"How many can we send in?"
"...17,250, and that's with no machines, sir."
Gartier was infuriated that this was the best his army could do, but this attack combined with the last would surely bring the Galbadian army down. "Send in 15 thousand. That will be enough. While we wait, let's get some ships and cars built."
"Sir, yessir!"
"Make the cities do it, and pay the soldiers whatever."
"Sir, yessir!"
"An immobile army is a useless army."
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Headmaster Trepe parked the garden over the cliff side nearest Dealing City. There she built a rope bridge of sorts that zagged its way to the top. It was built in less than an hour, and soon Quistis was having tea with the president as they discussed business. Sure enough, Dincht bought out the whole garden. Quistis was even got in on the action. She promised to find the Arturo base and lead the infiltration.
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... ...I don't like this chaptyr. There has to be a better way to write about moving armies.
Anyway, just incase you lost count the score is:
Zell: about 4000 on the boarder, 700+ in the city of Dealing, 3000 in reserve, and 2800 SeeDs
Gartier: 15000 on their way to Dealing, 128,500 at home.
