Chapter 14: Lines
Squall didn't expect cheers from his people as they watched him. He knew he wasn't likely to get a standing ovation. However, as he looked over his people's faces, he did see what had hoped to instill.
There was a nod from one technician, the firm set of the jaw of a second. Another clenched his fists, not in anger, but in determination. All across the line of SeeDs facing him, Squall saw his people stand strong, and he knew that they would stand behind him.
"Intercom," Squall ordered after a moment, and one of the technicians hit the comms system. The speakers popped, and Squall cleared his throat.
"Attention, Balamb Garden," he called. He waited a moment for everyone within the building to focus on his voice. "This is Commander Leonhart. Most of you have probably been watching the broadcast, or listening to the radios. You know what was transmitted moments ago across all frequencies. Acting President Crell Varines of Esthar has made an open declaration of war . . . ." Squall hesitated, the words catching in his throat. All of Garden needed to hear this. They likely knew already.
"His war is against Rinoa Heartilly," Squall explained. "I know that . . . . Some things have been kept classified. Edea Kramer passed on her powers after she was defeated three years ago, and those powers were passed on to Rinoa. Without those powers, we would have very well lost later on against the remnants of Deling's regime in the Lunatic Pandora. Regardless of what you may hear, I want you to remember the war with Galbadia. She was with us there, fighting alongside us and saving the lives of you and your fellow soldiers and SeeDs. Rinoa is part of Garden, to the core."
Squall paused once more, letting the words sink in, and continued, a forceful, determined tone creeping into his voice.
"As far as I am concerned, Crell has declared war on Garden. I am not going to surrender, or back down. I have told the command staff, and I will tell all of Garden here and now: If this man wants a war . . . . He's going to fucking get one.
"Any personnel who do not wish to be involved in this, for whatever reasons, please come to me. We will arrange for your release from Garden during the course of this conflict. As of this moment, Balamb Garden is going to full wartime alert. Take all necessary measures as appropriate." Squall nodded, and the intercom was cut off. He shook his head and turned away, before walking back across the room to where Laguna and Cid stood.
"So that's it, then?" Laguna asked as Squall returned. The SeeD Commander nodded.
"We're at war," he explained after a moment of thought. "The time for doubts is over. Its time to solidify our core and met them head-on."
"At war again," Cid commented, and shook his head. "Another tyrant decides to rear his head."
"Makes it easier to cut it off," Squall stated, and turned, looking back at the main screen as it showed status reports from all around Garden. "Still, we're in for one hell of a fight, I'm guessing."
"How many men do you have?" Laguna asked, and Squall shook his head.
"After Centra, we picked up a lot of new recruits," Squall explained. "We've got perhaps twice the manpower we had during the war with Galbadia. But that's including Galbadia Garden in that estimate, and we don't yet know where their loyalties lie . . . ."
Squall trailed off as he heard the door to the command center open, and glanced that way, to see Rinoa step into the room, looking around with wide, worried eyes. Squall was immediately struck by a wave of concern and surprise, having completely forgotten what it must have been like for her to hear Crell's declaration, especially with it being directed specifically at her. Squall quickly detached himself from Cid and Laguna and moved across the room toward her, but Rinoa spotted him and dashed over quickly, wrapping her arms around Squall before he could stop. He felt her hug him tightly, pulling him close, and he returned the sentiment.
"The broadcast," she whispered. "I heard it. Everyone did. The secret's out now . . . ."
"We knew it would happen some time," Squall responded. "Remember what I told you, okay? It doesn't matter what happens, Rinoa, I'm going to be here, with you."
"I know," she whispered. "But . . . I just didn't expect this so suddenly." She pulled back, and looked up at his face. "A war, all for my sake-"
"He's using you as an excuse," Squall answered, shaking his head. "That's all. He doesn't care about you or your powers. He just wants to conquer the world."
"You think that makes it any better?" Rinoa answered, and Squall was silent for a moment.
"What about Garden?" she continued. "We just fought a war with a Sorceress three years ago. I don't think anyone would forget that so easily."
"Sir?" Squall stopped his response to Rinoa before it even began, and glanced over his shoulder, to see one of the SeeD technicians standing behind him. More importantly, most of the other technicians and guards had assembled or were gathering around the one who had spoken.
"Yes?" Squall responded, and the SeeD hesitated, seeming to think over what he was about to say.
"Commander, when we were fighting against Galbadia and Sorceress Ultimecia, I was stationed in the Quad," the SeeD explained. "During the motorcycle attack, I was wounded pretty badly. Sword slice, right into my lung, grazed my heart. I would have died out there, but I didn't." He looked to Rinoa, and smiled. "Rinoa came out of nowhere and used a healing spell to stabilize me, sir. I owe my life to her. I don't care if she is a Sorceress; I'll give anything to pay her back for what she did."
"Damn straight," remarked another SeeD to the left of the first one. "I was in the Quad too. Rinoa was fighting with all of us, just as hard as any other person! She's part of Garden!"
"Sir," Added another SeeD, moving to the front. "You said it yourself. This isn't about Rinoa. This about Garden. Crell declared war on her, so he declared war on all of Garden."
"A lot of us don't care if Rinoa's a Sorceress or not," added yet another. "Garden takes care of its own!"
"If you're fighting for Rinoa, sir, Garden is with you," stated the first SeeD technician. "You're our Commander. We all remember Centra, sir. We all remember how you fought, and no SeeD would willingly turn his or her back on you."
"That bastard wants a war?" echoed one last SeeD from the back. "He's gonna fucking get one!"
At this, a resounding cheer sounded across the command deck as the SeeDs cried out in heartfelt agreement. Squall watched his soldiers declare their loyalty, honestly amazed by their positive response. He had been expecting some to remain loyal, and others to stand with him regardless, but had also anticipated that people within Garden would have been hostile, considering the news.
"Thank you . . . " Squall stated after the cheering died down.
"No need to thank us, sir," stated a SeeD. "We have to thank you, for everything you've done for Garden. We're in your debt. Heaven or hell, we'll fight for you and Garden, Commander."
"If that's the case," Squall stated after a moment, and let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. "Let's get to work. This war isn't going to fight itself."
The crowd of SeeDs began to disperse at Squall's order, and as they neared their workstations, one of them paused, and then glanced up at Squall.
"Sir," she said, tapping her keyboard. "We've got an incoming transmission. Its from Galbadia Garden!"
"Patch it through to my office," Squall ordered, and glanced at Rinoa, then Laguna and Cid. "We should all have a look at this." They nodded, and started up to Squall's office. They entered his relatively sparse and utilitarian office and gathered around the desk as Squall lowered the privacy blinds and activated the flatscreen projector on the wall. A panel slid up, revealing the screen, and the image of a blonde man about a year older than Squall, clad in the uniform of a Galbadia Garden SeeD, and outfitted with a series of bars along his collar that indicated he was the ranking officer of his Garden (now that Martine was arrested, of course). Squall and Cid positioned themselves in front of the camera that would project information back to Galbadia Garden, while Laguna and Rinoa prudently moved out of sight until his motives had been confirmed.
"Commander, Headmaster," the man stated with a nod.
"Lieutenant Commander Kisk," Cid responded with a nod of his own. "This is a high-priority transmission. I something wrong?"
"Yes, Headmaster Kramer, there is," responded Kisk. "Galbadia Garden Intelligence has been receiving disturbing reports of terrorist activity around the globe. Naturally, we were conducting investigations into the matter." The Galbadia Garden SeeD tapped a control outside the view of his camera, and an image appeared on the screen, displaying what looked like the blasted ruins of some kind of prefabricated camp in a mountainous region. "We were coordinating with Dollet's own Security Agency in tracking down a terrorist cell behind the gas attack in the capital a few months ago. We tied the attack to a branch of extremist hardliners who were part of Sorceress Adel's regime when she ruled Esthar, operating in the Dollet mountains. A raid was carried out yesterday, during the assassination attempt, and among the items recovered from the terrorists' base camp were a series of data discs and documents hinting that someone within Garden may have been providing them with intelligence and information on their next attack."
"I'm guessing the assassination attempt yesterday was that attack?" Squall asked, and Kisk nodded.
"Naturally, Intelligence was highly disturbed by this, so we began our own covert investigation, without authorization from anyone. The information within the files we recovered was fairly specific, so we were able to rule out a lot of Galbadia Garden, but that left much of the command staff as possible suspects. We dug through files and utilized backdoors established a long time ago for internal investigations, and we quickly determined who the traitor was." Kisk paused, and took a deep breath.
"Headmaster Kramer, Commander Leonhart, I hate to say this, but Martine Cayes is the man responsible for the attacks yesterday."
"You're certain?" Cid asked, and Kisk nodded.
"I can upload the necessary files directly to your computers, if you need them. They confirm that he was complicit in the attacks, including direct correspondence with a woman named Illarra, who you arrested yesterday."
"I see," Squall answered after a moment. "Is anyone else within Galbadia Garden part of this plot?"
"Martine's files, including a personal journal, state clearly that he was acting alone," Kisk answered. "It seems like he was planning on taking over control of the entire Garden organization, and using that control to keep us out of the way of something he called 'the final war.'"
"Makes sense with Crell's declaration," Cid murmured. "Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. With that information,w e canr elax."
"Sir?"
"Martine Cayes was identified as a traitor less than half an hour ago," Squall explained. "Shortly before Crell's declaration. We have him in custody now. We were uncertain if Galbadia Garden itself was a part of the conspiracy, and are treating all personnel from it as suspicious. We can lower those restrictions now."
"Thank you, Commander," Kisk stated.
"Also," Cid added. "With Martine under arrest, we need a new Headmaster for your Garden. Headmaster Kisk, are you ready to lead Galbadia Garden until further notice?" The blonde man on the other end straightened up, and saluted.
"Of course, Headmaster Kramer," Kisk responded. "Thank you for trusting me in this matter."
"You should put your Garden under full alert, Headmaster," Squall explained. "We're at war with Esthar as of twenty minutes ago. They still have a naval presence around Fisherman's Horizon."
"I understand, Commander," Kisk answered. "But Crell is the lawful president of Esthar, and their leader was assassinated yesterday. Can we trust that his claim is innaccurate?"
At this, Laguna stepped forward, before anyone else could speak, and moved into view. Kisk's eyes immediately widened as he faced the true President of Esthar.
"Crell Varines is a member of a Neo-Adelist faction that is directly responsible for all the attacks that occurred yesterday, including the attempt on my life, Headmaster Kisk." Laguna shook his head. "He is not the lawful head of my country, and is in fact a human rights criminal who served under Adel Harbringer during her reign. He's a madman, a dictator, and he's going to conquer the world, and use Rinoa as an excuse to do it. We're going to put a stop to him."
Laguna glanced to Squall and Cid, and his stern expression shifted to a slightly uneasy, questioning one.
"Uhh, we are, aren't we?"
"Yes, Mister President," Cid answered with a chuckle. "We are."
"Galbadia Garden is at your command, Commander Leonhart," Kisk stated with a nod. "Give us your orders."
"As I said earlier, full alert," Squall stated. "Withdraw all personnel from Fisherman's Horizon ASAP. We're pulling out. The Estharian navy near here is too powerful, and even now may be en route to attack us. We can't wait around. Be prepared to leave the city within the next thirty minutes."
"It'll be done," Kisk answered. "Galbadia Garden will be standing by for further orders. Headmaster Kisk out."
"While we're on this note," Laguna added as Kisk's image vanished. "I'll check with Kiros and Ward about Render, see if they'll stick by us. They should, those boys have been with me since the revolution."
"Another Ragnarok wouldn't hurt," Squall commented, and Laguna nodded before leaving the room. Cid rubbed his chin for a moment as the President left the office, while Squall sat down for the first time he had in a while.
"We've got Galbadia Garden with us, and Trabia Garden will certainly fight by our side as well," Cid began. "But we don't have the manpower to match Esthar."
"What about Dollet and Galbadia?" Squall asked, and he glanced at Rinoa.
"My dad," Rinoa said with a firm nod. "He'll stand by us. But I'm not so sure about his people. They won't forget what Ultimecia did to them so easily."
"Duke Haroldington and General Randolph will not betray us," Cid added. "We can count on Dollet's support, at least."
"It still won't be enough," Squall remarked, and shook his head. "We'll need to end this war fast. I'd suggest something quick. A SeeD strike team to take out Crell in his base of operations."
"That would work," Cid stated. "But it would be an enormous challenge. We haven't operated inside Esthar since our first contract with them fifteen years ago."
"Maybe-" Squall's words were cut off as his intercom beeped. He flicked it on. "Leonhart."
"Squall!" came a shout, and the Commander stiffened as he recognized Xu's voice.
"What happened?" Squall asked.
"Its Illarra," Xu answered. "She's escaped from Interrogation One!"
Half the damn prison had to have heard him clambering about by now, Irvine thought to himself as he moved through the ventilation shaft. He wasn't exactly the most stealthy of SeeDs, and the tight confines, with the metal that seemed to ring and resound with every slight movement he made did not help with the sharpshooter's confidence that he was moving undetected.
Nash had left the room, leaving Selphie alone in the operating bay. The damn doctor had done something to her, and Irvine wanted to know what the hell it was before he made his next move. Not to mention that Nash might know something useful about this prison, and the sharpshooter wanted to know what he knew.
Not to mention his response when I drop in with no clothes on and armed with a deadly inch-long blade . . . itshould be pretty funny.
It was easy enough to figure out where Nash was going. In fact, it had taken Irvine only a few moments to find out Nash was hanging suspiciously close to the lab where he was supposed to meet with his mystery helper. Irvine didn't believe in coincidences, and Nash just happening to show up in the lab when Irvine was escaping, right where they were supposed to meet, certainly seemed like one.
The weird doctor had kept the lights off, and was pacing around the lab slowly, pausing every time he passed the force shield containing those strange vials. Irvine waited in the vent directly overhead, watching him move around, and as the doctor passed beneath the vent, the SeeD moved.
As silently as he could manage, Irvine dropped feet first through the open grating, and landed behind Nash as he walked away from the vent. With two steps, Irvine was directly behind the man, and quickly snaked his arms around, one hand grabbing his chin and lifting it up, while the other poked the scalpel into Nash's neck.
"Howdy," Irvine whispered.
"You're late," Nash muttered, surprisingly relaxed. "Nice way to greet the guy who got you out of that prison cell."
"So it was you," Irvine hissed, and slowly removed the scalpel, releasing the doctor. Nash turned around, and Irvine narrowed his eyes, still surprised by his shocking similarity to Squall. Nash seemed to search Irvine's features as well, for an odd moment, before nodding to himself.
"I knew you would manage to get out," the doctor stated. "Now that you're free, on to the next step."
"Next step?" Irvine echoed, and Nash nodded.
"You may not realize it, but things are going to get . . .explosive around here, soon," Nash began to explain. "Your arrival just happened to be the catalyst in this reaction."
"You mind acting like I don't know what the hell is going on?" Irvine demanded. "And while we're at it, what in the name of fucking pink polka-dotted hell did you bastards do to Selphie?"
"Selphie," Nash said, nodding to himself. He glanced back at the operating room. "You were the one who was in there, I'm guessing?"
"Yeah," Irvine said. "Now, what the hell happened to her? You said she had affinity for Guardian Forces, and that's why you and Odine needed her."
"Yes, she does," Nash said with a nod. "I . . . I am sorry that we did this to her. Odine wanted to test out the enhancement process on someone whose body was accustomed to Guardian Forces, and sadly, I needed her data to perfect the process itself."
"Yeah, remember that thing I said about pretending I don't know what's going on?" Irvine asked angrily. "Get back to it. What's going on here, and what the hell happened to her?"
"Okay, I'll explain it from the beginning," Nash said, and sighed. "This facility is under the control of a faction of Estharian citizens who were, up until twenty years ago, part of Adel Harbringer's regime."
"I know that much," Irvine said. "Your buddy in black gave me the orientation tour."
"Correct," Nash said with a nod. "However, the purpose behind this facility is unique. The Neo-Adelist faction that has seized control of Esthar's government is currently perfecting what they consider to be the newest, most revolutionary addition to warfare the world has ever seen: artificially produced Sorceress power."
"Artificial Sorceresses?" Irvine echoed, eyes widening. The notion of one Sorceress was bad enough. But if that was applied to an entire army . . . .
"Needless to say, such an advancement would alter the course of warfare forever. Adel was performing such research when she was controlling Esthar, but the process was never completed. After Esthar was taken over by Laguna Loire, Major Virago continued the research on her behalf. Unfortunately, his research was put to an abrupt end fifteen years ago when Garden's first class of SeeDs was contracted by Esthar to destroy their facilities. It set them back by a decade.
"Research was moved hereto Iceblood Prison, where the development process stagnated. The best that they could produce was imperfect being infused with some magical energy that made them stronger and tougher. Somewhat like SeeDs, actually, though these creatures lost their sanity. Fortunately, by this time Major Virago had aligned himself with a Sorceress named Veronica Anderson. You've met her."
"Yeah," Irvine responded darkly, nodding.
"Veronica could control them with her magic, and used them as guards for the prison," Nash continued. "But research continued to make little advancement, until she arrived."
"She?" Irvine asked, and Nash nodded.
"And Unbound Guardian Force," Nash explained. "I don't know why, but she appeared and revealed the final secrets of creating individuals that were beyond the human norm." Nash glanced to the vials on the wall. "Those are the keys. The essence contained within the stones that Balamb Garden uses to junction Guardian Forces. Direct injection of these contents confers upon the patient a deep, resonant connection with the Guardian Force in question. Injection transforms the individual from a human being into what we have called an Elemental, a person able to wield magic and elemental power as if they were a Sorceress . . . Though the power is limited only to the sphere of control of that particular Guardian Force."
Nash turned back to Irvine, and sighed regretfully.
"Selphie has been injected with a vial containing a Shiva stone's essence. She has already undergone the Elemental process and soon she should be waking up with that power."
Irvine listened, trying to wrap his head around the concept, and finally surged forward, grabbing Nash by the front of his coat in fury.
"You turned her into one of those things?" he snarled.
"She will retain her sentience and intelligence," Nash explained quickly. "As I said, the creatures you have already fought are imperfect. She is a perfect Elemental. She is still the same woman you know and care for, but now has a different perspective on life."
"Fucking hell," Irvine growled, and released the doctor. "Is there any way to change her back?"
"If I knew, I would do it," Nash stated. "I don't want her to suffer anymore than you do. Information obtained in these experiments has allowed the faction to produce soldiers who are faster and stronger than the human norm, and able to regenerate physical damage, while retaining their sentience and without putting them through the entire Elemental process. You have already encountered these men."
"Those soldiers in the castle's basement," Irvine muttered, and glared at Nash.
"Virago will have created a full battalion of them by now," he explained. "And judging by what I have heard, a war is brewing in which they will be the centerpiece of his army. Those Elementals are as strong as a Balamb Garden SeeD. No regular military will be able to stand up to them, back by unlimited Estharian military technology and manpower."
"This guy is in command of Esthar?" Irvine asked, and Nash nodded.
"Laguna Loire was supposedly assassinated, and the Wiseman's Council has been destroyed," he explained. "He has seized control of Esthar under the pretense of preventing another Sorceress war, and he intends to conquer the planet using Esthar's armies and these Elementals. And there are only two ways of stopping him."
"Those being?" Irvine asked.
"The first is pure, complete Elementals," Nash explained. "Virago's Elemental battalion consists entirely of men enhanced through magical injections based on the Guardian Force research done here. Its cheaper and more economical to use regular magic instead of an actual Guardian Force. However, those who are injected with Guardian Force essences are vastly more powerful than they are. To the lesser Elementals, they are as SeeDs against normal men."
"And the second method?"
"Destroying the Elemental essence within them," Nash stated. He paused for a moment, and then gestured toward the door. "Come. I must show you the Prototype."
Nash moved toward the door, and Irvine followed hesitantly. The doctor opened the portal, and looked outside, before nodding. He waved Irvine out into the hallway, and they quickly moved out into the silent facility. Nash made his way down the hall toward another doorway, this one heavy and reinforced. He entered a code into a keypad and the door slid open, allowing them entrance into another laboratory, this one a vast chamber. At the far en was a large dome-like structure with a single pressure sealed door on it, marked by a square window, from which emerged a glowing blue light, the only illumination in the chamber.
"This, Irvine, is the Prototype," Nash explained. "The first purified, true Elemental." They crossed the room toward the dome, and Irvine looked inside. His eyes widened as he saw what was inside.
Glowing blue light filled the dome, and within was a pale, naked figure, floating into the chamber, curled into a fetal position. He could only see the figure's face from a profile, but that, along with the black hair and the strangely familiar features, was all he needed to see.
"Serra?"
"Just got off the horn with Render's crew," Laguna said as he came back into Squall's office. "We've got a second airship on our side. Those guys are loyal entirely to Kiros, Ward, and me. Also got word that some of our fighter squadrons are none too happy with what's happening, especially those that fought against the Galbadians at the Lunatic Pandora. There's rumors that they're leaving the country, and bringing their planes and support crews with them."
"That's some good news," Cid answered with a nod. "Well have a decent air force, but still nothing capable of matching up evenly with Esthar's air fleet."
"Still, it's a start. Hopefully we'll get Galbadia and Dollet in on this and their air forces can back ours up." Laguna paused, glancing around the room. "Hey, uh, where's Squall?"
Martine Cayes gagged as Squall lifted him up in the air, fist closed around his throat.
"Where the fuck is she?" he snarled, blue eyes blazing with fury.
"She's gone . . . ." Martine wheezed. The older man clutched futilely at his neck as Squall stood there, unmoving, lifting the larger figure off the deck. Surrounding them in the hallway outside Interrogation One were a dozen Garden Security officers, but none of them wanted anything to do with the interrogation. Even Xu was hanging back.
"I let her men take her out of here . . . ." Martine continued.
"You murdered a SeeD, and you betrayed Garden!" Squall growled, tightening his grip. "Tell me where the hell she went, or I will gut you right now."
To accentuate his point, Squall drew his gunblade and pressed the tip of Lionheart against Martine's stomach. The treacherous Headmaster's eyes widened.
"Trabia!" he gasped. "The closest secure base is . . . In Trabia!"
"Where?" Squall demanded. He pressed the blade into the man's stomach, unyielding anger and contempt clear in his expression. Martine only had to stare into the SeeD Commander's eyes to be able to tell that Squall would not hesitate to do exactly as he had said, so full of fury and hatred he was.
"The prison!" Martine said. "The secret prison at Iceblood!"
Squall released Martine, and the man fell to the floor, coughing. Squall towered over him, and slowly returned Lionheart to its sheathe.
"Get this piece of shit traitor out of here," he snarled as he turned away. Garden Security hoisted Martine up and started to haul him off.
"I've . . . Never seen an interrogation like that one," Xu remarked as Squall marched back toward the elevator.
"I'm not letting Illarra get away," he stated firmly as he boarded the elevator, Xu following him. "She's too dangerous, and this is too personal."
"Don't let your feelings cloud your judgment," Xu remarked, and Squall nodded after a second. The elevator continued to rise up toward the command deck, and Squall stepped out. Xu was right behind him, clearing the doors an instant before it all went to hell.
He felt the impact more than heard in, and Squall was sent off his feet as all of Garden shook, the entire structure pitching forward a few meters. He scrambled back up to his feet, and glanced back, to see Xu doing the same, and the Commander lurched forward, rushing out onto the command deck. He pushed open the doors, and was greeted by blazing klaxons and shouts from all around the command deck. The first words he heard clearly were an urgent order from the center of the command deck.
"Nida, get us the hell out of port now before they fire another salvo!"
Quistis was in the middle of the deck, shouting orders at the top of her lungs as Cid and Laguna rushed down the steps leading from Squall's office. The Commander felt a strong arm steady him, and glanced to his left to see Zell standing beside him, helping Squall stand.
"What the hell's happening?" Squall demanded.
"Estharian navy!" Zell shouted. "They just fired on us!"
"Main screen!" Quistis shouted. "Tactical, how many are there?"
"Four destroyers, two cruisers, and a battleship, ma'am!" shouted a technician as the main screen shifted to show a map of the ocean around Fisherman's Horizon, and a tight battlegroup of Estharian warships to the east, about fifteen miles out.
"What did they hit us with?" Quistis demanded.
"Magnetic accelerator cannon!" answered another technician. "Glancing blow, no serious damage. Bounced off the hull armor on the second level. No injuries reported."
The Garden lurched slightly, and the buildings outside began to drop away from the window as Garden pulled out of port.
"It takes fifteen seconds for those cannons to reload, and thirty to recharge!" Laguna called as he rushed out onto the command deck. "Only that battleship has a cannonpowerful enough to hit us at that distance."
"Nida, you heard the man!" Quistis ordered. "Get us out of here at flank speed before they can fire a second salvo!" She paused as Squall moved across the room, Zell right behind him, and stood beside her.
"Esthar just took a potshot at us," Squall commented. "Right?"
"Looks like they were trying to take us out with a long range strike," she responded. "Hit us before we knew they were there."
"Estharian battleship is firing!" shouted the tactical officer.
"All personnel, brace yourselves!" Squall ordered. An instant later, a massive slug rocketed past, the shockwave of air from its passing causing the chamber to shudder.
"They're desperate to hit us," Laguna commented. "At this range those cannons would miss a mid-sized city."
"We're moving outat flank speed!" Nida called from up above.
"Communications, get in touch with Galbadia Garden," Squall ordered. "Tell them to break away from FH before the rest of that battlegroup comes within range! Send out messages to Render and Ragnarok as well,have them take off and escort our Gardens."
"Aye, Commander!" responded the technician in question. "Messages away!"
"Are we out of effective range?" Quistis asked Laguna, and the President nodded.
"Like I said, they can't hit us at these ranges," he stated, and his words were followed by another shout of "Incoming fire!" A heavy metal slug flew past, ripping through the air, but missed Balamb Garden completely, splashing out into the ocean nearly a quarter of a mile away.
"Like I said." Laguna repeated.
"Estharian ships closing after us at flanks speed," reported another technician. "Looks like . . . .they're a bit faster than us. Galbadia Garden has left port at Fisherman's Horizon and is moving to follow us. I've got Render and Ragnarok in the air, following behind us as well."
"How good is that anti-air phalanx on those ships?" Cid asked Laguna, who shook his head.
"Good enough that something big like a Ragnarok would get shot down in a few seconds," Laguna replied.
"No air strike options, then," Squall muttered.
"Galbadia Garden is following right behind us, sir," called the tactical technician. "Looks like the Estharians are laying off the long-range bombardment and are trying to close in on us."
"Makes sense," Quistis commented. "Garden doesn't mount any naval weaponry. If they can get close enough to us to use plasma cannons and shoot their magnetic cannons more accurately, we'll be dust."
"And they're faster than us, too," Zell added. "Squall, man, I just know this is going to be ugly. If they catch up to us, those guns will blast us to pieces."
"Our best chance is to use either the Salamanders to launch a quick naval attack, or to turn the Gardens around and meet them head on at full speed," Squall mused.
"The Salamanders would be cut apart by those ships long before they got close enough to do any damage," Laguna stated, shaking his head. "And if Garden rushes them head on, it'll give them all the broadsides they need. By the time we'd get within range to board those ships, there won't be anyone left to make a boarding attempt."
"Looks like we're in a lot more trouble than I thought," Squall said, shaking his head. He closed his eyes, and considered their options. Right now, they were sailing west, but the Estharians would eventually catch them and pound the Gardens to death at range with their weapons. Without naval guns of their own, the Gardens were just giant targets. Nothing they had could get past the enemy defenses . . . .
"Contacts!" shouted the tactical officer. "I have contacts directly ahead of us, closing at flank speed. I'm reading twelve, seventeen, twenty nine, fifty-two . . . Holy shit, eighty-six warships, ranging from escort corvettes to aircraft carriers, directly in our path!"
Squall looked up, face going pale.
"Estharians?" They had set up an ambush?
"Open transmission across all channels!" called the communications officer.
"Put it on," Quistis ordered, and the main screen shifted, showing a man in his mid-sixties, wearing a brown and green naval uniform adorned with oak leaves and golden stars. Squall frowned as he recognized the uniform and insignia. The man was a Fleet Admiral, but not Estharian.
"Attention Estharian battlegroup," the man stated. "This is Fleet Admiral Harper of the Seventh Fleet of the Dollet Navy. You are intruding on waters under the protection of the Dollet Dukedom. Turn your ships around now."
The screen was split in half as a second image appeared, showing an equally aged face of a man in blue and white robes, bearing the insignia of an Estharian Captain.
"This is Captain Ejern of the Estharian Navy. We are currently in pursuit of Garden on grounds of harboring Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly. I'm sure your Dukedom has received President Varines' declaration of war against her. Allow us to seize her and those protecting her."
"Sorry, Captain," Harper stated with a smile. "Last time I checked, the Dukedom didn't bow down to the wishes of any dictator, Estharian or otherwise. Pull your ships out now or my entire fleet will sink your entire battlegroup."
"If you stand in our way, Admiral," Ejern snarled. "Your nation will be complicit in aiding the Sorceress' escape and will thus this will be considered an act of war. Is your nation aware of this?"
"My orders come from the Duke and the Parliament," Harper stated. "We are to protect our waters from violent Estharian aggression and to ensure that Garden has free passage through our waters."
"If that is the case-" Ejern began to say, but then, the screen was split into three portions as another face appeared. At that same instant, the tactical officer sat up straight.
"Forty-seven addition contacts coming into radar range, directly to the north of us, bearing toward the Estharian battlegroup!"
"I wonder who this is?" Cid asked with a chuckle as the third man cleared his throat, clad in a light blue naval uniform with bars and golden stars on both his collar and hat.
"Estharian battlegroup, this is Admiral Edwards of the Galbadian Navy, Fourth Echelon of the Third Fleet. Desist in your pursuit of Balamb and Galbadia Gardens now, and leave Dollet's waters, or we will open fire."
"Admiral Edwards, you know what this means," snarled Captain Ejern.
"Galbadia was ruled by two dictators, and we feared a third," Edwards declared. "President Caraway has decided that we won't knuckle down under one of Adel's lapdogs."
"How dare you-"
"All ships of the Seventh Fleet, stand by to fire," stated Harper calmly.
"Fourth Echelon, prepare to fire," Edwards called.
"This means war!" Rjern protested. "Your nations are serving the Sorceress! You armies and navies will be crushed under our might if you stand in our way!"
"Be that as if may, Captain," Harper said with a shrug and a smile. "It won't be today. You've got over a hundred and twenty Galbadian and Dollet warships pointing guns at you. Go home. You don't need to die today."
Ejern paused, and glanced to his left, before nodding.
"Very well . . .you leave me no choice."The Captainnarrowed his eyes. "Cannons, fire on Balamb Garden!"
"Fourth Echelon, open fire!"
"Seventh Fleet, fire all weapons!"
"Missiles launching from Galbadian and Dollet ships!" the tactical officer shouted. "Magnetic cannons firing at us!"
"All hands, brace yourselves! Nida, evasive maneuvers!" Squall declared. The Garden lurched aside suddenly, and two slugs rocketed past the command deck, one passing close enough that the shockwave sent hairline cracks through the glass. The Garden shook as a round hit the rear of the structure.
"Damage report!" Squall shouted.
"Deflected off the rear stabilizer!" the operations officer shouted. "Minor damage to steering controls. No injuries!"
"The Estharians?" Squall demanded, and the tactical officer gulped. The image of Captain Ejern, in the chaos, had faded into static, and a moment later images from the rear cameras of Balamb Garden appeared.
The Estharian battlegroup was nothing but smoking ruins, leaking blue-white flames as hundreds of missiles were still streaking in, blasting apart what little remained of their hulls. The ocean soon swallowed up the destroyed vessels.
"Balamb Garden, are you damaged?" Harper asked, and Squall nodded to the comms officer, who opened a channel.
"Negative Admiral," he called. "Nothing serious. Thanks for the thimely rescue."
"Our pleasure," Edwards responded. "You know, I thinkPresident Caraway and Duke Haroldingtonforgot to mention that the Dukedom and Galbadia signed a alliance treaty shortly before the conference, just to make sure all the differences were aired out. We were going to mention it at the conference, but it looks like we never got around to it."
"Good thing you did," Cid stated. "I guess this means your governments have drawn the lines?"
"Dollet fought with Garden before," Harper stated with a wide smile. "We won't back out now."
"And as far as Galbadia is concerned," Edwards continued. "That declaration was just a dirty lie against its President's daughterto justify a war of aggression."
"Welcome aboard, gentlemen," Cid stated. "Somehow, this war just seemed to become a whole lot easier."
-
Agh. That one took me a little while to write. Igot kind of burnt-outfor a bit there. But no fear! I'm back in action!
Ah, yes. I loved this chapter. was a lot of fun to write, especially as the very beginnings of the Elemental Project are beginning to be revealed. Plus, there was pissed-off Jack Bauer Squall!
Anyway. Shout outs. No bold, no italics, nothing. Just because.
Onirazz: That line was very deliberate. I'd like to think that is the Governor ran into Sephiroth, he'd beat that shiny-haired puke's ass.
And yes, someone will have one beastly awakening, heh. Wait until you see who!
DBZ Fanfiction Queen: I can get around it through a medical review board. Actually, flat feet occur quite bit, and with proper insoles, you can get around them.
Oh, yes, why is Nash sympathetic toward Selphie? And Irvine for that matter? I'd explain it, but I'm mean and Nash is one bigplot twist that I'm never revealing until the time is right.
And if sephiroth heard seifer say that line, he'd try tocut up Seifer, who would beat the shit out of Sephiroth in a few seconds.
Solid Shark: Oh, yes. At least now all the prisoners are going to start escaping soon, heh. And Lusankya is a big inspiration for Iceblood too.
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Well, the reason why Irvine didn't juction them is threefold: One: Duh. He can't junction them because they aren't really GF stones. Two: He doesn't junction GFs or use magic, because he's Irvine, and he's too awesome for that. Three: Even if he wanted to junction them, he can't because he doesn't know how to. :P
Nope, never played Xenosaga.
Another Head Villian? Sigh. Where's my Ewok gun?
Tain Shairi: Yes, Nash was the one who freed Irvine. Precisely who and what Nash is, and what his agenda is, I'm not telling. Heehee.
JJ Firebrand05: Yeah, GF experiements are playing a big part in this. Granted, they aren't the whole of the Elemental project, and you will be shocked when you find out whateverything involving this project is about.
Rinoa and the Governor's dream? Well, I will say that Rinoa had a part in it...
Now, now, I'm not going to throw hints about Serra, but I will say that Ifrit has been injected into somebody. Who? Nope, not telling!
Ultimecia, part of the Elemental Project? . . . . no comment. And yes, you can use Bound and Unbound if you want. Just give credit where credit is due for the idea :P (and so more people can read me, heh)
Kolostramin Indincranin: You're smart. You're not making speculation, as my ideas are too crazy to guess :P And yeah, you were dead on that injecting people with GFs alters them. After all, how do you think Malachi came into being?
Leonhartilly: Yeah, Nash looks a lot like Squall. Here's a slight hint: of all the Squall look-a-likes, he's the closest to Squall's actual appearance . . . or shouldI say, Squall is the closest look-a-like to Nash... Oh, my, what did I just say?
That sound you're hearing is my maniacal laughter. :P
JadeAlmasy: Irvine? Having it easy? no way. I just got done torturing Squall, darn it, I need someone else to torture until I go back to Squall.
Khimarigirl: Hope this chapter answered some questions...and made a few new ones, too!
Chris Ganale: Add some Revolver Ocelot to that mix and yeah, you're pretty close to my image of the Warden. And don't worry, he'll meet a bloody end.
Angel of Apocalypse: Wow. Saying you've never read anything like this is saying something to me. Continue with the praise, it makes me laugh manically and puffs up my ego more and more. Thanks!
Elachim: The reference to Squall's enemies comes from...erk, somewhere,I don't know XD
I'll come up with more R-names ships sooner or later!
Laguna wasn't calling Ward "uncle," he was shouting "uncle" as in "I give up! I give up!" because he was getting bearhugged.
Aha! You caught who I was basing Crell's speech off of! Yeah, Crell is a bit like Arcturus Mengsk from Starcraft.
Yes.I am just getting started. I haven't even started dropping the mindfuck bombs yet with this story.
No, when I wrote "prodigal talents" I meant "prodigal talents." :P Prodigal as in prodigy. He has a prodigy's talents, basically.
The White Robes' bursting into flamesand the vapors are actually something else entirely. You'll see what soon enough. I will say that the Robes' exploding has to do with them being "imperfect" Elementals, however. And yep, part of the reason Inamed it Iceblood was,w ell, Selphie gets icy blood, literally.
Yep. Irvine's torture was Han and Metal Gear Solid inspired.
Okay, that all of it? Spiffy. Now, listen as I laugh maniacally at my excessively vague hints! Bwahahahahahaaaaaa!
Till next chapter.