Author's Note: Hey, everyone! Just a couple of words I wanted to make on this chapter. It's the longest that I've written so far, and there are a lot of breaks in it.Other than that, I ask all of you to continue to read and review!

Trace your way back fifty years,
to the glow of Dresden-blood and tears.
In the black above by the cruel searchlight,
men will die and men will fight-yeah!
Who shot who, and who fired first?
Dripping death to wet the blood thirst.
No radar lock on skin and bone,
the bomber boys are going home.
Climb into the sky never wonder why-tailgunner,
you're a tailgunner.
Climb into the sky never wonder why-tailgunner,
you're a tailgunner—

"Tailgunner"—Iron Maiden

A Time of Peace. A Time of War

Chapter XV

Before dawn, Garnet cried—as she watched her husband's airship leave Lindblum. It was a deja-vu of sorts. Two years ago, Garnet was on board the Hilda Garde III when it took off, and left Zidane behind near the Lifa Tree. Now on board that same ship, Zidane did his best not to cry, while he waved goodbye to his wife.

"You're reminding me of exactly two years ago," Eiko said.

Zidane turned.

"That's exactly how Dagger was when we left you near the Lifa Tree that day…But I told Dagger on our way back to Alexandria, 'It'll be all right, Dagger. Zidane'll come back…'And you did."

Zidane nodded, and in a raspy voice replied, "I know…But…just watching Dagger cry kind of bothered me."

"I can't believe this!" replied Amarant. "He's doubting his own mission!"

Zidane's voice was no longer coarse. "I'm not doubting anything! I just got a little emotional. Get a girl and you'll know what I mean!"

"Hmph!" responded Amarant, as he turned away from Zidane.

"Anyway…it's time for me to lead this mission!"

As the ships approached Alexandria, Zidane was in radio contact with Captain Steiner.

"Steiner?"

"Yes, Zidane?"

"Make sure to land the ship near the mountains. It's far enough away where Haldan can't see it, and then march your troops toward the city. When you hear our canons fire you'll know to begin the attack."

"Don't worry, Zidane. I will not fail you!"

"Thank you…How far're you away from the city?"

"…About twenty minutes."

"Okay, thanks."

At the same time, Zidane was in contact with General Beatrix.
"Beatrix, how far're you away from the Harbor?"

"…I'd say we're about twenty minutes away. We're going to fly a good distance away from the Castle, and then low behind the mountains. How far away's Steiner?"

"He told me about the same distance. This is great, because we'll be able to attack at nearly the same time!"

"When should we begin our attack?"

"…As soon as you hear our canons fire."

After Haldan's conquest of Alexandria he had placed a telescope on one of the Castle's towers. And on this morning, a lookout spotted four battleships that were part of Zidane's direct attack squad. He could also tell that the ships were from Lindblum.

"Holy shit!" he gasped. "Haldan!"

And he ran off to Haldan's chamber.

Haldan was asleep in the royal chamber when he heard his name shouted. Dressed in only a shirt and shorts, he left the chamber to address the messenger.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Airships!" the messenger gasped. "Battleships from Lindblum!"

"Battleships!"

"Yes, sir!"

"How many?"

"At least four."

"Four!"

The man nodded. "Yes, sir."

Haldan paused. "Prepare our defenses—particularly the canons and the Red Rose. Also, get Mortimer, and tell him to meet me on the tower in no more than two minutes dressed for battle!"

"Yes, sir!"

Within two minutes, Mortimer joined Haldan—who was dressed for battle—at the telescope.

"Yes, Haldan, what is it?"

Haldan pointed. "Look."

In the distance, Mortimer was able to make out the faint images of the battleships. "I can't tell exactly what it is. Let me look through the telescope."

Mortimer gasped. "Holy shit!"

Haldan nodded. "Exactly. This is the counterattack from Garnet that I knew would come eventually. I've already dictated a battle plan though."

Mortimer was silent.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"Haldan…do you think we can pull this off?"

"Huh?"

"I'm serious! Do you think we can pull this off—a victory?"

"The hell's the matter with you! We held them off in Treno! Hell, the only reason why we no longer control that city's because we decided to give it back to them!"

"Yes, but we also didn't have four battleships coming towards us."

"And we also didn't have the power of an eidolon either, did we!"

"Can four battleships take an eidolon?" asked Mortimer.

"Well?" added Haldan.

"…No, we didn't."

Haldan smiled. "Good man! Look, here's what we're gonna do. We're going to fire our canons at those ships. Then we're going to take the Red Rose into battle, and use it against the ships."

"Do we actually have anyone in our army that can fly a battleship?"

"Of course! We'll have some of the POWs fly it. Oh! And I have one more important thing to tell you."

"What's that?"

"I want you to summon Bahamut."

"Right now?"

"No, wait until I tell you."

Within a minute after Haldan finished his sentence, the first volley of canon fire attacked the gate.

"Shit!" exclaimed Haldan.

Then he turned to his canons. "The hell's the matter! Fire those canons!"

A canon ball breezed by the ship that Zidane directly commanded, but a similar canon ball nearly struck one of the ships to his left.

"If any of you're struck by their fire, you'll know what to do," Zidane said to the other ships.

"Zidane," replied an officer on one of the ships, "I think I can take out their canon fire."

"How so?"

"I think I can fire a canon ball directly into the barrels of their guns."

"No, don't do that."

"What!"

"If you fire your guns into their barrels it'll cause an explosion that could kill some of the citizens. Instead, I recommend that you aim for the towers above the canons. The debris'll cause the barrels to be blocked, which'll prevent them from firing."

"Zidane, look!" began Eiko. "Isn't that the Red Rose?"

"…Yes…yes it is…I hate giving this order, but…Wait! The Red Rose's leaving the battlefield?"

"What the hell're you doing!" screamed one of Haldan's officers. "The battle's that way!"

The officer pointed.

But the captive Alexandria soldier merely raised his eyes. "I know that."

"Then what the hell're you doing! Turn this ship back that away!"

"Sorry, no can do."

The officer gasped. "What! You'll do it, or I'll ram this fucking sword through your gut!"

The soldier laughed. "Ram it all you want to; it won't change a damn thing, because if you kill me, then what? Who's going to fly the ship? You? That's a good laugh! You probably don't even have anybody who can fly the ship, which's why you had to get us prisoners to do it, isn't it?"

The officer said nothing.

But the soldier smirked. "Well, because you're not saying anything it means that I'm right. Hell, maybe me or somebody else should just crash the ship. If you kill us it'll be the same thing. You see, there's no way we could attack those ships. Our queen might be on board, and she's seven months pregnant."

"…Then she's a fool!"

"So're you for taking a ship into battle, and not having anyone who knows how to fly it. Of course, I'm not sure who's the bigger fool—you or Haldan? …Dear god! How the hell did we lose to such a piss poor army!"

"…Okay, then where're you taking us?"

"To Lindblum."

"Lindblum!"

"You got it!"

"Wha-what'll happen to us there?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be jailed, and after that—well, there's two possibilities. If Haldan wins then you'll probably be ransomed back. But if Queen Garnet wins, then you'll be shipped back to Alexandria for a trial…Either way, I guess you'll be coming back to Alexandria."

"…Our commander won't lose!"

"You'd better hope so. By the way, are you a citizen of Alexandria?"

"…Yes."

"Well, if Garnet wins today then you'll be guilty of treason. You know what that means, don't you?"

"It means that I'll be executed. But so be it! …I'll just be a martyr in a righteous cause then!"

The soldier nodded. "Well, I can't say that you don't have faith in your crusade."

"The hell's going on!" exclaimed Haldan. "Where's that ship going! Get me in contact with the Red Rose!"

"Haldan!" gasped a soldier, with dust all over his armor.

"Yes?" Haldan replied, still annoyed with the events that surrounded the Red Rose.

"The gate's being assaulted! We can't push them back!"

Immediately after that soldier finished his sentence, another soldier arrived who gasped for air and was also covered with dust. "Haldan!

"One moment, please."

"I'm sorry, but this is very important."

"…What is it?"

"Alexandria Harbor's under assault! There's too many of them! We can't push them back!"

Haldan said nothing. He appeared to be lost in a trance. And it was at this moment that a canon ball struck the above canons. The debris fell on the barrels, and prevented them from firing.

"Haldan!" began Mortimer.

Haldan jumped.

"Haldan, don't you think we should surrender?"

Haldan glared. "Surrender! The hell's the matter with you! Why're you wanting to give up and go back to the way things were? I'd rather die than go back to the way things were! I taught you courage, and I know that my teachings weren't in vain. Now, summon Bahamut!"

"I haven't forgotten your lessons, Haldan. And I'm grateful for them…But you also taught me to speak my mind and not be afraid. And right now, Haldan, all I see summoning Bahamut does is delay the inevitable. Don't you see!"

"Oh, yeah, I see…I see that my right-hand man has given up on hope!"

Mortimer sighed. "Fine…But all this is doing's delaying the inevitable. Bahamut can't stop all the troops. He might not even be able to stop the battleships."

"An eidolon has been summoned!" declared Zidane. "Eiko, you know what to do!"

Eiko nodded. She walked to the bow of the battleship, and summoned Alexander.

The eidolon's angelic wings produced a ray of light that pushed Bahamut away, until it faded into nothingness.

Back at the tower, Mortimer and the two soldiers gasped.

"I-I never realized there was an eidolon here!" said Mortimer.

Haldan said nothing. He was once again lost in a trance. The war was over. Although he remained silent, Haldan had to admit that fact. Finally, he unsheathed his sword and stared at the steel.

Haldan turned to Mortimer, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Mortimer, thank you for always being there for me and for being a true friend."

"Huh? …Something's wrong here. This isn't the time for Haldan to be talking like this."

And to his two soldiers, Haldan added, "I've got one last order to give you."

"Yes?" one of the soldiers replied.

"I relieve all of you from my service…"

Mortimer and the two soldiers gasped.

"Go now and do what you think's best for you. I bid you a very fond farewell."

"No! Don't!" shouted Mortimer.

But it was too late. Haldan ran himself through.