"Ready!"
The voice of the commissar was heard, her tone firm and hollow. Long ago had she lost empathy, all of it erased in the Schola Progenia.
"Aim!"
She heard them cower in fear, weep and begging. The youngest unable to understand their fate. The elder trying to appease their trepidation. She wouldn't spare a single eye to them, they had been judged.
And found guilt.
"Fire!"
The order was given, and as a dozens of snapping branches, the Las-rifles cracked. Each lasbolt finding its victim. After a single second, a dozen of bodies fell, now corpses in the cold stone.
"Next batch!" The commissar barked. And a new dozen had been formed in front of the firing squad. This last had lost the bright in their eyes, their common sense suppressed. Its place taken by a single thought.
Kill all heretics.
This was the people of the Republic.
And they were dying in their capital. Their city burning.
The Imperium had been unforgiving.
"Ready!"
"Aim!"
"Fire!"
The three words had been repeated all day. A mantra never changing, the only words being heard.
The bodies were carried by slaved workers, men and women, once Republic's citizens. Their lives forgiven, but their sins still in need for atonement.
The sin of unbelief.
The republic had been founded on three simple principles after the once kingdom's fall.
Religion was forbidden. The kings had been chosen by the heaven, but the errors of the rulers had driven the nation to discontent. Thus, all religion would be erased, all temples toppled and all church burned.
The state would guide the people. Driven by the passion of the masses, and their revolutionary leaders. A future where everyone would be equal. For everything would be shared.
Democracy would rule. The people would choose their leaders.
And thus the republic had lasted six decades.
But the toll had been too great.
For humans cannot fight to their own nature.
Corruption never dies. The people will be forever blinded to this simple fact.
And thus, their rulers would be taken by the corruption that always sleep inside the human heart.
What if I take this money? Surely nobody will notice. I can take their children, for they see me as a wise ruler. No, this one cannot be president, he won't let me enjoy my life style.
These were just some of the logic of the rulers of this Republic.
And surely, the nation would descend again. Its decadence sustained by the shoulders of the people, who, thanks to propaganda, had been blinded by their once heroes. The blood had been massive in pay, for those seeking a better life would be erased.
At the end, after just sixty years, the Republic's power had started to abate. But still it was strong. For its Armies' massive numbers had halted the Empire from any attack.
But all of that had changed.
For only in sixty days the Republic capital city, Karakz, belonged now to the Imperium of Man.
It had been a massive victory. Tens of millions had died at the hands of three hundred Astartes. Steel Legions of Armageddon had purged the heretics. They had fallen under the raining fire from the Elysian drop troops. Their tanks had been unable to ever make a dent to the emperor's fist, the Leman Russ.
Kurome has witnessed all of this. She and the Jaegers had been tasked to hunt down the survivors who still tried to inflict as much damage as possible with guerrilla warfare. Many had been the imperial soldiers fallen to these desperate tactics, the Steel Legion having to give aid many times.
"This is too much…" Was the voice of Wave who followed, his face bitter, and his morale too much bruised. "Why reach these extremes?"
He was soft, sometimes too soft for his own good. He had joined for an ideal, an ideal to bring a better tomorrow, a brighter future. All that shattered by the reality of War.
He felt someone grabbing him, a mature woman looked at him. Her eyes filled with plight, the desperation invading her being. "Please…" She begged, her hands holding two children, "I beg you… spare them… they had done no wrong…!"
An imperial soldier grabbed her to take her away. His sword puncturing her skin, threatening to stab her and end her misery right there. She was carried with her children, to The Wall.
"The children at least…" Wave lamented.
"Unfortunately, the children are the main target for a corrupted demagogue's brainwashing. I have seen it in many worlds, how they slowly pull closer to the young for treason, for heresy."
Wave felt the weight of the Astartes words, cold and emotionless, his logic carried by zeal. He would have punched him, but what would change? He would be considered a traitor and executed there with no hesitation.
Cidor Nero then closed to Kurome. "Esdeath tasked me with this." He said, his gauntlet carrying a package, a bag with the word 'Kurome's'.
"She asked the Medicae to create this. Your body should start healing the drug effects."
"Ah, thanks!" Kurome jumped with happiness. Her hands snatching the bag with no hesitation. She opened it to start devouring its insides.
"Why bother to administer it using snacks is beyond me." Cidor admitted. "We must resume our patrol."
"What will happen now?" Kurome asked, her mouth still moving eating the snacks.
"We hunt down the heretics left. Many will flee to the west; The Union of the West has denied the entrance to their country. They have pledged loyalty to the Imperium, sent ambassadors. Thus we shall encircle them and exterminate the heretics of this republic."
"But where is Esdeath right now?" This time was Wave who questioned, his head still bitter with contempt under so much unnecessary death.
Cidor stared at him, half judging half annoyed. Yet, he raised his gauntlet and with a finger pointed at a ruined building, almost destroyed by bombardment.
"The officers are planning the next maneuver to cleanse the heretics."
Cidor then started to walk into the opposite direction. "Enough of this pointless talk. Gather your forces and start your patrols."
[X]
Esdeath watched the map unfolded on the great table. A map tracing the entirely of the Republic. Markers and tokens represented the Imperium forces, the now crippled enemy spread too thin to make any significant damage now. Still, the pacification continued, it would take months, no, years, to stabilize the country.
"Lastingrad Will be the next city, and also the one with most heretic presence." The Guard general spoke, signaling a city, as big as Karakz, Republic's industrial heart, and a clear concerning point for the now invaders.
"A wise decision." The strategy staff praised. "Our tactics and the Emperor's grace have given us victory over these heretics."
Esdeath could barely follow, Imperium way of making war had an unhealthy amount of politic she would never care for. Was it because she had always been direct in her campaigns?
"Lady Esdeath." She was called, it was Colonel Torenze. "What do you think of all this?"
Esdeath blinked, she had partially lost the track of the meeting, it was filled with too many useless staff sending only praises and zero valuable discussion on this council.
However, she was still a general, war was not unknown for her. She studied the map, her eyes taking every detail in silence quickly considering formations and strategic. "It is practically impossible for a counterattack to make any effect." She admitted. "Their forces have been obliged to disperse too widely, they cannot consolidate an army in time. However, it's also true it would take too much effort to hunt every one of them, thus, systematic extermination would be most effective to solve this issue."
"Oh, general Brasken has also reached that conclusion." Another staff said, praising even more the general, she was almost liking his boots. Esdeath just wanted this meeting to end.
"Indeed, lieutenant." And Brasken attitude didn't helped either. "I think we can consider this little war as strategic victory for the Imperium. With this we have no opposition in this continent, and will permit us to entirely focus on Wakoku. We shall leave the work of extermination to our allies."
"Sir, I think leaving some kind of watch presence will be most wise." The one who had talked was Beolf Jarlk Colonel in charge of the 175° Armageddon Steel Legion. Stern and pragmatic, it was not the first time he had sent a reprimand dressed as diplomatically as the last one. The staff would have raised their voices, if it were not for the very same Brasken.
"I consider the same, Colonel Jarlk. I think a group of officers will be enough. What do you think General Esdeath?"
"And what officers would you leave this time?" She asked. "Yet, I think supervision should be carried by our own forces so moral can keep high."
The Lieutenants was about to curse, however, Brasken spoke before her. "Is that so? Well I think the Imperium can place this duty on your armies. Thus we can forge a better cooperation and judge your value in battle. Very well, I think this matter is settled. Let us move into further details…"
Esdeath could only sigh, this meeting would take a bit longer…
[X]
Leone had never felt more betrayed and useless.
The Imperium was unrelenting, it was unmerciful and it was invincible.
But also was unquestioningly fair and legal. Everything carried as some oiled machine and everything had its ranks and functions. The camps had been filled with poor people, ordered to work the land, genetically modified seeds used to grow as much food as possible. In just a pair of months a harvest was carried. Food was running, as ironically as it may sound, people had finally started to experience having a stomach filled. Machinery was brought, Landcrawlers multiplying the work. Soon, every soil around the Capital would be growing forests of grain, fruits and vegetables.
It sounded too good, too good for the natives to notice how more than two thirds of all this grain was stored and hidden. Many went to the ships in orbit, far more went to bunkers recently build.
For the Imperium, your life was its currency. Thus they would try to make sure this coin was well expended. Streets had been cleaned off delinquents and brigands, entire gangs had disappeared in a night. All of them had been conscripted into penal legions, their necks locked with explosive devices. Meat cannon, that are they now.
Leone felt useless because she had to follow the rules. As her crimes had been forgiven, she would have to obey this new regime from the one who had moved the strings to set her free.
She felt she was wearing chains of gold.
And there was nothing she could do to avoid this fate.
Worse still, a fate shared with her companions and friends.
Except for one friend.
This is why she felt betrayed.
Lina-Rho had abandoned them. Her loyalties were with the Omnissiah, whatever it was. And even though they had asked her to stay, she had coldly rejected them. Like strangers she had never meet.
She didn't dare to look at her friends when she left.
She sighed in resignation and closed the glass of liquor to her mouth, she would have taken a sip, but the frustration returned at her. The glass hit the table and the alcohol slipped.
"This is just worse…"
"Don't feel bad. We know you did it for our sake." Lubbock tried to improve her mood. He was reading a book, a book that had been given by their new boss.
"Shut up…" Leone gulped the glass and served another. "You know what will happen now… what we will have to do now…"
The bitter realization that had dawned on her. Honest was now part of the Imperium, thus she was technically working now for him. That idea filled Leone with rage and despair. How could she forgive herself for working with the one responsible for the Empire's decadence?
"I already told you it doesn't have to be like that." Lubbock tried to calm her. "Gina told me we are now part of the Ordo Hereticus, thus, we are not under his orders and we don't have to do whatever he says."
"But we have to let that scum alive!" She cried. "We are the infamous inquisition now, aren't we!?"
"We are not even agents like Gina…" Lubbock voiced annoyed. "Besides, Gina already told us. Honest is a pseudo regent, the Adeptus Terra hasn't given their approbation. And when they arrive in a few months we can bust him with everything he has done. He can't touch us now anyway."
That reasoning seemed to have calmed Leone. She still chugged the whole bottle, angry for her loss.
She was not the only one emotionally unstable.
Ever since Tatsumi's disappearance and Bulat's dead. She had barely talked with anyone else besides Najenda.
Everyone knew why.
Akame had lost so many loved ones. Her life as the only one who had survived. Feeling unfair and unworthy.
And with so many of her friends leaving her again she was starting to build a shell around herself again.
That is why she almost didn't protest when Leone told them they would have to serve the new greatest power in this planet.
"Akame, I bought food. If you want, you can take it." Lubbock announced to her. There was a table with food he had got from the market, a lot of food. It was his way to try to make Akame feel better.
"She still hasn't say anything… even worse when we haven't heard from Najenda. I hope she is okay." Said Leone as she grabbed a handful of peanuts to eat. "Tatsumi's disappearance affected her more than us."
"She still thinks he is alive."
"Ah! Stop saying that bullshit!" Leone angered, she launched the almost empty bottle, it broke on the wall. "You are the one who is been getting that stupid theory into her brain! You are the worst for giving her false hopes!"
"I already told you it's not a theory. There is been witnesses who have seen people that looks like the subjects who were abducted, fighting in the south."
"Those are stupid rumors. I can't believe you are expending so much money with gossips and made up stories."
"I need to pay for info, Leone. And now more than never it's become vital."
"Then don't shove false hope into her head!"
"At least I'm actually doing something and not just drowning myself into alcohol like you!"
An awkward silence descended on the room. Lubbock even considered he may have pushed too far, he even expected to receive a punch from her. But all he got was silence, silence that was relatively broken by tears.
"I know…" She sobbed, "I know… I'm the one who fucked it up, my damned fucking curiosity is what got me and all of us into this mess… now we have chosen to live by serving more monsters…"
Her tears ran through her face. Lubbock silenced himself, he couldn't allow himself to continue hurting his friend and companion.
"I hate myself so much…" Leone cried.
Lubbock let her release all the tension she had accumulated the last days. She was indeed in a terrible stress. It had been a miracle to hold with everything that had happened. Even himself had released his tears, just like her. But he was discrete.
Someone knocked the door, a pattern only the members of Night Raid knew too well. Thus, when they heard it, even Leone's tear dried at the moment. Her eyes were red, but still she still guarded some kind of hope on her iris.
And it was rewarded. When Lubbock opened the door they found Najenda. Battered, dirty and barely standing, but she was there. Her eyepatch was missing, instead a red mechanical one covered it, one they knew too well who it belonged to. Her mechanical arm was also different, the design was other and the metal something they could only guess as Imperial. But it was sleek, something they had only seen in Nina.
"What happened to you?" Was the question of Lubbock as he looked at her, her expression was grim, yet resigned. It was a facet he had never seen of her, a once Najenda who believed in a bright future had been replaced with this.
"Enough…" She answered, her voice dry and monotone. "It was enough… what happened to me."
Everyone knew the revolutionary army had been destroyed. Only hurt would bring that theme. Instead, Lubbock tried to take a different angle. "I sent a letter to you, it's the report."
"Yes… I read it… I… I know. I guess it's the only path we have left." She sat on the sofa and pulled a cigar. When she lighted it, a distinct aroma filled the room. An azafrin kind of smell. "I guess it is useless to tell you about what happened to the revolutionary army…" She pulled another mouthful of smoke. "Iturbid contacted me and told me everything. So don't worry." She released a long stream of smoke. "And Leone… Don't think it was your fault, stop blaming it to yourself. We have been launched into a new reality, one we were just not ready to face. This galaxy is really way too big, we are just a small thing between all of these giants."
"But Honest…"
"Leone, stop worrying for that bastard. I know, and the Imperium probably knows what is going on with him. But at least I am sure he may not live to become planet governor."
"How?" Lubbock asked.
"I gathered information from the high officers. And looks like the Imperium has its own problems. Being the biggest power in the galaxy surely brings a lot of attention. Thus its forces have to spread too much."
"That means we have a chance to defeat them and retake our world"
Lubbock burst in laughs, too many and too loud. Leone wanted to punch him, was he mocking her? However, Najenda spoke too.
"This is a galaxy spanning empire that can turn this planet into molten lava. There is no way we can drive them back. We have already lost half of Night Raid trying to resist."
Najenda paused, bitter memories inside her heart, shared by everyone present.
"Also… there is something more." She closed and adopted her most serious tone, everyone else kept quiet as they saw her cold eyes. "Listen… this is really big. This is something that under no circumstances can be filtered… Apparently, there is been a cataclysm at a galactic scale, I don't know the details, but looks like a considerable part of the galaxy is facing a terrible fate… what is more… this world has incredible strategic value. That means we will eventually have high ranking officers arriving to this planet."
"Then… now that we are part of Lord Iturbid's group… it could mean we can present a case against Honest when those officers arrive." Lubbock reached that conclusion, and Leone's mood suddenly changed to a brighter one.
"Don't get too ahead of yourselves. Remember that, while the inquisition's name has a great weight, ultimately it will depend on the Adeptus Terra verdict. And knowing Honest, he is probably plotting some kind of defense."
"If the Imperium really needs this world… wouldn't make more sense to put a military government?" Lubbock pondered, his mind already going with multiple scenarios.
"Like… installing one of the generals?"
"Yes, installing an outsider ruler would bring discontent." Lubbock continued. "Something Honest could argue on his favor. Thus, one of the generals would be more appealing."
"Implying one of the generals really wants to take that seat."
That was true.
The only two competent generals were Budou and Esdeath. This last was just out of the question. And Budou was too loyal to the child emperor. His obvious choice would be to install that brat, something the Imperium would never agree with.
"I think we can plan something about it later. The main point is to expose Honest." Leone raised her arms in a calm waving.
"By the way." Najenda continued. "Chelsea managed to escape and she is currently on a mission to kill some corrupt nobles."
"Chelsea survived!?" Was Akame's voice the one who exclaimed this time in wonder.
It was no surprise, both had joined the revolutionary army just almost at the same time. And both had grown in the ranks until each one of them ended in separate paths. Chelsea was the closes thing Akame had to a rival. Unconsciously, both had created a small bond.
Najenda nodded in confirmation. "Yes, Akame. She is alive."
For the first time in months, a glimmer of happiness passed through Akame's face.
And Najenda prayed for it to last. For she knew the truth surely would shatter every kind of hope they ever had. As all her hope had been pulverized after meeting the inquisitor for the first time.
For she now realized this galaxy was filled with horrors. And that scared her very soul.
For Iturbid had revealed the truth.
This world indeed has invaluable strategic importance. And would be turned into a bulwark against those horrors the Inquisition had revealed to her.
She knows they will attack, it's inevitable. Xenos and Daemons. Nightmarish beings.
They are coming.
[X]
Her hands moved with grace and honed craft. With practiced skill she grabbed an arrow and attached it to the string. Then pulled, a position many times practiced, her arms moving in perfect synchrony. Her eyes looked at the target, and her breast taking a controlled breathing.
Then she released. And an arrow was now in the middle of the target. Many arrows had also been embedded into the wood made target and dummy bodies.
She sighed, her uneasiness ever present. Her attention and concern taken by the events happening at the other side of the great ocean.
"Yuuka-sama…" A male voice was heard, a warrior clad in ancient armor, a Meihou, long ago made by the ancestors of the people of Wakoku. "Tenrou's ambassador has arrived."
She gave the bow to the maiden who was attending her. Little time later, a pair of servants appeared carrying clothes. She was dressed swiftly, the messenger made a reverence and stood, he would serve as her guide.
"Anything new from the west?" She asked, these months it had become a habit, the recent events with the Empire had raised her concern, such as many of the kingdoms in this continent.
"It seems its inevitable for an invasion to happen."
"I see… I guess this is the reason Tenrou has moved so swiftly to this meeting."
"Rumors say Tenrou are planning to form a great alliance." The warrior voiced. "They have sent Yomihime to Senryuu."
"That is not a wise move." She observed. "Yomihime is good for war, not for talk."
She had heard about that little demon, one of the Ten Stars. Rumors said she was half danger beast, the idea of that disgusted her. Something so inhuman shouldn't be allowed to exist.
Yet, this day, it was a necessary evil. War was a constant in Wakoku, but a potential enemy much worse than anything they had seen was coming for them. This new Imperium wanted nothing bur conquer all. And as the Queen of Houju, she couldn't allow that. Her nation, her people. To change their lives against an authoritarian ruler with a global government is something she hates.
The meeting would take place in Houju. This was a land protected by massive and deadly mountains and a geography ideal for defense. Even for Tenrou, they would think twice before attacking them. But the main reason why Houju had been chosen for this meeting was for its neutrality. For centuries, Houju had remain neutral in every political and military matter.
One of the servants opened the vehicle's door. A classic car model from many years ago. There were many like this one, but this in particular had been built to be used by the queen.
Build with multiple armor plates, communication systems, medical equipment and always guarded by fast attack vehicles. It had become quite the known vehicle around the continent. For generations, it had become the principal transport for Houju monarchs, trough years improved with new developed technology.
The vehicle advanced, a small convoy followed and surrounded. The streets had been already mapped and cleaned from anyone, even civilians shall be not allowed this day.
"We cannot allow Tenrou's ego to ruin this meeting. Even if they want to be the first to attack. This is an enemy we cannot defeat if we are not united."
The royal car moved through, soon, would reach the palace.
[X]
Tenrou, a powerful nation, build for war, and forged in blood. Through generations had fought against its corruption, having the only cure to purge very politician and noble, and from the ashes, to raise a new nation, made from a militaristic regimen.
However, a nation like this could only last for a while, the embers from a long ago revolution could release new fire, fire that could eventually destroy everything they had built with so many sacrifices.
That is why war was the only way to keep going.
Tenrou had launched a crusade, a conquest, aiming to take all the continent and expand its power and richness. They had learned the value of war, war would bring in money as never seen before, new weapons to sell, new products to be made and create more jobs. Even if the continent was taken, they later on would aim to conquer the whole world. Such was their ambition.
Zou, king of Tenrou had made what no other kin of him had dared.
To visit a rival nation.
Houju was an enemy nation in the eyes of Tenrou. It was an issue he would have dealt with. But the events happening across the sea had become even more important now than ever. This new enemy was something they could not just ignore. It had become a problem even the warmongering Tenrou had to concern for.
Word said this new enemy had warriors that could take on the Ten Stars, and spy networks warned about hundreds of them. Zou knew it was impossible for the Empire to make soldiers so powerful even more in such short time and amount of numbers. Thus the most expert sages had come to the conclusion the Empire had fallen under the rule of some new power in the board. A power willing to take this world.
An idea Zou and Tenrou dreaded the most.
"She is taking too long…" He voiced loud, his patience was closing to an end.
There were other three rulers in the table.
Saryuu, represented by its king, Gonkei, was near the seat of his ally, king of Soukai, Sotetsu. Both, allies and friends, had openly defied Tenrou expansionist campaign. Soukai powerful navy and Saryuu's impregnable fortress had become a powerful shield. Oh, he would have loved to take both of their heads with his sword, but he had no weapon and they had become a secondary concern.
The third one was quite the interesting individual. A woman, clad in light armor and clothes. From Murasame. However, she was no ruler, they were sure of that. Murasame, a nation surrounded by a shroud, its people were mercenaries dedicated to infiltration, information recollection and assassination. Always biding for the highest payer, and having no qualms on even betraying their contractors when the enemy offered a greater sum of money.
She hadn't spoken in all the time she had arrived here. She had not even tasted any of the food and drinks the servants had placed in front of them.
"Indeed she is." Sotetsu spoke, his hand scratching his beard. "I'd like to finish these talks quickly, and then return to my nation to reinforce and strength my navy. We surely will need them soon."
"Can't we send emissaries? I'd prefer to avoid as much bloodshed as possible. Surely some talk can help us solve some of the problem."
Dumb, Tenrou's ruler judged. That was being too optimistic. It was never too easy. This new enemy was different, even for Tenrou, it was too aggressive and fast. It would be useless to try negotiations with them.
"Now, now. Let's not jump into actions without proper intel…"
A drum was heard, and everyone's attention was directed at the door that had been opened by the servants of the castle. The announcement of Houju's Queen was a ceremony, not so different from other nations in Wakoku.
Queen Yuuka advanced, followed by a warrior. This one was clad in ancient armor, not as elaborated as Zou, this last had noticed, but still a symbol of honor and power. Few warriors could have the honor to carry one of these to battle, its techniques for forging long ago lost.
"Finally arrived." Zou remarked.
"Watch your word." Quickly cut the warrior. Even if this was a meeting, they were still enemies.
Zou would have retaliated, he may be disarmed, but his power armor was still a deadly weapon. But Yuuka's voice prevented that.
"Soujin, stand down. Your vengeance is unnecessary here. You shall now stay out of this meeting."
Those words had struck him with force. However, his duty was still above him, he couldn't fault in protecting his queen from the enemy.
"Your highness, please forgive my act! I cannot leave your side and open an opportunity to the risk of your life!" He implored. The queen allowed him to stay, yet, he would not open his mouth for the entire day.
"Let us begin then." King Gonkei spoke. "First, I think we all acknowledge that as of now, only five kingdoms are currently concerned by the events happening in the other continent. The others, as we know, are too submerged in pointless wars and conflict. I hope that in the future we will see more rulers adding to submits like this."
"All these rebellious nations are just naïve. That is why only through unification we can find unity against this new tide."
"King of Tenrou, I'd prefer to avoid these kind of talks for now. We are discussing about a way to deal with this. If we can negotiate peace with them or if we can resist to them. Besides. Even if conquest is correct, we have too few time to do this. We are too divided."
"That way of thinking will cost you, not just your kingdom, but all of us."
Yuuka decided to ignore him for now, however, those words had hit her. She loves her country, as the Queen, she knew that even sometimes, acts of cruelty were necessary.
"For now, let us talk about this enemy's capabilities." Sotetsu changed the mater. "As far as we know, the empire was conquered really fast. Even with such technologies, having the Empire to subordinate to this new power in a few months is hard to believe."
For the first time then, the representative of Murasame spoke. It's like she had read the ambient, to drive her words in the correct moment, fast and direct.
"The Empire didn't fight against them. The Prime minister subordinated the country a few weeks after Murasame registered their presence."
That information stunned the rulers presents. How could the Empire be convinced to surrender without a fight? The Empire's power was formidable. Nobody in this world was strong enough to pose a real threat to them, even if allied.
"How? Even if our countries are more advanced than the Empire, they have even stronger warriors plus their Teigus. For every imperial soldier I'd need a minimum of two Tenrou's soldiers in direct combat."
Empire's military was not something to laugh at. Unlike Wakoku's general conscription of soldiers and training, most Imperial Soldiers joined their armies for own will. Their army was not just powerful, but greatly rich, and strong and skilled warriors would find the pay more satisfactory than the majority of jobs.
"Because this new power is something Murasame believed to be a legend… at least until now."
"Explain." Yuuka demanded.
"Do you know about the Creed of the stars?"
"Yes, it was a religion strongly practiced by the Celestian priests thousands of years ago, even today there are very few who still believes such creed." Sotetsu voiced. "Why do you ask?"
"In Murasame, remains the last temple of this religion. And there is at least one Celestian Priest still alive."
Everyone present tensed, this was something without precedents. Murasame was revealing its secrets.
She continued. "This religion used to claim that humanity on this world arrived from the starts. It states that every human being in this world descends from this old humanity."
"That is a legend of old." Gonkei stated. "There have been several religions with similar ideas, humanity coming from heaven. What makes this Creed of the Stars any different?"
Murasame's representative remained silent for a moment, then she spoke again. "Because it is true. This world's population descent from colonizers who found this planet many thousands of years ago. The technology you wield comes from long ago lost artifacts. The capabilities of forging Meihou dates from that time."
"Nonsense" Sotetsu voiced. "Humanity from the stars? That sounds like a fairytale, humanity only inhabits this world."
The mysterious woman looked at him, eyes carrying the same weight someone would have for an ignorant.
"So I agreed, at least before all this happened."
"And what makes you think this invader comes from the stars?" Yuuka asked, more curiosity than doubt.
"Because Murasame has seen their space craft. Their ships, the statement from their soldiers. They travel through the stars, from world to world, their only objective to expand the reach of their Star Empire… And more of them are coming…"
It was these last words that struck the rulers. If truly more of them were coming, then they had no way of defend against this new Empire. However, some still were sceptic.
"How does your nation knows about this?" Zou asked. The mysteries of this nation were immense, so were their lies. However, he couldn't find a reason why she would lie to them. Was Murasame a traitor? Were they planning to strike one of the present nations? Had they allied with some of the other Wakoku nations? Too many questions and possibilities.
The spy paused for a moment, pondering the words she would say next. For a moment, she hesitated, maybe for the rulers in this meeting it would be unnoticeable, but for Zou, an exceptional warrior, it was very visible. That added something. For a Murasame ninja, lie would be like a second nature, but this reaction, screamed for the contrary. Like a corrupt functionary caught.
"We… Murasame can. We never share information like this to the other nations, but we possess ancient technology that had let us know about this."
This truth had come with a lace of lie. She was partially lying to them. And the reason was probably their ancient technology, after all, these artefacts were often a nation's triumph card. To share something like this, and to protect it in such a way. For Zou this was something quite plausible.
"We can hear their communications; we can hear what they say. Some messages are hard to decipher, but we have reached a conclusion. This Imperium spans around billions of worlds. And its armies are countless. Their presence in this world is but a microscopic fraction of their power, and… more of this power is coming."
"And I guess you won't tell us about this ancient technology Murasame possess, do you?" Sotetsu added with sarcasm. "This is a fascinating story but… you are a Ninja of Murasame. Your people lie as much as you breath."
Gonkei told something similar, Yuuka remained silent. Zou had concluded this was not something he could agree with. Both Sourai and Saryuu were too sceptic to believe her words, Zou however, considered the information. To reveal something like that… was a suicide. Soon, he started considering to leave this meeting, his paranoia catching to him, imagining a suicide bomber in this room, all to protect the secrets of the country.
"I… will take that into consideration." Houju Ruler declared "However, I think we should continue with our schedule. We must reinforce our armies, so, we must raise the conscriptions. The people shall join to the defense of Wakoku against this new enemy."
Thus, the meeting continued for another hour.
[-]
She walked in the streets of an enemy nation. Even if she had been invited, she had revealed too much info. Info that was too tempting for anyone. And Houju was no exception.
She walked faster, she had to act. Make them think she was getting desperate. There were five following her. Everyone as quiet as possible, but she was a Ninja of Murasame, they could not compare to her.
But still.
She had no chance of escaping. Neither hope she would dare. Her fate was sealed, yet she would make them pay.
She closed into a populated area, civilians going from one place to another. All of them too busy and too worried for even noticing her. It was perfect.
She moved her tongue, a poison capsule hidden.
She bite it, tearing the glass containing a toxic cocktail.
Any human would die in seconds with just a drop.
She drank everything, and it acted instantly. First her body was paralyzed. Her mind barely working recording the few seconds she had left. Her heart was next, the poison had been designed to attack the heart, forcing it to burst.
She finally died, falling on the hard rock.
Curious got close, some even ran in fear. But a considerable crowd still formed around her.
Indeed, the poison was designed to destroy the heart.
But with this, a hidden protocol activated.
It was a small device, designed by the best artisans in Murasame. Minuscule, yet powerful and easy to implant and connect.
Her stalkers stopped, wondering why she had choiced to die in such a place.
But they were too late to understand. Her organs would decompose, the chemicals liberated through her veins, a last impulse from a bursting heart covered every corner of her body. A violent process started inside the corpse.
Just as one of them ran trying to alert everyone and order them to evacuate, her corpse burst as a balloon.
It detonated in a hellish smog enveloping dozens in a mist of lethal poison.
[X]
Cameyia Pierd applied the antiseptic with a small spray. She then wrapped the knee with a piece of cloth. "Do you feel better?" She asked to the boy with some tears still on his face.
"Y-yes…" The 5 years old infant hiccupped.
"You should be more careful when playing." The young woman smiled, this calmed the boy, giving him some confidence to walk again. "There you go." She clapped her hands, praising the child. "Now go to play again, and remember, be careful with your shoelaces."
The Pierd family, nobles ruling over a considerable territory. Her father and family head, John Money Pierd, a court ruling over the small city of Trim. Quite far from the capital, but stable enough to carry the work of managing the land.
Of course, it wasn't easy when resources and money for the public infrastructure was being cut short year after year. Even so, they had managed to reach some improvement in the life of the people. And the new Imperial administration had brought great positive changes for the people. New technologies to exploit the soil, seeds able to produce tons of grain. People from distant towns immigrating and the population growing. Just as new infrastructure brought by the Imperium.
This orphanage, for example, had been opened by the Imperium. As they had mentioned, the first step to create a Schola Progenium. John Money Pierd had offered immediately to prepare everything and facilities had been constructed in an astonishing time. In little time they had collected more than a hundred orphan children who finally were able to have a place to sleep and eat, receive education and health treatment.
All of this was administered by the eldest Pierd daughter. Cameyia Pierd had won the hearts of everyone in the town. She was kind, beautiful and patient. Some claimed she would be the next family head.
"Miss Pierd, look, look! Alphon managed to assemble the las-pistol in one and half minutes!"
He showed the Kantrael-pattern laspistol. The Imperium usually did these tests, the fastest kids would receive treat, sometimes candy, sometimes food.
Cameyia Pierd, always happy to see the children improve and learn. She patted the young boy on his head. "Well done, the officers will give you a gift when they come." She said, and watched the child run excited and wondering what candy he would receive, what kind of food.
Cameyia dropped her bright smile for one less expressive. Her thoughts filling her with concern. All these tests, assembling guns, running through the mud under razor wire, studying all kinds of strategies and reading so many books about campaigns in distant worlds. She had no doubt, the Imperium was training these children to become soldiers, to fight and die in distant wars. Her heart ached, these kids deserved to live happy, fate had been too cruel already for them.
"Lady Pierd, its already four o'clock." One of the maids spoke to her.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Cameyia would be hosting a few Ordo Prefectus officers. Talks about expansion, to advance into Imperium's agenda and gather new children. Republic's defeat would bring plenty of orphans, ready to be reeducated and indoctrinated. The young noble felt an ache in her heart at considering these methods Imperium had stablished to ensure the children's loyalty to Terra and the God Emperor. She felt they should be keep away from all this, all this pain, all this struggle, all this war.
She felt they had changed an autocrat for another.
She waved off the children, many of them disappointed, claiming they would wait for her. Some of them even gifting her a few flowers.
"This way please." Her maid guided, there was a carriage outside the orphanage. This day, most nobles would be acquiring these new cars, innovations that would replace horses. Faster, potent and bringers of prestige.
Yet, while her family had indeed acquired a few, all of them had been taken by her siblings. They had reached a deal, she would receive support, both in resources and money, from the Imperium, and the rest of her five siblings would have smaller tasks and tittles. She had to be the new family head after all.
"Ah… so tiring… I hope I can negotiate some new personnel with the Ordo Prefectus today. Tamira, can you give me some of that Apple-peach?"
Excited, she watched her maid open a box releasing a cold vapor. She cut the fruit with speed, and delivered to her. Cameyia enjoyed the rest of the travel while eating her favorite fruit.
[-]
"Oh? They haven't arrived?" Cameyia noticed trough the small window. No vehicle had been parked. "Maybe they will arrive later?"
When she left the carriage, a servant approached. A messenger, one of many. Then he spoke. "My Lady, Lord Degrer announced: He will arrive in an hour, there is been some inconveniences with his agenda."
"What happened?" She asked.
"Maters regarding danger beasts. He told to don't worry, it's just an observation he had to do."
The messenger parted, a response in his hands. She would gladly wait. "Tamira, can you prepare some tea? Also, make some cocoa for me, will you? I will be in my room."
Tamira nodded and bowed in obedience. She then walked away, to carry her mistress whims.
[-]
Her room, few times she would visit again. Too busy, or too away. Yet the servants would take care of it, always clean, just as she had left it when her duties as a noble had started. She could still remember the times she had spent here, reading, playing or just relaxing. Now was the time for take some rest, the small fire in the chimney heated the room and her. Her chair, the one mother used to carry on her arms. So many memories.
The door was knocked, and she knew it was her maid. She let her in without question. The step sounds were familiar, it was Tamira, so many years she had grown to recognize the sound of her shoes. One she had given to her the first time they had picked her from the streets.
She had grown to be like a sister to her.
"Take a seat too, Tamira. You should rest too a littl-"
She felt a small pain in her nape, it was instantaneous, like the sting of a fly.
But that was enough.
First it was her voice, nothing could get out of her mouth.
Then her body, paralyzed, unable to move even a single inch.
And last her consciousness. Darkness enveloped her, nothingness embracing her.
She was dead.
Tamira's hand removed the needle from her neck. It had been the most merciful death she could give.
Her hands trembled. Her legs failing her as she tried to get away from the corpse as she realized what she had done.
"Why I did this?"
It had been an order from the Inquisitor, one she couldn't refuse. Yet, it didn't mitigate the guilt at all. She would never care for any other corrupt noble; she would do it with pride. Just as the one who had been her first kill.
But this.
This was one of the purest souls that had remained unscathed in a rotten Empire.
So why had she been ordered to kill her? Why kill her friend and take this disguise?
When she asked Iturbid, his only answer was: Retribution.
Why? What had this innocent girl done to deserve such cruel fate?
Iturbid had told her why. John Money Pierd had been kidnapping children and abusing of them often making sick experiments and doing unspeakable things to innocent kids. Orphan kids who nobody would care for. Tempting them with promises of a better place, better food. At the end of his investigation, Aragorn Iturbid had discovered at least sixty-four children dead in different and horrific ways, all of their remains well hidden in different places. It had taken some time, but the inquisition had found.
Thus, there was a simple action to take.
Retribution and annihilation.
There was no way Imperium would jeopardize their first steps to cement the bases for a new order.
That would mean total annihilation and purging of the whole noble blood line.
Steps invaded the room. She couldn't care less, only one person would come in this moment.
"I see you are done here. Good. I have taken care of each member of the Money and Pierd families." Said Gina Crownwell. Her grey attire still as impeccable as ever. "Gaea Foundation has become quite interesting. Lord Iturbid has big plans for it."
Chelsea didn't speak, she was still too shocked for what she had done. After a minute, she finally reacted. "What is going to happen to the children…?"
Gina looked at her, bewildered by her need of information. She obliged.
"They will send a new caretaker. They will search for other nobles or may as well send a commissar to take over this place. The children will have to face some more disciplinary preparation, they may have to fully start with the real schola progenium training."
"So… they will become soldiers…"
"Indeed, but not just simple soldiers. Officers, Commissars, Tempestus scions, Sororitas. They will have the opportunity to becoming an essential part for Imperial's military."
"That is just too cruel…"
Gina was surprised, a bit. Cruel? She had long ago forgot that word. But still remembered the concept. "How is this cruel? We are giving these orphan a second chance to become something. Instead of falling on poverty, doomed to die on the streets. Look now, they have education, food, purpose!"
"Children should enjoy their lives… they have the right to choice their future."
Again, Gina couldn't understand. "What future do they have in a dark dirty alley?
"They will become soldiers, they will die!" Chelsea exclaimed.
"They will die in miserable roads and dirt. Life is the Emperor's currency; it must be well expended. Their deaths will bring greatness to the Imperium."
Taken aback, Chelsea angered. "You are heartless!"
"How is this heartless?" Gina spat, annoyed. "Heartless would be leaving them to die in the streets. To end in gangs, or even worse, a cult! I'm not heartless to have to find them again, having to purge them myself!"
"You are just giving them one option! Die for the empire or die by your hand!"
Gina raised her hand, gripped she had an Archeotec Laspitsol. Even a Space Marine would be careful in front of such weapon. The cannon pointed direct to Chelsea's chest, yet, a finger was not on the trigger.
"You live in a small world. Your comprehension of the universe is too small. You are now part of the Inquisition, yet you are far from optimal. If it weren't for Lord Iturbid, I'd blast your existence right here and now."
Gina lowered her gun. Her eyes still sharp as steel.
"You have no idea of what it means 'heartless'. Your misconception of reality, kept in a small haven in the unforgiving void. You are lucky, for we arrived first. Other damned ones, would have done unspeakable things to this world."
"I have witnessed monsters in human skin" Chelsea retorted.
"Same as I have done, quite figuratively and literally. If it weren't for Lord Iturbid, I would have fallen into hell itself. You used Gaea Foundation to save yourself, I was saved by a man."
"A man who is ordering us to kill innocents."
"You have no idea how many times I have heard and seen this…"
"Then why are you still doing this!?"
For a moment, Gina paused. Chelsea thought she was out of arguments. But Gina's next words proven different.
"Because unless we do this, humanity will not survive. Horrors predate the stars, and nothing can change that. Because in the Grimm darkness of this universe, there is only war."
[X]
Well that was shorter than I thought. Honestly, writing a story in English is quite harder than Spanish, in Spanish I can play with lyrics and I feel I can transmit more emotion. Guess I will have to keep translating.
This chapter was hard to wrap it up. I think I needed something more of weight in that last part. Soon things will start moving to Wakoku.
By the way, after looking into AGK lore, I found out Wakoku was not just another continent, It actually has a Manga! Then I started to read it, and while it's good, I have some issues about Wakoku. Like, why we pass from a multi Era-fantasy settling with diverse elements from Europe and Asia, to literal medieval Japan?
Apart from overusing that settling, I think Wakoku should be more advanced than the Empire, given the fact they can create Meihou, that is just Teigu users. And most Teigu are futuristic-magical weapons. That I why I gave them that in this story, I want Wakoku to have advanced tech but keeping some of the Edo japan with it.
Anyway.
I will now keep with Attack on Titan Gate of false liberty. I already have a thousand words on it. I think I may have it sooner than this one.
See you later.