Volume 1: Chapter 4: Foreign Affair
Originally Drafted: April 15th, 2022
Originally Published: April 18th, 2022
Updated: October 26th, 2022
"We come in peace!"
/ Tristainian airspace, En-route to the Tristain Academy of Magic, Halkeginia, October 30th, 2558. UNSC Calendar. /
The Pelican, as the flying machine was apparently called; wasn't as cramped as Louise would have initially thought. Which was surprising. With the amount of people onboard she would have thought it to be tight and uncomfortable. But, to her surprise, it was far more soothing for her rear than the carriages she'd often rode on. She wondered just how advanced they were in comfort that such a thing didn't even cross their minds.
The others with her on the aircraft had been making themselves busy in the meanwhile, the transit time between the Eternity and the Academy would have been much faster, but for her consideration, they slowed to a more comfortable cruising speed. Riding atop a dragon's back last night was exhilarating enough, but onboard the Pelican was a more leisurely experience in comparison.
Their escorts beside them checked their strange equipment to keep themselves occupied. Going over their firearms, equipment, armor and sometimes even exchanging small talk. It was strange to see them act so animated compared to their stiffness as they stood at attention earlier.
Morgan had sat beside her, accompanied by the female "Scientist" as she called her profession and the man in the black uniform. He was said to be a member of another organization the Captain called "Ohnee." The only other woman in the room was busy fiddling around with that glowing tablet of hers. Muttering some words she could barely make out at the distance they sat apart from. Despite all the people around her, she felt strangely isolated.
She wondered what she could have possibly been doing. But she thought it would be better not to interrupt. She probably wouldn't have been able to understand it anyway. Many of the terminologies used by the "Yuennesse" had seemed quite strange and foreign to her.
The Captain, meanwhile, had sat in silent contemplation. No doubt pondering their next move. This would be the first time his people had made actual contact with the natives. He didn't want to leave anything to chance. And it would be much better to eliminate any potential issues immediately.
"Captain, if I may ask. Why don't we just head straight to their capital?" Asked the man in the black uniform as he interrupted the Captain's musings.
The Captain turned his head towards the source of the voice. He stared at him as he wondered why he would bring the topic up at this moment.
"Because, Lieutenant Redding. We don't want to spook the locals any more than we already have." Morgan replied.
Too late for that! Thought Louise. But she kept it to herself.
"If we showed up in their Capital they might see it as a hostile action." Said Morgan .
Redding gave a short sigh as he continued.
"With all due respect, Captain. We've already made enough of a mess. We've evicted a few hundred villagers from their own homes in the dead of night. All in the name of security. Why don't we just go all the way?"
"Need I remind you. That was your idea, Lieutenant." Morgan shot back. Finger pointed directly at him as the Lieutenant gave a noncommittal shrug.
"All I'm saying is; we should negotiate from a position of power. Send a Frigate or one of our Cruisers as a 'security detail' when we make contact with the Heads of State. No doubt a show of force would bring them to the negotiating table far sooner."
Louise shuddered at the idea. Seeing their ships from afar was horrifying enough and the idea of them looming over their capital even more so. She just hoped it would not have to come to that.
"Would that really be a wise decision, Lieutenant?" Unamused at his idea of diplomacy, the Captain crossed his arms.
"That wouldn't make us any allies while we're stranded here. A superior force knocking on the doors of a primitive society and forcing them to heel. If we were to cross that line we would be no different from the Covenant!"
The Captain's outburst had everyone's attention. At the mention of this Covenant, several of their armor clad escorts began to tense up. Who were they? A rival nation that had come to blows with them at some point? She didn't know, and she wouldn't dare ask. Grumbles and hate filled words coming from their direction indicated that the topic was a sore spot for these people. She didn't want to risk alienating herself from them now.
"It wouldn't hurt to at least have more guns on our side." The Lieutenant said quietly to himself.
This was going to be an awkward trip.
「 Tristian Academy of Magic, Director Osmond's Office」
The Director felt mentally fatigued after having stayed up all night drafting letters to the various nobles who had inquired to him about those strange vessels that landed nearby the Academy.
Many of them had urged him to "Do something about these foreigners." No doubt the unwanted presence of these ships had caused a lot of panic and trouble amongst the upper echelons of society. Particularly since they landed adjacent to many properties held by the nobility. Interrupting their usual source of livelihood.
He'd already received reports coming from the capital itself of refugees who had fled from the direction of the ships. Even the Royal Crown was breathing down his neck asking for answers.
Amongst all these issues, what troubled him most. Was the report that many of the military minded aristocrats had already begun drafting up manpower for a possible incursion towards those ships. Possibly aiming to capture them and make them answer for any perceived slight done upon Tristain.
He could only imagine the bloodshed that would eventually erupt from such a clash should it go through. With a sigh at that, he paused in his work for a moment. Interrupting it by reaching for his pipe to ease his worries.
Many thoughts ran across his mind as he went through the paperwork scattered before him. He'd have wished his secretary was here with him now. But she had already gone off with Professor Colbert to discuss their upcoming meeting with the people from those ships.
A shame, really. He thought.
Chuchu and I would have liked to see what kind of underwear she wore today. Stroking his beard as he looked outside the window. The ships floating about in the far distance.
「 Academy Courtyard, 0800 hours 」
"Are you ready, Miss Longueville?" Asked an anxious looking Professor Colbert.
He'd initially been looking forward to meeting with the people from those ships. But the incursion of three of his students, which led to one of them being captured or worse killed. Had left a sour taste in his mouth.
Finding the young Vallière had been bumped up into the top of his priorities.
He hoped he didn't have to write to the Vallière estate about how the Academy managed to lose one of its students. He could imagine Louise's mother, the Duchess Karin de La Vallière, tearing apart the entire school and the forest around them looking for whoever was responsible.
"Oui, I am ready, Professor." Said Miss Longueville. He had expected her to back off when they had relayed the news of Miss Vallière's current status. But to his surprise, she had been adamant on seeing this through. A conduct he supposed would be greatly appreciated.
Nodding in affirmation he made to move towards the stables along with Miss Longueville.
As the pair made their way towards the stables where they would have acquisitioned some horses for transport. A deafening noise sounded out from the sky.
A noise which sounded oddly like gusts of flames jutting out and violating the air around it.
Had there been a rogue fire mage around? He didn't have time to deal with a possible arsonist. Not with the future of the kingdom at stake here.
He looked up and saw the source. What appeared to be a brick shaped object with wings. The "head" of which reminded him of an insect or a bird of prey. Colored in a dull olive green armor. It moved about the Academy before stopping to hover.
His eyes widened in recognition as he realized he'd seen these things before, but the scale of them wasn't apparent until they were this close. As they were usually observed from the safety of the Academy grounds through the use of far-seeing spells, their exact size wasn't known. The sight of one of these mechanical beasts - as that's what they could only ever be described as, hovering over the Academy was a frightening one for the former soldier.
Had these people been provoked by the student's incursion last night? If they came here themselves then his objective of going to meet them in person had been rendered moot. He supposed that plans don't always go as you'd expect.
"Miss Longueville, change of plans. It seems our visitors have arrived to meet with us instead."
Before the sun rose, the commoner staff of the Academy had already begun to work. Many of them had come to wash the laundry of the various nobles in attendance, gone to make breakfast, or various other tasks.
One of the maids, a girl with a subtle foreign mix in her physique, was on her way to tend to one of the courtyards. The size of the Academy had many of the staff alternate in shifts on who they sent to work on what.
It was during this that she saw the aircraft hovering over the Academy. Painted a dull green, it was vaguely brick like in form. Its stubby wings ejected gusts of flame at extreme speeds in its exhaust. She recognized the flying machine. It vaguely reminded her of the vehicle her grandfather had allegedly rode in on when he first arrived in Halkeginia.
The name escaped her, it was on the tip of her tongue as she tried to recall what it was. Her work now almost completely forgotten as she racked her mind trying to remember.
Her grandfather had often told fantastical tales about his homeland, one of advanced technology compared to Halkeginia, but they seemed far too outlandish for her to believe at the time. But, seeing one of the things her grandfather had vividly described to her in plain view, she remembered.
A Pelican! That's what it was! She'd only seen pictures of such things. One of the few things her grandfather had brought with him from his home. Such lifelike paintings that captured moments in time exactly as it were. Her grandfather had quite the collection of them, and even made a few more during his time living here with his "Camera" device. One, which no longer worked at the moment, but it was a treasured family heirloom now.
She recalled that one of the pictures her grandfather had was of him working near one of the Pelicans. Claiming he used to fly those things. While she thought it odd that a common man such as he was allowed to fly such a machine, she didn't pay it any mind at the time. Her grandfather was an eccentric man, she just assumed that the people of the land he was from were just as much.
Seeing one of those in action, right before her eyes. Was something she had to tell the rest of her family about.
/ UNSC Pelican, Over the Academy Grounds… /
"We've arrived right on top of the place. But we ain't got no spot to land on!" Shouted the pilot to the people riding inside.
Morgan arose from his seat and went over to the cockpit as the pilot called out. Looking over the shoulders of the two men flying the aircraft, he could see the various facilities on-site. Many of them were currently occupied by students, and what he assumed to be the staff at the moment. All of which were openly gawking at them as they hovered above. He could see the tense expressions of what he could only assume were the staff, as they seemed awfully startled at the sight.
Thinking for a moment. He paused and turned back. He spotted the young strawberry-blonde haired noble they now had in their presence, fidgeting in her seat. Anxious to finally exit the pelican and touch solid ground again.
"Miss Vallière." Morgan spoke to her. "Would you mind pointing out a place to land for us? It's going to inconvenience a lot of people, I imagine if we just stayed hovering here for so long."
The young noble lady nodded. She got up to the cockpit just as the Captain did and pointed out a spot on the Academy, one seldom used by its occupants.
"There!" She cried out. " The Vestri Courtyard is usually empty around this time of day. You shouldn't bother people overmuch if you set down there." Pointing to a spot on the Academy grounds. She was very eager to get out of the Pelican as soon as she realized she was almost home.
The pilot nodded in acknowledgement and moved the aircraft in position over the indicated area. Feeling the aircraft move from the back of it was one thing. But to actually see it from the cockpit was an entirely different experience for the young Vallière.
While she was no stranger to flying, having experienced being on an airship and on a dragon's back in flight. It had always fascinated her. But. the relative ease with which the people of the Yuennesse had moved through the air, however, would have put even the most experienced flyers of Halkeginia to shame.
She couldn't feel any of the usual resistance in the air common in the local airships or the wind blowing through her like on a dragon. She felt as if she were isolated from the elements. Covered safely by something as delicate and fragile as glass.
The aircraft touched down as gently as it could on the grassy courtyard. The pilots gently powered its engines down after doing so.
As the beast? Creature? Machine? Colbert wasn't sure what to call it exactly, slowly descended on the Vestri courtyard. He had resolved himself to fight on the chance that they came here to attack. But he realized that if they wanted to they would have already. Not taking any chances however, he readied himself. Prepared to unleash a torrent of flames on the spot where they stood.
By his side, Miss Longueville had looked on with interest. She seemed quite eager at the time to see these newcomers. But her look of contemplation was quite unusual. He didn't expect her to be so worried.
Moments passed before the rear of the curiosity in question had opened. Revealing a group of humanoid figures dismounting from the back.
Clad in black uniforms and donning armored plates on their joints and chest along with a glass visored helmet. The men who had come out first had taken to scanning the area. They took point signaling to the others of possible vantage points from potential hostiles and looking for any signs of danger.
These Soldiers, as clearly distinguished from their behavior, analyzed the surroundings with an almost unheard of degree of paranoia in Halkeginia. While usually a simple spell for detecting dangers would suffice. These men had taken no such shortcut. Checking every nook and cranny they didn't stop to pause until they were sure it was secure.
When all this was done. They motioned to the remaining occupants of the vessel to come out.
Colbert watched with interest as these men worked with such a degree of professionalism that he'd have been impressed were he still a military man.
One of the first to emerge as they set foot for the first time in plain view of the natives was a person in uniform. Colbert could see the face of the man - a human, man. Dressed in a cleanly pressed white uniform. He was adorned with medals and a peaked white hat. He thanked The Founder that he didn't have to deal with an Elven incursion.
But this revelation brought with it a new problem. Who were they?
Aside from the man in the white uniform. He spotted a similarly dressed man in a black outfit. A counterpart from a different organization perhaps? Or was he another noble? Followed by a woman wearing a white coat and pants, tapping on a transparent glass tablet.
Quite an unusual get-up! He thought as he continued observing the rest of the emerging foreigners.
Though, that wasn't what shocked him the most. As soon as they all stepped out of the strange machine, the sight of a familiar hair of rose came into view. The young noble's daughter who had gone missing the night before, was being gently escorted off. Colbert and Director Osmond had torn their hairs out at the root, metaphorically. Over how to deal with her disappearance.
Thankfully the young Vallière appeared to be unharmed and well. Judging by her appearance and general attitude, it seemed these people hadn't been cruel to her.
Sensing the opportunity to make himself known. Colbert moved towards the group. His staff aimed at the ready, prepared to grab Louise as they ran, should things go south.
"Halt!" Shouted the gruff voice of one of the armored men who accompanied the group.
Colbert stood still, shocked as the order barked out of the man. It sounded a bit like Albish. Were these men related to Albion? A secret remnant of the Albish Royalists who had gone unmolested from the civil war? Or, Founder forbid, members of Reconquista.
"Identify yourself and state your intentions." The man barked again. This time sounding more impatient.
Colbert cleared his throat and spoke. "I am Professor Colbert, a teacher at the Tristainian Academy of Magic. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?" He replied in Albish. While he could understand the language. He hadn't had much time to use the language in recent memory.
"Gunnery Sergeant Afan Dizdar, ODST." The man replied concisely. "I assume you're our welcoming party?" The Trooper finished as he lowered his arms in a relaxed state.
Colbert blinked. Clearly a military man then. If stating his name and rank wasn't obvious enough. The man didn't appear to be carrying a wand of any sort, only a strange black musket and a large pistol at his hip. Not a noble then. Or someone who doesn't rely on magic in combat. He also called himself an "Ohdeey Estee" whatever that means. A form of special forces? A question he would like to ask of these foreigners if they allowed him.
He looked across from the man towards the trio standing next to the young Vallière girl. She didn't seem at all worried with the situation unfolding before her.
Exhaling a breath he didn't know he held. He said to the Sergeant. "Yes, indeed I am. Although we were expecting to be the ones making contact with you. Not the other way around. We were already preparing on heading out before you arrived on that strange beast of yours." His finger pointing towards the aircraft.
"Then it seems we beat you to it. Professor." The uniformed man in white who emerged first, walked over after hearing the conversation taking place between Colbert and the Sergeant. His face looked no older than in his middle age, but he carried himself as if he was a veteran many years his senior. Colbert eyed the man warily.
Holding out a hand towards him. Colbert seemed confused at the gesture. "You guys don't do handshakes? It's a common way of greeting someone where we come from." The man said.
Handshakes? He had heard of it before. But it's a gesture that was popularized by the Germanians. Their status as a barbarian nation had done them no favors in improving their perception, so the gesture was seen as rather rude in the other Brimirique nations.
Not wanting to insult the man. He hesitantly returned the gesture.
"I'm Andrew Morgan. Captain of the UNSC Eternity. That ship that crashed over yonder. Don't be alarmed. We come in peace." He said while shaking hands.
Hearing that comment about 'coming in peace' the woman beside him rolled her eyes. "Really, Captain? You're using that cliche?"
"Hey, it felt appropriate." He gave a light chuckle at that before returning his focus to the professor.
"We were hoping to meet you under different circumstances. But the events of last night had made us rush things. We needed to resolve any potential misunderstandings before they got out of hand." He said whilst subtly pointing to the young noble lady in the crowd.
Louise had shuffled awkwardly after being singled out like that. Colbert breathed a sigh of relief. But his eyes returned a glimmer of hope at the gesture.
"Very well, Ser Captain. However I believe the office of our esteemed Director would be a more appropriate venue to speak at. This courtyard could hardly qualify as a proper meeting place." Colbert said meekly.
He turned to the armed men in his group. "Sergeant, I need your men guarding that Pelican. Make sure nobody attempts anything rash while we're gone."
"Roger, that sir." With a quick nod, the Sergeant turned to his men to relay the orders.
"Lead the way, Professor."
「 Academy Dorms 」
Louise breathed a sigh of relief as she found herself back on Academy grounds. Having spent the better part of the previous night in unfamiliar territory. She found comfort in the sense of normalcy around the Academy.
Having been dismissed earlier as the group made their way to the Director's office. She found herself wandering the halls of the Academy. which had been until recently, full of life. Though the sudden arrival of their strange visitors had interrupted the daily happenings around the campus. With many students having gone into hiding and others daring to take a peek at the armed men guarding the "Pelican" as they had referred to the large object lying still in the courtyard.
Despite having returned from such a troubling night. She had been largely left alone. Worse still, her wand was missing. Having been confiscated by the Yuennesse earlier that day. Without it she couldn't really call herself a mage. The only proof of her noble bloodline. While she could have ordered for another made for her. She wondered if there even was a point.
She failed the Academy, the first in her family to do so. She couldn't bear to bring such a shame to her family name.
Her mind was filled with doubt as she made her way through the halls of the Academy to the Second year Dorms. Resigning herself to her new lot in life. When she had finally reached the hallway which led to her room, the area seemed abandoned. The students in this section have probably gone off to bond with their familiars, as today was supposed to be a day off reserved for that purpose.
Right, familiars. I should have been out there bonding with my own by now. She thought to herself. If only Professor Colbert had allowed her to. She would not have been sitting alone in her room in pity. She looked over to her desk. Her writing set was still untouched from when she left the night before. She remembered she had a letter to write.
I might as well get it over with. Louise bitterly thought as she felt drea well up within her when she picked up her pen.
It was said that every noble in Tristain cowered in fear of the thief known as "The Crumbling Dirt." Known fully as Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt.
Amongst his exploits were the theft in the north of a jeweled crown, a staff bestowed by the king as a family treasure in the south, in the east, the best pearl rings by the artisans of the White Islands were all stolen with none left behind. Fouquet was also known to have eagerly taken possession of a priceless bottle of well-aged wine from a winery in the west. The thief was everywhere.
The tactics Fouquet uses range from stealthy infiltrations to outright home invasions. An attack on the national bank had taken place in broad daylight, and houses were silently frequented in the dead of the night. As a result, Fouquet's tactics simply stupefied the royal mage guards. But, unbeknownst to them all, the infamous thief wasn't who they thought he'd be.
Fouquet, in disguise as the Academy's new Secretary, had excused herself from the meeting about to take place in the Director's office. Having initially planned to scout out the forest outside the Academy for her possible escape routes, her plans were interrupted by the presence of those ships.
While a setback in her plan to steal a magical artifact from the Academy vaults, ultimately it shouldn't matter too much anyway.
Strange airships and not a single mage in sight. Troubling, but doable. These foreigners should not be a hindrance to her plan, she thought. With this in mind, she had gone off to the Vault once more to scope out any weaknesses.
Fouquet briskly stood, showing the face that strikes fear in every noble in the country as her hair moves with the wind. The harsh daylight outside struggled to shine down on the walls outside the fifth floor of the Academy, which encased her latest coveted target, the Vault.
Pressing a foot against the wall, Fouquet felt the wall's power and could not help but admire it. A master of earth magic, such as Fouquet, could easily check a wall's thickness with her feet, but breaking one was a completely different story.
"It's certainly as strong as it looks." Fouquet made to feel around for any weaknesses in its structure, only to find none so glaringly obvious as her previous targets had.
"Is a physical attack truly the only way to break through?" She muttered to herself as she carefully scrutinized the layers upon layers of spells laid upon the walls.
"I can't break through something this thick without attracting attention!" She silently cursed to herself as the job seemed to be tougher this time around. "It seems my alchemy won't be able to do much this time around."
「 Director Osmond's Office, Tristain Academy of Magic」
Old Osmond had set aside his plans for the day upon hearing the news of their visitors this morning. Most of his plans were just more of the usual paperwork that his secretary, the lovely Miss Longueville, usually just dealt with anyway. He had other more important matters at hand.
While he was relieved that they weren't Elves as his colleague Professor Colbert had initially theorized. The fact that they were humans from an unheard of organization had been quite a complicated issue.
Three of them, along with Professor Colbert, entered the room. The man in white, who had introduced himself as the Captain. Had exchanged polite greetings between the two of them. The other man, who wore all black. Had merely offered his name and rank. And lastly, the woman had introduced herself as a "Chief Scientist" aboard their enormous ship that had crashed into the Dark Forest beyond the safety of settlements. He had assumed this position of "Chief Scientist" to be quite a prestigious one. Something akin to his role as Director of the premier Mage Academy in Halkeginia.
After their introductions were finished, their Captain had spoken.
"Now that we're all acquainted. I'd like to get to the root of the problem." He immediately straightened up before taking something he had stored inside one of his pockets. A miniature circular device of some sort. It appeared to have a faint glow emitting from inside.
Colbert and Osmond looked warily at the device. Wondering as to what strange magic it possibly could have held.
"Don't be alarmed. It'd be easier if we used this to explain our situation. It's called a projector. It lets us display images of events that have happened and as a visual aid." He motioned for his female colleague to do something.
Tapping along her transparent tablet, the device in front responded as if it was controlled by it. Before long a display of detailed ethereal visions of the very ships flying outside had appeared. "For starters. Every ship you see displayed before you. Belongs to the UNSC, the United Nations Space Command. The military and exploratory arm of the UEG, the United Earth Government."
United Nations? So these people represented more than one state then. But this mention of "space" surely it must be a jest? Not even the most advanced airships ever produced could fly higher than the island of Albion at its peak. Thought Osmond.
"A few days ago. We were in the middle of transit in what we refer to as 'slipspace.' I'm not going to bore you with the technical jargon. But think of it as like opening a shortcut through space which would take us from one area to another in a relatively short amount of time. A journey which would take decades, shortened to weeks." He paused.
They used magic to speed up their airships? Unconventional, since any magic would usually affect the windstones that powered the vessels they were on. Perhaps they had ran afoul when their magic reacted to the windstones they used to power their vessels?
"It was during this transit when we… encountered an anomaly. So to speak." He gestured for the woman to do something again. This time, the ships that were shown were replaced with a lifelike rendition of humans in what he assumed was an area aboard his ship.
"A portal had opened up inside the Eternity's mess hall. We've no idea of the origin of the anomaly but it has effectively left us stranded here. It attempted to kidnap a member of our crew before it exploded and sent our entire fleet crashing here instead."
The image shown had begun to move. Showing the two natives in the room the events just as the Captain had described. With the evidence shown, it had some very uncomfortable implications. He turned to his colleague who had seemed to share his thoughts.
"With that in mind. We would like to speak with your leadership if possible. With us being stranded on foreign soil, completely out of our control, I might add. We wish to avoid any hostilities. Would it be possible for you to arrange such a meeting?" The Captain finished after the demonstration he had just shown.
"Ah, well, we'd be delighted to relay your request. In fact, this is quite good timing, you see, The Royal Crown, had been insisting this whole time since you arrived. This means our interests align then." Director Osmond had all too happily said to hide his apparent nervousness at the coincidence of how these people came to be here.
"Wonderful. But, one last thing. Do you happen to have any possible idea as to how we got here? Your magic… seems to be related to this anomaly given our own scanners had indicated similar readings from all over this Academy." The Captain had said the word magic almost with a hint of venom.
Director Osmond turned to Colbert and saw the man wipe some sweat that had formed on his forehead.
"Well… you see, we might actually be responsible for it… Unintended, of course!" He stammered out. "I hypothesized that one of my students may be the one who had summoned you all here." Slowly starting to return to a normal flow of speaking.
"I didn't expect any evidence to come forth without any solid leads. But you brought along the missing pieces I needed to conclude it!" Nearly shouting the last part in excitement.
"Excuse me?" Interrupted the man in black. "You're saying, you're at fault for us being here?" He pointed accusingly at the professor.
"No, that's not what I was implying at all, monsieur! While true that the magic did in fact come from our side, it was by no means intentional. I assure you of that!" Replied back Colbert.
"That's enough, Lieutenant. No need to antagonize the poor man." Ordered the Captain. "Mind explaining to us the details then, Professor?"
/ Vestri Courtyard, 1300 hours. 2 hours after official first contact. /
The squad of ODST's left behind by the Captain to guard their Pelican stood at attention as they did whatever they could to relieve themselves of boredom.
"So, do you guys ever wonder why we're here?" Asked one of the ODST's in the group left behind to guard the pelican.
"What?" The man beside him asked, confused at the sudden question.
"I figured I'd start a conversation. I mean, we're ODSTs right? 'Feet first into hell' and all that."
"If you're looking for a fight. You're always free to go to the training facilities and work a sweat out on the simulator." Replied another voice. Seemingly irritated at the man's questions.
"DiMaggio, we've got an important job to do and we're in the middle of unknown territory. What else do you expect there is for us to do here?" Another added as he made a not-so subtle rude gesture at the man's antics.
"Well, I just wish we had something better to do." DiMaggio said as he exhaled rather loudly in exasperation, "Hell, I wouldn't mind doing a little 'reconnaissance' around the place if you guys let me."
"I tell you what, son. Why don't you do exactly that." Another man chimed in, "Whatever it takes to get you to stop yapping your mouth off near my ears." The irritated voice of their squad leader came as he made his way over to the man.
"Well, shit. I'm more than willing to take up that offer!" DiMaggio replied. The man had broken off from the group towards the direction of the Academy.
"You sure that was a good idea, Sarge? We didn't exactly have permission to be here in the first place." Ybarra asked the Sergeant.
"Don't worry about it. I'm expecting him to make an ass out of himself anyway. That should shut him up in a heartbeat."
DiMaggio had wandered around the Academy for what felt like an hour, which in reality was only around thirty minutes according to the digital clock displayed on his HUD. He had gotten lost along the way when he realized he'd gone too far and couldn't find his way back.
He'd passed through corridor after corridor. Each looking as similar as the last. Everywhere he turned and met the eyes of another human, they'd went back around and fled away from him. Screaming in terror at the sight of his imposing armored form.
It isn't every day you see an ODST in the flesh. When you usually do it's when things have turned for the worse. He thought nothing of it and went on his way.
As he rounded down the bend of the hall he was in. He had bumped into another person. Clad in a black maid's uniform, typical of what he'd usually see in those fantasy books he'd read as a teen.
"I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." He held out a hand for her to take.
The maid had looked up at the man and froze in shock. Figures. They all seem to want to run away when they see me.
"You… you're an ODST, aren't you?" The maid stuttered out.
DiMaggio blinked. He didn't expect a local to recognize the uniform. Maybe this planet wasn't as remote as he thought.
"I am. How'd you know about us? Can't imagine you'd see many like me around these parts" he joked.
"My grandfather." She replied as she brushed off the dirt that fell upon her when she landed. "He told stories about your people when he was alive. I didn't think I'd get to see one in person! The pelican was one thing. But to meet a 'Helljumper' in the flesh is just as exciting! She cried out excitedly. Her voice carried around the halls.
"Woah, slow down. Your grandfather? Was he part of the UNSC?"
"No? Maybe? I don't know. He didn't mention working with such an organization. But he died years ago, I don't have the answers to that I'm afraid."
Someone else who had been here before them. This was concerning, he had to report this to the Captain. But first…
"Maid… umm… sorry I don't think I caught your name."
"Oh, forgive me. Where are my manners? My name is Siesta, of Tarbes."
"Wonderful. Siesta, I think the Captain might want to have a word with you. Could you follow- No, wait, on second thought. Could you take me to the Courtyard? I got lost on my way here." He stammered out awkwardly.
Siesta let out a soft giggle at that. "Well, of course, monsieur. Just follow me."
The pair walked on in relative silence as they made their way through the halls. DiMaggio feeling uncomfortable at this, decided to break it by asking a question.
"So, what exactly is the deal with this place?" DiMaggio asked. "Is this some kind of magic school or something?"
Siesta paused at this. While her grandfather had mentioned that magic didn't really exist back where he came from, or it wasn't really relevant at all. She hadn't expected one of his countrymen to be also ignorant about it.
"Oui, I guess it is. Monsieur." She replied after giving it some thought.
"Right, then. Does anyone else aside from snotty kids get to join?" he said while pointing towards a particular blond student.
The young man's cheeks visibly reddened after having been caught two timing by a girl he assumed to be his girlfriend.
"You mean the Nobility? Monsieur, I'm afraid insulting them so openly is dangerous." she tried to warn the man.
"What does being a noble have to do with it? I call what I see."
"Because nobles are the only ones blessed by the Founder, Brimir. The only ones capable of magic among society are those of his descent."
"What about the non-nobles then?" he asked. The thought of one group of people lording over the rest didn't sit right with him. The whole religious connotations with their society as well, it reminded him too much of the Covenant.
Siesta sighed. "Our lot in life is to serve them, that's how it is, that's how it always will be." she said. "Although, I suppose that doesn't apply to a strangersuch as you then?"
"Probably not. I don't think the folks back at base are going to like this particular bit of knowledge either."
"Then for both our sakes, Monsieur. They don't react too badly. If even half the stories my grandfather said of your people are true. Then I shudder to imagine the consequences if the country provokes you."
"Hey, Gunny. You don't think he got himself lost, do you?" Asked Ybarra as he fiddled with his BR55 Battle Rifle. He'd gone over the gun several times already in his bored state.
"Knowing that bastard, I don't doubt he did. If he doesn't come back before the Captain is done here then we'll fan out and search for him."
"I don't think that'll be necessary, sir." Said another.
"And why is that?"
He pointed in the direction where two figures could be seen heading towards them.
"Helljumper!" Dizdar called out, "Where have you been?" He asked in a loud authoritative voice causing the woman beside him to cower behind DiMaggio.
"Got lost, sir. Though, Siesta here was kind enough to give me directions back." He pointed at the woman beside him.
She appeared to be an unassuming looking woman with asiatic features. Odd. Considering how European the people of this continent generally tend to look from what they've seen so far, he didn't expect someone like her in this place.
She gave a polite bow before excusing herself to leave. The Corporal who had just been with her, looking back as she left.
"Got yourself a girlfriend or something?" Asked one of the other ODSTs
"What? No! I just asked her for directions. That's all I did!"
"Yeah, sure. Caught her number too while you were at it?" Joked another.
"Real funny, wise guy. Besides, they don't even have phones in here."
"Cut your bellyaching, soldier. Get back in formation before the Captain comes back here." The Sargeant ordered the man.
"Uhh, aye… Sir." Moving back in line with the rest of his squad. He turned to scan the courtyard around them as they fell into a comfortable silence. Their onlookers having seemingly moved on.
"Sure is quiet around here." Whispered one.
"It's almost lunchtime. These brats are probably just filling themselves up at a banquet or something."
"Ah, great. While we're out here guarding this bird. They're out there enjoying some grub." Another bemoaned as he gestured to the Pelican.
"Eh, it could be worse."
"Worse? How?"
"We could've been dead by now if those rogue AI had found us."
A silence filled the squad as one of them brought it up. Ever since they had been stranded here. They'd feared a possible attack from them while they were unprepared. The Captain had ordered a firebase be built around the Eternity as they made repairs. While it was effective against what they'd seen of the locals so far. They didn't know how it would fare against an actual military attack.
"Small mercies, I guess." The group settled into a comfortable silence at that.
「 Director Osmond's Office, 1200 hours. 」
"So, you're saying that this… Vallière girl, is responsible for our being here?" Asked Lieutenant Redding.
"Yes…" Professor Colbert answered sheepishly. "Yesterday was when he held a traditional ceremony called the Familiar Summoning Ritual. It is when a young mage summons a companion to accompany them throughout their life as both Noble and Mage."
The Captain put a hand to his chin in thought. "This ritual. It's done through your magic?" Colbert nodded in response.
"What has this got to do with us?" Asked the Lieutenant.
"Well, when a mage usually summons a familiar they act as their servants. The young Vallière had attempted the ritual to seemingly no success. That is, until your ships exploded onto the skies above us after she completed it."
The Captain frowned at the implications of this. "So, you're saying. That potentially every sailor aboard our ships is this girl's familiar?" Colbert nodded. "I hope you understand the gravity of this situation. This is essentially just kidnapping." The Captain emphasized the last word.
"Professor, the UNSC will not be held as a servant to the whims of a child."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Ser Captain!" Colbert attempted to defuse the man. "Binding a contract with a human, much less thousands of you, would be a feat far too much anyway. There is no legal precedence over the situation we find ourselves in. When you meet with The Royal Crown, I'm sure we can work out an agreement for this."
The Captain seemed to have calmed down at this. He turned to his colleagues. Their faces seemed to be torn in quiet contemplation.
Dr. Belle turned to Morgan as she whispered something. "Should we tell them about Dr. Hiraga?"
He had nearly forgotten the source of this incident on their end that caused them to be here in the first place. But he couldn't blame Dr. Hiraga. He was just as much a victim as the rest of them. Even if this 'magic' had initially only attempted to summon him. He couldn't allow a single citizen of the UEG to be held a servant against their will.
"No, we don't need to burden him with what we know now." The Captain responded to the good doctor.
"Very well."
"Would this girl be able to send us back?" Asked the ONI Lieutenant. So far, he had seemingly only delivered vague threats and questions in this entire exchange.
As Colbert was about to respond, his colleague, Director Osmond did so for him instead.
"I'm afraid not. This spell, in all its recorded history cannot be reversed. The Founder, Brimir, hadn't designed the spell to be used in such a way." Osmond finished with a serious look of contemplation on his face.
"Great… just what we needed…" grumbled the ONI man in response.
The Captain sighed. He had thought something like this was going to happen.
"It seems we've reached the climax of this meeting then. Professor, Director. Thank you for agreeing to talk with us. We hope to hear from you soon." The Captain gave them a polite nod before turning to leave with his colleagues in tow.
"Oh, before I forget. We'll give you this to facilitate a means of easy communication." He held out another small device. Shaped vaguely like the tablet the doctor among them held.
"We'll be able to communicate using this. Simply touch the indicated prompts when it appears on the screen and you'll be connected to us instantly."
The Captain spoke as if it were a completely normal thing. Surely such a magical artifact would be worth more than their weight in gold?
The native pair eyed the piece of technology with a curious gaze. Wondering how exactly such a device would work.
As the trio exited the room. The remaining two breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Well, that could have gone better." Mused Colbert.
"Indeed. Well, Professor, could you kindly fetch my secretary for me? It seems I have many letters to write today." The Director said as he made to fetch his smoking pipe he hid in his drawer.
Authors Notes: And that's all folks. Slightly longer than last time. Tried to take my time with this one.
Could have made the interactions a lot more natural but I kind of struggled there when it came to multiple characters. I also planned to have Louise something more to do besides just moping around in misery, but I'll probably just move that to another chapter instead.
Like I said in a previous chapter I kind of want to do my own thing here. So, there won't be too much of a focus on Saito or Louise. As the Eternity and her group is more of a main character than those two in this fic. Considering the situation they had escaped from prior to landing on Halkeginia. They are going to be very paranoid.
What do y'all think about the French bits? Should I tone it down? I'm only doing this to add flavor to the text since it seemed bland if I just left it in plain English.
As always, thanks for reading. I'll see you all in the next one. じゃ、またね
If you have any suggestions or comments. Feel free to join the Discord server: /sDgJN8F4tY
Update: Added more onto certain scenes and changed some.
Update 2: Changed the ODST scene a bit.