A squad of syndicalists soldiers accompanied by a modified R4i-SDHC walks in the plains between of planeptune city and their encampment in middle of the night
They seem looking around with flash lights
"Sergeant, I am tired." a trooper says
"You will get rest after, we found what we search." The sergeant responds
They continue looking for a moment
"Sergeant, I think found something!" Another trooper says
The sergeant looks at where the trooper is looking
His flashlight illuminate the wreck of a flying machine
"It's what we were looking for." The sergeant says
"Finally." A trooper sigh
They examinate the wreck
One dare to enter the destroyed machine
She looks over she see's the ammunition crates almost intact
"There is munitions inside." She announce to the sergeant
"Okay, we gotta proceed carefully then." The sergeant says
A short moment after the modified R4i-SDHC advance
The R4i-SDHC instead of being equipped with a turret with two energy cannons. The turret got removed and replaced by a crane, transforming it into a recovery machine
A trooper who climbed on the wreck attach the hook of the crane to the said wreck
The R4i-SDHC start to lift the wreck, a few meters in the air and start to head to the encampment
"I announced to the leader that we got the wreck of the machine, we can got back now." The sergeant says
PLANEPTUNE
BASILICOM
6H00-10H00
4 MAY
Histoire as usual after getting a coffee get to work, like during the whole war don't have time to have funny business
In the morning, she receive the visit of someone
She quickly recognize him with his uniform
"Hello, Relic." Histoire says
"Salutations lady Histoire, I have some news." Relic says
"What kind of news?" Histoire asks
"A very good and another quite bad one." Relic says
"Okay, tell me. In any order you want." Historie says
"The first one is that during the airlift, is that there is a vertidragon that got shot down." Relic says
"Oh, and do the crew is okay?" Histoire asks
"Well, the man who piloted it and at the same time he was also the leader of the squadron, died when he jumped. Tough, the rest of the crew is okay, but that's not the worst." Relic exlpains
Relic sigh before continuing
"Other officers form the army sent recons to get back the corpse of the crashed vertidragon to see if it was possible to repair it and most importantly, to avoid that the ASIC get it. They failed." Relic says
"That's not good, they are probably going to study it." Histoire reacts
"So now the good news, its that the reinforcements arrived during the night, they will start to break the encirclement very soon." Relic says
"Finally" Histoire sigh
MEANWHILE
Bethesda, who just finished the blueprint of his new weapon
He goes to submit the blueprint to his superiors
After a not very interesting moment of discussion that can be resumed by "we think its a bit overkill but we will allow you to build a prototype tough to test it."
Bethesda returns to the lab
GAMINDUSTRI GRAVEYARD
?H?
KNOCK KNOCK
"Enter." Magic says
"Lady magic. We got news." The officer says
"Okay, say it." Magic says
"So, the troops managed to shot down one of their machines and heavily damage the others. They got the wreck of their vehicle and its going to get sent here, but for avoid getting targeted by the enemy they are going to attempt to transport it secretly." The officer explains
"I wanted to have them ALL destroyed, but at least they will raid our convoys left often." Magic sigh
"But we also go bad news, the recons spotted the reinforcements at the north-west."
"So they arrived huh?"
"Yes, some officers suggest that we start retreating before getting more casualties, since the troops are in a bad state."
Magic thinks about it
In one way, she can save troops for later by making them retreating, but it will also mean that Planeptune can restart to supply their troops without problem
In an another way, she can tell them to hold but the results may be catastrophic and end up in an important part of the troops getting encircled and it will represent a decisive victory for Planeptune, that will lead the people to stop worshiping Arfoire and so collapsing the shares
Magic realize that she is stuck in a lose-lose situation
It would be better to just make the troops retreat to the mountain range and try negotiating a cease fire, to end the conflict in a stalemate before getting even more loses
"They would be forced to accept a cease fire since we can use the goddess as hostages" Magic thinks
Well, Magic learned that the ASIC isn't ready for a direct conflict with the nations, it would be better to continue diverting shares by other means
"Make the troops retreat to the mountain range." Magic says
NORTH-WEST OF PLANEPTUNE
PLAINS
5 MAY
6H00
The planeptune armored divisions as planed roll toward the direction of one of the syndicalist encampment's
"We got recent scouting form spy planes that says that the ASIC army started moving, stay cautious." The radio says
"Roger." The tank captain responds
The planeptune's tanks are not robot but more actual tanks with threads, turret, etc you know what's a tank
Of course they are more advanced than the other's nations one with for example a stealth system to make it less visible to enemy radars, a first for gamindustri but the lack of industry in planeptune make them to favor light tanks instead of main battle tanks
(the planeptune tanks looks like PL-01 to be more accurate, but I can't show images so I will let ya search on google.)
The tanks advances, no sign of anything forward
The captain continues observing in case of enemy ambush
The encampment can be seen form afar, the tank platoon move to this direction followed by APC's
The captain continues looking and spot something form afar
"R4i at 2 AM!" The captain yells
PHEW
The R4i-SDHC shots beams at the tank
The tank get hit by the R4i on the front hull
The beam went trough the armor and hit on the way the control of the turret
"We are hit! The turret horizontal control got damaged" The gunner says
the tank turns on the right and fire
BANG
The shell fly's around 1km and hit the R4i-SDHC
BOOM
It explodes
The platoon restart advancing shortly after
They reach an abandoned encampment
The tank captain open his hatch and looks
"Well, look like they escaped." Another tank captain says via the radio
"But why there was a R4i-SDHC earlier?" The tank captain responds
"Hang on, let me contact the other platoons." An other captain says
She get inside the tank and get change the frequency of the radio
"Here platoon 1. We reached their encampment, they are empty. We encountered a R4i-SDHC on the way."
"Platoon 3. same here but we got to fight 3 instead of one. We lost two of our tanks on the 5."
"Platoon 2. we haven't encountered any kind of syndicalist threat, we also reached on of their encampments."
"Platoon 1. I'm transmitting that to the headquarters." The captain says
PLANEPTUNE
MILITARY BASE
7H00
"So, they evacuated their troops, that's explain why they looked that they were moving on the picture." Relic says
"So what's now?" The officer says
"Well, tell them to go to the city. The people are going to be glad to finally see the tanks to prove them that the siege is finally ending." Relic responds
"Yes marshal." The officer says
Well, at least the counter-attack is gonna sooner than planned
PLANEPTUNE
BASILICOM
11H00
Bethesda continue working on the prototype of the little boy, that's how he decided to name it
He insert the blueprint in the robot scan
"CONFIRM?" The screen says
Bethesda press the yes button on the screen
And the robots start to build it
He look for a small moment
ROOOOAR
Bethesda panics then just remember that its just the sound his phone when he receive a message, its a dragon ringtone
He check his phone, he got a message form IF
"Hey, I got some news form Histoire, go see me at the hall"
"Okay, ill be there soon"
"K"
Bethesda goes to take the elevator, he also put his phone on mute by the way
When he arrive he see's IF
"Hey!" Bethesda says
IF looks and notice Bethesda
"Hi." IF says
"So, what you wanted to tell me about?" Bethesda says
"The reinforcements just arrived to the city. They are parading outside." IF says
"Finally, Let's look." Bethesda says
Bethesda start to walk to the exit
"Hey! That's not all!" IF scolds Bethesda
"Uh?"
"Wait no, I will tell you this evening." IF says
They go outside
They see the people cheering the troops, tanks and other vehicles, parading in the boulevard
It mean one thing: the end of war is near
"Iffy, Betty!" A familiar voice say
They look and see Compa running to them, something quite usual
"You are no supposed to be at the nursing school or at the hospital?" IF says to Compa
"They made an exception for today, the lessons ended earlier today." Compa explains
"Oh, that's explains that then." IF responds
They look at the military parade
IF randomly remember that she as to say something
"Well since we are together, I wanted to tell something." IF says
"Didn't you wanted to tell me this evening?" Bethesda asks
"No, actually, I wanted that we were assembled. So we will start to fight tomorrow, the marshal assigned us to air assault unit that will use vertidragons to be deployed on the front. We will wake up and directly go to the airfield." IF explains
PLANEPTUNE
AIRFIELD
6 MAY
6H30
The maker trio join the airfield they see 4 vertidragon with the airfield staff preparing the vehicles
"Hey, you three!" an officer says
They look at the officer
"Where your uniforms?" The officer says
"We are important characters, we don't need them" IF responds without elaborating further
"…"
"…"
"She forgot to tell us?" Bethesda whispers to Compa
"She definitively forgot. But don't make her notice" Compa whisper back
"…"
"…"
"OK. There weapon's over there. You are assigned to this vertidragon" The officer responds
The officer point toward one of them with written on it V-2
Bethesda get a plasma rifle
"You girls don't want weapons?" Bethesda asks
"No, I'm fine with my katars and my gun" IF says
"I have my syringe." Compa says
"I wonder how you carry that around." Bethesda says
"Magic." Compa says
Compa show to Bethesda that she can make the weapon disappear and reappear when she wants
"Oh, you can do that IF?" Bethesda asks
"Of course I can." IF says
"And of course I must be the only guy that can't do that." Bethesda thinks
OPERATION SATURN
FORTUNATE SON STARTS PLAYING
The engines turn on, the blades start turning
They enter inside the vertidragon V-2 with other soldiers
"GO!"A technician say
The doors closes
Some folks are born made to wave the flag, Ooh they're red, white and blue
The vertidragon start taking off
And when the band plays "hail to the chief", Ooh they point a cannon at you, Lord
The squadron get out of planeptune, they get catch up by jets to escort them
It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no senator's son, son.
Down there the planeptune army head to the front lines while the vertidragons fly over them
It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no fortunate one, no, yeah!
MEANWHILE
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, lord don't they help themselves, oh.
"Commander! The planeptune army started to move toward us!" A panicked officer says to the commander
But when the taxman comes to the door, lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes.
"Okay we need men's to absolutely slow them down!" The commander says
It ain't me, It ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
The commander goes outside and speak up to the troops
It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no fortunate one, no.
"Comrades! Planeptune are coming for us, we need to slow them down for the other's to fallback. A lot of us are going to die or either going to be captured, but its a sacrifice to make for our beloved goddess!" Kim says to his troops
Most of the troops are motivated, some are less since they are starving
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes, ooh they send you down to war, lord.
"We are with you Kim!" a soldier says
"For Arfoire!" another one says
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?" Ooh, they only answer more! More! More! oh.
Kim Megaup knows what's happening, but since he is a proud member of the ASIC, he will sacrifice is life to the cause. And make an example of heroism
It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no military son, son.
BACK TO THE V-2
The vertidragons flies over the plains
It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no fortunate one, no.
"We reached the drop point, starting to land"
Vertidragons start to deploy their landing gear and vertically lands
It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no fortunate one, no no no.
The doors opens
The troops get out of the vehicles
It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no fortunate one, no no no.
The vertidragon take off
NORTH OF PLANEPTUNE
PLAINS
7H10
"Move out!" IF says
When they were in the vertidragon they got news that the ASIC is trying to retreat to the mount segami and a part of their troops trying to hold the planeptune army back in some kind of stronghold while using it as a relay point to pass the remaining troops that haven't reached the mountain range yet
IF platoon, where of course Bethesda and Compa are member, landed behind the enemy lines have to head to the north and encircle the stronghold to prevent the syndicalists troops form escaping, instead of just helping the army to push them back due to a change of plan
Bethesda while marching look at the mountain range
"I was wondering, why on the mountain range there is an area called the Mount Segami?" Bethesda asks
"It was named after the founder of Planeptune, Hatsumi Sega." A soldier responds
"Is she still alive?" Bethesda asks
"No. She died very long time ago." IF says
After moments of walking, the plain transition to a rocky hill
"There is hours that we are walking can we take a break?" Compa says
"Not yet, we are close of the of their stronghold. And it was only 20 minutes" IF says
"What it look like?" A soldier ask
"Some kind of black building." IF responds
An engine sound get heard form afar
"Take cover!" IF says
The platoon hide behind a large rock
An R-4 fly over them
Bethesda pull out his revolver form his lab coat and load it with armor piercing rounds
B.A.T.S
R-4: ENGINE (30%)
R-4: ENGINE (30%)
R-4: ENGINE (30%)
R-4: ENGINE (30%)
CONFIRM
Bethesda start shooting
BANG BANG BANG BANG
The first bullet hit the engine
The second one misses
The third one misses
The last one hit the engine and set it on fire
The R-4 crash
Tough its not fully destroyed and it turn its eye back
"ENNEMY DETECTED, SENDING SCOUTING REPORT TO COMMAND"
A soldier quickly notice it
She pull out a rocket launcher
WOOOOSSSSHHH
BOOM
The R-4 explodes
"Well, that's mean that we are pretty close then." Bethesda says
They look down the hill and see the black building in distance
IF grab binoculars
She see's a lot of syndicalists troops, most of them seem to be heading to the mountain range
"Call reinforcements, we know where to attack now." IF says
"How many ennemy's are here?" A soldier ask
"A lot." IF responds
"Yes, but how many?" Compa says
"A lot, A lot" IF says
A soldier grab the radio
THIS IS GOING TO BE A BLOOD BATH
LOOK LIKE THIS VOLUME IS GOING TO HAVE MORE CHAPTERS THAN THE FIRST ONE
IM ALSO GOING TO BE BUSY FOR A FEW WEEKS SO THE TIME IMMA TAKE TO MAKE AN CHAPTER IS GOING TO BE QUITE RANDOM AGAIN
