DISCLAIMER:I do not own FoZ or C&C red alert 3,all belonged to their respective owners.
Chapter 8:Against The Same Foes
(Village Of Caldwen,Albion)
At the house of the village elder,Stanford currently establishing the final outputs of the plan on attacking the garrison base at Eidenburgh together with village elder John.A sketched map of the whole area of the garrison is placed at the table which Stanford currently analyzing it to deploy their strategic plan to takeover the entire garrison.
"-and that's it. We will commence the operation at midnight were most of their guards will get to sleep makes their security to be weak and use the dark of the night to cover our elements of surprise."Stanford stated the plans of operation.
"I see..So how many troops you will be sent in this big operation?"John asked.
"I will be sent the troops that once participated in the recent battle,they already gained some quite experience so they are the ones well suited for this along with some new trainees acting as support."Stanford explained.
"Alright that will be all mr. John,let's get outside to check the preparations for the upcoming siege."Stanford said and they both went outside.
(Tristania,Capitol Of Tristain)
"Why I suppose to wear this stupid common clothing?"Louise annoyingly said looking at her common attire.
"It's for cover up partner,our whole mission will be mess up if we got busted early."Saito explains to her.
"Remember,her highness entrusted this important mission to us. She trusted you this so you better to not let her down."Saito added.
"R-right..."Louise only word she replied as she understands how important this mission. Her highness princess Henrietta summons them at the royal palace one day giving them a special secret mission to investigate the corruption happening in their ranks and some reports of abusive nobles adding the amount of taxes on the common folk. Today they're currently on a secret investigation to identify the corrupt nobles abusing their authority against the common people.
"We need to be practical here in terms of using this budget princess Henrietta given to us to accomplish this mission so we need to be more resourceful."Saito said as he pull out the pouch contains their money in his jacket.
"Why you need to be the one to keep the money for this mission,I should be the one who must keep it!"Louise demandingly said.
"And most of all,stop calling her highness like that. Do it when she's around."She added.
"Sorry just too loyal for her. And about the money,I must be the one who should keep it because I know if you handled it you'll be going to waste it in useless way."Saito replied but Louise annoys on what he said and gave him a bloodshot look,only for Saito to just ignore it.
"Now then,where do we start?"Saito said as they started wondering around the capitol until he saw a casino.
'A perfect spot for investigation.'He then turns around to his master.
"Come master,I see a good place to start our investigation."Saito said to Louise.
"At the casino?"Louise confusingly asked as they are now going there.
"If you want to find some corruption, that place is the best place for it. Who knows maybe we find some corrupted nobles there who only using the peoples money for gambling."Saito explained to her.
"Oh youre right,maybe we can caught them on the spot if does so."Louise said and without any further ado they proceed to their first location.
(Royal Palace Of Tristain)
"I hope Louise and can manage to accomplish the task well."Henrietta said with a bit tone of worry while looking at the capitol,taking her tea at the balcony on her room with her familiar.
"There's nothing to be worry your highness. As long as miss Louise familiar is with her,there's nothing that they can't succeed."Zarić assures her.
"You seemed to be a lot of confidence in mr. Saito,Zarić."Henrietta said smiling at her. Zarić smiles back and she said.
"If you know him well,that young man is one of a hell tough bastard that no one in this world can match his expertise except me."Zarić stated about the former imperial commander.
"If that so Zarić then I should put all my trust to them with no worries. Louise is my friend after all so I must trust her."Henrietta said as she taking a sip of tea,as they both continue looking at the crowded capitol of Tristania while watching the beautiful sunset.
(At The Capitol Of Tristain,Tristania)
"I think we lost them."Saito said peeking from the alley looking down street if their pursuers still chasing them. Behind him is Louise still panting hard due to their running.
"pant","pant"..You...Sure?"Louise asked hardly still catching her breath and Saito nods in answer. As she manage to make her breathing back to normal,she regains her posture.
"Hey Saito,how did you figured it out?"Louise asked her about something.
"Oh that?It's quite obvious though that he was clearly cheating. The moment he got straight flushes in three consecutive rounds means he has something under his sleeve."Saito answered her.
"Just because of that you already know it?"Louise said in skeptic tone not believing that he simply busted the modus just because of it.
"Straight flush is normally happens in a card game but the fact it happens consecutively,well thats odd eventhough it happens rarely. So I checked his movements and thats I saw that he switches the cards under his sleeves."Saito explains to her.
"Oh...Thats why you confront him."Louise said.
"Before he wipes out all of our expenses because of your insisting on playing that card game."Saito said narrowing at Louise.
"I-I was just only want to make our money grow more,s-so what's wrong with it!"Louise retorted back.
"There's nothing wrong with it but you must look at the situation youre in. Thankfully I manage to regain the amount you lost on that cheating game and also make our budget increase on playing that roullette before we escape in that place."Saito said as he pull out the pouch that has gotten full of coins than before.
"You manage to win there?B-but how,it is a game of luck,how did you do it?"Louise asked in bewilderment.
"Let's say I'm good at observation that I can saw where the ball lands. It's not my fault that I can easily predict it."Saito simply replied which Louise just sigh as she slowly remembers what her familiar can do in many things.
"Wait...About our mission. Did you find something out there?"Louise asks snaps out as she suddenly remembers their true intentions.
"Of course I have but still not enough to finish our must get some concrete evidences about the corruption happening. I just saw some noble tax collectors at the casino but not sure if the money they use is from the taxpayers."Saito answered fully.
"So where we go next?"Louise asks him of what their next action.
"Find an establishment where the tax collectors usually go and getting some taxes."Saito replies.
(After A Few Moments)
"I'm already regret that I choose this place."Saito said softly that only Louise can hear. In front of them is an inn called the Charming Fairies and their's a very disturbing view greeted them from the door,a flamboyant man in a very revealing attire with mustache and red lips.
"Oh you poor childrens,Jessica told me that you need some job."A flamboyant man said posting his unpleasant manly body.
"I can give you a fine place to stay in and a job here to earn your living,so what can you say."The umanly man added. Saito snaps out from his stupor when he manage to hear it.
"O-of course!It will be a pleasure for my little sister to accept that."Saito said as he sweatdropped while wrapping Louise to it's shoulders.
"What?!Your no-"Louise blurted out but a sudden tightened grip from Saito stop her.
"Hm,is something the matter?"The flamboyant man said.
"Oh nothing,and about the offer,we gradually accept."Saito said with a forced smile.
(Few Days Later)
It's been two days and now the third day of their undercover. For those days,Saito got some info after talking with employees of the inn about some corrupt noble tax collectors. As he confirmed it,all he need to do was to caught them on the spot.
"Your sister seems to have a short temper."Jessica the helper of the inn commented seeing Louise scolding one of the costumers.
"You say so."Saito replied while washing the dishes together with Jessica.
"Are you two really siblings?Cuz you two seems to have no resemblance to each other...tell me,is she's a noble?"Jessica asks,Saito stops from his doing and look at Jessica for a couple of moments.
"What makes you think that?"Saito questioned.
"The way she acts is definitely a noble,she's always sensitive in many things and has a very short temper,and most of all she speaks with authority."Jessica said,enumerating everything she observe from the pinkette. Saito pause for a bit,then chuckles.
"Quite an observant aren't you?"Saito said to her after he recovers from his chuckle.
"So it's true then."Jessica said.
"Not so really."Saito replied.
"A fallen noble?"Jessica asks again,Saito just sighs on it.
"I think miss Jessica,you should stop pestering about anyones private life. It's not a good habit though."Saito said to stop her asking about Louise.
"Really?That's only making me so more intrigued about it."Jessica said giggling in excitement to know their secret.
'This girl has a quality of being an investigator,she has a skills."Saito thought while taking a glance at Jessica.
'Maybe I can recruit her if not will bothers to her father.'Saito addedly thought glancing at the revealing owner of the inn.
'Is that man is really her father?'Saito skeptically thought. He then snaps from his thoughts when he heard a loud crash from the door followed by a number of men in same attires. The last one that enters is a fat man standing out from the rest wearing a well adorned clothing,clearly a noble. The costumers are now frightened to the unwelcome guests.
"Ah,sir Turrene,welcome to my inn!"The licentious looking owner greets the guest.
"Hmph,Scarron didn't I mention to you that I'll be going to visit in this day to get your pay for the tax?"Turenne sneered.
"O-of course sir,I clearly remembered it."Scarron replied sweatly.
"But first..."Turrene grins as he turns to the crowd at the inn.
"ALL RIGHT THIS PLACE IS OCCUPIED,SO ALL OF YOU GET OUT OF HERE!"Turrene yells with authority and the people at the inn just look at him in surprise. Turrene becomes annoy and motioned to his guards as they all sheathed out their swords makes the people started to run outside leaving the inn empty. Saito watches the situation unfold looking at the noble with a forming grin.
"Finally,one corrupt reveals himself."Saito mutters with a slight grin while looking at the noble sits in the chair.
"Give me the best wine you have!"Turrene demanded and Scarron leave no choice but to comply.
"R-right away sir!"Scarron complied and signaled one of the waitress to serve. The waitresses hesitated to comply due to their fright at the nobleman,but one certain girl bravely accepts and moves.
'Now's my chance.'Louise thought as she held the wine and approach the noble,she wanted to do it to pay for her mistake actions she did for the last two days of working here.
"Oh,great."Saito mutters pinching his nose as here comes trouble.
"Umm,h-hello sir,h-here's the best wine we have. I'll pour it to your glass."Louise stuttering as she pours the wine into the glass.
"Hm,who the heck are you?I didn't even know that Scarron decides to have a boy servant."Turrene said with tone of arrogance.
"B-boy?"Louise temper started to decrease when she hears the noble's remarks.
"I-I'm a girl,s-sir."Louise pissingly said tried to control herself from going outbursts as many tick mark appears.
"Huh,a girl,you don't have a chest so why I believe you?"Turrene snorted,now Louise is beyond mad.
"Or maybe I can check to confirm it may I..?"Turrene said with a maniacal grin as his hand slowly approaching to Louise chest. Before Louise could splash the wine in the noble's face,someone grab Turrene's hand out of nowhere.
"What the-"Turrene gasp in surprise and look at the man that holding his hand.
"You imbecile scum,who are you holding my hand!"Turrene yells angrily at Saito. Louise including all of the people inside the inn both surprise and shock to his actions.
"Sorry,were not tolerated perverted acts here."Saito replied to him.
"Huh,what are you talking about?I'm not doing something immoral here. Besides I'm just only checking if she's really a woman."Turrene reasoned snickering which Louise vented in anger to hear that,but Saito held his other hand up motioning to Louise that he will handle it.
"Quite a nonsense reasons."Saito amusingly said as he let go Turrene's hand.
"Say,are you here to recieve the tax payment?But I heard you doubled the interest."Saito then said,changing the topic.
"So what if I doubled,it's an order from the queen. If you're against on it then you'll be punish for defying the royal order."Turrene replied.
"What?!That's impossi-"Louise blurted out but suddenly cut off when Saito raises his hand again,signalling her to stop.
"Ah,I I'm not against her highness but I against from the double tax you establish."Saito replied.
"Hah!So you dare to defy the order?Fine then,you will be facing a severe punishment for doing so."Turrene declares. Scarron shocks on it as he intervenes.
"W-wait sir!I'm sorry for my workers foolish actions,I'll pay my tax so please don't punish him!"Scarron asking for forgiveness.
"I recommend you to leave this place right now fatass,my boss will not pay your self serving tax."Saito suddenly said which more increases the tension.
"What?!Who are you calling that you vile lowly scum!"Turrene yells in anger on him,his bodyguards sheathed their swords out.
"What are you doing?!Your only making everything more difficult to us!"Scarron hissed on him but Saito ignores it as he continued speaking.
"Last warning or else,you will see a pig flying."Saito said his warning.
"YOU EYESORE,I'LL TEACH YOU A LESSON!"Turrene yells in defiance as he picks up his wand but before he could do anything,Saito let out a 360 degree force kick flying him straightly to the double doors,sents him out of the inn stumbling twice on the ground then fainted. His bodyguards including everyone in the inn stunned in shock for a good couple of moments,then one guard snaps from his stupor.
"H-he attack sir Turrene!Kill him!"The guard yells and the other guards snaps out and charges towards the former imperial commander. Scarron freaks out and pulls out Louise together with the other waitresses and his daughter into safety away from the impending slaughter.
"WAIT,SAITO!"Louise cried out for her familiar while Scarron pulling her out. Saito takes a glance on the incoming hostiles and grin evilly.
"Wanna fly too?"He smirks.
Outside the inn,the civilians gathered around the fainted noble just outside the inn and a few moments they heard a loud commotion inside the Charming Fairies inn accompanied by a loud crash. It's a window of the inn shattered into pieces as the man appears to be a guard of a noble throwns out of the said window followed by another one in the other window and another. Then the entrance door of the inn bursts out with a guard flying outside lands on the ground with a thud. The onlookers of the scene runs away in good distance,avoiding to be involved into whatever is happening. Inside the inn,everything turned out entirely a mess. The people at the inn look at Saito with their eyes widen in shock except for Louise who is already seen it coming.
"Wow,your brother is really something."Jessica said to Louise with a clear affection,gotten interested in Saito and Louise just replied with an intimidated looks on her.
"Oi partner."Louise flinches and looks at Saito who is now staring at her.
"Come,it's time to get our mission done."Saito said to her. Louise confuse but finally nods in understanding.
"I knew it you two are not really siblings!Hey,where you two going?!"Jessica asking out them.
"Outside,meeting some confrontation."Saito replied and turns to Scarron.
"Sorry for the mess we caused,I'll pay everything that we broke so no worry regarding about it."Saito said as he bows towards Scarron.
"O-okay..."Was Scarron can only replied after everything that transpires. Then Saito proceeded to walk outside as Louise followed suit.
(A Moments Later)
"Oi pig wake up." "Saito slapping lightly the unconcious noble that he just splashed with water.
"Uuugh...W-where am I?"Turrene moans as he regains his conciousness,adjusting his sight to look around and realizes that he was in a dark room. His sights turns to a familiar man crossing it's arms and looking at him with a smiling face.
"WHAT THE-YOU!"Turrene snaps in realizing when he saw Saito. He tries to move but his hands and feet were tied while he's sitting in the chair.
"That's useless pig,your wasting your effort."Saito said to him.
"How dare you do this to me you mongrel!You can't get away with this,her highness will not tolerate this kind of defiance!"Turrene yells with a threat.
"Yes your right,the crown will surely not put this aside."Saito said back with a grin,he then glances at his back and nods were there is a figure of a young girl emerge from the shadows. Turrene familiarizes the girl,it was the pink haired waitress that he harass moments ago.
"Huh,what do you want?"Turrene said to the pinkette with a sarcastic voice. Louise approach to him and shows a piece of paper in front of his face and read it's content,turns his expression into a mortified shock when he saw the royal seal embedded into it.
"I-IMPOSSIBLE...T-that's the royal seal. W-who the hell are you?!"Turrene blurted out.
"I'm a secret noble agent that sents to investigate the corruption revolving around the country in her highness direct orders along with my trusted subordinate."Louise stated with authority.
"W-WHAAT?!Y-youre a N-NOBLE!"Turrene stutters in mix of shock and fear.
"P-p-please,don't report me to the crown!I'll give you everything I have just please I beg you!"Turrene now literally begging.
"Is that so?Okay let's talk about it."Saito butted in as he brought a chair,place it in front of Turrene and sits on it.
"Actually,we don't need anything you have BUT,we would like to know something that only like you knows."Saito started to speak on him.
"W-what is it?"Turrene nervously asks sweatdropping.
"What do you know about Reconquista."Saito plainspokenly said. Turrene flinches as he was shock and surprise that a royal spy like them asking about it.
"W-what are you talking about?"Turrene stammers.
"Oh please,don't start fooling around with that denial words."Saito said to him.
"I really don't know what youre saying about reconquista!"Turrene continues his denial.
"You know pig,one thing that I really hate the most in a person's personality is he can't answer a simple question."Saito said as he pull out a combat knife and starts playing it in his hands.
"I want this straight and fast,if you don't cooperate..."Saito said and points his knife towards Turrene.
"..this enclosed room will surely turned into a slaughterhouse."Saito threateningly said with a murderous gaze that sent shivers and a stab of fear to the noble's spine. Louise who is quite after her introduction watching the interrogation also scared by her familiar's manner,it feels like he will really do it if you dare to taunt him in that.
"Y-you can't do that to me. If you kill me,you'll never get any information from me!"Turrene blurted out in fear.
"You think your the only one that we can get an information?I know some people like you that lurking around here in Tristain. We can get an information from them,your just a dead giveaway. Killing you is..."Saito said to him and a sudden stab between the noble's legs that embedded to the base of his chair. Turrene yelps in surprise as the knife was almost hit his thigh only leaving a cut to his pants.
"...not a loss for us."Saito finishes his words,instill his murderous attitude. Turrene is in state of complete fear,leaving no decision but to speak.
"OKAY,OKAY,I'LL TALK,I will tell you everything I know,please!"Turrene yells in pleading.
"Good boy. Make sure that you say is all that I wanted to hear and don't you ever lie to me because I know if you lied to me,and if you do so..."Saito pulled out the embedded knife on the chair. Pointed it to the noble's feared face.
"...I will turn you into a pork fillet."Saito said threateningly.
"A-a-alright,I'll tell everything but truth."Turrene manage to reply while shaking in fear.
"Alright then,let's begin our little chat."Saito said as he began the interrogation.
(Garrison Base Outside Eidenburgh Town,Albion)
The deep night of the sky makes everything seems quite around the garrison base. Behind this peaceful night was an unknown activity is currently happening around.A sizable group of men armed with long range shotguns on standby position along with a riptide near at the entrance of the garrison base. At the eastern part distance of the garrison base,5 IFV's hiding in the foliage in line position facing the garrison along with a bunch of crates containing HE missile rounds guarded by a company of armed men.
"All IFV's,on your target positions."Stanford ordered as the IFV's turrets rotates to adjust to their marked targets.
"On my signal."Stanford said as he raise his hand up,then he lowers his hand indicating for the signal to fire. In a span of seconds,a barrage of missiles releases out from the IFV's,flying up above passes the walls leaving a trail of smoke as it hits their intending targets inside the base. After a few minutes,the entire garrison was in total chaos.
Inside the now blazing garrison,the soldiers running through and fro trying to evade of what appears to be a raining of artilleries from the sky. Fucosing on destroying their key structures including their armory and the mage quarters. The noble in command of the garrison suddenly wokes up from the loud explosions he heard outside. Hastily wearing his armor and grab his scabbard wand and quickly opens the door of his quarters.
"What is happening?!"The noble shouts in surprised shock as he saw the base turned into a blazing inferno. One soldier approach and said.
"Sir,we're under attack!"The soldier said to him. The noble gritted his teeth in frustration as he didn't expect this kind of attack. What he see is a barrage of artillery from out of nowhere slamming their base from the outside. Because of it,he release out an order.
"Tell all our units to assemble at the gate and open it,were going to kill those upstarts quick!"The noble in command said and the soldier nods and relay out his orders but another soldier comes to him and also reports.
"Sir,all of our mages has been wipeout by the artillery fire!"The second soldier informs to him and this gets the noble more infuriated.
"WHAT?!"The noble yells out in shock anger,he was now growls in pure rage.
"AAAAAAAARGH,that's it,I'll personally kill those bastards!"The noble declares as he moves. As all soldiers recieves the order,they make it quick as all run towards the gate and forcefully pushing it to open. Little did they know,their was a unwelcome party that will greet them outside. Outside the garrison base,a peacekeeper that acting to be the squad leader of the armed mobs on standby position in front saw the gate of the garrison slowly opens. He then contacted his commander about the it.
"Commander,the gate is opening."The peacekeeper informs through the comms.
"Good,thanks for the information,you know what to do now."Stanford response on the other line.
"Yes commander."The peacekeeper replied and the line terminated. At the IFV's lines,Stanford just deactivated the comms and turns towards his unit.
"ALL IFV's CEASEFIRE!"Stanford yells out an order and the IFV's stops their firing and the people halts from loading the missiles at the IFV's. As everything stops,Stanford then switch his attention to the now burning garrison.
"Time for phase two."Stanford said with a smirk. The gate of the garrison slowly opens by the desperate reconquista soldiers trying to escape the inferno. The gate widely open and the reconquista soldiers proceeds rushing out but the relief sensation they feel of getting out rapidly vanished,in front of them are the lining positions of militiamen kneeling down pointing their muskets on them. Then they heard a barking order marks them to their fate.
"FIRE!"The squad leader yells out and a blast of gunfire rangs out,unleashing shrapnels of bullets tearing through the armor of reconquista soldiers like knife through butter. The riptide at their rear spew out a cacophony of gunfire shredding reconquista into bloody staons. As the last enemy falls down by their relentless gunfire,the squad leader yells.
"CEASEFIRE!"Then he release the next order.
"Company B first line,deploy riot sheilds in front,were going to march inside!"He orders and the first line militia hold their riot sheilds in front of the formation. The squad leader then turns to the riptide.
"Riptide transport,stay on this position and kill any surviving reconquista that gets out."He ordered and turn to his squad.
"On my lead in line formation!"The squad leader barks out and they surges in inside the garrison to kill the remaining enemies left. The noble commander was in complete breakdown. He did not expect this kind fiasco will come.
"How did this happen?!"The noble said to himself in confusion while watching everything transpires. His entire base was in shambles,his forces has been completely pinned down by the surprise attack that he could barely hear their screams,snaps out from his stupor,he switch his attention at the unknown forces at distance slaughtering his men on the way. He realizes that it was the enemies who attack them,leaving no choice,he tightened his grip to his scabbard wand and roars in infuriate anger as he charges towards the unudentified hostiles. He bagan chanting a spell as a fire forms around the tip of his scabbard and releases it towards the militiamen. The fire spells hits the riot sheilds in front in an impact but the nobles face became shock as the shields didn't falter on his attack thanks to the enhancement armor of the sheilds that can withstand explosions and even the electricity strike of the soviet's tesla troopers. He chants another spell but more powerful version this time as he put all his willpower to it,but before he could unleashes it.A barrage of bullet fragments tore through his body like nothing and he fells down on the ground due to the force of shot in an unceremonious thud as his blood gushing out from the countless wounds on his body.
(After a Few Hours)
The siege was a complete success,no deaths or injured on the side of the rebels thanks to the well calculated plan and analyses of Stanford. The fall of the garrison means Eidenburgh is now on their control including the other villages connected to it as only the town is the route to those villages,a worth the cost and for the rebels to fight for strategic manpower and resources enough to sustain their war effort. Currently,the rebels are busy extinguishing the fire at the battered garrison base as Stanford ordering to scurry the area for any remaining hostiles or traps. As the area was cleared in any threats,Stanford returns to his tasks of deploying new strategic stronghold and also for increasing of resources and additional manpower he can get from the new obtained areas. But everything is not that easy though,he needs to get the inhabitants trust first,a better propaganda and convincing speech will be a good idea. Stanford thinks all about it while staring at the sunrise in the horizon,letting out a smile and said.
"What a beautiful sunrise,seems like a good sign to me."Stanford said while witnessing the sun rose up for a new day.
TO BE CONTINUED...
This is the shortest chapter I've ever wrote so far but hope you enjoy it.
Please R&R
Next chapter:Chapter 9:Upgrading Operations
