Chapter 2:
It took two hours to mobilize all available players and send them off from the Ormshire without colliding with each other due to some players having never ridden an enthralled Grimm before. Once the inconveniences were sorted out, the Ormshire went into lockdown as there weren't that many players on board the flying fortress to provide adequate defenses without expending power. Only a contingent of roughly sixty players remained on the Ormshire to keep it afloat including a fragment of Avalon-Estria's leadership to run things.
"We're making good gains." A player called Myra muses. She watched the number on her resource interface steadily climbing.
Name: [Aristocrat] Myra
Level: 211
Alliance: Avalon-Estria Sovereignty
Status: None
Aura: [100%] 28586/28586
HP: [100%] 159/159
At this rate, it'll take a few days for them to generate enough resources to keep the Ormshire working at full capacity without worry. Dust crystals, lumber, metals, and minerals are needed to repair and fuel the Ormshire. Avalon-Estria's most pressing concerns are acquiring enough Dust crystals to keep the Ormshire functioning and afloat as they already have a decent surplus of materials stored onboard for repairing the massive floating fortress.
"Yes. It should put everyone at ease." Said Niiya, the co-acting Autarch of the alliance.
Name: [Aristocrat] Niiya
Level: 212
Alliance: Avalon-Estria Sovereignty
Status: None
Aura: [100%] 46870/46870
HP: [100%] 120/120
MP: [100%] 3673/3673
"I've been meaning to ask, Niiya. What's our long-term plan after this? What happens after we secure our resources?"
Of all the 568 players trapped within Remnant: Online, not a single one of them had been able to wake up from the virtual reality. There's been a rumor going around that they've all been transported to another world and that the game mechanics got pulled along for the ride, whatever that's supposed to mean.
"We do what we would normally do in the Outlands. Expand, fortify, and improve our holdings." Niiya answers bluntly. "There's nothing else we can do other than keep trying and hold out. Nothing else that we haven't tried."
Myra slumps and rests her forehead in one hand. "… Goddammit. What's going on with the VR system? My sister would have ripped me out of my VR headset by now unless we're perceiving time differently here!"
"The same could be said for me and Aising. Ahanu and Christiana would throw a fit about not being on time for dinner."
["Yo! I found a Dust processing facility and several Dust mines at my designation. Non-players. We can take over the place within minutes."] A player called Hellbeast coms through the Voice Channel. ["Appraisal put the resources over a million worth of Dusts in the mines and hundreds of thousands in the processing plant. Should we take it?"]
"Looks like we hit jackpot." Rival97, who had been keeping silent, finally spoke up. "Is the facility far from the mines?"
Name: [Senator] Rival97
Level: 193
Alliance: Avalon-Estria Sovereignty
Status: None
Aura: [100%] 22935/22935
HP: [100%] 133/133
MP: [100%] 1411/1411
["Negative. It's about half a klick away."]
Truly a jackpot indeed. They can forgo the need to build a facility and can instead set up an outpost to convert the place into a resource node. More importantly, they can raid and loot all the Dust crystals in the mines and re-outfit the existing infrastructure to suit their needs.
"Who does the facility belong to?" Asked Niiya.
["The Schnee Dust Company. Some in-game company. It has a snowflake logo. That's all we can gather right now."]
Niiya went silent. If they're to attack and take over the processing plant, the consequences could be devastating for them now that they're low on resources. They could be awakening a sleeping giant. They might even get dogpiled by countless factions and groups. On the other hand, they have hundreds of players who are essentially one-man army on their own; thus the risk is worth taking for this golden opportunity.
"… You may proceed. See if you can obtain any information while you're at it."
["Hack a terminal, break into the supervisor's office, and squeeze a few information out of the Natives in there."] Luka cheerfully chimes into the Voice Channel. ["If we can obtain all their facility locations, we won't need to expend the effort of looking for Dust."]
"Are you really starting to call the NPCs the Natives now?" Asked an amused Myra.
["It has a better flow than NPC. Besides, we're not native to this place anyway. Might as well call them that."]
["Curb your imperialism."]
["You will need my imperialistic policies if we're to thrive."]
"Get back to work." Niiya snaps at them. "Hellbeast, keep me updated."
["Copy that."]
/-/
Contracting Officer Festuca Fischer listened to the SDC Regional Director's ramblings about Vale's wasted innovation potential and how Atlas Military will not be disappointed in securing a business contract with the SDC branch in Vale.
While the SDC has an existing contract with Atlas Military, the SDC branches outside of Atlas are more restricted for national security reasons. Festuca will admit. Having some Atlas Military influence veiled behind the SDC monopoly in Vale will bolster Atlas's national interest and security. That's why her superior had sent her to Vale to determine whether Atlas Military should sign a military contract to extend some benefits, or not. So far, Festuca is inclined to send her superiors a green light, albeit not after some negotiation regarding the 'extended benefits' that are the pinnacle of the military contract.
"And there is the newest Atlesian Beam Turret the SDC and Atlas Military collaborated in designing." The SDC Regional Director of Vale points out the window at a large turret mounted on the towering facility walls. "Our facility is many times safer than the likes of Mistral. I can't tell you how many times it has put an end to the Grimm trying to encroach on our operations. Not even the White Fang would dare to come near this place!"
Festuca politely nods in agreement. "It is an impressive piece of Atlesian technology."
"Indeed. And let's not to say about the newest Atlesian Knight 200 we have guarding the most critical infrastructure of this facility. Though, to my knowledge, the Research and Development department is working around the clock to make even more improvements to the androids. I reckon the Atlesian Knight 130 will soon be phased out."
BEEP BEEP
"Hm?" The Regional Director glanced at his hi-tech wristwatch. "Ah, it seems that our security system has detected a few Grimm prowling near the perimeter. No matter. It's already being taken care of. There's no need for concern, ma'am."
He was instantly proven wrong when something struck the Atlesian Beam Turret, causing it to erupt in a brilliant green explosion that nearly knocked the thick, bullet-resistant windows out of place. Both the Regional Director and Festuca were knocked down by the unexpected explosion. Their ears were ringing and made worst by the blaring siren and flashing red lights as metal shutters clamp down on the windows.
SDC security guards begin to clamor in the background with a few checking on the two to see if they're alright. Whatever they were saying, Festuca couldn't hear it because the Regional Director was surprisingly louder than the sirens.
"W-what's happening?! Who would be this stupid to attack an SDC facility while Atlas Military personnel are present?!" The Regional Director struggled to his feet and babbled to an SDC security guard to do something.
Festuca wished she could have brought at least a sidearm with her to the meeting, but she was to appear least threatening as possible and is unarmed. Fortunately, a small detachment of Atlesian soldiers and their war machines are on-site and fully armed.
"Stay calm, director!" She snaps at the man. "Do you have any protocols for these scenarios?"
"Y-yes! There's a safe room we can signal for help if we're trapped and an airship in the hanger!"
"Then get to the safe room and call for help until we can secure a way out! Atlas Military will engage and neutralize the threat." Festuca breaks away from the Regional Director's security personnel and sprints down the corridor. It didn't take long for her to encounter her military escorts.
Four soldiers ran up to her and urgently urged her to follow them to safety. "This way, ma'am!"
"What's the situation?!"
"Reports of several heavily armed individuals have begun attacking the facility! And that's not all! There's also a report of Grimm breaking into the place!"
Festuca scowls and picked up the pace. The situation has really turned for the worst. "White Fang?!"
"Unconfirmed! No clear visual on hostiles!"
"Have we conta-"
Metal screeched and thick glass panes shattered as a figure burst into the corridor from outside.
The figure was clad completely in a grey odd patterned armor. A metal plate with a red single-lens was strapped across the rider's face with dark-colored bandages, completely masking his identity. These same dark-colored bandages were wrapped around most parts of the body, giving it an appearance of an android mummy. On its upper left sleeve is a shoulder sleeve insignia that Festuca couldn't discern.
"Contact!" Shouted the lead soldier.
They fired their assault rifles at the intruder, only able to get a few rounds out of the chamber before the armored being lifts its weapon and the entire corridor went up in a fiery blast, resulting in Festuca skittering down the corridor. She was uninjured thanks to her Aura, but she was dazed and her ears were ringing sharply. Before she knew it, she was restrained and dragged out of the facility by the armored being that just murdered four of her soldiers.
Once out in the open, Festuca's slowly regained her senses and found herself face to face with a young man with pale tan hair. His eyes were obscured by a dull black visor and sports similar armor as the one holding her up, but what really got her attention was the occurrence behind him.
A Creature of Grimm with glowing purple eyes and markings was helping one of the intruders prop up a sizable pole banner depicting some mythical a winged dragon on the left and a phoenix on the right holding up a decorative shield with odd symbols.
Festuca's threat assessment training kicked in upon realizing that the attackers are somehow controlling the Grimm. They must have someone who has a Semblance to control the Grimm.
"You look important. Are you in charge of this place?" Asked the visor-wearing young man.
"… No. I am not." She was tempted to ask who are they but knew she was in no position to make such demands.
"Really?" He circles to her left right shoulder where her ID badge is attached. "Ah, you're a military officer. A Contracting Officer for… Atlas Military. Interesting. I guess your military was working out a defense contract before we came crashing in."
His dismissive and playful tone of his made Festuca's blood boil. "You won't get away with this."
The visor-wearing young man lets out a snort and turns to the armored being that's keeping her on her feet. "Dahmiel. Join up with Mogi's fireteam."
Dahmiel nods and released Festuca, causing her to fall to her knees. She made no attempt to attack or escape seeing how her hands were bound behind her back and she is low on Aura. Even if she wasn't in this state, she's at a huge disadvantage.
"What do you want?"
"We want resources. Dust in particular, and this processing plant as well."
"You're delusional. The SDC… No… The Kingdom of Atlas will not let this attack go unanswered."
"Is that so?" A distorted voice from out of nowhere answered her declaration.
A circular rift split open behind her captor and out stepped a young man with cedar-colored hair and faded grey eyes; dressed in a white-colored officer uniform.
For a brief moment, Festuca thought reinforcement had arrived due to his white-colored officer's uniform, but her hopes were dashed when her captor greeted the newcomer.
"Luka. What are you doing here?"
"Helping out. I'll take it from here with the hostages." The young man named Luka waves his swagger stick to dismiss him. "And before you ask, yes. I'll be bringing Joan over once she's done torching things up."
"If you're letting her incinerate the hostages at least warn us before she does it."
Festuca's heart rate sped up when she heard that. Burning to death. It's a painful and suffocating way to die. Are these people this savage enough to do such a thing? Considering how brazen they are in attacking Atlas Military, she really doesn't want to find out.
Luka took notice of her discomfort and smirked. "Scared of being burned at the stake? Oh, you shouldn't worry. If you answer my questions truthfully…" He twirls his stick as he maintains eye contact with hers. "Tell me about this… Kingdom of Atlas and its neighbors."
/-/
The passageway was littered with shrapnel, bullets, and scorched marks caused by the munitions tossed and fired their way. It did little to slow the players who effortlessly cleared room after room of these mobs called Atlas Soldiers.
It was child's play. These Atlas Soldiers were all low leveled, barely have any Aura, and their armor is nothing more than paper defenses to them.
Kieran almost felt bad for them if he wasn't having a good time looting plenty of equipment from their corpses. They might not be of high or mid item tier, but they're functional weapons and armor that can be smelted, modified, or upgraded. As an independent player who has taken up the role of bounty hunter and mercenary, he can't turn a blind eye to the amount of loot he can take from the military airship he and the rest of the players are clearing through.
[You obtained equipment: APV Type V]
[You obtained equipment: 260-A0 Assault Rifle]
The 16-year-old teen inspects the body armor and weapon in his inventory before nodding happily. He resumes looting off the corpses of Atlas Soldiers he's killed. Grenades, communication devices… All sorts of smeltable items will yield a lot of materials.
Kieran felt that he was being watched and glanced up to see two soldiers taking up positions behind the walls of the T-shaped passageway. Bullets whizzed by Kieran's head as Atlas Soldiers fired down the passageway. Their white hi-tech helmet covered nearly their entire head except for their jaws; complimented by their white body armor that goes over their green uniform.
With deft hands and quick feet, he charged; deflecting the bullets with his gunblade. Neither of the two Atlas Soldiers was able to react on time and were quickly felled with several sharp cuts to their necks.
[Critical hit!]
[Veteran Atlas Soldier Lv27]
Type: Human
Status: None
Aura: [0%]
HP: [0%]
[Aura broken! You gain 122 EXP]
[You gain 249 EXP]
[Atlas Soldier Lv23]
Type: Human
Status: None
Aura: [0%]
HP: [0%]
[Aura broken! You gain 109 EXP]
[You gain 239 EXP]
A squad of Atlas Soldiers was around the corner, their rifles aimed at Kieran. Before Kieran or the squad of soldiers could make a move, another player phased through the wall and spattered the Atlas Soldiers into a fine red paste with a powerful backhand swing.
Kieran found himself entirely drenched in their blood, bodily fluid, and bits of organs.
Name: [Voltigeur] MrDehar
Level: 167
Alliance: Avalon-Estria Sovereignty
Status: None
Aura: [99%]
HP: [100%]
"Sorry. Didn't see you there." MrDehar apologized, then salvaged what was left of the Atlas Soldiers' belongings.
"… It's alright." Kieran accepted the player's apologies though it didn't stop him from grumbling about the unpleasantness that comes with being drenched in another's remains. Why did the developers have to make things gory and realistic? "Ugh. At least I can magically clean myself up..."
["Those of you in the airship, make your way to the bridge."] Said Hellbeast through the Voice Channel. ["I have the location marked for you. Get in here so we can hijack this airship!"]
["Hell yeah! We stealing from the military! Woo!"]
["Shut the fuck up, Papi!"]
Kieran and MrDehar let out a collective snort as the Voice Channel devolves into verbal chaos. It's never dull when a group of violent prone players gets together to do something.
"I won't be surprised if one of us dropped a grenade in the room." Said Kieran.
"Oh, it happens very often," MrDehar confirms Kieran's suspicions. "It's practically a gamer's tradition these days."
A loud explosion rocked the entire airship and disabled several lighting in the airship.
["Hyphen! You little shit!"]
["Hahahah!"]
["Goddammit you guys! I said keep the damn airship in working condition!"]
["If it can fly and doesn't explode afterward, then it's in working condition."]
["Then where's the fucking steering wheel?!"]
"Pfft!" Kieran could barely hold back his laughter.
"Yup. There it is. Well, see you there. Hopefully in one piece."
/-/
Atlas Command Center was bustling with personnel scrambling to navigate through the protocols for a hostage situation. A situation where Atlas Military personnel and civilians are taken hostage.
Not long ago, they received a report from one of their airship operating in Vale's territory that they were under attack by a hostile force and Grimm before communication was interrupted. When attempts to reestablish communication were successful, they were greeted by servicemen and servicewomen surrounded by armed individuals and purple-eyed Grimm.
That's right. Purple-eyed Grimm, who seemed to act as attack dogs for the hostile forces that held their brothers and sisters in arms hostage. It was a surreal sight until a young man dressed in a white-colored officer's uniform step into view and delivered an ultimatum that basically sums up to 'I want to talk to your leader' or these hostages get fed to the Grimm.
The ensuing confusion and blend of red tapes quickly called for the head of Atlas Military to step in, General James Ironwood.
General Ironwood hastens his pace to Atlas Command Center with his adrenaline coursing through his veins. The moment he heard that the hostile forces can control Grimm, he immediately thought it was her doing.
He's joined by Specialist Winter Schnee, his right-hand woman. The young lady wore a cold and stormy expression when she heard that some of the soldiers were killed or held hostage. Yet, she remained calm and in control despite the unprecedented situation.
"General Ironwood." He was greeted by Colonel Alpine, a middle-aged man with strips of grey hair on his shaved head.
"Give me the sitrep."
"The individual who's making the demanding is a human who introduced himself as Luka and refused to say anything else until someone high up arrives." Colonel Alpine explained, keeping up the pace with the general. "He says that if we take too long, he'll start feeding the hostages to the Grimm."
"What about these Grimm they're supposedly controlling?"
"Experts say that the video feed is not altered and that what's shown on screen is likely not faked. Intelligence speculates that the Grimm is under the control of somebody's Semblance. They've already flagged the terrorist's leader and several others who didn't bother to hide their identities. No hits in the database."
It could just be a Semblance. Nothing to do with Salem. General Ironwood thought to himself. But one can never be so sure.
The colonel paused for a moment to let the general digest the information, then continued when the man prompt him to continue. "Intel noticed that majority of the terrorists wore some sort of insignia, likely their organization's marking. Analysis is still pending."
General Ironwood scowled slightly when he arrived in front of the Atlas Command Center doorway. It opened and the general was greeted by a young man with cedar-colored hair and faded grey eyes plastered on the big on-screen. His attire is a mockery of Atlas Military dressed officer's uniform; a white-colored officer's uniform with black outlines and strips of yellow on the sleeves.
In the background were the captured military personnel lying flat on the floor while armed terrorists and purple-eyed Grimm watched over them.
"General Ironwood, I presume?" The young man, Luka, greets him with a condescending smirk.
Winter bristled at the unsubtle rudeness he was showing. General Ironwood, on the other hand, composed himself and answered back without missing a beat.
"I am. And you are?"
"Luka. An Estrian Aristocrat. I hope you're not the kind to say something along the lines of 'we don't negotiate with terrorists' because I will start feeding the brave men and women serving your military to my Grimm." Luka's eyes gleamed with malice. "I'd recommend you make your choices carefully."
/-/
"Luka's doing what?"
"Establishing communications to some kingdom to demand ransom or something for the hostages. According to him, the Schnee Dust Company has a monopoly over the continent and has powerful connections he can theoretically exploit."
"And supposedly it's the only kingdom that has a military power?"
"Yup."
Niiya and Aising sat alone in the boardroom to compile their discoveries and updates about this new world they've found themselves in. It's tedious work that's normally not even done, but the two acting Autarchs needed the information. They must obtain a bigger picture of their situation and the upcoming crisis they might face.
Luka has shared his thoughts with them that they might actually be transported to another world with the VR game system integrated into their bodies. It's something out of a stereotypical light novel, but there's a handful of reports from the players who encountered several NPCs, or Natives as Luka would call them, and said they feel much more lifelike than usual. Virtual reality has come a very long way, replicating a lot of things. However, there's always a hint of hollowness that most people can pick up on despite nearly acting like a real person.
"… So, what do you think about all of this? If we're really transported to another world?"
"If we're really stuck in another world, we'll need to establish ourselves."
"Or find reliable allies."
"But we both know how untrustworthy governments are when dealing with the unknown."
The two know just how callous the world is; run by people making decisions for their own or national benefits. Businesses too. They wouldn't find fault with it, but they also don't like to be on the receiving end of it and will happily do the same to their adversaries and their lesser.
"All the more reasons to speed up our operations. If Luka is correct."
"Guess we'll have to see."
"Well, I have confidence in our abilities. Even if most of us are semi-sociopaths."
[Alliance Skill(s) activated]
Alliance Skill [Casus Belli – Increase production speed by 24% and amplify damage against designated aggressors by 30%]
Aising raises an eyebrow whereas Niiya lets out a sigh; somehow knowing it'll come down to this.
Niiya grunts and open up a direct Voice Channel to his number one suspect. "Luka. What did you do?"
["The Kingdom of Atlas refused to swallow their pride and we'll greatly humiliate them for this."] Luka answered without a sliver of shame. ["They'll try to take back the processing plants with lackluster commitment and I figured it'll be best if we take advantage of their arrogance and reap the spoils of war."]
"This is reckless, Luka. Something I didn't expect from you. What makes you think it's as easy as you put it?" Asked a bemused Aising.
["I interrogated some of their soldiers, especially the officers. Prideful lots with a superiority complex. Their military force is absolutely pitiful from what I see. We've fought and won against superior enemies before. These Natives are hardly worth mentioning even with our lacking assets. We need resources and power. What better way to kill two birds with one stone than raiding a monopolizing company and crippling a military force?"]
"You're making a lot of assumptions and wishful thinking at our expense."
["With all due respect, ma'am. I know arrogance and ignorance when I see it. These Atlesian reek of it. Besides, I have no plans to reveal the Ormshire."]
"What's done is done." Niiya sighs again, "I hope you have plans in place. We're potentially risking a lot here."
["I do. We've extracted information about more Dust mines, processing plants, and a world map. We'll raid the SDC across the continent and strangle the lifeline of every single nation dependent on the company while our enemies are preoccupied fighting us."]
Aising lets out a huff and begins to make arrangements. "Start working with Weymar and the COs. Coordinate with them so we don't fuck up or overextend."
"I'll get more Grimm to bolster our forces."
And so begins the brief but one-sided war that will become known as the War of Recognition, and the rise of the Avalon-Estrian Empire.
