The largest city in the entire Empire has many names. Sadera, Sadera Hills or simply The Capital are the ones given by the humans, while every non-human species has given its own name in their dialects.
The Capital sits at the north of the Dumas Mountains, in between large hills that, over the course of its long history, became integral parts of the city. The smallest outside hills, outside of the walls, host camps and fortresses of the Army and of the City Guard, while taller ones inside the protective circle of stone are the homes of the rich nobles of the imperial society. Then come the tallest of them all, completely covered by the magnificent buildings of the Imperial Senate and, most importantly, the palaces of all the members of the imperial family.
This disposition earned the city to be called "The Hills of Marbles" in the language of the Warrior Bunnies, a name with an obvious negative meaning for a species that has always lived in vast, flat and grassy lands.
Or at least it was until the Empire destroyed the many tribes that lived in the Great Eastern Plains and put the survivors under the terrible hammer of slavery.
Their queen, Tyuule, as a last effort to save her kind, offered herself to Zorzal El Caesar, the prince leading the legions, but he still ordered the destruction of all settlements.
In the end, everything backfired. She was seen as a traitor by the other Warrior Bunnies, her lands were burnt down, she became the slave of a spoiled brat and she was locked in a cell with only view a landscape that she could only hate.
But she couldn't hate it more than Zorzal. She perfectly knew that she, alongside the many other slaves, survived only to be the toys of his sickening games. The rapes were daily, and the pain was constant. Somedays, the slave that had been dragged out of the cell never came back, adding to their destroyed spirits the fear of death.
But being that close to the prince can allow you to get a lot of precious information, especially of you have pair of large ears. He was expecting something important related to the opening of the Gate, and for Tyuule, it could bring a lot of opportunities.
Then, one rainy day, it arrived.
In the morning, she saw, from the small and lone window of the cell, a messenger hastily going up the hill. She faintly heard a few words of his conversation with an officer of the Guard, but she still understood its meaning : prisoners from the other world were arriving. When Tyuule told the news to the other slaves, she was met with a variety of reactions. Some remained completely silent, others simply answered that they did not care and some clearly showed their curiosity.
When the convoy of wooden carriages rolled up the hill, the crowd of nobles that followed its path made it hard to see from the prisoners' only point of view, but a feeling of excitement started to appear in the heart of a few girls that wondered how the inhabitant of this world looked like. In a way, it made them forgot the pain for a few minutes, something you always want in that kind of situation.
Then, they waited. The sun rose all the way up in the sky and started to come down, and no guard came to fetch one of the slave at the hour when the prince always asked for one.
It was only when the glowing disc disappeared behind the horizon that the door of the cell opened, and another slave was pushed into the cell, joining the "collection" of Zorzal. The first thing Tyuule noticed was that she was human, barely older than twenty and relatively tall. Her deep black hair showed that it used to be short but grew longer ever since she had been captured. The guard had pushed her so violently that she had fallen to the ground, so Tyuule was not able to see her face yet. Instead, she noticed an elaborate black tattoo in the shape of a bird opening its wings. It wasn't like tribal tattoos that many species use to scare their opponents, but more of a piece of art with small details and clean lines. It could only have been the work of a master artist.
When she finally stood up, all the other slaves finally had a chance to know how she looked like. The things that stroke everyone immediately were her eyes, way thinner than the eyes of a normal human. She was similar, yet different.
As the guard violently closed the door, one of the Cat People slave tried to say hello, but the only answer she got back was a look full of fear. She was lost, terrified and, judging by the stains of blood and other fluids on her rags, already broken.
She looked all around her in confusion, putting her look on every slave like she was not believing the things she was seeing, and nobody could really blame her.
It lasted for a couple of minutes before she found a place on one of the bench in a corner of the room, curling herself into a ball like to make herself the least visible possible. But everyone was looking at the ball shape that started to slowly twitch and sob. Nobody could blame her as she cried, probably for her family, her liberty or her innocence.
She regained a more peaceful face when she finally fell into the slumber of sleep, the moon already high over the horizon.
Tyuule looked at her one last time before closing her eyes too, perfectly knowing that she would bring new opportunities.
The day after, she remained in her corner, alone, not making a sound, trying to be forgotten. Even when she was handed her portion of the small amount of food we had by a Cat Woman trying to smile as brightly as she could, she only shrugged and grabbed it by the tip of her fingers before closing herself again.
It lasted up until two guards opened the cell door at the usual time. Everybody knew that she was going to be picked. The Prince managed to get his hands on a new toy, and he was eager to find out all of its limits.
When she returned a few hours later, that same broken expression had reappeared on her face. But this time, she was holding something in her hand as she came back to her spot in the corner. It was a large music instrument with six long cords that resembled those used by elves, despite being larger.
She sat down on the bench and grabbed the long neck with her left hand rested its body on her lap. She passed her right hand over the strings a few times, creating clean notes that immediately attracted the attention of the few slaves that were not already watching her.
She stopped, adjusted something at the end of the neck and took a deep breath.
And she started playing. The notes were grouped by four, slow, intense. She was focused on her playing, playing just like her life was counting on it. And every one was listening to her in the same way out of curiousness. Tyuule even heard some guards stopping next to the cell door to listen.
All the notes were now played one after another rather than by groups, but the melody remained the same : completely different than anything Tyuule or any other slave had ever heard. But then, the musician closed her eyes and slightly opened her mouth. She was going to sing.
I can't remember anything,
Can't tell if this is true or dream.
Deep down inside I feel to scream,
This terrible silence stops me.
Now that the war is through with me,
I'm waking up, I cannot see,
That there's not much left to me.
Nothing is real but pain now.
Hold my breath as I wish for death.
Oh please God wake me.
There was something beautiful about this new language, the words and the deep intonation mixing perfectly with the music. But no one was able to tell what they meant. And yet they listened, knowing that the meaning was linked to their situation as slaves.
Back in the womb, it's much too real.
In pumps life that I must feel.
But can't look forward to reveal,
Look to the time when I lived.
Fed through the tube that sticks in me,
Just like a war time novelty,
Tied to a machine that makes me be.
Cut this life off from me.
Hold my breath as I wish for death.
Oh please God wake me.
She then played a short succession of high pitched note, her left hand reaching almost completely down the neck of the instrument. It only made the audience more curious, as this new kind of music had never been heard before in Falmart.
Now the world is gone, I'm just one.
Oh God help me.
Hold my breath as I wish for death.
Oh God help me.
This time, her voice started to change, her anger rising. It was made even more evident as she started to strum the cords faster and more violently, playing the same heavy note despite the clean sound of this instrument. An important amount of anger, sadness and pain had accumulated, and she had to let it go.
Darkness !
Imprisoning me !
All that I see,
Absolute horror.
I cannot live,
I cannot die,
Trapped in myself,
Body is my only cell.
Now, she was almost yelling, like to have her voice heard everywhere. It was now clear that she was asking for help.
Landmine,
Has taken my sight,
Taken my speech,
Taken my hearing,
Taken my arms,
Taken my legs,
Taken my soul,
Let me with life in hell !
She continued to strum with a great violence, her eyes closed, focused. She opened her eyes shortly after, and before anyone could think of anything else, she started to play the highest notes with an almost unimaginable speed. She had reached a level of virtuosity that not a lot of musicians in this world had, and her clenched teeth showed how focused she was, all her feelings vanishing to create the melody.
And they all listened, hypnotized by the complex dance of her hands and her fingers on the instrument. But they were only a few to notice some tears that started to roll down her cheeks as the music returned to being the less complex strumming of notes that then violently stopped as an abrupt conclusion to the song.
She stood there, breathing heavily, more tears starting to blur her vision. The spectators also stood there, not really knowing how to react, until one of the Dog Woman slave started to slowly clap, something she knew the humans did to congratulate an artist at the end of a play. At first, she was alone, but quickly other slaves started to accompany her in her congratulations. In the end, with an entire cell full of slaves clapping in front of her, the musician started to fully cry. But those were not tears of sadness, but just tears of tiredness.
And that's how started the daily cycle in the cell, the young woman locking herself in the morning, only opening herself to play what was literally otherworldly music.
A village isn't a thing you would expect so close to a military base. Yet, from the walls surrounding Camp Alnus, it's impossible to miss the group of a dozen of houses downhill.
The Public Relations officer gave us a tour of "Alnus Village", the former refugee camp turned headquarters of a trade cooperative. The buildings on the outside, the most recent ones, at the entry of the settlements, had obviously been built by the combat engineer for safety reasons but with an old fashion look. As we went, the officer pointed us several shops, all operated by locals : a baker, a barber, and even a tavern, to only name a few. All of those buildings surround a group of smaller, prefabricated buildings that made up the original refugee camp.
We were welcomed by a familiar face to all the journalist of the group : Lelei La Lelena, the young mage that appeared in front of the parliament. She was with an older man that introduced himself as Kato El Altestan, master of magic. They lead us in what was once a former lodging turned meeting room for an improvised press conference.
"The main activity of the settlement is the collect and the trade of dragon scales that can be found all over the remains of the battlefields," she said as an introduction. "We started as a simple group of refugees, and I'm sure you all know why, but when we realized that all those resources were here, we tried to become self-sufficient thanks to trade. We welcomed more people as discovered that many lost their homes, mainly due to a wave of banditry, and they now work here to create a stable community."
[…]
You said that your goal was independence, but all the building were made by FORSO soldiers and they are protecting you. Isn't it paradoxical ?
When you want to build a house and you don't know how, you ask a mason and you pay him. Here we are doing the same thing. We use the money made from the dragon scale trade to pay for the materials needed, while the combat engineers greatly offered their services. But it is still the villagers that decided what was built according to what was needed like more houses, shops and commodities like electricity and accesses to water. Thanks to that, we relocated many of the original refugees in larger lodgings, mainly families with children and elders, and we transformed the free lodgings in work spaces and storage rooms. Though some people, including myself and my master, still live here as we don't need more space than we already have.
When we walked through the village, we passed next to the "PX" and it was clearly selling products coming from the other side of the Gate, like food and household items. Do you buy those products from the Task Force ?
Yes, we do. The General Store, or PX for some, is an integral part of the cooperative, and the cooperative buys the products directly from the Task Force with our currency. According to them, they are going to use it as an "asset for further operations", but we do not know anything more on that subject. Sometime, we even receive donations from organizations of your world, and we use them without selling them.
How many people live in the village at the moment ?
Currently, the number of people living in the village is of one hundred and five. It includes the original group of sixty-five refuges, as well as thirty-five refugees from Italica and five servants of the Formar family, to help run the tavern and the store.
Don't you fear that this proximity with troops, with the base and, in general, with the Gate might be a danger for local culture ?
We have taken all necessities to reduce to a maximum any negative effects of this kind of cohabitation. For example the General Store only sells food and hygiene products. But I personally do not think all the consequences of those exchanges are bad. We can always learn new things from one another on every subjects, and culture is one such subject.
Now that there is an entire village, are you planning to stay here ?
Sadly, many of us cannot return to their former homes because of pillaging and raids. Between the moment Coda was evacuated and another reconnaissance team passed there, everything that had been left behind by the fleeing villagers was gone. So now, we are rebuilding our new homes here, and even if the Task Force one day leave, we will stay here.
Are you planning to change your activities when the supply of scale will end ?
We are already in talks with some companies on your side of the Gate through the Task Force to sell raw materials to merchants once the conflict ends. Those supplies might probably be limited at first because of the literal bottleneck that is the Gate, but we are already working on our future.
Extract of "The life at Alnus Hill", article published in Le Monde, December 19th 2016
Alnus Hill, Base Aérienne 945, January 5th 2017, 1030 AT
When the delegation of Rose Knights arrived at Alnus Hill, nobody had been able to miss it. The word that the group was coming had quickly circled around the base the day prior, and when the teams in Italica had confirmed that the group leaved the city, it attracted many soldiers, on duty or not, to the outer parts of the base. To add to this, when the large group of shiny armors, fancy banners and complex hair dressing reached binocular range, it quickly attracted more looks. It stayed like that when they arrived at the base, when LaPointe welcomed them formally and when they were given a tour of the installations, even if the blond leader of the knights already knew some of them.
During the visit, many knights had shown their curiosity towards the long strip of black stone and the adjacent facilities downhill, but no one told them what it was used for and they were asked to wait for the day after for a proper visit.
And that is how a group of young women dressed in splendid armors ended up inside an "Air Base", LaPointe and officers from the "Air Force" leading them to a large structure that looked like the half of a tube cut in its length, lying on the cut side.
Also invited were a group of representatives of the Cooperative, as what was going to be revealed to the knights had something to do with potential minor disturbances to the villagers. Those representatives included Lelei, Kato, a few merchants and, obviously, Rory. Her inevitable presence forced LaPointe to make Anthony part of the group of guides, as he had noticed by the past that she was more "obedient" when the Lieutenant was around.
There had been a lighthearted chat in between the different people in this strange looking group, but it immediately stopped as they stopped next to the structure. Two men in green jumpsuits had been waiting for them, and almost instinctively, the knights and cooperative representatives formed a circle around them while the officers stayed behind.
« Ladies, one of the two started in a comprehensible Saderan, I am Capitaine Georges and this is Lieutenant Jordi, and both of us welcome you to the Base Aérienne 945 Alnus. »
It was clear that Georges was older and more experienced that Jordi, not only because of his visible older age, but also because of his voice.
« So tell me, he continued, what do you think of the helicopters you saw at Italica ? »
The answers coming from the knights often included the words "fantastic", incredible", "unimaginable" and "faster than everything".
« And do you think that nothing could be better at flying ? »
Some clearly answered by nodding but the majority remained silent, while the Air Force officers started to smile behind the group.
« So what if I tell you that we have yet another machine that can fly faster, higher and for a greater distance while still having a whole arsenal of weapons at its disposition. »
Smiles also appeared on the mouths of Georges and Jordi as looks of surprise appeared in the eyes of the young women, and curiosity appeared in those of the Apostle, still carrying her halberd with her.
« How… How can it be possible ? » asked Boses, standing in front of the two men.
« You will see, madam. » answered the younger man.
« And when will we be able to see this machine ? »
This time, the voice was more childish, and nobody wondered who asked the question. The two men knew about the Apostle and how to act with her in the vicinity.
For half a second, Georges looked at Anthony like to ask for a confirmation, and the small nod he got back was like a way to confirm he was free to act within reasonable limits.
« Very soon, madam, very soon. Lieutenant Jordi and myself are part of the Thirtieth Fighter Wing, Second Fighter Squadron "Normandie-Niemen", and the unit is equipped with this kind of machines. We call them fighter jets, and they are some of the greatest pieces of technology available to the French military. They can accomplish numerous missions against targets on the ground, on the sea and in the air. The speed that we can reach is so high that we can literally fly faster than sound itself. »
Curiosity, and even excitement, ran through the group of spectators, clearly showing that the young women could not wait any longer. Georges made a step back and knocked three time on the metal wall of the structure. A few seconds passed, some knights wondering what he did, but those interrogation quickly disappeared.
A loud rumbling noise started, and what they all thought was a metal wall split in two, each part sliding in the opposite direction.
The opening doors allowed for a ray of light to enter the building. As it grew larger, it revealed a grey shape.
It was like a large grey metal bird but ten times bigger, with a large fish-like fin on its back and standing on frail wheeled legs. It had two large circular mouths at the front and two small wings on each side of its nose before the larger, triangular ones.
Georges pointed at the metal bird with a large smile on his face.
« This is the Dassault Rafale, the most advanced fighter jet of the French Air Force. »
A great awe circled through the knights. Even with having passed several days at Italica, the knights were still amazed by any machines of the Task Force, especially if they could fly.
There was a group of men in similar jumpsuits all around the jet, verifying every single part of the machine.
Georges stepped inside the building, inviting the knights to follow him with a hand sign. All the women knew that this bird of prey was just a machine, but they were afraid it would come to life if they came too close like the wyverns in their stables.
« But how does it flies ? » asked an emotionless voice at the back of the group.
« Well, answered Jordi by putting his hand in one of the large holes, the engines suck air from here, mix it with fuel before lighting it on fire causing the expulsion of a large amount of gas at the back, pushing the plane forwards. But without the wings, the plane would just roll on the ground. You see, the shape of the wing creates a difference of pressure that literally sucks the plane up through a process called lift. After that, we control the movement of the plane by making the tips of the wings move slightly up and down. »
Everyone was listening closely to the words of the young pilot as he showed every part, explaining roughly what they did.
« And what about the weapons ? »
This time, it was the childish voice that asked the question, not really to the surprise of anyone.
« Well it has many, answered Georges as he was the one to handle every situation related to the Apostle and the fighters. It has an internally built thirty millimeter gun, similar to those on the Tigers, but that's not all of it. »
He stepped away from the nose and walked towards the tip of the wing, putting his hand on what could only be described as a rail.
« On the Rafale, there are twelve of those rails under the wings and two on each tip. On every one of them, you can attach pretty much everything that can be launched or dropped from high in the sky, like missiles or bombs, or equipment to enhance the plane performance, like additional fuel tanks or targeting pods. »
The presentation continued for several minutes, each new piece of information shattering the knights' ideas on what is possible, and every single one of the young women remembered something as the most incredible. For some, it was the fact that some of the weapons used by the planes could move on their own and track their target without any direct order, for some it was the great speed of the fighter that can "fly from Alnus to the Imperial Capital and back in less than an hour", while other were amazed by the statement of one of the well-dressed Air Force officer that said that even bigger planes existed and were coming to Alnus.
But the discussion where interrupted by another Air Force officer that asked the knights to follow him. He led them outside the "hangar" towards a tower with large windows at its top while Georges returned to his fighter and Jordi entered the second hangar. Climbing all those stairs was an unexpected exercise for all the knights, but the splendid view of the Air Base that they discovered made the effort worth it. To the surprise of some, the entire group fitted inside the room in which were already many men and women in uniforms in front of "computers", those incredible machines capable of almost anything.
« Welcome to the Base Aérienne 945 Control Tower. It is from here that Air Traffic Controllers give orders, information and authorizations to the pilots. » launched one the officer, but nobody really heard him as the knights were either looking outside or trying to understand what was on the different monitors.
Again, there was a new session of question and answers, but this time including confused Air Traffic Controllers, on subject as diverse as the number of men currently deployed by the Task Force or the technics used to create the large black road that was laying at the center of the Air Base.
« Ours One, Ours Two, copy. You are cleared for Taxi to runway Zero Eight Five. » suddenly stated one of the few controller that still had his headset on his head.
At this moment, all the conversations stopped, and the public all placed itself next to the large panels of glass.
From the open doors of the two hangar, the two Rafales slowly started to roll on the road leading to the "strip", a high whistle filling the air. On the ground, men of the Air Force were like guiding the two machines on precise paths painted on the ground.
On the ground, the speed of the two planes was not what one could describe as fast, as even the cars that brought the group down the hill were faster. There was a feeling of disappointment among some of the knights as they watched the men under their pieces of glass pressing buttons and switches.
However, all around the security fences surrounding the Air Base, many small groups started to form. Those were mainly made off curious locals and soldiers on rest that wanted to see the "metal birds" everyone was talking about during the last few days.
The first fighter entered on the large strip and stopped in the middle, while the second one stopped at a line on the access road, and there was a second of confusion in the mind of the spectators.
« Ours One, you are cleared for takeoff. » said the controller in a manner that showed he had done this for years.
Again, a second of confusion.
Then suddenly, the high whistle gradually changed into a loud and heavy growling. Yellow flames appeared inside the two circular holes at the back of the plane. Then, it started to gain speed. It was faster than everything the knights and the villagers had ever saw, and despite the almost painful noise, they all continued to watch. And, after having rolled a few hundred meters, almost by magic, the wheels left the ground and the plane quickly gained altitude before disappearing in a cloud.
« Whoah ! »
« Incredible ! »
« How is that possible ? »
But those reactions remained unheard by the officers as the second fighter rolled to position on the runway.
« Ours Two, you are cleared for takeoff. » stated another controller.
Again, the whistle transformed into a growling, flames appeared, the machine rolled, gained speed, left the ground and disappeared into the clouds.
The awe left everyone silent in amazement while the Air Force officers smiled brightly.
Then, the loud noise of the four jet engines reappeared, and the two fighters quickly passed at low altitude, flying side by side, before violently jerking up at the same time. What followed was an impressive acrobatic demonstration, the two pilots creating an elaborate and beautiful dance to demonstrate the full capacity of their machines.
As the public was looking amazedly at the spectacle, LaPointe was at the back of the control room with all the officers. Seeing the reactions of the knights, he could not help himself but tap on the elbow of the leading Air Force officer.
« Well you sure know how to put a show, don't you ? » he asked in his almost signature friendly way.
« Oh you know, when you go from air show to air show trying to sell those planes at everyone, we end up knowing what has the best effect on the crowds. » laughed back the officer, his blue uniform covered in medals, witnesses of glorious days gone by in the seat of a Mirage F1.
« But why Rafales ? Wouldn't it be cheaper to bring one or two Mirage 2000 ? »
It was not LaPointe who asked the question, but Anthony, still keeping Rory in a corner of his vision if anything goes unplanned.
« Well, he whispered to be heard by as few people as possible, the only thing I know is that some Dassault engineers will arrive to Alnus in a few days. Something with tests in an environment without GPS, but… »
He finished his sentence by passing his hand over his mouth like he was closing a zipper. Anthony nodded and returned next to window, looking at the now larger crowd that had gathered around the base to observe those birds.
Down in his heart, he had a feeling about the future of the conflict.
Even with all the politics, it was going to get messy.
Maison d'arrêt de Fleury-Mérogis, War Prisoner Aisle, January 10th 2017, 1030 Paris Time
« Sir Palesti, there is someone for you in the visiting room. »
This statement clearly surprised Lucius in the middle of his daily reading session. Lately, he had been craving to read more on many subjects, and every day brought its new discoveries. But apparently, today was not an usual day.
« The visiting room ? » asked the former general, putting down a book he barely had time to open.
« Yes, sir. Someone wants to talk to you. » answered the guard.
« But who is it ? »
Lucius was clearly confused. He had finished helping with the writing of the translation handbook long ago, making another visit from the translator, the only person he could think of, very unlikely.
« I don't know. I was just ordered to escort you to the visiting room. So please follow me. »
He nodded and started following the young prison guard in the corridors of the prison. He had noticed how the guard used the word "Sir", a word that many guards never used, showing that he was fully conscious of Lucius' ranks. Those signs of respects, despite his status of prisoner of war, showed how different mentalities were between the two sides of the Gate.
While they walked through the corridors of the prison, the guard and the prisoner crossed the paths of other prisoners that always stopped and saluted by putting their fists on their hearts, a reminder to Lucius that he was still their leader inside this jail.
When they arrived in front of the visiting room, Lucius' heartbeat rose and question came back to his head. Why ? How ? And most importantly, who ?
The guard opened the heavy security door, letting Lucius enter alone in the small room furnished only with a table and a few chairs. The door closed behind him, letting completely alone in the room, yet under the continuous watch of other guards thanks to security cameras.
He sat down on one of the chairs, looking directly at the opposite door from which visitors could come in.
What felt like hours passed before he heard footsteps, a key turning in the lock and saw the door opening. Then it was blond hair, blue eyes and a white dress embroidered with a red, a yellow and a white rose.
He did not managed to process the information correctly, only standing up and making a step around the table, before the woman threw herself in his arms.
« Lucius… » was the only word she managed to say, her voice completely drowning in tears.
He couldn't reply as his eyes started to fill with water.
They stayed like that for long minutes, the great emotions preventing both of them from letting go.
Then they both sat down, one on each side of the table.
« How are you here ? » he finally asked, trying to return to his normal self.
« It is very long to explain. We… The Rose Order has found an agreement with France, and some of the Knights are now in Camp Alnus. I can't tell you everything, but when I learnt that you were alive as a prisoner, I immediately asked for a meeting. »
She had trouble containing her emotions too, but they were the only two in the room, so the still trembling voice was completely ignored.
« And do Father and Mother know that I'm still alive ? Did you tell them ? »
It was an important question for Lucius. He always had a lot of respect for his father, Marquis Palesti, a man that had carefully taught his son all the secrets of combat.
« Sadly I couldn't. Not a single information must spread in the Imperial Court to ensure the safety of French operations. »
He sighed. It was a true pain knowing that the people he loved the most were still unsure of his state, but he could not do anything else than asking more questions to his sister. And many questions he had. The subjects were as varied as the transformation that the Holy Hill went through, the quality of life given to the knights or even how some of her friends were going. She answered as much as she could before asking many question herself on the life in the prison, how he was treated, and most importantly how the initial assault unfolded.
« But if you are now living in Alnus and interact daily with the soldiers, does that mean you met him ? »
For Lucius, it was obvious who he was talking about. This man had always been in his mind ever since he saw him on the screen of the television.
« Who are you talking about ? » confusedly replied Boses, not being used to not understanding her brother.
« Lieutenant Anthony Moreau is an officer of the French Army's 126th Infantry Regiment, Lucius started to recite by heart. He was the one that lead the first defense forces during the Battle of Paris. When reinforcements arrived, all the men under his direct orders had only suffered injuries. He was awarded the Légion d'Honneur by the President himself and became a symbol used by the French Army. He was deployed as part of the initial FORSO assault and was later assigned to reconnaissance and first contact missions. During one of these mission, his squad and a group of villagers was attacked by the Fire Dragon but was successful in making it flee thanks to a well-placed shot from a rocket launcher, albeit the death of a hundred and forty nine lives. He was questioned about it by French members of Parliament, but never faced any charge. He is also rumored to be the one that attracted Rory Mercury the Reaper at Alnus. »
Over many days of reading newspapers, he had learned many things about this man that he would almost call his rival despite a lack of any hate.
« Oh him ? I talked to him once or twice. And what I can say is that how we perceive military hierarchy is completely different from the way they do. When they train and when they fight, everything is strict and by the book, every mistake is punished. But when they stop and are in their base, it's like their ranks only define the way they are called and where they eat. Sir Moreau is always with one of his soldier, private or not, chatting about subjects that one could deem useless for a soldier. It is yet another way our ways of fighting diverge, and yet something I have to understand. »
They both remained silent. Lucius had still many things to discover on many different subjects, and all he had ever known before he had crossed was either misunderstood or false.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
« Miss Palesti, said a male voice, you have only five minutes left. »
Boses nodded, before grabbing her brother's hand.
« Lucius, I will do everything I can to help you get out of here. You have my word. »
Her voice was full of determination. She was meaning every word of her sentence. Lucius only sighed, looking her in the eyes.
« I'm sorry Boses, but I can't. »
There was a split second of shock in her eyes.
« What ? »
« I can't leave. I lead the attack and I ordered to attack those that were not armed. I am the one responsible for all those deaths and all this suffering. I will have to pass in front of a court for the charges of "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity". If you really want peace between the two sides of the Gate, some people have to be publicly punished. »
« Do not say such stupid things, Lucius ! »
« Those are not stupid things, Boses. I have the blood of one hundred and seventy six inhabitants of this world, as well as the one of thousands of Imperial soldiers. If I just walk away without any trouble and go back to Sadera, imagine the tensions and the hate it will create. I believe I have to be an example, a scapegoat, someone that will take all the blame to ensure the most peaceful relations. »
Boses could not come back with anything else than looking with wide open eyes.
« It is pointless to lie, he continued. I regret giving that order, and I regret not refusing it from General Lanti. Everything we thought was good or bad about war is not, and it took many deaths to make me realize it. The only thing it can achieve is more suffering. »
This time, he was the one to grab her hand.
« So please, continue your mission to ensure peace, and when you will be able to, tell Father and Mother that I am fine, that I do not lack anything and that I am treated well. »
They shared one last hug before the door opened and the young guard escorted Lucius out. The general followed him back to his cell, back to his books, back to himself.
And when the heavy door loudly closed behind him, the former proud General of the Imperial Army started to cry.
Thanks for reading the nineteenth chapter of Gate : Opération Marteau de Justice.
This chapter consist a few side stories that I had in the back of my head for some time. They are not truly important for the main plot, but I thought they could make an interesting addition to the story. What is coming next will be the true continuation of the story.
Also I have a Twitter account ( TheSlyls without all the spaces) where I can answer your questions more directly, as well as posting important updates on the story writing and random things that I want to share. So if you want to be informed, follow me.
But now, it's time for reviews.
mc arno - Un nouveau français qui lit mon histoire fait toujours plaisir, donc met toi à l'aise.
SpudyPotato - It's exactly what I wanted to do, show the fight from the perspective of those that are protected while remaining realistic. That's how we end up with the battle kinda happening in the background, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Pacman - Little friendly tip if you want to visit France one day : don't visit Paris only, there are many beautiful things all over the country that deserve your attention (and Parisians are dicks)
Celestia's Paladin - I take notes. Might be useful later.