Hello again dear brothers and sisters of Fanfiction glory! Here's what's happening. I'm gonna designate Earth 1 and 2 for the Advanced Warfare and the Witches Dimensions respectively so I wouldn't have any problems on extra descriptions. Don't worry! I'll put that as a general note before every chapter starts.

Also... general translated texts will be formatted like this:

(*language*"text")

That's for making sure the text is understood so I wouldn't have to put anything on the footnotes section for translations.

And for other news, I should notify you all that I'm bringing in Angela Salas Larrazabal. Originally, she's at long-term treatment after the failure of Operation Trajanus. Seems Marsdog didn't keep an eye on the involvement of the 504th at that. So... Schade isn't the only 504th member alive!

Question: What do you guys like to see on this fanfict? Let me know with reviews or PM's to me! You guys can even contribute to story development as I'm welcome for it!

Without further ado, let's proceed! Enjoy. ^_^

"Desirable Dream"

Earth 1 (Advanced Warfare dimension…)

2061…

Near the Siberian Police Checkpoint… Afternoon…

Josie was walking towards the checkpoint. She was aware that most of the police officers were disguised ATLAS grunts. Wearing a jacket over her inner shirt, she made sure to focus looking forward. For what will happen next will raise tensions.

One of the men at the checkpoint notices Josie and looks at her suspiciously before narrowing his eyes at her. He then uses his earpiece. "Subject One's spotted. She's approaching the checkpoint." He then pointed his submachine gun at her before his other teammates followed. "Stop right there, Subject One!"

Josie saw the armed officers point their submachine guns and assault rifles right at her and she raised her hands while she halted on her walking. "Whoa, whoa… I'm here in peace, guys. Take it easy. Look… I'm regretting what I've done and I'm gonna get myself taken in."

"Josie, I'm in position." Rex told her via the earpiece she wore. "Looks like they've taken the bait."

"Whatever you say," Josie whispered. "Next thing I'm gonna wonder of is if they'll be making big steps already."

(*Russian* "What in the hell is going on?!") A Russian speaking police officer comes out in shock to see police officers aiming at the woman whose hands are raised up. (*Russian* "I have not heard of a female suspect!")

And Josie was shocked to see what was next. A suppressed weapon was used to kill the Russian speaking police officer and it was sudden that the man drops on the floor quickly. A headshot was the cause of his death and she's even more convinced that these goons aren't going to let up. Soon, one of the agents shot tazer darts at her, and she was given 60000 volts of electricity to her body, making her scream in pain as she gets down on her knees. It took about five seconds for it to happen before one of the agents approached, convinced that she's had it.

'No,' she thought. 'I suffered longer inside. I've been shocked and tested myself, you assholes. No one will stop me… not even you.' As the agent approached with guns up towards her, time slowed down and she knew she had the opportunity. She suddenly got on one foot before quickly pulling the agent's arm and pushing it back together with his weapon and slams onto his face. Letting the weapon drop, she got to stand before she used the agent as a prisoner as she held his neck with her arm. She then drew her Sig-Sauer MPX SMG before she aimed it at her prisoner's head.

Josie however didn't expect that a red laser point would be pointed at her prisoner's forehead like that. Time slowed down at this point, and she knew what this would mean. 'Oh… Shit…' Eventually she heard a sniper rifle fire from a distance.

As Rex watched the scene unfold with his ATLAS 20mm sniper rifle on the third floor of a building window. He saw it at the last moment of the red laser point being aimed at the forehead of the ATLAS agent Josie held hostage. "Shit… JOSIE GET OUT OF THERE!"

As the enemy sniper fires, the bullet went straight to the imprisoned ATLAS agent. At a brief moment, Josie's magic worked while her familiar features deployed in the nick of time. As soon as the bullet reached the back of the agent's head, a small magical explosion blinded those using weapon scopes while the head of the agent she imprisoned exploded. It didn't physically affect everyone, but it gave them a sight to behold. As civilians screamed to run away from the scene, the ATLAS agents could believe that a rune and circled shield was formed in front of Josie. It took them a while to realize that she's dangerous.

For a while, Josie winced, not believing she has some sort of shield. The body that she once held was dropped because of the head that exploded. Blood was dripping from her magic shield and only one drop of blood was on her cheek. Then she knew what to do.

'I know what to do with this.' Josie thought before glaring at the agents. 'You're all gonna die.' "NOW!"

Rex heard her call before aiming his ATLAS 20mm at the sniper position he knew the round came from and pulls the trigger. As expected, the sniper goes down from the headshot. Then he witnesses Josie do her thing, avoiding gunfire with her speed. 'Damn, she fast,' he thought to himself.

Josie kept at it, speeding around her opponents while she opens fire at them with her SMG. Getting deeper into the checkpoint area while civilians run away from it, she gets in close range to ATLAS agents to tackle them to the ground or even break necks if she feels of taking lives. The whole checkpoint was eventually swept clean of hostiles and she looked around. The Russian speaking officer that was killed earlier should have been in charge, so she went to his body and she eventually a card for swiping. She smiled and pocketed it. Reporting that she found the card, little did she know that one of the bodies on the ground was faking death. The ATLAS agent equipped a pistol and was behind Genie before he was given a headshot from somewhere. It was Rex. He cocked his sniper rifle before loading another round.

"You okay?" Rex asked Josie her condition through the earpiece.

"I'm good. Thanks for the save."

"Anytime. We gotta go. Now. Shit, incoming ATLAS foot mobiles in jeeps!" Rex said this as he aimed his sniper rifle towards a convoy of three jeeps with markings of ATLAS with its soldiers dismounting nearby. He opens fire once he got one at his sights and continues. She saw Josie charge in and they fired at her, with no fear in using her magic shield. "You're crazy!"

Josie made a battle cry as she deploys her magic shield in front of her while a lot of rounds hit it. This sacrifices her speed, but it helps her as she was getting near. As she sensed her opponents one by one ran out of bullets from their mags, she deactivates her magic shield before sprinted with incredible speed, engaging them with her SMG or got in close to disable and kill with her hands herself. They couldn't keep up with her. Rex kept firing his sniper rifle and he was getting good hits either to the head, or to the chests of the targets. But most of the kills went to Josie than his. Eventually, he sees her kill the last man with a melee knife she picked up.

As Josie pulls the melee knife from the man's face, she didn't notice there was one behind her holding a pistol before she heard a gunshot. Time went slow for her and she knew she it came from. Her magic shield activates, protecting her rear as the bullet deflects to another direction. As her shield lowers, she turned and glared at the ATLAS grunt with a beastly look on her face. "Don't fire at him, Rex. He's mine." And in the blink of an eye, her hand was tightly choking his neck and she raised him up. Knowing his feet was off the ground she started to speak. "You people abused me for five fucking years. Heck… I don't even have a memory of my past before that! If you grunts will keep following me, more of your blood will be offered. Because I'm more than pissed with what you've done… what Irons has done. Tell them not to follow me anymore. Though I don't care if they don't listen to you. Because one by one, they will fall to the ground… JUST LIKE YOU WILL NOW."

Rex witnesses Josie slamming the ATLAS soldier hard on the gravel road. "Ew… Ouch."

"Don't fucking pity him, Rex." Josie said this with an angered tone. "You of all people should know that they abused me. They laughed at me. Though you didn't, I know their only reason they're calling me a lab rat was because they stumbled upon me."

"Yeah. Sure. Why don't we tell the stories later and move on? Look… every ATLAS grunt I used to work with is now coming at us. Shit… I didn't wanna fucking kill my guys, but things are different now. We gotta move and get the hell out of here. Take point, Josie. I'll catch up with ya." Rex said it before getting off his position and slung the sniper rifle at his back. "Dr. Boyd! Let's get out of here!"

Earth 2 (Witches' Dimension)

501st Joint Fighter Wing base, Island of Sicily…

1945… 1423 hours…

As Eila was walking one of the halls of the Sicily base the 501st was stationed in, her fists were closed tight. She was feeling angered by what she read, and she can still remember it within her mind…

'Tormented in the war, you just…!' Eila had her thoughts stored about the entry she read. This wasn't what she expected of Lida, especially when she's leading a unit. It made her question the attitudes of those who promote officers who have that aspect. 'I'll expose you. If I have to keep on telling Minna and Mio you were at fault for keeping Sanya out of focus and- NO! That's not just it! You beat her up. You changed her into the person she is now. A big scar had been in her heart…! How… How could you?!' She stopped walking and put her back against the wall before her legs collapsed. Sitting with her back against the wall, she tried calming down, but tears flowed down from her eyes. She didn't know Sanya had been given that harsh treatment before. This was why Sanya had been shy. Everything changed that day Lida and Sanya met.

Her thoughts were suddenly stopped. Her eyes turned white and she briefly clutched her head in pain. Getting back to reality as her eyes went back to normal, she easily got to her feet and made a run for it. Darting straight into her room with Sanya, she realized she needed to be quiet. Sanya was asleep and she knew she shouldn't disturb her. Though Eila had more things to worry about. Opening a drawer, she finds a medium-sized piece of paper and a pencil. Sitting on the floor, she closes her eyes. When she opens them, her eyes were pure white.

'Alright. This is fresh. So I'll be able to draw what I just saw. This… It's uncontrollable. But if what I do helps…' Eila stopped her thought and proceeded to quickly sketch something. It was insanely fast how she can make a refined and detailed sketch of a landscape. It was a city in a thick fog. Bodies piled up. Cars crashed. People were on the ground and appeared to suffer. A tall stone monument was just nearby, and it was grazed from the top by something. Eventually, Eila stopped and her eyes returned to normal. She looked at the sketch herself, and she narrowed her eyes at it. 'A thick fog, bringing suffering and death to a city with a damaged monument. This… This isn't normal…'

In Wing Commander Tsyrinskaya Lidia Yermolayevna's office…

Minna and Mio were shocked to see the papers.

"It… can't be…" Minna looked at the records of Eila's psych evaluations. They all came out negative, and the tests were confirmed only of late. Then she looked at Lida's ace in discomfort. "Why only now do these psych evaluations come?"

Lida sighed as she looked at Minna. "It would seem to be very simple. Eila had threatened the lives of the evaluators since Suomus is a small country, and she knows their families."

"This is sudden for discovering these kinds of documents," replied Mio. "How'd you come up with this?"

Lida snorted. "I'm surprised you don't even care of your comrades' past, Major Sakamoto. Every detailed event is important to the eyes of the brass. I might not be sitting in the chair my whole life, but I know what it feels to have your own allies betray you. That's why I do research, and deep research while I'm at it. Well… I've been hearing you're not having a good time, as you start to lose your powers."

Mio was shocked of it. She knew it was too familiar and personal, and Lida knows now. "How did you know?"

"How did I NOT know? I didn't allow it, because I had to get eyes and ears of everyone the moment that faction took Rome. That's right… I had to contact everyone related to all members of the 501st. It wasn't because I was stalking, Sakamoto. But those kinds of information… they can be used against you. We are talking of a faction that kills witches, who arrived to haunt us. But at any time we are compromised, I'll ask my sources to burn down the information about all of us. The last thing we need, is to have them read our lives like a book." Lida explained. But in her mind, she smiled. 'I know how to make a poker face, you two Majors. Hehe… You don't know. You don't know it all. And now… The wrong person will be charged.'

The phone rang in the office, and Lida signaled Minna to get the call. It would seem some trust has been earned between the two of them, seeing that they're both diligent in maintenance and security of the base at least. Lida listened a bit to Minna speaking to the man on the other line, and she winced and gasped at once. Something was wrong.

"You're telling me you lost communications with them hours ago?! What happened?!" Minna asked the person on the other line. She nodded once before replying. "I see. Hold on." She then lowered the handset of the telephone and looked at the commander. "Commander, she wants to speak to you."

Eventually, Minna was with Mio again, who was eager to know what she heard. "Minna, what is it?"

Minna looked down briefly before she looked back to Mio. "Mio, our old base… There was a reconnaissance team sent by the brass that was supposed to retrieve what is left of the documents there. They stopped reporting since this morning. When they were being called about half an hour ago, no one was answering."

"Maybe it's because they were slacking?"

"Impossible. The unit of Lieutenant Charles Jameson, the 213th Recon Company had been serving in intelligence retrieval for lost territories, and they don't fail in retrieving important documents for the brass. If they were slacking, there could have a notable change in their troops. But not responding to an important call in their own job they consider a cakewalk? It's strange."

Commander Lida eventually got back to the two Majors. "We need to deal with this quietly. The brass just confirmed they lost all contact with the 213th Reconnaissance Company. If they fail to respond, it's up to the nearest unit to investigate what happened. And since we're the nearest to Romagna at this point, I don't think we have any choice. Major Dietlinde-Wilcke… I'm aware we don't have any reconnaissance witches with us, but we need to be sure. And you know your witches before you were demoted. I'm letting you decide on who to sortie at this point. This is the first time I've faced this situation myself."

Minna nods. "It's fine, Commander. Is… Juutilainen still going to participate?"

"I recommend we don't let her at this point. Because of the information I received, I don't think we can trust her yet." Lida pretends to look down in disappointment before looking at them again. "Now I'm sure this will have to be very swift. A maximum of three witches only, and at least two. I recommend sending Barkhorn and Hartmann. Then again, I'm still putting Major Wilcke in charge to organize the final reconnaissance party. You can even participate yourself if you wish. The objective is as follows and you will pass them onto the witches in the mission. Investigate the presence of the 213th Reconnaissance Company, an intelligence retrieval unit at Pescara, and make sure the critical documents left there are still intact. You will choose, and get the party to cooperate quietly. Not everyone will know, so make sure you pick wisely. The rest in the base are to be on standby. Is that understood?"

Eventually, Minna was able to gather the party. They all headed towards the base's hangar for the mission details.

"Aw… A patrol?" Erica whined while she scratched her head.

"What's so important that you could gather us here?" Barkhorn asked this with arms crossed over the other. "It's not an attack, is it?"

"Unfortunately it's not," Minna replied. "This is a mission to confirm the presence of a unit, and the intelligence they're retrieving to safety. The 213th Reconnaissance Company, a unit tasked in retrieving what's left of the documents at our old base in Pescara, has failed to report their status since this morning. That put them in tension and they want a unit to be sent there to investigate. But most of Romagna is probably under the human faction's control and will be dangerous. That's why the two of you are best suited in this mission. Barkhorn has the firepower. Hartmann has the quick resolve. And there's supposed to be a third member." She then pointed at Mio. "She has the integrity as the squadron leader to make sure everyone stays alive, even if it costs her."

"I volunteered," Mio said. "I have to make sure you two are directed in case this doesn't go well. And Minna has other important things to do. We only got that resupply recently and we have to organize things. That's why the three of us are best at this point to go there."

"But why just now?" Barkhorn asked Minna. "Wasn't there supposed to be a way to control this? This could have been investigated this morning if radio contact was lost."

"I don't know. The brass was supposed to keep their ears open."

"I bet it's that witch-killing group of bastards who took lives from the 504th. They can go to hell." Barkhorn looked down and angry while her fists were tightly balled up. "Some of our friends died there."

"We can't do anything about it now," replied Mio. "All we can hope for is that we wrap our heads around what we're dealing with besides the Neuroi. If the faction does not want peace, we at least need to find out why they're doing this. What do we appear to them?"

Minna groaned. "You three may as well sortie now." (*German* "Good luck, and may the Almighty be with you.")

As Minna said that, the three went to their striker units and they donned their familiars as magic flowed through their strikers. One by one, she saw them take off armed and ready as they flew out of the hangar, and eventually fly up for their priorities.

Lida sighed while inside the office, knowing that the three in the mission have left the base. 'The 213th to be eliminated just like that? And to think they're the best reconnaissance team to retrieve precious intel from fallen territories.' Lida thought of it and chuckled. 'No way they're alive in Pescara. It's that human faction. They're... They're impressive. I...' Her smile fades quickly. 'Is it... meant to be that way? They know more than we do?'

ATLAS Mobile HQ… Central Command Hub…

Irons was smiling. He didn't actually expect the satellite to be up so quickly. Seeing visual on the main screen on multiple monitors of space suits helping on the final setting of the satellite, the ATLAS Main Satellite was three quarters of progress to operational status. It took about 12 hours to make the initial setup. It isn't fairly fast, but this was one of the years ATLAS had its firsts… in space travel.

Irons sighed, aware of the development. "Tell me… Is this the very first time an internationally known Private Military Company able to go up to space?"

Someone from the Command Hub answered. "I think it is, sir!" He even laughed after the answer in excitement. "Real good, boss! We got this bitch!"

Irons groaned. "The Earth is never for the taking unless it's unguarded. Calling it a bitch is rather rude. Be careful not to repeat that."

"Sorry, sir."

"Left and right solar input wings are placed," reported Genie. She was an A.I. for all in ATLAS. "The Main Satellite will be something. Once it is online, we'll see almost everything in the planet. Won't we have another?"

Irons chuckled at what Genie asked. "Maybe. Are we good to go?"

"We are." Genie said this while there's a small countdown timer at the main screen. "Satellite activation in 3… 2… Systems initiating now…"

And as soon as she ends the countdown, the satellite's user interface and its functions begin to come alive on the main screen. The staff are also receiving their respective UI for the functions they serve in ATLAS. A minor beeping was heard on one of the stations.

And the station staff had reported. "Sir… We got hostile activity getting near the 501st base, the old one at Pescara. Three bogeys… flying low. They look like witches."

"Keep tracking them son. I'm not calling in anything on them yet." Irons ordered this and looked at another man on another station. "Status of all the radio frequencies?"

The station staff replies. "It took some time, but Ghost did a good job installing his on Hispania. Other teams report green. We're good on your go."

Irons chuckled before he starts walking away. "Good. Genie… It's show time."

Near Pescara, Romagna…

Mio's flight was flying low to make sure they do not attract any attention. Their loose column formation will also prevent them from getting shot at if they're separate.

Barkhorn, second in the flight, has some questions in her mind, and decided to tell them to Mio. "Major, what do you think we'll find on the old base?"

"Hopefully… Not what I think." Mio answered that with no doubt. "Because if it's contrary, then I hope the 213th is okay." Though what she thought was contradicting to the distant dark smoke rising up in the air from the distance, which she knew it was familiar since the direction was towards the old base. As they got closer to the base, so was the smoke, and she was starting to fear things. Leading the other two, she hastened until she found nothing but something creeping in her own blood, while she saw corpses. Though the biggest amount of smoke came from more corpses, burned completely and the smell gives it away. As she opened her eyes wide, so did Barkhorn's and Erica's. The first thing they saw, were dead bodies.

Erica covered her mouth as she hovered together with the other two on the base. As she examined the bodies, she found there were slit throats, strangled necks. But most of the bodies were brought to the burned pile, and tears came from her eyes as this was sad. "No… No…!"

Barkhorn dropped her weapons to look at the dead bodies. They were everywhere, but the big burned pile of corpses was what disgusted her most. 'No…! No, no! They would…! They would actually…?!'

Mio Sakamoto just out of her strikers ran inside the main base building hoping to find anyone alive. It was the same with what's inside… Dead soldiers. Messes in the rooms. And when she got to the clinic and opened the door she was shocked to see the horrific condition of the doctor… half naked under the sheet while her eyes were opened though still while a gunshot wound was on her head. She was already dead, and never blinked once. A puddle of blood on the floor was where the doctor's head rested on. This made the major get on her knees. All the people were dead, and it wasn't because of the Neuroi.

'The same bastards who took Rome hit hard here…' Mio thought about this while she looked at the doctor's body. 'I'm sorry… You didn't need to be involved in all this.'

Soon, Barkhorn and Erica ran to see where the Major was, and both of them were shocked of the doctor's corpse. Erica felt more of crying, but Barkhorn didn't want to contain it.

Breathing faster and building rage, Barkhorn let her magic glow around her body while she remembered a destroyed jeep outside. She decided to head back outside and put her hands on it and scream while she threw the jeep upwards, hitting the hangar hard. Her emotion had let the vehicle fold up as it fell to the ground. Tears flowed from her eyes as her heart screamed in the death of those who were hear. She was heard throughout the base.

In no time at all, Mio was in the Commander's Room and used the phone. The line wasn't cut, which was good news for her. She could make a call at Sicily about the situation. Drawers were opened through the room and it's what she just feared. The faction made their way to the information that shouldn't be found. Eventually, Mio gets through the line, expecting Lida to be there.

"The base is clear of hostiles, Commander, but…" Mio reported, though she was still in tears. "There's nothing left of the 213th… but corpses."

"Oh my god…" Lida replied, expressing concern. "And the documents?"

"I searched through the Commander's Office and the other rooms containing important files. All the papers, including our information… They're gone. The bastards took everything. Those were our identities! Our records! If they trace us to where we are-!"

"Calm down!" Minna replied this time on the other line. Lida must have passed the call to her. "Mio, listen to me. If they are way ahead of us, the best we can do is wait and anticipate them!"

"WAIT?! They killed every single combatant in the 213th and you expect us to wait?! Do you know how many could suffer in their hands?! They took Rome in way less time than the Neuroi could have! DON'T YOU DARE FORGET!"

"DO YOU THINK I FORGOT ALL OF THAT, MIO?!" Minna shouted back from the other line, and there was a short pause from her. Mio lets this be, and Minna continues. "We don't know so much about them, and this will prove something to all of us. They will mess with us, and that's something we cannot just bark up without proof of power or wits. But if they have both, the best to do, is anticipate them. We'll have so many setbacks, Mio. You are not the only one who knows of this."

Lida eventually takes the other line again. "Major… You have one hour. Though there's no solid intelligence left to collect, scour the base to check if there is anything at all… Information even at its smallest could make a difference between sides. If the base is indeed lost, it's important you get the hell out of there. But find anything useful only for a short time. Understood?"

"Understood. But… what about the others? Do we tell them about this?"

"Unfortunately, it's part of it. We have to let them know. The bastards have our info, and we need to clear it up as to why. Get to your orders, Major Sakamoto. I'll see you back at base." Lida ended the call and hanged up.

Commander's Office, 501st base, Sicily…

"They won't take it well." Minna said in a mutter that Lida can hear. Then she winced at something. The door was partially opened and she looked to see who it was. Though calm, she needed to know their visitor. "Just make sure to explain yourself."

The door was fully opened, and Patricia Schade was there. "I'm sorry… I couldn't help but hear some tension. I was passing by. But… What wouldn't we take well?"

Lida was aware of what the news was, but this was a bad time to share it with one of the 501st besides Minna and the party. "Sergeant, maybe you should wait, or not expect it at all."

"Were there three confirmed take-offs? It's unusual for some of us not to be notified of a mission."

"Stand down, Sergeant. Remember that you only transferred here." Lida glares at Schade and approaches her. "Or maybe you're forgetting who your superior is."

"It's just…" Schade speaks, but looks away briefly before looking back to Lida. "I just needed to look at things ethically. But why the secrecy?"

"Sergeant… It's none of your business."

"It's none of my business when I don't know those three were headed right for Romagna?! You know that this new faction has gotten it locked down! What do you expect to find there?!"

"That is ENO-" Lida was about to slap Schade when she was stopped by Minna herself. "Major-?"

Minna was calm as she lets go of Lida's hand. "Commander, this will go out one way or another. Could you at least consider having one of them know? Schade according to her records isn't one to digress from agreement of keeping classified information."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because she once helped officials. You saw her bio, Commander. She isn't careless like what you would think of others."

"Hmph. I'm getting sick of you keeping me 'in check' for your reasons, Major."

"And I don't expect a superior to mistreat her subordinates, Commander. At least humor her as she's mature. YOU… KNOW." Minna made a half glare at Lida, but she still respects her as the Wing Commander of the unit.

Several Minutes Later…

Lida and Minna were talking for a while before Minna stepped outside the office. Schade was waiting for her, and was in tears.

"I… I don't believe it…" Schade said before wiping her tears away from her eyes. "A whole reconnaissance team… killed off by humans?"

"That's the hard truth Sergeant," replied Minna before she put a hand on Schade's shoulder. "We have… nothing at this point. Nothing can compare to what they do. Nothing from us, at all."

"Then what's to stop them from taking the rest of Europe then?" Patricia Schade asked rhetorically as she glared at Minna. "No. I don't believe it for a second that there is nothing that can defeat them. My friends were injured at Trajanus and most of them were killed off in Rome! And now… There's just three of us… just before the unit disbanded."

"Why didn't Takei-?"

"She has more important things to do right now, reinforcing other places besides here and Romagna. Since I felt the blow of this new enemy, I needed to take responsibility. Takei was never at fault, so instead of letting her get the demotion, I got it for myself." Schade looks away and sighed. "It's a good thing Angela wasn't there. I'm guessing her rank is still Flying Officer when she leaves the hospital. She's had it worse after Trajanus, suffering a deep hit on her legs."

"Oh. But it could end her career."

"I already told her about what happened to the 504th. I thought her injuries are what would end her career as well. Not with what she told me."

2 weeks ago in a Hospital at Hispania… Morning…

Angela was sitting on the bed while her legs were covered. She was accompanied by Schade herself. Both of them had tears on their eyes for grieving the deaths of 504th members who defended Rome. But Angela was tough at this point.

"Patti…" Angela started to speak. "I like to see most of us just rise from the grave. Whatever ended our careers should kill this new enemy. I thought I could see witches overwhelm these conquerors, but they were proven too strong for any of us. But that doesn't mean we should lose hope."

"What do you mean?" Patricia asked, wiping her tears wanting to hear from Angela.

"We still got integrity. And as long as integrity is counted on all of us, we have a fighting chance. Though… What of the Neuroi?"

"I… don't know. The brass really never mentioned them from the time Rome was taken. It's like their focus was completely shifted after Romagna fell." Schade crosses her arms, focusing her eyes on Angela. "They demoted me, Angela. I didn't want Junko to be demoted. She's got plans since Romagna fell."

"You got demoted?"

"Somebody's got to take the blame on the loss of Romagna. Rome was the most secure, and we failed to defend it. As for why I'm demoted, I already told you. Junko's got more to do than just standing around with a rank down on her record. I'm going down to the rank of Sergeant and they're planning to have me reassigned." Schade sighed. "The Ardor Witches have ended the moment Rome fell. I'm sorry."

Angela shook her head. "It isn't anybody's fault. You've all fought your hardest. Next thing I'll worry about is getting to see the graves of my friends. I'm sure the bodies have been recovered?"

"Yes. They let us recover our dead. It wasn't easy."

Back at present…

"They let you retrieve them?" Minna asked, a little surprised of the enemy letting recovery of the dead witches possible. "It was different at the base in Pescara. All the soldiers were killed and were just, mistreated even after their deaths."

"Whatever the reason, they want to send a message." Schade crossed her arms as she looked at Minna. "They have reasons for their actions. Bloody as it is, we should hear from them. They might be our enemy, but they're not savages from what I believe. And their humanity proves it."

Lynette was running at the same hall Minna and Patricia Schade were and stopped just in time. "Hah, you two should… Hah…"

"Take it easy, Lynette…" Schade put her hands on Lynette's shoulders. It would seem the younger witch was in a hurry. "You seem to be in a hurry."

"Hah… Hah… You two… Should hear… The enemy… is going to broadcast… They are going… to broadcast…" Lynette was trying to breathe normally.

Lida opens the door to her office and sees the three. "You three should use your earpieces to listen to the broadcast! The enemy is going to make a broadcast and it will happen any minute! It's the same with the others!"

Old 501st base in Pescara…

Hangar…

Mio was adjusting the radio frequency while Barkhorn and Erica were there. They still feel horrible of the smell that was distant from them, but Mio had to think straight.

"You two should listen to the broadcast," said Mio. "Whatever they want us to hear, they better have an explanation of what they've done at Rome. Okay… Here it is."

ATLAS was broadcasting at all frequencies and they could be heard with a small countdown, signaling the first words their representative would say. Genie's voice was first to be heard in the broadcast.

"It is pleasurable for anyone who listens to this broadcast understand our presence." Genie said with a calm and polite tone. "By this time, the world has been saddened after learning of the fall of Rome, as well as the rest of Romagna. The man responsible for the faction that attacked Rome is only to be known, as Jonathan Irons, the founder of ATLAS. And now… I hand his voice for all of you to hear."

Eventually, Jonathan Irons spoke up. "Hello. It's my first time speaking to everyone in this world, but not my first to make a speech. Others say it's remarkable, and others can say it would be sickening, since they don't have commitment like I do. This is for all the leaders, for all the citizens, and for all the people who have no sides in the so-called war you know. People of this planet who call it home... Just wake up." Irons chuckled.

501st base, Sicily…

The witches of the base were using their earpieces to hear the broadcast as the radio frequency they have was being hijacked by ATLAS. Eila was hearing this herself and was getting nervous.

Irons spoke. "Have you ever thought of what would happen if the Neuroi or any other savages from your past never came? It would be very simple. All of you, would fight each other. And all of you, have their own agendas, increasing the kill count. And instead of fighting aliens, you would be fighting yourselves. I had that situation to see one nation fight another, and it did not go so well. It ended in a nuclear blast. So all of you fight against this enemy that came from the skies. What happens when this war ends? A new one will begin. And from there, it becomes unending. I know this all too well… because I come from a world that is like yours.

"Now apart from that world, your world still isn't in the status of chaos in what's called the 'World War.' You were all fighting this enemy you know of now. And every nation, a majority in the the globe, works together to end the war. But will there be any peace? Because I've seen a flaw in the world that is the same with mine. Every country has their own agenda. Every ideology creates belief. And separate beliefs create conflict. How do I know? I lost my son in a war between two countries, and he believed he was fighting for what he believed in. NO. He fought while he served an army that is told what to do, because of an old man or tactician's game in the process. Maybe it's for the country, but it isn't for what its worth. It was never meant to make peace with the enemy. It's to make anguish and more wars. That's what I hated. That is what I wished to end back at my world, and you all remind me of the sick past my world had gone through." Irons stopped speaking for a while and sighed before he continued. "There IS a way to ensure total peace. Agree that the world be under one name instead of having differences to be fought for. But as of this time, you are all too young to understand. And that gives us good reason to teach you firsthand. Now… I will be very, very truthful. Space travel, was never invented YET at this time. But you are going to fear us, primarily because of it. Because whatever you do in the world, we have our own eye from space. No matter where you are, we will find anyone specific. And if we want to exploit a threat, all we need to do is find it with the eye, and send judgment onto the threat quickly. No bullshit.

"See… This is where you should all start to fear us, but there is a way that you will be spared. You will have to join our cause, seeing to the world which generates no wars. But as of today, there will still be one… between ATLAS, and this world you call free. To obtain this world I desire, I need allies. I need allies that can tell this world is way messier than it already is, even before our arrival. The Neuroi had decimated a lot of us. You are given a chance to live with peace here, and making a future as it is. But without your help, you will fall behind on the world I seek to make and you wouldn't even recognize yourself. If this is the first time you've had to deal with human blood in your own lives, then allow me to educate you with what I have. Now… I will be passing this on to Genie. She will be providing you all with frequencies from around the globe that are related to ATLAS. One is for the messages you would like to receive, and the other is for questions. Because we open our doors to those who understand. Expect however that the war between us might create doubt. But it's something we can fix. So… You are either with us, or against us. Because either way, fighting us will never solve anything. For WE are the future. YOU are only too young to understand us, and need to be taught of what we know. I'm opening that door to all. Otherwise… The bloodshed will just go on.

"Give time to think about what I have said. Consider this my opening to the future I wish to create. What this war will be, will be up to you." Irons ends his speech and he smiles at it.

ATLAS Mobile HQ…

As Irons walks to his quarters, he stretches his arms, knowing there's a lot to do. "So, Genie… Have you been listening this whole time?"

"I listened to every word." Genie replies to his earpiece that he wore. "What is it exactly you expect to achieve?"

"Not with what they expect. That's for sure."

"So you lied to them?"

"In a way, I still open our doors to those who'd like to join us. But this world will never be saved from what it already is. The only way to save this world, is to cleanse it."

"Hehehe… So many of humanity will perish."

"I don't laugh with killing another. But it's our way of making them understand that only THEY killed themselves."

"And if they find that ATLAS had been allies with the Neuroi?"

"The Neuroi that they know is dead."

"Ah. Then I'll make sure to spread it." Genie said this. "I'll lessen the clouds around the hives I control. Thanks to you, I'm able to hack multiple Hive Queens. Consider your mark on those hives and nests a guarantee."

Some military photographers were close enough to take pictures of Neuroi hives and nests. Most of them were shocked to see the new logo on them… the new logo from the capital first letter of ATLAS. The red hexagons that were once as it was is colored blue. Hives and nests from around the world slowly changed color…

Sometime later…

Irons' quarters in the ATLAS Mobile HQ…

He was using a cellular earpiece and was chuckling.

"And what makes you think you can leave a lasting impression on them?" Irons asked the person on the other line.

"You don't believe me then?" A Britannian girl on the other line answered with a question. "Very well then. One of the recruits. To prove that I'm going to step out into your trust… I'll bring one of the recruits… one witch, to be brought out with me. Give me a weapon of your choice, and she shall be executed, by my hand. You can even examine her dead body herself. I'm tired of this age, Irons."

"Seems you're all talk for someone who's willing to execute someone."

"Believe me. I know what I will sign up for. I've seen darkness, and am willing to betray what they stand for… a massacre. They don't act like they're committed to the war. They just pull in whoever they can to do their dirty work for them. Next thing that I'll see is a couple of dead witches flying into a trap. The Neuroi are intelligent as we are. And they don't want to acknowledge it. They just want to send bodies instead of lives. I want to uproot that attitude from them. And when you came into the picture, I have a chance to do exactly that."

"Why don't you discuss this in detail with a representative I'll send?"

"Of course. Let me know of the details. Can I call you Jonathan?"

"Keep the formalities until this is sure."

"I like a man whose guard is up. Hehe… I'll see you when I get through your representative. Thank you."

In the night… Raining…

A military roof-covered jeep was travelling in the raining night on the dirt road. A blonde girl with a black headband was driving. Her eyes seemed to have no emotion as she was focused on what's in front of her. She then pulls over to the side. When the jeep stopped, she wickedly smiles and looks at the long chair behind her. A recruit's uniform on a younger girl seeming to be 12 years old has her hands and feet tied to each other, while her mouth was gagged with a large cloth. The scared girl looked at the blonde one.

"Don't worry, Jameson." The blonde girl said with a creepy smile focused onto the eyes of her victim. "You'll be joining your father soon."