[Rally Point SAVEPOINT 00:30]
"Apologies for the LZ, ma'am," Major Abel said, "This was the best site for you and your team of birds to touch down."
"No apologies necessary Abel." The princess assured him. "I'm lucky to be alive right now."
The Headquarters unit was busy, with Sergeants and Captains running around with laptops and clipboards. The warrior guided the princess past several soldiers, who saluted them and scurried off immediately. Abel pointed at a trailer guarded by a few men dressed in plainclothes.
"Ma'am, I'm under orders from the Prince to receive Panther Troop's scout report. The guards should know you're coming. Don't let them give you a hard time. Light stalks the Shadow!" He saluted her.
"We will prevail." She said.
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Caeda motioned for the guard to move. To her surprise, they made a path for her. Before she could knock, the door opened.
"Caeda!"
"Marth."
Caeda embraced Prince Marth tightly. When she let go, she sighed in relief.
"I thought I'd never see you again. The ride here was rough. I needed to fly low, and we were exposed to machine gun fire, and the flight patterns were hard, and my radar-."
She was twirling, laughing: clearly very stressed.
"But you're here! And I'm alive."
"I'm glad you're here too," Marth said. "Is your father safe?"
Caeda fell silent. "I don't- I don't know.."
"I see… here." He paused before starting again. "If you want to you can stay here. I know what it's like to worry about a family member."
"Marth, I can't let you go out alone." She started laughing awkwardly.
"I'll be with command and my royal guard. I'll be safe. "
"I know your tactics. Your command unit actually engages in battle."
"And we're better for it. If I escaped Grust, I can defeat pirates."
"I know the island better than you."
"No you don't! I've studied this place."
"I've lived in this place."
"Do you think I want to drag your dead body out of your bird and present it to your father?"
"Do you think I want to find another prince?"
"What?"
Caeda sighed. "I'm going with you. That's final. You don't even have Combat Air Support, aside from a couple outdated peanuts with wings."
"No, you aren't listening-"
"You're right I'm not because you're being overprotective. Radio me when you have my next LZ." She walked out on him.
He stared for a while, thinking of all the possible ways he could get her to stop.
She's always been stubborn.
Hey… she looks kinda hot in that flight suit.
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"Convoy is in position, Lieutenant. Call for fire, over."
"Acknowledged, sir."
"One enemy squad in the open-"
A round scattered the pirates.
"Gordon! Too early! Blast back clear!"
"S-sorry sir. I had to take my shot!"
"Discipline, L.T." Cain put his hand mic down. "Bull Troop! Open fire!"
A barrage of rounds lit up the opening, dusting the enemy pirates.
"Bulls-eye."
A few of Cain's men began cheering from their positions.
"Quiet down! I don't trust it one bit. Get that tank up here, ASAP!"
Just then a bullet whizzed by Cain's face and into the soldier behind him.
"Look alive boys! We got company!"
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"Sir, we've reached the northern village. A man claims that there's a full medical unit led by a Colonel Wrys that operates in Western City. Should we trust him?"
"Was the man of good character? If so, then trust him. We need all the help we can get. I'll be there shortly with the main effort. How are your elites doing?"
"Good. We've cleared the eastern isles and we're moving west as we speak."
"Can you link up with Cain and Abel in the North? They're currently stuck in a firefight they encountered near Objective SUSPEND."
"Yes sir. I will bring my men to him."
"Good. In addition, command Gordon's team to move forward. The launch angle for his rounds has been… questionable today."
"That young LT still has a lot to learn. Did you hear him calling out Five Points over radio after hitting a target?
Marth rubbed his forehead. "Don't remind me. What about Draug's Armor unit?"
"What about it sir?"
"Are they able to provide any support?"
"Limited, sir. He will be able to support you when you reach Western City. They only have one tank available for dispatch, which he will be commanding."
"Acknowledged. The guard will be headed there now. I'll see you soon."
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Western City had been spared: the high walls designed to keep itself obscured from ground surveillance finally had a use. Beyond the gate was a plain looking town. Buildings were a standard two stories high and built in an oddly Gothic fashion. Doorways hung old-English signs describing the occupation of the tenants.
A young surgeon greeted Marth and his Guard at the gate after Cain and Abel had secured the entrance. He ushered them in to meet Colonel Wrys, a man who had been deployed along Altea's border's once in joint operations against a Farmer's uprising. He was a man well practiced in surgery and magic, but clearly he was on the tail end of his life.
"Sir, please send your injured and wounded back here. My surgeons are busy, but I'm free currently."
"Thank you, Colonel Wrys."
"We're under direct orders of the Crown. But we serve you now, seeing that the King is unable to command us."
"Crown…"
The Colonel turned in a different direction, but Marth had something else he wanted to know.
"Wrys. You said you serve the crown. What of Princess Caeda?"
"The princess's orders were to hail for you. Those were her last orders before she took off from here."
Caeda… Marth thought. Just then, his radio sounded.
"Sir, my unit has cleaned up the Northwest corner of this Island. The remaining pirates escaped from the City of Talys and the Castle is safe. The King will radio you shortly."
"Understood, Jagen. Prepare to rally to us."
"Bad news, Sir," Abel's said through the radio. "We've got eyes on a mobile artillery unit approaching us from behind.. This one looks fast. It's been dodging my unit's attacks and Cain's as well. Uh oh-"
The radio stopped, and Marth heard an explosion out to the south of the city.
"The south wall has collapsed!" A surgeon shouted.
"Bull Tank 1 is down! Reposition!"
"Panther Tanks all down, side guns still operational. We'll do our best to- No!"
Another explosion.
"How did pirates get a battleship? Sir. We don't have the firepower to deal with that thing without Captain Draug's tanks."
"Abel, as soon as your unit can move the tanks, retreat! Cain, defend this location at all costs!"
"They must have left onto their main battleship as soon as they saw me coming…" Jagen muttered.
"Jagen, can you get here?"
"Not fast enough sir."
"Lieutenant Gordon, come in!"
"Sir, I can damage the guns with a couple of my weapons, but most of my means are ineffective."
"That's alright." Marth turned to Colonel Wrys "We may have to abandon this position temporarily. Are there any troops in the area that can help Cain defend this area for a few minutes?"
"No Sir."
"Dammit. And my own guard will be ineffective against that kind of power. Hang on, we have a friendly advancing on that unit… Colonel Jagen!"
"Guns up, ready to fire! Tank 1, fire!"
But he's nowhere near them. And that unit's moving extremely fast. That means...
The sound of rotary blades filled the air, as a barrage of heavy machine gun fire burst from the North.
Caeda! You can't! Marth ran outside and looked up. A round was fired towards the aircraft, which strafed left and then banked to begin its firing run again. More rounds were fired, but the pilot dodged them all while continuing to suppress the enemy.
"That's not me, Marth."
Caeda walked up beside him.
"I can take your guard there to do a breaching operation."
"Is there an armed escort?"
She grinned. "Me."
"What? I told you no-"
"Yeah, but I'm the only pilot available that flies the attack helicopter in formation. So what's it going to be?"
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Marth slid from the aircraft's assault line onto the deck. He nodded. The rest of the Royal Guard boarded the ship.
"Just be safe, baby."
"Huh? Yeah, uh-"
"And don't die."
He began to stutter before the aircraft team flew a pattern towards land, maintaining enough distance to provide air support. Prince Marth took his royal guard to the doors of the control center. They pressed up against the wall and prepared to breach.
"You should wife her up after the war sir. She's a pretty lady."
"Sergeant White, please."
The door was open and the guard stormed in and opened fire, killing all the pirates.
"Search this ship for any indication of Dolhr, Grust, or Gra's interferement. Go!"
The guard dispersed in two man teams. Marth was left behind with his sergeant.
"You know Sgt. White, royal marriage is not as easy as it looks…"
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After a few hours, the ship had been completely searched. Prince Marth called for Caeda and his unit was airlifted back towards Western Village, and then to the Castle. The King thanked them for their help and asked him what they would do now that they had revealed their location.
"We will fight our way to Orleans, Sir."
"I see… Well I suppose it is farewell then."
"It will be sir. I will always be grateful for your kindness towards my men and me."
"Very well. I will give you my best men, ships, and aircraft. Come back having avenged Cornelius, Marth." He shook Marth's hand.
"Oh and one other thing. I don't wish to do this, but it's only right. My daughter will come with you. I have other Talys Air Force commanders, but none are as great as my daughter."
"Sir, you don't have to."
"I promised you my best men. Caeda is our best. Please, Marth. Keep my daughter safe."
"I will. Thank you, sir."
Marth left the throne room and went looking for Caeda.