Skippable Author's Note: Here are the current class mappings
Lord: Command supported by Specialized Infantry
Pegasus Knight: Combat Air Support, with Attack Capabilities
Cavalier: Modern Cavalry (light tanks supported by infantry)
Armor Knight: Heavy Tanks
Mercenary: Standard Light Infantry
Fighter: Combat Engineer
Pirate: Amphibious Infantry, with Naval Capabilities
Hunter/Archer: Light Artillery.
I changed Caeda's callsign, which is insignificant in this chapter. She doesn't only fly medical, and I changed her callsign to reflect that.
Reviews are welcome, and I try to update weekly.
[Fort Haas, Galder 05:31]
"Well met, Prince Marth. I am Captain Ogma, and this is the Talysian Honor Guard. My company is led by these three mercenaries. I fight for the crown, but these are the finest in the land."
"Captain Ogma. I've heard many good things about you." Marth shook his hand.
"This," Ogma motioned towards a tall, blue haired man, "is Lieutenant Barst, my executive officer."
"Your Majesty." Barst shook Marth's hand. "It's an honor to fight with you."
"Captain Barst, well met. No need to call me that: Prince Marth is fine, or Sir, or Marth, even," Marth responded. There is no majesty without a kingdom. Marth thought to himself.
"These are Lieutenants Bord and Cord. They are fine platoon leaders of my engineers."
"Sir," Lieutenant Bord shook Marth's hand.
"It's a pleasure," Lieutenant Cord said.
"We're yours to command Prince Marth, by order of the King," Ogma said. "We've laid traps along the western perimeter right here," he pointed on the map, "to slow down the enemy cavalry. They're flying the Grustian standard. They no doubt mean to find you."
"I see. I'll send Captain Cain and Captain Draug to that location. Please send me all the relevant battle data on this island."
"Sir, one more note. Galder is also inhabited by pirates. Once we clear the cavalry, we should head to the harbors to sink their ships and cleanse this city."
"Understood. Captain Ogma, if you would accompany me to company HQ for a meeting."
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[HQ, Fort Haas 07:30]
"Objective SAVEPOINT is a useful choke point. We can use Draug's heavy tanks to slow the cavalry, and then maneuver with our own cavalry to execute a perfect flank. Our engineers secure the ports, preventing the pirates from the north from rushing our position. With traps to the west, we need to be careful of not pushing too far into the Western Hills," Marth explained, motioning and pointing towards the terrain model in the middle of the room, "I'll be taking questions now."
"Remind me: what are the signals for air support?" Caeda asked.
"Red smoke for medical," Marth answered, "and yellow smoke for convenience pickup. I'll send coordinates for your attack location. Is the Advanced Weapon ready?"
"WINGSPEAR?"
"Yes."
"It's ready."
"Be on the watch for anti-air shoulder fired weapons, Princess Caeda," Ogma said, "We've seen pirates with stolen Grustian arms lately."
She nodded. Colonel Jagen then motioned towards the SAVEPOINT mark. "Sir, consider depleting their resources, but don't spend too much time defending this objective. We don't know when reinforcements are expected to arrive."
"Yes."
The prince's advisor walked from the corner of the room to Marth and whispered something in his ear.
"We have to conclude, unfortunately. You're dismissed. Caeda, send an escort for Draug's tanks. Cain, Abel. Get ready to move."
He saluted the room without concluding the meeting properly and ran off to the port. Colonel Jagen went after him.
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[Fort Haas Jail, shortly after]
"Spare Darros. He seems to be a good man of honest intentions," Marth said, walking quickly. "Many good men become pirates, Malledus." He stopped walking and opened the door.
"Ahoy Prince Marth! What say ye'? Will yer make me yer mate?" Darros asked.
"Uncuff him," Marth ordered. "Yes, Darros. We are preparing for this battle, and we'll get you up to speed later."
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[SAVEPOINT, sometime after 11:00]
"Incoming!" A mortar hit 100 meters ahead of Cain's fortified position.
"Jagen, should we move?"
"Negative! Hold the line!"
The Altean knights were dug-in surrounding a small field in a sort of mini-island with few natural obstacles. The engineers had laid barbed wire along the western perimeter of the island to slow the infantry. There were two entrances from the western half of the island: one was guarded by Draug's men. The other was The location wasn't optimal: but if the reports were correct, the Altean army had the advantage: Marth's plan was to engage the pirate-infantry after the Grustian cavalry.
"My scouts report an enemy anti-air position. 10 o'clock 1250 meters, look sharp," Abel reported.
"Gordin, load that STEEL and start firing!"
"I can't sir! The weapons are down!"
"Incoming!" A mortar hit 200 meters behind of Cain's fortified position.
"Listen up, bud. I'm about to get hit by shoulder fire next. So if you don't get that thing up and running-"
"I got it, sir!"
A mortar hit the enemy anti-air position, silencing it temporarily and causing a wave of dust to spread near their location. The sound of engines and tank-tracks filled the air as the
"Just as Marth said: the Cavaliers are coming."
Ten enemy light tanks rolled into view once the dust settled. The Grustians had elected to send the IRON, the weakest tank of the bunch, but still a formidable foe. The muted red tanks each had a commander, a small cannon atop the tank, a crew for the mounted machine guns, and, most importantly, mobility.
But Altea's cavalry was just as mighty.
"Four tanks breaking formation! Stretch the right wing to meet them!" Cain commanded.
"Yes, sir!" Cain's Bull Troop replied.
"Remember your lines of fires boys! Don't want to be shooting at Abel."
Cain's unit initiated fire with their main tank guns, followed by short bursts from the mounted machine guns. The enemy regrouped to attack.
Abel's Panther Troop sent two tanks to meet the flanking element, trapping the flanking element as it attempted to out-maneuver Draug's heavy tanks guarding the other bridge.
"Fire!"
Abel's tanks hit the Grustian tanks with their main tank guns and regrouped with Cain's tanks.
"Three enemy tanks in the open. Clean it up, LT!"
Gordon fired a salvo of Anti Armor rounds that neutralized one of the tanks and forced the other two to regroup.
"Uh oh. Bad news gents: I've got company along the shore," Gordon said over comms.
"We got it, Gordon," said Barst. "Cord! Bord!"
The Alteans heard explosions in the distance.
"Not bad, Barst. I saw that explosion from up here," Marth said. "Jagen, status report."
"Five enemy tanks destroyed, three enemy tanks inoperational, two tanks temporarily disabled. As for friendly tanks, two tanks inoperational," Jagen reported.
"Good. Switch to TRIDENT: Amphibious Defense formation and hold," Marth ordered. "Caeda. Do you see those enemy tanks?"
"Affirmative. Got eyes on. Permission to engage?"
"Light 'em up."
The Altean cavaliers saw two large explosions off in the distance. A few men began cheering before Abel hushed them.
"Good. Now continue to strafe left-"
"AH!"
There was a large explosion in the sky.
"CAEDA! Caeda! Please. Come in!" Marth frantically yelled into his radio.
The cavaliers were quiet for a moment.
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[VIP Flight; 12:00]
"Caeda!" Marth yelled. "Please!"
Marth heard static in the radio. He saw a large plume of red on his radar. He tried to breathe calmly, but he couldn't. Why did I send you there? I knew there were shoulder fired weapons! Come on… please!
I can't lose you!
Marth heard some coughing over the radio. He screamed for Caeda again.
"I'm- I'm here," she coughed. "But we lost our main comms. I need-"
"Caeda! Thank the gods! Can you land right now?"
"Yes. No. I think… I think the other chopper went down."
Marth breathed a heavy sigh.
"What about you?"
"I'm fine. But we need to secure that other bird."
"Understood. Move the battle line up until we can create an artificial LZ. Cain! Take your finest men and search on foot for Caeda's follow."
"Yes sir!"
"Hang on. I got a contact. Mr. Jarred, I'm switching controls to you," Caeda said over the comms.
"Caeda! What are you-"
The comms went dark.
Marth laughed uneasily and slammed his fist onto his control console.
"Why do I like you?"
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[Beyond OBJ Savepoint, sometime past noon]
Caeda hit the ground and immediate secured her parachute. She drew her pistol and stepped through the forest. When she saw an opening, she stopped, got into the prone, holstered her pistol, and, quietly, took out her binoculars and began to observe.
He's the last one left, she thought. But why? Why is he…
She crawled forward, keeping as much natural vegetation between her and her target.
Why is he here?
She moved to a crouch and then suddenly stood, drawing her pistol.
"Castor!"
The man turned.
"So it is you! I thought I wouldn't see the day where good men betrayed Talys!"
"I'm- I'm sorry Princess Caeda! My mother's deathly sick, and- and these pirates were the highest bidder!"
"Is it money then?" Caeda reached for her pack.
Castor sat there.
"Here," she said. "These notes go for 20,000 pieces of gold. Take this for your mother, and go."
"But-"
Castor began to stutter.
"It's okay! I really mean it," Caeda said gently, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I've been a fool! Princess Caeda, forgive me!"
"It's okay…" She whispered.
Castor breathed heavily and offered both his hands. "My fate is yours. Do with me what you must."
Caeda smiled. "I'll have none of that."
Caeda's helicopter descended to a low hover nearby.
"Castor. Fight with Altea," Caeda said. She began to walk towards her bird.
"I will!"
"That's the spirit," she mused as she hitched her helmet.
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The fight ended rather uneventfully: the pirate leader had fled the town, the downed bird had been secured, and Abel's Panthers had seized Grustian tanks. Marth gave orders not to pursue the fleeing brigands.
"Prince Marth. Our cavaliers will have to dismount in order to pass this area. My plan would be this: send our mechanized units and our convoy with an escort of engineers through a more open area." Jagen recommended.
"Understood. Bord, Cord. Go with the convoy. Cain, Abel, Ogma. Take a handful of your men and come with me."
Marth breathed a sigh of relief. He had won his second battle against Grust, if only a small force. He made his way to the landing zone to apologize to Caeda.