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Chapter 52: To The Rescue!

Rondel

Itami looked at her in surprise. Noticing as one of his men began to raise up his rifle, he gestured for the man to stop. This girl was no fighter as most of Pina's knights were. He could easily disarm her himself. In light of Hamilton's message, it did not take much to understand what had triggered Shandy to such desperation.

"Shandy!" Grey exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

Shandy was scared. She felt her hand tremble but what choice did she have? She had sworn everything to Princess Pina. Even in the face of the Apostle of Death, Shandy would do anything to protect Her Imperial Highness, anything to save Princess Pina…

"We have to kill him!" Shandy cried. "If we kill Itami, then Prince Zorzal will know we aren't… That we… " She clenched the knife tighter because she was afraid to let go. "He'll spare Princess Pina! We have to! We have to!"

Grey shook his head. "You don't believe that," the old veteran told her. "We both know that Zorzal cares nothing about honor, guilt, or innocence. If he had any mercy, then how could he threaten Her Highness so? If you killed Lord Itami, Zorzal would merely gloat, knowing that you would have surrendered all that we believe in, all that our Princess believes in, and that it was for nothing."

Itami stepped forward cautiously, seeing Shandy start to falter."We can save Princess Pina. I promise you! We can! But not this way. We need your help! Will you help us?"

Shandy looked at Itami. She closed her eyes and sheathed her knife and nodded.

"Good!" Itami said and then looked at Sir Grey."Secure those horses! They'll only slow us down! Hurry up you two! Get your gear and get in the truck!"

Grey grinned. "As you say, Lord Itami! Come! Lady Shandy! A mistake is not a life! Let's hurry and save our Princess!"

Shandy shook herself and hurried into Itami's vehicle as Grey secured the horses. Shandy cringed as she felt the eyes of Rory, Yao, Tuka, and Lelei.

That was until Rory laughed. "You never would have survived. Foolish!" She shook her head. "But very brave! Come! But do not risk my blade again."

Seeing Grey get in the gun truck, Itami hopped into his seat and looked at Kurata. "Let's get going! As fast as we can, don't stop for anything!"

Kurata grinned. "Yes sir!" He said and the Japanese convoy sped off toward Sadera.

Adurni

Taylor listened intently as Starbase relayed the reports coming in from the Jade and Emerald Palaces.

"It's going to be heating up fast, Lieutenant. Zorzal's trying to round up and eliminate all the senators opposed to continuing the war. He has also detained his sister, Princess Pina, and we know that she's not only the biggest backer of the Peace faction in Sadera but also a potential rival to the Imperial throne. We think he was hoping to tie up these loose ends quietly but it's out of the bag now," Captain Rollins informed.

"And our orders?" Taylor asked.

"Your call, Lieutenant.," Rollins answered. "We're trying to make sure we don't have a bunch of patrols caught out in the open. "

Taylor considered. "Understood. Is extraction an option?" Taylor waited a moment for the reply:

"Affirmative. We can rustle up a pair of Super Stallions."

"Acknowledged Starbase. Request extraction. Standby map coordinates." He quickly checked and reported their location.

"We will get an extraction out as soon as we can. Will advise further on ETA."

"Roger that Starbase."

"What now, skipper?" Sergeant Davis asked, throwing a quick glance over at Vespasia.

"Well… We're going to have to call off the Grand Tour for the moment. Might as well lay it all out." With Aurelia behind him, he strode over to Merisa and Kahlua and beckoned to Vespasia.

"My lord?" The Steward inquired carefully, suppressing his curiosity.

Taylor outlined the situation carefully.

"Is it your will that we are in rebellion against the Empire?" Vespasia asked with some evident consternation in his voice.

"For the moment, I would say that we don't know enough about what is going on to say, Steward. What I know right now is that Emperor Molt has not been seen in weeks and one of his children has seen fit to begin an apparent purge of the Imperial Senate and order the detainment of his own sister. To my mind, that smacks of someone pulling a powerplay. But that's my opinion. In the absence of evidence Steward, you will conduct the affairs of my lands as you have been doing."

This reassured Vespasia somewhat as despite lingering dislike of the notion that an off-world barbarian was now the rightful ruler of County Ravenna, he did not wish to be forced to choose loyalties between his liege lord and the Imperial throne.

"In the meantime," Taylor continued. "Lady Merisa, Lady Kahlua, I know that you and your companions will want to return to Italica as soon as possible."

"Yes my lord," Merisa answered and Kahlua agreed.

"As unnatural as your helicopters are, we would trouble you to accompany you back to Italica. "

"Of course," Taylor replied. "Argenta, Rhoda…"

"No need to even ask, my lord!" Argenta asserted. "As Aurelia would tell you, we shall follow My lord without hesitation!"

Wasn't exactly what I was thinking but good to hear, Taylor thought.

"Well then Steward, " he said. "Please see to the care of our horses until I return."

"Yes my lord," Vespasia replied.

"In the meantime, I need to call Chief Richardson and see if those special orders are ready yet…"

Task Force Bastogne, 101st airborne, Alnus

Anson walked outside the converted hangar set up for his quarters to receive mission orders along with Desiree as a ground crew began spraying a special Robin's Egg Blue camo makeup on him with a power painter.

Desiree gave a small smile of approval. Although the Golden One was after all The Golden One, there was something magnificent in seeing Anson decked out in the color of their people. She was also relieved that he had finally agreed to her request to go with him into battle. He had originally been very set against it.

"You need another set of eyes!"

"Then I'll get Murray or Munez!"

"And how much experience do either of them have? Our people have been doing this for a hundred generations!"

Owens had paused, looking at her in resigned acceptance.

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"And I have no desire to let you risk your life but I know you will do your duty. I will do mine. Besides, where else but with you could I be?"

"Alright. Just keep your head down."

"As you will, your Grace."

Truly, Desiree held no fear for herself. It was her duty to do whatever she could to protect The Golden One. But truth be told, she felt a warm gratitude that Anson cared for her in that way. And it was with certainty that she knew that he would protect her.

The voice of the Golden One and others brought Desiree from her reverie.

"Remember boys! Every square inch!" Crew Chief Dorsey called to his team.

"Try not to get it in my eyes again fellas?" Anson mildly put in,

"You got it, Ans!" Corporal Christie called up.

Anson smirked a little and glanced over at Sergeant Jackson. who was in charge of his weapons loadout.

"What do got for me?"

"It's just like you've been practicing, Anson, except it's for real. Each line is hooked to four bombs, contact detonators. Tug the yellow lines for HE, white lines for smoke. Four per line. So it's just like the dive bombing runs you've been practicing. All you gotta do is get the bombs on target. As soon as you're done dolling up, we'll get these babies strapped on!"

Owens nodded. There had been a considerable amount of debate over what kind of weaponry was best suited for a thirty-foot-long dragon to carry into combat. It was a discussion that was still ongoing in various circles as far as Owens knew. For the moment, the army had come to the conclusion that Owens was no longer an infantry trooper but an aerial combat platform. With fair speed, high maneuverability, and an impressive loiter ability, Owens could function as an air-superiority platform versus local dragon forms and a ground attack bomber.

For that role, just about everything from mortar shells to depth charges had been considered until finally, the base engineers had cooked up a series of lightweight bombs for Owens' use: Smoke bombs and High Explosive bombs of various sizes. Mostly fitted with contact detonators but a few set for delayed detonation.

Fortunately, the first test bombs were dummies filled with flour as it took a while to perfect both the fin assembly and the release mechanism but soon those issues were solved and Owens could concentrate on practicing the techniques needed to place the ordinance on target. And by now Owens had gotten reasonably good at it.

"Yeah! What is it? Daffy Duck? 'Look at me! I'm a dive bomber!" He laughed, then saw Colonel Lowe striding over to them.

"Owens!" The Colonel called out, addressing Team Bastogne's resident dragon.

"Sir!" Owens answered, rising up to his full height in an approximation of 'attention'

"At ease Sergeant."

"Sir."

"Ground crew finish checking your gear?"

"Yes sir," the Dragon-trooper replied. "Com check good."

"And I see your weapons loadout is almost ready. Good." He looked and saw the saddle rig Desiree had fitted on Owens' back. Two large pouches were fitted, one on each side.

"What's this?"

"Bolas, Colonel!" Desiree answered. "The weakest part of a Saderan Wyvern is the rider."

"That applies to you as well, young lady," Lowe warned.

"I know. But His Grace has a duty. I understand what his oath means to him. My oath is to help, guide, and protect him."

"And like most of the women out here, you're a very stubborn young lady… Fine but somebody get her a helmet!"

"Yessir!" A specialist called.

"Good. Now, Owens, your targets are Saderan AA emplacements and identified stalls and stables for their Air Cavalry. And if they do manage to get anything up, do what you have to do to keep them from getting in among our people before they can get down on the ground. Naturally, we'll have Apaches looking for that sort of thing but our exercises with you definitely show what a problem they might have if the opposition gets in close."

"Right, sir. Any other instructions, Colonel?"

"Well, if it's good enough for The Duke, it's good enough for me: Send 'em to hell, soldier."

Imperial Palace, Sadera

Ignoring the pair of thugs behind them, Princess Pina followed the woman called Vendetta to one of the palace guest rooms. The guards posted themselves outside the doors. Pina admitted being slightly surprised at the accommodations but a gilded cage was still a cage.

"I'm interpreting my instructions rather loosely, Your Highness," the Vulpine woman told her. "Those men would prefer you in one of the locked cells. But as Prince Zorzal did not specifically command it, I have a little room for my own interpretation and judgment. Please, Your Highness, do not try to slip out the window or anything else to make me regret my decision."

"Then why bother at all? What are you playing at?" Pina questioned with some ire in her voice.

Cassiopeia touched her own belly protectively. "My mother taught me not to make enemies I don't have to. For the moment, you are… contained." She said carefully. "But I know from experience that the tables can easily turn. Moreso than My Lord seems to think. Or rather, he seems to think that having turned the tables, they cannot turn on him."

Cassiopeia faced out the window.

"I sense it coming. I'm not a fool, Your Highness. He wishes to war against an opponent he can't beat. But for now, he holds the whip hand. So I am not foolish enough to think I can stop him. And… I admit…" She said, touching her belly once more. "A part of me wants to believe he can win. Because I know how I got here and yes. I have dreams of my own. But sometimes reality disagrees. So when this all comes apart, as I think it shall, I intend for my family to survive."

"You're carrying my brother's child." Pina realized.

"Yes. A child not even born and already a pawn… I suppose even by his own mother." She looked slightly ashamed.

"But either way, it will be over soon. Either His Highness will somehow pull this off… In which case I'm not in favor of allowing schemers to think it is acceptable to take liberties with the dignity of the Imperial line.

"Or your friends will come and things will come crashing down… In which case I hope you will remember to grant mercy to one who was merciful."

Italica

Panache waited anxiously as the huge Sea Stallion helicopters set down. Of course, she was relieved to see Taylor but that was small comfort next to the worry in her soul. To The Empire, Pina Co Lada was the Third Imperial Princess. To Panache, she was her sworn liege. And far beyond that, Pina was her friend. Like Bozes and the others who had been there at the start of Pina's dream, Panache had not really known just what the Princess intended. It was a child's game and like all child's games, it was a thing for a moment.

But it wasn't. It was a pledge, a commitment. Pina challenged them. Challenged all of them to achieve and become stronger and then she showed them all that she expected the same from herself if not more.

Some, like Herm Maio had shown a fair degree of skill with the sword, in riding, or other aspects of knighthood while some like Hamilton had no particular aptitude. But Maio had lacked the heart of a knight while Hamilton got back up every time she stumbled. And so Maio left while Hamilton stayed. And like Hamilton, all of those that remained finally understood what their Princess was looking for and so her vision became theirs. They learned to believe and trust in her as she believed in them. They had struggled and fought and forged a bond together…

And now their Princess was in trouble.

"My Lord! It is well you are here but as you assuredly know, Her Imperial Highness has been detained by Zorzal and his men! We must act now to rescue her!"

Taylor nodded as he saw her resolve, a resolve mirrored in the face of every other member of the Rose Order.

He raised a hand in caution. "If any of you were to join some quixotic rescue mission, you would likely all be declared in rebellion against the Empire."

"Our Princess and our honor…"Panache declared. "They are our Empire! They must not fall!" Every Rose and Thorn raised fists in the air.

Taylor smiled. "Then we had better plan this out right." He frowned. "Somebody get me a decent map!"

"Right, skipper!" Sergeant Davis grinned.

"Hey! skipper!" Senior Chief Richardson called. "Got those special orders ready!"

"Good! Bring 'em out Chief!"

"You got it!" Bring it out, boys!" Richardson smirked as several suits of armor were brought out.

"My Lady Panache?" Taylor smirked. "Aurelia… The Chief has some new armor for you two to try on."

Nayu smiirked as her two co-fiances stood goggling at the new dragon scale armor. Aurelia had known her beloved planned to gift such a suit to Panache, it had, after all been partly her idea as she had been the one to recommend to Taylor that he claim a share of the flame dragon scales and so his decision to find a craftsman to make armor for Lady Panache had been only a reasonable result of this. But she had not suspected Taylor had also commissioned a suit of armor for her, patterned in the style of her Warrior Bunny forebearers. Panache stroked the breastplate of her new armor in wonder, having no idea of the subterfuge her dear Taylor had conducted on her. She then examined the other three suits.

"I know you well enough to know that you wouldn't wear yours if I didn't have one made for Her Highness or your fellow Knight Commanders," Taylor told her as meanwhile, Argenta and Rhoda helped their sister don her new armor.

"Mother and Father will certainly be impressed, sister!" Argenta declared. Rhoda and I will have to help you thank Our Lord for his generosity!"

Rhoda merely nodded as she continued to help Aurelia into her armor. Aurelia blushed even as she marveled at it. Soon they had finished and everyone gathered around the map.

General Hazama's Office, Alnus

"Are you certain this is a good idea, sir?" General Takada asked, clearly not liking the additions to the operational plan. He was especially opposed to the involvement of non-standard units and local personnel. Needless to say, First Airborne Brigade had not availed itself of the opportunity to recruit local people and their distinctive talents and adapt their abilities. Again, Hazama was of the opinion that Takada was making a mistake but it was his decision to make.

But in this instance, Hazama felt he had a better understanding of the situation than the paratrooper and it was Hazama's call.

"Yes, General Takada." Hazama sat back, folding his arms, signaling to Takada that he was overstepping his bounds. "None of our plans accounted for either a rescue mission in the Imperial Palace or other locations. And while our objective might be to rescue the Imperial Senate and preserve the Peace process, doing so without Her Imperial Highness would be counter-productive."

Hazama frowned. "And it's not as if officers of this sort will idly sit by even if we ordered them to. I was taught long ago to never give an order I already know won't be obeyed."

"Then what do you have in mind, sir?"

"Lieutenant Taylor is already at Italica. I want Itam's group airlifted there. The only solution I see is that we integrate them into the plan."

To Be Continued

Okay, time to answer a couple of questions.

Fer82: With the anime soon over, I may take some inspiration from the Manga and LN but I plan for the Civil War to be handled in a much different fashion here. Also, Weigh Anchor is right out in this reality.

Qyburn: Most of the Peace Faction is still alive. At least for the moment. That's why it's imperative to get them out now. With Senator Casel having eluded Zorzal's net the Crown Prince can no longer wait to liquidate them.

Again, read, review, and enjoy! Comments and Questions are welcome!