Sorry for the late update, but studying for exams came first. Damn Biology. _
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And now, read the chapter, and review! Hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Valkyria Chronicles.
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The Marmota slowly crawled along the ground, crushing every thing that stood before it. Trees were flattened, houses were demolished, and boulders were smashed against the Marmota's near-indestructible armor.
About two hours after Selvaria and Jaeger made their escape from Ghirlandaio, Gallia's main army was summoned back to Randgriz for a reward ceremony, and Damon decided to head south then west, so that he could dodge the rough terrain of the Naggiar plains and make it back to Randgriz faster than those blasted Militia peasants could.
It had been a day or so since the army had left Ghirlandaio, and they had just reached the northern edge of the Kloeden woods. The army had set up camp here so the soldiers could rest for an hour or so, but there little rest would turn out to be catastrophic, as a messenger had come from Randgriz. Damon was enjoying a nice feast that the cooks had prepared for him as a present for the capture of Ghirlandaio, but he agreed to see the messenger.
The messenger came running in and breathed heavily before speaking. "Sir! A giant imperial vehicle has been spotted in the Kloeden woods and it's heading this way!" Damon looked at the messenger and smiled, although it looked like he was scheming with how strange his smile looked.
"So, I get to have even more glory for defeating this new imperial vehicle huh? Once I destroy it, I'll be rewarded so much that I'll be able to buy myself a small island and live my life in absolute luxury!" He shouted, obsessing over the thought of having his own little island and having even more glory than General Gunther had after the first Europan war. "Ready the men lieutenant! We shall destroy that abomination and then head to Randgriz for our grand reward! We shall be heroes!"
The Lieutenant saluted Damon, and ran out of the tent. Damon got up after drinking the last of his wine, and went outside to get the soldiers moving. In his mind, he would destroy the vehicle, then go back to Randgriz and be rewarded, and use the wealth he would receive to buy his own island, and live in luxury.
…But unfortunately, this would not be the case.
An hour had passed as the Marmota slowly crawled along the ground, birds flying every direction to escape the giant dreadnaught as it trampled the trees and crushed anything beneath its massive exterior. The Gallian army had set up a blockade west of where the Marmota was heading, hoping they could re-direct it to a nearby canyon where it would be trapped once it fell into it.
Damon called the plan perfect, as though there was absolutely no chance of it failing, but he overlooked a painfully obvious flaw, and that was the Marmota could simply run over them. However, Damon and his troops were too happy to think about this glaring flaw, and it would cost them.
Maximilian was sitting down in his throne-like chair, smiling at the events to come. Selvaria would destroy the Gallian army, the Marmota would head to Randgriz and the Valkof would be attached to the Marmota, giving Maximilian a leviathan that not even his father could hope to stop. Gallia would surrender, and Maximilian would claim the Empire as his own using the Valkof and the Valkyrian apparatuses.
He was indulging himself in his thoughts when he was interrupted by a soldier who was standing in front of him.
"Sir! I came to inform you that the Gallian army is straight ahead! It's the forces that attacked Ghirlandaio!"
The instant Maximilian head the words 'Gallian' and 'army', he knew something was wrong. Selvaria should have destroyed them at Ghirlandaio using the final flame of the Valkyria.
"Have the scouts confirmed any explosion at Ghirlandaio?" Maximilian asked in a very pissed-off tone, for someone had thrown a monkey wrench into his plans.
Now that We think about it, Jaeger still hasn't joined up with the Marmota… Maximilian thought as the soldier bowed before him.
"No sir. The only explosion that came from Ghirlandaio was from the south wall being blown down by Gallian bombs. However, the scouts did report seeing a blue light appear and blow a hole through the wall of the citadel. It resembled the attack that lady Selvaria used at Naggiar to destroy tank after tank." The soldier sounded nervous, hoping that Maximilian wouldn't take out his frustration on him.
A blue light? That can't be right. Selvaria had lost her lance and shield at Naggiar when Gallia's war-witch beat her. Unless…
"Has there been any word from Jaeger?" Maximilian asked. A thought was brewing in his head, but he needed to confirm it for himself. The soldier sounded even more panicked, meaning that there was even more bad news.
"About that sir… The scouts reported seeing the Lupus heading in the direction the Gallian militia had taken, not heading along that shortcut that our scouts found when we first invaded Gallia."
Hmm…Either Jaeger is trying to stall them, or he has betrayed Us.
Maximilian got up out of his chair and walked over to one of the windows. Exactly as the soldier said, there was the Gallian army right up ahead. And it wasn't the militia, for all their tanks were the Gallian main army model, not the watered-down versions that were given to the militia. Maximilian looked over to the men that were in charge of moving and steering the Marmota, a smile creeping across his face.
"Bring the Marmota to full speed and head straight! We shall crush those Gallian dogs beneath the Marmota's armor!" He commanded, raising a hand and pointing it to where the Gallian blockade had been set up. The crew saluted him, and then began working.
The Marmota began to increase in speed rapidly as a loud roar from its massive engines bowled over any trees that were too close to it. The hallways of the Marmota were lined with soldiers rushing to get their equipment, or to man the turrets that lined the Marmota's sides.
All the Gallian forces heard was the massive roar of the Marmota's engines, followed by a massive shockwave that knocked over a few soldiers. Even though the Marmota was a little distance away, the Gallian soldiers could still see the giant support towers that rose off the Marmota's hull. Not only were they good places for snipers to shoot enemies from, but they also had searchlights on them as well, and that was exactly what the imperials were using.
The searchlights from the towers were focused on the Gallian army's position, trying to blind them. Damon covered his eyes to protect them against the intense light that was beaming in his face, which lasted for a few seconds before the light stopped and a massive explosion was heard.
The Marmota had fired its cannons upon the blind Gallian army. The fight was incredibly one sided, for the Gallian army had barely enough time to react before they were bombarded by a flurry of tank shells, whistling through the air as they hit whatever stood in their path and blew it to smithereens. Damon tried to run over to his headset, but another shell had struck the ground a few meters to his left, causing him to tumble over in the process.
"Damn it! Attack that bloody thing! I want it eradicated!" Damon shouted, but his voice was drowned beneath the massive roars of the Marmota's engines and all the explosions that were occurring. Damon got up and looked left to right, seeing Gallian soldier throwing down their weapons and running for their lives.
"You peasant cowards!" He shouted at the fleeing soldiers, but their lives were more important than the commands of some general. Snarling, Damon ran over to his transport vehicle, realizing that any hopes of stopping the Marmota had run out.
Just as Damon got to the vehicle, a tank shell whistled over Damon's head, narrowly missing his head, and smashed into the vehicle, causing it to explode, and sending Damon's body flying into a tree as he screamed at what was happening.
Damon opened his eyes, and tried to stand up, but his legs were broken, causing immense pain to shoot throughout his body. All he could hear were his thoughts and a loud ringing sound. Not even the Marmota's engines could top them.
No…I will not die…like this. I am Damon! Son of one of the greatest nobles of Gallia! I will not die like this!
Since walking didn't work, he began to crawl, desperately trying to get away from the approaching Marmota. But, his fate would run out as the ringing sound disappeared long enough for him to hear the Marmota, and it sounded really close.
He looked behind him, his face full of fear and sadness as he saw the Marmota towering above him. Hoping that some kind of miracle would occur, he screamed as his body disappeared beneath the Marmota, and crushed by the weight of the massive battleship.
On the Marmota's deck, Maximilian looked at the widespread destruction the Marmota's rampage had caused. Little to nothing survived the Marmota's attack. Corpses were scattered everywhere, metal fragments from vehicles and tanks littered the ground, and blood was splattered along the ground, dyeing the ground a dark brownish-red.
"If this is the best that the Gallian army can do, then nothing will stop Us on the way to Randgriz!" He shouted. Maximilian laughed as he looked up at the sky, enjoying his thoughts of conquest of not only Gallia, but the throne of the Empire as well. A soldier came out onto the deck while he was laughing, and stood upright, waiting for Maximilian to stop.
Maximilian turned to his side and looked at the soldier, an evil smile plastered over his face. "What is it?" He questioned, turning his gaze up to the sky again. The Soldier raised his left arm and saluted the Prince.
"Maximilian sir! Visual reports show that nothing survived our onslaught. However, even if some enemies got away, they won't be able to stop the Marmota." The soldier said, bowing before Maximilian.
"Very well. How long will it take to reach Randgriz?" Maximilian questioned, his voice had a tone of excitement in it.
"About two days sir." The soldier said.
"All right, then tell the maids to prepare Our bed for Us." Maximilian said was getting a little drowsy, and if he was going to meet Gallia's princess, he would be sure to look his finest.
When he reached his room, his bed was neatly done, the sun's light lying on top of part of the blankets. He looked over to his desk and saw a letter addressed to him. He picked it up and opened it.
Dear Your Highness Maximilian,
This is the Prime Minister of Gallia, Borg. As per your request, I have pulled out most of the Gallian royal army, so you will be able to enter Randgriz without any resistance, unless the militia somehow makes it back before you do. In exchange, you will honor your end of the promise and give Gallia's sovereignty to me. I shall rule it in your name.
From Prime Minister Borg.
Maximilian read the letter thoroughly, and laughed at it. This man was too gullible. The Gallia of tomorrow had no use for such a treacherous man. Maximilian made a note to remember to execute Borg when he got to Randgriz.
Changing into more suitable clothes, he climbed into his bed and closed his eyes, and fell asleep sometime after.
Meanwhile, the Lupus had gained ground on the Gallian militia. Jaeger stopped for a second to let the Lupus cooled down, while Selvaria was gazing into the distance, seeing red color the horizon as smoke rose from the militia's temporary camp they had set up for the night.
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Once again, sorry for the late update, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Yes, it is a bit short, but I thought I'd upload this so you guys/girls would know that I haven't abandoned this story, and I won't.
R&R!