Chapter 11 -The Naggiar Campaign – Part 4 Off On The Wrong Foot
The second day of the Naggiar Campaign did not start out well for Squad 7, with Welkin and the rest of the squad's main officers forced to intercept an incoming Imperial raiding party. Edy and her group however, had been excluded from that particular operation and she was in a heated argument with Captain Varrot as to the reason why.
"Why am I not on the mission with the others?!" demanded Edy, her face turning red. "Have I not proven myself capable enough?!"
"Yes you have Corporal Nelson," replied a calm Eleanor Varrot. "More so than I expected."
"Then why in the name of Valkyrur leave me out of this operation?!" shouted Edy.
"Because," answered a still calm Varrot. "I'm sending you and your team on another operation."
"But we're still missing Lynn," countered Edy. "The group's not in any shape to go without her."
"I thought you wanted a mission?" asked Varrot.
"That's..." Edy knew that she was beaten on that point.
"As for Private Lynn, I've received a report that she's turned up in the medical camp at the western front this morning." Added Varrot.
"Really?! Is she okay?"
Varrot looked down at a report in front of her before answering. "It seems she suffered some serious injuries but she should survive... Strangely though, according to the report, she was found unconscious and already treated for many of those injuries."
Edy scratched her head at the news. "So...someone found her, fixed her up and then dropped her off?"
Captain Varrot nodded. "...From what I've read it that's what it seems. The doctors are just as puzzled, but from what this report says, Private Lynn would be dead now if it wasn't for whoever found her."
"Well that's good I guess," said Edy. "But she can't fight in the shape she's in, I'm sure."
"Correct. But I'm sure you can find a certain...scout that will make for an ample replacement for the time being..."
Edy sighed. Nothing gets past the Captain does it? "So what's the mission?"
"The militia's main supply base on the eastern end of the front is somewhat vulnerable," explained Captain Varrot as she gestured toward a spot on the map of the battlefield. "I'd like you and your team to go and check things out there."
"That's it?" asked Edy, who knew full well that the supply base was probably the safest place on the battlefield; for anyone in the militia anyway. "That's the mission? Are you trying to make fun of me?"
"Know your place Corporal," snapped Varrot. "You have your orders. Now gather your group and head out..."
"Yes, Ma'am..." sighed Edy, with a dejected salute. As she left the Captain let out a sigh of her own. I don't like sending you there myself, but...
__
Edy's sudden foul mood from her new orders was made immediately known to Homer as he found himself on the wrong end of her right fist almost as soon as she had left the command tent.
"Wh-what was that for..." moaned Homer. "I didn't even do anything this time..."
"Shut up and find Elysse and Ted for me will you," growled Edy. "We've got some new orders..."
Homer straightened himself and nodded. "What does the Captain want us to do?"
"Guard duty," sighed Edy. "Now hurry up unless you want another punch."
Edy watched as Homer ran off to find the requested detachment members. She knew Marina would most likely be with Catherine, and as for Ramona...
"Wow you're already in a bad mood Sis?"
Edy turned to see her best friend approaching her. "Uh...you saw that huh?"
Ramona nodded. "You're lucky he doesn't mind that sort of thing, but can't you be...nicer to him sometimes?"
Edy chuckled. "Sure, when he deserves it. Which will probably be never."
Ramona rolled her eyes and laughed. It's good to see she hasn't changed too much. "So what's the with the sour attitude? Did something happen?"
"We're getting sent out to the supply outpost on the edge of the battlefield," Edy grumbled. "Real exciting."
Ramona scratched her head. "The supply base? To do what, take inventory?"
Edy kicked up a small amount of dust with her left boot before answering. "Sounds like it. And even though they've found Lynn, she's too hurt to return so the Captain wants you to take her place."
"Really?" asked Ramona with a smile. "Sure, I don't mind Sis."
Edy wasn't nearly as happy. "I...don't want you to though."
The statement hit Ramona hard. "Why not?!"
"I don't want you to get hurt again because of me," said Edy as she looked away from her friend. "I don't think I can take that again."
"Well I guess you're gunna have to take good care of me then," huffed Ramona. "There's no way you're leaving me out of this and you know it. So don't go thinking you're going to hog all the spotlight."
Edy knew there was no point trying to argue any further because once Ramona had made up her mind about something, there was no stopping her. And this time wouldn't be an exception.
"Still stubborn as always I see," said Edy as she put her hand on her forehead. "Okay, okay. Let's go get Marina then."
__
Marina was indeed with Catherine in the medical tent as Edy had surmised earlier. Both she and the bedridden Catherine were talking to Fina when Edy and Ramona arrived.
"Ah, Edy, good timing," said the Medic with a concerned look as the pair walked up to Marina. "I was just about to ask these two about something, and I thought maybe you might be able to shed some light on something for me as well."
"Sure what is it?"
Fina held out her right hand and opened up her palm, revealing a spent ammunition round of which Edy did not recognize.
"What kind of bullet is that?" asked Ramona who shared her friend's confusion.
"I was hoping one of you could tell me," replied Fina. "I've not seen one like this before."
The confused expressions on Edy and Ramona were not shared by Marina and Catherine.
"That's a round from the new Brondel prototype rifle we've been testing with Juno," said Marina as she narrowed her visible eye at the item in question.
"Indeed it is," confirmed Catherine. "The rifle isn't in use yet because the round is too soft for the distance the rifle is meant to be used from."
Ramona scratched her head as she looked at the round. "Well that's informative but um...Where'd you find that anyway?"
Fina didn't answer and instead seemed to have a dazed look about her after receiving the information from the two snipers.
"Uh hello?" asked Ramona as she waved her hand in front of the medic. "Earth to Finaaa~"
"Oh sorry about that," said Fina as her attention snapped back to the present.
"You okay dear?" asked Catherine. "You don't look so good."
"I guess I'm feeling a bit..What's that word you use Catherine...Dodgy?" sighed Fina as she pocketed the ammo round.
"Well you have been working non-stop since the battle started," noted Edy. "You're probably just tired."
Ramona nodded assent. "Yeah, don't overdo it."
"So what's with the ammo round?" asked Marina. "Why do you have it?"
"Oh it's...it's nothing," replied Fina, who was obviously lying. "Sorry to bother you all with it. Um, could you guys excuse me, there's something I need to do..."
The four watched as Fina hurriedly left the medical tent.
"What's with her?" asked Ramona as she scratched her head. "She was acting kinda...weird."
"She's been like that ever since she finished operating on Alicia," explained Catherine. "She's probably just stressed out I think. Extracting bullets is a difficult business. I certainly don't envy her."
Edy wasn't completely convinced on that point but decided to remain silent. After all, thinking wasn't her strong point to begin with. After a moment she remembered that the entire reason for coming to the medical tent was to inform Marina of the detachment's new orders.
"Understood," responded Marina after Edy filled her in on the mission. "Give me a few minutes to get prepared."
Edy nodded and left the tent along with Ramona. Once outside, the distant sound of cannon and gunfire could be heard in the distance.
"Empire's not wasting any time are they Sis?" mused Ramona as the pair walked toward the jeep that Ramona had arrived in the previous day.
"And we're not going to be anywhere near them," sighed Edy. "I still can't believe Captain Varrot is dumping us off away from the fighting..."
Ramona shrugged. "But that's one thing less to worry about right? Don't be so glum."
"But the mission is something more suitable for Aisha or even clumsy Nancy," grumbled Edy. "It doesn't make sense to send us just to do a routine check up." She watched as Ramona began staring at her for some reason. "W-what? Is there something on my face?"
"Are you still wearing those ribbons I gave you?" asked Ramona with a sigh. "They're all torn now!"
"Well they're all I had to remind myself of you..." answered Edy with a downward glance. "I couldn't bring myself to use another pair."
"Well it's time to retire them now that I'm back," said Ramona as she began untying them from from her friend's hair. "You can scrapbook em or something later."
"H-hey wait," protested Edy as Ramona removed the final ribbon. "I don't have any more with me here!"
"Well I'll get you some more when we get back to base," answered the fashion model. "So for the time being..."
Ramona handed Edy the ribbons and began straightening her friend's hair out with the hairbrush that she always seemed to have with her.
"You know, you look good with your hair like this Sis."
"I-I dunno about that," blushed Edy as Ramona finished with her hair. "It'll be a pain to wash I bet..."
"Oh quit being so modest," said Ramona as she examined her handiwork. "You'd make a good model if the whole acting thing doesn't work out, you know."
"Maybe..."
"Yeah, looking good!" smiled Ramona with a wink and a thumbs up.
The sudden appearance of Homer and the two members he was sent out to retrieve interrupted their conversation.
"Well I found them for you Edy," said Homer. "You're...not still mad are you?"
"What did you do to her this time Homer?" laughed Ted.
"N-nothing this time," assured the engineer. "She just came up to me and-" His sentence was cut off by a quick headlock from Edy.
"That's enough Homer dear~" warned his girlfriend. "I think it's best you keep quiet for now~"
"Isn't it a little early for that?" asked Elysse as she fidgeted with her lancaar launcher. "Poor guy never gets a break...And what's with the hair?"
Edy was trying to come up with a response, but Marina's arrival gave her the opportunity to change the subject.
"Well now that we're all here, I guess we can go to the supply base to begin our 'mission',"
Elysse scratched her head. "That's what we're supposed to do? Guess I won't have to try too hard then..."
Ted's reaction was a bit more upbeat. "Doesn't sound real hard, but if that's what we're ordered to do, we gotta do it. That being said, I'm driving!"
The other five each gave a collective sigh but let him have his way.
__
The supply camp was quiet when the Edy Detachment arrived and upon closer inspection, was also completely unguarded.
"Hello~" shouted Ramona as she and the others looked around. "Anybody home?"
The only response was the background noise of distant battle. Edy then decided to split the group up to look around.
"Why would this place be completely abandoned?" asked Homer through the radio as he looked around the area. "It makes no sense."
"No clue," replied Ted as he looked inside a nearby tent. "All the stuff seems to be in place though..."
Edy and Ramona were on the opposite side of the camp searching for any sign of occupants but like the others, their efforts were fruitless.
"Nothing up here..." reported Marina from one of the watchtowers that was situated in the middle of the camp. She was about to climb down when she noticed something strange. "Um, Edy..."
"Yeah what's up?" asked the group leader.
"There's only supposed to be six of us here right?"
"Uh..." Edy took a moment to make sure that statement was correct. There's me, Ramona, Ted, Marina, Elysse and...Homer. Six. "Yeah that's right."
"Well, there's seven here now..." Marina noted as she watched a cloaked Gallian soldier approaching Edy and Ramona from behind. "And the odd man out is right behind you."
Surprised, Edy and Ramona wheeled around in time to see the same female soldier that had saved Lynn the previous night standing behind her.
"You are Edy Nelson, yes?" asked the woman, who had an unlit cigarette in her mouth.
Ramona stepped in front of Edy and pointed her rifle at the cloaked stranger. "Who's asking?!"
"That's going a bit far Ramona, don't you think?" asked Edy.
"Is that any way to greet a fellow soldier of Gallia?" sighed the woman. "You wouldn't want me to respond in kind...would you?"
Ramona and Edy watched as the woman gripped the handle of the sword that was sheathed on her right side.
"Hey, d-don't try anything funny!" demanded Ramona. "We're the one's with guns here."
"..." The woman remained silent but did not release her grip on the weapon.
"Marina, you got her in your sights?" whispered Edy through her radio.
"Affirmative," replied the sniper, who had a clear shot on the stranger's head through her scope.
By now the rest of the Detachment had arrived at Edy and Ramona's position and had surrounded the woman.
"Hands in the air, now!" ordered Edy as she and the others trained their weapons on the woman.
"Looks like I'll have to do this the hard way..." muttered the woman as she began to raise her hands. However, hidden in her left hand was a small cannister and when she threw it on the ground, a large amount of smoke began to billow out of it, causing Edy's group to lose sight of her.
"Where'd she go?!" coughed Ramona as she tried to wave the smoke away from her.
"I don't see her..." answered Marina. The sniper scanned the area but could not spot the intruder.
Edy began to look around but was suddenly grabbed roughly from behind. In an instant she felt the cold metal of a very large sword pressed against her throat.
"You know, I should kill you now and save myself the trouble," said Edy's captor.
"Let her go!" shouted Ramona as she watched the woman pull out a large over sized handgun and point at the group.
"Please don't hurt Edy, Miss," begged Homer. "What did she do to you?!"
"So you are her," said the woman as she suddenly released Edy. "It seems that dark-hair I found earlier wasn't lying."
As Edy ran to Homer, the rest of the group watched as the woman put away her weapons and lit the cigarette that was in her mouth.
"Uh...What just happened?" asked Elysse. "Why are we fighting her anyway? Isn't she one us?"
"Ask the beauty queen," said the woman as she gestured toward Ramona. "She's the one who started it..."
The group turned to Ramona, who instantly blushed with embarrassment. "Well uh..."
Ignoring the exchange, Edy was more curious about the previous statement from the woman. "What...'dark-hair' were you talking about."
The woman shrugged. "Don't remember her name. She was shot up pretty bad when I found her. I fixed her up and dropped her off in a camp somewhere earlier."
So it was this woman who saved Lynn? Is she really an enemy?
"So why'd you do it?" Asked Ted, his rifle still pointed at the woman.
"Pardon?" asked the woman as she exhaled a small puff of smoke.
"Only Darcsen haters call them dark-hairs..." said Edy as she brushed a few strands of hair away from her eyes. "So why?"
"She had information about you, Edy Nelson..." The woman raised her head and stared at Edy. For the first time, Edy could see the rest of the woman's face, and saw a pair of dark blue eyes staring at her. Though beautiful, for some reason Edy could only sense sadness and not anger in them.
"So what do you want with her?" demanded Ramona. "You better not try anything funny, or I'll shoot you right now!"
"That's my business," answered the woman. "And Rinoa was it? You couldn't kill me even if you tried..."
"It's Ramona," growled the scout. "And you're really starting to get on my nerves."
"Well before you go about trying to kill me, I'd suggest you have your sniper friend take a look at the terrain North-Northeast of here..." replied the woman.
"Go on Marina," ordered Edy over the radio, not taking her eyes off the woman.
Although Marina believed it to be nothing more than a trick, she decided to take a look in the direction for safety's sake. What she saw was no less than thirty Imperial troopers heading straight for the supply camp.
"Well, Marina?" asked Edy. The sniper only gave a two word response.
"Oh, shit."