Chapter 19 – The Naggiar Campaign part 12 Bent, Not Broken

The nighttime sky was clear and the air was refreshingly cool to Edy as she sat outside within Squad 7's new camp. Homer had been tending to her wounds all by his self since the end of the battle and had left to get more supplies. Ramona was sitting next to her, already having her injuries treated.

"What a day, huh Edy?" sighed Ramona as she took a cigarette pack out of her backpack. Edy watched as she fished out a cigarette and lit it up.

"I can't believe you smoke those nasty things Ramona," said Edy as she wrinkled her nose. "They smell awful."

Ramona shrugged and blew small cloud of smoke out before responding. "You get used to it. I started smoking because all of my friends at work did, and I guess the habit stuck."

"Well I guess it's okay," said Edy as she decided to lie on her back and look up at the stars. "I mean Marina smokes cigars too so it shouldn't be a big deal."

"Really?" asked Ramona. "I never knew that. Of course I have been out of the loop for awhile."

"Hopefully for the last time," replied Edy. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you like that again."

"Well it won't happen again," said Ramona. "Getting shot hurts you know!"

"Don't get shot then," said a voice from behind the pair. Ramona gritted her teeth upon hearing the voice as she knew who it was, as did Edy who quickly sat up to see their visitor.

Eratria looked down at the two girls with the usual smirk that she wore when she was around Ramona, her hood back on, concealing her hair.

"How'd that work out for you?" Ramona shot back, noting the woman's earlier injury.

"Touche," replied the woman, her expression unchanging.

"So why are you here?" asked Edy. "Please tell me it's not just to bother us."

Eratria shook her head. "No it's nothing as...fun as that. I'm actually here to give you a report on the day's battle."

"Oh," Edy wasn't expecting that at all. Usually Captain Varrot or Welkin would give her an official report, but considering what the two of them were going through it did make sense to her. It didn't mean she was going to like it though. Probably. "Well, go ahead."

Eratria cleared her throat before beginning. "The Gallian Army has gained the upper hand over the Imperials, who have begun retreating from the area, thus paving the way to clearing out the Empire from Gallia. It would seem your efforts were worth it in the end, girl."

"I hope so," said Edy as she looked at the ground. "We went through a lot today. And not all of us made it..."

"It's not your fault Edy," Ramona assured her friend. "We were lucky any of us got out that. I just hope the higher ups appreciate it."

Eratria shook her head. "The Army takes full credit for today's operation. Your actions today are merely a footnote according to them."

"You've gotta be kidding me!" fumed Ramona, clearly upset upon hearing this. "Are they seriously going to just take all the credit and write us off like we did nothing?!"

Eratria nodded. "That's right. It's the Army, get used to it."

"It doesn't surprise me," sighed Edy. "They're the ones that wanted the militia to be the first ones on the front line to being with. We're just disposable extras to them."

"It still sucks," grumbled Ramona. "Making us go die out there like that just so they don't have to."

"Well that's one thing you won't have to worry about for the near future," said Eratria. "The Militia is to return to Base to rest and resupply tommorrow."

Edy gave a sigh of relief at hearing that. She didn't think she could take another assignment so soon after such a brutal battle. "That's good, I guess. I don't think I can handle another run of dealing with those Imperial super soldiers."

Ramona looked up at Eratria when her friend mentioned the Imperials. "Yeah what's with those guys? They seemed really interested in you."

"They're a special squad of elite soldiers led by a man named Joseph Nonnenkof," Eratria explained. "The Imperial Army usually uses them if they really want an objective taken care of. The fact that most of you are still alive is more than most who have faced them in the past can say."

"Well elite sounds right. There were soldiers types out there I've never even seen before," said Edy. "Not to mention that huge soldier that nearly killed me at least a hundred times."

Eratria nodded. "You speak of the one they call Ty the Immortal. A real butcher that one. And that's just one of their aces."

"So what's your deal with them then?" asked Ramona. "Sound's like you've got some history with them."

Eratria nodded. "The Shadow of Rangriz crossed paths with them many times in the first war. You can ask Catherine about them if you like. In fact you probably should as I will speak no more about them."

"What?!" asked Ramona. "You can't just leave a conversation like that!"

"Yes I can," replied the woman as she turned around. "I've got other things to do."

"Wait- ugh she's gone," grumbled Ramona. "I really really hate that woman."

Edy gave a small chuckle. "I've never seen anyone get under your skin like her."

"She's just so annoying!" said Ramona as she put a hand to her forehead. "Trying to be all mysterious and the whole I'm-not-a-Darcsen-but-I-really-am deal. I just don't get it."

Edy shrugged. "Maybe we'll find out someday, but right now I just want to lay down here and be glad I'm alive and not think about anything else."

"I agree with you there Sis," sighed Ramona as she laid down on the ground. Normally lying around in the dirt was something she wouldn't do, but considering she was already caked with dirt and grime as much as Edy was, it didn't really matter. "I'm just happy to be still alive with you right now."

That much Edy could agree on. Before she could respond though, Homer arrived with a slightly bruised Hector in tow.

"Oh, hey you," said Ramona as she sat back up. "How's Nadine doing?"

The downcast look on Hector's face and the slow shaking of his head provided all the answer the others needed.

"No..." gasped Edy as Homer attempted bandage another cut on her. "I'm sorry Hector, I... tried everything I could to keep everyone alive and look what happened..."

Hector shook his head. "It's not your fault. You did the best you could, and if you ask me you did a hell of a job."

"See, I keep telling you that," said Ramona as she gave a playful punch on her friend's arm. "So don't be so down on yourself!"

"You're right, Ramona," said Edy wincing slightly as Homer finished applying the bandage. "Ow... I swear I'm going to be sore for a month."

…

In another part of the camp Marina was sitting on a crate and had tasked herself with breaking down and rebuilding a recently acquired Imperial sniper rifle. Marina was no stranger to the harder hitting Imperial Zechmeister series, but had always preferred the Gallian GSR because of its greater range and accuracy. But range and accuracy didn't help her in today's battle, and if she was going to face those elite Imperial soldiers again, she was determined to be prepared to do so.

Marina wasn't alone in her activities as Catherine was sitting next to her tending to both her and Marina's rifles, despite the woman's injuries. Marina wanted Catherine to rest but the older woman would have no part of it. "I can't let you young ones outdo me just yet," she had told Marina.

Also with them was the surprising addition of Ted, who was being uncharacteristically quiet as he sat next to Marina and had busied himself with checking over his weapon. Marina had fully expected him be cracking some eye rolling joke or lewd wisecrack every five minutes but he appeared to be completely absorbed in his work. Whether this new-found seriousness was from the day's battle or his admitted attraction to Marina or both was unknown to her. Catherine seemed to have her own ideas as Marina caught her sneaking a glance at the two of them before letting a small smile appear. Marina gave no visible response as she knew that would just make things more annoying.

As Marina began looking over the scope that she going to attach to the new rifle, her thoughts drifted back to poor Elysse and the impossible shot that had killed her. For a sniper to have made such a deadly and accurate shot from so far away was almost maddening to her. The fact that she couldn't figure out how far or even where the general direction that the shot came from completely ate at her. Any sniper worth their salt should be able to figure out that much and yet she couldn't.

The sound of a scope dropping to the ground jolted Marina's thoughts back to the present. She had been so preoccupied in her thoughts that she had let the item she was working on slip from her grasp. Uttering a quiet curse she retrieved the item from the ground. Ted noticed this but wisely remained silent. Catherine, on the other hand chose to address it.

"What's wrong Marina?" she asked the other sniper. "Something's got you bothered, I know it."

"It's..." Marina struggled to put it into words as she gripped the scope in her hands. As much as she wanted to talk about it, the words weren't coming out.

"I think it has something to do with Elysse," said Ted as he looked at Marina. "Ever since she was shot by that sniper she's had that look in her eyes."

"Is that so?," said Catherine as she took a closer look at Marina who looked back down to the ground. "Yes, I see it now. Though the loss of Elysse weighs upon you, it's her killer that grips her thoughts."

Marina remained silent as she continued to look over the scope. That was all Ted and Catherine needed to see to know they were right.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it Rina," said Ted as he put a hand on her shoulder. "You couldn't have done anything to have prevented what happened to Elysse."

Marina immediately shook him off her and gave him an angry glare. "I should have checked the area for snipers, or other places where one could be hiding. I should have...I should have..."

"Considering the stage we had to work with, no could blame you," said Ted as he tried his best to match Marina's glare, though admittedly he wasn't doing a very good job of it. "All those crazy super-imps and that huge Ty dude shooting everything under the sun at us, I'm amazed at all the stuff you were able to-"

"Wait," Catherine interrupted when she heard mention of Ty's name. "You mentioned someone named Ty? Can you elaborate please?"

"Uh, sure?" said Ted, rather surprised by Catherine's concern over the name. Marina also shared his surprise as she looked back at Catherine as Ted began describing their adversary. "The guy was huge, like huger than Largo. I saw him carry and fire two Imperial lancer weapons at the same time, and even knock a lancer round away with just a swing of his arm!"

"Are you sure?" asked Catherine, her concern growing even more. "You saw this?"

Marina nodded. "I can confirm it. He also wielded a light machine gun and tore through us with just axes after I managed to disable that."

"I think whatsherface called him Ty the Immortal?" Ted added.

Catherine let out a loud gasp upon hearing the full title of Ty the Immortal and immediately went to her knees in front of Marina and Ted and pulled the two of them into a tight hug with her.

"C-Catherine?!" gasped Marina as she struggled in vain to escape the embrace.

"W-what gives Catherine?" Ted was far less resistant as having his face so close to Marina's as well as being buried in Catherine's chest was not entirely unpleasant to him.

"By the Valkyrur you two should be dead," said Catherine as she maintained her grip on Ted and Marina. "The both of you have no idea how lucky you are!"

Marina finally succeeded in removing herself from Catherine's embrace and straightened herself out. When she saw that Ted wasn't making an effort to do the same, she yanked him away by the hair, much to his disappointment.

"What's your story with him?" she asked Catherine as she watched Ted rub the spot on his head where he was pulled away. "I've never heard you mention anything about this Ty the Immortal to me before."

"Some things are better left unmentioned dear, but no longer it seems," Catherine answered as she pulled a crate up to her and sat back down. "You remember that your father and I were members of an elite squad back in the first war right Marina?"

The younger woman nodded. She remembered both Catherine and her father telling her stories about that, but none of them included Ty the Immortal.

"That man was part of a brutal Imperial squad that was responsible for many of the Empire's victories in the first war," Catherine explained. "Out of all of them, that man was known for besting entire squads by himself using a variety of weapons."

Ted nodded. "That sounds like the guy alright. Though if I hadn't seen him with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it."

"Well you can stop worrying about him Catherine," said Marina. "I shot him in the head. I saw him fall."

"Yeah, it's true!" said Ted with a bit excitement. "She nailed him from like a million miles away!"

Catherine shook her head. "That wouldn't be the first time that's happened. I heard those same words from your father before, in the last war. And others besides. That man simply wasn't killable."

Marina didn't argue with that. Ty the Immortal had taken quite a beating in the day's battle and it had done little more than slow him down. "So his title is well earned then?"

Catherine nodded. "Very much so. And a veritable butcher to boot. But he wasn't the only one to be feared. They also had a sniper called The Lynx, for reasons I'm sure you can guess."

"What they dressed up as a cat or something?" asked Ted. His terrible answer was rewarded with a small bop on his head from Marina's scope. "I was wrong?"

Marina put her free hand in front of her face. Was he serious? In the even he was, Marina chose to humor him. "It means she's a predator."

Ted scratched the top of his head at the answer. "But you don't know it's a woman do you? A bit early for the punchline don't you think?"

"It's the name," said Marina as she shook her head. "Don't think too hard on it, you wouldn't understand."

Ted tried to figure out what Marina meant but decided let the matter drop. He guessed it was a hunter thing.

"The Lynx was a very dangerous foe who's skill was far beyond mine," explained Catherine. "And sad as I am to say it, was almost more than a match for your father, Marina."

For Catherine to readily admit that much was almost alarming to Marina. Almost, because she knew the sniper who had killed Elysse had to have been as skilled as her father was or very close to it.

"So an unkillable giant dude and a mysterious lady sniper?" asked Ted as he recalled what Catherine had told them so far. "Anyone else?"

"There were others, but those two were by far the most lethal," said Catherine, putting a hand on her chin. "I had lost countless numbers of squad mates because of them, and now it seems that the last war didn't satisfy their apparent bloodlust."

"Too bad for them," said Marina as she continued looking over the scope in her hands. "If we see them again, they'll fall like the rest of the Imperials. I'll make sure of it."

Catherine didn't share Marina's desire to face her nemesis nearly as enthusiastically as the younger girl did. Whatever Marina and the others faced today was but a taste of the carnage that those Imperial animals were capable of. And in the back of her mind, she knew it wouldn't be the last time either.

Marina stood up and put the scope down on the crate. "I'll be back, I need different tools for this."

"Oh, do you want me to come with-," Ted started.

"No," said Marina as she flipped her hair.

"Maybe I could-"

"No."

"But would'nt-"

"No."

"But maybe you'll need-"

"No."

Ted sighed and put his head down. "Alright fine." He watched Marina leave and shook his head. At least he tried.

Catherine gave a small chuckle after Marina left. She had suspicions about why Ted had been making an effort to be near Marina lately and now she was sure.

"Oh my, I do wish you luck young man," she giggled as she looked at his confused expression.

Ted put his hands in front of him and shook his head. "I don't know what you mean Catherine! Honestly!"

"Oh drop the act, Ted," chuckled Catherine as she patted the young man's head. "I know you fancy her."

'I, uh, ugh, alright, alright you got me Cathy," as he looked away from her his face turning a little red. "It's been a tough act though. Maybe you could give me some pointers?"

Catherine laughed out loud at this and shook her head and stood up. "I'm afraid you'll need to come up with your own material for that, my friend. I'm sure you'll figure it out. I'll be cheering for you!"

Ted sighed and watched as Catherine left to do whatever it was she was going to do. Yes indeed, he sure had his work cut out for him, but he would have the last laugh before it was all said and done. At least he hoped so.