Chapter 10: The Morning War

05:16; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Kashkuri Highlands – Anvil Gate

Felipe sighed as he inhaled the early morning air. So fresh, and the breeze felt gentle. It was dreadfully early, but there are so much work still to be done he has not been able to sleep much. The restoration of Anvil Gate was difficult to say the least – but there was no sign of regret in his mind about his choice to make this place their base of operations. Strategically it was perfectly placed, has a commanding view of the surrounding landscape – and a splendidly good view otherwise. And that is without taking into account of it being a full-blown fortress city. Of all potential choices, there were no place better than this.

Rather casually, he traversed a section of the fortress town's narrow streets – greeting fleet personnel as he went.

Despite shortcomings in expertise – for obvious reasons, the fleet did not carry any carpenters and plumbers – the town had been made a little easier to live in than it was just a few days ago.

Most of the time, he wanted little more than to leave the political life and embark on some more humble a job and help directly. But quitting just wasn't an option. Fortunately, Queen Juana, being both Vice President and Treasurer, takes care of most administrative tasks.

"Skirting on your duties again?"

Speak of the devil. No... I must not speak like that. Felipe smiled sheepishly as he watched Juana approach with an annoyed look in her expression. "N-no. I'm just taking a short break."

"Seriously." Juana breathed as she walked alongside him, "A break can wait till more proper a time, Felipe." she passed him a sign frame, "First, sign this."

The comparatively timid man did so. "It is strange. We are so remote from home we cannot even contact them, yet the work load hasn't decreased in the least." he suppressed a sigh. "A government without a country."

"Our country still exist. Problem is reaching it."

"Indeed. But the big question is, will we ever be able to?"

"You must not speak like that." Juana mildly scolded him, "Think of Gin. Unable to reach her husband, she is but a ghost of her former self."

"I worry for her, of course. Got anyone watching her?"

"2nd Special Agent Fusae is keeping a watch on her."

"Fusae, huh?" An elf who died along with her husband in the battle of Lepanto. Now both of them live on as ghosts, shown by their lack of visible feet. "It is like Gin's got a guardian spirit now."

Juana let go a gentle giggle. "I suppose so." - "By the way.. you need to sign this as well."

He tiredly raise his shoulders, "Tes."

However, in the middle of it, they abruptly halted what they were doing as a divine communication opened – addressed to Felipe. It was Vice Chancellor Takakane Hironaka. "Chancellor." the captain of the baseball club quite nearly barked, "We got movement a couple of kilometers out."

Felipe frowned, "Specify."

"A small column on the road. Five vehicles."

"... That could very possibly be Padrick and his Pesanga."

"Want me to arrange a reception?"

Juana raised her shoulders, "We should play it safe."

"Alright..." Felipe hesitated. "Summon a few guards for us – no more than that. We did not wait for our scout to return for so long only to chase him off."

Hironaka responded in the affirmative; "Tes."

"Want to join me?" Felipe asked of Juana as the transmission closed.

The woman adjusted her glasses a little – eyes momentarily obscured as light was reflected off of it, "It is not a question of want, Chancellor. We will be dealing with total strangers here."

He scratched his head as he moved along, with her on his tail. "Fair enough." The gate was not so very far away, just a couple of streets before they entered the gate complex. Though it was referred to singularly, it is really three gates in sequence, each with a courtyard between them. Anvil Gate is a fortress after all, so naturally it was built to support more than just one line of defense.

But like the rest of the fort, this place was in a poor state to the point it gave the crewmen a very hard time. Felipe watched the ongoing work and imagined Juana hoped that some of these Pesanga might be able to lend a hand in repairing this place. Not much hope for that, I'm afraid.

Before long, they got to the front gate, where Hironaka stood waiting – while casually twirling that baseball bat of his – along with a number of armored guards. "Have they arrived yet?"

The other man pulled his cap up slightly, "The column is about to enter the outer perimeter. Arrival imminent."

"Open the gate." he instructed.

Hironaka repeated the order, and a trio of sailors went to the gate and pulled it open by hand. There was a control room in the back of the complex, but it was in no condition to open or close any gate yet. Slowly, the front gate creaked open till the sailors could finally let go and step aside. Far ahead, headlights could be seen drifting into view.

From the corner of his eyes, Felipe could see Juana put a cautious hand on the handle of her Akedia Katathlipse, one of the Mortal Sins Armaments. He had a mind to tell her not to, but let her instead act on her cautiousness. Certain she would not do anything reckless.

It did not take long for the first vehicle to close the gap and enter the complex. Its old engine roaring throatily from age that showed across the vehicle it sported.

Felipe took a step closer, and watched as the doors opened on either side as driver and passenger disembarked, along with the people in the back. The headlight shut off, and he could finally see who the driver was, "Good to see you back, Padrick."

They exchanged handshakes once able, "Would have come sooner, but we had a little fuel problem."

"It is a wonder you are able to recover any fuel at all."

"Kind of what goes with sudden depopulation." Pad's voice turned a little grimmer, "Big stockpiles end up unused."

Felipe responded with a nod equally as grim. "You are here now at least."

"Yeah." the man stepped aside, so as to introduce the woman behind him: "Felipe, this is Harua, leader of the Pesang remnant." he in due turn turned to her, "Harua, this is Felipe Segundo of Tres España."

Just as he did with pad, he exchanged a handshake with her, "Glad to have you here. Welcome to Anvil Gate."

"Glad to be here, sah." was her heavily accented reply. This language was surely not her primary one.

But what especially struck him was how short she and her people were. Behind Harua, Pesanga of all ages had begun to pile out from the vehicles as the column scattered and parked throughout the courtyard - most of which carried a large knife or machete in their belts, which Harua also did. So these are Pesanga, huh? "We are still trying to fix this place, I apologize ahead of time for the poor house conditions."

"As long as there is a roof overhead, it'll be a big improvement." Pad told him, which was seconded with a silent nod by Harua.

Juana cleared her throat, even though she did not need to. Many of the newcomers already stared at her – for more than two particular reasons. "Just for the sake of asking, might any of you have masonry or carpentry skills? We could sure use a few extra hands."

"I'm sorry, but you will have a hard time finding anyone outside Jacinto with that kind of skill-set."

"So... what can they do?" she wondered, a delicate eyebrow raised.

Pad flashed a smile, "Hunting, ambushing. Generally being a pain in the ass to anyone they see as an enemy. No one ever tried to invade Pesang before the locust came for a reason."

"I... see."

"Anyway." Felipe verbally brushed in between them, "Now that you're all here, when will you be ready to work?" Referring to their earlier agreement.

"Tomorrow morning." Pad said with some thought, "Need to get Harua and the rest situated and familiar first."

"Then let's not keep them waiting any longer." he looked to Juana, who nodded:

She adjusted her glasses, "For this number of people, I believe D-block to be suitable. As for showing you the way, I will have Diego come and take over from here."

"Much appreciated." Harua said, her accent still so thick it could had gotten stuck in a moderately spacious alley.

"Juana.." Felipe scratched his chin, "I can show-"

But the queen cut him off sternly, "You got duties to tend to."

He promptly slumped in defeat, not even able to argue. "Yes, Juana."

"Yer a real doormat, Felipe." Pad chuckled as Juana grabbed the Chancellor by his arm and almost dragged him along.

"I guess I am." he admitted mildly, "I'll come by later, Padrick."

The man simply smiled and waved as he and Harua went to help in the unloading of their vehicles. Tomorrow just could not come fast enough. Felipe just had the odd gut-feeling that something big would happen soon.

06:51 – 14 A.E.

Lesser Islands – LIFTA Outer Territory

"Wake up, lazybones!"

Fred groaned hoarsely as he woke and picked himself out of the old tent that was his only ceiling on this here tiny island. Sleep was one of very few ways he had to pass time, and was really unhappy to be woken up at such an early hour.

"You awake yet, hello?" his only company here, Bauer, asked as he passed by once more.

"Don't tell me it's my turn again already..."

"Suck it up." Bauer told him, annoyed by Fred's frequent shows of laziness. "We only got two more days before the boat comes by to pick us up and leave the next pair of unfortunate shits here. Don't let them catch you lazing about."

"Unfortunate shits. I guess that's what it feels like. It stinks being pyre guards." he complained while tossing a glare at the tall pyre that stood roughly in the middle of the island – covered by a large sheet of plastic held in place by rocks to keep the lumber and hay underneath dry.

Bauer rolled his eyes. "You know how bad we got it. Unlike communicators, lumber is plentiful."

"Doesn't make me feel any better. We just stare out at sea day after day, hoping for the tiniest break of tedium. And if anything tries to pass that ain't one of ours, we light the pyre and hope those bastards don't come on over and kill us. It stinks."

"Stop complaining. God, that's all you ever do." Bauer stopped as he looked to the treeline. It wasn't a very big island, just big enough to have a fair number of trees and foliage. The man looked rather distracted, as if he was trying to make sense of something.

Fred ignored him outright and continued to rant, "And that's without going into the whole-"

"Fred, shut up! Don't you hear that?"

"Hear what?" he asked, and finally heard it too. A strange hum had gradually filled the air, both faint and gentle, but very much present. "What is that?" He held his arms up in front of his face as a wind blasted through their little camp when something huge slid into view overhead. Everything seemed to shake as whatever had happened upon them passed by. It looked like a ship, except it is flying. "H-holy shit..."

Bauer dived for the torch and lit it.

"Hey, don't light it! I saw my life pass by just watching that... that thing. I don't want it to come back again."

The other man shot him a glare, "You see where that thing is going? I don't care what it is, but if we lose the boat coming to get us because of that... neither of us will get off this rock. Help me out here."

Fred hesitated for only a split second before he helped uncover the pyre so Bauer could shove the torch inside. It felt like an eternity passed by as the dry wood caught fire till it was all lit and belched a steady column of smoke into the sky.

Bauer turned and ran through the trees – to the shore to watch. Fred was reluctant, but followed. Once there, they found the strange ship was not alone. Another could be seen much further away. In the extreme distance beyond those two... he could see the smoke rise from another pyre rise up.

Neither were up to date on current events, as both had been here without much outside contact for what felt like several weeks. But the only thing that mattered was whatever is going on... the boss will at least get some advance warning.

07:01; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Lesser Islands – Kraken Class Warship "Yamamoto"

They checked various islands along the way, and largely ignored those without any boats present – of which there were many. It seemed like the enemy had all pulled back.

But on the other hand, pillars of blackened smoke had sprung up in several locations, causing a trail of sort to form and race past the fleet, and into the distance.

"This only confirms it." Vice Chancellor Futayo Honda stated, with ever a small smile upon her lips at being right all along.

"Confirm what...?" Adele's image appeared as she called in from the other ship, rather puzzled by the statement.

"Look ahead. This trail leads directly to the center of enemy territory – where we are headed!"

"I see." Adele's attention drew slightly to the side. "So the question is, what will we face once we get there?"

"Either nothing, or everything they have." her fingers slowly brushed along the length of her great spear Tonbokiri. "I would prefer the latter."

Adele looked thoughtful, "It would certainly shorten the mission. But I wonder what they might have up their sleeves if they truly decide to confront us."

"The answer to that awaits our arrival in no more than two hours time."

"Jud."

07:45 – 14 A.E.

Lesser Islands – Valesland Island – LIFTA HQ

Confidence and unease were both in the air at once, and with good reason. Lyle Ollivar himself was set solidly in the latter category as he felt there were no many questions, but not enough answers to go around. Too little was known about their enemy.

He along with fellow gang leaders, foremen and overseers had gathered in the villa's grandiose living room – just waiting for Darrel to engage them in what might be their final meeting before a battle with an enemy of largely unknown strength. Many made that guess based on the fact that a large section of the viewable horizon was dotted with columns of smoke, which could only mean one thing; that forces of the upstart Musashi have arrived at their borders.

The question was then... how long will it take before they're here?

"Alright, this is it!" Darrel confronted them with no less than confidence the size of a mountain. "Win this, and all Stranded will fall back in line and know that we can only rely on ourselves. Not some newcomers with pieces of high tech. In time, we'll even show the traitors who joined the COG where it's at! Am I right?!"

A chorus of cheers and hollers of "Yes!" and "Damn straight!" answered him. Lyle made sure he was with the former at least – no use backing out now.

"Thanks to our guys at the pyres... we now know where Musashi will come at us from!" Darrel came to the table and pointed at the aging regional map already on its surface. His finger landing cleanly on their island. "And we will ready ourselves accordingly."

"So what are we gonna do?"

Darrel sneered, "We will divide our fleet into three separate ones. Longspears will be distributed evenly among them, with slight priority for the main fleet – group one through three that will wait for the attack here..." he pointed along the outer perimeter of this island. That fleet will draw the enemy in. As for the two others, group four and five will position themselves separately here and here..." he gestured to two smaller islands that are both a few minutes away by speed boat. "The main fleet will draw the enemy in, then the other fleets catch them from behind. We'll surround them."

Ollivar raised his hand, "Least I've heard, they got flying ships. How are surrounding them going to work?"

Murmurs filled the room, but otherwise it was filled with a cold silence.

Darrel coughed. "I know, but they are more like dirigibles than fighter craft. An encirclement is certain to work. And that is where our Longspears will come in. We will bombard them from all sides till they crash burning into the sea. Then we'll board and take what's left for ourselves."

"And survivors?" another inquired curiously for clarification.

"What we usually do..." Darrel grinned sleazily, and got a few approving nods. The usual procedure was to kill the men, and capture the women – that will be forcefully integrated in time... or sold. Word was that the women of Musashi are very beautiful, almost abnormally so. If so, Darrel could not wait to claim one.

"We need to win first though." Lyle noted.

"You're right. And we will!" Darrel cried out to those assembled, most of which were hanging on to his every word now, "Finish the preparations! They might be here soon, and we got to be ready for them. Let's move, and win this!"

08:30; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Quasi-Bahamut Class Aerial City-Ship "Musashi" - "Musashino" Bridge; Inadequate HQ

Dominating the bridge this time was a giant holographic map of the region. All protectorate-aligned territories labeled in a bright blue. England displayed in emerald green. While LIFTA's territory was displayed in dark red – its boundaries defined by the map sent from the "Yamamoto".

"We have received word from the 'Yamamoto'. Battle will commence with LIFTA in less than thirty minutes. Over." 'Musashi' reported.

Those assembled watched the dark red area, the tag designating the expedition's location nearly at its center. Masazumi together with Toori and Horizon all focused on the same object.

The Chancellor appeared serious, but everyone who knew him could tell it only ran skin-deep. And Horizon's emotional response was almost non-existent, except a sliver of doubt – which is all she has recovered so far.

"Any estimate on enemy strength?" Masazumi asked.

"Unknown, but long-distance scans indicate a significant presence around LIFTA's assumed HQ. Over." Musashi replied flatly. "Vice Chancellor Futayo Honda believes the stranded will attempt to drive off the expedition forces through a war of attrition."

"Many will perish in other words..."

"That will certainly be the case. Over."

Horizon said nothing, but the few tears that left her eyes spoke so much louder than any word. But her so oft silly boyfriend cared enough to wipe said tears away reassuringly.

"Don't worry." Toori stated confidently, his grin returning in full force. "They will make it."

"In terms of sheer technology, LIFTA will be woefully outmatched. They just don't know how much. None of the stranded truly know." Masazumi observed, eyes solidly set on the map – overlooking it all – along with all the gray areas beyond the colored zones. "But that is exactly why this battle is necessary – even more so than for the sake of clearing away piracy. If we destroy LIFTA with comparatively small losses, it will give other belligerent native clans pause and prevent future battles everyone will be better off without."

"... Understood." Horizon finally said. "By proving that Musashi's military is not to be trifled with, we prevent more wars than if we rely exclusively on diplomacy."

"Exactly..." Masazumi breathed grimly. They had recited this to death, but repeating it anyway. The room silent as their attention was all directed at the map. Much depended on this battle that would otherwise had looked pretty meager in the grand scale of things.

08:51; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – Kraken Class Warship "Yamamoto"

"I bet they think we haven't seen them yet." Adele said, sounding rather amused.

They had come close enough now to have a certain overview of what they are facing. A large fleet by native standards with more than two hundred ships, eighty percent of which were made out of small ships from yachts to small motor boats. While the remaining twenty percent were made of large ships such as ferries and cargo ships. Hardly suitable for a battle, yet here they are... fully arrayed.

Both of the "Yamamoto" and "Mirai" used to be freighters, admittedly, but they were at the very least customized properly – or at least as far as Musashi's Engineering Club were able to.

Adele's comment referred to the ship formations 'behind' other islands in the distance. A look at them - mostly small and speedy vessels - inspired Futayo to guess what LIFTA intended to do with those. "They are probably going to strike us from behind once we're engaged."

"Shall we deal with those first, Vice Chancellor?"

Futayo shook her head. "No. Engage the larger fleet. Let them think we have fallen for their little ruse. It will lend them courage to all face off against us... enough that they will not leave even if we tear their fleet from the inside out."

"Ah. Jud." Adele acknowledged, slightly embarrassed for now having thought of it that way.

"We will be within weapon range in two more minutes." the man at the weapons' station reported.

With a bit of contemplation, the Honda stood up to address her crew. "Maintain our present course. Combat speed. Release all safeties and open gun-ports. Opening volley from turrets on my command only. Gunnery and Archery crews may fire at will."

"Jud!" they all hollered.

Adele relayed the Vice Chancellor's orders to her own crew, and finally turned back to address her with interest; "Got something special in mind?"

"As a matter of fact." Futayo replied, lips curled into a half-smile. "We will go in, and let them think they can box us in first... and then..." she tightly clutched her spear, "... we will destroy them."

08:55 – 14 A.E.

Lesser Islands – Valesland Island Coast – "Midsummer Jolly"

Two ships. The mighty Musashi sent only two ships at us? Lyle grit his teeth in disbelief, and was more than a just a little offended that the newcomers would take them so lightly. Even now, faced with LIFTA's great fleet... the pair of ships still approached as though it was nothing to worry about.

He did acknowledge the ships' great size, and the fact that they did fly far above them... both currently three hundred feet above sea-level.

But none of that mattered. They were a bunch of idiots if they honestly thought that would be enough to break LIFTA.

He was on board the ferry furthest to the rear; 'The Midsummer Jolly' – specifically in the bridge along with Darrel. The man laughed bitterly, equally as offended as everyone else. "This just takes the piss. Let us teach them a lesson!" He then pulled the air horn, enough to signal the fleet to spread out and advance.

"All positions." Ollivar barked through the bridge radio, "Ready the Longspears, prepare to open fire! Flanking fleets, move in!"

08:56; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – Kraken Class Warship "Mirai"

The gun-ports referred to by the Vice Chancellor were little but retractable walls along parts of deck four and seven, customized to be used by whichever armed personnel the ships' carry. In this case, dozens of men and women from Musashi Ariadust Academy's Gunnery and Archery Clubs, along with a fair number of techno-hexen – the latter were ready to launch, with clear instructions as to what they can or can't do, but remained idle. No order had come for them to take off yet.

"We got missiles incoming!" Adele's voice reached everyone on the ship. "Point-defense, stand to!"

Margot – already equipped with her Schwarz Fraulein Gear - readied her Shalebesen – mechanic shell broom – along with a full stack of coins at its side. She felt as the "Mirai" tilted to present its right side to the incoming barrage launched by the enemy fleet. The "Yamamoto" did likewise.

She and fellow techno-hexen sharpshooters lowered themselves onto one knee, magnification frames appearing along the length of their brooms' handles. Alongside them, everyone with a gun or bow and arrow took aim.

A shield spell would have sufficed, but I guess they want to preserve energy, the blonde descended angel thought as she lined up one of the incoming missiles, which left a huge spiral of dark smoke in its wake. Carefully, Margot aimed ahead of it... and clapped a finger against the handle – which enveloped the first coin in ether and discharged it at her target. A brief elation filling her as she watched the missile disintegrate in mid-air, several other missiles fell apart around it as the rest across the gun-ports fired as well. Neon-blue trails and blessed arrows filled the air, and raced out for the slower guided munitions still on approach. Many were shot down and disintegrated, but a few managed to make it through the hail... only to be stopped dead in their tracks as a series of small shield spells popped into place and took the hits. The explosions were fierce, but the spells held and not one shrapnel nor flame reached the ship itself.

08:57 - 14 A.E.

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – "Midsummer Jolly"

The bridge was rendered momentarily silent. Everyone expected the approaching ships to burst into flames under the force of no less than thirty missiles a piece, but most were shot down by small arms fire on approach... and the rest was simply...

"What do you mean they just bounced off?!" Darrel yelled into his radio - fuming as he listened to what one of his foremen was trying to say.

Lyle shook his head, not liking this one bit. "They got some kind of weapon-counter system, sir."

"Shit." the president cursed, "Ready another volley, and tell those slowpokes out there to hurry the fuck up! Keep firing, overwhelm them!"

And personnel across the fleet complied as they reloaded their rocket launchers. As for the rest, everyone let it rip and showered their airborne targets with anything heavier than assault rifles - predominantly Mulchers and Troikas. Each barrage answered by more of those strange shields, while a stream of neon-blue poured through them at will - killing Stranded wherever those strange rays landed. If he was much closer to the front line, he would have also seen the rain of arrows that struck down many with surprising accuracy for such distances.

We know too little about them... Lyle observed again in deep silence before he joined his leader to help coordinate their attacks - for all the good it will do.

09:05; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – Kraken Class Warship "Mirai"

The exchanging of fire seemed almost endless, but it was definitely tilting in their favor. Margot spared a moment to scan the view, and noticed that they are about to fly over the stranded fleet. We got to go now... or we'll be too deep in it. She opened a divine communication; "Lady Adele, Do we have permission to launch?"

The bespectacled girl nodded, smiling grimly. "Yes. Do all you can to destroy their smaller boats... and be careful."

"Jud." Margot smiled as she stood to mount her broom, and waved for her fellow witches; "Girls, take to the sky!" before she launched herself off the ship - followed quickly by the rest. As one, they darted straight down through hostile skies as they settled into well-defined formations and made a beeline for the enemy below at the very fringes of their formations with plenty offerings of ether-wrapped coins that punctured man and boat alike.

But being one of Musashi's two hexen armed with Strengthening Mechanical Shells from EDEL Brocken, Margot easily blasted ahead of the others, and broke off the dive to strafe the sea-bound vessels below – now able to see the expressions of these local Stranded up close, filled with surprise and horror, before she promptly gunned them off their boats. It was very different from shooting down faceless fighters and Gods of War, and thus filled her with a different kind of horror.

She lined up a yacht, and let loose several coins rapid – aimed at the one at its helm.. and those up front struggling to rearm their rocket launchers. Several hits were scored, but she flew past too fast and too low to see bodies and weapons drop to the deck.

The same action was repeated with other sea-bound vessels. Again and again, but always she remained on the move – never allowing herself to slow down, knowing she would get hit by the natives' primitive yet still quite potent weaponry. She moved as though on autopilot, but deep inside prayed for a swift end to this battle.

A wish that would be realized in due time.

09:10 - 14 A.E.

Lesser Islands - Near Valesland Island - "Lark"

The "Lark" had seen its share of weird things over the years. It was a yacht, a ship of leisure... but had been retooled into a gunship by whoever owned it before LIFTA appropriated it. Jurgen being one of its current crew of five, stood behind the Troika that dominated its upper front deck - practically pissing metal at the closest airship as it inexorably moved over them while fire rained from its sides. No matter how many bullets he kept discharging, no damage seemed to come to his target. Swarms of missiles sped up from every ship that had them, but most of those were warded off by those strange shields. The few that did manage to get through only managed to blacken the hull.

Beads of sweat trailed down his forehead and cheeks as the number of spent casings piled up around his feet, so much he tried to avoid stepping into them. What used to be firm belief that this would be a cakewalk had turned into a looming fear that they had bitten off much more than they could chew. A shriek left him as the Troika clicked, out of ammo. "Beato, more ammo!" he yelled.

"I'm coming-!" his comrade yelled back, and ran to pick up a crate-full of it just a few meters away... before a part of his head was unceremoniously burned off, just before one of those wenches flying about on what looked like brooms suddenly sped past overhead.

"Holy.. oh my God!" Jurgen exclaimed, and picked up a nearby Lancer to shoot the bitch down... But by the time he had lined up the rifle, she had disappeared into the distance. Fuck it... how can they move so fast on those scrawny things?!

But instead of going to pick up the ammo his colleague could no longer bring, Jurgen froze as he finally looked across the battlefield - a scene of slaughter as more boats than he could count in a hurry had either toppled, been blown apart or burning, with many dead and dying both on deck and in the water.

"We... we are losing this shit... aren't we?"

One thing at the edge of his vision caught the man's attention. One of those wenches now incoming, one who sported golden hair and equally golden wings - like an angel or something. Jurgen brought his Lancer to bear and clicked it onto fully automatic, and opened fire on her. But she moved with even greater speed and agility than the others, and easily swerved away from his line of fire until she finally lined up her own shot, and discharged it.

He felt something punch his chest, and toppled. His eyes felt blurry, and could only see the open sky, and the broom-mounted angel as she sped past him... then heard the cries from the helmsman, from the radio, from loudspeakers and megaphones. Orders to pull back: "Fall back! Fall back-!"

From that point on, darkness quickly claimed him... Jurgen closed his eyes and drifted off.

09:14; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – Kraken Class Warship "Yamamoto"

Futayo watched the images presented to her with focused calm. Of witches strafing the outer flotillas of the stranded fleet, of vast exchanges of fire between the natives and those who manned the gun-ports. An uphill battle as the Stranded struggled against enormous disadvantages in terms of not only distance, wind, air pressure, gravity and elevation, but also the shield spells. Naturally, the natives suffered heavy casualties while the gunners and archers on board only suffered minor damage to their numbers.

Dozens of boats were already dead in the water or sinking – mostly small ones. What remained of their smaller units had begun to pull back and crowd around the larger ships to provide overlapping fields of fire against the witches that have so successfully drained their numbers – while still launching volleys of those pesky missiles.

She promptly opened up a divine transmission to all witches in the air; "Cease your strafing runs and pull back. Strike only if the enemy try to spread out again."

A chorus of "Jud!" answered her call, and Futayo watched with satisfaction as all hexen withdrew to a far greater distance.

"What is the status of the other fleets?" she asked sensory. Both of the fleets had rushed forth from where they had 'hidden' themselves away almost as soon as the battle began.

"Still two minutes out, milady."

Futayo's felt it was time to make the decision. Two more minutes of waiting did not feel proper. "Let us not waste any more time then. Adele?"

"Yes?"

"Array front-turrets against the fleet before us. And rear-turrets against the ambush fleets. You take the one incoming from the north-east. We will take care of the one to the south. Open fire – all guns!"

Adele repeated the order to her crew and waited as every turret at the top and bottom of her ship pivoted to track each their set of targets.

"Weapons' locked and ready, milady!" he at the weapons' console reported.

And so she raised her arm, "Commence firing!"

"Firing!"

It quickly turned into a complete pandemonium. Whatever hope LIFTA had left to win this lopsided fight was entirely crushed as a series of dull thuds rang through the humid morning air, loud reports that came from the airships as all of their turrets discharged their initial volley of ether-cannonballs at the three fleets. Each then pivoted to a different target, and fired again.

The first victim was a cargo ship, as a cannonball hit it dead-center and buried itself deep within its structure before it detonated with terrifying power. All the people not caught in the resulting fireball were were thrown to the air along with thousands of fragments as the resulting explosion snapped the ship in half.

Its immediate neighbor, a ferry, shuddered as it sustained a hard hit and went off like a string of firecrackers, so utterly destroyed along with its crew it would soon be like there was not a ship there at all.

A tanker further away broke apart like as many layers of tin foil as a round meant for it blasted through it and exploded in one of the lower decks.

And everywhere, smaller ships sank in all myriad ways one can picture them to as they were either caught up in the heavy firepower unleashed against them, or in the aftermaths of other ships' grim demise. And it was even worse for the ambush fleets. Entire boats went poof as cannonballs passed clean through and detonated underwater with enough force to send crashing waves that toppled others, or sent them flying into the air - universally to the detriment of both ship and crew.

And soon, there would be almost nothing left. The fleets reduced to cinders.

09:18 – 14 A.E.

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – LIFTA Ferry "Midsummer Jolly"

The crew reeled in shock and terror, and Lyle found no reason to blame them. Most of what used to be the greatest fleet in the region had so quickly been reduced to burning wrecks incapable of further resistance.

And those two ships, those mere two ships still hovered – nigh-untouchable - over the battlefield and rained death down on what was left. He hoped to see any sign of continued resistance, but there were none. Most of LIFTA either dead or in the water swimming desperately for the coast in the hope that the enemy would not hunt them down there as they seemed more concerned with reducing the number of workable boats than to engage in further slaughter.

Lyle realized that the only reason the "Midsummer Jolly" still stood untouched was because it was located in the rearmost part of the formation. Musashi just hadn't gotten this far yet.

With that in mind, he confronted Darrel, who simply stood there frozen with eyes wide open, mouth closing and opening as though he was a fish caught on land. "Darrel!"

No answer.

Lyle stepped in close and grabbed the man by his collar – which finally got his attention. Darrel had been so stricken by fear that he did not even offer a retort. "Order a retreat. This is a massacre, not a battle. If we stay, we die."

Darrel hesitated.

"Do it, damn you!" Lyle barked.

The broken man finally relented, "H-helmsman, change course... g-get us the hell out of here."

09:21; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – Kraken Class Warship "Yamamoto"

But unknown to those on the remaining ferry, they only avoided destruction because the Vice Chancellor chose not do have it blasted beneath the sea along with the rest of their fleet.

"All fleet assets.." Futayo started to command as she watched the image of the fleeing 'Midsummer Jolly'. "... converge and capture the remaining ferry."

"Permission to speak freely, milady." Adele communicated with curiosity, "Is there a reason to spare it?"

"I got a hunch that," she pointed at the ferry, "is their command ship. If so, they got their leadership on board. I want it boarded, and them captured."

The thane bowed, "And it will be done. Shall I pull back the witches?"

"Do it..." Futayo rose, spear in hand. "I will lead this capture personally."

"Jud."

"Milady..." sensory requested for her attention, and sounded rather uncertain, "We are getting strange pings off the coast."

The Vice Chancellor frowned, "Define 'strange'."

"Unknown. I'm looking into it."

"Do it... I will-" the words died in her throat as a sudden burst of light lit the ferry's image. Futayo turned and stared as the 'Midsummer Jolly' mysteriously and violently exploded, reduced to a sinking burning wreck so suddenly. The sight filled her with an outrage that quickly burst; "Who opened fire?!" she roared.

"Not one among us did, Vice Chancellor." Adele clamored in response as she had her own crew do a hasty analysis of what just happened, "Someone else did this!"

"Who?!"

"Found it..." sensory reported.

Futayo sat back down with a curse under her breath, "Bring it up on the view screen."

"Jud."

What she was promptly shown was seemingly naught but the naked sea to the south-west, in which direction the ferry was headed, until the surface was made transparent and displayed clearly what had destroyed it.

Adele adjusted her glasses, "A submarine. With the world in such a state, how can any power maintain a boat of such sophistication?"

"Maybe some of them are far more resourceful than we thought."

"Shall we pursue, milady?"

"No. Leave it." Futayo decided. Whatever faction this sub belonged to, it was certainly not affiliated with LIFTA. In the worst case scenario, it might belong to a rival gang set to take over the power vacuum left in LIFTA's wake. But until that is proven, she was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. "Status?"

"With the ferry destroyed, LIFTA is effectively no more. Survivors of the battle are piling onto the island and are no longer in the position to threaten anyone."

"Good." she sighed and reclined. "It is our victory then. Have our wounded taken care of, and prepare for departure from this airspace."

Adele smiled sadly, a flicker of relief in her eyes. "We're going back home, then?"

"Yes. We are going home."

09:27; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Lesser Islands – Near Valesland Island – Kraken Class Warship "Mirai"

Margot sat against the wall, mentally exhausted from the battle – even though it had been so brief. Her gaze lingered on a few patches of blood that stained the otherwise almost spotless floor – walls and roof sporting scratches caused by the ricochets of what little enemy fire managed to slip past the shield spells, and through the gun-ports.

Fifteen students injured on this ship, four of them severely. All of them now being taken care of downstairs - in the ship's infirmary. The descended angel suffered no wounds herself... but did receive a few inner scars. Margot looked at the view... unable to see the island from this vantage point, but could make out a part of the distant pillars of smoke that grew ever more distant.

Without noticing at first, she felled a tear – just as Naruze finally arrived from the 'Yamamoto': "Margot!" the fallen angle dropped her broom to the deck soon as she landed and rushed to her lover's side, "What's wrong, are you hurt?"

"J-just a little pain inside, Ga-chan." Margot replied with a shaky voice. "Why is it I feel bad about this? They were pirates... and needed to be stopped."

With a sad and gentle smile, Naruze sat down and lovingly wrapped her arms around Margot to pull her in close – close enough to make physical contact chest to chest. "I'm guessing it was the lack of proper uniforms. Even with weapons, they looked like civilians."

The descended angel contemplated it whilst her arms found their way around her lover's back too, "I see."

"Feel any better?"

"Just a little."

"Let's fix that shall we?" Naruze sultrily asked and winked as she leaned closer. And for a single instant it was as though their wings radiated from their heartfelt emotions for one another as their lips met into a kiss.

From further away, Adele could be seen. She had come to see the condition of the gun-ports personally before heading down to meet with the wounded. But once she saw the angels locked in a tight embrace, the thane decided she had seen enough here and bowed as she turned and left.

09:30 – 14 A.E.

Lesser Islands – Valesland Island – Beach

"Puaaahh!"

Lyle flailed as he finally manage to crawl onto the beach, utterly soaked with sea-water that seemed to have gotten everywhere in his suit. So much he felt immeasurably heavier than he actually was as he tried to push himself back up – coughing hard as he went.

He was out on the deck when the ferry suddenly burst, went up in flames, and sent him flying overboard. That was all that saved him from a fiery death and a watery grave.

Exhausted and freezing, he looked back at where the ferry used to be, all gone to the bottom of the ocean because of whatever hit them. In its place was a smattering of debris that floated idly. But no sign of other survivors.

That means the old coot's dead. I can accept that. Lyle thought grimly as he finally got up and walked off the beach to find his way back to the villa. At the very least the airships did not bombard the island.

Along the way, he found other people. Most of which had the same glazed distant gaze to them – shell-shocked by the one-sided battle. Understandable, as it only took Musashi a few minutes to thrash LIFTA. All of that planning, manpower and carefully selected weaponry, and the newcomers simply brushed it all aside. Ollivar understood this; if they are ever going to beat Musashi.. they need a whole lot more resources, and to be much more creative.

LIFTA however, no longer had the forces to resist them.

Finally, he came across one of the few who tried to rally the men for the effort up ahead. One of the late Darrel's foremen; "Hey, Anton!"

Anton snapped around, "Whoa... I thought you all bit the dust back there Mr. Ollivar... saw yer ferry go sky high."

"I was lucky to be on deck, and far enough away from the blast. Did you see who shot us?"

"Wasn't the airships, man. One of them did chase after you, but did not open fire."

Lyle nodded. "If that did not come from them... then who?"

"Hell if I know." Anton shrugged, "Maybe they had a sub waiting?"

He froze. That got him thinking. "A sub... That just might be it. Humor me on this, how many factions wants us dead so much that they would, hypothetically mind you, stalk us for a long time, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to knock us on our asses?"

"The Locust?"

"No, they aren't that choosy about their targets."

"COG?"

"Those bastards haven't ventured out here for years, I doubt they even know our organization even exist."

"Maybe Musashi got subs?"

"That is certainly possible. But if just two ships of their ships could blow us out of the water like this, why bother with a sub? No, we seem to be forgetting something... There is one faction out there with the resourcefulness, the determination, and the means... A group of people that absolutely hate Stranded." Lyle snapped his fingers repeatedly, trying to think until it finally occurred to him. "Shit. The Gorasni, that's right!"

"Gorasni?" Anton spat. "Those assholes got a sub?"

"Of course! It all makes sense now. We did have outlooks near their camps once that reported about a strange round tub before they got found out and killed. It fits."

"So what do we do now? Is Darrel still around?"

"He's down with the fishes now, Anton." Lyle spoke gravely, but without sorrow. "As of now, I am in command. Will you follow me?"

"Ah... sure."

"Gather everyone you can, then salvage as much weapons and supplies as you can. Piece together as many boats as possible while at it. We will need transport to ferry people out of here."

"Okay, but where are we supposed to go?"

"This war will continue. It will not end with this. We will learn from our mistakes and find the means to beat the newcomers. But for now, we'll be leaving this region..."

Anton shifted nervously, "Leave, and go where?"

Ollivar looked to the horizon with a steely gaze, "Char..."

09:29; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Quasi-Bahamut Class Aerial City-Ship "Musashi" - "Musashino" Bridge; Inadequate HQ

"So the operation was a complete success?" Masazumi asked. She sat on the captain's seat in the center of the bridge, eyes on Futayo's image hovering in front of her. Expression terribly grim.

"It is." her cousin confirmed without batting an eyebrow. "We have completely devastated LIFTA's ability to continue operations. Their fleets have been destroyed with minimal losses on our end."

The Vice President weighed her words, "Please specify... how many did we lose?"

"In total, we carry twenty-nine wounded. Ten of them in serious condition, but stable."

"Send me their information so I may alert their families, and make sure the hospital is ready to receive them upon your return."

"Jud."

The transmission ended, and left Masazumi to recline with a heavy heart. She spent a few seconds in deep thought before she got up from the chair to address the two in here with her. Toori and 'Musashi' in other words. Horizon had long since left to work at Blue Thunder – something about a special delivery.

"So they'll be back again soon?" Toori asked, as though he had not listened.

"Taking our current position into account, they won't be back till tomorrow at noon. Hopefully the condition of the wounded won't worsen. Can I count on you to be there with me when they do arrive?"

His stupid grin widened slightly, but the voice that left him was slow and considerate. "Sure thing."

"I will prepare a speech to inform the Protectorate of what has transpired. It should be ready by tomorrow morning..."

"Okay. Good luck with that Seijun." he semi-cheerfully said. "And since there's nothing else we can do right now..." Toori clapped his hands together, "Meeting's adjourned."

Masazumi understood that he, just from looking at her, observed that right now she would like nothing more than to be alone with her thoughts for a while. She watched as he swung about and practically danced his way out – probably to head over to Blue Thunder and meet with their sovereign. "Thank you." she quietly said.

09:45; 19th June; 1648; Testament Era

Quasi-Bahamut Class Aerial City-Ship "Musashi" - "Asakusa" outside the Interrogation room

"Any progress so far, Lady Nate?" Tenzou inquired curtly – flanked by his fiance and soon-to-become assistant Mary Stuart.

The half-werewolf cast a glance at Marcus Fenix, the only one of four in her immediate view as she closed the door. He glared right back with the same strength in his ice blue eyes that he had back when he first arrived with his team, although his posture was slightly slouched – a sign that he had weakened at least. Worse it was for the others, except Dominic – though even he was worn out.

Kimi's creative – not to mention terrifying – methods did give results. But how much more should we push?

Nate made sure to seal the door before she finally answered; "Not much. Even after what Itoken and Nenji put them through, they still hold fast."

"Fu fu~" Kimi giggled, lips curled into a conniving smirk as she too came down the hall to meet with them. "Then we shall loosen their tongues with a breakfast they will not soon forget! Those poor boys must be famished."

The others looked to Toori's sister with great trepidation, "What are you planning this time, Kimi?" Nate asked carefully.

"I've already placed the order. Musashi's ultimate culinary gut-flayer will soon arrive!" Kimi cheerfully informed them, and giggled with some darkness in her tone as they all heard approaching footsteps. "And she will soon be with us!"

Realization dawned on two of three. "No..." Tenzou shuddered, the eyes on his cap wide and pale in horror, "You must not bring this about, milady!"

Mary Stuart looked between them, confused. "What's the matter?"

"It is too cruel, Kimi." Nate seconded and took a step back. "... And inhumane!"

"You know it must be done, little beast." Kimi laughed, "Allow me to introduce that which will bring us our victory!"

At the next moment, a familiar figure rounded the nearest corner. "Blue Thunder special delivery." Horizon monotonously announced, a pair of baskets filled with bread hovering in her wake - some of which had been shaped into the likeness of brown algae - much to the discomfort of everyone but Kimi and the very confused Mary.

With the dramatic wave of an arm, Kimi continued with a devious smirk: "Horizon's cooking!"

Nate paled, unable to say a word. Tenzou on the other hand broke down and fell to his knees, with tears that poured down along his cheeks as though a dam had been broken somewhere, "It's cruel, milady! So cruel!" And Mary, unable to comprehend, could only laugh nervously as she crouched down to try and comfort her fiance with a pat on his back.

Further protest impossible, Horizon was allowed to bring the food she made to the prisoners inside. Though they were apparently quite appreciative of the meal given... the moment they bit down on the provided bread... they caught a glimpse of hell.

Author notes: Sorry for taking so long with this update. Had to pay attention to so many details. Also, added one detail to an earlier chapter - to add Adele to the expedition.

The biggest difficulty was on how to portray this battle. It could not help but be rather overwhelmingly one-sided. It's like fighting the first boss in a game, which is often the easiest. But I made sure to give LIFTA a fair amount of coverage. The gun-ports were somewhat inspired from Last Exile, where riflemen were stationed as point defense whenever they weren't being thrown away wastefully on the battles because of rules of chivalry. Although, it was kind of implemented so that LIFTA could do at least a modicum of damage in return.