Chapter 5: War

Roy winced as he tried to hold a pen to sign a few requisition forms. He had been taking two shifts for every one of the other State Alchemists to conserve their energy, so his fingers were sore from snapping to generate the sparks for his flame alchemy.

Two months had passed since the western state started waging war with Amestris, with no end in sight.

"Are you going to be all right, General?" Armstrong asked as he entered the tent they had set up as their headquarters.

"I'll be fine; don't worry about me, Lieutenant Colonel. I must admit, I'm glad you asked your sister to send some of her troops down to help us. They've been doing the most damage so far."

Armstrong nodded. "It wasn't that hard to convince her once she learned of what was happening." He noticed Roy's awkward attempt at writing. "Might I suggest using Captain Havoc's matches for the next time you enter battle?"

Roy smiled at Armstrong. "I should, it would be fitting punishment for him. He took far too long in getting to Liore; it started to piss me off waiting for you two."

Armstrong nodded and was about to speak before Fuery entered the tent.

"Sir, Brigadier General Adran has returned from his scouting mission." He said before being pushed roughly aside by Adran.

"I request that you stop pushing around my staff, Brigadier General." Roy had a dangerous tone in his voice as he watched Fuery pick up his glasses before quickly leaving the tent.

Adran ignored the veiled threat as he pointed to the map hanging on the wall. "The enemy's headquarters is located here. I can have a team assembled and ready to strike at any time, sir."

"No." Roy said, standing.

Adran frowned as he approached, examining the map. "Why? We can end this quickly if we take out their leaders!" He growled.

Roy held his hand up to silence Adran's protests. "I didn't mean we won't attack. I will go personally to end this. Too many of our people have died because of my inaction to this point, and I refuse to let that continue." Roy said sternly.

He ignored the protests of both Adran and Riza, who had been standing silently by the table the whole time.

"Don't worry, Hawkeye, I wouldn't leave you behind."

Riza's protests immediately ceased as she saluted him. "Thank you sir, I will watch your back."

"Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong, you're in charge until I return."

"I understand." Armstrong said, nodding slightly.

"I'm your second! I should be in charge!" Adran yelled.

Roy turned to face him with a frown. "Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong has more experience in battle. I trust his judgement and know he will make the right decision when the time comes." He turned back to Armstrong. "When the retreat is called, make sure to let them leave without a fight. I don't want us to be in the wrong for any reason."

Armstrong nodded as he followed Roy out of the tent, leaving an angered Adran behind.

"Fuery, Falman, Breda, Havoc!" He called out.

Almost immediately, his men were standing before him, saluting with Riza.

"Come on, we're going after their leader."

"Yes sir!" They answered.

"Good luck, Armstrong."

Armstrong flexed his muscles as pink sparkles appeared. "You can count on the strength of my lineage to pull our forces through this mess!"

Roy tuned out the rest of his speech as he and his team began to make their way out of the trenches, heading towards the ridge the State Alchemists were using to launch their attacks.

A young western soldier held a shaky gun aimed at Roy. He had accidentally stumbled on them as they slipped through enemy territory.

"Back off soldier, you don't want to do this…" Roy warned.

The soldier looked around at Roy's team, all of whom had their guns pointed at him. He didn't seem to realize what the unarmed man before him was and why his right arm was tensed as though he was ready to do something. "Y-you're the General in charge of the Amestris forces… I-I could get a big honour for taking you out…" The soldier was scared but had a determined look on his face.

"I'm warning you to back off. If you don't, you'll be killed before you can even think of pulling the trigger." Roy growled at the young man.

Again, the soldier looked at Roy's team, but this time he lowered his weapon and nodded.

"Good. Now… drop your weapon, leave the battlefield and return to your home."

The soldier blinked at Roy in surprise before setting his weapon on the ground, and turned to leave.

"Let's go." Roy ordered and resumed walking, his team following closely until a click was heard.

The soldier had picked up his gun and had it aimed directly at Roy's back.

In one swift movement, Roy turned and snapped his fingers.

The soldier had no time to react as his gun exploded. Screams of pain erupted from him as he collapsed to his knees, staring at his missing hands.

"You were warned." Roy said grimly before walking on.

"Why didn't you finish him off, sir?" Falman asked worriedly.

Roy smiled in amusement. "I don't know… I guess I must be going soft…"

The others looked at each other in surprise and confusion before following.

"That's odd… no guards…" Breda observed as they looked down at the tent that housed the western army's leaders.

"Keep a careful watch." Roy warned as they made their way carefully down to the tent.

There was a flurry of movement when they stepped into the tent as guns were drawn and aimed at each other from all directions.

"I had heard reports that you were coming. I must admit though that you came sooner than I expected." An older man said as he approached Roy. He was the only one without a weapon drawn as Riza aimed her gun at him warily. "You are quite outnumbered, General Mustang. If your personnel were to lower their weapons, mine will do the same. I know you came only to talk, so I shall listen."

Roy stared at the older man in surprise.

He chuckled at Roy's expression. "Don't be so surprised, General Mustang. Your reputation precedes you, and I know mine does too. I am General Musoline Harvend; now please get your personnel to lower their weapons."

Roy paled as he realized who he was facing. Musoline Harvend was well known amongst the Amestris military because he was a brilliant General and an honest man. "Do it." Roy said simply, ignoring the stares of shock from his team.

Riza nodded and lowered her gun warily.

Slowly, guns all around the tent were lowered as the two men stared at each other in silence.

"So, what brings you here?" Musoline asked after all the weapons were put away.

"I came to try and understand why the western state would suddenly start attacking. We have had many years of peace, even under the traitor Bradley's rule, so why attack us?"

Musoline sighed, shaking his head sadly. "I don't know, General. I wish I did, but I don't. It was very sudden, the order to attack Amestris, at least when it was announced. The king must have been deliberating on it for months before though."

"Then you must order your troops to retreat! Tell your king that we defeated you or something! Both of our armies are exhausted and this war could drag on for years if you don't do something!" Roy pleaded.

Musoline shook his head. "I am sorry General, but it isn't in my nature to retreat from battle no matter how trivial the reasoning behind it is. Besides, it is against the law to simply retreat unless it is ordered by the king."

Roy looked away from the older man in frustration.

Musoline stared at Roy's eye patch for some time before sighing. "My wife has been gone for two years now, and my children have all grown up and left me. I feel it is time to move on from this world…"

Roy looked at him in surprise, wondering what the older man was getting at.

"There is a loophole in that law, and it would satisfy both our needs."

"General, you don't mean…" A woman who stood near him asked worriedly.

Musoline nodded. "If you were to kill me, then command would fall to my second and he would be allowed to call a retreat. If we hurry, we could have a duel before my second returns and my third in command would be allowed to call the retreat. My second, unfortunately, has never been fond of Amestris and would refuse to retreat. My dear Colonel here has been opposed to the operation since it began, though, so she would willingly call the retreat. Am I right, dear?" He asked, looking at the woman, who nodded sadly.

Other soldiers in the tent looked at the General with equally sad expressions. It was obvious that they would miss being under his command.

Roy sighed. "If that's the only way that we can end this war, I've got no choice."

"And please try not to use your alchemy, Flame Alchemist." Musoline said slyly as Roy began walking out of the tent.

Roy looked back and smiled. "Of course I won't." He said as he left the tent, followed by his team.

"Everyone, you will go home and return to your families. It has been a pleasure serving with you."

The soldiers saluted him as he left the tent with the female Colonel following close behind.