The Retrieval Mission
Meanwhile, at the Accretia planet
Two Warrior-class cyborgs entered the hall steadily. One of them wore the white armor with golden lines, and the other red-hued armor. They ignored the busy cogs and drones around them and continued toward the gigantic white robot at the hall. At first, the static filled their vision until it was replaced by the face of one-eyed robot. Few crackles later, the Admin Unit 001B addressed them with digitized voice,
"GungnirTII unit…Class Warrior, sub-class Destroyer and Assaulter!" The white-armored cyborg knelt,
"InvictusR35…Class Warrior, sub-class Gladius and Punisher!" the red-hued one bowed. The robot continued,
"Both of you are the finest warriors that the Empire ever have! Now the Empire needs your assistance for a delicate mission!" Then the screen showed the huge explosion at the field,
"At 1630 Novus time, a powerful explosion occurred! On the said time, the 56th Imperial Legion had fought with the Corites and the Bellateans. From the calculations, the power that the explosion unleashed was about 15,000 megatons and upon that condition, concluded there would be no survivors …"
"However, our receiver caught a ping from unit Zero0x at 1700 Novus time. The signal is abruptly off at 1715 Novus time. From our previous analysis on the situation, survival is unlikely. Yet, Zero0x manage to survive. The Empire decides to send both of you to retrieve the unit back…" The cyborgs were silent momentarily until one of them asked,
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UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Gungnir found the data and information somehow disconcerting, and then he requested,
"Unit 001B, may I ask permission to speak?"
"Permission is given, go ahead!" The Warrior spoke,
"I found the information is…irrational and flawed. Every Accretian unit had been programmed to self-destruct, whenever they were separated from the main force. Yet, Zero0x unit had survived…is it possible that the unit had gone rogue like the Turncoats?" The Admin Unit explained,
"It comes to pass in our calculation, however an explanation was found. Zero's mechanism of self-destruct might be damaged during the explosion. Further reports said that no Turncoats detected around the ground zero in radius 1000 miles. In that case, it might not gone rogue…is that clear?"
Gungnir asked again, "If that so, what is our mission's objective then?"
"Your priority is to retrieve the unit or its database whenever possible. It might contain data about the explosion…from that we can calculate and predict who had fire such powerful weapon. Once we manage to find it, the Empire can reproduce such weapon for bringing victory to us,"
"Gungnir, you shall lead the 36th Company for this mission! Each unit had been informed about this and expected to know their roles. To aid you in this mission, the Empire also sends one of the brightest researchers!" Gungnir turned around and saw a Specialist-class cyborg behind them. The insignia at its right shoulder signed that the cyborg was Scientist sub-class. The robot nodded and spoke with a digitized voice like the ordinary Accretia. But the warrior sensed something peculiar to this one,
"Greetings, ExvionE47 unit at your service…"
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At the same time in Bellato Colony,
The casualty reports rolled on the screen, as the bereaved family checked for their lost relatives. Most of them wept, while few struggled to hold their tears. Each of them knew that their sacrifices wasn't in vain; all of them for the Bellato Federation! Among them, some shouted "Glory for Freedom!" "For Bellato Nation!" Still, it won't stop the grief
Zephyrus watched them impassively; he was too familiar with this scene. Being a veteran, he had learned to cope with loss. His family was perished by an Accretian bomb, while his girlfriend was killed by a Corite assassin. Nevertheless, he didn't blame Accretian, Corite and even his own kind for waging such senseless battle. Everything had its purpose, he always said that. Not for long, someone interrupted his musing,
"Major Zephyrs?" The veteran wizard turned,
"Yes?" The soldier continued,
"The High Command wants to see you; they say you have a mission."
Zephyrus sighed, "Never a dull moment!" After saying so, he took his trusted staff and went outside,
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Back to Accretian HQ,
Several cyborgs had waited at the designated place nearby the portal. Gungnir inspected them carefully.
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Facing them, he ordered,
"Units, introduce your registry number and occupations!" The light-armored cyborg at his left replied,
"Shadx13, Class Ranger, subclass Scout and Phantom Shadow…" The next one continued,
"Tri-EdgeX8, Class Ranger, subclass Gunner and Striker…"
"Gruudx76, Class Warrior, subclass Gunner and Dementer…"
"Stop!" The robots went still, and then the commanding robot went closer,
"Unit x76, I have received information about you from your previous company…mostly they reported well about your performance on the battlefield. You had a reputation to be the best Cross-class Warrior," The said cyborg confirmed,
"Affirmative, Leader Unit!" However, Gungnir continued,
"Yet, the same company also reported that you have a tendency to disobeying orders, whether direct or indirect. This report had gone for investigative subject by Imperial Board. Any disobediences again, you will be sent to the Melting Plant without further consideration," The Warrior went closer until their singular eyes stared each other,
"For this mission, I require absolute obedience! I hope your circuitry can accept that well, Unit x76! Is that clear?" The heavy-armored robot didn't reply; it looks brooding. Gungnir turned around and continued the roll,
"Continue!" The Specialist robot replied,
"ExvionE47, Class Specialist, subclass Engineer and Scientist…" Ignoring the strange accent, Gungnir glanced to his second-in-command,
"Unit R46, is everything ready?" The Gladius nodded,
"Affirmative, Leader! The equipment had been checked and the coordinates had been programmed directly into our database! Our preparations are ready!"
"Excellent!" Gungnir faced his party back, "Listen, I expect all of you know your roles well! This is for the Empire and we won't fail! We shall prevail or destroy in attempt to! Failure is not an option! HAIL THE EMPIRE!" The others followed,
"HAIL THE EMPIRE!"
"Now check your equipments and armaments! Fix our chronometer at the same time! We will depart to the designated coordinates at 0900 Novus Time." After fixing their chronometers, those cyborgs went into the portal one-by-one and disappeared…
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Inside the Great Hall where the Bellato High Command convene,
Zephyrus stood stoically; if there was one thing that he didn't like, it is facing the High Command. Bellato High Command was composed of military and politicians alike; these people were never faced the real battlefield and sometimes sent the youths to their deaths without thinking. Black MAU Down was the good example of that. It was no secret that they didn't like him, and vice versa. Yet, they called him for something…
"Major Zephyrus…" The veteran nodded,
"Yes?" Eli Dun Tanta, one of the council members spoke,
"Perhaps you had already heard the recent incident, am I right?"
The officer replied, "Yes, Sir!" Another council member added,
"It is a regrettable incident…I believe that you know Sergeant Maya well, for she was one of your trainees before."
"Yes, sir! That's right!"
"Now we come to the real business here…the High Command want you to form a small company, you will go to the ground zero…" Now it was piqued the wizard's curiosity. The council member continued,
"Our scientist had analyzed the impact and explosion chronologically; they say the attack wasn't belonging to the Accretian's technology or Corites' sorcery. Not only that, they also discovered a distress signal from the ground zero. It meant one thing…"
Zephyrus said, "…there was a survivor there…"
"Yes, but we can't be certain whether the survivor is our kind or something else…nevertheless we must learn everything from the survivor. Is that clear, Major?" The veteran mused,
Typical, I assume this isn't a humanitarian mission…
"Do you have something to ask, Major?"
"Yes, I will take this mission. But I ask the permission to select my men…"
"Granted, you have 24 hours to assemble your company! The High Command will provide resources needed for you,"
"I have a question; what will we do if the survivor is an Accretian or a Cora? What will we do to them?"
The council was silent momentarily, until Eli replied with stern note,
"You are ordered to retrieve them, Major! What happen to them is not your concern…do you understand?" The wizard nodded,
"Yes, Sir!"
"If you have nothing to ask, you are dismissed…" Zephyrus nodded once again, and then left the hall. Actually, he felt dissatisfied. Yet, he had to obey as an obedient soldier. The wizard smiled to think that his old companion Novem, would be happy to join this mission.
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In the Cora Colony,
The merriment was evident inside, as everyone looks exuberant after the report. The Corites welcomed the death as a part of the great cycle. They believed DECEM will bless the fallen one with honor and glory. Quiane Khan announced joyously,
"Blessed be DECEM! Our brethren and sisters who had fallen on the battlefield will receive their rewards! Their memories shall fuel our vengeance to the hated Accretians and Bellateans! We won't spare them in the next battle until the entire universe shall belong to the Holy Alliance forever! Long live DECEM!"
The entire people shouted, "Long live DECEM! Long live DECEM!" The joyous party immediately begun, while few looks away. One of them leaned at the secluded place until someone asked,
"You didn't join the party, Almasyr?" Almasyr glanced around and saw two women in front of him. The knot-haired woman looks older and sometimes flirtatious, while her younger companion was short-haired and looks shyly. The older woman wore ranger armaments. Forcing a smile, Almasyr answered,
"I love to, Penthesilea…but how can I join this party if knowing Cly…is gone?" Sorrow was palpable within the warrior's words. Then the young spiritualist, Alcyone said,
"Sir, I know how you feel…but as you heard from the Minister there was no survivor after such explosion…" she stopped a while, "Clytemnestra is my relative and companion at the Spiritualist College…I know what losing the people feel,"
Almasyr replied, "Thank you, but I still have feeling that she isn't dead…"
Penthesilea corrected, "Excuse me, I don't mean to offending you…but how can you be so sure? You have seen the extent of the explosion…"
"I know," the Warrior answered, "…but I strongly believe that DECEM still protect her. Until I have seen her cold body in front of me, I won't accept that Cly is already dead…" The Hunter and the Spiritualist stared each other, and then the older woman said,
"Perhaps we should talk with Patriarch Ladenus first…I hope he would convince you from this foolishness,"
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Back to Bellato HQ,
Before Zephyrus, five MAUs amassed nearby the portals. Various colors gathered; red, black, blue, green and yellow MAU. From the yellow Catapult's cockpit, the brown-haided Bellato girl came out and greeted him,
"Hullo, ol' man? Who are you looking for?"
Slightly offended, the wizard immediately exerted his authority,
"Soldier, you forget the formalities. Is that how you address your superior?" he said sternly,
Those words heard by the people nearby. The girl noticed the insignia and realized her error. She quickly came down and saluted,
"Sorry, Sir! Lieutenant Vernitz from 4th Armored Division, Sir!" she continued, "I am apologizing for my disrespectful manner…" Satisfied, Zephyrus said,
"Apology accepted. Now I ask you where your commanding officer is…" Not for long, the pink-haired woman came from the opposite direction; she was accompanied by a shy spiritualist. The woman was looks like a typical female Bellato, but her beauty was marred by a scar on her right cheek. Like Vernitz, she also wore goggles.
"What's up, Major?" she asked with friendly tone, "I also apologize for Vernitz; she was a rookie and just finished a mission at Ether," The wizard nodded,
"I understand…perhaps this isn't a right time, but I really need your help, Novem"
"Tell me, what I and my Division can help?" Not wasting time, the wizard explained everything about the mission to the Mental Smith. She merely nodded,
"Hmm, it sounds serious…but hey, 'danger' is our division's expertise…" Novem whistled to call her division; instantly three men joined beside Vernitz, Their commander ordered,
"Soldier, atten-hut!" Then she paid a look to Zephyrus, ""Soldier, introduce yourself to Major!"
The first man shouted, "Corporal Armbold, Shield Miller! Sir!" The rest followed,
"Sergeant Arnel, Armor Rider! Sir!"
"Lieutenant Vernitz, Armor Rider! Sir!"
"Corporal Brood, Hidden Soldier! Sir!" Zephyrus looks amused after hearing them. He turned to Novem,
"I notice you don't have any Force-user in your company, Colonel?" The Mental Smith chuckled and glanced to the spiritualist behind her,
"Nelysa, introduce yourself," The young spiritualist bowed,
"Greetings, my name is Nelysa and I am a Holy Chandra for 4th Armored Division," Once again, the wizard merely nodded. He had known Novem from the Academy; she was known as punctual and detail-oriented. If he had someone to accompany him at the mission, she was the right choice. Then Zephyrus spoke facing the soldiers,
"Listen, we have this important mission! We must do it, because our nation's future was on the stakes! Bellato Nation selects you, because you are the best! We must not fail! This is for what?"
Everyone in the company shouted, "For glory of Bellato Nation, Sir!"
"Say aloud; I can't hear you! This is for what?" The company shouted once more again; this time is louder,
"Glory of Bellato Nation, sir!" The wizard nodded,
"Excellent, we shall depart from the HQ at 0900 Novus Time and arrived there at the designated coordinat. Exercise extreme caution; we might be not alone…" Everyone including Vernitz gave him military salutes.
"Dismiss, soldier!" As everyone dismissed, he glanced to Novem and commented,
"Just like the old time, pal?" The Mental Smith nodded,
"Yes, only merrier…"
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Inside the private room at the Colony,
The trim-haired elder man with blue tunic sat calmly, while Minister Quiane Khan stood beside him. Before them, Almasyr, Alcyone and Penthesilea knelt. The man said,
"Stand up, all of you…" Three of them got up. The elder spoke,
"I appreciate your devotion and loyalty to Clytemnestra, Almasyr. However, she was safe with DECEM…you are free from the engagement," The young warrior bowed and then said,
"Forgive me, Patriarch. But I still can't accept if Cly is dead…I know it looks blasphemous to DECEM, yet my heart is hard to let her go…" Quiane cut him sternly,
"Be careful with your words, young one. DECEM won't let this insolence," Patriarch Ladenus silenced her, and turned to Almasyr,
"So, what can I do to convince you that she had already gone?"
The Knight said, "Let me go to her resting place and…bring her body to be cremated in the colony. That's my wish…" he continued, "By then, I can say farewell to her, Patriarch!" The elderly man nodded understandingly,
"I appreciate your devotion, Almasyr. Had she still alive, DECEM would bless your marriage and I am honored to have son-in-law like you." He glanced to the Minister,
"Quiane, what do you think?" Quiane answered,
"If Patriarch agrees, I won't against it. I recommend Penthesilea to lead the company, since she was our best Hunter," The said woman bowed,
"I accept the responsibility, Minister! Patriarch!" Then the young spiritualist also bowed,
"Minister, I am asking to be included in the company! Clytemnestra is my friend in Mage Academy, therefore I want to join as well." Quiane shook her head, before saying,
"Fine, but remember! Your only objective is to retrieve the remains…nothing else," She glanced to Penthesilea,
"These youth were your responsibility, Penthesilea! If they were harmed, we hold you accountable…understood?" The female Hunter smirked,
"I never lose anyone on my tour of duty! I am assuring you that they would return unharmed…"
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Meanwhile, few miles from the ground zero,
Wiping his forehead, Ranskye went to find Clytemnestra at the rock alcove; she didn't looks pleased. He knew why; his entire body was stained with soot and grease. He spent time to dismantle the Accretian's CPU and tried to reprogram it. It was hard, considering nobody in the Bellato managed to capture an active Accretia to be studied. Yet, the ranger had paid attention to the advanced programming at the Academy; he quite excelled in that subject. Had it not for Maya, Ran would become a Craftsman instead of Ranger. Though not able to rewrite the cyborg's entire program, he could bypass its firewall and 'modify' its basic program. For precaution, he also tweaked its safety procedures in order to prevent the cyborg attacks them.
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"Well?" Cly asked. He answered,
"After hours for dismantling it, I manage to fix its programming. To be honest, I never see such complex program and design…but at least; it might be enough to prevent it attacking us,"
"I don't like the word 'might'?" she said sarcastically, "Because I can't stand…" The spiritualist was unable to continue, and pointed to Ran. The Bellato turned back and saw…the hulking Accretia looms behind him.
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Author's Note: Hi, perhaps this chapter is too rush! Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Each side had prepared their team to retrieve the survivors. In other side, Ranskye and Clytemnestra faced an uncertain fate as Zero0X awoke from its shutdown. Will Ranskye's program succeed? Or they would meet a grisly end? Find the answer at the next chapter, "Settle the Differences".