Chapter 12

The sound of leather brushing against forged steel sounded across the ranks of Chevalier troops as combat rifles attached to slings lowered in unison. Over a thousand barrels aligned themselves towards the members of West Genetics now bolstered by the arrival of every other genetics facility in the world. What began as an uprising of a few hundred had grown into a full revolt. More than a few Asakura military now felt doubt and fear as the two hundred West Genetics Pandora and Limiters now charged alongside over two thousand students from their respective schools.

Interceptors frantically began to take off to engage the hundreds of genetics Interceptors barring down on them. They dipped low skimming the ground long enough to dislodge Pandora and Limiters who hit the ground running bringing their weapons forth to join the West Genetics force.

"Prepare to fire men!" General Strick commanded holding his hand high. Chevalier Pandora settled into a ready stance ahead of them holding their weapons tightly waiting for the genetics coalition to break over them. Their Limiters lined the terrain behind the Pandora preparing to engage their Freezing fields and keep their Pandora safe. Multiple gun barrels shook from trembling hands. In the history of mankind there had never been a battle like this. A civil war amongst the most powerful humans in the world. A war that would end with a single battle.

"Do not let their appearance fool you! They are not children! They are soldiers and will cut you down! Steady your aim and ready on my command!" General Strick shouted. Charging handles were pulled back sending a round into the chambers of every rifle. Twin whips extended from the handles in Claire's hands as she stood next to her sister behind the Chevalier Pandora. The long thin katana blade held in Charon's hand did not waver as they watched the charge near.

"Forgive us…" A soldier muttered shaking violently as rockets erupted from the Interceptors in the air spinning towards both sides of the battle.

"Fire!" General Strick yelled and a thousand rifles erupted in a cacophony of fire and light. Soldiers stood in a solid firing stance minimizing the recoil as they squeezed the triggers of their guns. Some did so calmly with practiced resilience. Others closed their eyes out of fear or regret for what things had come to.

"De Orleana Genetics! Protect your brothers and sisters!" Charles screamed into the radio pushing energy through her stigmata and reaching her hand forward out the door of the Interceptor she rode on. Nova energy blossomed ahead of the charging force powered by Charles and her fellow Pandora forming a shimmering wall that deflected the bullets harmlessly off its surface. It stretched across the entirety of the coalition protecting them from the hail of gunfire.

"Break them!" Varen yelled pulling the sword in his hands back before activating his acceleration and crashing into the line of Chevalier Pandora line. Explosions sent waves of heat and debris from the skies as Interceptors opened fire on one another. Volt weapons met volt weapons from Pandora fighting Pandora for the first time in an open war since their inception. This was different from the Spireach incident as it was an open declaration of war upon Chevalier from their own numbers.

"Support the right flank, Andre back them up!" Elizabeth shouted pointing to a group of Pandora from multiple schools. They nodded banding together and moved away from her quickly. She spun low as an axe cleaved through the air above her head. She finished the rotation handspringing backwards to gain more ground. Her hands raced forward commanding a wave of red lights to ignite from her satellites piercing the Pandora who had been trying to attack her. No sooner had she fallen away then two more dove in with weapons swinging at her.

"No!" She shouted flinging her arms wide sending a wild spray of laser fire towards them hoping to deter their advance. One of the Pandora holding a sword deflected the beams allowing her companion to follow up with her spear. Before it lanced through Elizabeth's chest a cloud of dust flew high into the air making Elizabeth cough and stare in confusion.

"Just in time." Charles said standing up from the crouch she held over the body of the Chevalier Pandora that had nearly ran Elizabeth through. Her punching dagger dislodged itself from the girl's chest as she stood and faced Elizabeth.

"Charles Bonaparte?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.

"I was wrong Elizabeth…about everything. Will you let someone as weak as me fight alongside someone as strong as you?" Charles asked. The Pandora with the sword ran forward. Elizabeth smiled softly and nodded.

"Til the very end my friend." She answered bringing a volley of lasers forward from her satellites. Charles spun on her toes and slashed her daggers wide forcing the Pandora into an awkward dodge that put her in line with the volley sending her crashing to the ground.

Ticy brought her blade high blocking a mace strike aimed for her head. Behind her Amelia twirled her bladed lance hard slapping a pair of swords away. Ticy shifted her stance and slashed ahead hard to push the enemy Pandora back. She could feel Amelia pressing her back against hers as they covered each other from attacks.

"Abel!" Ticy shouted seeing her Limiter holding his Freezing field as a Chevalier Pandora ran at him from behind her glaive held high. Ticy gritted her teeth and closed her eyes as the Pandora's weapon came down over his body. A sharp clanging noise brought her attention back seeing Abel holding a sword in his hands locked with the Chevalier Pandora. He roared and shoved her back breaking away from her. A look of shock crossed the Pandora's face.

"Thought that I would be easy since I'm a Limiter? I'm a Nightingale!" He shouted charging ahead at the Pandora to engage her once more.

"Now, that's a man!" Amelia said rotating her lance around in a feint before driving it through the shoulder of a Pandora she faced. Her excitement disappeared as she heard Ticy suck her breath in and stiffen slightly.

"Ticy Phenyl is it?" Amelia turned seeing a Pandora stalking towards Ticy. Black armor covered her body to match the faceplate covering her features. A blood soaked katana was held firm in her hand.

"Charon Fairchild…" Ticy said angrily.

"Ticy don't!" Amelia pleaded, but had to react before a spear impaled her from behind.

"You were Chiffon's best friend weren't you? I wonder if you deserved such a thing." Charon said flipping the katana around until it pointed at Ticy.

"Let's find out." Ticy answered bringing her blade high above her head in a defensive stance.

"Ticy!" Amelia yelled as her friend accelerated forward to meet Charon.

"Nightingale zero one position yourself bearing eleven echo!" Ingrid said into the mouthpiece spinning her bladed tonfas in her hands to deflect the polearm coming for her throat.

"Copy, inbound ten seconds" Captain Lane responded.

"All available engage eleven echo at fifteen degrees!" Ingrid said before focusing on the enemy ahead of her. Beside her Cassie spun and rolled around two Chevalier Pandora using her speed to keep them off balance. Ingrid cringed as a round tore through her shoulder spinning her away.

"Ingrid!" Cassie yelled slashing her wrist blades high catching both Pandora in the throat. She dove forward intercepting the Pandora Ingrid had been facing blocking her strike.

"Damnit! I'm tired of being shot!" Ingrid shouted shoving past Cassie swinging her tonfas violently from multiple angles. A downward strike left an opening for her to drive her offhand tonfa into the Pandora's stomach sending her backwards clutching her mid-section.

"Are you alright?" Cassie asked and Ingrid nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine thanks." She answered giving Cassie a nod.

"Inbound, bring them down!" David radioed as he and three other Interceptors flew past the Asakura military line peppering the ground with machine gun fire. A large swath of troops fell under the weight of the gunfire giving a brief reprieve for the ground forces.

"Good run! Lowlands can you secure?" Ingrid cheered seeing a pocket of Pandora wearing Lowlands Genetics uniforms near the immediate vicinity.

"Copy, we'll push through." A girl answered. Cassie pressed a bandage against Ingrid's back where the exit wound was drawing a slight sound of irritation from the redhead.

"You know your stuff. I see why Varen left you in charge." Cassie said tying off the bandage and slapping her back to let her know she was finished.

"Still have a long way to go, but thanks!" Ingrid answered with a grin.

The area around Varen and Arnette was devoid of enemies. A good number of Pandora already lay dead or dying at their feet as they both twisted around one another letting their weapons lash out to catch anyone who dared get close. Even as the Chevalier Pandora charged in force they were able to repel them with practiced efficiency. Aside from a few minor cuts and bruises they were unharmed and their determination now kept the Pandora from charging them once more.

"Come on!" Arnette yelled gripping her scythe. She felt Varen's attention waver through their connection and snapped her head towards him.

"God no!" He yelled running at the line of Chevalier Pandora hard. Arnette panicked and chased after him swinging her scythe to batter away any weapons reaching for her.

"Varen! What…" She trailed off seeing Ticy locking blades with Charon far in the distance. Her heart leapt into her throat as she brought her weapon back to fend off another sword coming for her.

"Hurry Varen!" She screamed.