So uh, sorry for the delay. Enjoy chapter 15 everyone!

Days later. Location: Gallia Militia Base, War room

"Something to cover the enemies' vision?" Uni asks.

"Correct, miss Uni." Eleanor explains. "Marberry Shore basically has no covers between us and the Imperial Army."

Welkin follows: "Also, the enemies have entrenched the whole place with gunneries and mortars. The leading path is also narrow, and that means the foot soldiers will have to lead here."

Rosie complains: "And if we directly go in, it's basically a suicide mission. I doubt even a cat with nine lives can survive that."

Largo: "We're soldiers, so we have to take the risk. But, if there's an alternative way, then we will gladly take it."

Uni looks at the map again to check if there's any ways to go around... "It just HAS to be in the boundary, huh? No way to go around the back then."

Alicia then asks: "Kuro has those enemy-finding grenades, right? Do you have anything to blind the enemies?"

Uni: "Well... we have two, but since the battlefield is too large, a number of grenades to use is going to be over two-digits."

Isara: "But that's a grenade. Can you create a tank shell filled of that?"

Uni thinks for a second. "That... might work. Yes, it will work." She then confirms. "But... if that's the case... Edelweiss might have to replace the AP shell for this occasion."

"Well that's where I come in." Zaka, the new member of Squad 7, speaks up. "I will control another tank and help dealing the damage for you guys."

"That's one less thing to worry about." Uni then brings up another thing: "So when should we attack? Day or night? I vote for the latter."

"I have to disagree in this matter." Surprisingly, Kuro is the one saying that. "It's not that it's not effective to fight them in the dark since we have the advantages of technology. However, given that they have mortars and gunneries, the night-goggles could break at any seconds, and that's not something we like."

"Then we don't have the weather on our side." Welkin rubs his left temple. "And we have to fight in Holy Spirit Festival too... it's not going to be fun to everyone."

Kuro then asks: "Isara, Uni, how long do you think it takes for us to create those shells? Is it possible to do it before the festival?"

Uni: "...Even if we use up all the night, we would still have to fight at the beginning of the festival."

The other merc sighs. "Then don't rush... Now I'm tempting to go on this op alone..."

"Then that would defeat the purpose of us being mercs... still, I can understand your frustration..."

"If there's nothing you can say more, then you're dismissed." Eleanor says. "Wish you have a happy Holy Spirit Festival."

Nighttime, same day. Location: Male Barrack

"Something in your mind?" Welkin asks Kuro, as the merc stands near the window and looks towards the sky.

"...Kinda." Kuro then sits down on one of the chairs, and controls Shanghai who's dancing on a table to make her change into another dance. "Fighting in a happy day of a nation... a very unfortunate time for a war to happen."

Welkin sits down on a bed, looks at the dancing doll before saying: "It's unfortunate, indeed. But, that's the life of a soldier... surely you have a time of inconvenience like this?"

"A lot." Making Shanghai spin once, Kuro adds: "But, for the sakes of the others, I don't really mind since I have all the time in the world if I truly want."

"True..." Welkin doesn't have many things to say about it. Then, he changes the subject: "Hey, tomorrow we're going to have a small party for the Festival. Want to join?"

Kuro chuckles, as Shanghai stops dancing and starts clapping happily. "Of course. Can't deny an invitation like that."

...

The next day

"A luck charm, heh?" Kuro receives a Darscens doll from Zaka, as they're in the dining hall of the base.

"Yeah. The people in Fouzen are grateful of the Militia's help, especially you and Uni. The two 'Darcsens' that stood up among the rest."

"They know that we aren't, right?" Uni receives one as well, and she asks jokingly.

"Yep." Zaka then turns to look at Isara who's also giving the charm to Largo and Rosie, the former thankfully taking it while the other still denying the present. "I guess she's still a little stuck up."

"She is... changing a person's perspective is not very easy." Kuro then pulls out a small, old diary out of his pocket and gives it to Zaka. "Managed to get this out of the burning mess in Barious in the past. Given the name, I guess it belonged to an old Darscens. Something to remember the past."

"Ah, thanks." Zaka gratefully receives it. "Your power really goes very handy a lot of times."

"It is." Kuro then spots Imca in the hall, and he calls her: "Hey, Ace. Want to join us?"

"Thanks, but I'm returning to my squad now."

"Well, suit yourself." Imca nods and heads out. Kuro then turns to Zaka and asks: "Hey, have you talked to her yet?"

"Ah yeah, a few times. A little too uptight. But, I could see pain in her eyes, so I guess she's like Rosie in a sense..."

"Yeah... something like that..." Hearing the story from Kuro, Uni could understand. "Although, at least she's a little open-minded to her squadmates."

"That I saw." Zaka agrees. "Well, let's enjoy the festival before the fight."

When Zaka heads out, Uni then asks Kuro: "So... they're not going out yet? Squad 422, I mean?"

"After Naggair...or maybe not. I mean, Calamity Raven is currently working outside of Gallia ground, and their priority is not to take over Randgriz. Tesla brothers managed to get them on their sides, so I think I could try the same thing. And... I believe I do have an inner friend..."

Uni shakes her head in amusement. "Yeah, independence seekers."

...

A day before the operation. Eleanor's Office

"Have the smoke shells finished, mister Kuro?"

"They have, miss Eleanor."

"...Do you think it will work?"

"Blinding the enemies, yes. Blocking bullets, obviously no. But, they will have to shoot blind, so at least we still have a better chance to survive the barrages."

"I see... Other than that..."

"Well, I do have to call for another back-up, if you want to ask about that."

Dawn. Marberry Shore

"Everyone, listen up. The entrance between us and the enemies has little to no covers. Try to use the smokescreen and our tanks to hide yourself from the enemies." Welkin orders.

"Regular Army will use their tanks to cover the infantry until the slopes. From there, Engineers, keep using the smoke grenades to cover our allies." Kurt has also ordered his squadmates in helping the operation.

"Be advised, all units. The Imperial is having high ground advantage. Be careful of what's over the cliff." Eleanor warns through the radio.

"Hey, Ace. You still have space in your bag?" Imca turns to look at Kuro, who's in his Juggernaut armor with a few small warheads in his arms. "I need you to hold on this for a while."

"What's the occasion?" Receiving the bag, Imca asks emotionlessly.

"It's to deal with the annoying bunkers." Kuro simply says.

"...Alright."

"Thanks." Returning to his squad, Kuro says to Welkin: "Everything is ready."

"Okay. Squad 7, move out!"

...

Thanks to the help of Regular Army, the Gallia soldiers manage to push towards the slopes. Though, from here the soldiers have to go in without the support of tanks. They have to rely on the smoke grenades that Engineers throw around and hide behind any covers they could find. The Lancers try to blast away the bunkers but so far there are not very effective.

"Hey, Ace. Ask Kuro what the hell he gave you earlier." Number 33 ducks behind cover next to Ace, then she remembers about the warheads.

Nodding, Ace calls over her radio: "Hey, Kuro. About the warheads you gave me..."

"Your weapons have multi-lock system, right?" Kuro asks back, before he raises his shield up to block a mortar heading straight to him. "Pull out two of those and aim it at two of the bunkers and fire."

"Even tank shells don't work against them. Why do you think these warheads could make a difference?"

"Trust me, it will."

Deciding to trust him this time, Ace loads the warheads and fires them at the nearest bunkers to her. She is expecting them to explode...only to see them landing harmlessly on the top of the bunkers. "...Those warheads don't work, you dumba$$."

"Who said they don't work?" Kuro changes his position and rushes to where Ace is. He then pulls out a communicating device of him. "Watch."

"This is not the time to play..." Ace shuts herself up when she sees the screen. "What...is...that..."

"Art of war." That's Kuro's simple answer to Ace, before he orders: "Warhammer, do you have a clear shot on the beacons?"

"Standby... affirmative." An unfamiliar voice calls out from Kuro's device. "Danger close."

"Got it!" Kuro then calls everyone through the radio: "Every infantry, danger close! Take cover immediately!"

"W..." Ace has no chances to talk as Kuro already pushes Ace and Thirty-three's backs and covers them with his body. Just at that moment Ace hears sounds of bullets flying above her head and sounds of explosions. Moving their heads up a bit, Squad 422's members see something that's nearly impossible. From the sky, barrages of bullets hail down like rainstorms, hitting at the bunkers that Ace just hit the mini-warheads. The barrages then stop after ten seconds of shooting... and a missile flies towards another bunker, destroying it instantly. "What...from the sky?"

"That's my back-up." Kuro has retracted his hands and reaches his gun. "Uni, man the Predator. I'm going in."

...

"Copy that." Uni answers, while looking over her communicate device. "Time for another wave of air strike..."

From the Predator's eye, she could see Gallian soldiers hiding inside the smoke screen, with Squad 422 and Squad 7 slowly pushing towards the enemies. One bunker is right in front of Number Seven's face, so she calls him back so her shot wouldn't harm him. Once the second missile is out, Uni lets the Predator change its position while she runs towards another cover and starts helping Gallia Snipers in shooting down the Imp Snipers.

Closing in to the second camp, Uni sees Kuro raising his shield to protect some Gallia troopers getting wounded from stray shots. Shooting a Scout trying to get in, she then asks Kuro: "How's it going?"

"One beacon left." He then turns to see Ace using the last one, followed immediately by the barrage shot from AC-130. "...Never mind. Any smoke grenades left?"

"The color ones, you mean?" Pulling out one, Uni asks before ducking to avoid a shot flying over her head.

"Yep, that one." Retracting the shield, Kuro raises his machine gun and shoots down a gunnery. "You do it yourself, or..."

"Don't worry, I got it." Putting back her gun, Uni calls out her sword, which is designed after Brave's sword, and starts charging forward the enemies. With years of fighting, she easily dodges around the bullet hails from the enemies, while cutting down ones near her. Then, when she's near one bunker, she pulls the pin of the smoke grenade and throws it on top of the objective before retreating back quickly. Over the radio, she hears the confirming vision of Warhammer, and seconds later the bunker's destroyed.

"Black Sister, this is Warhammer. We see enemies starting to retreat. Should we blast them down?"

"...Negative. Let them be." There's no reasons for more bloodshed.

"Understand. Warhammer out."

After the fight, Gallia has taken Marberry Shore back. Everyone is now relaxing in their camp, including Squad 7.

Rosie, who's having a bandage covering the gun wound on her arm, then approaches Isara who's checking on Edelweiss. After calling for the girl, the Shocktrooper pulls out the lucky charm and says: "Thanks to this little pal, I survived. I guess I own you this time. Do you want something to ask me?"

The young girl, a little surprised at Rosie's kindness, starts thinking: "Let me see... hey, how about you sing when we return back?"

"...That's it?" Rosie chuckles. "I was expecting more than that. But...okay. If that's what you really want to."

Hearing that makes everyone smile widely, and Isara reaches her hand out for a handshake. Seeing it, Rosie also does the same...

*BANG!* *BANG!*

Not one, but two shots ring out in the air. Kuro, while expecting a shot to hit Isara, is clearly surprised of the appearance of the second shot, as he turns back to see where it could be, to see Alicia also getting hit as well. "Get to cover!" He immediately shouts out, as he rushes towards Isara and pulls her out of the line of enemies' sight, while Uni does the same to Alicia. While pulling Isara back, Kuro draws out his revolver and aims right at the first sniper and kills him instantly with one shot. Though, he tries to find a second one, the shooter is nowhere to be found. "Damn it!" Gritting his teeth, Kuro then orders: "Uni, start healing Alicia!" He rushes back to Isara and starts healing her back with his Lotus spell, and watches with relief that the wound starts closing...

"Alicia?" Hearing Welkin's question of surprise, he turns to see the girl herself radiating the blue flame of Valkyria. Using his free hand, he rubs his eyes, and then groans.

Rosie, seeing the display of Alicia's power as well, widens her eyes in shock. Then, seeing Kuro's reaction, she asks: "Kuro... is Alicia..."

"Yes." Seeing there's no reasons to hide any longer, Kuro reveals. "She is exactly what you have in your mind right now." After Isara's wound is fully closed, he walks towards Alicia and observes the healing process. "...The power of Valkyria has awakened..."

Largo, after snapping out of his shock, asks Kuro: "How long have you known this?"

"...Doesn't matter. Right now..." Kuro turns his eyes to Isara. "While the two are healed up, they still need to rest. And all of us as well. In the afternoon, I will answer."

Time skip

Infirmary

Alicia, after being knocked out due to the shot to the vital spot on her body, wakes up in the infirmary, with bandages covering her upper body. She sits up and sees Welkin, Isara, Rosie, Largo, Kuro, Uni, Faldio and Number Thirteen sitting around her bed. Seeing this kind of attention unnerves Alicia as she asks: "Um...guys...What happened?"

"What's the last thing you remembered?" Kuro, instead of answering, asks her back, with his voice full of demand.

"...Well...I remembered getting shot..." Alicia then looks down at her bandages. "But, I'm saved now, right? Thanks to you all."

"...Not to all." Kuro says. He then drops the bomb: "Alicia, your own power saved you. You are a Valkyria."

... Alicia lets out a nervous laugh after a whole minute of silence. "Kuro, you're kidding, right? I'm just a regular worker who's now a soldier..."

"I'm afraid we have evidences to support that." Faldio speaks up. "In Barious Sanctuary, the entrance would only open for the descendants of the Valkyrur to head in. We didn't figure that out immediately since we found Maximilian and Selvaria in there. However, after a skirmish later, I saw you being covered in blue flame in your sleep, which healed your wounds. After returning back to the base, I have asked Kuro and Uni to confirm my theory... and I was correct."

"No...it...it can't be..." Fear starts showing in her eyes. "I'm...I'm not her...I..."

"Yes, you're not her." The poor Scout turns to Uni. "You're not Selvaria Bles. You're Alicia Melchiott, a baker in Bruhl, a Scout in Militia, and the second-in-command of Squad 7. Keep it in mind."

"But...but... if I'm really... a Valkyria..."

"So? You're still our friend." Isara speaks up. "Just because you have Valkyrur blood in you, you're still precious to us."

"..." Taking a small moment to control her breath back, she then asks Kuro: "...What do you aim for, revealing this to me?"

"Because, I want you to choose." Kuro answers directly. "Since you know that you have the power in you, you have two paths:

One: use the discovered power of Valkyria running inside you and help protecting Gallia.

Two: abandon the power and try to fight without it.

I want you to think VERY CAREFULLY, because this is a very important choice in your life." Kuro concludes.

The room then falls silence one more time, letting the girl be in her train of thought...

Then, Alicia asks: "What did you do, when you found out you have the power in you, Kuro? And, Uni as well?"

Having heard the question clear, Kuro takes a small glance towards Uni, signalling her to go first. Uni nods, and she starts: "As a CPU, my power comes from the faith of my people. Everyday, I try my best to protect the citizens from the monsters wandering around the nation, and at the same time provide them the best condition to live. Of course, not everyone likes how my sister and I lead them, so they have the choice to move to another nation to live. Still, it's always a two-way trade when it comes to my power."

"So the power bonds to the people you protect." Earning a nod from the CPU, Alicia turns to Kuro. "And you? If you're the same CPU like her..."

"No." Kuro interrupts her. "I'm different from a normal CPU. The name was only given to me, because I lived up to their names and protected the people during their absences."

"...My previous question still stands."

"...Doing what I believe that could help people. Before I got CPU's power and earned the title...I had no power, and I was stuck in a place where you could call Hell in comparison. In there, I had managed to get the people out of the place, but at the cost of myself forever stuck there. But, even with my efforts, the pain of the dead ones never faltered. I decided to pull out the last decision...by sacrificing myself to the place."

That earns a small gasp from Alicia. She only saw how he looked like before in Fouzen, but she never knew the story behind it. Rosie then asks: "So you were expecting death? But, if you're here..."

Kuro nods. "Thanks to a very lucky moment, I was spared from being pulled into the depth of real Hell. Though, that left me in the state that you saw before."

Alicia then continues: "So... even before then..."

"Yes, I helped people when I didn't have any powers. And even with them that turned me into a divine being, I never used it to do anything dark despite the nature of my power. I use the power I have as allies to help other people, and that's what I will not go against anytime soon."

Another silence... then Riela's power flares up, surprising Alicia. "Thirteen...you..."

"Call me Riela, please." She decides to reveal her name. "And about the power... I was like you, not knowing what to do with this power. However, seeing my squad nearly get killed... I used my power to protect them. Of course, unlike Selvaria, I only used them in critical situations, but to save my friends, I won't hesitate to use it now, even if I am called monster later on."

After three stories, Alicia looks down at her bed sheet while grabbing on her white blanket... then, she asks: "Can you four leave me for now? I want to talk with my squad alone."

Kuro nods. "We understand. Take your time." He stands up, followed quickly by Uni, Faldio and Riela, and the group walks out of the infirmary...

"Everyone..." The others immediately focus back on Alicia. "In my memories, I grew up in an orphanage. I didn't have a real family, and I thought I would be always alone. But... Welkin has proven me wrong. The moment I joined Squad 7 was the time I had a family. You guys...are my family now."

Hearing the confession temporarily stuns everyone. Never have they thought about the squad being one big family. She then continues: "Before every battle, I was scared...I figured my feeling would be like you all. But...when I stand beside all of you, I feel stronger... strong enough to fight."

"...Family, huh?" Largo speaks out loud. "My old folks are gone, no siblings for myself either...but I bet this is what's it like."

"Well...I have the same feeling, Alicia." It's Isara. "Before the war, I only have my father and Gunther's as my family. Now, I consider everyone in squad 7 as a big family, no matter the race."

"...She has a point." Rosie agrees. "It's been a while since I have a family...had."

"But... now I'm scared." That drops the smile on everyone's face. "The power inside me... I don't want to leave you all..." Looking at her hands, Alicia starts crying. "I... I just wished to have a normal family... and then, this happened..."

Everyone doesn't say a word when Alicia brings her hands up her face, trying to hide her teary face. Welkin looks at the window outside for a moment, before saying: "Alicia... you don't have to leave..."

"I will be forced to." Alicia hiccups. "This power... Gallia needs someone strong enough to stay in the front... and this just proved it..."

"Nobody will bring you anywhere." Isara pulls Alicia's down and looks directly in her eyes. "And even if they do, we will follow you to the end. Remember, you're a part of family."

Gaining a surprised look on her face, Alicia then looks up to everyone for the confirmation. Rosie smiles and says first: "Yeah, she's right. From the beginning of the war, we have stood side-by-side. There's no reasons for us to separate now."

Largo follows with a laugh: "Someone needs to take care of you kids. Being one of the oldest, I'm obviously in!"

Welkin smiles. "You see, everyone's by your side. You don't have to worry about being alone."

"...Thank...thank you very much..." Alicia cries again, but this time in happiness.

Welkin nods. "You're welcome."

After a few more minutes, Alicia wipes her tears away with a handkerchief Isara gives her. She then says: "We should call the rest back." Largo nods and goes to the exit door, opens it and calls the group back. Once everyone's back in their seats, Alicia starts: "Kuro, I..."

Kuro raises his hand up, stopping her in place. "Let me ask you first: What would you use this power for?"

Taking 3 seconds, Alicia replies: "To protect my family and Gallia."

Kuro nods. "Very well. Then, you accept the power?" The Scout nods. "Good." He then glances at Riela: "Listen, you two. When we return back, and after Holy Spirit Festival, I'm going to train both of you to control the power inside you." He then pulls out the files he shared with Audrey before, and the others lean in. "And I need you to be very serious in this, because these are the results of uncontrollable Valkyria power."

Everyone takes one file for themselves. Largo then exclaims: "Wait a second! They're newspapers about the Ragnite accid..."

"That's the front." Uni confirms. "All of the files in our hands here, through Kuro's VOTP, are Valkyria experiments."

Alicia gasps in shock. "Then... the people surrounding..."

"Yeah... you were close to be one." Kuro reveals, earning looks of disbelief from the others. "Remember, Faldio, about me talking about Selvaria and Alicia's relationship?"

The leader of Squad 1 nods. "But, it could be before Alicia could remember everything, right?"

Kuro nods. "Alicia and Selvaria were in one experiment lab before it exploded, and the two separated." He then takes back the files while saying: "I think it's enough for now. Everyone, take a rest to save energy for the Festival."

"You won't tell them who shot Alicia?" After everyone's out of the hearing range, Uni asks Kuro.

"...Something's better kept in the dark."

Chapter 15 end!

So yeah, instead of having Alicia, we also have Riela in the team as well. Though, it will be a little harder for me to deal with Riela, since I haven't played VC3 once. But, I will try to get as many details as possible from Youtube.

That's it, for now! See you all in the future!