*THUNK*

Maho looked up from her desk to see a small pilots helmet bounce towards her, catching it and eyeing it carefully, its visor was smashed, and a crack ran from the forehead to behind the left ear cover. on one side, a small painting of a bear with a photo taped next to it of a young woman smiling with pride, A taller and small woman standing either side off her, and on the other, a stenciled name - Nina

"ARE YOU HAPPY?" Maho placed the helmet down then looked up.

"600 troops... SIX HUNDRED OF MY TROOPS!" the looming figure of a dark haired lady in a grey uniform, coated in medals and emblazoned with the Pravda Ruler and Protractor. Then she noticed another much smaller lady next to her, in a similar grey uniform, but covered in a cloak.

"You said there would be no resistance, but i'm now told that i've lost 600 of MY troops including my best pilot team and not only that, one of my ships has been heavily damaged and might not be recoverable" Katyusha bellowed.

"I Should have Nonna punish you" Katyusha slammed her fist on Maho's desk, the taller lady behind her slowly stretched her fingers.

"You knew the risks" Maho replied coldly, turning in her chair to look out the window.

Outside, she saw troopers from the Kuromorimine infantry tearing down an Oarai flag and replacing it with theirs. A team of engineers were eyeing the burnt husk of a Sherman nearby as medics rushed passed with stretchers.

She felt a hand grab her shoulder and spin her back. Katyusha was mere inches from her face, rage boiling in her eyes.

"SHE WAS WITH ME FROM DAY ONE..." She shouted... "AND NOW SHE'S GONE. ALL FOR 7km"

Nonna pulled Katyusha back and whispered something in her ear. The anger in Katyushas eyes seemed to slowly turn to sadness.

"Since when did you care about your troops?" Maho said slowly standing up.

"I've always cared" Katyusha scowled "I might seem cold, but its because I want to protect them, if I panic, they panic. Right Nonna?"

"Da" The taller lady replied without a hint of emotion.

Maho pressed a small button on the desk, and Erika and Koume came walking in, carrying a small woman, with dark brown hair, her hands in cuffs.

"Our plan succeeded" Maho said, rising to her feet and slowly walking to the cuffed woman, the captive looked away as maho laughed softly.

"Whats going on?" Katyusha's gazed bounced from the captive to Maho then back.

"I think it's time we paid Darjeeling a visit" Maho sat back in her chair, and looked out over Oarai, a soft smirk took over her face.

In Tokyo, Darjeeling had called a meeting, she'd announced the formation of the "Allied Union of Saunders and Gloriana" Cameras had broadcasted the announcement all over the new world, and letters of support had come in from the Neo Brittanic Union and United States of the American Republic. The image of Kay and Darjeeling hand in hand vowing to destroy the Pravda and Kuromorimine threat had sparked hope all over Japan.

"Darjeeling!" Pekoe called out.

Darjeeling stopped and looked at Pekoe carefully. "I'm just about to go into a meeting with Kay and the Defence Minister, what is it?"

"You need to see this" Handing her a small letter.

"It's time we talked" Scrawled sloppily across it.

"What's this?" Darjeeling looked confused at Pekoe.

"Ma'am, the signature and this photo"

Darjeeling took a small photo from pekoe, A woman with brown hair, hands in cuffs, Kurmorimine prisoner number 4859 scrawled in the margin. She gasped...

"NO, it can't be! I thought you'd di-" Kay heard the commotion and came running from the meeting room, followed shortly by Assam.

Darjeeling dropped to the floor, shaking and crying uncontrollably, before passing out.

"GET A DOCTOR" Kay screamed, as Pekoe ran to get help, Assam was trying to give first aid.

Kay bent down and slowly picked up the paper...

"Rukuriri" Was the signature