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The following is a fan-based

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"Tarnished Youth"

July 6 1935 EC

Major General Kurt Hertling

Castle Randgriz, Randgriz, Principality of Gallia

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It takes very little for a man to see wrong and go against it. It takes much more for a fool that was brainwashed by ideals to see the flaws of his home.

Before me, right as I was sitting together with Cordelia to handle the formal surrender of the Federation's Invasion Force, I could see quite a lot happening all at once. Sure, Captain Morgen together with his fellow officers were the official makers of this surrender, but my attention was slightly centered around a few members of 'Squad E'.

Their inclusion in this event had been one requested by Morgen out of politeness than else. None of them was granted the chance to keep any weapon on them, out of fear that potential retaliations driven by pure anger at the defeat could have happened.

Everything was secure and tight as signatures were disposed to validate the 'Surrender of the Invasion Fleef of the Federation', and it provided the rules of captivity meant to be applied to the various ranked officers and soldiers. We had the facilities to operate the modest entry of so many prisoners of war, especially when most were not going to be put behind bars.

Once the proper signing went through, I took a few hours to study the overall situation we were dealing with. The first Airborne Assault in this world's history proved a point I had just tentatively raised with the Empire, and the messages from the capital suggested that I was going to be promoted quite soon due to this event. Of course, this was coupled by a few requests that... distressed me.

They wanted to raise the Principality's taxes to funnel more money to the Empire itself. I replied with a 'we will work through this soon, just not yet' as I knew that my worst fears were soon going to be proved true as more events from home were reaching the front.

Suppression campaigns were starting to fail as the police was slowly losing to mutinous elements and the revolters were getting far more radicalized by the constant attacks dictated by the law enforcement. The riotting was a problem once the full truth reached the other soldiers, those that were still clashing with the wide wrong against the Federation.

In that regard, I raised a petition that was answered within a day's time as things were indeed getting quite bad for us so... a large operation was soon meant to be produced by the end of this month. A big enough one that should kill off the Federation's hopes of keeping the war going.

Beyond this, however, there was the matter in regard to Squad E. Many of the original members had noticed 'Forseti' and glared at him for his clear betrayal against 'Freedom'. Forseti pulled a solid stoic mask through this glaring, but ultimately found it tough when I called upon a meeting with three members of that Squad.

Claude Wallace, 'Kai' (Leena) Schulen, and Riley Miller.

On the side of the Empire we had myself, Forseti and... a certain young Valkyria with pink-hair that was wearing heavy hospital clothes and sitting right beside me as she focused on the apples I was told she liked to eat during meal times. It was right as they entered, right as they spotted the unflattering appearance she was in that some irritation was raised by Claude.

"Major General, what did you to to Angelica?"

I was a bit surprised by the brunt of that verbal assault, but ignored the lack of formality due to the emotional connection the young man had towards the lil' Valkyria.

"Well, we didn't do anything horrible as you may expect. We just put her through a proper diet and made sure her withdrawal's symptoms were treated with care."

The response had the intended effects as many could pick up that something about 'withdrawal' felt a bit off. They all sat down but-

"What symptoms?" Leena Schulen inquired, the hat-wearing sniper sounding surprised, but overall intrigued by her brother's own flinch at the topic. "Angelica, is... is everything alright?"

The girl slowly nodded, still eating her apple's slices with tame pace. One of the symptoms she was suffering from her main plight slowly appeasing but still ruining her capacity to handle basic tasks. I briefly noticed Riley looking quite nervous, trying to sell it off to the atmosphere's general unease but... I knew enough to know it wasn't that. If only I knew from the very beginning this one was more trouble than the game lore explained...

"Major General, what is going on with Angelica? Why is she so... catatonic?" Claude ultimately slapped for the big answer and I finally gave Riley a proper glance.

The blonde noticed and returned it with a half-meant glare. I just could shrug off her hatred with ease as I pushed through with my response.

"Ms. Miller. What is E-XIII?"

The glare morphed in horror, then in reluctance as she leaned back. This reaction was enough to leave her companions perplexed.

"Riley?" Claude half-whispered. "What is he talking about?"

"...I don't know."

"Odd for you to say this, Ms. Miller, considering that many files in regard this performance enhancer were signed by you."

"What is it?!" Squad E's commander snapped, almost losing his wits on the pressure exerted on someone he was smitten to.

"A drug or... a concoction of many drugs meant to draw a powerful effect at a lasting price," I replied calmly. "It's experimental and, just like many concoctions used by Empire to boost soldiers' performance, it was something meant to achieve something 'positive' out of their users: compliance, dulling extreme pain and heightening senses."

I leaned back, seeing Angelica too engrossed by the apple to listen at this point.

"Of course, a price is there to leave a lasting mark. Withdrawal's symptoms are a mostly complete mental numbness, sensorial issues, and severe inability to keep attention on something or someone for long. Unless it's something necessary for to satisfy her physical needs such as food or sleep."

"I-It can't be that severe," Riley muttered. "I was told- they guaranteed that they wouldn't be-"

"Truth is the first thing that dies in war, especially when the innocents are connected to it. In this case, you were lied because you knew no matter how brave a volunteer was, the engine would have caused them too much pain to handle it."

Riley's attempt to justify herself fell off miserably. I was about to stress this some more, but I paused as I felt someone tugging at my sleeve. I turned to the side and saw Angelica giving me a shy look.

"Cold."

My shoulders eased, and I nodded. Picking my jacket as I left it to rest on the chair's upper section, I put it on Angelica and then moved her to my lap to rest to the side. Normally that would have been embarrassing for a girl to be subjected to, but her lack of blushing and general submission to this change as she nuzzled against my chest to seek out more heat truly showed how depleted the teen was.

"Without wasting any further time, I was given authorization by Captain Morgen to issue inspectors to keep an eye on both Squad E and F in regard to potential infiltrations," I flatly remarked, knowing I wanted to have this wrapped up fast due to how tired the girl was. "Forseti- I believe you know him as Kai Schulen, shall be but in charge of that role with the rank of Warrant Officer."

Leena looked pleased, and I knew it was because she missed her brother and understood why he did the things he had to do but-

"Sir, I have to oppose this choice," Claude rebuked. "Kai- I mean, Warrant Officer Schulen and most of the team have history, it could influence his judgment."

I hummed. "True. Yet, I picked this choice out of concern for your squads' wellbeing. After all, if it is not this choice, then Dr. Belgar of X-O may stake a claim to that chore."

Riley tensed up, eyes wide open in fright at that notion. After all, Belgar was the one that was responsible for her family's death so-

"Claude- I mean, Commander... I think we need to take this."

Confusion flashed on Claude's face but I just decided to explain why I picked this choice for them.

"I assigned Forseti to this task due to the fact he can't be bribed by Dr. Belgar. If I had chosen someone else, the chances of the leader of X-O to get his hands on his... old friend's daughter may cause some friction within our sides."

Claude finally understood what was going on and while he was upset he was being pushed into making a fake choice, he still surrendered to it.

As the meeting ended and most of the office was vacated right as I finished drawing the last documents needed for this statement, I felt my expression falter as I heard quiet snoring coming from the pinkette. Lil' Ange had fallen asleep, the poor thing just not being in the right shape to do much beyond be awake, eat, talk and draw before needing to sleep again.

This was something happening with the other girls too, but I had Crymaria assigned to make sure that she handled them with care. She had an emotional burden to deal with this and with the medical reports we had on them confirming they can't be subjected to any form of training within the next few years made any chance of the Empire demanding to hire them as new Valkyriae troops non-existing.

So, I sat back and took a break while hugging the pinkette close. Soon... I will break the Federation's back and cease their chances of hurting more children.

First the Federation, then Vinland. Then... the Empire.

AN

Alicia needs all sorts of headpats.

The E-XIII is a reference to the Nazi Performance Enhancer known as D-IX which was used by soldiers to bolster their combat capacity during the end of WW2. The reason why I included this is because I had been studying this whole 'Valkyria-powered' engine and realized that there was no way that girls that young could just take the pain and still go forward without some 'incentive'. Through water, through food, they were given traces of the booster and slowly made compliant to keep on going despite the pain.

The Federation is, indeed, desperate at this point so this option may as well be even more justified in this story than it would in the original lore.