Author's note: I went back to Chapter 6 and cut out the scene with Avan's class placement and worked it into this chapter. I also cut the scene with Randy, Sofia, and Melissa entirely.
That being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Listen up, everyone." Hubert called everyone to attention in the battle planning room. All units in Class G, including the teacher, wore their combat uniforms. All gear was checked and accounted for, loaded into the jeeps they would take to the battlefield.
"We got reports about the Rebels moving into Arlem to carry out one of their Darcsen purges. While civilian casualties cannot be avoided, the school's proximity to Arlem gives us the opportunity to strike the enemy on short notice. Our mission is simple: eliminate the enemy forces. Resistance should be minimal, though be on the lookout for anything unexpected. Any questions?"
Morris was the first to raise his hand. "Uhhh Brixham, this is my first time going into actual combat, along with a lot of others. Don't you think we are ill prepared to handle this operation? We only finished our basic training."
"It's a legitimate question. We're undertrained, sure, though we have enough cadets with combat experience to probably balance it out. Anyone new should stick to more experienced combatants."
"Will we have enough equipment to actually do our job?" Raymond raised his hand next.
"We should, yes. While I wish the tank was ready for combat, we have to do without. Lavinia came across some major problems during the tank check, so it will have to stay in the shop."
The questions and answers did nothing to reassure Zeri about the upcoming mission, since he expected the school to be more organized, as part of the Gallian Army. The pessimism of his classmates were well-founded, while the anticipation of his other classmates to go into battle were confounding, to say the least.
"That should be all. Everyone, get into your assigned jeeps. Class G, move out!"
As the jeeps whirred across the roads, Zeri observed some of his classmates. Some people held tightly onto their rifles to shake off any nervousness, while others were engrossed in conversations. The clouds of doubt from the briefing hung over him, uncertain about the ability of Class G to carry out the operation.
"Yo, Zeri!" Avan shouted from the opposite side of the jeep. "You're hanging in there?"
"As well as I could be," Zeri said matter-of-fact.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine!" Avan read Zeri's mind. "We'll shoot up some rebels, they'll run away, and we go home happy."
"I admire your optimism. To be fair, they're equipped for a massacre, not an actual battle." Zeri was not lost on the pessimism in his statement. "And we're equipped for an actual battle." He always made room to form logic, it kept him grounded in reality, in the face of unpredictability.
"You know it! See, it won't be that bad! We'll save the day! It sure beats falling asleep in class." Only Avan could phrase it in a positive manner.
"I'll give you that much, not like I ever tried." Zeri always had a soft spot for dry humor. "Say, Avan, about the class placement, what did you end up with?" He changed the topic since he never got around to asking him until now.
"Nothing!"
"Wait, can you repeat that?" He was dumbfounded.
"Of course! I didn't end up with any role!"
"How does that even happen?" Zeri was left at a loss for words.
"You know those aptitude tests that we took? I didn't do well with the writing portions, but I aced the physical ones. Apparently, I'm so good on the field, they couldn't make up their minds. Instead, they told me that I can do whatever specialized training I want."
"Avan, you're an idiot, a genius, or both."
"You know it!" He laughed.
Class G cadets hid within the wheatfields near a farm as they witnessed the Rebels close in on the village. Zeri held onto his submachine gun, Avan held onto his rifle, while the rest of the cadets held onto their issued weapons. Several Scouts and Engineers had left the fields to scope the area.
"Lots of open field, but the town is spread out enough to give us cover while we take out enemy troops. I'm glad we're doing this operation while the crops are out," Lotte radioed in.
"While I wish our tank was ready, I can still make myself useful," Raymond said over the radio next.
"We'll move further into town. Hopefully no unusual activity," Nichol said.
"Sounds good, over and out." Avan faced his classmates. "Alright everyone, we're going to strike them now and retake the town. Once I give the signal, go time."
"I'm ready, so are everyone else," Zeri said. The plight of his countrymen being gunned down by Rebels was too much for him to stand by.
Avan raised his hand and motioned toward the open.
The cadets rushed out from the wheat fields and began firing at nearby Rebel soldiers. It left others into panic, as they rushed for cover to get their weapons ready. The cadets pursued them, with Avan and Zeri moving on ahead. Both stopped at a guard tower, where Avan fired several shots at a scout. It sent him falling down. Zeri then ran toward the closest house, with Avan following soon afterward.
"You see that camp over there?" Zeri nodded to Avan.
"Yeah."
"On the count of three, we'll throw in their direction."
"I like how you think."
Both held a grenade, took off the charge, and tossed it toward the camp. The blast sent several rebel soldiers flying. Soon enough, Class G vaulted over sandbags, ran through patches of tall grass for protection, and overran the enemy camp.
Avan and Zeri rummaged through the supplies left behind. There wasn't much in the way of useful equipment, so they took whatever was available.
"Not a lot of lances, I see," Rene thought out loud as she peered from behind.
"One lance is better than nothing! Right, Rene?" Coleen tried to put a positive spin onto things.
"True that! We can put it to good use on something," Rene responded.
"Let's blow up at least one thing before we leave! Car, tank, you name it, it can be anything!" Reiner was eager for action. He turned around and motioned to several classmates. "C'mere and see what you need!"
They ran over and worked out who would get what.
"I think I'm good here!" Cosette said. "Coleen and Morris, mind if I tag along with you?"
"Sure, we could always use another hand. We should be able to clear out any Rebels we come across," Morris said. The operation was shaping to be an easy one, so even he was optimistic about their success.
"And I can call for first aid if we encounter any villagers caught up in this mess" Coleen added.
"Y'all count me in," Anisette exclaimed, "nothing feels home quite like the countryside. Ahhh to take a stroll through the fields, preferably without being shot at, ya hear?"
"Let's give it all we've got! Yeah!" Cosette shouted. They ran off, guns ready to go.
With them gone, Avan and Zeri looked at each other, with the same idea of making their own plans
"Yo, Zeri," Avan said, "anyone you wanna bring for our group?"
"Magari and Mischlitt," Zeri replied immediately.
"Good idea! You hang out with them a lot."
"They're good friends of mine."
"I wanna know them better, anyone friends with you are good people."
Mischlitt was unsure about tagging along with Avan, but Zeri and Magari's presence eased her reservations about the hot-blooded outsider to their group. Without saying a word, she nodded, indicating she was okay being around him.
That left Magari.
"Magari, you hanging in there?" Avan asked.
She was nervous. It was her first time in combat. Training was one thing, but it was for real. If it wasn't for Avan and his charisma, along with Zeri and Mischlitt's presence, she wouldn't know what to do.
Magari took a deep breath. "I'm a healer, but," she held her pistol and pointed at the sky, "I'm not afraid to use this!"
"That's the spirit!"
The four traversed the open plains and weaved their way through grain fields, tall grass, and houses to keep themselves from becoming open targets. Avan and Zeri fired at Rebel soldiers as they came into view, some of whom ran out from the houses. If the operation wasn't so rushed, Avan would've most likely suggested to Zeri a competition over who got the most kills.
Magari and Mischlitt scanned the area behind them to prevent a flank, when they spotted two enemy soldiers shooting at them wildly. Mischlitt took down one with several shots, but Magari hesitated over whether to use her pistol or rifle. The remaining enemy soldier, realized he was out of ammo, brandished a knife, and charged at the group. Magari, recalling what she said earlier, pulled out her pistol and stopped him dead in his tracks.
"Ah… Did I do that right?" Magari breathed easily.
"Yeah, you did great!" Avan said. She cheered up.
They continued walking. Magari gained the confidence to dispatch the next several Rebels with her rifle, while Mischlitt provided backup. Avan and Zeri continued to clear the path forward.
"These Rebels are less trained than we are," Zeri commented when he had the chance.
"It's what happens when you cobble together a disorganized militia and put them into action with no thought. A wholly incompetent sort." Mischlitt said her thoughts on the matter.
"Sound opinion. I share the same sentiment," Zeri said.
"As long as we shoot 'em up until they fall down dead, run away, or surrender with their hands up! We're fighting for a reason!" Avan shouted.
"Not like we can use our militia against our own citizens since Gallia forbids it. Besides, it'll make them distrust Randgriz and motivate them to join the Rebels," Zeri mused.
"It's where the Gallian Army, including Lanseal, comes in! We're in this together," Avan replied.
Say what he could about Avan's shortcomings, Zeri admired his willingness to overlook someone's background in personalizing with them. He was initially uncertain about including Magari and Mischlitt in the group, since the former only hung out with a handful of classmates and the latter might have as well hung out with none. What if Avan made things awkward? It was why Zeri hung out with Avan separately from Magari and Mischlitt up to this point. Maybe he worried too much with him having a more outgoing personality than them. Turned out it was a trivial concern.
He'll include Avan in the friend group from then on, he decided.
Magari motioned at Zeri, Avan, and Mischlitt and pointed at a barn.
"I see some civilians, perhaps we should check up on them," Magari said.
"Good idea. I'll cover for you," Mischlitt said.
"Yo, me and Zeri can help out as well!" Avan said.
"We should be fine on our own. Besides, since the civilians are fellow Darcsens, they'll feel more comfortable with us around while we provide aid. You two can go on ahead," Mischlitt replied.
Zeri agreed with her. "Avan, she has a point."
Avan and Zeri encountered no resistance as they continued walking, though they remained aware of their surroundings.
Eventually, they spotted several of their classmates, including Rene, Reiner, Joachim, and Nichol. It looked like they finished their patrol and decided on a meeting spot for the rest of Class G. Avan ran ahead, while Zeri trailed behind.
"Yo, guys!" Avan waved with his usual outgoing nature.
"Hey," Zeri said in a subdued tone without a hand wave.
"Looks like you two came unscratched. You should've seen the truck I blew up with my lance! Boom!," Reiner boasted.
"I used my lance to clear a line of sandbags at this one camp. Nothing was working, the enemies were hiding too well behind it, and something had to be done," Rene added.
"Most of the town looked intact," Nichol reported.
The group heard an explosion rip through a house nearby, then saw a tank roll through the wreckage.
"Whoa, that's a medium tank, man. Talk about some bad luck," Joachim was the first to say something.
"Crap, let's run for cover!" Reiner shouted.
They ran from the tank, not knowing what to do.
"That tank will destroy the next house we find. Quick, do you have an ideas? I'm out of lances," Rene asked for suggestions.
"You saw what happened to the house…" Nichol said. So much for the operation being an easy one. "Better than standing in the open, though."
Zeri raised his hand. "I have an idea. Someone radio in for backup. Avan and I will meanwhile distract the tank by drawing attention away from all of you, buying us time until help comes in. Follow my plan and we'll have no problems."
"You're a genius, Zeri," Avan said. "Maybe we'll find something along the way."
"Hopefully," Zeri added. He gave the signal to Avan and the two ran out from cover. The tank stood there, with the pilot probably unsure about what to do next. With no Rebel soldiers to provide support, they rushed to another house for cover. They heard the tank move again and Zeri noticed it was moving in their direction when he looked around the corner.
The classmates on the other side fired their weapons to pester the tank, which worked, as it moved the turret away from them. With the tank distracted, Avan and Zeri ran behind the tank to a tower within short distance. Avan ran inside and came out with a spare lance.
"I'm just in luck!" Avan shouted. "Let me at 'em!" He took aim at the medium tank and fired. It banged up the back of the tank, causing some parts to fall and clatter. Once the smoke dissipated, Zeri and Avan figured it would take a few more shots. While a medium tank wouldn't go down easily like a light tank, a group of infantry could be enough to destroy it.
"Good work," Zeri complimented him. "I'm starting to understand why the school couldn't make up its mind with class placement for you. Now, if we can find another one of them. We should check some of the houses we were at before."
Zeri and Avan thought the run back would be easy, but they noticed the tank turret was still functional enough to aim at them. It was sure to blast the house they were going toward, but going back to the tower wasn't an option.
Before the tank could fire a shell, they saw saw several blasts fired from seemingly nowhere.
A silver-haired young girl with a shield on her back rushed in with a whip-like weapon. She slashed away at the tank with the glowing whip, then backflipped. Within a few seconds upon landing, it blew up. The young girl faltered for a moment, but regained her composure and ran off as suddenly as she appeared.
Avan and Zeri stood in awe of what happened to the tank.
"Yo, did you see that!" Avan was the first to break the silence.
"I sure did. A full blooded Valkryia." Zeri paused for a moment. "Wait a second. Remember the hooded figure we saw roaming around campus?"
Avan caught onto the line of thinking. "Now that you mention it."
"Do you think it might be her?"
"I don't know, we don't have anything to work off of. Maybe we can look into it, once we're back."
The identity of the mysterious young girl who destroyed the medium tank could wait. All that mattered was she saved them in the nick of time.
A few minutes after Avan and Zeri let the wild turn of events settle in, Cosette came into view, bringing several classmates in tow.
"The Rebels are fleeing!" she shouted, while waving.
As soon as Avan heard those words, he grabbed his radio. "The tank is done for! Nichol, Reiner, Rene, and Joachim, it's safe to come out!" The four met up with the rest of the cadets, glad to be out of danger.
"That was wild, whoa, like out of this world," Joachim said. He never saw anything like it in his life, but the same could be said for everyone else who dealt with the tank.
"Agreed!" Rene exclaimed.
"We also evacuated the Darcsen villagers, they made it out safely," Cosette then reported. "That should be everything."
"We did it, we liberated Arlem!" Avan shouted and raised his fist into the air.
Most of the cadets cheered and also raised their fists. Zeri, who preferred to celebrate in a subdued manner, lightly clapped his hands.
"Hey, I got an idea, let's take a picture to celebrate!" Avan said, as he put his arm around Zeri's shoulder.
"Got you covered, my dudes!" Lotte said and took out her camera. "Anyone want to join in?"
Rene, Reiner, Joachim, Cosette, and Nichol joined in with Avan and Zeri.
"Say cheese!" Lotte said.
*snap*
Class G earned their first victory in the war. Despite being inexperienced and working without a tank, they intercepted the Rebels before they could carry out a Darcsen purge and drove them away. The cadets had every reason to celebrate.