The Mobile Task Force - Epilogue: The Stage is Set

"Understood, I will send another team and more supplies to your location tonight," said a uniformed man into the radio as he sipped a cup of coffee. Although it was nearing dusk, he knew that his work would not yet be over for quite some time.

"Commander," said an upbeat orange-haired girl holding a tablet standing next to the man, "I've managed to pull up some more info regarding the enemy in the village. According to the reports from the other sectors, they are this... 'Sangvis Ferri Mobile Task Force.'"

"Thanks, Kalina," the Commander replied as he took the tablet and looked through its contents. Just what exactly is this Sangvis Ferri Mobile Task Force? He asked himself. Although this wasn't the first time he's heard of them, this was the first time they have been encountered in this sector. Why have they come here? What does it mean for the future?

Just what are they fighting for?

A girl stood alone on the balcony of a Sangvis Ferri military installation. She looked upwards at the night sky, a breeze blowing her long black hair backwards. Through her crimson eyes she studied the stars above as they shimmered high up above. It was a rare moment of respite from the war, a moment for her to lose herself to her thoughts.

"Stargazing again?" another doll jokingly asked as she walked up to the black-haired girl on the balcony, "Shouldn't you try to catch some sleep, Archangel?"

Archangel turned her head to look at the doll that joined her—it was Archangel's adjutant, a doll named Venator. The purple-dyed tips of the doll's blonde hair covered a long-range communications headset hanging around her neck. Venator was a communications specialist doll who helped Archangel with managing the numerous and dynamic elements of the Mobile Task Force. But perhaps more importantly, she was Archangel's confidant and a good friend.

"I tried, Venator," Archangel sighed, "But I couldn't fall asleep."

Venator smiled. Archangel was probably worrying about her subordinates again, she correctly guessed. "It's Rho-14, isn't it?" Venator asked, "I just got off the line with Castle earlier, you know?"

"What's their situation?" Archangel anxiously asked.

"Well, they're still holding on," Venator reassured Archangel, skipping over some minor details. "I'm sure they'll be fine."

Seeing the troubled expression on Archangel's face, Venator tried to change the subject to ease Archangel's worry. "You know, it's a beautiful night tonight."

"Sure, I guess," Archangel smiled, "Unfortunately everyone's too busy fighting to enjoy it."

"A shame, yes. Though knowing you, you're probably too busy calculating absolute stellar magnitudes or whatever to just sit back and enjoy the view, you weirdo," Venator teased, "But I second your opinion on the fighting part."

Venator glanced at Archangel's face. She was smiling, but it was a sad smile. War changes people, she thought. When Venator first met Archangel years ago, she used to seem happier than she was these days.

"Venator, do you think the dolls at Griffin are evil?" Archangel suddenly asked out of the blue.

"Huh?" Venator responded, caught off-guard by the question. Somehow, that was such an Archangel-esque question to ask.

"Not necessarily," she shrugged, "We simply found ourselves on opposite sides of history. That's what you're always telling me, no?"

"Yeah..." Archangel said quietly, "That's what I think too."

Venator gazed bemusedly at Archangel. Archangel was never a soldier at heart, Venator thought to herself, she was was never even a tactical doll to begin with. Archangel was too naïve, too innocent, too nice for this line of work.

"Venator," Archangel asked again, now frowning, "Hypothetically, if Griffin extended us an olive branch one day... would you take it?"

"You know, I could get your neural cloud deleted for saying this," Venator warned.

"I know you won't," Archangel smirked, closing her eyes, "Now answer my question."

"Well, it would depend on the specific circumstances, naturally," Venator responded. Typical Archangel-esque question, she chuckled in her mind. It's a good thing Archangel is smart enough to not spout such nonsense in the presence of the other ringleaders. Venator questioned the extent of Archangel's loyalty to Elisa, but then again, neither she nor any of the Mobile Task Force girls have the programmed fanatical reverence the ringleaders did. Venator could see Archangel was deep in thought, but she didn't know what she was thinking.

"

"Alright, my turn to ask you a question, Archangel," Venator finally said, now looking at the sky.

"Tell me, Archangel, what exactly are you fighting for?"

Archangel did not respond. If there ever was any hope of her catching some sleep tonight, it was about as good as gone now.