Silence dominated the hallways underneath the Moscow State Library. Darkness ruled this part of the building as human remains are littered across the rooms for their untimely end. Few dare to lurk around these parts but Khan had no choice except to press onward. The truth behind the Soviet expedition into Northuldra needed to be found since it might play an important hand in Elsa's life.
His headlamp guided the way as he bypassed a dozen office rooms or empty checkpoints. Yet, the old man had to be careful with the ruins and their decrepit stability. A wall might fall over, a floor might collapse, or even be a radioactive hotspot. As he traversed through the ancient building, part of him was mindful of the noise he made throughout the journey since he didn't want to garner the attention of the local mutants. The Librarians were not fond of those who trespassed into their territory and he had no intention of getting himself in a fight.
Soon he was brought towards the very door where Artyom once stood. It was closed but not locked shut so that other stalkers may stake their claim into the room full of secrets, legends, and myths kept under the watchful eye of the old authority. He quietly pushed the door open, enough to slip through and close it upon entering the room.
Once he felt safe, it was time to begin his search. It required plenty of time but he had all the time in the world.
Countless hours were spent skimming through documents. Old weapon systems that were lost to time, the real reason why the military was deployed to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and even encountering organizations that dabbled in anomalous affairs. One that truly earned a slight laugh was when he got his hands on some papers talking about discovering his gravesite and opening it, resulting in Operation Barbarossa before they closed it and the tide of the Great Patriotic War turned after Operation Uranus.
Khan wanted to continue reading; however, goosebumps on his skin had begun to crawl. Sensing that he was not alone, the old Mongolian turned around and reached for his assault rifle. Something was there and it had intended to find him. Heavy footsteps thundered outside the room at a slow pace but it was quite clear that it was coming closer. The door began to creak open as a mutant of immense size pushed the door wide open, revealing a grey-skinned ape-like beast. It towered over him before the head had titled, expressing the mutant's confusion for the human inside this room.
The monster snarled a moment later and roared at what could be its next meal. Unfortunately for the creature, this human was completely different. "If you want to live for another meal, leave me be. I will slay you if you interfere with my work."
Whether it understood him was a matter only biologists could figure out. What it did know was a threat when it felt one. At that moment, the librarian turned away as its feet thundered off, never to be heard from again. He returned to his inspection of the documents and quietly prayed that he would find the right ones.
Another drawer was pulled open with a blue cover over the documents. After he had opened it, Khan inspected it closely and froze it in place. These were the papers he had been looking for and the information matched his desire. This was truly the first expedition into Arendelle and by extension - Northuldra. The mission parameters required the goodwill of the local ruler, which meant sacrificing ideological purity for the sake of practicality. There were mentions of small arms weaponry to protect the Red Army soldiers from the wildlife but also to leave an impression on King Runeard. Despite these preparations, the expedition did not report back after its departure, being declared missing until told otherwise. The queen would appreciate this kind of information.
He flipped through the pages with the hope of finding more information in regards to the Soviets in Northuldra. Then he discovered the first page full of personnel names, their rankings, and even the units they were taken from. Among one of these men was a Dimitry but deep down he knew who it was - Artyom's grandfather. It would require a hefty explanation, a long one.
Bandit incursions into Vladivostok had been lessened ever since the increased presence of the Moscovites and the Novosibirskans. This allowed the manpower, once dedicated to perimeter defense, to be freed up into other shifts that were either productive to the economy or facilitate the exodus of refugees from Moscow to Arendelle. It also meant that Uhlman would be transferred from observations posts into a more substantial role within the city.
Tom the Cat and Captain Baranov were organizing a crew to operate their newly operational submarine after the fuel had been installed. It thrilled the Polis Ranger, knowing that he would have the great privilege to be a mere passenger on an old warship that had seen better days. Yet, it was not just for show. The Russian submarine would be paramount in opening relations with the rest of the world, presuming they were fortunate enough to rebuild a pleasant society from the ground up.
Uhlman climbed up the steps into the submarine's main entrance and was caught amid sailors gathering their belongings while their senior officers organized their placement throughout the ship. He strolled through the tight corridors as preparations for their departure were underway. Soon the member of the special forces had encountered two guards standing beside the entrance to the observation room. "Is Tom in there?"
"Tom and the captain are there," One of the men answered, "Do you have any business with him?"
"Yes."
They knew better than to pry into affairs beyond their positions and began to open the door for the Polis Ranger. He had orders to determine if this vessel was seaworthy enough to handle long journeys across seas and oceans.
The two guards opened the door for him, only to find Tom watching Vladivostok through the glass. He seemed to be deep in thought before turning around to see the soldier standing before him. "We need to get this sub going before the weather starts acting up."
"Is the weather that bad?" That certainly drew Uhlman's attention as he remembered the local meteorologists acting up, "I heard that it's just going to be a tough storm."
"Yes. I'm hoping that Captain Baranov will be able to get us submerged before we come into contact with the storm."
He searched through his desk's drawers and brandished a cigar. The man smiled with genuine joy on his face as he retrieved his lighter and began his smoke.
Footsteps echoed from the hallways behind Uhlman as they turned around to see the door open, revealing a sweating sailor in his undergarments. "All the personnel have been accounted for! Captain Baranov is ready to move and the control tower is opening the gates."
"Why aren't you clothed?" The American noticed as he addressed the crewmember, "Things are not that bad down in the lower decks, are they?"
"Some of the quarters were lacking ventilation. The engineers are fixing it as we speak."
Tom seemed to understand the man's situation and ignored that detail. "Dismissed."
"Always knew the navy drew in the strange folk," The Polis Ranger remarked, "Especially, the submarine guys."
"From what I have heard, it is better to let them be strange. The seas can sometimes mess with one's mind the longer a sailor is far from land."
The gates began to open and a path to the sea lay before them. For the first time in two decades, the submarine was in motion to fulfill its purpose. Watching through the glass, Uhlman saw the control tower on the left being moved out of sight while a large crowd of men and women were gathered near the edges of the dockyards. There was something so awe-inspiring about departing from one's shores and it was the same with them. People cheered at one of humanity's achievements being brought back to life as if a sense of normalcy had been achieved somehow.
Soon the mood changed when dark clouds gathered ahead as the vessel was now free from captivity. The American turned around with worry on his face. "Go to the captain. Tell him to get us under the surface. We can't risk the weather from damaging the hull."
His sense of urgency in his voice was more than enough to get the soldier back into the steel depths of the warship's hallways. Time was of the essence if they wished to make this journey successful.
Hours of trekking through the Enchanted Forest had come to an end. The party had reached another clearing within the sea of trees but Elsa saw Honeymaren and the rest of the Northuldrans step forward to guide the queen and her armed escort ahead. Lieutenant Mathias and the soldiers of Arendelle did not share their eagerness as they firmly gripped their weapons. They had arrived at a large camp dominated by the locals and soon their warriors were quick to greet them.
The Northuldran guides were welcomed in open arms; however, they took notice of the Arendellians. She could see the fear and perhaps a semblance of hatred in their eyes - a reminder of the decades of warfare that took place between their peoples. Despite this, the royal strode forward atop the Nokk as her guards followed after her. Their expressions transformed into complete surprise upon seeing her leading the way.
Honeymaren returned to Elsa's side as most of the locals split off to permit an old woman accompanied by a retinue of young men. "Elsa, I would like to introduce you to Yelana. She is the leader of our people."
The old woman stopped and took one long look at her. "Who is this? Honeymaren, why have you brought Arendellians to our camp? Do you know that we are still at war with them?"
"I mean no disrespect to our people but this girl just arrived from Arendelle a few days ago," She replied as she turned to face her, "We have discovered she's one of us."
"Truly? What evidence do you have to prove this?"
Elsa dismounted from the Nokk and petted the spirit of the forest before approaching the leader. She reached for her mother's scarf and calmly passed it over to the stranger. "This was my mothers and Honeymaren says that these symbols are from this place."
"Let me see," Yelana held the fabric in her arms and inspected the intricate designs set long ago. Soon the crone's eyes widened as if a revelation had been given to her, "How?"
"My mother saved my father when the border closed. Then they fell in love, having me and my sister."
Her explanation seemed to have left an impression on the Northuldrans as the crowd walked up to her and formed a circle around her. Lieutenant Mathias expressed his concern to his soldiers. "I do not like this."
The Queen of Arendelle was taken aback when they began to sing. Their voices seamlessly assured Elsa that all was well with smiles on their faces. Did she do something right?
After the harmony was over, the leader of the Northuldrans returned the scarf to her. "One of our own has been lost to time, only for her children to return to us. I am amazed that Northuldra has permitted you back home and have the Nokk like your own personal steed."
Everything about this moment felt right.
"I just have one question. Who is your mother?"
"Iduna," She answered, "Her name was Iduna."
It was strange to see this harsh woman soften her tone into that of a loving grandmother that Elsa never had. Arms wrapped around her with a familial embrace before Yelana had released her hold. "You certainly have your mother's beauty. I wonder what has become of her?"
"My mother is waiting at the border. Right now, I am trying to find a way to break open the fog so we can reconnect our peoples together."
"We can discuss that problem later," The crone replied before turning her attention towards the queen's retinue, "Right now, you should get settled in our home. There will be plenty of time for that.
Eyes fell upon the Arendellian soldiers as an uneasy silence erupted between the two disparate groups. Lieutenant Mathias knew it was his turn to speak with the locals and so the older man relaxed his shoulders as he made sure his blade was sheathed. "We meet again under unexpected circumstances."
"Indeed and here I thought we would finish our affairs on the battlefield once again. Although my people have you surrounded, it would spoil everything that has happened."
"Then what do you suggest?" He asked, "Will we finally put aside our grievances just for her?"
She nodded her head at the suggestion and smiled. "Yes. This girl is part of our people but also yours as well. Peace?"
The officer turned toward his soldiers before extending a hand out to her. Elsa watched with anticipation, hoping success will take place while noting the reluctance of her people. Then they shook hands. "We will have peace."
"Good, then let us celebrate a new day!"
A Northuldran on a reindeer had galloped past the crowd and interrupted the moment. "Yelana! Yelana!"
"What is it, Ryder?!" She turned around to find the rider approaching her, "This better be important!"
"There is something strange on the shore. I don't know what it is but it rose out of the water and people started coming out. Whoever they are, they look serious."
The old woman took command of the situation. "Every able-bodied warrior must come with me. We must see if these outsiders mean ill-will against our people. Mathias, may I trust you to protect my village?"
"On my honor," He answered, "An enemy you were but a respected friend no less."
"Thank you."
Queen Elsa admired how the Northuldrans reacted but her gut felt ill about staying with the camp. She knew not why her body sensed the future to hold a horrible outcome, only that to follow the Northuldran warriors was the right path. As people dispersed with the elder's orders, the young woman mounted the spirit of the seas and trotted towards Yelana. "Let me come with you!"
"My dear, are you sure about that?" Came to her answer as she turned around to see her face-to-face, "This could get ugly and I do not wish for you to get hurt."
"It would feel wrong for me just to sit idly and watch you protect your forest. I have every right to join you."
Such a statement had managed to convince the old woman before she gestured her hand to follow. "Come along, we must be swift."
Little did Yelana know about her past experiences, especially, in the company of a Polis Ranger. Had she not joined Artyom on those adventures, perhaps the queen would have stayed behind in relative safety. However, she was no longer that girl anymore. Those days were over, all thanks to her Russian friend. This time, Elsa intended to help the Northuldrans for the sake of her people and family. It had to be done since there was nowhere else to go except forward.
A nose nudged against a hand hanging out in the air. This simple act of concern was enough to make a young man awake from his cot. His eyes opened up and his head turned, trying to regain consciousness from the darkness of his mind. Yet, it was interrupted by a whining of a creature he had encountered before. The wolf was sitting beside him while his eyes were filled with so much worry about his well-being.
It was strange to find this creature show that much compassion for him despite knowing each other in so little time. Artyom reached out and petted him, which only resulted in one of nature's most dangerous predators walking up and resting his head on the bedside. A smile was all he could bring as his body ached in pain. Fortunately, the wolf's habits made him forget.
Soon the wild companion swiftly turned his head towards the entrance of the surrounding curtains. The ears were attentive as the hospital door was opened and a pair of footsteps navigated past the various beds and patients. Then the person approached the entrance, revealing to be General Vinogradov. His eyes inspected the man before his expression transitioned to that of a welcoming host. "You are awake! That is perhaps the greatest news I had been expecting when I received word about a train arriving in Novosibirsk. Everyone thought you were dead."
The soldier felt his chest burdened with a heavyweight but he took the moment to salute the general out of respect.
"You do not have to get up," He added as he shuffled forward and cautiously looked at the world, "I heard what happened when you fought a blind one. It is insane for our stalkers to openly confront them like that but you decided it do it. By every right, you should be dead."
"Before I came to Novosibirsk, I fought a giant bear. That kinda changed my perceptions of what is dangerous."
Vinogradov smiled after hearing that remark as he placed his hands inside the pockets of his coat. "Then that would mean the Order's reputation is well-earned if it has men like you. We killed the damned beast; however, you took a hell of a beating and had to get some anti-radiation drugs in you. We were worried that the radiation poisoning might kill you."
Well, it would probably explain why he felt like a pig put into a potato sack. It didn't matter anymore since he had returned to the arms of his allies and comrades. All he had to do was ask for a way to Arendelle. Then he remembered about the Children of the Forest and his promise to help them move - he still intended to keep it.
"Do you have something on your mind, young man?"
"Yes," Artyom answered, "Did you take in a group of people who look more or less like wild tribals?"
He nodded his head. "We do. Right now, they're currently waiting with the rest of your fellows. Something you need to tell me about them?"
"When can the teleporter be open? I promised them that I would relocate them to a better place. Is it possible for me to get them into Arendelle?"
"Son, it is quite the request," The older man replied, "We need to reconsider with your superior. Colonel Mel'nikov would not be pleased to have a random group of refugees dropped into Arendelle without his consideration."
Nonetheless, the Polis Ranger needed to press the issue. He could handle the tunnels of a Metro but could the Children of the Forest handle the environment? It was an alien place that would play against their senses and would cause a rift against the OSKOM authority. "Let me handle Colonel Mel'nikov. That is a concern I can handle."
"Very well then, I will leave you to that," There was a slight pause between the men before the general spoke up with wonder in his voice, "How did you and the others make it to Novosibirsk?"
"We managed to find a good source of fresh water and packed as much of it as we could to escape the bandits. Along the way, we picked up survivors from other groups and managed to salvage an old train. Then we encountered the Children of the Forest. My original plan was to stay there and try to make our way toward Vladivostok; unfortunately, the nearby dam was falling apart and winter was coming. It was a desperate move that has paid off in the end."
Vinogradov nodded his head in approval. One could wonder what went through his head but Artyom had little desire to know about his betters. It seemed like he wanted to speak and continue their conversation and yet he lacked the courage to do so. Nonetheless, he spoke despite the silent sentiment in his expression. "All I have to say is that we are glad you are back. There is much to discuss when you get to Arendelle and Colonel Mel'nikov will have to brief you on our current situation. Let me make adjustments with the current teleporter schedules so that your companions earn their slice of heaven."
War was coming and the old commander needed to inform Polis. When the train had halted onto the platform, Colonel Mel'nikov stepped out and strode towards the council chambers with great haste. Guardsmen and stalker alike had saluted him throughout the station as the civilians made way for the Spartan Commander and his entourage of soldiers. As he reached the entrance, two guards waited in front of the doors and opened them for him.
His entrance was immediately noted by the dozens of men and women sitting at their benches. On the left side of the room were the civilian leaders, former scientists, and economists. The right was filled with the leftovers of the Red Army with its generals and officers acknowledging the return of their own with a smile on their faces. He wondered how long that would last knowing they were in for something terrible.
A civilian who was the head of the research and development departments had stepped up behind a podium that stood between these two groups. He adjusted his tie and glasses while his wrinkled white shirt shined underneath the light. "Colonel Mel'nikov, are you here to report the developments of our evacuation?"
"Yes," He answered nonchalantly, "However, the situation has changed in Arendelle. We are at war."
"Commander? What are you talking about?"
All eyes were now turned on him.
"What happened?"
The soldier glanced over at everyone in the room and began with the events surrounding Princess Anna's kidnapping. "Do you remember the attack at the bunker complex? It turns out it was part of someone's plan to gain the throne of Arendelle. After the teleporter closed with the royals rescued, the Order and OSKOM have intercepted a transmission between Prince Hans and the leader of the Caspian bandits."
"They're related to the attack?" The speaker wondered, "What you are saying is quite the leap. We are going to need more than just your words."
"I understand. Fortunately, one of our listening posts has managed to hold the recording but that is not all. I wanted to confront the prince about the matter; however, he ran and ordered his men to fire on us at the docks."
One of the officers in the military rows chuckled. "Well, it settles that problem once and for all."
It was not the only problem he had to consider. Prince Hans was close to Elsa, more than he realized if he took in the latest rumors from Uhlman and the other Rangers.
"You seemed troubled. The Order being attacked so openly is a justified reason to prepare for war."
"For us, yes," Mel'nikov replied as he turned towards the right to find the officer leaning back in his seat, "The problem is that Prince Hans is Queen Elsa's lover. If we are to make preparations for war, we also need her help and that would require us to convince her."
When those words were spoken, the mood began to shift as one of the civilian leaders spoke his mind from the left side of the room. "It is a bridge that we can cross later. What we should do is converse with our allies. OSKOM will certainly support us; yet, we should also invite this discussion to the Red Line, Fourth Reich, and Hansa. We are going to evacuate their people from the Metro as well so it would be good to garner a bit of goodwill on their behalf.
"Are we sure it is a good idea?" Wondered a large man sitting in the back of his seat, "If we bring this subject up, they might perceive this as weakness. Can we not deal with this matter ourselves?"
"There are so many soldiers that OSKOM can support the Order and Polis with. If we are to strengthen our military position in Arendelle, we would also need their help."
The commander of the Spartan Order remained silent throughout the entire meeting. Although the council members argued among themselves about the best course of action, he knew it was a means to an end. They didn't want to make a rash decision with unintended consequences; especially, when their people were reluctant to spend their resources on such operations. Yet, one detail was certain, war was on the horizon and he would have to defend the Kingdom of Arendelle to the last drop of blood.
It happened again.
Captain Baranov quietly swore to himself as he was walked around the submarine's hull, looking over the men below. The storm had teleported him and his crew off strange shores once again. Ever since he had encountered the royals, the man requested Tom that they search for the shores of the kingdom if they wanted to find a way to return to Vladivostok. Yet, the American had his interests in mind.
Everyone was to settle down on the nearby shore before the rest of the day to recover from the hours of preparation that were spent on making sure the submarine was in the best shape. He considered whether it was outright selfish to try and force the issue on a crew that had barely got any rest. So he kept those concerns to himself.
Inflatable boats were deployed as men brought with them their ammo and food supplies from below. His presence kept their spirits high as the soldiers from Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, and Moscow worked together. Five years ago, he thought that idea was incredibly outlandish but here he was, watching as Uhlman landed the initial shore party across the water. A steady supply of crates was ferried towards the new site as Moscovites moved deeper to secure the perimeter.
One of the sailors grabbed his attention. "Captain, do you want to join the shore party?"
"Yes," answered the old man. While his knees went through Hell, the agony was worth the moment. Seldom did he get the chance to appreciate the beauty of mother nature. After all, he was a navy man and a submarine captain at that. As he stepped onto the boat and waited to be dropped off, the land was filled with trees and leaves. Maybe it was him but he never found himself comfortable at the sight as the paddler drew him closer.
When the boat rested atop the ground, Baranov slowly managed to get his worn shoes on the dirt. He walked into the middle of the camp to find Uhlman ordering the men to organize their supplies. The Polis Ranger turned around and smiled, "Part of me wants to get a campfire going but I'm not sure it's a good idea."
"Why is that?"
He pointed to the captain's right side. Eduard walked over to a pile of crates as he reluctantly opened the top, revealing a box of munitions inside.
"I see," Then he looked over to the trees further past the shoreline. His spine felt a strange chill despite the alluring setting, "Perhaps I shouldn't have made that decision?"
More supplies were brought forward as Uhlman carried a crate over to him. "What's wrong? It looks like a ghost scared you."
"You forget that I've been here before. Most of the time I don't mind the shoreline, but its… different."
A soldier started running towards them with fear in his eyes. "Get to the boat, there's a fucking forest fire!"
"Maybe I spoke too soon," Baranov remarked before turning towards the Polis Ranger, "Can we pull our ammo back?"
"It depends on how fast the fire is spreading."
When the shouting soldier ran up to the Moscovite, he pointed his finger towards the ridge behind him. "The boys and I were securing the perimeter when we found something that caused a fire."
"Wait, this isn't a forest fire?" He asked, surprised by the knowledge, "What was it?"
"I got a good glimpse of what seemed to be a small little lizard."
The nameless soldier tried to illustrate its size with his hands.
"It was this small but it caused a huge fire before chasing us."
Uhlman's first reaction was perhaps the most welcoming feeling that the old captain witnessed. "Fuck that. Everyone, get back to the boat!"
His words managed to evoke a strange response as the flames swiftly charged towards the shore party. Baranov sensed the entity was coming for him as he slowly made his way over to the boat. What was then an orderly deployment had transformed into sheer chaos as a stream of fire began to hop towards the retreating sailors and soldiers.
The captain looked back as he helped his crew climb aboard; however, he stole a glance from the flickering destruction making its way towards them. It came at such speed as he looked at the ammo boxes with great terror. They wouldn't make it out alive.
Out from the corner of his eye was a lithe figure in a light blue dress that had rushed out from treeline on his left. Then he recognized the young woman who came to their aid as streams of snow flurries and hardened ice separated the men and their supplies from the flammable entity that chased after them. Queen Elsa stole a glance from the men as she called upon their well-being. "Is everyone alright?!"
"Elsa, is that you?" Wondered Uhlman, "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question."
Eduard felt relief at the queen's timing as he rose from the boat. "You came just in time. Had that thing got any further, this shoreline would have been a crater."
Suddenly, the pink flame jumped over the ice and managed to fly above the ammo before the ice queen created a frozen roof over the supplies with great haste. Her hand reached out and presented a motion where the top layers of ice transformed into snow and began to pull the sentient fire towards her. Snow sprinkled across the ground as a pink ball of light landed on the ground. What was once an intense flicker of flames had been cooled off, revealing a small lizard hissing at the nearby humans.
"What in god's name is that?"
"This must be a fire spirit," She added, "The locals told me about it before it chased after you."
The queen stepped closer as the lizard screeched out at her but it did not deter her from approaching it. Then she sat down and slowly reached out to the flammable animal.
"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
Soon the fire flickered and started to die as the strange creature made its way toward her. Baranov was amazed by the scene as he stepped out of the boat to sate his curiosity. The lizard jumped into her palms as she expressed the pain of touching it while the last gasps of the blaze were extinguished. It had to do with the magical powers Elsa had displayed earlier. Then she began to play with it like a pet. She sprinkled snowflakes over the lizard as it stuck its tongue with glee to taste the frozen treat.
The captain took off his cap and was amazed at what had happened while the Russians slowly stepped away from the boat. "I suppose it's safe to come ashore."
It was not over as a large commotion of footsteps entered the shoreline. Strangers arrived in force, some carrying spears while others were riding reindeers. An old woman approached the Russians as a retinue of young men protected her. Baranov stole a glance from Uhlman to find the Polis Ranger reaching for his assault rifle.
Whoever this elder was had commanded respect from their people and he needed to deal with the situation in a delicate fashion. So he walked over to her and smiled at the locals. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."
Elsa stood up and joined them while petting the fire spirit in her hand. "Yelana, I would like you to meet Captain Baranov. He helped me and my sister find our lost parents."
"His goodwill does him little," The crone remarked before she continued, "We have seen your people before."
"These people are very different. I think you're confusing them for someone else."
Confusion set in as Uhlman spoke his mind. "Wait, you have seen our people? When?"
"A long time ago. It's insulting that none of you remember." She folded her arms expressing contempt, "Your kind accompanied a group of Arendellians when they performed treachery in the disguise of peace."
"I am sorry to say but we know nothing of this. Hell, a year ago we didn't even know there was another world."
Yelana hardened her gaze on the soldier. "How can you not know? It has been two decades since it happened. Surely, you would have found out by now."
"Easy for you to say," He replied while taking a step forward, "My people had better concerns to worry about."
Eduard decided to speak his mind knowing the true context of the country he once served. He reached into his pocket for a packet of cigarettes. "Trust but verify. Those are the words our glorious Soviet Union lived by."
Everyone's heads turned towards him.
"You cannot blame Uhlman for not knowing everything. A year ago, neither of us would have met and I would have been rotting away at Vladivostok. Two decades ago, our country was destroyed by an apocalyptic war so the concerns of your people were not a priority. It doesn't help that much of the technology to get into your world happens to be locked away in silence and confidentiality. So even if our former government knew, they wouldn't tell it to us regular folk. Hell, the only reason we're is that a freak of an accidental storm brought my beloved vessel into this shoreline."
"So that is how you got here?" Elsa commented, "I didn't think it would happen again."
He let out a deep breath. "Tom and I had the misfortune of leaving Vladivostok just as the storm began. Poor timing on our part."
"Are you able to stay with us?"
"I have to relay this to Tom," He answered as he found his lighter and looked over to the submarine in the distance, "Right now, they're probably confused watching us talk in the open like this."
Yelana focused her attention on the queen of Arendelle. "I suppose you want them to be treated like guests as well?"
She nodded her head. "Yes. I know Captain Baranov and Uhlman. They're acquaintances of mine. Please treat them as such."
"If that is the case, I suppose we'll have to resettle our camp here if your Russian companions are settling down here."
Eduard began to relax at the news, knowing he would be causing an entire firefight. After he lit his cigarette and started smoking, the first thing on his mind was a child-like innocence about those who reluctantly welcomed him and his crew. "Your majesty, I need to ask this question but who are these people exactly? My apologies if I didn't wonder earlier."
The young woman expresses a warm smile toward him. "Captain, these are the people of Northuldra. There the locals living in a magical land."
"Thank you, it's just a lot has happened in a few minutes for this old bag of bones."
The pain medication had finally settled into the young man's body. His body wanted to sleep but Artyom wondered if a bed at the Arendelle castle would suffice. He trekked through the station with his wolf at his side, hoping to hitch a ride towards a nearby station containing one of the teleporters. Yet, if there is one concern that bothered him and his newfound pet, a nice meal.
Novosibirsk Metro took some time to grow accustomed to the currency since military-grade ammo was not as valuable as the anti-radiation drugs. Fortunately, there was an exchange booth set up thanks to the cooperative efforts between OSKOM and the Polis Council. A welcoming endeavor by his superiors.
A local bar was kind enough to permit the duo to stay there for the time being so long as he could pay them in kind. The wolf rubbed against the Polis Ranger's leg for food and was immediately rewarded with a juicy slab of pork - eating beside the owner of the wild animal. Meanwhile, the soldier was granted a bottle of fine vodka that he paid a premium for. It wasn't the wisest decision and Artyom was sure his stepfather would discourage that kind of wasteful spending. Yet, several months in the wildlands of Russia deserved a drink. He took a swig of his alcohol as his head felt drowsy while he sat at a booth by his lonesome.
Someone took a seat across from him until he recognized Pavel smiling at him. "Comrade, I heard you self-discharged yourself from the hospital. Your recovery is something."
"Is it?" Artyom wondered to himself. He barely made it to Novosibirsk alive, "What are you doing here?"
"Checking up on a friend of mine. What do you intend to do now that we're back in the friendly territory?"
He took the moment to contemplate that question but the first person that came into mind was reconnecting with Elsa after this was over. His feelings for her were strong and a burden worth revealing. "Find the Queen of Arendelle and say what needs to be said. Then tell her I love her."
"You've finally garnered the courage," The officer's eyes lit up with joy at the semblance of confidence in the man's heart, "What you should also do is sweep the girl off her feet and then tell her that. It makes the moment special."
"I take it is from experience?"
Pavel scratched the back of his head. "Not really but I am glad your heart has been in the right place. After what we've been through, you deserve to tell her that."
"Thanks, I appreciate the care you have in your words," He answered before taking another sip from his pre-war vodka. Then a thought occurred to him about the whereabouts of the soldiers and refugees he once led, "How is everyone else? Are they okay?"
"You mean the crew we traveled with? Well, I am fortunate to say that seem to view you in high regard. Even the Nazis wouldn't speak ill about you. It might be outlandish to state the situation but I think you have your little army."
Artyom almost spat out his drink before he swallowed and did a double-take with his companion's words. "A what?"
"All the men you've helped out have expressed their loyalty to you," He answered while leaning back in his seat, "They're willing to follow you to the end."
"There has to be a catch to all of this. I only brought them to Novosibirsk alive."
Then the communist leaned forward across the table with his finger pointed. "Ah, you don't see it. As an officer, I know a thing or two about leadership. This might be a good deal for the Order. If you've earned the loyalty of men from the various factions and they're willing to follow, your Spartan Order might have found a way to bring unity. These men will go back to their home stations and tell about how a single Polis Ranger saved them. It's good propaganda material, believe me."
"Oh," He hadn't thought of that possibility but then the medication and the drink had clouded his mind from seeing the bigger picture. Yet, Artyom didn't know how to properly convey his reactions to the affair. "The problem is that I haven't shown any actual ability to be a leader."
"It's okay so long as you can put some trust in their faith. So, when are you going to Arendelle?"
Artyom looked at his bottle to see there was enough between himself and his friend. "After we finish this bottle."
The dockyards of the Southern Isles were busy as armies of various quality continued their preparations. Warehouses had been stuffed with weapons and equipment for the hefty expedition into Arendelle. The Baron would not see to the battle and would delegate command to those who served him. Yet, he needed to oversee the logistical operations since no one in his gang was capable of comprehending that.
The Baron sat atop a crate to keep his knees from hurting. Telling an army of illiterates and idiots was painful to organize but there were a few gems that kept themselves in line and were reliable enough to be in his inner circle of politics. Hopefully, they will be mindful of being competent for the battle to come. The riches of an entire kingdom trickled down into their palms while the old gangster would amass a fortune in the future. Such prospects were a welcoming thought, especially, since it would solidify his rule in the Capsian.
Old wounds remained as he prayed that Kazakh witch would die; however, he would deal with her once he was finished with his service with Prince Hans. All he needed to do was let his soldiers take a victory to inspire his forces before they finally dealt with that thorn at his side.
Saul approached him with a smile on his face. "Boss, I've got something to show you!"
"What would that be?" He wondered perking his head up to see one of his trusted lieutenants accompanied by his retinue, "This better be important."
"It is. My boys found a few canisters hidden away within one of our depots. You might like this."
The Baron turned his head to focus his full attention upon his lieutenant. "Explain."
"Take a look," The bandit stated as two men gently presented a green canister with a white skull and bones painted on it, "Chlorine gas."
"That is a good haul," He remarked as he thought about the possibilities of dealing with the threats in Arendelle, "It would be great to deploy these when you and your men are shipped over there."
Saul stole a glance at the skull before his expression shifted. "The problem is that we need gas masks but one of the gangs is hoarding it all. I've tried to work with him about it but he won't budge."
"Let me take care of that. This is too much of an operation we got going for ourselves."