Chapter 11: Revelations
Vehicles: Flying Theimer Mk.1
The first air vehicle specifically designed for warfare. Imagined and built by Agusta-Northland, the FT Mk.1 is a single-seat aircraft powered by a ragnaid engine capable of bringing it up to 1.300 km/h, making it the fastest vehicle currently in existence.
Flying machines had started being explored in the interwar period, but no country actually gave it much thought. Only the Gallian triad (Adrien Agusta, Erwin Absenkirch, Wilbur Fender) saw the potential on the battlefield. Hence, as Agusta's wealth increased, he started hiring engineers and mechanics to build the first flying machines. Since most of the original groundwork had been laid by the famous Theimer, this 'air fighter' has been called in his honor.
The FT is armed with six machine guns mounted equally on the two wings and can transport a 50 lb bomb, capable of destroying most armored vehicles from above. Its only real weakness is the fact that it can only operate for a few minutes inside a combat zone before going back to base and resupplying. Still, if used correctly, a large number of these vehicles have already proven able to turn the tide of a battle.
July 10, 1935.
Gathered in the Minister's office, Wilbur and Erwin waited and talked.
"How are our guests doing?" the former asked.
"I heard no lamentations on their part." the former replied. "The first exercises went a little rough: our armies fight in two completely different ways, but we're steadily gaining cohesion."
"Good to hear. Because we're really going to need a perfect coordination to retake Fouzen."
"I heard the reports. Three entire division defending it. And Gregor has made it his headquarters."
"Add his personal armored train, the Equus, to the picture, and you see why we're going to need a very good plan. A direct assault is going to be too costly."
"Well, by the time we strike, the Valkyrias will no longer be a secret. Maybe it's time we go all in." Erwin proposed.
"Are you sure? I thought you weren't too keen on risking their lives."
"I'm not saying we use them freely, if anything because there's a limit at how long each of us can keep the transformation up. But if we find ourselves in front of a tough obstacle, even a single shot from one of my girls is enough to open us a path."
"Your girls. You sound like a panderer." Wilbur joked.
"Hey!" Erwin replied offended.
"Sorry, that came out wrong..."
The door opened, saving Wilbur from other gaffes, and Adrien walked in. Once the guards outside closed the door, the businessman spoke up.
"Guys, I have some good news. Especially for you, Erwin."
"Let's hear it, then." Wilbur invited.
"I received news from Mawnokee. Last week, all three Valkyrias successfully completed the connection with the first experimental implosion reactor. Forseti confirms that they all came out unscathed."
The news felt like a warm shower on Erwin and he drew a sigh of relief. "Thank the Spirits."
"Vinland has granted us the funding to build the other two reactors. Now, with the collaboration of Edinburgh Navy's best engineers they are starting the creation of the Cygnus Fleet. It will take a while, but Vinland is the only country with the capacity to build those ships as fast as possible. And finally, Andy and Doctor Obwehl have started building a prototype of the A2 bomb."
"The bomb that's supposed to save our Valkyrias, right?" Erwin asked with a thread of hope.
"Yes. If they manage to build it right, the bomb will have a timer that can't be defused. If enough time is given, every team unlucky enough to chug this thing inside Schwartzgrad should have at least a chance to escape before blowing up the city."
"Those are truly wonderful news, but until Operation Cygnus is complete, we need to rely on something else to hold our ground." Wilbur pointed out.
"Which brings us back to our previous topic: I say we start using the Valkyrias to break the strongest points of the Imperial line."
"Woah, what? You want to use them openly?!" Wilbur asked baffled.
"In a week, we will reveal ourselves to the world, anyway. Not only that, but we know that Aduin has more of them. I want to draw him in the open and find out just how many he has. Do we have the numerical advantage, or not?" the General calmly explained.
Wilbur pondered briefly. "I guess that's a good point. Well, since you are a Valkyrur yourself, it won't be difficult to put every Valkyria volunteering for the frontline under your command. In the meantime, our priority is to retake Fouzen."
"On that matter, I have a proposition." Adrien intervened. Once his two friends turned toward him, he continued. "How about we use my passenger plane?"
July 12, 1935.
After taking the objective with success, the exercise between Squad E and Squad 7 ended up outstandingly quickly, dealing massive casualties to the mock enemies basically without losses on their own.
For how much that hurt Minerva's pride, as they all gathered around to debrief, she had to concede it. "That was a good result, Claude. Though I suppose, as Gallians, you must have some familiarity with the tactics of the Militia."
"It's not that far off." Claude conceded. "We all receive the same training in school. After I remembered that, it wasn't difficult to come out with a more suitable tactic."
"Right." Welkin added. "The Rangers are suited for heavy combat and usually have more bullets than us. We have been trained to make hit-and-run operations, but if someone can provide an anvil, we can be the hammer that crushes the enemy flank."
"Indeed, that was a good intuition." Kiril, who was there as an observer, commented. "Gallian military training puts a greater emphasis on marksmanship, to make every bullet count."
"I didn't know that." Christel commented. "But that explains why the Gallians of Squad E have an average higher accuracy." she recognized.
"Wha...? I didn't know we were so short on ammo." Raz commented instead.
"It's not that we have a shortage," Ramal explained. "but if we are not careful, against an enemy like the Empire, that can field millions of men, we risk running out of ammo and manpower before we notice. That's why we never charge upfront when going on the offensive. That's why our country spent the last two decades mechanizing the Army and perfecting the GSS."
"A very interesting point of view, Sergeant." Colonel Borswood considered. "Indeed, Gallia relies on speed and maneuverability rather than firepower. Combined with the knowledge of local territory, it can inflict severe damage to any invading force."
"That would be the main point." the voice of Erwin suddenly came in.
Everyone turned and saw the General walking onto the drill ground. The Gallians promptly saluted him.
"Colonel, I have new details about the operation at Fouzen. Could I ask a minute of your and your officers' time?"
"Of course, sir." Borswood replied. "Lieutenant Victor, gather your officers at once."
"Yes, sir." Minerva promptly replied.
"Everyone else, take a break. You deserved it." the Federal officer finally decreed.
"Ram, Kiril, you come as well." Erwin ordered.
"Us, sir?" Ramal asked surprised.
"Isn't this meeting for officers only?" Kiril added.
"It will become clear soon. Come on, let's go." Erwin insisted gently.
"Yes, sir." Ramal replied and the two followed without discussing any more.
The groups of soldiers, in the meantime, put down their gear and started chatting and mingling a little. Alicia brought out some bread, butter and even some jam that she managed to snatch somewhere. After consuming a refreshing snack, Isara and Sheila took the opportunity to approach Riley.
"Excuse us, Lieutenant Miller?" Isara asked timidly.
Riley, though, replied with a large smile. "Oh, hey girls. Just call me Riley. Can I help you?"
"Uh, yes. We wanted your opinion on a couple of our pet projects." Sheila replied with more ease. "Isara, you go first."
Isara thus whipped out the small filer she had hanging on her belt and showed a series of drawings. "Right. Would you take a look at this? It's a new type of grenade I've been working on for a while."
Riley took it and gave a look, finding it quite impressive. "Is this for a smoke bomb? That's amazing, Isara. Did you come up with this yourself?"
"It's still just a prototype. I can't get enough range on the smoke to make it useful in combat."
"Let me see…" Riley said with a sprinkle of genius. "Here, if you just modify the exhaust valve's shape…" she said, pointing on the paper.
Isara was surprised. "The exhaust valve? Oh, of course! I would've never thought about it."
"See? It's perfect. I'm sure we can make this smoke bomb work!" Riley said enthusiastic.
"I'll try it again. Thank you, Riley." the young girl replied gratefully.
"So, Sheila, what is your grand project?" the Lieutenant continued with her cheery attitude.
"For that, I request to use your mortars. And one of your grenades." Sheila replied with a certain formality.
Curious enough, Riley didn't hesitate to provide both of them. They went and placed the mortar in front of the firing range, where among the many stationary targets there was the wreckage of an imperial tank.
"Nadine, have you placed that device?" Sheila asked to one of the Engineers of Squad 7.
"Sure. Now you got me curious, too." the Darcsen woman replied. "What's that supposed to do?"
"You'll see. Riley, can you place this thing around the grenade?" Sheila asked, showing what looked like a small cage shaped to grab the borders of the mortar grenade.
"Uh, sure." Riley asked, still trying to figure out what was supposed to happen.
With the necessary caution, Riley installed that strange device and handed the grenade to Sheila. The latter then proceeded to set the mortar toward the firing field, but if her target was the tank, she clearly wasn't on spot.
"All right, here goes nothing." she huffed. She brought the grenade right over the barrel and prepared to release it. Finally, she let the shot fall down and quickly covered her ears, for a blink later the mortar fired and whistled loudly.
To the surprise of everybody, including Sheila herself, the grenade started with a regular parable, only to deviate when it was suppose to come down, heading straight toward the wreckage and finally nailing hit.
While everyone was still confused, Sheila took a moment to absorb the success of the task and then she jumped from joy.
"Hell yeah!" she screamed triumphant.
"Wait...what just happened?" Connor, a Grenadier from Squad E, asked baffled. "That grenade was clearly going somewhere else completely."
"And there wasn't any wind!" Riley continued. "What was that thing?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, you just saw the first successful test of my radio-homing munition."
"Radio...homing?" Isara asked. "Oh, now I see: the device you had placed inside the tank was calling the radio signaler that you put on the grenade."
"Quick on the uptake, my friend." Sheila replied proudly. "Indeed. With this kit, our men on the frontline can not simply ask for fire support: they can direct it."
A surprised and astonished murmur rose from the crowd.
"That sounds incredible, Sheila." Lynn, Shocktrooper of Squad 7 commented pleased.
"I didn't even know you could use radio waves to do such a thing." Riley replied admired. "How did you get this idea?"
Sheila chuckled. "Actually, Kiril gave it to me. He always complains that our artillery never hits the point he calls them for. I know he's exaggerating, but the idea came from that."
Riley laughed. "Guess he got his expectations high after having me as his artillery support. But that said, this invention is truly amazing, Sheila. It can radically change the way we use long-range support."
"Not just that." Isara intervened. "I bet that we can use that device on the bombs dropped by the fighters. They would become even more accurate, that way."
As they started to get into a simple discussion, the rest of the soldiers lost interest and started to disband, each going to find a way to kill some time. The three girls instead kept speculating on the new applications of their inventions, with Riley eagerly giving her opinion on the subject as an expert on explosives.
"I must say, you two are amazing." Riley said at the end with sincere complimenting. "You'd both make for great engineers."
"Eh. Wish it was that easy." Sheila said flattered but a little bogged down into reality. "I mean, Isara can easily find a job at Agusta, but I'd like to work in the communication industry. Unfortunately, I don't know many enterprises that would hire Darcsen."
"That might not be much of a problem." Riley said with confidence. "You know, once the war is over, I'm going back to Hafen and restart my dad's factory. I'm pretty sure I can afford to expand our operations in IT, if you're interested."
Sheila was taken by surprise, but she didn't hesitate too much to reply "Really? Then I hope you have luck in your endeavor. No, I'm counting on it!"
"Hehe. Then it's a promise."
"I want to start working on the airplanes. Maybe even become a pilot. But I will definitely come to visit you." Isara said.
"You want to become a pilot?" Riley asked amazed.
"The Flying Theimer bears the name of my father. I dreamed of being the one to finish his last life project, but alas, uncle Adrien beat me to it. Nonetheless, one day I'd like to bring Welks on one of those. He always wanted to fly."
Sheila smirked. "Careful to say that. Ram might get jealous."
Isara blushed lightly. "W-what does that have anything to do with this?!"
Sheila became even more mischievous. "You thought I forgot the fact that you still haven't told me anything about your date yesterday?"
"Oh, something juicy, finally!" Riley immediately jumped on.
The interrogated girl made a step back and smiled awkwardly, but eventually she replied. "There wasn't anything particularly eventful." she said modestly. "We went in the city, he helped me buy a few tank parts and then we grabbed something to eat. Though...he did bring me on the hill overlooking Randgriz. The view up there with the sunset was really pretty."
The other two girls made a softened huff. "You're so lucky you found someone so romantic, Isara." Riley commented.
Then Sheila noticed someone coming. "Oh, speak of the devil…"
The others also turned around and saw not just Kiril and Ramal, but the entire group of officers that Erwin had brought with him a short time before, including Claude and Welkin.
"What are you three up to? Some new invention?" Welkin asked joking.
"Actually, you're not far off, Lieutenant." Sheila replied. "But we'll show you later. Is there anything we should know?"
"Let's gather our teams, first." Ramal said calmly.
The Squads gathered and so Claude started the briefing. "Listen up, the General has come up with a strategy to retake Fouzen, but it will require other ten days of preparations. Some details will be discussed at a later date, but suffice it to say, it will require a grand coordination between us and Air Force. This will truly be a combined arms operation."
"Fouzen right now has become the headquarters of General Berthold Gregor." Welkin continued. "He is one of Maximillian's triumvirs, so capturing or killing him will be our highest priority. The first phase of the plan will be surrounding Fouzen entirely, which means our allies will attack the railway east of the mountain range to isolate the Imperials inside of it. Once the Imperials are trapped, we will launch our offensive."
"Isn't Fouzen extremely fortified? Attacking the mountain range from any direction, even from the eastern passage would be tough." Juno noted.
"That's correct." Claude replied. "That is why our first real attack toward the city will be a diversion: the General is preparing a GSS squad that will be launched with parachutes from the passenger plane of Mr. Agusta."
The crowd was stunned and the gazes immediately turned toward Ramal and Kiril, for now it was clear why the General had called them at the meeting.
"It's true." Kiril said somberly. "Starting tomorrow, me and Ram will join a squad of other volunteers to train air jumping."
"H-hold on!" Sheila protested. "Parachutes? Aren't they only used by nuts who jump down mountains?"
"Correct." said Ramal. "But some of our officers have been studying for long the possibility of using them for military operations. Each GSS has been trained to use parachutes, so we will require less time to prepare."
"If you can jump down a hill, there will be no problem jumping from that airplane, when below there is nothing but the sky." Ramal added. "While you make a lot of noise with a ground assault, we should be able to drop behind their lines unnoticed. From there, we can take their fortifications from behind and open you a path."
"You guys want to jump down from one of those things?!" Raz asked baffled. "You can't be serious. It's a suicide!"
"That's why we need to test it, first." Kiril replied calmly. "And if it works, not only will we turn the tide of the battle, but we will keep our tactical edge over the Imps by introducing another innovation." he added proudly.
"The Empire still outnumbers us." Claude added. "If we want a good chance to defeat them, we must be innovative, because they won't take long before they adapt to our new tools."
"And Fouzen is essential to the war effort of the Community." Welkin intervened. "So we are going to need every advantage."
"That is all, for now. This afternoon, we will have another drill, so get some rest while you can."
The crowd disbanded, leaving only the two Darcsen girls arguing with their GSS companions.
July 18, 1935.
The Palace was simply crowded outside, while the grand hall where the ceremony was about to take place only had the greatest nobles of the realms, the Generals, and some officers that were going to receive an award that day, including Welkin and Faldio.
Walking toward the Princess' chamber, Wilbur was discussing with DeWytt about the loyalties of the elite.
"The General Staff is completely on board, Prime Minister, of that I can assure. Not everyone will love it, but even Damon recognizes that the Princess is fit to rule. They will give her a chance despite her heritage."
"Good. And the officer corp?"
"We couldn't just go around and ask every single one of them. Nonetheless, the Army has been pushing an out-of-politics line for all of our officers for years. Let's hope they don't get strange ideas. The real issue will be with the nobles."
"Yeah. But most of those who might think of rebelling were also caught in the assassination of Archduke Hersetz. I suspect only two or three of them might oppose the coronation. There's also the matter of the Church."
"I wouldn't bother too much with Cardinal Borgia. Once the Valkyrur themselves will pledge their loyalties to Her Highness, they will have to bend the knee or show themselves as hypocrites to the entire world."
"I hope you're right, General." Wilbur concluded, not entirely sure. He was also stacking his hopes onto the revelation of the Valkyrur to win the hearts of the people, but the secret of Cordelia could still spark a civil war among the most radicalized sectors of society.
They both arrived in front of the door, guarded by two soldiers who saluted them, then Wilbur took off his hat and knocked four times. After a few seconds, a maid came to open the door and allowed the two men in.
Cordelia was just finishing getting her dress polished by the other servants. She already had the scepter shaped like a valkyrian lance at the top and her headwear that was going to fall soon enough.
"Minister Fender. General DeWytt. Well-met." she greeted cordially.
"Your Highness. You are as dignified as a true ruler, today." DeWytt greeted.
"I only pray that I'm strong as such a figure." Cordelia replied, speaking calmly, but her eyes betrayed a hint of fear.
"Your Highness, I had the luck to know your esteemed royal Father quite well. Allow me to tell you that he would be most proud of seeing you like this." Wilbur said to reassure here.
The remembrance of her father had always been a painful one for Cordelia, but this time, she found it reassuring enough to smile again. "Thank you, Wilbur. But you have been the one tutoring me for all these years. So...tell me: do you believe me to be ready?"
"Without a doubt." Wilbur replied with a straight face.
The Princess found some vigor, took a deep breath and sighed, taking the stoic composure that was expected from her at a time like that.
"Your Highness. Everything is ready. The guests all await your arrival." Wilbur finally reported.
"Then I shan't make them wait." the Princess replied calmly. "Emily?" she then asked to her lady-in-waiting, who was finishing the work on her dress.
"You are now perfect, my lady." the young woman replied with a bow.
Cordelia turned her head forward and started moving. The Minister and the General stepped aside and bowed not just as a formality, but as a show of complete loyalty. The entourage thus walked up to the grand door from which Cordelia would appear on the stage of the Palace's courtyard, for she wanted the whole nation to partake in this decisive moment.
The curtain then finally opened on the ceremony. Cordelia walked through the threshold of the opened marble gates and strolled into the courtyard. There, the high officers and foreign dignitaries had gathered and were waiting on neat rows, and hidden in the lateral corridors there were the Valkyrias, waiting for the moment when Erwin would start the pledge. Behind the elite and the worthy, kept at bay by a barrier and a cordon of policemen, there was a huge crowd that immediately started cheering.
DeWytt passed the Princess and reached the rest of the General Staff, taking his place among the spectators, while Wilbur stood next to his ward. As soon as the most reverent silent fell, the Prime Minister began the ceremony by speaking inside the microphone on the stage.
"Guests. Compatriots. Citizens of Gallia. We are gathered here today for a most momentous occasion. For today, Her Highness Cordelia gi Randgriz comes of age and assumes the title that she inherited from her noble and dear departed father. Today, our Princess is ready to ascend to the throne of Gallia as the new Archduchess."
An applause filled the air for a few seconds.
"Not only that: today we declare to the whole world the creation of the Europan Community, our project to build a peaceful and prosperous Europa once the evil Empire will be defeated. That is why, friends from the whole continent, it is with gratitude that we welcome you at this ceremony."
Wilbur then turned toward the Princess. "Your Highness. I have had the privilege of being your warden for a decade. I, more than anyone, understand that Gallia could have no better leader, in this trying time. Please, enlighten us with your words."
Silence followed for a brief second as Cordelia gathered her courage and finally delivered her speech.
"Friends and countrymen. As fate and blood would have it, the crown today falls upon me. Despite the Prime Minister's kind words, I know I am far from being worthy of this responsibility, but for the sake of everyone who believed in me and by my duty to the country, I will give everything I have to see us through this crisis."
The speech was delivered with a good balance of modesty and passion, which captivated both the elite and the more common folk that was in there.
"Before I take on this duty, however...there is something you all deserve to know. That all Gallia deserves to know. So, please, before you decide whether or not you will accept me as your ruler…"
She didn't continue. Wilbur braced himself as the Princess walked at the edge of the stage and, with a swift motion of her left hand, she handily removed her headdress, thus showing her dark-purple hair.
Almost immediately, save for the Generals and the foreign dignitaries, a loud gasp of disbelief and astonishment came from the rest of the elites and those in the public who were close enough to see the scene clearly.
Using that moment of confusion, Cordelia decided to speak up again, before the reactions took any form.
"It is time that I reveal the truth about my heritage. I know there have always been rumors that I was not generated by the womb of my father's spouse. Today, I tell you that it is the truth: the revered Queen-Mother was never able to carry a child of her own. I am the offspring of an affair between the Archduke and one of his maids, a Darcsen woman."
"This is outrageous!" a voice boomed from the guests.
Someone pushed around its row until it turned out to be an officer, and heir to the family that Wilbur figured would the greatest voice of dissent on this matter: Baldren Gassenarl.
"No! It's blasphemy! Gallia cannot and will never be ruled by a filthy Darcsen!" he yelled with the face that could not express his deeply rooted hatred for that people more.
"Young Gassenarl's choice of words might be exaggerated, but the point stands." Cardinal Gennaro Borgia, the greatest authority of the Yggdist Church in Gallia, spoke up. "The Darcsen are a cursed people who rebelled against the divine Valkyrur. This is utterly unacceptable!"
"Oh, really?" Wilbur spoke loudly with a firm and confident tone. "And what if I told you that the Valkyrur themselves approve her?"
Borgia looked angrily horrified and replied harshly. "How dare you! I am the messenger of the Valkyrur! How dare you claim what the gods wish and-?"
A blue flame suddenly appeared on the front row and rose high to the skies. Erwin walked forward and made two of the five steps that brought on the stage, pacing slowly so that the flabbergasted spectators could see him.
At the same time, from inside the Palace came out Riela, Alicia, Urma and other Valkyrias wielding shields and lances. As soon as they arrived outside, they transformed themselves, showing a large succession of cobalt flames that silenced any opposition even more, for even those who knew nothing instinctively understood what was going on, whether they believed it or not. The Valkyrias took position around the stage, as if they were part of the Royal Guard, and faced the crowd.
It was at that point that Erwin spoke up, using his power to make his voice reverberate all around the city.
"People of Gallia. Your attention, please. I am Erwin Absenkirch. You may know me as a General of our Army, but I'm not just that. Me, and my people on the island of Reite, are all descendants of the ancient Valkyrur, who came to conquer the continent of Europa nearly two thousand years ago."
In front of those blue flames, nobody had the strength to say anything. Everybody just listened with open jaws.
"For far too long, we have been hiding on our island, after the fall of our ancestors under the weight of their own thirst for power. In the last millennia, we have left the world living on a lie, and millions of people in particular have suffered for a crime they never committed. But with the world entering in an uncertain state, we can no longer stay in the shadows.
"Here, on this day, we wish to announce to the world that we have returned on the world stage, but not as a supposed superior race. No, that rhetoric will only bring suffering and more conflict: despite our gifts, we are humans, first and foremost. And above all, we are citizens of Gallia, of Europa and wherever any of our brethren might be. We have decided to stand alongside you against the tyrannic oppression of the Empire, and to support the Europan Community, so that we may build a future of equality and freedom, where no man will ever oppress their fellow men ever again. And to that end…" he finally turned around toward Cordelia.
In a gesture that couldn't have had a greater impact, he simply fell on his knee and brought a hand on his heart, bowing his head in a sign of total submission. Immediately, all the Valkyria turned toward the Princess and imitated him.
"We offer our hearts to you, Your Majesty." he said, making sure that the way he addressed Cordelia resonated without any doubt: the Valkyrur people, the very same upon which Gallia had built its identity on, had already acknowledged her as the legitimate ruler of the country.
Just a moment later, DeWytt and all the other Generals, including the slightly skeptic like Damon, didn't hesitate to fall on their knee and imitate Erwin's gesture. Wilbur also followed through, sparking a chain reaction where first most of the officers like Welkin and Faldio, then gradually the entire crowd, did the exact same thing.
The only ones who stood on their legs at the end were Borgia, who was likely in shock as he realized that the entire structure upon which he had built his power was crashing down on him, and then there were Baldren and his father Gilbert, the former was just as in shock as Borgia, the latter was simply confused. The family was also made up by Audrey Gassenarl, Baldren's younger sister, but she was fervently kissing the ground, going as far as bowing with both knees.
Aside from them, only the foreign dignitaries were standing, but they were still making a respectful bow.
"I thank you for your trust, General Absenkirch. And yours, my loyal subjects." Cordelia finally declared with a hand on her heart. "I promise, I will do everything in my power to help you and your wish for a better Gallia."
Wilbur stood back up and yelled "All hail Archduchess Cordelia!"
A spontaneous cheer boomed from the crowd, while those under the stage stated firmly "Long live Archduchess Cordelia!"
"Stop!" the voice of Borgia thundered and everyone looked his way with surprise. The Cardinal looked possessed. "This must be a trick! A travesty! Our world is too filthy for the Gods to walk on it! You are trying to mislead all of us!"
"Yes! That must be!" Baldren declared, drawn in by the arguments of the Cardinal.
"How dare you?!" Wilbur asked out of patience, but Erwin extended his arm toward his friend, telling him that he would take the matter into his own hands.
The Valkyrur then walked forward, calm and composed, still burning brightly, and the more he closed in, the more the faces of the two rebels were becoming ever more concerned.
"You want proof?" Erwin asked rhetorically. Then he reached for the pistol he had in his belt and clicked it.
"What are you…?" Borgia asked nearly terrified.
"Don't worry...Father." Erwin said with a sarcasm that couldn't be more evident. After all, he hated the Church with a passion for using the name of his ancestors improperly. "I would never ask a holy man to dirt his hands." he then turned toward Baldren. "Lieutenant Colonel Gassenarl." he said, showing that he knew the family quite well. "You have the fame of a being a very direct man, so I will give you the chance for you to see reality."
He stepped closer and handed the gun. "Go ahead. Shoot me."
The guests suddenly went in a panic.
"Wait, Erwin!" Welkin yelled, but the General gestured for him to calm down.
"Baldren! Don't you dare!" Audrey Gassenarl demanded with ferocity as she hurried next to her brother.
"That's all right, Major Gassenarl." the General reassured. "Even the whole magazine of that gun will not kill me."
Baldren had already taken the gun, but he was clearly still in shock.
"Baldren." even Gilbert intervened. "Isn't that azure flame enough? Don't you ridicule yourself!"
But then Baldren finally snapped and fired three shots before Audrey and Gilbert jumped on him and pinned him down, barely holding him. Other officers also jumped in, but then everyone froze as it became clear that the holes in Erwin's chest were closing in of their own before his flame died down.
All except one, on his hip. He calmly reached it with a hand and soaked a finger in blood.
"Ugh. I could use a little help with this one." he said as if that was completely inconsequential. "Your Majesty? May I ask for your blessing?"
Wilbur was quite amazed: Erwin had taken on the opportunity to show the trump card: what was going to cement Cordelia's rule beyond any doubt.
Because suddenly, the new Archduchess rose her spear and was briefly surrounded by an azure aura herself, though her hair and eyes never changed. Then she extended a hand and the General was reached by the same sprinkle that medical ragnaid usually creates.
Now even the other Generals and the dignitaries who were aware of Cordelia's Darcsen heritage were left entirely speechless.
"As you just witnessed, Her Majesty also possesses the blood of the Valkyrur, like her father and all her ancestors of House Randgriz." Wilbur declared solemnly. "Therefore...is there anyone else who'd like to contest her legitimacy to rule?"
Not a single voice rose.
"Please, let him go." Erwin then said to the people who were pinning down Baldren. On his part, the young Gassenarl had an empty expression. Just like Borgia, he had realized that his entire life had been built around a lie, and he found himself lost.
"My Lord." Audrey said with a pleading tone, bowing down. "Please, forgive my stupid brother! He was just...confused."
"I know, Major. And it's just 'sir'. I am only your superior officer, after all."
"I apologize as well, General." Gilbert said, with a dosage of contrition that Erwin judged true. "Let me assure you, that our loyalty stands with Gallia and Her Majesty."
Erwin turned again toward Baldren. "Is that true, Lieutenant Colonel? Do you still stand with Gallia?"
Despite everything, that question brought back Baldren's pride. "Of course! Until my dying day!"
"Good. Then you two will join the attack to retake Fouzen. I heard good things about you two. Let's see if they are true."
Audrey promptly saluted. "Sir, yes, sir!"
Baldren eventually also saluted, before Erwin turned to make a final speech.
"Let it be known far and wide! The forces of the free Europa today stand with renewed vigor! We will use all our power for the sake of our continent. Let us march forward with our allies, toward the final victory!"
A loud cheer followed.
"What...the...shit?" Raz asked baffled.
Standing among the crowd, Squads E and 7 had found a spot relatively close to the stage and so they had heard and seen everything.
"The Princ- I mean, the Archduchess is actually a Valkyria?!" Largo also asked baffled.
Claude wasn't any less confused, but he found the lucidity to make a question. "Ram. Kiril. Did you know about all this?"
The two GSS, who were accompanied by their partners, replied firmly "Only that the Valkyrur were real." said Ramal.
"But the Duchess?" Kiril added. "No. Everything has been a surprise."
"The Archduchess...is half-Darcsen…" Sheila murmured.
"That's wild. They managed to keep this secret until she was 16." Leena commented.
After a brief silence, it was Isara who spoke up with a surprising optimism "I think it's great."
The other turned around, struck by her tone, but she continued. "Archduke Hersetz promoted civil rights for the Darcsen for all his reign. That's one of the main reasons why the most powerful Houses assassinated him. I believe...that the day when we can finally stand as equals with everyone else is not that far." she concluded with a smile.
After a moment to think about it, even Sheila changed her mood. "You know what? I think you're right. But we can't just think that everyone will change their opinion overnight. We need to keep striving for acceptance."
"Still, this is a significant turning point." Kiril added.
On the other hand, Raz simply sighed. "Must be nice to be kids and dreaming. If you think this will change anything for us in the lower ends of society, you're welcome to believe." he said with resigned irony.
"I think I agree with the kids, Raz." Riley said. "And I'm sure you will come to see that, too."
"We'll see. In the meantime, we got some Imperial ass to kick." the Ranger Sergeant concluded.
July 19, 1935.
To say that the Imperial elite were panicking would have been an understatement. After all, they had never listened Aduin about the fact that Erwin could mobilize the entire Valkyrur population of Reite.
Now, even if the Ministry of Information was going on a spree to censor any news coming from Randgriz, the Council scrambled to find any way to discredit what had happened at the coronation ceremony, but news were creeping into the territories of the Empire, and unless they did something huge, the population would soon start questioning if they were on the right side of the war.
After all, the Imperial citizens were brought up with the tenets of the Yggdist religion, and the official doctrine of the Empire was that their State and the Emperor were the rightful successors of the ancient Valkyrur Empire, bedrock of Europan civilization.
The coronation of Cordelia gi Randgriz and the oath of loyalty that the Valkyrur of Reite had just sworn to her threw that doctrine out of the window. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine that the Empire might be heading toward a full-blown revolution.
Unless they showed the public that they had the power of the Valkyrur, as well.
To that end, Aduin was preparing to meet a special guest at Ghirlandaio, current Headquarters of Maximillian and his Army of Gallia and, alongside Schwartzgrad, one of the two places where the old Valkyrur spent most of his time.
Inside the office that Maximillian had graciously granted him, Aduin waited, reading a book on the Middle Ages until three knocks resonated at his door.
"Come in." he said calmly, closing the book and standing up.
The door was opened by the guard outside, letting inside an Imperial officer with a dashing appearance: tall and muscular, though the uniform was certainly not very conventional: the center of the chest was quite visible and he wore two gloves with the fingertips uncovered, which were usually the model worn by the regular troopers.
The man strolled inside with a confident expression, but a clear suspicion toward the old sage in that room.
"Lieutenant Colonel Klaus Walz." Aduin greeted with his slow voice. "It is a pleasure to meet you. The news about your Ausbruch unit don't get the credit they deserve, but they've reached my ears nonetheless."
Walz hummed, still not sure what to think of the man in front of him.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aduin Mardstrom. Although everyone calls me Aduin. I am but a humble advisor for His Imperial Majesty. Now, before we discuss the reason of your presence here: how much did they tell you?"
"Only that it is imperative that I cooperate with you in order to maintain the stability of the Empire." Walz replied, reporting the words with not much conviction.
Aduin hummed. "Nothing about yesterday's events?"
"Ah, do you know what all the fuss is about?" the officer asked with some curiosity. "I only got bits of intel."
"To put it bluntly: Gallia has shown to the world that it possesses the power of the ancient Valkyrur. Their most notable General, Erwin Absenkirch, is one of them."
"Valkyrur? Wait, aren't they just a myth?!"
"Your confusion is perfectly understandable. But trust me, soon enough all will be clear." Aduin replied before heightening his voice. "Now, will you all join us, please?"
The door opened, letting the first members of Aduin's new task force inside, though Walz could see only one of them, so the old Valkyrur started with him.
"This is Commander Dahau of the Calamity Raven. Currently the arm of my mission and a man of most exceptional talent. I'm sure you two would have a lot to discuss."
"A Darcsen?" Walz asked surprised and intrigued. "Since when does the Empire takes them in the Army?"
"By the blessing of His Grace Maximillian, we work for Lord Aduin." Dahau replied cordially, then made a somber salute to a man that was still a superior rank than him. Walz nodded in a friendly manner.
That meant that Walz wasn't a man to judge people because of their heritage, a quality that Aduin was looking for with a certain difficulty in the boundaries of the Empire.
While Walz was distracted with Dahau, he did not notice that Nikola and Chiara had decided to play one of their pranks and had used the table inside the room to sneak past the Lieutenant Colonel and go stand right next to Aduin. When Walz finally turned toward them he gasped surprised.
Aduin shook his head. At least, he thought, this time those two were not sabotaging each other and had accomplished their goal flawlessly.
"These are Nikola and Chiara. Special guests from the Imperial Science Board's experimental unit, the X-0. They are currently my students. Don't let yourself be fooled: their combat abilities go far beyond what their looks might suggest."
Walz made an amused and defiant chuckle, a way to compliment their ability to sneak past him undetected. The two girls replied in kind.
"Now, while we wait for our final guest…" the Valkyrur said as he detached from his desk. "Klaus Walz. You and your Ausbruch unit have been sent here on my request. Now, I know you are a free spirit, so I will not order you around: I simply want to make a proposition to you."
"Be careful, my Lord." Klaus replied with a smug tone. "I'm a man of very particular tastes."
"Of course. I am fully aware of your continuous search for a deign rival on the battlefield. But trust me: if you accept to cooperate with me, I promise you the most heated and stimulating battles that you have ever lived. Who knows, you might even find a soulmate."
Those words he had specifically studied to win Walz over. And they seemed to work, since the Colonel made a very interested hum. "You certainly know how to captivate a man, Lord Aduin. But tell me: why do you want me? Seems to me like you already have plenty of talents around."
Aduin reached Dahau and put a hand on his shoulder. "As I said, Dahau is a man of talent, but his status in the Imperial Army is...complicated, as you might imagine. Besides, his unit is small, designed to work in the shadows of the front." then he pointed his open hand at the Colonel. "But you and your Ausbruch, on the other hand, possess the numbers and the firepower we need to face our strongest foes."
Walz pondered for a few moments, then he shrugged. "All right, Lord. Yours is an offer way too tasty for me to pass up. As long as I have my team, I will take part in your game."
Aduin made a satisfied smile. "Excellent. Welcome, then, Klaus Walz, to Task Force Asgard."
As silence followed his words, a sound of heels came from the corridor. "Oh, my. I could not imagine a better timing." Aduin commented amused.
A second later, the door was opened violently by what seemed a sudden rush of cold air that actually spooked Walz for a second, but the Colonel was left stunned once the source of that current walked in.
A woman with a purple dress and a vent that let her left leg very visible. She also wore a heavy coat without having the arms inside the sleeves, and then a huge white wolf was walking next to her and snarled at pretty much everybody in the room.
"This is Crymaria Levin. As I promised, she is your answer: a Valkyria, probably the most powerful in our roster."
"She's a...Valkyria?" Klaus murmured amazed.
"There are others like her, but I judged that her powers would be the most suited for the tasks ahead of you."
Aduin turned toward the newly entered Valkyria. "Crymaria, this is Lieutenant Colonel Walz. From now on, he will direct our military operations. You will answer to him."
"Yes, Master." the woman replied with respect.
"Just remember what I taught you and you will succeed." Aduin recommended with a paternalistic, yet caring tone.
Walz was now suspicious. "Taught…? Wait, are you…?"
He didn't seem wanting to finish the sentence, so Aduin simply manifested his azure aura and lightened his red eyes. Those were enough to make Walz understand.
"Well, then. Now that we are all on the same page...I know I said you would work together, but for now, Dahau, I need your squad for a special task. As for the rest of you, I will brief you soon. Get some time to know each other, will you?" Aduin concluded.
Author Notes: In case you're wondering why I made Cordelia a somewhat-Valkyria, it's because in the last mission of VC1 there is this moment where she says 'I want to help' and can instantly heal all your units. This moment is never truly explained (or at least I never found an explanation) so I decided to give it my own version, because I like the idea that she could be the bridge between the two cultures.
