Chapter 13: Liberation of Fouzen
Glossary: Valkyrur Population
By far the main topic of discussion since the Valkyrur revealed themselves has been the male/female ratio among their population. Many have predictably started to wonder why there are only two known male Valkyrur in front of a population of hundreds if not thousands of Valkyrias. Such matter doesn't have an answer yet, because the Valkyrur themselves have never been able to grasp the reason behind this difference.
Since the revelation, a plethora of theories already sprung up. Among several absurd tales, there are also more rational proposed by the scientific community. Medics suggest that there might be a difference in the biological form of men and women that would hinder the former to attain the power of the Valkyrur, however that seems a shaky hypothesis, given the fact that male Valkyrur exist and they actually can stay transformed longer than their females counterparts. By the rules of evolution, it's them that should've been favored.
Geneticists have instead proposed an idea that is quickly gaining a general consensus: they think that the Y chromosome might be responsible for drastically reducing the chances of a male to attain the abilities of the Valkyrur, henceforth the huge disparity in population. Until a methodical study can be done, the answer will remain uncertain.
Despite being almost an anomaly, male Valkyrur have been always considered a good omen by the community of Reite and since all of Europa has been patriarchal until recent years, the Elders of the island have always made sure that the few males reached important positions in Gallian society in order to protect the secret of Reite as much as they could. The recent revelations showed that, for example, Minister Golzer, one of the great Gallian statesman of the XV century, was a Valkyrur. Even the famous writer Johann Flebert, the man who wrote the Gallian national anthem in 1812, was a Valkyrur.
July 24, 1935.
As the sun started setting in front of them, the allied forces looked west, toward Fouzen. The mountain range surrounding the city looked exactly like the sturdiest walls in the world, and the main passage was clearly fortified by the Imperials, as if to dare the Gallians to come and reclaim their city.
Most ominous, however, were the wreckage of the allied tanks destroyed the day before and some bodies that they hadn't been allowed to recover and were thus rotting under the sky. And if that wasn't enough, there was even the carcass of an FT, the first one to be shot down in the war. During the first assault, Gregor's personal armored train, the Equus, had turned out to be equipped with machine-gun turrets that were able to fire their reinforced shells even in the air, and that plane stood as a testament that the allies' dominion of the skies wasn't entirely uncontested anymore.
The only positive note was that the pilot had survived the crash and had safely returned back to the allied lines, but that didn't change the fact that they couldn't make a dent in the main imperial defenses.
Except that the attack had actually gained the wanted conclusion: the GSS parachute team had successfully entered Fouzen during the night and were ready to let a larger force in as soon as they were given the order.
That order, for Claude and Welkin, came at 1900 hours.
As the allied artillery started hammering the bunkers again and the air support made a few sweeps, Squads E and 7 were redirected toward a secondary passage through the mountains.
"Can the tanks even pass through there?" Isara asked a bit worried.
"My hometown is in the Highlands of Edinburgh." Miles said from the driver hatch of the Hafen. "Believe me, it's not gonna be fun, but it's doable."
"Glad to hear that, Miles." Claude said from the top of the turret, then turned toward Welkin, who was doing the same from his own tank. "If that's the case, would you mind if we take the lead, Welkin?"
"Be my guest." Welkin replied with a joking tone, but very glad that somebody else was taking that risk in his place. "Isara, just do whatever Miles does."
The second hatch on the hull opened, revealing the special guest of this mission. A guest that Welkin still couldn't think he was carrying around for that mission.
"The trucks coming from the mines use trails like this one every day. With enough caution, I'm sure even the tanks will have no problem." Adrien commented to reassure the young girl.
"It is also on one of these roads that my parents died." Isara replied grimly, laying down an awkward atmosphere among the two crews.
"Yes, but that was a crash with another vehicle." Adrien pointed with a cautious tone. "Sure as hell, we won't have the same problem this time."
"I'm more surprised that you did everything you could to come with us, Mister." Alfred said from one of the Hafen'shatches. "You even gave us that show with the rifle."
"This is personal, soldier." Adrien replied firmly. "I have been living in Fouzen for years. I started expanding my industry from here. I know the city inside and out; nearly a third of the citizens here worked for me before the war and some of them are my friends. I have to make sure they're all right, but don't you worry: I won't stand in your way."
"Well, you showed us that you can take care of yourself anyway." Claude replied candidly.
"And most importantly, this is the city where Isara was born." Adrien replied with the tone of a furious parent. "I can't stand and watch while those Imps desecrate it."
"Come on, uncle Adrien." Isara replied with an embarrassed smile. "There is no need to react like this."
"Woah, Isara you were born here?" Rosie asked from next the Edelweiss."
Isara replied candidly "After the last war, Adrien hired my father for the Agusta factory here in Fouzen. My parents spent the rest of their lives here, working for the company. Uncle Adrien helped my father so much that he was asked to be my god-father."
"Ah, so you don't just call him 'uncle' because he's a family friend." Leena commented a little amused.
"Theimer was my best engineer." Adrien intervened proudly. "And a good friend. I regret not being able to spend enough time with these two, but at least I could cover all their bills in life."
"I must say, old man, you don't look like the average shark." Raz commented with his quipping but sincere tone. "I can't think of many rich people who would get all buddy-buddy with Darcsens."
"Well, I like to think that such narrow-mindedness was the main reason why neither my father and grandfather managed to expand our business: the Darcsens are excellent with machines and they work hard. Refusing to hire them because of some superstition was just stupid. And I thought that even before Erwin revealed to be a Valkyrur and told me everything about the Calamity."
"Hey, the scouting party has returned!" someone announced loudly.
From the trail, where they had gone to make sure there were no serious obstacles for the tanks, emerged Juno and Alicia at the head of two other scouts of the Militia and even Ramal and Kiril.
In seeing the two GSS, Isara opened her mouth in a smile and quickly called Sheila from inside the tank. The girls hurried out from the hatches, under the amused gazes of Adrien and Welkin, but those smiles quickly disappeared as they saw the mixture of gloom and anger on the faces of the two young Agents.
"What happened?" Sheila asked.
The two boys hesitated, then Ramal hissed the first word, with a sense of infuriating indignation making him unable to articulate long phrases.
"The Darcsens...the Imps all rounded them up in camps."
Everyone felt a chill down their spine. Adrien jumped out and asked "What? The stories about the camps…?" but he didn't have the courage to finish.
"They're even worse." Kiril replied, himself containing even more of his rage. "They have put every Darcsen they could find in the city to work in the mines...in the factories. Shift of fourteen hours before they're sent back to those...damn it, how do I even call them?!"
"And those who can't take it anymore are just left to die." Ramal concluded.
Isara brought her hands in front of her mouth to suppress a horrified gasp, so did Riley and many others. Those who weren't horrified were simply mad.
"Tch, sure. After all, we're nothing but filthy Darcsens, isn't it?" Raz growled before yelling out "Well, I'm gonna make sure this filthy Darcsen is the last person they'll ever see!"
"Raz! Calm down." Claude immediately intervened firmly. "I promise you, by the end of this operation, every Imperial who participated in this crime will be either dead or behind bars. But right now, we need to move quietly."
"I'm gonna hold it to you, Claude." the Sergeant replied as he cracked his knuckles.
"If you're ready, we better get moving." Kiril finally said to the Lieutenants, who nodded with a determined gaze and then turned toward their soldiers.
"Squad 7, move out!"
"Squad E, move out!"
After two hours of walking and rolling, both Squads and their tanks managed to reach the safe zone of the Resistance inside an abandoned mine that the partisans had made it operative enough to host the tanks. They met up with the GSS team and Captain Aveld, then one of the Darcsen rebels led the officers and NCOs inside a tunnel that eventually brought them inside one of the huts of the concentration camp.
It was there that the newly arrived Gallians realized what Ramal and Kiril just said.
That hut was made up of a large series of wooden bunk beds, but none of them had a mattress, a blanket, and they were so low that the ones standing below could not access without crawling. The prisoners were clothed in dirty rags and in their eyes one could see either a desperation so ingrained to simply look like tiredness or fear.
As they entered, Rosie noticed a little girl observing them from behind a bunk, hiding behind the little support column. She leaned forward and tried to talk to her. The girl backed off while squeezing her doll.
At that point, the K-9 unit of Squad E, a rescue dog named Rags, moved toward the girl with a friendly attitude, moving its tail and making what seemed like a happy face by keeping its tongue out. It sat in front of the girl and looked at her with a friendly gaze.
Eventually, the girl tried and extended a hand, moving to touch Rags on his neck. Once her hand touched the dog's soft fur, Rags gave a quick lick on the girl's wrist, making her chuckle as she started patting.
"Good boy, Rags." Riley said with a smile but a broken voice.
Adrien then looked around, trying to see if there was anyone he could recognize, and then he finally spotted a man sitting at the only table of the hut, who was watching the scene while keeping his right eye permanently shut. He wore a bandana with ethnic motives that covered most of his hair and he seemed quite sturdy but consumed.
"I never thought you would come here yourself." the man said to Adrien.
"I never abandon my people, Zaka. You know that." Adrien replied tenderly.
Hearing that name, every other soldier turned around, realizing they were in front of the leader of the Resistance.
"Oh, right. He told us he used to work for you." Kiril commented.
Adrien and Zaka moved toward each other and shook hands.
"How's life in Vinland?" Zaka said friendly.
"Not bad, for me. I'm sorry you guys had to go through all this." Adrien replied.
"Yeah. You treated us too well. We forgot just how much the rest of the world hates us."
"Not all the world." Aveld intervened. "We're here to help, Mister Zaka. So, shall we illustrate the plan to the others?"
Zaka nodded firmly, then he led the group back up the tunnel and into the cave, where his men had prepared a small table with a map of the city beneath a working lamp. The officers gathered around while the troops listened patiently behind.
"The core of the Imperial defense is General Gregor's personal armored train, the Equus." Zaka began to explain. "Even your tanks wouldn't penetrate it. Our best chance is here."
Everyone looked better and noticed that he was pointing a bridge.
"Are you planning on blowing that up while the train is over it?" Adrien asked.
"You guys brought explosives, right?" Zaka asked almost rhetorically.
"I'm pretty sure we can find something useful." Aveld replied. "How much do you need?"
"Enough to blow up a steel pillar. After that, the fall alone into the river will do the job nicely."
"If I may, sir." Kiril stepped forward. "I volunteer for this job."
"Permission granted." Aveld replied without batting an eye. "But you're gonna need one hell of a distraction. Also, just in case the device fails, it might be prudent to set a sniper team up here. They can provide cover and fire at the bomb." then he turned toward Ramal. "Corporal, I leave this duty to you."
"Yes, sir." the boy replied before turning toward Leena. "Sergeant Schulen, may I ask for your assistance?"
"I was almost afraid you wouldn't ask." she replied with determination. "If my Lieutenant agrees…"
"No need to ask." Claude intervened. "We'll be counting on you."
"Good. Then...Corporal Gunther; Lieutenant Miller." Aveld proceeded.
Caught by surprise by that call, Isara and Riley still walked forward.
"Do you think you can modify some grenades to turn them into smoke bombs for the infantry?" the Captain asked with a completely calm tone, the one of a professional assessing every opportunity. "We would require them as dawn breaks."
The two girls looked at each other for a second and then, seemingly on the same page, nodded.
"It's gonna be close, but we can certainly manufacture a few with what we have." Isara replied.
"Splendid. Then, the final point...Lieutenant Gunther, I would like to ask your Squad to start the operation by liberating the prison camp, first."
That request left everybody quite confused.
"The prison camp?" Welkin asked. "Shouldn't we focus on the train?"
"Allow me to explain: the Imperials are used to believe that the Militia is usually employed as vanguard or recon force for our main assaults. We are already inside their defensive perimeter, so when they will see you, they will believe that the Army is preparing another large scale attack and will be focused on the outside. At that point, Gregor will have to bring out the Equus, and it just so happens that the bridge we're interested in is a perfect firing position for the super heavy howitzer of the train.
"Once it reaches the bridge, my team and the Rangers will start the real attack. While we take down the train, you will free our people and put them inside the Resistance's tunnels to protect them. At that point, just dig in and bite the bullet until we're finished. It's a risky plan, but in a frontal assault the Imperials would easily kill us all. We need to divide their forces, or forget about taking down the Equus."
There was only a brief silence before Claude replied firmly "It's a solid plan. Me and my team are ready."
"If Claude approves, then I have no reservations." Welkin said. "Let's retake Fouzen."
"I'll help with the evacuation as well." Adrien added. "Zaka, the people will certainly trust you more than me. Care to help?"
"Was that even a question?" the man asked back.
"All right, then." Aveld concluded. "Check your gear and catch some sleep while you can. We move at 0600 hours."
Everyone disbanded and took place around the tunnels doing just what they were told to do. Riley and Isara promptly went at work to customize the grenades, Aveld also gave Sheila the order to quickly get out of the tunnels and send a coded signal to Erwin. Juno and Alicia volunteered to escort her and so found themselves out under the starry sky on top of the canyon.
The atmosphere, however, was quite heavy. Sheila was silently sending the code, but what she saw in the camp was clearly making her brood to a level she had never experienced before.
Not that Juno or Alicia were immune to those horrors.
"All those people...packed and used like animals." Juno hissed under her breath. "How can a man stoop to treat his fellow man this way? It can't be just hatred."
"I know what you mean. I just feel like transforming right now and melt every single Imperial that I find, right now." Alicia commented with a furious tone.
"That would certainly be a good show, but you have to restrain yourself: we don't know if the Imperials are hiding one of their Valkyrias inside the city." Juno said, now with a prudent voice.
"Are they even? I haven't detected any of them, and we know the ones we fought at the river retreated east." Alicia protested.
"That's why Madame Urma and the others are protecting the main front, but you know better than me that it doesn't take you guys much training to be able to completely conceal your powers."
Faced with that reality, Alicia could only grunt in frustration. "What's the point of having my powers if I can't protect the people around me?"
"Alicia, you are already amazing." Juno encouraged. "Even if you don't transform, you can take a wound with ease. Sometimes, I think you are even more effective than our shocktroopers." she added jokingly.
Alicia made an embarrassed smirk, then Juno kept talking.
"True, the power of the Valkyrur is going to change the world, and the way we conduct war, forever. But it's still your heart as a human being that counts the most: without your willingness to fight for the people you care, you become nothing more than a weapon to be used at convenience."
Alicia found those words particularly heartwarming. She chuckled and replied "I feel a bit stupid not trying to talk with you earlier, Juno."
Juno returned the smile. "Well, I guess you already saw me as a love rival, uh?"
Alicia suddenly blushed, thus revealing her guilt. "What? N-now don't joke around…"
"Come on, Alicia. Even the officers of the battalion are betting on whom of us two Welkin might be interested in. Though Lieutenant Landzaat is probably losing his hope, since Welkin only seems interested in partnership between insects."
Alicia suddenly felt quite stupid for not noticing anything of that, even if she spent much of her duty time with Welkin. "Oh…so it is that bad?" she joked eventually.
"Afraid so." the Corporal replied. "But I must say, I'm quite jealous of you."
"Uh? Why?" Alicia asked surprised.
"I had to spend months in the same group of friends at college to even get any confidence with Welkin. You, instead, made him open his heart in just a few weeks." Juno admitted candidly. "I've been in love with him for so long, but I never managed to tell him."
"Well...it's not like Welkin seems to show any interest in romance. I do sometimes wonder if he's a lost cause." Alicia said to cheer her up.
"Maybe, but he's not stupid. If one of us will tell him directly, he will have to face the fact."
"Hey! I'm done, here." Sheila suddenly said. "I'm going to sleep."
"Oh, did you contact HQ?" Alicia asked.
"They sent a code back, so yes. Maybe you should try and rest, as well."
"A good suggestion, Sheila. Thank you." Juno said.
As the Darcsen girl headed back inside, looking for her partner, Alicia took a moment more to speak with her friend. "Anyway, Juno, I think you're right: Welkin must be at least made aware. Once the battle is over, I'm going to tell him how I feel."
Juno smirked. "Heh. I'm not going to lose to you. I'll tell him, as well. He will decide."
And with that friendly challenge, the two of them reentered the tunnels in search of a place to sleep.
July 25, 1935.
5 am. The night was still covering the entirety of the region and of Gallia, but it wouldn't be long before the first dim lights started pushing the darkness away. Erwin had used that time to take some sleep and now he decided that he couldn't keep going anymore, for he had to prepare his part for the upcoming battle.
His bunk had been placed in the room right next to the command one inside the large tent. He had managed to sleep despite the constant beeps and the chatting of the operators, but at least he could be woken up immediately had an emergency appeared.
He found Varrot, who had the last shift of the night as commander of the camp, waiting around the map table.
"General." she greeted.
"Captain. Update, if you please." Erwin greeted back with a restrained yawn.
"The frontline units have not reported anything unusual. The Imperials seem focused on defending their positions, right now."
"No sign of a counterattack?" Erwin asked.
"No, sir. The Valkyrias also reported no sign of their Imperial counterparts."
Erwin found that particularly strange. Aduin certainly didn't give up after that skirmish at the beginning of the week. It had also become apparent that he had used that confusion to allow the defection of Cardinal Borgia, so what was his purpose if not preventing the recapture of Fouzen?
He looked up the clock: 5:15am.
"The infiltration team will begin their attack in less than an hour. Have all the commanding officers gather here, quickly."
"Yes, sir. Should I call the Valkyrias?"
Erwin pondered for a second and then decided "No. I want them keeping an eye outside. We already have Alicia in the city. She'll be more than enough."
"Understood." Eleanor concluded before clacking her heel and heading out to send the messengers.
Then, only a few seconds later, the General heard a strange commotion, then sound of engines. Taken by curiosity, he walked outside and was quite surprised to see a tank escorting an APC and two trucks, all with an emblem that he was skeptic to believe for a second.
But when the APC opened, the doubt quickly vanished.
The sunlight was finally starting to make the area around Fouzen distinguishable. Therefore, it was time to begin the final phase of Operation Cartwheel. Squad 7 started gathering in order to march toward the concentration camp and free the prisoners.
As Isara and Sheila were about to mount on the Edelweiss, one inside and one as a passenger on the hull, Ramal and Kiril stopped them.
"You two be careful out there, all right?" Kiril recommended.
Sheila chuckled. "Calling the kettle black, I see. You two are the ones about to throw yourselves against an armored train."
"That's right. We can handle some infantry, but you two need to stay alert." Isara added severely.
"It's not like the two of us will actually be on the line of fire." Ramal replied. "In any case, let's hope your smoke grenades work."
"What, you don't trust me?" Isara joked.
Ramal chuckled. "Right. Sorry."
"All right, lovebirds!" Rosie exclaimed, suddenly pushing their helmets from behind before walking past them. "It's time to head out. Don't worry about your girls: I got 'em." she said encouragingly as she went to grab the two young girls by the shoulders and pulling them to her. Isara and Sheila chuckled.
"Thanks, sister." Sheila joked.
"Right. We're counting on you, Rosie." Ramal said with the same intention.
"Everyone!" Welkin suddenly announced from the turret. "We're marching toward the prison camp. Let's free our people! Squad 7, move out!"
With the infantry leading its way, the Edelweiss soon started to roll out. The plan was for it to get as close as possible to the camp, stop at a distance and then intervene once the real shooting started, but Alicia and the others would first try to eliminate the sentries of the camp as silently as possible, to delay the counterattack and give the civilians a chance to get to safety.
Meanwhile, Squad 7 and the GSS team that had taken the codename 'Packer' for this mission, gathered their own equipment and decided the last details.
"Ramal. Kiril. These are Fandurg and Melbef." Zaka said, presenting two of his fighters. "They will help you reach your positions."
The two GSS nodded to the Darcsens, who returned the gesture, then Zaka turned toward Aveld and Adrien. "From now on, it's up to you, Captain."
"We will free your people, Zaka. You have my word." the officer replied solemnly.
Claude stepped forward and announced that they were ready to roll out. Aveld thus gave the order to the rest of his team to commence. While Ramal and Kai were led to a favorable position to snipe from, Kiril was given three Resistance fighters that would lead him toward the pillar he needed to mine.
All the while, Squad E and the rest of Packer joined forces and marched toward the position designated for the ambush.
They kept quiet while, in the distance, gunfire started coming from the direction of the work camp.
"This is Squad 7. Our cover is blown. We're engaging the enemy with full force!" Welkin warned on the radio.
"We read you, Squad 7. Best of luck to you." Claude wished.
"Sir, intercepted enemy transmission." he heard one of the GSS say to Aveld. "General Gregor has been warned and is moving the Equus."
"Then it's time. Everyone, lock and load!" the Captain instructed, and both his men and the Rangers didn't need to hear it twice. "Sniper team, are you in position?"
"Affirmative. We have visual over the entire valley, from here." Ramal replied.
"Demolition team?"
"This is Kiril. We have a situation: a bridge full of Imps right above our heads."
"Can't you go around it?" Aveld asked calmly.
"Negative. We're following an empty riverbed. If we get out of here, they'll gun us down immediately."
"We can see the bridge from here, Packer-1." Kai said over the radio. "I can confirm their situation. There is also an imperial camp inside the tunnel linked to that bridge."
"Then we must destroy it in order to reach the bridge." Aveld concluded. "Lieutenant Wallace, can you take care of that while we clean up the rest of the Imperial base?"
"You can count on us, sir. We'll join you as soon as we're done."
"Thank you. Then let's begin the operation."
"Yes, sir. Everyone, this is it! This is the entire reason why we came to Gallia. Take down that train and liberate Fouzen. Squad E, move out!" he proclaimed on the radio before getting inside the tank.
With that, the battle began. Claude sent Raz to lead the vanguard down the trail in front of them, which would bring them both to the bridge Kiril needed to be destroyed and a mining outpost that the Imperials had shored up as a defensive structure. Riley set up a mortar squad from the elevated position they were starting from, as the height easily increased the effective range of their weapons.
Packer team headed straight for the latter, with the Hafen taking out an Imperial tank that was defending the access bridge to the facility.
It was at that moment that the Equus suddenly showed up, its brakes screeching loudly on the railway bridge.
Claude looked at it through the periscope and immediately distinguished the turrets and the heavy howitzer.
"It's as Zaka said: our cannon will never pierce that beast."
"So what do we do, boss?" Alfred asked.
"We'll have to trust our allies. In the meantime...infantry, use the smoke bombs to make your lives easier!"
Raz promptly followed that plan. "Zaiga, Godwin, lay down some smoke!" Claude heard over the radio and soon enough the road between the attackers and the bridge was covered by a thick white smoke wall. With both the train and the defenders blinded, Raz emerged from the cloud, as usual, charging in with his portable machine-gun.
While he certainly took the Imperials by surprise and gunned down three of them, it was the quick intervention from Ramal and Kai that saved him from other two that were in a perfect position to kill him, then Zaiga and Godwin also intervened to keep the Imperials on the bridge at bay while Raz ignited a grenade and threw it on the makeshift wooden structure.
That thing basically disintegrated once the detonation occurred.
"All right! Bridge destroyed! You have your way in, Kiril!" Raz yelled excited inside his earpiece.
"We see it, Raz. Thank you. We are moving in to set the charge."
"This is Packer to fire support. We got enemy reinforcements coming from a trail on the southeastern quadrant. Can you provide a barrage, over?" Aveld requested on the radio.
"Acknowledged. Adjusting rotation...fire." Riley replied.
Meanwhile the engineers of Squad E were busy removing the fortifications on the second bridge. The GSS had managed to slip through them on foot, but the Hafen simply couldn't.
And those roadblocks were making the tank an easy target for the Equus. The only saving grace was the fact that the train was constantly moving back and forth on the bridge in order not to invite possible enemy artillery fire, so there were moments where it couldn't fire to the tank.
Still, they had to move fast before the Equus got the chance to fire with its anti-tank turret.
Luckily, a few minutes after the bridge had been destroyed, Kiril came in with the good news.
"This is Golim, the charge has been set. We're leaving the area."
"Then it's now or never!" Aveld exclaimed. "Schulen, give us cover. Valt, fire when ready!"
After taking control of the imperial fortifications around the camp, Squad 7 had managed to eliminate the guards. Now, while the Resistance was bringing the prisoners inside the underground network, the Militia was finding itself involved in a heated fight against Imperial reinforcements.
"Another tank coming from the western entrance!" Sheila warned on the radio.
Promptly, the Edelweiss turned its turret, spotted the medium tank and fired. The first shot didn't stop the beast, but it clearly damaged it. The enemy fired a round, but it bounced off the Gallian tank's inclined slope. Then another 82mm round took out the assailant for good.
Alicia gunned down another Imperial who came too close to them, and so did Juno next to her.
"I'm down to two clips." the Corporal warned.
"Here. Take one of mine!" Alicia replied, passing a magazine over.
As bullets came from all over and the Imperials kept throwing grenades, the Gallians focused as much as possible on dodging the shots while keeping the attackers at bay.
"Squad 7, this is Packer-1, be advised: we eliminated the enemy train, but every single Imperial is heading toward your position, and I doubt it's for surrendering." Aveld suddenly said on the radio.
Despite the good news, Welkin was mostly preoccupied with the advice itself. His squad was barely holding the line, if even a whole squadron had survived and was heading their way…
"We're on our way to hit the Imps from behind. Just hold on." the Captain added.
"Understood. Please, hurry." Welkin replied, then, seeing that they simply couldn't risk getting caught in the open and that it was a matter of a few minutes, the Lieutenant ordered everyone to retreat inside the camp, using the wooden huts as cover while they retreated toward the tunnels once the last civilians would be safe.
"Everyone. Fall back into the compound! The Edelweiss will provide cover fire! Isara, get us in front!"
"Ok!" his sister replied and pushed on the accelerator.
As the tank moved forward, guns blazing against the Imperials, Alicia coordinated the retreat of the squad alongside Juno and Rosie and they acted as rearguard.
It was during the retreat that Juno suddenly spotted a straggler: a little girl, she looked like the same one they had seen the night before, huddled behind a wooden wall and crying while hugging her doll tightly.
Without thinking, the Corporal sprinted toward the child, confusing her own comrades for a second.
"Don't worry. I got you!" Juno said to the girl as she extended her arms.
Still scared, but seeing a friendly figure reassuring her, the little girl took some courage and stood up with Juno's help. With the Corporal shielding her, the child started running, but they clearly noticed that they were falling back even behind the Edelweiss.
"Juno, move it!" Alicia said almost panicking as she and Rosie kept firing toward the carelessly incoming Imperials.
Juno kept running, making sure to keep the girl right in front of her.
That was, until one, two...three bullets suddenly emerged from her chest one after the other. Juno made a couple more steps before falling face down while the little girl managed to reach the soldiers.
Alicia suddenly just stopped thinking. Before she had made the decision in her mind, her hands had already dropped the rifle and instead were reaching for the set of Valkyrur weapon hanging on the back of her belt.
Soon, her body was surrounded by the azure flame, her hair and eyes changed as well. And as she felt the power running through her veins, alongside a boundless rage, she jumped on top of the Edelweiss, aimed her lance and fired a series of small beams that immediately halted the Imperial advance.
"Surrender now!" she threatened. "Or I will erase you all!"
The Imperials hesitated, as did the Gallians at first, but as they realized that they were indeed in front of a Valkyria, against which their weapons were useless, the Imperials promptly dropped their weapons and rose their hands.
"Secure them!" Welkin promptly ordered to Rosie and the others, who quickly dashed forward to force the Imperials down. Luckily, Squad E also emerged from the direction of the bridge, thus securing the victory.
But Welkin and Alicia hastily hurried to reach Juno, and the girl was the first to take her friend in her arms.
"Juno! Juno!"
Juno was already pale, though. Both her back and her chest were stained heavily with blood. A drip of red came out from her mouth and drew a line on her chin.
"Alicia…"
"Juno!" Welkin also said in a hurry before raising his voice. "Medic! We need a medic over here!" and leaned over her.
"That...girl…" the Corporal mumbled.
"She's fine. Everyone is fine, thanks to you." Alicia replied with a heavy heart. Maybe it was a side effect of her powers, but it was like she could feel Juno's life quickly fading out.
"I see...I'm so glad…"
"Juno, don't speak. Just rest." Welkin said in a desperate attempt.
Corporal Coren gave a tired look at the two friends over her and forced a smile on her face. Then she turned toward Alicia. "Don't be...stupid...as I was...promise...me." she finally said, reaching one of Alicia's hands.
The Sergeant gripped tightly. Tears started to fall down her eyes. "I promise." was all she could say.
One of Squad 7's medics arrived and Welkin left his spot to her, but as the girl tried to stitch up the wounds, Juno's head fell back, her eyes shut for the last time and her grip vanished.
It didn't take long for the medic to understand that there was nothing to do.
Some of the soldiers had gathered and observed shocked as their comrade's life slipped away in front of them. Alicia leaned her head onto that of her friend and granted herself a few moments to silently cry.
After easily breaking through the first line, Erwin's troops marched basically unopposed. Even more once news of Gregor's demise started to spread and many Imperial units simply decided that it was pointless to resist. However, the Scouts had reported many of them rushing toward the prison camp, and Erwin could easily imagine why.
He hurried his driver to bring the command vehicle all the way to the camp, and it was there that he found out all the tragedy that had occurred inside that perimeter of barbed wire, including the most recent one. Welkin tried to appear unfazed, but it was downright impossible for him not to appear even slightly demoralized.
"If only I had been more careful…" the Lieutenant grunted after reporting.
Erwin put a hand on his shoulder and calmly said "We can't control everything on the battlefield, Welkin. Juno made her decision. We need to respect that and keep fighting for her, as well."
Claude also walked up to him. "I'm sorry, Welkin. Maybe had we been faster…"
The Militia Lieutenant promptly shook his head and replied cordially, despite his grief. "No. You already did a lot, Claude. This is only my responsibility." then he steeled his resolve. "Come on, there are many civilians here who need medical attention and food as soon as possible."
The other two officers nodded and promptly ordered their teams to help out while a small group gathered and watched over the captured Imperials.
In a few minutes, the crowd of Darcsen slaves were escorted out from the tunnels and the field medics of the various Squads promptly inspected the wounded and those who were little more than skin and bones. Under their direction, some of the soldiers started cooking some liquid soup, so that those who had been left without food for weeks wouldn't risk to choke.
Meanwhile, Alicia asked to escort Juno's food back to HQ and help prepare her body for the transfer to Randgriz, so that it could be returned to her parents.
And as a handful of survivors started sharing storied of the treatment they had to endure, someone snapped quite quickly.
All of a sudden, Ramal and Kiril saw Raz running toward the prisoners behind them, already loading his weapon.
"You damn pigs!" the Ranger yelled as he pointed his weapon, causing a wave of panic among the Imperials, but the two GSS promptly jumped on him. A small burst left the weapon but it simply hit the ground before Ramal and Kiril could force him to release it.
"Raz, calm down!"
"Let me go! I'll gauge their damn eyes with my own hands!"
Luckily, the rest of Squad E and 7 quickly intervened to stop their rampaging comrade.
"Raz! Stand down, that's an order!" Claude said with an unusual rage.
With Kai, Claude and even Largo to restrain him, Raz still kept trying to throw himself at those who had treated his own people like cattle with such an open cruelty.
"We're not beasts for you to slaughter!" he yelled like a possessed, his face looking ever more like that of a demon full of anger and the prisoners on the ground backed off, prompting the other guards to threaten them to stay in their places.
The situation was becoming volatile quickly, if it wasn't for Zaka walking up calmly in front of Raz. He gave the young Darcsen a moment to calm his rage and be in a condition to listen.
"Look, man, I understand your sentiment wholly. But killing them will not bring back the dead, nor will it make us feel any better."
Raz was taken off-guard. Even he could realize that Zaka's experience made him a much more authoritative voice on the matter. Yet, he couldn't suppress his rage yet. "I know, damn it! But these assholes deserve nothing but a bullet through their eyes! They have to pay for what they did!"
"All you will get out of this is just keeping the cycle of hatred go." Zaka replied calmly.
"Uh…?"
As his muscles became less tense, the others let Raz finally go.
"If you think that killing them will make you somehow feel better, then I will not stand in your way. But let me tell you this: you want to make a difference? There are still dozens inside that tunnel who need help right now."
Raz huffed, clearly pondering on his actions, but they were all interrupted when another armored convoy strolled in front of the camp, and the soldiers were at first extremely confused to see the emblems on the tank and the APC.
They were even more shocked to see none other than Archduchess Cordelia and Prime Minister Fender come out of that carrier, accompanied by a team of the Royal Guard and dressed with military uniforms.
"Atten-tion!" Claude promptly ordered out of habit and even Raz forgot about the whole ordeal and saluted.
Soon enough, Erwin came out of the camp's perimeter to meet with them and report the situation to them. Surprisingly (or perhaps not that much) Cordelia first approached Welkin after hearing the story and spoke with a somber tone.
"Lieutenant Gunther. My deepest condolences for your loss."
Welkin, who had his head bowed, replied simply "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Corporal Coren died not just to protect her comrades, but to protect the very soul of our nation: the people." Cordelia added, then spoke to Wilbur without turning around "Prime Minister. I believe her actions deserve a proper recognition."
"We'll make sure that her story will receive the attention it deserves." Wilbur reassured. "For now, we should focus on the matter at hand."
"Indeed. Lieutenant, if there's something I could help with, please allow me."
Welkin was caught by surprise. "Oh...well, I...if you don't mind, Your Majesty...we are...distributing some soup to the inmates."
"Perfect. A task where I will not be a hindrance." she replied calmly yet with a slight satisfaction.
Without waiting for anyone, but with all the presents looking staggered, the Archduchess reached one of the large pots and started helping distributing soup to the weaker inmates. It took a couple of seconds for all the others to get used to that sight, then Wilbur used that occasion to reach Squad E.
"Lieutenant Wallace, I heard your Squad's contribution to today's victory has been primary. On behalf of all of Gallia, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks."
Claude saluted and replied firmly "It was only our duty, sir. After all, many of us are still Gallians."
Wilbur made a respectful nod. "This also means that your time here is probably approaching its conclusion. Still, I asked your HQ if they could give you a couple of days here to participate in the victory parade."
"A victory parade?" Riley asked.
"This was the first major offensive between two allied nations of the Community. Not only did we regain our vital ragnite supply line, but we showed to the entire world that we can achieve great results with cooperation. We're not planning anything too majestic, but even a modest parade in Randgriz will be a huge boost to the morale of all the free people of Europa...also...we have to remember those who gave up their lives to bring us here."
Claude nodded somberly.
July 27, 1925.
The Gallians and the Federals were currently holding a victory parade in Randgriz. Truly a slight for the Empire, which had just lost one of its most capable Generals and was now deprived of a valuable ragnite source.
This, combined with the recent knowledge that Gallia had Valkyrias among its ranks had brought the imperial court to a state of dismay.
However, it was a state of dismay that fit Aduin's agenda perfectly.
Now, with the warm skies of summer shining over Schwartzgrad, Aduin awaited to get on the grand balcony of the imperial palace. The corridor was filled with guards, nobles of the court and members of the Imperial Parliament, all awaiting for the host.
As he heard the guards in the distance clacking their heels loudly at regular intervals, Aduin knew that said host was arriving. He turned around, and like him, most of the other influential people around him. In the distance, quickly walking toward them, stood the figure of a man in his 60s clad with the imperial robes, his face covered by a well-trimmed beard and long hair, all of that leaving room on his face to show his frowning blue eyes.
Everyone bowed their upper bodies as His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Alexander III von Reginrave approached them. He was also followed by Maximillian, the other four Imperial Princes and Cardinal Borgia, who had now been promoted to a high station in the Imperial Yggdist Church.
The Emperor walked up to Aduin and spoke with a relatively gentle tone. "Please, stand up, Lord Aduin. Even We are but a common human being in front of you."
"No need to belittle yourself, Your Majesty." Aduin replied with a polite and eulogistic tone. "You do are, after all, the ruler that we chose to follow."
"And for that, We are truly honored."
Aduin knew that, deep down, the Emperor wasn't entirely happy about what they were just about to do, but his Yggdist faith was mostly helping him to feel relaxed and reassured, especially thanks to the scholarly words that Borgia put in his ears since he arrived at the capital.
"Shall we begin? The people yearns for good news, after the recent difficulties." Aduin proposed.
Alexander nodded his head and two servants promptly opened the glass doors to the balcony, letting in the rumble of the crowd outside that filled the air like that of a tumultuous sea. The rumbling heightened already when the crowd realized that the door was open and then completely exploded as His Majesty stepped in and showed himself to the people.
Aduin and the other presents distributed themselves along the balcony, but the Valkyrur stood at the right of the Emperor, with Borgia on his other side. The public was mostly unaware of his existence, so the surprise should have been multiplied by a lot.
"Our beloved subjects." Alexander said solemnly, speaking into the microphone that had been placed in front of his spot. There were a few others along the handrail. "Since the start of this war, you have all acted with bravery and an admirable devotion to the Empire. We mourn the sacrifice of so many sons, but We rest assured that their spirits are now resting in the heavens of the heroes.
"My people, it is not a secret that the current tide of war is not exactly going in the Empire's favor. However, I invite you not to give in to desperation. Because, not so long ago, We received a sign. Nay, a visit...an unmistakable sign that our cause is just and holy."
That was the cue. Aduin closed his eyes and focused for a brief moment. Soon enough, he started to be surrounded by the azure flame. He made it sure that it would be visible as far as possible, but the nearest crowd to the palace saw it very clearly and was just as shocked as those who had witnessed the same display at Randgriz.
"Behold! The Valkyrur have come to us!" Alexander proclaimed now with much more emphasis. "The gods have bestowed their gracious presence on us. People of the Empire, give your welcome to Lord Aduin!"
A clapping started, after a moment of surprise, then a roar of excitement that lasted for a whole minute as Aduin kept his flame shining.
Once the noise calmed down a little, enough to allow the microphones to be effective, Alexander resumed his speech. "Thanks to the intercession of His Eminence Borgia and the Yggdist Church, we are entering a new age of the world, as the country chosen directly by the Gods." he then turned toward his guest and advisor. "Lord Aduin, would you please gift us with a few of your words?"
Soon enough, the crowd fell silent, as everyone was clearly longing to hear the voice of that they recognized as a divine being.
"People of the Empire." Aduin started with his reverberating voice. "I thank you for your passionate reception. It is my great pleasure and honor to stand here beside His Imperial Majesty. I came here today to ask for your assistance: in Gallia, my kin has fallen prey to the deranged thoughts of the Westerners. They have come to revere the so-called 'freedom' and 'democracy' of the Federation, ignorant of the fact that they are nothing more than a recipe for chaos and anarchy. A poison that risks enveloping all of Europa.
"Therefore I ask you, the most devoted folks of this whole world: please, let me fight with you. For this conflict is not just a matter of land and resources: this is the final war between chaos and order. Of course, we are not alone in this endeavor."
All of a sudden, from several roofs around the square more azure flames started to come out. The crowd watched with awe. In the large courtyard below the terrace that a large cordon of guards was keeping free from the spectators, a part of the pavement suddenly lowered into a ramp and from a hidden garage started to come out first the Vulcan with Crymaria standing on top of it. A large convoy of new Assault Tanks and soldiers of Ausbruch came out following a prepared choreography and then more Valkyrias suddenly landed among them from the roofs.
Captivated and stunned by that display of power, the crowd went ecstatic.
The younger Valkyrias then started to wave their hands, showing a more friendly attitude. Only Selvaria and Crymaria kept their cold attitudes, which contrasted even more when Walz emerged from the turret of his tank and made an heroic pose.
Of the members of Asgard, only the Calamity Raven were being hidden. After all, Aduin was conscious of the fact that he couldn't just ask right away that the Imperial citizens started to tolerate the Darcsens. First of all, he needed to solidify his image, then he would start pushing for reforms.
For the moment, though, that was good enough.
