The Republic they had left behind was a place engulfed by flames. The sky was filled with dark smoke, visible long after losing sight of the Liberté et Égalité. Processors instinctively knew, there was nothing left but ashes. The blood, sweat, and tears of all Eighty-Six forced to give up their life for the creation and protection of those walls were in vain. The death caught up to the silver country, devouring every last existing piece.
An uneventful journey through the mountain road bored some and cheered up many. They had no more tears left for their oppressors. The road home was right ahead. Every stumbled upon Legion was defeated in no time, with no ambushes hidden on their way. It was a welcomed surprise, as no pursuit was put on their tail. When the night came in the middle of their route, Shinei Nouzen ordered setting up a camp. Normally they would rush towards the Federacy, but the man knew the Legion's sole focus was the bloodbath behind their back. He had a tough time, enduring the hate-driven Eighty-Six, but the further they got, the lessen was his burden. Everyone was tired after the premature departure, so peaceful sleep on the ground was an advisable decision.
"Who wants to eat some mushy paste? We are running low on real food, so the person who comes up with the best recipe on how to make it edible wins the last chocolate bar!" Theo yelled crouching next to Fido, frowning at the dull cans stacked inside.
"It's next to impossible. Shit, even the spices I brought with me are of no help." Raiden lamented at the half-empty pouch, with his favorite mix in it. Almost everything tasted better after adding them in, but the bland texture and lack of color were too much. The repaired plant had only the core machinery fixed, so the synthetic food it produced was not appetizing.
"We're almost home, I'm sure something delicious will be waiting for us." Anju smiled, looking at their pathetic attempts. The two years in the Federacy changed their view on food on some level, so coming back to the old garbage wasn't nice.
"I refuse to consume any of this malodorous poison. The chocolate bar is mine to have, as I am the youngest! Shinei, tell them I ought to get it!" Frederica demanded, using the only child argument. Even the thought of eating the pulp filled her with disgust and provoked nausea, so her refined palate had no plan to accept the served supper.
"If I recall correctly, you weren't supposed to be here. Consider it your punishment for sneaking out, no sweets for you. And stop with the crying eyes, you know it won't work for me." Shin scolded her, but the saddened face made him take a hidden tin can from his Reginleif. The night's peaceful atmosphere made him more lenient. He had it for emergencies, but the candied fruit was the best thing he could offer. "Here, eat this. It's sweet like chocolate but has some nutritional value. But this is the last time!"
"Shinei…" Frederica teared up even more and hugged her adopted brother with love. Despite his stern expression, she felt he patted her head. "Thank you."
"Just seriously, stop sneaking out on the missions. You'll get yourself killed sooner or later. Do you want to make me sad?" He continued in a grave tone but didn't push her away.
"I'm sowwy…" At that moment, the girl finally behaved her age, forgetting for a moment about dignity. The canned fruit was better than Frederica expected, so the sad face was brightened by a big smile. She sat on Fido, dangling her feet in the air.
"Man, glad it's over. The sky over here is really the best, isn't it?" Raiden approached Shin, offering him a cigarette. It was a new habit, but he felt it helped to clear his mind.
"No need. Yeah, I guess it is. It must be the first time for many people. Seeing a clear starry sky." He lifted his head, gazing into the universe seen above. It was a familiar sight, bringing a comfort of sorts. He sometimes missed it in the center of the Federacy.
"You're right, I haven't thought about that. Well, maybe a change of environment will do them something good…" Raiden's voice lacked the conviction. He joined his friend in a silent stargazing until he felt he needed to ask something. "Did something… happen? Between you and Colonel. When you came back last night, the vibe was definitely off."
"It's not like that, there was a thing… but it's her private business. I have no right to spill the beans to you." Shin wondered how to word it as vaguely as possible, without sounding harsh. This was the best he could come up with.
"Got it. I'm just worried. Your knuckles are skinned, and you seem on edge the whole time. If you need a helping hand, you know we're here, right? Damn, I'm here." He tried to open a way for Shin to talk about things bugging him, but it was no easy feat.
"Thanks, I appreciate it. I think it's over, at least physically. I'm more worried about her mental state, but I suck at talking to people. Wish I had your resolve." The Undertaker smiled bitterly, remembering her pale face when she trembled in fear. He had no idea how to help her or approach the subject without hurting her more. She probably needed counseling, but the attitude towards citizens of the Republic was currently cold. If she came across someone hostile, it could traumatize Lena further.
"You love her, huh?" His best friend said with a chuckle, expecting a denial or outright ignoring of those words. Shin wasn't known for exuberance, and talking about feelings wasn't his forte, as he stated himself.
"Yeah, I do." The red-eyed man responded shortly, gazing into the unknown. It was a sort of weight taken off his chest. He stopped running away from what he felt and accepted it calmly. Telling his closest friend was making this acknowledgment real.
"Holy shit, dude! I wasn't expecting you to… you know. Actually say that. I mean it was obvious for a long time, that you both seemed to be into each other… But you were so passive I thought nothing would come of it. Fuck, a blind person would realize you had a crush on her. Seeing you two making moon eyes for the others' back was honestly exhausting. Colonel is even denser than you, I think she is genuinely oblivious to how you look at her. So, what is your plan moving forward?" Raiden poured the pent-up frustration he and the rest of the Spearhead Squadron endured for a long time. If he willingly opened Pandora's box, he had to be ready for the consequences. Kurena and Frederica were probably the only two disappointed by this development.
"Probably nothing. What Lena needs right now is a friend, not a lover." He stated knowing the fragile state she was in. Shin knew her wounds were fresh, and providing Lena with a stable environment was the best he could do now. He didn't want to use the vulnerable time of need for his selfish desires. If she had asked him to bring her one of those stars to feel better, he would probably do everything to please Lena. Even if being a friend was all he would ever be to her.
"Shit man, you sound like an old man. Well, you know it best, but if you need any advice, hit me up. You will sweep her off her feet." The boy laughed sincerely, happy from the bottom of his heart. Raiden had never believed there would come a day when Shin opens up to him about love. It was so surreal, that almost absurd.
"Like you know anything. Your sorry single ass knows as much about romance as the Frederica over there!" Shin chuckled, reminding his friend he was no better than him. The grain of friendship, cultivated and watered for years by people around him, had finally sprouted. Showing his emotions to people close to him, was new and unknown, but Shin had made the first step. The reclusive Undertaker made a small rift in his shell.
October 10th Republic Year 368 (Stellar Year 2149)
46 days since the start of Legion's Large-Scale Offensive
Years had been spent thinking the Republic was probably the last bastion of humanity. The cruel decisions were defended as justifiable, considering the ultimate goal of mankind's survival. But all those self-centered thoughts were nothing but a lie, with an unknown human army repelling the Legion and destroying this pathetic country. The relief and joy spread among those who persisted, with only a few feeling a bitter irony of their fate.
Vladilena Milizé was de facto the supreme commander during the siege, but when salvation came, many high-ranking officials went out of their hideouts. It had turned out there were families with cozy shelters built years ago, that were kept secret from others. The common folk were left at the mercy of fate, while some spent their time safely hidden underground. With the Federacy forces here, the former nobles sprouted again to take back their positions of power. Lena's input into salvaging of what was left was too vast to be disregarded, but the rich weren't too keen on giving away any of their authority. The chosen few had gathered in remains of their parliament, to discuss the way forward with their saviors.
"The Federal Republic of Giad offers a helping hand in repelling Legion residing within the Republic, on the condition of offering your full support to aid the Morpho Elimination Operation. We need your military and firepower, while our Nordlicht Squadron will directly engage in combat with the railgun. Time is of the essence, so please start preparations immediately. Our forces will wipe the Legion here, and as soon as you're ready, we would like to depart." Brigadier General in Federacy's uniform stated, expecting no objections.
"But Madam, our inventory is at its limits! If we put everything into this operation, who will protect us if it fails? Can't you ask for something more reasonable?" A neatly dressed man argued, with no sign of fatigue on his pristine face. He was one of the luckiest, having a bunker built by his late brother, a prominent military officer who died at the beginning of the war.
"Also, what is with the "we want to escort all the Eighty-Six" condition? They are clearly our property, you have no right to do such a daylight robbery!" Yvonne Primevére had a broken arm, but aside from that, she seemed to have gained a few pounds.
"This is a barbarity! Legion is your creation! Can't you just tell it to stop?" Another high-ranking person butted in. The air was tense, as the frown on the officer's face got deeper and deeper.
"Stop bickering for once! Those are reasonable conditions. Most of our units lack ammunition, but if you clear the area of the capital, we will retrieve it ourselves. The mortars on the east side are not in perfect condition, but if your people help us load the missiles, I think they'll be operable. As for the Eighty-Six please ask them for their opinion first, but if they are willing to go, we agree to those demands." Vladilena Milizé wore a proper uniform for the first time since the attack, but her battered-up appearance contrasted with the clean fabric. She had no time to sleep, much less shower since the foreign nation showed up. The rich were delusional as always, so she knew stepping into the negotiations was the right choice.
"Young lady, this is not a place to play!" The tidy man from before scolded her with anger.
"Who is currently in charge? This is getting absurd!" Major General was close to throwing most of them out of the door to stop the bickering.
"We are yet to hold official elections, but many of us are the members of the esteemed parliame-" Primevére was cut off by Lena, who was equally tired of their nonsense.
"I, Lieutenant Vladilena Milizé was informally in charge of all the operations for the siege duration. All the Processors residing in the Republic's borders are currently serving under my command. Although it is not done by proper channels, if you require urgency, I can start preparations right away. After the operation, however, I ask for help from the Federacy's government. We are in dire need of humanitarian help, many are dying from starvation and injuries. If you can do so, please consider those circumstances and act accordingly." Like a true ruler, Bloody Regina allowed no room for the other nobles to intervene. The officer noticed her offer was the most reasonable, and asked her to go to the separate room to discuss the details. All the people left in the hall were outraged by such arrogance, resenting the girl who fraternized with the Eighty-Six above her fellow citizens.
"Pardon my bluntness, but the Federacy is already aware of the crimes committed by the Republic. I can guarantee the rescue of the oppressed Eighty-Six, but doing so towards the rest is uncertain. Will you proceed to know those conditions?" There was an honesty in telling her so, as the woman could choose to pretend to agree and betray her later. Something in Lena's eyes told her, however, that fruitful cooperation would be better if based on truth. The officer also wanted to judge the girl's morals, stating her well-being was not assured.
"I accept those conditions, they are more than fair. But for the time being, please try to uphold the humanitarian help, at least until we have a chance to repair our power plants. I won't ask for anything more." Lena bowed, knowing her shameful position. Begging the people well aware of her country's atrocities for help wasn't ideal. She had fought for this place the whole time, so her pride meant nothing if she could help her people. Many innocents were residing with her friends, and giving up wasn't a choice she could make.
"You are certainly a force to be reckoned with. Very well, you can give your people a chance to volunteer. We are in high demand for Processors, so new recruits would be appreciated. This is the best I can come up with on the spot to try and redeem themselves. The rest will be decided by the Federacy's government." She proposed the solution, but Lena doubted many of her citizens would take up the offer.
"Thank you, Major General. I will show you the locations of the crucial places, please focus on the artillery production plant. In a moment I'll discuss everything with the Eighty-Six, is that all right?" Lena asked, preparing to leave the room. The clock was ticking, and destroying the Railgun was crucial to the Republic's future.
"You may, Lieutenant. I hope you can assist us during the operation as the head commander of your troops. I doubt the Processors would follow your commands if they didn't deem you capable." The officer smiled politely and went back to focus on her duties. Vladilena Milizé took a deep breath and activated the Para-RAID
"Bloody Regina to all Processor on all fronts!"
