Priority: Coda Evacuation
-General Nguyen's Office, Fort Alnus-
Special Agent Viktor Volkov of the Galactic Intelligence Agency (GIA) sat across from General Nguyen, who was quietly inspecting a box and a letter on his desk. The letter had been delivered by an Imperial messenger and contained a threat against the UNE, while the box served as proof of the enemy's capabilities.
"So, they think they can threaten us using our people? Do you think they'll actually dare to act on it?" Viktor asked, his voice calm but curious.
General Nguyen pushed the box closer to Viktor. "Open it and see for yourself. It's the only reason I haven't already sent the 5th SIF to their capital to capture their Emperor."
Viktor, without hesitation, unlocked the box and slowly lifted the lid. Inside, the contents were grotesque enough to make anyone else retch. The wooden box contained two human eyes, two hands, two feet, a nose, lips, two ears, and a heart. It was a chilling sight, but Viktor remained composed, his years of training and experience during his 103 years with the GIA keeping him steady.
"Are these... ours?" Viktor asked, his voice steady despite the horrors in front of him.
"Yes," General Nguyen replied, his voice grave. "They belong to a woman named Hannah Millers. She was 332 years old, mother to three children who were all killed in the New Ginza Incident. She came from Ferros City of Artemis Tau to spend the holiday." He gestured toward Viktor's holographic screen, which now displayed the information. "We also found traces of seminal fluid on the remains."
Viktor clenched his jaw. He closed the box, his expression darkening. "That means she was raped and then murdered," he said, the anger in his voice undeniable.
General Nguyen nodded slightly. "I've already informed Terra Sphere, and her family will be notified. This box will be sent to them soon. Since you're here, I assume the GIA has information about where our people are being held?"
Viktor pulled up a map of Falmart, pinpointing four coordinates labeled Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta. "We don't know their exact location yet, but our interrogations have narrowed it down. One of the officers we captured gave us these four coordinates. They are likely where our people are being held before they're either sent to the mines or handed over to the nobles. If they're keeping our people hostage, these are the most likely locations."
"How did you get them to cooperate?" General Nguyen asked, his brow furrowing.
"We promised to spare their lives if they cooperated," Viktor replied coolly.
"But we don't kill our POWs," General Nguyen said, his voice questioning.
"Yes, but they don't know that," Viktor said with a smile, shrugging his shoulders.
"I assume you have a plan to recover them?" General Nguyen asked as he stood up and walked over to the map.
Viktor nodded, bringing up the operation's details. "The President has authorized a rescue operation. Four SIF platoons from the 2nd ISO, along with our agents, will hit all four compounds simultaneously, but covertly, to search for our people." He pointed to the four coordinates on the map as they appeared. "Alpha, Bravo, and Delta are about a two-hour flight for the D-20B transports, while Charlie is five hours out. Charlie team will depart two hours earlier than the others to ensure all teams hit their targets at the same time. The operation begins on your order, General."
General Nguyen studied the plan intently, making sure every detail was covered. He looked up at Viktor. "I'll review the plan."
As Viktor walked toward the door, he paused and turned back to face the General. "The clock is ticking," he said, his voice leaving little room for hesitation. Then, without another word, he left the room, leaving General Nguyen to make the final decisions.
-Novea Castle-
Aurelius and Ava stood in the main yard of the castle, watching as the 5th SIF made their final preparations for departure.
"You're leaving already? Why the hurry?" Aurelius asked, his tone tinged with a hint of disappointment.
"We would love to stay, Aurelius, but duty calls," Ava replied, offering him a respectful smile.
"I understand, Commander. But remember, you and your people are always welcome here," Aurelius said as he shook Ava's hand firmly.
Ava paused for a moment, then spoke again. "On that note, we would like to send a team here to...er...work with your castle's soul. Do we have your permission?" She recalled General Nguyen's orders to obtain permission for an engineering team to inspect the castle and the AI after what had happened there.
Aurelius' expression turned serious for a moment, but he soon let out a chuckle. "Do I have a choice?" he teased. Before Ava could respond, he added, "Of course you can. The soul only communicates with your people. There is so much I can learn from you!" His eyes twinkled with intrigue.
Ava raised an eyebrow. "I'm curious, don't you fear the dragon? You seemed quite casual when you saw it last night."
Aurelius turned his gaze towards the distant horizon, as if lost in thought. "The Flame Dragon hunts once every 50 years. Though its early appearance last night was strange, the beast has never ventured near Novea. As long as we remain within these sacred walls, we are safe from it," he explained, his voice calm and confident as he looked over the castle's sturdy fortifications.
Ava nodded thoughtfully, grateful for his insight. She then turned to her unit. "Thank you, Aurelius," she said, before giving the order to move out.
The team began to gather their gear, ready to head to their next destination.
-Unknown Forest near Novea Castle-
The ride to the forest is short and uneventful. The heavy rain last night prevented the whole forest to burn down but charred remnants of burned trees show that the fire was fierce. Smoke and the smell of burned barks still fill the air around them.
The convoy stopped at a well in the center of the ruin of a village no bigger than Coda.
"Alright everyone dismount, I want drones on the lookout and SAT8s scan for survivors. Chris, you keep your eyes on that screen and warn us if that beast returns, we don't know what it is capable of and I'm not about to find out. 2nd Squad searches for survivors, 1st Squad secures the perimeter. Gary, bring your tank to the other end of the village and make sure it's clear. Lucas, you stay with Chris" Ava gives orders.
Everyone copy and start carrying out their orders. Ava sits on the side of the well and takes a small box that carries her mother's officer star out and stares at it. Since she arrived in this world, almost everything is hostile and dangerous, which only increase her worry for her mother. Trying to shake the thought of her mother and focus on the mission, she stands up and walks to a nearby ruin of a hut.
Ava picks up an arrowhead of a broken arrow and scans it. The arrowhead is extremely well-made considering the technology level of this world. Suddenly Ashley calls for Ava on the radio.
"Commander, we got survivors, 7 kids" Ashley reports as TACNet shows the rest of the unit her location.
"On my way" Ava replies.
She approaches what looks like a makeshift bunker covered by a large rock that was moved out of the way by one of the SAT8s. Ashley and Jimmy have dematerialized the front of their helmets and are trying to help the kids out of the bunker.
"LC, report? Jimmy?" Ava asks.
"I don't know about Elven's physiology but their vital sign are stable as human standards, and they seem fine commander" Jimmy reports.
"Bring them to the APC we'll return to Coda and see if they can help these kids" Ava orders as TACNet alerts that one of the SAT8 found another survivor.
The SAT8 standing over the well that Ava was sitting at just a moment before, its head staring straight down the well. Ava can see a body floating inside the well through her holographic screen in the helmet as she's run to the SAT8, scan shows that is a female Elven and her vital signs are dangerously low.
Ava runs to the well and without hesitation jump down. The thrusters of her TAC suit slower the descent to avoid a hard impact on the girl below. Once at the bottom, Ava carries the girl in her arms and call for everyone to stand clear as she activates her thrusters and jumps out of the well.
"Jimmy!" Ava calls for the medic.
Jimmy run up to the girl and deploy his field medical kit. 2 small medical probes are launched from the kit and start scanning the girl then proceeds to patch up her open wounds and scratches. He then injects the girl with a nanotech immune booster shot.
"She's having hypothermia commander, her body temperature is much lower than the other Elven kids. I don't need to be an Elf expert to tell she's at risk of heart failure at this rate…or whatever is it they call it" Jimmy says as he put a medical nanotech box on the girl's chest "This should warm her up and stabilize her"
The box expands and covers the girl's body except for her face with a white, soft bag that has a red cross on her chest. Vital signs are displayed holographically on her right shoulder.
"We found 74 deaths bodies both out and under the ruins commander, there's nothing else here" Ashley reports.
"Alright everyone regroups, we're heading back to Coda. Put the girl in the APC, Jimmy you ride with the APC for now" Ava call everyone back and they start leaving the area.
The convoy makes a quick stop at Novea Castle to ask if they would take the kids in but Aurelius rejects and insists that the castle is sacred and only humans are allowed to live in it. Without a choice, they head for Coda village in hope that the people there are more accepting.
-Coda Village-
"Commander, I've already told you, we can't take the kids in for the same reason we couldn't take Lucas," Mayor Gorm grumbled, frustration clear in his voice. "And now, we have to leave the village because of the Flame Dragon threat too."
Ava stood firm, her gaze steady. "So, from what I understand, the Flame Dragon goes on a hunt every 50 years. Do you pack up and leave every time it comes around, only to return when the dragon leaves?"
"Yes," the mayor sighed, rubbing his temple. "We usually go to the Imperial garrison at Alnus Hill. The mages there protect us against the dragon. But since you destroyed their garrison, our only option now is to leave our homes and either travel to relatives or find a new place far from here."
Ava's face remained neutral as she raised her right arm. A holographic map flickered to life in front of her, startling the mayor. He blinked, taken aback by the advanced technology.
"Show me where you're going," Ava said, her voice calm but insistent.
Mayor Gorm hesitated for a moment before pointing at the map. "We'll travel together along this trail," he explained, his finger tracing a route. "Once we pass the river here, each of us will split off and take different paths to safety."
Ava studied the route, her expression thoughtful. "We'll escort you until you pass the river," she said decisively. "After that, you're on your own."
She turned to address her team. "Alright, everyone, set the SAT8s and drones on patrol. Then help the villagers get ready for evacuation. Gary, you're on sentry duty. Chris, contact Fort Alnus and inform them that we're escorting a local convoy to protect them from an aggressive native life form."
The village sprang into action. With the help of the 5th SIF, the villagers gathered what little they could carry, loading their wagons and packing up their homes in preparation for the journey ahead. The weight of the task ahead was heavy, but the evacuees worked with urgency, knowing time was of the essence.
Ava walked along the main road, ensuring everything was progressing smoothly. She kept a vigilant eye on the perimeter, watching for any signs of trouble. The evacuation was orderly, but Ava remained wary of any potential threats. Although assisting with the evacuation would delay their exploration mission, she knew it was the right thing to do. Helping the villagers would not only protect them, but it would also foster goodwill. As the UNE's reputation grew, word would spread, and the local population would begin to trust and appreciate the soldiers working to keep them safe.
Lelei and her master, Cato, were hard at work, stacking endless piles of books into their wagon, the weight of which was starting to show. The axles groaned under the burden, bending slightly, and it was clear that the wagon would not survive the journey if they tried to travel any significant distance.
"If you'd just let me use magic to carry the books, we'd be done by now, Master Cato," Lelei said, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she carefully placed another stack on the wagon.
"Lelei," Cato's voice was firm as he stepped in front of her. His expression serious. "Magic is a sacred gift from the gods to us mortals. We cannot use it for trivial things."
Lelei sighed, her frustration clear, but she kept quiet. "Yes, teacher," she muttered, standing up to fetch the last of the books, though she wasn't pleased with Cato's reasoning.
After several more minutes of heavy lifting, they finally finished packing the wagon. Lelei climbed up beside her master, and Cato used a long stick to tap the horse, signaling it to begin moving. However, the horse strained, and the wagon remained still, the bent axles preventing it from rolling forward.
"I think we need to leave some of your books behind, Master Cato," Lelei suggested calmly, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Cato replied adamantly. "We are taking all of them. All!" He waved his hand, muttering an incantation under his breath. A magical aura enveloped the wagon, and with a soft lift, the weight of the load seemed to vanish. The horse could now pull the wagon forward without issue.
Lelei shot him a sidelong glance. "Magic is a sacred gift from the gods to us mortals. We cannot use it for trivial things. A wise old man once told me that."
Cato's lips twitched in amusement. "Good one, young mage, good one," he replied with a smile.
As they reached the main road, where the rest of the village's wagons were lined up, Lelei and Cato noticed faceless figures in strange armor helping the villagers. One of the wagons had its axle snapped, tipping over and knocking a man unconscious as it fell. A faceless figure rushed to the fallen man's side, deploying a strange medical kit, from which two small flying creatures emerged. The figure worked quickly, examining the man.
A villager rushed over, breathless. "Master Cato, Lelei, one of the wagons is broken! Can you use your magic to help them?"
Before Cato could respond, Lelei was already jumping off the wagon, rushing toward the scene of the accident.
"Wait! Lelei!" Cato called after her, but she didn't slow down.
As Lelei got closer, she overheard the conversation among the strange figures.
"He's okay, Commander. He should be up in a few hours," Jimmy, the medic, said, confirming the unconscious man's condition.
"What about his family's wagon? Can the SAT8 replicate a new axle?" David asked, his gaze shifting to the wreckage.
"The SAT8 replicator is too small, it can only replicate ammo," Ashley replied, her voice practical. "But the one in the APC is large enough."
"Roger that. I'll go replicate one," David said, already running back to the APC.
It wasn't long before David returned, carrying a new axle in his hands. Ava, thanks to the strength of her TAC suit, lifted the broken wagon with one arm while David and Ashley worked quickly to replace the damaged axle.
Cato stood next to Lelei, watching with a curious expression. "Such strange armor. How can they see through it?"
Lelei continued observing the strangers, her eyes narrowing as she considered the possibilities. "They're strong... and they make things out of thin air. They could be mages, like us."
The repairs were finished, and everything was prepared to move out. Ava gave the signal for the convoy to begin its journey.
"Gary, you stay in the rear. Ash, your IFV will be in the middle of the convoy, and my APC will take point," Ava commanded, her voice decisive.
"Let's hope the dragon doesn't catch us on the road," David muttered under his breath.
"Shut up, man! Don't jinx it," Rob replied sharply over the radio.
Ava turned toward Chris, who was manning the sensor station. "Chris, keep the drones in the air and keep your eyes on that screen. Alert me the moment you see anything."
"Roger that, Commander," Chris responded, his voice calm and focused as he monitored the situation.
Ava sat at the command console, expecting a full earful from General Nguyen regarding her decision to bring Lucas along. She had prepared herself for the usual stern reprimand, but to her surprise, the General didn't express any disapproval. Instead, he agreed with her choice. She had considered leaving Lucas at Novea Castle, but something inside her, something deeper, made her feel responsible for him. Taking him back to the UNE would give him a better future, she believed, one that wouldn't be defined by the dangers of this strange world.
The convoy, weighed down by the heavily loaded wagons, was moving at an excruciatingly slow pace. Under normal circumstances, a medieval wagon could cover around 24 kilometers (15 miles) in a day. But in their case, the convoy was barely crawling, barely managing to move less than a kilometer an hour.
"My 592-year-old great-grandma back on Theta Sphere could walk faster than this, Commander," Rob muttered with a half-hearted chuckle, lazily playing solitaire on the holographic screen. The APC was on autopilot, allowing Ava a momentary break.
"At least it's beautiful. Just sit back and enjoy the…" Ava was cut off abruptly as the TACNet alarm sounded.
"Chris?" she barked, her instincts immediately kicking into high gear.
"Large flying organic signature detected! The dragon found us, Commander! Three klicks out, 7 o'clock and closing fast! Too fast!" Chris's voice came through, tight with urgency.
Ava's heart skipped a beat. "All units, break off from the column and prepare to engage the hostile! Chris, call for air support NOW!" she ordered, her voice cutting through the chaos. TACNet immediately relayed her instructions, directing every unit into defensive positions.
The 5th SIF reacted swiftly, but the dragon was faster. Within moments, it was upon them, its enormous form a blur in the sky. Before anyone could react, the beast let loose a devastating breath of fire, incinerating dozens of wagons in an instant. The crackling of burning wood and the screams of terrified villagers filled the air.
From the treeline, Rory Mercury leapt nimbly to the top of a towering tree, her eyes narrowing as she watched the legendary Flaming Dragon descend upon the convoy. For 900 years, she had never seen the creature up close, and for good reason. Even Apostles had a hard time fighting these creatures one story from ancient times told of an Apostle who had tried to slay a dragon but was disabled by its claws, burned and disintegrated by its unrelenting fire over the course of several days.
Rory observed the battle, her interest piqued by the bravery of the strange warriors in their horseless, floating metal wagons. Their weapons, she noted, pierced the dragon's scales easily. But the beast's rapid regeneration made every attack seem futile.
The Lancer vehicle fired a High Explosive Incendiary Projectile (HEIP) round directly into the dragon's belly, tearing a massive hole in its armored hide. The dragon let out a bone-shaking roar of pain, its wings flapping furiously as it ascended, angrier than ever. It began to target the villagers, its massive jaws snapping down on a wagon and crushing it into splinters with ease.
"Damn thing, why won't you just DIE?!" Gary yelled in frustration. "Fire again!"
"We've got a weak spot," Ashley's voice came through with determination. "It can't breathe fire while its belly is regenerating."
"I noticed that too, LC. We need to draw it away from the civilians," Ava responded, her voice calm despite the chaos around them. "Rob, focus the APC's fire on its face. Ash, your IFV, do the same. Gary, keep hitting that belly!"
With their firepower focused on the dragon's face, it grew enraged. The creature twisted in the air, shifting its attention from the wagons to the 5th SIF. The dragon soared higher and then turned with terrifying speed, aiming directly for Ava's APC.
The moment it struck, Ava felt the APC's shields shudder violently from the blow. The dragon's tail slammed into the vehicle, disabling the shield in a single hit. As the dragon turned for another attack, Rob quickly activated the APC's shield dome, but it was too late the damage had already been done. The next strike sent the dragon crashing into the APC with earth-shattering force, denting the KEL armor and sending the vehicle tumbling onto its side, effectively immobilizing it.
"Commander! We're down!" Rob shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
Ava's heart raced as she assessed the situation. The convoy was in chaos, the dragon still terrorizing the area, its fire sweeping across the battlefield. The 5th SIF was struggling to maintain control, and the civilians were in grave danger.
Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she gripped the controls, trying to shake off the disorienting impact of the dragon's attack. "Where's my damn air support, Specialist?" she snapped, struggling to get out of her seat.
Chris, still firmly strapped in by his seatbelt, quickly glanced at his screen. "They're here, Commander," he replied, his voice tight with concentration.
At that moment, the two SF-40 fighters roared overhead, launching their AGM missiles with precision. The powerful explosions hit the back and left wing of the dragon, tearing through its scales and destroying the wing in a flash of fire and debris. The dragon let out a deafening screech of pain as it lost control, plummeting to the ground, now grounded until its regeneration could heal the damage.
Furious, the dragon charged toward the downed APC, its massive jaws wide open, ready to crush it. But before it could strike, a figure leaped out of nowhere, moving with lightning speed. Rory Mercury, her halberd gleaming in the sunlight, slammed the weapon into the dragon's head, knocking it off course. The beast roared in anger but was forced to pull back.
In the APC, the Elven girl who had been unconscious suddenly stirred, struggling to escape the medical bag she had been secured in. Jimmy quickly turned off the bag's restraint system, allowing her to get out, though he was still focused on keeping her calm. Without warning, the girl sprang to her feet and bolted between Ava and Rob, her finger pointing straight at Ava's heart.
Ava was confused, but the girl's urgent look made it clear she meant something serious. The girl pointed at her own heart, then at the dragon, clearly trying to convey something.
"Where?" Ava asked urgently, the weight of the moment sinking in.
The Elven girl circled the area between the dragon's belly and upper chest, indicating the critical spot. she said, the words surprisingly clear despite the chaos.
Ava's mind clicked into gear. "Gary, try to hit its heart!" she ordered, before turning back to the girl. "Where exactly?"
The girl repeated her gesture, confirming the target.
Ava contact Gary again ""Between its chest and belly, use AP shells."
"Roger that. You heard her, fire!" Gary barked, his command echoing over the comms.
The Flame Dragon was on the ground now, but still a threat. The AP shell fired from Gary's tank ripped through the dragon's body, penetrating all the way from one side to the other. With a violent roar, the dragon's heart was obliterated, and the regeneration process that had kept it alive for centuries was finally stopped.
But it wasn't over yet. The dragon's belly began to glow as it gathered enough energy to breathe fire one last time. It opened its enormous maw, preparing to unleash its deadly inferno on the APC. However, just before the flames could reach their target, a shimmering green energy shield enveloped the vehicle, blocking the fire with ease.
Ava turned toward the back holographic window of the APC, her eyes narrowing. A young girl, no older than the Elven child, stood in the distance. Her hair was a striking shade of blue, her eyes glowing with a mysterious green light, and a staff crackled with energy in her hands as she chanted in an ancient tongue.
Without missing a beat, Ava barked into the comms. "Strikers, Strikers, requesting another pass. Target the dragon's head and end this!"
The fighters complied, swooping in once more, launching their missiles with deadly accuracy. This time, the dragon didn't stand a chance. The explosions tore into its head, and with a final, agonized roar, the creature crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Ava, now outside the APC, took a moment to assess the damage. The dragon's strike had left a deep dent in the KEL armor, a testament to the sheer force it could wield in a single blow. She stood there, momentarily stunned by the magnitude of what had just transpired, before turning to face the rest of her soldiers, who were already preparing their weapons.
But just as Ava turned back to her troops, she heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching. She whirled around, her instincts on high alert, and saw a small figure emerging from the smoke and chaos. A girl, no older than the Elven child, walked toward her, dressed in a black lace-up top, shorts, and a long trench coat. The girl carried a large halberd that appeared far heavier than she should be able to carry.
Ava instinctively reached for her weapon, but before she could speak, the Elven girl and Lucas rushed toward the newcomer, their faces lighting up with recognition. The tension in the air seemed to dissipate, if only for a moment, as the two children greeted the girl warmly, a silent acknowledgment of her importance in this strange new world.
"Miss Rory, you came to save us!" the children cheered, their faces lighting up with hope.
David, standing off to the side with arms crossed, smirked. "Hey, we did all the fighting!" His voice was half-joking, but the tension from earlier was still evident in his words. He fell silent when Ava raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to hold his tongue.
Ava turned to Rory, her expression softened with admiration. "I'm impressed," she said, her voice steady. "You're brave and powerful. Nothing, and no mortal, was strong enough to hurt the Flame Dragon. Legend has it that it cannot be killed, but you did it with such efficiency. Not even I could kill it." Rory paused for a moment, her gaze scanning Ava and her soldiers, the weight of the battle still fresh in the air. "I can't see any mana aura from you or your staffs...If not magic you're using, then what is it?"
"We call it technology," Ava replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "My name is Commander Ava Bennett of the United Nations of Earth. We appreciate your help."
Rory tilted her head slightly, her eyes glinting with interest. "I'm Rory Mercury, Apostle of Emroy, God of War and Death. You can call me Rory."
Before Ava could respond, Rob's voice rang out from behind her. "Hey kid, stay away from it."
Ava turned, seeing a girl with blue hair approaching the APC. The girl stepped forward with purpose, extending her hand and raising a staff that began to glow. A soft green mist enveloped the APC, and before Ava's eyes, the dent caused by the dragon's assault slowly began to repair itself.
Ava watched, dumbfounded. The girl had somehow healed the APC's damage. Witnessing this, along with the other girl's strength in knocking the dragon off balance, Ava realized just how little she understood about this world. It was far beyond her comprehension, and it left her with more questions than answers.
"Commander," Chris's voice broke through her thoughts. "General Nguyen wants you back in Alnus ASAP. He says it's top priority."
Ava sighed, rubbing her temple. "Alright, we'll regroup with the civilians first," she said, her voice resolute.
The 5th SIF quickly moved to rejoin the villagers' wagons, coordinating the next steps. Ava stood with Mayor Gorm, discussing their course of action while Ashley and the others tallied their casualties.
"The dragon is dead," Mayor Gorm said, his voice heavy with regret. "But we won't be going back to Coda. With the Imperial army destroyed, there'll be bandits and criminals. It's too dangerous. We're better off leaving this place." He paused, looking around at the wounded villagers and the burned-out wagons. "We'll have to leave the injured and those without wagons behind. We can't take them with us."
Ava's heart sank at the thought, but she understood the mayor's reasoning. She glanced around at the people suffering, the destruction all around them, and then paused, lost in thought.
"They can come with us," she said calmly, the weight of her decision settling on her shoulders.
"Ma'am?" Chris asked, his voice laced with confusion. "Are you sure about this?"
Ava nodded, her gaze steady. "There will be a lot of paperwork, and probably a lot of yelling from General Nguyen. But our orders are clear: 'Do everything you can to help the locals in need,' right?" She shrugged her shoulders, turning back to the mayor. "Anyone else who wants to join us can come too."
The mayor, still processing the shift in plans, relayed the message to the rest of the villagers. Many of them, now filled with hope, expressed their desire to travel to Alnus. So far, the UNE had proven to be a force that could protect them. They had proven to be trustworthy, capable of handling threats far beyond the scope of their experience.
Rory, ever the adventurous spirit, was the first to speak up. "I'll come with you," she said, effortlessly hopping into the back of the APC and joining the Elven children.
"Me too," Lelei added, her voice calm but resolute. She walked up the ramp of the APC with quiet determination.
Ava gave a nod of approval before contacting Fort Alnus. She requested an escort convoy to pick up the refugees, ensuring their safety as they traveled. Meanwhile, she assigned Gary's crew and the Lancers to provide security for the villagers.
Once everything was set, Ava gave the signal, and the 5th SIF, with the APC and IFV in the lead, began the journey back to Fort Alnus. With the villagers now safe and under their protection, the convoy started down the road, leaving the remnants of Coda behind.