Chapter 48: "Priority: Irony"
-Major Carter's location, Rondel-
Ashley's squad is fast moving in the alley towards the fighting, she uses the TACNet to order a SIF to stay behind and protect the councilwoman. As soon as they turn the corner, the SIFs open fire on the conjured plants and the mages. Their bullets pierce right through the rubble and plant barriers that the mages put up killing them instantly. As the mages die, Kaian is able to break free from the roots.
"Get up there and help the major!" Ashley gives the order to Kaian.
He leaps forwards, using a pile of rubbles to jump up and through the window behind major Carter. With his pistol, Kaian shoots the plants that are rushing towards colonel O'Niell then stab the head of his spear into the floor. His eyes glow and a field of golden energy expand to cover the whole room, killing any hostile it touches.
The SIFs take position and start shooting at the rest of the hostiles inside of the house. As a trained reflex, they put the shields up against the SIFs when their people start dying but it is futile. None of them are left standing in just under a minute. The plants drop and return to their natural state as soon as the last mage dies.
"Thank you, LC" major Carter says over the comms.
"No problem, major, how's the colonel?" Ashley replies.
Carter looks over to where Kaian is checking on O'Niell "He's still unconscious, so what's the plan?".
"Our medic will get him back on his feet and you come with us to the library, our mission is to take that barrier down so we can evac our people." Ashley says as she forward the plan to Carter via TACNet.
"Copy that" Carter replies.
Ashley looks over to the medic "how long will it takes?" she asks.
"Depend on his condition, ma'am, but it's 10 top" the medic answers.
"Alright, get to work" she orders.
-GIA's safehouse, Rondel—
Shelly pulls anther nail out of the messenger's finger, blood pour out and the pain make him screams out loud. UNE's advance medical technology allows her to torture this man as painful as possible without killing.
"Where is your master? Where is Lynk?" She shouts over the explosive noise from outside "Tell me and this will end, we will grand you a quick painless death!".
She gets ready to pull another nail from his finger.
"Stop…I…I'll tell you, just make it stop" he begs, crying and barely could form his sentence.
Shelly put the pliers down and pick up a syringe. It contains a drug that will kill the victim fast, while making them feel relax and peaceful.
"Tell me and this will be yours" she says.
"The Southeast slums, in the abandoned old temple of Minerva, it's a crowded area so you can't use your destructive magic against him" he replies.
"Is he alone?" Shelley continues asking.
The man cough "there are others that are with him".
"What is he planning?" she asks.
"To destroy Rondel for what they did to our people" the man replies, there's a hint of anger in his voice.
"How's he going to do that? He's going to kill the people and turn them into the walking dead, isn't he?" she asks.
"Look around you, can't you hear it? It's already happening. Now kill me!" he says.
Shelly injects the drug into the man and he slowly relax, close his eyes and pass out peacefully.
"This is GIA agent Shelly Moore, verification code zero-three-golf-niner-romeo, to all available UNE I have intel of a HVT Lima's location, he's planning on killing the civies and reanimate them. Requesting assistance in elimination, over" Shelly talks to all available units via comms.
"Agent Moore, this is Sierra 5 lead, that area is hostile's territory" Ava checks the TACNet then replies through the heavy fighting between the SIFs and hostile forces "what are the available assets? Over".
"Sierra 5, we have 4 agents and 1 SOG team available. Full urban surveillance kit, over" Shelly replies.
"We're too stand out, he'll see us coming and start the killing" Ava replies and forward her plan "We can help clear a path to grid sierra-five-zero-echo-three-one towards the Rondel Inn, you should be able to infiltrate the area from there. Over".
"Copy that Sierra 5, we're on our way" Shelly replies.
-Somewhere in Rondel—
Ava's squad is engaging in heavy combat against a group of hostile mages as they are getting closer to the council building. The hostile guilds, believing the lies spread by Lynk's people, are doing anything they can to stop the SIFs from reaching it as they believe the UNE is coming to kill the councilors and takes over the city by force.
"Let's move! Rory, take over control of the SAT8 and pin them down!" Ava orders for the squad to start disengaging.
"Smoke! We can replicate some smoke grenades to mask our retreat as they don't have thermal vision!" Jimmy shouts.
"They can control the wind, silly. Use stunt grenades instead" Rory replies.
Ava takes a swift look at the area again to see if she can bring any building down to block the way. The reason they have been holding back and not smashing their way through these hostile mages is because there are a lot of civilians hiding in these buildings. It is also the reason why the SIFs are lowering the power for their rifles so their rounds are less penetrative, lowering the chance of them accidentally hitting innocents.
"No high explosive ammunitions" Ava orders after seeing there are still a lot of civilians in the immediate area "be careful, Rory" she looks at Rory.
Even at low power, the 10mm cannon on the SAT8's back is still very lethal. Firing directly at the hostiles mean killing the civilians in the building behind them as well. Knowing this Rory commands it to switch to explosive rounds.
"Rory?" Ava presses but before she could finish the SAT8 is already firing.
However, it only firing at the ground and the cover that the hostiles are hiding behind. The explosive rounds explode as soon as they make impact with the first object which kick up dirt and small debris. In addition, the rapid explosions of 10 thousand rounds per minute keep their head down in fear for their lives.
"Good job, move move!" Ava nods.
"Charge set, take cover!" one of the SIFs set a breaching charge against the back wall of a house to blow a hole so they could move to the parallel street.
Ava and another SIF use their body to shield the small family in the house "Sorry" she says as the charge explodes.
They quickly go through the breach and clear the other side of the wall, which is another house. Once the other side is secured, Rory commands the SAT8 to disengage and retreat through the breach. At this point, the part of the street between her and the hostiles is really messed up by the SAT8's 10mm.
"Go beast, I'll be right behind you" Rory says as the SAT8 runs pass her.
Her halberd's blades glow purple as Rory slams it against the ground. A shockwave kicks up more rock and soil making the ground even harder to cross. She then picks up a large piece of rubble to block the breach behind her as she quickly follows the rest of the unit.
"Commander, signal from recon" Rob reports.
While the barrier blocks comms signal, it doesn't block light from coming through. The recon planes could still communicate with the units inside of the barrier via line-of-sight means. In this case, one of them uses light to communicate with Ava's squad using morse code. To the normal eyes, it just seemed like 1 flash of light. However, it was a series of extremely fast blinks that the suit or any communication equipment could detect and decrypt.
"An Imperial unit is heading to the same gird. Could be the empress" Ava says "divert one of our recon drones that way" she orders.
The squad moves towards the Rondel Inn through the chaos of the city. Unlike before when they tried to avoid as much contact as possible to move quickly towards the Council Chamber. This time they engage every hostile force that they encounter. The area surrounding the Rondel Inn is the business section of the city, there are a lot of shops, taverns and restaurant but no residential houses or building except for the inn itself. Therefore, there is not a lot of civilians in the area as they are either flee home to be with their family or in the streets fighting for their faction. This allows the SIFs to engage in more deadly and more effective tactics.
The SIFs are moving down the street in formation with the SAT8s are taking point. They split into 2 team, 4 men each, and move on both sides of the street covering each other overhead and blind spots as best as they could. Each SIF keep the distance of approximately 4 meters (13 feet) from the one in front of them.
Ava holds up her fist signaling the squad to stop and take cover. Everyone could see in their TACNet that the Empress's party is approaching from a valley up ahead. The recon drone has been tracking their movement and projected a prediction path towards the embassy. Ava believes that Pina is intending to seek asylum and will not be hostile towards UNE units. In addition, knight Gray is with them and she trust the man. However, they do not know that the embassy is under siege and heading towards it will be more dangerous.
"Sitrep" Ava orders, making sure the immediate area is clear of hostiles.
Once everyone reported clear, Ava orders the squad to secure the tavern up ahead.
Pina, Gray and Diabo left the inn along with 11 White Roses, 9 legionnaires and 2 mages. There's only 7 White Roses left as the 2 mages sacrifice themselves each time they ran into an overwhelming force and the 2 legionnaires fallen to combat. Few of them are heavily injured but still trying to keep vigilant so they could protect their masters.
They are moving in formation, checking corners and higher spots for potential ambush like just like they were trained by UNE's military advisors. With Gray taking point, he signals for the group to stop as they reach the end of the valley. He peaks around the corner to check if it is safe to come out of the valley an into the street.
"Saderan unit please be advised, this is Sierra 5 of the UNE. Do not shoot, I repeat do not shoot" Ava calls out.
Gray got confused by the suddenness for a split second then quickly realizes and looks for the source of the voice.
"We're in the building to your 2 o'clock, quickly move over we'll provide cover" Ava continues.
"Understood" Gray replies then looks back at his troops "Get ready men, we're heading towards the tavern across the street. Keep your eyes open and protect the empress".
The men stack up with one of them cover their back. Once ready, Gray gives the signal for them to start crossing. Gray comes out of the valley, turn right and aim his crossbow down the street as another White Rose do the same on the left. The rest then run quickly across the street to the tavern and the last man out of the valley tab both Gray and the other White Rose to let them know that it is time to move.
"Empress Pina, knight Gray, prince Diabo" Ava greets them as they enter the tavern. Jimmy is already tending to the wounded legionnaires.
"Commander Ava, I'm glad to meet you here" Pina extend her hand for a handshake as per UNE's custom.
Confused but Ava still shakes her hand "Likewise your highness".
"We are heading to your embassy, my men were unable to hold the Rondel Inn. Knight Gray believes that it is the only place where we will be safe. Will we, commander?" Pina asks.
"No" Ava replies, seeing the confused faces in front of her, she continues "The embassy is being sieged by hostile forces that want Rondel to be neutral to break away from both the Saderan Empire and stay away with the UNE. That means they will attack you too, should they see you".
"But surely you can help us get there?" Diabo asks.
"We can, however, the embassy will soon fall as well if the don't get the barrier down or find a way to stop the fighting. Ash is taking councilor Kristar to the library to try and take the barrier out, we're heading to the Councilor Chamber to try and stop the fighting somehow" Ava replies.
"Then let us come with you, people will see the empire and the UNE are working together to restore order for them!" Gray says.
"Good idea, but first we need to clear a path to Rondel Inn for one of our team to infiltrate the Southeast slums. Lynk and his people are there and they intend to turn everyone into walking corpses" Ava says.
"Lynk? The Topaz mages are here? What do they want? I would have his head for spilling poison into my brother's ears!" Pina is taken aback by the news, Rondel and Topaz has been at each other's throat for centuries but the dark mages could never come close to the holy city let along inside of it.
"They want to destroy Rondel, a few of them infiltrated your rank. If you want detail you need to talk to my government but for now, we need to move" Ava says.
"I would like to join this team of yours, I shall see my sword buried in Lynk's chest when the time comes" Pina speaks with anger in her eyes.
"Negative, we can't risk you falling into his hand. With you as hostage he could force the empire to go against us and we would have to defend ourselves. Come with me, Pina, together we can end this" Ava refuses.
Pina nods "We're with you, commander".
"Jimmy are they ready to move?" Ava checks on the wounded legionnaires.
"Their wounds are sealed but they lack our regenerative ability, it will certainly reduce their ability to fight but they won't die from blood loss" Jimmy replies.
"These are the empress's guards they are tough, they'll endure" Gray says as the legionnaires give Ava an unwavering look. Gray continues "As supreme commander of the Imperial Army, I hear by place you in command of this contuberium under your command until I say otherwise. Please give the order, commander"
Ava nods and looks over to Pina and Diabo "I know you are royalties, but if you want to make it through this then you have to do what I say. Are we clear?" she asks making it sound serious.
Pina nods in agreement "Everything you say, commander".
"Your words shall be my command" Diabo says then bow slowly.
Ava's suit detects the stress level in Pina is raising and she is at risk of entering another episode of PTSD "Pina, may I speak to you for a moment?" Ava asks.
Pina nods towards Diabo and Gray to send them away "Yes, commander?".
"I know you are not comfortable talking about this, but given the situation we are in" Ava pauses when she sees the shame in Pina's eyes, she then continues "I'm going to have Jimmy to give you something, it'll help but it's just temporary. Once this is over, we need to get you a more permanence treatment"
Pina nods slightly.
"Jimmy" Ava calls.
"On it, commander" Jimmy gets to the SAT8s and replicate some kind of drugs then comes over "empress, allows me" he says then inject after Pina nods.
As the drug enters her body, Pina can immediately feel the silence set into her mind. She can finally focus on the task at hand and not be bothered by troubling past. She can't even if she tries.
Take in a deep breath, Pina looks at Ava "Ok I'm ready to move".
"Alright, we continue down the street and break left at the valley 200 meters ahead. Legionnaires take the rear, standard 2 columns formation. VIPs stay center, Let move!" Ava orders.
The unit moves ever closer to the inn and encounters heavier resistance as they go. Without civilians in the way, they engage and kill every hostile with extreme efficiency. The legionnaires were trained by and with marine but to witness a SIF unit in combat is awe inspiring while terrifying at the same time. Enemies drop dead the moment they appear or, sometime, even before they are in line-of-sight. They die quicker than the legionnaires could react. There's no shouting, no cheering, just calm calls of targets and the sound of cold gun fire on hostiles. Double tab to kill, another tab from another SIF to make sure the target is really dead.
What they are witnessing now is no longer the playful soldiers they saw at the games. It's like they were replaced by killing machines, ones that were built to be perfect killers. Some of them are the survivors of the battle of Sadera, part of them glad they did not encounter the SIFs and they are grateful that empress Pina did everything to make peace. Because they know for sure now, the empire would not survive otherwise.
-Sadera Palace, Sadera—
The holographic image of general Nguyen is standing in the imperial military command room. Some UNE technologies were installed such as communication lines to the comm stations set up at different part of the empire, an interactive holographic map for strategic and tactical display. While it is far from a suitable command room for UNE standard, it is better than anything the imperial military could dream of.
Unlike the ancient United Kingdom, the parliament has no power over the military in the empire. In the absent of the monarch, the decision fall to the command chain of the military. In this case, it is Panache Fure Kalgi as the general of the White Rose. While Bozes and Panache are of the same rank, Panache is the leader of the Rose Guard.
Bozes looks at general Nguyen and asks again "So you want to transport our troop into Rondel?".
"Yes, if we come in alone, it would look like we are using force to invade Rondel and that would turn the whole city against us. We would be forced to destroy it. On the other hand, if the Red Rose is to siege Rondel because there is no other way for you to secure your empress, it would like they the empire is trying to invade Rondel and it would be costly in term of life loss for the empire." General Nguyen replies.
His hologram walks over a hologram screen and display relevant data then continues "Currently there are 3 sides fighting in the city. UNE aligned, Saderan Empire aligned and those that want Rondel to be neutral. My hope is by showing them we are working together to bring peace and order we can convince the pro-UNE and pro-empire factions to stop fighting and everyone to stand down."
"A sound plan, general. What about the barrier? Can your weapon disable it?" Panache asks.
General bring up the holographic information of the city and the barrier "As you can see, because the barrier is magic our sensor could not pick up its power level. There's no way to know the right amount of firepower to just bring the barrier down. A shot too powerful might vaporize the entire city along without our people in it, a shot to weak will make it looks like we are trying to destroy them and, again, turn them again us."
"Then what do we do?" Panache asks again.
"We have a SIF platoon inside the city and they are looking for a way to take the barrier down" general Nguyen answers while showing the live feeds from one of the recon D-20Bs. It shows Ava's squad working Pina's people and Ashley squad moving towards the library with a councilor "For now your empress is in the capable hand of commander Ava, but we have to be ready to go in the moment that barrier is down" he says.
Bozes looks over to Panache and replies after getting a nod "I'll have my men ready for transport, as we have never done this before do you have any advice?".
"How many troops do you commit?" general Nguyen asks.
"2 legions, roughly 12000 men" Bozes answers.
"Rondel has 4 gates, pick your best 4 centuriae, they will go in on D-20s, 10 men each ship, with our marines to open the gates. The rest will travel on SD-20s, 40 men each ship, the rendezvous with our forces outside of the city and start advancing once the gates are open. March your troops to the clearing North of the capital, our transports will be waiting for you there and we move as soon as your men are mounted. Anything else?" he asks.
"No, general, we'll be there" Bozes says then bows and leaves.