"I only have one request. Please, remove Vladilena Milizé from her position as a Commander of this mission. I don't want her to hear when I... Please, I beg you. No matter how much she protests, don't let her near it." Shin ended the discussion with an earnest plea.
"It won't be easy, since I've already extended the offer, but I understand your point. I'll try to talk her out of it, but it'd be a shame not to utilize her strategic talent." Ernst nodded, thinking about how to solve it amicably.
Colonel was a brilliant tactician used to working with the Spearhead Squadron, but their closeness was a double-edged sword. She seemed eager to engage in the mission despite their dire chances, which meant Shin's argument wouldn't be enough to convince her. Ernst was aware that ordering her as a President didn't need any explanation, but he felt it would be unfair to a girl who did so much for them.
"Could you please not summon her for the emergency meeting? I know it's a lot to ask, but think of it as a final favor for your adopted son. Just… let me speak to her first." Shinei knew it was a shameless emotional manipulation, but he was willing to use all the cards in his deck. Protecting her was his priority, even if Lena would get hurt by this betrayal.
"I know what you're trying to do and I hate I'm going to give in anyway. Don't play with this old man's heart, we'll do everything in our power to bring you back safely." He sighed dramatically, but his shoulders seemed to carry the weight of the world.
"One day, that's all I need. Legion seems to be regrouping near the border, they aren't even bothering to hide. The scale is way bigger than the previous offensive, they must be betting on sheer quantity instead of the element of surprise. Since they are moving units from faraway places, I think we might have a few days before Legion launches." Shin gave his reasoning, wanting to ease Ernst's guilt. Rationally speaking they shouldn't be wasting any second, but the boy saw it as his last chance to say goodbye.
"Fine, but the emergency meeting will happen immediately. I feel bad for leaving Colonel Milizé out of the loop, you better explain everything to her properly. Richard will kill me for summoning him this early, but let's meet in the conference room in an hour." His face was worn out, but he smiled like everything would be fine. Shin admired his resilience and optimism since anyone else would probably crack under the pressure. Little did he know, the man himself was not far from breaking.
Ernst was doing his best to remain composed, but he hadn't been so anxious in a long time. As he was left alone, preparing documents for the briefing, an unspoken dread crept into his mind. What if Shin was right? His body remembered the incapacitating agony of losing one's family, and he refused to let it happen again. Luckily for him, the gloomy thoughts were interrupted by a loud clatter
"The damned scrap metal won't let a man sober up properly." Richard Altner showed up first, visibly suffering from yesterday's choices. A sour grimace on his face wasn't unusual, but Ernst blamed his state on the hangover.
"You shouldn't have drunk so much booze. Seriously, I've never seen this side of you, Commander." Grethe entered after him, with Willem Ehrenfried right by her side.
"Don't make me regret stopping." He rolled his one eye and took a few tablets to get back on his feet. It was unbecoming of a person his rank to be in such a state during deliberations, but human metabolism didn't work on demand.
They bickered for a few minutes, but eventually, the medicine kicked in, and Richard Altner was his serious self again. Luckily for him, the Spearhead Squadron arrived only after the magical transformation, keeping his reputation intact. Other Squadron leaders followed, and the room was finally filled.
"Since we're all gathered here, let's start with what we know." Ernst didn't want to cause unnecessary panic, but they needed to learn about the upcoming danger.
"Pardon, but our Bloody Regina is still missin'." Shiden casually pointed out, not realizing it was a touchy subject.
"I'm aware, Miss Milizé will be briefed separately due to personal matters. Anyone else?" He put on a professional smile, playing it off.
"No sir, we're set." Shinei replied, ending the matter.
"Good. Shin informed me that Legion displays suspicious behavior, and we have to prepare for the worst. We concluded that using the newly discovered shutting down method before the Legion invades is our best bet. It'll be putting everything on one card, but there might be no second chances." He looked around the room, noticing a range of emotions playing on everyone's faces. It was inevitable the spirits would plummet, and the tension could be cut with a knife.
"How soon?" Kurena asked anxiously, fearing what the answer might be.
"As quickly as possible. Shin theorizes the regrouping would take them a few days, but it's more of a guess. Departing immediately would be ideal, but we also need to prepare. Luckily we aren't so helpless this time. Colonel Wenzel, care to describe the preparations developed since the Morpho operation?" Zimmerman shut off his emotions, not wanting his despair to show. Remaining optimistic on the outside was possible, but killing the fear inside was another case.
"Since the Legion saw the Nachzehrer during the Morpho subjugation, we doubted the same trick would work again. Coming up with an alternative wasn't easy, but Federacy's geography came to the rescue. Multiple rivers are flowing down our territory, with the Weser being the focus of today. We figured it would be the safest way to move since the water itself will serve as a cover." Grethe showed a giant map, with the river's natural course highlighted in an angry red.
"The Legion doesn't swim, but that doesn't mean they won't notice a ship! We'll be blasted the second we enter their territory." Raiden commented, pointing out the obvious flaw.
"If we travel on the river, then yes. But what if we hide in it?" She couldn't help but smirk, since she expected this exact question.
"A submarine? In the river? Is that even possible?" Theo tried to picture it in his head, but it was hard to believe it would work.
"Sort of. I'll spare you the technical details, but it's definitely possible. The prototype already exists, and we run a few tests. There are only two problems we haven't figured out yet." Grethe seemed proud of herself, as she was one of the main inventors.
"You say that too confidently, I bet the problems are like 'there is no oxygen inside'." Kurena relaxed a bit, allowing herself a bit of dark humor.
"...we might have three problems. Just kidding, that's not it. We have issues with the engine, so it's an extremely slow one-way ticket. The natural current is too weak to give us the desired results, yet there is no efficient engine to fight against it. When the carrier is loaded it's simply too heavy to move fast without instantly burning through all its fuel."
A bitter note resounded at the end, leaving the listeners feeling skeptical.
"Now, let's not get too negative. We're here for brainstorming and there is still a lot to discuss! Any ideas on how to speed up a river?"
Despite the sun shining brightly, Ernst wanted nothing more than to get back to sleep. The meeting had drained him, and the days ahead didn't bode any better. There were a million things to do before tomorrow, yet Zimmerman craved a little break. He sought to sort out his thoughts and let his body rest, but another knock on the door shattered this fantasy.
"How may I help you?" He started asking before looking at the recipient, only to find the most unexpected visitor.
"Sorry for interrupting your work, Mr. President, but I urgently need to talk to you about my position as the mission's Commander." Vladilena Milizé had an apologetic look, and her nervous eyes indicated it wouldn't be an easy conversation.
"Already? I was under the assumption it would take a lot longer. Well, maybe it's better that Shin didn't drag this out. I'm sure you must be hurt and confused, but there is some truth in his reasoning." Ernst hoped it didn't come off too strong, since in reality, he gave in for personal reasons. Formally there was no pretext to dismiss her this abruptly, so he wanted to coax her in gently.
"Shin told you about what had happened?" Lena was initially confused since Shin didn't strike her as someone who would share his worries with his stepdad. On the other hand, Ernst was empathetic and had a lot of life experience, making him the technically best advisor for any love problems. No matter the reason, she was mortified that the President might know the details of her love life.
"Yes, I was surprised when he came in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the situation was dire, so we had to hurry with deliberations. I apologize for not inviting you from the get-go, but Shin insisted he'd speak to you alone." The man pitied Lena, burning red with embarrassment, in his view from the unfair exclusion.
"H-he called in a GROUP meeting? Does EVERYONE already know? Did he not think about how it could affect me later? God, how can I look them in the eye..." This disgrace was unbearable. She wanted to crawl into a hidden hole or perish from the Earth altogether since it would be better than showing her face in public.
"Don't worry, everyone will understand. Shin doesn't want to scar you mentally, but I'm sure it looks differently from your side. If you need someone to talk to, I'm all ears." Ernst knew Lena lost her mother during the invasion, and that she didn't have any trusted adult by her side. Despite feeling restless from the upcoming mission, he wanted to help her to the best of his ability.
"T-thank you, b-but I-I'd rather n-not discuss b-being dumped a-and my heartbreak w-with his d-dad." Lena felt the shame reaching its peak, freezing her, even though her skin was practically burning. It was almost like an out-of-body experience, her soul replaced with jammed machinery, stuttering as it declined the humiliating proposition.
"Wait, heartbreak? I thought we were talking about the job. Shin asked me to remove you from being the Handler since he was worried it would affect you mentally." Zimmerman was extremely confused, the whole exchange replaying in his head.
"...f-f-forget I've said a-a-anything, M-m-mr. President... I-I... I'll GLADLY STEP DOWN AS THE COMMANDER!" She shouted the last part bowing hurriedly, and ran off into the corridor without looking back.
Ernst was too stunned to stop her, and Lena's burning red face suggested she wouldn't appreciate the chase. He still didn't understand what exactly she was talking about, but his fatherly gut was telling him Shin had a lot more explaining to do than he thought.
August 22th Republic Year 357 (Stellar Year 2138)
10 days until the Start of the Legion War
"...and that's how the brave princess stopped the dragon and saved the people living in her magical kingdom." Ernst softly finished the story, Hildegard sleeping peacefully on his chest.
He loved creating bedtime stories and his daughter seemed to share that love. It was obvious she didn't understand a thing, but they quickly noticed that Hilda fell asleep quicker when her daddy was serving as a bard. Zimmerman eagerly took over tonight's duties, while Mathilda was recuperated on the living room's couch.
The lives of the freshly-baked parents were hectic, but he wouldn't change it for the world. Resigning from the Council gave him a lot of free time, which the man proudly spent taking care of his family. After achieving his goal he carefully carried Hildegard to the cradle, careful not to wake his sleepy little angel.
Then Ernst went to check on his wife, but Mathilda was already napping, wrapped in nothing but the pile of dirty clothes from yesterday. He regretted giving the housekeeper a few weeks off since the former General was a lot worse at keeping up with the housework than he assumed. Being a stay-at-home husband was one thing, but being a stay-at-home dad was on another level. The amount of mess created while caring for Hilda was insane, and rare moments of peace like this were hard to find.
"Forgive me, Honey, I capitulate for tonight." He whispered to his wife, but she was sleeping like a log.
Ernst unfolded the sofa and tucked himself next to Mathilda, covering them both with a clean blanket. He knew chores were waiting to be done, but his eyelids were getting heavy with each passing second. The warmth of his loved one was like a drug, turning the lumpy couch into the softest cloud. The last thing he could remember was wondering whether to serve cutlets or spaghetti for tomorrow's dinner.
It took Liz days to finally visit the arbour plagued with her best and worst memories. Thanks to Zelene's special medicine, her legs had almost fully recovered, and her health could no longer serve as an excuse. She was freely moving around the house and started going on short walks, but most of the time, Elizabeth was trapped in the cage of her making.
When she entered the wooden construction nothing seemed out of place, the only change occurring in the surrounding plants. August was coming to an end, and the garden landscape followed the natural cycle. Elizabeth sat on the tiny bench, not understanding why William wanted her to come here. The place showed no signs of someone coming in regularly, and bitterness mixed with nostalgia couldn't answer any questions. Liz was about to give up, but when she tried to exit the structure, a loose plank she was sitting on moved, revealing a hastily written note.
To Lizzie. I'm sorry. I will never end begging for your forgiveness, but believe me this once when I say the feelings were real. I know this letter might damn everything , but screw it, you deserve to know the truth. Two years ago I had an accident that left me half paralyzed, that part was true. It will sound like a fucking lame excuse, but I lost my purpose with the ability to walk. You know I used to be an athlete? Long story short the military offered me a reason to live, and I stupidly clung to it like a fool. It seemed easy, pretend you are there for recuperation and report about what goes on in the Birkenbaum mansion. But then I met you. Damn, Liz. I never wanted to use you that way. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but you… You wouldn't leave my head. I wasn't planning on reporting anything substantial, until we found the brains in the basement. It was crazy, you have to admit. I only told them because I wanted to get you out of there . I know it was fucking stupid, I should've told you anyway. I'm sorry Elizabeth, I'll try to reach out again when I arrive at the Republic. My contact will try to check our place from time to time leave the note if you ever want to contact me again. Please, be safe. Your Will.
The letter was messy, there were a lot of crossed-out sections, and it looked like it was written on a lap. The handwriting was shaky, and some parts were barely readable, but after reading it over and over, Elizabeth couldn't help but tear up. If he was telling the truth, there was some truth in their relationship. She was still mad about the deceit, but lying about the reason for approaching versus faking the whole thing were two different offenses. What if their bond wasn't beyond repair?
"Young lady, the Mistress is looking for you, it's urgent. Please come to her office." A maid shouted into the garden, hoping it would reach Liz's ears. The girl would love nothing more than to dwell on the note's meaning for hours, but Zelene wasn't one to call something urgent for no reason.
"I've heard you're looking for me." Elizabeth immediately came to Zelene's office, as the stairs no longer posed any problems. She didn't want to show the emotional turmoil inside her, so she focused on keeping a poker face.
"Yes. I don't like playing the messenger, but life usually isn't about what we want. Good news or bad news first?" Her tone was dry as always, but Liz could tell she wasn't truly irritated.
"Hit me with all you got." She didn't know what this was about, but anything would be better than wondering if she had done the right thing not eloping with him.
"I found your William. Or, to be more precise, the Imperial Guard found him, when he was attempting to cross the border. They realized he's the Republic's spy, he is being detained and interrogated. The bad news is the punishment for espionage is the death penalty. The good news is I have a special deal about such prisoners. If you want to say goodbye or talk to him one last time, I can pull a few strings and bring him here." Zelene carefully monitored her reaction, trying to decode what the girl truly wanted. It wasn't an easy task, since Elizabeth was too stunned to process it properly.
"Wait… what? The death penalty? There is no way that's true. We did nothing besides hanging out here, what secrets could he have possibly leaked!" It was like a punch in the gut. Why did she have to hear that news right after getting the letter?
She knew the act itself was a crime, but hearing that her friend would be executed was absurd on another level. Sure, Will deserved to face the consequences for deceiving her, but there was no way in hell she would want him to die. Not after he left her with so many questions, and stirred her heart again with one scrawled confession.
"That's the law. If the Emperor was still alive maybe I could've struck a deal behind closed doors, but my main collaborator is gone. The best I can do is getting him out as a test specimen." Zelene shook her head in regret, having her hands tied by the politics.
The timing was unfortunate because just weeks earlier this issue could've been taken care of with some words and handshakes. After the bombing incident the tables turned, and most of her coworkers were put in difficult positions. Zelene's present political standing was weak, and if her secret agreement with the former ruler got out, she'd fall out of favor with the Council members.
"Then do it, please. Will being a spy might seem problematic, but he swore it was nothing significant, he was just worried about me. I know it might put you in trouble and I'm sorry for asking, but could you please do me a favour and bring Will back? Please, I can't let him die." There was no doubt he had hurt her, but he was also her salvation when life seemed unbearable. No matter how stupid it made her look, Elizabeth was firm on saving her mischievous elf boy.
"I wouldn't propose it if I wasn't ready to go through with it. I don't want to sound nihilistic, but aside from you, I have nothing left to lose. What will they do, kill me?" She sneered, imagining councilors racking their brains over how to save her grand project. Zelene knew she had to protect her back, and she created the system so that without her initiative, the weapon would be stuck for months if not years.
"Don't say that. We might have started on wrong foot, but now you're also an important part of my life. Stop giving up on yours so easily." Liz berated her adult aunt, who always seemed to be on the edge of the cliff.
Zelene was even more cynical than her, making Elizabeth actively try to sound more optimistic, to balance out the negativity. It was a weird relationship, not entirely familial, yet not one to be called friendly. The only certainty was, that they cared for each other in their respective ways.
"You talk like Carl, he also nagged me to no end. I'm going to be fine, let adults make their adult choices. You still have a few days to go, so enjoy your youthful bliss while you can. I can't promise that life will stay that way." It was something in between a joke and serious advice, but Zelene was genuinely bad at intoning what she had meant.
The more Elizabeth learned about her aunt the harder it was to put a label on her. Zelene didn't resemble anyone she had previously known, with Liz's father being practically a polar opposite. She enjoyed how truthful her aunt was compared to most of the adults, but the way Zelene spoke and acted didn't always make sense. It was like watching puzzles being solved, but someone constantly added new pieces to the mix.
"I know. Nonetheless, thanks, Auntie." Elizabeth smiled, hoping the sincerity would get through to her aunt. It was a weird thought, but maybe having one morally dubious mad scientist in the family wasn't so bad after all.