Operation story: 13-14

Operation

Story

Previous 13-12	Next 13-15
Characters
Dagda Delphine Feist Horn Indra Magdelene Morgan Rockrock Shearer Siege Cheering Civilian Freda Royal Court Junior Officer Sarkaz Mercenary Skeptical Citizen
Backgrounds
1 2 3

After operation

Summary The town's mayor learns of the Sarkaz's true goal and alerts everyone by firing the cannon meant for the harvest festival's celebration. Nonetheless, the Arts Circle is activated. Siege and the Exemplars arrive just in time to lend their aid.
Fear. It's a tolerance that we are naturally born with, just like how plants are able to adapt to soil that make havoc of their own rootstocks. To shatter our will, they'll need to spread a much great "dosage" of fear in Brentwood. Freda is the greatest testament. She is so fragile that you could break her simply by bumping into her, but she persisted among that crowd of terrifying men up till now. But I can tell that she needs someone to confide in and vent her fear. Will... he's not mature enough. It's not very likely he would understand how Freda feels. Perhaps I can help her?
<Background 1>
Royal Court Junior Officer	You didn't bring my order to my tent... Magdelene. And you didn't leave Brentwood either. A pitiful decision.
He seems very feeble, even more so than yesterday. What happened?
Royal Court Junior Officer	Why didn't you leave?
Magdelene	This is my home. Do you have a new order for me? I can bring it to you along with the flowers last night.
Royal Court Junior Officer	...You don't have to worry about those orders anymore. I'm here to say goodbye. I'm leaving soon... to fight as part of the Nachzehrer King's army...
Magdelene	...... Alright... Goodbye, if that's what you wanted to hear from me.
Royal Court Junior Officer	You're too naive... to the point of foolishness. Everything that I've tried to protect, always courts its own destruction. Perhaps I've been wrong from the start.
Magdelene	I don't understand what you're saying, Shovel.
Royal Court Junior Officer	I used to be incredibly jealous of all of you. Victoria used to be the noblest and strongest nation there was. Naturally, you possessed many great things, and rightfully so. With the metallurgy you originated and the Steam Knights, you conquered another empire. With your mystifying art and rich academia, you attracted all of Terra's geniuses... Yet now, you've halted your outward conquest. Now, your rulers only indulge in parties and wine, only ever boasting about the medals on their chest. They crush their own glory, and they are destined to be replaced—
[The wall clock rings.]
Royal Court Junior Officer	Hm? You still have this wall clock... Time really flies. The town's citizens must all have gone to the work site.
Magdelene	What do you mean?
Royal Court Junior Officer	Your deaths are unavoidable, Magdelene. The Sanguinarch is an impatient man. That's why the ritual was pushed forward, and under that Feline's leadership, the mission was indeed completed most marvelously. Everyone here will be the key to the ritual's activation. Of course, that includes you.
Ritual... Key...
<Flashback starts here>
<Background 2>
Freda	He was stopped by the devils at the Sarkaz barracks just now.
Magdelene	Freda... Do you see that?
The blood-colored worm is staring at me.
<Flashback ends here>
<Background black>
"The entire town will be the key to the ritual's activation."
The key... My soul is trembling.
<Background 1>
Magdelene	I need to go find Freda! Let me go!
Royal Court Junior Officer	You mustn't leave this greenhouse. Wait a little longer, Magdelene. I'll be here with you. Until we bid each other farewell for the last time.
Magdelene	Why... The people of the town have never done anything against your wishes! Freda and everyone fulfilled each and every one of your requests!
Royal Court Junior Officer	His Highness decided to carry out this war, and your dukes responded. This outcome has nothing to do with us or you. All we need to do is follow our orders.
Magdelene	Then let me warn the people at the work site! Just pretend you don't know anything like before, please!
Royal Court Junior Officer	...... I serve His Highness, and I won't allow you to quash this ritual... Not unless you make it past me, Magdelene. Can you do it, Gardener?
...... He grabs me by the hand, but places it on a pair of scissors in his hand. There seems to be a ray of longing burning in the depths of his ashen eyes. What is this prideful man longing for? Release? Pity? Or is it perhaps... that word that I can't bring myself to touch? I notice that even though the two of us have spent a very long time together in this greenhouse, I've never actually truly understood this man. But I have to leave now. Just as he said, there is no time. I'm sorry. I can't stand by and watch anymore—
[Magdelene charges her way through the junior officer and kills him with her scissors.]
<Background 3>
Skeptical Citizen	Magdelene, where are you going? Why the rush? Is that... blood on your clothes...? Are you okay?
Magdelene	It's fine—I cut my finger while I was pruning branches... Henk, where's Freda?
Skeptical Citizen	Freda? After she came back from the barracks by herself this morning, she went straight to the Sarkaz officers. She seemed rather out of it, and she kept saying sorry no matter who she ran into. Did something happen?
Magdelene	Everyone has to leave this place right now. And the farther, the better!
Skeptical Citizen	What's with all of you being so bloody barmy today?
Magdelene	There's no time to explain. I need to tell everyone else!
Skeptical Citizen	But we're almost finished! Besides, if we all ditch work, what are we supposed to do when those officers find us?
[Fireworks are heard bursting in the distance.]
Skeptical Citizen	Fireworks? Where? Who blew that wall open? Is that... Freda?
<Background black>
The last time I saw such beautiful fireworks. It was the harvest festival when I was ten. Grandfather put me on his shoulders and walked through the crowd. Everyone looked up to the fireworks blooming in the sky astonished. Everyone kept quiet, only for the silence to be torn apart by the explosive sound wave a moment later. This is just like that. Freda set off the cannon Mr. West was hiding for the harvest festival. There are countless Sarkaz pulling her from behind. Drenched in blood, she is shouting something, but whatever she is trying to say, it's buried by the cannon's loud roar. She is buried by the wave of Sarkaz gushing toward her and torn apart. A flame burning bright in the middle of the day— The cannons keep roaring. A grand ceremony has come to Brentwood ahead of schedule.
Frightened Civilian	What just happened? Is there an earthquake?
Frightened Woman	R-Run!
[Leech-like creatures burst out from the civilians.]
Frightened Civilian	You're bleeding... Bollocks... Stay away! Those disgusting monsters are dripping from your body!
Magdelene	What are the Sarkaz trying to do? Henk, Henk! You can't close your eyes... I... I'm starting to feel very tired too... So sleepy...
I can feel my own blood fluttering out of my body. Before disappearing into the earth.
<Background black>
[Magdalene is being heard picked up by someone who fires something right after.]
???	Magdelene! Hang in there!
???	Captain, I got her!
???	Everyone, hold onto the ropes as tight as you can. Do not touch the ground, no matter what! Hurry and help them!
<Background 3>
[Magdelene opened her eyes to see Rockrock and Feist.]
Rockrock	Magdelene, you can't fall asleep!
Magdelene	Rockrock?
Feist	This guy's so heavy!
Unconscious Civilian	Mmm...
Magdelene	Feist... The Self-Salvation Corps... Why are you...?
Feist	We figured something went wrong when we saw fireworks in the middle of the day! They sealed the wall we blew open yesterday, but that cannon gave us a new path. Hold onto Rockrock's hand, Magdelene! Our forces don't have enough manpower, and we're bringing everyone to evacuate as soon as we can!
Rockrock	Woahh! Feist, your zipline's even faster after those modifications you made! Right, where is Mayor Freda? We haven't been able to locate her.
Magdelene	...Freda is—
Feist	Drat, why did my zipline start shaking?
<Background fades out and in>
[Sarkaz mercenaries are moving through the streets.]
Sarkaz Mercenary	What about that weak garrison commander? Where is he hiding this time? Well, no matter... I'll take over command. I can feel it. My blood... is boiling. No need to contact Major Ulšulah's squad. We can take care of these laughable Victorians by ourselves. Kill them all.
<Background fades out and in>
Feist	The garrison here is mounting a counter-attack. They're putting more pressure on us than any Sarkaz we've faced before! How much explosive does Old Weiss still have outside? Can he make it here in time to back us up?
Rockrock	Probably not happening. Not counting the members who laid the ziplines for us, we barely had any fighting men to begin with.
Feist	Start the Crawlers! We need to break through by force! Rockrock, watch out! Your zipline!
[Something cuts off the zipline...]
Rockrock	Ah—
[...causing Rockrock and Magdelene to fall down.]
Rockrock	That hurts— Magdelene, are you okay? Can you walk? Gah, these disgusting things—
On the sundering earth, a large number of red worms keep gushing onto surface. They chew on every soul they can reach and suck their blood.
Sarkaz Mercenary	This is the Prince's blessing. It's the kindness the Royal Court left for us. In our bodies... our purest blood is now awakening. Let's waste no more time on these Victorians!
Magdelene	Rockrock, you should go—
The Feline girl named Rockrock takes out a dagger from her waist and stuffs it into my hand. A large group of Sarkaz are closing in on our location.
Rockrock	Magdelene, get ready to fight. It's not that hard. None of us... had any combat experience before. Take a deep breath and make up your mind.
Make up my mind. Right. Just like... that Sarkaz officer who collapsed among the fluttering petals. I grip the dagger tight.
A shot rings out.
Rockrock	Artillery fire? I thought we used up all our explosives!
[Feist jumps down.]
Feist	Quick, Rockrock, Magdelene, now! We were contacted by a few old friends. They brought a whole backup unit! They even have an identification code—
Identification code? Is it the military? Victorian... Right... the military is responding to the war. They must be a group of ice-cold men. They're here to kill the Sarkaz and save the Victorians. They—
Feist	"The Exemplars!"
[The Sarkaz mercenaries are attacked by autocannon fire.]
A thick, roiling cloud of dust is kicked up into the air all over within view. Again and again, bright flashes of light suddenly erupts across the ground. What is that... A tank? I can hear a firm, persevering female voice coming from Feist's communicator.
Horn	This is Tank Fire Team Horn. All units, make sure to stay clear of my blast zone. Grenade loaded. Firing second barrage!
[The IFV commanded by Horn fires a barrage of grenades at the Sarkaz mercs.]
Horn	Opening created. Cover the Self-Salvation Corps and all citizens!
Siege	Horn, continue laying suppressive fire. Those Arts Circles... We need to find a way to stop this bloody witchcraft.
Indra	Vina, have someone else drive. I want to join the ground combat!
Morgan	Hannah, eyes on the road!
Indra	Alright, alright!
Siege	Get the tank as close to the core of the Arts Circle as possible. I'll take care of that thing!
Morgan	Vina!
Siege	You have other tasks. All units, follow regular deployment formation. Morgan, Hannah, follow Horn's orders and cut open a path for the tank. Lieutenant Shearer, Dagda, Delphine, take command of the ground forces and form a defensive line. Stop the Sanguinarch's worms.
Delphine	I'm on it.
Shearer	Acknowledged.
Dagda	Acknowledged.
Siege	Mr. Misery, I'll leave the commander of the enemy forces to you.
Misery	All you need to do is boldly execute your plan.
Siege	Feist, it's been a while. We shall exchange pleasantries later. I need the Self-Salvation Corps to help set up a zipline that will take me above the Arts Circle.
Feist	On it!
Siege	We have no time to lose. Let us take care of the strange Arts Circle first. I will leave my rear to all of you.
[Siege signs off.]
While I was still trying to identify the squad that suddenly came to our aid, the blond Feline has already ziplined to the center of the battlefield. She descended from the sky, and bombastically made her way into the center of the Arts Circle's blood-red pillar of light. The sound of rocks blasted apart ring throughout the entire battlefield. "Thump." I can see each and every swing of her large sledgehammer in that red light. "Forward!" The Feline's voice ignites the tank's engine. I see a warrior holding a sledgehammer up high leading the Victorians to retake our land.
Cheering Civilian	Look! Look how easily our Victorian tank fire can blast that thing apart! We said as much long ago. Them bloody devils are no match for Victoria's military! Crush them!
Magdelene	...... No, there are too many Originium crystals in town... The mayor's office, the small town square, the library... those things we've been rebuilding day in and day out... We won't make it in time—
[A rumble is felt.]
Magdelene	...... Is it over?
<Background fades out and in>
No...
The pillar of red light rises from the building we built and intermingles with the festive fireworks. There is a blood-red color boiling in that dark abyss. The similarly red worms are reaching their antennae toward the sky.
Siege	The Arts Circle has been damaged. The Vampires' offspring have gone berserk. Seize this opportunity! Infantry units, stop advancing. Escort all citizens out of the Arts Circle's range. Tank squad, follow me and push forward. Destroy the remaining Originium crystals in the town and commence search and rescue!
Hell is invading my town. All while the formation's rumbling tank accelerates and blitzes in on the devils.