บท 244: RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Interlude: Enemy at the gate! (Part 1)
Author notes:
Next chapter is up, boys and girls! After the hotpot in the West, I think it's high time we get back to the stuff happenings in the East. A nice change of pace, while the main cast will getting some R&R or doing less than extremely serious business :D
Also, I think it's time that I start doing this again: When the income goal of 700 USD/month is reach, I will be doing another Q&A chapter. As such, starting from now, I will be accepting questions and stockpiling them to make the Q&A. Let's freaking go everyone!!!
P.S: New pictures are up, and I was recommended of getting a batch of maid Yuki next XD
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"You know, there's something real funny about us watching them like a pair of hawk and they don't even have a single clue about that. Are they truly frontline combatants in the Spanish War?" A female fallen angel asked her partner what was to her right. "I thought the Witches on that front would have taught them the lesson of always looking up."
Her partner, a female angel, replies with a shake of her head. "Off the top of my head, I can think up a couple of reasons, Franka."
Twirling a strand of her hair that got loose thanks to a gust of wind, Franka the fallen angel says. "Come on, don't keep the class waiting, Alisa. We have all day being this high up with little to no entertainment, may as well make it easier on ourselves by doing something."
Alisa gives her long-time partner a reprimanding side glance. "Don't forget why we're out here, Franka." Seeing the fallen angel shrugging, but ultimately not removing her eye from her rifle scope, Alisa just lightly exhales. "It's either they underestimated the extent of our reach and thus elected to ignore posting skywatchers, thus lessening the risk of raising suspicion with the locals..."
"Or..." Franka drawl out.
Alisa continues. "Unlike our fellow Witches in Spain, we of ONI have access to better equipment than they do. The SPI suits provided us with near unmatch capability to perform stealthy overwatch."
"In other words, even if they do look up, the SPI suits have already rendered us invisible at a close distance, much less hundreds of meters up." Franka simplified what Alisa had been trying to say. "Heh, pay-to-win is a real thing."
"While I won't put it that way, it's ultimately correct." Alisa nodded. "But enough chit-chat. We are tasked with monitoring these Sardegnians and reporting any sudden movement from them. In the event of us missing something crucial, we will lose not just our titles but also our jobs."
"Oh please, we have been bestowed the honor of being the Hugin and Munin of the Marshal herself. This kind of work is a cakewalk for us. It would have been more of a challenge if they green light us to start sniping away those Sardegnians down below. I can't wait to blow up some chucklenuts with my baby over here." Franka patted the side of her SG-20 anti-materiel/payload rifle. The fallen angel has painstakingly prepared some specialties on this trip, it would be a shame if they wind up unused.
Acting as the spotter for Franka's ridiculous choice of a precision weapon, Alisa prays for whoever ends up being on the receiving end of the fallen's 20mm round.
Currently, they're taking up an overwatch position in the airspace above the harbor that the Sardegnians have been busy setting up shop in. Rendered unseen by the combination of their SPI suits' uniqueness and spells, these two ladies have been keeping tabs on whatever's happening down below. Nonetheless, in Alisa's view, Franka is carrying a chunky sniper rifle with enough ordinance to raze the harbor to the ground. Even though this is technically still an observation task... In contrast to her fallen angel counterpart, Alisa is using a PSG-1 instead. It's lighter and smaller than Franka's SG-20, but it sure can be the better surgical knife than that monstrosity.
Their loadouts aside, while they belong to ONI, they're assigned under Bryn's command for the duration of this assignment. It has to be noted that these fake Sardegnians refugees have been tracked by ONI ever since they left their homeland. So, when Alisa and Franka were assigned a task about them, they thought that the threats would be eliminated silently at sea. Reality begs to differ, however. It seems that High Command still has a use for these poor sods, letting them dock despite the danger they pose to the ongoing conference.
That said, even if the Sardegnians bring out a tank or two, Alisa and Franka are confident that they, alone, can put a stop to them. This is not even counting the Marine's QRF detachment already on the ground and raring to go. Even if shit does hit the fan, there's a whole Carrier Strike Group that can bomb Sweden back to the Stone Age. In short, Belka doesn't allow any fucking around on their watch. Franka and Alisa aren't privy to why they're letting the ragtag Sardegnians alive now, they have a feeling that it must be another power play of some sort.
That suspicion is proven true when their comms are pinged. High Command is ordering them to get into a better position to film the Sardegnians, and if possible to start getting an audio feed from them. There's only one reason why such an order is needed. It's to gather credible evidence of the Sardegnians' unpermitted presence in Stockholm for the conference to purview. At least, that's what they thought in their minds.
Both Alisa and Franka share a look before shrugging. In the event of getting an order like that one, they've decided in advance that Alisa would be the one to approach the target, with Franka providing cover from above. As such, Alisa only leaves behind the parting words "See ya later" before flying away.
Unlike her prior jesting demeanor, Franka speaks with sincerity. "Be careful." Though there's no reply, Franka knows that Alisa will take the reminder to heart. In their tenure acting under ONI, they've learned to always expect the unexpected, after all.
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"What will we be doing with the Crusaders? They're quite a powerful group on their own, not to mention the fact that they're the product of the former Papacy. People will start calling them out and demanding retribution on them, even if the Crusaders are technically unaware of their methods of creation for the most part." One politician asked a question that had been escaping the mind of many others.
Indeed, the Crusaders, despite their battlefield losses, are still quite numerous with a company worth of members. While each individual's strength may vary, with no one seeming to be as strong as Kallen Kaslana, they're still a force to be reckoned with if brought to bear. Letting them run amok or being disturbed won't be a wise move.
"They're unwitting participants to a grander mess, a flock that has been led astray for some time." Lord Inquisitor Camati spoke up. "But they are not lost and can still be saved. If you can entrust them to us, we will see to it that they are rehabilitated, disarmed, or integrated into our ranks. In any case, they won't become a threat to world peace, if there's still any left. They deserve a second chance to be better people than they are right now."
"The Belkan delegation is fine with the proposal."
"Sweden approves of the notion."
"The Long Dynasty expresses its agreement. There's no use in poking around something no one shouldn't."
"The Union acknowledges that Spain is the best party to pacify the Crusaders."
Voices of approval speak up one by one. Even if some covet the strength of the Crusaders, no one dares to act on seizing the secrets of their creation. One global disaster is more than enough to act as a deterrence for even the most daredevil in the room.
Moving past that topic, the conference room then descends under a period of free activity. This has been a direct result of their lack of major topics to discuss, letting these politicians start to mingle with each other freely. They are either trying to create connections or sealing some sort of deal... Or they can be the Eruseans that go around and spread their negativities to everyone. Honestly, people are starting to get fed up with the Eruseans strong-arming countries. This anger and humiliation will be remembered by them clearly and will be shown through the future stance their nations will take.
All conversations stop when a grim messenger comes from outside and moves to the side of the Swedish King, however. Everyone can see that King Gustaf V is quick to mirror the messenger's serious expression when he finishes listening to what the man has been whispering. People are even more curious when the Belkan delegation starts whispering words among each other, and that their bodyguards are summoned to protect them. The sight of men and women in black suits and glasses causes some to feel unnerved, but all the more inquisitive about what's going on.
Finally, King Gustaf V speaks up, unwilling to hide such major news despite words of advice against it by his ministers. Can't they see that it would ruin Sweden's reputation if these delegations were to learn of invaders on Sweden's lands on their own?
"Ladies and gentlemen, it appears a grave issue has docked upon the doorstep of Stockholm. My security has been alerted of a potential hostile intrusion, on this very city. With aid from the Belkan security detail, we have been able to verify that the threat is real and credible. They are Sardegnians in origin and right now, Swedish military units have been dispatched to contain and remove the threat. Peacefully, if possible. With violence, if necessary."
Loud murmurs break out immediately following the proclamation of the Gustaf V, much to his ministers' chagrin. One of them whispers to the Swedish King, "My King, we could have handled it silen-"
"Silence." Gustaf V cut him off. "This matter is bigger than any of us. The more we hide, the easier it gets for the whole thing to blow up in our faces."
Ignoring the minister sweating profusely, King Gustaf V turns to the messenger from before. "Pass my words, the army must be mobilized with all available force against this intrusion. These invaders must not be allowed to reach the city and harm its denizen, or worse, the people of the conference."
"Right away, my King!" The messenger bowed before dashing away to pass down the order.
Not stopping there, Gustaf V goes on to reassure his peers and foreign diplomats. "My friends. Right now, Hogberga is the most secure place in Sweden. Be assured that whatever the threat might be, it will not be able to reach this hotel. Hence I must advise you all to calmly stay put for now. Any sound tactician would know that if we separate, thus bringing along our own escorts, it will be easier for them to eliminate us one by one. By combining our strengths together, they won't be able to come even close to see you all."
While Gustaf V's words are blunt, they do have the immediate effect of calming the conference room down.
Having been silent thus far, the Belkan Empress raises a suggestion to Gustaf V. "King Gustaf, may I be so bold to present you with an opportunity for insight?"
Hearing that, Gustaf V and others turn, intrigue is evident on their faces. "Please, Empress, I am all ears."
"With a bit of preparation, we can set up a projection, not unlike before, to allow the people in the room to view and hear what has been causing all the ruckus. It would also give them the chance to react if anything is to go wrong." Lu suggested with a smile.
"An interesting proposal..." Gustaf V places a hand below his chin. "Yes, I can see why it will be a good idea. Your security detail must have an impressive arsenal to detect the threat before we can. It isn't much of a surprise to hear that you can give us a live viewing of what's happening."
"Alright, much like before, your delegation can set up your device in that same spot." Gustaf V nodded with a keen glint, seeing the benefits of such arrangements. "However, I would like for my military officials to join us. If my thinking is proven to be correct, then my officers will have much use of such a projection in this particular circumstance."
Lu smirks at the counteroffer. "It's acceptable, King Gustaf. I must say, you have an astounding mental gymnast to connect the dots from here to there." The Belkan Empress' compliment serves to confirm the suspicion that Gustaf V has.
The man can command, or at least have his competent officers direct the apprehending of the threat remotely with both visual and audio aids from a live video projection. This, no doubt, will be an interesting experience in the book of military tactics and strategies. If it isn't already a major breakthrough in and of itself.
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