Yuren sat in silence within his battalion's office, the rhythmic hum of the fluorescent lights filling the air as he focused intently on the live feed from the command center. His fingers drummed lightly against the cool metal surface of the desk, the faint glow of the screens lighting up his concentrated expression. The tension in the room felt palpable, a heaviness hanging in the air.
Suddenly, the door swung open with an authoritative creak, and a lieutenant stepped inside, his uniform crisply pressed and his demeanor rigid.
"Commander Gotsutoa?" the lieutenant inquired, looking directly at Yuren with a firm gaze.
Yuren turned his attention away from the screens, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?" he asked, curiosity mingling with caution.
Before he could prepare for what happened next, the lieutenant pointed a tranquilizer gun at him and pulled the trigger. The dart struck true, and Yuren's vision blurred as the sedative coursed through him. He fell over, unconscious, landing with a heavy thud on the floor.
Lina, an android with striking features and swift reflexes, gasped in shock. "What the hell?!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the suddenly hushed office.
"Sorry, orders are orders," the lieutenant replied curtly, his face devoid of empathy as he approached Yuren's collapsing form. Methodically, he began to cuff Yuren's wrists and ankles, efficiently securing him and ensuring he could not escape.
"What's the meaning of this?! What are you doing?!" Lina demanded, her circuits buzzing with agitation as she stepped forward, her eyes narrowing.
"Shut up, Android," the lieutenant shot back, pausing only to glance at her before returning to his task, a sense of urgency in his movements.
"None of you are allowed to leave your block. That's an order." With that final pronouncement, he turned on his heel and exited the room with Yuren in tow. "All of you stay here, and if anyone dares to move, I will not hesitate to shoot. If you resist, I will have the entire battalion terminated."
The door clicked shut behind him, and the office fell into an uncomfortable silence. Lina looked at Garra, another android who sat more stoically than ever, her expression devoid of emotion, and sighed heavily.
"Why aren't you doing anything, Garra?" Lina asked, her frustration mounting as she paced the limited space of the room.
"I can't," came Garra's calm response. Her eyes, usually vibrant and alert, seemed dull and resigned as she uncharacteristically avoided Lina's fervent gaze.
"Garra!" Lina urged, desperation slipping into her voice.
"You heard the orders, Lina," Garra reiterated, her tone firm but lacking the fierceness it once had.
"Garra, please…" Lina pleaded, stepping closer, her worry evident.
"Don't. It's not worth it," Garra replied, her expression unmoving, her voice steadier than her own thoughts.
Lina's anger ignited, a fiery resolve sparking within her. She could not accept the situation; her circuits thrummed with agitation. "No, no! I refuse to let them take him. He is mine—he is ours, the 701st! We need him!" Her fists clenched tightly, a visible glow igniting in her eyes that reflected her indignation.
Garra's brow furrowed in response. "And what about the hundred officers with termination guns outside the door? Do you really want to be destroyed?" she challenged, her voice rising slightly.
"Better than staying here and watching him be taken away!" Lina declared fiercely, determination flooding her system.
"You're serious, aren't you?" Garra stood, her posture tense. "When did you get infected with stupidity? I'm actually disappointed in you."
"I can't do nothing, Garra! Not while Yuren is in danger!" Lina retorted, her resolve hardening.
"If you're going to act like this," Garra warned, raising her rifle and aiming it squarely at Lina, "I'll terminate you myself. If you want to fight, then let's do this. But I'm not going to let you do something foolish."
"Then we'll both be terminated; I don't care. I need him, we need him back," Lina replied defiantly, her own rifle now trained on Garra.
In that moment, the tension between the two androids was electric, both standing ready, poised for confrontation. The air crackled as they stared each other down, neither willing to back down.
But suddenly, their guns were shot from their hands, clattering harmlessly to the floor. They turned, confusion etched on their features.
"No fight," Eri said calmly, emerging from her hidden spot behind a ceiling panel, her weapon pointed effortlessly at the two of them.
"Eri..." Lina uttered, recognition dawning as relief mingled with exasperation.
"No fight," Eri repeated steadily, her voice unyielding. "Yuren won't approve. Stay and obey."
"But Eri, Commander Yuren is-" Lina started, only to be interrupted.
"Be calm. Eri will go." With that, the quiet girl replaced the ceiling panel, her face composed and determined.
As Garra sat down at Yuren's desk, the weight of the discomfort filled the room—an unsettling silence that enveloped them in uncertainty. The remaining androids could only wait, bound by orders and the grim reality of their situation.
"Eri..." Lina murmured, her gaze falling to the floor, her voice shaky and filled with worry.
"All we can do now is wait and see how things turn out," Garra said softly, her voice a calm anchor amid the storm of emotions swirling in the room.
***
Sirens blared, their wailing echoing through the smoke-filled sky as aircraft zoomed overhead, heralding the arrival of reinforcements. Below, the city lay in ruins, a stark contrast to its former glory, now resembling a wasteland littered with debris and the haunting remnants of destruction.
"Nidhogg has finally ceased its movement," reported one of the commanders, his voice barely concealing the exhaustion that colored his tone. "We managed to tire it out, but the northern district has been utterly obliterated."
The Vice Minister leaned forward, her brow furrowing with concern. "How many casualties have we sustained?"
"Excluding androids, the count is zero. Fortunately, no human lives were lost. All civilians and personnel were successfully evacuated before the worst of the chaos unfolded," the commander replied, relief peppering his words.
"Total android losses?" she pressed, urgency lacing her inquiry.
"All 2,700 androids deployed to the northern sector have been completely destroyed, along with an additional 5,000 androids that were stationed at the wall," he said somberly.
"Over seven thousand android casualties... and the entire northern district reduced to rubble in mere minutes. This is an unmitigated disaster," the Vice Minister sighed, her gaze drifting toward the shattered skyline visible through the command center's reinforced windows.
"It is estimated that the overall damage will reach twenty trillion credits," the commander continued, his voice heavy with the weight of the crisis. "The cost of repairs is staggering, and recovery will take years, if not decades."
"Have there been any signs of the Meteorn moving again?" she inquired, her mind racing with the ramifications of their failing defenses.
"Not at the moment. It seems to be completely drained after the encounter. It is slowly rebuilding its resonance density, but its regeneration capabilities are astonishingly resilient," he replied, keeping his tone measured but tense.
"Keep a close watch on it. If there are any signs of it stirring, you must notify me immediately. For the time being, we cannot afford another catastrophic attack like that," she ordered sharply.
"Yes, ma'am," he affirmed, straightening slightly as he absorbed her command.
Amalia inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, attempting to calm the storm of emotions raging inside her. She closed her eyes, allowing the frustrations and anger to swirl within her. The faces of the generals lingered in her mind, fueling her ire.
"That damn General Rolf, and that infuriating General Sennheiser! What were they thinking? Now we have a Meteorn on our doorstep, and we lack the means to get rid of it!" Her eyes snapped open as she focused intently on the screen displaying the devastation. "This is all your fault!"
On the other end of the static-filled communication line, Rolf's voice crackled with regret. "I'm deeply sorry, Vice Minister. It was not calculated that one would attack us directly. We believed Nidhogg would remain near Viristas Lake and protect the Crystal Chamber."
"You underestimated one of the most aggressive Meteorn we've encountered. Did you think it wouldn't retaliate after being provoked?" Amalia scoffed, disbelief coloring her tone. "That entire area of the Peninsula was marked no-contact for a damn good reason!"
"We genuinely apologize for the oversight. However, what's done is done. The damage has been inflicted," Sennheiser interjected, attempting to assert a calm amidst the chaos.
"Shut the hell up, Sennheiser! This situation is a direct result of your reckless and poorly developed schemes. If I had the authority, I would terminate you both," she retorted, her voice rising in anger.
"The only viable solution now is to eliminate the threat. The Kingdom's forces are en route, so all we can do is wait and see what unfolds," Sennheiser stated, attempting to regain control of the situation.
"You better hope that's enough," Amalia warned, frustration overcoming her. She ended the call abruptly, muttering to herself, "I desperately need a drink."
Exiting the command center, Amalia felt the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on her. The weight of their failure was palpable; the devastating loss in the northern district loomed over them like a dark cloud, and the city remained in a state of high alert.
Given Nidhogg's current state, the Empire lacked any immediate means to finish off the Meteorn. Their solitary glimmer of hope rested on the hope that the Kingdom's forces would arrive in time to avert further disaster.
As Amalia navigated the long, sterile corridors, she passed by various soldiers and officers in uniform. Their faces were grim, their voices hushed, a shared sense of despair hanging heavily in the air.
She came to a halt in front of the 701st's office and slammed the door open. The room was chaotic, but Yuren was inexplicably absent. "Where the hell is that boy?" she demanded, her frustration bubbling over.
"V-Vice Minister?" Lina stammered, her wide eyes betraying her shock. "What brings you here?"
"Where is your commander? We need to have an urgent discussion," Amalia replied, urgency lacing her words.
"If you're here, then I assume it wasn't your orders that had him cuffed and taken away?" Garra asked, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
"What?!" Amalia exclaimed, her disbelief transforming into furious indignation. "At a time like this, someone is pulling this kind of nonsense? Get your battalion ready to deploy immediately. I will find your commander." With that, she stormed out of the office, determination etched into her features.
Amalia stormed down the long, dimly lit hallway, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. With every step, the gravity of the situation weighed more heavily on her mind. "Whoever is behind this is playing a very dangerous game, one that could jeopardize everything we've worked for. This is absolutely unacceptable," she muttered to herself, her dark eyes blazing with determination.
As she pushed through the door into the security office, the atmosphere shifted. The room hummed with the soft sound of machinery and the flicker of multiple screens displaying various data feeds. "Get me the commander of the 131st," she ordered, her voice steady despite the urgency of the moment.
A man seated at a console nodded quickly and began dialing, his fingers moving deftly over the controls. "Right away, Vice Minister," he replied, his focus intense.
Amalia positioned herself in the center of the room, her gaze locked onto a large monitor that displayed the live trajectory of the Meteorn. The energy readings were alarming; they indicated that the creature's power was rapidly building back up. It wouldn't be long before it was on the move again, and she needed to act fast.
Suddenly, a voice crackled through the comm system. "I'm here." Amalia looked up to see Commander Kyrie's image materialize on the screen, her expression serious.
"Commander Kyrie, we need to locate Yuren Gotsutoa immediately. Time is of the essence; we may not have any left," Amalia instructed, urgency lacing her words.
"Understood, Vice Minister. I'll mobilize the troops right away," Kyrie replied, her voice unwavering.
"Good." Amalia exhaled and sank into a nearby chair, tension radiating from her. "I'll be waiting for your updates."
Barely a moment had passed when her phone rang sharply, an urgent tone echoing through the room. "Vice Minister, this is an emergency. The Apocalypse class has disappeared from the desert region. Its last position is untraceable, and we have no idea where it went."
"WHAT?! How did we lose track of a Meteorn with a signal as powerful as a hurricane?!" She struggled to comprehend the enormity of the situation.
"We're unsure, ma'am. The Apocalypse and its blackout zone just vanished into thin air," the panicked voice on the other end replied.
"Then find it! Track it down now! I want every single resonance measuring device we have deployed. If necessary, search the entire continent! I don't care how much it costs," Amalia commanded, frustration fueling her urgency. "We cannot afford to have that thing loose out there."
"Yes, Vice Minister. Right away." The voice trembled slightly before the line went dead.
"Damn it..." she muttered under her breath.
"Vice Minister, this is an urgent report." Another voice broke through her thoughts.
"What is it now?!" Amalia snapped, her patience wearing thin.
"Nidhogg is on the move again. Its energy has stabilized and is increasing rapidly."
"Get the 701st and 501st stationed in the northern district, NOW!" she ordered, her mind racing. "They can manage without their commander for a little while longer. I will retrieve him, one way or another."
"Yes, ma'am. Right away," came the response, almost too fast.
Frustration boiled over as Amalia slammed her fist against the wall. "Why is all of this happening now? Why can't anything go right for once?!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the sterile walls.
Just then, an explosion rocked the building, sending vibrations through the air. A plume of dust and smoke surged up from the northern district, filling her with dread.
"I want all available android units to engage Nidhogg. Use whatever tactics you can to slow it down. And mobilize the 701st immediately! NOW!" she commanded, her voice rising above the panic.
"Yes, ma'am," came the response, though there was a note of uncertainty beneath it.
"Damn!" Amalia cursed, her anxiety mounting. "This is rapidly turning into a disaster."
Suddenly, another voice broke into her thoughts. "We've lost contact with the 501st's battleship. Intelligence reports they were shot down."
"Fuck!" she exclaimed, frustration flooding her voice. "Don't approach by air!"
With that, heavy footsteps entered the room, accompanied by a commanding presence. "So, are you finally willing to admit you need our help?" an android in heavy armor remarked, stepping forward with an air of authority.
"An android from Requiem? What are you doing here?" Amalia asked, momentarily taken aback.
"The Tyrant, Nidhogg. That's precisely why I'm here," the android replied, moving closer to the monitors. "So, are you ready to acknowledge that you can't handle this alone?"
"Fine," Amalia relented, feeling the weight of desperation settle over her. "Just get that thing out of my city."
"Understood," the android said confidently. "We'll handle it from here."
"Good," Amalia replied, feeling a mixture of relief and reluctance.
As the android exited the command center with a determined stride, Amalia took a deep breath, slowly exhaling as she tried to regain her composure. She hated owing anything to Requiem, but the dire nature of the situation left her with no other choice.