14-4 Breaking the Silence

...

Er, excuse me, who are ye... sir?

Phew... much better.

Once you reach a certain age, you come to prefer bright and warm places.

And... is that beans I smell?

Er, aye, I was cookin' some canned beans for dinner...

D'ye want some, sir?

Don't mind if I do.

Would be better if we had some seasoning from home, perhaps some marinated meat.

Aye, I was thinkin' the same! We Gododdins...

Er...

What is it?

I ken who ye are now, and ye’re a wee bit different from whit’s in the news.

Ah. Well, you can ask your captain. I held her when she was wee.

Little Rita touched my horn and asked why her dad didn't have one.

...I apologize for my insolence at the time, Your Grace.

Not many have the nerve to touch my horns, Lieutenant Skamandros. You showed courage from a very young age.

...

Or should I say... all of you are brave warriors of Victoria.

Your defense of Chetleigh was outstanding, as was your performance at Brentwood.

The Exemplars, you call yourselves...

I've long wanted to meet you, though it seems your leader does not welcome my presence.

...

Pardon my frankness, Your Grace, but it is hard to treat your sudden appearance as a pure gesture of good faith.

Of course, Lady Windermere. I understand.

Especially in times like this.

I sent men to the Irnclad Galavae. They were traveling quickly, but fortunately, I made it in time to present funeral flowers for Amphelise.

...I appreciate the gesture.

I assume the duke of Gododdin hasn't come all the way here just to give us a medal?

What if I say I have?

Most of us are neither nobles nor intelligentsia. It would be best if you didn't beat around the bush.

Your Royal Highness Alexandrina is as direct as they say.

Or would you prefer that I called you 'Siege', like your friends do?

I fully understand why the Exemplars avoided the ducal armies along the way.

You didn't want them to get involved in the machinations of the dukes.

You want to fight only for Victoria and her people, like the legendary unit that you're named after.

And so, I'm not here as the Duke of Gododdin.

I'm here as Sean Gododdin, Member of Parliament, to extend an invitation to the Parliament authorized Tempest Platoon and the rest of the Exemplars.

Leave that outdated identification code behind. I'm asking that you intervene in this war in the name of Parliament.

The miners' camp has burned to the ground.

No sign of Sarkaz soldiers.

Miners. Remains of the Infected.

It's all the same, everywhere.

What's that sound?

Nice hiding spot, Sudaram.

Nachzehrer spotted to the northwest of Gibsonham—

Out of comms range already?

Death has you.

Shush now...

I have you too.

...Duke Gododdin.

I understand that the Victorian Parliament has not held a session for a long time.

Everyone who escaped Londinium knows that the Sarkaz have been the ones giving the orders from the Palace of Westhaleg during this time.

Of course. I don't deny the present circumstances.

Why don't we cast our gaze further, though, to the future beyond the war?

The future? Isn't it a little too early to be bargaining over that — if 'bargaining' and 'coercion' were synonyms?

You misunderstand me. Gododdin is not Caster. I would much prefer to sit by the fireside than gather at the negotiation table. I'm more about drinking and playing cards with friends.

It gets cold rather quickly once summer is gone. Mind if I have my men add some wood to the fire?

You might as well have them come in.

Thank you.

That's much better.

Where were we? Oh yes, the future.

We know that the war will end, and Victoria will triumph.

The war will inevitably bring... or should I say has already brought about irreversible changes, ending a twenty-year stalemate.

If anyone in the room is interested in the empty throne, it certainly isn't me.

Excellent, excellent! See? We already have a consensus.

As a matter of fact, I held a little meeting not too long ago and saw the Iron Duke in person.

Seeing him always reminds me of when I first saw the Gastrell.

Like so many other children who grew up hearing tales of the Empire's Death Knell, I searched for the shadow of the ruins that belonged to Lingones, only to find not Gaul...

But the glory of the strongest nation of our time, so splendid that I could not bear to turn away.

You want us to believe you care more about Victoria than Gododdin?

Make no mistake, I would never call myself a patriot.

A duke must always put his dukedom before all else; this is not just a matter of interest, but also a duty, a responsibility.

But I wonder... what is the difference between Gododdin and Wellington?

Wellington would still be Wellington, with or without Victoria. But what would become of Gododdin, if the light of Victoria went out?

Perhaps it would survive. But things would certainly not get better.

You don't want the Grand Dukes to really divide Victoria.

I'm not the only one.

You know that.

As strong as Victoria is, she is not without her rivals. Ursus, Leithanien, Columbia, Sargon... all the ambitious nations of Terra have their eyes on us.

We need a single, unified voice to bring stability.

This is why Parliament exists. All the ducal realms will select an appropriate representative... including Windermere.

...

This is what the Exemplars mean to Victoria. No soldier who fights for the cause of Victoria will need to fear betrayal again.

...

The Speaker of Parliament has always been the king, for the entirety of the role's existence. But that does not mean that he — or she — must sit on the throne.

And this is what you can mean to all of us, Your Royal Highness Alexandrina. If you are willing.

...

I have only one question for Your Grace.

If all of this could have waited until after the war—

Then if I refuse now, can my friends and I leave with the Sighs of Kings?

...

Hah.

Siege!

Crossbowmen outside!

We're surrounded. Maybe we already were the moment he showed up...

Well, well. First we learn what a 'commitment' is to Caster, now we learn what 'friendship' is to Gododdin.

Friends treat each other as equals, do they not?

My offer remains fair.

At the minimum... I gave this young friend from Gododdin the opportunity to point her piledriver spear at me.

Lost the signal from Drone 6 again... blasted place!

Alright, Balin, Yvres, Viktor. We have to do this manually.

Status reports, everyone?

All good here. The beacon's in there and the sensor's running. We're still getting strong interference from the wind and sand. I'm trying to filter out the noise.

Waiting on you now, Viktor!

Five minutes. The ground's softer than expected.

Careful, quicksand!

The soil's very different from the samples we collected. I've sent the data back. You got that, captain?

I knew it was a good idea to get you onboard, Yvres. Worth a few days of angry stares from Earthspirit.

I think you can do with a better working environment, Closure. Try not to get too much sand in your mouth...

Stop talking like Amiya, Balin!

My blood is self-cleansing...

*cough* *cough*...

Haha.

Hey! Don't just laugh at me, keep working! The sooner we get this signal tower set up, the sooner we can broadcast the safe zone locations, and the sooner you can go to town.

I'm trying! Rhodes Island equipment isn't like anything else I've seen. I'm already doing an 'exemplary' job, get it?

Seriously, though. You and Rockrock shouldn't be here with me in the first place.

You have my drones. Of course I'm staying here with them.

Well, that is a solid reason.

I know you’re concerned about my safety, but I’m actually really strong! What’s that… those Vampire worms would disagree? Well, not all Vampires are built the same, you know?

It's you two I'm worried about. Put your helmets on. Oripathy infection is no joke.

Alright, alright. But you lot are the ones who need to be careful, running around the battlefield like this.

'You lot'?

Rhodes Island. You lot are all over the battlefield, not caring for your own safety at all.

Balin is an Infected from Victoria. Yvres is Infected, but not Victorian. Viktor isn't Infected or Victorian. How amazing...

Why? Everyone knows Rhodes Island operators come from everywhere.

I can't help but think of my Granny, Clovisia... plus Tommy and the gang.

I once hoped that the Self-Salvation Corps could be as united as the Rhodes Island operators I'd seen.

Well... people aren't really born good or bad.

As circumstances change, so do people. Maybe, one day...

One day, the Self-Salvation Corps will become a tightly knit, united group.

Just like the Exemplars, now all fighting for the same thing. We're ready to brave the worst, ready to deal with defeat, even betrayal.

But it's not necessarily race, upbringing or circumstance that will unite us... just like Rhodes Island.

Alright, alright, enough with the compliments, I know you want to keep our equipment. Should I get you a contract now?

I'm not jealous of Rhodes Island, Miss Closure.

You lot give me the same kind of feeling as this strange communication equipment you're holding.

A possibility. Something that proves I'm not just a naive dreamer.

Wait.

Maybe your monologue is starting to bother Closure, Feist...

What's that sound?

Let me check the feed from Rock-18...

Catastrophe? But I don't see the data...

Nachzehrers... what are they doing here?!

Go.

You two, leave, now. Everyone from the Self-Salvation Corps, head for Gibsonham, now!

What's that sound—

S-Sarkaz! They're already here!

Battle stations! Open fire!

Explosions?

Sir, the Sarkaz are attacking the town! We have to leave, now.

They found us quicker than expected.

Looks like the Sarkaz remember the success they had with Amphelise.

What of the attackers?

Nachzehrer elites, sir.

Your Royal Highness, you and your people must leave with us, now. This town is not worth defending, but you and your friends are of paramount importance to the future of Victoria.

Our battleships can take us back to the Silverrock Bluffs front in three hours. That is where you belong.

Me or the sword?

Sir, we don't have time—

You don't have time and you don't plan to fight, even though you know how many civilians there are.

But of course you wouldn't. They're not important to you or the Parliament. These poor families wouldn't produce a single member of Parliament in a hundred years.

There's no place for them in your game of cards.

I simply have my sights on reality, Your Highness.

Reality? Reality is that the future of Victoria you dream of is to be found in grand halls filled with noble coats of arms.

My Victoria is here with these people.

Sir—

Very well, Your Royal Highness.

You're like your father at times. Naive, reckless...

Is that so? Not that I care. I don't remember anything about him.

Hah. Very well.

Good luck.

Horn. Order all combat-ready personnel on the plate to their stations, now.

On it.

Delphine. Have Lieutenant Shearer get the logistics and medical staff ready.

Already done.

Follow the plan. Protect the civilians. Prepare for battle!

...

I think something's wrong with the diffractometer's sensor.

Nothing's wrong with it.

You see, Viktor? I'm getting the same results.

It's not always the equipment's fault that you're not getting valid data. The data itself may exceed the scope.

Originium reaction metrics are above the default limit.

They're coming, guys. We have three minutes.

Viktor is the youngest of us. If nothing else, we should try to get him out...

Who did you think was the reason that I signed up for the Londinium operation?

Never could just do as you're told, could you?

How are you doing over there, Closure?

Still alive. I've got my drones, and they're loaded with—

I think I hear the sound of drones crashing.

They used to be your babies.

Haha—

You knew it when you ordered the Self-Salvation Corps to pull out, didn't you? That was the last chance to escape.

The Originium activity data is incomplete.

I need data... from all of you.

Amiya's not here, so you're my captain, Closure.

We all talked to Amiya before we came to Londinium.

Stop a war, and save both the Victorians and the Sarkaz? With just the few of us? That's next to impossible.

But I chose to trust all of you. Trust in the dream of Rhodes Island.

There isn't a single Rhodes Island operator who doesn't want to see the day when there is a cure for Oripathy, when everybody's living a better life. Doesn't that sound ridiculous to most folks?

My only regret about dying here... is that I won't get to see that day.

...

Did you get my data, Yvres?

Yup. Just sent the newest batch of data over, Captain.

Oh, and I'm not that selfless, so don't forget to put my name in when you publish your paper.

...Will do.

...

I will.

YES!

All that's left is the signal tower—

...Vampire. Traitor.

This war will go on, and you will feed it.

Yikes!

My drone—

Get out of the way!

Your Arts are weak and pathetic.

How could such a frail Vampire exist?

Ouch!

I know! Shut up!

What kind of Vampire are you, Closure? Close those wounds! Hang in there, just a little longer...

Just get this thing up right—

(I can't... I won't...)

(Won't let... everyone down...)

(...And myself.)

Closure!

Who...?

A survivor?

Signal... there's a signal...

A Rhodes Island signal.

Grab my hand, Closure!

...Dobermann?

It's me.

Can you stand?

Fang...

You—

Sorry I'm late.

Misery gave us the location.

More are coming.

Almost got it! Cover me!

Keep them away!

Almost there... this is the last one.

We're coming, Closure! Hang in there!

We sent your location to the Exemplars! Help is on the way!

Finally—

Closure? Closure! Are you okay—

Keep your distance. Cover the artilleries and crossbowmen.

The appearance of the Nachzehrers is closely linked to Catastrophes. Do not fear their witchcraft. However bizarre it is, it's still Arts!

Remember how we marched through a Catastrophe—

We survived a Catastrophe. We'll survive the Sarkaz!

...Bagpipe.

Aye? I'm here.

The Duke of Gododdin spoke the truth. Tempest Platoon is under the direct authority of Parliament.

We have an obligation to answer Parliament's call.

It's a more legitimate cause for action than the duke's invitation.

Not to mention that by accepting his invitation, you, Robben, and everyone who came with us because they had no choice... will have proper identities.

Identity? Did you forget, captain? I'm retired anyways.

Besides, in that standoff with the duke earlier, ye didn't hesitate to put yer shield in front of Siege.

...True.

Word is Siege's carryin' the Sighs of Kings... have ye seen it before, Captain?

I have.

Siege was right. It's just a piece of metal that happens to mean something to some people.

Troops approaching on our flank.

No ID code, but I recognize them. They're the Duke of Gododdin's men.

They've engaged the Sarkaz... and covered one of our squads just now.

Good.

If that's Gododdin's way of showing friendship, then we'll show him the same in return.

Attention Exemplars! Stand with the soldiers of Gododdin!

Not one step backward, until the last foe is vanquished!

The ship has reached cruising speed, sir. We're out of danger for now.

Good.

The Sarkaz's witchcraft is most peculiar indeed. Better to fake a moment of vulnerability than to have them constantly harassing our rear.

The leader of the Nachzehrers has not been sighted, nor any other known powerful Sarkaz.

I suppose they don't see Gododdin as nearly the threat that Windermere or Wellington are.

I could call that a relief.

The Sighs of Kings has not left Gibsonham, sir. Should we move on to the next phase?

What do you think of them?

More of a challenge than expected. Alexandrina's forces are growing, and they are more organized and effective than we thought...

Oh, I don't mean as an adversary.

The Exemplars... like you said, they look the part.

And they've worked well enough with the troops that we left behind.

Rita is with them, and looks more like the legendary White Wolf than her father did. And Windermere isn't quite as weak as the intel had her.

Maybe it's not such a joke after all, that those kids could become the Exemplars.

Do you intend to abandon the plan for us to escort the Realmblade, then?

Abandon! Such a strong word.

It is the future that Gododdin values. Alexandrina, the Sighs of Kings, the Exemplars, even Rhodes Island... perhaps we'll cross paths again on our way to the future.

Our tanks are fighting the last pocket of Sarkaz on the east side of town.

We've successfully defended Gibsonham. It will serve as a supply point on the way to Silverrock Bluffs. However...

The terrain has changed.

The environment around Londinium is constantly changing because of Amnannam's influence. Fissures, cliffs, and rapids that should not have been there are emerging everywhere.

Silverrock Bluffs is almost constantly under severe Catastrophe. It's hard to say where our foot will land when we put it forward.

I wouldn't have believed this was our Londinium if I had anything less than absolute faith in Rhodes Island's data.

The sun on the meadow is summery warm♪♫Filling our home with euphoria♬♪...

After this war, we might have to change our national anthem's lyrics.

Is this time to be havin' a laugh?

You wanted to say 'we'll think about it after we take it back,' didn't you?

But even if we really went back... would our home ever return to the way it was?

...

That's why we're not just going to win the war.

We're not going to let the Sarkaz destroy Londinium in the war.

We'll overcome the storm ahead.

And we won't abandon the home that the storm has ravaged.

Feist told me his squad picked up more distress signals nearby. There may be more lives saved yet.

The areas where fighting occurred with the Nachzehrers will need to be cleaned up. Rhodes Island operators will provide the usual assistance.

I want the Exemplars to work with them on these post combat affairs.

Establish supply lines, rescue and transfer the injured, and rally those who want to join us.

The troops who returned from the front line have assembled.

Counting in the Gododdin soldiers who had their IDs wiped, the Exemplars have far exceeded the scale of a regiment.

They want to join us?

I met with their officers. They said the Duke of Gododdin left before they could board the transports.

Preliminary screening indicates that all of them are Infected.

Sounds familiar, eh?

The Duke of Gododdin left his Infected soldiers behind, just like the other dukes?

Or maybe...?

Or maybe, he intentionally picked a bunch of soldiers who had unfortunately gotten Infected, and sent them over to us.

I suspect he has ulterior motives.

The performance of those Infected troops indicates that they're different from those we've seen before. I wouldn't call them stragglers.

If Gododdin's intention is to keep an eye on us, then we should probably try to lose these people, or at least separate them tactically...

No.

You know the dukes better than I, Delphine. There's a very good chance that you're right.

But right now, there's nothing we need more than unity.

If even the Exemplars chose which parts of Victoria they united...

What would happen to the future that we dream of?

Gododdin very likely knew that we couldn't reject those men. That's why he let us leave so easily.

Then we need to be ready.

This is not the first challenge we've had to overcome, nor will it be the last.

Sarkaz. Amnannam. Caster. The dukes.

It's not just one storm that the Exemplars will have to weather.

I'll let Lieutenant Shearer know.

To be honest, everyone's happy to get some new blood.

Plus, they're all Infected.

If it's really true that Gododdin has not abandoned them... that, in itself, is worth celebrating.

Perhaps, the unity that once seemed impossible is actually within reach.

It's a miracle to run into people like you.

We're not the miracle, ma'am.

You are, all of you, for being strong until the very end.

Thank you so much, regardless.

I can still move. Let me help you with the others.

This way, you can get some rest... you're not much older than my own child, now that I get a better look at you.

We have about ten minutes of rest before we head to the next location.

...Closure?

A little more time...

There's not much room for improvement on that Arts Unit you're holding.

Even Raidian and Mechanist could hardly do better.

Conditions will only get worse from here. The better I do, the safer you guys will be.

Thanks.

Rescue work around Gibsonham is complete. Next, we'll be going to... where your squad's signal was lost.

I see.

We'll find them, alive or... otherwise.

Even if they're buried in the sand, or Originium... there will be traces.

We'll find them and bring them home.

I know how I feel, but Fang... I want to hear your thoughts, too.

Is it regrettable for a Rhodes Island operator to die in a war between the Sarkaz and the Victorians, when they have nothing to do with either side of the war?

Any sacrifice is regrettable.

After Ace died, Beagle cried for many nights with his shield in her arms.

Why him? Why there? Why then?

I get that feeling too. Every single time.

But what I really want to know is... how did the people who sacrificed feel?

Hm... I'm sure they have their own regrets.

We're none of us saints. That's why we fear death. That's why you feel pain over your decision.

But I have no regrets about participating in this operation.

If not for Lava, Hibiscus, or our other Sarkaz friends, then at least for the people here, even though I don't know any of them.

It was a Catastrophe that brought me from Columbia to Rhodes Island.

That Catastrophe taught me one thing: that suffering does not discriminate.

I came here today because I know that you will come when my home needs help, when the people I care about need help.

You're right.

We'll be there.