17-9 Never Pray

......

Can we talk specifics, now that it's just the two of us? You might have fooled the others, but you can't fool me.

So that was enough to fool the others.

What did Kuznetsov do to you? Did he put any holes in you? Let me see—

Ever since that purification operation in December, everybody had tons of questions for me whenever they ran into me on the training grounds, but no one said anything today.

Is it because optimism is our nature? Does nothing else matter?

Because they believe in you, of course! The Ataman who lights the way, the war caster of legend, the great leader of the Volniki, who reap enemies like mossoat...

Who would they believe in, if not you?

Wow, keep going, any other titles I haven't heard of?

—But if you ask me, I would say that foolishness is our nature.

Foolish enough to not remember old grudges, foolish enough to survive, foolish enough that people in power won't suspect that we might get back at them.

I'm glad Sirka isn't here to hear it.

I'm your second-in-command now. Stop talking about our noble lady every opportunity you get.

Well, you don't like it when I bring up Pavel.

He's been gone three years, he's probably hit it big again somewhere else. He doesn't need us to reminisce about him.

In Baba's name, man was born to be a quartermaster. He can fill his pockets wherever he goes. If it wasn't for Oripathy...

He never wrote back.

Were you robbing Messengers again?

Come on, you knew where I was these past two days, Gospodin Oleg, how would I find the time?

......

Finally getting back on topic? Now talk. What happened?

What I said, basically.

What about the part that's not 'basic'?

Not basic, eh... you were there when I killed Basmanov, weren't you?

You remember what he said to me?

...Surrender to Kuznetsov. That's all he wants.

Stop resisting, Basmanov. It was sheer madness to commit mutiny on the front lines, not to mention your second-in-command was leaking all your plans—

I don't blame him.

...What?

I don't blame him. I don't blame anyone...

I just blame myself for not seeing the truth sooner.

What truth? The obvious truth that you can't win?

The truth that the flames have already burned away houses and clothes, and will soon reach the skin and the flesh beneath... we should have awakened sooner.

What are you talking about—

I don't blame you, truly. I knew it was you who came, when even Private Vyacheslav made it to the bridge alive to deliver the news.

The Special Tactics Formation... the isolated, expendable, fickle executioners, the free Volniki who are never truly free—

All I know is that the arrival of Sechin means you won't even get a court martial.

Yet you're giving me a chance to escape, just like how you let the miners go.

On the surface, you're just doing everything Kuznetsov told you to do. Yet even now, you're trying to give me a way out, against his wishes.

The stalemate continues. Kuznetsov needs every soldier he can get. He will forgive, if you surrender.

Do you know the name Yakov Petrov, Major?

No.

What I shame.

It's only now that I realize that there was someone who saw that the house was burning, except no one was listening to him, and called him a madman.

That is what they will call me. Oczip Basmanov the traitor, disciple of Yakov Petrov.

That's all I have to say, Major. I'm not surrendering. You do what you must.

......

I only hope that your blade will always remember who you are.

Thirty-two klicks until the front, sir. We're seven hundred and fifty-one klicks from Zelgrad.

ETA is five hours for the former and seven days for the latter.

Good work.

Oleg will relieve you in half an hour.

I can go on—

No you can't. Go to bed.

This kid was on duty all day in the control room while you were away. He only took a two-hour break before coming back. Won't listen to me at all.

I was just worried!

Stop worrying. If thinking about things ever did any good, I would have prayed to Baba for a bolt of thunder to smite Kuznetsov.

Now get out of here, I'll be checking the quarters in two hours.

Good, looks like life will go on, if anything happens to me.

Do you need your eyes checked? Did you see any of them listen to what I say?

They will when I'm gone. You're more of a leader than I am. It was a wise move to move you out of logistics—

It was because I made good pies and didn't let you take extra ones, wasn't it?

Well, that's part of it.

I knew you were out for vengeance.

Come on, don't say that—

You're still thinking about what Basmanov said.

—Huh?

Maybe his ramblings made sense in his own mind, but that last thing he said was clearly a taunt.

You trust your blade more than you trust anyone else, don't you?

Now that's unfair, of course I trust you guys more.

Idi v'banyu. We all know that they call us Volniki the free folk because we have the freedom to come together or part ways as we please—

So, the only things we can and must trust is ourselves and our swords.

Is that a sword, anyway? Or an Arts unit? What IS it?

......

Never mind. Anyway, it will always know you, and it will never kill you. That's all that matters.

Oleg.

Huh?

You like to talk about Baba. Do you know who she is, or what she looks like?

No idea. She might be Kuranta, or Liberi, or Elafia, but she couldn't be Ursus.

All old stories that we tell to pass the time. We need stories and song to bring us together. Isn't that what your precious Sirka always said?

...'Our Baba put a glass house upon the legs of a fowlbeast'...

...Hmmhmm♪...Hmm♪......

'The last thing she said to us was...'

'I can protect you no longer.'

Yes.

You can't carry a tune, but you remember the words well.

Sirka sang it for me a lot.

Alright, you can stop—

I often wonder, if there comes a day when even the all-powerful Baba can no longer protect us...

How far will we go to survive?

......

Message from central command.

Put it through.

I see you've left the base.

An astute observation, sir.

You should be reporting your position and status every two hours, Major Razin.

A report every two hours is impractical. Should I explain the reason in detail?

Do not waste time on long-range communications. Report on your progress.

Well, as you know, the Volnov has left the base and is currently approaching the front lines. Assuming we do not need to linger near the front lines and observe the situation—

There's no need. Proceed directly.

Even if it might cause the Second Army to attack?

I said, it is not your concern. What you should be concerned with is getting your men near the satellite city before you run out of power.

There's no time for you to stop, according to my estimations. The Volnov must arrive at the designated location in three days and complete the mission in conjunction with another unit.

I don't know anything about any other unit.

Now you do.

Now, what is the current progress of the Volnov?

Accelerating steadily. I can't give you an accurate figure, but it will eventually reach a figure that will allow us to arrive by the ETA.

—?

Is that so...?

Then I hope that central command will not have to initiate the next communication.

......

Why did you lie to him? How long can we keep this up?

In order to survive, we must first solve our most pressing problem.

Give the Second Army enough time to react, then pray that Kuznetsov's 'guarantee' pays off before we're blown to smithereens.

Hiding by yourself again, my brother Fedya?

Why aren't you with Mother?

What smell? The smell of disinfectants, of bitter almond?

The smell is from things that help Mother. I put bitter almond fragrance in my room to stop myself from coughing, and to relieve the pain...

You know that.

Because those people in black won't let me go in anymore.

They don't even want me to come near you.

But I'll pay them no heed.

You're my only brother. Nothing can break our bonds of blood.

I'll find you.

Fedya... Fedya!

*cough* *cough* Thank goodness, you're still here.

Listen, I know you don't want to go, but you must. Go with them to Mother's funeral. Do you understand?

I can't be there, but you can...

Come, let me sort your tie out. Your pants are dirty. Did you trip again? You're always so clumsy—

Now, go.

...Me?

I'll wait for you... under the apple tree.

Yes, my brave Fedya. Do not be afraid, though some may try to confuse and control you, for you are stronger than them all.

You will hear the most sincere voice, the voice of me calling to you.

And I will be here, waiting for you.

—!

...The summer palace? Why am I dreaming about something from so long ago...?

The one in the dream... a sister?

But I have no siblings...

Argh—

(The headaches are getting more frequent.)

(Ever since I came back from Katorga...)

......

Your Imperial Majesty, I bring the latest progress report on the citizen's forum.

Good timing. Saves me from thinking too much.

You look tired.

Strange, isn't it... I had a dream about the summer palace, which I have not seen in many years.

There's a beautiful apple orchard nearby. It'll be a good place to recuperate, if you feel the need.

...Apple orchard?

Yes...

Never mind, it's not important—what's the progress?

Most nobles who were already on our side are inclined to continue, following the Katorga Incident.

They have quickly accepted the decision to trial the citizen's forum, and a few of them are even willing to divert tax funds to establish similar pilot programs in their territories.

I believe it's a good start.

What's the catch?

I'm sure Your Imperial Majesty understands...

The Winter Emergency Resource Allocation Act will not convince the conservatives of the State Council just because it passed the citizen's forum.

It's not just the conservatives. No aristocrat will willingly give up their own profits, much less allow the council to dictate what little remains of the nation's Originium resources.

Even if it's the only way to save Ursus.

Not the only way, apparently, in the eyes of many.

The generals of the empire wallow in the dream that my father weaved for them.

Wasn't enough blood shed on Bloodpeak already? Did they think it was a glorious defeat? Ursine territory would be twice as large now, if they were half the geniuses they think they are!

Absurd... Ridiculous!

...*cough* *cough*!

Please, stay your anger, Majesty, as the doctor instructs.

I expect they understand these things full well. I believe they simply want to get as big a slice of Ursus's flesh, before chaos truly descends.

For some of them, the unity of the nation and the plight of her people pale in comparison to ensuring their own prosperity and that of their descendants.

What are you implying?

I have news.

Out with it.

Only a few people with access to the Amber Palace know that Project Zero's energy utilization research is not progressing as hoped, all of whom are under strict surveillance.

However, our intelligence indicates that the Fourth Army began moving almost at the same time that we received the news.

They are quietly amassing forces for another push along the front lines, while simultaneously moving in the direction of First Army territory.

They're ready on two fronts.

What this means is that the Fourth Army has thoroughly infiltrated not only Grypherburg, but Tsarevgrad itself.

This is a serious matter.

You wouldn't come to me with unfounded conjecture. Who do you suspect?

......

(Hushed) Vasily Gorchikov.

The Vice Chairman? But isn't he the representative of the new aristocracy in the Duma—

But his family business has longstanding ties with military nobility, and the family of his late wife, House Gorchikov, is a noble house with a long and storied history.

It was by marrying into his wife's family that he was recommended to the Imperial Guard.

Objectively speaking, Vasily's position was always uncertain.

I seem to recall that there was a servant in the Amber Palace from a branch of his family. Saveliy.

I see you catch my meaning.

If someone in legislative leadership goes over to the pro-war faction—

Wait. Volkina, the honorary Vice Chairman who never attends meetings. She's a military noble too!

But she never expresses her opinion.

It's her actions, not her words, that are important. The same goes for Vasily...

Keep a close eye on them. Do not let anyone get away. We must put a stop to any sign of a schism, whether superficial or material.

Understood...

...Are you tired, Witte?

Of course not... Majesty.

I'm beginning to feel powerless, Witte... can we really change anything? Is there anything we can do?

There is still much we can do.

You have cast aside the shadow of your father. You must demonstrate to them that your kindness is not weakness, that it requires even greater strength.

We must not surrender to the things that you rejected.

Enough... I do not want to hear such flattery, least of all from you.

The citizen's forum is a necessary reform. We need more people to stand with us. Time is short.

The empire cannot afford any more internal strife. We cannot use violence against these dissenters.

More patience... continue to work to persuade them, try to awaken their love for this nation, or at the very least, a little bit of conscience...

You're right, Witte... we can't surrender yet.

...I should have come in the last time I passed by. It's totally different inside!

Why didn't you?

Well, I thought I would do that when there's no longer a line of patients outside the door waiting for treatment.

Now it looks like they all fit inside, even if it does get a little crowded.

I heard you helped a lot.

Not nearly enough.

Do you know, there's a girl here, one of the surviving miners from the Far North who told me the entry hall was the first area to be completed. She likes it because it's always warm and bright, even at night.

But I know that Rhodes Island had to invest in appearances first, just to satisfy the nobles and facilitate further operation.

Otherwise, they would hardly have paid attention to an Oripathy treatment center in downtown all of a sudden.

It is warm and bright, though.

...Sometimes I wonder whether you're just acting dumb, or—

...think, it's important.

But, should we wait... For Dur-nar to, come back?

Oh, that's the girl I was talking about.

Get everyone, indoors... warmer than, outside.

As for where, to put...

Oh. I can help, to carry some—

Vetochki.

—Oh!

Sorry, did I scare you?

No, no! I just didn't, hear you...

You came again! Thank you!

Just happened to pass by. I see the streets outside are empty, and the stoves have been taken away. Have the rooms been cleared? Enough furniture and equipment for everyone?

No, not yet. Some mattresses and, sheets have arrived, but not enough, and it's so, cold outside...

Better to have, everyone, in the hall.

Oh! At night, we'll try to, get everyone, a bed!

There won't be, anyone in the, hall, when there are, inspections...

...Tsk.

Listen, Vetochki, we both know that the requirements for the treatment center to be perfectly clean and tidy aren't realistic.

Forget about those for now. Just let me know if you need anything. I'll do what I can—

But you sent, the mattresses, and sheets, didn't you?

...What? But I haven't gotten the new supplies yet—

......

Who came?

A man, wearing clothes, like yours... he brought, the things, and a few, people.

Just now...

That's him!

...Platon?

...Tsk.

What are you doing here?

I thought you took leave to see your sick mother?

Yes, this is one of the charities that my mother sponsors. But I'm surprised you found the time to come to Odoyev and look after these commoners, busy as you are.

I thought His Imperial Majesty and your bright future were the only things on your mind.

No—

Get back.

Behind me, Vetochki.

Is that so? What a coincidence.

Since when did House Lunin become a sponsor of Rhodes Island? When my family is taking full responsibility for this matter?

...Perhaps you should make sure a contract is exclusive before you sign it.

I could say the same to you.

What ARE you doing here, Platon? You have never had the slightest interest in commoners or charity.

Yet you've started doing these things all of a sudden, with a whole retinue of bodyguards... either you've suddenly discovered the goodness in your heart, or you're putting on a performance.

But where are your cameras and lights, if you just want to take a few touching photos for the newspapers and intercity net?

None of your business. Do you want my sponsorship or not?

Of course. Every little bit counts. Next time, however, I suggest you go through official channels.

After all, it's not just Oripathy patients here, but also a group of witnesses under His Imperial Majesty's protection... you don't want to be in the position of having to explain if anything happens to them, do you?

...Hmph!

......

Where are the supplies he brought, Vetochki?

The blankets, have been, handed out... the mattresses are, still in the, warehouse.

We're planning to, clear out, more rooms, then t-take the, mattresses out.

Let me see the rest of the stuff.

This is where the supplies he sent are stored.

Care to give a hand, Gospodin Hellagur? I would like to perform another check.

You suspect him.

I didn't think you would be interested.

Not so much a suspicion as a hunch... but maybe it's just all the assassinations and talk of spies that's gotten me on edge.

When you think about it, procuring this stuff represents no difficulty for his family whatsoever. It just never occurred to them to do so.

I'm supposed to be his superior, sort of, but I never managed to have a good influence on him—

My impression is that rank works differently in the Imperial Guard from the Armies.

Unlike the Armies, which have a strict promotion hierarchy, Imperial Guards mostly graduate directly from the military academy. As members of the aristocracy, all of you start as lieutenants.

You are equal in rank, even if you hold different positions, and this will not change in the near future.

Are you saying it's normal that he resents me?

I've seen it many times. Besides, the Imperial Guard doesn't have automatic promotion by tenure.

Not to mention these are peaceful times, and not even the Great Rebellion could breach the walls of Grypherburg. There are few opportunities for merit and promotion.

You're complaining.

Of course I'm not! Besides, things are changing. What I wouldn't give to not have the opportunity to earn merit now...

Platon's family has been trying to get him into the Central Army and onto the front lines. I rejected the reassignment. I suppose it's another reason why he doesn't like me.

If things have gotten to the point when the Central Army is mobilized, no one in Grypherburg is immune.

The Capital Ursus Guard, part of the Central Army, must stand with the Imperial Guard as the final line of defense.

It's disunity that you're concerned about.

You're much easier to talk to when you don't play dumb, you know? If the vice-chairman was here, he would tell me to stop wearing myself out and put myself and family first.

The Far North Incident has brought the schism amongst the factions of Grypherburg to the surface, while the insurrection in Katorga has raised the alarm for the fence-sitters.

I have no doubt that Grypherburg would have fallen apart in the literal sense of the word, if any of the recent assassination attempts had succeeded—

Wait, these supplies...

Is something wrong?

They're all military supplies. They're usually only seen in the military and the factories that supply it.

The council may occasionally divert military supplies in the event of an emergency, but Platon? How did he get his hands on these things?

What was he doing here?

Hmph... hah.

...Who's there?!

Colluding with traitors under the pretense of an Infected treatment center. Just as I thought.

Tell me, lieutenant.

Where is the traitor?