Chapter 2: Identification: Friend or Foe?

Chapter 2: Identification: Friend or Foe?

CHAPTER 2

IDENTIFICATION: FRIEND OR FOE?

The refugee shelter was a collection of prebuilt, short-term dwellings. They were weatherworn, with colors faded by the sun. They were sold cheap to the Republic, a hand-me-down from the Federacy’s old barracks. Simple, crude structures meant to provide shelter on the battlefield.

The refugees were treated like livestock, forced into these structures on the edge of the battlefield, and never given any choice of the food, clothing, and supplies they received. In exchange for this minimal support offered to them by the Federacy, they were forced into labor-intensive restoration work and mandatory combat training.

The Republic of San Magnolia did have an existing interim government, but in truth, it was under the Federacy’s heel. These Imperialist dogs who’d ceased being an empire in name alone walked all over the Republic, which valued peace and equality, under the false pretense of protection.

The sight of young boys and girls still in their midteens meandering about with listless expressions was a knife to the heart. At that age, they should have been under the care and protection of their parents and society, attending school, dabbling in fashion and hobbies, hanging out with their friends. But instead…

Amid the ruins of what had once been a magnificent palace that had served as the military’s headquarters was now a newly built barracks meant to house the new unit dispatched here this spring. The Eighty-Sixth Strike Package, the unit made up of those disgusting Eighty-Six. Once again, those stains try to befoul this beautiful country with their filthy colors, as if they own the place.

But they are mistaken. For this is our proud Alba country.

“Colonel Vladilena Milizé and Captain Shinei Nouzen. As part of our operations to retake the Republic’s northern administrative Sectors, I assign you to a top-secret mission.”

They were in the integrated headquarters’ base, in the chief of staff’s room, which for some reason had its lights turned off. Sitting with his back to the sunlit window, with the backlighting obfuscating his face, the chief of staff, Willem, leaned forward, his elbows resting on his desk while he covered his mouth as he spoke.

The question Lena asked Shin with her eyes was all too obvious.

This is rather strange. Is this how they give orders in the Federacy military?

But Shin unfortunately remained as expressionless as ever, meaning he probably thought nothing of this, as was usually the case. Or maybe he was simply too aghast to speak. Lena couldn’t tell.

But just as those thoughts crossed her mind, Willem straightened his back in what looked like a bored, disappointed gesture.

“…What, aren’t you excited? I thought kids your age would be over the moon at the idea of a top-secret mission.”

“What’re the mission specifics?”

The chief of staff scoffed at the way Shin ignored his jape with his own deadpan reply.

“You really are a downer, Captain Nouzen. I’ll give you some recordings of those cartoons that were popular when you were young, so do try to enjoy some childish entertainment, even this late in the game… Now, then…”

An aide entered the room and switched on the lights before activating a holo-screen and piling a stack of media filled with cartoons and movies on the chief of staff’s desk.

“…let’s get back on track. I have a mission for you, my dear officers. As part of our operation to retake the Republic’s northern Sectors, the Eighty-Sixth Strike Package will be dispatched on a takeover operation of the Republic’s northern secondary capital of Charité’s underground central station terminal.”

Lena stiffened. It was finally time.

“Let’s begin by explaining our current status. There is a large force of Legion stationed to the north of the First Sector, the Republic’s capital of Liberté et Égalité. Since December of last year, the occupying forces have been judged insufficient for retaking the Sector and forced to give up on advancing farther in—although I’m sure there’s no need to explain this to Captain Nouzen, who can trace the enemy’s movements.”

The chief of staff smiled thinly at Lena, who looked back at him.

“The Federacy military is aware of the captain’s ability to track the enemy and is making use of it to stay abreast of their activities over a large area. Unlike your country, which clung to some shared delusion of common sense, the Federacy doesn’t have the luxury to throw a precious warning device like him onto the battlefield.”

“I doubt things would have ended well for me had the Republic acknowledged me as a warning device.”

In the Republic, the Eighty-Six were considered a subhuman race with no rights to speak of. Had they recognized him as a promising research subject, he’d likely have been dissected and preserved in liquid… In the past, when Sensory Resonance was still in development, countless children had been taken from the internment camps and killed in human experimentation.

Lena recalled her friend who had been tormented secretly for years by the thought that she had abandoned a childhood friend to that fate. Major Henrietta Penrose, head of research for the Sensory Resonance technology. Shin’s forgotten childhood friend.

“Yes, indeed… The Charité underground central station terminal you are to suppress is a large-scale production base for this detachment of Legion. According to our recon, it’s presumed the fourth underground level houses an Auto Reproduction type—a Weisel—and the fifth underground level houses a Power Plant type’s—an Admiral’s—control unit.”

With a wave of the chief of staff’s hand, a holo-screen appeared before them, presenting a three-dimensional holographic model of the underground terminal. It had fourteen routes and twenty-five platforms and lines, as well as a large-scale commercial facility attached to it that spanned seven subterranean levels. It had an extremely elaborate, convoluted structure with some of the establishments extending as far as their adjoining stations.

Even looking at its three-dimensional model from above, one could easily get lost, earning it the infamous name of the Charité Underground Labyrinth.

Shin narrowed his eyes as soon as he’d scoured the model. Lena realized why a moment later.

It was narrow .

The smallest tunnels were a mere four meters in length and width. The unit that constituted the main bulk of the Federacy’s army, the Vánagandr, was utterly incapable of moving in them, and one wrong move could even get a Reginleif stuck. The topography didn’t allow the Legion to deploy their own main forces, the Löwe and the Dinosauria, but since they were on the defending side, they could burrow into the floor and brace for impact. This battlefield, where they could hide the weak points in their armor or make it so their heads were hard to aim at, could actually be the worst possible setting for the Reginleif and its low firepower.

“The objective is the elimination of these two Legion. In addition, we ask that you do it with as little damage to the units as possible. We have very little observational data on these two types. We want to study them, if possible… But don’t make it a priority. If doing so would result in extra losses, you may forfeit this secondary objective.”

There were few observational records of the Admiral and the Weisel lurking in the depths of the Legion’s territories. Even the Republic had encountered them only a handful of times, early in the war. Thankfully, there had still been active soldiers from the ground forces on the battlefields at the time, so they’d been able to give fairly detailed reports of what they’d seen. With that thought in mind, Lena raised a hand.

“May I ask a question, sir?”

The chief of staff gave a gentlemanly smile.

“Of course, Colonel Milizé… It’s pleasant to hear some respect for one’s superior officers, unlike a certain dreary captain I won’t mention by name.”

Lena regarded Shin with a sidelong glance, and he pretended not to notice.

“The Admiral is a type of Legion that produces energy packs by converting solar energy into electricity. How does it generate power underground, without access to sunlight?”

According to reports, the Admiral was a massive butterfly-like Legion with solar panel wings, accompanied by flocks of palmtop-size Edelfalter: the Generator Extension types. It couldn’t spread its massive wings underground and didn’t have sunlight to generate power to begin with.

“To be exact, they typically rely on solar generation. According to a report we’ve received from the United Kingdom, among the Legion they fight against, there’s an Admiral that uses geothermal power to generate electricity. The ability to adapt themselves to the situation is a well-known trait of the Legion, characteristic of their high learning capabilities… Moreover, according to our estimates, this Admiral is using nuclear fusion to generate electricity.”

“Nuclear fusion…? But that’s…”

“It’s only in trial stages even here in the Federacy, which means it’s perfectly possible for the Legion. Much of the technology prided by our Empire was inherited by the Legion, after all… This is another reason why the Morpho was heading for the Republic during last year’s large-scale offensives. The more electricity provided to the railgun, the higher its initial velocity, its power, and its range. If it not only sat encamped within the walls but also was given access to a nuclear fusion generator’s endless power supply…at the very least, our Federacy, as well as the surrounding countries, would have been one-sidedly reduced to ashes.”

“…”

Shin was the next to speak:

“Commodore.”

“Yes, my dreary captain?”

“The Eighty-Sixth Strike Package’s commanding officer isn’t Colonel Milizé, but Colonel Wenzel. Why isn’t Colonel Wenzel here?”

The chief of staff smiled faintly as he shrugged.

“Why, isn’t it obvious? This kind of operation doesn’t require briefing, and usually we’d just send you the data files. There was simply something else I wanted to show you aside from the directive for this operation.”

““…””

Okay, this guy can’t be trusted , thought Lena. Shin, standing next to her, likely had the same thought.

The chief of staff rose to his feet, saying he’d escort them as a way to stretch his legs after all the desk work. Lena followed him down the integrated headquarters’ base’s corridor, when she suddenly realized something and looked around. They weren’t walking the way they’d come from. She turned her gaze to Shin, who surveyed his surroundings with narrowed eyes.

“Sir…”

The chief of staff, Willem, didn’t spare her a single glance as he walked up to a door at the end of the corridor. The door’s ID lock deactivated, and he pushed it open. He then looked back at the two of them, who were standing stock-still, and motioned for them to come in.

It was a room with such a high ceiling it appeared as though the upper floor had been removed to accommodate it, and they were on its second level. Below the guardrail were offices filled with soldiers wearing the information-analysis team’s armband, going about their work. Several of them were looking at a holo-screen projected in midair—likely their analysis subject.

The holo-screen showed some kind of meeting room created with the oppressive design scheme of the Empire’s late years. Ernst’s voice boomed from the room, but there was no sight of him. He was out of the camera’s range.

“—Another complaint regarding the Eighty-Six’s treatment, Representative Primevére?”

His tone sounded exceptionally cold and stiff. On the screen, the woman called Primevére smiled gracefully. She had an Alba’s silver hair and eyes and wore the emblem of the five-hued flag that designated her as someone with a post in the Republic’s interim government.

“Yes… As we’ve mentioned several times already, the Eighty-Six your country seized from us are all weapons belonging to the Republic of San Magnolia. They are the rightful property of our country. We ask that you return them to us immediately.”

“What…?!”

Lena inadvertently cried out, and the chief of staff raised a hand to silence her. Looking up at him, she saw him smirking faintly below his regulation cap. Lena finally saw the truth behind his cruel smile. His real reason for summoning them here today…

…was to show them this …

The woman in the footage—the one called Primevére—continued her one-sided demands:

The Eighty-Six are a lesser species—livestock in human form. The Federacy has no right to seize them. To begin with, the Federacy has no basis to leave their military within Republic territories. So they are to return the Eighty-Six, order their military to retreat, and return sovereignty of the Republic to rightful Alba hands.

Ernst seemed to have scoffed.

“We had been planning to entrust defense to your military as soon as we were done retaking the northern Sectors. But do you really plan to hold back the Legion with methods that, aside from being atrocious, failed you six months ago?”

“Of course. We Alba established the greatest form of government in the history of humankind: a system wherein the superior race stands above all other races on the continent. We would never lose to the Legion, as they are the creation of an inferior race.”

Her eyes indicated she was entirely serious.

Even the Federacy, which had the largest territory and military strength on the continent, needed to change its strategies to oppose the Legion, but she had practically declared victory already. She was that confident in the Alba’s superiority over others races in every field.

This person—this… fanatic —actually said that.

“Our retreat six months ago can be attributed to the Eighty-Six’s incompetence. We gave them superb weapons, better than mere livestock could have ever hoped for, yet still they failed to achieve victory over the course of a decade. And from our inspections, the Gran Mur’s collapse during that pitiful Legion attack was due to several structural flaws in the design. It was sabotage at the hands of the Eighty-Six who built it. Those feebleminded, slothful degenerates… This time, we will have them fight under our superior, efficient command.”

The footage ended. Lena stared at the blacked-out screen, biting her lip.

Again.

People who think this way are leading the Republic again…

“So they want to have the Eighty-Six handle the Republic’s defense again after the Federacy’s army leaves. It’s truly incorrigible how little they seem to understand the war situation and how warped their sense of justice is.”

The chief of staff’s scoffing, scathing laughter felt terribly distant to her. She couldn’t even look Shin, who was standing right next to her, in the eye… No, she didn’t want to look at him. He was probably looking at Lena with the same cold, coolheaded gaze he would direct at the other Alba.

Shin spoke plainly:

“…So if we’re not useful, you intend to abide by their demands?”

“After the civilians’ petty sympathy runs out, and if we find we have no further use for you, it’s a possibility.”

The chief of staff didn’t flinch away from Shin’s cold stare.

“There’s no reason to act peevish at this point, Eighty-Six. Aren’t you guys living proof that this is what all people eventually boil down to?”

Shin gave a small sigh.

“…Yes.”

“Anyway, that woman is rapidly gathering support among the old Republic’s citizens and building up her position within the interim government. She’s the leader of the Holy Magnolian Order of Pureblood, Pure-White, Patriotic Knights, and their demands are, well, as you’ve heard.”

“…Is that some kind of code name within the Federacy military?”

“I merely called them what they call themselves.”

“……”

Shin let out a heavy, disgusted sigh.

“And how are these…knights related to our mission?”

He cut their name short.

“You can view this as a warning and nothing more… Let us hope this is all just needless fear on my part, shall we?”

But the Patriotic Knights’ demands remained thrust into Lena’s heart like a thorn. With the personnel files of 139 newly appointed Processors projected in the air before her, Lena sat lost in thought.

The Eighty-Six were born and raised in the Republic, but it was the farthest thing from home for them. And yet, someday, they might yearn to return to their birthplace. But if this was what the Republic would be like when that time came…they would likely never return.

How can the Republic…? My homeland, even if I can no longer pride myself on it…

TP the black cat let out a needy meow.

“Colonel… Colonel Milizé.”

“Eep!”

She looked up to see Grethe.

“My apologies. What is it, Colonel Wenzel?”

“‘What,’ you ask. Major Penrose and Second Lieutenant Jaeger are arriving today, and it’s also the first Processor group’s starting day in their new posting. The major and second lieutenant should be arriving any minute.”

Anxiously checking the holographic calendar and watch on the desk, she quickly rose to her feet.

“I—I have to go welcome them.”

Lena had intended to go greet them herself but had been so swamped with paperwork that she’d forgotten. Grethe smirked, stopping her with a hand.

“I’ve already sent someone to greet them. They’ll be shown around the rooms, so you have time to get yourself dressed… Major Penrose is a girl, too, after all. We can’t have her making any appearances before she’s had the chance to wash off the exhaustion of her trip.”

“I’m sorry… Thank you.”

“No need for thanks. This is part of my job.”

Just as Lena was about to sit back down, she suddenly realized something and stiffened halfway through sinking into her seat.

“Who did you send to greet her…?”

Grethe tilted her head curiously.

“Captain Nouzen, since he happened to be free… Why do you ask?”

“Shin…?!”

Shin regarded the Republic technical officer dubiously as she stood frozen in place on the runway, his name escaping her lips in an anguished cry. Bernholdt, who was holding her luggage, also wore a puzzled expression. The technical officer—Major Penrose—went pale with shock and confusion, paler than he’d ever seen a person go before. As she gradually recovered from her surprise, she said through quivering lips, “…Captain Nouzen, there’s something I’d like to confirm.”

Her voice sounded as if it was squashed under a lump of emotion.

“Was Colonel Milizé the one who sent you to greet me…?”

“No, Major Penrose, it was under the instruction of Colonel Wenzel, the unit commander.”

He answered her question, wondering all the while what the point behind it was. The difference in rank between a major and a captain was absolute, and while Shin himself didn’t care about the rules one way or another, he followed them so Lena wouldn’t have to lose face over his actions. He thought he’d realized what the reason for her attitude was. Citizens of the Republic saw the Eighty-Six as pigs in human form.

“If you find being greeted by an Eighty-Six unpleasant, I apologize… Since you’re appointed to the laboratory, I doubt we’ll have to see each other after this.”

“If that bothered me, I wouldn’t have volunteered to come here in the first place.”

Major Penrose spat out her reply as if she’d been stabbed by a knife.

“…And besides, I’m a technical expert in the Sensory Resonance field. I’ll have to closely interact with you Processors anyway…”

“Annette!”

A panicked voice echoed down the runway. Turning their gazes, they spotted Lena dashing toward them. She’d probably sprinted the entire way, because when she approached them, she had her hands on her knees and was panting heavily. Seeing as she had neither her regulation cap nor her medals on, she’d probably come over without a moment’s delay.

“Captain Nouzen, I’ll handle showing Major Penrose around. Master Sergeant Bernholdt, please take care of her luggage.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Let’s go.”

Shin’s dubious gaze followed Lena as she left. It was as if she were trying to tear away from the place—from him. As they were leaving, Bernholdt extended a hand, as if asking for something, and Shin handed him his regulation cap. Raiden, who’d just happened to pass by, watched them go and asked, “…What was that about?”

“Beats me.”

Shin didn’t have any idea what the problem was, either. He then asked Raiden in turn, “What’s up?”

“Came here to meet some of the newbies. This one kid who got left behind…”

He gestured with his chin toward a Celena boy who was idly looking around, apparently having missed his chance to leave with the rest of the group in time.

“…and that guy there.”

Raiden then turned his gaze to the second transport plane’s rear hatch, which had just opened. The small-framed Eighty-Six boy who rushed out stopped in his tracks when he noticed Shin and Raiden. His jaw nearly hit the floor before he murmured:

“Huh? C-Cap’n Nouzen?! Vice Cap’n Shuga!”

He was acting as if he’d just witnessed two dead men walking, but from his perspective, that wasn’t too far from the truth. This boy, Rito, had been Shin and Raiden’s subordinate in the unit they’d served in before joining the Spearhead squadron two years ago. For all he knew, Shin and Raiden were dead. Shin was likewise surprised to find an acquaintance from two years ago who had survived, but Rito responded thus:

“Whoa, Cap’n, don’t tell me you actually croaked and changed your job to a real reaper?! Are we actually all dead already?!”

Raiden burst out laughing at the absurd idea while Shin heaved a deep sigh.

After the Gran Mur’s fall, there were Republic citizens, however few, who joined the ranks and piloted Juggernauts. And there was one who chose to forgo protecting their homeland directly and volunteered for the Strike Package. A single soldier.

“Second Lieutenant Dustin Jaeger. I’ll be under your command as of today. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

As the Celena boy saluted clumsily, clad in his deep-blue Republic uniform, an uncomfortable air passed among Shin’s group of five seniors. They’d been told about him ahead of time, but still… A Republic citizen. They couldn’t help but feel some resistance. Sensing the dark atmosphere settling over his comrades, Shin asked, “You weren’t originally a soldier—why volunteer? You can skip the formalities—we’re all the same as you here.”

And therein lay the difference between treating someone like a human and treating them like a drone.

“Affirmative, sir… Er, pardon! Yeah, I was a student before the large-scale offensive happened.”

Flustered, Dustin reworded his reply when he saw Shin’s crimson eyes narrow slightly. As was demanded of him, he spoke before the Eighty-Six while omitting all formalities.

“…You see, a lot of my classmates were Eighty-Six who died in battle with the Legion. And all I could do was watch. So I thought it would be obvious for me to carry that stigma. But I don’t want my children and grandchildren to have to bear it, too. So to break the cycle, I… The Republic citizens have to fight.”

“Whatever happens after you die in battle doesn’t concern you anymore. Are you still sure about that?”

Dustin pursed his lips.

“Even if I die, the influence of my actions will remain. And that will affect the future. So it does concern me… If you’ll have me, I’m determined to do this.”

“Eighty-Sixth Strike Package Second Lieutenant Shiden Iida, captain of the Brísingamen unit, in charge of defending headquarters. A pleasure to finally meet ya, Captain Nouzen, sir.”

The unit that had gone on to be known as the Queen’s Knights ended up having fifteen members survive the large-scale offensive. Shin watched her, Second Lieutenant Shiden Iida, aka Cyclops, as she gave a messy salute with her back to the five female Processors standing at the core of the group. Lena had to stifle her laughter at Shin’s anticlimactic reaction.

Shiden’s voice was a husky alto that made it hard to distinguish her sex. Her unkempt red hair was cropped short, she had light-brown skin, and she was as tall as the average man. In contrast, her ample bust, larger than that of most women Lena knew, bent her Federacy uniform’s tie at a sharp angle.

Her eyes were likely the inspiration for her Personal Name. Her right eye was a dark indigo, and her left was as white as snow, giving the impression that she had only one eye. They narrowed as she bore her sharp canines, smirking like a wild animal.

Yes, Shiden Iida was a woman .

Lena had never mentioned it, and it seemed Shin had never expected her to be a woman. It was said that the survival rate in the Eighty-Sixth Sector was higher for males. In a field of harsh combat, a difference in endurance and stamina significantly influenced survival rate. And as female soldiers typically didn’t have as much physical stamina as male soldiers, they had a shorter average life expectancy.

In a briefing room, with all the Processors gathered in one place, Shiden spoke from the center of the group.

“By the way, did you get your toy back, Lady-Killer? The one you dropped in that flower field six months ago?”

Shiden smirked as Shin narrowed his eyes. She really was tall for a girl. She stood eye to eye with Shin, who was taller than the average boy his age.

“I don’t know the specifics, but don’t go ventin’ your anger at a woman who coulda been a total stranger for all you knew, dumb ass. That was beyond embarrassing.”

“I won’t deny that… But what right do you have to say that to me?”