Chapter 8: The Ruthless Commander

The present:

"The battle of Malberry beach. What do you know about it?"

"Well… All I know is that Squad 7 led a charge on the beach itself and was able to evade the Imperial machine gun nests using smoke shells, developed by their tank engineer, Isara Gunther, who died during the final stages of the assault."

"I guess what's officially studied is the perspective of Squad 7. Our mission was to clear the machine gun nests around the beach while they're distracted from Squad 7's assault."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah! If we hadn't done that, even under the smoke, those machine guns would have still torn them apart!"

"Whoah…. I guess that's another battle that made Squad 7's mission much easier thanks to you guys"

"Yeah… but this mission would be the most memorable of them all…"

"What do you mean?"

"Well… let me begin…"

Flashback:

We were gathered in our usual meeting room.

"So we're going to raid Malberry beach next?" Morris said

"Yep!" Croix replied "Our mission is to clear out the MG nests so that Squad 7 can move up the beachhead!"

"But how are we going to even reach the nests?" Cooper asked

"Don't worry" Croix said "I talked with Welkin Gunther and he said that their tank engineer, Isara Gunther, is currently developing a new tank shell so that the enemy can't see us when we advance."

"A new tank shell?" Elena wondered

"Yep!" Croix replied "I don't know the details but Gunther said that these shells release smoke onto a target area and it stays there! So we can use the smoke as cover so we can move to the tunnels. We'll be given satchel charges to breach the bunkers and grappling hooks so we can climb the steep terrain"

"That sounds kinda tedious" Morris said

"And where do I fit into all this?" Elena wondered "My tank can't do anything about those tunnels!"

"Elena." Croix replied "You're going to be on the beach, assisting Squad 7 in the advance. Even with their tank alone, it's going to be a hard battle especially with those narrow spaces. So you'll provide support to their squad. Meaning, you'll be constantly taking orders from Gunther himself during the entire battle!"

"I got it!" Elena replied

After briefing us on our mission, we prepared our equipment. The mission was to commence the next day.

Later that night, I was doing my usual nightly walk when I saw Croix and Sonia talking with each other. I was curious as to what they were talking about so I hid behind a couple of barrels.

"Sonia" Croix said "We're going into another heated battle with the Empire. I don't want you losing your cool and going berserk again ok?"

Sonia maintained her silence

"Sonia, I need you to promise me that you won't go berserk, ok?"

Sonia still kept silent

"Please Sonia…" Croix said "We've all lost something because of the Empire but if we allowed ourselves to go berserk, what can that accomplish?"

"You don't know how I feel" Sonia said

"What makes you say that?" He replied

"My experience is far different than any of you"

"Why?" He asked

"It's just…" she said

"Just what?"

"Just leave it at that!" She said in an angry tone

"No!" Croix replied "I'm not gonna leave it like that! I want to know, why are you so reckless!?"

Sonia fell silent for a while and began to tell her tale...

Flashback (Sonia's story):

I grew up in one of the Darcsen villages in the Empire, bordering Gallia. It was a small farming community and everyone there simply wanted to live peaceful lives. Although, our village wasn't spared by the numerous racial insults done by the Imperials, we were able to endure it all. That was until the first Europan war. For some reason, the Empire began to burn down Darcsen villages and those who weren't killed during the purges, were either converted into slaves or experimented on.

Our village wasn't spared. I saw with my own eyes as the Imperial soldiers murdered my people and kidnapped the rest. I managed to survive the slaughter and was taken into an Imperial research facility. For the next few years, I was subjected to so many painful experiments. Those years in that Imperial facility were the worst years of my life. One experiment after another, the brutal treatment I received just because I was a Darcsen.

Just 5 years ago, I managed to escape the facility. I found a place to stay in the border town of Bruhl. When Bruhl was under attack, last March, I tried to volunteer in defending the town but I was turned down. That was why I ended up in the militia. The Empire not only destroyed my village and killed all of my friends & family but they tried to take away my humanity!

Back in the present:

"Sonia was an Imperial Darcsen?"

"Yes… Basing on her story, she's from the Empire… No surprise that the Empire did so many horrible things to her"

"That must've been a surprise for you…"

"Yes it was…"

Flashback:

"So now you know why I'm like this" Sonia said

Croix was silent. And after a while, he quickly hugged Sonia

"Wh-what are you doing?" she said as she tried to push Croix away

"I understand now…" he said "They took away a lot more from you. But that doesn't mean you have to be reckless."

Sonia seemed to be surprised. She couldn't utter a single word.

"The entire squad cares about you…" he said "…I care about you, Sonia… remember, if something happens to you, we'll all worry about you, especially me…"

Shocked, Sonia stopped protesting and returned Croix's hug. Romantic I know. I had seen enough and decided to quietly leave the two alone.

Back in the present:

"I walked around a few more minutes then returned to my barracks"

"So you guys set off for Malberry Beach the next day?"

"Yes we did… that fateful battle…"

"Fateful battle? Did something happen in there?"

Aster was silent for a while and his face clearly gave away his sadness

"Aster?"

"Sorry… Let me continue my story…"

Flashback:

The next morning, we were at the edge of the beach, alongside Squad 7. At that moment, Welkin Gunther ordered the commencement of the operation. With that, Squad 7's tank, the Edelweiss, fired the smoke shells and they worked. Under the cover of smoke, we began our assault. The heavy enemy fire from the bunkers really made it hard to push forward. But our squad managed to reach the cliff. Climbing to the top, Croix then pulled out a map.

"Ok then!" Croix said "Aster, Flunky and Morris; you guys go with me and secure the western bunkers! Sonia, Paul and Cooper; will secure the eastern bunkers! We reconvene here, where the western and eastern tunnels meet in 15 minutes."

Back in the present:

"And that was the plan… I went with Croix, Flunky and Morris to secure the western bunkers."

"But something happened right?"

"…. Yes…"

Flashback:

In the next few minutes, we cleared most of the bunkers. There was only one more. The door was closed and we prepared to breach it with our satchel charges. However, this last bunker would prove to be a fateful one. Before Morris could detonate the satchel charge, the bunker's door exploded. We were all caught off guard and the blast sent us flying. All of us were shell-shocked. Just then, a tall man and about 4 Imperial soldiers appeared.

"Well…well" he said "What do we have here?"

I tried grabbing my gun but instead, I was shot in the arm.

"We don't want you grabbing your gun now do we?" he said with a sadistic tone

The man then grabbed Morris and said "Gallian dog… Beg for mercy and I may spare your life"

Morris didn't utter a word… He simply spat on the man.

The man smiled and wiped Morris' spit and said

"Ah…You think you're a tough man aren't you, Gallian?"

"Go to hell you Imperial bitch!" Morris replied

The man smiled again and pulled out a knife. He then put it on Morris' neck and said "I'll give you one last chance; beg for mercy and I may let you live"

Morris looked at the man and said "Rot in hell asshole!"

With one last spit, Morris' fate was sealed and the Imperial Soldier slit his throat. I saw it with my own eyes… Morris choking on his own blood.

I couldn't believe it, one of my childhood friends and fellow orphan was dead. He then turned to Flunky whose injuries were a bit more severe than us.

"Hmm…" said the man as he looked at Flunky "I guess I'll put you out of your misery too"

He then grabbed Flunky's pistol and shot him with it. Not once, not twice but 15 times… He even counted it... Talk about overkill… Now two of my friends are dead.

"You bastards!"

I looked and saw Croix quickly grabs his boot knife and stabs an Imperial soldier in the neck. Despite his efforts though, Croix was quickly shot in the leg and was forced to kneel.

"Aw…" said the man "You want to join them too?"

I could see Croix's face. He was really angry.

"Are all Gallians like this?" said the man

He then put his knife just above Croix's left eye and slashed it but Croix merely grunted.

"How's that feel Gallian?" He said

"Damn you…" Croix said "Damn you, you son of a bitch!"

"My, my…" he said "I've caught a couple of 'brave' Gallians today! Quite an interesting day!"

As the man prepared to slash Croix's throat, I heard gunshots. The man quickly retreated as the other Imperial soldiers were gunned down. After the shooting, I saw Cooper, Sonia and Paul arrive on the scene. Looks like they knew something was wrong and came to check on us.

I was beginning to black out; maybe because of all the blood I lost from the gunshot wound in my arm. Before I lost consciousness, the last thing I saw was Croix looking over the bodies of our dead comrades before giving out a pained cry.

Back in the present:

"So… Morris and Flunky died during the battle?"

"Yes… they both died…"

"It must have been hard… Seeing your friends die in front of you…"

"Yeah…"

"Morris and Flunky saved me and my brother's life… I can't believe they died like that… I didn't even know about it back then…"

"That's one of the horrors of war Popuri… I'm sorry you had to know this way..."

"It's ok..."

Flashback:

The next thing I knew, I woke up in a medical tent. I saw Croix sleeping on the bed to my right. The left side of his face was covered in bandages; It looked like the man inflicted more damage than I thought. Just then, Sonia walked into the tent.

"Aster?" she said "Are you ok?"

"Yeah…" I replied "How's Croix?"

Sonia gave a pained expression. Seeing her face like that, I was really anxious and I could only ask:

"… What did he do after I blacked out?"

"He got to his feet and dashed off… Like I did…" she replied

Dashed off? I was having a hard time accepting reality at the time, I mean who wouldn't, right?

"What do you mean?" I asked in an anxious tone "Don't tell me he-"

Before I could complete my sentence, Sonia nodded and confirmed my worst fears…

"He dashed off and went after that Imperial officer who killed Morris and Flunky… but he couldn't catch him…" she said "He suffered several gunshot wounds but the medics said he'll survive..."

Back in the present:

"I was at a loss for words… Croix; the man who never lost his cool even during intense situations… went berserk after one fateful moment"

"I could understand that. I mean after all, 2 of his best friends died in front of him. Seeing them die like that… it's just unthinkable…"

"I know…"

"Flunky and Morris… They were also really fun to talk to and I really enjoyed their company…"

"I bet they were… Flunky wasn't the best marksman but he was a dependable engineer… Morris was someone you can count on too and his weird hobby of 'gun collecting'… Sometimes would be a really funny story to share during our pun sessions back at HQ…"

Popuri looked at the dark rainy sky, gave a short sigh and said

"So that's what happened…"

"Yeah… but we managed to clear the bunkers enabling Squad 7 to capture the beach but we later found out that they also lost someone… Their tank driver, Isara Gunther…"

"Yeah… I read that she was killed by an Imperial sniper"

"Yep… August 25, 1935… Both of our squads sustained really painful losses that day…"

"So basically, it was a pyrrhic victory…"

"For us, at least… It was one of the darkest moments we experienced during the war. And it won't be the last…"

"Did they at least get a proper burial?"

"As far as the military was concerned, it was just another statistic... We gave them a funeral but only for a day and we had to do it the next day after the battle. The same was done in Squad 7 for Isara Gunther's funeral. It was a sad sight… Things weren't the same after Malberry Beach… Flunky & Morris were dead, Croix lost his left eye… and a part of himself entirely… "