At Vindicta Bonum Vita Jucundius Ipsa; Nempe Hoc Indocti

Cebu, 1886

One week before the Spaniards arrive

BZZZZZT!

BRRRRRGH!

"HOLY SHIIIIIIT!!!" A random soldier exclaims,

"WHAT IS THAT?!"

"Is that the new armor of our leader?"

On a mock battlefield, surrounded by countless filipino soldiers, Renaldo is currently training inside his prototype PA-0 (Power Armor - 0), removing all the rust that has accumulated over the years of him not operating inside one. He ran continuosly, trying to accustom himself inside it, he also stops suddenly to maneuver to his sides and test the reflex and agility of the armor, giving him the full range and capability of the armor to its most optimal degree.

After doing the basic running stuff, Renaldo proceeded to order his soldiers to fire at him using the training bullets, he will try to dodge as much as possible to minimize the damage that is absorbed by his armor to maximize its efficiency, after all, having a power armor doesn't equate to invincibility, especially since his current power armor is powered by fuel that can easily combust when shot in its critical weak spots.

While Renaldo is training rigorously, a small maya bird suddenly came and perched on his shoulders, Renaldo immediately stopped and ordered his soldiers to halt the training. The bird chirped on his soldiers for a long time while Renaldo just stood there, waiting for the bird to finish. After finishing, the bird immediately flew upwards to a place no one except Renaldo knows.

After receiving some updates from the bird, Renaldo immediately ordered his men to return to their posts and asked the whereabout of his second-in-command, Nicanor.

The time to push his plans has come.

Inside a tent, Nicanor is currently sitting in front of a desk filled with various paperworks that pertains to logistics and other stuff, in front of him sits Eliza whom is very busy reading and analyzing the various facets that are required keep an army fed and well-supplied.

Sensing that Eliza is deeply stressed about the logistics of an army this huge, Nicanor tried to break the ice and said;

"Eliza, I think you can try to rest for now, it's not good for your health to push yourself to the limits, I know that this is important for you and I also know that you put a lot of importance to this work because Renaldo has entrusted you this, it is still tantamount that you also put some importance to your health, Renaldo has always told us to keep work and relaxation balanced, because it is the key to performing well, at this rate your performanxe will just plummet if you continue this and you suddenly get sick, you know that too, don't you?"

Hearing Nicanor's plea, Eliza stopped looking at the papers and instead looked up towards this childhood friend of hers who is obviously concerned about her well-being, she said;

"Thank you for your concern Nicanor, but you know how important it is for me to do well in this venture, I've longed to be a woman that exceeds what is expected of us, I longed to be someone who is not just a babymaker, someone who just stays in the house and knits, I've always longed to be someone greater, I've always abhorred the notion that women are weak and useless in a war, and now that I have the opportunity to prove it, I have to deliver or I will hate myself if I don't at the very least give it my best shot."

"I know that, yet that's also why I'm telling you to balance it, for you to perform at your best, you need to be mentally and physically ready, and seeing those big, dark circles in your eyes, it's pretty obvious that you're not ready on both aspects!" Nicanor said sternly, trying to lecture Eliza for what he thinks is for the good of everyone.

While they are arguing over balancing work, Renaldo suddenly entered the tent unbeknownst to them, sneaked inside, trying to see whether these two people who are extremely caring for each other are compatible for romance, he wants the best for his friends and he knows that Nicanor and Eliza have feelings for each other but they don't realize it yet, Renaldo just stood there, smiling like a fool trying to stop his laughter yet a small sound still escaped his mouth which shocked both people into a halt.

Nicanor, ever the alert person immediately grabbed his M1911 and pointed it towards the sound.

"Who's there!" shouted Nicanor as he cocked his gun, yet when he saw who it is, he immediately dropped the firearm and broke up some sweat.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!"

Renaldo, who is trying his damned hardest to restrain his laughter bursted out immediately after seeing both people's faces that looked like they've just seen a ghost or a mythical creature.

"What are the both of you arguing about?! HAHAHAHAHAHA! You're still so childish about these kinds of things, I know that both of you cares for each other, because that's how I feel towards you too, yet how come that whenever one comes up with their worries, the other almost always argues that they know better, this is something that baffles me everytime yet it also brings me joy that both of you still hasn't changed after all these years, come, both of you, stop being frozen and let's have a talk, we have some urgent matters to attend to after this"

After the brief distraction, things immediately set itself up for the trio, Renaldo informed both people that the Spaniards have departed from Guam and are coming here in the Philippines.

"Now that the Spaniards are coming, we are to mobilize all of our land troops toward their designated position in and around homonhon island, this is the battlefield that I have chosen because we can pincer them when the time comes, Eliza, I want you to tell Leandro that he needs to mobilize our spies to spread that we have moved our capital from Manila to Cebu, and that I, Renaldo Melchor is currently on Cebu, this is a crucial part of the plan to make them focus their fleet towards us, spread the word, from the commonfolk and to the high class to muddy the waters, because I know for a fact that the muddier it is, the harder it is for the enemy to predict our moves. On the other hand Nicanor, I also want you to mobilize all of our ships to blockade every possible landing spot the enemy could land on, from islands to ports and to the river openings, blockade them yet leave a small gap in between so that our enemies can go through, guide them towards Homonhon, yet do it discreetly, never let them know that we are purposely guiding them towards the island, Overpower them with warning shots if you must, or sink some of their ships to let them fear going through our blockade, force them into submission so that they won't dare fight us on the sea, let them think that our fleet is invincible, remember the teachings of Sun Tzu, and you will succeed, the success of this plan lies upon the both of you, my men and I are just the icing on the cake."

Both Nicanor and Eliza nodded gravely, this is such a big task on their hands that they can feel the pressure emanating from Renaldo's words alone! Yet this is also the reason why they follow him, they crave for the thrill, the pressure and the stakes, they crave the satisfaction of getting things done.

Both parties immediately went their own merry way, leaving Renaldo alone in the tent

He sat on the chair that Eliza has been sitting on, looked up in the ceiling and said;

"Let them come and smell the sweet fragrance of Filipino vengeance"