Глава 14

I think we can confirm at this point that the route Trilby Asher provided is safe.

Is there anyone in town?

The streets are empty, but I can sense the flicker of shadows and the smell of food.

We decided against contact to avoid unneeded misunderstandings.

Understood. We'll rendezvous with you as soon as we can.

It's getting dark.

Seems like everything's going smoothly. Best we let our fighters get some rest and some hot soup in them.

Remember to save some for my team! They'll be taking a while longer to get back after their work is done. Rockrock and I still have to head over to Feist...

I'm not sure if we'll be able to double our communication range by nightfall, but we'll do our best to finish ASAP.

No need to worry, we'll save the best for your people.

...It's all just the same canned provisions though, right?

Would you like some engine oil for dressing then?

Oi!

Hahahahaha!

All units, continue onwards until you reach Gibsonham.

I hope things can be as peaceful tonight as things are now.

All the houses seem to be empty. Have the residents gone into hiding?

Gibsonham's not far from the dukes' defense line, so I doubt the Sarkaz ever fully captured it, not to mention that the ducal armies just passed through a few days ago.

Horn's caution is warranted, though. There might be some scattered ducal troops who want to reconvene with the main army and decided to camp out here first.

Although Trilby Asher's helping us out with his advice, Victoria's never exactly been a model for unity.

Not to mention the... complicated nature of the Exemplars. I dare say there are a few old-fashioned military nobles who would rather not tolerate our very existence.

I see, then let's show them the full scale of our forces. It'll deter those with ulterior motives and alert anyone who needs our help of our arrival.

The rumbling of traveling tanks reverberates through the quiet night, the low roar of the engines forceful yet steady.

The soldiers cautiously advance, observing their surroundings, but still, all they see are pitch-black windows and doorways.

It doesn't look like they want to make first contact.

That's fine, as long as it means we can get along—

Wait, I hear something. From the building to the front and left.

That's the sound of artillery shell casings falling on the ground!

An ambush?

On your guard, everyone. I'll lead a team to scout ahead.

First Squad, Second Squad, follow my lead!

There are no signs of life in the abandoned factory.

Contrary to expectation, there is no sound of an explosion following the fallen casings.

Are you sure that was falling casings, Horn?

Absolutely sure. That's a special model only allocated to elite Victorian troops.

No traces of anyone living here—

Don't move, Siege.

Siege carefully puts her foot down back to where it was.

Horn points at a thin tripwire, barely visible against the ground.

Nicely concealed, what with the surrounding piping obstructing the view. Real tricky to spot.

A booby trap?

No... It's not linked to any explosives, just a simple alarm system. Based on how they've installed it, I'd say they're military.

Should we try to initiate contact?

Yes. Everyone, get behind us, and prepare to engage.

Hello, we don't mean any harm!

Our unit's called the—

A secret passage!

Get ready to enter! Stay behind my shield!

Halt!

We're not...

H-Help!

I knocked over some spent ammunition while on watch. How could they have heard from so far away?! They avoided your alarm, too!

These troops, I don't think they're any ordinary—

She... She can block your piledriver spear?

Captain? And Siege too?

It really is you, Fiona.

The lady with long, red hair suddenly throws herself into the arms of her captain.

So ye were alive all along...

Wonderful... how wonderful.

Horn gently releases Bagpipe from her embrace, then claps a hand on her shoulder.

Good to see you in one piece, and in rather good shape, too.

I-I'll make my report now, Captain! I've done it, I've managed tae extract the intelligence on the Spectre Force, and I ken what they're plannin' now!

I survived! I got my memories, I got the truth, and I stayed alive!

Yer orders... I never forgot a word of 'em.

Good to hear. I knew you could do it. I always knew.

Welcome back, Bagpipe.

Wait, she's...? You're not—

Everyone, we mean you no harm. It's alright to come out.

One by one, silhouettes emerge from the shadows.

The elderly, children, the sick and the wounded, civilians.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes stare at Siege and her men in fear and curiosity, taking their measure.

You're not with the ducal armies?

M-Most of you aren't dressed like Victorian soldiers. In fact, you mostly look like workers to me?

That's right. We're not under any of the dukes.

We're called the Exemplars.

Shearer's counting up the civilians who were hiding in the factory and giving them a check-up. All he can say at the moment is that it's looking better than we expected.

Aside from those infected soldiers under the Duke of Fife who came along with you, and a small team of military engineers under the Duke of Normandy, everyone else is just local civilians who couldn't escape.

The ducal alliance armies came through here a few days ago, but they rather give up a chance at being rescued than seek help from the Grand Dukes.

It's understandable why the soldiers would avoid them. They're either worried about the status of their infection, or worried about a court-martial. But as for the civilians...

Perhaps this was the year the people living around Londinium got to reassess their country and those decorated higher-ups.

Bagpipe, how did you manage to get their trust—

...Are you listening, Bagpipe?

Huh? Oh, er, aye, Captain!

You need to pay attention during tactical meetings. The map's on the wall, not my face.

Sorry, Captain!

Horn lets out a small sigh.

*sigh* I really shouldn't be asking. You are Fiona, after all.

Hehe.

I'm just... a wee bit glad.

The Exemplars, the Tempest Platoon's predecessors. I guess the rumors were true.

I'm actually amazed that you still remember what you learned in military history class.

Well of course! When I was still at trainin' camp, Triangle made sure I committed this fact to memory!

Out by the trainin' field, the sycamores were full o' leaves, blockin' the sun juuust right. Then there were the rocks at the top of the cliff, hard as, well, rocks. Hand'll sting if ye tried to climb them.

I remember when Cello and Oboe had a wager on who could complete the rock climbing training course the fastest. The loser had to do a hundred one-handed push-ups.

Oboe was a right fool! Who would've taken that bet wi Cello?!

Maybe you should have reminded him back then. You were even sitting on his back the whole time he was doing those push-ups.

Hehe. I was just helpin' him with his training. And I'd say it turned out alright in the end, aye? He was just a hair behind Cello the next time!

The Exemplars... When the Tempest Platoon was first established, nothing was left of this legendary unit from the War of the Four Nations, not even its unassigned unit ID.

But now, it has returned once more to the battlefield.

We're all members of the Exemplars now, Bagpipe.