headbr

Bored clean through a solid steel plate with that custom crossbow she's got... I'm sweating here!

That's not even the scariest part... did you hear? Stormeye was talking up the newbie hard during combat drills. A first for him.

(Is that Natalya they're talking about? No way.)

(Not like that should be surprising. Weird. The hell am I feeling...?)

(Shouldn't I be happy for her?)

(Whatever, this sucks... Guess I'll take a look. Should just about be there.)

(Is that voices from inside? Sounds like a lotta people...)

Huh? Is someone at the door?

Allow me, Royal Detective, to get to the bottom of this.

Z... Zima! I assume you're here for Istina?

She's... currently sharing her thoughts on <i>A Winter Campfire</i> with us! This book right here!

I'll bring her over!

W—Wait, no, no need...

Not like it's anything important. I'll just come back a little later.

*huff*.

Five days later...

Maybe Rosalind's here?

Yeah, nope. Didn't think so.

Took me the whole morning just to fry one pirozhki. Still doesn't taste half as good as Lada's.

I went and borrowed <i>A Winter Campfire</i> from May. Should be able to finish reading it tonight.

And that black tea still tastes so bad I wanna die... but I get it now. Natalya's been relying on that weird mouthfeel to stay awake the whole time!

Nowadays...

Life's simple... for us, the USSG. It should've been like this before, shouldn't it?

Uh... Nearl. You heard all that?

Whatever, perfect timing.

I'm not totally cool with the squad assignments. I think Istina, Leto and the rest would do better on a team with me.

Why?

You... C'mon, you're messing around, right? We've always been a team.

Our squads at current are not based on whether its members come from the same place, or how deeply they know each other.

It is Rhodes Island strategic necessity. You're bound for the battlefield.

Our plans are made in the wake of the most responsible decisions, with full stock taken of our mission objectives, coupled with the best of every operator's individual abilities and team synergies.

How come you never seem to get pissed off?

Zima, very soon you'll be leading a reorganized squad to carry out your mission.

You must remember: here and now, you are a team captain.

Hmph... yeah, I hear that. 'Captain.'

So that's my new title, huh?

Phew... oof, it gets real cold here at night...

Captain, you want a smoke? Warm yourself up?

I mean... I assume you're old enough?

I don't smoke.

Also, you wanna be careful.

Ursus gets real dry this time of year. One spark can catch the moment it hits grass.

Got it. Guess I won't smoke either.

Eesh... it's freezing... say, don't you guys think this mission's a little slow-going?

Do we really need this many hands looking for one shipment of lost meds?

I... I believe Nearl must have had strategical considerations in arranging for us to go!

*sigh* Arrangements, my butt.

We're a bunch of rookies, we don't have any actual combat experience. What, are you hoping commander's about to send us on harder missions?

I'm just sad I didn't get put in the same squad as that one Medical girl I trained with. I was even gonna...

Wait! Guys, look...

There—There's fire that way!

C'mon. We're gonna check it out.

O—Oh, jeez... this whole tent got burnt down...

Rhodes Island logo... this was one of our temp stations.

Are the airtight containers in there the missing medical supplies?

Anna, compare those with the designs for Medical's pharms.

Um... Captain, Istina's not in our squad...

Goddammit.

Captain, permission to speak freely, you've been kind of distracted this whole mission.

You, Istina and Rosa and the rest were one student group, right?

But we're a whole squad here. Didn't The Radiant Knight tell us to trust in our teammates out in the field?

Um...

Captain, I've made a rough check. That should be the lost shipment in the tent.

It's gotta be! The packaging's the exact same as the stuff awaiting transit on the landship.

Let's go, c'mon, everyone ease up! Let's bring the spoils of victory home... Who knew it'd be this easy!

Wa... Hey, wait!

Geugh...

Wh—Who are you guys? Get outta my way!

No more funny business!

Last one was your arm. The next one's aimed at your head if you try anything!

Who the hell are you people?

No comment.

Drop your meds, your equipment, and any other valuables you have right here, and we'll let him go.

Bratany!

Captain...

Ugh.

Seanson, you hold steady.

Huh? Captain, don't do anything rash...

Mousse! We're going in!

R—Roger!

Gargh!

Ugh...

Hey, kid.

You're their boss, aren't you?

Speak!

He's passed out.

Hmph. Guess he couldn't take a beating.

Seanson, you okay?

I'm surprised you remember my name, Captain.

It's okay, my wounds aren't deep... I can do some simple first-aid on myself...

Swear my heart was about to leap out of my mouth, though.

I don't think I'm fit for the battlefield... I need to hand in an application to command later, see if I can't get transferred to Logistics or Medical.

Coward.

Lucci, how are things in the tent?

I gave a search. Those supply boxes are definitely Rhodes Island's, without a doubt.

But they're all empty inside! The pharmaceuticals are gone!

Dammit! Wake up, you dumbass! Quit playing dead!

Zima seizes the bandit leader by the scruff and tosses him to and fro—vigorously enough to throw the goods in his pockets all across the floor.

Is... Is that... a Peterheim Middle School... student ID?

Where am I...?