Heavy footsteps echo down the hall.
A shackled man is escorted into a room, where he sits onto the stool behind him.
The interrogator gestures, and a guard removes his blindfold.
The sudden brightness stings the man, forcing him to drop his head to shield his eyes from the harsh glare.
Interrogator I: Private Aleksei Fyodorovich Ryleyev.
Interrogator I: Age, 24.
Interrogator I: Born in ... Rayashki. Ah, so you're a son of the North.
Interrogator I: A former law student at the Second Northern University, enlisted after earning his degree in 1982.
Interrogator I: Four months later, transferred to the Zeno Arms Academy for further training, and applied for the Juhalerat war front upon graduation.
Interrogator I: Served in the 756th Special Task Force of the 15th Battalion, stationed in Juhalerat by the Zeno Arms Academy.
Interrogator I: Rank, Private First Class.
Interrogator I: Length of service, three months.
A tedious formality that outlines the life of the person under scrutiny.
Aleksei nods to each statement in silence.
Next comes his crime.
Interrogator I: You are charged with ... shooting a comrade-in-arms.
Interrogator I: You voluntarily confessed to the crime, and Lieutenant Bertolt, the commander of the task force, proceeded to file the charges.
Aleksei: Yes.
Aleksei: I killed a comrade.
He says nothing more.
Bertolt: I never intended to report this.
Bertolt: But Aleksei insisted I do it. He came into my office with the written report and respectfully placed it in front of me.
Bertolt: "All you have to do is sign and report it, sir."
Bertolt: It was as if he were my superior, giving me a direct order.
Bertolt: But the man's integrity was unwavering, almost to a fault. I struggled to come up with a good reason to deny his request.
Lilya: That's him, alright. He's the kind of guy who believes in taking responsibility for your actions and facing the consequences.
Bertolt: The man is obsessed with "justice," like a bull fixated on the red cloth in front of him.
Bertolt: He may seem determined and honorable, but he is destined to be weakened and exhausted by the banderillas.
The two witnesses look into the interrogation room through the window.
Aleksei does not move his lips, answering only with nods while the two wait outside for their summons.
Bertolt: It's almost our turn.
Bertolt: You know, you and I are lucky to even be standing here today.
Lilya: I know. Death and sacrifice are the way things usually go.
After an impatient wait, they both look back into the room.
Lilya: How much longer until I can go in? Can these inefficient slowpokes hurry it up?
Lilya: I will not stand around like an idiot again, like when I first arrived in Juhalerat.
Bertolt: Calm down, soldier. Someone will call for you when it's your turn.
Bertolt: This is how it is in a war zone—nothing ever runs smoothly, and there's never enough of anything. You are not at the academy anymore.
Bertolt: We have lost a great deal to the "Storm."
The man stops, not wanting to complete the thought.
The Zeno Arms Academy in its current state resembles a bombed-out building, barely recognizable in its own rubble.
It's as if even the slightest rain could wash it all away.
Bertolt: We are facing shortages on all fronts—people, supplies, and shelter. Things may seem bleak, but it is in these challenging times that our loyalty truly shines.
Bertolt: Desperate times call for desperate measures, and that is why we find ourselves here, getting our hands dirty in the middle of this war zone.
Bertolt: Many clients entice us with offers that are too good to refuse—money, weapons, a place to stay, and most importantly, information.
Bertolt: And all we have to give in return are our soldiers—"currencies" that we'll lose anyway in the next reversal.
The girl looks at the figure through the glass.
Lilya: And the battlefield sharpens these "currencies" faster than any training ground.
Solemnly, the officer pats the girl on the shoulder.
Bertolt: Yes, comrade. Everyone dies, they just don't know when.
Lilya: Is Aleksei going to die?
Bertolt: To the death penalty? No, little falcon. It's not that serious of a matter.
Bertolt: He'll likely spend three years in prison, have his sentence reduced, and eventually be pardoned.
Bertolt: In any case, there are plenty of ways to get him out early. We're short-handed right now, and we're not going to let young blood waste away in prison like this.
Bertolt: And I have a feeling that the admiral will be interested in overseeing this case, so don't you worry.
Bertolt: He'll—
A clerk emerges from a room down the hall and signals to Lilya.
Bertolt: It looks like you're up first, little falcon. Go on, remember what I told you.
Bertolt: Be completely open with them. Tell the truth, for your own good and for Aleksei's and mine.
Lilya: Pfft. And I thought I was gonna get the whole hood-and-cuffs treatment, kicked into the room by steel-toed boots.
Bertolt: You want that kind of treatment? Easy, just blow my brains out in front of the guards right now.
Waving her hand, Lilya enters the room without looking back.
Lilya: Hah. We're better off staying alive, you and I. Later, Bertolt.
She pulls out a chair, hops onto it and crosses her legs, swinging her feet under the table.
Interrogator II: Miss Lilya, is it? There's no need to be nervous, young one. Help yourself to some candy in the drawer.
Interrogator II: And try not to kick the table. I doubt it could withstand much of your assault. Just take a deep breath and relax.
Lilya: Fine, fine. But do you have any adult potato juice around here? And don't call me "miss."
Interrogator II: No. Are you sure you should be consuming something like that?
Interrogator II: If you're thirsty, there's water in that cup. It's cold, but don't let that stop you.
Lilya: Tsk, forget it. Let's get started then, comrade. What do you want to ask?
Interrogator II: Private Aleksei Fyodorovich Ryleyev shot and killed a fellow soldier during a search-and-rescue mission outside of Juhalerat.
Interrogator II: You were there. Did you witness the act?
Lilya: Yes. I saw everything.
Interrogator II: Good.
Interrogator II: On June 12, Lieutenant Bertolt led the 756th squad into the mountains to rescue a trapped survey team.
Interrogator II: According to Lieutenant Bertolt's report, you joined the mission as a volunteer, is that right?
Lilya: Yeah, I went. Voluntarily.
Interrogator II: Private Aleksei's story and the lieutenant's report don't quite add up. We'd like more information, Comrade Lilya.
Good. She's not a little "miss" anymore.
Lilya: You ask, I'll answer.
Interrogator II: We're only going to ask about certain things, you see.
Interrogator II: Tell us everything you know, starting from the moment you landed in Juhalerat.
Interrogator II: We need the whole truth, every detail of what you saw and heard. Please, comrade.
