Interrogator III: Bertolt, age ...
Bertolt: Shall we skip the formalities and get started, comrade? Let's not waste each other's time.
The officer interrupts with soldier-like efficiency.
The interrogator's face sours. He does not enjoy the disruption of his tiny sense of authority.
Bertolt: How's our soldier faring in captivity? Can you give me a glimpse of the outcome, comrade?
Interrogator III: Private Aleksei is calm, coherent, and cooperating with the interrogation. My role is only to interrogate, the verdict is up to the judiciary.
Bertolt: But the judge is going to need you to provide the evidence.
Interrogator III: Yes, but the outcome is more up to you and your subordinates. My submission will be shaped by your narrative.
Bertolt: Fine. Rest assured, you will learn what you want to know.
Bertolt: By the way, how's the girl?
Interrogator III: Miss Lilya is in another room for questioning. Don't worry, we treat our trainees with care, especially since she's so young.
Bertolt: Those who've experienced war and artillery fire can hardly be called "young" anymore.
Interrogator III: Personally, I agree with this sentiment, but that's a topic for another day. As you said, let's not waste time.
The interrogator takes out another set of documents.
Interrogator III: The prisoner mentioned that you saved a local civilian after the explosion, which led to an argument. What happened after that?
Interrogator III: What happened between Private Aleksei and the auxiliary soldier Hassan, both of whom were your subordinates?
Bertolt: Nothing much. Just an ordinary quarrel between comrades, like an everyday quarrel you might have with your wife.
Bertolt: Honestly, you guys out here, assigned so far from the front lines, can sometimes get a little too ... well, you know.
Hearing this, the interrogator loosens his collar, revealing the scars on his neck and chest.
Interrogator III: Two years ago, we were pulling out of the mountain pass. My squad was responsible for covering the rear and fending off pursuit.
Interrogator III: After the shooting subsided, only two of us survived in that valley—myself, and the officer I later carried back to base safely.
Interrogator III: That's the end of that story.
Interrogator III: The Military Discipline Department is still waiting for our report. We need to wrap up this case quickly, as the higher-ups expect us to work efficiently.
Interrogator III: The admiral wants us to tighten military discipline, and all the bases currently have problems that our oversight team must solve.
Interrogator III: You should understand that a bunch of armed thugs can't be called an army unless they're firmly bound by discipline and order.
Interrogator III: This is especially important when it comes to those unstable arcanists.
Interrogator III: Strictly speaking, interrogations like this should be handled by the Interrogations Department, but for the time being, we are tasked with this duty.
Interrogator III: You've been on the front lines. You should understand Zeno's current predicament better than most. We have lost too many of our comrades in the "Storm."
Interrogator III: Please continue, Lieutenant.
The officer pauses for a moment, then speaks again.
Bertolt: To retrieve the lost documents hidden in the valley, we ventured deep into the mountains, searching for our target.
Bertolt: Such was the directive from the headquarters.
Bertolt: A month ago, we received an order to clear both sides of the road in the mountains—to leave not a single tree standing. But no one bothered to do it.
Bertolt: So when we left the wilderness and followed a trail deeper into the forest, everyone was on high alert.
Bertolt: We spoke little. The chirping of birds filled the silence, taking me back to those long summer days in Odessa.
Bertolt: Lilya's device guided us, but in that place, knowing the direction and finding an actual path were two different things.
Aleksei: My hometown doesn't have nearly as many trees as this, my little comrade.
Aleksei: I'm from Rayashki. You know the place? A cold, faraway little town that has a partnership with Zeno.
Aleksei: Maybe it was because to this connection that I was chosen as a new recruit for advanced training at the Zeno Arms Academy.
Bertolt: You never told me, Comrade Aleksei.
Aleksei: I thought you knew, sir. Didn't all of our files pass through your hands?
Lilya: You didn't know?
Bertolt: I don't pay much mind to these things, but Rayashki is a nice place. I've been there before.
Aleksei: You've actually been there?!
Bertolt: Indeed. The people there are united, brave, and kind, forging a homeland that is both strong and splendid.
Aleksei: That's wonderful! Truth be told, it's been years since I've been home.
Bertolt: In two months you will be able to take your leave and return home. Rayashki is thriving now, and I'm sure your mother has been eagerly waiting for your arrival.
Aleksei: She's always worried about me, sending letters and money ... but I don't need the money. Her letters are more important.
Aleksei: Hah, my father thinks she's a overreacting. Having a son on the front lines is an honor, a mother shouldn't worry so much.
Aleksei: All the men in our family have served. My father was also in Zeno's forces, but he retired a few years ago after returning from Prague.
Aleksei: And my grandfather was a war hero. He earned his medals in Bialystok.
When talking about home and family, Aleksei's face lights up with a bright smile.
Lilya: Your whole family is incredible, Aleksei.
Aleksei: Yes, and we have never compromised our principles—from my grandfather, to my father, to me, and hopefully to ... to my future son.
He blushes at this point, looking a bit timid.
Bertolt: Zeno is truly grateful for you and your father's service, Aleksei.
Aleksei: Service? No, Commander. We call it allegiance! Our loyalty is eternal!
Bertolt: Aleksei is a young man of unshakable convictions, untainted by the various vices of the barracks.
Bertolt: He is committed to changing the locals' hostility toward us, because in order for Zeno to maintain a long-term presence there, fostering good relations with the locals is essential.
Bertolt: In the grand scheme of things, his approach is correct.
Bertolt: Family, country, and military—he is loyal to these "old-fashioned" ideals, and that is precisely what we need.
Bertolt: In these turbulent times, comrade, a brave and loyal heart shines brighter than a thousand suns.
Bertolt: But he is simply too young, too ... impetuous and naive.
Hassan: Boss ...
Bertolt: We remained vigilant. The fearless Hassan was leading the way with comrades from the region.
Bertolt: They seemed to know every hill and tree in the area.
Bertolt: Recruiting local auxiliaries was a wise move. These amiable local allies have done much for Zeno and deserve proper recognition.
Hassan: There's only one path forward. We'd better be careful.
Lilya: Want me to take a look from the sky?
Hassan: Don't, comrade. If you fly up there and a gun is pointed at you down here, you'll be an easy target.
Hassan: My people have hunted eagles in these mountains here, for thousands of years ...
Lilya: Tsk. The Red-38 is no bird. Are you giving your people too much credit, or are you doubting my ability to fly?
Bertolt: Hassan's right, don't expose yourself unnecessarily. Stay behind the group near Aleksei, and cover our rear.
Lilya grumbles, but obeys the order and returns to the back of the group.
Hassan: Doesn't it seem a bit too quiet, boss?
The wind roars into the distance, sweeping through the entire valley.
Hassan kicks a pebble off a cliff, watching it land in a riverbed below the mountains.
In the distance, a majestic mountain peak shines in all its glory, its snowy top sparkling under the blazing Juhalerat sun.
The mighty Hindu Kush, where even eagles dare not fly.
Hassan: I'd prefer it if I had a few locals to chat with. Slow down, boss, I'll take a few men ahead, you follow.
Hassan gestures and calls out in the local tongue. The few locals from the auxiliary forces follow him.
Bertolt: They were adept at mountain warfare, but they clung to their own firearms, unaccustomed to Zeno's arcanum weaponry.
Bertolt: These comrades from Juhalerat were more resilient than other soldiers, and they knew the importance of obedience. Hassan seemed well respected by them.
Aleksei: Why do they get to go to the front? I can do that too.
Bertolt: Because they know the terrain, and you don't.
Lilya: Just follow your orders, Aleksei.
Bertolt: Are we headed in the right direction, little falcon chick? Take out your arcanum trinket and give it a look.
Lilya: About two kilometers to go.
Aleksei: In a straight line?
Lilya: Right.
Aleksei: It'll take about two hours on foot. There's nothing but mountains here, and if not mountains, then trees, and if not trees, then rocks.
Bertolt: And if not rocks, then people.
Bertolt: Our people, their people.
Bertolt: Comrade Lilya pointed the way as Hassan cleared the path ahead. We made our way over the hill and continued on a dirt road between the mountains.
Bertolt: After a narrow pass flanked by rock walls, the mountain trail became more winding. But ahead, we were greeted by houses and watchtowers.
Bertolt: It was then, gunfire erupted from both the front and rear of our formation.
Bertolt: D**n! All hands, battle positions!
COMBAT
Bertolt: Hassan!
Before Hassan can react, a shot splatters the eye that was aimed directly at him.
Bertolt: Aleksei's quick reflexes and exceptional marksmanship saved his comrade just in time.
Aleksei: Watch your back, Comrade Hassan.
Hassan: Oh, thank you, Aleksei! Thank you!
Aleksei: One of our comrades has been hit!
Soldier: 【Yelling in local language】
Soldier: It hurts, it hurts so much! Aaargh!
Hassan: Brother!
Hassan tries to save a comrade caught between two enemies, but his hand is too slow.
The curved blade cuts through a familiar face before Hassan's eyes, revealing a jumble of red and white. It then slashes downward, narrowly missing his fingers.
Lilya: $*&@!
Bertolt: Don't let their blades touch you!
Lilya: Bring it on! Hah! Let's see what you've got!
In a chaotic skirmish like this, Lilya has a clear advantage—she can fly.
The enemy won't have the chance to lift their heads to see her; her comrades will make sure of that.
Lilya: You're next!
Lilya: Seriously, how do more of these guys keep popping up?
Bertolt: Lilya, push forward and clear the way! We're retreating to the village ahead!
Bertolt: Aleksei, go cover her on the ground! There are a few taking aim at her!
Aleksei: Roger that!
At the commander's signal, Aleksei and Lilya lead the way, with the rest following closely behind. Hassan and Bertolt are in the rear, ready to provide cover.
Bertolt: Comrade Lilya's heroism saved us from the ambush, but the battle was incredibly grueling because of the narrow terrain.
Bertolt: We even drew daggers and sabers, like the fierce warriors of old who fought alongside the Shah, engaging the enemy in close combat.
Bertolt: Forced by the situation, we had to retreat forward, fighting as we went, and sadly leaving some of our comrades behind ...
Soldier: Wait, Commander! Brother! Friend! Please!
Soldier: Don't leave us behind! Hassan! Hassan!
Soldier: Ahhhhh!!!
Hassan: Boss, should we ...
Bertolt: Hassan looked at me. I knew he didn't want to leave those men behind.
Bertolt: I also knew he didn't want them to fall into enemy hands alive.
Sporadic gunfire fills the air, while a painful silence hangs between Hassan and Bertolt.
Hassan: There's simply too many of them!
Bertolt: We were unable to reach our comrades who were too far behind, and even if we could, they wouldn't have made it home alive.
Bertolt: Sometimes war forces you to do things you have no say over.
Bertolt: Because you simply have no other options.
Bertolt: Do it, Hassan.
Hassan: Understood.
Bertolt: Sometimes, that last bullet we save for ourselves may well come from a comrade's gun.
Bertolt: The wounded captives, especially those under Hassan, would've been seen as traitors and faced a cruel fate.
Bertolt: The enemy caught up to us from behind, their guns aimed at us for a final attack. Hassan and I shot back.
Bertolt: Their numbers were overwhelming, but we kept firing until they trudged over the bodies of their own dead comrades.
...
Bertolt: The natives of Juhalerat were exceptional marksmen. They don't ask which animal to shoot, just which eye you want them to hit.
Bertolt: Fortunately, Comrade Lilya returned just in time to detonate a bomb, stopping the enemy's pursuit with shattered rocks.
Bertolt: The rubble buried both our fallen soldiers and theirs.
Lilya takes off her goggles and lands on the ground as the broom's flame goes out.
Lilya: I hope I'm not too late.
Hassan: The timing couldn't have been better. The boss and I would've been finished. Thank you, comrade!
Bertolt: They won't catch up for a good while. What's the situation ahead?
Lilya: There's a village, deserted. Everyone's fled.
Hassan: Understandable, understandable. Who wouldn't run at the sound of gunfire?
Lilya: There's a couple houses that nobody's lived in for a while.
Bertolt: Something happened here not long ago, not surprising for a place like this. And Aleksei and the others?
Lilya: They've cleared a room and are treating the wounded.
Bertolt: Good. Let's head there.
Bertolt: There was a watchtower in the village, but it was unclear who built it for defense.
Bertolt: Bullet holes riddled the walls, evidence of a past battle.
Bertolt: Painful screams came from the houses, sounds I knew well—from the halls of military hospitals, on makeshift operating tables ...
Bertolt: Comrade Lilya seemed a bit unsettled, but she'll get used to these experiences in time.
Aleksei: Don't move, comrade, it'll be over soon. I know it hurts a little, but you're a man, aren't you? So bear with it.
Bertolt: How's it looking, Aleksei?
Aleksei: Not great. We've lost five men, three soldiers are seriously injured, and the rest have a range of other wounds.
Aleksei: We are running out of bandages and medicine. We can tear up clothes to use as bandages, but the blood will seep through, and we're almost out of hemostatic agents.
Aleksei's guilt burdened eyes look away. He is now paying for his earlier kindness.
The first aid kit is almost empty. The table is littered with stained bandages and disinfectant tools.
Bertolt: We need to call for reinforcements. Until they arrive, waiting here is the best recourse.
Lilya: And what about the comrades we were supposed to rescue on this mission? Do we have time to look for them, sir?
The officer is troubled, wrestling with the dilemma at hand.
Aleksei: Comrade Lilya is right, we can't just leave the wounded here. If they continue to lose blood ...
Bertolt: Aleksei will stay here to tend to the wounded. Hassan will take a few who can still move to guard the watchtower.
Bertolt: And come, Lilya. Let's talk, just the two of us.