Having parted ways with the curious gravedigger, the knight continues back to the Foundation's safe zone.
Tangled branches rustle, sharpening her mind into alarm. But as her hand twitches to her sidearm, a small and timid creature hops out.
Marsha: sigh Just a hare.
Marsha: Good to know they've returned.
It feels in some way hopeful. If the hares can return, perhaps too people, flowers, life.
*bang*
The sound is unmistakable, and yet she questions herself.
Marsha: Was that a gunshot?
She drops low, seeking its source—scanning—placing the sound.
Marsha: From the safe zone.
Battle-honed senses strain to pick out the smallest detail.
*beep—beep—*
Marsha: ...!
The abrupt alert tone startles her upright and out of cover.
Marsha: No ID, but it has to have come from someone in the Foundation.
She hits the connect button.
???: Marsha, right?
Marsha: Who are you?
???: No time to explain. Just listen.
???: Colonel Hirschfelder was just assassinated getting into his car right after the parley. The shot went clean through his neck, severed the carotid artery.
Marsha: The colonel's dead?
???: Yeah, but the important thing is that the shot came from the forest, somewhere near your location.
Marsha: How do you know where I am?
???: Just take cover. I'll call again when it's safe.
Marsha: Who on earth are ...
The call is cut. Marsha switches the device to silent and tucks it away, stunned.
Marsha: With the colonel dead, there isn't much hope for the peace talks.
She repeats the message under her breath, her mouth dry.
Marsha: Can't worry about that now. The sniper may still be here.
She siphons the shock into willpower. The Order's training has taught her how to manipulate her emotions, controlling them right down to the flow of hormones.
They've also taught her not to sit and wait for death.
Marsha: All I have is this pistol. Still, a bullet is a bullet. I'll just need to get close.
Retrieving her weapon, she weaves tactically between thick tree trunks and dense shrubs that offer concealment, inching her way back to Montpaix.
Between the brambles and foliage, she spies armed figures in the distance.
Marsha: Over there.
???: Who's there?
Evidently, she has been spotted too.
Marsha: ...!
On instinct, she slumps downward, and a bullet scrapes a long gash across her metal armor.
Marsha: Small caliber.
Marsha: Five of them, two with machine pistols. Their uniforms, unclear in origin.
???: Come out!
A flurry of follow-up shots shreds bark and skin, painting her armor with splashes of blood.
Marsha: ...!
But she leans on her training, slowing her heartbeat to limit her bleeding and maintain focus.
Marsha: Need to leave one alive. Now, to get a little closer ...
COMBAT
Her ambushers fall one by one. Marsha peeks out from cover, unable to identify their uniforms.
Marsha: Black uniforms ... Can't tell who they might be. Perhaps the Manus?
Marsha: Never mind. Who is it that helped me? Could you—
While Marsha is pondering this, a few dry leaves land on top of her head.
???: Cast your eyes up.
Marsha: Huh?
She looks up to behold a cloaked figure hidden among the branches.
Marsha: ...!
Her rescuer bears a rifle, heavy caliber, scoped, with distinct markings—the weapon of a sniper.
A dangerous inference is drawn in her mind. Yet Marsha begins tentatively.
Marsha: Was it you who shot these men? Do you know who they are?
She feels as if the questions are only pebbles lobbed too lightly to reach the perched stranger.
Marsha: You must have something more to say. Why bother showing yourself otherwise?
???: Tell me, what is it that the Foundation concerns itself with here?
Marsha: That's no secret. We're working on a parley to end this war, but one of the representatives has just been assassinated.
Marsha: These soldiers dressed in black could be our culprits.
???: No. They were sent forth to protect Hirschfelder. Though they tarried too late.
Marsha: Wait, you know Hirschfelder? Do you have any idea who shot him?
???: I did.
Marsha: You! cough You ...
Acrid smoke stings her eyes, blinding her vision.
Marsha: Why ... cough
Marsha: cough
Army Commander: Manus Vindictae? No. The Field Marshal will not entertain such a thing.
Army Commander: You've simply conjured up some invisible enemy to achieve your goals.
Army Commander: We can conclude only this: that our enemy agreeing to this parley was only a ruse and that the assassination of our colonel was meant to sow fear in our ranks.
Army Commander: We will not yield to such a contemptible tactic. They have chosen war, and we will answer in kind.
The line is cut abruptly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Confusion and tension ripple through the office, simmering like a pot ready to boil.
...
Z: The assassination in Montpaix has been a serious blow to our global efforts. Many nations have withdrawn from our peace talks in response.
Constantine: Did we lose anyone?
Z: No. Our investigators on the scene confirmed they heard just a single gunshot at the time.
Z: We do have a confirmed sighting of the shooter.
Constantine: Yes. I heard. Yet they didn't fire on her, which means our shooter isn't likely to be with the Manus.
The chief of staff nods in agreement, then lays out the situation at hand.
Z: The Hawks have reacted strongly to this incident; they're calling for the Foundation to enter a state of war readiness again.
Z: Irinei gave quite the speech at our last meeting. It's clear the moderates are wavering over to his side.
Constantine: ...
The Vice President sets a chess piece on the desk and flicks it. It rolls in a slow arc.
Constantine: True, but there are still things we can do to maintain the balance. We must consider violence our last resort.
Constantine: Send a special unit to Montpaix. I need to figure out what really happened.
Z: "Razor" is on a mission at the eastern front; they won't be back in contact for several days.
Z: There are three squads presently available for deployment: codenames "Metaphor," "Omen," and "Minerva." But I don't believe any of them are suitable for this mission.
Z: We're left with only one option: the newly founded "XII."
Constantine: That's Creius's team. I'm sure he'd be eager to buff up his resume with this mission; he's eager to prove himself.
Z: All the members of the "XII" used to work for Creius at the Vigiles Bureau. Their experience could be useful for this mission.
Z: Many of the arcane crime cases they cracked involved the Manus.
Constantine: I understand he's been seen in the company of several prominent Hawks. He even spoke with Irinei several times.
Z: Are you suggesting his policy leanings could pose a problem?
Constantine: On the contrary, he'll make a fine choice precisely because his appearance at the front line will calm the Hawks' nerves.
Z: Understood.
Constantine: Tell Creius he and his team will set off in two hours.