As storm clouds gather, chance for peace dwindles to a point of impossibility. Two parties now travel to their centers of government, awaiting a multitude of decisions, judgements, and consequences left in the wake of the first of many fights between two worlds.Yet as an ominous fate looms overhead, a small ember of hope can still be found, if but in the faintest traces, simply by word of mouth................
Twilight once again walked through the halls of her castle, several bags of luggage floating behind, enveloped in an aura of lavender magic. Pinkie stood by her side, who had more or less accompanied her there for moral support. Despite what little success she was able to achieve in that goal, Twilight was glad she was there, it made passing Tim's body and room a little more bearable. As she passed Tim's former sleeping quarters for what she would assume be the last time for awhile, something in her mind suddenly clicked. She was pondering how suddenly his demise had come, and in turn how long it had taken for things to deteriorate. This had inadvertently gave way to something Twilight hadn't even previously considered.
"They must have been in a rush to escape, they couldn't have had the time to retrieve all of Tim's things. Could they?"
Finding the need to know incessant, Twilight suddenly turned around, driven forward by the hope that there could be something of value within the room, something they could use to their advantage. This led to much confusion on Pinkie and Summer Breeze's part.
"Twilight? Where are you going?" Pinkie asked.
"Princess, is something wrong?" The guard asked.
Twilight mentally blocked both inquiries, solely focused on the hopes of finding something left of Tim's belongings. As she entered the room, her hopeful thoughts seemed to have some merit, but upon a more through look, they were almost dashed in an instant. While most of Tim's things were still inside, two major items of note were nowhere to be found. His satchel and of course, the weapon he wielded. While the signs were few, they were blatant, as evidence clearly pointed to someone entering the room in a rush, no doubt to take back items that couldn't be left behind. Seeing her newfound optimism vanish, Twilight let out a rather disappointed sigh.
"So much for that idea." Mentally deadpanned.
"Twilight? What's up?" Pinkie asked.
"It's nothing." She replied. "Just.......hoping to find something that could have helped us among the things Tim left behind."
"Like his weapon?" Breeze asked.
"Well.....yes, but it seems the humans were one step ahead of us here as well."
River Breeze began to search around the room followed by Twilight, the two surveying the various objects that once belonged to the human visitor. While their interest was piqued by the prospect of finding something that could be useful against a potential counter-strike by humanity, Pinkie on the other hoof, found herself troubled by what was unfolding in front of her.
"Uh, Twilight?" Pinkie said in an uncomfortably worried tone. "Should we really be snooping around with Tim's things? It feels a little....I dunno..........disrespectful."
Twilight paused to give that some thought, for she had felt similarly before carrying the task out. She understood where Pinkie was coming from, as it did feel a little disgraceful scouring around somepony's things after their recent death. But Twilight was able to look past the moral ambiguity of it and foresaw the items as a crucial boon at a time like this.
"Pinkie, I know what we're doing seems disrespectful, but Equestria is facing a threat we've never could have been prepared for. Every bit of information on humanity we can learn will help us in the long run. Right now we need to focus on protecting Equestria, even if it means doing things we wouldn't normally do."
Pinkie's response to that was less than what Twilight had desired. While she didn't exactly come up with a counter-argument, her face expressed a deep sense of reluctance, no doubt stemming from her disapproval with the situation. Twilight did her best to ignore the objections of her friend, but they bit at the back of her mind.
"Corporal Breeze, if you could be so kind as to round these things up." Twilight asked. "I think Tim had a saddlebag around here somewhere. Best to condense everything in that."
"Of course, Princess." River Breeze responded with a nod.
As the Corporal proceeded to round up the various objects, there was one item in particular that Twilight went out of her way to pick up. It had been laying on the atop the nightstand, and as she enveloped it in a lavender glow, she took the time to really grasp the immoral aspects of what she was doing.
"It feels wrong but what choice do I have?" Twilight struggled in thought. "If humans wiped each other out, what's stopping them from doing it to us? Morality maybe? Or, perhaps something else? Who knows. I just hope that whatever they used to slaughter each other is never brought here. And I'll do anything to make sure it doesn't!"
After an hour or so through the war torn ruins of Berlin, Andrew and those accompanying him found themselves once again at the gates of Fort Bismarck, it's makeshift walls almost serving as a bastion of defiance in the dead of the wasteland. Two large doors built from destroyed jetliner wings began to recede backwards, opening up the path ahead to them. The Convoy once again rolled forward, past the gates and towards the landing strip where the C-130 Hercules awaited them. It's engines were already on standby as Andrew watched its propellers spin.
Andrew eyed it with an almost slight reluctance to board, knowing full well that the destination it would take them to had the consequences of his action in wait for him. But he was strong, both in will and mind, and he knew very well that he'd have to bring his political and societal A-game in the days ahead, not for himself, but for the betterment of his people.
The vehicle pulled up to the large aircraft, stopping several yards from the lowered ramp, over by a small patch of what used to be grass, now reduced to dried Earth. Andrew and Viktor began to exit the confines of the vehicle, receiving a final farewell from his escorts.
"Best of luck to you, sir!" The gunner yelled to him.
Andrew gave the man a courteous nod before stepping out of the car. As he did though, his foot seemed to bump into something on the ground. Looking down to investigate, he saw large bulbous object rise from the dirt below. Out of some strange newfound sense of curiosity, Andrew knelt down to try and dig it out. The task was rather easy, finding the dirt was rather loose. As he unearthed the object, he found that it was an old helmet of all things, one cold-war era SSh-68, battered, rusted, and otherwise deteriorated past the point of repair. Andrew picked it up in his hands and inspected it in closer detail.
"Wonder how long this has been here?" Andrew pondered to himself.
The helmet itself was of Soviet origin, made in a time where nuclear war was the fear that gripped every living soul worldwide, one which plagued the societies of both sides, one which would see fruition 60 years after the conflict's conclusion. It had long been discontinued by the time of The Conflict, however it had been used by many of the poorer nations in the world, and as The Conflict dragged out, older equipment was being pulled out in droves to simply keep the war machine running. Andrew looked over it with a sense of unease. He himself could recall seeing it worn by many he had slain back then. It served as just another reminder of the war that had been, but now, it served as a warning, a possibility of what could happen should man be dragged into conflict once more. What had once been a soldier's defense turned grim reminder had now given Andrew the means to finally address the situation with himself. He would have to make a commitment for whatever path he would forge for mankind in the days to come.
"Will we end up the same way? Will a war with this new world turn out the same way? Will a war be the end of us?" Andrew wondered.
Somehow, he highly doubted it. With a solemn sigh, Andrew released his grip, letting the helmet drop to the hard ground in a loud metallic thud. Andrew wasn't willing to draw mankind back into another war, especially with a son who'd have to endure the aftermath of it. But a part of him told him that if this chance at brokering peace would fail, then they'd have no choice. He refused have his son grow up in a dying world, the last of the human race.
Starting now he'd be committed to peace. Should that fail, then he'd promise himself that he'd do everything in his power to ensure that this war wouldn't end like the last, that that it even could at least in terms of collateral damage. Nuclear Armageddon was no longer possible, given how the Militia possessed no nuclear warheads of any kind. This war would be different, conventional, and Andrew would make certain of that, and make that if it came to warm, they would win it.
Yet at the same time, he pondered how many in the past had possibly said the same thing in justification of their actions, how many wars had been started with a mindset like his, and what the cost of those conflicts had been. Would conflict like the one that would potentially, no, undoubtedly arise be truly worth it? Could mankind win it and not lose the values he had maintained before it had started? Could mankind win at all? Andrew could see that those answers would allude him, the only way of knowing for certain would be to see said task through in its entirety. Viktor came up alongside him, drawing him out of his deep philosophical thought.
"Andrew?" Viktor addressed. "Is something wrong?"
Andrew turned around to answer, uncertain, but content and ready to meet whatever fate had in store.
"No, I'm fine, Vik. let's get going."
Militia response teams were forming up around the entrance to the reservoir, ready to eliminate the tunneler threat that had arisen with extreme force. When first response units came unto the scene they found that only one person had made it up to the lift after the alarm went off. This was none other than Suha, and she was a nervous wreck when they found her. She had thankfully been calmed down enough to a point she could convey words to the people up topside, and upon hearing the mere mention of tunnelers, the Militia was there in fifteen to twenty minutes flat. As the troops got locked and loaded, one man wielding a large incinerator unit stepped up to address the troops, one Colonel Billy Bates. Any facial recognition he could have had was obscured by the aged GP-21U gas mask.
"You know the drill, boys!" He shouted in a static-traced raspy drawl. "We go in, kill anything that ain't human, and light the nest! Hooah?!"
"HOOAH!" They all replied.
Bates pressed the button up to activate lift that would take them down.
"That's what I like to hear!" Bates declared with enthusiasm "Form up! On the double!"
Meanwhile, Suha was being assessed for injuries by one of the medics, a woman in her mid twenties if Suha had to guess. She sat atop an old wooden crate as one of them looked over her. Suha had a bit of blood splattered on her from where the Tunnelers had thrashed at the elevator, but the medics were quick to deduce that she hadn't obtained any injuries.
"Well, you'll be happy to know none of the blood is yours. No severe injuries, at least on the outside. You're very lucky to be alive, little one." The Medic said with a Hungarian accent.
Suha didn't have it in her to reply immediately, her mind was too conflicted with what she had both heard and who she had lost as a result. Kent was yet another soul ripped away from her life, this time in a more literal way. Over the last couple of years Suha experienced a growing feeling of isolation, more specifically in her home life. It started with her brother enlisting, leaving her to attend to her mother's gradually deteriorating mental state. Then it happened again when her mother had practically lost her senses. Then again when she started working at DC10. While her co-workers at DC10 did their best to fill that social gap, it did little to put those feelings of abandonment to rest while she was at home with nobody to talk to. Now Kent, who would sometimes come to visit, was gone. Another soul lost, one more cherished friend taken by the brutal life of the wastes.
"Do you have a name?" the medic asked.
Snapped back to the now by the medic's inquiry, Suha ultimately decided to reply, as she felt staying silent was no proper way of thanking her for at least cleaning the blood off as best she could.
"I-it's Suha." she replied. "Thanks for...thanks for cleaning me up."
"Don't mention it." The medic chuckled with a smile, before it suddenly faded. "I know it sounds prudent, but did you....know anyone working down there?"
Suha was hesitant to answer, but yielded out of a need for some sort of consolation.
"Yes. He......he was a friend." Suha replied.
"Suha, I'm so sorry." The medic replied with sympathy.
"It's okay. I guess he was looking out for me even in his last moments. He told me to run, just before the tunnelers were on us." Suha informed her, stifling back any tears that may have appeared. "Doesn't make it any easier though, does it?"
"No. I'm afraid It doesn't. If it's any consolation, I think everyone here knows how you feel. We've all lost someone at one point or another. Comes with life I'm afraid."
"I guess so."
Both Suha and the medic knew the feeling of loss, but even more so on how to cope with it. People had learned to build up that emotional armor, had to in fact, as foregoing it would ultimately result in the Wasteland eating you alive. Better to steel yourself for the harsh state of life than to stack on an ever amounting pile of grief. The Medic reached out her hand to her and proceeded to help Suha up on her feet.
"I believe that's all there is to it, Suha. However, I'm afraid we'll need you to stay for a while longer. My CO will probably want a short testimony on record for the official report. Once they're done, you should be free to leave."
Suha nodded, and proceeded to follow the medic to give her CO a short testimony. Just another tragedy for the record it would seem, with any luck, it wouldn't take that long.
Luna stood amongst the ruins left behind in the wake of the portal's destruction. She found herself completely stunned at just how much damage had been inflicted to the library, reducing its pristine beauty to complete rubble. The room echoed with the sounds of crumbling walls and drafts of wind that penetrated into the exposed interior. Other than that there was no other noise. The sheer lack of sound made it feel like a tomb, sending a chill down the spine of the night-toned alicorn.
"I-I'm at a loss for words." Luna said quietly.
Celestia knew perfectly well what thoughts plagued her sister's mind, for they were the same thoughts she herself experienced upon discovering the scene for herself, and the repercussions it entailed. Luna turned to Celestia with a troubled look.
"And to think I was only worried about Tim's weapon." Luna emphasized "If the regular human soldier possess this level of destructive capability-"
"Then it seems the human race possess more surprises for us." Celestia finished. "And it's very likely that their capabilities don't end there."
Luna and Celestia both delved into that thought, conceptualizing the possible weaponry human technology could have given birth to. The possibilities were frightening to say the least, and with each second dedicated to the particular subject, the already insurmountable odds they faced only seemed to grow.
"That's without a doubt. If their whole species centered their technology into fighting wars..........what chance do we have?" Luna asked.
Celestia wished she could answer that, but the truth of it all was that she had no idea.
"What are we going to do, Tia?" Luna said fretfully.
Truly, she didn't know. But, Celestia did her best to come across as confident, if only to set an example and encourage her sister to stay strong and prevent panic.
"What's expected of us, Luna. Once the elements and their escorts return we shall all head to the train station here in Ponyville. The reserve troops no doubt came her in an armored transport, We'll use that to return to Canterlot. We address the situation from there and proceed to pool every feasible resource we have to defend Equestria."
While she felt like she had just been reiterating her already wishful statements, Celestia meant every word she said. Panic would only prove to make things worse and it would take every fiber of strength to pool together a defense against a threat that could arrive at any time and any place.
"And what are the specifics of that, exactly?" Luna inquired.
Celestia let out a sigh of mental fatigue.
"Still formulating that out I'm afraid. We can discuss this further once we're en route to Canterlot. Right now we need to regroup with the Elements. Odds are they should be returning to the Castle here shortly."
Celestia began to light up her up horn to cast a teleportation spell back to the foyer of the castle. Luna, recognizing the patterns congruent with the spell, began to cast her own as well, linking it with her sister's via a magic connection. In an instant flash of blue and golden light, the two sisters found themselves at their destination. Luna took another look around the room, comparing it's new visual degradation to the pristine state it had previously been. Shards of crystal, rock, and glass scattered across the floor. Singe and burn marks served as a statement to the fires that had once burned through the castle the previous night. Not to mention that many of her fallen guards still lied dead, small pockets of dried blood staining where they fell.
The scene served as a reminder of what could very well come to all of Equestria, and the prospect of seeing vast portions of her homeland rendered into a similar state, haunted her thoughts. But alas, Luna also felt a sense of pity for who the castle belonged to. It wasn't too long ago that Twilight had watched as her former home was reduced to a crater by Tirek's might. While her castle still stood, the damage dealt to it would take time to repair, and that time wouldn't be coming anytime soon.
"I take it your pupil is having a hard time coming to terms with this." Luna said. "Not only is her home in disarray, but she'll be at the forefront of the oncoming crisis."
Celestia's expression turned to one of sympathy, no doubt to her student.
"It will be tough for her." Celestia admitted. "But she's already showing strong signs, mentally at least. So long as she has friends to fall back on, I'm confident she'll recover."
Celestia caught movement in the corner of her eye, and upon directing her gaze up the stairwell, she saw that Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Corporal Breeze had returned from retrieving Twilight's things. Most curious however, was the presence of a rather strange and rugged saddlebag, bearing a configuration that wasn't meant for any pony to put on. Recognizing it as Tim's backpack, Celestia was all but ready to inquire on why Twilight felt it necessary to bring it in the first place, especially considering that it's owner had just passed not too long ago.
"Twilight, why are you bringing Tim's backpack?" Celestia asked in concern.
Twilight gently placed her luggage gently on the floor, the lavender field of light overlapping it fading from view.
"I know it seems wrong, given Tim's passing, but I thought whatever things he had could be helpful in our defense. Perhaps there's something we could learn from whatever's within?"
Celestia found Twilight's idea to be quite sensible. She found herself eyeing the backpack with a newfound sense of optimism, curious if it held any details that could aid them in the days to come. At that moment, Celestia felt a slight twinge of pride in her student, respecting that knack for quick thinking she knew Twilight was capable of on more than one occasion. But simultaneously, she wondered whether what they were doing was morally abhorrent.
"That's an excellent idea, but I won't lie, it's a little-"
The thought then suddenly occurred to her, if Tim's backpack was still here, then so should his other belongings.
"Nevermind that. Did you happen to see Tim's rifle by chance, Twilight?" Celestia asked.
Twilight sunk her head a little bit.
"No. Both it and Tim's satchel were gone." Twilight answered back. "When I entered his room it looked like it had been searched."
"No doubt by his fellow comrades." Luna insinuated. "They must have done the act while we we're incapacitated by that bright flash of light."
"Wait, bright flash of light?" Twilight questioned. "What are you talking about?"
"It happened right after Achmed attacked us. Is saw another device of sorts thrown from behind us." Celestia answered.
"It wasn't a weapon per say as it didn't have leave us in any physical harm." Luna added. "But it did manage to both temporarily deafen and blind us."
"No doubt with the intent to disorient. I recall it being cylinder-shaped with several holes around its exterior."
Pinkie's body suddenly perked up, almost as if shaken.
"What, you mean this doo-hickey?" Pinkie Pie asked, raising the now expended device in the palm of her hoof.
"I.........Yes, actually. That's the one." Celestia said in surprise.
"Where did you find that, Pinkie?" Twilight asked.
"I found it as we we're leaving Tim's room. Thought it was sort of utensil at first, but then I thought 'who leaves utensils' in the middle of a hallway where..."
Pinkie, for a first, finally intercepted what she was going to say, which entailed the battles of last night. But to prevent any sort of emotional discomfort from being felt by the ponies around her, Pinkie chose to forego that particular detail in her sentence.
"I..uh...I just found it laying on the ground and thought it looked weird. Thought It was some strange type of rock for a second. Boy if my sister Maud were here she'd have probably flipped! But since it isn't a rock and is actually a human weapon of sorts I suppose there's really no reason in keeping it. Here you go princess."
Pinkie extended her hoof out to the princess, where Celestia enveloped the now expended device with her magic, levitating it closer to her to inspect it. The device was as she described, but now their were new details that she could explore that the heat of the moment failed to provide. The object was composed entirely out of metal, the top and base of it being pentagon-shaped, similar to that of a common steel bolt. Resting atop it was a small but complex metal housing, that sported a very strange extension that looked to be like a handle, though what its purpose served on such a small thing, she couldn't say. But there was one question that still plagued her mind.
"Why didn't they just kill us?" Celestia wondered. "Maybe...................maybe they were hesitant...................maybe they knew-"
"Princess, I've been meaning to ask, but, what's to become of Tim's body?" Twilight inquired.
Celestia snapped out from her concentration, deciphering the question word by word and finding herself with a lack of an answer. Celestia looked to Luna, for some, if any, kind of advice. Alas, it seemed Luna had come to the same conclusion as her sister.
"We'll see to it that he's properly retrieved and buried in due time, Twilight." Celestia informed her. "Exactly where and when, I can't say for certain."
Twilight's expression drooped a little upon hearing that, but she understood that more pressing matters took priority. Celestia saw this, a did not neglect to address it.
"I know it seems insensitive and a little bit neglectful, but rest assured, Twilight. Tim will receive proper burial. He deserves that much." Celestia assured her.
While her mentor's words didn't exactly put her feelings to rest, they did take some of the gloominess out of them. Suddenly the doors to the castle foyer swung open and in came the rest of her friends, returned from retrieving their belongings for the trip to Canterlot. Each one of them was carrying various bags of luggage, and for once Rarity didn't over pack, bringing only a bag or two as opposed to the mountainous pile she was accustomed to taking with her no matter the distance traveled. They were all here, along with the guards Commander Spark assigned to accompany them and one particular baby dragon. Spike, who was now seeing the damage for the first time, took on a rather glum expression, no doubt taking an emotional hit upon seeing the devastation left behind. Thankfully Twilight was quick to come to his aid, supporting him with a loving hug, one which he was grateful to receive, and eager to return.
"It'll be alright, Spike." Twilight assured him.
Spike looked up to her, giving her a simple nod. Celestia smiled a little, glad to know that Twilight's resolve was healing. Now seeking to move things along, she could read the tell-tale signs that everypony was just about ready to depart. With that in mind she proceeded to levitate the human device over to her student.
"Twilight, if you could place this inside Tim's backpack, I have a feeling it will be inspected along with everything else that's inside."
"Of course, Princess." Twilight answered.
Celestia then turned her attention to the ponies around her.
"I trust you all said your proper goodbyes? The odds of returning to Ponyville anytime soon are slim." Celestia informed.
"We have, your majesty." Applejack answered. "My family took it hard, but, they understand why."
"Scoots is gonna miss me." Rainbow stated. "But she's a tough little filly, she's capable of taking care of herself. Plus I got her watching Tank, so all my goodbyes are taken care of."
"I gave my animal friends a formal goodbye." Fluttershy said. "Dr. Fauna was even kind enough to house sit, and promised to check in on them regularly."
"Sweetie Belle's staying with my parents here in town. They're coming back from their vacation soon, so she should be well taken care of." Rarity said.
"And I said my goodbyes to the cakes an hour or so ago!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"I think that about covers it." Twilight said. "Are we ready to leave?"
"That depends whether or not the reinforcements from Baltimare have arrived yet." Celestia explained. "Commander Spark should have secured the station for our arrival the minute they arrived."
"Perhaps we should start making our way there regardless." Luna suggested. "Time is crucial if we're to utilize it efficiently."
Celestia weighted the option, and ultimately would have suggested taking that course of action had another guard not have arrived but a few seconds later. The bat pony guard, adorned in the armor of the Night Guard Reserve--a clear indicator that he was under Spark's command--landed before the group.
"Your majesties." He addressed them with a salute. "Sergeant Comet. I bring news from Commander Spark."
"Go ahead, Sergeant." Celestia encouraged.
"The reinforcements from Baltimare have just arrived and have taken the reigns over the situation. The Commander has secured the station for your arrival, however a number of Equestria's news outlets are here en masse."
Luna couldn't help but slightly groan at the mere mention, made worse by the fact that there was only more of it to come in the relatively nearby future.
"Seems word has finally gotten out then." Celestia announced. "Thank you, Sergeant. We appreciate the fair warning." Celestia said making her sense of approval apparent. "I suggest we take a quicker route to the train station to avoid any unnecessary delay."
"Teleportation?" Luna inquired.
"Teleportation." Celestia confirmed. "Everypony, if you could, please gather round. Teleporting such large group works easier if in closer proximity."
They did as their princess insisted, and began to huddle into a tightly condensed group. Once satisfied, Celestia and Luna began to cast the Teleportation spell large enough to encompass the group and all their things. In a quick flash of gold and blue, the company was transported from the castle foyer to the waiting area of Ponyville station in mere seconds. Upon their arrival, they were met with the sight of a rather startled Commander Spark along with several dozen of his reserve guards surrounding and patrolling the station.
"Ah, your majesties, I see you've arrived." Spark said, fatigue clearly trailing in his tone. "In perfect time too. My guards are spread thin as it is, I wasn't certain we'd be able to push back the oncoming mob of reporters that are popping up around town."
"Best we depart now then." Celestia suggested.
"A good call, your majesty." Spark concurred. "We'll be taking the transport train."
On the tracks, laying in wait, was the royal night guard transport train, with armored boxcars composed of iron supports, blue-steel plating, and heavy-oak painted in a shade of nightly blue. The guards who patrolled it bore a feeling of almost borderline paranoia, as every move they made came across as skiddish and ready to jump at a moment's notice. Twilight and the others no doubt deduced it from their experiences last night, one nopony could ever forget no matter how hard they tried. It felt strange seeing the usually casual and even friendly atmosphere of the station hopelessly devoid of it, and something told Twilight that only more of that same anxiety was to be experienced in the days to come.
"It's not the most luxurious, but I think with current circumstances I'd say safety takes a bit priority." Commander Spark insisted.
"It will do, Commander." Celestia acknowledged.
With that, Commander Spark nodded and proceeded to relay the orders to his men that they would be departing shortly. As Twilight and company boarded the train, she tried to think of the brighter side of things. For one, she'd be returning to the city where she was raised, where she was taught. To her, Canterlot held a close place in her heart. Perhaps she could use this time to finally spend some more time with her parents. But once again, those thoughts of optimism would give way to dread, stemming from the harsh reality of things.
"I wonder what they know of the situation?" Twilight pondered. "I bet they're worried sick about me and Spike. Just wondering if we're alright. Perhaps it is a good idea to stop by, take some of the anxiety off of their shoulders."
And while putting some of those fears to rest would do both Twilight and her parents some good, there was no way to put the possibility of oncoming invasion to rest. One that could happen at any time, and potentially, anywhere. That alone brought the concept of where the humans could strike next, and that is what truly frightened her.
The confines of the C-130 heading towards home would normally be perceived as a rather welcoming sight to most, but it brought a sense of anxiety to those currently traveling aboard. What awaited them upon their arrival to New Damascus was speculative, as news of whether the word had gotten out yet remained unknown. Andrew saw it as likely, considering the soldier aboard their ground escort's turret currently knew about it. When your Survivor community consists of only about 50,000 people, word tends gets around fast. At this point, any fears of reprimand and resignation as Commander-in-chief had dissipated, with Andrew content with committing to the only two options that laid before him. Peace, or war. Man would have one or the other by the end of this.
Quite frankly, Andrew was actually just looking forward to being back home again, where the wife and son he loved were waiting for him. In contrast, Sarah saw this trip as a disaster waiting to happen. If news had already spread, her family would no doubt be against any and all prospects towards conflict, a staunch stance she knew all too well. Combined with her visit, one would be reluctant to call it timed well. In short, Sarah was ready for this to be over with so that she could get back to commanding the 3rd, as something told her that her command would finally be put up to the hardest test.
Achmed's mind had to be the most preoccupied with thought among the three, one could even say he was outright riddled with it. Vengeance and familial obligation battled for control of his attention, and the more he delved into either, the more conflicted he became. While he put up his best effort to hide and gain control of this unstable train of thought, the fact it loomed over him felt like a huge mental thorn in the side.
These thoughts occupied their minds for the majority of the trip, having taken off hours ago, they were bound to be getting close to New Damascus by now, each second passing adding weight to Achmed's already troubled feelings. While he might have put on a brave face for Andrew and the Colonel, he was beginning to doubt whether he could go through with this.
"Is there still time to back out? Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to pay the price for this?" He struggled to decide in his head.
Just like before, his thoughts returned to his little sister. It then occurred to him that the option of backing down would ultimately spell separation between them regardless, though unlike the separation that going through would entail, the time he'd be spending away from her would be within the confines of a cell, rather than the frontlines of war.
War. Almost as if on que, the thoughts of his war for vengeance came front and center. That fire he felt watching his friend get killed returned, though not nearly as strong. He knew his vendetta would tie the fate of every human being together, as his personal stakes would be obscured under the pretense that the war would be one of response to retaliation, maybe even outright survival. Achmed knew well enough from what Tim had shared with him that this Equestrian nation would be decimated by a full-fledged and fully-armed human military force. While the reservations of some had merit from the past experiences of The Conflict, there were three major things that Achmed was certain would keep this war from suffering the same fate.
One, humanity was united now, and years of surviving the wasteland had built up their technological and strategic superiority to a pointvwhere they could very well make quick work in a war. Two, the resources needed to sustain their small population wouldn't be much in comparison to an entire world that was supposedly flourishing. With this in mind, collateral damage would no doubt be reduced to preserve the environment they would one day inhabit. And Third, mankind's greatest weapon would never be used again. Not only would it prove counterproductive by destroying the paradise they so desperately needed, but the Militia didn't even have any surviving examples in their arsenal. Case in point, nothing in Heaven, Earth, or the Depths of hell was worth the price of using a nuclear warhead.
It was at this moment that his panicked train of thought had ceased, and Achmed had decided to rationalize his two options. It would be here and now to decide, to commit to his story which would lead to war, or admit to his actions, and suffer the penalty of death for almost starting a war. After careful consideration, Achmed made his choice. No more going back, no more reluctance.
"I'm sorry, Suha."
"And your certain of it?" The Lieutenant asked.
Suha sat on the opposite side of a worn and aged excuse of picnic table that sat underneath a large desert camo net within the confines of Militia Outpost 34, the closest Militia strong point to the reservoir. This had been after the sudden change in course, where upon being taken to the medic's Sergeant, the usual quick on-site testimony was suddenly halted by the very officer, questioning Suha now, one Lieutenant Schultz. He was a German man from what Suha could tell, both from his thick Hessian accent and features alike, probably in in his mid-thirties. He was bald, wearing a fade green beret, and M81 Jacket and some dusty khaki cargo pants. Overall, he looked the part of a weathered soldier.
After his insistence to carry out her testimony elsewhere, Suha was escorted inside an old VBL and driven off to the outpost where she was currently held. While this sudden change in procedure was a little out of the ordinary and initially unnerving, it was in no way frightening to her. The debriefing had taken place outside in clear view for all to see. Not the slightest bit like the interrogation Suha had initially expected. And furthermore, some of the fear was taken off by knowing well enough the motive behind it. While the tunneler attack in the reservoir was an important concern, the fact that an entire well's worth of water had suddenly vanished was no doubt the major issue being discussed here.
"Yes sir." Suha replied. "From what I saw, the entire well was empty."
She saw the Lieutenant's expression change from wary, to sullen, and finally to furious. Yet he held back in conveying the latter.
"*Scheiße! Dieses ist sehr schlecht!*" Suha heard him swear under his breath. "*Dann scheint es, dass Berlin unsere letzte Hoffnung ist.*"
While taking a few seconds to regain his bearings, Suha couldn't help but feel some slight bit of sympathy for him, no doubt he'd be bearing a fair share of consequences as a result of it. Letters to the next of kin of those who died and breaking the bad news that shortages were going to be even more stringent in the future.
"Thank you for sparing the time, Miss Sabbag." Schultz said kindly. "I'll notify one of my men to see you out."
As Schultz got up from the table and was about to leave, something Suha said made him pause.
"Things are only going to get worse, aren't they?" She asked.
Schultz was already facing the other way, but every bit of his body language indicated that he had heard every word she said. He hesitated to answer, but ultimately relented, giving Suha an answer that she found rather, confusing.
"It would seem that way. But perhaps not, Young one. Perhaps not."
And with that, Schultz carried on his way. The way he said it didn't seem like he was trying to hide the truth, but rather as if his mind was preoccupied with another thought.
Shortly afterwards, one of the soldiers escorted Suha outside the outpost perimeter, where to her surprise, someone she knew was waiting for her on the outside. It was none other than her co-worker and friend, Tony Bertino, who she had been jesting with earlier that afternoon.
"Suha!" Tony called out to her.
"Tony?" Suha addressed. "H-how did you know I was here?"
"We heard what happened at the reservoir." He explained. "The gang DC10 were worried sick, the minute I heard about it I came running as fast as I could. I asked around for you when I got there, wondering where you were. One of the medics there said she treated you, and that I could find ya here. The Militia guys said I had to wait till their officer was done talking with ya. That was about an hour ago I think.
Suha felt a slight bit of comfort in knowing how far Tony went to find her and make certain she was alright. Tony looked her over, and was a little unnerved by the sight of dried blood on her clothes.
"Oh God, Suha. Did you get hurt?" He asked with a startled look.
"What, oh! No. No, the blood's not mine." Suha clarified.
Tony wasn't certain whether or not that was a relief, as neither case really sat well with him either way. However Suha was once again reminded of who's blood it most likely was, and once again felt sorrow grip her thoughts if but slightly. Tony, let out a much needed sigh of relief.
"Well, you're alive. That's what's important." he claimed. "C'mon, let's get ya home."
"Home? But my shift doesn't end till 5:00?"
"Uh, Suha." Tony said with an amused look. "It's about 7:20. It's probably gonna take us an hour or more to get back to The Edge. Besides, even if it wasn't, I don't think anyone would blame you for taking the rest of the day off."
The passage of time honestly shocked her, had she really been gone for that long. Perhaps the thick of it all had warped her sense of time. Regardless, Tony had a point. It would be getting dark soon, and as much as the wastes was a danger in the day, the night time brought even more dangers.
"Alright. I guess I should go home, shouldn't I?"
Tony suddenly bared that quirky grin he'd been known for.
"Well, if you feel like walking home by yourself, it sure save me some time." He quipped sarcastically.
"Haha. Very funny. Jerk wad." Suha feigned.
Tony let a little chuckle before giving her a pat on the back.
"C'mon kiddo."
...................................One Hour Later...................................
The two then proceeded an hour long-trek through New Damascus before reaching The Edge, the neighborhood Suha lived. When Suha and Tony finally found themselves at Suha's house, which amounted to a sheet metal shack, the nighttime dark had finally arrived, with the only remaining light sources coming from campfires outside and the lights within people's homes.
"And here we are." Tony said.
"Thanks for walking me home, Tony." Suha said.
"It's no problem, kiddo."
As Suha climbed the steps to the front door, Tony added his last well-wishes.
"Try to get a good night's sleep. And if your still a bit racked from the whole thing, don't hesitate to call in sick."
"Well, I'll try and good night's sleep. But I should be fine to work tomorrow."
"It's up to you kid, just keep it in mind, okay?
"Alright."
"Thatta girl. Goodnight, Suha." He said.
"Goodnight, Tony."
As Tony walked off into the dark, Suha entered her home, shutting and locking the door behind her. The Sabag household was like many others, a chaotic culmination of different exteriors and interiors interlaced with a connecting vibe. In the Sabbag's case, the home was littered with carpet, decor, and rugs bearing various pre-war Arabic embroidery designs. While it served to create a rather welcoming atmosphere, it did nothing to mitigate that isolating sensation Suha had experienced on so many nights previously. While she felt like she was this home's only occupant, that wasn't entirely the case.
"Speaking of which." She noted to herself.
Suha kicked off her shoes, placing them next to the door. Once that was done, she lowered the hijab off her head and proceeded to walk past the kitchen, and into the hallway, making her way down to the very end until reaching the very last door. The door was unmistakable as the entry to her mother's bedroom, as it was the only door in the house made from a re-purposed truck door. She pulled the latch open, swinging outwards and stepping inside, Suha was greeted with the less than comforting image of her mother sleeping. Suha was able to eye the half eaten bowl of stew on her nightstand, indicating that one of the doctors from the clinic must have checked in on her, as normal. Suha took the time to gaze upon her mother, and what she saw saddened her. Her once beaming joyous aura had been supplemented with one of sickly weakness, her features were now gaunt and bony, and her skin tone was a ghastly shade or two paler than what she had remembered from years earlier. Suha contemplated whether or not she should say hello, but ultimately decided against it, both out of a desire to not disturb her, and even she did ,there was a good chance that her mother wouldn't even recognize her on the spot. That would lead into a thorough reiteration of the same explanation that she had given her for God knows how long. That was something Suha was honestly too tired to put herself through, thus she decided she'd simply say hello in the morning.
Suha closed the door and proceeded to her own room where she changed into her sleeping clothes. From there she headed to the living room, where she began to cook herself some dinner. Using the tub of rice, the little ground chicken that was left from a few days back, milk, cheese, and a few eggs, Suha cooked up a modest meal for one. After 45 minutes of cooking, Suha walked over to the couch in the living room, taking a seat and ready to settle down for the night. Taking a few bites in, she found she was satisfied with the meal. If taking care of her mother had taught her anything, it was how to cook. Suha found a liking to it, being able to create meal from ingredients presented a bit of a challenge. While she desired to strive into deeper and more complex recipes, food shortages tended to keep that from happening. Just another dream stunted by their current circumstances.
As she sat in the silence, Suha couldn't help but reflect on the day's events, and with essentially no one to discuss them with at the moment, they were beginning to take their toll on her. Knowing full well that it was happening, Suha sought to find something to occupy her thoughts. Suha proceeded towards one of the few remaining form of live entertainment still available in the post-apocalyptic world. This was none other than the radio. A bit archaic it terms of what was available before, but considering TV was now regulated to watching old movies on VHS and DVD--or Blu-ray if you were lucky--radio stations made a major comeback. Odd enough that their popularity was a relatively recent luxury too. The Preservation branch set it up with the intended goal of raising public morale in general, and it succeeded in strives as it became an overnight sensation. That was only six years ago, and while there were only a handful of 5-6 stations available, their mere presence was a blessing to the people of New Damascus.
With a quick turn of the dial, the loudspeakers of the radio set began to bur with static, gradually dying down to a point where the introductory message was beginning to play out.
"*Attention, the following program may contain language not fit for younger audiences.*" The calm and collected voice addressed. "*listener discretion is advised.*"
"Yeah, yeah, get on with it." Suha internally groaned.
Suddenly, Suha's favorite disk jockey could be heard clear as day, eliciting a slight smile from the young teenager.
"*What's up wastelanders!*" A deep but charismatic voice bellowed. "*This is your host, Bill "Bloodhound" Barkley!! AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!! The hour is 8:30, and you know what that means! From now till dawn, it's nothing but smooth blues, and carefree lullabies to rest those weary woes of post-apocalyptia. We got everything from jazz, funk, and everything in-between, baby.*"
Hearing the rather eccentric host play the role of the charismatic radio host managed to mitigate her worries if but for a moment.
"*But first, we're coming at you with some breaking news!*"
Suha felt her heart skip a beat, fearing what would no doubt come next, dashing any hopes of keeping her mind off the very thing she sought to escape.
"*And before you ask ol' Bloodhound. NO. It ain't about the shit that went down at the Reservoir today. God knows that's been talked about to death.*" Bill mouthed.
Suha sat with a sudden sigh of relief, and a growing interest to hear what said news was.
"*No, what I got might just brighten everyone's day! So gather round boys and girls, this is one you don't wanna miss. Your boy Bloodhound here has it on good authority that our dire food shortages may become a thing of the past. Now I know what your thinking, it sounds too good to be true, right? Well that's precisely what your boy Bill thought too. But it just ain't one basket I'm hearin' this from either.*"
Suha was now hooked, intent to listen to the latest rumor if for curiosity's sake alone.
"*Supposedly, our boys in Militia found a pre-war gizmo capable of--and I shit you not--poppin in and out of other worlds!*"
Suha's brow furled in confusion and utter disbelief.
"*Stuff out of science fiction I know, now before y'all paint me as the newest nutcase, hear me out. This isn't some crack-pot rumor from the ass-end of some cooked up fool like like normal, I got multiple first-hand and eye witness accounts on this one, from both the soldiers in Berlin--that's where this things supposedly at by the way--and even some of the on-site scientists. A lot of em' said they been there for weeks guarding the damn thing, Not only that, many of em' said they even been to the other world. Supposedly it was a hot mess, and a lotta of the details are hazy. But they did verify two things about this other world. For one, it's apparently a Garden of Eden, I'm talkin trees, water, blue skies, and air doesn't smell like ash 24/7. The other thing--and drum roll please--it's inhabited.*"
That last part had effectively hooked Suha, and no doubt every other person tuning in.
"*That's right boys and girls, I'm talking extraterrestrial on this one! I got multiple reports that our boys duked it out with the natives. Our guys thankfully came out on top, little to no casualties save for one, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what comes next. Do we got a war on our hands? Who knows, guess time'll tell. Now I know a whole lotta of you probably still ain't convinced, and that's fine, pretty normal reaction for someone with half a brain. But take this into mind before you think about shrugging it off. Word is both our dear Councilors Bradford and Sawyer are out of town. Where you may ask? Berlin. Coincidence maybe? Pfft, yeah, I think the hell not. Even if ain't a portal, something's definitely goin' on in Berlin. Anyways, that's it for now. With any luck, we can get more details as the night drags on. Until then, it's time for some music. Up first on center stage is Jim Croce with Don't Mess Around with Jim! Enjoy!*"
As the radio began to project the strum of the acoustic Guitar in a sooth, steady beat, Suha felt as if her body had froze solid, stunned as a realization crossed her mind. Her brother was stationed in Berlin.