Hodr..
Just five?
I'm not going to stop you, but you should know that it is enemy territory up ahead.
I understand.
But, it is my opinion that as General Heckler keeps Mizoram suppressed,
It would be more efficient for the Valkyrie squad to move ahead and strike at Binonten.
We can circle around the north.
The northern borders have already been alerted to us.
The Artemis would have no trouble breaking through.
I must return to my duties, the defenses have to fall as soon as possible.
I understand.
What do you think you're doing?! More haste, less speed!
You're running out of time..
..Hodr!
Not-Bad. Cease-fire Negotiations.
The Krishna capital.
Binonten produces the largest amount of the precious reactive quartz crystal on the continent.
It was protected by the geography of the region, and was blessed with productive fisheries.
While in the neighbouring Commonwealth of Athens,
it was warned that natural reserves have fallen to critical levels, below national expenditure.
Athens marched it's army on Krishna.
While the army led by General Heckler was caught in a stalemate at the fortress Mizoram,
Zess, commanding the Valkyrie squad, exploited the superior mobility on the five Artemis Golems,
bringing the war to Binonten.
Meanwhile, in the Athenian city of Irios' council,
at it's helm was the Secretary of War, Loquis.
A reevaluation of the war efforts was underway.
In other words, this excuse riddled report says that
despite bearing the forces of 150 Golems,
could not overcome a force of 50 odd Golems.
Our casualties have started to have an impact.
The citizens cannot know of this.
No, we could actually say that we have stemmed our initial casualties and brought our losses to a minimum.
More importantly, we're running short on time.
Delay any further and there will be the real possibility of Orlando intervening in this war.
Our only option is to involve General Borcuse in this war.
But General Borcuse..
Pardon my intrusion on the council meeting!
The Valkyria squad under the banner of General Arless, in the command of captain Zess,
reports that the attack on Binonten is underway!
It has been three days since their breakaway on the western front,
according to this, we can assume that they are currently conducting raids on Binonten!
I knew we could always believe in Zess! Did he successfully break the enemy defenses using the new Golems?
Reaching Binonten is huge for us.
As expected from the Secretary's brother! Impressive!
Once again, he has acted without consent..
..how far would you go for a little bit of recognition, Zess?
Got it? As we discussed earlier,
our mission is the defense of the capital.
In the unlikely event of a breakthrough, you are to give your everything to prevent them entering the city!
Ma'am!
To your battle stations, commence!
Squad Elza will reinforce the garrisons at the western ring!
Sir!
The rest of you will follow me!
We will protect the north gates with our lives!
Yes sir!
The Golems under the command of General True will sally from the eastern gates!
All soldiers assemble at the east gate!
General True, please stop!
That's an untested prototype!
General True!
And also precisely why I should be the one to test it for you!
Hah! It's as heavy as it looks.
General True,
would it be possible for you to withdraw your attack?
General Baldr, is that an order from you?
I dare not.
You, me and Battalion Commander Sakura only receive their orders from the king himself.
I only offer this as advice.
Looks like you do understand.
As sorry as I am, I'm just going to have to ignore your advice.
To think the lance rack would be a perfect fit for this.
This greatsword yearns to be used by me.
General True, despite the fact that Sakura is already in the city,
for the two of us to be recalled to the same position, I can only assume that the king wishes to preserve our forces!
And it is because of your incompetence that the invasion has even dragged on this long!
My banner will march out and protect the citizens and the city!
Three destroyed. 17 remaining.
Do you think you can flush them out?
No.. It seems they have been given strict orders not to leave their posts.
The surprise was completely executed but they have recovered faster than expected.
Have the gates opened?
Let me confirm.
A single Golem. It's an unfamiliar design.
Unfamiliar..?
It carries a red and white flag.
A messenger?
Hand signals..?
Looks like they're looking to parlay.
"..Operation:"
"..The lecherous prince.. and the insensitive girl.."
"..let's get them in a pair..?"
Is it some kind of code?
I will negotiate.
Captain Zess! It is dangerous! I will go instead!
Stay back, Elekt! Get into firing range of both our Golems and standby!
Zess, who maintained his cool even in the civil war at Assam.. is flustered?!
What the hell are you doing here..?
You, who hated conflict!
Who's that?!
If I remember correctly.. You're the heir of the Tupel family..
As an Athenian, why would you not fight one on one?
I.. uh..!
You're that famous guy..
You have my thanks.
I despise people who have to form gangs in order to beat someone up,
but the one thing I despise more are subservient people like you.
Would you have fought back if was one on one?
Who knows..?
Just that, from what my dad always teaches me,
so long as you're able to wear out their punches, it won't escalate into a bloodbath.
And if they decide to keep hitting you until you die, what then?
Still won't fight back?
I didn't think that far ahead!
..I can't tell if this guy has a backbone or not..
What made them involve themselves with you?
Oh, shut up already! How would I know?!
Probably because I'm different from everyone else!
Different from.. everyone?
..he is?
Hey.
If you stay within 10 mailles of me,
you might get away with not drawing their attention.
..but,
don't you dare come within three mailles of me.
Doesn't sound so bad, does it?
I'm called Zess.
..Rygart.
It's been four years.
Unfortunately for us, it seems we don't have the luxury of a celebration.
Rygart..! Answer me! How are you piloting the Golem?!
No, Zess! You will answer my questions first!
Why did you invade Hodr's country?!
Righteousness and justice is on Athen's side in this war.
I will be unable to stop it.
Nonsense! You've come this far into our lands, and you dare call it justice?!
General Baldr! No movements so far!
The north gate will standby for as long as possible, as per Queen Sigyn's requests!
Seems like the only issue will be General True at the eastern gates.
The enemy forces are attacking the northern gates.
Surround and crush them!
We, the Draupnir heavy cavalry, shall strike as lightning!
Move out!
We march!
Roger that!
Listen to me.
The seeds of this war have been sown by the superpower in the east, Orlando.
The people involved in creating the civil war in Assam have been communicating with the troops there.
What's worse,
the Orlando forces responsible for the rebellion was given silent consent by Krishna to pass.
In other words,
Krishna is an accomplice to the ambitions of Orlando!
..Accomplice?!
Wait! Do you seriously think Hodr would be capable of something like that?!
Of course I don't think that!
I know full well that Hodr is not interested in the affairs of the throne myself!
Krishna's position is merely being undermined by the military exercise they held with Orlando!
Hodr has been caught in a set up!
Please, Rygart..!
Convince Hodr, make him surrender!
You're the only one that can do this!
You expect me to agree under such conditions?!
How about you first pull your forces back and talk some sense into Athens!
That's the proper course of action!
At 25 years old, a fledgling like me wouldn't hold that much weight in a council.
We can no longer stay the stupid students that sit around all day preaching ideals and logic irresponsibly.
I am sorry.
The war has started. And it will not stop until it sees it's conclusion.
You expect us to accept those terms..?!
Terms..?
..The enemy..
..moves in from the west?
..Rygart!
You've been nothing more than a diversion to create time!
Zess..! You're telling us to surrender despite those terms..!
Wait!
Listen carefully, Rygart!
This nation, Krishna's demise, is set in stone!
The only difference, is if it will come sooner or later!
It raised it's pressgun!
..General Baldr!
I shall count to five.
You will return to Hodr and make him surrender,
or you can stay here and fight me.
The man leading the second expedition, General Borcuse, is a brutal and incredibly capable tactician at war.
He's coming with an overwhelming force of 200 Golems!
..There's no time left!
..Do not waste your lives defending against the inevitable! Surrender!
Zess..!
I am going to count.
One..!
We suddenly have 15 Golems in our lap. Krishna's doing better than expected.
..I'm getting really anxious!
No point feeling nervous!
It's not like you're going to hit anything with your skills.
I've hit before!
Two..!
Zess.. You will not fire!
"You'll get plenty of fish if you head east.."
I expected nothing less of you, Zess!
More than enough, just as you said!
Three..!
You'll turn back here.. Do it now!
Get back and convince Hodr!
You will not fire..!
You know what you're doing is wrong!
..Why won't you turn back, Rygart!
Four..!
..Five!
Rygart..!
Bloody idiot! Stop moving!
I'll end up killing you!
..Stop it!
..The speed!
What's with this Silver-Black's abnormal acceleration speed?!
Captain Zess, I will encircle it!
Wait, Elekt!
Open the gates, on the double! We're moving out!
Elekt, the main contingent has come forth! That one's unarmed. Leave it be!
Understood!
Heavy cavalry private Dan! Move ahead and support the Silver-Black's retreat!
Yes sir!
If I recall, this Rygart was the man that General Baldr himself escorted as requested by the king.
Is he panicking?
How far is he pulling back?
..Or rather, he's fast!
Damn! We're down six..
We're trapped in a killing zone!
We're completely boxed in!
..General True!
Let's regroup for the time being!
Don't give me that nonsense!
There's just three of them!
If we get through the odds of the battle will swing in our favor!
Conventional Golems will not be able to scale cliffs of that height!
We'll be massacred at this rate!
You think I'd turn tail and run?!
Cleo! How about hitting something for once?!
How useless are you?!
Oh, all right..!
I hit!
Fall back! I will take up the rear!
You fools.. Go on ahead and carry on my will! Protect the capital!
What in the heavens are you talking about?! If you don't retreat, General, we can't fall back either!
Fall back!
Fall back now!
Good.. They're falling back now!
We're hunting them down!
Set for full-scale destruction course!
..Please get away safely!
Queen Sigyn, please refrain yourself!
Please return to the castle!
..He bloody fired on me!
..Zess!
..The bastard!
Should I hide here for the time being..?
Or what.. I could discard this thing..
This part alone's a different color from everything else..
At least, translate it to my language you stupid thing!
I can read the number at least..
..five?
..You again!
..You're the one that interrupted my capture of the king!
What.. just.. happened!?
How is it.. that high up?!
..What was that?
It actually landed, without even so much as a empennage or tail assembly!
No.. What worries me is the height of the jump!
If this ever goes into mass production..!
Even the walls of Irios, our final defense, will be breached!
This one alone must die right now!
Fall into a million pieces..!
It's wearing the light armor we fitted temporarily..!
..Rygart!
I know I hit it..!
I know I drove four rounds in it's bloody belly!
Surprisingly easier than I expected..
I should remember to report this to Zess later..
..It withstood the barrage!
It's holding up the greatsword with one arm!
I only know I ran away, I was running for my life!
Close-Combat. Close Quarters Battle.