Thomas was looking over the helicopter pad, clutching onto his wrist.

Earlier, the Helicopter was approaching the consulate.

“Remember what I told you, Thomas.” Viktor said while getting ahold of his shoulder.

Thomas turned his face towards him. “Hmm?”

Viktor was quickly annoyed. “You don’t remember what we were talking about last night?”

Thomas smiled. “Oh, right.”

Deadpanned, Viktor asked. “If you truly want this war to end, then you have to remember, or else everything’s gone.”

Thomas nodded. “Right.”

“Also.” Viktor took a deep breath before telling him with the best assertion, “I want you to pass it off as your own idea.”

This took him aback. “Um, why?”

Viktor began to turn around before making one final remark. “You deserve most of the glory than I do.”

Thomas clutched them even tighter as the chopper landed. Slowly, he stood up and exited.

“Thomas!”

He didn’t notice it at first, but Alice was running to him to give him an inevitable hug.

“Oh thank god you’re okay!” she said with relief.

He returned the hug. “Yeah. It was rough, but we managed quite well.”

“That’s nice.” Derek called. “Now then, if you two lovebirds can hurry up there, that’ll be fine.”

“I suggest that you don’t be rude, Derek.” Olivia advised him with most contempt of smiles. “But he’s right. I suggest that you two hurry up and head inside.”

  The two let go immediately. Blushing, Alice would begin to scratch her head.  “Oh, right. We have important guests, Thomas.”

Thomas was a bit concerned. “Important guests? And who would that be?”

The doors would open quickly. In front of them as usual was Redmond. “Thomas, Alice, thank you for arriving.”

“Good Morning, you two?” the Lady in white robes called out with a wave of her hand.

In a cheerful manner, Redmond went on to address, “You two know this lovely chap, don’t you.”

Thomas’s hearts were already beating rapidly as they looked at the man who bared a red armband with the yellow hammer and sickle, stand up from his seat. “Hello, I’m foreign Minister Tvardovsky. Good to meet you.”

Thomas was still frozen in place. “Uh-”

Alice’s elbow would cure him of that.

Smack!

“Umph!” he muttered. A smile would quickly form on his face, as he waved back. “Uh, nice to meet you too.”

“Alright.” Redmond declared. “Take your seats, ladies and gents. We have something important to discuss.”

“Actually, that is the first thing we’re going to discuss.” the Lady brought up.

“That’s right, it’s the first thing we’re going to discuss.” Redmond reiterated.

With deadpanned expressions, everyone in the room asked. “And what would that be?”

Redmond, with a finger in the air, quickly lost his smile. “Uh…”

Tvardovsky was rubbing his forehead. “Ugh, to wipe out the Legion.”

Thomas’s heart resumed to race.

“Mister Wesley, I received word from the Salt Lake consulate regarding this proposal.” Tvardovsky explained. “This was something he’s been wanting to fulfill since he arrived in America. His subordinate, Varma, told me directly, and now this just happened to be a part of the meeting.”

“Oh.” Thomas gulped. “I see.”

“Now, I do think it’s a good idea for the Soviet Government to cooperate with RED in taking out these menaces.”

Thomas’s eyes went wide. “Uh…, seriously?”

“However, we have good reason to not join in this operation.”

“And what would that be?” asked Alice.

He then pointed at Walters.

“Who, me?” he asked worryingly.

“You are the head of Nova, aren’t you?” he asked with scrutiny. “The American appointed organization that oversees security in Chicago, correct? Not to mention that you and most of your organization’s personnel were in America’s Army.”

Walter looked down. “There’s no point in lying, so yes.”

“Secondly, our military will be up against one of the most powerful groups in the world.” Tvardovsky stood up from his seat. “They are obviously a force to be reckoned with. When the Allied forces destroyed us in Japan, in Southern Korea, Iceland, Scotland, West America, East Africa…, ugh, you can thank them for that.”

Thomas’s shoulders tensed.

Tvardovsky’s hand pulled away from his face. “The First Legionary Brigade struck fear into our forces the moment they first appeared. Legends of that group has been passed down from generation to generation ever since. I don’t know what their morale will be once they come in contact with the enemy.”

They all were just as tense.

“Third, it’s been nearly three decades since the war ended. Ever since the rebellion in Italy ended in victory for the rebels, Princess Celestia’s antics, and so on and so forth, we’re in danger of going back to war with the allies.”

The others were still quiet.

He sat back down and began to stack each file over one another. “So, you have a minute to object to these statements, or, we move to the next issue at hand.”

Alice held her hands together, hearing the slap of each files. With each glance, he could see the others look down onto her.

“Wait!”

She looked up to find Thomas on his feet with his hands on the table.

Tvardovsky stopped to face him. “What is it?”

“I-If you may, sir.” Thomas began. “You’ll notice that the NOVA organization is technically a PMC, right?”

“Excuse me?”

“He was appointed by the Government to watch over the Chicago area.” Thomas explained, “He may be affiliated US army, but he’s allowed to run his own army without any restraint.”

Tvardovsky turned to Walters. “Is that true, sir?”

Walters nodded. “Yes sir, I’ve been contracted by the US Government to train officers there, as well as provide security.”

“And is Chicago the last stable city within the red zone?”

“Technically.” Walters said. “Chicago has been in complete disarray since the O’eight riots. It’s holding on by a thread, mister.”

He put both hands on his chin. “So shouldn’t you be focusing on helping them out?”

“Like I said, it’s holding on by a thread. Not to mention that the Chicago Government is slowly being dissolved. This means that my contract will end in no time.” He stood up on his feet. “If you accept this offer, I’ll withdraw my troops from their operations to assist in this one. Don’t get me wrong, they’ll take care of the runaways like that.”

Tvardovsky stretched his arms. “Alright then. Second problem: the soldiers’ morale, are you sure that they will be willing to fight an army that powerful.”

“Don’t worry, mister Tvardovsky.” Walters assured him. “I fought alongside his Brigade.”

His heart nearly stopped at this revelation. “Are you serious?”

Walters put his arms on the table. “I’m the head of the Second Legionary Brigade. Fought alongside the First Legionary Brigade on the fronts you just mentioned.”

Tvardovsky closed his eyes. “Ugh, I see. But don’t you think they can be more powerful than you?”

“Just because I’m head of the second Brigade, doesn’t mean that I’m any weaker than the first.”

Tvardovsky smirked. “I see. Excellent answer, Mister Walters.”

“Your troops will be confident enough once they’re assured that someone equally as powerful is by their side.”

Tvardovsky nodded. “I’m assured already.”

Redmond and the lady looked at each other with ecstatic grins.

“Okay then. Third, declaration of war.” Tvardovsky sighed. “It’s clear that I’m not going to easily be woven into this deal. After all, I’m working with people who conform to the allies. So, prove to me, that the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Empire is not being lured into a trap to start a fourth world war.”

He began to stack his files again. “Especially after the country that started the third one.”

His glare was focused solely on Emma, and she was instantly revolted. “Uh…”

“We were willing to make a compromise until her troops landed at Svalbard. Without NATO’s permission, mind you.”

She gritted her teeth, closing her eyes with a sigh.

“Now then, you have thirty seconds to-”

“Wait!”

Tvardovsky noticed Walters’s call. “Yes?”

“Once we’ve captured Mister Ivan Bentley.” Walters was visibly shaking his arms as he stood up from his seat. “Then I’ll take a bullet to the face.”

The others were in complete alarm.

“Walters, what in god’s name are you thinking?” Redmond yelled.

“You’re at the head of the RED Alliance, Mister Walters!” Emma mentioned. “You shouldn’t be making such brash decisions!”

Thomas and Alice stared blankly at him, as if the color was sucked out of them.

Tvardovsky frowned. “Well, that solves the trust problem. As long as you don’t tell your subordinates, you’re clear. But that still doesn’t solve the war problem.”

Walters sat down on his seat.

“Thirty sec-”

“Why, Walters?” Thomas asked through his shock.

Walters said nothing. He turned to Thomas and cocked his head towards the Tvardovsky.

“Twenty seconds.”

  Thomas was still speechless, and turned to Tvardovsky with all he could muster.

“Ten se-”

“Disguise them.” Alice said.

Tvardovsky then faced her. “You think that will work?”

“The armed forces won’t expect the enemy if they are nothing but individual contractors from the Empire.”

Tvardovsky put his hands under his chin. “I will send two thousand men within a six month period. That should be enough to not alert the US Government”

Alice nodded. “I agree. If we conduct guerilla tactics, instead of in and out raids, we might be able to reduce their numbers with time.”

Tvardovsky smiled. “And if we manage to get the prime two into the picture, they’ll be running around in circles like a bug without its head.”

She nodded again.

“Well then, I guess we have a perfect deal then.” He said with a grin, but it would quickly turn into a frown. “As for you Mister Walters.”

“Yes sir?” he said in a snap.

“You don’t reveal this to any of your subordinates. Once we capture Mister Ivan Bentley, you prepare for execution, got it?”

He only nodded.

Keeping that glum face of his own, Tvardosvsky told him. “You know this is part of the trust, right?”

He nodded again.

“Alright then.” He walked over to Redmond and the Lady. “It was nice meeting you two lovely people, again. I appreciate it.”

He turned to face Redmond. “We’ll commence this operation, starting tomorrow, and I expect the operation to come into fruition by the end of the week. If not, we pull out.”

Redmond nodded. “Yes sir.”

He then turned to the lady. “Will your army be taking part?”

Reluctantly, she said, “Of course, my phoenix forces will be up and ready by the end of the week.”

“Perfect.” Then, he pulled in his laptop and woke it up. “Now then, let’s discuss the Haruhiists in Japan, and how you can…”

As Tvardovsky was talking, he briefly glanced at Walters. He had a face that showed gloom, to that, he couldn’t help but feel the same way.

The sun was already setting, and Foreign Minister Tvardovsky had already left.

“Walters, do you realize what you’re doing?” Emma asked un revulsion.

He nodded. “I indeed do.”

Thomas would say. “And what would that be?”

Walter leaned his head back, and placed his arm over his forehead. “This country’s gotten more powerful ever since the war ended, I think it’s best that we give the Soviets a helping hand.”

“I don’t think the Soviets are that weak, Walters.”

“Well, whatever you say.” Walters stood up and stretched his arms. “I’m gonna go for a smoke, so don’t talk to me unless something pops up, okay?”

In seconds, he too was out the door.

Redmond pulled at his collar. “Ugh, at least it got us the help we need.”

“And you’re just going to let that fly?” Emma scrutinized. “You have to be insane to think of that, Redmond!”

“If it brings us one step closer to ending the war, I’m all in.” Redmond mentioned. “We’re a business, Emma… not a community.”

The three were silent, making their own worried expression.

Redmond put his hands together. “Alice, Thomas, you two are dismissed for the rest of the day. Report back to me first thing tomorrow, as usual.”

“I’ll be making my leave too.” Emma bitterly announced. Then she stood up and adjusted her stoles.

“You sure?” asked Redmond.

She was already picking up her files. “I’ll be discussing my role in the operation with the rest of High Command.”

Redmond put his hands under his chin. “Alright then, you are dismissed.”

“Thank you.” She turned to him to lift her hand upward. “May Celestia bless you.”

Redmond saluted back. “And may she bless you too.”

She nodded halfheartedly before walking out the door with her guards.

Redmond then turned to the two who were facing the door. “What are you two waiting for?”

They turned back to him with a sense of light panic. Thomas would say. “Oh, right.”

“We’re sorry, sir!” Alice apologized. “We’ll be leaving now.”

Redmond nodded. “Alright then.”

He witnessed Alice grab onto Thomas’s hand as they went out the door. Then, Redmond put his cheek above his hand. “This is rubbish.”

The doors opened to the sun that was looming in front of them. Tvardovsky put his arm in front of his eyes as he walked down the stairs. He took out his smartphone as he went into the limousine.

“{Hello.}” said the person being called.

“{Yolkov, your plan was approved by Redmond.}” said Tvardovsky, looking out at the orange sky.

“{Oh… you serious?}”

“{I can say that with certainty, Yolkov.}”

There was silence for a moment. “{Well, what now?}”

“{You and your subordinate will be joining them in the operation.}” Tvardovsky announced.

“{What?}”

“{You will be disguised as private contractors while on the front lines.}” He was taking out his laptop as he said it. “{I’m flying you two to the local airport so that you can head to Vladivostok and change. Head there now.}”

Another pause came. “{Yes, Comrade Foreign Minister.}”

“{Oh, and you have your subordinate to thank you for that.}” Tvardovsky reminded him. “{If it wasn’t for her, then that plan wouldn’t have been proposed in the first place.”

This time, there was silence.

“{It was foolish of you to trust that little errand boy Thomas for the job.}”

“{Right.}”

“{This is your last chance, Yolkov. Don’t mess this up.}”

“{Yes, Comrade Foreign Minister.}”

Viktor put his smartphone away. He then placed his arms over the desk, resting his head over them.

“{Did it go well?}” asked Varma as she entered the room.

Viktor picked up his head. “{It went well.}”

“{Oh… that’s good news to hear.}”

He turned to face Varma, who had her hand next to her swelling cheek. Despite that, she still contained that smile.

To that, he looked away. “{I’m… I’m sorry.}”

A visibly angered Varma would say. “{It’s… Hmph… It’s understandable, Viktor… especially after what you experienced in Equestria. But that doesn’t mean it’s right.}”

“{I know, I know.}”

“{If you truly wanted to get out of this predicament, then you should have told him yourself.}”

He nodded. “{We’ll be heading to the Airport in an hour. So get your stuff ready.}”

“{Okay then.}” Varma kept her frown as her anger faded away. “{I’ll be in my office if you need me.}”

“{Go ahead.}” He didn’t see her leave, he only heard her.

He then proceeded to rest his head above his arms once more. “{Yeah… it was foolish of me.}”

Alice and Thomas had just entered their living quarters.

Thomas sighed as he opened the room to their bedroom. “What a day, right?”

“Of course.” Alice replied with the same feeling.

Thomas sat down on the bed. “Man, I really wish the Soviets weren’t so critical about our relations with them.”

After Alice lied her whole body across it. “Well, they shouldn’t be complaining in the first place. They were the ones who signed the treaty, after all.”

“Yep.”

She started unbuttoning her dress suit. “But hey, that won’t be the case for long.”

Once it was completely unbuttoned, she let both the suit and her arms fly free. “Ah~…. After all, we’ll be ending this war in a year or two.”

Thomas starting unbuttoning his business suit. “Well, that’s also true.”

Alice looked away from the ceiling to face him. “Thomas, is something wrong?”

“No, sweetie.” Thomas tossed the suit onto the floor. “It’s just been a rough day, that’s all.”

“Is it because of Walters?” she asked.

His body began to shake a little.

“It was his choice, Thomas.” She put an arm over her forehead. “It was brash, but in a way, it made sense.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Thomas argued. “He’s gonna die, Alice. What part of that makes sense?”

Alice put his other hand over her chest. “Come to think of it, he never told us why.”

“Yeah…, that’s why I don’t think it’s right.”

Then, it was silent again.

“And that’s why I think it makes sense.” Alice admitted.

Thomas held his hands together.

“When you bailed on those troops during that explosion, you did it so that Vanessa would be glad that you were okay, right?”

He held onto them even tighter when he nodded.

“Well if Walters never said that, then Tvardovsky wouldn’t’ve have granted his trust.” She began unbuttoning her dress shirt. “And if you didn’t run away from the explosion, you wouldn’t’ve survived.”

“True.” he said somberly.

She sat up to pull it down. “Sometimes…, I sometimes feel like you made the right choice there.”

“Well…, I wouldn’t say that it was the right… Ngh!” His cheeks blushed as she felt her bare body press up against his back.

She now wrapped her arms around his neck. “I worked so hard to get back to you, I’m just glad that it wasn’t for nothing.”

Thomas was silent.

She whispered into his ear, “If we’re going to achieve our dream life, then we have to do what we can.”

He nodded. “I… I guess. But…, can’t he-”

“That’s his problem, Thomas.” Alice cooed. “We just have to step into the opportunity.”

Thomas smiled. “I see…, hopefully we can find a new strategy, you know?”

Alice frowned before nuzzling against her nose against his neck. “Maybe.”

“You know, I can feel your… um…”

Alice smirked. “Yeah, and?”

Sheepishly, he told her, “Well…, if you don’t mind…”

Alice let go of her embrace. This got Thomas to turn around and hold her gently. With their eyes meeting, she told him, “I’m glad you picked up on that.”

With a smile of his own, Thomas locked his lips with Alice. In that moment, they then lied down on the bed together.

  Walters stuffed the cigarette into his mouth for a moment before pulling it away. Puffs of smoke would then escape his mouth. He hunched over his desk as his teeth clenched to the Cigarette. “Ugh.”

That’s when the door to his office door was opening.

“Huh?”

In front of him was Olivia, who was walking towards his desk. “You’re really going through with it, right?”

“Grr…” he stifled a jump of shock. “How did you-?”

“The Lady from Celestia’s Hoof told me.” She then walked to the window where the orange sky resided. “I’m guessing that it’s to help Alice and Thomas out of their predicament?”

Walters laughed a bit. “Not a chance, Olivia.”

She leaned her head back to face him. “Is that so?”

“Well, sort of…” Walters sighed. “It’s at least part of the results.”

Olivia put her hands behind her back. “So, what’s the actual intention then?”

He was silent for a bit. In the meantime, he stuck the cigarette over the small tray of ash. “Olivia, why are you so… defiant of Redmond?”

She grew a visible scowl. “What does that have anything to do with what we’re-”

“Just answer.” Walters told her. “We’re not going to get anything out of it if you don’t.”

Olivia sighed, and explained everything.

When she was done, Walters said his response. “Hmm, so that’s how it’s gonna be then?”

Olivia was leaning back against the window when she made a saddened nod.

“Heh, so I guess my theory was true then?”

“What theory?” Olivia asked.

“That we somehow have nearly the same issues.”

“You seriously think that?”

He nodded. “When Trevor and I were fighting in Nairobi, he told me once that he was going to overthrow the Government back home.”

This was a surprise to Olivia. “Really?”

“Yep, said that the war has gone on for far too long.” He let his thumbs clash against each other like drumsticks. “I agreed, but told them that the reds could take advantage of this. Sadly, he didn’t care for that, saying that I should trust him on this.”

Olivia had walked and stood right in front of him. “And what happened next?”

“I told the authorities, and once he was sent back home, SEALs were already waiting for him.” he said straightforwardly. “Long story short, he and his body guards got away, the entire first Brigade are now criminals, and I was appointed here thanks to the WPP.”

Olivia held onto her hilt with a firm grasp. “Now I understand what you mean?”

“Well, at least you and that Maribelle girl aren’t the ones leading the charge.” Walters picked up the papers on the desk to align them. “Be happy for that.”

“So you’re saying that because~…?” Olivia asked with anticipation.

Walters answered after the short pause. “I want to prove something to Trevor, and I can only do that once he’s in our grasp.”

Olivia looked down onto the floor for a moment, a frown creasing onto her face. “But if he dies in combat, what then?”

He clenched onto the papers in utter silence, and it was perfectly visible.

“Walters?”

“Get out.”

Olivia was aghast. “What?”

“I said leave, please.”

There was silence for a moment, but Olivia capitulated. “Alright then, but I suggest that you have your own strategy to counter this.”

He was silent still.

Olivia didn’t do anything to that. So, with a grim tone, she walked out of the room.  This left Walters on his own and put his feet back on the desk. He grit his teeth as he took out another cigarette from the small package in his pocket. He took out a lighter as he mumbled. “Damn it… damn it.”

Emma stormed down that same hall as before and pushed the doors open with force. On the way, she began unbuttoning her robe.

General Frederick greeted her. “Your Grace, are you… Uaagh!”

She had already let the robe fall to the floor. “Not in the mood, right now. I need some stats now! General Robb, go!”

He shot away as she was taking off her undergarments. “Uh… W-we were unable to take Kitakyushu from the Madokists.”

She growled virulently as she entered the tub. “Great, now we can’t cut them off from the Honshu front. Hmmph, you picked up my clothes yet?”

“Uh, no?” he said nervously.

“Get to it then!”

He shot up into a straight stance. “Uh, y-yes Ma’am!”

“Grrr! What about you, General Frederick?”

“We lost Luanda to the HUE.” he said with disappointment. “And… all of Angola.”

“Uh…, your grace-” Robb called to her.

“Sweet Celestia, it’s like playing wack-a-mole with those guys!” she took a deep breath. “What about you, General Cornelius.”

“We lost an oil refinery in the Xinjiang SSR, your Grace.” she said. “Our men were overrun by the Lunarist forces there. So I ordered them to retreat. Anyway, your g-”

“Ugh, we gain one Oil Refinery, then lose another one.” Emma complained. “General Peterson, can you save us with anything good.”

“Operation Tropic Heat was a failure, your Grace.” Frederick said without holding back. “The HUE was smart enough to catch us attempting to go into step two of the plan. The State of Amazonas is still in their hands.”

She was looking down at her bare legs through the water.

“Um, your grace?” asked Robb.

“What?” she grumbled.

“Y-you forgot to take off your Tiara?”

“Huh?” she eyed up to the north. Then she felt the tiara still resting on her head. She slumped forward and let out a huge groan. “Oh~. Here you go then.”

Robb took the tiara from her hand after she reached out with it. “Uh…, Madame? Is there something wrong?”

“Well, there is, General Robb.” Emma started with an acrimonious tone. “If you’re guessing that it has to do with Redmond, then you guessed right.”

Cornelia deadpanned, and asked with the same hostility. “What did he do this time?”

She explained to the Generals the gist of what happened.

“Damn, and he just went along with it?” asked an irritated Frederick.

Emma nodded.

“Celestia damn that man.” Cornelius commented with a similar attitude. “It’s as if he’s trying to be Discord himself.”

“I know, it pisses me off.” Emma buried herself under the water, completely oblivious to the worried looks the generals had during that brief moment. When she emerged from the water, “Ah… I sometimes wish that…, they at least understood, you know? That life isn’t worth wasting like that.”

Her proposal got General Robb to ask, “Do you think it could be something talking for him?”

She turned her head to him. “Eh?”

“Maybe there’s more to it than just sacrificing himself for the greater cause.”

She put a few fingers on her chin. “True. Not everyone will want to die for that reason alone.”

“So, is there anything you want to propose, your grace?”

Emma frowned, putting her hand onto her arm. “Nothing really. As much as I hate Redmond’s strategy, we have no choice but to go along for now.”

“Is it because of the Soviets?” asked Peterson.

She nodded. “Before Aria passed away, she told me that we were never on good terms with the Soviets. That ever since the war, Celestia destroyed any chance of them ever allying themselves.”

The Generals’ sadness was replacing their worry.

Emma then looked at them with a determined face. “That’s why we have to go along with this plan for now.”

Cornelius nodded. “Indeed your Grace, I may not agree with Redmond’s or Walter’s decision, but I’ll do as ordered.”

“Yes, your grace.” said Peterson.

“I couldn’t agree more, your grace.” said Robb.

“Same goes for me too, your grace.” said Frederick.

Emma grinned. “Hmm, we’ll do our best to get them out of that predicament as Celestia envisions.”

“Indeed.” they answered in unison.

“Though, it won’t be easy.”

Emma’s expression dropped a bit. “What do you mean, Cornelius?”

“It’s obvious that the Soviets don’t want this plan to fail.” she explained. “And with that plan in motion, don’t you think that it might impede our chances at finding a solution to this problem?”

“No doubt about it.” After a moment of pondering, that determined look was returning to Emma’s face. “That’s why we’re going to another way through them outside of just talks.”

Alice could hear the vibrations coming from Thomas’s cellphone. So, begrudgingly, she leaned upwards and reached for the phone that was on the nightstand.

“Hello?” she moaned.

“Uh…, is this Mister Thomas Wesley?”

She said softly. “No, it’s Missus Alice Wesley.”

“Uh…, can I talk to Thomas?”

She looked down upon him, noticing that he was still fast asleep. “He’s busy, I don’t want to interrupt him. Just tell me any sort of information that needs to be sent to me, and I’ll write it down.”

While she was heading for the notepad application, the man spoke. “Oh, okay then. My name’s Viktor, from the Soviet Consulate in Salt Lake.”

Alice gasped. “What?”

“Indeed, I’m calling to confirm that I would be under his command during the operation.”

“Uh..” she laughed awkwardly as she typed down the information. “You’d actually be working under my command, sir.”

“Huh?”

“I’m the head of this operation, so the head of the Soviet wing will be answering to me.”

“But…, wouldn’t it be appropriate that Thomas would command the armed forces?”

“No, that job lies with me.” Alice proclaimed. “I may be Redmond’s diplomat, but I have a lot more up my sleeve.”

It was silent for a moment. “Ugh, okay then. I was just thinking that Thomas would be commanding us.”

She put a hand on her chin. “He will, but I don’t think he you will be hearing from him directly. After all, he is commanding the RED forces in this operation.”

“Oh, I see.”

Briefly, she looked down upon Thomas once again. “I heard that Thomas will be cooperating with the Soviet commander of the operation though.”

Viktor paused. “Oh, that makes sense.”

“Anyway, why are you telling me this?”

“Huh?”

“You called Thomas to tell him that you’re going under his wing, for what?”

“Just to… just to let him know, of course.”

Alice sniggered a bit. “I understand, this’ll only get more hectic once we start shifting gears.”

“True, all right then, see you… Miss…”

“Missus Wesley, Viktor.”

“Got it, see you then.” Then he hung up.

Alice let out a breath of air, before looking back at Thomas. He was sleeping soundly with his arms splayed out across the bed. She was immediately charmed by the site before something came to mind. She muttered under her breath, “So who will be…”

She sighed, then she leaned over to Thomas to give him a kiss on the cheek. Then she softly got off the bed to fetch for her clothes.

After putting his phone away, Viktor let out a sigh.

“{It wasn’t him?}” asked Varma.

He shook his head.

Varma grimaced. “{Ah, that’s unfortunate.}”

Viktor then commented. “{But it seems that my little conversation with him will have to wait until tomorrow.}”

Varma nodded. “{Makes sense.}”

Viktor looked out into the streets, and raised his hand in the air. “{Uh, Taxi!}”

The nearest one drove and stopped right in front of them. After placing their baggage in the back trunk, and telling the driver where they need to go, they were on their way.

During that time, Varma looked out the window to view the distant lights illuminating under the night sky. After a moment, she leaned over to Viktor to whisper, “{Do you think that mare is doing okay?}”

Viktor clutched onto his coat. “{Please Varma…, I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about that.”

Varma frowned. “{Ah, I see.}”

“{But…}”

She faced up at Viktor. “{Hm?}”

“{I still hope she’s doing okay, though.}”

Varma smiled. “{I couldn’t agree more.}”

Viktor sighed. “{Yes.}”

Alice closed the door behind her, headed down the stairs, and into the nearly empty streets below. After confirming her ID with a nearby soldier, she headed for her car and drove down the street. When she reached a red light, she began to double check on her clothing. “Okay…, my suit’s good… my hair’s all good… my-”

Then her phone began to vibrate. “Shoot!”

Without checking, she took it out from the cup-holder and answered. “Hello?”

“Alice, where the hell are you going?”

She jumped at the voice. “Olivia?”

“Yeah, just saw you walk out of the-”

Annoyed, she reminded her, “Olivia, you shouldn’t be out here at this time of the night!”

“Well, excuse me for having a job to do every night!”

“What job?” Alice continued driving once the light turned green.

“Redmond’s orders: act as a vigilante, or my deal with him is gone.”

Alice grumbled. “Ugh, what is up with that guy?”

Olivia sighed. “Well, you know how he is.”

Alice deadpanned. “Damn straight.”

“Judging by how fast you were heading to your car, it must be urgent.” Olivia stated without any hesitance. “So, anything up?”

“I just need to sort something out with Redmond. Is he still in the building?”

Olivia was planting a small device over the roof top. “Of course, do you think that guy ever leaves the office?”

“Well…, on visits?”

“And that’s about it.”

“True.”

“Hey, is Thomas with you?” She then took several steps back to take out a detonator.

“No, I let him sleep.”

Deadpanned, she’d say. “Of course you would do that.”

Click!

BOOM!

She hopped into the newly made hole where men with rifles were waiting.

Rat-at-at-at-at-at-at-at…!

“Uh, Olivia? What are you doing?” a worried Alice asked.

Olivia cartwheeled to a table as bullets were flying past her. She then took out her high tech pistol. “Just eating the table scraps from the O’Eight riots; is all!”

Chrrrch!

“Aargh~!”

As Alice flinched at that, she told her. “So… is he asleep or something.”

“No, I think he’s awake. He’s probably drinking his coffee or some crap like that!”

“No doubt.” Alice said awkwardly. “Uh, thanks, can you take it from there?”

Her gunfire could be heard through the transmission. “Of course!”

BOOM!

Alice gasped at the explosion.

“I’m all right!” Olivia assured her. “I deflected it back to them. Anyway, see ya!”

And she hung up the moment after.

Alice let out a deep breath. “Geez.”

The last man rifleman in front of Olivia quickly put his hands up as she aimed her pistol at him.

“Clear!” Soldiers outside the room she was in were announcing.

Olivia smirked. “Indeed I am.”

As a soldier entered the room, she told him, “That guy’s the last of them, sir.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” The soldier then walked over to the man to make the arrest.

In the meantime, Olivia noticed that the moon was shining bright as always. To which she frowned instantly, “Damn it, Alice.”

Walters entered the room and softly closed the door behind him.

“There’s no need for that, Walters.” Redmond called to him.

“Huh?”

“Just get over here, we need to talk.”

Walters let the door close regardless of the sound it made, and walked towards the chair nearest to Redmond. “How long have you been awake?”

“I’ve been awake for ten minutes.” Redmond slurred.

This was to Walters’s surprise. “Ten Minutes?”

The door opened again. Walters found that the person opening it was a maid pushing a cart into the room.

“Your Four O’Clock Coffee is here, sir.” she announced politely.

“Thank you Missus Kousaka.”

She started passing around the mugs as Walters took a seat.

“So Walters, do you know why I called you in here?”

“Regarding my strategy?” he answered as a mug of his own was being placed in front of him.

Redmond smirked. “You know me well, do you?”

Walters shrugged. “Well, you can say that.”

Redmond picked up his mug. “Thank you, Missus Kousaka.”

The maid bowed. “No Problem, Mister Redmond.”

As she left, Redmond took a slight sip from his coffee. “The Soviets truly were intrigued by that proposal of yours.”

Walters nodded, as he too sipped some of his coffee.

“I’m positive that you are aware of Emma’s disapproval towards this idea.”

“That, I am aware of.” Walters admitted.

Sliding his mug off to the side, he leaned forward to meet him. “You’re shaking, aren’t you?”

He nodded.

This got Redmond to pull away. “Well then, Emma has obviously voiced his disapproval to me once you left for your office. She just stormed away and headed back to Houston.”

Walters said nothing, instead, he took another sip from his coffee.

“It’s also obvious that Celestianists, Lunarists, and Harmonists value life more dearly than other religions.” Redmond added. “It’s only natural that they’re going to try and convince you otherwise.”

  Walters this time, looked at Redmond with a panicked look. “So what then?”

“Celestia’s Hoof won’t be able to do anything at the moment, thanks due in part to the Soviets.” Redmond took in a slightly big gulp of coffee. “Foreign Minister Tvardovsky has been openly against the Ideological wars, more so against the factions behind it. No doubt that the Soviets won’t let Celestia’s Hoof get in the way of the plan.”

Walters tapped his fingers together once again. “Oh…, well that sounds-”

“Unfortunately, I’m a bit worried about Emma though.”

This took him a back. “Eh?”

“She’s nothing like Aria, and that’s what worries me the most.” Mentioned Redmond. “Ever since she took power eight years ago, she drastically changed everything in Celestia’s Hoof. Unlike Aria, she has a huge distaste towards the Soviets. This can only make me wary as to what she has planned.”

Although hesitant, he managed to utter. “So…”

“I ask you then, will you be willing to sacrifice your life before your timely death is enacted?”

Walters leaned back against his chair, looking at his coffee mug. “What are you saying, Redmond?”

Redmond sighed. “The Soviets don’t trust you the most, so, it seems that your sacrifice will be needed in more places than one. Not to mention that our top priority is to keep the RED-Soviet Alliance afloat.”

Though diffident, Walters took a sip from his coffee.

“So, what do you say?” asked Redmond.

Walters faced him with fortitude. “If it means making each side work together, and as long as your team has a strategy to reach that, then I’m okay with it.”

Redmond smiled. “Very well.”

Walters then looked back at his coffee again, frowning once more. Redmond was easily worried at this.

That’s when the door was creaking open again.

Redmond found that Alice was peeking through the door. “There’s no need for that Alice, come on in.”

She nods, and then bolts into the room. “Mister Redmond.”

Her sudden run took Redmond by surprise. “Is everything all right?”

She slammed her hands against the table. “Who is he working with?”

“Who?”

“I said, who is Thomas working with?”

Redmond closed his eyes for a bit as he reached for a circular device in front of him. With a twist of the knob, a projection screen popped up.

“Whoa!” Alice shrieked.

Redmond smirked. “Impressive? It’s one of the first few models made.”

Alice looked up at the hologram. Her eyes would slowly widen as she faced the person on the screen.

Redmond began his announcement. “Her name is…”

“{Syuzzana Matveev.}” Viktor muttered over to Varma. “{The youngest officer in the Red Army to ascend to Colonel.}”

Varma eyed up to the woman, observing her grandiose gesture that she bared. Each second of staring at her cold eyes, combined with the near-dim lighting set throughout the room, made her feel small.

“{Just keep in line, and don’t stand out, understand?}”

Though near frozen, she managed to give him a nod. “{Yes, Comrade.}”

Syuzzana, looking down upon the perfectly lined rows officers, she placed her hand over her forehead in a salute. The officers responded with the same gesture.

“{We have now been given the opportunity to finally end this bloody conflict!}” she announced in her stern tone.

The other officers responded with a casual, “{Yes, Comrade Colonel.}”

She frowned at the next part. “{Unfortunately…, it’s apparent by the message that we’ll be allying ourselves with the RED corporation.}”

The officers nodded. “{Yes, Comrade Colonel.}”

“{We will also be entering into US territory to execute this operation.}” She put her hand on the podium. “{Worse yet, we’ll be going up against the Legionary Brigade.}”

Viktor and Varma took a look around. Beside them, they could see that every officer in the room was tensing up at the name. Their bodies shivering softly, their eyes widening, it was enough for each of them to struggle with saying, “{Yes, Comrade.}”

Hearing this, they looked at each other. With Viktor asking, “{You’re scared too?}”

She didn’t hold back when nodding. “{You?}”

He turned away to face Syuzzana with a determined glare.

Despite her trembles, she managed to let out a little laugh. “{You really want to do this, huh?}”

At the front, Syuzanna was observing every officer below her. Seeing those results, she closed her eyes in disappointment. “{I understand that none of you have the will to fight these people, but this was part of joining the Red Army. If we have to fight the most dangerous of the dangerous, then that’s what we must do.}”

The officers remained silent.

“{However, this operation also requires the more willing in order to execute.}” She opened her eyes. “{So, if any of you want to willfully leave the place, then you can. We’re no longer under Stalin, so shooting deserters isn’t an option. So, you may do as you please.}”

Viktor made a firm grip with his hands. At the same time, he struggled to drown out the noise of footsteps that were being heard around the room. Countless little remarks and snickers were being echoed throughout, his closure was enough to make them incoherent. He closed his eyes as he felt beads of sweat race down his head. He was unaware that Varma was looking at him with the same feelings. She struggled to say something to him, but her fears got the better of her.

She turned away from him once she heard the last of the doors slam shut. Her body was already trembling once she found out that nearly the entire room was empty.

Syuzanna tapped her fingers over the podium. “{Well then, only ten captains and their second in commands remain. So we’re working on a budget, then.}”

Viktor opened his eyes, finding that to be true. “{Dear god.}”

Despite her visible disappointment, she smiled. “{Alright then, step forward.}”

  They lined up in front of her, and gave their salute. She looked at each of them, and noticed that one of them wasn’t facing her.

“{Kindly look at me, sir.}”

Viktor didn’t look up.

Syuzanna’s eyes narrowed. “{I said, look at me!}”

Viktor felt Varma’s fist pound against his hip.

“{C’mon, Viktor. Do it.}” she muttered to him.

Slowly, he lifted his face up. His eyes would meet up with hers’, and immediately she was distraught for a brief moment. With that, she faced the rest of the officers in the line. “{So, do you all acknowledge that we’re going to be outnumbered in this fight?}”

The ten nodded. “{Yes, Comrade Colonel.}”

“{Are you willing to take on this enemy in spite their might.}”

“{Yes, Comrade Colonel.}”

Softly, she smiled. “{Well then, we will be arriving in Salt Lake starting tomorrow, understand?}”

“{Yes, Comrade Colonel.}”

“{Alright then, you are dismissed.}”

The soldiers marched away, an officer at the door would give them manila folders worth of files as they exited out the room. When they left, Syuzanna’s smile rapidly turned to a frown.

“{Is something the matter, Comrade Colonel?}” asked one of the subordinates standing behind her..

To which, she replied back with a little smile. “{I’m fine, Comrade Major. Now then, you are all dismissed.}”

The officers behind her saluted before walking down the opposite end of the stage. As they walked out the door, Syuzanna once again put her hands on the podium, the sulking face was coming back. Pithily, she shook her head. “{Ugh, the poor butterfly’s back.}”

“Police have successfully raided multiple hideouts belonging to the so-called ‘Revolutionaries’ from the O’Eight riots.” the reporter announced on the TV screen. “Additionally, they were able to arrest the head of the group’s Philadelphia operations: Twenty-nine year old…”

Redmond sat calmly on his chair. He let a smirk as the news anchor kept relaying the news to him.

“Redmond?”

Then he frowned at the voice. “Oh, hello Olivia. Good job on Operation Eradication.”

Olivia, with a scowl on her face, put her hands behind her back. “Morning, Mister Redmond. Where’s Thomas and Alice?”

“Alice is on the rooftop, and Thomas is going up there to see her.”

“Huh, why’s that?”

Redmond put his hands together, as he grumbled quietly.

Alice had her hands over the railing. All the while, the breeze was blowing past her.

“Alice!”

She ignored that call, and gripped tightly onto the railing. Then she felt him touch her shoulder.

“You okay?” he asked her.

After a moment of silence, she went on to say, “Thomas?”

This made him easily overwrought. “Uh… Yes, Alice?”

“We’re embarking into something dangerous, aren’t we?”

Thomas brooded over this. “Well, it’s terribly obvious that it is.”

“So, promise me that you won’t give in?”

Thomas lifted an eyebrow. “Huh?”

She turned around to face him eye to eye, a gentle smile formed on her face. “Promise me that no matter how tough the operation gets…, you won’t give in to anything that gets thrown your way.”

His bewilderment turned to fear again. To which, he’d alleviate slightly by putting a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “Don’t worry Alice, I’ll do my best out there.”

Though his sudden touch surprised her, she nonetheless cherished it by placing her hand over it. “Thanks, Thomas.”

Redmond casually asked, “Olivia?”

“Yes, Mister Redmond?” she asked with a slight groan.

“Do you think our road to victory was the right one to take?”

Olivia let out a deep breath. “I-”

“And be honest with me.” he demanded.

Olivia, although unwillingly, told him, “I think we did sir, but I can’t say that we’re walking over a yellow-brick road as of now.”

Redmond nodded. “I understand, you are dismissed until further notice.”

Olivia saluted before exiting out the room without a word.

With her gone, Redmond leaned back against his chair to take a deep breath. “But sometimes, I wish it were like that.” Next Chapter: Chapter 13 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 42 Minutes