Steel and Mana

The ground shook like thunder had struck right beside me, causing an earthquake. Even from where we stood, surrounding the hive, waiting for the monsters to get through the curtain of fire, I could feel the vibrations coursing through my boots, rattling up my bones. It was similar to how the beast made the snow and earth ripple... Only this time around, it was because the worm was dying. No matter its size... We were killing it.

"Hold position," I yelled into my headset, though no one had moved anyway. We were professionals after all.

In the distance, the air rippled again, followed by a flash of multiple explosions and a series of low rumbles. Then came the thunderous crack of the airships' cannons overhead, hitting the beast, again and again.... Another broadside, another row rumble. This was our might... and it was glorious.

"She's trying to escape," Thorken reported, as he was a bit closer to the worm's current position than I was.

"She's dying," Korr corrected, while I heard the rumble of the Rook in the background, its weapons also firing.

"We can do nothing to it." I answered, "Stay put and eyes forward, people!"

"Yes, Commodore Pion!"

Still, Korr was right, and it did make me smile. But, before the beast would finally perish, it did release a damned shockwave that swept over us like a blast of invisible kicks and punches. I didn't feel as badly as some of the others, but it was still like taking a hammer to the back of my head, making me stumble, almost fall over. First, my vision tunneled down to the size of a pin, before reverting back to normal... but... Everything was swimming; my sight became double for a minute or so, my ears were ringing, and my balance was barely there. It was like standing on a raft while the waves were trying to throw me off into the water.

It hadn't lasted long, only a few minutes, but if we were attacked while it was happening, I don't know how well I would have fared against any monster. Reports were already coming in as the ringing began dying down, and I could hear again, as every other soldier experienced the same thing, worse, some completely blacked out, falling over like a rock. Those were waking up a few minutes after I regained my faculties, reporting the same symptoms I was dealing with... only stronger and more prolonged.

Damned beasts... They always have something in them, don't they? Now, even their death scream is dangerous? Tsk... I can't wait to exterminate them all. The world doesn't need abominations like these... and if my Sovereign ever mounts an expedition to the other side of the mountains, I will be there.

...
....
......

Although the fire was slowly beginning to die down, it didn't mean we were finished just yet. My troops were preparing to move into the 'city' or what remained of it, and began a proper cleanup. Above us all, our planes were going back and forth, conducting constant flybys and scouting the perimeter so that nothing else sneaks up on us from somewhere else. As for the mechs, they were slowly coming back online, and some of the engineers with Sasha's lead were checking for any damage or permanent alterations thanks to the 'EMP...' So, until they are back in action, we aren't going anywhere.

But for now, I wasn't watching the hive or my troops. I had a different issue at hand, one that may need Mikan, so I sent the Eagle's Nest to go and bring her here. While it was being done, I was kneeling next to Princess Fila, lying on a cot, in a hastily put-up tent.

She was pale as a ghost, paler than she usually was, with beads of sweat clinging to her forehead despite the cold. By the time I got here, Galahad had propped her head up gently with his rolled-up coat, his hands trembling just slightly. I knew he was unsure if he was helping or hurting... I didn't blame him. But, it seemed all the scare we received was larger than the actual issue itself.

"She's waking," I murmured, seeing her eyelids flutter, making Galahad flinch and lean over her.

True enough, the next moment Fila shifted her body, her lips parting as if to speak, but all that came out was a weak, drawn-out breath... And then she grimaced. I couldn't tell if it was because of pain or disgust, but then her brows furrowed as a wave of dizziness hit her, and her body curled slightly on reflex. It seems that the blast affected her magic, and through it, her body, or possibly her brain. She looked like I did when I got my upgrade back in my old life. After the surgery, I felt like someone who was knocked out every night when I went to sleep and woke up with a hangover for a week straight without actually drinking.

"Hold her steady," I told Galahad, "But not too tight."

In response, Fila coughed and then suddenly twisted to the side, retching.

"There it is..." I chukled, remembering I was the same back then. Yep. I expected as much...

"Dad...?" Galahad asked, unsure and gulping with a bit of fear, while she heaved, nothing more than bile coming up.

"She is a mage, it's normal. I guess..." I looked at him, trying to calm my son, "Anyway, Mikan is already coming, so don't worry. But I don't think it's anything serious, as I don't see blood coming up, nor does it flow from her nose. That's already a good sign!"

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When she finally stopped, she let herself slump back with a low groan. Her eyes were half-opened by now, looking red like someone who cried throughout the whole night... and they were a bit unfocused.

"Easy," I said softly, placing a hand on her chest, pushing her back down when she tried to force herself upright. "You're safe now. Can you hear me?"

"Ugh... yeah... I can..." She blinked her eyes a few times, her gaze slowly sharpening, continuing to moan between words. "...My head," she muttered.

"I bet," I chuckled, exhaling through my nose. "The mech took a full magical surge of some kind, and you passed out when the blast hit you. You've been out for about..." I checked my pocket watch, "...half an hour."

"I... don't recall... ugh..." She frowned. "Galahad...?"

"I'm here," my son said quickly, his voice quavering, "You're okay."

"Worst... date..." Fila turned her head toward him, visibly wincing from the motion of just moving her neck and head. She was probably about to complain more when I watched as her lip twitched in realization... "You're crying."

"N-no... I'm not..." Galahad, immediately red-faced, quickly wiped his eyes and cheeks. "Melting snow, that's all..." he lied. And he did it so obviously...

Well, the rest is up to them, so I just smiled and stood up. It is best to let them have a moment, and with that, I left the tent for now.

Outside, watching the soldiers moving around, some of them reapplying blood tattoos, while those who were previously hit by the EMP and fallen over were being examined by their captains, everybody was doing something. Pulling out my radio, I could hear the chatter going back and forth between the different squads working with Sasha, checking the mechs.

"The Rook is waking up, the core is starting to respond once again."

"The Princess is online." I heard Sasha's voice, "There are some minor power hiccups, but it is stabilizing without further need of any input. There was a similar interference magic around our formations that we also developed... It is gradually weakening, so it should disappear on its own in the next ten to fifteen minutes."

"Fila woke up." I joined the conversation, "She looks fine, but like someone who was out all night, partying with the wrong crowd."

"Damn... I'm getting jealous! Ehehe... she will get used to it," Yuri answered, giggling, "Still, Mikan will take a good look at her and all will be fine."

"What about you?" I asked.

"Nothin'." She shrugged, moaning a little, "It was like a gut punch, being yanked out of the meld. Otherwise, all is fine. It simply went dark, and I was sitting in the cockpit, unable to get out or do anything."

"Why didn't you use the emergency hatch opener?" Sasha berated her all of a sudden.

"I forgot."

"Yuri..." We both answered, but she just laughed at the other end of the radio.

"All good, all good! Polo also remained in the Rook, no?"

"I did, so I could be operational the moment the mechs come back online." He replied all of a sudden through the open channel, sounding a bit... panicked.

"Sure, sure!" Yuri began, but I stopped the conversation.

"Okay, I will take that as a full report. Focus people! We will prepare to move into the ruined hive when everything is ready. Sasha, when done, come meet me, we will pilot the Excalibur as Galahad, and Princess Fila is out of commission for now."

"Understood." She replied without hesitation.

"Can I come down?" Luna's voice arrived all of a sudden, sounding worried.

"Yeah, and take Galahad and Fila back up to the Camelot." I told her, "Mikan should be here in a few minutes."

"I'm on my way!" She said without waiting for an answer, clearly worried in a way only a mother could be.

Cutting the feed and pocketing my device, I made a mental note to implement some kind of security measure against future such attacks. If we can, that is. There is a high probability that we won't... Perhaps I will need to ensure that mechs are mixed with regular troops at all times, so when they are disabled, they can at least provide some kind of support, preventing anyone from claiming them as their own. Be it the bugs or humans.

Looking up at the sky, the snow had started falling again by now. It was thick, coming down like a new blanket. It was intense, and it was making loud hissing noises whenever it got close to the parts where fire was still burning. While I was thinking, Oleg approached me with hurried strides, helmet under one arm, ready to accompany me and Sasha within the Excalibur, along with a select few elites.

"The city perimeter is secured," he reported after saluting. "No signs of further movement, above or below us. Pion and his troops are prepared and waiting for your go to begin the interior sweep."

"Soon," I nodded back at him, "Wait until the flames settle a bit more. Order the others to keep the outer cordon tight and have Camelot sweep the region every five minutes... I don't want any surprises."

"Yes, My Sovereign," he nodded, then eyed the tent where Fila and Galahad were still in. "We are lucky."

"A bit," I chuckled. "But she's going to need time. From what I have seen, she may have a concussion at the least, but Mikan will know more."

"I talked with the soldiers who also fell over when the wave hit." He reported, turning to look at our troops, "Every one of those was with fresh tattoos, barely consumed yet."

"Which means, they felt the magic interference stronger than the others." I hummed, noting it down in my mind, "Make sure everyone is back to full combat capability. Those who feel a bit weak will stay out here, protecting the perimeter."

"Yes." Oleg saluted again and moved off, already relaying orders, putting his helmet back on.

Walking back to the tent, I crouched down again beside Galahad and Fila, watching the two. She wasn't sleeping, but her eyes had closed again, and her breathing was more even now. Her color was returning to her face, just a bit, but it was still a good sign.

"Don't make me move or look... Everything is flashing and makes my head hurt..." She moaned, resting her head in Galahad's lap.

"Don't worry, my son will carry you," I told her, making them flinch, but to my surprise, neither of them argued. That made me grin as I patted Galahad's shoulder. "You did well. Both of you."

"Um..." Galahad looked up at me, guilt still visible in his eyes, not that he could have done anything about it. "I should've—"

"Stop right there," I waved a hand while speaking firmly. "Nobody could do anything about that. End of story." He nodded, hesitantly, but I think I was firm enough to get it through to him. "Come on," I said finally, rubbing his head. "Let's get her ready for evac. For now, you two did enough..."