𝟛. 𝕄𝔸ℂℍ𝕀ℕ𝔼𝕊
Every man present at the banquet paid all their attention to the Ambassador as he spoke of their newest mission, one that would take place three days after their meeting. Lusen could feel his stomach start to churn as Rin held him by the shoulders as best as he could with his cold, emotionless arms, reassuring him that all would be well.
"But even if the Mechanaia are powerful and stand as a beacon of hope for Camerade, there is not much we can do in the forefront for now. The Enlightened have monopolized on Balamar, the most durable form of metal within our galaxy, capable of conducting any form of energy flawlessly and safely. Most of their forces hold this material, while Balamar to us is scarce, and only found on our Mechanaia."
Lusen could hear every word coming from the Ambassador's mouth, as he slowly grew to be more concerned for his side of the conflict.
"Is that why even you struggled to kill that imperial on me the other day?" he asked Rin, as his voice slightly quivered.
"Yes," Rin answered with a stale, unexpressive voice. "I am as tough as a hundred men, yet my weapons stand none of the same quality."
"Do you think Camerade will even last..?"
"In my honest words, no."
"Now, everyone. To restore balance in Camerade, we must repel the effects of the solar satellites by utilizing a signal jammer."
The whole room shook in confusion and conversation, as one particular man stood from the crowd and gave his inquiry.
"And how are we supposed to commit to that when we have no resources? When the satellite is too advanced and over our atmosphere?"
The hall grew louder and louder as it filled with excitement, hesitation, and doubt.
The Ambassador stood, gavel in hand, and slammed his gavel impatiently, waiting for the hall to settle down.
"Order, order! Now, I commend you, son, for your intriguing question. What is your name?"
"Jean Allen, Ambassador."
"Very well. Allen, it should give you joy when I say that we have already initiated a blueprint for your idea."
The Ambassador reached the side of the stage, revealing a small silver remote embedded with switches, levers, and buttons.
"And it should come as a surprise to you all that you are the signal jammers."
The Ambassador initiated the activation switch, forcing the Mechanaia into uncontrolled spasms, as their incandescent eyes began to flash red. The crowds around them distanced themselves from the machine people, all but Lusen.
"Rin? Rin!" Lusen said, fearfully putting his hands on Rin.
"𝓘 𝐃ᗝℕ'𝓣 ω𝐡𝒶𝔱 𝓲s 𝔥ค𝐏ｐ𝐞η𝕚𝔫Ⓖ ฬ𝓱ＡŦ 卩ⓁＥคŜⒺ ђ𝓔ĹⓅ 𝓂𝐞, " Rin's voice began to distort, as his voice nodule began to slow.
Lusen frantically peered around the room until his eyes stopped at the Ambassador, at which point he began to run, blazing with fury, headfirst towards the stage.
"Ambassador! Please! I beg of you, you're hurting them!" Rin said as he forcefully began tugging on the Ambassador's wool cloak, as the armed guards of the Keep began to close in on him with their pulse rifles drawn.
"Get off the Ambassador!"
"Get your filthiness off the grand leader!"
"You are no soldier, just a conscript!"
But Lusen did not budge. His adrenaline forced him to keep tugging even in dismay, as the other conscripts couldn't bear but watch.
The armed guards around them began to cock and charge their rifles, aiming straight for the man's pathetic head. The crowd around Lusen began to panic, as what had seemed to originally be a path to salvation would end up turning into a blood bath.
"Lusen, you idiot!"
"Get off! Not now!"
But Lusen could not hear. He was concerned. He had seen the depths of war and did not want to see his only friend suffer once again in those depths. The screams and pleas were in vain, as all he could fixate on was the remote, and all else was drowned out. He needed to save his friend. He needed to save himself. He needed to save Camerade, but not in this way.
"Halt!" The Ambassador's voice echoed throughout the chassis of the haul, riveting all those who listened, even Lusen, as the armed guards dropped their weapons. The spasms of the fifteen present Mechanaias still could be heard in the distance.
"Lusen Appertha, yes?" The Ambassador asked as Lusen let go of his cloak. Soon, the Ambassador let go of the remote, returning the Mechanaias to their original states.
"Yes, Ambassador. I apologize for my rash behavior."
"You are forgiven," the Ambassador said as he turned to the crowd of militias. "This, everyone, is a man I respect. One who feels no shame for himself and pushes to what he thinks is viable even in the circumstances of death."
The banquet hall remained silent, as they all stared at the stage in silent shame.
"I respect you, lad. Now, you may return to your seat."
Lusen trudged down the banquet hall, with each step reminding him that he was being watched. With each breath reminding him of the scene and ordeal that he had just committed. "Respect?" he asked himself. "What is there to respect about that?"
His footsteps began to feel heavy with each sole he placed on the ground. He had just pounced on the leader of Camerade. A leader who, if he had a little less patience, would have gotten himself shot on sight.
"I'm fine," Rin responded. "It was overwhelming to my senses, but I feel no pain in this body."
"Phew, that's good to know. Though I'll just take a minute of silence, I was almost killed by the side I fight for."
The Ambassador continued his plan for advancement, as the seeker began to display maps of Batsheba, and began closing in on one of the mountains.
"This is the grand mountain Kilokan. And if you are aware, this is where the faction Overgrief stands. Their civilization has been hiding in shafts within this mountain to contain bombardment. And with this, they have access to the tallest mountain in the whole of Gaea. A mountain that will sustain this mission. That, and they are the second largest producer of Balamar behind the Enlightened on Gaea."
Another hand stood from the crowd, it was the same man, Jean Allen. "But, Sir, doesn't Camerade have sight tension with Overgrief because of our border disputes? Who is to say that they shall grant us access to the whole of Kilokan?"
Claps from the stage could be heard as the Ambassador began to applaud Allen for his brilliance and curious mind. "Oh my! Oh my! How delightful! This is the type of man I want to start serving in the Cameradean Armed Forces as well! One who stops at no point to express his interest in a point!"
The Ambassador began to fix his attire before continuing. "But, this is why we shall begin to reaffirm ties! A select group of 70 from you will be sent towards Overgrief with gifts, information, and technology to mend the ties that our predecessors frayed, so that we may anchor our Mechanaias on the peak of Kilokan and watch as our fields begin to prosper once again!"
Allen stood once again in indignation, but this time with a question all the men were dying to hear an answer to. "But how about those who are not chosen for the mission, Ambassador?"
The Ambassador smirked before giving his final statement about the matter.
"Then they shall be sent back to the Eastern Front."