Roughly at the same time.
The battle rages on between the EW and the Zlocu in the Spirit of Modervil. Each blaster fire and gunfire is exchanged hand in hand, leaving trails of holes, smoke, debris, and some corpses along the way, each accompanied by a cacophonous range of fire from both sides. Shrieks and shouts also come together as they try to outdo each other as quickly as possible.
In a corridor, Jack, Ed and Malak cover some fire through the windows between the first's AR15 rifle, the second's Winchester pump shotgun and the last one's fire arrows, each one aimed at different Zlocans through the grounds as they dodge and evade every ounce of incoming blaster fire that's going straight at them. Jack keeps his grip firm on the rifle as he strafes each round of bullets at any Zlocan he can spot, Ed goes for any random direction left to right from any source he can hear from a ZLocan, and Malak keeps a crouched stance as she spots any canister that can take out as many Zlocans as she can.
"Damn it, never in my life have seen a herd of ugly Zlocans coming our way like that! Must be asking for a really good roughing!" Ed says as he reloads his shotgun next to Jack.
"Well, you know how things go, strike a hornet's nest and you'd be bound to piss off the swarm. So best to get used to it, man," Jack says without flinching at any of the gunfire and blaster fire, loading any remaining ammunition he has with his vouches of magazines in his vest.
"Oh, certainly so. And also Ed, this is probably a taste of being considered to be so high in the priority that they think we can do everything by ourselves. Crazy, right?" Malak adds as she glances at Ed.
"Hey, it's not like we're our a couple of private dancers for the military, you know!" Andrei retorts as he deflects blaster fire from his metallic form through his arms. He does all of this while keeping a wide grin on his face in front of Malak, who merely rolls her eyes in response as she prepares more arrows.
"Man, if we fail this mission, our friends and families back home will have to prepare their last wills," Jack says as he throws some grenades at the Zlocans from below, all while continuing to evade their blaster fire, even covering his ears as an explosion rocks the room below them.
"Oh, you're so reckless as well, Jackie! I can't believe you have the most confidence out of this bloody mission!" Lucy says as she guards the door alongside Amira in case any potential Zlocan barges in. The door slams open for a bit, and five Zlocan Knights attempt to breach through, only for Amira to thrust her arms forward, hurling some Zlocans outside the building while Lucy stabs one near the jugular with one of her bowler knives, enough to gush a bit of blood on Zlocan's part before she tosses them downstairs too. She swipes a bit of it from her neck as she chuckles for a bit.
"What is so funny about it, Lucy? That Zlocan nearly killed you," Amira asked Lucy, where she merely shrugs in response.
"Hey, a close call and such, it's what I expected anyway." But before just as the sound inside the room subsides from the blaster fire and gunfire, a distant noise is heard near Amira's direction, where she spots three hovercraft heading their way, turrets ready and such.
"People, we have more incoming!" Amira says as she signals the others of the arrival of the armed hovercraft.
"Don't worry, let me handle this baby myself," Seiner says as he breaks a window through his gun, then inserts two canisters inside of it and with one pull of the trigger, it fires a projectile aimed in the direction of the hovercraft. It explodes upon impact, which sends shrapnel and other blown-off wings falling down. But before he can try the rest, two massive fireballs appear out of nowhere which impacts the other hovercrafts, splitting them apart as they too fall down to the abyss of the fortress. Seiner turns around to see a smiling Tany who giggles in response as she waves her staff around her.
"Heya, I provided backup as you needed, Seiny!" Tany says.
"You just got lucky, that's all..." Seiner remarks before glancing back down to see a wave of Zlocan mechas, tanks and other Knights heading their way, this time in higher quantities than anticipated from them.
"There's not much time staying here. Team, let's hit the throttle and reorganize ourselves!" Logan says as he opens a door to a bridge connecting them to the other building, in which they all rush outside while evading some of the blaster fire coming from the right. Even with this type of distance, this kind of firepower is enough to get most of them to dodge as swiftly as they can.
"That's a lot of us to handle. And where's Hyon when we need him?!" Seiner says as he runs with the group.
"Let me try. Hyon, this is Logan, what's your status?" Logan asks as he places his hand near his ear where his communicator is located. However, there's nothing but silence on the other's end as they both rush inside the other building, one with vacant cargo boxes and a handful of unactivated drones placed in order.
"Hyon, are you there?" Still no answer, which makes Logan's eyes widen as he processes the implications of it.
"Hyon? Come in, Hyon!" Logan says once more, this time with a higher tone as he and his team walk on the corridor of the building while spotting the consoles from below.
"And so it begins. We better get ready for the worse, Logan," Rian says while descending with Seiner.
"Logan, have you considered calling for reinforcements?" Amira asks as she runs alongside Logan.
"Didn't ya hear what Lemons said? We don't want to disturb our neat 'ol mission around here!" Ed says.
"Well, guess I'll try. This looks more than we can handle with..." Logan says as he pulls a Walkie-talkie from his pocket, turning the signal to get one where it's an UEF-approved signal to catch, all while Rian glances at him for a bit.
"You sure this will be a good idea?" Rian asks.
"Just let me try, please..." Logan says as he presses a button, where after a bit of static, a stable noise can be heard.
***
At Sly's office, where there's a big screen that lets the attendants see the events from a satellite's view, Sly, Clemons, and other soldiers observe the smoke coming out of the fortress, with Clemons and others observing with some smirks on their faces while Sly watches attentively, his hands holding his desk as he leans forward to see the screen. While there are no negative reports so far, it's only a matter of time before wondering if there's something more that the EW can try.
Then, his communicator in his pocket vibrates, where pulls it out and puts it near the desk for the rest to hear.
"Sylvester? Logan here."
"Logan? What's the situation at the moment?"
"You guys may have gotten your hopes way too much. Zlocans and Inquisitors alike are swarming us like nothing!" Sly and others gasp at this news, yet Clemons and those near him can still smirk at the news, almost as if there's still too much confidence on their part, or perhaps something even more than that.
"Sounds like it's more than expected. I know what Clemons said, but if you're in need of reinforcements, then don't hesitate to give the call, alright?"
"Yes, sure thing, I for one would like-" But just as Logan finishes his request, Clemons snatches the walkie-talkie away from the table, then turns it off while tossing it to the bin on his back.
"Sorry, Mr. Walker, I'm afraid that you should listen to my terms more carefully," Clemons says while his soldiers behind him stand guard.
"But Brigadier General! Don't you see what you've been trying to do?" Sly protests back alongside his soldiers who stand next to him.
"Are you admitting your Earth Warriors are a bunch of weaklings after all?" Clemons can only scoff in response as he laughs for a bit while leaning near Sly.
"Oh, not quite, at least in the physical sense... But in the moral and mental sense."
"Don't even try to twist it like that. They have skill and prowess, yes, but that doesn't mean they have to get the whole box by themselves, especially when it comes to hazards, especially when it comes to saving people."
"Saving people? Or do you mean saving their own supporters who don't show what real support is?!" Clemons retorts back as he slams his fist on the table.
"What do you even mean, Brigadier General Clemons?" Clemons can only groan in response to Sly's pressing question, all while gritting his teeth and clenching his fists as well with his guards standing behind, ready to raise their guns at Sly's soldiers too.
"You're so stupid for a colonel. If you haven't gotten the gist already, it's because of some recent events regarding the dirty rats that live outside our base."
"'Dirty rats?' But you know they're human beings, especially with those of the likes of Rian," Sly retorts while standing his ground, his face unflinching at Clemons' words.
"I don't give a shit of their names and whatever their fake achievements are! They came here because they needed to know how to fight and win like a true soldier should be, learning the ways of the modern world and a way for a soldier to tackle everything in their path to victory. It is for that that their dirty and stupidity meant that they needed to be disciplined the hard way if they wanted to fight and survive with us." As Clemons continues, he sneers at Sly who keeps himself stone-faced at this, with a bit of protruding eyes over his words. It's clear that there's more than a mere weapon that makes someone a soldier.
"Well, good to see that harassing and insulting are good measures of discipline after all," Sly replies while laughing for a bit, which makes Clemons swiftly grab the collar of his uniform and pull him near his face.
"Show some fucking discipline, soldier! It's the only way one should survive a world like this one, and it would all have gone so well if it wasn't for that rat, Rian and the EW."
"So, if I hear correctly, all of this because they didn't fit your image of perfect soldiers? Come on now, you should be better than that." Clemons replies by merely slapping Sly right on the left cheek, and while flinching for a bit, Sly keeps his stone-cold face right in front of Clemons, with eyes that feel like shooting daggers at him.
"Every day since that rat joined us because of your insistence, more incidents and humiliations happened in our ranks all while the EW used their leverage to protect him. Times when we needed the conscripts to grow up and such, he intervened to force his rebellion on our troops when that's the last thing we need."
"Troops that needlessly bullied others," Sly retorts.
"They needed to modernize."
"You almost left another platoon of them to die."
"It was their fault for not figuring it out."
"And now you're betraying humanity's last hope!" Sly shouts back for once, all while his guards grab his shoulders in anticipation of further provocation from Clemons at him.
"'Last hope?!' You need to stop fantasizing about tales of caped crusaders and modern knights, for they only bring ideals that will only prevent us from further moving forward. This is why I'm doing this, so humanity can know when to move forward with the true heroes!" With that, Clemons nearly raises his hand in order to signal his troops to detain Sly and his bodyguards, but from that alone, Sly smirks for a bit at what can hit the most so he steps in front of Clemons.
"True heroes? Perhaps you mean your heroism and only yours. You see, ever since you came here, I've noticed a peculiar pattern of yours, almost you seek something from me."
"What are you even going on about? Is it because of what my family has done for America?"
"And did mine, but it's curious to see that even for someone of a higher ranking office like yourself is in that position, all you have done these days is sit your ass and look at photos of your dad in the army. Meanwhile, I go outside myself to fight for our brave men and women of America." This makes Clemons grit his teeth as his hands shake from Sly's claims.
"It's for planning, you wouldn't want to lose a big brain in a command chain, would you? You have your place and I have mine, remember that well, Colonel."
"Well, you certainly planned something well... In trying to replace me. Tell me, is it because you yearn so much for my place in leading all brave humans in this war?" Sly asks, still keeping his smirk.
"That's because you and your family were a bunch of mavericks that strayed too far from the values, for our way."
"Oh really? Is it because my family earned everything by going through every hot desert, cold trench and treacherous sky in order to save a few of their own men compared to those who do nothing but sit with their asses and get medals for making pretty mediocre speeches?" From this alone, Clemons grabs Sly's neck and tries to press it as hard as he can as he breathes heavily from everything Sly accuses him of.
"You and your family have been obstacles in what should be done in the American way! You should have died at the hands of that assassin! I paid a fortune too to get it done!" That alone is enough to get some guns get lock and loaded, where Sly's guards aim their rifles at Clemons and even Clemons' own guards turn their rifles behind him. This is enough to stop strangling Sly as he glances around and sees what just transpires.
"...Why are you all silent?" From that, Sly chuckles for a bit as he regains his composure and breathes normally.
"Guess I was right. I'm sorry you couldn't keep that precious position to yourself, Clemons. But you should have earned fair and square from the start."
"Wait, hear me out! I was merely angry, I merely spouted nonsense! He provoked me!" Clemons protests as his guards grab his hands, holding them as tight as they can.
"You better answer that to the Joint Chief of Staff in a few days. Have a good day for the rest of your life, Clemons," Sly says as the soldiers drag Clemons away, who tries to break free by forcing himself away from the soldiers' grip to no avail, even when trying to kick their legs as he's escorted out of Sly's room. Just as they close the door, a dark-skinned soldier glances at his microphone while nodding at Sly.
With one press of a button, Sly takes a deep breath as a brief sound of static is heard from the microphone, which is heard all across the base and every communicator available in the area.
"All troops, this is Colonel Sylvester Walker speaking. I know it's been a day since the early assault back at the base, where they tried to break every fiber of our body in our fight for freedom, and while we lost a handful, we still thwarted them. And now our brave Earth Warriors were deployed to strike back where they came from, which is our last step before freeing LA. They were strong and full of bravery, resourceful, and even kind-hearted. But now... They may need us." With those messages, most of the troops around the base mutter to each other, men and women alike and even those in the tents as they gasp at what they hear of what Sly just said.
"Yes, I know that we thought of all the super humans we heard and read about in our past times. Comics, movies, everything. But like those we grew up with, they're still people. And even the strongest and best of people can sometimes struggle with something that can be too big to handle. Which is why I ask of you, fellow soldiers, if you ever felt anything to answer to what they brought you to win here, to survive here, then you can try to give them an answer. For as we leave them there, then it means we leave them to die. I know it sounds risky but..." A brief pause, as the soldiers glance at each other over what he implies. Then, finally, he can muster the words to speak up.
"They saved us many times, more than we can count. It's time we save them back."
2 hours later.
The sky darkens in grey as the smoke shrouds most of the sun, leaving a grey and dull landscape in a desertic land among a dull and metallic fortress. Even with the amount of crumbled structured, split vehicles and a handful of corpses laying on the ground, it still stands still and strong amidst the carnage deep inside of it. No matter how many cuts and bullets can the EW pull off on the personnel inside the fortress, it still stands. No matter the explosives one can have, it still stands and is ready to repel any intruders who stand in its way.
No one has ever assaulted the Spirit of Modervil, and come to live to tell the tale of how they managed to surpass the titan that is this fortress among the Zlocu.
Inside one of the buildings, where there's a large shield erected near the command center while a barrage of Zlocan troops and Human inquisitors lay siege on where the EW stand their ground, all while every barrage of electricity, blasters, explosives and gunshots emerge from the shield from most members, all who even with all the sweat, dirt and some cuts in their bodies show, still stand strong from the Zlocan onslaught, using every item in their disposal to ensure that they keep on living no matter how big their foe can be.
They will stand up, no matter the cost.
"Don't worry peeps, this is a manageable number!" Andrei says, still in his metal form as he hurls some of the blasters back at the Zlocans surrounding them. Even when tanks, mechas and hovercraft surround them, nothing can deter them.
"Zlocan presence detected on radar. They're flanking in every corner!" Seiner says as he checks a device near his wrist, showing a radar of their location while many dots surround their current location, all while covering fire with his golden gun. The sword fighters guard the gates in case of potential intruders that step in. And as they continue to invigilate the doors, armed men jump off the windows trying to get a drop of the Warriors, but most manage to evade their strikes as they engage in melee combat, using every possible skill at their disposal to repel them back.
"Agh, God, you gotta be kidding me!" Malak says as she stabs the assailants in the chest, all while trying to hold off others who jump inside the building, with Lucy, Amira, Rian and Logan holding off as much as they can.
"Guys, sorry if this sounds obvious as hell, but I don't see any chance in hell we can take on that whole battalion," Rian says while blocking the strikes of another assailant.
"I guess we got our hopes up way too much. But even so, we must try!" Logan says as he slashes two of the assailants in front of him with one horizontal slash in front of them. And even as he does so, more and more of the Zlocans and Inquisitors arrive to surround the EW who are encircled deep inside the building in hopes to exhaust them well enough to crush what remains of Humanity's hope to win the war soon.
As the gunners and the magician try to keep loading up whatever weapon they have left or taken, even as they sweat and breathe heavily, they still take their time to take precise shots at any hostile they face in their way, no matter how far they can look. All while the sound of alarms blade in the background, which creates a further cacophonic environment around the EW which further complicates their attempts to defend their position.
"That goddamn alert won't shut up!" Lucy shouts as she throws some knives at Zlocans heading for Amira in the back while blocking one who headed her away through her head with one swift parry with her bowler knife.
"Just keep it up a little longer, maybe help will be on its way!" Logan implores while stabbing another Zlocan in front of him after one quick parry while standing side by side with Rian who also slashes a Zlocan in front of him. Even with the increasing amount of corpses piling up, it all seems that they all can't stop coming toward them, no matter how many they try to cut down. It all seems like the swarm is really onto the EW for their assault.
But just as the EW continues their assault, faint sounds are heard on the outside, which is enough to catch Logan's attention as he runs to a balcony to see what's the source. With his gasp and widened eyes, he observes a line of Zlocans rounding up prisoners, most being blindfolded and even kicking some in the back to force them to face the ground as the handful of Zlocans receive their weapons.
No... I will not allow this to go on! With that, Logan tightens his grip on his Coraggio as he steps on the balcony, even placing his right foot near the rails as he readies his knees, something that Rian takes notice of as he glances at Logan.
"Logan, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"To try and save them, that's all."
"Dude, we're already had a shitload of Zlocs pinning us down like rats which we may get killed off soon, but now you want to foolishly save them from that amount of Zlocans down there?" Rian says while the blaster fire and gunfire increase behind them. Despite this, Logan remains steadfast as he prepares his leap from below, blade ready and such.
"I know... But what good comes from not taking a stand from those that are too defenseless to fight back? Who will be there to help them out? Because if no one else tries... Then I will do as I must."
"But Logan... wouldn't that mean you're gonna get yourself hurt?!" Rian further implores, all while Logan prepares his final steps for his leap.
"I don't care how much I can get stabbed, punched, or shot at. Because as long as I can save the innocent and those I care about... That's why it'll matter. And the reason is..." With that, Logan leaps away from the rail, his Coraggio at hand as he makes a freefall aiming for the ZLocan pointing his rifle at a young man's head. But just as the Zlocan presses the trigger, Logan lands his blade right in his head, who then proceeds to cleave it away as it startles the Zlocans near him. And with that, he raises his hand with narrow eyes and one shout.
"Because helping is the pride of an altruistic heart!" With those words, Logan starts slashing the Zlocans surrounding him with quick slashes near chests or arms, disarming them as much as he can while trying to block any sort of slash or blaster fire surrounding him with successive parries and motions as quickly as he can. Even when other Zlocans manage to slash part of his arms, chest, back and even legs, even when grazes by blaster fire around him, he keeps up the fight as he counters each strike he faces and strikes down anyone standing in his way, even when the numbers of cuts and slashes and grazes increase around his body.
Rian can only observe wide-eyed as the rest of the EW continue to contain the rest away from them, his mind focusing on Logan's endeavors as he continues to slash down all Zlocans in the area by himself, even as someone outnumbered and outgunned by the likes of him, he keeps on like it's nothing to him.
This strength, this courage. It all feels so reckless... definitely not something some pretty-faced fraud would even think to try on their own... Nah, that can't be right. It shouldn't be that simple, and yet...
Rian stops for a bit, then he closes his eyes... and chuckles with a smirk on his face.
So this is that 'heroism' you've been touting all along, huh? Heh, you got me good there, Logan. Looks like the age of genuine, no-bullshit heroes is far from dead, after all.
***
In the command room, as the chatter continues around the room, the cameras all show every Zlocan deploying to where the EW are located, as well as the scene in the facility where they are pinned down. The commander in the room is stationed in the center alongside Raven and Yamja, who all observe attentively over the course of events. Yamja, in particular, seems to take a high interest in this one, as her wide grin shows.
"I believe your strategy was correct, Commander. It is truly proof of what Spirit of Modervil is capable of for us. Guess this is the perfect tool to attack anyone who goes here after all," Raven says while observing the screen.
"Yes. And of course, the end of the pathetic Soranian bloodline and their treacherous ways of life!" Yamja replies as she holds her hands in anticipation over the potential of what she yearned about for a long time.
"Oh yes indeed, Lord Raven and Master Yamja. Humanity placed a lot of faith in sending the EW as if they were the one Gods who can handle everything by themselves. Big mistakes as usual from these primitive idiots," the commander said while keeping a sneer on his face, even if it is hidden in his helmet. However, just as they continue to savor the potential victory. Beeping sounds are heard from the radar technicians, whose sights are enough to make a few stand up.
"Commander, we have new unidentified targets heading our way!" the male technician says.
"How many and where?!" the command asks back with a commanding tone.
"They're approaching from the south, seems to be around ten and fifteen... Wait, more on the west, it's thirty now, east side detected with fifty more!"
"What? You don't mean...?!" the commander asks before stepping back for a bit, unaware of the implications of what the radar technician has spotted.
***
The battle continues, and it all seems that the Zlocans have found the blind spot to step inside, and swarm the EW inside, with all the mechas and tanks that they have.
Meanwhile, the rest are breathing as heavily as ever while some of them are slumped over the barricade, now with barely any energy left to defend them, and even with all the stolen weaponry, it all seems that the EW may have met their match.
"No... we won't quit... not like this!" Seiner mutters as he prepares an attempt to blast some Zlocans from the entrance, but just as he's about to do so, a barrage of missiles are fired from the distance, impacting the Zlocan battalion and obliterating a handful of tanks and mechas standing in front of the entrance. The ones flying around are a bunch of Apache helicopters who turn around as they surround the place.
"What in the...?" Jack asks as he observes this unexpected sight.
"Earth Warriors, come in! This is Captain Cruz, you may not have heard my name, but I'm sure as hell you remember San Jose. We're here for you like you were there for us!" one of the pilots says in the intercom of all members.
"This is Crusader Squadron. Earth Warriors, thought you'd use some cover!" Rosa says as she and her squadron, alongside a few new ones approach the base as they start their new bombing run.
"This is Gerardo to the Earth Warriors. Looks like you're missing out on what constitutes a great team. We're here especially on behalf of Rian and in honor of Adi!" Gerardo says while stationed in one of the Blackhawk helicopters who approach the base in numbers, both professional soldiers, mercenaries and even conscripts alike.
"Berat Sahin here. Just figured we would pay you back before we pay interest for Walter's tranquility sessions." Berat is one of the last few voices to speak up, being inside one of the Blackhawks as well as the escort helicopters start their barrage of fire in the surrounding buildings while others rappel down to the ground in order to face the Zlocan forces head-on. It doesn't matter how much they would take and how much they would lose, they're here for one thing.
To save them after they were saved before.
"Well I'll be damned. It's game on, baby!" Jack says as he laughs heartily while Seiner disables the barricade, now charging toward the disoriented Zlocans distracted by the attacks while others try to handle the rest of the UEF coming after them.
"All troops, pound the hell out of that fortress, and try to stay away from any line of fire too!" Sly says in the intercom as he oversees the action through another Blackhawk while carrying his trust M24 sniper rifle to defend any troops he sees in his way.
"Temperance engaging!" Rosa says while dropping some missiles at a hangar carrying Zlocan mechas.
"Azure Hawk engaging!" Kamis says while dropping other bombs on another building, which explodes in a fiery inferno.
"Guess this is what you call a true moment of heroism. After Burner engaging," Mariama says while using the guns of her plane to shoot down any of the approaching Zlocan star fighters coming out of one of the hangars.
"Dala engaging! If the Earth Warriors need air support, we're there for them anytime!" Andreas says while dropping other bombs on the rest of the buildings, all crumbling in a fiery inferno as the other troops continue their onslaught on the fortress, now fully surrounded by the sheer strength of Humanity itself.
As the Zlocans continue to engage the arriving UEF troops as they take out some, three of them are blasted right through their skulls as they drop to the ground, all coming from Seiner's golden gun with a smirk on his face. Others try to counter back but are pumped right through the chests by a barrage of bullets impacting the armor, before being knocked by another set that stumbles the other Zlocans, all from Ed himself as he laughs in battle. Similarly, other Zlocans who try to strike them away are answered by a barrage of bullets impacting chests, heads and arms, all through the sound of an AR15 rifle wielded by Jack, carrying a wide smirk, with some heavily armored troopers facing smacks and kicks from a metal covered Andrei who uses his material to deflect the blaster fire back them. Finally, as one Zlocan tank tries to aim at the incoming division of UEF troops, a rock is summoned out of nowhere which drops right on top of it, creating enough dent to stop its mobilization. All coming from a giggling Tany as she leaves her mouth wide open as the recently arrived reinforcements.
While Logan tries to tend to the prisoners, another battalion of Zlocan troops arrives in an attempt to strike them while being distracted. However, before one gets even closer, most are blown away the moment an arrow that impacts the ground explodes in a fiery inferno. Courtesy of Malak. Those who evaded the explosion, are met by a handful of knife throws coming from above, Lucy actually, who uses every trick she knows to immobilize them as much as she can. Those who go even closer are met by a number of slashes coming from a screaming Rian, who does all the skills he learned by slashing and parrying any Zlocan blade that approaches him. And finally, for the approaching tanks, it's levitated by a green aura of sorts which is then hurled away in a faraway location. All at the hands of Amira who carries a firm look on her face as she holds Logan's hand. Even without words, Logan's smile is enough to get the momentum going for this grandstand. This finest hour of theirs as they take out the remaining Zlocans in the base.
After a while, the remaining Zlocans issue an order of retreat, unwilling to lose everyone in this very base as they all reach for the nearest transport they can spot or carry. Raven in particular carries a limp Dakrin, holes still present in his Achilles Heel while Yamja carries a barely functional Jason through his waist as they reach for the transport, flying upward just in time in tandem with the other transport ships. As this occurs, the remaining soldiers raise their weapons as they cheer in celebration of this grand moment. One where they all stood together in the name of the heroes that saved them.
"So, maybe our hopes were well earned?" Logan says as he looks at the sun in the sky, no longer covered in a shrouded smoke.
"Well, you know better than me about this," Rian replies without glancing at Logan, yet cracking a small smirk from his face.
"Indeed, Logan. And with that... You-No, we are closer to reaching home. To free this land, right?" Amira asks as he holds Logan's hand. Logan merely replies with a nod, for he's sure that this is something that can be answered at another time.
***
Inside one of the Zlocan transports, most of the Inquisitors are sitting down, with Yamja even carrying a scowl on her face while connecting Jason to a charging battery.
"Guess the commander's faith was misplaced after all, maybe if I encounter him again, I will-" Yamja tries to reply, only for Raven to raise his hand as he sits near an unconscious Dakrin.
"We have more pressing matters to attend to. Especially for the placement of our remaining forces in LA. Guess it's time to call him," Raven says before activating a set of buttons from his device on the wrist. After a few minutes of silence, a clear sound is heard from it.
"Yes, mister Raven?" a calm and soft-spoken voice asks near the communicator.
"Mister Richard, we need a change of plans in regards to accommodations of troops. Our own fortress has fallen into enemy hands and is closing in on reaching the city."
"Well, that's a shame to hear. I thought the best you could from the troops guarding California. But I can certainly repay that back to you, isn't it?" Richard replies.
"I'm not sure if the rest of the high command will accept lending more troops from a garrison that's only seeing more losses day by day."
"Oh, no need to worry about it, Raven. It is a matter of fact that one always has to stitch together whatever piece they have left when something's broken. And it's always a fact of life that when it comes to beings like you, you'll be the ones who deserve the most help in the galaxy. Because after all..." A brief pause is felt by the communicator before a brief chuckle escapes from Richard's mouth.
"...Helping is the pride of an altruistic heart."