Kady's Journey -Freesia-

Chapter 19: The Star

"Ok, how much will you cough up?"

"Five thousand pesos the Alliance will be done in three hours."

"Too long. Two hours!"

"Who will win?"

"With Galion and the Kingdom's superior numbers, it is not up for discussion."

"No way! The Empire got the son of the Yekaterin's Tsarina!"

"The Witch of Yekaterin's spawn. I must think this through."

"Is he really that formidable? He looks so scrawny and unreliable."

"Ten thousand pesos the Empire will win. I heard Kyrus transferred command to Lexei entirely."

"You've gotta be kidding me."

"No, he announced it publicly last night."

"The entire Imperial Arsenal. He must trust him so much for him to do that."

"Oh boy, you are all forgetting Silva. He is also majoring in Strategy. Kingdom will win."

"The Royal Retainer, huh? Ten thousand pesos for the Kingdom then."

"Speaking of Strategy Major. Doesn't the Alliance also have two majoring that?"

"Nothing worth mentioning buddy. Two girls wouldn't make any difference."

"I am betting twenty thousand pesos they will lose in an hour."

"Woah! That's daring, why?"

"Compared to Trevor and Kyrus, Daryl is just nothing."

"Well, a Colte is better suited inside factories, not on a battlefield."

"Anyone still willing to bet?! Just drop it here!"

I just shook my head as countless men and women from all countries are gathering at the corner of the academy stadium where they will show the live telecast of our wargame today. 

Now that I think about it, my father once mentioned a sort of holiday for Tayabas every year. The best military strategies of each country are showcased by the students. Well, father, wherever you are now, I wonder what you are thinking right now that I am participating in it?

"You alright, Lady Kady? 

I looked beside me and saw Yugo with his brother wearing the same white and gray military fatigue and a black beret as what I am wearing now.

"Hardly. I am so nervous I don't even know if I am nervous or not," I said as Yuro laughed and nodded at a serene woman wearing a scarlet-colored sash, ruby tiara, and a flowing red gown who is standing behind him and looking at me curiously.

She smiled sweetly at me and I realized she reminds me of someone with the same innocent face and demeanor.

"Oh, my you must be Kady, right? Oh, dear what a waste that we didn't manage to even meet when you were in Riksent! How infuriating!" she squealed as she grabbed my hands and shake it excitedly.

"Your Highness, please, control yourself," Yugo told the woman who gasped and let go of my hand quickly before bowing quickly.

"Oh my, I've done it again, huh?" she asked the twins who just bowed respectfully before looking back at me, "Where're my manners? I haven't even formally introduced myself! I am Creusa von Tross, Baroness of the Barony of Karst, Aristocratic Dukedom of Riksent, a pleasure."

I did a curtsy in front of Aerith's similarly excitable mother, "An honor to finally meet you, Your Highness."

"Aww, aren't you just the cutest?!" she squealed and was about to lunge at me when a familiar woman wearing a Maharlikan blouse and skirt made of locally grown pinya fibers suddenly appeared from the entrance surrounded by dozens of Maharlikan Soldiers.

"Creusa goodness! Not a minute inside the school and you are already attacking someone? Something never changed, really," the stately woman said as she chuckled and playfully pinched the should of the Baroness and looked at me from head to foot before nodding appreciatively, "But I cannot wholely blame you. Madeline is correct. She really is adorable."

"I know, right? Introduce yourself!" Aerith's mother said quickly but there is really no need.

I know who is this woman. 

She's my predecessor so to speak.

"Lizzo Banahaw, President of the United Republic of Maharlika," she said but smiled at me sweetly and shook her head, "But I guess there's no need for me to even tell you that, right Ms Groves?"

I nodded and accepted her hand and shake it enthusiastically, "No need, Madam President. It is an honor to meet you."

"Likewise, Ms Groves. I heard from Mr Andrade that you already surpassed me. That is good to hear!" she said which made me blush.

"I highly doubt it, Madam President. You are one tough act to follow," I said honestly as she and Creusa smiled at my response, "I wouldn't occupy you two any longer, I will let Yuro and Yugo escort you to your box, esteemed ladies."

President Lizzo waved me goodbye while Baroness Creusa sent me a flying kiss before letting the twins escort them.

I looked around and the bigwigs of the four countries are arriving now one by one as the media swarmed around the elites, socialites, politicians, nobilities, and showbiz personalities who will grace the event.

It seemed that the Kingdom sent the mother of Moly who looks very jolly and friendly despite of her status as a noble. She is followed the Empire's representative, Tsarina Fedora, mother of Anastasia.

There's just an almost endless procession of important people while behind me at the far corner, the bettors are really getting wild with their bets.

Now they are betting on who will be knocked out first among my classmates.

I just shook my head as I began to walk back to the stadium entrance only for students and teachers. It is almost eight in the morning and the event will be officially beginning.

They have to put us to sleep before that and I don't want to be late. My duty as an usherette for our countries' representative is over now that the Baroness and the President are already inside.

"Hurry up, Kady. Belle is getting livid waiting for you!" Olea shouted when I saw her walking down the opposite direction before entering her own battalion's briefing room.

"Will do, Olea. See you!"

"See you, Kady!"

I began to run towards my own briefing room and indeed I saw Belle waiting impatiently in front of her own room and pointing towards mine, "Finally! I thought you got lost or something. Move it, Kady!"

She then entered her briefing room before slamming the door to my face.

I just shook my head and chuckled. She really is a worrywart.

The moment I stepped inside my designated briefing room for my battalion, I saw a dozen psychiatrists and psychologists administering the sleeping medications to my soldiers. Half of which are already asleep with their heads on their arms on the desks.

"My Lady, it's time."

I looked at Yugo sitting beside his brother who is already out of it.

I nodded and sat next to him and smiled at the psychologist and psychiatrist who are wearing their white scrub suits and looking at me expectantly.

"Ms Kady Groves, right?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Perfect, please put these lenses on your eyes and tell me if there's a problem, okay?"

I nodded and carefully wear the contact lenses from the container the psychologist gave me. I blinked several times and looked around.

"Everything clear, Ms Groves?"

"Yes."

"Great, now take these pills and immediately put your head on your arms. You will feel the effect immediately."

"Got it."

The psychiatrist handed over three brightly colored pills and bottled water. Without further ado, I took it and followed the advice and put my head on my arm the same as the other students around me.

No kidding, it didn't take more than ten seconds before I can feel drowsiness and began losing consciousness.

I didn't know what happened. 

I feel I was falling into an eternal dark abyss. 

Without anything in sight, I can't even see my body, my hands, or feet. 

I don't even know if I'm really falling or flying anymore.

It was like forever until I stopped moving at all.

I opened my eyes and everything is still dark and scary.

And then... 

He appeared...

Wearing gray ripped pants, black t-shirt, and sneakers. He is wearing his billowing red scarf and a lopsided smile that I will never forget. 

His face is thin but with striking features. His onyx black eyes are glimmering as it used to be whenever he looks at me. A strange white aura is enveloping his body but he looks so real.

"Kady..."

"Father..."

"I hoped we could've met in a better place than this darkness, but I will take what I have. As I always say, beggars can't be choosers." 

"Where are we, father? Am I dead?"

"Goodness, no. You're not dead. I wouldn't allow it. Your journey hasn't even begun. As per your question on where we are. I don't know, but certainly not somewhere where the dead goes and the living stays, that's for sure."

"Father..."

"I'm sorry Kady, I know I've left more questions than answers but that's what it should be. I didn't raise you to accept something given. I raised you to work and search for the answers you seek."

"Who are you? The more I come close to an answer, the farther it became to reality."

He shook his head and smiled sadly at me, "I am who I am, Kady."

"Still stubborn even after death. Really?"

"I'm sorry..."

"No, you shouldn't be. You have nothing to apologize for. It's been too long since you were gone. I don't know anymore what to do."

"You've done well reaching this far, Kady. To tell you the truth, it was my dream to attend the Gearth Military Academy but I was so sickly to even leave my country when I was young. I didn't get the chance. But you. You did it. You actually did it. I couldn't be more happy and proud, my daughter."

"I perfected that accursed test because of all the gibberish you pounded on my head. Who knew?"

"Yeah, right. Who knew? But now, you are not just studying there. You will be leading your own battalion. You are doing all the things that I can only imagine doing. Things that I can only dream of. Kady, make most of everything. It is not permanent."

"I know. But, I wish to stay here with you. I missed you."

"No. You've got better things to do than spend an eternity in this darkness and so am I."

"Are you even real or just a hallucination?"

"Who knows? But it's time for me to go. You have a war to make, Kady. Let's see if you can really make the impossible, possible."

I chuckled as I began to cry in earnest, "Sorry for borrowing that, father."

"You will be forgiven if you did it, my child. Keep those two wolves with you, okay? Their mother said that they will carve a path for you."

He then began to flicker and fade slowly before my very eyes, "You will leave me again, father all alone before explaining yourself. You're so unfair."

"I may be gone, but I am always with you. You do know that, right my sweet Kyria?"

My father called me by his pet name that like his life is a complete enigma to me, "I know, father."

He then vanished and exploded into countless motes of light but not before saying words that make no sense to me.

"If you meet him again, tell him this, Kyria, "Ég fyrirgef þér, faðir. Ég elska þig."

-0-

"My Lady! Wake up! Hey!"

"Lady Kady! Goodness! Why her?!"

"Calm down you two! Look!"

"She's gaining consciousness, what a relief!"

I opened my eyes and the first thing I see is the worried sick face of Yugo and Yuro.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?!" Yuro asked as I took their hands to help me stand up.

"I'm not. Actually, I don't feel anything at all," I said as I tried to pinch myself and no pain registered at all.

Yugo stopped me from hurting myself and shook his head, "You are in the virtual world now. Pain is not included on the things that they virtualize, my Lady."

"Wait, virtual world?" I asked excitedly as I looked around us and I see that we are in the middle of a dense forest complete with wild animals and pungent flowers, "Wow! I don't feel or see any difference. Even the sky is so realistic!"

Someone coughed and when I turned, I saw Daryl grinning at me, "That's the point of virtual reality, Kady. To make things look real. But we can chat later. We must not make Belle wait any longer."

He started walking and the three of us followed the Crown Count as we follow a beaten path. Daryl turned his head and smiled.

"Don't tell Belle that it took a while for Kady to regain consciousness. We don't have time for worrying as is."

I and the twins nodded as we continued to follow him until we reached a clearing where all of my classmates are standing together with Mr Andrade.

"Took you long enough," Kyrus said irritably as Trevor waved at me.

"Everything ok, Kady?"

I nodded and looked at Belle who is clearly itching to get her hands on me, "What took you so long, Kady?"

"We searched for her a bit. She was transported a bit far from our camp, Belle," Daryl answered smoothly which obviously Belle didn't buy but decided to be quiet since Mr Andrade is looking impatient.

He looked at all of us and nodded, "Now that we are all finally complete, let us hear the message of the leaders of the four nations to the combatants representing their countries."

The old man snapped his fingers and to my shock, a giant screen appeared out of thin air in the sky with the leader of my country can be seen from the stadium.

"I am President Lizzo Banahaw of the United Republic of Maharlika sending this message to the Alliance Division. This friendly competition has been a tradition of the Gearth Military Academy ever since its founding hundreds of years ago. Please keep in mind that you are not just fighting to win. You are all fighting to carry on the torch of excellence your esteemed school has cultivated through the centuries. To the Maharlikan-Riksentian Alliance Division, never forget the trust and camaraderie that our two nations have forged through blood and fire, through peace and war that have survived the test of time. Long live the Alliance!"

She is followed by an ancient woman sitting in her throne at the Larrost Citadel.

"This is Severina von Traska, Baroness Regent of the Menardi Barony, Aristocratic Dukedom of Riksent to the Alliance Division. I have lived through countless wargames the Gearth Military Academy has celebrated for over a century and each and every year, it is one of the things I looked forward to witnessing in this long and protracted life of mine. Each year, there are new experiences to be earned, new strategies to test and new bonds to be made. It is my firm belief that the Maharlikan-Riksentian Alliance Division has never and will never fail to show me the strength of brother and sisterhood your forefathers and mothers have shared before you through the flames of battle. Never let Gearth forget even for a second that the Republic and Dukedom will forever be partners through times of prosperity and times of uncertainty. Raise the banners of white and gray for the Alliance!"

A familiar formidable man appeared next wearing the colors of his nation while sitting on his throne at the Akhlut, the gigantic airship of the Kingdom.

"Kingdom Divison, It is I, Trianor von Dahl, King of your Feudal Kingdom of Kalalit. Each and every year we have shown the world that our superior numbers are the last thing they should be worried about. Our honor and fortitude are what make our enemies cower in fear. Let them rue the day they dare oppose us as our rockets rain down upon them endlessly without fail and our tanks crush beneath their treads their hopes for winning. Victory smiles to those who stay firm to their beliefs! For the Horde!"

Lastly, a woman dressed in a majestic blue gown and wearing the full regalia of her nation smiled down on us that made Kyrus smile happily.

"Hear me, brave soldiers of my Empire Division for I am Empress Kassandra von Faulken, mother of the Democratic Empire fo Scania. It is my sincerest wish that you all fight using the wisdom and cunning the bosom of the motherland has provided you all. Seize any opportunities that come in your way and let Gearth remember what happens to those who stand in our way of advancement, left to dust in the annals of progress. Do everything that is needed of you to bring home the glory and let our swift airforce provide the missiles you need to hit your targets straight and true. Glory to the Legion!"

The four leaders all saluted at the same time in the style of their respective nations before disappearing from the skies.

"The battle will start in an hour, use that time to prepare and plan. For those of you who are not aware, the battlefield for this year is the Halendio Highlands of the Kingdom of Kalalit. We are now at the edge of the forest, the starting position of the Alliance. Due north-west of here lies the base of the Imperial and to the north-east is the Royal base," Mr Andrade explained clearly as he looked at each and every one of us and our aides, "You will not feel pain nor hunger but exhaustion will be characterized by how long you have stayed in battle. The moment you stepped out this clearing, there will be a limit of eight hours before the wargame will end. The last nation left standing will be the winner or if the time limit has been reached, the nation which inflicted more damage to their enemies will be declared the victor. In case of emergencies, raise a black flag, the faculty observers will rush to your aid. Any questions?"

No one spoke and our adviser nodded before smiling at us kindly, "This is my last year of teaching and this wargame will be the swan song of my entire academic career. I hope that you will put on a show of force so great, it will be written down in the history books as one of the best battles Gearth Military Academy cadets have fought. That is all I ask in return for everything that I have done for you, my Class A-0."

We all saluted at the same time to our adviser who saluted back and nodded at Kyrus, Trevor and Daryl, "This is the last time you will see each other as classmates and friends. Once the battle begins, you will be sworn, enemies. Any parting words to your opponents?"

"You should all know, the Imperial Legion won't go easy on all of you," Kyrus warned as his Imperial Retinue smiled nastily, "We will use every ace we have up our sleeves to ensure nothing stands in our way."

"The Royal Horde will crush everyone who dares oppose us!" Trevor shouted as his Royal Retinue rallied behind him, "Step aside or get stepped on!"

Daryl looked at me and Belle before sighing, "I will not give any fancy speeches on behalf of the Alliance Forces. Let's get this show on the road, shall we ladies?"

The three heirs to the thrones turned their backs and our classmates followed them as they go to separate directions until I was left with Galion and Lexei.

Galion raised his head and looked down at Lexei disgustingly, "I will not pull any punches. Prepare to get crushed beneath my boots."

"I'm done with holding back! If it's a fight you want then it's a fight you will get," Lexei said defiantly and for the first time, he showed his true self. 

A person who is no different from the boy he cherished the most.

I just looked down at my shaking hands and forced a smile as they looked at me, "And so we fight on to the outcome we looked upon."

We all turned our backs from each other and go separate ways.

-0-

"Condition Orange! Evacuate the base! I repeat, evacuate the base! This is not a drill! Condition Orange! Evacuate the base!"

Hundreds of soldiers are boarding dozens of Dukedom's Freya Class Transport Aircraft capable of carrying almost five hundred people on board as hundreds of Maharlika's Tikbalang Class Armored Personel Carrier are leaving the Alliance base in droves scattering to all directions ranging from the nearby jungle, across the canyon and into the foot of the nearby mountain range.

"Major Groves, report! The last fleet of Freyas is prepared to take off at your command!" Yugo shouted to me from his seat behind me while looking at a rather old military communication equipment, "All of the Tikbalangs have fled the area and are now away from the blast zone!"

I looked at the gigantic turn of the century aircraft of Riksent that are preparing to take off using their four huge propellers, "Get those birds in the sky, hurry!"

"Freya fleet under the 5th battalion, this is Alliance Command, you are clear for takeoff. I repeat you are clear for takeoff, get the heck out of the base, now!"

As if on cue from Yugo's command, the planes began their preparations to fly and in less than a minute or two, the giant planes of Riksent containing the last of our soldiers have left the ground are now flying on different directions across the horizon.

"My battalion is finished planting explosives around the base, Major Groves. Awaiting further orders."

I nodded at Hrist who whispered on my ear as I sighed in relief, "Good job, proceed with the plan. Make yourselves scarce. I don't want to catch even a glimpse of you and your Battalion, Major Arngrim. That is all."

She saluted and left hastily and ran towards the forest where her battalion is waiting.

"Yugo, who are the only ones left, in the base?"

"The 1st Heavy Artillery and the 8th Logistics and Supply!"

I shook my head in disbelief, "Tell Major Tross to move it! This base will be done for in a few minutes!"

"On it, Major Groves!"

He then proceeds to contact Aerith as Yuro commanded the last of my battalion to vacate the area and meet us in the woods later.

Sirens blared as several wings of jet fighters zoomed past above the base as if scouting the area.

"The Imperial Air Force is upon us! Yugo! Status report of the 8th Battalion?!" I asked in panic as I ordered all of the officers in the command room to evacuate.

"They already left the area with our battalion, Major Groves! We are the only ones left!" he answered as he throws down his headset and proceeded to my side, "Your orders?"

I nodded at the twins and the three of us hit the ground running as we heard distant explosions from afar.

"We still have to do something more than sending our comrades away. Until then, I have no intention of waking up just yet!"

I shouted as the bombing run begins in earnest and true enough, the moment the three of us left the command building, we saw dozens of Imperial Fighters raining down missiles on the base with impunity.

Everything went up in smoke and fire as they destroyed the thankfully empty runway and are now closing in on the hangars, barracks, and warehouses.

We jumped to the bushes as the command building where we are in only a few seconds ago was hit by a missile and subsequently burst into flames and debris.

"In Gearth's name, the Imperial's really wants to wipe it out," Yugo said in awe as he watched from his binoculars our now base that is now thoroughly blasted to pieces.

Yuro laughed and winked at me, "Well, don't give them all the credit, bro. Our Lady here also helped them put on a spectacular show."

"If they don't see any dramatic explosions, they will deduce that those hangars and barracks that they just blasted to the ground are empty. Now, they will think that they have wiped most if not all of our military capability," I said appreciatively as I turned around on my back and saw Belle and Daryl smiling at me, "What do you think, Supreme Commander?"

Our leader gave me a greasy thumbs up and Belle sent me a flying kiss, "Good call, Major Groves. If not for your quick thinking, we would've been blasted back to the real world."

"I am worried about our scattered troops, Major Groves," Belle said anxiously as she looked at the still smoking sky, "Are you sure they will all be fine?"

Daryl nodded and patted the back of my close friend, "They will be. Those planes have zero electronic circuitry in them and thus, virtually invisible to radar. I have ordered them to deploy aerial smokescreen to hide their presence until they can land to the satellite bases that the 4th Battalion has established early on."

I nodded but didn't dare to feel complacent, this is but the first step and Kyrus used our base as an example for Trevor of just how much his Imperial Airforce can do in terms of a precision bombing run, "I have seen the footages back at the academy but seeing it firsthand. It is awe-inspiring. They can just hit anyone whenever and wherever they want at such speed. Truly horrifying."

"Well, that's the forte of the Imperial Legion. Precision bombing. No wonder Kyrus was so confident, he can just sit comfortably in his base and send his planes on the skies unopposed," Belle said in disbelief as everything went quiet once again as the Imperial Airforce left the vicinity, "What do we do now? I know it is already established beforehand that we will be abandoning our base of operations for the wilderness but what's next?"

I smiled and winked at Belle, "Now? We play the waiting game, of course."

Belle raised her eyebrow in surprise as I said my marching orders to my twins, "Send this order to all Alliance Forces. Even though our radiofrequency is technically untraceable by the Kingdom and Empire, we will still use it only in emergencies. Battalion leaders, take charge of your soldiers and lay low until further orders. Secure supply and escape routes. Lower the battle awareness to Condition Yellow until further notice."

The two saluted and proceed to communicate all the scattered Battalion Majors of the Alliance.

I looked at Belle who is awaiting her direct orders, "I want all facets of the battle between the Kingdom and Empire known to us all. Keep the morale of our troops high and report any irregularities or odd movements, Major de Marillac."

"I will leave the rest of the command to you, Supreme Leader. This is all I can do for now," I said respectfully as I saluted to Daryl who smiled fondly at me and saluted back.

"We would've lost already if not for you, Kady. That alone is worthy of the highest praise," he said as he looked behind me where our base is still burning, "All I can do is help you with the equipment and stuff."

I shook my head and patted his shoulder, "I have zero knowledge when it comes to military machinery and whatnot. I can only make decisions based on the advice and suggestions you have given me beforehand. You do know I was about to let the transport aircraft fly empty and let our soldiers run to the forests if you haven't told me that technically speaking, they can airlift them away from here. instead"

"Well, now that you said that, it makes me feel less useless," he sighed in relief as I chuckled.

"Useless? Let's see, who knows everything about every single military equipment under the Alliance arsenal? You. Who knows the basic tactical and damage capabilities of the artilleries we have? You. Who told me that our planes are invisible to the radars of the enemies? You. Who told me that our radiofrequency are totally unhackable by our enemies because the frequency it uses is from the last century? You. Now, who is useless again, folks?"

I looked around at the soldiers surrounding us and they all shrugged their shoulders and shook their heads while looking around to find someone who is not existing.

"See? Now, I need your input on this plan that I am scheming, Supreme Commander," I said seriously before winking at the soldiers around us, "We need to lose this darn war a little slower, eh? Now, man your posts while we plot something nasty for the Imperials and Royals."

They all laughed and returned to their positions leaving me and Daryl together with the twins who are still relaying my orders to the other Majors.

"Now, you said that in terms of sheer firepower, our artilleries have a fighting chance," I asked Daryly who nodded and pounded his chest as a way of saying that he is betting his life on his word, "Perfect. So what do you say at a full-frontal assault?"

Even Yuro and Yugo stopped talking over the radio when I heard my words as Daryl is looking at me like I hit my head hard or something, "Are you serious Kady? Forget about the Imperial Airforce, the human wave attack of the Royal Horde is enough to drown us with their bodies alone. If we attack head-on we will be massacred in mere minutes!"

"We will be massacred if we send the infantries at the front," I sit down and draw on the hyper-realistic soil of the virtual world with my fingers to further elaborate my plans, "It will be a different story if we send the armored squadrons of the 3rd battalion first followed by the mustered infantries of the 2nd and fourth battalion. My 1st Heavy Artillery battalion will provide covering fire prioritizing the armored columns as well as the rocket and missile launchers of the Horde and Legion and at the same time, providing an anti-air blanket for the marching army with Aerith's battalion bringing up the rear."

Daryl looked at the plan of attack that I draw on the ground, "You're planning to use Rodrigo's Kapre Class Riot Barricade Vehicle to form a defensive line, reinforced by the Tikbalang Class APC at the rear. That just might work if not for the fact that it is impossible to hold both of the armies indefinitely. It is a lightly armored vehicle built for urban use, I doubt it won't last long, Kady."

"Of course it won't. We will just use them to redirect the flow of the infantry into designated areas so that our infantry and artillery can focus fire on a specific location rather saturating a wide area for effect," I said matter of factly before grinning at the Riksentian heir to the throne, "This will only work if you can take over command of the rest of the army while I focus with my battalion. Timing is of the essence here, Daryl. Are you ok with this?"

He grinned and cracked his knuckles menacingly, "It will be a miracle if it works but heck, achieving a miracle is easier than achieving victory in our situation. I'm in, Kady."