“I give my all for the glory of humanity,” -From the diary Jena Leslie.
******
Underneath the light of a mote of mana, Jack reviewed the layout of the city via a large paper map.
“So? What do you think?” Python asked, twirling a daylily leaf in his mouth.
“I think… I don't have enough experience with managing large scale warfare,” Jack replied, “But I do know we're severely outnumbered. We aren't going to take this city without additional reinforcements.”
“So? Whats your plan?”
“Hmm…” Jack frowned, wishing that Ieyasu or Selfia were here to do the planning instead, “I can probably call down a hurricane and wipe out the city center?”
“There's still civilians gathered there,” Python said, pointing at buildings on the map, “You use an anti-army skill there you'll wipe out a bunch of civilians.”
“We'll be wiping them out anyway when we launch our assault,” Jack sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do the paladins have any plans for civilian evacuations?”
“None, not that I've heard. The resistance is going all in. This attack is just for us to launch our decapitation strike, truth be told, what happens to them isn't our problem, we're only here for the Green Bishop,” Python said, tapping the image of Hugo Fritz that lay at the center of the map.
Jack turned to the man, while on paper, using the paladins to bear the brunt of an attack rather than Imperials seemed logical, however, it didn’t sit well with Jack who suddenly felt a sense of a kindred spirit with the soldiers being used by Selfia.
“So that's it then? We use them and then throw them away?”
“Its-”
“What? It's what? These are our allies, Python. What the hell happened to the man I knew who hated the Empire? Who hated the way they wasted lives? If we sacrifice them how are we going to convince others to join our fight?”
“It’s not that simple, if we call in imperial reinforcements it'll draw troops away from the frontline and that sort of action draws eyes.”
“Python, I was promised soldiers. An army. The more I look at this, the less I like. We are up against an army of fifty thousand. What happens when we kill the Green Bishop? What happens to the city? The people? How are we going to escape the chaos? Every bit of this plan seems sour to me.”
Jack and Python hung in silence for a moment. The pair staring at each other's eyes with Jack frowning as something seemed to intrude his mind.
It was slight, a faint echo,but looking into Python's eyes the world Pylon crossed Jack's mind.
“If I call Selfia for additional support, if we do this, there's a high possibility we'll be fighting Roland soldiers as well. Adding fuel to the fire, this could turn into a protracted battle, alerting the High Table of our efforts.”
“Better to fight with air support than none at all,” Jack said, staring at Python. “Look, I don't like the Theocracy either. But I know their value and they're our allies. We can't sacrifice them and all hope for the North, otherwise we're no better than the guys we're fighting.”
“Very well,” Python said, reaching into a nearby satchel and removing a folded up tripod with a crystal orb attached.
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“What is that?”
“A ray shift beacon. It's how our airships navigate in shift to specific cities but with the civil war, most of them are turned off.”
Jack frowned, “Sonuvabitch, this was another test wasn't it?”
“No actually, just a contingency in case we need help, but it's good to see you haven't changed much,” Python said as he handed Jack the tripod. “If we activate this, it'll allow us to have a Selfian airship here in minutes.”
“And Roland airships…”
“Yes, but the caveat is that we'll have ours here first. A strike group is already assembled, but if we do this, we'll turn the place into a full on warzone. We’ll alert everyone by having our strike group cross the mountains.”
Jack took a moment to mull over the decision.
“At least with air dominance we can try and evacuate the civilians and minimize casualties, this will give the paladins a fighting chance,” Jack argued. “Do it.”
Python nodded.
“I'll contact Selfia and let Lita know of the change in operation then,” Python said before snapping a salute and walking out of the snow covered hovel as Yukino entered.
“Wow, heavy stuff huh, we can hear you two arguing for the last hour,” Yukino said, wrapping herself around Jack's neck.
“Not right now, I'm busy.”
Yukino maneuvered around Jack, facing him directly while still clinging to his neck.
“C-moon you're always busy! Why not let me help you rela-”
“Stop. I’ve got enough to deal with right now. You want to help me? Go help Python,” Jack said as he freed himself from the pink-haired woman's grasp.
The Shinobi frowned, stepping back, her brow furrowing before her face contorted and she stomped out of the room.
“Smooth. Is there a reason you keep turning-”
“Hush,” Jack sent back to Lilith before turning his attention to the map. “Sara, have you figured out why there's a statue of yourself down here?”
Silence, the angel unusually unresponsive.
“Sara?”
“I… am not sure… but I can feel a resonance. Like I'm looking at a mirror of myself. Whatever it is, it's old. Not like… my time old, but at least a thousand maybe five?”
Maybe five? So you don't know?
“It's strange. It's like I'm touching myself when I place my hand on its face. Whatever it is though, it has a scrambling effect on rune code,” Sahaqiel replied, the archangel floating in front of the crowd of theologists worshipping her visage.
They couldn't see her, not unless she willed it, but the funny thought did occur to show herself for a moment.
Something she would have probably done in a past life, but the pandemonium would probably jeoparidize and delay the mission so Sahaqiel thought better of it.
Meaning? Jack asked as he began marking the map for potential killzones and landing sites for refugees.
“Meaning it weakens demonspawn and their connection to the Infinity Machine. Since you're kinda like a nest, that tingling sensation you keep feeling is that. It seems to have a high radius, protecting the city from demonspawn.”
“Hmm,” Jack let out, pausing as he thought about how useful it would be to Hoshido.
In fact, most places wouldn't need high rise walls and gun emplacements if they had statues like the one of Sahaqiel.
But removing it would probably spell the end for the Theocracy…
“According to some, the statue used to be an actual person, someone that martyred themselves to found the Theocracy,” Lilith added, the raven specter being unusually helpful.
“I would know if I was awake to found a nation,” Sahaqiel retorted, cocking her head to the side to continue examining the statue as Lilith appeared beside her. “And how are you knowing this?”
“Because I’m from here. This is where I was born… I think?” Lilith suddenly laughed, her face contorting with a devilish smile, “You know if you were to reveal yourself, you could probab-”
“Absolutely not. I’ve been venerated as a goddess before. The last thing I want is to do so again. Do you know how disturbing it is to help a person only to come back hundreds of years later with statues made of clay and people sacrificing other people on altars in your name?”
“Sounds like a party.”
“Trust me, its not,” Sahaqiel said as she turned to the crowd below her on their knees and praying to her.