"Should we turn back and find another way down, Commissioner?" Vienen asked.

James pondered looking down, and around the drop. The damage must had been done by the Falta, James thought. The stone where the stair way once was lay in crumbles on the floor underneath.

"No..... We go down. We have no time to waste." James exclaimed.

He looked out on the horizon from the high view they were standing. It was getting dark as the sun was setting, and the night lights of the city were spotting more and more as the darkness had spread throughout the main lands. He peered into the hole once more, analyzing it.

"How do you suggest us to get down from here, Sir?" Vienen asked.

Riley limped forward, still gripping his blood dripping arm. His face winced at the slightest of pain emitting from his arm.

"Yes.. Agh.. It's quite impossible to say the least, Sir. But we can pos--"

Riley cut off his sentence as he witnessed James leap into the deep hole.

"SIR! NO!" Vienen hollered as he strutted forward to catch him.

The sound of something landing was heard, and Vienen turned to face Riley with a stunned expression.

"What the fuck?!.... What." Riley confused by what had just happened.

"Commissioner Roy!.... Sir!" Vienen shouted out for James once more, ".......Huh?..."

As Vienen had peered over, he noticed James unscathed. James looked around him, and soon looked upwards meeting eye contact with Vienen.

"I'm fine Guardsmen... Don't be losing your voice now."

Vienen just stared.

"Is he...?" Riley asked.

Vienen turned to face Riley and nodded to assure that James was fine.

"Jump down!" James hollered from below.

Both Riley and Vienen looked at each other in confusion, as if James was mad.

"Sir, i'm sure that you can do incredible things. I've heard the tales, and I just witnessed one myself, but.... I'm not like you. I'm very sure I'll die!" Riley responded in uncertainty.

"I'll catch you!" James responded back once again.

"Sir, it would probably be best if we--"

"Jump down now! That's an order as District Commissioner!" James's voice was seething in impatience and anger. Time was passing and daylight was thinning down to darkness.

"Riley you should go first... That arm needs to be treated as soon as possible." Vienen in concern, placed his opinion on who would jump first.

"Okay Vienen." Riley said as he walked past him to the edge of the gap, "That's a poor way of excusing yourself from dropping dead first."

"It is so that you may be able to keep that arm." Vienen remarked with a slight smirk, pointing at Riley's arm with his eyes.

Riley looked at him with a bit of resentment and looked back into the hole to see James.

"You better jump now. It's getting dark, I won't be able to see you that well." James said to the duo up above.

"Okay..ugh... woah!--" Riley leaped forward to be in the center of the gap. The gravity pulled him down quickly, the wind coursing around him fast! He fell downwards, still gripping his severely cut arm. He closed his eyes believing that he was going to crash down to his death.

SSHHHHOOOOOP!

But instead.... He felt as if something halted his descent almost immediately. He opened his eyes to James in front of him gripping his shoulder and back. Riley was leaning backwards, soon James let him go and Riley regained balance.

"How...." Riley in severe astonishment said to James.

James looked up to Vienen, without muttering a word to Riley.

"Your turn!"

Riley just stood a little away from James, looking at him. He was completely distracted that he let go of his arm, and the blood from his severe wound flowed down his arm, through his hand and dripped down rapidly to the stone floor.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

From up above, the sound of Vienen's boots left the edge of the destroyed stairway. The remaining light from the blue and orange sun-setting sky, displayed a dark silhouette with his arms a little raised falling down at a rapid pace.

Riley stood watching. He watched James leap up at a great height and catch Vienen in mid air! He then guided him safely to the ground, and put him on his feet.

"How's.... How.. Sir?" Vienen in severe confusion.

"Wow...." Riley stated.

Riley collapsed to the floor and grew very weak. A formation of blood had collected from the drips coming off his arm. The gauze and bandages were soaked in red.

"Shit."

Vienen walked quickly over to help him. Riley seemed to be falling under, and couldn't stand the damage that the severely cut arm was doing to him. Riley had an expression of being completely out of it and was struggling to stay awake.

"He's lost a lot of blood, Commissioner. We need to get back to the rally point now to get the Defense Meds to work on him."

"Okay. We need to move quickly."

Both Vienen and James picked up Riley, who was mumbling and struggling to get up. With Vienen and James at either side of Riley, they guided him through the ruble and debris.

The crunching of the crumbled rocks and stones echoed through the now silent battle ground that once took place. Bullet holes and ashes of explosions riddled the Plaza. Windows shattered, structures collapsed. It was a defining scene to what more was to come.

"How.. H-how can .. You do that, Sir?" Riley mumbles as they continued on through the ruins.

"Do what?"

"Go through battle... U-unhinged by....anything.."

"Determination, Riley."

They trotted forward, and the sight of the regrouped Defense Troopers were in sight. The bright, beaming lights of the MAC armored vehicles lined up and shone on Defense Troopers coming back and forth, carrying equipment. The Prypylons parked in defensive positions at the ends of the plaza.

"Nothing less of that."

Riley had stayed quiet, and his eyesight was dimming. The blood seeping from his arm flowed on James's left side, covering his uniform.

As they neared the makeshift D.O.T. camp, a spotlight on one of the MACs glared at the group of three. It was blinding as they halted their advance, and immediately the sound of Troopers shouting to what seemed to be Lieutenant Banks was heard. The sounds of footsteps beat down on the ruble and floor, getting louder and louder as they neared the group of three. Soon enough, a squad of Defense Troopers and Hanid came to aid them.

"Hanid!" Vienen exclaimed, as he seemed good to see him.

"What happened to Riley?" Asked Hanid as they placed him down on a stretcher.

"Falta gunship tore up his arm." James pointing to the red soaked gauze and bandages, "Its cut pretty bad."

"Alright alright...ya, It's good to see you guys again." Hanid working with Vienen to rush Riley to receive medical care, "Sir!"

Hanid quickly saluted, almost forgetting his leader being present. A group of Defense Troopers picked up the stretcher and ran back to the camp.

"We'll fix him up."

James turned to see who stated that, and saw Lieutenant Banks standing by with other Defense Troopers. They all saluted.

"What's the situation here." Asked James.

"It's cleared out. Septem forces have either been killed, captured, or forced back towards the beach." Banks emphasized his explanation with a moving fist, "I had groups of Defense Troopers go through all areas to ensure the threat has been eliminated. It has, but we still have the headlands containing the coastal defense stations, which where they have probably retreated to."

James began walking towards the camp. Vienen, Hanid, Banks and the rest of the Defense Troopers followed behind.

"Where is Terem?" Asked James.

"He's in the camp. He's suffered some injuries during the second wave attack, but he's okay. Just a little shaken up."

"And the captured Defense Troopers?"

Banks did not respond quickly. There was a pause.

"They.. did not make it."

James stopped, and the rest stopped. He continued looking forward. The only sounds heard were that of the distant Troopers and the sounds of the cold night wind, coursing through the buildings. It whistled low, and blew the coat of James. The night sky crystal black, with shades of darkened clouds. The moon, now high in the sky, was the night's sun. Giving a humble light, in the dark of the ruins.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"They were gunned down a little before we arrived, I've concluded. They were lined up and slaughtered."

It was still silent, the wind flowing through, the low whistle.

"We have their bodies watched over by the banner. They will receive a proper burial."

James continued to face forward into the night.

"But we will get to see that when we arri--"

"The blood is on your hands."

James stated, cutting off Lieutenant Banks chatter.

"The blood of your men. The blood of my own."

James turned swiftly to face Banks, who was standing behind Riley, Hanid, and a few of the Defense Troopers. Those in between turned sideways, to allow James a view of Banks.

"The blood of our Legions, Lieutenant. Painted on the streets of our own land."

Silence.

It was dense, the mood heavy as no one said anything or made any movements. James looked straight at Lieutenant Banks, then turned opposite of him, and continued on back to the camp. The rest followed, quiet the whole way.

When they arrived, the rest of the Defense Troopers at the camp saluted James.

"At ease."

They all ceased and continued on with their duties. James turned back to face the group,

"Lieutenant Banks, hail Terem Stult to me. You are dismissed until I address the Defense Teams."

Banks saluted, and carried on with the Defense Troopers following behind him.

"Where's Riley, Hanid?"

"Right this way, Commissioner." Hanid responded, and began walking to the medical sector of the camp.

As they walked through the area, injured troopers lay in agony. Some not so severe as others. Bandages wrapped around the heads of many, slings for those with broken limbs. The cry of fear, the shrieks of pain filled the scene. Those who were able enough to pull through their injuries saluted James as he walked passed him.

James and company neared a table where a couple of Defense Medical Troopers were treating Riley. A lamp hung over to provide light, and the subtle comments between the two were audible.

"How is he?" James asked.

"Sir." The two Medical Troopers saluted,

"He's doing okay. Glad you brought him when you did. It could have been a lot worse."

Hanid walked up to the table to witness Riley's arm torn open. Flesh and bone were exposed, with surgical tools stuck around the wound as the Medical Troopers were treating him. Hanid an expression of worry.

"Hang in there Riley." Stated Hanid subtly, patting his leg.

"We've given him a strong sedative, so he'll be out for a long time. Even after we're done patching him up."

"Good." James motioned to Vienen and Hanid, "Let's let them finish."

The group walked off, while Vienen continued on looking at Riley as they distanced themselves from the table. As the group exited the med sector, James stopped two speak to the two.

"He's gonna be fine. He's trained- you all trained to deal with this." James looked to Vienen, "I mean look at this guy's face. Hehe.. A direct confrontation with a gunship hasn't phased you, so Riley will pull through this."

James remarked jokingly to Vienen's face. Although the bleeding had ceased, and it had all been wiped away, the cuts and scarring remain. Leaving behind a battle roughened Guardsmen.

Both Vienen and Hanid had smiled to James's remarked, in an effort to calm the situation.

"How'd it go leading the group of Defense Troopers?" James asked Hanid.

"After you went to take on the Falta Gunship, I had the Defense Teams position the Gil Guns in different areas to provide the best fire support. We managed to cut down a large sum of Septem Operatives, but we took some losses too." Hanid looked up to a building that had moonlight shining through its collapsed sides, and stones, "Those gunships really hammered us. They hammered us real good."

"Alright then. It's time for me to address the Defense Teams."

Both Vienen and Hanid nodded in agreement and followed James to the center of the camp. As he approached, he swiftly jumped ontop of one of the MACs, meanwhile Hanid approached the MAC from the front with Vienen nearby.

"District Commissioner present!"

Hanid announced for everyone to hear, and immediately all Defense Troopers halted their duties and reported forward. They all stood in attention, in salute. Hanid saluted as well, along with Vienen who looked up at some of the buildings that the Defense Troopers were garrisoned in, and they too were saluting at attention. It was silent, and all attention was directed to District Commissioner James Roy.

James looked out to all of them, the wind crisp, and blowing as his coat flowed and hanging lights swayed to the current.

"There has been a great deal of sorrow on all of us. Our land has been encroached upon, and our very well being had been threatened by inner cells, and the Septem Empire."

James looked out to the horizon, where the sea held the possible Carrier Class warship.

"Out there.." James pointing to the see with a facial nod, "out there, they know nothing but blinding commands that lead them to slaughter, like what happened here today."

All Defense Troopers, Personal Order Guards both stood in inspiration of their leader's speech.

"We've pushed back our enemies, but they stand not too far aways from where we stand now. We cannot stop, and we will not stop! We will continue on until they cry for mercy, and we keep going until they have been eradicated clean from our lands!"

Riley walks into the scene with a sling around his arm. New bandages had been placed and he stood at attention, along side Vienen and Hanid. James noticed him as he entered, and looked down to him in assurance.

"They have taken the lives of our brave fighters, and they have taken the land of our people. As one Legion, out of the many Legions that make up our Order, we will defeat them! We will get back what was rightfully ours!"

James paused. Looked out somewhere in the clouds. He turned back to his followers.

"Leadership. The gem of an army, the thing that binds us all together. Side by side against all opposing forces. Previous leadership has failed us. My course of action will not. By Order of Legions, and Decree of our Code, we will be victorious."

James peered out throughout the crowds of Defense Troopers, watching how determined they presented themselves to be. The fire in their eyes were vibrant, and the mood was a deepening of motivation.

"Dismissed!"

"Sir!" All Defense Troopers and Personal Order Guards announced.

Soon everyone left with a bit more motivation in them.

James dropped down from the MAC and motioned Vienen, Riley, and Hanid to follow.

"How you feeling, Riley?"

"I'm feeling like a million bucks right now, Sir. Those sedatives are still in affect.... Hey, take a look at this."

Riley shifted down the sling to show where the gaping wound once was. Instead, there were now stitches that lined up from his forearm, all the way up to near his elbow. The fold of skin of where the open use to be, was fleshy but bandaged at the edges to prevent further bleeding.

"Now you got something to impress the ladies with." Said Hanid jokingly.

"Or scare them off." Remarked Vienen.

As the banter ceased, Terem Stult had approached from another part of the camp. James left the group to meet with him. Vienen spoke with Hanid.

"I've seen a lot of shit. We... have seen a lot of shit, but Hanid..... Commissioner Roy is something else."

"He's not the same. Not like us.... I can now realize why the HOMC selected him, and selected him quick he did." Responded Riley.

"A symbol perhaps... Or a destined leader." Hanid looked out to James, "He's not the same indeed."