image [https://i.imgur.com/ThJuwHM.jpg]

Coumarine nestled on the crescent-shaped bay in the north of Kalos like a lover. From the mountains, it seemed as if the port city and nature had merged into an interwoven organism. The full moon shone brightly, bathing the sea in shimmering light and gifting it a mystical glow. The lush green of the forests, which surrounded Coumarine towards its interior, formed a natural boundary and made access difficult. Only few ways led into the city.

Since the morning hours, the headquarters had received news of troop movements. According to information, the Galarian Dragon Corps had dropped anchor in Coumarine. Little by little, the pieces of the puzzle came together to form a terrifying picture. The well-organized mercenaries must have landed at the behest of the crown and now threatened to put the revolutionary army in a pincer position. Raymond watched the city from afar, then turned around. Silhouettes of dark figures loomed behind him.

"Attention!" One of the figures said. It was a girl. She wasn't yet of age but already belonged among the strongest fighters under Raymond's command. For one or two seconds, there was well practiced movement. The figures assumed their basic military stance: heels together at a 45-degree angle, chest stuck out, back stretched, and arms at their sides.

"At ease," Raymond commanded. The figures shifted into a calm standing position.

"Some of you may already heard of the rumors, I’m about to confirm: in the early morning hours enemy troops have landed in Coumarine, resulting in our supply lines being exposed. This newly formed unit consists of a small elite whose primary goal is to slow down enemy movements by any means necessary. Each one of you has been personally selected by me according to your special qualities. Tonight, we're going to start Operation Thunderbolt. The purpose of our mission is to attack key logistical targets of the Dragon Corps with a precise military strike. We have to be fast and deadly."

The maneuver will be coordinated by me. Alakazam's voice rang out in the soldiers' heads. Our first objective is to destroy the city's electricity supply. Once this objective is achieved, three additional groups will simultaneously attack the enemy's supplies, ships, and logistics center.

"Each of your groups is supported by a trainer who has a Pokémon with the ability to teleport," Raymond chipped in. "I, along with platoon leader Tallien, will be responsible for shutting down the city's power supply. We will surprise the enemy with steel and thunder!"

His hand stroked a Poké Ball hanging from his belt.

"Alakazam will now assign you to your groups. On the maps that I am handing out, you will find exact information about the locations of your respective destinations. Make sure to study them well. Collateral damage will be inevitable. Therefore, do not hesitate to go to extremes if it means fulfilling your mission’s objectives. Our window of opportunity is very short –the full moon hinders our camouflage, and our enemy is well organized. The chaos won't last long. Let's make the best of it. We'll strike in one hour. Be prepared!"

"Back then, Did we really do the best we could?" wondered Raymond. Together with Alakazam, he stood on the same hill as thirteen years ago, looking down on the port city. It was here that he got one of his nicknames. A strong wind drove the sea air up into the mountains. Raymond closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Or did we just delay the inevitable? How many lives could have been saved instead?"

Raymond struggled with the nausea he started to feel in recent days when he was being teleported. His soldier, the young platoon leader surnamed Tallien, had fewer problems traveling through space. Her movements were those of a graceful cat - silent and deadly. At her side was a battle-ready Gallade, a humanoid Pokémon that had two blades as arms. It had teleported both Ray and Tallien to a rooftop on the outskirts of the city. Alakazam was not with them.

"Xatu, aerial reconnaissance!" the platoon leader commanded and freed a green-and-white-feathered flying type, who immediately rose into the night sky of Coumarine. With its psychic powers it projected images of what it saw into platoon leader Tallien's mind.

"The power plant is right there," Raymond pointed to a building, nearly twenty yards away. Even as he spoke, Raymond summoned another fighter. Resembling a cross between dog and human, Lucario stood upright. He had a broad, tapered spine on each paw. His chest fur was beige, with alternating shades of black and blue on his arms, head, and legs.

"Lucario, secure the surroundings! Keep an eye out for enemy auras."

Raymond felt Gallade erecting a shield around them.

Group 1 is in position and starts with reconnaissance. Be ready! Alakazam's voice rang out in Raymond's head.

The power plant is protected by a barrier, Gallade told his trainer and her superior telepathically.

"Selene, you take care of the barrier. Then it's our turn to shroud Coumarine in darkness," Raymond instructed the platoon leader and her companions. In the same breath, he freed a Pokémon that looked like a giant ball, made of steel and fury. A large, red eye was embedded in the middle of the steel ball. Instead of arms and legs, the Pokémon had three magnets and an antenna at its disposal. Electricity crackled around the metal body, which hovered in the air, trembling in excitement.

Hidden in a hard-to-reach place in the forest, Raymond looked at the graves of his soldiers. Mounds of earth weighed down with stones; hastily picked up from the vicinity. His soldiers had no gravestones, no decorations, or name plaques. Nothing indicated the identity of those who had found their resting place in this godforsaken piece of land, far from civilization. Raymond remembered how they buried the fallen in a rush. Without any of the military dignities, they more than deserved for their service. At one of the burial mounds Raymond lingered longer than at the others. His lips were pale and his wrinkled hands trembled in the cool winter air. His eyes were moist. The occasional cold tear ran down his cheeks. He wasn’t ashamed to mourn the loss.

"It's good that we're here," Raymond said. He took his eyes off the graves and clenched his hands into fists so tightly that it hurt. Hot anger blazed in his eyes. "They entrusted me with their lives. Now the time has come to avenge their deaths with equal coin."

Those were different times. Do you believe that revenge is what they wished for? Now? Alakazam chimed in.

"Coumarine. Camphrier. Péribonne. The time is ripe to collect the Crown's debts. With compound interest. Wouldn't you rather move freely, once again? Without restrictions? Regardless of clever deceptive maneuvers? Fake papers? What value is there in life if we are not free to shape it the way we want it to be? Which brings me to answer your question: yes, I'm sure they think so," Raymond said bitterly.

You haven't yet given up on your dream of a better world, Alakazam smiled.

"Unfortunately, we're both too old to design it, my friend. This challenge is reserved for the generation that will succeed us. Our final task will be to pave the way by tearing down the existing order for something new to blossom."

And the girl?

Raymond sighed. "She’s not necessarily what I wished for, but the best I can work with in this situation. If I want to continue my life's work, that is."

You should be happy that you found someone who’s suitable at all, Alakazam commented smugly.

The farther they got away from Coumarine, the sparser the vegetation became. The forest turned into groups of trees, the groups of trees into individual ones that stood alone in the landscape. Bare branches without leaves, thin as a rake on barren ground. Every step that led them farther south brought them closer to the wasteland with its dry soils and the jagged mountains, which occasionally formed small and large canyons.

Thanks to Alakazam, a journey that would otherwise have taken Raymond several days was reduced to a few hours. In order not to strain their bodies too much, they took small breaks between teleportation jumps. Sometimes they wandered along the arduous terrain for a while and talked. On the ridge of a canyon, Raymond stopped.

"Do you see that?"

People, Alakazam commented.

"I wonder what they're doing so far out."

Raymond looked down on a wide plain. A camp was set up a few hundred yards below him. It was located near the entrance to the canyon that Raymond and Alakazam were currently on the ridge of. The camp consisted of three small and two large tents, set up in a semicircle. An improvised fire pit was in its middle. In the shade of a tent he noticed two Rhyhorns, seeking refuge from the sun. Raymond also spotted some technical devices he had never seen before. Two men were working on them. Two other men stood guard.

"Totals four, in case there's no one else in the tents," Raymond pondered. He wondered about the purpose of the antennas, that were stuck in the ground. They were connected to coils and other technical equipment.

"Bring us down but put some distance between us and the tents. Let’s walk over from the ravine. We won't arouse too much suspicion then and give them enough time to notice us," Raymond turned to Alakazam.

Alakazam teleported the two of them to an unseen area of the canyon before hiding in his Poké Ball. Raymond approached the camp with calm steps. It didn't take long for the guards to see him. For a part of a second, his appearance caused a flurry of activity. The two military-looking guards positioned themselves at the entrance to the canyon and demonstratively grabbed one of their Poké Balls each. The older one vaguely reminded Raymond of Rillaboom, a powerfully built Pokémon with long arms and a blunt visage. All brawl, no brains.

"Halt! You are entering a protected military zone! Identify yourself!" the younger of the two barked at him. He looked as if he’d walked out straight from a catalog for military fashion: he was clean-shaven, well-trained and his posture was perfect.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Retired Brigadier General Manuel von Bachmann," Raymond replied.

"Monsieur General!" Rillaboom and the fashion catalog replied in a rehearsed and respectful manner and saluted Raymond with military zeal. The old man strolled the last few meters to the camp in stoic composure but was stopped at his last steps.

"Monsieur General, it's our honor! With all due respect, we must politely ask you about the reason for your stay," stated the fashion catalog. He didn't look older than 20 years. The badge on his dark blue uniform identified him as an officer cadet; he stood in stark contrast to his comrade, who was five or six years older and hadn't risen above the rank of simple foot soldier. Raymond couldn't pinpoint their affiliation but recognized that their uniforms were not the standard fashion of the Royal Army.

"Looking for an old friend, a partner from war days. Must be hanging around the area somewhere," Raymond revealed the reason for his presence.

The young officer's face brightened. "I guessed right, then!"

Questioningly, Raymond raised his eyebrows.

"That you're a war veteran. Pardon the disrespect, Monsieur von Bachmann, but you don't exactly strike me like someone who has just recently retired. Neither could I identify you as an alumnus of the Royal Coast Force. Have we ever met before? I could swear to recognize your face, but I can't place it."

"Your intelligence is so sharp you'd better be careful not to cut yourself, boy," Raymond commented energic and with a scowl on his face as he slipped into his rehearsed role. It wasn't exactly a lie since he was a retired general - true, he fought on the opposite side, but those were just minor details.

"Boy, I already fought bloody battles while your parents dutiful did their schoolwork. When you were wetting your diapers, I stood on the front lines and risked my life to save Kalos from its enemies. Don't you dare talk about respect while trying to sound me out by using my interrogation techniques!"

"Pardon me, Monsieur von Bachmann," apologized the officer's cadet, whose cheeks had turned pink.

"Question Time is over, soldier," Raymond hissed. "Now if you’d be so kind as to introduce me to the nervous gentlemen who are eavesdropping on our conversation."

"But here is a restricted zone--" Rillaboom objected; he was interrupted by the fashion catalog, who pointed out that - in this particular case - an exception was indeed within the scope of discretion.

"Gentlemen, if I may introduce myself? Retired Brigadier General Manuel von Bachmann," Raymond smiled kindly at two gentlemen who were probably twice the age as the fashion catalog and his cumbersome companion. The civilians had listened to the earlier conversation between the militaries with curiosity. Raymond couldn’t help but notice their supressed amusement. It deemed him they were not unhappy that the young officer had been put in his place.

"René Landreau, Professor of Electrodynamic Research," a gaunt man introduced himself with a soft handshake and a warm smile. He had a three day beard, thick-rimmed glasses, and unkempt curly hair that reached his shoulders.

"Marvin Petit, from the same chair. In fact, Professor Landreau and I make up the whole electrodynamic faculty of the University of Coumarine," said the second man, shaking Raymond's hand. Petit was lanky and had such an imposing nose that it distracted from his other facial features. Genuine interest flashed in Raymond's eyes.

"I always thought of myself more as an explorer and researcher than a warrior, Monsieurs. I wonder: what are two physicists and two royal soldiers doing in the wasteland? When I put it that way, it sounds like the start of a bad joke. Am I correct in assuming that you are conducting your research in the field of electromagnetics on behalf of the Crown? Maybe a field study or something close to it?"

"Well concluded! How did you know?" laughed Landreau and grinned broadly. His colleague tried not to look surprised at the sight of a military who was able to use his brains. He overplayed it by offering Raymond one of the fold-out wooden chairs that stood in front of a huge tent. Raymond sat down and nodded in thanks.

"The fact that we are in Kalos’ probably most thunderstorm-prone zone has given me a clue. Especially since I don't know of any other place that has similarly strong magnetic forces as this stretch of land."

While Petit still seemed hesitant, Landreau visibly warmed up to the supposed ex-military. "Fascinating! A soldier who has dealt with electromagnetics! How do you know about the strong magnetic fields in this particular area?"

"All in good time, Professor. First, I would like to ask you most politely if you could introduce me to the theories that you teach to your students. It is a rare opportunity for me to connect with like-minded individuals."

"Certainly, Monsieur, certainly. Well, where do I begin?" Professor Landreau said with joy.

"The spark gap transmitter," his colleague chimed in. He already had paper and pen ready and started to make a sketch.

"A splendid idea, Marvin. Very good. Thank you for the input! Well, the spark gap transmitter: a wonderful contraption that is great for impressing students," Landreau grinned, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"It's a high-voltage source I invented a few years ago. The setup is surprisingly simple. Essentially, we need an iron core and two coils. A primary coil with a few windings and a secondary coil with a lot of windings. We connect the whole thing to a battery and install a contact that evenly interrupts the circuit. Voilà! Now we have a pulsating DC that can be transformed. In addition, we use a capacitor, which can suppress the self-induction voltage on the primary side and extinguish the spark again. Marvin's sketch illustrates the whole thing very well."

“Call me a fool if not, but I suspect your efforts go beyond just astonishing your students, Professor!"

"That's right!" Landreau's eyes sparkled with amusement. "What do you think happens if we bend the outputs of the secondary coil into two straight wires, cut them in half, and connect them to a spherical system? Two small ones at a small distance, two large ones at the end of the whole. Marvin, the sketch?!"

It took Landreau's pragmatic colleague only a few seconds to complete the drawing. Raymond had the feeling that this was not the first time the professor had given this lecture.image [https://imgur.com/3757a8e2-6f1b-473b-9f7a-47ecefbe60eb] Raymond glanced at the drawing and matched the professor's descriptions to the illustrated components of the spark gap transmitter.

image [https://i.imgur.com/Kpi8IZR.jpg]

"You're using the spheres as a capacitor," Raymond realized. Professor Landreau snapped both thumbs and middle fingers appreciatively and pointed his index fingers at Raymond in a fluid motion.

"A fine observation, Monsieur von Bachmann. Though Marvin made it way too easy for you. Nevermind! What do you think, happens next?"

"I suppose there is a discharge. The question, however, is how the two discharges interact with each other. There's more to it than meets the eye. Professor, I'm intrigued," Raymond admitted honestly.

"Have you ever thought about studying physics?" grinned Professor Landreau. "The spheres serve not only as capacitors but also as receiving antennas. As soon as the vibration system is discharged - a real rattle, as I would like to emphasize - an effect on the environment happens. I managed to observe tiny sparks that occur even one and a half meters away. Do you know what that means?"

"A transfer process is taking place," Raymond marveled.

"I was so free to call my discovery electromagnetic waves. I assume that electrical oscillations, or radiation if you want to put it differently, emanate from the spark gap of the first coil. If we can trigger them in a targeted manner and achieve repeatable results, they are subject to the laws of physics! Following this thought, we can conclude that electromagnetic waves can be bundled, reflected, refracted, polarized or superimposed. You probably know this from the incidence of light. It's like using a magnifying glass. The only difference is that we don't yet know what the magnifying glass of electromagnetic waves is. So my question is, how can electromagnetic waves be transmitted over long distances and how can we influence them?" Landreau gushed like a newly in love after his first kiss.

image [https://i.imgur.com/oPCdWBf.jpg]

"Your discovery is revolutionary," Raymond said sincerely, "in my own research, I have always assumed that the changes in the electromagnetic field are triggered by the energy of Pokémon. Am I correct in assuming that you are currently conducting field tests to study the effects of Pokémon on electromagnetic waves?"

Landreau shrugged his shoulders in embarrassment. "Like you, I believe that certain Pokémon are more than capable of influencing electromagnetic fields. While we're still looking for our magnifying glass, to stay with the analogy, some Pokémon have been provided with appropriate tools at birth."

"--which brings us to question which actions of said Pokémon are intended and which are instinctive," Raymond chimed in. Landreau smiled.

"That’s correct. And, of course, what we as a species can learn from these findings. To be precise, we're looking for a specific Pokémon that I'm hoping to shed light on."

"Professor!" interrupted the officer's cadet in a sharp tone and with a stern look, "With all due respect to Monsieur von Bachmann. I think it would be better not to delve further into the topic."

Landreau and Petit rolled their eyes in annoyance. Raymond suspected it wasn't the first confrontation between the scientists and the military, who he suspected belonged to the Royal Special Forces – highly specialized soldiers, trained not only to use weapons but also to fight with Pokémon by their side.

Raymond spent the rest of the day talking to Landreau and Petit. His respect for the ingenuity and perseverance of the two pioneers increased with every passing minute. It even led him to postpone his actual reason for coming here. Under the suspicious gazes of the fashion catalog and Rillaboom, the two researchers took a lot of time to explain the workings of the various devices to a very curious Raymond.

Day had already turned to night and the group of five sat together around a crackling campfire. The cone of brightly flickering flames was their only source of light on a cloudy night. Over the past few hours, the physicists were as interested in Raymond's expertise in Pokémons and their behavior as he was interested in electromagnetic research. When the focus of the talks slowly shifted to Pokémon, they were joined by the soldiers.

Raymond learned that the researchers had brought their equipment here with the help of the two Rhyhorns. It was an arrangement from their university. The broadly built ground and rock pokémon served not only as load carriers but also as a bulwark and deterrent against many of the Pokémon that had made their home in this inhospitable area, as Petit explained.

"There aren't many Pokémon that can hold their own in the wasteland. Rhyhorn is an obvious choice, but not necessarily the best one," Raymond lectured. "Rough weather, barren soil; In addition, there are too few trees, resulting in a lack of easily accessible shelters and escapes. Although we see a great diversity of species in such habitats, it is mainly resilient Pokémon that prevail in areas like this. You'll encounter a lot of Steel- or Ground-types. Some of them are more territorial than others, but all in all, despite their apparent dominance, they are not the top predators.

This role is reserved for Dark- or Dragon-types, which can be found sporadically in the Wasteland. Currently, we are in the territory of a Pokémon that’s up high enough in the food chain not to be bothered by you lot. I assume that's one of the reasons for the lack of serious attacks during nighttime. You have to judge for yourself whether you find it lucky or not since our Predator considers you easy prey," Raymond smiled. He felt an intense gaze resting on him.

"You know this terrain very well, Monsieur," the fashion catalog said. "What makes you so sure that your former partner is still alive?"

"The weak must yield to powers they cannot stop," Raymond replied cryptically, staring into the fire without even glancing at the officer cadet.

"You still haven't told us the division you served in, Monsieur," the fasion catalog stated. It wasn't the first time he'd asked that question. Raymond sensed the nervousness of Professor Landreau, who was looking back and forth between Raymond and the offficer cadet with his lips pressed together. Raymond turned his head leisurely in the direction of the young soldier. The atmosphere of the conversation had turned cold.

"During the war, I came to the realization my services were no longer needed. I decided to retire before the big reform happened. Whatever I tell you, it has no meaning considering your age. You won't know what to do with it, Boy. After all, I served at a time when one didn't need permission to evolve their Pokémon," Raymond said contemptuously.

"You underestimate me, Monsieur. Military history is a passion of mine. Also, you better pay close attention to what you're saying. It's not my place to lecture you but I'm sure you don't want anyone interpreting your statements as criticism of the King."

"Gentlemen, I ask you to excuse me," Raymond stated and stood up.

"Where are you going, Monsieur von Bachmann?" asked the officer's cadet, making an effort to sound innocent. Raymond responded with an amused look.

"You are welcome to keep me company should you also feel the need to relieve yourself."

It took Raymond only a few steps to leave the glow of the flames. The night enveloped him in its dark robe. Only the crunch of his footsteps on the dry ground betrayed his movements.

"I think they know," Raymond said in his mind. Alakazam hovered beside him without making a noise. He had come out of his Poké Ball as soon as Raymond’s sight was hidden by the large tent.

The boy is more than suspicious. He has a good instinct and will be prepared.

"It is extremely unfortunate for him to have met us," Raymond resigned inwardly. "The time has come. Do it!"