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Palmian-Misr Border. October, 64 A.U.
Operation Breakthrough
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"Everyone don't forget your position, ok?"
All four of the Pixy Team were fully operational in a couple of days they waited for Misr's permission to cross the border. For the time being, they landed near a small city just before the border. At that time, Lyto had been bombarding them with threats of getting kicked out of the HAFF. They were more stubborn than him, though.
Misr's military would seriously rue the day they were stubborn sooner than later. Two days after denying the Valfreyja, a new company arrived at the border. An army of unknown elves. The same kind as the one attacking the Chason Base.
Lyto asked the base about it but was told that they were still being attacked after the Valfreyja left.
"How many are there? Two hundred? And it's just the three of us here..."
"Misrian troops will help us."
"Nah, Kyle. Those prideful bastards are too much of a pain to help us."
"But we joined after they fought first, right? So it won't be like that?"
For someone as socially weak as Ames, he was always optimistic about others. Ideally, after facing the elves' attack, the Misrian border troops would ask for their help and fight together. But what Loclynn eluded was the chance they would abandon the fight once Team Pixy joined.
But if that was going to be the case, smacking them with HAFF power would be easier after.
Joining the fight wasn't only meant to curry favor from Misr, but also a show of force.
"Humanity will be powerless to fight against the elves in modern war without the power of magic armors. Hindering Valfreyja's advance will hinder humanity as a whole." Was the message they were trying to send. With that, even the hardheaded Misrian would understand how screwed they were if they continue denying Valfreyja.
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Team Pixy was waiting for the SOS signal sent by the Misrian border troops. To ensure quick reaction time, they were standing by wearing their armor. Also, they waited at the top deck where the magic armor launchers were for faster access.
"EXCUSE ME!" A woman's voice screamed from the ground.
Ames was intrigued by the call. He was about to peek to see who was calling at a flying fortress as if she was asking for a Convenience Mart cashier.
"No, don't do that, Ames."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I got curious."
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"Just let the crew handle it first. Or let whoever that was to stop trying."
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"EXCUSE ME! IS THERE A PERSON I CAN TALK TO?"
It had been ten minutes since she started. Yet she had not shown any sign of stopping. None of the crew was doing something about her either, giving Ames the right condition to peek below.
"EXCUSE ME- HEY! CAN I HAVE A TIME TO TALK TO YOU?"
"Ma'am?" Ames threw a glance at Pommeline who got up from her chair and nodded.
"I'm coming with."
The crews were running around preparing the fortress so that it could take off in an instant. Even those tasked with getting the Pixies into their armor left without the usual talks.
---
CRASH
"Is that a princess? She looked like one."
Pommeline and Ames jumped from the deck to the ground. They slowed down using their armor. The landing kicked up the sand all around creating little clouds of it.
Pommeline's assessment was spot on. The outfit the lady elf was wearing was run down from the long travel she had endured. Despite that, one look and anyone would see that those worn-out clothes used to be an expensive piece.
That combined with the delicate vibe the lady oozes led Pommeline to say what she said.
"Oh my! You know me? If so I apologize for not recognizing you. To be fair the mask got in the way, haha."
"No, I don't think we met... Wait, you ARE a princess?"
"Oh! Well, then." She pinched and raised her skirt slightly. "My name is Tywin, sole daughter of King Sunoza of Palmia."
That would fit the bill. That also explained why two other elves were standing one step behind her all the time.
Ames had good eyes. He noticed the group of elves sitting around just far enough from the fortress. They were all in similar conditions to the self-proclaimed princess. Their faces and clothes signed a rich carefree life before being worn by whatever long their journey was.
"Is that the refugees? Kicked from the border?"
"Indeed, sir Vawln. My friends and I saw the sign of upcoming war and sought refugees in our human neighbor, but we were unfortunately denied."
"Same~ Those Misrian are morons."
"Haha, I see you have gotten the same treatment we have, um... Ms. ?"
"Call me lieutenant, princess. So, what do you need from us? To be clear I still haven't eliminated you as one of those elves attacking us."
"I understand that, Lieutenant. If what I know is the truth, then I want to talk with the captain of this fortress, HAFF's Young Lion, Lyto Lee. I have a trade offer for him."
"Hmm... Name-dropping him was suspicious."
She cast the bait by showing she knew the captain of Valfreyja. What else did she know? Did that mean the Palmian Kingdom had something to do with the attack? If so, how much did she know? A million questions popped inside Pommeline's head.
Ames on the other hand was focused on the princes and her group. There was a part of him that was shocked to meet an elven princess. Another part of him was thinking about the poor refugees.
"Ma'am, should we-"
"PIXY 1, PIXY 4, WHERE ARE YOU?" Loclynn was letting them know that their time was up.
Pommeline needed to make a decision even if she can't. Mulling over it too much and they will miss the chance to enter the battle. As she was about to decline the Princess, her subordinate spoke up.
"Maybe leave it to the captain?"
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe she had something for the captain? Leave Captain to take the decision and get back?"
"Hmm... So we push it to the captain? I agree!" Pommeline took a step in Tywin's direction. "Only three of you. Follow me, Your Highness. Pixy 4, watch them from the back."
"Yes ma'am!"
On their way to the bridge, eyes are glued to them. Even with worn-out clothes, every one of the crew could discern Tywin's beauty. Even though bringing unknown elves inside the Valfreyja was eye-catching enough by itself.
Wheet
The bridge opened and Pommeline was welcomed by Lyto's stunned face.
"What- Princess Tywin."
"Oh! I see you've known each other. Capt. Lyto, Princess Tywin. Princess Tywin, Capt. Lyto."
"Why is she here with you? Why let her in?"
"She's the leader of the refugees we saw at the border, sir. I think she has something she wanted to discuss with you." Pommeline saluted before saying her goodbyes. "I heard the fight has begun, Pixy 4 and I should hurry back to our position. That's all, sir!"
Pommeline and Ames managed to escape responsibility.