April 12, 2056

The night went by extinguishing fires and collecting our dead. We later found out how they sneaked in. Under the cover of darkness and the storm, a small team arrived on the shores of Lake Aero in speedboats. They then went about and placed strategic bombs around the base. And, to everyone's surprise, their main objective was indeed the HVT we had in custody. The Federation risked a whole awful lot in order to save one man...

Currently, I'm in the Tyranian's Command room with a few others, waiting until we hear back from Atlis. The encounter with two Divinity Users has got everyone on edge. This was supposed to be merely a stomping of an Insurrection... how did things come to this?

"So not only have we encountered a Flag Bearer, but now we got a Pyromancer on our hands!" Frost is pacing back and forth, spitting out whatever is on his mind. He's in a mood. I know him well enough to know that there's nothing you could say to calm down.

"Can you calm down?" Macy then asks, completely disregarding my words.

"This isn't the first time we've had the tables turn on us. Remember the Sevakia Conflict? Or maybe even Krosvic?" Macy seems at ease sitting on chair while watching Frost. It doesn't surprise me. She's always composed even in the most desperate situations. It's times like this that I wish I could be like her, even if it's just a fraction.

"Oh, I remember," He counters. "How could I forget the moments I almost kissed death..." He stops for second before recollecting his thoughts and continuing, "But this is different Macy, don't you think all of this is way over our head?"

"We're Shards, Frost. Every job we do is over our head. Yet we still do them because it is our duty." She states.

"Duty... Is it a shards duty to die for a cause they don't believe in as well?" He turns to her.

She frowns while staring at him. "Are you hearing yourself right now?"

With a sigh, he rubs his temple before taking a seat next to me.

"Look, I'm just worried about losing any more men than we have. Morale hasn't exactly been the best ever since the encounter with the FB you know?"

"War will only bring more death, Lieutenant." Nora speaks up. She has been silently listening in on the two from across the room before she decided to join in.

"You don't actually believe that do you Commander?" Macy asks, turning to her.

Nora looks more menacing than ever today. Her almost snow-white skin is spotless, her posture perfect and her uniform dust free. She isn't a Guardian from what I understand, but a Victorian Guard; some of the best fighters in Tyran, serving as the Queen's personal guard. She hasn't acknowledged it herself, but I was able to catch on based on what that Pyro said when the two confronted. Still, it's a bit odd to see one commanding an outpost so far away from the palace.

"It's only a matter of time, Captain. If they're willing to attack us, then they certainly have the resolve to commence open warfare with Rambell."

"The Federation declaring war on Rambell would be insanity. They're too much at a disadvantage to win and would only force Rambell's hand." Macy states.

"A stronger willed opponent will find ways to keep fighting even in the face of adversity." Nora's voice grows serious. "They may not be able to win, but they can certainly make sure not to lose."

A knock from the door interrupts the commander and a second later, it opens with Josh and Nik standing in the doorway.

"Back again are we, Sentinels?" Nora says unpleased.

They enter the room as Nick stretches his arms and Josh tosses some files on the tabletop.

"Missed us?" Nick teases.

"Hardly." Nora replies.

"I know you wouldn't." He winks. "By the looks of it, you all had come company, no?"

"You could say that..."

"Well, you can tell me all about it later." Nik clears his throat. "For now, we have some... intel we retrieved from the raid that we would like share with you." He gestures towards the papers that Josh has spread out.

Intel? Thats great. At least we got something out of that officer. Maybe this could be our first... breakthrough... what the hell... is this...?

I had walked up to the table with the others fully expecting to find documents about the Feds... but instead I am greeted by none other but myself. Reports, printed messages, and photographs... they all either contained pictures of me or directly mentioned me in some sort of way. I feel my stomach sink as one of the photos is a side shot of me in the Vic when we were heading towards the FDOS meetup.

"I... I don't understand" I say softly, taken back by the pictures.

"Nik. What the fuck are we looking at here? Is this some kind of joke?" I hear Frost starting to become agitated again.

"No. It is not. When we executed the raid on the warehouse, we came across another officer inside his office getting ready to ignite a stack of papers. Before he was able to do so, we shot him dead and that's when we realized the papers all contained information regarding Luna. There were more piles of notes too, but the bastard already had set those alight when we made entry. These were all that survived." Nick states.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Macy stands at my side and picks up a sheet that had two individuals conversing with each other through text messages.

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V: they just left the wall

V: arriving at the fdos's place. couldn't get a good look at her

V: got it. the SS is coming , make sure to tell your guys not to kill them

A: picture??

V: I just sent it

A: ok.

message deleted

V: yes. i made sure it matched

A: I was just wondering. anything else worth mentioning?

V: they also have sentinels with them. don't know which unit

A: shit.

V: why are you worried?

message deleted

message deleted

A: maybe. thanks I'll message back what happens.

V: alr gl

Yesterday messages

V: hey how'd it go?

V: hello?

message deleted

call missed

call missed

A: Sorry, couldn't talk. Can you call me again?

V: Ram filth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kill yourself гребаный кусок дерьма!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

V: слава Федерации!

V left the chat

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"...If there was still any doubt, then this seals it. You've caught their interest, Luna"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I ask lowly.

"Take it anyway you want, but clearly they knew about your presence as soon as we arrived."

"Impossible. Give it here. Let me take a look." She hands it over to Frost.

While he's reading it, a mild headache hits me. It lingers for a few seconds before dissipating. I brush it off and regain my focus on Frost.

"No. There's no way! It has to be a spy within the Tyranians or Rams." He shouts.

"Excuse me?" Nik raises an eyebrow.

"That is quite a claim you are making shard..." Nora says irritated. "I'd be careful what you say next..."

"Frost." I grab hold of his arm and plea with him. "I don't think it was either of them. Please don't accuse them."

I can see why he would think that but there's no proof to show for it. Jumping to conclusion won't help anyone I need him to take a step back before he says something he'll regret.

"...Fine." He sighs. "But that still doesn't explain why the Feds would know of our arrival."

He begins to lay it back down and as he's doing it; I catch a glimpse of another paper for a split second. A symbol catches my attention immediately. I've never seen it before, but it appears to some sort of drawing of an eye. It looks rather simplistic and crude... yet I can't help but to be drawn towards it.

I pick it up and notice it's a hand drawn symbol on the top right corner of an empty sheet of paper. No words, pictures, or anything of the matter. Neither on the back as well.

"Nik. What about this?" I hold it up to him as he looks at it befuddled.

"Uh... we must've taken it with us by accident. You can just throw it away," he says.

"Really? What about this symbol? Does it mean anything?"

Again, he looks at the sheet... and then back at me before taking a glance around the room.

"...I don't know what you mean Luna. What symbol?"

"The symbol on the top right." I clarify and that's when I look at the others notice the same confused expression their faces.

"...What?"

"Luna... there's nothing there." Frost says hesitantly.

My eyes widen as I flip the sheet back to me and look back towards the symbol. It was still there... so why can't anyone see it? Before I can show it to them again, it begins to illuminate before turning bright silver and flashing me. I'm blinded and let out a cry as I let go of the paper.

"Luna what wrong? Are you okay?" I can hear Frost's voice and feel his arms around me, but my vision is blurry. He continues to call out to me but with each one sounding farther and farther away. It's not long before I can't sense my surroundings anymore with either of my senses. For a moment, I'm in a state of transcendence as my thoughts soon wander on their own. That, however, is soon interrupted by a piercing pain and doesn't fade away. A migraine, the likes that I've never felt before, makes me scream into the void as I'm left alone in a place unknown to me.

A while passes before everything eventually stops. The pain, the void... it all disappears in an instant... with the cold taking its's place.

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I crack my eyes open and find myself in a snow-covered field, with pine trees scattered around me. Snowflakes gently fall around me and the wind whistles quietly in the air.

Where... am I?

"Man, I hate the cold. Why did we have to be on outside duty?"

A voice from behind makes me jump. I turn my head to see a soldier, his uniform is... familiar. With its olive vest and helmet along with snow camouflaged clothes, it claws at the back of my brain but for whatever reason I can't seem know where I've seen it before.

I open my mouth to say something but another man, to my left, replies to him.

"We won't be out here long. When Atlis arrives, we'll be inside with that warm soothing heat."

Atlis? I don't understand... what is going on?

"Hey! Where am I?" I ask but they ignore me.

"Please answer me!" I plead but no response.

All of a sudden, a small girl's voice comes from behind the soldiers. A voice I recognize and that takes the strength from my legs.

"Hi Chase! Hi Kyle!"

They both turn around in surprise and look down at her.

"W-What are you doing out here? You're supposed to be inside. Does Smith know you're out here?"

The girl's expression lowers and clasps her small hands behind her back.

"No... he doesn't. I just wanted to play in the snow." She says quietly.

The two soldiers sigh simultaneously and kneel next to her.

"Sorry Luna. We're sort of busy. Now get back inside before you hear it from Julia." Kyle gestures towards the sets of buildings behind the girl.

She pouts and agrees to go inside. Kicking snow as she walks.

I can feel the tears forming in my eyes as I watch myself getting further away. I grasp out but my voice refuses to come out.

I now know where I am.

This is where it started, the day I lost everything.