After the Cisalpine Legion made their retreat from the Altair System, the Lambda War between the Alliance and the UEC achieved a state of equilibrium as both sides began to fortify their positions. This was not ideal for Prince Alexios Spektre; he knew his situation was perilous thanks to Altair Prime’s food issues. The Alliance needed to make deeper inroads into Earth Space, and they needed to do it fast.
But the UEC were moving quickly - quicker than the Lakamodians had anticipated. With frightening speed and efficiency, fleets of Earthborn ships sailed through the electro-currents to counter the invaders. And now, it wasn’t just a single legion against the might of the Lakamodians. Now, the Central Army was involved, as were the other legions, including the Podolsky Legion under Colonel Scott Harrington.
With desperation in mind, the Alliance launched a multi-pronged series of invasions from Altair Prime, attacking many Earth-class worlds in the vicinity. And as to be expected, the 13th Legion was the tip of the spear, having to face the worst of the Alliance hoplites.
***
At the moment, the UEC Waterloo was at the low orbit of planet Ouros. At the bridge, Captain Joseph Nyerere, the second-in-command of the Cisalpine Legion was looking outside to the yellowish Ouros, the savannah-dominated planetscape. Nyerere was pensive; he wondered how he could phrase his concerns to his legionary commander. Speaking of...
Commander Jack Green finally made it, and he was in no mood to waste time. “This better be good, Nyerere. The whole legion’s still prepping for the ground war.”
“I know,” Joseph said apologetically. “It’s about Sergeant Major Icardi. He...”
“...saw that Arlena girl again, didn’t he?”
Nyerere nodded.
Jack sighed. “Leave him be, Captain.”
“But...”
“Let’s think through this,” Green said. “When you think of the Sergeant Major as a soldier, what comes to mind?”
Nyerere was deep in thought. “He’s... decisive, competent. He knows what he’s doing. More importantly, he’s dedicated and always makes sure to do things the right way.”
“Indeed,” responded Jack. “And what of his performance? Has it declined? Is his unit suffering?”
“Well... no.”
“Then leave him be,” the Commander said. Yet he still noticed the look of hesitation in his subordinate’s face. “And besides, Icardi might be able to get some intel out of her. Keep in mind that it was he who got our prisoner to tell us who she is.”
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Joseph was deep in thought, processing what his commander had told him. “Ah!” he said finally, “I understand.”
The Commander smirked; he knew his executive officer all too well.
***
Down at the brig, Marco was making his way to Cell 3. There, he saw Arlena once more, and her beautiful face. And he could have sworn she was smiling when she recognized who was coming to see her; or maybe he was just seeing things.
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“Greetings, Sergeant Major Icardi,” Arlena said.
“Back at ya, Miss Spektre,” responded Marco. “I hope the brig’s treating you well.”
As always, Marco put in a bar of chocolate into the side-entry of the glass. Arlena took it. She opened the wrapping and bit into her snack; it was as delicious as ever. By now, the Lakamodian girl had learned to be more civilized in her consumption of cocoa. This time, her mouth was not dirtied by chocolate.
Marco smiled. “Very good.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re actually eating like the princess that you are rather than a barbarian as you had been doing.”
“S-shut up!” responded Arlena. “How rude of you, Sergeant Major Icardi!”
“That’s another thing,” Marco said. “You keep calling me Sergeant Major Icardi. That’s a lot of syllables. Don’t you ever get tired of saying it?”
Arlena looked away, her cheeks red with embarrassment. “I don’t see the problem.”
“Just call me Marco.”
“Mar-co?”
Icardi smiled. “That’s my name, Miss Spektre. Don’t wear it out.”
“Wait a minute!” Arlena cried. “Aren’t you tired of calling me Miss Spektre?”
Marco opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come out. “You... made a good point.”
“Then call me Arlena,” the girl said. She slammed her fists onto the glass. “Do it, Marco Icardi!”
Marco grinned; he put his hands up mockingly. “As you wish, Ar-le-na.”
Arlena pouted. “Now you’re just mocking me.”
“My apologies, Arlena,” Marco said, chuckling. “It’s a beautiful name. Honest.”
Arlena smiled; but having caught herself, her face turned haughty. “Good. If you keep this up, I shall allow you to call me Lena. Only my family calls me that.”
Marco paused, he didn’t expect the prisoner girl to be so open with him. He felt glad, but also guilty. It felt like he was taking advantage of the situation, and he couldn’t have that...
“Leo,” he said.
“Pardon?”
“Sorry,” answered Marco. “My parents and sisters call me Leo, just so you know.”
Arlena’s eyes raised up in surprise, pleasant surprise. “Leo? As in lion? I love it.”
Marco shrugged. “Eh. It’s based on my middle name, Lionel. And that name’s everywhere in Argentina; that’s my neck of Earth.”
“Is that so?”
“Yup. Lionel Messi was a well-known hero in the centuries past. He was so beloved that he was elected Presidente of our country.”
Arlena’s eyes glimmered. “Wow. This Messi must have been a mighty warrior for your nation.”
“Um....” Marco shifted his eyes. “Something like that.” At this point, Marco’s watch beeped, forcing him to turn it off. “Oh, my time’s up.”
“You’re keeping your time now?” asked Arlena.
“Yup,” Marco said. “It’s not good for an Earthborn like me to spend too much time with a Lambda.” Icardi, of course, left out the part in which Nyerere had been on his case for his visits.
And with that, Marco parted ways with Arlena. The Sergeant Major had neglected to tell the Lakamodian maiden that he was to fight her people on planet Ouros. The less said, the better.
But Arlena was not stupid; having paid attention to the prison guards’ chatters, she knew what was going on. And Arlena the Lambda found herself worrying for Marco the Earthborn.