Cascadian National Guard Academy, Onyx City, September 21, 2004

Ten Cascadian soldiers were present as two more lowered the Cascadian flag. The two soldiers folded up the flag, placing it on a tray next to a second folded flag. That second flag was then taken up, unfolded, and raised to the top of the flagpole, revealing the unique ten-pointed star of The Federation on a dark blue background, with four stars orbiting it. The twelve soldiers altogether took the tray with the Cascadian flag and marched back into the Academy.

Nighttime soon came, and with it, the sound of large scale flying-wing gunships, their G-note buzz easily recognizable as they now took up patrol paths throughout the airspace of the now occupied Republic of Cascadia, likely to become annexed and be renamed into another Federal State as seen with other former sovereign nations in decades past. This was all noted by the five cadets in the security station as they began to take a five minute break from their current work of taking down posters and replacing electronics with the Federation's own tech.

In order of rank, these five cadets were Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Andris Fennik, Cadet Staff Sergeant Stephen Svenson, Cadet Staff Sergeant Nathan Rendal, Cadet Private Kim Saran, and Cadet Private Joseph Aden. Fennik and Svenson sat down at the round table, the latter turning on the radio in the middle. Rendal was in the kitchen, eating a biscuit, while Saran and Aden were in the adjacent room, the former comforting the latter.

'This evening's news with the Federation's Official Broadcast Channel. The Federation reigns victorious over the Republic of Cascadia as the military marches through the streets, greeted by cheerful citizens welcoming them as the government offers it's aid so soon after defeating the enemy. Plentiful food, surplus electricity from our numerous geothermal power plants, and security from our military branches to assist in peacekeeping duties, all from the Federation's benevolent and generous Council. As a treaty between the two governments is underway...'

Svenson: "They could at least make their propaganda sound more realistic and not so overly happy-go-lucky."

Fennik: "Get used to it. You'll be hearing it for the next decade or so."

Rendal: "Pretty sure I would just shoot myself after having to listen to it for a year."

Svenson: "Hey, if you last three, I'll personally try hacking in and blocking the signal. May I ask why you're eating the cadet officer rations?"

Rendal: "Why not? Pretty sure it won't matter anymore once everything is reformed."

Fennik: "Shut up. I'm starting to get depressed from listening to you two, and Aden's already depressed enough."

Aden's sobbing could be heard on queue, proving his point. Svenson and Rendal continued to do their own thing.

Cadets Fennik and Svenson continued to listen to the propaganda coming out of the radio while the other three did their own activities elsewhere in the small station, until they heard a knock at the door.

Fennik: "I'll check it out."

Cadet Fennik opened the door to look outside and see who would come to the security station at such a rainy night hour. Outside, he saw Colonel Arlington, wearing his usual green Marine uniform, but now it had the addition of a Federation Military Police armband. Arlington had his usual solemn face, but his eyes had shown his disgust at having to wear it.

Arlington: "... Are you gonna invite me in, Andris?"

It took Fennik a few seconds to register the question in his head until he answered and let the Colonel in. The cadets gathered around the table while the Colonel removed his cap.

Arlington: "Washington shook hands with Artego. Cascadia is now officially annexed by the Federation, and our military branches are being absorbed into their own."

Fennik: "Same thing is happening in Juushin and the Shenzong City State right now."

Svenson: "I'm still having a hard time believing we actually lost."

Arlington: "We all are, son. Please, listen up. The soldiers... they didn't say what was going on. Hopefully not much. But Federation High Command is taking in every officer and cadet they can. They want this absorption to happen as quickly and efficiently as possible, and we have no choice but to go along."

Colonel Arlington then reached into his pocket and pulled out five armbands similar to the one on his uniform, one for each cadet.

Arlington: "I was able to negotiate and give some advantages to you all as my top five students. They're willing to immediately promote you once you're sworn into service and lend better housing for your families. Those who don't, will likely remain stuck here... or be killed."

The five cadets looked down sadly, gazing at nothing in particular.

"I know you all joined out of desperation to give your families a better chance of living. And while it can be difficult to cope with, just think of this as another step to keeping your families safe. We've done all we could to defend our nation. I... I wish you all the best of luck in the coming days."

Colonel Arlington then left the security station, leaving the five cadets to think on their decision. Not that they really had a choice.

Svenson: "So... what's next?"

Fennik took one of the armbands into his hands and gazed at the animated ten-pointed star in the middle.

10 Years Later

That ten-pointed star always seemed to gaze back. Fennik, now a Field Major in the Federation Military, finished gazing at the star and wore the band on his left arm, the band seemingly blending with the cloth of his uniform. He put any secondary thoughts to the back of his mind and made his way outside, to the LAV waiting for him.

-----

Federation Stonefield Air Base, Federal State of Cascadia, September 21, 2014

The LAV passed through a security laser scanner before entering the port. Two humvees with gray geometric camouflage followed behind, each bearing the variant of the Federation star belonging to the Military Police. Fennik had known since the annex that the Military Police oversaw law enforcement duties in city centers and critical economic locations. Local police were only seldom seen on highway patrol or in rural towns and villages nowadays.

The two patrol humvees then turned away as the LAV continued towards a C/U-21 Titan cargo plane currently being loaded with IFV transports. As soon as the LAV came to a complete stop, two guards in air force uniforms opened up the back door, allowing Fennik to exit the vehicle. He immediately spotted Svenson nearby, checking his own gear.

Svenson: "Field Major."

Fennik: "Captain."

Svenson: "Colonel's waiting for you inside."

Svenson tilts his head towards the cargo plane behind him. Fennik walks up the ramp, where Arlington is waiting up top with a file in hand. Fennik salutes Arlington before speaking.

Fennik: "You requested my appearance, sir?"

Arlington: "I did, Fennik. You can forget formalities. Command won't get hissy-fit over it."

Fennik: "What's the situation, Arlington?"

Arlington: "High Command is sending the 9th Infantry Battalion to Juushin. Civil unrest bordering on insurrection has been occurring there for the past week, and local forces haven't been able to quell the violence. They did however, manage to contain the riots within the Shintari and Narashima districts.You and your team will be heading in with the first half of the battalion and arrive at Atsugi International Airport, which has been closed down for the time being."

Arlington looked at his antique watch, noticing the time. He hands the file over to Fennik, who slips it inside the coat of his uniform.

Arlington: "Rest of the details are inside that file. Look it over while you're in flight. I've been called back to the Tower."

Fennik: "The Capital, or the air control?"

Arlington: "You know which. You've been there."

Fennik: "There's never a break for you, is there?"

Arlington: "No, there isn't. Good luck, son."

Arlington jogged down the ramp towards a waiting Humvee, which promptly sped off elsewhere. Fennik took a seat next to Svenson and opened the file after removing it from his coat.

Svenson: "We still print on paper?"

Fennik: "Yes."

Svenson: "You'd think with all the technology around, everything would be done electronically."

Fennik: "Papers are harder to steal."

Rendal walked by and did a fake swipe, showing how easy it would be to steal said papers.

Rendal: "Permission to ask why we always get the boring counter-terrorism jobs?"

Fennik: "You already asked."

Saran followed up with his own remarks while sharpening a machete.

Saran: "You sound bored."

Fennik: "You think?"

Saran: (Toying with a knife) "Just asking... So! Juushin, eh? Aden is stationed there with the Military Police elite units."

Rendal turns around with a slightly shocked face.

Rendal: "That nervous wreck of a cadet? He actually qualified in something?"

Saran: "He was in the top five in our group. He was bound to qualify somewhere. Getting an elite position in the MP in Juushin is actually pretty impressive. Qualification requirements there are higher than most."

Svenson: "Yeah, Juushin is a bit of a political hot spot right now along with eastern Cascadia. The Federation continues to gain more control of locations containing major geothermal energy sources. I think they control the majority of the Rim, and the Creole Republic over on the Atlantic side of influence. The international community is fiercely protective of geothermal energy sources in the African continent and the Indian Ocean, though it looks like South America is being used as a giant sacrifice in the process."

Rendal: "Please, not another lecture..."

Svenson: "Quit complaining."

Saran was over near the other end of the plane, inspecting a built in machine.

Saran: "Since when did Titan cargo planes have built in coffee machines?"

Engineer: "All the 'U' models have some comfort consumables on board. It's only instant coffee, but better than nothing."

The cargo bay began to close, soldiers did a final check on the straps securing the vehicles, and others took their seats and buckled up. The six powerful engines spooled up and the plane began to taxi to the runway.

Pilot: "Control Tower, this is Anvil 1, are we clear for takeoff?"

Stonefield ATC: "Takeoff clearance granted, Anvil 1. Anvil 2 through 8 will follow. Good luck."

The C/U-21 accelerated to takeoff speed and lifted into the air, climbing to 5,000 feet before turning to it's course. While there wasn't a window to look out of, he was sure that on the right hand side right about now, the Scarred Sea that separated Cascadia from the Yellowstone Territory would be visible. Stonefield was only around 7 kilometers west of it. Not that such a fact mattered right now. With the time differences expected, Fennik decided to take a nap after tucking the file securely in his coat.

-----

Atsugi International Airport, Federal State of Juushin, the next day, early morning

The 8 C/U-21s had just began landing on the runway when Fennik woke up from his second nap. Checking briefly to make sure the file was still there, he straightened out his coat and waited for the plane to come to a complete stop. Soon the cargo bay door opened out and the troops onboard began to disembark. Fennik himself walked out with Svenson and Rendal close behind while Saran went off to join some other scouts near the control tower.

Fennik: "So, mission orders are to meet up with Governor Tadishin Kukiri, who is placed in charge of Juushin after the annex. He'll fill us in on the details on the current civil unrest in the Shintari and Narashima districts. Then organize the forces as needed so we can quell the violence. I'd like this done in a day, so we can go home early; but the riots would say otherwise."

Svenson: "Wasn't there some rioting in Atsugi Central District as well?"

Fennik: "There was... then we and a whole military battalion showed up. With two destroyers and a missile battleship to follow."

Rendal: "Speaking of the missile battleship..."

A product of the Naval Program, the missile battleship FVN Judgement had been sailing all slow ahead through the harbor to it's designated port, passing by the floating runway as the first half of the battalion was disembarking from their cargo planes. The missile battleship had a length of 550 meters, nearly double that of a 201TR Battleship, and three times the kill range. It had 8 extreme long range high caliber cannons -- the exact size having been classified -- on two turrets, which seems a bit underwhelming, but that was only a means for slowing the enemy warship and disabling defensive armaments. Then it would make the kill with it's far more extensive VLS missile batteries, with a wide variety ranging from kinetic tips to enhanced thermite anti-material dispersal warheads. They were expensive crafts to build, with only 5 in service and 7 more under a rather slow-paced construction, a total of 12 as listed in the final planning.

Federation Captain: "If you're all done gazing at the new ship, you need to get into position. Major Fennik, sir, there's a transport ready to take you to the Governor's office."

Fennik: "You heard the captain, get moving."

Svenson: "Aren't we captains too?"

Fennik: "Then the order comes from me."

Svenson: "Okay... come on, Rendal."

Rendal: "Hope there aren't any self-entitled jerks from the Elite Guard..."

Svenson: "We're captains. We're at the same or above most of their ranks. And the 'jerks' are relatively far and few in between, especially since much of the Elite Guard consists of the former Cascadian Republic Guard."

As the two captains went off, Fennik got into the waiting government car. Looking through the window as the car traveled through the central district, he took notice of the events around him. Protesters were lining the sidewalks either on strike in front of offices, or getting rounded up for damaging private and public property. A little unjustified, considering one of the arrests involved a teenager who was spray-painting graffiti, yet didn't damage anything. Then again, the Elite Guard were put in charge in the governor's desperation to counter the masses.

The car came to a stop in front of the government tower and an attendant opened the door for Fennik. He stepped out and made his way inside. The lobby had a Federation star made from blue tiles contrasting with the rest of the white.

Fennik: "Field Major Fennik, here to see Governor Kukiri."

Government Official: "The Governor is expecting you, sir. His office is on the top floor."

Fennik: 'Obviously, considering the government's obsession with having the tallest building in any city...' He thought.

The elevator made its way up the tower, Fennik gazing out through the glass tube the elevator was in, towards the city. He could see the occasional column of smoke from riots, along with much of the Federation's architecture. He recognized the few original ancient Juushinese structures that were spared from destruction when the Federation took over, the last remnants of culture that were preserved by the treaty and the government's own curiosity.

The elevator finally stopped at the top floor, and the doors opened to reveal a hallway with bulletproof glass walls, with security guards and various officials working tediously to sort out information as it came in. Fennik walked to the door at the end of the hall, and promptly opened it, where he saw the governor typing a report, presumably to the Prime Government Division in control of the Pacific Core.

There were three more sectors that he knew of, which were Magadan, which controlled most of Eastern Siberia and portions of East Asia; Sawaiiki, which controlled the small continent and surrounding islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that it was named after; and now Cascadia, which they decided to include Yellowstone and other surrounding territories into such as Medaevia and Tenstrow, and even establish their new capital within Presidia. Together, they made up the four main territories of The Federation. There were a few territories over in South America, but data was rather scarce.

Kukiri looked up from his desktop and stood up, walking around his desk to meet Fennik halfway.

Governor Kukiri: "Ah, Field Major Fennik, I'm pleased you have arrived. And... rather early."

Fennik kept his posture despite Kukiri extending his hand out. The latter eventually drew his hand back.

Governor Kukiri: "Not the type to shake hands, I see. If it's okay if I ask why..."

Fennik: "The last time I shook hands with someone, that someone tried to stab through my arm with a hidden blade."

Governor Kukiri: "... I see. My apologies. But to important matters. You were sent here to quell the civil unrest, correct?"

Fennik flicked away some lint on his uniform before answering.

Fennik: "I'll be frank, I don't wish to be here, despite my expertise. But I was sent here for a different reason. Civil unrest is one thing, but losing control and having mass riots bordering on insurrection is something else entirely. There doesn't happen to be any chance of government officials falsifying information in their reports, do you?"

Governor Kukiri: "I... I don't think so-"

Fennik: "And you'd be wrong. Those two reports over to your immediate right. I can already see a few falsified lines about botched shipments and crime rates. And I can assure you, damaged government vehicles aren't the cause of botched shipments, and said damage certainly doesn't match up with the low crime rates of minor vandalizing and unruly teenagers."

Kukiri was sweating nervously. Going through management reports was something he was expected to do every day, but he wasn't a lie detector.

Governor Kukiri: "Look, I'm a busy man-"

Fennik: "I'm far more busy than you, governor. Don't give me that excuse. It's quite apparent that you don't know how to maintain order in the face of imminent rebellion. Even the Elite Guard here is poorly managed. So... I was sent to handle it directly due to your incompetence."

Governor Kukiri: "Field Major, I assure you, I know what I'm doing-"

Fennik: "All due respect, governor, if you knew what you were doing, I wouldn't be here. Feel free to finish your report. I won't bother you any further."

Fennik then turned and left. Kukiri looked down at the floor at the Seal of the Juushin Provisional Government of the Federation printed on. He never did like that seal for some reason, considering he was simply put into a government chair and was merely ordered to do what he was told. He went back to his desk and sent his report to the Core. He felt uneasy when Fennik showed up, as if he had a natural aura of intimidation. Kukiri rubbed his face for what felt like the twentieth time today.

Fennik returned to the ground floor of the building, and upon opening the door, he found Private Aden waiting with two cups of coffee.

Aden: "Coffee?"

Fennik: "Considering I didn't get any caffeine on the way here, I could use some. Thanks."

Fennik took the coffee and took a sip. He then slowly looked over to Aden, giving a slight frown.

Fennik: "You put cream and two sugars, as the usual, but where is the pumpkin spice?"

Aden: "Pumpkin spice?"

Fennik: "Yes. Pumpkin spice."

Aden then brought out a small shaker of pumpkin spice powder. Fennik then opened up his cup of coffee and sprinkled the spice in.

Fennik: "Much better."

Aden: "Is everything still okay in Cascadia?"

Fennik: "Aside from everything being 'federalized' and the tax increase, it's pretty much the same beautiful paradise it's always been."

Aden: "That's good to hear."

Fennik: "You know, I keep thinking on just how we returned to our usual lives, as if we were never annexed. Despite the Federation being directly in control of Cascadia, we still have a lot of leeway, even with the tax involved. We still have our own National Guard despite the military being absorbed. Well, then again, each nation has some form of national guard. But even though things seem normal, it's like we all just became complacent."

Aden: "Well... considering the world has been in chaos for four centuries..."

Fennik then sighed.

Fennik: "Ignore my ramblings. So about..."

Aden: "It's those two..."

The two that he referred to were specifically jerks who seemingly got away with anything minor due to their families' status, and the worst punishment they would receive was not getting promoted beyond Private First Class. These jerks were PFC Winston and PFC Stanton. And they were currently heading towards Aden and Fennik.

Winston: "So... Joseph. Got that wad of cash you owe me?"

Aden: "I paid that off to you. Twice."

Winston: "Hmm... I'm pretty sure there was a third."

Aden: "I'm not paying for your lunch again."

Fennik, seeing this argument would go nowhere, decided to intervene.

Fennik: "What is going on here?"

Winston: (Looks over) "Oh, lay off, Aden just owes us a couple..."

That was when he noticed the dark bronze fig leaf of a Field Major on Fennik's shoulder.

Winston: "SIR! SORRY FOR ANY MISBEHAVIOR, SIR! WHAT ARE YOUR ORDERS, SIR!?"

Fennik: "Get back to your post."

Winston: "SIR, YES SIR! Come on, Stanton."

He and Stanton immediately left. Fennik turned back to face Aden.

Aden: "Remind me how you got to the rank of Major."

Fennik: "I never told you how."

Aden: "... I'm suppose storytelling is for another time."

Fennik: "Indeed... another time. I have a battalion to sort out."

-----

Port 4, Atsugi Bay

Port Officer: "Were we supposed to get two shipments of Cordium today?" He asked as he and the port manager looked at the Cordium containers in question that differed from the rest of the shipping containers with their unique hollow skeletal design.

Port Manager: "No, there should be only one... I'll go check if there was any changes to the list. Executives probably ordered extra Cordium for the battleship arriving today."

Port Officer: "Gee, next it's gonna be smartphones powered by Cordium in the air we're breathing."

Port Manager: "Well, I'll just send an inquiry to the higher ups. And it seems the readings are a little on the unstable side... Have someone properly secure the Cordium containment chamber until we know what to do with it."

Port Officer: "Roger that." (Speaks into shoulder radio) "Jansen, we need you down here. The usual."

Jansen: "Alright, alright, I'll be there in a minute."

The port officer, like any other port staff, did at least have basic knowledge and understanding to the functions of a Cordium Containment Chamber (CCC), as they will inevitably have to interact with it in various situations. At least for the port officer, it was simply doing a quick check to make sure there weren't any anomalies on his sensors.

Port Officer: "Alright, sensors, just an extra container, don't give me any crap..."

The sensor began scanning through the infrastructure, indicating the temperature, inner frame, integrity and built in electronics and monitors to be operating within optimal parameters. But it gave off an anomaly alert for the frame.

Port Officer: "Dammit, had to jinx myself didn't I... Oh, Jansen, there you are. Sensor picked up something wrong with the frame."

Jansen: "Alright, move aside and let me see..."

Jansen then did a quick look around, commentating as he quickly checked through each of the parts the frame consisted of.

Jansen: "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong... wait. There's a bad metal patch job here. Can you hand me my tool bag over by the truck?"

Port Officer: "Sure. Give me a sec."

The port officer quickly found the bag, and brought it over.

Jansen: "Thanks. Now, cutting torch, some solder material, steel plates and we should be good to transport in a few minutes."

He quickly cut away the metal patch and brought out a pair of pliers to pry it off.

Jansen: "Off you go... the hell is-"

He never finished before a flash of light engulfed both him and the port officer.

---

Airport Customs and Immigration, Airship Docks of Atsugi International Airport

The security guard stamped the woman's passport and handed it back to her.

ACI Guard: "Everything checks out. Welcome to the Core."

Without warning, the lights suddenly exploded, holographs glitched out and shut down, windows shattered, the floor shook, people lost their balance, and the security guard fell out of his chair.

ACI Guard: (Speaking into radio) "This is Officer Takamiya to Control! We have a situation! Area was hit by a bomb!"

He didn't get any response. He hit his radio a couple times and got some static, before a voice came through.

Control: "(Static)...did not get a read, say again."

ACI Guard Takamiya: "We have a situation!"

Control: "We heard! Cordium just went off in the docks! Military Ports 2 through... (Static)"

ACI Guard Takamiya: "Damn... Alright, everyone calm down, and evacuate in a calm and orderly fashion!"

He and other security personnel headed over to the panicking crowd in an attempt to bring the situation under control.

[REDACTED] Breakfast and Seafood, Atsugi City

Fennik finished the last of his coffee given by Aden and chucked the empty cup across the street, landing it inside the trash bin on the other side.

Svenson: "I'm guessing the talk was rather boorish and uneventful?"

Fennik: "You could say that. Wish something exciting would happen..."

Suddenly he noticed that the people started clamoring and pointing as the wind picked up.

Svenson: "I don't think that's-"

Glass shattered. His ears rang. Shock ran through his bones. His vision blurred. Then he felt himself collide with a parking meter before regaining balance, and about a minute later, his senses. He looked up to see Cordium particles floating through the sky, cars collided, broken glass covering the streets, and people stumbling aimlessly, as if they were rendered blind and drunk at an instant.

Svenson: "The hell just happened? Major? Major?!"

Fennik only continued to look at the destruction that occurred.

[TO BE CONTINUED...]

Atsugi City Hospital, Hallway B

'This morning in Juushin, an explosion occurred within the military port sector in the Atsugi Primary Harbor when a shipment of Cordium had cascaded and detonated, reducing multiple ports and warehouses to dust. The effects can still be seen from surveillance drone footage, as glowing Cordium particulate is still floating around in the air, hindering communications including transmissions from the Pillars. An investigation is already underway and evidence is currently being collected to ascertain the cause of the blast, but the Central Authority has refrained from making any statements. Thankfully, damage to surrounding metropolitan areas appears to be relatively minimal...'

Rendal: "Minimal my arse."

He picked up the touchscreen remote and turned off the television hologram.

Rendal: "I spent three hours picking glass shards out of my spare uniform, and another two cleaning glass shards out of my rental car, then paid 1,500 EFCs for repairs because the glass shards in my rental car turned out to be the car's windows!"

Svenson: "You're complaining? Fennik had to get stitches on the upper right forehead. You don't have any lacerations."

Svenson continued to clean the remaining traces of blood off the back of his neck while Saran showed up with a band-aid on his ear.

Saran: "Thank the Dust, I don't have lacerations either. Another three inches, and I would've gotten one on the arm where I was at."

Rendal: "What's with the band-aid?"

Saran: "Nicked myself shaving when the explosion occurred."

Rendal: "You shave that early in the morning?"

Saran: "Yes? Why are you concerned over such a trivial thing? I'm more worried about the Major. What happened to him?"

Svenson: "Getting stitches for the laceration on his upper right portion of the forehead. Didn't say where, though. I'd start composing ideas to determine if this was a terrorist attack or not, but we're in public." 'Wouldn't be surprised if it was the Free Alkanva Republic and their bragging about anti-Federation sentiments and actions, though...'

Saran: "Guess we're waiting then."

Rendal: "Yeah, just let me know when Fennik arrives. I'm getting a snack."

-----

Atsugi City Hospital, Room 7
Aside from holding a cloth full of disinfectant to his forehead and staring at a poster of the muscular system for the past 30 minutes and 14 seconds, Fennik had literally nothing else to do. The explosion had left him disoriented, and while he was confident in his exceptionally quick recovery, he didn't feel like pushing himself.

Fennik: "Sooner or later I might begin to hate this job..."

A female nurse then entered the room, and Fennik immediately straightened up. The nurse had auburn hair that seemed to glimmer red in the light while her eyes were dark blue. And judging from her expressions and posture, not very experienced in her line of work; probably only knew the basics. A tag showed her name, Scarlet Mumori.

Scarlet: "Uh..."

She looked down at her clipboard, then to Fennik, then back again before looking at him and asking.

Scarlet: "You're Andris Fennik?"

Fennik: "Yes."

Scarlet: "So, uh, I'm supposed to stich up the cut on your head." She said while hiding half her face with her clipboard.

Fennik: "You don't seem like the social type."

Scarlet: (Nervously laughs) "No, I'm actually pretty shy."

Fennik: "Makes sense."

Scarlet: "If you could..."

Fennik: "Oh, sorry."

Scarlet then had Fennik remove the disinfectant cloth from his forehead so she could examine the wound underneath.

Scarlet: "Well, the wound isn't too deep to warrant using sutures... let's just use steri-strips."

Scarlet went over to the shelf and pulled out a box of steri-strips, pulling out four of the appropriate size and began placing the strips over the laceration. After the four strips were placed, she double checked to make sure that everything held.

Scarlet: "That should be everything. Hopefully."

Fennik: "Well... least I can say is thanks."

Scarlet's face started turning red and she once again hid her face behind her clipboard.

Scarlet: "I-It's nothing!"

She quickly made her exit, not wanting -- in her mind -- to embarrass herself any further.

Scarlet: "T-take care!"

And she slammed the door. Fennik merely sat there, slightly dumbfounded.

Fennik: "... Bye?"

After a minute of contemplation, he got up and made his way out, immediately bumping into Rendal who was holding a chocolate bar.

Rendal: "I take it you attracted another lady like the woman's man you are?"

Fennik: "Now is not the time for joking around."

Rendal then started to make a mischievous grin. Fennik already had an idea of what he was thinking.

Rendal: "Come on, she was blushing when she exited the room. Quite the pretty one this time too. Stop trying to be single and make a move already."

Fennik: "Sorry, I'd rather not be court-martialed for petty misconduct."

Rendal: "Yeah? I'll give you a thousand bucks if you try asking out Captain Rask."

Fennik: "She's a decade older than me. And wouldn't bother responding."

Rendal: "What about that other lady, Renara was it?"

Fennik: "Not a chance in hell."

Rendal: "Violet?"

Fennik: "Forget it. Never said I was taking your bet."

Rendal slumped over, defeated. Then straightened up and asked Fennik once more.

Rendal: "What's Crystal Kingdom gonna do? Throw you into Sawaiiki to work at Mami Port for the rest of your career?"

Fennik: "Probably not Crystal Kingdom, but there are a few Colonels and Generals that would like to see to that, since they think I'm a glory hound with my achievements and even foreign awards given by the Faunus back in Medaevia."

Rendal: "That aside... Crystal Kingdom definitely won't be happy about the port. Not sure how they'll respond to this..."

Svenson approached the two from the adjacent hallway, with Saran following close behind. Saran, as usual when he had nothing else to do, was toying with his butterfly knife, hospital rules be damned.

Svenson: "We need to head somewhere private."

Fennik: "Lead the way."

As the four soldiers made their way out of the hospital, Fennik felt someone's gaze on him, but quickly dismissed it as there was no threat that he could perceive. The gaze was more out of childlike curiosity. He continued on until the person's gaze broke. That gaze belonged to none other than Scarlet, who couldn't help herself in her curiosity. It certainly didn't help that Fennik was at least publicly known to have descended from a line of war heroes, who were also part of a warrior dynasty dating back to the Cascadian Knighthood.

???: "Man in a uniform catch your eye?"

Scarlet let out a high-pitched yelp and spun around towards her generic-looking but extra flirty friend with black eyes and black hair tied to a ponytail, Tosaki Matsunari.

Scarlet: "Don't jumpscare me like that!"

Tosaki: "Couldn't help myself. So... who's the crush?"

Scarlet only blushed harder. It had been quite obvious to Tosaki that Scarlet had a crush on Fennik. Well, who wouldn't?

Scarlet: "I-I-It's none of your b-business!"

Tosaki: "You know, you ought to make a move someday. That shyness of yours is gonna hold you back."

Scarlet: "But..."

She then slumped over, allowing Tosaki to lean towards her ear.

Tosaki: "Who knows, I might take him for myself."

Scarlet suddenly snapped up from her slumped over position.

Scarlet: "No! Don't do that!"

Tosaki: "Then don't wait!"

The radio on Tosaki's shoulder then came to life, preventing her from saying anything further.

Director: "Matsunari, we need you down at Room 42. Patient is acting up again.

Tosaki: "I hear ya." (Turns back to Scarlet) "That's my call. I'm rooting for ya!"

Scarlet: "..."

Scarlet did a double facepalm as she went back to work.