Chapter - 40
"They are capable of fighting but not in a coherent way, they went dormant for so long and they need to be fed before sending them to battle, same goes with the Primarch candidate, her name is Cruz Silva, the queen of the revenants, we fed her quite a lot of blood before she returned rational...she will join us as long as we'll provide her revenants' sustainment"
"The Azur Lane and Fleet Girls joined our forces and while their equipment is not the most advanced one they will keep our oceans safe" Apollyon said before Anastasia could ask her for her report
"The Heroic Spirits are not supplied with mana, the master of Chaldea is in critical conditions so he can only provide energy to BB" Samus reported "For the Primarch candidate we found, she is called Mash Kyrielight, her body is suspended animation but it seems like it has an expiring date which was long ago, if we take her out, she'll die shortly after...unless you could do something about it"
"When the Herrscher will be defeated, I'll personally take care of these tasks" Anastasia stated "Now we must prepare...Esdeath, go to Astana. Akame you will reach Tatsumi and the inquisitors at Novosibirsk, your opponents are the Herrscher of Flame and Death. The rest you will come with to the Babylon tower to set up the defenses"
"Anastasia" Asseylum called for the Empress who looked at her and nodded "There has been...an incident during the retrieval of Elisa...I would be grateful if you would be so kind to give a judgment on the matter..."
Anastasia nodded and with Asseylum walked outside...
In a different room of the Kremlin, a temporary courtroom has been set by the Imperial administration, inside of it there were Anti-Rain Squad, 404 Squad, M16 which wasn't repaired but she was connected to a battery so she could be conscious for the trial, a few Astartes and tech-priests.
The seat where the judge was supposed to sit was empty, they were waiting for Asseylum to show up and give a verdict that will decide both of M16 and 416.
Suddenly, eight Legio Custodes walked inside causing everyone to freak out a bit since their presence usually means that the Empress was around...and this seemed to be true since, after a few seconds, Anastasia walked inside the room followed by Asseylum.
Everyone immediately saluted her as she placed herself in front of the seat where the judge should be, unfortunately, the seat was too small for her to sit with her armor.
"the Empress will personally give a verdict to the current situation, her words will be final" Asseylum said as she sat next to Anastasia.
"I was already informed of the incident and since spending time like this is not a luxury we can afford, I will make this quick " Anastasia called as she checked the report of the incident with her nanosuit "Adepta Omnica 416, you cannot be held responsible for M4's injuries since she was already on your arm when the Chapter Master Confirmed the successful recovery of Mastermind. M4 at that moment wasn't under Imperial protection."
"Thank you, my Empress" 416 said with an emotionless tone
"Now" The Empress said before looking at M16 "You're accused of betrayal by G&K since you joined Sangvis Ferri, and was brainwashed by the virus Parapluie, which has been neutralized by BB upon coming to contact with Mastermind..."
"I wasn-" M16 tried to say when suddenly she found herself unable to talk as if someone was controlling her
Anastasia's eyes were glowing a bit "But even after being brainwashed, you helped AR team escaping from the Honkai Hordes until they made their way back to their base...with this knowledge, I apply the Imperial Absolution on you just like I did with the SF, you will be repaired and will be allowed to return to your family and husband, you will be granted civil rights. The conditions of the alliance with Sangvis Ferri will apply to you but you can choose with which squad you want to work with. This is my judgment...you're free to leave"
With those words, everyone started walking away.
"Leader of Anti-Rain" Anastasia called causing M4 to freeze on the spot "I would like to have a few words with you in private"
M4 bowed "Yes my Empress" she said
The room emptied, the rest of AR team felt a bit worried for M4 but Asseylum convinced them otherwise. The only people left were M4, Anastasia, and the Legio Custodes.
"I was informed of what happened between you and Elisa, and I can't force you to like her" Anastasia said calmly
"Can't you?" M4 whispered before realizing that she just talked back to the most important person in the Galaxy and bowed "I'm sorry"
"No, you're right" Anastasia said with a smile "I can bend the will of people and machines if I wanted to...but I don't unless it's strictly necessary...because I love the human mind and spirit and forcing it to obey me makes me feel like I'm tainting it"
"We're machines though, My Empress..." M4 replied looking down on her feet
"you threw yourself on a plasma gun that was charging up, crying, clinging desperately to it, ignoring the pain just to save someone dear to you" Anastasia replied as she placed her armored hand on M4's shoulder "You fought, cried for the fallen soldiers and sisters...you are a sentient being, a machine with a human heart and a human soul...because otherwise, you would be a mindless killing machine...and these same traits are possessed by Elisa, but she manifested the ugly side of humanity...our enemy is strong if we are divided so what I'm asking you is to know her better, to correct her and if you'll feel like it...to forgive her...she was the one who put the condition of you being protected...along with M16"
M4 remained silent a few moments, processing what she was just told "I will try..."
"That's all I ask" Anastasia replied before her smile disappeared as she looked outside as if something caught her attention "Unfortunately, I will have to ask you go on another mission with your squad again...I'm sending you the details"
Babylon tower, hours later
Shub-Niggurath and Salome Jokanaan, valkyries of the Squad Snowwolf were inside the vehicle bay of the Babylon Tower, the alarm of the facility could be heard going off around them and this was because of the massive battleship filled with Honkai Beasts that had reached the place and was now hovering above the tower, the systems had detected thousands of Honkai beasts in the near vicinity, the situation was critical and the two valkyries were cut off from the rest of Schicksal, Salome had decided to retreat back to Europe where she and the remaining personnel of Schicksal would be safe.
They had gathered a few transport vehicles but unfortunately, they had no form of defense system meaning that the two valkyries will have to defend the convoy themselves, which was extremely risky. After all the preparations were done, the two valkyries got on top of the transports and opened the doors that were keeping the beasts from getting inside. To their surprise, no beasts were waiting for them.
"THE WAY IS CLEAR! HOW!? IS THIS A TRAP?" Niggurath shouted in shock
"I DON'T CARE! TIME TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT!" Salome replied "THERE'LL BE NO STOPPING TO RESCUE STRAGGLERS! YOUR ORDERS ARE TO LEAVE THIS PLACE AS FAST AS YOU CAN!"
With that being said, the vehicles started to move as fast as they could. Unknown to them, the person who had cleared the way was looking at them from the distance, her name was Patricia Highsmith, an MIA Valkyrie of Squad Snowwolf and Anti-Entropy spy, she had fought her way through the Honkai in order to clear the way for her companions but now was heavily injured and couldn't keep fighting and so she watched as the convoy got away from the Babylon tower, she wanted to give one last goodbye but she knew that the Honkai Beasts behind her was going to kill her soon. She closed her eyes as her thoughts wandered to the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal...
'Sorry Cecilia' She thought as the Honkai behind was about to thrust its spear inside of her 'You'll have to look after these snow pups on your own...'
"Patricia Highsmith, A-Rank Valkyrie of Squad Snowwolf...signing off" she whispered closing her eyes...
The sound of an assault rifle filled the air as the Honkai beast stumbled back a bit, Patricia felt herself being lifted off the ground and being grabbed from someone. She looked at the one grabbing her and saw a girl wearing black clothing carrying an assault rifle with her but most importantly
"I got her M4!" the girl shouted excited as she used the 3D maneuvering gear paired with the jump kit to get across the forest "Are you okay?"
Patricia stared at her "Not really...who are you?"
"I'm M4 SOPMOD II but people call me Sop or Sop II" the girl replied smiling
"You can fly?!" Patricia asked realizing now that the two of them were literally traversing the forest without touching the ground
"What? no! We're swinging around with this" Sop replied as she gently touched the device that was strapped to her waist "I can't tell you how it works but it's awesome...Oh! there you are M4!"
Patricia looked around herself and her eyes managed to catch the figures of three other figures swinging next to them "Sop the forest is going to end, we'll jump on the convoy" the girl named M4, who was carrying a massive suitcase on her back, said getting a nod from Sop
"If the judgment-class honkai will not kill us first" the girl with white/pinkish hair swinging next to M4 said as she pointed at the sky
A humanoid figure with wings made of Honkai energy was following the convoy, her intentions didn't look exactly friendly
"If the convoy makes it into firing range that will not be a problem, STAR" M4 replied "RO call for air support"
"Roger that" RO, the girl swinging at Sop's left, replied with a nod
"Let's do this" M4 shouted causing the whole group to change direction and head for the convoy.
The forest was about to end but this wasn't concerning the squad since they used the last line of trees to launch themselves on top of the transport vehicles, startling the Valkyries on top of them