Promise

The same day

Skies over Verdania

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Storm clouds covered the skies over northern verdania as far as the eye could see, spewing torrents of rain and lightning flashing now and then, flying amidst the heavy rain was several dozen massive bulky aircrafts, even in the heavy rain they seemed to be completely unaffected. Those aircraft were something known as a heavy aerial transport or simply called dropship, giant aircrafts designed to transport anything from people to heavy cargo. On one of the dropships, located at the front area was the cockpit, it was spacious enough to accommodate five to seven people and allow them to move freely.

Sitting in said cockpit was four people, all dressed up in federation military uniforms, namely the typical green one seen worn by most of Federation military personnel. One sitting in front of several control panels was the pilot, the copilot sat next to him while the remaining two were busy with their own business, one was lounging on the seat, eyes closed while the last one was tapping his foot impatiently.

'This is bad.'

The young man with red hair thought to himself. Earlier today they received news regarding a surprise attack that evolved into a siege on one of the Federation bases in the region, to make matters worse the Federation main base only heard the news a week after the attack had begun.

Hence why second lieutenant Sweyn Gallahan was feeling nervous and quite frustrated by the situation.

'I can't believe they blindsided us like this.'

It certainly didn't help that the empire had apparently sent an entire division to besiege that place, the only comfort they received was the fact that while the empire had certainly outnumbered the defenders, they hadn't been outgunned. On another note of concern, Sweyn was well aware how tenacious those imperials can be.

'They just won't give up no matter what.' He was impressed by their determination but also frustrated.

The sound of a door sliding open took his attention from the monitor and back into the cockpit. Seeing the person entering, he and the other person who looked asleep at first immediately stood up and gave a salute, the ship pilot and copilot remained seated. The man who entered dismissed the two with a wave of his hand.

He was the leader of their unit, a captain evident from the two silver bars adorning his green combat uniform. His tall stature, chiselled face and stoic expression gave him an imposing image of a leader, even his red hair seemed brighter and more alive than Sweyn's.

"Captain, incoming transmission from HQ." The pilot announcement.

"Patch it through."

The pilot did as ordered and a holographic display appeared in front of them, the live video feed shows an old rugged man with grey hair.

"General." The captain saluted and his subordinates followed suit.

"At ease ladies and gentlemen."

The video feed was apparently being broadcasted to everyone inside each dropship.

"As everyone is already aware, we have an emergency situation, which is why I'm currently briefing all of you on air." The video display was replaced by a tactical view of the place they're heading. "We received word that one of our bases, Rock Castle, in the northwestern region is currently under attack by a division of the imperial army with an estimated force of 13.000 to 15.000 soldiers with unconfirmed numbers of armored units.."

If Sweyn remembered correctly, Rock Castle only had three battalions defending it, that means they only had around 3.000 soldiers or maybe less. It would mean the defenders were outnumbered almost 10 to 1 throughout the siege.

"That was a week ago, we don't know how much of the imperial force remained after a prolonged battle but we estimated them to still be at least 10.000 strong." The general continued, "Then approximately seven hours ago, we received intel that the imperial invasion force received valuable reinforcements, at least several hundred armored units were deployed on the battlefield and had marched as the spearhead of a renewed assault."

The screen showed the updated situation, along with multiple red and blue shapes used to represent enemy and allied units respectively scattered across the area in various sizes. A lot of red shapes were seen swarming the fortress while the rest stayed outside forming a perimeter, meanwhile the blues were only seen clustered inside the fortress.

"As a result, the eastern defensive line was destroyed and the newest update on the situation there says the imperial forces had already pushed the defenders into the fortress itself."

"What type of armored units were deployed as reinforcements?" Sweyn heard a question from one of the officers from the other dropship.

"Intel suggests it's a mix of heavy and light units, we're talking main battle tanks and a couple dozen infantry fighting vehicles. But the bulk of the reinforcements are made of dragoons, with heavy class Ofnirs numbering in majority."

Sweyn instinctively stiffed at the news. The Ofnirs were by far one of the largest dragoons to ever exist, standing tall at roughly 8 meters with weapons load out that can outgun a squadron of heavy tanks by a small margin. They had been a menace to the Federation force throughout the war, although in the years after the initial confrontations, the Ofnirs had become somewhat of a rare sight as the empire kept being pushed further deeper into their own territory.

'If they're deploying a hundred of those dragoons, it would mean the empire is desperate for a win.'

"Now, it goes without saying that we cannot possibly let the empire take over Rock Castle. The base's tactical value aside, it is simply that we cannot let the empire win at any cost as news of their victory there would undoubtedly elicit a renewed fighting spirit from their other war efforts, which in turn would prove to be devastating for our side."

Doesn't take a genius to figure out the war had taken a heavy toll on both sides. During the first year of the war, the Federation had enjoyed a consecutive victory over the empire and everyone thought it would end within just one year. Such assumption was of course proven wrong as by late winter of the same year, the empire suddenly switched tactics into scorched earth, for every piece of land they lost, they made sure the Federation paid a dear price for it.

The result of their sudden change was the entire war evolving into a war of attrition that had lasted for three and a half years, they haven't been able to completely stop the Federation force from pushing them ever backwards but nowadays Federation soldiers would have to think thrice before engaging in battle as those imperials seems to prefer burning their own soil rather than letting it fall into enemy hand, not to mention they liked taking down Federation soldiers down with them as they go.

"Which is why I intend to crush them at Rock Castle once and for all." The general declared with conviction, "This imperial division is probably one of their last remaining fully intact divisions present in the Verdania front, and since they received quite an impressive amount of reinforcements means the imperial high command has a lot of hope riding on this siege. If they failed to gain a new foothold in Verdania and got their division taken down instead, the imperial war effort on Verdania could very well stagnate and hopefully crumble. That's what we're aiming for today."

"For that reason, I've scrounged all available units that can be airlifted as fast as possible and managed to gather four battalions to be deployed as a relief force. It's not enough to cover our number difference, but the men and women of our Intelligence service were confident that the imperials are not aware that we're coming, perhaps due to arrogance or recklessness that they believed had prevented any news from leaking and neglected to consider this outcome, either way we must use this surprise factor as best as we can."

"So here's the plan, we'll be dividing our battalions into two groups. Axe and Crossguard battalion, the first group, are to be deployed inside the fortress, while the second group, Spearhead and Arrow battalion are going to be dropped outside just behind the enemy line. Captain Arthur and the experimental squadron will also be joining the second group."

"Yes sir." The Captain next to Sweyn acknowledged.

The screen showed the marked landing site along with their approach route. Although Sweyn wasn't paying attention to that, earlier he was worried they're just going to act as reserve again but after hearing the general, his worries were replaced by hidden excitement.

"The first group along the remaining defenders will attempt to flush the enemy forces out from the fortress and into the second group, that way we can catch them in-between our forces in a hammer and anvil maneuver. We have the element of surprise on our side so we have to hit fast and hard, however to maintain our advantage, the first group will have to fly in from behind the fortress, that means passing through the mountain there."

The tactical display showed the mountain the general was talking about, it wasn't that steep nor big but the terrain was treacherous enough to make anyone trying to go there reconsider their decision.

"The empire forces didn't think of using this route initially due to the unfavorable landscape that prevented them from using it for a sizable force, not to mention they didn't have many dragoons back then to spare. That being said, the first group has to be careful due to this dangerous weather and low visibility."

The display moved from the fortress and towards the outer area, showing the enemy's backline.

"The second group will be dropping just near their rear line. Problem is we have a lot of ground to cover and we don't have many people to begin with, so second group will have to spread pretty thinly there. Even combined with the first group and the defenders joining in we're still going to face a hard battle, which is why we have to strike fast and strike hard. I will say this again, our victory here would very much end the battle in Verdania and push them back into their heartland. We've been at war for too long now, it's time we end this once and for all. Do your best ladies and gentlemen, Godspeed."

The general did a salute and everyone returned, the briefing was over with that as the transmission window closed.

They still have a while before they reach Rock Castle but Sweyn was already impatient, unable to wait any longer. He's been waiting for this chance for a long time after all, it was only natural for him to be overly excited, but unfortunately for him that was something the captain didn't approve of.

"Second Lieutenant Gallahan." His calm and stern voice was like a cold water thrown onto Sweyn's head, he quickly faced his commander with apt attention.

"Rein your emotions in, it won't help you in this mission or any battle you'll be facing from now on. I understand your feelings but a pilot's greatest weapon is their mind, if it's clouded by emotions then it's nothing but a dull blade. Remember that lieutenant."

"Sir! Yes sir!" His voice was louder than usual, causing the other three people in the cockpit who were spared from the captain's scrutiny to flinch at it.

"Good, I expect you to follow that lesson lieutenant, cause I hate repeating myself." With that the captain walked out of the cockpit, Sweyn's teammate followed behind at a respectable distance, leaving him and the two pilots, they seemed content on leaving the red haired young man alone.

Sweyn stood there for a moment, thinking of what his captain said before shaking his head and walking out of the cockpit as well.

After a short walk Sweyn finally reached the door that connects into the other part of the dropship. The aircraft has two sections, the first one was the control Sweyn was in earlier, it is a two floor space of four interconnected rooms, the two lower rooms are the crew quarters and a small storage room while the upper ones are a dedicated passenger room and the frontmost end is the cockpit.

The second section was the hangar or cargo bay, a large space of dimly lit area, capable of housing a dozen of various cargoes and military vehicles in many sizes. However this particular dropship wasn't containing any of those, rather the usually wide space was unusually spacious with the exception of three massive cargo stored in there.

Although it was only three of them, those things had occupied almost half of the dropship's height.

Sweyn stopped in front of one of the special cargo. It was a massive machine, in other words, a mech or a dragoon as the official designated name. However it was rather different than any kind of known dragoons, the one in front of Sweyn was large enough that it had to crouch down just to fit in the interior, yet it doesn't bear the usual design of the bulky and boxy heavy dragoons made by the Federation nor the theropod shaped dragoons of the empire. No, it was very much unlike anything ever used in military history.

Seeing that machine however gave him mixed feelings, a part of him was amazed and proud that he got a chance to pilot it, but another part of him was feeling… angry just by looking at it. Perhaps it's due to a bad first impression, after all he first saw that machine–or at least something similar to it on a very bad day.

"Yo!" A voice interrupted Sweyn's thoughts, he turned around and found himself face to face with a pair of blue eyes staring at him.

"I was wondering where you are." He said, welcoming the young woman approaching him.

"Eh.. got bored and decided to look around." The woman in front of him shrugged casually.

"Where's the captain?"

"He went somewhere towards the back, I've no intention on following him so I dunno what he's doin' there."

Bleached hair with clear ivory skin and striking blue eyes. That would be none other than his squadmate, another dragoon pilot serving in the Federation army. The name displayed on her chest was "Gwendolyn. A. Harlow".

"Mmm hmm" Sweyn mumbled before turning back to look at the dragoon.

Silence descended upon them, the two spent a while just staring at the machine in front of them.

"Nervous?" Gwendolyn, or Gwen as she was usually called, glanced at Sweyn.

"Well not really, I'm more excited!"

"So much for the captain's word" Gwen shook her head in mock disappointment while a small smirk graced her lips.

"Hey!"

Gwen ignored his protests.

Thinking back, the two of them had been friends for as long as either of them can remember.

They lived in the same city, went to the same school since grade school, and even enlisted at the same time. By now they're almost inseparable, a best friend forever some might say.

But ever since that... day, there's been an unseen wall between them, it wasn't anything big enough that it'd make them drift apart yet it was something that's there, just gnawing at both of them, they are close but there's always a strange distance between them, Gwen likes to pretend they're fine and dandy but Sweyn wasn't the type to just ignore a problem. Though the two knew the reason for that wall to appear.

It was because they had lost a lot of people, some of them are very precious, one in particular a friend, someone who was dear to them in more ways than they could describe. The loss and grief they experienced that day had changed them both. For Gwen, it had made her more grim and quieter than before. Sure she's still the same friendly Gwen Sweyn has always known, but there's always an air of melancholy and sorrow hovering around her, not to mention she seems quieter and snarkier.

So what of Sweyn? What of himself?

He too had changed, in more ways than he could think of.

Four years, that's how long he's been waiting for this very chance. Enduring all those harsh training and sleepless nights, the efforts he had poured everything into has finally bore fruit. Finally he could fulfill the promise he made that day.

That day where a lot of people lost everything and everyone.

They remembered it well, the night when their home city of Lunestadt was burned to the ground. The one responsible was none other than the empire.

A lot of people liked to ask why he absolutely hated everything about the empire and what they stood for, the reason for him was simple, because he can never forgive what they did that day.

Even now he can perfectly recall the burning smell of that night, the taste of blood in the air, the echoing screaming. He remembered everything all too well for his own good. But the one he could never forget no matter what was the monster who did it.

He saw the one who attacked the city and killed everyone, they were using the same kind machine as the one in front of him right now. Emblazoned on the body of that machine and burned into his mind was the emblem of the empire–the golden three headed dragon, there's no mistaking it.

The empire was the one who started the war, they were the one who wanted it, he would gladly oblige. For everything he– they lost four years ago, he would make sure the empire paid in full, no matter what. He had found his determination to see it through years ago, and now his desire was once again solidified.

However a voice laden with uncertainty entered Sweyn's hearing, "Do you…. Do you think he would've wanted this?"

It was Gwen, this time she was looking at him directly in his eyes. She was a bit shorter than him so he had to slightly look down. Her blue eyes had gone dim for the past few years. "What do you think he would've done if he's in our shoes? If… if he was the one who lost us?"

Upon hearing such a question, Sweyn found himself wondering that.

"I…. I dunno." He just stared at his feet, unable to find an answer.

The person Gwen meant was the reason the two of them were moving forward. Their dearest friend, who lost his life in Lunestadt all those years ago, was the reason why the two of them joined the military, the reason why Sweyn worked very hard to be where he is now.

They are here because of a promise they made that night, a promise he made while holding his friend's dead hand.

That he would make them pay, that he would get revenge for him.

He doesn't know whether or not his friend would've wanted it, but he has to, they have to. Blood must be paid with blood. He believed so.

"We have to do this… Gwen… for him." He said with a finality, to convince Gwen, and to further convince himself, strengthening his unwavering heart.

Gwen didn't answer, her eyes closed while her hands crossed each other.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"It's…" She began hesitantly, mouth pursing in uncertainty, but eventually she relented, "I'm just worried."

"About?"

"Everything Sweyn… the war, going to battle, this… whole… payback thing? I.. don't think…"

"It's a bit too late for second thoughts Gwen."

She sighed heavily, scratching her head in irritation, "I know… I know…"

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah… I'm fine…"

"You don't seem fine to me." He examined her overall appearance and while she looked good outwardly, there's an air of uneasiness surrounding her.

"Probably… No, maybe not. I don't get it Sweyn. I thought I'd made up my mind, but… here I am.. worrying about everything and doubting it again." She shook her head lightly, "Maybe I'm not cut out for this after all."

"You kidding me" Sweyn almost couldn't believe her, "You're literally in the top five best recruits during training."

She scoffed, "Yeah and you're number one, what's your point?"

"I'm saying they wouldn't have picked you for this if you weren't good enough. Also because I vouched for you."

"Okay fine, I get your point." Gwen sighed deeply.

"That's good but I don't think that's the only thing been eating you."

"I suppose…" She mulled over her thoughts before giving an answer, "Must've because I heard some strange news."

"Strange? What'd you mean?"

"Before we departed, I heard the higher ups talking with our captain about a bunch of dragoon squadrons who went missing in a mission down south."

"Missing?" Sweyn was confused, "Is that… Strange?"

Gwen looked at him with a surprised look, "Thirty five heavily armed dragoons don't just disappear into thin air Sweyn. Surveillance reports said those guys just dropped out of radar instantly, no signs of combat, no suspicious movements from the enemy, nothing, like they never even existed. They weren't even able to locate their emergency tracking signal."

"You think something's causing it?"

"Definitely."

Now that she mentioned it, that news started to bother Sweyn too. An ominous feeling came to him but he quickly shook it off.

'Now's not the time for that.'

Forcing himself to only think of the battle ahead seems to work on easing his worry. Though he still has Gwen to deal with.

"I guess I get what you're feeling now. Still no need worry too much!"

"And why you're so confident about it?"

"I mean, we have this!" Sweyn gestured towards the giant machine in front of them. "We're not that weak anymore and not to mention we have the captain! Hell I can protect you if you want!"

"Well, you aside. I do think the captain could probably handle whatever made those dragoons go missing."

"Ouch, that hurt"

"Oh grow up. Besides I can fight by myself well enough." Gwen punched him playfully in the shoulder.

After another session of silence, she finally looked at Sweyn again.

"So… no turning back after this?"

"No turning back." He repeated with conviction.

It took a moment but Gwen seemed to finally make up her mind.

"Fine then Mr. Number One. I'll fight with you."

"Well thank you Ms. Number Two."

The two laughed cheerfully. Mind and heart made up and ready to face forward.

"For Erel." She held her fist for a fist bump, the thing they always did since childhood.

"For Erel."