Stage set

After the event at the hideout, the members of the Red fort went back to their base. It had taken them three days to finish investigating the activities in the hideout and after finding out the main information they needed, they all finally returned to the red fort.

After they got to the fort, Jo took permission to personally announced the death of the men he lost to their lost ones and Lara granted him permission. It was not the first time he was losing comrades, but, this was the first mission he had lost the members of his unit since becoming a captain. He never knew the responsibilities were this heavy.

"Don't think too much of it Major Lara advised, you will not always return back home with those you left home with, it's an occupational hazard, we must learn to push forward despite everything. I know it's hard but you must not let it pull you down, other members of your squad are depending on you, so raise your head high and be strong" she said.

Jo did as she said and he personally made sure their fallen comrades were returned home safely. He broke the news to their loved ones and after a week he returned to the red fort since their tour wasn't over.

Immediately he returned Amelia greeted him.

"Welcome back Captain".

Hello Amelia, where's Mickey".

"He's in training with the Commander".

"Oh, has he been able to land a hit yet?" Jo asked.

"Not yet. Amelia replied, it's quite fun to see him get his ass kicked Everytime".

"Where are they? I need to see the commander". Jo said.

"This way captain" Amelia lead the way.

They finally got to the gym and Major Lara was seen sitting on Mickey, who was desperately struggling to get up.

"Get off me you crazy witch, Just how much do you weigh", he said.

"Oh my gosh, this never gets old" Amelia said laughing at Mickey.

"Captain Kindel, you're back" Lara said and stood up to see Jo.

"Captain Jo Kindel salutes fort Commander Major Lara Deanna".

"At ease soldier, Lara replied. Let's talk in my office".

When they both got to Major Lara's office she offered Jo a sit and sat down behind her desk.

"It seems you have bad news for me" Major Lara said.

"Was I that easy to read?"

"No, just that every soldier has the same face when they carry bad news" Lara replied.

"So what's going on." Lara asked.

"There was an assassination attempt on both the Queen's life and the princesses life too" Jo said.

"Although it failed, thirteen royal guards lost their lives, and one of them was Lady Ija" Jo said.

******

After Jo broke the news to Major Lara, he also broke the news to Mickey and the others. Mickey could believe his ears. They had seen Lady Ija two days before they departed from the Red fort. She had not gone on any dangerous mission after she had escorted the princess to Miaan few weeks back and returned safely. He heard there was a dangerous situation but she still came back safely. How was she now dead when was in the safest place in Omi. How was an attack successfully carried out on Omi's capital and how did thirteen royal guards lose their lives Mickey thought.

"We need to head back to Litinhn" Mickey said immediately he heard the news.

"I'm not done Lieutenant Tulley" Jo said.

"Not done?, something obviously happened at the Capital and we're here watching over a dirty fort when we should be in the Capital." Mickey said.

"You are to carry out the mission you were given and that is to stay here and watch over the red fort" Jo said.

"I don't care about this damned fort I'm leaving" Mickey said.

"If you take one step further Lieutenant, I'll have to stop you by force." Jo Said.

"I'll love to see you try" Mickey replied.

That day Mickey and Jo had their first ever serious fight, that destroyed a whole section of the fort. It took the intervention of The fort commander to stop both of them from destroying the fort.

After Mickey was subdued he was locked up and restrained in a room till he came to his senses.

And so ends the events of the red fort. Events that would eventually lead to a great conflict, a conflict no one saw coming. But that's not what is next. As one chapter is closing another stage has been set. Alot of people might have not realized it but, when Thia stepped into the Capital of Omi as an innocent orphan of war, what entered was not the little girl most people saw, what entered was death itself. Thia the champion of death is set and the stage is set for the massacre.