Cerk-Ly War, Second Ters-Ly War (6)

  At the main hall. Fox and the Captains were present, with some special agents standing in the main and upper floors. The rest were the civilians, who were clothed with the fabrics in storage. They couldn't use the bloodied, holed military uniforms of the now dead Cerks. There were 142 civilians rescued from their hostage situation, all still shaken but understanding this development.

  They were grouped in the center, surrounded by the special agents still wearing their medium NUAs. Fox, who has been looking at them with Esmeralda and Nala behind him, placed his Esnly on his back and stepped forth, opening his visor.

  “I am Fox. From Lymoca. This task tonight has been completed to rescue you and eliminate threats in your country. Soon, you will be sent further inland to meet with your government. Until then, you’re welcome to make yourselves dinner. The place is clean.” Fox said before walking to the side.

  Gasps, sounds of relief, and hushed thanks emanated from the refugees, who bent their stomach, brought their hands to their mouths, and plummeted to the floor. Whatever they thought might have happened, it ended well.

  Fox walked to a smaller but long, corridor-like room. There were many chairs there. He walked to one and relaxed. The vehicles driving towards here could’ve been from Argopolas’s forces, but Lymoca ‘called dibs’ on it.

  With Argopolas being the ones saved from hell and even being conquered, Lymoca saving them from who knew how many more enemy paratrooper reinforcements, they had nothing to say no to Lymoca.

  “Ahh, so tiring…” Esmeralda exclaimed before pulling a chair and sitting beside Fox. The chair was heavy, but her NUA helped her with that. She lifted a leg over the other, massaging a piece around her calves. Fox turned to her and took the segment off, which only slid off and revealed her thin uniform below the armor.

  “How does it feel?” Fox asked. Esmeralda moaned with closed lips before carefully massaging her shin and calf with her fingertips. “It’s pretty astounding… I still don’t understand many things. I also can’t read through its… ‘reading’, was it called?”

  “It makes more sense if you had at least military training, but even those the likes of whom we hunted tonight wouldn’t get it. It’s okay. Don’t push yourself.” Fox commented. Esmeralda narrowed her eyes, “Push what exactly?”

  Fox grinned, giving her shin a few touches before looking up at her beautiful face, “We’ll talk about it after this. Understand?”

  “… Yeah…” Esmeralda further opened her eyes, staring at Fox with realization before nodding her little head. A couple of seconds later, Nala cam in but didn’t grab a chair, using Fox as her seat instead to accommodate her fantastic but armored rear on his thighs.

  “The ‘buses’ come in 25 minutes from now. We’re one of the 3 calls to report first. The others should be doing great.” Nala reported. Fox nodded, “Some will wait for every day to go for the next target, but we won’t have that limitation. Are the routes prepared?”

  “Yes.” Nala nodded, offering her natural self and nothing more. Fox smiled a little, looking up at the cold and indifferent beauty. She looked back at him after a moment. The pair of idiots looked at one another for a while before they bumped their helmets on each other.

  “Me too?” Said Esmeralda, already having stood up. Nala hugged around his neck, with Fox separating his legs further. Nala accommodated herself on his left thigh, with Esmeralda contentedly posing her butt on his right thigh. Then, they hugged each other, helmet-bump.

  … As the night just began, Argopolas experienced the work of a top-notch hoog. The secret world wasn’t too developed in the south, except for Cors, Preato, and Collan. The rest were quite limited and without resources they could use, even if bound to the government.

  On the following morning, before Argopolas received the news themselves, which would result in the newfound gladness the Valads struggled to feel even when Lymoca intervened to help, it appeared in Lymoca. Luis conducted his morning press conference.

  This time, he began with a brief description of Melenon’s situation, which had become more intense after last tonight. Then, he elaborated that over 17 out of 250+ enemy hideouts in Argopolas had been taken down. All high-profile and of the largest.

  To the reporters in Lymoca, this was surprising. For the military officials? The brains and doers across the world? This was exhilarating. Those who did have a bound to at least 1 hoog in their government started wondering, if if if and more ifs. Those who didn’t fell wondrous.

  Furthermore, the ‘casualty rate’, of which to whom it belonged was unknown, was of practically 0, with some critically injured. Additionally, the President particularly reminded the audience, physical and virtual, that these secretive tasks were carried out due to the infringement of the HLS.

  After all, one cannot expect the world to act just because it was infringed, even though that should be the case. Practically, that Lymoca didn’t need to bother others for help.

  There was nothing like showing your nation could deal with things that should otherwise be handled by an international court in Safe Haven City. Furthermore so as these situations were being addressed and the hostages were successfully secured.

  Luis’s cabinet in charge gave more details, but the facts were already out, giving the world, and every piece of it, to have something to think about. Meanwhile, Fox and the District were busy about their tasks from day to night and vice versa.

  For a whole week, the beaches of Argopolas, not specifically the shores or the overall east coast, were riddled by the new security and operations.

  The security was formed by both countries’ forces, with only a small portion of the Lymocan navy overseeing the Valad waters, while the armies inland kept every possible route, official or not, checked. The air forces pertained to Lymoca, the only party in the war to have them.

  Moreover, be it light support helicopters or standard, Lymoca was the greatest nation with an advantage over the air forces, as long as ANS wasn’t added into the equation.

  Like this, the operations and routes traversed by Piya Sanctum District were secure, without events, irregularities, and fast. Special agents weren’t about having a duty, which they did have. When being sent to another country and told to do war things, they enjoyed it.

  It wasn’t moral to the letter, but it went with what they were more than even great at, what they were used to and were freed to go full-in to, and what their hearts beat naturally and healthily to.

  Every day, from the first hours of light to the deep of the night, the District worked Argopolas’s enemy hideouts. Many had a 1-time job every 8, 10, or 12 hours. These consisted of striking the largest known enemy hideouts, and further investigate if there were more.

  PSD wasn’t faulty in investigating these before, but they did so while under equipped and with utmost stealth. Now, PSD had all the tools and manpower they needed to assail Cerk hideouts. Even then, not many more were found, which were hidden better than the rest.

  Few of the units out there took several jobs every 24 hours. Fox’s unit, which was the largest the PSD has ever sent under one person, Raging Blood in this case, since so long ago, was the most efficient. They cleared out 30 hideouts in just the first 40 hours since deployment.

  Fox brought Esmeralda and Nala close-by, answering everything Esmeralda had to ask, while diverting some other things she shouldn’t know as a civilian, frustrating her. Nala helped, too. Both took these moments to relax and spend pleasant times with Esmeralda each day.

  The other agents spent their livelihood in war at Argopolas more ordinarily, chatting with their colleagues and more. But overall, they seemed contented and like in vacations.

  … Day after day passed. A week, just a few days, was enough for information to run back and forth from different resources and between all parties. It was no surprise that Cerka had spies close to the government. Nothing exotic nor exaggerated, but they were resourceful enough. Lymoca got rid of them only as the 7th day since PSD was deployed neared.

  There was harm done, such as the Lymocan tactics to get Cerka off Argopolas after day 1 of the intervention. But it couldn’t be helped. Furthermore, Argopolas agreed. There was no way Luis Heartez would make these moves in another’s territory with limited transparency to another head of state, much less under their noses.

  In the end, those Cerk spies were a necessary evil for now. Because, on the other hand and coastal edge of the supercontinent, Melenon’s defense was as formidable as before, but the enemy has progressively gotten desperate and pushy.

  Torka was more and more brutal, giving the Avicas a harsh time, even as both sides lost more and more personnel, with Torka leading the wars’ ‘body count’ through the charts. During the last 2 days, between the 3rd month’s 4th week’s 2nd and 3rd day, the Ters went all-out.

  Even with the notorious aggressive mobilizations, this such all-out war hadn’t been seen, not even in all of the First Ters-Ly War, until Lymoca pushed their frontlines every day a bit more. But Torka’s actions were simple: slaughterhouse enhancement.

  They made a mincemeat factory out of the half of the capital they have taken, which the Avicas were not afraid to follow, putting all of Torka’s efforts into naught.

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  Meanwhile, in the noon of the 3rd day, Argopolas emitted an official declaration of having stopped the invasion, repelled the Cerks, and preparing for reparations, as well as handling the diplomacy and statecraft. The war wasn’t over just because the enemy fully retreated and sent no more reinforcements.

  While Argopolas had to carry out a full-on investigation and search after everything occurred, they also must ensure the safety of the country’s territory, water and land, and safety of its people. It was all complicated, especially in image.

  That’s why, to make matters smoother and much positive, Luis Heartez directly flew to Argopolas.

  It wasn’t just a bold move. With previous records, Lymoca’s success in bringing Terka what previous Terka never reached before, the acceptance of the new Lys, and the silence from the neighbors. Reading or hearing about the Lymocan President flying over to show support gave the Valads a lot to… hope for.

  Luis didn’t intend to steal any limelight, or anyone’s show whatsoever, but it all came to light when he descended from his plane with his bodyguards beside him. Additionally, the Lymocan elite air force patrolled the skies. The current CSS also came with him, of course.

  As soon as he walked down the steps, what Luis didn’t expect, wearing his sunglasses even as the gray skies made everything seem like night was approaching, was no professional cameras. There were cameras, sure, but from cellphones and windows, held by Valads holding their mouths, chests, stomachs, and the urging desire to scream at the top of their lungs.

  ‘Why did I not bring Lesly?’ Luis felt overstimulated and thought before stepping unto the ground. He slowly walked by them, which were a lot, even though not many were allowed in. Luis wore a more presentable semi-empowered suit, which looked like any regular one he always wears.

  With his bodyguards behind him, and looking at the people with regular-paced waves, Luis met with the Valad president, Marco P. An old white man, tall with white hair, from what’s left of it. Even without his elegant suit and bearing, he looked proper.

  President Marco’s emotions seethed through his eyes, showing the gratitude he felt but keeping it under necessary professionalism. Only To?o R., Terka’s last president, and Argopolas and Melenon’s presidents knew what it felt like to have one’s country crashing during an invasion.

  “Welcome to Argopolas, President Luis.” Marco took Luis’s wrist and held his hand with both hands in a greeting. Luis tilted his head, motioning before responding as he took his hand back and shook hands with the old man. “Oh, I know there hasn’t been time for an official visit before.”

  “Don’t say that,” president Marco interjected, “You’ve been very busy. Especially lately, and I can only be glad you have been, as will be with president Gustavo.”

  “The nice one, you mean.” Luis smiled, content to see Marco get the message and treat each other as equals. Meanwhile, the crowd to the sides watched in amazement. Here he was, the man who has made of Lymoca a tremendous, beneficial change in just over a decade.

  Little good is known about his person, but they were seeing it with their own eyes, how the Lymocan President spoke to their president face to face, with their due pacing.

  Luis looked at the little stage upfront and nudged his head in its direction. “Is there something important to relay to your people so soon after I arrive?”

  “Of course there is!” President Marco nodded vigorously. He gestured to the stage, already wanting to get to it, making Luis more curious. “It’s not just something I have to say, but something that should be… talked about. I think it’s well needed, President Luis.”

  “…?” Luis frowned, confused, but nodded. As they walked shoulder to shoulder there, with the Valad president remaining stable and nodding to the crowd a lot, Luis reflected over the president’s attitude. Marco seemed scared.

  When they stood over the stage, a glass microphone was brought to the president, who gestured to Luis with a big smile before addressing the crowd, still gesturing.

  “Valads!” His voice reached everywhere, from the airport to the cameras, with the IWS no longer keeping Argopolas from connecting with the world. So far, the Valads have been shitposting against Cerka for as long as internet had returned, denouncing and elaborating.

  But now, the Valads were all observing, listening, and awaiting the news from the moment the Lymocan President landed on their land.

  Ego nodded to Luis, which made the latter freed of any bit of worry he unnecessarily accumulated. Luis didn’t distrust the Valad president, but he was still just a man, a human. Just then, the Valad president elaborated to the public, and the world.

  “For months, Argopolas, our historic nation with ups and downs, heaviness and fruitful blooming— has resisted the ongoing diplomatic pressure and military offenses!”

  “There’s no other way to put this… we are defenseless. As your president, I’m but the person at the top of our country’s image. I have failed just this— our country. The threats in the Moonblue supercontinent have exceeded our capabilities.”

  “After the war,” Marco looked at Luis with seriousness that wasn’t there before. Luis knew it right away, his eyelids expanding for a moment. President Marco concluded, shaking Luis’s core with the following words, “I have decided, with all of the congress, to institute a national vote to turn our Argopolas into Lymoca’s territory.”

  “As you have seen it, even in this unbelievable agenda of ‘the unknown’,” the Valad president side eyed Luis again, “It’s only us who have suffered. Too close from the hidden enemy, and too far from who is willing and is capable of bringing us protection.”

  By now, the public was shocked, to say the least. Below the stage, everyone was silent, processing and assimilating this wasn’t a prank; a ‘national’ level prank. Ego was speechless, but he was focused. Luis, on the other hand, wore a perplexed, dumbfounded visage.

  “This is only matters for our Valads, for Argopolas. We might decide this, and further recompile information for all of us, and cooperate with Lymoca, before drawing our votes’ conclusions.” The president added before nodding with a bow to the crowd.

  He then walked down the stage, gesturing Luis to do so first. Luis did, getting to their pre-programmed route with silence behind them. It seemed like a failure, which made the Valad president sweat a bit, but when they were disappearing from their eyes… they made a ruckus.

  “PRESIDENT LUIS!” - “Will Lymoca protect us!?” - “What about the rest of the south!?” - “Does Cors agree with this view? Or is there…” - “What can you say about this declaration, President Luis!?” - “Can we believe in you, LYS!?”

  “…” Luis looked back at the people just before the doors closed, his bodyguards getting in smoothly and waiting for him to continue moving. It wasn’t there before, what Luis now felt.

  He might be a nationalist. Luis, this over-extended seat in the nation’s presidency, might have worked his whole life out of leisure only to turn it into such a… life-changing key to all of Lymoca. But these screams, those emotions, and those desires… Wasn’t he just like them, deep inside, when he wanted to hide from the public forever but accomplish the unthinkable?

  Luis achieved it for Lymoca, his nation and his only trouble, with his cohorts. They were well-prepared, willing to follow his dreams, but more than anything, incorruptible. Each of his cabinet members were like distant-family members getting warmed to closeness.

  It worked in the end, with a series of complications, surprises, and down leveling, which were addressed and dealt with. But what of… ‘the rest’?

  Luis never put his thoughts in the rest of the supercontinent, at least not like he was thinking now. He sure made plans for Lymoca to maybe find a point where they could re-integrate nations with Ly blood flowing everywhere, but that was for maybe even another generation, let alone in a decade or two.

  He has fought for his nation, brought down time and again as he attempted and tried until he began winning with every step he made. Now, what if Luis could… expand that fruit? Propagate the richness that comes not from money, but the heart? To bring to the south what Lymoca now has?

  Luis had returned his head, looking down with his hands in his pockets while the Valad president formed a childish, gladdened smile on his face. But Luis turned his head back once more, where the doors had already closed.

  ‘That’s right…’ It didn’t really matter to Luis. After all, after everything, and what was next. Luis wouldn’t have time to preoccupy himself with other peoples. He already had a lot with Endesa, Carnge, Pyot Island, and Meztle Island; including Terka, which wasn’t from a peaceful solution.

  It was too late. Luis could only focus on the present. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be just Terka…

  “President Luis, are you hearing that?” As Luis walked to the Valad president, the latter asked with his eyes narrowing in joy. Luis frowned a bit, looking down for an instance before facing the Valad president. “Marco, as much as I understand the desperation, something like this wasn’t needed.”

  “… President,” Marco stuck his head out while blinking for a few seconds before recomposing. He spoke with a sincere tone after shaking his head, “I’m not offering a sudden, shortly prepared option for a temporary solution. I don’t know how Terka had it— before, within, and after. But I wish there could be something better for Argopolas.”

  “Come on,” Marco stepped forth, but Ego was calm. The Valad president lost his tranquility, showing signs of fear in his eyes and hardened bent fingers. “You know ANS won’t let this matter go no matter what happens at the end of the war.”

  “They did threaten you?” Luis moved his head a little before frowning. Marco slowly tilted his head suggestively, “Not only that. Before the betrayals of those traitors, ANS participated in private meetings with Ters and Cerks to speak to us.”

  “You? Were you and Melenon in contact before any of this happened?” Luis frowned a bit more, asking. The Valad president nodded, wasting no time to continue, “More than a word. They wanted our Lypros, and some other few concessions from us to profit them a bit too much.”

  “…” Luis’s frown hardened, although only cognitively. His appearance remained calm and processing. Marco went on, “We accepted it. It was more of the same, and this was after ANS ‘demanded’ we made it clear about the properties of our Lypro tree types.”

  Luis was shocked, much more than surprised after knowing what all of this ended up with. Marco didn’t disappoint, still not wasting time, “But they asked for the impossible next. Among them, those things, was to plan an attack on Lymoca that would unfold in decades.”

  “…” Luis was awestruck. For as much as the human mind could surprise oneself with thoughts and possibilities, to have the confirmation of the worst of them hit him deeper than he could handle surpassed him. Giving a quick look to Ego, who returned it, brought Luis some clarity.

  “We refused then.” Marco added before carrying on, “That’s when ANS changed their attitude. Before, they were genuine. I could tell they gained insight from… you. But it was their modus operandi still. But after refusing… it’s like they were different entities altogether.”

  “When did it happen?” Luis asked, too inside to want to come out of this hurdle. Marco looked at the President with upturned eyes from their corners and answered after rubbing his thumb past his lips. “The beginning of the 1st month’s last week.”

  …