20.4: Soldier » Duty/Lunacy

Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn Feeling a familiar sense of deja vu, Gilbert stared at the bars of his cell. Captured. Again. At least it was on home turf this time. The cell was cleaner, larger, better furnished, and all that. Or maybe that was what made it worse— A loud metal clang abruptly scraped against hisContinue reading “20.4: Soldier » Duty/Lunacy”

19.5: Outsiders, 2400 Log Close

Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn Nico wasn’t quite sure what happened. One moment, he was trying his best not to eavesdrop on Jericho’s, Doctor Kingsley’s, and Francis’s conversation; the next he was mentally preparing himself to use a proto-conductor containing superhuman vitae on Werner’s body; and then the very next moment he was suddenly blasted backwards byContinue reading “19.5: Outsiders, 2400 Log Close”

18.⭑-1: Saint Candidate, ∞ Zugzwang

Flannery Caertas still remembered when absolute darkness was her friend. ‘Total blindness’ was what the doctors had called it. The condition had left a lot to her imagination. At the same time, it had a degree of certainty to it. Because she couldn’t see anything, what she defined in her mind was ‘reality.’ An all-powerfulContinue reading “18.⭑-1: Saint Candidate, ∞ Zugzwang”

17.[]: Captain, 1930 Förderung

Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn “Where… are they?” The question was barely audible above the commotion echoing around the dome building of the convention. Kleine and Fischer exchanged looks. Heimler and Marionette remained silent. The group was sitting collectively, stiffly together on the black leather cushions lining the reception area as civilians, diplomats, and conductor engineers rushedContinue reading “17.[]: Captain, 1930 Förderung”

17.4: Prince, 1700 No Longer Human

When Olive cracked open his eyes, he was met with gentle, pale rose light. A dimly lit ceiling hung low over his face, and something soft was cushioning the back of his head. It took him a moment to realize his head was resting on Trystan’s lap, and that the light was emitting from aContinue reading “17.4: Prince, 1700 No Longer Human”

17.3: Princes, 1100 Truce

Yuseong Haneul—though he preferred Claire—still remembered the very first assassination attempt on his life. A servant from the Hoshi Clan had disguised themselves as one of his clan’s servants and had not only slipped themselves into the kitchen staff but also sorrowheat into his morning tea. When he’d finally broken out of the fever inducedContinue reading “17.3: Princes, 1100 Truce”

17.2: Royal Guard, 0620 Guidance

Ariesian Royal Guard Trystan Carter had always desired change. From the days when he’d toil away working in the paddy fields governed by the appointed feudal lord to the days when he’d attended school lectures held by passionate, underpaid teachers—change was always on his mind. Perhaps it was because of the passion of those teachersContinue reading “17.2: Royal Guard, 0620 Guidance”

16.3: Swindler, 0707 Homebound

Aquarius  Cadence Morello couldn’t believe her luck She wasn’t the type to swear, but as soon as she laid eyes on Cvetka Akulova, she had to suppress her inner sailor. If it weren’t for her profession constantly forcing her to be in situations like these, she might’ve turned tail and run. Hell, if it wasn’tContinue reading “16.3: Swindler, 0707 Homebound”

16.2: Private, 0405 No Honor

Landser Wilhelm Fischer always wanted to be somebody. Anybody. He wanted to be more than his grandfather who fished day-in and day-out with a lame leg that ached every morning. He wanted to be more than his grandmother who toiled away at the bakery reading customers’ lips and because she’d lost her hearing in theContinue reading “16.2: Private, 0405 No Honor”

16.1: Captain, 0500 Insubordination

Before Volker Weingartner was hauptmann of the 212th Division of the Border Force, he was a teacher at Vollmond Elementary. Rather, he was a professor, holding first a degree in psychology and then numerous degrees in literature ranging from Capricornian folklore to classical Signum epics before finally attaining a degree in military tactics. Nothing tooContinue reading “16.1: Captain, 0500 Insubordination”