21a: Indigo Waltz

Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn It still wasn’t clear to Werner what made him do it. Was it his reminiscing of his subordinates standing at attention before him in that dirty clinic in the Twin Cities as he asked them for their trust? That went both ways. Was it Ludwig’s words—“Trust your instincts”? Was it Generalmajor’s vonContinue reading “21a: Indigo Waltz”

20.3: Pirate, Swindler, & Peacekeeper » Mercy, Greed, & Justice

Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn When Cadence felt Leona’s icy hand wrapping around her own, she knew Francis was going to be pissed. Maria had been leading them to the building where she’d claimed to have spotted Werner’s family when the exchange had occurred. Cadence had immediately skidded to a halt—not from the shock of it but—becauseContinue reading “20.3: Pirate, Swindler, & Peacekeeper » Mercy, Greed, & Justice”

20.2: Prince & Advisor » Death & Diplomacy

Eisburg, Capricorn Olivier Chance had awoken to fussy royal guards and medical Conductors prodding him this way and that with stethoscopes, wooden sticks, and thermometers. In between the ‘how many fingers am I holding up’ and ‘are you sure you feel fine,’ they explained to him that he had fallen into a sudden coma whileContinue reading “20.2: Prince & Advisor » Death & Diplomacy”

18.3: Family, 1600 Fortress

Die Hauptstadt, Capricorn Viktoria Waltz knew she couldn’t achieve perfection. A recessive disorder that rendered her internal vitae flow underdeveloped stole that possibility from her. Not only was she unable to expel vitae without becoming sickly, but she was also born with a weak constitution. Her mother lamented it often—“I’ve always wanted a girl, youContinue reading “18.3: Family, 1600 Fortress”

17.?: 「 」, – – – – ??????

Shion Myosotis always had a troublesome relationship with her name. (Still did.) Well, correction: she hated her name. Because while her given name was in the language of the Hoshi Clan, her surname was so Ophiuchian. Everyone stared whenever her name was read off for attendance in school. “Will she be on our side?” herContinue reading “17.?: 「 」, – – – – ??????”

15.[]: Peacekeepers, 0700 Verschlimmbesserung

Ariesian knight-turned-Ophiuchian peacekeeper Gabrielle Law felt like she was losing her minions one-by-one. She’d lost her first, oldest, and best to a body-hopping, ancient terrorist. And now she’d lost the newest to—as Elizabeta Wtorek had said back in the Medical Department—‘fatigue’ and ‘exhaustion’ which had led to an ‘unconscious state’ for an ‘indeterminable amount ofContinue reading “15.[]: Peacekeepers, 0700 Verschlimmbesserung”

15.4: Advisor, 0101 Distance Pain

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  No matter how hard Atienna scrubbed, the blood wouldn’t come off. Rubbing her gloves against the overgrowth eating away at the stream bank failed her as did plunging her gloved hands into the stream’s icy depths. All it did was numb her hands to the point where they felt as ifContinue reading “15.4: Advisor, 0101 Distance Pain”

15.3: Lance Corporal, 0610 Enemy Encounter

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border Grenadier Klaus Kleine was accustomed to seeing dead bodies. He’d seen his first five years ago in his city-town of Buchstadt before he’d even been officially deployed. That day, the newspapers had praised Capricornian victory against an Argoan onslaught from Abschnitt 45 to 51, pushing forth celebrations all across the country.Continue reading “15.3: Lance Corporal, 0610 Enemy Encounter”

15.2: Combat Medic, 0705 Head Trauma

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  Underground doctor-turned-combat medic—Sanitäter as the rank was called in Capricornian—Nico Fabrizzio’s mind was always full of ‘what if’s. For example—what if Cadence was his little sister? What if flowers fell from the sky instead of snowflakes—instead of ash? What if conductors didn’t exist? What if the pictures at the theater wereContinue reading “15.2: Combat Medic, 0705 Head Trauma”

15.1: Advisor, 0001 Log Open

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  “—stop bullshitting, Vogt.” “It’s the truth…” “Stein’s right. Why in saint’s name would you lie about something like that? What’s wrong with you?” “Fischer, it’s the truth!” “Like how you said it wasn’t you who woke up screaming about the damn Aquarians three nights ago?” A cackle. “Vogt’s still dreaming aboutContinue reading “15.1: Advisor, 0001 Log Open”