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”

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”

14.4: Soldier, 0000 Miscalculation

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  From his perch in the trees, Capricornian Oberleutnant Werner Waltz scanned the clearing through his scope. Bodies littered the marshy ground below, painted over with silver from the moonlight slithering in between the skeleton forestry. The light could not pierce through the fog that crept along the fallen leaves and branches.Continue reading “14.4: Soldier, 0000 Miscalculation”

13a: Copper Cadence

Twin Cities, Gemini  Cadence pulled herself onto all fours with a grimace. Her head pounded, her ears rang, her mind was clouded by memories and feelings that weren’t her own—a battle between saint candidates inside Ophiuchus, the death of True Conductors, and a murderous rampage of revenge. From these things, she reached a conclusion— TheirContinue reading “13a: Copper Cadence”

12.2: A Duet Between a Soldier and Advisor

Twin Cities, Gemini  Pulling Sefu closer to herself, Atienna tuned her ears to the sound of the small footsteps drawing nearer from down the road. Yulia sank to her knees, arms widespread. A beat after, a familiar boy flew into the woman’s arms from the side of the street. He wrapped his arms around herContinue reading “12.2: A Duet Between a Soldier and Advisor”

9.3: Werner’s Stand (Crollo)

Twin Cities, Gemini  Werner was surprised when Nico delivered to him and Oberst Fritz von Spiel the news that they were to have the meeting with the Romanos and the Foxmans at the end of the week. It was good news as it indicated progress, and it was their reason for being in the TwinContinue reading “9.3: Werner’s Stand (Crollo)”

8.3: Werner’s Diligence (Rilassamento)

Twin Cities, Gemini  The train ride to the Twin Cities was uneventful. The passage required two stops to switch train cars. One stop was at a medium-sized town in Pisces, and the second was at an outpost on the border Leo shared with Gemini. Due to the sizable distance between northeast Gemini and southern Capricorn,Continue reading “8.3: Werner’s Diligence (Rilassamento)”

7.3: Werner’s Efficiency (Esitazione)

Abschnitt 45, Capricornian-Argoan Border, Capricorn  Thirty-four days after Major Ersatz’s arrest at the Capricornian-Aquarian border by the Ophiuchians, Werner and his unit were deployed back out to the southern border. They were ordered to take up station at the Argoan border outpost they had been positioned at prior to their rerouting to the Capricornian-Aquarian border.Continue reading “7.3: Werner’s Efficiency (Esitazione)”