𝟚. ℍ𝕌ℕ𝔾𝔼ℝ
Location: Gaea, The Camerade Citadel.
Date: 3,005 AD.
1 month, 28 days before the Visor's trial.
The streets were cold and damp, as people limped and strolled around. The buildings had begun to run down, as a large, towering metal keep of Camerade stood in the center of it all, reserved for military and political concerns. The sun could not be seen due to the harsh, cold weather, which killed all crops and triggered the start of a widespread famine. Marketplaces began to appear as rare commodities, as those with malicious intent took advantage of the situation and began opening their own black markets as they profited from the perseverance of refugees.
Lusen reached into his tattered satchel, pulling out a box of damp cigarettes and a rusted silver lighter. The two of them were idle by a ragged bench next to the civilian plaza, as more conscripts walked through the area.
"So, this is what they did to you?" Lusen said, exhaling the smoke from his system.
"ꅏꍟ꒒꒒, ꎇꂦꋪ ꌗ꓄ꍏꋪ꓄ꍟꋪꌗ," waves of loud static left Rin's Mechanaian body, catching Lusen by surprise.
"Geez, that hurts like hell! Tune it down!"
Rin twisted a knob behind his right earlobe as the static began to tune down to the human frequency. "Apologies," Rin said, in an odd, monotone, yet uncanny human voice, as if it were a robot pretending to be human.
"As I was saying," he continued, "Cameradean officials had been working on the Mechanaian projects for a while. Honestly, if it weren't for us, then the Eastern Front would have caved."
"But we have days, Rin. The Empire only pulled out because they didn't understand what they were fighting. Give them a week, and they'll have a counter. They're the Empire! All they need is a downed model of one of you and-"
"Excuse me, Sir?" A child approached both of them, interrupting Lusen, and pointing towards Rin. "A-are you really what they say you are?"
"Who, me?" Rin said, moving his robotic playfully before then approaching the kid.
"Y-yes, you! A Mechanaia! I thought it was just a myth!"
Lusen looked over the horizon, shocked. He had been too caught up with his internal struggles as a man on the forefront that he had not even noticed the crowd that had stirred around them.
"That's right… It's their first time seeing a Mechanaia, too," Lusen thought to himself.
"Yes, I am one of many. I serve Camerade and work as its pride and joy!" Rin responded to the kid, amusing him.
"W-wow! When I grow up, I'd love to be like you."
"I'll be waiting for you, kid." Rin raised his right arm, clenching his fist, and placing it on his chest, saluting the kid's ambition. Seeing the scene, the people around them immediately began to cheer for Rin's patriotism.
"Huh, first day on the job and you're already famous," Lusen remarked snarkily.
"You shouldn't forget that I had the sharper shot even before I was transferred here," Rine said, turning his robotic head and concentrating his luminescent eyes. "That's the whole reason why they chose me to transfer consciousness here."
"H-hey kid!" Lusen diverted his attention to the kid, smiling. "Have you ever considered joining the militia like me?"
"Ew, no." The kid stared Lusen straight in the eye before giving his sharp response. "Mother said that you guys don't get fed and always suffer."
"Hahaha!" Rin gave a large laugh that burst into different tones as he slapped the air around him.
"Pfft, who cares anyway?" Lusen remarked.
"Clear the way!" A loud, sharp order could be heard from the plaza, as the civilians began to scatter back to their businesses.
"Uh, hm, that's all, Mister, thank you so much!" the kid said as he frantically ran off to his parents before Rin could respond.
In the distance, a band of militants and conscripts could be seen approaching the two, as a man in the center pointed towards them
"Rin Kakemash, Lusen Appertha," the man called. "All companies are being called towards the keep."
The steel gates were large and fortified, as the exterior of the keep branched out to different parts of the grand citadel. Rin and Lusen stood outside, awaiting orders, along with other men who reached the hundreds. It was clear that most of them had experienced the excruciating glories of the Eastern Front, as many stood with frail bodies, some with disabilities and injuries, and most were starved, Lusen included.
With the batches of people, more Mechanaia stood, one for every company. There were fifteen companies in total, each with a maximum of fifty members, though their numbers had dwindled since. Lusen and Rin were a part of the RindtGard company.
A figure appeared above the keep's gate, one in dark, tattered robes. Speakers all around the plaza and citadel were then initiated, as loud clicks could be heard throughout from the man's microphone before he spoke.
"Good afternoon to all of you. To all awaiting companies standing before the keep, the Ambassador of Camerade shall arrive shortly to discuss with you the incoming advancements towards the Cameradean forefront. Please surrender your rifles and remain on standby."
In an immediate fashion, all those waiting began to converse with their complaints towards each other.
"Advancements? Already? Are you kidding me?"
"I've got my own damn family waiting for me!"
"Get us off the damn Eastern front already!"
"Give us a break!"
The large steel gate echoed as it lifted wide, revealing the keep's bright innerds.
The companies slowly trudged towards the keep's halls, as they passed by official armed Cameradean guards with sleeker gear than their tattered banners.
The halls were twisted, dark, yet scenic, as the paths never seemed to end. The architecture of the building was Gothic, resembling the centuries of pain that the Cameradeans had experienced for their struggles for freedom. Murals were painted, expressive ones that echoed retaliation and twisted Lusen's stomach.
Alas, they had finally begun to reach the end of the grim hallways, as bright lights shone from within the Citadel.
The companies flooded into the large hall, grovelling at what stood before them in relief.
It was a banquet, as piles upon piles of satiating goods were laid upon long, fulfilling tables. At the end of the banquet hall stood a large stage, and chairs were scattered all around the room.
By that stage, the same robed man arose and spoke on speakers all around the banquet hall.
"Welcome, companies of the Cameradean conscription! Please, do take a seat as the Ambassador shall arrive soon. Take as much food and satiate yourselves as much as needed."
Soon, the banquet hall was filled with cheers, music, and parties, as all the men indulged themselves in food, diving into their own plates, and satiating their disgusting hunger. Their mouths salivated, and their stomachs grumbled for more. Their teeth danced under the weight of the catering as their taste buds bled in salvation. Suddenly, all the demoralized men minutes ago were in the mood for bloodshed.
Lusen, however, sat in his seat and only indulged in a dinner roll, cutting it with his bread knife from one of the trays.
"Disgusting gluttony.. I mean, I understand the hunger, but this is disrespect to the food."
"You cannot blame them. The Eastern front was harsh, wasn't it?" Rin responded monotonously.
"I guess so," Lusen responded. "How about you? Don't you need to eat, or whatever you're in? Fuel? Power, energy?"
"My body is kept within this keep," Rinstared away into the mountains of men piling all over the food. "My consciousness is trapped in this body, as my flesh is being fed in chains where I control."
"Oh.. must be hell, huh?"
"Whatever keeps Camerade alive, and whatever flames the fires of passion in boys' hearts, like the one earlier," Rin replied in somber sorrow, though he was grateful to be in his position.
"Conscripts of Camerade," a loud, bassful, and endearing voice arose from the stage. A man appeared with a white and gray fur coat and covered hands. "I hope that you are all enjoying yourselves, for I have arrived."
In an immediate frenzy, all the men stood from their seats and placed their plates down to salute the man.
"It is I, Prowell. Ambassador of Camerade, and I am proud to be standing in front of such a perseverant batch of men, as well as the will of Camerade, the Mechanaia!"
The room turned to a burst of applause, as all the present Mechanaia were honored for their severe dedication to their duties.
"Now, you may all take your seats, but I have come with important information regarding your next advancement as a battle force," Prowell said, reaching into his coat and pulling out a certain disk-shaped device. He pressed the button embedded on its side, as it floated off his hand, and projected a large image in front of everyone within the banquet.
"Now, if everyone may excuse me, this, my friends, is a seeker. Current technology is being used by reconnaissance units of the faction Chimera. It is capable of displaying holograms. and information," The seeker changed into a model, projecting a map of their continent, Batshemis.
"But aside from that, I shall keep this short, my friends. The Enlightened have positioned solar satellites far over Camerade, capable of manipulating weather conditions and bringing lifelong storms. This is what is causing the start of our famine. Now, while we are lucky enough as we are at the point where the famine hasn't starved too much of our population, we are in a race against time."
"A race you shall all participate in."