Deployment

  Later at night. Coming out of a near bar by the governmental palace.

  Fox walked out with Nala and Esmeralda. Miros, Colmillo, and the rest of Nala's team left a little earlier. As they walked the streets, returning to the palace, Esmeralda looked up, resting her head on his shoulder, and asked. “What do you think of the Zycks? And Paved Road?”

  “Mm, let’s see…” Fox also looked up. Seeing them do it, Nala joined them, staring into the sky without an objective. From the three, she looked the cutest, not knowing where to look and expressionlessly facing upwards.

  “More drama than I expected, a lot more. But they are prepared— that is clear. Mn, that table at the general war room was something… You have to ask-” Fox lowered his head, Nala copied him, and stared at Esmeralda.

  “Hehe, do you think only you would want it?” But circulating with the same thoughts, Esmeralda smiled and bumped her side on his face. Fox nodded a bit and then felt Nala drop her head on his trapezius muscle on the other side. He coiled his arms around their backs and proceeded to hurry back to the palace.

  … Over the following days, PSD was informed of everything that has happened since the war began. They were also allowed to have direct connection with the mapping around the fronts. They could now see them changing in their WIDs.

  Fox especially had a few more details he could look into so he wouldn’t have to contact the upper echelon of the government or Paved Road for any small question outside of meetings.

  The beginning of the war was monstrous. On land, the northern enemy countries weren’t as crazed or quick as in the south, but they were as brutal if not more. Furthermore, that wasn’t the main point, at least in the north.

  Orcesta and Fresna’s air forces scared the living hell out of the Zyck military. If Lymoca was suddenly faced with thousands of aircraft flying towards them from the north, they would be helpless, how would they not? It was a similar situation, only this one was extra startling.

  Nevertheless, while the Zyck air forces were being prepared, they immediately sent their drones out, hundreds upon hundreds of drones flew directly to the enemy. They exhausted as many bullets and rockets and missiles before forcibly breaking into the enemy formation to detonate.

  It wasn’t even a question of at what point did this begin, as Zyckevele wasn’t going to treat such a threat weakly. They went all-out the moment it occurred, halving the enemy’s aircraft from the north in a few hours with the addition of the air forces. But they suffered greatly as well.

  It was much sublime in the south, Orxa and Pexa would have never been able to hide so many warplanes from Zyckevele even if the latter wasn’t paying attention. Similar to what happened with Torka, they were given more terrestrial arsenal, facilitating their rush into Zyckevele.

  It was a bloodbath in the frontiers, where the Zyck stationed border army was pulverized by dozens of tanks. They further aggravated the Zyck routes to advert their immediate support and reaction with their new aircraft. By the time PSD finished their first meeting, the bridge nations had gained over 3 times the size of their individual territories.

  While they were working together, Orxa and Pexa faced some serious difficulties as they formed ‘balloons’ outside their previous frontier with Zyckevele. They fought each other for a quarter of a day before realizing they were… themselves. Conflicts previously happened between them, too.

  But as time went, and the meetings began, still informing the situation and already planning for their next move, they expanded their occupied terrain a bit. The southern enemies were building solid defenses in their occupation, seemingly expecting to receive a harsh offensive.

  That was to be expected, it was mandatory even in the AO, let alone post AO in the SO. However, they weren’t targeting such with defenses rapidly yet efficiently built. Instead, they began constructions that’d take from weeks to several months to fully conclude and extra fortify.

  It was done for the long run, only complementing Fox’s previous words in the first bilateral hoog meeting. Besides being ‘old enemies’ with Zyckevele, both from the Veil Kingdom and the Orcs and Pontians, knowing their archenemy’s methods, they received counsel.

  Otherwise, it was difficult to believe such war-fearing and suffering nations would choose to selectively strategize and agonize their already poor and blemished resources just because they woke up angrier this time.

  Thankfully, the bridge nations didn’t have as much aircraft, or they could’ve razed at least a third of Zyckevele to the ground, which is slightly more than all of Lymoca’s territory before the First Ters-Ly war.

  Orcesta and Fresna also gained more territory as time passed, exceeding what they had walked on after Fox arrived in Zyckevele. They effectively doubled their occupied territory compared to their official size.

  They were much better than the south, working in coordination with each other. The Pontians even gave up recuperating their initial territory since half a millennium ago. They only gazed at half of the land territory from the Pontian Golf with longing, and continued northwards to help Orcesta recuperate long-lost territory.

  They formed a barely curving frontline before slowly coming to a halt, with Zyckevele no longer forcing them to slow down their advancement so as to not lose too many troops and resources. But it was already more than Orcesta ever was overall.

  Together, the northern coalition mingled. Their troops mixed, and their resources were more or less shared, with a third remaining theirs alone. It was a functional, working relationship, one that directly led this side of the war in Twilight on their favor.

  But all of that would soon finish. Zyckevele rose to the front, with more and more recruits voluntarily walking into the nearest recruiting centers or military bases, air, naval, or land. The current Zyckevele military was rather unknown, but the least was numbered to 2 million.

  During the Total War Change period’s Great Haul, they amassed up to 16 million troops, with the Zyck Nation at least surmounting 6 million on their own, according to known history records. If they had 2 million, similar to during the 5th century, one could imagine.

  Of course, those wars were when warplanes were just surpassing the unbalance between all countries, and there were no top-notch or even second-handed tanks like today. There were a few differences, but each was iconic. Supersonic missiles were also lacking during that time.

  … At last, 1 week and 5 days after, through numerous days of meetings and decision-making, the bilateral meetings came to an end.

  During this time, while Fox spoke a lot and exchanged with the Zycks, Esmeralda spoke more than him from PSD’s side. She started mostly listening and only interjecting when she had gathered enough information and ideas.

  At first, she only spoke 1 day every 2 days. But after the first week sine PSD’s arrival, she stepped up every day. If her image was already getting to be well-known in the meetings during that first week, then the following 5 days proved how clever and intelligent Esmeralda was.

  She learned fast, even if she wasn’t inventing new concepts, she was helping and smoothening processes of what could be managed. Furthermore, this was with Paved Road lending Fox their training facilities. And for what exactly? To train Esmeralda… at last.

  It was a ‘forthright’ sight. That of watching President Luis Heartez’s daughter adhere into the secret world. It wasn’t with ease. Esmeralda wasn’t an ‘I can learn anything’ person. She struggled with breathing, even after 10 days, which was past the usual quota to learn breath.

  Even then, she was exemplary. While she has only reached half a 3rd Grade special agent’s capabilities, once she learned breath, her body and mind would make a leap to improve severely.

  Fox and Nala took turns teaching her. Fox was sometimes too busy with the meetings, planning, and checking the PSD agents’ equipment and teams. While Nala was mostly observing in the meetings, it didn’t mean she knew less, or that she didn’t participate.

  For starters, she was teaching Esme everything about the mind to become a special agent, while Fox focused on melee combat and firearms, even technology. Nala did, too, but it was neither extensive nor focused as what Fox did.

  Whenever it was Fox’s turn to train Esmeralda, Nala would answer his WID and ask/answer or go to meetings in his stead. PR was only momentarily surprised that Nala was this proficient, but it was also not much of a wonder. Before Fox, Nala was a subject that other friendly hoogs knew.

  She was a prominent agent and had a possible great future. Of course, that was before Fox, so her time was over… Or was it?

  Regardless, with Esmeralda undergoing training to become a capable special agent, and both sides coming to a consensus, the last bilateral hoog meeting took place in a noon.

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  … On the 3rd month, 2nd week’s 4th day. With Piya Sanctum District special agents ready to go, and Paved Road also prepared to assist, they met in the general war room again.

  After a couple of weeks of war, the fear to travel to Zyckevele through air was still present. Thankfully, there was another route, through sea. Moreover, with Luis’s proposal showing results, with a week of delay between the longest routes, Zyckevele’s coasts between Burning Sphere Ocean north of Preutorias and Solar Eclipse Ocean welcomed trade.

  Because of Marcoplix remaining neutral and advocating for Zyckevele’s honor, the longest golf in the middle of central southern Zyckevele became a notorious long coast. More than 100 ships passed by the golf and its main ports daily.

  On the other hand, despite the proximity with the northern anti-Zyck coalition, thanks to Preutorias and the EPA Commonwealth as a whole, Zyckevele’s waters in the Burning Sphere Ocean also welcomed an intense flow.

  With these prospects, Zyckevele’s morale began rising!

  Fox nodded at Lemyonova, who wore a tight pale beige dress with some wide ribbons of the same color hugging downwards and upwards her figure. She sat on a chair, dressing for the occasion of bidding the PSD and PR elites and overall agents farewell, and good luck.

  “Welcome back. As this is our last meeting in a long time, perhaps until your job here is done, Raging Blood— we wish you the best of luck. Has your side decided how you will spread? These PR agents are all yours to bring wherever you want.” Prime Minister Semyon initiated.

  Fox nodded, “I have debated with my Captains and Esmeralda. I will travel to the north and meet the Orcs and Pontians. Representative captain Nala and Esmeralda will travel to the south and bring most of PSD agents there. So I will ask most of your agents available to come with me while you let them have your elites. Is that clear?”

  “It’s completely fine,” Lean assuredly blinked, further reassuring with his words. Fox nodded and looked at the hologram before him, above the table, before looking down at Lemyonova with Scolov behind her, and Makory. “Then this is it. May we return when half of this war is won.”

  “Lye!” The PSD Captains, Nala, and even Esmeralda reacted, leaving the Zycks startled. Their call was even heard outside. Lemyonova enigmatically smiled right after, standing up to strongly nod at them a few times, “Lye, lye, lye! I cannot share the same sentiment, but I can feel it!”

  Esmeralda grinned before her shoulder was tapped by Nala, who was already leaving the war room, with the Captains already headed out. Fox was the last PSD agent to turn, still supposedly not directly under the District for these operations during the eastern Radical Wars.

  He turned around after giving them another casual look before stepping towards the exit. The Zycks looked at his back, reacting as they did. A few narrowed their eyes with some blinking, others lifted their chin and breathed deeply yet softly.

  While they planned for countermeasures in case it didn’t work, it wasn’t at least 80% as fruitful, or a mishap occurred, they still knew, both PSD and PR, that it rested on the Raging Blood’s bold methods. Should it fail, with everything already ongoing, it would only set Zyckevele back. And with KAA receiving intense fighting from 3 well-armed countries at once as their meetings occurred, it would only worsen.

  … After the meeting, Fox walked past the residences within the governmental palace that the Zyck President prepared for them. He observed everyone being ready, with Nala’s team talking to their respective units.

  Each commanded at least a platoon now, how could they not be popular? Moreover, Miros and Colmillo weren’t as unknown or lowkey as before, becoming the target to chase after as a role model and whatnot.

  Passing by, Fox walked to his private room, where Esmeralda and Nala were picking their equipment. As soon as he entered and closed the door, he locked the way and put his bum against the door. Without looking at him, Nala indifferently said, “Are you planning to waste time after sending us away?”

  Esmeralda, who didn’t pay Fox much attention, looked at him and became startled after seeing him like that. Fox tilted his head, “I won’t be with you for a long while. Surely, you won’t leave me out if I want to bid you farewell. Right?”

  “It’s not like that. Stop wasting time and come here,” Nala prepared her semi-empowered shirt in preparation for her medium NUA before pardoning Fox. He grinned for a moment before walking to them, tracing his palms through her waist before helping her attach her semi empowered pants to her shirt.

  “I thought what to offer in exchange for some silver syringes,” Fox whispered to her chin after attaching her pieces, following the same with her shoulder-to-nail long semi empowered gloves. Nala slightly dropped her eyelids, “Yeah? What is that, then?”

  “You will see after you board the fat baby.” Fox smiled a little, his lips thin, before going down to attach her pants with the semi empowered tights from her toes to her knee below the pants. Coming right up, he was met with squinted eyes and a suspicious glint through them.

  “What?” Fox had the audacity to ask, with Esmeralda slowly walking to them, loving their gimmick. Nala tilted her head backwards and a little to the side, her hands rose to caress his chin, nose, and jawline. “What are you intending to play at this point?”

  “You be careful, and protect little Esme. She might be an annoying sweet pea with all that training still to go through, but I think she’s not so bad.” Fox began serious, holding Nala’s waist. But he turned playful soon after. Esmeralda complained with a mosquito voice from the side, “Hey!”

  “What did you exchange them for?” Nala spoke huskily, her lips protruding crazily with every deep pronunciation of her words. Fox took in every millimeter of her prettiful face before holding the back of her jawline from both sides with the fat of his thumbs. “Maybe that will help you think.”

  “Hmph,” Nala lifted her chin ever so slightly. Her gray, light blue eyes seemed starry now. “What are you thinking again? If you want, you can donate your sperm in a bank. If you ever die on me— on us, I’ll go pick it up.”

  “Yeah. I know you would,” Fox smirked before diving his face into hers. He kissed her wantonly, with abandon, as much as he’d like and can abuse. Esmeralda slowly cocked her head, watching the two get pretty engrossed and shamelessly moving their appendages.

  “…” - “…” With their long show of passionate love ending, Fox and Nala looked at each other, their eyes engulfing each other. “Mwwah, chu- mwoah.”

  Fox cleaned her lips, giving her a few more kisses, suckling both her lips and corners before eskimo kissing her and pecking her with his lips slightly open. She responded each time, a little late, as she was too dazzled to react on time. He looked at her, his chin against her, his head downwards, “Wish me?”

  “Kill everything, destroy it all, and terrify them until you are exposed and they call out in their sleep, deep inside their nightmares… Heavensbane.” Nala was bothered, but she still humored him.

  Fox formed a powerful grin, cheeky and contented with himself. “That is more than enough.”

  Fox lowered his head again, lightly landing his forehead on hers and closing his eyes. Nala watched his closed eyelids. Her gray, light blue eyes turned ultra soft, closing right after. Esmeralda closed in on them, encompassing around their shoulders with her arms.

  “My turn? With both— to give Foxy something to fap fap when we aren’t there for him.” Esmeralda bumped her forehead, enjoying a long while with them before devilishly smiling. Fox shook his head and invaded Esmeralda’s face, followed by Nala, who bit a bit too hard all over her face after him.

  Fox smiled, feeling very contented. He looked at the two wonderful young women looking at each other after a wanton kiss, leaving Esmeralda breathless and Nala looking at her directly into her eyes. Nala was a predator playing with her prey, intently glaring with their eyes only separated by their eyelashes.

  He felt so peaceful.

  … 30 minutes later, more or less. Lemyonova watched as another batch of aircraft flew out of the capital city’s hangar. The Lymocan helicopters had to be changed, at least their appearance. Their light green was supplanted by black and white, with only large white dots at the top.

  The helicopter’s rotor blades were white, too. The only writing on them was a couple of letters, ‘PC’, which meant Puhor Casr. In the universal language, it meant Heavens Bane in northwestern language, and ‘Terror del Cielo’ in Lymoca’s little tongue.

  This was, after all, Heavensbane’s region unit, not Lymoca’s nor Piya Sanctum District’s.

  Lemyonova and the Prime Minister watched from the palace, bidding those infiltrated helicopters farewell. A small portion flew to the routes to the north, where safety was mostly secured, with most of them heading to the south through similarly safe routes.

  From another building, low and as casual as any other, PR’s upper echelon watched the helicopters leaving as well. It wasn’t everyone. The leader, Makory Kiselyov, Nikitina Belyaev, and Kusmina Golubev were present to witness it. It would be seen how much everything could work.

  ***

  2 weeks later. It was now the 1,028th year, 3rd month, 4th week, 5th day.

  After Fox arrived in the late night at an empty city behind the frontline, he immediately became active a few hours later. The soldiers nesting in the cities didn’t know what was happening, only that 10 combat helicopters with incredible technology were coming to their aid.

  They were well-aware of Paved Road, unlike the civilians. But this time, they were told that the special agents also coming to aid them had confidentiality, and that all they needed to know was that they were being heavily supported now.

  They didn’t care much. More agents meant more information, not so much for directly helping them, even though the HLS has been violated by the enemy. Were it not for their severe training, they would have, too, in response to the enemy’s brazenness and their superiors’ lack of activity.

  At first, when they saw these ‘new’ special agents arrive in their NUAs, they wondered what they would look like, and how useful they would be for combat. Here in abandoned cities like these, they took care of whichever enemy units slipped from the frontline several tens of kilometers ahead.

  That was long enough to let the enemy build smallish bases and rearrange for a planned strike to take the cities. Some of the half a dozen cities faced with the immediate threats of the hidden enemy were almost taken during the first few days after they were ordered to hold their ground.

  Thankfully, it happened before the frontlines retreated back to tens of kilometers to the west, stopping the enemy from gaining any more territory. Otherwise, if they weren’t there to help the stationed soldiers to defend the city, it would’ve been taken over almost too easily.

  It would’ve messed up orders, which was something Fox was aware could occur, only he didn’t expect for it to almost happen to him. If his plans were maimed before he even set off, then all the worth his word could be valued would be in shit.

  Thankfully, Zyck soldiers were just as the strangely subservient, even if crude and direct, Semyon had said. Exactly the soldiers he wanted and could count on.

  Fox knew what the soldiers would think of him and the other PSD agents coming here. But they were all the men and women he selected to become part of his hoog. It was a faraway ‘dream’ that could not be taken into consideration, but Fox was now testing them.

  They weren’t told what Fox wanted them for specifically, only that he chose them. They became stricter to themselves and more stern as a result. As for the Zyck soldiers, Fox directly met with their current commander to act as soon as possible. A man directly under Socolov backed him.

  The situation was still ugly in the northwestern front, and Fox knew it. The soldiers at the abandoned cities spent their hours and days wondering how the frontlines were doing. When they were attacked, they feared death and defeat, for it meant their failure to defend their homes!

  But now that he has arrived, Fox, ‘Heavensbane’, would change that…

  …