Abercio listened intently to what Belladonna had to say, nodding with her.
She does have a point. We can still win this and seize the space station. It does not have to be a siege. Thinking over what he witnessed in battle, and knowing his fleet's current capabilities, he came up with a bold plan.
"What if we were to use the Raven and Mighty Duck's hulls as bait? They are a bit damaged, but can still take some damage. Their durability will provide enough time for our bombers and mechs to launch from those two makeshift carriers while the other seven ships flank the enemy fleet. Of course, in order to fool them into thinking we are vulnerable, those ships will pull out as if bailing out on us. This will give us the element of surprise and enable us to outflank them on two sides, three on one, four on the other. If it works, we will be rid of the battleship and the remaining two gunner vessels. Orbital Colony Shiona will not be able to send anymore reinforcements due to needing them to defend the space colony, which means we will be safe once the space station is ours. How long that will last, I cannot say."Thinking on it some more, he realized something.
"Wait a minute! I know! I can contact the captain of a shuttle headed to the Titan to see if they spotted a training camp. He is one of our trusted men who know of what we are doing out here." There was no reply.
"Captain Commodus! Come in! Do you read me!?" Still no reply. The worst part was, this captain was escorting one of his sisters! If he crashed, and she was dead...
The reality of the danger left him distraught.
"No... she can't be dead... not sweet lil' Sorell..." Normally, he would let his parents command the Lion Team, but since his sister was involved, he could not think straight until he knew she was safe. In a rage, he punched in the numbers to call Aaron Lextu on his comm disk.
Soon enough, the two men were connected, Aaron bowing his head in respect to the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, it is an honor receive a call from you! How may I serve?"
"My sister, Sorell! She's stranded in enemy territory! She could be dead, or worse! Take your squadron, and a transport shuttle with troops and the princess's maid, to the last known coordinates of the shuttle that crashed, the coordinates of which are being sent, now! If anyone jeopardizes her safety, kill them!"
"It will be done, your highness."Abercio ended the call after the exchange of words. His mix of anger, fear, and sadness kept him from focusing on the task at hand. He knew somebody had to lead the fleet, so he put on his mask/helmet and told Belladonna,
"Take over the fleet, for now, Bella! Somebody with a cool head needs to lead these men!"
Kyle shook his head.
"N-no, I... I-I don't need anything... I-I just... uh..." He became flustered for a moment.
"I-I just could not help but notice how attractive you are."He then attempted to try to catch himself.
"B-But that doesn't mean I want to sleep with you, or anything!" Catching himself in a lie, he groaned.
"Okay! Sometimes, I want to, but that would be breaking all the rules! Besides, I..." Kyle soon gave up on explaining himself and opened the door to his quarters. He added in frustration,
"Oh, what's the use? A street guy like me doesn't stand a chance with a royal maid!" Once inside, he punched the "close and lock" button angrily while beating himself up mentally.
~About the time after Abercio made the call to Aaron, and while Sorell was discovered to be the Princess by Zechariah...~
Kyle spent the free time he had perfecting his illustration skills. Unlike the more destructive modes of distraction, like premarital sex and alcohol, sketching was a lot more soothing for him. He picked up on the skill from George Lucius, one of his fellow Lions. For some reason, however, Kyle felt the older young man looked like one of the pre-war Benjlakki aces he heard about from the Prime Minister's son. The particular illustration Kyle was creating was of Fion. As perverted as he was, you would think he would depict her in an erotic pose or something like that. Instead, he drew her in her maid outfit with the armor she wore when out into battle, holding a spear in one hand, and a handgun in another. It may have been a depiction of her ready for battle, yet he wanted to make her look gorgeous in the process (not that he needed to put in that much effort). Right when he gave the finishing touches, the emergency alarm sounded with Aaron Lextu - who had special permission to use the alarm due to the Lion Team's standing- stating on the intercom,
All Lion Team pilots, to the hangar! Fion, you are requested to be part of the landing force boarding a shuttle! This is a rescue mission to retrieve Princess Sorell! All pilots and assigned troops, to your vehicles and mechs! This is not a drill! Prepare to rescue Princess Sorell!"Immediately, as the alarm went off with Aaron's orders, Kyle sprung out of his bunk and sprinted to the Titan's hangar, where the maintenance crew was already hard at work preparing all the weapons, mechs, and the shuttle for take off. The soldiers assigned the rescue mission boarded the shuttle single file in two columns. The whole of Lion Team got into their mechs in quick order while waiting for Aaron's signal to go.
"All Lions, report in!""Lion 14, standing by."
"Lion 13, standing by."
"Lion 12, standing by"After Cecilia gave her designation number (which was eleven), the rest of the Lions reported in.
"Lion 10, standing by."
"Lion 9, standing by."
"Lion 8, standing by," stated Kyle as he focused on the rescue at hand with the controls in his mech's cockpit in his grip.
"Lion 7, standing by."
"Lion 6, standing by."George checked his controls and systems while reporting in with,
"Lion 5, standing by." Then, the rest of the Lions reported in, down to Lion 2.
With all Lions and troops -plus the maid- reported in, Aaron gave the signal for the hanger doors to open. With all systems go in the mechs, he knew the time has come to launch.
"Lion Team, launching!" The whole squadron went out first, followed by the shuttle. The rescue, and the Lion Team's first encounter with the Brown Wing Team, was poised to commence.
Meanwhile, Saul stood next to Chanah in shock. He could not believe the shuttle Sorell was in crashed somewhere. He could only hope his daughter was safe somewhere. Normally, he kept his cool, but considering this involved one of his own offspring, his concern and disbelief leaked out clear as day. He could not even speak. All he could do was watch from his and Chanah's personal cabin as Lion Team and the rescue platoon launched.
Antea was surprised at Orland's sudden lifting her up bridal style. It made her blush, honestly. Once in her room and in bed, she felt for his hands and held one of them to be sure he was still there.
"Thank you." looking in his direction -although, she could not truly see him in her current state- her smile faded as she decided to say what was on her mind.
"Orland? Do you ever feel... alone?" She turned her head as she clarified why she posed such a query.
"I'm sorry! It's just... Whenever the family's away, I feel like... I don't have much of anyone to talk to. True, I am surrounded by many folks, but all they see is a princess. They don't exactly see me as, well, me."Turning her head back so she faced upwards, she added with tears threatening to come out,
"What if my parents and siblings were to die in this war? I'd be practically all alone in this prison they call a palace! Nobody I can relate to... nobody to share the pressures with... I... I..." Opening her blind eyes, she turned towards the boy with tears coming out.
"Orland... Please, help me up!" Once she was sitting up, Antea felt for Orland's shoulders and clung to him, sobbing.
Zechariah heard Sorell's voice cracking and knew she was crying. At the query of his actions being a trick, he turned around and said in a frantic protest,
"No! Not at all!" Great, you're making it worse! Calm down! Tapping his forehead, he thought aloud,
"Come on! Think! What would momma do?" He then pointed to himself in confusion and realization.
"What would I do!?" He paced around for a brief instant until he had an idea. Pulling out a disk, he played a recording with a kitten playing with yarn.
"Kitty cat?" After waiting, he raised an eyebrow and laughed awkwardly.
"It's... not working, is it? Okay, um..." He played a different one, with two puppies rough-housing as only cute little puppies would.
"Puppy?" Whatever the result was, he did not feel it was working. All he thought he was doing was confusing her.
If only I had teddy with me! He always makes people feel better! Groaning before shaking his head, he chose to hug her gently until she felt better. He was not sure if it would work, but it was all he could think of.
After a few moments like that, he let go after catching sight of the backpack that only Benjamin would leave behind in the shower cabin. And, that could mean only one thing.
"Ben, did you sneak in some of the rations, again? Sheesh! When will you just follow the rules people give you!?" Zechariah pulled out the water and food Benjamin left in there while adding,
"Seriously! I'm always bailing you out, big brother! Well, serves you right, 'cause a scared-to-death girl needs them more than you do, right now!" Placing the contraband in a different bag, he gave them to Sorell with a smile.
Suddenly, Benjamin came in after hearing he was caught by his own brother, again.
"What do you mean, "scared-to-death girl"!? I could have sworn... Metargo!" He caught sight of the Princess and was about to point his new rifle angrily before Zechariah came between them.
"Don't you dare shoot!" The younger brother was determined to see to it that the girl was safe. It was shown clearly in his eyes and stern expression.
"Out of the way! Don't you know who that is!? It's Princess..."
"I know! I'm not stupid! But, I also know she's scared out of her mind!"
"You're so naΓ―ve! We can't let her tell some troops that there is a camp, here!"
"How would you like to give your alibi in a court marshal in front of President Anderson, for killing or otherwise harming a defenseless individual?" Angrily, Zechariah added,
"And, I'm the one who will press charges!"
"You wouldn't!" Benjamin could not believe it: his own brother was defending a Metargo! And, not just any, but one of the Princesses! And now, he was threatened by him with a military lawsuit.
Emboldened by determination and courage, the younger brother stood there with a firm stare.
"Try me."Now, Benjamin was in for it! Once Zechariah makes such a demand, you know his mind is made up! In resignation, Benjamin lowered his rifle.
"Fine! We'll do it your way! So, what's your master plan to get us out of this mess?"
"If Aaron Lextu's profile is any indication," replied Zechariah,
"he will jump to conclusions and assume we captured her and tortured her. That would give me the opportunity to incite an honor duel under the condition that nobody gets hurt around here. Win or lose, Sorell goes with Lion Team back to her family."
"You would fight the Falcon of Fury!?"
"If I die, then I'm the only casualty."Benjamin raised his rifle in anger at the thought of seeing Zechariah dead.
"Other than him!"Zechariah raised his voice in frustration.
"Benjamin Jacob Malachi!"Benjamin relented with a groan.
"My full name..."At that moment, Eitan Shapiro entered the room.
"Ben, if you were to kill Aaron in retaliation for killing Zechariah, it would be a breach of the agreement your brother wants to make, which would leave nothing to stop Lion Team from blowing the whole training camp to dust and rubble. Unless you think we can beat that squadron with training mechs and machine guns, I believe Zechariah's route is our best bet."Benjamin began to protest.
"Yeah!? Well, there's no way the Captain in charge of the garrison will go for that!"Suddenly, an elderly voice was heard.
"Actually, he thinks it is an excellent idea!"
"Captain Richardson!?" All three Brown Wings were bewildered to find out the Captain overheard the whole conversation. They knew he was a veteran of the Civil War and a tough man, but for him to agree to what Zechariah sought to do? That was news for them.
Richardson tipped his hat to the Princess in respect.
"As much as I feel we must win this war, we must first break away from our old habits from our previous wars. Killing an unarmed individual, royalty or otherwise, would make them a martyr. Not to mention, it would not stand up to moral scrutiny. The Deity forbid we turn into such brutes as we were in the past who mindlessly go around on a killing spree out of some sense of vengeance. Proceed as planned, Brown Wing Team!"All three men in the room saluted with,
"Aye, Captain!"