Flickers of light, followed by a thunderous explosion that echoed through the streets, continued throughout the night. In less than a single day, the Imperial Army was pushed back from the outskirts of the Fortress City and into a few fortified streets within the city, while the castle was being used to host the wounded. As with the laws of war, anyone bearing the red cross—and any building marked with it—cannot be attacked as it is protected by international law. It is no less to say that they are now making a final stand.
Within the confines of the fortified streets, a lone man filled with wounds and dirt was commanding the situation.
"Major! We're losing ground on the northern barricade, and it seems the enemy planes are going to drop another round of men in the skies!" an officer exclaimed.
"Major! Someone razed our stored food supplies and poisoned our water! We could no longer last a few days—let alone a few hours—without something to feed the army and the remaining civilians! We also have unconfirmed reports that there are saboteurs among the populace!" another officer added.
"Major! We have lost another district, with the soldiers mutinying and surrendering to the enemy!" the officer cried.
"What!" "Cowards!" "This can't be!" were the reactions of the officers.
With accumulating problems and mental overload, Quagmire—the Major—was momentarily stunned, as if in a trance. The surrounding officers were left with their eyes wide open as the reality of things dawned upon them.
There was no hope.
However, another officer arrived, breaking Quagmire out of the trance.
"Major, we've received reports from a messenger pigeon that Army Group B will attempt to break us out of the encirclement. The Commander's order is to hold out for as long as we can until the army arrives to break us out!" the officer exclaimed with hope.
Upon hearing the contents of the message, the officers around Quagmire were filled with renewed courage. Seeing this, Quagmire began giving out his orders.
"Good! Here are my orders. With the food and water we have left in our pockets and canteens, confiscate all of it and ration it to the bare minimum. Furthermore, to stave off starvation, start rationing cigars. Even if one cigar has to be used by multiple men or women—force it. We need to stay alive."
"Reinforce the northern barricade with soldiers from my personal unit. Grab able-bodied men to construct more barricades, even if it means dismantling houses—do it. With the threat of men in the skies, prepare to shoot ducks in the air. Conserve ammunition—only shoot when near!"
"As for the district we've lost, order those who stayed to retreat to the second barricade. It should be enough to stave off the enemy for a whil—"
As Quagmire was giving orders, a loud whizzing sound came from afar.
He already knew the sound from previous runs and ordered the men to prepare to shoot.
However, in a twist of fate, the plane door didn't open on the side—instead, it opened from the bottom. Numerous black, round-shaped objects dropped. Quagmire and the officers were baffled. But from instinct, horror filled Quagmire's heart.
"No…"
The objects descended rapidly.
"No."
They neared the ground.
"No!"
Upon looking down, he saw their target.
"No!!!"
It was none other than the castle—the place where they housed the weak, disabled, and old.
A thunderous explosion resounded across the battlefield. The Imperial soldiers had their mouths agape as the castle's foundations began to crumble and fall, crushing those under its roof alive.
Quagmire, unable to contain his emotion, fell to his knees and shouted:
"No!!!!"
The other soldiers saw this, and honestly, Quagmire's reaction represented what they all felt at that time.
'How can one nation be so barbaric as to target the weak and defenseless? They are even signatories of all treaties. Just how can they do such things?' were the thoughts in his mind.
Amid the chaos, an officer ran toward Quagmire.
"Major!" the officer exclaimed.
Quagmire glanced at him with blank eyes, tears falling visibly. The officer, taken aback, continued his report, albeit without hope in his voice.
"Major, multiple units from the districts have mutinied and surrendered. The enemy is rapidly advancing toward our position."
Quagmire stared at the ground and realized—there was no more hope. Even if the army arrived, it would be too late. So he made a decision.
With the officers gathered, he spoke.
"All of you, those who want to surrender—you are free to do so. Those who want to stay with me and protect our duty and honor to the Imperial Republic—you are also free to do so."
The officers looked down and thought. Most of them took out their service pistols and gave them to Quagmire.
"I apologize, Major. It has been an honor to serve with you. But I have a family waiting for me back home," one officer said.
"I respect your decisions," Quagmire replied.
They started preparing. This time, with fire in their hearts. They steeled themselves to fight to the death. Although some of their brothers abandoned them, Quagmire respected their choices.
They lay in wait, ready to ambush. But no enemy came. This brought them respite to regroup and plan.
Unfortunately, a thunderous explosion erupted outside the Fortress City.
"This can't be!" "Fuck!" were some of the soldiers' cries.
A shining light ascended the sky, arced, and descended. With fear, the defenders took cover.
Destruction prevailed. Houses were destroyed. Barricades blown apart. After the explosion, enemy units poured in.
"Shoot!" Quagmire ordered.
They were immediately gunned down. He fired frantically but hit nothing.
An officer walked toward Quagmire, who was still pressing the trigger of an empty gun.
"We'll offer you the chance to surrender. Since you're high-ranking, unlike the others we shot—you're useful to us. What do you say?" the enemy officer asked.
At this, rage boiled inside Quagmire.
"What? You dumb barbarians have no integrity or honor at all! Fuck y—"
He was cut off as the enemy officer shot him in the head.
"Honor and integrity? All's fair in love and war," the enemy officer said.