Chapter 1 of 21

Volume 1 Prologue

3 min read770 words

Prologue – The Poppies Blooming Red on the Battlefield

No country will scoff at the notion of not subjecting pigs to human rights,

Thus:

As long as the languages differ, the skin colors differ, the ancestors are deemed to be of different tribes, they will be deemed as pigs taking on the appearance of humans; by suppressing and slaughtering them, surely there is no issue per say with regards to violations of human rights.

~Fladilena Millize (Memoirs)

<system><juggernaut>A wireless signal sounding way behind the times echoed amidst the deafening noise.</juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut>"-Handler One to Undertaker. Enemy intercepting forces detected on the radar, comprising of battalion level anti-tank artillery and close combat hunters."</juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut>"Undertaker here, understood. Detecting movement here."</juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut>"Henceforth, all authority shall be deferred to the field commander. For the sake of the country, eliminate the enemies of the Republic even if it means sacrificing yourselves."</juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut>"Understood."</juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut>"…My apologies, everyone. Really sorry."</juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut>"Ending transmission."</juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer>"This is Undertaker to everyone, Handler One has handed command. Undertaker shall take over command."</stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer>"Alpha Leader here. Roger that. Same as usual, 'death god.’ Right, what are the final orders of that shitty pampered Princess?"</stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer>"'Really sorry.'"</stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer>A cackle could be heard from the other end of the ballad.</stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer>"Pff, same old hopeless white pig. See no evil, hear no evil, what the hell was that apology for… lads, you hear that? Well, we’re gonna die either way; don’t think it’s a bad thing for the death gods to lead us down the Styx."</stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer>"Sixty seconds until frontal confrontation… under enemy fire. Breaking through enemy artillery fire at maximum speed."</stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer>"Alright, let’s go you guys!"</stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“This is Delta Leader! Don’t let them get around. Wipe them out here!!”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“Charlie Three! Enemy at ten o’clock! Evade-dammit!!”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“Echo One to squad. Echo Leader is KIA. Echo One shall take command.”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“This is Brave Two… sorry everyone. End of the line here.”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“Alpha Leader here. Hang on for a minute, Alpha Three! Sending reinforcements now! Alpha One shall take command!”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“-Roger that. Good luck Alpha Leader.”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“Leaving it to you… hey Shin. Undertaker.”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“Don’t forget the promise.”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“C1: Signal Lost.”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>“Friendly units: zero”</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>The commander’s voice came ringing through the noisy headset, which was removed from the head and placed by the side, merging with the breeze of the sunset.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>"…This… is… Handler One. All forces, do you hear me? First Forces, please respond."</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>The organic being on the machine’s cocoon-shaped belly opened the canopy, reached a hand out from the cockpit, and reached for the button of the communicator.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>"This is Undertaker to Handler One. All attacking enemies eliminated. Confirming enemy’s retreat. Operation over. Ready to return."</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>"…Undertaker. Is there, anyone else?"</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>"Ending transmission."</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>He cut off the communications before hearing the end of this foolish question, which he had no need or obligation to hear.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>The red Poppies were blooming across the horizon under the evening hue. The stoking flames stretched the shadows of the iron beasts and quad-pedaled spider carcasses that were partially collapsed onto the ground, the insides visible through delicate angles. Friend or foe, such was the outcome for them.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>No living thing could be seen anywhere. No matter where, however distant the place, all that lingered were corpses and wandering souls of these corpses.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>A cruel silence beckoned. At the ends of the grassland, past the mountains that were like black shadows, the setting sun offered crimson light across the horizon.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>Lit by the crimson light, or shrouded in the black shadows; only he and the machine were the only sources of life in this world that had practically severed ties with Life.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>The long slender legs mimicked an Arthropod's. The rusted armor covered with stains had countless scars upon it, the high-frequency blades akin to crab legs, and a main cannon on the back. The silhouette resembled a wandering spider, the long cannon atop the frame supported by the four legs resembling a scorpion, and appeared to be a skeleton wandering across the battlefield, seeking its lost hand.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>He let out a sigh, leaning on the deck that had cooled in the night breeze, and shriveled up under the evening hue, lifting his head at the burning sky.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>These flowers were born from the blood of the beloved Consort who killed herself, as a parting gift to the Conqueror in a country of the Far East.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>These flowers bloomed in the blood of the Knights who were massacred by the invading barbarians.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>

<system><juggernaut><cockpit><stabilizer><combat><detected><engage:>The crimson red of the Poppies bloomed across the battlefield, so maddeningly beautiful under the evening hue that seemed primed to burn the sky down.</engage:></detected></combat></stabilizer></power></cockpit></juggernaut></system>