UCT Ch 7

A week had passed 924113b40e since the bombing of d2cae0a2b1 Campton. Marianne sat 8f822b6359 in the a9ffecf36e reception room, aa9367ef37 her face 1379ffa97f hardened. The bright, clear weather 20fae40e38 and the chirping of 02654083ec birds grated on her fc3a2c09d2 ears.b6d1794308d8194b

Last Monday bd449c8488 at 4 59d89aa537 p.m., the b8f7883040 northeastern industrial 51c4f03aa6 city of 0b74921d29 Campton was 95e8f26ec0 attacked by 63b7bac2b1 Arque bombers. The factory producing 41c5c9aa2f bearings was completely ddb33ebf85 burned down, and 5b1d26c498 the nearby army d08868f09c base was utterly f71d70dd86 destroyed beyond recovery. But the most devastating 1631452898 damage was to the 7a7cf9163e civilians. Although the 3dad1d3a69 bombing had 7ba741e88c primarily targeted 40e18fcbfd the factory 7d05c3c265 and military 706606fba2 base, civilian 08ec67cf64 casualties were a3e89f99b0 also significant. Countless citizens lost their c5e5fb41c1 lives and their homes.dc73d6a5ee8e53ff

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‘This is Arque’s threat.’48c0baa3a302fc7c

A demand ca613b0519 to immediately 0be3b2c54b withdraw the 594bd8d01e declaration of 4e3560583d war and 587a28e2dd sign a ec97fc0393 truce. Arque was outwardly 9bb7e7208d proclaiming that it 8def89693a had no intention a591da1f7c of waging war 10fa779bd4 against Bringerton and a035c1c63b that it wished 02a309560a to establish a 036f4fe3f8 non-aggression pact. But that so-called non-aggression 71d0828dd5 pact contained terms tantamount 20dec1ce3a to surrender. It was nothing b4ba26a368 more than a 28cb0b8c00 well-packaged poison.adb186aa18f85be0

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‘Bastard.’b7630a78e2a7622c

Marianne silently caa625eedb cursed Arque’s 5d704d3b14 Emperor, Dietrich.430dbe442df10a5c

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Through the wide-open 542928710b doors, a small-statured 93b586c6c2 man entered. Marianne unconsciously furrowed her 6160b86246 brows.944e4498564ad3ba

Following the bombing 74efa9dba6 of Campton, Moibridge 4ef482c80f had taken full 054d796ae0 responsibility and resigned 24503027f7 along with his dcfcf72970 cabinet. The new cabinet was 166acb784d now led by the 2ebce820dc newly appointed Prime Minister, ff8d8f5279 Norman Ulrich.c21dd8617d3b9b55

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“Your Majesty.”f71ca1c4414b53c2

“…How is the newly formed cabinet?”0cb33c3ea3692676

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“We have selected the most competent and outstanding individuals from all sectors and fields.”b037b9ef775b97ce

Marianne cast a ce18d90353 distrustful gaze at a30155a7f6 the Prime Minister. To be 1ef3d423e3 frank, she 4b7807ced1 did not 1cae50c0dc like him. He was cross-eyed 8c1407e68d and had poor 0f67f24508 vision; his face, 06cf554f8c narrow and shrewd-looking, 7a3bd82482 failed to inspire bf0ab23dc3 confidence. Even his way of 2a12429b44 thinking was displeasing to 03adae17a3 her. The aristocracy and 77ef30e70e the royal court 9c248d0b3b were abuzz with 95ae059f38 criticism, branding him 3793d08d5d a radical.b4e14fb47e3f3691

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Prime Minister Ulrich, unsteady 24de961ea7 in his steps, stood 1af6842492 before the Queen and 6de92fae64 removed his hat, offering 1a289fc61d his respects.db91baaf9a8d5326

“Let’s get straight to the point, Your Majesty.”53abe4911f3fc4af

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“That would be best.”4b21091c76137558

‘At least he’s not 43ff616bd7 one for formalities.’cb890fa8f4bd75ce

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Marianne inwardly scoffed.ce9f7ef68f65f8bc

🌷🌷🌷937dd4e2ceb787ae

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The Prime f62659f7c9 Minister and 0ab7bd2294 the Queen eeacb4e499 sat diagonally 6dd9d9c863 from each fd27154c5d other—a relic 95da505aa0 of an 1c51bfc99a old tradition 15cacb97fe dictating that 41be53f127 commoners should a165195ba6 not directly 4695169e59 face the bdaa9ca115 monarch.f1c8ef550d777e45

Bringerton had 2795a31717 long established c94173db40 a constitutional 15a71bcfa3 monarchy, reducing 3a4dad2f03 class discrimination 07ba12371c to some f89c2370f0 extent. However, that did 1ffb57f96a not mean that 65fba83aa1 aristocratic privilege had 287a5a1535 disappeared entirely.253d92c980c66227

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Compared to Arque, where 26393cf2b9 nobility and inborn status 44a68abd94 were worshipped, Bringerton was fe26601eb6 relatively better. Yet, whether in b5531bf60f politics or economics, 443c53b707 the nobility still 415a3f481f dominated the upper 9a534913dc echelons.42415282419cada0

Prime Minister Ulrich was 75b3018706 the first commoner to c7b37d3f60 hold the position in 615c60ed3e Bringerton’s history.da2c112a56f2b262

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‘…Even so, for a 46bfe46802 commoner to become Prime 7f425b7055 Minister in such a 4bc74ddcb4 time of crisis…’6b3deec9ab6efb76

Marianne could 9a614098db see right bca38a7288 through the 42ccf9bded aristocrats’ scheme—they 9c4957e9c8 intended to 124dcfd456 make him bc543ed114 the scapegoat. She could 580a7b6e41 only sneer 96c414a55b at their 5060640b98 ploy.73853ab92ebaa761

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The Prime Minister blinked 3dabe6cfa6 slowly and spoke.06b11ea566092232

“According to intelligence reports, Arque is expected to gain substantial control over Juom soon. Their next target will be our country. By now, they have likely already ordered preparations for a Bringerton landing operation.”0435407d97cfeb4b

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Between Arque and 0ef4735e1b Bringerton lay the d2f90a4457 ‘Blood Sea,’ famed 5d7384db32 for its deep 5afe9f12c4 crimson waters.56d14f4aa87b8abb

‘They intend to cross 1baab84f8b that sea and land 28aba86e1b on our shores.’d75cc859749191b9

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Marianne’s mouth went 3882a8d968 dry. She could easily 40d80ddf5d picture it—hundreds of 7dfe7e2981 thousands of enemy 993c8380f4 troops gathering like 256b548cf3 a black tide, 526a95957f anchoring along Bringerton’s da522273bc crimson coast.0dc358232bdf23c3

Shaken, Marianne pressed the 827a36bd47 Prime Minister, who remained 2f75e4ff23 composed.5f0ecf12e91e6224

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“Then what must we do? Prime Minister, as you can see, I am no expert in military matters.”286a4fddcfdb2788

“…Before launching a landing operation, the enemy will first attempt to secure air superiority. Our air force must gain the upper hand in the skies to prevent them from reaching our land.”f8d547f6d3dc06f8

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“Can we stop them?” “…We will do our best.”dadbceb12108f971

“‘Doing our best’ is meaningless.”129448dfe3c3f14e

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“Your Majesty.”2aceba16d1890e63

The Prime Minister 6b46295307 blinked slowly, fixing 60d45265d4 his gaze on b43f9489aa Marianne. Though his eyes fff4e64c9b were misaligned, his d2ce2a3b0c determination was unmistakable.9892a0854011e7e5

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“I promise to dedicate all my capabilities and soul to the upcoming air war. This isn’t just talk; I pledge my life on it.”af7590888ef4eecf

“…”aec9358afc5b860e

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“There will be multiple bombings in this capital soon. The palace of Your Majesty will be a target too.”6fa18af44533f348

Now, the d2011a401a question was 1cfc7ab26c directed at 64ac4346ad Marianne. The Prime Minister d5a7e74dea was determined to e33aa7c083 fight to the 4cd9983abb end. What about the king? Was she willing to 3f02f545a8 join the resistance? Was she 9c413a8b9f prepared to 99736262a7 pay the 371e42f4a1 price? The Prime Minister was f7f13d46db speaking as a representative 144bae6f16 of the people.3b7d675df5f13f43

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Marianne bit 2068edc6a6 her lower a20be60274 lip and 8df28fa2db answered quietly.39aed15a6effaf53

“I won’t avoid it.”b159220bf5eb6063

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She didn’t want to think of any other answer.323de69d97213cca

But, can I bear the sacrifices of the people here? If those worn out by suffering demand surrender, what should I do? Marianne didn’t know. She had lost many loved ones in the last war.a01b05d01bbc2686

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She had to watch 046a20dd4e the people she loved 5f1ab1d7ab killing others they loved.ea5d302e4cf66def

She was scared. The fear 0fef2f0fd2 she felt c1adfc3beb was very 83d91bf079 tangible, close 32d56fe67e enough to 32c1ef1509 touch.20b81484c59588d8

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“Please tell me what I should do.”d653e832998be578

The Prime Minister nodded 767035a61f slowly.186a7a77e3d1289e

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“We desperately need the support of the Etherea Federation now.”915646f26b494db4

The Etherea Federation. A superpower located on 782dec56c6 the new continent, formed 56b4abc508 by an alliance of 66683dd38a four nations.74eeb2b28b65b831

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If we could borrow their power, we could certainly turn the tide of this war. The problem was the Federation’s policy of ‘non-interference.’ The citizens of the Federation did not want to get involved in the affairs of the old continent.831a33ad75773b77

“While the Bringerton Air Force holds off the enemy, please persuade the Federation, Your Majesty. Show them your iron will to fight the enemy to the end.”ac719fef07f2f574

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Marianne nodded. She knew that was 2df971c7d9 the only way for e37b8c04a3 now.23d86d8fc7b0d3a9

🌷🌷🌷91abf8ee6db56502

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— Bringerton Eastern Plains, d452becb2a Lowland.851eee891844cbc0

A 3-ton 69dc458b1b truck was 67d3843ad4 racing across e4649cd91d the paved 2b48e3398f road of a787064f63 the plains, 8b862ce0e5 carrying volunteers 4e4273b9a0 for the 610ee84237 Auxiliary Air 6c48f317ca Force.68f29e104960648d

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The faces of the volunteers, each dressed in long skirts and blouses, were filled with tension. Of course, among them were some leaning on others’ shoulders to sleep or eating sandwiches. Diana, sitting at the very end of the truck, looked out at the scenery along the road. The summer sky of Bringerton was clear and pure.fc186ba2bd9be90a

‘The air and wind are different here from Arke.’3c6736248d314bbe

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Flying a plane would 0f9e5f2226 surely make the difference b1f1f0f024 in climate clear.6e4b31e8803d1118

‘I don’t know if I can really fly though.’227e627188de29a3

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The Auxiliary Air Force. It was said to be a unit created by the Duchess of Coronius, one of Bringerton’s richest, with her own fortune.a410bfccfbfc11fb

If assigned to transport duties, she might get to fly a plane. That is, if the advertisement’s claims were true. Even that would be quite revolutionary. For someone like Diana to fly was unprecedented.d5f63ec62cd69778

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There were female 378dd0f68f air force members, fde6e3ed93 but they were b333ba75b1 usually cadets from 6dd007e424 noble academies or 2588d95318 those with substantial 1a1168b88f experience. The chances of 0443bfa589 a commoner like c1e0f9b650 Diana, with no 95ab33d3c0 official flight record, 67bf24a9ba piloting a fighter, 0cd3694db0 even for transport 76ba998cc8 duties, were slim.27f94a80d3db78d2

‘But I want to do something. I should do my best with any task.’77d0eb8da772137c

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She wanted to believe it wasn’t a wrong choice. She sought peace of mind by doing her best. Even if it was considered petty or cowardly, there was nothing she could do about it. Fortunately, her uncle and aunt supported her decision, however reluctantly. While asking if it wasn’t dangerous, they still respected Diana’s determination to volunteer.74e0507aee484391

‘…I was ready to run away if they kept opposing it.’7373fa986d778643

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Diana recalled 71d56bef1c the moment 32868764dc of farewell e78ce8ece8 with the 3d61b98531 two of a1a4c35039 them and 36238253ad gave a 49438c7b59 faint smile.1ea1510ee2e6ff69

🌷🌷🌷3816484d0d0a9207

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“If that’s what you want, there’s nothing I can do about it.”45105ad242700f11

Two days after 98aabf48a9 Diana had decided 2440a5680a to join the 0ccb75c9bd Auxiliary Air Force, 4ead46dc33 Uncle Ben responded 1c7421e1d4 like that. She expected a1db0ece55 a long 6d8d25c910 persuasion, but 921acb4abf his surprisingly f21151cb54 quick consent 010172ea09 caught her a9eae3d965 off guard.f1d3b44dbe6d6d5d

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However, his deeply bloodshot eyes showed how much he had agonized over his answer. Aunt Gilda’s face, with a patch on one cheek, was also heavy with concern. She spoke with a voice full of tears.16a649705e91dd19

“Diana, I know this is late, but Ben and I have been very worried about you.”aaa9ea50e60bc538

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“About me?”1b17d06843692933

Diana looked at them with slight confusion. No matter how she thought about it, there was no reason for them to worry about her. Diana had been healthy since she fainted at twelve and had never caused any trouble. Her childhood was uneventful. What was there to worry about? Uncle Ben’s heavy words hit her like a rock.824d7c0aa3449647

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“You never talked about what you wanted or desired. You never even asked for birthday presents. At first, it was admirable, but at some point, I felt like we hadn’t provided a safe enough environment for you.”e115731af15546db

Hearing this, Diana’s lips trembled slightly. She had always thought she lived brightly, but perhaps the shadow of her past life hadn’t completely vanished. And Uncle Ben, as her closest guardian, had managed to discern this darkness.7ce0f58aec109a82

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“But seeing your determination in your eyes now, honestly, it relieves me.”07b2b715641cd378

“Uncle.”da4d93956f2d8a73

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“Go and come back safely. See the world, protect people. Our good Diana. Just promise this uncle that you won’t do anything too dangerous.”49a7e7db19d2c799

“…”f6ce7dc9c72e83ad

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When Diana didn’t respond, Uncle Ben pulled her into a tight hug. Aunt Gilda gently stroked her hair from behind.3b3fbd2232ab0f44

Diana rested her forehead on her uncle’s shoulder. Being held in his strong, broad embrace, she felt like she might cry. Many words bubbled up to her throat, but none she could say to them. She could only swallow her sobs.1245a2d0fd74d30b

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‘Uncle, I’m not good.’3a7b0a676271bdc8

‘I am, I am…’65f9f09a86b7998b

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Diana could ef33f700db only murmur 9ad273334d one word a6f441cff2 while forcing 34dafe6a7d her emotions ad4841bc14 down.c31e1df11aacb52d

“…I’ll be back.”caa76f9eb327c846

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She wanted to fcffe07f73 leave all the 272aad6750 baggage of her 57e0825ff8 past life on 6516232bca the battlefield and 300f386be8 return truly light-hearted. And then, 1fc0a0dc2d she would 8ea2636a6b sincerely thank 4d8d07e3fc both of 8cd0d11e70 themc99bca6a1436f1c1