Interlude
"Your Highness, we are reaching position."
Cornelia turns her gaze to the left, to look at the screen where Andreas Darlton, her loyal subordinate, opened a communication channel. She activates the Factsphere. "So this is the base of Qazvin." At least this one looks like a proper military base, instead of being a large palace defended by ill-positioned troops. "Took long enough."
"Forgive me My Lady." Her Knight, Guilford, appears on another channel.
"If only we had not been taken by surprise, we could have got here sooner."
"There is no need to apologize, Guilford." Cornelia slightly chastises him. "So they have developed anti-Knightmare weapons. It was bound to happen one day." She slams a hand on the cockpit's wall. "But Britannia's strength is not these machines. Britannia's strength is its men! Remember this: we will win not because of our weapons, but because we are superior to these barbarians!"
""Yes, Your Highness!"" Darlton and Guilford both shout. After that the former continues:
"Your Highness, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"It's about Princess Euphemia. Was it wise to-"
"I thought we had already discussed this." Cornelia interrupts harshly before letting out a soft sigh. "She'll be fine. if anything, Clovis's newfound paranoia will actually help to keep both of them fine. At least until I can get a transfer there."
"With all due respect, I find difficult to imagine a full faction of nobles committing high treason by collaborating with Numbers, all for stealing a mysterious 'something' Prince Clovis refuses to even talk about."
Cornelia stays silent. She too had the same thoughts, but she can't just say them out loud. She can't just say that in her mind Clovis, who until now she considered a much better politician than her, has cracked under the pressure. It would make a member of the Royal family seems weak, no matter how justified. "Time's up." She instead announces. "There is a battery of Bamides coming towards us. Send the tanks first: once they start fighting we will move forward to engage them at close range."
""Yes, Your Highness!""
The battle begins just as Cornelia said: the MEF Bamides and the Britannian tanks begin exchanging fire, while Cornelia and her unit of Gloucesters waits behind the dunes for the right moment.
Cornelia opens another communication channel. "Barnes!"
Major Adam Barnes appears on the screen.
"My Lady!" He performs a military salute.
"Orders?"
"Use your sniper rifle to see if there are any troops with Gauss weapons nearby."
"Yes!" The screen goes dark. Five minutes later the Major reports. "
Negative Your Highness. The only ones I can see are all inside the base. I think they didn't expected to see Knightmares in this battle, so they are keeping them in reserve."
"Fools." Cornelia smirks, greatly anticipating the glorious victory waiting for her. "All troops! Forward!"
At Cornelia's command she and the rest of the Gloucesters leave their hiding place and enter the battlefield. They zoom past the tanks, easily evading the Bamides' slow cannons-
BOOOM!
Only for many explosions to go off while they are halfway there, taking out a solid chuck of Cornelia's forces.
"My Lady! Mines!" Guilford moves in front of Cornelia's Gloucester to protect her.
"Dirty cowards!" She snarls. "But they cannot hide from the Factspheres! Darlton!"
"At once!" The Factsphere of the aged general's Gloucester opens, but before it can start to analyze the terrain a shot takes out the Frame's head. "What?!"
"Tempest Frame Destroyers at twelve o'clock! They were hiding behind the Bamides!" Guilford shouts in a panic.
"What did you say?!" Cornelia roars before contacting Barnes, who is completely calm despite the grim situation. "Barnes! You said there were no Gauss-equipped troops nearby!"
"Oh, that." Barnes pushes down his hat to cover his eyes.
"Sorry, I lied."
"You filthy traitor! I'll have you court-martialed for this!"
"I don't think so."
He looks up, revealing a large smirk and a glowing, silver crescent moon on his forehead.
"Unless, of course, Britannia stooped so low as to court-martial even the dead."
Cornelia's eyes widen in shock before she snarls, the commands shattering as she clenches her fire-covered hands. "Lunar!"
"Enjoy your first defeat, Dragoness." He says before turning off the channel.
{====}
"Cornelia's forces are retreating!" At the announcement many inside the MEF center of command rejoice.
"We did it!"
"We defeated the Witch of Britannia!"
"Not yet!" A strong, compelling voice drowns out the rest. The one who spoke is a tall, severe man who is pointing forward his open right palm, an aura of golden light suffusing his body while an eight-pointed sun glows on his forehead. "We delivered a great blow, but what we saw today is far from Britannia's full might! That's why we must stand resolute! But have no fear! Allah is with us!"
""Allah is with us!"" The various officials repeat as one. Who could deny their statement, they thought, when in front of them is an undeniable proof in the form of the very man who the Prophet chose as his vanguard, endowing him with divine power? ""Long live General Munim Riad!""
Just outside the room a man is leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his bare chest, small horns coming out of his silver hair. Hearing what the soldiers are shouting he smiles, revealing sharp canines.
"Allah? Please. Since the Golden Age, this world has belonged to us Exalts. And soon, we will reclaim what's ours."
He looks down, frowning, his fingers slowly caressing the ancient moonsilver belt around his waist.
"Just you wait Teacher. I will show you that, even if I have his Exaltation, I am not Ma-Ha-Suchi!"
Interlude - End