Chapter 210: Evac (Part 1)
Major General Sarah Hatano's perspective
(Real Rank: Private First Class)
Krieg 2 - 1 Fireteam unit
US Army - US Marine Corps Joint operation
9:36 AM - Stansa - Warsaw Kingdom
As I could remember, those bad moments had now passed away for nearly 30 minutes. By now, I was in the town to command the WCA soldiers and WP policemen to assist the people in an abrupt evacuation. This time I was standing nearby a cart that was stocked with corpses of the children and teachers who died during the previous school bombing.
According to the evac plan: People will be evacuated from Stansa to its northern border to meet Nalta's region, people would evacuate there temporarily. After that, they'll be evacuated from Nalta to the Capital city - Keris.
After evacuating to Keris, people will temporarily stay there to wait for the next situation. In case the war goes bad and spreads to the Capital, all people will be evacuated to Spera region. Later will from Spera to the northwest of No Man Zone, to refugee by reaching the borders of allied Kingdoms.
"Steady... steady... steady...". - From my view currently, two WP policemen were putting a child's corpse on a cart that was stuffed with other corpses, we would evacuate all people, even the dead
After all, I never want to see the scene of families get shattered and separated during the war. So I also intended to not let men join mandatory service during wartime, they would have to evacuate with their families too, only I will stay here.
"That's enough, let's move". - After putting the boy's corpse in the cart, the WP policemen saw the space was full so they grabbed the cart and started making it to join the refugees
Those corpses hadn't been taken all yet. 'Cause there were still 5 more carts on the road, the WP policemen and the WCA soldiers were cooperating to put those bodies in the carts. At first, people and I intended to mourn the dead by giving them flowers or something like that, but for safety, I declined that decision and moved to evacuate the people.
About mourning the dead, we could do that when we get to Nalta. Now was not the time for us to mourn but to pack up everything we could do to prepare for this abrupt evacuation in a short time. As John called me earlier, he reminded me that the enemies were disguising as civilians so I was also cautious about this. But except for the school incident, till now I hadn't seen anything suspicious to on guard.
So I decided to let my SA do the job of observing the people. Her sensor could spot the heartbeats and movements, I'd use her feature to react against unpredictable attacks. While looking at the bodies getting stocked in the carts, I see that I must change my view to other things so I turned behind to see the house scenes, I meant the people.
"Come on, come on". "Stuff these clothes for me, sweet". "Hey! Help us!". "Get them on the carriage, they're heavy, watch out, alright?". - I saw a nearby scene, a family was stuffing their household things on their carriage
"Ma'am, this is enough, you should not stuff much anymore". "Too many clothes for a horse is not good, rethink, ma'am". "Bring the money with you instead, these things can be re-bought". - Some WP policemen were convincing a woman to leave some of her belongings during the evac, she took quite much on her horse
As I could see here, nothing suspicious was found till this time. But I must be on guard, 'cause the people still need to be checked by the police before getting access to join the refugees. Since the enemies were hiding among the civilians, they could have brought weapons so everyone needed to be checked. After seeing there was no suspicious around me, I changed from standing to walking forward.
"Status, SA?".
"Zero suspicious, General". "But be on guard, enemies can be waiting for the right time to attack". "I suggest checking on the household things which can be used as weapons". "Or things can be easily held and used to hit the people, like a broken glass".
"Why?".
"There's no natural way they can get in here without getting caught". "I don't know what's going on in Veta but as Commander said, the situation there must be serious and chaos". "If I was right, then the enemy must have no military-like weapons". "They got in here and use the available things, like household tools".
"Thanks for the advice, SA". - After hearing SA's advice, I approached Lt. Sitana - a WCA officer who works in my castle, she was joining the evacuation like other soldiers
"Sir?". - She asked me as I approached her
"Tell the soldiers and the cops to confiscate household things can be used as weapons". "I'm concerned that the enemy can use them to hurt the people".
"Roger, on the way". - After hearing my order, Lt. Sitana walked out of her current position and joined the women soldiers, telling them the new order of checking
After speaking to her, I looked around once again to see if there was anything suspicious for me to capture. But saw nothing so I returned to check on my M4 carbine - which had now been attached to a holographic sight to replace the rifle's iron sight.
By the way, I was now fully armed with my modern military weapons. My Alrotz military bag, my M1911 pistol, my M4 carbine with a holographic sight, some grenades and flashbangs. Thanks to my Alrotz bag, it was a high-tech military weapon that helps me a lot in bringing heavy equipment without struggles. Without it, I would not be able to have many attachment things to put in my weapons.
I did not put the M203 Grenade launcher on my rifle 'cause it was not necessary. Since the urban warfare and the crowd of people in the streets this much, its destruction would likely hurt the civilians. About placing the bayonet on my rifle, I'd consider this too 'cause it would be safer when reducing the percentage of the civilian casualties which my weapons could make on them.
I hadn't trained to use my rifle for a while now so I was not so confident with my marksmanship. Using the rifle's iron sight was very risky so I decided to use the holographic sight, was easy to have a better shooting view. Even though... this electricity stuff was very consuming the batteries. But as I remember, its battery would last for 500 - 1000 hours, would likely be a month so I was also relieved.
In the beginning, I hadn't used it so this equipment was always on the off situation. This time I'd use it wisely to save the people, now I must return to observe. Seeing nothing suspicious occurring in my place, I both felt happy and nervous, deeply...
"My Lord, my Lord!". - While walking on the street to observe the evac situation, suddenly a voice sounded behind me so I turned around to look at the person
"My Lord... we've been waiting for you for a long time, please return". "Your carriage is ready, please get to Nalta for my sake... please". - That was Litra, I had asked her and Paula to evacuate first but they hadn't done it yet... now I was pissed off a bit
"Litra, listen to me". "Out here is very dangerous, return to the castle and start your evac". "Please... as a leader, I will be the last to go, not until my people get out of here all, please understand". - I never want to lose anyone anymore, especially the ones I know deeply
Like this woman... her face looked so familiar like my ex-Drill Sergeant in my previous world. They looked the same, like the water... but they were not the same person I used to know...
"You get to Nalta, I will be here to command the people".
"No, please trust me... please, I don't want to lose anyone". - Seeing she didn't obey me, I put my hand on her shoulder to convince her to evacuate
"I'll stay here till you decide to leave, my Lord...". "Most of us are still in the castle, we're waiting for you...".
".......". - Both of us went silent while staring at each other, the situation was quite silent, which made this evac look so dangerous and unpredictable
"General, got suspicious movement on your six". - All of sudden, SA notified me of dangerous things on my back, so I turned around and pointed my rifle in the direction she told me
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!". "Drop your fucking bottle now! Drop it and surrender!". "We have you surrounded motherfucker, drop it!". "Hey hey hey hey, drop it now!". - As I turned behind for a few seconds, many WP cops in a blink of an eye, pulled out their crossbows and targeted a target in the middle of a crowd
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". "Get out, get out! Holy shit!". - The people in the crowd were terrified so they ran away from their area
Short time later, the target appeared to be a man dressed like a civilian. His hand was having a broken bottle which had pointy tips on its top side, he was now holding... a child as a hostage!
"Motherfucker! Anyone of you, huh?!". "Dare to shoot me, huh?! Do it! Do it! Cannot, huh?! 'Cause I have this little rat or what?!". - That man yelled out loudly while pointing the broken bottle to the boy's neck, I must do something to save the kid!
"Drop your weapon now! Drop it now or we'll shoot you!". "Drop the boy, and you live!". "Fucker, get off him!". - Those WP cops were both panicked and worried about the boy's life, they were all pointing their crossbows at the target, thinking to use tactics to save the boy
"Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!". - That poor boy was sobbing 'cause no one dared to save him, the attacker was also stepping back while threatening to kill the kid
"Turn it off! Stop crying!". "Stop your sob or I'll fucking split your throat, hear me?!". - His distance was not so far from me, I was pointing my rifle to his head, trying to make a headshot by the distance, but I was not so confident
"Sobs! Sobs! Papa, mama!".
"You! I said you, the Lord!". "Come right here... this rat's life belongs to you!". "Come here to be my hostage and he will live, now do it!". - The man didn't leave the broken bottle out of the boy's neck but glared at me, asking me to come to replace the hostage
"No no no no no, my Lord!". "Please don't go, don't go!".
"That must be an assassin sent here to rip you, General". "It's now or never, take the shot". "Cannot shoot his chest, the boy's head too close... take the headshot, Sarah!". - But I think I should have more time to proceed with this, SA!
"I give you 3 fucking seconds to drop your weapons and come to me!". "And 7 seconds to surrender, choose it!". - Help me, SA!
"That guy looks bulk, no way a shot to his shoulders and other soft parts can make him stop harming the boy".
"One two!".
"But I ca-".
"Fucking stupid!". "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - Suddenly, that man slowly pulled the broken bottle to cut the boy's right side neck, the kid was yelling!
"Sarah!".
"Bang!". - I shot the man, he later fell because of the gunshot... I did it! I shot him! But the boy was bleeding! Why I was so stupid to delay that shot?!
"Go get the boy!". "Confis that fucking weapon, quick!". - After hearing the shot, the WP cops alongside the WCA soldiers ran to the kid to save him from bleeding, even kicked the broken bottle aside to check on the wounded attacker
"Wait, my Lord! Wait!". - Litra held me back when I was approaching the lying attacker, but I shook her hands away and kept moving
"Holy shit, stop the bleeding". "Medic, we need a medic!". - While approaching the man, I also looked back to check on the boy, he had been escorted by the police and the soldiers to an area behind me to treat his bleeding
I later returned to approach the wounded attacker. As I got there, in front of me were 5 cops crouching beside the man, while one WP cop pressed his right foot on the confiscated weapon. The man... he died now, my headshot took his right side forehead, the man was still convulsing while his wound splashing out blood all around the ground.
"Holy shit... did you see that fucker's head exploded when get shot?". "Holy shit, look at this dude, still shaking...". - Seeing the scene was too terrifying so I looked away, while some WP cops whispered to each other as if they were interested in it
"Alright, soldiers! Return to your duty". "Let these lads take care of the man, we must be on guard, now move your asses, quick". - Lt. Sitana was also one of the WCA soldiers who joined to save the boy, she later ordered the soldiers to return to check on people
Surrounded by the whispers of the WP cops, I didn't want to see that gory scene so I looked away. Later walked back to Litra - she was quite worried, to be very honest. While standing opposite her, my eyes also glanced at the wounded boy. I didn't know what to do... just hope he would be saved, I hope so.
"My Lord... you alright?".
"Uhhh... yes". - I not just glanced at the boys but also glanced at the panicked refugees, they hadn't returned to normal after seeing the incident
"Are you truly alright...?". "Seeing a dead man shaking right in front of you... very close, but you can be that calm?!". - Ummm... I had seen it worse, Litra... since the first day coming to this world...
"Ummm... I'm fine, d-".
"Ma'am, Sir... please stop". - All of sudden, my talk was disturbed by a conversation behind me, I looked behind to see what was happening
That was a married couple or something, they were instructed to stop by a WCA soldier. She was checking on the couple's belonging, which was their handbags to check for weapons. While staring at the couple, Litra suddenly got my hands off my rifle and held my hands.
"My Lord... you don't need to stay here to dirty your hands anymore...". "They're just people, your life's more important, not theirs". "Everything you had done to them was far enough... those people even respect you but blamed you f-".
"Litra, please be silent... please...". - My Advisor was protecting me, I know it but using excuses for the mistakes I made was unacceptable, especially for a land's leader
"I announced to the people earlier, ma'am, Sir... not bringing kitchen tools in your inventory". "Sorry, but I'm just doing what I'm ordered, you have to leave these...". - The woman soldier was instructing the married couple not to bring things that could be used as weapons in the evac
"Got suspicious movement from the couple, General". - Suddenly, SA alerted me so I prepared my stance to wait for the bad scenarios that were about to come
"Arrghhhh! Arrghhh!". - Oh my God! One from the couple swiftly blocked the soldier's movement, he later used her as a human shield!
"Get down!". - The man using the human shield was targeting me, Litra was behind me so in that situation, I jumped at her and both of us fell on the ground
"Spurt! Spurt!". - As both of us fell on the ground, two objects looked like fireballs flying through above me and hitting the people around it, stray shots
"Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh! Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh!". "Help me! Help meeeeeee!". "Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh!". - Screams suddenly sounded out, those must be the people who hit the fire, poor them!
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - People around me were quite panicked, they ran away chaotically while the WP cops and the WCA soldiers were trying to stop the shooters
"Sarah, watch your back!". "One is after you!". - After hearing SA's yell, I immediately overturned myself while pulling out my loaded M1911, attempting to disable the attackers
"Spurt! Spurt! Spurt! Spurt!". "Arrrrghhh! Arrrhhhh!". - Those cops and soldiers must have some hit the fire
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!". - I made 5 shots at the attacker who was using the woman soldier as his human shield, the bullets penetrated both people and he later fell alongside the soldier
"Nine o'clock!". - As I heard SA's instructions, the woman could be seen hiding behind the man, she was pointing her palm at me, as if intending to cast a spell
"Bang! Bang! Clak! Clak! Clak!". - I was quite panicked, just a blink of an eye and I lost a magazine, but at least the target was down
The ammo supplement was from our ammo crate which we brought with us when we came to this world. It had now been moved from Zaira village to Veta castle, if I don't use the ammo wisely, my life will be in trouble.
People in this world could use magic, while the three of us could not. So must save it!
"Stop the fire, stop the fire!". "Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!". - After eliminating the targets, the cops and soldiers could be seen using water magic to turn off the fire from their comrades
"You okay, Litra?". - I fastly got up and then grabbed Litra's hand, also lifted her up
"I'm fine... thanks".
"The people are running without an order, soldiers". "Must gather them back... be careful, it could be ended up with a stampede". - Lt. Sitana later ordered the surviving soldiers in the last chaotic incident to follow her to gather back the people
Maybe I should join those soldiers too, since some WP cops were after them to assist in gathering the people. While standing beside Litra, I looked around to see the mess which was caused by the previous incident... very disgusting.
"Get the heavy wounded first, steady". "Can you walk, pal?". "Report, we got one down and three wounded, over". - The WP cops who didn't join to help the soldiers stayed here to drag the dead bodies before them to examine, I think so...
I tried to look away to not see those bloody dead bodies, I accidentally killed one in the last incident. That woman soldier was still alive when she was a human shield, she died when got shots...
Wait a minute... I just felt it strange when I accidentally glanced at a corpse, of two attackers I eliminated earlier. One had two shot holes marked on her shirt, but there was a bleeding hole on her left side forehead... but she didn't take the headshot, how could it happen?
What the hell I was thinking about? I must save the people right now, right away!
"Litra, you go back to the castle to evacuate!". "I'll be here, meet y'all again at the border! Please get there!". - Later I ran away from Litra to join the WP cops, meanwhile I reloaded the pistol while running, not get used to it but at least I made it properly
After reloading my M1911, I changed my sidearm to use the M4 Holographic sight while running on the road. The WP cops and WCA soldiers could be seen cooperating to put everyone in a stable situation. They were asking the civilians to stop running in panic to return to the evac.
"Enemy is on the loose, watch out for the civilians". - Lt. Sitana reminded her soldiers to keep their guard on, since the enemies were disguising civilians
"People, immediately return to your previous position!". "We must line up, check-in and then start the evac!". - Other soldiers were confronting the civilians to ask them to return to the previous area
After a short time confronting the people, most of them followed the soldiers and the cops to return to the previous area. But to me, I had seen some civilians had been kept by the WP cops, I meant 2. One of two civilians after getting checked had been released. But one was still being kept by the police, that man's clothes were now checked by the WCA soldiers.
"What's this...? A nail...?". "You're sure to have a very long talk with us, old man". - After checking the man, they found a nail in his shirt's pocket, later they handed it to Lt. Sitana
"That's 'cause, I-, I'm a chair repairer, s-".
"Shut the hell up, old fuck...". "We told you not to bring anything can make weapo-".
"But these are my tools, you can find more of them in my bag, so p-".
"Shut the hell up, impostor!". -
"This man may be truly innocent, Lieutenant". - I protected the poor old man from getting suspected by the military and police
"My Lord, please help me...". "Ladies, I only have this job to save my life, without i-".
"Shut the hell up!". "Ladies, hold that fucking old tight!".
"No!". - I yelled at them to tell them to stop, but I was held back by the policemen
"He's an enemy, my Lord!". "Stay away from him, it's dangerous!".
"But he's truly innocent!". "Arrghhh! Arrrrghhh!". "Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh!". - Knowing that the man could be in danger, I shook my body strongly to get the cops out of me but failed, 'cause my woman's strength was not like men's
"Arrrrghhh!". "My Lord, please save me!". - That poor old man had been crushed on the ground by the soldiers, he kept staring at me to ask me to help him
"Pvt. Limber, drop the man". - Lt. Sitana later ordered the soldier behind her to execute the old man
"No no no no no no no!". "We protect the civilians, not hurting them, soldiers!".
"My Lord, you're putting yourself in danger!". "The man is a threat, please let them do the duty, stop it!". - You people were the police, do something to save him, don't just block my way
"Sir... I think we shou-".
"Private, you dare to disobey my order?!".
"No Sir, but our L-".
"We need soldiers to obey the order, now do it, Pvt. Limber!".
"But this man may truly b-".
"What a waste of time, get out". - After speaking to her soldier without seeing her obedient, Lt. Sitana waved her hand around to tell the cops and soldiers to get out of her way, while she approached the old man
"No!". - I yelled to stop her
"Rather kill wrong than leave out, that's what your older sister trained me, Sir". - Saying to me coldly, the woman pulled out her strapped crossbow and pointed it at the man's head
"Spurt!". - The bolt had been shot, it marked the man's head, he died while convulsing, blood kept splashing out from the hole
I could not bear it so I closed my eyes while crying in my mind. Hoping the man who had been unjust executed would have a better afterlife. After shooting him, Lt. Sitana told the police to stop holding the old man while using her leg to overturn him as if to check for more.
"Found nothing, let's move". - Short time of checking the body, the soldiers and cops left the old man there to return to the refugees
"I'm sorry for what happened, my Lord...". - The policemen who used to block me, had now stopped it
They didn't follow the others, must be staying here to protect me or something. Though these WP cops blocked my way earlier, some of them also seemed to be remorsed. Two of the policemen later crouched down to look at the old man's corpse, they even chanted their hands to mourn him.
"Hey, where are you thinking you're going?!". - I was very angry after seeing them execute a civilian, at least they must have to stuff him in the cart to evacuate, now left this old man alone!
"I'm sorry for the previous incident, Sir". "But it's for yours and others' safety, we cannot leave an enemy on the loose to harm more people".
"But he's ours! He is just an old man who gets misunderstood!". "He didn't even resist when getting caught! He's truly innocent!". - I know I should not waste my time arguing, but I must not let this mistake be drowned under the ocean!
"He was, Sir...". "I know you're our Commander, but we can judge people better than you, General". "This man was an enemy". "Now stop the argument, we still have people to protect, Sir". - How can people feel safe when they're protected by irresponsible soldiers like you?!
"Arrrrghhh!". - My mind felt to be out of control, as I could have time to realize, Lt. Sitana was now on the ground after getting a jab to the face by me
"You're the soldiers, the police, the Peacekeepers...". "We protect the civilians!". - Though I never want to use violence to solve things... but a part of my mind hoped that the punch was worth it
"Hugs...". - Suddenly, my waist was later hugged by someone from behind, I looked back and noticed that was Paula
"Thanks... Paula...". - I told her and Litra not to come here but to join the refugees, why they kept staying here?
"Come on, return to the castle, alright?". "By the way...". - Now I noticed that Litra was not here, she must be still in the previous area, among the refugees to wait for me, sigh!
"Can... c-, ca-, I mean... if I...". - During wartime, her bad skill of communication magically made my tension go away
"Yes, you can follow me if you want, Paula - chan". "But stay right behind me, okay?". - Protecting them is alright but I must make sure I can do it when they're with me... no, I must believe in myself!
"Nod!".
"Alright, stay behind me". - After asking Paula to stay behind me to have my protection, I approached the old man's body, intending to pick him up
"I'm sorry...". - I crouched down to see the man and bowed to apologize, later picked him up, even the dead must be evacuated too, no one will be left behind!
"No one will be left behind". "Let's go back to the people". - I looked at every soldier and cop to tell them to follow me, Lt. Sitana had got up now, and she didn't dare to look at me directly...
"Be careful out here, Paula". "If you see anything dangerous and I cannot protect you, just run away, alright?".
"...". "Nod...". - My private maid did not say a word but slightly nodded, she even grabbed my shoulders while following me from behind, looks so cute!
"Stop losing your concentration, Sarah". "Negative on suspicious movement till this time". "But be careful, the enemy can be attacking at any time". "They might be targeting you... but not so aggressively, they're waiting for right moments". - Clear, I heard it, SA!
"By the way... about the dead man in your hands...". "Nevermind, nothing...". - While talking about the dead body in my hands, SA suddenly went silent... why?
"I see 'em, the refugees are moving, Sir". "Must have done all the checking, we're on the move to Nalta by now". - While carrying the body and walking back to the people, I heard the WP cops walking forward to me say the refugees were moving
"It's good, we're clear, guys". "Enemy is cleared, hoorah...". - These policemen thought the last impostors had been eliminated so they seemed very relaxed
"Don't let your guard down, people". "They may be waiting for the right time to strike... just make sure... we won't hurt civilians...again". - Walking alongside these cops and soldiers, I reminded them to check on everything carefully next time to not remake the previous mistake
"Roger, Sir". "I hope you won't mind if I rejoin our units to evacuate the people, my Lord".
"Ok, Peacekeepers".
"Nod!". - Hearing my approval, those WP policemen nodded before running back to the refugees to rejoin their units to extend the numbers of men to protect people
In a short time, the refugees had finally reached us before we could reach them. Their movement was quite fast and more positive than I expected, since the enemies had been cleared. Now we were moving from this town to the rural side of my castle's location. All of us would reach Nalta's border in no time, all the people would be evacuated safely, I hope so.
"We will join them to escort the people too, Sir". "Please give us your approval". - Lt. Sitana while walking alongside me, she asked me if she and her soldiers could join to escort people
"Nod!".
"Roger that". "Move out!". - They later returned to escort the refugees
"Taps! Taps! Taps! Taps!". - Just because I don't know the way, I tapped Pvt. Limber - the last soldier who hadn't regrouped, 'cause I wanted to know where to put the body down to evacuate
"Sir?". - She turned back to look at me curiously
"Where to put the body?". - After hearing my order, she looked around the refugees, later pointed her finger to a position on the right side, behind the refugees which had carts moving
"Over there, Sir". "Last cart on the right side, others are full to be put on".
"Thanks". "Let's move, Paula". - I thanked Pvt. Limber and then approached the carts while Paula followed me
"Excuse me, let me pass". - While walking through the wave of refugees before me, I asked the people to get out of their way to let me pass
After passing the people, I looked around to find the last cart on the right side. Later found it so I approached the cart and slowly, gently put the old man's corpse on the cart.
"Rest in peace, poor old". - He finally joined the evacuation
Now I need to make sure all people and the corpses would be safely evacuated, not separating anymore, not anymore.
Coincidentally, after putting down the old man's corpse, I looked closely at the cart and found Lerer's corpse. Poor man, he died without any prediction. He also had his adopted daughter, his niece and his nephew staying alive while he died that sadly.
Now what should I do to explain to Reimi, Princess and others? I wondered while walking and looking at the cart carrying Lerer's corpse. Reimi was just an orphan from the start. She lost her adoptive parents, now she lost her second father, Princess also had that pain too when she lost her parents and now recently lost her old uncle.
They just had reunited with each other not so long... why do they have to be far away that so soon? Poor Lerer...
"Rest in peace... old man Rer". - I bowed to hope Lerer would rest in peace, later got my eyes away from the cart and kept moving forward
Now my mind recollected something I forgot previously. Before the evac, I used to see Milia and Raptu crying before Eli's corpse. Now they were nowhere to be seen, I hope they had regained their mental after getting through that tragic incident.
And yet... I hope they were now joining the refugees too, since I was worried about them if they had nowhere to go after this. While moving forward alongside Paula to join the refugees, I saw something from a left side cart so I looked in that direction to see the things.
"Wait a minute... wait wait wait wait wait... is she?". - That was Milia, right? I could see her crying while following a cart, she kept staring at a corpse in there while going behind the cart runner
"Ma'am, I know you're sad but please... your daughter is now in the Goddess's place". "She's safe now, happily up there...". - The cart runner told Milia to stay away from her daughter's corpse but she kept following the cart, so I decided to approach her
"Sobs... sobs... sobs... sobs...". - After getting closer to the woman, I noticed around me was not just her, still some kids crying to mourn their dead classmates and teachers... poor those angels
After a short time mourning the dead, the kids had been escorted by their parents to return to evac like others. Except for the kids who didn't attend school, I saw that most of them died in that tragic incident. Previously, those wounded kid students were still in my sight, now they vanished, maybe alongside their parents.
But... I remembered Sala - she was now only alone. Lost her parents and her older sister now but this time, she was nowhere to be seen, I hope she was still around here.
"Ms. Milia, is that you?". - After reaching Milia, I greeted her
"Sobs... sobs... ahh, that's you". "Sorry, my Lord... I just... I'm fine, just a bit emotional". - She was still sobbing because of her daughter's death
"You know... I, that i-".
"That's not your fault, my Lord... not yours". "Sobs... sobs... it's just unpredictably happened... not your fault...". - Her eyes kept pointing at Eli's corpse while walking
"General, you should pay your attention on the streets". "Enemy may still hiding around, they just find the right time to show up". - Speaking to her just for a moment would not be a bit deal, SA... I'll be always on guard
"Where's Raptu?". "She was still with you earlier, where did she go now?". - Walking and talking alongside Milia, but I never looked at her but just looked around to make sure everything was under control, nothing suspicious
"She left... she said "to the forest" before leaving...". - The forest? Tod or what? According to the intel I got till this time, some Beastmen Army units were camping in there, so Raptu was also part of their military?
"What about you now, ma'am?". "You lost your husband and your daughter... now yo-".
"Please don't say about that anymore, my Lord". "I will be fine, I'll find the way t-".
"My Lord!". - All of sudden, behind me had a woman's voice calling for me
I turned around and noticed that was Litra. My Advisor was joining the refugees, she managed to find me so now was waving at me, I was glad. I must ask Litra to join me and Paula, the three of us would take the evac together to Nalta. When we get there, we have to separate, 'cause I intend to go alone to Veta.
"Shit! Suspicious movement behind her!". - That was so suddenly, SA alerted me so suddenly so I pointed my M4 at Litra in panic
"Litra get down! On the ground now!".
"Huh?!".
"Don't ask! On the ground now!". - I hadn't seen the attacker yet, must be the crowd on that side was too much, Litra's appearance also covered the attacker
"Paula, stay behind me!".
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - All of sudden, Litra fell when a massive human wave ran past her, something must have happened on that side and now was causing a stampede
"Holy shit! Everyone calm down! Stop right there!". - The soldiers and WP cops around me immediately got upfront to form their shields to stop the running people
"Ahhhhh! Ahhhh! Everyone please stop!". "Ahhhh! Help! Ahhhh!". "Holy shit! Get out of the way now!". - Many yellings were sounding, a massive human wave was running past me, I was taking the impact from many people
"Urrghhhh!". - Luckily, I didn't fall even facing a massive wave like this
"Ahhhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - After the previous stampede, I saw many people running and yelling chaotically, something bad was happening here
As I realized, I was the only one who was standing still the most after the stampede. Soldiers and cops around me, either were lying on the ground and wounded by getting smashed during the stampede, or managed to stand still. Some soldiers were trying their best to get up.
"Three o'clock, Sarah!". - I heard my SA's alert, later pointed my M4 in that direction and saw a man approaching me while targeting me with his palm
"Off the street!". - During that chaotic situation, Pvt. Limber and other WCA soldiers strangely ran across me
"Booooooommmmmmmm!". "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - An explosion sounded in my position, both of us received the impact and Pvt. Limber fell at me while yelling
"Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh!". - Both of us seemed to have fallen to a wall of a behind building after the explosion, my back felt very hurt!
"Arrrrghhh... so hurts!". - I managed to stay conscious, later I pulled Pvt. Limber out from crushing on my body and realized she was dead, poor soldier
"Urrrghhh...". - Got up with my hurt back, I slowly looked around and realized the explosion magic attacker had died on the road strangely... but I hadn't shot him, how?
But wait a minute... I could see Litra was lying on the road over there. Hope she was still safe... but I felt like someone was missing, right?
"Paula! Paula, where are you?!". - Later I realized Paula was missing, I looked around while screaming her name
"Here you are, Paula...". - She was right behind me, she was also fallen to the wall, now was lying in there, still breathing
"Uhhhhhh...?". - But her glasses had been broken, Paula seemed to be very weak right now, must do something to protect her
"Don't worry, just stay here to rest, Paula". "Ahhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - While comforting Paula, I heard screamings on the road, people were still in panic and running chaotically
I must do something to stop this, the attackers were still very much right now. I intended to reach Litra to save her but when I was approaching her, my feet accidentally hit a soldier.
"Fuck, my leg!". - That was Lt. Sitana, she was lying on the road like other soldiers, and now was trying to get up but I accidentally hit her wounded leg, so she screamed
"On your feet, soldier! People need us!". - I lowered my body and grabbed the Lieutenant's hand tightly, later pulled her up to return to the mission