The Akadian occupation, though not long, has made significant progress in its preparations for the long siege. The capital city has been fortified with high-tech defenses. Shield emitters surround the city to ensure its survival against orbital bombardments. The previously medieval stone walls were replaced quickly with high-tech metallic walls with bunkers built on top of each corner section of the walls.
As for the Armenthian citizens, many hid in various forests and locations, but those remaining in the capital city had no choice but to submit. The Akadians had not yet enslaved all of them with their slave collars, as that would come later when the invasion was over. For now, their everyday lives continued, albeit with slight changes to their environments and many aspects of their usual days.
On the balcony of the former palace belonging to the king, Lieutenant Harkins was taking a break from overseeing the constructions, leaning on the fence rail. She wasn't wearing her gas mask and was smoking, showing a laid-back attitude rather than the usual uptight military behavior.
A cold yet comforting wind then blew toward her, blowing her beautiful white hair back. It was refreshing compared to the usual atmosphere she had felt countless times in Grestancia. The air here was much more refreshing due to the lack of pollution and technologies.
Harkins sighed and took the cigarette off her mouth, blowing a cloud of smoke up in the air.
For all the progress they made, she regretted sacrificing the natural environments of this world. Preservation wasn't at the top of the research priority within the empire, after all.
Aside from that, this assignment won't be easy, and it might even cost her own life. The size of the fleet and the number of the army stationed here won't last long. There are a lot of disadvantages on their side that make her uneasy.
They have only so many troopers and slave populations after all before she and the rest of the Akadian human soldiers will have to throw themselves into the fray.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she heard a footstep approaching. The familiar clanking of a trooper's armor that she had heard every day for the rest of her life.
She once again sighs, not even turning to look at the trooper.
"I'm on my break here, Trooper. If you have anything to report, file it on my desk and I'll look at it later"
"That's alright" The trooper took off his helmet, showing off his face "I'm on my break too, lieutenant"
The trooper's strange behavior finally caught her attention. As the trooper walked over to her and stood beside her, she lurked at him, observing him.
"I don't recall allowing any breaks for any of you"
"The others are doing fine without me, so I doubt my presence won't be needed"
"You're slacking off" Harkins once again blew a smoke.
It was clear to her that there was an ulterior motive behind his actions. She could simply report him and be done with it or have one of her bodyguards who were accompanying her to get rid of him quietly.
Yet she didn't. Despite the adrenaline of preparing for the inevitable, she was feeling rather bored with the tedious task. So, she would allow this trooper to humor her with whatever he has on his mind, even if it's just small talk.
"Lieutenant. You're not quite optimistic about our preparations, aren't you?"
"You want my personal opinion?"
"Up to you" The trooper also leans to the railing, relaxing himself.
Harkins puts the cigarette in her mouth again "If you want to propose a plan, why not go to the general? If he's in a good mood, he might shoot you and be done with it"
Her jokes sound dark but true. However, the trooper was not deterred by it.
"I came to propose something to you, instead. Considering our current situation and the situation the Harkins Corporation is currently in right now"
Piquing her interest again, the lieutenant lurks at him "What are you talking about?"
The trooper took out his datapad and began browsing something using it "Your father sent you here to look for slave workers. From the looks of it, your corporation hasn't received much so far. I wonder why?"
With confidence, he gave her the datapad, showing the news written on it. It was about the relocation of the slaves that she acquired from conquered worlds to other manufacturing companies within the empire. The news shocked her as she didn't know about this news yet, and she also became even more wary of the trooper.
"How did you know about this? When did his majesty..."
"He did nothing. This was done by someone else from the higher-ups. But of course, he only cares about results, so I doubt reporting this will get you anywhere"
Harkins returned the datapad while glaring at the trooper with her full attention "I'm listening"
"There are some things I want you to do during the battle. They will be crucial for us to defeat our enemies"
The next few minutes were then spent on him explaining the plans he had in mind to her. It sounded strange and she couldn't help but question the details of it. Nevertheless, her wariness of him grows, yet she knows she must seize every opportunity to survive and thrive. Even if it comes from a single lowly trooper
"Interesting strategy. I assume you also want me to keep this a secret from General Arundor"
"That's up to you to decide. After all, you are quite the gambler in these kinds of situations, Lily"
That nickname. The only one that calls her that is her sister, Fleur.
Harkins sharpened her eyes, taking the cigarette she had been smoking all this time out of her mouth and throwing it away "How did you know?"
The trooper smiled innocently, yet through it was the face of a devil revealing his fangs "Professor Harkins does tend to talk a lot about you. It's a cute nickname in my opinion"
She sighs in disappointment "I really should scold her about using that nickname in public"
"That's about everything I wanted to propose"
He puts on his helmet again and walks away, waving his hand at her without looking back "I'm going back to my work now. Have a nice break, lieutenant"
After he left, Harkins was left there by herself. A smile formed on her face as she felt a bit of excitement from what had just happened.
She had heard about the defective trooper who was accepted into their ranks, but she didn't think that the trooper would exceed her expectations.
Perhaps this is a gamble is something worth taking, or rather she had to take it.
"Alright, Trooper 117. I'll play along with your little game"
------------------------
After leaving the palace and walking through the streets, the mysterious goddess appears next to him, walking alongside him.
"From the looks of your conversation, she seems to be leaning positively towards your suggestions. But how will you know that she won't just report to General Arundor?"
To ensure that no one knows he is talking to her, Priad replies to her through his mind.
"Like I said back there, she's a gambler. But a safer one. I gave her an easy gamble that she could take without risking anything"
"But it will risk all of yours instead"
"Nothing new there. What matters is that everything is proceeding as planned, with or without me"
Upon hearing that, Norion disappears again as Priad reaches a certain training area.
It was ruined. There were lots of rubbles from the buildings surrounding the open fields, as well as holes from the previous bombardments. But luckily, the open field in the middle was still intact.
In the middle of the field was a lone Armenthian, wearing Akadian military armor. Without her helmet on, she could be seen wearing the slave color on her neck, glowing bright purple as it controls her every action and binds her to stay there.
Priad then stops in front of her "Sorry I'm late. I got some business to take care of"
Priad then stood in front of her, a couple of miles away. He changed his attitude from easygoing to a man with determination.
"Ready to continue our training, Shinaka?"