Remembrance

Chapter 4 - Aurelia

I jump at the sound of a knock on the door.

The past two days have been long, and I haven't slept much. Instead, I've been carefully inspecting our strategy to ambush and destroy Viztula's headquarters. We've made hundreds of plans, evaluated and organized supplies, prepared strike teams, and finished everything else that could possibly be readied. I even personally established three alternating squads to surveil the abandoned warehouse. They've watched it nonstop for the past two days, since the navy building was attacked. 

It's a bit embarrassing, not having already discovered Viztula's main base. It sits close to the shipyards and several army garrisons, and is practically at our back door. But they're very careful. My agents have only recorded three people leaving (Two boys and an older man) and two of the rebels entering the building (a boy with a long coat beside a young girl). And when they do move, it's always quick and clean. 

The place seems to be heavily armed, so we cant risk approaching on foot. It's also not near any taller buildings (or mountains) that might provide cover for our airships. And, having traditionally employed heavy weaponry, I wouldn't be surprised if Viztula has powerful anti-airship guns. If we attack, it'll have to be from the air. And quick, too, before we're spotted. 

I bit my lip. Not if, but when. 

And that when is today. No one other than Undersecretary Halifax is aware. All information about this operation has been spooned out very carefully, provided only when needed. Viztula's shown they can infiltrate our ranks, and I can't allow them to be prepared for our upcoming operation. 

The sun's already started setting, and I plan on soon telling Adam to prepare the squads. We'll be going in under the cover of darkness. 

Still, I would've liked more time to prepare. But Halifax was uncompromising. Today, he said, so today it was. He probably knows something I don't, and has calculated the best moment to strike. It's impossible to rise to a position like his without a great deal of intelligence. 

"Enter," I call towards the door. It swings open to reveal Adam, as neatly dressed as ever. He carefully glides into the room, offering a cool salute. "The Medical Examiner has finished, Regiment Leader. I have their report, as you requested." 

I nod. Once we had finally secured the destroyed naval office, I ordered the boy (the one with the scars) to be sent to the tower for careful examination. I wanted to personally supervise the entire process, hopefully finding answers about his enhanced abilities and the white lines covering his body. And, maybe, how he recognized me. 

I didn't have the chance, though. 

Shortly after Adam provided Halifax with an out-of-earshot status briefing, the Undersecretary ordered the bodies to be covered and shipped back to the capitol. They would have access to the best possible medical investigators, he said. I was not given a choice in the matter. 

I gesture at Adam, glancing up from the small stack of files laying on my desk. "And?" 

"The girl was unremarkable."

I nod. "And the boy?" 

"They found no evidence of any internal manipulation. It appears the scars were—" Adam pauses, searching for the word. "Ceremonial only." 

I cross my arms. It still doesn't make any sense. Why would Viztula disfigure one of their own members? After some reasoning, I was only able to imagine a single explanation: the one that Adam has chosen to clinically call internal manipulation. I thought maybe Viztula had put some. . . some sort of technology into the boy, which enhanced his abilities. I'm not sure if that tech even exists (on Mars, maybe), but it was worth a look.