God's Rise | WOTG #2

Twenty-Five

CADE

WE SAT AT THE hovering chairs surrounding a rectangular hovering table inside the conference room—the only place in here that was generously lit. The employees did their job—typed codes on the computer, talked to someone from other lines, and conversed with each other about a significant topic. We couldn't hear anything from outside and they couldn't hear anything from us. The three-inch thick soundproof glass walls separated us from them. No sound could sneak out and no sound could sneak in.

Fourteen comfortable chairs encircled the long hovering table—its edges were lit with white light just like our chairs. Six on each side and one each at both ends.

General Auxria sat at the apex chair facing us all. Ezerina, Kato, and I lounged at the left side of the general while Deo and Bea sat at the right side facing us. Other officers blessed us with their presence, preparing for a deep and serious discussion. Judging by the stars laying on their shoulders, they were high-ranking officers and the guy that called the general, Aurell sat across from a lady. Her dark hair cascaded on her shoulder freely and her eyes were blank and serious. She wore a uniform and three stars lined her two shoulders. Aurell, on the other hand, an eagle with armor at the middle was patched on his chest. His eyes darted on us and his expression was grim and unwelcoming.

The other high-ranking officers who weren't here joined Goldberg. Maybe they were afraid to defy him or maybe he offered them power if they did. I'd never know.

It was either they were cowards or greedy just like him.

"Good day to all of you," panimula ng heneral. "Mabuting makita ko kayong lahat na narito," dagdag niya. "Yesterday, Havierre Goldberg announced that he is separating this nation to an essential organization, the World's United Government. At sa ginawa niyang 'yon ay binabali niyang ang mga mahahalagang international laws."

Lahat kami'y nakapokus lang sa kaniya. Ang aming mga mata at pandinig ay nakapako lang sa kaniya.

"Pinatawag ko kayong lahat para pag-usapan ang isang mahalagang bagay. Colonel Aurell Fernandez here," he gestured to the colonel's direction and gave him a curt nod, "have discussed this earlier at gusto naming ipaalam sa inyo ang lahat."

The woman sitting across Colonel Aurell opened her mouth and all of our attention was poured all to her in an instant. She said, "Considering the fact that Havierre is breaking international laws, hindi kayang makialam ng ibang bansa dahil baka ito mismo ang pagmulan ng giyera. Pilipinas ang pinakamalakas na bansa pero kapag pinagsamasama ang mga puwersa ng ibang bansa ay baka matupok agad tayo ng iilang araw," seryoso niyang pagkakasabi. Tumango naman ang heneral sa kaniya.

"Lieutenant General Loyola is right," pag-sang ayon ni General Auxria sa sinabi niya. Kung gano'n, siya pala ang pangalawang pinakamataas na officer sa army at isa rin siyang babae. I couldn't contain my amazement and didn't notice I was looking at her intently. She looked back and I immediately averted my gaze at the general. "Nakatanggap rin kami ng mensahe mula sa Edge City. Major General Heisenberg have informed us the city will be ready at the Merge Day. Kailangan lang nila ng 48 hours o higit pa." The table suddenly lit up with a hologram showing the map of Edge City.

"So, in 48 hours we will be at the Patriots' Base?" Colonel Fernandez asked.

"Yes," sagot niya. "Sila na lang ang hinihintay natin dahil ang Twin City ay matagal ko nang hinanda," dagdag niya. Video clips of soldiers marching and training flashed on the hologram that glowed above the table. We observed the organised movements of those trained men and women as they were being mobilised for warfare.