Darling in the Franx: Alternate Core

Chapter 22: For you, my sister.

Chapter 22, the start of the siege at the Grand Crevasse and the beginning of the end of the development arc of our heroes. How will it play out this time now that our favorite squad are veterans and unclouded to the truth? What will Raven and Naomi do this time to make things right? And what about the 'Disavowed' aftermath? Who was the one that contacted Kassandra? Only one way to find out!

On with the show!

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Unknown location near the Steppes of Blue. At the 'Disavowed' HQ, early morning, a month after the raid on the Garden...

The base had been recently put into lockdown and making sure all departures and units were grounded while also waiting for the deployed ones to return. Apparently, the Purge had ended prematurely and the reason for such was located right now at the board room of the bunker where Kassandra, Char and many other captains and commanders were seated as they all looked at a man wearing a white jacket, white hat, and white pants...

Char: Whispers - You got to admit, he knows how to rock that cosplay... –

Kassandra: - Shut up... -

Moderator: - So, its everyone of the list present? *Nods from everyone* Good, then let's start this meeting to determine our future course of action as called by the Head of State Berserion Halentaras due to the recent actions of Commander-in-chief Kassandra Augusta. –

The man in white, to which was referred previously, stood up. Compared to most people in the room, his stature was simply inhuman, and so was his name - Berserion.

More than seven feet from head to toe, he towered above the table and the council alike, his long white hair tying the knot on his authority... if it was a sizeable beard, which it was distinctly not.

Instead, they were made up into a slightly messy-looking low ponytail, the white hat hiding the rest. To elaborate on his looks, one must mention a couple more things - his eyes, the color of the glittering seawater, and almost deathly pale skin.

Still, his moves emphasized the silence in the already quiet room, not just thanks to his looks, but the nature of his being and position as well.

Berserion: - As the current head of state of Edenfall and the Gates to the Undercrust, I too declare the "coven" open. First, forgive me for such hurry, if one can call a month of delay a hurry at all. However, we lest not dwell on the irrelevant.

He put his hand on the table, causing a hologram of a dated scroll appear in the center of it, above the projector...

Berserion: - As we all know, this scroll is the written pact between the Disavowed of above and that of below. Signed by every person here, or their successors, it represented unity in our actions, despite the differences in views and desires of the people on both sides. Represented... *the scroll caught on fire and started burning* until a month ago.

He inhaled slowly and then exhaled quickly, causing the (holographic) fire to be extinguished.

Berserion: - Now, we would desire to learn, what caused such a gnawing choice to be made. Depending on what we hear, the contract can possibly be saved, for the sake of our people and their wellbeing. –

Kassandra: "Might as well get this over with..." - And I will provide it, Berserion. As you all know by now, the green light has been given at the SMC: operation 'Cinder', the operation that will undoubtedly spark the last civil war of humanity between the 'Old humanity' and the one from APE, is now underway and as of right now, they're preparing their expedition force according to phase 1. *Murmurs of approval and accordance go through the crowd. * Which is one of the main reasons of my recent actions: Senator Armstrong has requested in secret that we 'softened' the APE assault force destined for the attack of the Grand Crevasse. Considering that he basically rang the dinner bell, most of our forces decided it was time to fulfill one of the main reasons this group was founded for. Aware of the limits the pact has enforced on us we only targeted the Eastern Plantations and made sure to setup rescue pickups for our allies so that they could pick up the survivors after the raids. I will admit that I had acted without the consensus of the Under Sections, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. -