Day 297, Year 986, 41st Millennium
Upper Hive
Front Line
Eric cautiously slipped away from the PDF soldiers, pretending to have a personal errand to run. He trudged through the rubble, trying to find a secluded spot dark enough to be unnoticed. Paranoia made him constantly glance left and right, until he found a small alcove behind a sturdy concrete wall that seemed to offer him some hiding place.
"This should be safe…" he murmured to himself before quickly sitting down. His hands were still slightly trembling from exhaustion. He awkwardly unlocked his chest armor. As soon as the weight of the metal armor disappeared, he breathed a sigh of relief. But that relief was short-lived, as the pain from where he had been punched in the stomach returned.
"Damn…that hurts," Eric muttered, gritting his teeth, and quickly dealt with the problem that had been bothering him for hours. He removed his shirts one by one before reaching in to untangle his broken bra strap and carelessly tossing it aside. Then he pulled out some clean bandages (the few he could find) from his pocket. He skillfully began wrapping the bandage around his chest, even though it hurt with every breath. He knew this was only a temporary fix. But it would help stabilize his chest while he ran, and more importantly, prevent the bra straps from pressing against his wound or tearing his skin. However, as he was wrapping the bandage, his nose revealed another pathetic truth.
"Ouch…damn it," Eric winced in pain at the pungent smell. He hadn't showered in three days. He was covered in dust and dirt, and worst of all, dried mutant blood clung to his clothes and under his fingernails. His once beautiful, lustrous white hair (which he secretly prided himself on in the mirror) was now tangled and sticky from the fight, despite him having combed it the day before.
"How much longer do I have to endure this filthy state? I really want to take a shower..." He grumbled under his breath, frustrated. Honestly, he wasn't exactly serious about his hygiene...or was he? Being a woman is really tough, especially during periods or when fighting in battles... It's a good thing his period hasn't started yet; otherwise, he'd probably lose his mind. Besides, it's almost been a month already.
After wrapping himself in bandages, Eric picked up his breastplate and put it back on, letting out another deep sigh.
"...When will I get some decent, properly fitting armor?" Eric grumbled, shifting around, trying to adjust the position and straighten his clothes as best he could. He leaned against the cold concrete wall and looked up at the ceiling of Hive City, where the sky was invisible, only metal structures and pipes lay before him.
Anxiety crept back into his heart as he thought about tomorrow's mission: capturing the main elevator...
Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine. Such a crucial area must be swarming with mutants. Today, just encountering low-level mutants was already overwhelming. What about tomorrow? How terrifying and depraved will the ones guarding the elevator be? How long will their claws be? Or will they have fangs that can tear tanks and armor like paper?
"I don't even want to think about it..." Eric hugged his knees to his chest, his blue eyes filled with fear as he recalled the recent battle. He was practically useless without equipment or weapons. It was incredibly worrying; if he wasn't lucky again, he wouldn't survive. He sat there for a moment, letting himself sink into weakness and fear in the dark corner where no one could see him. He took a deep breath, slapped his cheeks twice to regain his composure, and tried to be strong, refusing to dwell on his mistakes and what had happened—consider it an experience.
It was an experience that left him deeply wounded.
"Alright, Eric... go back to sleep. Tomorrow's hell awaits." He slowly stood up, brushed the dust off his bottom (which didn't make him any cleaner), and walked back to the campfire where the other soldiers were sleeping, some keeping watch. He tried to blend in and act as normal as possible. Before he could find a suitable spot, he settled down to sleep using a piece of brick as a pillow.
How did he even manage to sleep in that position?
It's ridiculously funny.
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Day 298 of the 986th year of the 41st millennium
Upper Hive
Front Line
The faint light from the overhead lamps of the new day pierced through the smoke and steel structure of Hive City. The atmosphere at the assembly point was tense. The sounds of weapons checks, prayers to the Emperor and the Machine Spirit, and commands echoed throughout. Eric stood near his troops, gripping his Lasgun tightly, trying to suppress the growing excitement and fear within him. His eyes scanned the group preparing for battle, and then suddenly, his gaze fell upon a familiar woman with brown hair.
"Livia!" Eric shouted, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face. A strange feeling of relief washed over him. Among thousands of strangers, seeing someone familiar was like finding an oasis in the desert. The woman turned, and seeing Eric, she smiled broadly as well, before waving and walking towards him.
"Erica! Thank the Emperor for keeping you alive!" Livia greeted him brightly, her face pale and smeared with soot, showing a hint of weariness. Yet, her smile was genuine.
"...What happened to your face?!" Livia asked again, concerned, noticing a slight swollen cheek on Eric's side.
"Just a minor injury from a fight," Eric replied, genuinely happy to see his friend, even if it was a new friend he'd only known for about a week. He tried to act as normal as possible, though inwardly grumbling about the smell of sweat from those around him. Hearing her question, he thought back to when that mutant punched him and almost knocked him down. Then his brows furrowed slightly as he looked around at Livia.
"That mark on my face... I got punched by a mutant. Don't worry, I killed it... And... where's Maria? And Rosa? Why haven't I seen them?" Eric asked, gently rubbing his face, his voice tinged with his usual curiosity. Normally, the three of them were always together. From what he'd observed at the camp, Livia, Maria, and Rosa were always walking around together. As soon as he finished speaking, the smile on Livia's face vanished as if erased by an eraser. She lowered her head, looking at the ground. Her dirt-stained boots suddenly seemed more interesting. Her lips were tightly pressed together, as if trying to hold something back. The silence that followed for a few seconds was heavy as a rock. Eric froze. A terrible premonition struck him. He knew instantly… he understood the meaning of this silence too well in this cruel world.
"Rosa was hit in the stomach by shrapnel, and now she's critically injured. As for Maria, she was struck by that big xenos's hammer until her body was almost unrecognizable… She's dead, Erika…" Livia said in a soft, trembling voice, trying to look away, tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke of Maria. Eric was shocked and deeply saddened. She was another one of his friends… and she shouldn't have met such a end… He didn't even want to imagine what she looked like after being struck by that huge hammer… she would have been minced.
"Ah… I understand...." Eric murmured softly.
A wave of sadness surged through his chest. It wasn't a sorrowful outburst, but a heart-wrenching emptiness. Memories from days before heading to the front lines flooded back uncontrollably. The image of the steamy communal shower... how mortified he was... Eric recalled the first time he had to shower naked with the other women in the barracks. He remembered trying to sneak in alone, but the three of them teased him, and somehow he made friends.
But it was Maria, Livia, and Rosani who were the ones who started talking to him in a friendly way. Maria's cheerful laughter and smile still echoed in his memory. The initial awkwardness gradually turned into familiarity. Eric began to relax around them. The time in the shower became one of the few times he felt 'safe' and could release his stress. The three of them would often gossip about the arrogant Arbites or complain about trivial things. Maria's laughter was always the loudest, but today... that laughter was gone. Eric took a deep breath, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. He couldn't cry now. The battle was about to begin, and weakness could mean death.
"I'm sorry...you...you did so well." Eric said softly, reaching out to gently squeeze Livia's shoulder, a clumsy gesture of comfort typical of his less-than-skilled comforter. Livia sobbed, looking up, tears welling up in her eyes, but she nodded and forced a smile.
"Yes...she did...she saved my life so many times...she even laughed before she died," Livia said, her voice trembling slightly but clearly filled with sadness.
"Hmm...of course...she's probably seated on the golden throne now," Eric acknowledged firmly, thinking about the reverence for the Emperor who had sat on the golden throne for 10,000 years, guiding humanity with his light. It was quite similar to Christianity, or perhaps even the same, but evolved...he was thinking something utterly ridiculous. Even though he was still terrified and wanted to hide in some dark corner, Eric tightened his grip on his gun, adjusting his uncomfortable breastplate. Staring straight ahead, this crazy future is utterly awful...
"Hahaha...Yes, she has served and worshipped the Emperor faithfully her entire life. She will surely ascend to the golden throne...but I hope Rosa doesn't follow Maria to the golden throne anytime soon," Livia said, trying to laugh lightly to feel a little better. But when Rosa was mentioned, Eric secretly felt very worried and concerned about her survival. He didn't want to lose another friend.
"You can't visit Rosa now. She's at the medical facility in the rear...but don't worry, the last time I saw her, she only lost a little blood...she's in the doctors' hands now, she'll be alright...don't worry." Livia tried to reassure Eric and herself, but Eric remained uneasy. He didn't know if many of the injured had received treatment yet.
"Okay, soon we'll be attacking the giant elevator that the enemy has seized...it's going to be very dangerous...so, how about we have a drink first?" Eric said, looking at the large elevator appearing in the distance. It's going to be full of enemies, really... Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out something he'd gathered.
"You... just like you... hahaha... I'm taking it!" Livia said, snatching the bottle of liquor from Eric's hand and downing it in three gulps. Eric froze, frowning and pouting slightly in anger. He intended to share it with her, not let her drink it all.
"Why did you do that! What am I supposed to drink? There's only one bottle!" Eric said in a slightly high-pitched voice, his demeanor trying to show his frustration and anger, but it didn't look scary at all; in fact, it was rather cute.
"Oh...don't make that face...I'll buy you another one later, okay? Hahaha *hiccup*" Livia said in a voice that clearly indicated she was getting drunk. Eric could only puff out his cheeks in displeasure. He might not get another chance to drink... Eric looked left and right warily, realizing he might be punished for drinking like this during battle or a break. Or he was afraid someone might harm his friend. He turned to Livia and whispered softly in her ear.
"Hey!...I think we should get out of here...You should find a safe place to rest, Livia." Eric whispered softly enough for Livia to hear but not for others. Livia, now quite drunk, swayed as if to fall, and he had to support her. The alcohol he'd just had was really strong.
"Where are you taking me...? We should drink more...Drink to that girl...Hmm..." Livia said in a groggy, almost incoherent voice. Eric frowned slightly; he wanted to drink too. But what would he drink? Livia had already finished all the liquor he'd gathered.
"Let's go somewhere safer and more secluded..." Eric replied softly. He helped Livia walk to a corner of the ruined building—not exactly secluded, but reasonably safe. He carefully helped her sit down on a relatively flat surface before sitting down himself. He placed his bag down and began preparing his equipment, getting ready for the next battle.
Today had been terrible. He was glad she survived, but also heartbroken that two of his friends were seriously injured and the other had already passed away. He didn't know if he would lose anyone else...or if he himself would die... When would this war end? Eric thought as he removed his helmet, which was positioned beside him, and the uncomfortable breastplate.
Hmph! Eric sighed as he picked up his lassgun and gently wiped the muzzle with a cloth he'd found. At least his weapon was easy to maintain; just wiping it and periodically checking its components was enough. Besides, it looked pretty high-tech, in his opinion.
Eric finished wiping the muzzle of his rifle. He put the cloth back in his pocket and leaned back against the cold, crumbling metal wall. Livia sat beside him, her head slightly tilted, her breathing becoming more regular.
She's asleep, isn't she…?
Eric glanced at her briefly before letting out a soft sigh of relief. At least now he had someone to talk to if she sobered up… and now she was safe. He was about to turn his attention back to the gun in his hand.
Suddenly, Livia stirred. Eric flinched slightly but didn't pay much attention, thinking she was just waking up normally. But before he could say anything, her hand reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"…It's so cold, Maria…" A sleepy murmur escaped Livia's lips before her body leaned closer… closer and closer… and then she hugged him tightly, her arms wrapped around his waist.
"…Don't go anywhere…"
Eric froze, overwhelmed by a strange mix of feelings. It was both a feeling of being invaded and a bizarre, tingling sensation. He was being held in her arms; what was he going to do?
"—Hey, wait…!" His voice was too soft, his hands suspended in mid-air, unsure where to put them.
His heart pounded with shock more than embarrassment; his mind raced, searching for an answer.
Livia buried her face in his chest. Even through the fabric, he could still feel the touch of her cheek. Her warm, steady breaths, like a child finally finding solace. Eric swallowed, his face flushing slightly. He felt an inexplicable strange sensation the moment she buried her face in his chest.
"…I'm not Maria…" he murmured softly, a mixture of embarrassment and fear of waking her. His hand awkwardly lowered, finally resting carefully on Livia's shoulder. He didn't hug her back, just "put it there." Yet, at the same time, he wanted to push Livia away because she was invading his personal space.
Livia stirred slightly, tightening her embrace a little more before muttering something unintelligible. Then… she fell back asleep. He felt tense as she hugged him tighter, and it seemed she was sound asleep, sleeping in his arms. Eric sighed deeply, the tension in his shoulders gradually easing. He simply used his hand to gently push her away and carefully laid her down.
"…She's so heavy…" he muttered to himself softly, glancing left and right, afraid someone might see them. Before quickly packing his things into his bag and preparing for the next battle.
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Day 298, Year 986, 41st Millennium
Upper Hive
Front Line
Temporary Command Center near the front line
"Are you sure of your decision, General?" Chaplain Samael said softly, gazing at the table laden with maps, equipment, and plans. High-ranking officers and other personnel were also observing. Vann, who had stood at the end of the table for three hours since the meeting began, could only stare cautiously at them before sighing and answering frankly:
"I'm afraid it's the best plan... considering the losses we've suffered over the past three to four days. Of the 100,000 soldiers used to capture this elevator, after the battle, only 50,000 to 60,000 remain. Furthermore, we only have about 1,000 armored vehicles and tanks left. Fighting in a city and confined space like this is extremely difficult." Vann spoke softly, seemingly unfazed by the number of lost soldiers. But even more regrettable than the loss of soldiers were the number of tanks and armored vehicles. The losses were too great.
"But if you think your breakthrough plan isn't quite right...it doesn't conform to the Codex Astartes," Chaplain Samael objected, holding up a book. Vann frowned slightly; he didn't know what kind of book that was.
"No, it's quite successful... From our scouting efforts... the enemy has very strong defenses... we can't surround and attack from multiple directions to guarantee victory... but we can concentrate our forces on a single point and gradually break down their defenses... or simply put, I have a plan to use our forces to concentrate and defend a single point," Vann explained, holding up a paper containing a photograph taken by the scouts. The picture showed small defensive structures and fortifications built from scrap metal, fitted with various types of cannons. The only way to penetrate this type of defense is to use high-powered weapons or employ human wave tactics and blitz Krieg, using armored vehicles to break through the defenses.
"I think the plan looks good…" one of the space marines said, still unsure. Vann didn't pay much attention, as the soldier had almost no experience. He was only interested in the space marine's opinion and needed their support.
"What about my plan, sir?" Vann asked, looking at the space marine.
"Hmm… I think it's alright… So let's go with that."