CHAPTER III
Count Clavio’s Villa
The Count is still fighting, but he does not have unlimited ammo. Theodora is almost out of ammo but he remains calm and continues shooting the Military Police. “They just keep coming with no end!” the count cried. “Damn it! My love… we are out of ammo…” the count straps Theodora at his back and grabs a hold at one of the dead Military Police’s rifle and starts shooting again. He moves out of cover and charges right to the enemy. He ran out of ammo afterwards. “Count Clavio,” The MP Captain lowers his pistol. “Don’t make this harder for us. Put your weapons down and surrender to us. We have new orders to keep you alive… for now.”
“I’m not surrendering to the Empire! It is in my blood!” the Count cried and unsheathes his sword.
“You stubborn fool!” the MP Captain points his pistol at him. “Then I’ll just report to the Emperor that you committed suicide at the end. How is tha–” the MP Captain was shot in the head before he can finish his sentence. Moments later, the other Military Police were shot. Several Hellfire Missiles hits the BTRs, trucks, and troop transport vehicles.
After the dusts have cleared, the Count heard a sound coming from several helicopter turbines. He looked up and saw the Chinooks. The Chinooks landed and several soldiers came out; the ones that came out of the two Chinooks had Monte Cristo’s insignia at their right shoulder stating that they are his personal soldiers that only listens to his commands, while the ones that came out all wear gas masks but didn’t have Monte Cristo’s insignia.
One of the soldiers wearing the gas mask walks in front of the Count, as the other soldiers secure the perimeter, the soldier wears a grey jumpsuit that covers a formalwear underneath; only showing a small part of the suit, its tie and the collar. “Count Clavio?” the man with the gas mask said, “I am General Nikita Ivanovich Aleksandr of the Advanced Weapons R&D Corps. Monte Cristo ordered us to come to your aid immediately when he learned of your current situation.”
“I am grateful to him. The Emperor knew of my true colours but I didn’t know how he found out.”
“We didn’t know either; right now you are not safe here at the Holy Empire’s territories. We must leave the Holy Empire and go to the secret base atthe Ural Mountains where you can be safe.”
“I’m not leaving General… not without my son. Where is he?”
“Monte Cristo will handle it.”
“Comrade General… ‘Where is my son’?” General Aleksandr hesitates to answer.
“Where is he? I need to know at once!” with that remark the General finally speaks. “Your son has been… captured. But rest assu–”
“Captured?” the Count shouted. “Where did the Empire take him?”
“The Empire brought him to one of the concentration camps along with the rest of our fellow comrades.”
“Fine then, take me to his secret base!”
“Of course, then let’s go to the Ural Mountains.”
“No, take me to Monte Cristo’s Secret Underground Base here in the Philippines. I want to join the assault.” The Count went inside the Chinook without any hesitations.
“I’m sorry Monte Cristo... looks like I have failed to divert his attention.” General Aleksandr said to himself. He looked around for a bit and went inside the Chinook along with the other soldiers.
OMC Secret Underground Base, Philippines
The Chinooks that was dispatched to secure the Count has returned to the Secret Base’s Main Hanger. The Count and General Aleksandr got out of the Chinook they are boarded. When they got off the Chinook it took off along with many more Chinooks and soldiers. “Where is Monte Cristo?” the Count asked General Aleksandr.
“He’s at the Control Centre.”
“Then let’s go there now.” The Count storms off, General Aleksandr tries to catch up. I’m so getting trouble for failing such a simple task to divert the Count’s attention.
At the Control Centre, Monte Cristo and a number of high ranking military officials are looking at the map of the concentration camps.
“Monte Cristo!” the Count shouted as he barged in inside the Control Centre, the other officials were shocked and look at him. “Care to explain to me what happened out there, how did the Emperor know of my true allegiance, and why is my son captured?”
“Take it easy, Count. You’re just having a rough day and don’t worry about your son; we’re already assaulting the concentration camps and rescuing our allies… though the results might make the Emperor knew clearly that they are working with us.”
“That is not enough, Monte Cristo. I want to join the assault; I want to ‘personally’ see my son safe and sound.”
“Let’s not get too rational here, Count. You just got out of a terrible situation and I cannot risk you in the front lines in yo–“
“I do not care, Monte Cristo. I was once a Colonel, I was once renowned Tactician, I had led my men to victory countless times, I am sure that I can bring swift victory than yo–”
Monte Cristo slams his fist at the table before the Count can finish; destroying some models and starts speaking German. “Do you know who are you speaking to? Do you have any idea whatsoever? You have no idea on what I have to go through so I can attain what I have achieved thus far. I have to make the hardest decisions, and I have lost everything I held dear to me! If you think you can just barge in here and brag of you past then you are making a huge mistake. Calm down or I will have you lock in one of our cells.”
The Count went silent; the other people looked at the two with unease. Monte Cristo glared at him. After a while the Count speaks in German, “I am sorry, Monte Cristo. You were right. I just went through something new to me and it had affected me emotionally. But please… send me to the front lines; I just want to see my son safe.”
Monte Cristo glared at him for a while longer, then he smiled. “Of course you can. But on one condition: General Aleksandr shall accompany you in this campaign.”
“I accept the conditions.”
“Good, General Aleksandr, please escort the Count to the front lines… along with your chosen warriors; the Shock Division.”
“My men would be delighted to know that they will be using our new weapons... first hand.”
“Good to hear that.” General Aleksandr bowed and went out with the Count. They boarded a modified Chinook with auto cannon at its nose; it is wider but shorter than a normal Chinook, it also has a hatch at its belly for tactical bombardment using Thermobaric Bombs, because of these modifications it is dangerous to both fly and be a passenger of this Chinook. “We’re going to the front lines in that monstrosity?” the Count cried.
“Do not underestimate Russian Engineering, Count. One of our great engineers, Igor Pachmelnik Zakuskov, designed the ‘Hunchback.’ It served well during the Russo-Imperio War.”
“Igor… I got a bad feeling about him.”
“That’s nonsense! Anyways… let’s get on board now.”
They both got aboard the Hunchback; the Count goes to the cockpit and saw the pilot. “Pilot, are you capable of flying this monstrosity? Does this even fly?” the Pilot looks at the Count; he’s a Russian pilot and has a scar that spans through his face diagonally from his left chin to his right eyebrow. “Don’t ever call her ‘monster,’ I am veteran at flying.”
“But does this even fly?” the Count cried.
“Yes, she flies… no, seriously she does fly.”
“If I die because I am inside this… Hunchback… I’ll hold you responsible.”
“Trust me, I can get you out of here fast, she’s faster than she looks.”
The Count exited the cockpit and saw General Aleksandr and the other soldiers already buckled up tightly. “Count, I save you a seat.” The Count sits near General Aleksandr and buckled up tightly as well. “You seem not confident with this monster?” the Count reached for his canister and drinks some of its contents.
“No, I’m very confident with the Hunchback… but the pilot I am not.”
“Why, who is he?”
“Well… he’s quite… unstable… even more unstable than me.”
The Count was shocked so he even more tightens his suspenders. “Now you’re just making me even more uncomfortable.”
“It is not my fault that they assigned this pilot to us. The other pilots are already flying something else.”
Concentration Camp, somewhere in Bataan
One of Bataan’s town was converted to a Concentration Camp specialized with torturing and executing insurgents and traitors of the Empire. There is only one hour left before the captives are executed at the central plaza. Two of its captives are Sebastian Clavio – the Count’s son; he has several bruises to his face stating that he was tortured, and Julianne – currently Sebastian’s girlfriend. “Sebastian, I’m scared. What’s going to happen to us?”
“Don’t worry, Julianne, my love. We can get through to this. My father is a close friend to the Emperor, I’m sure he’s trying to talk us out of this.”
Sebastian held Julianne tightly in his arms. Father, please help us. Eight hours ago, after Sebastian’s father left them at the villa, two hours later several Military Police sneaks behind them and captured them; the servants were also taken away but to another concentration camp. Sebastian and Julianne cried for help but with no avail. They were brought to the Concentration Camp of Bataan, Sebastian and Julianne were separated when they arrived; He was led inside a building while Julianne was led to a hospital where she helped with the wounded captives. Inside the building that Sebastian was at he went inside a room whose it’s only light is at the centre of the room with a chair; It’s the interrogation room.
He was tied to the chair looking at one direction. “Tell me, Sebastian Clavio. ‘Where did your father go?’” the voice said. “Answer my question.”
“My father told me that he was going to the Emperor, he was summoned by His Imperial Majesty himself.”
“We know that but after he left… he never returned to the villa. We’ve lost detection of his plane after it took off from Pendragon Private Airfield. We never found a trace of it. Isn’t that kind of baffling?”
“I’m pretty sure that there is a rational explanation to that incide–”
“Then tell us what happened and where did he go?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Are you hiding your father from us? Are you one of ‘them’? Are you also a traitor?”
“I don’t think I deserve this kind of inquisition. My family, especially my father, is loyal to the Emperor.”
“Well, what if I told you that ‘we heard rumours that he was and still aiding the insurgents’ he was found talking to many suspected traito–”
“Well, what if I told you that ‘we heard rumours that he was and still aiding the insurgents’ he was found talking to many suspected traito–”
“You have no proof, no witnesses; you just have theories, just conjectures.”
“On the contrary, we have Count Mercer.”
“The Mercer family have hatred to us with a passion. Of course they would accuse us of such things.” The door behind him opened and two men came inside. Then Sebastian was punched numerous times in the face and at his chest. Sebastian was lying on the ground trying to get up but he was being stepped by one of the men. “You think you can get out of this alive?” the man pressed his foot harder. “Then you’re mistaking, you will die along with the other traitors of the Empire in this infernal place.”
Sebastian was then struck by another blow in the head then he was unconscious. “Peponi, get him out of my sight.”
“It will be done, milord.” Then Sebastian was being dragged out of the room. As he was being dragged he regained consciousness but his vision was blurry and he can’t move his entire body just yet. He pictures a man trying to drag him. “Don’t worry, my friend. Everything is going to be alright.” The man said. “I’ll put you to the hospital and get you patched up. Don’t worry I’m not your enemy.” Then Sebastian remained unconscious again.
Many hours have passed, when he finally regained complete consciousness he finds himself at the hospital; at his right side he saw Julianne looking worried. “Julianne,” Sebastian tries to get up. “How did–”
“No, don’t get up. Just rest, I’ve already treated your wounds so all you need to do is rest.”
“Where are we now?”
“We’re at the concentration camp’s hospital.”
“Did they harm you?”
“No they didn’t” she grabbed a hold of Sebastian’s hands. “Are we going to be alright?”
“Have faith to the Eternal Emperor. He’ll guide us to salvation.”
OMC Forward Base, 1000km from the Concentration Camp
The soldiers are all getting their weapons ready for the assault, the Hunchback that the Count, General Aleksandr, and the Shock Division boarded landed hard to the runway. Its passengers quickly got out of the crashed Hunchback. “What the deuce is that kind of flying? I shall have his pilot licence remove from him after this is all over.” The Count checked himself if he’s wounded.
General Aleksandr looked at the Hunchback once again, “Well, at least the Thermobaric Bomb it carries didn’t explode; that counts as something.”
“It was armed?” the Count cried. “So you’re telling me that we were sitting at a bomb, a live bomb?”
“Well, it didn’t go ‘kaboom!’ so it’s technically not a ‘live’ bomb.”
“Where is the command centre? I want to talk to the Commander and get his flying licence removed!”
“Follow me.” General Aleksandr led the Count to the Command Bunker, the pilot responsible for flying the crashed Hunchback was seen laughing maniacally as the two walk inside, the military personnel are there plotting their course of action. The man in charge of the operation was the renowned General Leonid Vasilyevich Zhukov; direct descendant of Marshall Zhukov of the Soviet Union during the Second World War.
General Zhukov saw the Count and General Aleksandr entering; he left the other military officials from planning to greet them. “Count Clavio, Monte Cristo called ahead. And I say you are really courageous when you spoke to him like that. You knew better than to make him angry. The only persons I knew that Monte Cristo let them see his other side are his Generals, especially Aleksandr and me, his close friends, and an addition to the list; you.”
“I didn’t mean to make him angry; I’m just gone out of control when I heard the news that my son was captured and brought to the concentration camps.”
“Well, you’re in luck; we’re planning what strategy we were about to use, because after we rescued the captives the Empire will be experiencing a Civil War once again.”
“Yes, how many years have passed since the last Civil War?”
“I believe it has been seventy years… the Grand Chancellor’s Ascension.”
“Well… that is the birth of the Empire. But the current Emperor just made the Grand Chancellor’s dream crumble.”
“That is why Monte Cristo founded the OMC, to restore the Empire’s former glory.” General Zhukov returns with the other military officials.
General Aleksandr faces the Count and said, “I’ll be with the Shock Division, you can join my assault squad if you like.” Then he walks out of the Command Bunker. The Count joined General Zhukov on planning the course of action. One of the officers points at some parts of the map and said “No, we must first deploy our snipers at these locations to provide overwatch. That area is a good vantage point.”
“General Zhukov, might I suggest we use the gentleman’s tactics on this? This will provide covering fire for our assault forces and they can eliminate the targets that might kill the prisoners.” The Count points out the locations.
“That is a good tactic, but what about our assault forces?” General Zhukov points at the main gate. “This is the only way in and out of the camp; that blasted camp is like a fortress and its entrance is heavily guarded. Unless our men learn how to fly… but we cannot transport them by air, there are too many Anti-Air Batteries.”
“Then use your specialty, General; Tactical Ballistics, use your specialized arsenal to commence a tactical strikes at these locations. We can therefore establish a forward base at this strategic point. From that point onward, both General Aleksandr’s Shock Divisions and General Burgdorf’s army can charge in through the gates that should be destroyed because of your tactical strikes; General Aleksandr’s Shock Divisions will be in charge of neutralizing the AA Batteries, General Burgdorf’s men will be in charge of defending the perimeter. Now because the AA Batteries are neutralized, General Griffon can now use his air transports to safely transport the prisoners here at our forward base. And because the snipers are providing overwatch from the locations the kind Gentleman said before then both our men and the prisoners are covered.”
General Zhukov smiled while looking at the map, “Your reputation as a renowned Tactician lives up to its name.”
“I’m retired but I still have what it takes.”
General Zhukov looked to the other military personnel and said, “Anyone in favour of this strategy say: ‘aye.’” The other military personnel all said ‘aye.’ “Alright, Operator contact Generals Aleksandr, Burgdorf, and Griffon and tell them our course of action.” General Zhukov looked at the Count and said, “Redeem yourself at this battle, show Monte Cristo what you’re capable of.”
“I intend to.” With that said, the Count left the Command Bunker and looked for General Aleksandr, he was with his Shock Division; they are preparing to move out so they’re loading their rocket rifles; a Valerya Aleeksev's 30mm Rocket Rifle. The Shock Troopers, including General Aleksandr, are all look the same so the Count is having a hard time finding him, but he knows a trick to find him. “Shock Troopers, remove your gas masks please.” And they did so, except for one who is at the back tending his rocket rifle. “Ah, there you are General.”
“How the hell did you find me?”
“You’re the only person who didn’t remove his gas mask… why won’t you remove your gas mask anyways?”
General Aleksandr didn’t talk, he just stares at the Count; the mask he wears makes him look like he’s just looking at him aimlessly. “Forget I just said that, General… have you received what we will be doing?” the Count scratches his head, General Aleksandr nodded in response. The Count felt uncomfortable so he bowed to him. General Aleksandr also nodded as the Count walked away. Well… that was disturbing. Moments later after the Count left the Shock Division a soldier that wears the same attire as the General approached him. “What was that all about?” the solder grabs the General’s Rocket Rifle.
“I don’t know, General Aleksandr. I assumed that he was prying to your secrets.” The solder that approached the Shock Division was actually General Aleksandr, and the man that the Count was talking to was not actually the General.
The Count returned to the Command Bunker and saw that General Zhukov staring at the large screen. As the Count approaches the General, Monte Cristo’s face appears on the screen in which he hides behind the door. “Ah, General Zhukov, what is the current situation?”
“We are about to commence the attack, milord. Just to let you know; Count Clavio formulated our strategy and I say you have my approval.”
“So he’s redeeming himself?” Monte Cristo raises his right eyebrow, “Very well, when all of this is over he will have a place at the inner circle.”
“Understood, we are about to commence the operation in five minutes.”
“Very well, save our fellow Imperial Citizens and let us remove the current Emperor and replace him with someone more… fitting for the position, shall we?”
General Zhukov bowed and the screen changed to something else; the live footage of the concentration camp. The Count entered the room and walks toward General Zhukov. He asked the General as if he didn’t heard a thing from the previous conversation. “General, when shall we strike?”
“We will be attacking in five minutes; I believe it is wise that we are to board the troop transport, we will be–”
“I’m sorry,” the Count interrupted. “You said ‘we’ are going to board a troop transport?”
“Yes, I will be joining you in the front lines.”
“But you’re a General, I think you are much more needed here than on the front lines.”
“Oh please, General Aleksandr spearheads every battle himself and I don’t hear you complaining.”
“Wait, he ‘spearheads every battle’?”
“You didn’t know?”
“How could I know?” the Count cried. “I only met him during the events at my villa; I met him wearing a mask and suits like the rest of his men. Of all the time I’m with him during the past hours I never saw him removing his mask. What’s up with that?”
General Zhukov went silent; the Count can feel a sense of awkwardness in the surrounding area. “You’ll know when it’s time but for now let’s get going to the field.” The Count followed General Zhukov outside the Command Bunker and went to the troop transport along with some of Monte Cristo’s personal soldiers. The armies are stationed at the points where the Count said they should be positioned and the snipers are at the vantage points also suggested by the Count. They move out of the troop transport and goes to the command tent. “Count Clavio,” General Zhukov shows an old radio communicator to the Count, “Say the word.”
The Count nodded and grabs the radio. “Commence Tactical Bombardment at points: 43, 51, 68, 69, and 91; MIRV-ICBM launchers designate the missiles to the coordinates given to you during the briefing; Snipers kill your designated targets, remember: priority one is to kill enemy soldiers near the prisoners, priority two is to provide overwatch for our ground forces.” The Count took a deep breath and looked at the battlefield; the orders he has given were followed spot on, he looked at General Zhukov and gave him the radio. He nodded and gets down with the rest of the army; some of the soldiers gave him a bulletproof vest and a rifle. The General looked at his men then talks through the radio. “Alright soldiers of the True Emperor; commence the attack!”
The soldiers all rushed through the smoke and shouted “for Monte Cristo, for the Eternal Emperor.” The smoke clears and the shooting begin. True to the Count’s orders; the gates were destroyed and paved way inside the concentration camp. The snipers all have marks on their targets and killed the enemy soldiers nearest to the prisoners first.
General Aleksandr and his men went inside the compound first and starts shooting at the enemy with their rocket rifles; everything they hit was ripped to shreds. They ploughed their way to the AA Batteries as the Count suggested they must do, and they did so; the anti-air capabilities of the compound were dropped to zero thus paving way for General Griffon’s air units to land into the compound. The tanks crushed the pillars supporting the gates are destroyed for them to fit inside.At that point on they have secured the compound.
The Count and Monte Cristo’s army has secured the concentration camp that held captives all of the Imperial Citizens loyal to their cause, the soldiers defending the camp are killed but some of the soldiers guarding it surrendered and offered to defect to their side. Monte Cristo was there overseeing the aftermath of the battle along with his personal guards. “What are we going to do with them, Monte Cristo?” the Count asked Monte Cristo as he took off his vest.
Monte Cristo looked at General Aleksandr and said calmly. “Aleksandr, you handle them.” Monte Cristo looked at the soldiers willing to switch sides. “If they want to join our cause… it is up to you to ‘convert’ them.”
“It will be done, milord.” General Aleksandr said then he walks forward to the soldiers. “If you want to switch sides to then you must come with me.” The soldiers all nodded and followed General Aleksandr to his personal transport and left with the soldiers.
The Count looked at the prisoners; trying to find his son. “Monte Cristo, is there any sight of my son?”
“Yes, I can sense his presence… look at building 4C.”
“Thank you.” The Count bowed and rushed towards building 4C as Monte Cristo said. When he opened the door he found no one at the first floor so he went to the second floor but with no avail, he went to the third and fourth floor but both are deserted. Finally he finds his way to the door leading to the rooftop; he didn’t get his hopes up but he opened the door slowly. When he opened the door he saw his son and Julianne lying down while they embrace each other. The Count ran towards them, Sebastian. His son opened his eyes and saw his father then he wakes up Julianne; they are both well and happy for the sight of the Count in front of them to their rescue.
“Let’s get you both out of this infernal place.” The Count said, Sebastian and Julianne both nodded. “I need an air transport above building 4C… I’ve found them.” The Count starts to shed tears in his eyes. “They are well.”
“It will be done, Colonel.” The voice in the radio said that both Sebastian and Julianne heard.
“We’re safe, my love.” Sebastian said to Julianne. “We’re saved.”
The Count kneeled then hugged them both. “Father,” Sebastian cried. “I just want you to know, the Mercer family said bad things about our fam–”
“None of that is important now, what’s important is that you are safe… you both are.” Then a Chinook was flying overhead and landed at the building.
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