YTSK II: Chapter III
In Universe Date: 7-13 April 2021
Aegea waits for the prisoners to see if they will answer his call to revolution. Fourthirds is the first to bring forth a response: "I support glorious socialist revolution" Aegea shakes his hand. "Welcome aboard, Comrade Fourthirds." Fourthirds is followed by Zed. "Sure", he says. Aegea gives him a high-five. "I'm glad to have you, Comrade Zed." Oak is the third to join. "Yes", he says while saluting Aegea. Aegea gives him a tight hug. "It's good to be fighting with you side by side again after all these years, Comrade Oak. We may have had a fall-out over electoralism, but i want you to know i was never angry with you. I was sad, because I was afraid you'd lost your way." A.S. is the last prisoner to respond. "Hmm... Nah." Aegea looks at him. "So be it. I hope we can meet again someday."
Aegea marches out of the prison, followed by Devon Rowell, Suomi, Oak, Fourthirds, Zed, and the rest of the People's Army of Videomapistan (PAVN). A few days later, Oak feels his phone buzzing in his pocket. "Commissar Aegea, i'm receiving a distress signal." Aegea walks to him, looking at his phone. "On screen", he said. "Hello, this is Commander Kailan speaking. I have been besieged by Mapperdonian forces for 2 months, and i am on the verge of running out of supplies. I am in charge of defending a large Nuclear Silo, and losing it would greatly harm our nuclear abilities. I urgently require military assistance." Oak looks at Aegea - "Shall i respond?" Aegea nods, and Oak begins a call. "Hello, this is Commissar Aegea speaking. I am the leader of the PAVN. The president has deceived you into pursuing an unfounded war of aggression against Mapperdonia, and has left your forces without support. If you agree to join us, i promise to provide the men and material to save your legion from destruction." "Thanks for the offer. I'll talk about it with my subordinates."
Kailan speaks to Borysk and Pleb. Pleb gives an energetic and passionate speech about the evils of secular socialism and the need to stay loyal to the president. Borysk is more warm to the PAVN. "For months, the president has ignored our pleas for assistance, even though he had multiple opportunities to help. I have the impression that the president isn't really interested in winning this war. In fact, i think he NEEDS the war to justify the state of emergency and bolster his authoritarian rule. The war isn't meant to be won, the war is meant to be perpetual. So what's the point of staying loyal then? We'd just be giving the president what he wants, when he's given us nothing. If he isn't going to provide reinforcements and leave us to ourselves, then why shouldn't we forge our own path? I say we join the PAVN."
Kailan weighs his options. After a few hours, he has made up his mind. "Aegea. I am prepared to join the PAVN. However, you first have to destroy the Mapperdonian forces besieging us. They are led by Violet." Aegea agrees. "Men, we're going to save Kailan." Devon Rowell protests. "So we're allying ourselves with this guy now? He killed my family for supporting socialism. I don't like this at all." Aegea doubled down. "I am not asking you to like it, i am asking you to DO IT." Hours later, thousands of PAVN troops charge forwards against the Mapperdonian enemy. The sound of gunfire fills the air. Zed's brigade makes some progress against the enemy, but the Mapperdonians opposing him then set the steppe grass on fire – and that when the heat was already suffocating: 40 degrees celsius. So the grass is burning, black smoke and ash are everywhere, and all PAVN armor and machines are taking fire. Fourthirds and Suomi reinforce Zed, and help him resume his advance. Oak also presses Violet's forces on a different flank. After a few hours, the PAVN comes close to total victory. However, Violet then reveals that he has artillery, and that the PAVN forces are now within his range. PAVN forces take increased fire, and it appears that Violet might turn the tide in his favour.
Taking note of the developing disaster, Aegea gathers a few dozen horsemen and leads a cavalry charge against Violet's artillery. He successfully reaches Violet's artillery and destroys it. However, he is surrounded by enveloping fire and is shot, his corpse falling to the ground. His sacrifice is not in vain: the destruction of the artillery allows the PAVN to regain the iniative and rout Violet's forces. The PAVN has won the battlefield.
DRM enters Kailan's nuclear silo. The two shake hands and spend a few hours discussing their future together, before taking a good night's rest.
In the night, heavy rain and a wild thunderstorm break out. Aegea, who had earlier been presumed dead, regains consciousness. He is badly wounded and begins to slowly crawl his way to the nuclear silo. He reaches halfway before he is struck by an ominous chill going down his spine, feeling as if an evil presence is watching him. He keeps calm and carries on.