"What do you think?” Colonel Marie, leader of Thunderbolt Battalion, asked.

Captain Aziz stared at the giant board in front of them, which was displaying up-to-date pictures and sounds about the conversation between the Constellation Scorpio and the Human God up until a few minutes ago, and rubbed his temples. “I think something’s up with the East. Our reports about their state of affairs seem to be grossly off the mark.”

“Maybe the East wanted their third Territory back,” said Marie. “They should learn to accept their losses — look at us! We didn’t say anything when the Worldshaper took World’s End.”

“Purely because it was a wasteland. And Liamar did occupy a good number of cities from the Southern Assembly before being sent away by the other great gods,” Aziz replied. “It was nothing short of luck that landed us in our current state. And besides, we’ve been fighting for a long time. Our troops are the most hardboiled of all.”

Discussions about the two’s words were still on-going all around him. This viewing location was mostly filled up by the few beastfolk that had survived the Second Extermination. Their words, therefore, were centred around the Second Extermination themselves, creating conversations that were rather dispiriting.

“Listen to the other beastfolk,” said Marie. “It’s odd.”

The captain nodded. “The Human God didn’t even make an apology about what he just did, but almost everyone here doesn’t seem to even blame him for the Second Extermination. In fact…”

“No one’s even trying to hold the perpetrator accountable,” Marie finished. She looked at Aziz, who could see the horror in her eyes, and her hands shivered lightly. “What is going on? This is…unbelievable.”

The captain thought back to Scorpio’s confession. “Did you remember? That part about where the Constellation said that he and the others had their perceptions warped and twisted?””

“You think it’s happening to us too?” The colonel frowned. “That’s very possible. But why are we not affected by this?”

Captain Aziz looked around nervously, a corner of his mind occupied by fear. “Let’s get out of here first. We’ll gather Thunderbolt Battalion, and see if the same changes that occurred here happened elsewhere too.”

Instructions from above had been passed down. Beastfolk in the military were split up and assigned different viewing locations, to prevent a gathering of them from rioting — and now that the captain had viewed the Constellation’s words, he knew that the brass was at least somewhat aware of what the content of Scorpio’s speech was about. In smaller numbers, the beastfolk who were part of the military wouldn’t be that inflamed, but now, the problem was that the beastfolk Aziz had seen were too accepting, too calm.

Colonel Marie spoke into her Radio artefact as the two returned to Thunderbolt’s barracks. Their barracks were a rather new construction — in the past, the battalion had set up camp wherever they went, since they were a highly mobile force. However, with the unit now tasked with aerial defence in the South, it made more sense to give them a more concrete living space. At this time of the year, rain came once every three days or so, something that would eventually wear out the tents after a while.

Squads of men continued to streak into the parade square as minutes flew by. Some of them were clearly confused by the sudden orders to return, but as the captain swept his gaze around, he could sense an undercurrent of fear within their eyes.

Colonel Marie took a step forward, and the noise began to die down. “Gentlemen and ladies, I’m going to ask you all a question or so. If you agree, step to your left. If you disagree, raise your hand. You are to act based on your instincts alone. Am I clear?”

There was a moment of confused silence, and then a chorus of “Yes, ma’am” filled the square.

Marie smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t ask you anything particularly sensitive. It’s with regards to the things you watched earlier, that is all. Got it?”

“Yes ma’am!”

“Okay. Be ready to move. I’m going to ask a question now,” said the colonel. “After hearing what the Human God said, do you agree that nothing can be done about the Second Extermination?”

Entire squads of hands shot up into the air, but three groups stepped towards the left indeed. At first glance, Aziz immediately recognised them as the only company that had been left behind when Thunderbolt went off to escort the diplomats. This…is too much of a coincidence.

An uproar broke out when the ones with their hands up noticed that there were three platoons that didn’t raise their hands, but before the commotion could escalate, the colonel raised her voice.

“Silence!” Her voice, though not as loud as the others, had an instant effect on the battalion. “This is not their fault! Officers, we’ll be having a meeting in ten minutes for now. You are to relay my words to your companies privately afterwards. Under no circumstances are any altercations to happen, or I will take care of the perpetrators personally.”

Marie looked around and nodded. “Company and platoon commanders, you have ten minutes to make sure your men don’t do anything, then report to my office for a briefing.”

She turned away and walked towards her office. The others looked at each other in consternation, and then headed towards their men. Captain Aziz narrowed his eyes somewhat, before approaching Delta company’s officers, who, like their men, hadn’t raised their hand.

Nervousness creased their faces as the captain approached, but he nodded with a small smile at them.

“Schnee, Eloise, Caroline and Romulus.” The captain addressed Delta Company’s officers with a genial wave of his hand. “I understand that you might be a bit confused, but I reassure you that Colonel Marie will clear your name in due time. In fact, that is the purpose of her asking the officers for a meeting later. I’ll see you at her office later.”

The commander and vice-commander of Delta Company exchanged glances. “Yes, sir.”

“Excellent,” Aziz replied. “You should make your own arrangements to assure the men under your command. Make it quick, and then attend the meeting. Dismissed.”

The captain turned away, he himself also headed towards the colonel’s office.