Tense was the only word that sprung to mind to describe the atmosphere tonight.

The command tent was filled with the senior members of our broken Republic. Hailey called for this assembly after bringing Julius and I up to speed about the camp over dinner. We went over some light details on my plan to retake the city of Tolin, and she insisted that she bring everyone important in.

All of those ‘everyones’ were now making hushed small talk while we waited for Hailey and Mitchell to show up. They had left a few minutes ago to get one final person, who they insisted should attend because she had helped solve some important issues in the camp.

I recognized almost everyone in the room, save a few members of Hailey's Divisionals in attendance.

Standing around the central table were two members of the Consulate Court, Yenifer Lewis and Liam Byrant. Along with them were four Ministers, Jacob Hay, the Minister of Agriculture. Hannah Fuller, Minister of Justice. Yuji Tsuki, Minister of Health. Ridwan Bashir, Minister of State.

These were the same people in the meeting that our arrival interrupted...

Whoops.

Not like the Consul ever gets much done anyway, So I was sure it made no meaningful difference that we pushed their meeting back.

Scattered around the rest of the room were a few members of Mitchell’s scouting party, Mei Devins, Aeko Monroe, and Murphy Pearson. Hanna Vynn was also present, though she looked disinterested and had found a seat along the back wall and was chatting with some other people I didn’t know.

A silence fell over the room as Hailey returned. She and Mitchell entered with a small girl following behind them. I couldn’t really see her from across the room, her head was down and her face was obscured by a hooded cloak. Mitchell and the mystery girl stopped just past the entryway and a small group of heavily armored guards took position just behind him, preventing any entrance to the tent.

Or exit, for that matter.

Hailey took her place at the head of the table and made an announcement.

"This call-to-order is designated as highly-restricted. All members are sworn to keep any details discussed here to themselves."

She kept her serious demeanor and continued, "Anyone who does not adhere to this will be punished under Divisional Doctrine judication to the highest degree."

She relaxed her shoulders and took a deep breath, "I understand that some members here are not fully familiar with Divisional practices and the restrictive lifestyle that comes with our service. But these are times of great strife and to maintain order all of you are going to have to learn quick and follow orders."

That last part was aimed at the consulate and other civilian members in attendance.

She took her seat and placed her arms in her lap, "With that out of the way, please be seated. At ease."

I took a seat next to Hailey. Julius took one across from me, facing the tent’s entrance.

Hailey gave me a glance before beginning again, "Some of you may have been present when she first arrived, but I’d like to formally acknowledge the presence of Commander Airis Vanixi—"

A loud clatter rang out as something metal hit the floor, followed by a loud gasp of surprise.

I turned around to find the source of the interruption. The small girl that had arrived with Hailey and Mitchell was pushing her way through the crowd. Two of the guards started to move to prevent her from reaching us, but Mitchell stopped them.

In all the commotion, her hood had fallen down. Beautiful long crimson red hair came down around her. The same crimson red as my own hair. My eyes shot up to look at her face, staring back at me was my younger sister, Rias. Without another thought I was on my feet. My chair crashed to the floor behind me.

"Airis!" the girl called out. She collapsed into me and I wrapped my arms around her in a tight embrace.

"Rias!? How are you here? When did you get here? Are you okay?"

My questions were fired in rapid succession, with no time between them to let Rias respond. I turned quickly on my heel to face Hailey.

"Why didn’t anyone tell me my sister was here—didn’t you think that this would be something important!?"

Hailey’s expression looked like she was caught by surprise as much as I was. Her hands came up quickly in defense.

"Hey, whoa—I, no—We had no clue she was your sister!" she turned to look at Mitchell for help, "Right Luke!? Tell her we didn’t know!"

Mitchell frantically clambered up from his seat. His arms flailed about as he tried to point at Rias and Hailey.

"Listen, Commander Airis, we had no idea. Rias turned up at the old outpost with some others in a refugee caravan. We were packing the supplies and she mentioned that she had a background in alchemy. I asked her to help take down the alchemical workshop and set it back up, here at the camp."

Rias was still clinging on to me, and in between a few soft cries I could hear her muffled voice, "Luke and Hailey took me in. I didn’t really know who to trust—So I never told anyone who I was, just my name."

My mind was racing. My first thoughts were ones of relief—but then I regained some focus and realized we were still in the middle of a command meeting.

Oh little sister, I was worried about you. But you’re safe. Praise the Celestials.

Honestly, I had expected the worst. None of us knew if anyone who was left behind was safe or not. If Rias made it here, I wondered where our mother ended up…

I shook my head.

I relaxed my death gaze and got my mind back in the moment. The members of the assembly were all sitting here watching my family drama unfold. I could interrogate Mitchell and Hailey later.

With Rias still clutching to me, I turned us around so I’d be facing the meeting members. Rias was shorter than I was by a fair amount. Though I’m pretty sure she grew an inch or two since I last saw her. She was about the same height as Hailey now.

"My apologies for the drama. Consulates and Ministers, it is good to see you all again. Commander Brooks has briefed me on the status of the camp and your varied concerns and recommendations."

"To get this assembly back on track, I’ll take over for a moment if you don’t mind Airis."

I nodded, "All yours, Hailey."

Hailey clapped her hands together and everyone’s attention snapped from Rias and I, to her.

"Okay. Listen up everybody! As of tonight, Commander Airis Vanixi is formally recognized by myself and the members of the Consulate as the acting High-Regent. Effective immediately she will be recognized as the High-Commander of the Vanixian Republic."

The Divisional soldiers stood at attention and saluted, arms tight across their chest. The abruptness of it startled Rias and she tightened her grip on me. I placed a hand on her head and held her close.

"At ease everyone, please. Let’s keep the formalities limited for now so we can get through this expeditiously."

Hailey continued on, "Tomorrow morning all sectors are ordered to start breakdown procedures. As I said before, this is restricted information and you are only authorized to disclose details to those with proper clearances. With that said, Ministers and any Divisionals below the rank of Knight are clear to leave."

‘Clear to leave’, was just a polite way of saying ‘you’re not allowed to stay for the rest of the meeting’.

All members who were ‘cleared to leave’ left the command tent, leaving the Consulate members, Mitchell’s scouting party, Hanna, and the few other soldiers I wasn’t familiar with yet.

I shuffle-walked Rias to an empty seat near mine and sat her down. I sat down and looked at Julius, who was now giving me a stupid look.

Oh good, I can’t wait to hear what sarcastic and dumb things he has to say about all of this.

With the remaining group seated and attentive, I began, "Here’s the deal, we’re all keen to stay alive. Nobody here is looking to sign up for a suicide mission like mounting an attack on Axio. We need to get reorganized and resupplied. Our aim right now is to get a permanent base of operations and get our footing back…"

I let my declaration settle for everyone, and then dropped the bomb, "Our goal for a permanent base, is the old Empire’s port city of Tolin, in the south."

A rush of jumbled words came as everyone had something to say all at once. I raised my arm and the table quieted down.

"I’m aware of the stigma surrounding the city. I also acknowledge the concerns of moving into territory that fell under the Apocalypse. But we do not have another option. You’ve seen the state of things here. We cannot survive in the camp another month. There are no other options, there are no other places for us to go."

I brought out my map and laid it out on the table. I had scrawled a basic route to Tolin, detailing the mountain pass and the vast expanse of the Southern Plains.

"I doubt anyone here was around when Tolin fell, but it’s not a simple history. Those of us who are alumni of VxA know the bare details, but my father had a special interest in the city."

Special interest indeed…

My father said that the fall of Tolin was the fulcrum that gave way to the fall of our Empire as we knew it, which ultimately led to the formation of the three republic Triumvirate government in Axio.

Rias had a pained look on her face at the mention of our father, but I continued on, "It is a nightmare-level kind of history. I know Tolin is large enough to house a group our size, and would have the infrastructure we need to get back into the fight fast."

"Nightmare status is putting it lightly, High-Regent." a woman spoke up. Mei Devins, one of Knight-Lieutenant Mitchell’s team members. She continued, "We’re talking about a city that fell in a single night. The population was decimated by monsters called ‘Terror Demons’, and that name doesn’t give them the due they deserve."

"You’re right. But with any luck in the forty-plus years since the city fell, those demons have moved on and an all-out assault isn’t going to be necessary."

Julius cut in, "Even if there is some sort of monster presence in the city, we’ll be prepared. When Tolin fell, humanity had barely a single skirmish with monsters. The Divisional Armies were created as a response to that threat. Airis and I propose the forming of a vanguard party with our best people. With the addition of supportive parties we can form a coalition force and take on whatever horrors may face us."

I gave Hailey a nod and she stood, "I’m ordering the disbandment of scouting parties seven and twelve. Mei and Luke of scouting party seven, and Alcotts and Jameson of scouting party twelve will be redeployed to the Vanguard team. Along with myself, High-Protector Julius, and High-Commander Airis."

Devins, Alcotts and Jameson had been introduced to Julius and I before the meeting started.