Hello and sorry for not uploading for a long while. Had to finish up a lot of school work and be involved in several different events and groups. They were fun at least, well if you got a camera and you're on the photography/video committee then you got complete access. HA HA HA HA HA. Anyways on with Guilty Zero!

Disclaimer: ... YOU KNOW THE DRILL!

Chapter 14: Preparation

A few hours later after the messenger arrived, the advance party of the army arrived and stared setting stakes and tents for the rest of the army for when they come outside the walls of the Academy. The students watched from inside as more soldiers came into the make-shift camp from nearby lands.

Agnes was part of the advance but went inside the Academy grounds instead of staying outside. "We'll be needing a room to convert into a War Room." She addressed to Osmond as she walked up to him.

"You can use my office." Osmond then turned to the staff that he had asked Colbert to gather. "I want all of you to gather the students to the mess hall. We'll be needing to make some announcements." The staff dispersed to do the Headmaster's bidding. "Marteau stay here." Osmond called out to the chef. "I understand that there's a maid whose family lives in Tarbes. Take care of her until we get news of any survivors." Marteau nodded and went back to the servant quarters to inform them of the recent happenings.

Henrietta arrived a few moments later with soldiers from the Palace and headed towards the War Room. "What is the situation?" she asked her advisors as she entered inside.

"Reconquista is using Tarbes as a foothold to take the rest of Tristain. They're sending troops from Albion and from our scout reports they currently have five warships, over 5000 troops and around 250 mages situated at Tarbes." One of the advisor reported. "We currently have five warships to match, around 4000 troops and 120 mages gathered here. Also five warships, 4500 troops and 250 mages are heading towards Tarbes. We more than outnumber their forces already even without taking in account of our reserve or reinforcements coming from Germania."

"How long will the force heading towards Tarbes arrive?" Henrietta asked.

"A little after mid-day tomorrow Your Highness."

"Alright then, we'll leave at dawn and arrive at Tarbes around the morning. Our forces will engage the enemy and hold out till mid-day so the second force can reinforce and relive combat lines." Henrietta ordered planning out her strategy.

"That is an excellent strategy Your Highness. I'm not sure why we needed to come." Many of the advisors nodded their head in agreement some wishing to go home.

"This is just preemptive planning. I still require your help to organize and direct the second force for I can still not do that all myself." Henrietta countered. "Now lets organize our first offensive line."

XxXGZXxX

In the mess hall, all of the students had been gathered by the staff and conversed among themselves about Albion's declaration of war. Osmond entered the mess hall and headed towards the front of the hall.

"As you have all heard Albion has declared war on Tristein and the Tristeinain army is using the Academy as a rally point to head towards Tarbes. The Academy has already sent messages to every one of your families to send transport to take you all home in three days' time. If your family is not here at that moment then the Academy will use all of its resources to ensure that everyone goes home." Osmond announced to the students.

"Well I for one am not simply going home." a voice said from the gathering of students. All heads turned towards the source to lay eyes on Guichi. "I'm going to join the army."

"You are most certainly are not Mr. Gramont!" Osmond yelled at the boy. "You are still just a boy."

Guichi stood up. "But I'm also a noble of Tristein and a Tristeinian. Protecting my country is a duty that I was born with and is one that I wish to uphold." After hearing this many other boys started standing up with him.

"I think I may be able to help all of you with that." All heads turned to the entrance to see one of the military advisor standing at the doorway. "We may have outnumbered the enemy but it wouldn't hurt to have a few more wands at ready. Although you will be placed in the rear."

"Any position that will help protect Tristein will do." Guichi said as he started walking out of the mess hall along with the others that stood with him.

Unknown to them as they were walking out the advisor cracked a slight grin. Once we're done destroying your army, you'll be fighting for Reconquista after we brake every single one of you in.

XxXGZXxX

Henrietta walked out of the war room exhausted then saw her childhood friend. "I'm sorry Louise."

"For what? You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one that need to apologize."

"Apologize for what Louise?" Henrietta asked.

"For forcing the Princess to take her childhood friend with her against her will." Louise answered firmly.

Henrietta tear up and walked towards Louise wrapping her arms around her friend. "Apologize accepted. Thank you for being by my side Louise."

"We made a promise to look out for each other didn't we Henrietta?"

"We did Louise," Henrietta took off her Water Ruby ring and gave it to Louise.

"Princess?"

"Please Louise, keep it as a sign of our friendship. You're a loyal friend and I'm grateful for that,"

XxXGZXxX

Marteau finally calmed down Siesta and put her on one of the cots so she could get some rest. The chef sighed and walked towards the back of the storeroom and opened a hidden circular room behind the stone walls. He walked towards one of the wardrobes that lined the circular room and opened it laying eyes on an enchanted silver suit of heave plate armor with a crest on the chest plate and a broadsword that he never thought that he would have to see again.

"Going to put that back on commander?" a voice came from behind him.

Marteau turned around to see one of the servants and one of the maids, both of them were senior staff members hired around the same time as Marteau. "You don't need to come with me you know. The former king ordered us to live out the rest of our as we see fit."

"We're Tristein's Secret Anti-Mage Team." The servant, who was older than Marteau, had a medium build with a sharp face and black hair in dread locks, opened his wardrobe revealing white colored light armor bearing the same crest Marteau has on his armor, a white robe with many places to hold throwing knives that were hanging from the inside, and several slim swords. "The former king treated us well while we were secretly in his service, maybe even too well. His daughter really takes up his ideals, we felt like that we have to see his will through to the end."

The last maid, a young looking girl with long raven black hair who always wore a disinterested expression on her face, simply nodded and opened her wardrobe revealing leather armor and a white cloak. Her weapons were unknown to the others, for example there were strange green colored balls with a ring connected to it, but one looked like a musket but was made of metal and had a telescope on top. "We're going with you, whether you like it or not. Even if you lock us in a room we'll track you down." She said in a flat tone.

"You all think that you could keep this from the rest of us?" All three of them turned around and saw that some of the other staff had entered in their hidden room. "We knew that you three were no ordinary people like us by the way you carry yourselves. We never bother to ask since you've been caring towards us all and that there was a reason to keep it secret. Some of us are volunteering to go and before you can say no, Marteau you said to all of us that we'll survive if we band together and look out for each other. Siesta's hurting and we want to make it stop."

"All of you are the most stubborn staff I've ever met." Marteau sighed once again as he reached his decision. "Tristein's First Anti-Mage Squad get ready to suit up in the morning, we're going to make our grand debut."

XxXGZXxX

Shu was walking towards Colbert's laboratory as many thoughts were going through his head. Should I really leave? I spent so little time here yet I already know so many people here. I could help fight the war but what Henrietta said is still right. This isn't my fight this isn't even my world, I don't belong here. I should go home to Inori.

Shu winched as a sharp pain went through his head as he thought of his love's name. "Hey partner are you okay?" Derf asked sensing his partner's pain.

"I'm okay Derf." then another thought came to Shu. "Hey Derf I know we haven't been to getter for long but can I ask you a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"When I go back to my world can you…"

"Say no more." Derf interrupted. "You sound as if you're on your deathbed. But sure, I'll help out. Lay it on me partner." Shu took Derf off of his back and pulled out his void.

"Well." Derf said as his armor body finished forming. "I think it's best if I went to see that scary musketeer lass first, don't want to be mistaken for an intruder." Derf picked up his sword and strapped it around his waist. "Live an easy live when you get back cause you've lived a hellish one already." With that Derf ran off to find Agnes.

"Aha hello Shu." Colbert said as the boy entered his lab. "I'm finished creating the amount of gasoline to fill the plane and I've might have made some extra in my excitement." the man said bashfully. "Are you ready to go back to your world when the eclipse arrives?"

Shu gave Colbert a slight smile. "Yes, I'm ready."

Loop 7

"We can take an Antonov transport plane we got from the Russians and a Type 10 tank. Of course Ayase's Endlave and a trailer along with rations, weapons, ammunitions, and repair parts will be a want and need." Shibungi said as he read off of a report he had in his hands. "Now for who is actually going. I'm not going, Argo is the head of our military, and Tsugumi needs to stay to direct information."

"But then who'll be my handler?" Ayase asked as she heard that her friend and handler wouldn't be going with her.

"Actually." Shota spoke up scratching the back of his head. "I've read the manual and been practicing. I know I'm going to be new at being a handler but if you would."

"Don't worry you'll be great." Tsugumi said as she slapped him on the back. "I've seen you practice and I have to say that you're a natural at it. Ayase you'll be in great hands, not as good as me of course."

"Hey who said I couldn't go." Argo said joining in the conversation. "The guys are doing fine without me yelling at them all the time. There some new recruits that aren't doing anything, so I can get those lazy bums to join us. Plus I was the one who wimped out first."

"What about you two?" Shibungi asked turning to Yahiro and Kanon.

"I don't know." Kanon answered.

"I'm not." Yahiro answered standing up to leave the room.

"Alright then, you three are going into the eclipse tomorrow. Argo you grab those recruits that you mentioned and get them to load the cargo." Shibungi said finishing the meeting.

Halkeginia

It was nearing dawn and the Tristein army at the Academy cleaned up camp and are setting up their formation to march towards Tarbes and engage Reconquista forces.

Henrietta was standing on the bow of the lead warship with Louise and Agnes by her side. Derf leaning on the railing as the soldiers load themselves on to the warships. "Are you okay Princess?" Louise asked Henrietta.

"Don't worry Louise I'm fine. I just wish that it wouldn't have come to this. Agnes are the troops ready?"

"Nearly Your Highness, all but two warships are loaded."

"Then signal the ships to prepare to take off." Agnes nodded and signaled the captain to prepare the ship for takeoff.

Osmond looked out his window as he watched all five warships fly off towards Tarbes. "Founder Brimir bring them all back safely." But he was an old man and had his fair share of fighting, he knew that after today he might not see some of the students ever again.

XxXGZXxX

"Looks like they already left." one of the staff members that volunteered said. They number twenty seven including the Anti-Mage Squad and they're standing in front of the deserted camp.

"What? Weren't they suppose to leave in the morning like always?" Marteau asked confused.

"It has been years since we were in service Marteau." the servant said. "Perhaps dawn was the new wake up time for soldiers now."

"Then what are we to do?"

In another part of the Academy Shu and Colbert were preparing the Zero for takeoff.

"This machine and the gasoline has given me so many ideas." Colbert said as he examined the plane for what he thought would be the last time. "I wish that I had time to examine it but you need it to get back to your world."

"I'll miss this world." Shu said as he was checking the gauges. "Compare to my world this world is almost normal, other than that magic exist here."

Both suddenly heard the sound of a horse galloping towards them and wondered why one was still around. Colbert turned to see the rider getting off his mount and running towards him. "Where is the army?" the rider asked Colbert.

"They already left for Tarbes at dawn. What seems to be the problem?"

"We just learned that a couple nobles in the military advisory are part Reconquista and are giving false reports! The real size of their forces at Tarbes are 27 warships, 20000 troops, and 1500 mages! It's not a landing force it's an invasion force and the army is heading towards them! They'll be completely destroyed!" the rider shouted out and collapsed to his knees.

"What do you mean?!" Shu and Colbert saw Marteau running towards the rider in his silver armor.

"Marteau, what are you doing? Where did you get that armor?" Colbert asked the chef. 'Isn't that the late king's hidden crest? Why does Marteau have it?'

"No time for that now, we need to get the horses and ride fast to Tarbes!" Marteau said turning towards the stables.

"That's a day and a half trip, you'll never be able to catch up to them in time! Also the army took all of the horses!" Colbert pointed out.

Shu went into deep thought, 'Everyone is going to die. I can save them but there's home.' Reaching to a decision he jumped out of the Zero fighter and walked towards Marteau.

"Wait Shu, where are you going?" Colbert asked the boy. "Aren't you going home, to your world?

"We're the only ones who knows of this and we have to do something."

"But even if all of you go you'll still be outnumbered. Beside the point, how are you planning on getting there?"

"Even so, if there is something I can do to make a difference than I will. As for getting there, can you bring the remaining gas to the large vault?" Colbert tried to think of a rebuke but couldn't so he went to do what Shu asked.

"Hey, you're not the only one that wants to go." Marteau said pointing towards the volunteering staff. "We're not running away from something as small as being outnumbered."

"Don't worry, if you want to go I'll take you with me." Shu said to the chef.

"Then how are you planning to get us all to Tarbes? We don't have any horse to pull the carts." one of the staff said.

"We'll be using horseless carriages." Shu said using the oldest term he knew for an automobile.

A/N Time!

Was the equipment I gave Funeral Parlor a bit much? I gave them a plane that can transport 150 tons along with the most advance tank in the Japanese Self-Defense Ground Force and their normal equipment. Also I really feel like Marteau could have a better role to play, it's always the most unsuspecting person with the most badass job.