[FFML] [Fanfic][Ranma / X-COM] The Road to Cydonia Chapter 22

[Justin Wagner]

For six years, mankind has waged a Secret War against an enemy from
Beyond the Stars. The UNETCO timetable moves ever forward, but a new
complication has arisen as the alien forces in the Far East surge out in
unexpected numbers and with surprising fury. After the grueling
Operation Winter Triangle, and the resulting assault on the Sirius
Conspiracy, the two squads take a few moments of rest between missions.
While Shampoo and Mousse take a moment to seek out the exiled Amazon
Perfume, Cologne finds her talents put to good use aiding the alien
cause.

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The Road to Cydonia

Chapter XXIV
Once Upon a Time in China

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Written by:
Capn Chryssalid
jbraveboy at gmail.com

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China, 1864

The valley shook with the sound of bells, heralding their return. Among
the outlying villages, curious townspeople and eager guards came out to
line the road and watch as they limped back home. They were a long
awaited band, small but blood-soaked, away from tribal lands for several
years. Their armor was well polished, but clearly bore the abuse of many
battles; their colorful clothes were mended and uncouth, with off color
patches and stitches holding it all together. Borne on their backs and
amid their other Spartan luggage were weapons, both their own, and those
collected as battlefield trophies.

Cologne walked with the aid of a staff at the head of her company. Her
left leg still stung, but she could feel that it would recover fully in
time. It would likely have healed already, had she not needed to walk
halfway across China. Now, finally, they were almost home. Along the
road she could see other Amazons: women assigned to garrison and protect
the outlying towns and villages. Some were her age; all stared at her
with wide eyes. None of those women spoke, though the other villagers
felt free to quietly mutter amongst themselves.

Soon the weary cadre left the village behind, and entered a flat expanse
of rice patties encapsulated within a ring of mist covered mountains. An
excited murmur rose up among the other women, and one even had to reign
in her horse. They could almost see the watch towers that radiated
outward from the hidden Amazon village itself. The misty haze seemed to
grow thicker as they approached, and then she could see shapes standing
on both sides of the path.

Warrior women in full battle kit lined the road, saluting as the tired
band of sisters slowly walked past. The village itself was just up
ahead. There were no walls, not even a ditch or a palisade. What there
was, was pair of foreign-looking columns at each of the village's four
cardinal points. These had been erected in ancient times, marking the
beginning and the end of the village's formal limits. Standing now
between two of those pillars were the five Council Elders, including the
Matriarch herself.

Cologne stopped several body lengths' from the Elders, straightened out
her back, and barked over her shoulder, "Present! Respectfully!"

Her sisters quickly straightened out their posture, formed tight lines
behind her, and held their weapons at attention. Only the truly badly
wounded were exempt. The four who still had their horses pulled them
over to the side of the road, and quickly combed down the animal's hair
and coats to make sure they were in presentable condition. Cologne
quickly straightened out her greaves, and put her helmet back on; though
doing so aggravated the bandaged wound on her head.

Finally content with her appearance before the Elders, Cologne saluted
them with a loud "HOA!" which was quickly followed by her subordinates
behind her. The Elders gave no response, but Cologne pressed on
regardless.

"I, Khu Lon, speak for these soldiers of the Amazons. We have returned
victorious, and are humbly requesting permission to disband the First
Companion Company and enter the village!"

The five old women still barred the path, but they were smiling in
approval. After a few seconds, the Matriarch, the honored Elder Sa Lon,
responded.

"Where is Xai Vu?" she asked, though her tone implied she already knew.

"Fallen in battle, Elder," Cologne answered, but held her head high.
"Her killer was a Taiping assassin. I avenged her death and assumed
command of the Company."

Salon sighed, but slowly nodded her head. "Very well. You may disband
and enter the village. We, the Council, would hear what news you bring
in private."

"Yes, honored Elders," Cologne said and bowed her head in humility. The
five withered crones that ran the Amazon village turned and slowly
walked back to the Council Chambers, leaving the road to the town open.
Cologne waited for them to leave before turning around and facing her
sisters. They had been through much together since that day, more than
four years ago, when she had joined the expedition called by the Elders
to fight the Taiping. She had only been a girl then: a thirteen year old
prodigy eager to prove herself in battle.

"The Elders have accepted our request to disband!" She announced to all
the survivors of the First Companions. "Let none say we did not do our
duty or abide by our laws in battle! In victory, we bring honor to the
village. In honoring the village, we honor ourselves. First Companion
Company: DISBAND!"

A hearty cheer rose up from the weary woman warriors as they saluted
their Commander for the last time. Once back inside the village, they
would be forbidden from doing so. From that moment on, all honors would
be reserved for the Council of Elders. There would be, could be, no
secondary displays of loyalty. This was Law. This had been Law for
generations uncounted, all the way back to the beginning. Unofficially,
though, a returning Commander who had found victory on the battlefield
could count herself as far more popular and keen to be eventually
admitted to the Council than an Amazon with more mundane accomplishments
under her name.

One day, that would be her.