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[sub][color=Silver][i]The Siege of Amone, September 11th - [b]Impatience[/b][/i][/color][/sub]
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[color=Silver]	Stood on the verge of the encampment, with his arms folded tightly behind his back, he stared vigorously at the plumes of smoke towering from within the city. Still, even after two years of siege, there was still more for the fateful city to be destroyed. Seeing its barbaric treatment from both the Imperials and some Federation artillery teams alike made him frustrated, angered and disappointed with the unholy treatment of the sacred towering walls. Amongst the peaks of fire and occasional flares spotted from within the city's depths was the indestructible bell tower of the Cathedral of Light, the standalone foundation of the Cruxist faith. Not being a man of religion himself, he still found beauty in its huge stone structure, admiring all of its significance that it had to Assen. This battle was deeply important to him, as it must've been for Lucia without her fully realising it yet. Breaking the deadlock and stalemate that had plagued this city for years on end would finally open a straight pathway into [i]his[/i] homeland. He promised everyone in the days of the golden past that he would return home, with an army behind him, to liberate the homes he had once lost. Those were some of the few promises he meant, truly. There was no initial malice to its meaning, but Alexander wanted the best for Assen. This war had brutalised his people, his homeland and the Federation weren't fast enough to act. Why else had he become the strategic genius he was regarded by today by his superiors? To him, every death counted and every use of manpower was vital to his sacred movement back into the lands he missed greatly. It wasn't that he admired the people behind him, only those who shared the same incentive as him. Plenty of members of the 15th Atlantic Rifles showed too much nerve and not enough prowess for his liking. Their personalities meant human emotion. Human emotion meant hesitation. Hesitation meant death without the effort to break their enemy.

	A thunderous sound of artillery fire seemed to be coming from the left flank of the city walls, just on its outskirts. For once, they weren't being launched directly into the urban area, as it was incredibly easy to catch their own comrades in the bombardment as much as it was the enemy. Damaging the infrastructure to brutalise an enemy was one thing, but Amone held a key significance for the rail systems of the Europan front. Breaking its roadworks and buildings too much could break the supply chain for both factions. Unlike the ransacked fields of no-man's land spread all across the frontier, this was something that both sides needed to keep in at least some form of functional status. The bombardment wasn't of a heavy classification, mostly medium style Howitzers tearing Federation dugouts, scouting bases and patrols to pieces. Brutal as it was, there was at least a sense of admiration towards their ability to remain on the defensive so effectively after a long campaign of aggression.

	The chill in the air caused him to adjust his trench-coat and tighten it up. Blast the cold weather, it had been a bane for the logistical team for months now, and here it seemed to be at its worst. Whilst observing the siege unfolding before him, much like he did every day since his Platoon had ventured in without him, the sound of nearing boots came from his rearward direction. As he heard them reach critical distance, they stopped, and the shadow of a man saluting allowed him to finally detract his attention away from the ruins of Amone. Awaiting his attention was none other than [url=https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c4/3a/6a/c43a6a2f3b2bd225f05ec665a0623063--hetalia-germany-hetalia-anime.jpg]Staff Sergeant Baker[/url], a resident NCO who'd stuck in the regiment ever since Alexander himself had taken command as a Lieutenant. For a second, the Captain gave a long stare at him, looking at his dreadful state. Even with his seniority and rank, there weren't any decent sanitary facilities nearby for him to clean, and so he looked like he'd been in the deep end of one of Amone's muddy puddles for months. Truth be told, Baker had been there since the war started. At the very least, Middleton seemed to respect his ability to continue on, despite how much he'd been through at the Maren River's crossing, the establishment of Garnia's bombardment, the Imperial Cavalry charge at Beumont and the close-quarter's engagements in the Francian chateaus, to name a few.[/color]

[color=0AB100][b]"At ease, Staff Sergeant."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Slowly, Baker lowered his hand from the salute, showing many signs of muscular pain up and down his body. He'd been up all night again, potentially, going through filing off the letters mostly written back home to the parents of the deceased. It was a tough job, but with three years of the Europan war taking its toll on him, Baker was quite good at being honest about the true fates of those who'd fallen. Censorship required for him to spare a few details, but at the very least he never wrongly stated that they died a heroic death if they didn't. Not many did these days.[/color] [color=0AB100][b]"You look and smell like horse-shit. You better get yourself cleaned up soon."[/b][/color]

[color=Orange][b]"Very good, Sir."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Baker answered with the regular formality the Captain expected from his subordinates. However, despite the leverage he gave Baker, it was still a necessity for him to set the example of the hierarchy towards the lower soldiers of his company, regiment and platoons altogether.

	There was a brief silence, with Middleton raising his eyebrow before giving a strangely out of character chuckle. Baker was slightly taken back by the rising mood of the Captain, which was never a common thing for anyone. He only seemed to have acted that way during his first year or two of service, before...well...before he turned into the man he was today. Baker at least knew there was some reasoning behind his unjustified actions, and as his Staff Sergeant he wasn't one to idly sit by and watch as the situation devolved into further chaos. Baker was, indeed, slightly older than his Captain counterpart. It didn't mean anything by rank, but many soldiers, even ones who'd never spoken to him before, saw Baker as a figure of communal hope, finding wisdom in his words that cared for even the common man and woman. So much so that he'd gained a nickname that even the Captain himself referred Baker by.[/color]

[color=0AB100][b]"You know, whatever you came to tell me, Uncle, you won't get very far without actually opening your mouth."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]The two shared a meagre chuckle to themselves, breaking the silence once more. Baker did it more out of courtesy, but he still found a level of sympathy for the Captain's downfall. Being called [i]Uncle[/i] though further solidified why he went out of his way to try and [i]fix[/i] the Captain, returning him to his older self before the war had taken its aggressive toll on his mind. Eventually, Baker nodded and let his standing stance relax and ease itself once more.[/color]

[color=Orange][b]"My apologies, Sir. 'Was just thinking of how to start my query."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Alexander gave him a look, as if to telepathically question him on what he meant, or to pressure him into continuing. Through reading that facial expression, Baker nodded and let out a quick puff of air, clearing his lungs once more.[/color] [color=Orange][b]"It was within my best interests, as one of your senior NCOs, to take my time to ensure you're well-being. These last two days have had you isolated from the remainder of the staff and brought a bit of curiosity towards your muse, Sir."[/b][/color]

[color=Silver]	Alexander thought for a while. It was true, everything that the Staff Sergeant had inferred. He kept his distance away from the other Officers mainly because he did not resonate well with them. They all had different interests. Most were pursuing the advances in their careers, looking towards themselves over the Federation as a whole, whilst others were too spineless to even orchestrate a plan that had less than 1% fatality risks towards it. It was a well known fact now that Alexander was far different. No one knew the exact reasoning as to why he did the things he did, especially considering his brutal treatment of his own troops, but everything he did was in the interests of the war's completion. His studies and cryptic notes that were sometimes left lying around his tent spoke of a pursuit he'd been following, one that was able to turn the war in his favour. He wrote of home, of Assen, and the fact that he had taken a girl under his wing from the same city he grew up in. Private Farris; the name had been coined around and became something of a strange insignia for someone close to the Captain. Nothing was really known about her. From the outsider's perspective, she was a innocent 16 year old girl, with her mind out of the gutter of reality and floating in her dreamy palace of the romanticised mind. However, it was individuals like Baker that seemed to know the capabilities she was now full of. Through submissive and dominant treatment, toying with her fragile emotions, Alexander had managed to implant a sense of loyalty into her that was undeniably unbreakable from first glance. In training, Baker had seen her pull of aggressive killing moves that seemed unnatural and unsafe for someone of her age. Movement and rapid pace, mixed with the skills of the small service blades often given to her by the Captain made for a lethal predator in the face of her own safety. She was yet to actually [i]kill[/i] an Imperial, but everyone knew she'd already shot a retreating, traumatised girl during the Garnian Salient's breakthrough, her first official battle.

	Eventually, the Captain finally found the appropriate answer, pointing his finger towards the destroyed city with his gloved hands. Baker looked on longingly and sighed himself, finding a strange nervousness from its corrupt sight. There was never the chance to get used to all the destruction, even from a veteran who'd been there since day 1. But unlike the usual expectations of simply dreading over the backdrop scenery, Middleton seemed to have something more focused on his mind.[/color]

[color=0AB100][b]"Two days ago, I sent Lucia in there. She's not with me, and this is the first time she's been without me since we first were united. There's also another boy out there who seems to have taken some peaked interest in her well-being, unaware and ignorant at how much interference that might cause for my programme, my experiment."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Even with the true darkness of his undertone, Middleton was left with a quick chuckle from Baker, who seemed to capture the Captain's curiosity without any anger being bestowed upon him. Alexander was genuinely curious as to why he had reacted in such an unexpected way.[/color]

[color=Orange][b]"S-Sorry Sir, it's just that you reminded me of my wife's father, the first time he found out about me being a suitor for his daughter. Just brought back a few happy memories that I regularly don't get to dawn upon."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]If it were anyone else, Baker would've been thrown under a bus, drowned in mud or shot on the spot, but this [i]was[/i] Baker, and so nothing came about of it. Alexander, strangely enough, managed to find a broken smile of his own and nodded towards his remark, finding an emotion that had been locked away since the day Yuri was killed by the blasted marksman in Amone. To Baker, this unlocked emotion was a success, part of his potential rehabilitation that the Captain didn't even realise was going on. Changing him back to the human he was, in reality, was Baker's goal all along. It was hard, but caring for his soldiers, superiors and fellow NCOs was part of his true brilliance and kindness.[/color]

[color=0AB100][b]"I remember you talking about your wife once. Showed me that picture of her. I must say, Staff Sergeant, you are a very lucky man, luckier than most. The men look up to you, but not in the fearful way they do to me. That's something I cannot control, however. I'm...dead-set on my goals, driven by...by Private Farris' success that it just..."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Alexander suddenly growled to himself, snapping back into his harsh reality as he turned away for a brief second.[/color] [color=0AB100][b]"Nevermind that, Baker. I'm just a bit anxious about Lucia. They say the Imperials deployed some sort of armoured vehicle, a mechanical beast with automatic guns riddled atop of it."[/b][/color]

[color=Orange][b]"Is that so, Sir? I'd say, then it might seem like [i]Project: Land-Creeper[/i] might need a bit of speeding up if we want to regain that dominance. But if the Imperials are that far ahead of us already, then I presume they might have something along the same lines in the near future."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Baker was one of the few lucky enough to know about the Project, the scientific breakthrough to try and create something that could dominate the battle with movement, armour and complete firepower on his side. If it was true, that these armoured vehicles were being deployed into Amone's ideal territory, then perhaps a new age of mechanical warfare was just around the corner, by a few months or even weeks. The world was demanding more and more capable weapons to keep up with the developing strategies, ideologies and doctrines. The world was a strange place, and Europa was the centre of it all.[/color] [color=Orange][b]"Reminds me, Sir, you heard the news?"[/b][/color]

[color=0AB100][b]"The United States of Vinland, declaring their final justification of war against the Empire and to side with the Atlantic Federation. Inevitable, but we could really not use their Generals. All incompetent and cocky bastards, I'll tell you. Did I ever tell you about Brigadier Roger Wallis, or whatever it was? Absolute arsehole. Doesn't think we know how to fight the war and thinks just charging them without artillery fire will be a good strategy."[/b][/color]

[color=Orange][b]"We've always had our differences, Sir...But at least we have the manpower we need to win the war. Imperials have been baking on them not joining the war for three years, and now we're in with the big league. Only a question of time, I'd say sir."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]He looked to the sky, seeing the doves gently drift above in florescent white shades. Baker smiled, dismissing himself from the Captain with a sharp salute, before muttering to himself.[/color] [color=Orange][b]"I might be home in time to see you, my love."[/b][/color]