The two soldiers stepped back and forth from each other, like a poorly choreographed dance with swords. Their arm and leg movements were erratic, careful not to fall into a pattern. Their sword ends hit the others’ every so often. One wielded a longsword, a wide yet thin blade; with both hands on the hilt, she pointed the tapered blade at her opponent.

The other soldier held a rapier, a long slender sword with a protective cage around its hilt. The other hand bore a dagger.

The two combatants watched the other’s movement, taking note of each step. They hunted for openings, trying to gain any advantage over the other. She eyed her opponent through the t-visor of her helmet. The female soldier raised her longsword to shoulder length whilst inching forward. The adversary had no choice but to back up. Both stopped for a brief second, she analyzed the stance of the other. His sword was aimed at her head, with his dagger close to his chest.

This was it.

She twisted the sword around and slashed at his chest. The man stepped back, the blade not an inch away from slicing his chest. She retreated to her original place, raising her sword in defense. He pivoted around and positioned himself for an attack. With one foot forward he lunged forward, attempting to plunge the sword into her throat. She sidestepped the attack and hit the rapier away.

It was a trap.

With her sword still against his, he brought up his dagger and trapped it. He thrust forward, threatening to stab her chest. The woman forced the locked swords upward and broke free from it, she reeled back, evading a follow-up strike. Too slow, she thought. The man didn’t relent, he forced her weapon down with the rapier. She couldn’t break free fast enough to evade the dagger, the feeling of the dagger against her shoulder made her flinch. Their faces were so close that she could hear his breathing, and see the faint outline of a face within the mask. The whistle blew and it was all over.

Cornelia pulled away from the soldier and removed her helmet. The Dame normalized her breathing and watched her adversary take off his helmet. His dirty blonde hair was matted down with sweat, light brown eyes were fatigued, but alert. “I think a great sword would fair better against a rapier and a dagger; rather than a long sword,” he said between breaths. His mouth curled up, “But, you tried your best.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, this Virginian was going to get it one of these days, the Dame thought to herself. “At least I don’t need a crutch,” Cornelia gestured towards the Dagger. She stepped off the sparring platform and over to the metal bench.

He, not far behind, took a swig from his canteen. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” The Virginian sheaved both his weapons. The pair reclined on the bench, it was a Sunday morning, the training facility empty, save for a few guards and cleaning crew. The clock ticked closer to oh-seven hours as the two rehydrated. Most within the complex were just getting ready for the day, some had yet to wake-up.

The man guzzled down the last of the water and turned toward her, “As much as I enjoy sparring with you, why’d you drag me all the way to Raleigh. You know it ain’t a quick trip from Richmond.”

Cornelia shrugged, “One of the insurgents managed to put up a decent fight with two daggers, thought I might be getting rusty.” She could see the hatred in the girl’s eyes, the way she had gotten up close and personal. The statement was true in itself. But it wasn’t the truth. Cornelia turned away from him, picking at her glove.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him frown. “We both know that’s not why,” he stated.

She sighed, she should’ve known better than to believe he’d buy that. “It’s the Patriots.”

“Of course it is…” He spread his arms wide, forcing her attention on him, “You called the right person!” The man got in close, “The great Knight of Virginia: Edgar Norfolk shall help you vanquish your foes.”

Edgar’s smile took away most of her stress. That knight had no idea, what he was getting into, Cornelia thought. She shook her head, “Okay ‘Knight of Virginia’. Riddle me this: the Patriots conducted two attacks in quick succession, vowed to tear the Empire apart; they have been radio silent ever since- why?”

The knight rubbed his chin in thought. She held back from telling him about Orion, Talin made it clear that the presence of the Inquisitor was a Carolinian matter. He snapped his fingers, “They are waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” The Dame asked. What could the insurgents be possibly waiting for? The Empire to fall by itself? The questions flew around within her mind.

Edgar looked her in the eye, “You. They need you to act.”

She stiffened, the vague answer annoyed her. “Why would they wait for me? And do what?”Cornelia stood up and paced back and forth, “I have already acted. Talin greenlit curfews and raiding possible hideouts. There is no trace of the group.” The Dame stopped and looked at her fellow knight, “I don’t know how I can act anymore.”

Edgar drummed his fingers against the bench, “Perhaps not act, but they need you to do something…” He stood up, the man had a crazed look in his eyes, “something that would make you and Governor Talin vulnerable.”

Cornelia remained silent. Vulnerable. There were plenty of times when they were vulnerable (the Governor and her) when they were riding in the state car, at state dinners. As much as it pained her to think about it, if terrorists could infiltrate the Private Residence, was there any point when the Governor wasn’t susceptible to attack?

The Virginian looked off into the distance and then back at her. “I assume that the next attack would be as daring, if not more, than the last two,” he concluded.

The Dame nodded, everything he said made sense. It didn’t make her feel better that, each attack would be more damaging than the last. “Thank you, Ed.”

He gave her a dramatic salute, “But of course Dame, I expect compensation for the advice. As well as this…” He turned back towards the bench and grabbed his tactical backpack. There was a small, metallic box attached to it. He loosened each strap one by one. Edgar made sure there was not one scratch on the box. He held the box out for her to open. “This comes straight from State Virginia, in the sands of the Viscounty of Virginia.” She ran her hands over the smooth case, they tiptoed their way to the clips, intent on revealing the contents. They were too slow.

Alarms blared in every direction. Every hair stood straight on Cornelia; she sheaved her sword and looked at the speaker on the wall. Edgar lost interest in the case and mirrored her movements. “Perimeter breach in sector four! This is not a drill! I repeat this is not a drill!” Major Knox’s voice blared through the speaking.

The Iron Dame was out of the door in no time, the Arctic Sea Lion (the title bestowed to Edgar) followed her. Cornelia marched through the training facility, each step threatened to crack the tile below. A few guards scrambled around, making sure their path was clear. The pair ascended the staircase, the Dame mapped the most direct course to the breach. The route brought them to the sky bridge that connected the training facility to the Central Command Center. They would head straight through the center and to the Citadel of Coast Guard Intelligence.

She opened her comm-link and broadcasted over the intercom, “Now hear this! All hands man your stations!” Cornelia would not make the same mistakes again, there were to be no more atrocities, especially those against her men. The pair walked briskly along the bridge, giving them a perfect view of the barracks. Moments after she finished her order soldiers poured out of the barracks. It was a stream of Carolina’s best: Havoc, Maverick, and Nova; along with the general security forces. She commed Knox, “I want this District locked down; and what in god’s name is going on?”

“Yes, Dame!” Knox’s voice range through. At least it wasn’t being jammed like the Gala. “Unknown, the sensors picked up a breach of the fence in sector four. Security forces are already on the scene, but have yet to report anything.”

Her stomach lurched at the lack of a report and information. The Dame quickened her pace, there was no time to waste. “Perhaps this attack is more straightforward since communication has not been jammed,” Edgar noted beside her.

They burst through the doors of the Center’s doors; intelligence officers and staff scrambled about, each wore a serious face. Tension hung to the air like a wet rag. The room parted for the Knights. “Are you sure? What of the report, and lack thereof one.”

He shook his head, “Just because a report hasn’t been issued, doesn’t mean there’s been interference. Knox would make that distinction.”

She made a noise of agreement. His confidence in Knox alleviated some of her worries, but an attack still happened, his words couldn’t change that. They entered the central atrium through the west entrance, the offices that lined the walls were sealed shut. Guards stood at each of the exits and entrances, nothing got past their sight. Havoc, Maverick, and Nova came running through the southern corridor. The squads formed up behind her; Havoc leader beside her, Nova leader next to Edgar, and Maverick leader behind the two knights. Havoc and Edgar caught up with each other; Cornelia huffed, it was hardly the time for such things.

The group exited the atrium and entered the east passage. She could see, from the sky bridge, the army of policemen and gates of yellow tape. The Dame quicked her pace, her platoon followed suit. Cornelia didn’t bother going into the Citadel, instead, she opened the emergency door on the bridge. The cool February wind blew against her blonde hair. She looked at all of the buildings that not only surrounded the facility but towered over it; so many weaknesses an enemy could exploit. Her eyes shifted downward at the grass two stories blew. There were rungs built into the concrete. Cornelia opted to jump down instead, much to the disappointment of Havoc leader.

She didn’t wait for the others and made her way around the tower, guards saluted her along the way. The fence was a classic twelve-foot high, chain-link fence held together by posts. It had electric barbed wire at the top to dissuade anyone that attempted to climb it. Yellow tape lined the scene, radio chatter filled the air; three things caught her sight as she rounded the corner.

One: the press. She ignored their desperate questions and signaled to the chief of police to disperse the crowd, she looked at them with disdain, they would only get in the way.

Two: the large gap in the fence. Thankfully there was no sign of an explosion. The chainlinks were ripped open, the ends were folded inward to form a man-sized hole; someone or someones had forced their way through the gap.

Three: the writing on the wall. The four letters, spray-painted upon the wall, S C I L. They promised a coming storm. A storm that they had not experienced in some time, the South Carolina Independence League had come back with a vengeance.

The group caught up with her. She turned to the squads, “Help the police in securing the perimeter.” They saluted in unison and went through the breach. Cornelia and Edgar stepped underneath the tape, taking in the scene. Military Investigators milled about, some took pictures others placed down evidence markers. In the middle of all the chaos was a man holding a datapad. He was observing the spray paint, typing into his pad on occasion.

She was careful not to step on any supposed evidence. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the Virginian couldn’t take his eyes off the wall. “Your enemies just keep on growing in number, don’t they?” He pointed out the obvious.

She ignored that comment and made her way to the Head of Carolina Military Investigation. The man took notice of her and saluted, “Ah, Dame. It is good to see you. Although I wish it was under more favorable circumstances.”

Cornelia nodded, “Likewise, Agent Adkins.”

His brown eyes shifted towards the approaching Virginian, “Knight Norfolk.” Adkin’s lips pursed.

Edgar waved, “Salutations Leonard.” The knight wore the most annoying smile, knowing full well he wasn’t welcomed by the agent.

Leonard’s face flickered with indignation, he looked at the Dame then back at the foreigner. “As much as I enjoy our States’ cooperation, this matter is strictly a Carolinian one.”

Knight Norfolk faked being taken aback, he held a hand to his heart, “And what a time to show cooperation? To think Virginia and Carolina can stand together, united, against this threat. A threat to Carolina is a threat to Virginia.”

Agent Adkins opened his mouth to counter, but Cornelia would have none of it. She stepped between the two and looked at the agent in the eye, “It is fine.” The man frowned and said nothing. The dame decided best to pivot the conversation, “Now tell me, is there anything of note. Besides the obvious.” She gestured to the vandalism.

He nodded and raised the tablet. “This CCTV footage was taken from the E2 camera before it was destroyed.”

Cornelia got in close and Edgar closer. The video was in black and white, the street lamp on the opposite side of the street was out of sight, but its light revealed the vacant street. A few seconds later two shadows crept onto the screen. Moments later the figures came into view, they were on the smaller side, no other discernible features could be noted. With purpose in their stride, they went directly up to the fence; the left one cut it open with bolt cutters. The other took out a small round object, with one arm he chucked it at the camera. The video went black.

“Well, that was anticlimactic,” Edgar commented.

Cornelia was similarly confused, “Is this all?”

Leonard shook his head no, with a few clicks, he pulled up a new video. “This is the E5 camera, the only camera not destroyed. Notice the north corner.”

The view was broader than the last. It had Wade Street that ran parallel to the complex, as well as the beginning of New Bern Road that ran perpendicular with Wade. There was a lone figure in the northern corner. He was much taller than the other two. Suddenly the two culprits came into view, running as fast as they could. They crossed onto the south corner, looking like they had no intention of stopping. Then there was a flash of light; it emanated from the lone figure. The pair stopped. At first, she thought the figure fired a gun.

She was wrong. The lone person flashed the light further; not each flash was the same length, and there were three distinct pauses. Once it was clear the message was done, the pair continued their escape, whilst the third walked off as if nothing happened.

The Dame looked up at Adkins, “Morse code?” He nodded, the man rewound to the moment when the code sequence began: .-. / ..- / ...

Pain blossomed in her heart, those simple letters answered her questions of when and where the next attack would be. It made her feel no better. SCIL must’ve been inspired by the attacks of the Patriots, so much so that they would dare step foot in Raleigh.

“An alliance between SCIL and the Patriots? Now that isn’t good,” the Virginian said in a low voice.

What did he say, she asked herself. Cornelia whipped around and got in close to him. The Dame had a dangerous look in her eyes, “What makes you say that?” In her mind, there was no evidence pointing to-wait. The pain deepened. There was. One of the prisoners that escaped was a member or used to be a member, and another was questionable.

Edgar’s reply only strengthened the theory, “If the lone figure was a part of SCIL, assuming that the two lowlifes are SCIL members, there is little reason for him to tell them of the next attack. Especially in a public place, in Raleigh-”

“I get it Norfolk,” Cornelia turned to Agent Adkins.

“- with morse code,” he finished with a whisper.

The Dame rolled her eyes, “Thank you, Adkins, I will speak with Major Knox about this.” They gave each other a salute.

She glanced at the scene, her squads were almost done routing the civilians, as well as the press. Havoc was still one short; she was amidst fighting for his position after he was deemed unfit for service, seeing that he was at risk of having another collapsed lung. The situation made her feel ill, the terrorists would pay for that. The Dame turned towards the yellow tape, perhaps Knox would have some insight on SCIL, he was major long before Cornelia was Dame of Carolina.

“Wait, Cornelia.” Edgar ran up to her, his face. He got in close, real close. She could feel his breath against her ear. “I know there is an Inquisitor involved.” She froze, the cold air got colder. How? The Knight continued before she could respond, “Please resolve this, the Imperial Summit is soon. I would hate it if you weren’t there.”

The Dame pressed her mouth into a line and gave him a firm nod, “Don’t worry, with what we have learned, the trap has been set. We can crush both insurgencies in one strike.”

Her friend pulled away, his face upbeat. “Before you go-,” he started. Edgar grabbed something attached to his back; it was the box from earlier. He handed it to her, this time she opened it without hesitation. It was a dagger. She picked it up, the blade was about eight inches in length and the hilt five. The latter was wrapped with the finest of leather. At the bottom of the hilt was the pommel; it had Carolina’s state seal on it.

“Has a core of titanium and edge of tungsten carbide,” the man elaborated.

She practiced swinging it and thrusting it. The weight was similar to a regular steel blade, tungsten edge was… different. “Tungsten Carbide?”

Edgar boasted about the wonder material, “Quite an expensive material, excellent for cutting, the titanium makes up for how brittle it is. I’d like to see anyone parry it.”

Her lips curled into a smile, “Thank you.” She had been looking for a new dagger, traditional carbon steel didn’t interest her; this was a good change of pace. Edgar was never a let down when giving gifts. She would have to repay the favor after the Imperial Summit.

The light changed in the knight’s eyes, a sinister look overtook the sincere, “Just promise me this. Use it to tear down the enemies of the Empire.”

She gave him a firm nod and sheaved the dagger. The Iron Dame make good on that promise

No matter the cost.

“For the Empire!”