Synopsis
The world had rejoiced upon the return of wireless technology, though they would have to be patient for the infrastructure to keep up. At the end of the summer of 16AW, a mysterious broadcast was sent out across Galbadia:
““I, Ector, Tenth Knight of Galbadia, hereby make this announcement to the true people of Galbadia. Our leader has failed us. Vinzer Deling’s complacency is an embarrassment to the history and legacy of our once proud nation.
The most cunning predator rules in the wild, and so it shall be for the people of this world. I now possess the sword of absolution, the hand of death that will lead us to empire.
We of Joyeux Company, Galbadian Special Forces Division hereby renounce our allegiance to President Deling. From this point on, our loyalty lies with The One who can make Galbadia into a truly undisputed world power, and not second rate to Esthar.
All true sons and daughters of Galbadia, follow the light. Together, we will absolve our pacified nation of its sins and resume our conquest of Gaia. This, on the gifts bestowed by The God Knight, I solemnly swear.”
-Verified by the GAI to be the voice of Sir Ector, 10th Knight of Galbadia in 16AW.
Naturally, this broadcast was investigated by the Galbadian Agency of Investigation, and with assistance from the other Knights of Galbadia, was discovered to be a legitimate broadcast, and not a hoax. G-Army special forces “Joyeux Company” disappeared around a seaside cave on the Gotland Peninsula and have been lost for several days.
Before the Knights mobilized, a frantic President Deling revealed a secret that changed the entire parameters of the situation. This secret was not discovered by the Garden forces who were subsequently hired to help, but is thus: before disappearing, Joyeux Company kidnapped Vinzer Deling II, the young son of President Deling.
Garden is hired by the Galbadian Armed Forces as a means of rebuilding relations and avoiding a civil conflict. They are allowed back onto Galbadian soil on while a mission is planned with the goal of capturing or killing Sir Ector and Joyeux Company.
This, however, is only a surface-level interpretation. There are multiple factors extrapolated, like the avoidance of the psychological trauma of having the G-Army kill their own countrymen, and the more pressing point to the GAI that if the President’s son cannot be recovered or the mission fails in some other way, the failure can ultimately be blamed on SeeD.
The Garden Squad, led by and featuring newly minted SeeD operatives, joins up with the 15th Ground Platoon led by Major Gareth Biggs and Lieutenant Eisak Wedge.
The coalition of G-Army and Garden forces explore a tidal cave system. A fight with a Blue Dragon causes casualties on the G-Army side, and the Garden squad meets Private Jycella Gage, who displays heroism and aptitude. They discover an old shrine amidst the dead and decaying sea life of the cave, which is notably dedicated to the worship of the GF Odin.
Interacting with the shrine transports them to another dimension: The Solemn Throne.
The remainder of Joyeux Company is encountered there, where time passes much faster than in the material plane, and they attempt to slaughter the coalition as Odin watches from afar, content at the show of violence. Eventually a conclusion is struck, the G-Army rescues Vinzer Deling II, and they are all returned back to the material plane.
Episodes
The Sword of Adel Event Thread
Aftermath
While the relations between both Garden and G-Army are rocky at first, by the end of the mission they are undeniably better, with Balamb Garden being pardoned for past transgressions. Garden is officially welcomed back onto Galbadian soil, and a relationship with the G-Army is established for working together on further missions.
Trivia
- Operatives Scion and Vanier had already met Jycella Gage in a fistfight several weeks prior in the Deling Museum of Technology, and Scion had invited her as his date to the Inaugural SeeD Ball where he and his fellows were promoted following their REDACTED mission.