The Hystaigan capital of Karelia was overrun by the Valkyrian Defence Forces. Several thousand Hystaigan soldiers gave their lives in an effort to protect their capital and their leader, Supreme Voice Blisse Starke, who refused to leave her office and form a government-in-exile. Like the captain of a sinking ship, Starke stayed in her quarters. She had no intention of surrendering in this war and made this position clear to the Hystaigan Defence Force, calling on all surviving elements of the military to form a resistance against the Valkyrian occupiers. Unbeknownst to many, Starke already named the leader of the Resistance—Imani Colbrunn.

Colbrunn served in the Hystaigan Special Forces as an Elitzgardun general tasked to lead Rigala Kompanie and well respected by his peers and subordinates. His appointment as the central military leader of an armed resistance made him a source of appeal to Hystaigans who wanted to continue fighting the Valkyrians. At 17:09, Starke was in the custody of SIEGE, a hybrid Valkyrian military-police agency with special powers granted by ESPA 19. The Supreme Voice was now being held in a jail controlled by the Valkyrians.

Supreme Voice Blisse Starke

Meanwhile, Rigala Kompanie was plotting the liberation of their nation from Valkyrian occupation and Treye Kingslee was given a battlefield promotion to captain, skipping the commander rank. While the Valkyrian political leadership was proclaiming victory against the "Hystaigan terrorists", the Reapers were preparing to execute their Supreme Voice's order that will prolong the Kalkara War. This war is far from over.