The morning mist lingered over the mountains of Cavite as Elijah's company returned, battered and weary. They bore no treasure, no prisoners, only a truth more dangerous than any bullet: the enemy had changed, and the war had already begun again—under new rules.
Isa rode beside Elijah, glancing at his clenched jaw and haunted eyes. Adrian followed, silent, his mind likely cycling through every weapon blueprint and encrypted message they had salvaged from Baler. Even Luna had little to say. The stakes were too high for arguments now.
As they approached the main camp, nestled in the hills beneath Aguinaldo's stronghold, word spread like wildfire. The scouts had returned—and something was very wrong.
Elijah dismounted and marched toward the command pavilion.
The General's Doubts
Emilio Aguinaldo stood over a table strewn with battle reports, casualty counts, and foreign correspondence. He looked up as Elijah entered, flanked by Isa and Adrian.
"So you've come back," Aguinaldo said. "What did you find in Baler?"
"Proof," Elijah replied. "Of what I warned you about."
Aguinaldo raised a brow.
"Captain Raines has established a military colony there—modern weapons, fortified defenses, enhanced soldiers. He calls it Operation Vanguard. He plans to spread across Central Luzon by August."
Aguinaldo narrowed his eyes. "And how do I know this isn't another ploy?"
Elijah stepped forward and unrolled a map across the table. He marked coordinates, laid out sketches of the command center, and placed a salvaged data disk beside it.
"This drive contains communications between Raines and a forward unit near Manila Bay. He's seeking to sabotage both Filipino and American forces—to conquer under the pretense of stabilizing the archipelago."
Adrian nodded. "He wants to rewrite history in his image. He's not just a threat to you or me—he's a threat to the entire revolution."
Aguinaldo leaned over the map, his fingers tense. "And why would an American officer do this? What does he gain?"
"Power," Elijah said. "He comes from the future. A future where empires are no longer defined by borders, but by data, influence, and machines. He believes he can rule better than anyone born of this time. That includes you."
Aguinaldo studied Elijah for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice low.
"You ask me to trust a man I once considered a danger to my command. A man who answers to no flag, no time."
"I ask you to trust in the truth," Elijah replied. "Or Raines will burn this revolution to ash, and build his own empire from its bones."
Unity Tested
The council was called that night. The great commanders of the revolution—Noriel, Luna, Pio del Pilar, and others—assembled beneath lantern light to hear Elijah's report.
Some scoffed.
"This is madness," Noriel snapped. "Machines and mind control? You bring science fiction to a battlefield!"
But Luna stood.
"I've seen the weapons," he said. "They cut through steel. His soldiers don't bleed. If this man speaks madness, it is a madness rooted in truth. And we cannot afford pride while standing before annihilation."
Aguinaldo listened. He said little.
When the debate subsided, he turned to Elijah.
"If I unite with you," he said slowly, "we fight not just Americans or Spaniards—but something far more dangerous. Will you follow my command in this war?"
Elijah held his gaze.
"I'll follow if you lead wisely. But if you hesitate—if you treat this war like the last one—we lose everything. I'll obey. But I won't stand idle while Raines builds a new tyranny."
Aguinaldo nodded. "Then let us stand together. For now."
He turned to the others.
"Prepare the men. We march to Luzon. We fight a war not of this century—but one that may decide the next."
Plans in Motion
In the days that followed, a coalition formed. For the first time, Elijah's unit worked alongside Aguinaldo's best. Modern weapons were distributed discreetly. Training in guerrilla tactics evolved into simulations of fighting machines. Adrian and Isa held workshops on basic electronics and sabotage. Luna oversaw drills and defense plans.
But not all were content.
Noriel watched Elijah with wary eyes.
And in the darkness beyond the mountains, a radio beacon blinked…
Somewhere, Raines was listening.