Alicia and Welkin undertake deep reconnaissance in territory held by the Imperials but are forced to take shelter in an abandoned cabin after a freak snowstorm comes. During the night, a single Imperial soldier enters the cabin and threatens use a live frag grenade to force them to surrender. Alicia, however, is able to convince the soldier to lower his weapon so she can treat his gunshot wounds. Meanwhile, everyone in Squad 7 begins to feel worried as Alicia and Welkin have not returned from the reconnaissance. At the cabin, the wounded soldier explains that he joined the Imperial army to have a better life but grew disillusioned and was shot by his comrades while attempting to desert. Moved by Alicia's compassion, he re-inserts the safety pin in his grenade, rendering it inert. Before the soldier passes away, he tells them his name, Mikhail Weber. Alicia and Welkin reunite with Squad 7 after giving Mikhail a burial.
When Imperial forces attack the small border town of Bruhl, Welkin Gunther, son of late General Belgen Gunther, is forced to fight for his life alongside Town Watch captain Alicia Melchiott. Along with Welkin's adopted sister Isara, the three escape to Gallia's capitol and subsequently join the country's militia forces. As members of the newly-formed Squad 7, they must work to repel the invading Imperial forces and discover the true purpose of the invasion itself.
