Mai-Otome X Capcom: The Phantom Pain Arc, Part 1 - Sigma scenario #1: Shock and Awe
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of Mai-Otome, Mega Man X, and other Capcom games.
NOTE: This arc takes place after Nagi Dài Artai's betrayal by Sanctus, as well his defeat and arrest.
The scene shows all of Artai's forces retreating from Garderobe back to their homeland. When they arrived, one of the soldiers see a glint coming from the sky. Unbeknownst to them, as the ray of light landed into a ground; creating a massive explosion; killing all of the archduke's soldiers in the blink of an eye, taking the entire principality with it.
Few weeks later...
Alia: Hunter Base to Garderobe, response please!
Natsuki: [opens the communication screen of Alia] I'm the headmistress of Garderobe, what can I help you?
Alia: We came to advise you guys that a nuclear bombing has occured in Artai a couple of weeks ago. [Alia opens a screenshot of the nuclear bombing incident] The area has sustained grave casualties, from civilians to military personnel.
Natsuki: What?! [turns to Alia's evidence]
Axl: They (Mavericks) just fired a nuke? You gotta be kidding me!
Zero: Maybe Sigma may have something to do with this... [turns his communications to Alia] Alia, have you already traced where was the exact location where the nuclear warhead was fired?
Alia: Unfortunately, we haven't found anything yet. I suggest you try investigate the area for a bit.
Zero: Well, that's fine by me.
Meanwhile in a hospital in Windbloom, we see Nina taking care of her father, Sergay, who was wounded by Sanctus' Alto Angelos weeks after her master was usurped by the Order of the Sword.
Nina: Father, how could they do this to you... And I thought I wouldn't expect this to happen. Sanctus and his men, they don't deserve mercy! I'll make sure they will pay for the atrocities they've committed! [as someone knocks the door, she answers it; with Arika and Dante paying a visit.] Arika What brings you here?
Arika: Nina-chan, I have bad news. Artai has been destroyed...
Nina: [gasps] By who?
Arika: The Four Evil Generals... They were sent by Sanctus to kill archduke Nagi.
Dante: And that mad scientist (Agnus) working there, is also one of them.
Nina: [an angry Nina smashes the wall] First, Sanctus nearly took my father's life away, and then he sent some of his men to kill His Highness? [turns to the unconscious Sergay.] Father, I must go now. I WILL make sure that Sanctus and his men will rot in Hell! [at Arika] Let's get moving, Arika!
In the Headmistress' Office in Garderobe Academy, we see Arika, Nina, and Dante pleading to Natsuki to investigate the ruins of Artai, but to Arika's dismay, Natsuki disapproves her pleas, for the radiation levels around the principality is high.
Natsuki: Sorry. I cannot allow you to go to Artai to investigate, I will only leave it to the Maverick Hunters.
Arika: Please, headmistress!
Natsuki: Absolutely, no! You don't even know about the danger of radioactive exposure to your nanomachines?
Arika: But... [Nero, Vergil, Morrigan, and Shizuru emerged]
Vergil: Looks like this war is beyond from over...
Dante: [laughs] Say, brother. What makes you say that?
Vergil: Jedah Dohma's army are trying to exploit the Otomes' weaknesses. As far as I'm concerned, he wants to rid this world of Otomes and build a new world for his race of demons. And lets not forget, he has three powerful allies he can join forces with.
Nero: Come to think of it... Like hell, that place (Artai) is completely messed up. [gloats] Those Mavericks really showed the archduke's army who's boss.
Morrigan: Fufufufu... To think Jedah would make his own empire in this world. I'm sure he's far different from my father.
Vergil: Headmistress, if I were you, you must all prepare yourselves for what possibilities if the Four Generals came here to invade this place and exploit the technology here.
Shizuru: He's right, for we are still aware that the Order of the Sword wants our technologies themselves in hopes of ruling the world. [a mysterious voice eerie from somewhere]
Someone's Voice: I guess it's too late for that! [a holographic image of Sigma appear before Arika and company.]
Alia [radio]: It's Sigma!
Sigma: [at Natsuki] Are you the headmistress of Garderobe?
Natsuki: W-who are you?!
Sigma: Allow me to introduce myself, I am Sigma, the leader of the Mavericks. I have come here through Jedah's errands; bring the archduke of Artai to us, and we will postpone the invasion of your homelands. If you don't, we will create our empire out of your technology! You have 48 hours to bring Nagi Dài Artai to us!
Sigma's hologram disappears thereafter.
Arika: Headmistress, what should we do?
Natsuki: We don't have any choice. We need to turn him (Nagi) to them. If we don't, everything will end up just like what he did... First, we must assemble the Five Columns to meet up with the Four Generals; if this is a trap, we have no choice to fight back!
Author's Note:
-Shock and awe (technically known as rapid dominance) is a military doctrine based on the use of overwhelming power, dominant battlefield awareness, dominant maneuvers, and spectacular displays of force to paralyze an adversary's perception of the battlefield and destroy its will to fight.