This is a canon divergent of .
Relationships: Slaine Troyard/Kaizuka Inaho; Amifumi Inko/Nina Klein; One sided Asseylum Vers Allusia/Slaine Troyard; One sided Lemrina Vers Envers/Slaine Troyard; Asseylum Vers Allusia/Klaincain Cruhteo
Tags: Female Kaizuka Inaho; United Forces of Earth Kaizuka Inaho; Count Slaine Troyard; Stygis Squad; Militray; Extraterrestrials; Forced Marriages; Original Characters; Slow Build; Hate to Friends to Lovers.
I will be adding more tags when they appear, and if there's some sort of warning, I'll warn you before the chapter starts.
Kaizuka Inaho was very unimpressed with the meeting for the United Forces of Earth she would have to attend. Ever since her analytical engine had been installed, she'd become an even more prized asset and a member of the Japan branch to the UFE. She was one of the only people who'd taken down a martian kataphrakt. The only other that had manage to do so within the first year was the Scandinavian branch. They sent assistance to the African branch since Mozambique had been attacked. Everyone in the UFE knew it was to ensure that Africa's supplies weren't lost, but their cover story was so that Africa didn't fall to the martians. The only reason why Inaho's attendance was impertinent was because the Deucalion had taken down a landing castle, despite the casualties.
Now it was mandatory for her to attend meetings, but the majority of each successful session revolved around where to send her, ergo the Deucalion. Captain Magbaredge had to be truthful in her reports, and that was how the UFE found out about her success and involvement.
With Inaho's analytical engine, she thought back to every mistake she'd ever made involving the war. The earliest was fighting the martian kataphrakts head-on because a figure-head princess wanted to make peace with Earth and Mars. In 2014, when the war began, Inaho could only think back to one critical part where she supremely ruined things. The battle at Tanegashima where she had the assistance of Bat… Slaine Troyard. She shook her head. There was no logical reason to dwell on what could have been.
The meeting she was dreading to attend was held in what was left of Japan after Count Cruhteo's landing castle destroyed major parts of the island. Never mind that other counts destroyed and ravaged parts of the country. It was, thankfully, reclaimed by the Deucalion shortly after her physical therapy.
Inaho straightened her posture and uniform, which was unnecessary since it was already in pristine condition. She entered the room, and was thankful that her bout of uncharacteristic indecision didn't make her the last to arrive or tardy.
Some of the already present branch members and leaders eyed her carefully. It was understandable. Ever since she found out she possessed aldnoah -courtesy of Asseylum -she had become military property. As long as aldnoah was important, she would never be able to leave their grasp. At least her position allowed her to protect her sister and friends.
"Let's begin this meeting." The leader of the American branch, Nathan Wilson, said still believing that his branch owned the UFE, but she held her tongue at the commanding tone. This happened almost everytime a meeting was scheduled. She could see through her eye that Wilson looked nervous about something.
Each branch sent three representatives to speak for the country -or what remained of their once prodigious country. It was an honor to be chosen at all, but sometimes the immaturity of each branch could become obnoxious.
Nathan Wilson continued to speak after getting at least a third of the branch's attention. "This space battle is becoming a loss for us. It's pulling money that we can't magic up, and we've already lost many people from each branch. So much so that children have to become soldiers. I propose that each branch shares a representative with the branch beside them. If we share our space with each other enough, maybe we can learn to actually work together." He huffed after his long winded proposal.
His words about children becoming soldiers was a hit towards the Japan, Scandinavian, and African branches, but his misplaced concerns would only be met with anger. He was probably bringing up the money concern because space exploration had been cut early on in the American branch. It only made sense that they wanted to be as involved as was physically possible.
"This is rich coming from your branch." The Chinese branch leader, Zhang Min, said. She wasn't a woman to cross. Inaho had taken a liking to the woman's assertive personality and play on politics. "You were the ones who hid valuable technology from us."
"Like you didn't either." Korean branch leader, Jun Su, said calmly. Inaho could tell that he said it purposefully. If the proposal was disregarded, then no one would be uprooted from their home to fight for a country they couldn't stand.
The bickering continued for approximately six minutes and forty-two seconds before Vadik Kabinov -the leader of the Russian branch -stood and prepared to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Nathan Wilson said, although Inaho could tell that everyone's translators were becoming exhausted and irritated at another session of meaningless talk. Only four out of nine meetings were actually productive. Most of every branch quit caring after the second unproductive argument.
"Home," Kabinov continued. "These meaningless swipes are a waste of time and air. I don't think you've noticed yet, but there's a war going on right now." Vadik Kabinov sneered, but he didn't leave the room. Everyone seemed to stop talking and held their breaths.
"Forgive my slights." Zhang Min said, sitting back, but her demeanor clearly said that she meant every word she said, and wasn't at all sorry. Jun Su fake apologized, and Nathan Wilson apologized last, but brought the proposal back up.
"How do we decide who stays and leaves?" The Scandinavian branch leader, Peter Eklund, said. He was like Inaho, minus her analytical eye and aldnoah. He had managed a way to take down Versian kataphrakts during the first year onward. The Scandinavian branch was powerful. Eklund's team had managed to handle Versian technology, one on one, with a Terran as the victor. Their intelligence and prowess were non-negotiably their country's. None of his team could be exchanged without destroying a two year companionship.
Before each branch could try and steal each other's powerhouses, the alarm went off throughout the room. Inaho and her two superiors, Takizawa Takeda and Manabe Kaito, checked their Information pads. It was an emergency video alert from Trident Base.
"Major General Kaizuka, we are seeking your assistance. Trident Base is under attack from a Vers kataphrakt and… something else." The communication link started to disconnect, but it managed to still connect their voices only. "The… newcomers are attacking the Versian kataphrakt as well as us. The kataphrakt is, surprisingly, helping us. When I say Versian kataphrakt, I mean the one that constantly fights yours, Major General Kaizuka."
Slaine Troyard. He was at the Trident Base -alone -battling something that was strong enough to put his Tharsis in a tough spot, something strong enough to make him cooperate with the UFE. Inaho didn't show it, but her heart was beating frantically out of her chest in fear. What if the invaders managed to defeat Slaine? Kill him?
"We are sending assistance." She said, knowing that all representatives heard her. She disconnected to spare the Captain at Trident Base anymore grief.
"Explain yourself!" Jun Su demanded. The entire group decided to erupt into anger and confusion. Inaho stood, silencing the room. She sent a message to Captain Magbaredge to call the Deucalion to her immediately.
"If we assist the Versian pseudo emperor, he will be in our debt. The newcomers are powerful enough to drive our strongest enemy into a corner, into -temporarily -joining our side." She left them to think about what that meant for them. Something that could push a Versian kataphrakt, an Orbital Knight, on its knees needed to not be underestimated and thoroughly calculated. None of this boded well for their end of the war.
Inaho stepped into her Sleipnir, and waited for the Deucalion to get closer to the Trident Base. Of course, she wouldn't be the only one fighting. As a major general, she had many obligations. Most of them were to her commanding officers and the people aboard the Deucalion. The Deucalion wasn't geared for fighting alone. It had once held many civilians, but they were safeguarded at safe zones even during the spontaneity of this Earth-Mars war.
Yuki connected to Inaho's communication link, sounding like a mother who was tired of scolding her daughter for the same thing, time and time again. "Why do you constantly go near the bastard that hurt you?" She began her usual spiel anytime Slaine was mentioned. "Why are we even helping something like him? He'd sooner…" The rant continued, but Inaho had mastered the art of tuning people out.
Her thoughts were focused on the analysis of situation she received from Trident Base. Trident Base was supposed to be hidden along the Satellite Belt. So how did Bat find it? Surely not by accident. Bat was smart; he must've been at the base to attack it when he'd been interrupted. Losing the base would've been a devastating loss of intel on the Versians.
What truly bothered her was that the Unexpected Arrival had driven the Tharsis to assisting Trident Base. It supposedly had a new kataphrakt design that made it nimbler. The design held an affinity with aldnoah that rivaled the Orbital Knights… well, what remained of them. There were eight of the aldnoah fueled kats that tormented an entire base and the pseudo emperor. The UA were fast enough to eliminate more of Earth's forces than they could afford. We've already lost more than 20% of our men.
She cut Yuki's line, which was still buzzing from Yuki's rant about Inaho needing to get married or date. Inaho just hoped ignoring this wouldn't land her in another awkward "date" with one of Yuki's friends. That had been disastrous.
Inaho connected her communication link to Trident Base, but received no answer. She closed her eyes. Things were worse than she was told of if the captain wasn't able to answer his reinforcements. She knew he was dead. She found a random link and connected.
"-to the right! They're not good at defense!" She immediately recognized that voice. She remained silent. Bat, no Slaine Troyard, was leading UFE's troops. She could already feel the migraine she'd get from the Branch's displeasure. From Slaine's commands, the situation sounded dire.
She immediately cut the com-link, and connected with the bridge. "Captain Magbaredge."
"Major General Kaizuka."
"What is the estimated time of arrival to the Trident Base?" She already knew the answer, but this was meant as a reminder for the others to get prepared for battle.
"About 20 minutes." It was too much time.
"Thank you. That will be all, Captain." She cut the com-link, and held Slaine's necklace in her hand. If Slaine were to fall, so many things would immediately go wrong for the UFE. Slaine was the only powerhouse keeping the Vers from openly destroying everything on earth. It would be a repeat of Heaven's Fall. She couldn't imagine what the Vers would do if they found out that the princess they had been accommodating wasn't Asseylum. That didn't sit well with her. What was Bat's goal? He has to know Seylum wouldn't want this.
Inaho snapped out of her thoughts when she saw the blinking light of her position and destination turn a darker orange, alerting her of the danger levels. She sent each kataphrakt their orders. This wasn't an elimination mission; this was a rescue mission. The Deucalion was to remain out of range of the battlefield, and Inaho wasn't allowed to get too close. Because if she were to fall, the order and the Deucalion would fall apart.
She used her analytical engine to navigate her people, and get a grasp of how to defuse the situation. She ordered twenty soldiers to salvage as much as possible, and for the other ten to rescue whomever was still alive. Apparently, many were in the sickbay of their ship. She ordered her men to pair up in groups of four to handle one of the enemy kataphrakts. They were indeed mobile, but with Bat on her side, the enemy would lose.
She joined the fight, staying a safe distance away. She aimed her high explosive rounds, and discovered that they were useless. It reminded her of the first year of the Earth-Mars war when she fought the samurai kat. She switched to armor piercing rounds, and they worked. Interesting. She ordered all of her men to switch to their armor piercing rounds.
The Invaders seemed to rethink their battle and began to retreat, which was weird since they still had an incredible advantage over them. Inaho decided to pocket the information away for analysis when she had her Information pad near her.
Immediately, Inaho swerved in front of Tharsis. From her short analysis, she could tell that their mutual enemy was stronger than they demonstrated during the fight. Slaine and she would need each other. "Bat." She said, connecting to his com-link.
There was an awkward pause. "Orange." He said tiredly. She hoped he would leave the conversation up to her. She had it in writing that she was subpar in her social skills.
"Was there a reason you contacted me?" He rushed after three long minutes of silence. Well, at least she could skip the small talk. She could practically hear Yuki, in the back of her mind, ranting about Slaine's lack of manners. Good thing everyone was already occupied.
"Do you know to whom those kataphrakts belonged to?" She asked hearing him sigh.
"Since you're asking me, I take it those weren't yours either." From her eye, she could tell that he was exhausted. It was understandable because he'd been fighting three hours prior her arrival, according to the situational report. This could be an opportune moment for her.
"I suggest a truce, then. You help me; I help you." She began, prepared to point out how beneficial their cooperation could be, but Slaine stopped her. "No. Listen, I helped you a little; you helped me a little. That doesn't make me inclined to stomach your presence."
Inaho held his necklace, feeling a pang in her chest and eye. That actually hurt. It wasn't like she expected him to be happy to hear her voice. It wasn't like she was happy to hear his voice, knowing he was okay. These emotions were becoming a nuisance. Inaho couldn't afford these useless thoughts. She was a member of UFE's Japan Branch. She had an obligation to keep the planet safe; even if that meant manipulating her enemy that she held feelings for.
"Actually, you could benefit from hearing my proposal."
He gasped. "P-proposal? Orange! What are you talking about?" He sounded flustered for some reason.
"Yes, the… invaders, if you will, fled into space. There's no guarantee that the Vers Empire will be safe should another attack happen. Those invaders put your Tharsis through gruesome battle. Together, we managed to -at least -drive them away. We can't afford to not work together. I propose that the Vers Empire and the United Forces of Earth enter a truce until the identity of the invaders are known and they are dealt with."
"So that's what you meant." Slaine whispered, then went silent. "You want to willingly allow people, who want you dead by the way, onto your planet? Because of one attack? Can you even make that decision? Did you even think about this, Orange?" He was annoyed with her, but, just as Calm always says, that wasn't a "no".
"Think about it, Bat. All of your citizens could be safe from-"
"You're a child. You can't guarantee that-"
"I can guarantee that, and I will. You have no reason to reject this. It is entirely beneficial to you and your people. You will once again see Earth, and you will be able to walk it without destruction marring its features. It will be the Earth that the Versian fought to once again see. Agree to this, Slaine. Agree, and it will end the war, if only temporarily."
"That's not my concern, but… those invaders…"
"They had aldnoah drives in their kataphrakts." She finished for him.
He snorted at the interruption. "I hate it when you do that, but you're right. Unfortunately, they're more skilled than we are. We don't even know if that was all of them…" And from the way they retreated, there could be many more.
She was happy, however, that he was thinking it through. Granted he would probably want nothing more than to kill and to cripple the UFE. If he agreed, then she'd need to next think of something that could persuade him to end the war for good.
"Fine." He said, as if she was tearing his limbs from his body. "I'll agree, but I'm only taking a few of my people with me. I will see if you can actually do what you say you can."
This story has been on my mind blocking out all of my other ideas. I'm also doing a different fanfiction, Inexpressible - RWBY.
The other chapter for this story that was posted wasn't supposed to be there. Obviously my computer hates me.