(Alnus Hill - March 18, 20XX, 0857 hrs.)

Souichirou Kurahara was having a discussion with General Hazama in regards to the details of Piña's plan to find Itami with her knights.

"So you are asking us to help the empress find Itami and act as her guards?" Kurahara asked with some doubts. "Why would she do that if there is a risk from an attack third-party actor?"

"She would go great lenghts to achieve her goals, but you are right." Hazama answered. "I wonder why she would do such a thing."

"The team will provide extra security as a precaution."

"Good, because a police chase two days ago has put the city under high alert. We don't want something else to worry about."

"Yes, sir. We'll move out in two hours."

"Good luck." Both men saluted before Kurahara began leaving the office.

Piña was sitting outside when Kurahara came.

"Your Majesty, General Hazama has agreed to let you in to our world. You will be provided with protection wherever you go because there are things happening back in Japan." Kurahara told her.

"Thank you, Kurahara." Piña replied. "It is greatly appreciated."

"You're welcome."

(Hokkaido, Japan - 0321 hrs.)

The agents were heading towards the suspected site while under the cover of darkness and scenery. As they move along, they scan for enemy patrols or passing vehicles to monitor their movements.

"Seen anything, Sherlock?" Itami asked.

"Negative, no sign of them." Langres responded. "Keep your eyes peeled."

"Copy."

"Firehawk will be on stand-by for extraction." O'Hara reminded. "The moment we get the data, we get out of the base and head for his position."

They moved on slowly and quietly before reaching a dirt path. Suddenly, lights from a oncoming truck was lit.

"Get down!" Itami quietly ordered and the agents complied to hide. As the truck moved along, Itami signalled the team to move on.

"Let's go." Langres said.

After clearing the path, they quietly moved forward to see the compound in sight. They took cover as usual.

"There it is." Itami declared. "But there are a couple of guards and APCs inside. Plus three towers and a high fence with barbed wires."

"That is one tough nut to crack if I say so myself." O'Hara agreed. "Alright, time to bust inside. And check your watches. We need to get out of here before sunrise for a safe exit."

"Don't forget what Yinsen gave to us. He is really hoping that his designs can work so we have to make him proud." Langres reminded.

"Yeah."

They checked for an area which is less guarded and found a portion of the fence guarded by a single tower.

"Found a tower. Moving to suppress." Itami reported before aiming his MP5SD6 at two guards. Two pulls of the trigger sent a few bursts each to kill the guards before Itami signalled the all-clear.

They began cutting the wire and they entered the perimeter without any problems.

"We're inside but don't get caught by the dogs." Itami warned. "I sensed there are some here."

"Gotcha." Langres agreed. "O'Hara?"

"Yeah."

The team began to move forward. They then encountered two more guards having a chat while out on patrol, prompting the team to hide.

"That chase was scary, huh Elijah?" One asked.

"Yeah. Especially when we have a runaway agent on the loose." Another agreed. "I wonder what Dirrell is doing right now with all that mess the agent made."

"Hahahaha. You've gotta be joking."

"A bit. Now c'mon, we have a patrol to finish."

"Hehe. All that useless chatter." Langres quietly commented.

As the patrol began heading out, O'Hara signalled the team to move quietly. When they crossed the path, one of the guards felt something unusual and looked back only to see nothing.

"Anything wrong?"

"No. Maybe I'm hearing things."

They shrugged it off as if nothing happened. Unbeknownst to them, an infiltration attempt is ongoing. When the team found a door, they opened it and armed their weapons forna clean sweep of the area.

"This is Avenger, we have infiltrated the building." Itami reported. "Proceeding to extract the data."

"Copy that, Avenger." One operator in the hideout agreed. "Keep an eye out for enemies. Watch out for extensive security systems and patrols as you go along."

"Roger."

O'Hara has some other plans.

"Itami, you go on ahead and find the data bank. While I keep the systems down, Langres will help you out."

"Thank you, sir."

"Itami, time to get a move on." Langres said and the two left to find the bank.

As O'Hara began locating the room that controls the security system, he found a few soldiers and officers walking along some of the hallways. When everything is clear, he continued until he managed to find the room where the controls are housed. He then noticed a camera watching over and quietly disabled it with his pistol.

"I'm in. The security system will be disabled in a moment."

"Good work, Bird Dog." Langres lauded. "We are moving on."

The two men continued to search for the data room. As they moved along, they found an officer leaving his office and began to head out for an unknown location. The two men were observing him and began to follow to where his destination is. The officer approached a room and began to swipe his ID for entry into the restricted area.

"Guess this is it." Itami uttered. "The data room."

"Looks like." Langres agreed. "Be prepared."

When the officer left, he began leaving for his quarters. Itami began to radio O'Hara to open the door.

"Bird Dog, we have found the room." He reported. "Requesting the lock to be disabled."

"Copy."

After looking at the schematics, he unlocked the door and Itami and Langres entered to download the data. As he continued monitoring their development, two guards entered the security room, noticing him hacking the system.

"What the...?!" One of them shouted and they began opening fire at O'Hara. The latter retaliated and then killed the guards with his silenced weapon. The loud noise alerted personnel.

"Dammit!" He uttered.

"What? What's going on?" Itami asked.

"Our cover's been compromised! I'll distract them and you get the data."

"Copy that." Langres replied. "Itami, begin the download. I'll cover you."

An alarm was sounded off and O'Hara began to shut down the security system as a precaution. He began reloading for another wave of fighting.

"Langres, got any breaching charges?"

"Yeah, I have!"

"Keep every critical room secured! Don't let the infiltration team escape!" One of the soldiers ordered from afar.

"Here they come." Langres uttered as three of the guards began entering the data room.

They were then greeted by bullets as they took cover. Itami then armed his pistol as well.

"They have breached the data room!" A guard reported. "Any units, converge on my position!"

Itami quietly moved to shoot two of the soldiers dead while Langres made quick work on the third.

"How's the download back there?"

"Still good."

Suddenly, a flashbang was thrown at the entrace.

"Flashbang!" Langres shouted and the two took cover just in time to escape the bright effects of the explosion. Though their hearing is affected, they can still see to shoot at the reinforcements. Meanwhile, O'Hara was trying to look for his team as he began to shoot at the remaining soldiers within his path.

"Just a little while longer! I'm closing in on your position!"

(Mount Jinba - 0416 hrs.)

In the situation room, the operators were monitoring the developments of the firefight in the monitors as President Guntherson was also doing the same upon entering the room.

"What's the situation?" He asked.

"Sir, the entire base is on high alert." He reported. "The team's cover is already blown but I think they can still get the data."

"May God help us." Then, Tuka and Lelei came. "Tuka, Lelei."

"What's happening there?" Lelei asked.

"Bad news. They are under fire and their cover is blown but I think they can still get what we are looking for."

"Is father okay?"

"Not sure at the moment but he may still be alive." He nodded to the operator to radio O'Hara.

"Bird Dog, sitrep." The operator requested.

"I am near the data room, under fire from multiple sides." O'Hara replied.

"Just hold on a little longer. It won't be long before we have the intel."

"Copy that!" O'Hara then threw a grenade at another group of soldiers.

"Grenade!" One of the soldiers shouted but the explosion killed them within the blast radius.

Guntherson has some things to worry.

"Listen, I'll be going on ahead to talk with the Russians." Guntherson said. "We still have some things to discuss."

"You may, Mr. President." Lelei agreed.

In the data room, Langres was holding a M4 after his main weapon was out of ammunition. Itami was monitoring the download when it reached 100% completion.

"It's done!" Itami declared.

"Let's regroup with O'Hara and get outta here!" Langres said and they ran to see O'Hara who is nearby.

"Sir, we got what we came for."

"Good job." O'Hara praised. "Now, to get out of here..."

They began sprinting to the outside where the remaining soldiers were on alert. When they did encounter them, a shootout was underway.

"Firehawk, we need extraction on my position, over!" Itami requested.

"I'm on it!" Espalace agreed.

As they shootout progresses, O'Hara's team began using the enemy's weapons to reinforce themselves. Itami then shot a machine gunner.

"MG down!"

Then, a Warlock soldier tossed a grenade at them.

"Grenade!" Langres shouted before throwing it back, killing two soldiers at the front.

Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter filled the air.

"They got military-grade helicopters?!" Itami wondered. "That's not fair!"

"Looks like they have used the funds from the governments that they took over to supply their own forces." O'Hara suggested. "Take 'em down."

A Warlock Apache began to hover around the base looking for its targets. The team then took cover to hide.

"What do we have to take that thing down?"

"We don't have much but we do have a grenade launcher on hand and Yinsen's prototype EMP grenade."

Itami then remembered that he has the scroll that Lelei gave to him.

"Oh, hold on! I have the scroll that summons the force field."

"You're sure it will work?" Langres asked.

"Trust me. You two handle the choppper."

Langres has some doubts but decided to allow it to work.

"Okay. Good luck." Langres said while patting Itami's shoulder as a sign for success. Itami nodded and they began to initiate the plan.

"Targets have not appeared." The pilot reported. "Awaiting orders."

"Stay put. Wait for them to appear." The commander ordered.

Unbeknowst to them, Itami began reciting the chant while the O'Hara and Langres prepare to shoot down the helicopter. The former began to pop out of hiding.

"Open fire!" The commander shouted and they started shooting at Itami but the magical barrier was summoned just in time, deflecting the incoming fire.

"What the hell?!" The pilot wondered but Langres and O'Hara fired the grenade at the fuselage. The EMP was activated, frying every circuit of the helicopter.

"We're losing power! Mayday, mayday!"

The helicopter began descending out of control towards the Warlock soldiers.

"Everybody run!" One of the soldiers shouted and they began retreating before the helicopter crashed into pieces.

Then, a Humvee arrived with Espalace driving it.

"Get in guys!" He shouted and the team began to drive off to safety.

While the Warlocks are reeling from the loss of one of their most advanced arsenals, one of them saw the Humvee getting away.

"They're getting away!" He shouted.

As they speed off to the airport in Hakodate, the team felt relieved that they have managed to get intel of special interest.

"Huff, huff...couldn't believe that Itami has the Holy Grail of defense and still, we managed to get our asses saved." Langres said. "Thanks, Itami."

"You're welcome." Itami replied. "I have discovered more fantasy elements in that world."

"I have been hearing their commotion almost all that time. Love the smell of burnt rubber in the mornin.'" Espalace commented.

Then, he saw two armoured cars behind him.

"Damn. Two armoured cars at our six o'clock"

"No kidding. They don't want to give up that easily." O'Hara agreed. "Itami, take the MG."

"On it."

As the two vehicles closed in, Itami took contol of the MG and aimed it at them. He then pulled the trigger and sent a hail of bullets at the armoured cars. They damaged it and O'Hara began to launch a grenade at the front to finally disable them. The damage cannot be tolerated and the cars gave up before exploding.

Suddenly, a third car began to slam at the starboard side of the Humvee. It rocked the vehicle hard.

"Uuaaaghh!"

The two vehicles began to trade paint as the Warlock agents began to roll down their windows with their pistols armed. Then, O'Hara and Langres began shooting at them to defeat them. The driver remained uninjured and began to ram the Humvee again constantly.

"Guys, this is gonna get rough!" Espalace shouted and as the driver began to back off for a hard ram, Espalace slammed on the brakes, effectively allowing the driver to overshoot it.

"Now!" Langres shouted and Espalace began to accelerate hard to perform the PIT maneuver on the rear. The car spun out to the back before the driver fired a tracking beacon at the back of the Humvee.

"Good, we're clear!" Espalace sighed.

"Not just yet." Itami responded.

The driver then watched as the Humvee sped away.

"Target is probed. Repeat, target is probed." He reported.

"Roger. We're moving in." A soldier replied.

After a few minutes, reinforcements came to check out the Humvee being probed in Shiroishicho. Armed with their assault rifles, they closed in only to see that the Humvee is empty. The team is not there. Far away, they hid in a civilian truck to escape the scene. They nodded in relief as they head for home.

(Mount Jinba - 1221 hrs.)

Their vehicle arrived at the hideout as Guntherson, Yinsen and the girls are waiting for them. When the team went out of the van, Tuka hugged Itami as a sign of relief.

"Welcome back, father!" Tuka greeted. "We're all glad you are okay!"

"Hmmm...told you we will come back." Itami replied with a smile.

"What's wrong? You look a bit concerned."

"Don't worry. Everything's under control."

"Itami, the data?" Guntherson asked.

"Oh, right." He then threw the storage device onto Yinsen.

"It will take some time to fully analyze the data since I have to make sure that their self-destruct protocols are neutralized. But with this on our hands, we are getting the advantage." Yinsen explained.

"That's okay, Yinsen. I respect that."

"Good. Get some rest."

"Oh, Yinsen. The EMP grenade worked so well." Langres said.

"Oh, good. That's good to hear."

"O'Hara, Langres, Itami, Espalace, nice work. There is still more to be done but it may be easier now." Guntherson lauded. "You deserve some rest."

"Thank you, sir." O'Hara said before the team saluted in respect.

"O'Hara, I need you to follow me to the interrigation room. We have some "visitors" to chat with."

"Guys, I'll see you later." O'Hara told them while Yinsen and Guntherson left. He also followed.

"Now that there is some free time for ourselves, I guess we better eat something to relieve of the stress." Espalace suggested.

"Sounds good to me. Itami, guys, we'll be off."

"See you there." Itami replied before the two men left as well. "Lelei, what you gave was so overpowered I was safely shielded from gunfire."

"They did, eh?" Rory was intrigued. "Maybe that should teach your world that we are not as weak as you think, like me."

"Hoho, calm down, Rory. By the way, I noticed that you are more cheerful here than usual."

"I am going over my fears of the underground now. Your allies here are a sign that not all things are bad."

"Itami, thank you for using it." Lelei said. "Kinda think of it, why does the Warlock has considerable influence in your world's politics? Guntherson told us about it while you are still fighting."

"That's the question we are thinking as well. I guess time will tell."

"Hey, father. I was thinking as well."

"We better figure it out."

As Guntherson and O'Hara was walking to the interrigation room, they began to open a discussion.

"I want to ask. Who are the visitors anyway?" O'Hara asked.

"Russian agents." Guntherson answered.

"Wait! Russian agents?!"

"Not the people you would expect, but those who are loyal to Prime Minister Tumarov."

Guntherson then showed O'Hara the agents inside. They shocked him due to the fact that they are the same Russians during the chase in Tokyo.

"You've gotta be kidding me!" He uttered. "Them?!"

"Well...it is a misunderstanding."

The two then entered the room to shake hands and to extend an olive branch.

"If it wasn't the American agent who led our VIPs to safety." One of them responded. "Listen, I understand what you are doing but we are both pawns by the Warlocks."

"I understand." O'Hara began to apologize. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault, American." Another agent responded. "It's like the laws of the jungle but now that we know that you work under President Guntherson, I believe that we can make an alliance against a common foe."

"Okay. Then, I guess we better start discussing."

The two sat for their discussion.

(Ginza, Tokyo - 1330 hrs.)

In the perimeter of the Gate, Empress Piña entered the world alongside her knights. Those new here were shocked at their surroundings.

"Whoa!" Beefeater uttered. "I've never seen anything like this."

"Your Majesty, what you've said is true, right?" Another knight asked.

"Yes." Piña answered. "Now is the time to move without haste. Bozes and I have entered here once but we didn't able to explore it much further."

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"That's okay."

Piña began to wonder about Itami.

"Itami, we are coming for you."

A/N: The opening rounds of a secret war has now been fired. Our protagonists will now find out what's happening and hopefully, peace can return at an unexpected faster pace.

See you.