You are one of the first to finish dressing and as a result wait several minutes for the remaining members of Squad 13 to file into the briefing room. Once everyone has arrived Hachi begins. "We have received orders from HQ for you to sortie."
"Wait, we're fighting already?" Futoshi asks worriedly.
"Don't worry," Nana said with a smile, "You won't be fighting one like you saw the other day. This will be a Conrad-class klaxosaur, the smallest of its kind. It is just a bit smaller than a Franxx."
"That's a relief." Miku sighs.
"You will be deployed to level 8 of a nearby magma mining facility. We aren't sure of their numbers at this time, but it is enough that the automated defenses couldn't handle them," Hachi informs the squad.
"We would have liked to ease you in more gradually, but sadly that won't be the case," Nana finishes. "Also, you should know that Strelitzia will not be participating in this mission."
"What about Terraria?" Kyu asks.
"Terraria will be utilized as back up should the need arise." Hachi states. "Ichigo and Goro will have field command, follow their orders and everything will go smoothly. Any questions?" after a brief silence he continues, "Good, all hands prepare to board."
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You stand at the briefing room's window overlooking the docking bay as Squad 13 board their Franxx. "Think they are ready?" Kyu asks. "Is anyone ever truly ready before their first time?" you reply. As you talk Delphinium, Argentea, and Genista come online. Chlorophytum however stands motionless, glancing at the display you see that Ikuno's connection isn't close to enough to start the Franxx.
"Code 059," Hachi's voice rings in your ear via the com, "Chlorophytum is a no go, proceed to Terraria." "Yes sir." You reply. Kyu is already looking at you expectantly. "Chlorophytum is a scratch, we're up." "Let's get to it then." She replies.
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A short while later Terraria, Delphinium, Genista, and Argentea are on their way to the mine. "So, what should we expect?" Genista asks. "Well, it will probably be very tight quarters down there," you reply. "My guess right now is that it won't be easy for Genista to line up shots. But this is just a Conrad-class, so it shouldn't be much of a problem. Knock'em around a bit, crush the core, go home."
"When we find them stick to the plan," Delphinium adds.
"What exactly is the plan?" questions Argentea.
"Surround it and work together to bring it down," Goro states.
Once you arrive at the mine the other Franxx take a moment to admire. "Look at how massive that hole is!" Zorome exclaims. "How are we going to get down?"
"Those." Terraria says pointing to the large lifts lining the side of the mine shaft. "They are normally used to transport the magma fuel but should be able to hold a Franxx."
"Don't fall, it's a long way down." Delphinium states. Futoshi lets out a sudden scream. Terraria spins to face Genista, drawing her axe. "Where is it?" she demands.
"Uh, sorry." Futoshi replies, "I looked down the hole and got scared."
Terraria sighs, replacing her weapon. "Come on, let's go."
The Franxx each take and individual lift down ending with Terraria. As you board the lift Hachi radios the squad. "Now that you've arrived proceed to level 8. As you should know by now the only way to kill a Klaxosaur is to destroy its core, which is essentially its heart. Other attacks can disable it but won't finish the job. To do so you must use your custom magma energy weapons, they are the only things that can pierce the core. Take note that Klaxosaurs are attracted to magma energy reactions, so be quick or you could draw more of them to your position."
"Roger that, commander," Delphinium replies as you arrive at the bottom. "All units, proceeding to objective." The squad proceeds down one of the mine's many hallways toward the last known location of the Klaxosaur.
"Wow, look at all this stuff. I wonder what it's for?" Goro asks.
Terraria points to the massive cylinders that line the current room. "This is a refinery. It's where they take the raw magma and refine it into fuel. There are probably dozens of them down here."
"What happens after that?" Zorome asks.
"The refined magma fuel is packaged and taken to the surface for use in the plantations," you reply.
Another five minutes pass as you continue through the mine. "Approaching the Klaxosaur's last known location," Delphinium states. "Squad 13, fall in behind me." Argentea and Genista move to flank Delphinium while Terraria hangs back slightly, watching the rear.
As you enter another refinery you see a large black and blue blob attached to one of the cylinders. "Target sighted, commencing operation," Delphinium says before charging the Klaxosaur. She rips it from the cylinder causing it to bounce across the room toward Argentea and Genista. Genista skewers it on her cannon's bayonet and holds it aloft for Argentea. Argentea wastes no time digging her claws into the Klaxosaur, tearing at it until it stops moving.
"Aw yeah! We did it!" Zorome boasts as Argentea strikes a pose.
"Nice work Zorome!" Futoshi cheers.
"Guys, the CORE!" you yell, but it is a little too late.
While Argentea is celebrating the now spider like Klaxosaur begins to move. It leaps from the ground and covers Argentea's face. The loud clanging noise of metal on metal is heard as well as Argentea's scream before she collapses, her display winking out. "Damn you!" Futoshi bellows firing Genista's cannon. The Klaxosaur is sent reeling by the blast. It impacts the wall then slowly slides to the ground, a small blue and yellow object visible in its chest. Delphinium then shatters the now exposed core with one of her blades. This isn't good. Argentea's down, and where there is one Conrad-class, you can bet that there are always more. Your fears are realized as several more black and blue blobs fall from the ceiling.
Terraria immediately charges the Klaxosaurs before they can react. With a wide swing of her axe she bisects two of the Klaxosaurs causing them to explode into a fine blue mist. She then delivers a kick to the last, sending it into one of the nearby containers. Another short swing and it is dispatched like the others.
"Argentea is down! Miku respond!" Delphinium demands. This operation was definitely going downhill a lot faster than you had expected.
"Uh, guys don't you think we should get out of here?" Genista says worriedly.
"She's right," Terraria replies. "We need to move, because my gut says more are on their way," she continues as she throws Argentea over her shoulder. On cue, Klaxosaurs begin to pour from the hole in the ceiling. "All units, retreat!" Delphinium orders.
Delphinium, Genista, and Terraria run back through the maze of tunnels attempting to escape from the Klaxosaurs. "Guys they are still coming!" Genista shrieks.
"Whatever you do, don't stop!" Terraria orders. As you retreat you notice a lever controlling one of the mine's emergency blast doors.
"Kyu, the door!" you yell. As you pass through Terraria throws the lever causing the blast door to slam shut.
"Whew, that was close." Futoshi states, not knowing the growing danger.
"It's not over!" Terraria replies dropping the still unconscious Argentea. "Help us hold the door!"
Terraria, Genista and Delphinium are propped against the door attempting to hold it shut. The noise from the Klaxosaurs on the other side is almost deafening, so loud is their clamor in attempting to pry the door open. All of a sudden, Argentea begins moving. "Hey guys, Miku's back from the dead!" Zorome exclaims. "Hey, cut it out, I didn't die!" Argentea grumbles standing. "Commander, we won't last much longer!" Goro states. The radio buzzes to life, "All units, Strelitzia is on her way, you just have to hold out until she arrives." Hachi's voice states. "We're saved!" Futoshi yells.
Delphinium suddenly changes posture, "Who's piloting it?" she shrieks, freezing before falling away from the door. You immediately recognize what's going to happen next and begin barking orders.
"Genista, this door is going to fail! When I give the order fire into it."
"Into it?" she asks worriedly.
"Into it," You confirm. "When that happens, empty your magazine into the hallway. Argentea, grab Delphinium and make a break for the center. We will stand with Genista until Argentea and Delphinium are away then we both run for the exit. Got it?"
"I, uh..." Genista stammers.
"Kokoro, you can do this," Terraria reassures her. "Alright." She nods. "On three!" You yell, "One!" Genista backs off the door leaving Terraria alone holding it. "Two!" Argentea grabs Delphinium and begins to run while Genista brings her cannon to bear on the door.
"Three!" Terraria ducks as Genista opens fire, the thundering sound of the cannon reverberating in the cramped hallway. The blast sends the already weakened door flying off its hinges back into the hallway containing the Klaxosaur, squishing a number as it does. Terraria swings her greataxe in wide arcs cutting through multiple of the spiderlike creatures with each revolution. This continues for close to 30 seconds until Futoshi yells. "We're out!"
"Then let's get the hell out of here!" you reply.
Genista and Terraria sprint back the way you originally came with the horde of Klaxosaurs hot on their heels. Reaching the central shaft, you find Delphinium, once again standing, and Argentea. Delphinium begins to speak before she is cut off,
"We're surrounded!" Goro yells in terror. Argentea turns to Terraria.
"Hey, uh, leader. What do we do?" Argentea asks, terrified.
"Everyone back to back!" Terraria orders. "If we are going down, we are going down fighting," you add.
The Franxx form a small circle facing outward. Oddly enough, though, the Klaxosaurs don't attack. A large one easily 5 times the size of the Conrad class makes its way out of one of the halls. It slowly advances toward you chittering as it does. It stops 100 feet from the circle and begins chittering even louder. Oh, come on! you say to yourself. A Moho class? It leans back onto it's hind legs preparing to jump, but it never gets the chance.
As the Large Klaxosaur begins to move it is impaled by a white-hot lance. It chitters slightly before exploding with enough force to knock Delphinium to the ground. Strelitzia! "H-Hiro?" Delphinium pleads.
"Get back, I'll handle this from here." The voice of Mitsuru commands as Strelitzia stabs one of the smaller Klaxosaurs thrown by the blast.
"Mitsuru?! What are you doing in Strelitzia?" Zorome yells. Hachi's voice comes over the coms, "Squad 13 fall back. Let Strelitzia and Terraria handle this."
"Friend, how many do you have so far?" Strelitzia asks coyly. "30 give or take." You reply. "Try to keep up." She says with a smile. "You're on." You reply smiling to yourself. "The leader only counts as one." Terraria dryly states.
Strelitzia begins her assault, decimating entire groups of the Conrad class with ease, laughing all the way. Terraria keeps pace with her spinning and slashing, becoming a whirlwind of blood and steel. Strelitzia and Terraria continue fighting to rid the mines of its Klaxosaur infestation. "This power, it's incredible!" Mitsuru gasps, "You know, Zero Two, I wouldn't mind being your official partner. Don't you think we'd make the best duo ever?" He yells. "Really? You mean that?" Strelitzia asks sweetly. "Well then, I guess I can go all out for a bit." Oh shit, you say to yourself. Mitsuru's screwed.
"Strelitzia that's enough. Return to the surface immediately." Hachi commands. "No thanks, I'm gonna have some fun before I leave." Zero Two replies. "Friend," she turns to Terraria, "how many?"
"72." Terraria replies.
"Aww, I'm disappointed. You had a head start and I'm still beating you." Strelitzia retorts with a smirk. More klaxosaurs funnel into the shaft as Strelitzia and Terraria resume fighting.
A short while later Strelitzia and Terraria appear on the lifts at the surface. Strelitzia is already powered down while Terraria does so upon arriving. You walk out of the cockpit to see the remaining Franxx of Squad 13 as well as the parasites on the ground. The sky is already beginning to darken as the sun disappears over the horizon. Glancing over at Strelitzia you only see Zero Two exiting the cockpit. She smiles and offers a wave then looks down doing the same to Hiro. Mitsuru, I hope he's ok.
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When you arrive at the Plantation Mitsuru is placed in the infirmary due to his injuries from riding with Zero Two. You have to admit he is in rough shape, his arms and legs are covered in cuts and bruises. His face is another story, there is a deep gash that runs from just below his left eye down to his jaw, and the eye is swollen shut. The rest of Squad 13 looks at him terrified before Nana ushers them out of the room. "He needs a good deal of rest," she says, "You can see him in the morning."
To make matters worse, the next day when Mitsuru awakens he immediately suffers a mental break down. Shivering and muttering to himself in a cold sweat. "Demon. She's a demon! You'd have to be insane to ride with her, she'll kill you!"
After seeing Mitsuru's sorry state, you leave the boarding house in search of Zero Two. You find her standing by the shore of the lake. "Friend," she greets you gleefully.
"Good morning, Zero Two," you reply. "I have to ask you something important, so let's get to the point. Did you really have to be so rough with Mitsuru?"
"He said he wanted to be my partner, I had to see if he was good enough." She says innocently.
"You knew exactly what you were doing. Don't try to act innocent with me," you state.
"Ugh, fine," she says dropping the sweet tone. "He insulted Darling. He's just a weakling anyway, it's not like it matters what happens to him."
"Zero Two!" you yell angrily, "That's not true and you know it. Would you feel the same if it were me?"
"It can't be you, remember? You were just fine," she slyly fires back.
"That's because you didn't want to hurt me. We both know you have a great deal of control over what happens to your pilot," you retort. "You want me to apologize to him, is that it?" she asks, her voice growing deeper and somewhat ruffled.
"You wouldn't," you counter. "I just want to make sure you understand what you've done. Everything you do affects someone else too. Squad 13 wasn't comfortable with you before because of your reputation, and you have done nothing to make them think otherwise."
"I don't care what they think." she answers.
"While that may be true, you do care what Hiro thinks right?" You notice her face shift slightly with that statement. "Because when he saw Mitsuru this morning, he looked scared. Not scared of him, scared that that could happen to him. Is that what you want?"
Before she can answer your communicator goes off. It's a message from Hachi. "Be at my office in fifteen minutes."
"We'll continue this later." You say, beginning to walk away.
"You're leaving?" Zero Two asks, slightly disappointed.
"Yes," you reply, "the commander wants to speak with me."