Episode 08

~ Defensive Battle of Seattle (Part II) ~

"An Eclipse infected person would never be able to live their life without being succumbed into his or her strong impulse of killing, mass destruction and massacre as long as he or her has Divider in their hands…and that's being said would include you as well Thoma Avenir, since there is no turning back for you anymore…you're not human being anymore…"

"The only way to control the viral infection in your body as well as suppress your murderous intent is by having the Reactor Plug assisting you and walk side by side with you in this valley of darkness…regretfully, your damaged plug over there won't be able to do anything at all…and that's more for the reason for you to come with us…"

Arnage's explanation echoed clearly within Thoma's memories, as the said young Eclipse Driver was still trying his best to fight back against his murderous impulse while he tried to walk straight to the open area with Lily and Isis' support even though most of the time he was staggered and need to caught his breath. "Thoma…hang in there please…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" Lily apologized to Thoma as many times as she could since she was come into full realization as well over her inability to accept her destiny as well as performing her task as Strosek Reactor Plug somehow was also becoming the main reason on how Thoma was in his suffering state at the moment.

Thoma didn't even replied back at Lily's apology, as he couldn't even register the echoing voice that entered his ears anymore. He understood fully that he would never be able to return back to his normal state, and it was also when Thoma secretly made his decision by steeling his resolve in order to at least save both Lily and Isis with the little humanity that was still left inside his mind that already breaking down in the very border of insanity. "Thoma! Lily! Over there!" it was when Isis suddenly made her exclamation as she was using her free right hand to point out the incoming TSAB's personnel that approach them.

It was very chaotic situation as explosion rocked everywhere and people tried the very best to rescue themselves while in the same time helping others as their best capabilities. Under such chaotic situation, a lone TSAB's personnel stood in front of Thoma, Lily and Isis as she was only remain silent, unable to find the right words to express her feeling at the moment. It was when the very same TSAB's personnel approached those three, disregarding the fact that Isis already waste no time on readying her fighting stance in order to protect Thoma and Lily that she always regarded and considered as the very first true best friends of her. Isis however decided not to begin her first assault as she felt no hostility from the said TSAB's personnel in front of her since in fact she could only felt overwhelming sadness and grief from those beautiful crystal sapphire blue eyes of the very same TSAB's personnel in front of her.

It was when Thoma slowly opened his mouth and with his trembled voice he called upon the name of the said TSAB's personnel in front of him, as soon enough Isis realized that she already came face to face with someone that Thoma cherished dearly, someone that Thoma would definitely put his very life to protect, the dearest elder sister figure and precious family that manage to brought back Thoma's smile after what happened at Vaizen mines seven years ago.

"Su-chan…"

In the meantime, on sky above Seattle's Puget Sound of Pacific Ocean…

A clashing blade could be heard as Nanoha and Vita were busy dealing with the incoming fierce assaults from DeVille of Hűckebein's Divider-695 Lange that took a shape of massive oversized battle-axe. "Damn it Nanoha! This giant axeman is tough! We were wasting out rime!" Vita cursed as she tried to regain her balance after the clashing impact of Divider-695 and her AEC armament War Hammer threw her away for several hundreds metres from her current position. "I understand…please be careful Vita-chan since our enemy is definitely not someone we can take lightly, especially after he parried Ave-kun's Gespenst Haken's punch with his Divider…" Nanoha calmly replied back, as a pair of S2 shield modules from her AEC armament Fortress begun their particle beam bombardment against DeVille without any success at all.

"My master…the reaction of the Axeman is disappearing…" Raising Heart informed Nanoha about DeVille that was suddenly disappeared from both Nanoha and Vita's sight before he appeared right behind Nanoha and ready to smash the back of Nanoha's neck with his Divider-695. "Nanoha! Watch out!" Vita screamed, as Nanoha turned her face around the same time when DeVille swung down his Divider as Vita could only watched in horror. It was when DeVille's Divider finally made the impact with certain object in which fortunately for Nanoha wasn't her own neck and unfortunately for DeVille himself the "certain object" that happens to be clashed with his Divider was an armed device that belongs to the infamous "living Lost Logia", the Mistress of the Night Sky herself.

"Hayate-chan!" Nanoha happily greeted her best friend, as Hayate was using her Schwertkreuz to parry DeVille's attack before took a deep breath and half-scolding Nanoha. "Nanoha-chan! You really give me a heart attack na! I almost lost five years of my life away!" Hayate complained half-jokingly, as she was reassuming her fighting stance and began to cast her rapid shooting spell "Brionac Assault" in order to drive DeVille away and create some distance from the said giant hulking Eclipse Driver of the Hűckebein that almost took one of her best friend's life.

"Nanoha-chan should be able to renew her assault soon and Vita-chan would definitely be able to support her with unstoppable close-range assault afterward…what I need to do now is just to create distraction and distance long enough so those two could renew their assaults na…geeez…if King-sama see this, she would definitely laughed at me ha, ha, ha…" Hayate made a personal monologue remark inside her heart before she laughed alone sheepishly meanwhile Nanoha and Vita could only tried to guess on what was really indeed inside Hayate's mind. "Commander Yagami! We have incoming enemies nearby Esquad Hűckebein…ETA in two minutes! Enforcer aide J.C Takamachi is on his way to intercept them!" Lucino Lowran quickly informed Hayate from inside Wolfram as Hayate could only took a deep breath and sighed.

Soon after Hayate received the transmission from Wolfram's skipper Lucino Lowran she waste no time to assist Nanoha and Vita in order to took down DeVille of Hűckebein as quickly as possible. It was during the time when Hayate opened her Tome of the Night Sky, she bites her lower lip and muttered alone inside her heart. "Ave, please be careful…" after the said Mistress of the Night Sky finished her personal inner monologue alone, she closed her eyes for a moment and began to chant the area of her second wide-area bombardment spell that would definitely helped both Nanoha and Vita to stalled DeVille's merciless assault. It was when Hayate finished her aria as she opened her eyes and began to cast her wide-area bombardment spell "Hræsvelgr".

On the airspace area nearby Esquad Hűckebein in the meantime…

"Here they are…fighting all over Seattle and creating chaos here and there!" Hibiki Tatsunami voiced his displeasure as soon as he entered the combat zone before his Shiranui decided to fly in lower altitude followed by his squad members. "Wardog-1…this is Wardog-2…please give us your instruction…" Yuzuka contacted Hibiki via her own Type-94 Shiranui's communication device, as Hibiki waste no time to issue his order and create a solid combat formation in order to take down any enemies on their part as swiftly as possible. "Wardog-1 to all Wardog call signs…formation arrow head one!" Hibiki ordered as the rest of Wardog Squadron members quickly replied back in unison while assuming their respective position within the formation.

"Roger that!"

As soon as Hibiki heard the affirmative reply from his squad members, he was grinning alone inside his Shiranui's cockpit block while his eyes were fixed at certain strange looking TSF like target in front of him that was hovering close to elongated and mysterious looking warship nearby. "Hmmm, I definitely looking forward for this kind of exchange…moreover taking down mysterious alien warship and their TSF would definitely quite a nice challenge for me…" as soon as Hibiki finished his remark, he pulled out a pair of Type-87 assault rifles before taking a good aim over a pair of targets he just mentioned before in his remarks. "Let me see on how good you really are!" Hibiki roared and soon enough his Shiranui was opening fire toward Esquad Hűckebein and Ave's Gespenst Haken in front of him without hesitation.

"Bastard! What kind of welcoming party is this!?" Ave groaned and complained as he spun his Gespenst's Grand Plasma Cutter in order to create makeshift beam shield that would deflect the incoming 36mm ammunitions from Type-87 assault rifles of Hibiki Tatsunami's Type-94 Shiranui. In the meantime, the young Enforcer aide himself also realized on how the rest of five Type-94 Shiranui that were following Hibiki already begun to move and surround him completely in order to support their squad leader on engaging Ave's Gespenst and Esquad Hűckebein. However, as soon as those six Type-94 Shiranui TSFs began to launch their simultaneous assaults by using their Type-87 assault rifles' 36mm and 120mm ammunitions, a lone female figure appeared right in front of Ave's Gespenst Haken before deflecting the incoming ammunitions in which obviously bigger than herself simply with her katana blade.

"Thanks…you're…" Ave thanked his saviour, as the mysterious female figure with blue wing tattoo all over her body was just smiled cutely at him before replying back. "Ara…ara…boy, I should be the one that thanked you for protecting my ship…well, this time the leader of Hűckebein…Curren Hűckebein would be helping you ne…" as she cutely winked her eyes, the mysterious female Eclipse Driver that was introducing herself as the leader of Hűckebein; Curren Hűckebein began to open her own copy of Bible of Silver Cross in her hand, albeit the one that she was currently possessing was having silver coloured hardcover instead of black, like the one shown to the young Enforcer aide himself by Hayate Yagami a while ago.

"Curren Hűckebein…the leader of Hűckebein family is right here in front of me…under normal circumstance, I would definitely try my best to arrest her…however at the moment…I don't think it would be a good idea to create three-ways-conflicts against each other since the main priority is to defeat these TSFs in front of me…even if they're from Imperial Japan Army…" Ave muttered alone inside his heart, as he saw Curren was only smiling cutely at him before calmly opened her Bible of Silver Cross in order to face those Shiranui TSFs in front of her.

Wasting no time to let her new opponents took an advantageous opportunity to perform land first strike, Curren Hűckebein summoned thousands of Bible of Silver Cross' pages that instantly flying toward Shiranui TSFs of Wardog Squadron in front of her before slashing the armour plates of those said Shiranui TSFs mercilessly. "Damn it!" Hibiki cursed as his machine registered damages here and there as he began to return fire at Curren by using his Shiranui's Type-87 assault rifle although Curren easily blocked the incoming rapid 36mm ammunition rounds by using her katana blade. "Hibiki!" Yuzuka shouted as she was also pouring Curren with 36mm ammunition rounds by using a pair of Type-87 assault rifles simultaneously although this time however the former wishful author Ave took an initiative to help Curren on fending off the incoming attack by deflecting those rapid fire by using his Gespenst Haken's Grand Plasma Cutter.

"Ah, thank you young boy for helping me…I started to feel a bit depressed since I thought I need to fight these eight black giant robots alone by myself ha, ha, ha…" Curren replied back as she was smiling mischievously at the Enforcer aide Ave was only remain silent before replying back with calm and serious voice tone, or at least as serious as he could possibly done in this kind of circumstance. "Under normal circumstance…I would be arresting you on spot for the warrant given by TSAB over you and your organization…however, I'm not an ungrateful individual that doesn't know how to thanked someone that was just helping me before…" Ave replying back, as he was readying his fighting stance in order to face both Yuzuka and Hibiki's Shiranui TSFs that began to drew their respective PB Blades for close-combat duel.

"Heh, glad to see someone that still having and understand common sense after all…now, let's us handle these black giant robots first before settling our own problem later on…" Curren replied back, as she winked her right eye at Ave meanwhile the young Enforcer aide himself could only took another deep breath and sighed before replying back at her. "Alright then, although I hope you won't be forgetting the fact that my Gespenst Haken's paintjob is also metallic black…" Ave made his sarcastic reply, as he charged at both Yuzuka and Hibiki's Shiranui TSFs meanwhile Curren was just chuckled alone as soon as she heard Ave's reply as she was also focusing her assault at the remaining Type-94 Shiranui TSFs that were trying to help Yuzuka and Hibiki.

"You're really an interesting boy…too bad that you already belongs to that organization and becoming bureau's lapdog…if not, I would welcome you to my family at anytime…"

It was a chaotic battlefield for everyone that was involved in it. At least such thought was the only thing that could came out from Kazusa's mind as her white Type-82A Zuikaku landed nearby TSAB's sergeant Subaru Nakajima, Thoma, Isis and Lily. Not long afterward another three Type-82A white Zuikaku also landed behind Kazusa's white Zuikaku as the four of them only armed with a single Type-87 assault rifle and PB Blade without any spare ammunition clips due to the limited supply for Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) that was currently available at Tacoma Base. It was when Kazusa decided to activate her Zuikaku's open channel in order to contact as well as listen to the conversation of four individuals bellow her white Zuikaku.

"Thoma! What's going on here? What was happening with you?" Subaru demanded, as Thoma only shook his head with sad expression on his face before replying back. "I'm sorry Su-chan…could you please take a good care of Lily and Isis for me instead…since I no longer could be there with you…both of them are good girls that get involved because of me…" Thoma finished his reply, as this time Lily quickly shook her head repeatedly in her attempt to disagree against Thoma's decision meanwhile Isis quickly grabbed Thoma's collar before shouted at him. "Idiot! Why are you trying to give up so easily!? You're the one that told me to not giving up easily and yet…and yet…" Isis' voice was trailed off as tears began to roll from her amber eyes meanwhile Lily quickly embraced Thoma tightly while keep on showing her disagreement over Thoma's decision.

"Thoma! Please don't give up since there must be a way!" Subaru demanded. Thoma at first was trying to keep on convincing Subaru (Su-chan) to let him go, before this time Lily embraced his body even tighter than before and for the first time screamed loudly in order to convince Thoma to not giving up. "Don't give up please…answer my call…THOMAAAAAAA!" as soon as Lily's voice echoed across the entire battlefield, mysterious brilliant white light started to engulf both Lily and Thoma as time seems stopped for both of them.

"Lily…" Thoma muttered, as Lily was only smiling gently at the young Eclipse Driver boy in front of her before replying back this time with her own beautiful and gentle voice. "I'm sorry Thoma that I always only causing you to go through those painful memories and experiences…in order to protect me…but now I'm here…since I've finally remembered that I always waiting you Thoma…the fateful one that would save me…no…not as someone that would save me…but my Eclipse Driver…the meister of us Strosek Reactor that would take the full control of the Silver Cross…I'm sorry for pulling you into such unfortunate fate…but I do not want you to hurt more than what you already experienced Thoma…you're not going to die, or becoming killing machine…since I will be here to save you! Even if it's only for this once…trust me…Thoma…" Lily finished her reply, as Thoma was only smiling back at her before nodded in agreement as he was showing his genuine trust and faith over Lily's words. It was when Lily inhale a deep breath and began to activate her barrier jacket like combat protective clothing identified as Engage Suit.

"Reactor Drive! Set up! (I finally remember Thoma…) Reactor Engage! (I finally remembered…over my true role as Reactor Plug…the Strosek…)

(Insert Theme Song: My Independent Destiny, Performed By: Haruka Tomatsu (V.A: Lily-Strosek))

Lily quickly performed react-in in which functioning similar to unison-in for Unison Device/ Unity Knight, as she entered internal subspace pocket dimension of Thoma's subconscious and began to regain the full control of Bible of Silver Cross as well as Eclipse infection across Thoma's body that was caused by the said Bible of Silver Cross itself from the very beginning. "Silver Cross…please terminate self-defense mechanism…switch over to Strosek IV for active control…return the sight and hearing of the Eclipse Driver to normal…Zero Drive, commence emergency termination and begin…to…" Lily breathes heavily as her sentence was stopped, as it was practically took a lot of energy and effort for her to deactivate Thoma's Eclipse impulse infection at once. However she already made her resolve to keep on protecting Thoma no matter to what happened.

"Begin to…disengage…and activate…and activate and inject the antibody…in order to release you from the…from the Eclipse…"

Lily finished her task, as her consciousness began to drift away from her. Her body felt heavy, as her eyes were also felt tired. "Thank you dearest goddess Eidos…that Thoma…Thoma…is finally…" as consciousness almost finally left Lily entirely, the gentle Strosek Reactor IV could only smiled weakly and peacefully as she knew that Thoma finally would be fine. Even if her destiny was mean to end here, at least she manage to use her power as well as her very existence to protect the one and only person, the one and only Eclipse Driver she holds dearly. It was when she vaguely heard a pair of very familiar voices that was calling upon her name repeatedly, encouraging her to never give up.

Lily slowly opened her eyes, as she found herself being cradled by Thoma, as she could see both Thoma and Isis were crying over her. "Thoma…Isis…why are you crying?" innocently Lily asked. "You big dummy! I thought you were gone for good…sobs…sobs…uwaaaaaaaa!" Isis cried even louder, as Subaru was only smiling in relieved as she was putting her right arm around Isis' shoulders. "I'm sorry Thoma…Isis…and…uhm…Subaru-san for causing you three to worry about me…" Lily apologized meekly as she tried to smile at those three as well albeit somehow she still felt very weak to do so and her smile even look very weak and tired in front of Subaru, Thoma and Isis.

"I'm glad you're fine Lily…never scare us like that again ever…promise?" Thoma asked, as Lily weakly nodded as she promised Thoma to not done something careless and overdid herself anymore. In the meantime Kazusa, Aki, Izumi and Shimako could only remain silent as they saw the entire situation that was happening in front of them. It was when Aki decided to contact Kazusa via her own white Zuikaku's private channel. "Hey, Yamashiro! Do you still intent to apprehend them?" Aki asked, as Kazusa was only took a deep breath and sighed in defeat before replying back at Aki. "You really love to make me looks like a bad guy don't you second lieutenant Iwami?" Kazusa retorted back, as she glared at Aki who just grinned back at Kazusa, pretending that she didn't know on what Kazusa was just talking about.

"Uhm, Kazusa-san…I'm afraid, we couldn't just stay idle here…since the battlefield across Seattle were still raging on and we need to help Wardog Squadron against those two enemies out there and if possible trying to take down the enemies' flagship as well…" this time Izumi tried to gave Kazusa a reminder as she was implying Ave's Gespenst Haken and Curren Hűckebein as the enemies meanwhile Esquad Hűckebein as the enemy's flagship. "I understand about that second lieutenant Noto…however, in the same time I'm doubting Wardog Squadron were pointing their blades against the wrong opponents since I remember those seven MiG-23 Senjutsuki over there were the one that begin their indiscriminate attack first…" Kazusa replied back at Izumi, as her Type-82A white Zuikaku pointed out its steel right hand's index finger at the seven MiG-23 Cheburashka TSFs that were still engaged against Signum and Cypha duo in both long-range and melee combat.

"Leader…the situation has change and now against our favour…I suggest we retreat…" one of the mysterious Cheburashka's Eishi contacted his squad leader via private channel as the MiG-23 Cheburashka leader unit was quickly nodded in agreement before pouring more firepower using WS-16 assault rifles and releasing smoke screen in order to cover their escape. In the same time however, the leader of the Hűckebein family; Curren Hűckebein was also signalling the rest of Hűckebein members to begin their retreat as well. "Wait! We won't let you running away!" Hayate warned, as she was pointing her Schwertkreuz at Curren Hűckebein and the other Hűckebein members that already begin on boarding their flagship Esquad Hűckebein. Nanoha and Fate in the same time were also readying themselves for further engagement against the other Hűckebein members meanwhile Signum, Agito, Vita and Erio were joining them.

"Well…well…little girl of dimensional bureau…could you just be a bit nicer to us and let us get away this time? Just pretend that you all were already trying but fail to capture us…since we are somehow helping you aren't we?" Curren Hűckebein made her remark as she smiled mischievously at Hayate, meanwhile the female commander of Special Duty Section 6 was definitely undeterred even after she heard Curren Hűckebein's request to let them get away just for this time. "If we let you get away, all of you would be committing more heinous crimes out there and even though you all fought side by side with us before during emergency situation…the fact that you're claiming the life of this non-administered world's inhabitants remain unchanged…hence for, I hereby declare you under arrest!" Hayate shouted back at Curren, as she was definitely serious over her intention to arrest them.

Curren Hűckebein was only taking a deep breath and sighed before she was suddenly disappeared from Hayate's sight. Before Hayate could realize on what happening, she felt sharp pain pierced her through her torso as blood sprayed from it. "Hayate-chan!" Nanoha paled, as she screamed in horror before quickly aiming her Strike Cannon at Curren Hűckebein that was appearing right behind Hayate and stabbed her with her katana blade. "Nanoha! Let me do it!" Fate waste no time, as she activates her "Sonic Move" spell in order to attack Curren Hűckebein with greater speed as she only found that her Bardiche Assault's Riot Zanber II form was easily being parried away by Curren Hűckebein.

Vita, Signum and Erio were enraged as the three of them leaped at Curren in the same time while trying to pummel the female leader of Hűckebein with their respective AEC armaments. However, once again Curren easily parried their attacks away and unfortunately for Signum, this time Cypha decided to intervene and instantly appeared in front of the Knight of the Sword before using her Divider-944 König Reacted to shatter Signum's Laevatein effortlessly and injuring her in progress as well.

"Signum!" Nanoha quickly caught Signum's body before she quickly summoned her AEC armament Fortress' GN Blade unit in order to parry Cypha's Divider away, creating some distance between them. "Oh…this is unusual, the power of infinity…I never guessed that you bureau's public servant were finally employing the forbidden power of Nayuta to destroy us…" Cypha muttered in amusement as she grinned evilly at both injured Signum and Nanoha. "The power of Nayuta…is she referring to GN particles used for Fortress…" Nanoha muttered alone inside her heart, as her mind absorbed on what Cypha was just referring before, the power of infinity; Nayuta. It was when Curren took her opportunity once again as she summoned numerous number of pages from her Bible of Silver Cross in order to stall Fate, Vita, and Erio away before throwing away Hayate's severely injured body at Fate to carry.

"I hope this kind of situation becoming a warning to you all who tried to oppose us and even dare to go too far for doing so despite to the emergency situation around all of us…" Curren made her remark, as she stared at Fate, Erio, and Vita as well as injured Hayate with serious expression on her face. Shortly after however, Curren found a pair of oversized blades were coming to her direction from above, vertically, as she quickly leaped back in order to avoid herself being cleaved away by those blades. "My…my…my…now look on who are coming to get me…" Curren muttered playfully, as Personal Trooper Gespenst Haken as well as Hibiki's Type-94 Shiranui TSF were hovering right in front of her armed with their respective melee armaments identified as Grand Plasma Cutter and PB Blade.

"Even though you were helping me just before due to misunderstanding, what have you done for injuring our commander is definitely went too far the leader of Hűckebein!" the Enforcer aide Ave roared in rage, as he was pointing his plasma blade toward Curren, meanwhile Hibiki's Shiranui could be seen only shrugged away before he also adding his remark as well. "I don't know on what happened and I could care less for any issues happened between your organizations…but harming people of Seattle is a big no for my policy and my option is to either arresting you all that happens to be the lesser good guy or minor bad guy here or destroy you all in order to protect Seattle!" Hibiki added his remark meanwhile Curren was just giggled in amusement before winked her right eye like usual at both Ave and Hibiki before answering their remarks with her own playful answer.

"I love to take care both of you at once…however, my schedules are currently fully booked boys…drink some more milks and grow up first then we talk again later…also, ah…almost forget…your friends over there seem also having quite a problem as well if you still try to play good cops and arrest us…" Curren finished her playful reply, as she was pointing out the truth when both Ave and Hibiki realized on how the rest of Hűckebein family that previously already boarding Esquad Hűckebein easily took a very good care over the rest of Wardog Squadron's TSFs together with the four white Zuikaku TSFs that were trying to get on the way.

"Yuzuka! Ellen! Shizuku!" Hibiki paled as she quickly rushed at those three Shiranui TSFs that were broken on the ground after being beaten mercilessly by Veyron, Arnage and DeVille although the term mercilessly seems a bit inappropriate since the Eishi piloting those three Shiranui TSFs were unharmed aside from their respective TSFs being beaten to pulp and broken beyond capability to operate properly. In the meantime Ryouichi and Ogami's Shiranui TSFs were kneeled as even though they were lightly damaged, trying to fight against those three head-on would definitely proven to be foolish and equally means committing suicide.

"Kazusa…what should we do now? Our assaults were easily being parried away by those three as if we are nothing…damn it!" Aki cursed away in frustration, as Kazusa, Izumi and Shimako were just remain silent while keep on observing every single movement of their opponents. However, as far as Kazusa concerned over any sudden attack that would be made by their opponents, her intuition somehow told her that her opponents would never result themselves into such cowardice actions, moreover after they were proving themselves to be much more stronger and superior in comparison to her and the rest of her friends together with her and her friends' Type-82A Zuikaku TSFs. "Aneki…I think we better to get away now, before enemies reinforcement arrive and making the situation becoming a lot more complicated than what already happening now…" Veyron made his suggestion, as he contacted Curren Hűckebein telepathically before the said female leader of Hűckebein family herself quickly nodded in agreement over Veyron's suggestion. Once again with playful smile on her face, Curren bid her farewell and left the beleaguered Special Duty Section 6's members, Wardog Squadron and the young Enforcer aide away.

"Commander Yagami! Are you alright? We are sending medical team to Wolfram's bay now…please stay still!" skipper Lucino's voice could be heard transmitted across the compact communication device similar to bluetooth device attached at Special Duty Section 6's members' right ears as Hayate was only kneeled while replied back at Lucino as she also tried her best to gave her skipper a reassuring smile albeit blood still kept on dripping from her Knight Garb. "I'm fine na…at the moment I'm trying to keep on issuing command while performing first-aid treatment for Signum, Vita and Erio that were injured away…" Hayate replied back, as she almost stumbled from her position since in reality Hayate felt really weak as if an unknown force drained her Linker Core energy away. It was when Nanoha and Fate quickly helped their best friend by supporting her on their shoulders before the former smiled at Hayate and made her encouragement remark.

"Just a little bit longer Hayate-chan…please be strong…" Nanoha whispered, as Hayate was only nodded back in agreement as soon as she heard the encouraging remark from the legendary Ace of Aces Nanoha Takamachi herself. Soon enough, the medical team of Special Duty Section 6 arrived as they quickly took care the injured personnel in which including Hayate away from the battlefield. Even though Nanoha, Fate and of course the young Enforcer aide Ave J.C Takamachi were worried over the condition of their best friends, the three of them clearly understood that there would be several other things that would need their immediate attention such as Subaru, Thoma, Lily and Isis, as well as those TSFs squadrons currently present in front of them.

"Who are you guys really?"

It was the first question that came from the leader of VMF-318 Black Knives, first lieutenant Lilia Kjellberg that was just arrived after she tried to pursue Esquad Hűckebein without much success. Nanoha, Fate and Ave believed the other Eishi such as Hibiki, Yuzuka, Shizuku, Ellen, Ryouichi, Ogami, Kazusa, Aki, Izumi and Shimako were also having the same question inside their minds over Special Duty Section 6's sudden appearance on the sky of Seattle. Fortunately however, the arrival of Wardog Squadron's commander and vice commander in their respective Shiranui TSFs together with 66th Tactical Armoured Battalion Hunter and their F-22A Raptor TSFs were quickly saving Nanoha, Fate and Ave from the need of providing Lilia with answer, as they quickly issued cease-fire to be implemented immediately under the ultimate order of United States, United Nations, as well as Empire of Japan's provisional government while treating members of Special Duty Section 6 as their guests much to everyone, including Nanoha, Fate, Ave and the rest of Special Duty Section 6's members surprise.

In the meantime, inside the private chamber of supreme shogun Yuuhi Koubuin…

"It seems we made it on time, since I fear on what just happened in Seattle was just a tip of iceberg over the great calamity you already foreseen previously…six months ago, am I right my friend?" supreme shogun Yuuhi Koubuin made her remark, as she took her tea and sipped away slowly. In the meantime the certain individual that was being referred as friend by supreme shogun Yuuhi Koubuin herself was only smiling back before replying at Yuuhi's remark just before. "Unfortunately, we are still unable to prevent on what happening to the mainland and the only thing we could probably do is to assist your majesty to reclaim them back meanwhile keep on preparing ourselves for the said great calamity that would overshadowing BETA invasion…" the mysterious friend that was identified as female as well replied back at Yuuhi while she took her own tea and sipped it away.

"I fully understand and it wasn't your fault or Time-Space Administration Bureau's fault for this kind of situation to be happened as well…since I already have some insight previously over this kind of calamity would definitely befall my people and my country away before humanity finally emerge victorious and reclaim what supposedly belong to them…one thing certain however, I'm relieved to find that we aren't alone in our struggle since friends from different dimensions would be here to assist us…" Yuuhi replied back at her friend's reply just before, as she smiled gently at her friend before taking a deep breath and sighed. "Is there anything that concern your majesty at the moment?" Yuuhi's friend asked, as Yuuhi was just giggled sheepishly before replying back at her.

"It seems my poker face isn't enough to hide my concerned thought am I right?" Yuuhi asked, half-jokingly as her friend was only smiling gently at her before replying back. "I already knew your majesty for at least three years…ever since that fateful day, and I definitely realized if your majesty's thought were preoccupied with something else…" Yuuhi's friend replied back, as she was smiling gently at the supreme shogun herself before Yuuhi quickly admitted her defeat and gave her friend and honest answer over what was currently worrying her mind.

"I'm scared…especially over the fact that I'm powerless to change anything and I also fear Ikaruga Takatsugu would have done something beyond what his own capabilities as well…his love for Japan and its people were the greatest and unfortunately it was also the very instrument that proven to be his downfall for making a contract with demons in order to protect those he holds dearly…" Yuuhi sighed, as she finished her reply meanwhile her friend as only nodded back in fully understanding before answered at Yuuhi's explanation. "Your majesty, I believe general Ikaruga Takatsugu would finally understand over the wrongness of the path he was currently walking upon before everything is already too late…and if your majesty still worrying about that, my eldest brother would keep his eyes in secret constantly just for your majesty meanwhile your majesty could enact the plan-B for the time being in order to ensure humanity's salvation of this world…" Yuuhi's friend once again offering her help, as she smiled gently while in the same time reassuring supreme shogun Yuuhi Koubuin that everything would be fine.

"In order to proceed with the next phase of the plan, we will need to shift our focus to Alaska for now and from there…everything should be happening in accordance to our prediction, my friend…once again, would you willing to help me in order to realize this dream of mine and my people as well as the rest humanity of this world for the never ending tomorrow?" supreme shogun Yuuhi Koubuin once again asked, as her best friend as only smiling back at her before nodded back in affirmative and replying back. "It's always a pleasure for me your majesty, and I believe my little sister lieutenant colonel Hayate Yagami would be more than willing and happy to help you with all her might as well as the rest of my friends as well…" Yuuhi's friend replied back, as she was definitely reaffirming her stance to support the supreme shogun Yuuhi Koubuin herself together with her dream for never ending tomorrow of her people as well as the rest of mankind in this world.

"Thank you very much once again my friend, and before you forget…I thought I already told you to address me casually as Yuuhi while we are in private?" Yuuhi replied back, as she reminded her friend about her request half-jokingly. Yuuhi's friend on the other hand was only smiling back as she replied at Yuuhi's reminder. "I always forgetting about that…my apologize your majesty…eeer…I mean Yuuhi-san…" as soon as her friend finished her reply, Yuuhi gently nodded back in understanding before bowed her head slightly and thanked the said best friend of her once again for her unyielding support for her cause and her dream.

"Thank you Knight Carim…and I as well as my people will definitely never forgetting you and the Church of the Saint King for their kindness and benevolence…"

To Be Continued…