11:15am, twelve miles out from Togo Harbour,

"Heavens..." Admiral Kenchi Tsuruku, aboard the bridge of his flagship, the HIMS Osaka, lowered his binoculars with an aghast expression, one his staff mirrored.

The GAAFT task group, more than one hundred ships, was frantically firing blindly into the water, its vessels slowly being picked off one by one.

It should have been a simple matter. This massive fleet coming into Japanese waters would be met by his ships and escorted to Togo harbour. A diplomatic display to show the world Japan was still in charge of its own affairs. Now it would seem the enemy, the "Seraphim" had decided to strike. His commander, Admiral Takeida, the Navy's member of the Defence Board, had raged for days about the ships and men he'd lost in that first terrible engagement, giving Tsuruku the impression his fleet, the Pacific fleet, wouldn't stand a chance.

"Admiral, they're calling for assistance." One of his aides said, causing the elderly man to wince.

I can't risk the Pacific fleet in a battle we can't win...but...we can't just leave them.

"Should I give the order for attack speed, Admiral?" The Captain of the Osaka pressed, desperate for an order.

A few moments of indecision followed. Then another aide raced up to Tsuruku and saluted.

"Orders from NERV sir. We're to attack at once."

"Since when did those spooks give us orders!?" A Lieutenant snarled.

"Admiral, they apparently have four Evangelion Pilots onboard the Seydlitz. We've been ordered to make an escape route."

Silence hung upon the bridge of the Osaka, every man there understanding the significance of the situation.

Losing two Evas would be bad enough...but every Pilot we currently have?

Tsuruku sighed a tired sigh, nodded, and accepted his duty.

"Full speed ahead. All hands battle stations." His command was chorused by various officers. Alarms screamed through that summer morning across the eighty ships of the Pacific fleet.


15 miles out from Togo Harbour, sixty feet beneath the surface

The periscope beheld the chaos unfolding before it, as one of the most powerful fleets ever assembled was ripped to shreds. This enemy tore through A-T fields and steel hulls like a knife carving a cake. The periscope snapped back down, the bearded forty-four year old man brought his eyes away from it. His words were quite telling of his feelings on the matter.

"Chyort. Dive to a hundred metres." Captain First Rank Alexi Cherepanov removed his cap and mopped his brow, the interior of the K76 being cramped and humid as was to be expected of a Russian S2 Submarine.

There was a cry of "yes sir" followed by "new depth, one hundred metres!"

"How bad?" His Captain Lieutenant looked at him, fear in his eyes.

"Gulf of Riga bad. What's on the frequencies?" He sighed, gaining murmurs of despair and disbelief from his men. Referring to the battle of the Gulf of Riga, the reversal which cost the Socialist Russian Federation control of the Baltic, in so flippant a manner could only mean the worst.

"Call for help is being blasted across all radio waves. They're in real trouble." The operator muttered.

"What do we do, sir? We could make a break for Hong Kong?" Senior Michman Sergei Kolov offered, before the sound of a hatch opening and boots impacting the floor could be heard.

Blyat

"What is the situation, Cherepanov?" Nikhil Kadinikov, their vessel's political officer, bared down on them, hard eyes appraising them beneath his peaked cap.

"The fleet has come under attack. Multiple ships lost already, I recommend that we withdraw-" Alexi winced when Nikhil raised his hand.

"How severe is it?"

"Dozens of ships destroyed sir, SOS signal on all frequencies. Apparently four active Eva pilots are aboard. The JSN pacific fleet is moving to their aide. The...the reports are saying it's a Seraph." The radio operator gulped, trying not to meet the gaze of what was for all intents and purposes, a Commissar.

Nikhil nodded.

"Captain, put your men to battle stations. The motherland is in peril comrades, we must move quickly. Send word to our allies." He said sternly, gaining a nod from Cherepanov who began barking out orders.

"All hands man your battle stations, prime all torpedo tubes and prepare for firing solution. And someone tell that damn Chinese sub to give us a hand!"


Bridge of the Seydlitz

"No damn it, tell them to turn back!" Misato barked in desperation, gaining a sad shake of the head from Admiral Scheer.

"It's your organization whose given the order, Lieutenant Colonel, there isn't much we can do about it."

But they don't stand a chance! She raged within her head, questioning Commander Ikari's wisdom. Numbers meant very little against Seraphim, three hundred and fifty thousand men couldn't stop even one, so it was not unreasonable to think the JSN didn't have a snowball's chance in hell.

Unless...they're meant to be a distraction?

That thought was as disturbing as what circled beneath them.

"Sir! The Defence Board has ordered all available FCVs to provide assistance, HIMS Uesegi and Minamoto are already en-route." A Lieutenant smartly relayed in his mother tongue.

"Tell them to begin attack as soon as possible, our aircraft will designate the target's position. And someone get those verdammt holograms up!" Scheer continued to bark out commands at an astonishing rate, his brilliant tactical mind going over his options.

"That won't be enough Admiral, and those FCVs will never get here in time. I'd recommend using the-" Misato was cut off by the High Seas Fleet Admiral.

"They are not equipped for combat at sea, Lieutenant Colonel. Besides, I'm an Admiral of the Kaiser's navy...sending children into the meat grinder isn't my job." His words stung the purplehead badly.

"Holograms online, sir!" Another officer relayed. Two blurry 3-D images of men came into being. Powered by a small S2 engine, and manifested through the bending of A-T fields, holograms were a cutting edge technology, used only by the military.

One was of a man most likely in his sixties, whose hair had already turned white.

Misato knew him immediately as Admiral Kenchi Tsuruku.

The other hologram, being of a man she'd met earlier that day.

Sea Marshal Dominic Stewart, of the Imperial Navy's 5th fleet looked angry, his gaze in particular becoming fixed on the NERV Lieutenant Colonel.
Disdain evident in his eyes.

"Gentlemen. We're in the scheisse." Scheer spoke directly to the other two admirals, gaining a smile from the Tsuruku, and a harrumph from Stewart.

"The enemy has taken us completely by surprise, we are carrying two Evangelions, and four Pilots. In short, if we lose today then the various nations of men are finished." His tone hardened towards the end, getting across the severity of the situation.

"Any questions, or shall we get to business?"

Neither of the men responded.

"Good. I've lost fifteen ships already, and from the reports I'm hearing the Empire has lost three Battle Cruisers. Is that correct?" Scheer directed at Stewart, gaining a saddened nod in return.

"The Northampton, the Sheffield, and the Glasgow. I knew their captain's on a first name basis..." The Imperial Admiral trailed off, his fist balling.

"Savage creature...it'll pay in blood."

"Let us hope so, Admiral Tsuruku your fleet is at full strength is it not?" The German turned to his Japanese counterpart, gaining a puff of the chest in pride from the elderly man.

"The Pacific fleet stands ready. My submarines have already commenced assault and we are launching fighters-" he was cut off by the sound and sight of a Taira being tossed from the water and landing on a Pruessen Heavy Cruiser, resulting in the larger ship being crushed, killed any noise in that room.

More explosions followed as panicked cries came from Tsuruku's end, his expression paling.

"Our submarine attack force has just been halved. Forgive me, Admiral but I must withdraw them."

"Fick." A Lieutenant muttered under his breath, his commander massagin his eyebrows.

"Then we must make for Togo harbour, all ships shall act as shields for the Seydlitz and the Dominion. It is imperative their cargo reaches land." A few heads nodded in agreement, until a sad sigh caught their attention.

Misato looked forlornly at them.

"Have you something to say barbarian? Well, out with it!" Stewart snapped, although one could hardly blame him. It was a trying day after all.

"You can't. If we go for the harbour then that just makes the Seraph's job easier. We'll all be boxed together and it will crush us like insects one at a time. And even if we did make it, I wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing sprouted legs to pursue us. Our only option is to use the Evas." She emphasized that last point.

There was more commotion on Tsuruku's end, his expression momentarily becoming one of horror.

"My rear ships have been destroyed, it...it's driving us towards you...how did it get behind us." He said calmly, regaining control of his composure as he directed those last words at his staff. Muttering broke out among the German sailors at this alarming development. Misato's heart stopped as she realised what was going on.

"Oh Spirits...it's corralling us."


One of the Seydlitz's cabins

Sitting on his bed, Ryoji Kaji furiously pressed buttons on his phone, a briefcase marked classified tier one lying by his side. It rang for a few moments, then the agent was greeted by a stoic voice.

"Ah, Agent Kaji. I have heard the reports...this is unexpected." Said Gendo Ikari.

"Unexpected my ass. Ugh, I should have known it wouldn't be this easy, not with you people." Ryoji took a quick look out his porthole as another ship, a Japanese cruiser, was ripped apart.

"What are you suggesting, agent?"

"Don't bullshit me, old man. There are tens of thousands of people here, have I put their lives in danger?"

"I assure you this was not of my making. I did not expect the Seraphim to home in on Adam at this point. Perhaps if you were to bring it to Central via aircraft, the enemy may break off its attack. "

"Or it'll most likely blast me out of the sky."

"Not when it has hundreds more targets to pick."

"You bastard..."

"Perhaps. Although I might add four Pilots are onboard those ships, and I have use for them. Not to mention my combat operations director-" the conversation ended abruptly when Ryoji almost broke the end call button due to how hard he pressed it.

He breathed deeply for a few moments, then dialled the necessary numbers with a resigned expression.

"Captain. I have a priority one cargo to deliver to NERV Central. Prepare a VTOL."

Finishing his call, he tossed the phone aside.

"I'd hoped we'd have a better reunion...Misato-chan..."


Cargo hold

"We need to tell Misato-" Shinji vehement objection was cut off immediately.

"No time for that scheisse, dummkopf, we've got a world to save!" Asuka's smile kept broadening. With her hand clamped around his wrist, she hauled the brown haired boy down a flight of stairs with a bag she'd just acquired slung over her shoulder. Eventually depositing her cargo outside a storage room, the redhead pointed a threatening finger at him.

"If you even think of peeking whilst I get changed, you'll have something far more scary than a Seraph to deal with."

Somehow I believe that his subconscious muttered.

Unzipping the bag, she pulled out two plug suits and shoved one into his arms

"What am I meant to do with this?" He said, confused.

"Put it on."

"But it's a girl's plugsuit..."

Her expression became deadpan.

"You act like I care. Now put it on, or I'll make you put it on." She gave him the evils before disappearing into the cabin, slamming the door behind her. Leaving Shinji with a plugsuit not designed for his sex, let alone himself.

Had Asuka the choice, she'd have picked different colours for the tight fitting rubbery space suit she had to wear. At one point the freckled girl had, barely a few years ago. The redhead often thought back to her old suit with great fondness. But...she didn't entirely hate the Reich regulation she had these days.

Granted the black, white and red clashed horrendously with her mane and only served to highlight her verdammt freckles. But somehow, it worked nicely.

Having stripped, the German girl tenderly set aside her sundress, folding it with uncharacteristic care. Slipping first her legs, and then her arms into the suit, Asuka eventually pulled the loose fitting rubber up to her neck. Looking down at the button on her right wrist, she wrapped a hand around it and squeezed.

Immediately, it hugged her slender frame

For a moment, her mind dwelt on what was circling the vessel. The awesome power which she'd only witnessed through footage of previous engagements. Power which was on the verge of destroying the world. Her sapphire eyes narrowed. She set herself to the task at hand, purging herself of all doubt with four simple words.

Time to go Asuka.

Suited up and prepared for battle, the German girl threw the door open and re-emerged, brimming with confidence in her own ability. Only to be confronted with the sight of a similarly suited boy lying on the floor, a hand firmly grasping his underparts.

"What...are you doing?" She looked down on the unmoving Shinji.

"This is a girl's plugsuit." He squeaked.

"And?"

"This is a girl's plugsuit. What do boy's have that girl's don't?"

Asuka shook her head and growled.

"Ugh, man up."


It has been awkward to walk in this thing, as even his admittedly smaller than average manhood was crushed by the suit. But he had to deal with it, and besides it hurt nowhere near as much as the various tortures the enemy had subjected him to. Nevertheless, Shinji found himself unable to complain about his purple and white plugsuit any more.

Now he was crammed into an already cramped entry plug, except in this instance he had company. Scary company.

Asuka began to speak, her tone authoritative. She was talking in German so he didn't understand, but with the repetition of certain words he could guess it was a start up sequence. A wave of colours rushed through the LCL filled plug, various connections between Pilot and Eva being made, until everything went black and various warning signals appeared, accompanied by an alarm.

"What...what's happening?" The Japanese boy looked around, alarmed at the flashing red words he didn't understand.

She threw her head back and groaned in exasperation.

"That's thought noise, your thought noise. It's programmed for me, dummkopf, therefore it'll only recognize my language. So if you're going to think do it in German."

"O-okay. Um, s-stroodle, schnitzel..." He stopped as her gaze fixed on him, daring him to say anything else.

"...sieg?"

Furiously inhaling Asuka ground her teeth in annoyance.

"Alright fine we'll reprogram for Japanese. Visual sequences engage."

The rainbow rushed past them again, then a crystal clear image of the outside world surrounded them.

"Nerve sequences engage."

The sudden yet familiar feeling of weight rushed into their bodies. Shinji steeled himself for the work to come, Asuka revelled in its power and warmth.

"Clearance code, Reich's security mark eins. Evangelion, Einheit zwei, los!"


Fish in a barrel Gaghiel quietly mused, as the enemy fleet was bunched together more and more, useless missile fire raining down on him from above.

Even if he were slow enough to be hit, his wall of light remained impenetrable to the Vooren.

A vessel was trying to break away from the main group, small fast and sleek. The Sovereign's finest admiral couldn't help but admire the ship building capabilities of their foes. Compared to the old longboats and ramming vessels his people had used in war at sea, they seemed like chariots of the Gods. So it did pain him to cut the vessel in two via barging through it.

His commands were specific, no survivors.

Watching the two chunks of torn metal sink to the bottom, dozens of individuals frantically thrashing around as water filled their lungs, he felt his heart sink.

You poor devils aren't meant for swimming are you?

Such is war my Heir. Now, has the enemy been appropriately positioned? Haniel's voice reverberated through his mind.

Yes, Fist. Time to finish this sorry show. Gaghiel accelerated towards the heart of the fleet, specifically targeting the larger vessels. Strange barrels were dropped into the water from above, exploding at different depths. Again, the Divine had to be impressed by Vooren technology. But compared to true power, it availed them nothing.

Brushing the depth charges aside, the great whale charged forward only to feel a sudden tingling in its spine.

Can it be... He slowed to a halt, letting his senses reach out and feel a power equal to his own.

An Evangelion? What good would using one out here do? The Fist said, inquisitive.

It matters not. Gaghiel steeled himself.

Well then, Vooren. It's high time you understood the taste of defeat...


"S-s-sir..." an officer stammered, staring at his screen.

"What is it?" Langsman held his hands behind his back.

"Evangelion Unit 02 has activated..."

Everyone on the bridge stopped what they were doing and stared at him. Misato's face lit up, while Scheer's expression varied between surprise and annoyance.

"That...little..." He hissed before regaining control of himself. Marching over to the comms officer he barked "patch me through."

"Countess Soryu you are not authorized-" He stopped mid sentence, cut off by a voice no one else could hear.

"Yes, miss, I understand Unit 02 is NERV's property but..." his resigned sigh said all on the matter.

"She wants to speak to you." He directed at the purplehead, handing her the mouthpiece.

Misato, beaming from ear to ear, took it and held it to her mouth. It did feel strange to not see who she was talking over vid link, but this would do. The military was incredibly utilitarian after all.

"Nice one. But you could've have talked to me about this..." She mockingly pouted.

"You, me, talk? Ha! I'm only calling up because dummkopf here thinks you need to know everything." There was a murmur of "hello, Misato-san" in the background.

"Oh did you have to rope poor Shinji-kun into this?"

"He's safer here than he is anywhere else. Now, have you got that fat ficker located so I can rip it apart?"

"If you get up here, the Seraph will come to you. Let's see how an Eva Pilot elite performs in combat." Misato turned to face the command staff of the Seydlitz, determination and confidence etched into her features.

"Unit 02 is on its way up. All power to the flight deck shields. They're going to have to take that weight!"

Everyone else stared back at her, their expressions paled or totally lost. All save for those fellow children of Japan and the Imperial Major who'd watched the conversation play out.

Scheer blinked himself back into this plain of existence.

"Well you heard her! Concentrate A-T field over the flight deck!"

"We're taking orders from private security?" Even when holographic, Stewart's tone was aghast.

"If you want to live through this, Marshal, then you better just deal with it." The purplehead irritatedly hand waved the Imperial Admiral, appointed to his position by Emperor Charles himself.

Dominic's lip quivered with anger. But Misato didn't care. She had a job to do.

As the various bridge crew busied themselves with the orders set by this strange but competent soldier, Scheer quickly cast his gaze upon the young people standing in the corner.

How does Gendo Ikari sleep soundly at night, when he sends girls and boys of that age to their deaths?

Smoothing over his general loathing of NERV, he brought himself over to the Eva pilots and their tag alongs. Focusing on the black and sandy brown haired ones, he looked at each one individually.

"Boys...this is no place for children..." Scheer was saying until Kensuke cut him off.

"With all due respect, Admiral, we're just as dead wherever we are on this boat. If I'm going to die, I wouldn't mind a front seat view."

"That...that is a very unhealthy view of the world. You'll be quite safe don't worry-" He trailed off upon seeing Toji shake his head.

"Admiral, my friend is down there. He is skinny, he is a wuss, and apologises all the time. If he can go out and fight that thing, then surely we can stand here without causing trouble." He evil eyed Kensuke.

The Admiral of the High Seas fleet massaged his eyebrows, then relented.

"Very well...just stay out of the way."

"Sure thing!"

And there I was thinking the Japanese had lost their taste for suicide... Scheer walked away, disbelief, amusement and...respect in his eyes.

"A-T field rerouted to the flight deck! Secondary S2 reactor at maximum power!" An officer called out, gaining a satisfied nod from Misato.

A lowered section of the vessel, the cargo lift, arose, carrying a crouched black monster. Jolting to a halt, the Evangelion stood up to its full magnificent height, its great weight would have caused the Carrier to capsize were it not for the A-T field upon which it currently stood.

"Have you found it yet?" Asuka's increasingly impatient voice crackled over the comms.

"We can't pick it up with anything, but I'll bet you've got its attention now. Be ready" The purplehead said authoritatively.

Well, that's one active. One to go...

"Meadow-san, get to your Eva! Take Ayanami-san with you." She shot off at the blonde Imperial, before realising Samuel was staring at her with his arms folded.

"Are you giving me an order, Barbarian?" He said, smugly.

"Yes! Now go!"

"The Empire is here to provide assistance, not to serve. So ask again politely." He smirked as the combat operations director's nose twitched.

You...cannot...be serious. Not now...not now...

Swallowing back her pride and dignity, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Would the Empire be gracious enough to provide assistance?"

Her words were met with a cocky grin and satisfied nodding of the head from Samuel.

"As you have asked so very nicely, the Great British Empire finds it within its beneficence to offer you our help. Marshal, send us a Harrier. Plank, with me!" Samuel beckoning for Rei to follow him, disappearing through the hatch.

The albino in question stood still, unmoving. Misato pressed a tired hand to her forehead.

"Go on, Ayanami-san. Help him."

"Ryokai, Lieutenant Colonel."


"For heaven's sake I don't have all day..." Asuka harrumphed, her gaze darting across the water.

The fleet has been torn up badly, forty-eight pyres of smoke being testament to that. And the many hundreds, perhaps even thousands of bodies floating face down in the water...made the red head inwardly cringe.

Gott in himmel don't let me die like that.

"Where are you?" She whispered to herself.

Shinji, kneeling by her seat's side, could understand her feelings. Personally however, he was more focused on tensing his muscles and preparing for movement. It wasn't so much seeing the impending assault before it occurred, but being ready to react.

"We shouldn't stay still like this." He said nervously, a drop of sweat trickling down the back of his neck.

"Ugh, Third you're in my baby. You're perfectly safe, so shut up and let me concentrate." The red head growled, not enjoying the idea of sharing her cockpit with this dummkopf.

But he was a valuable asset, a fellow Eva Pilot Elite. She couldn't let him die out here.

He felt the winds drop out of his sails, complying with the redhead's commands. She was better trained, better prepared and in a superior Unit after all. She didn't need his input.

No one really does...

"Doesn't it...scare you? Being alone out here?" He asked gingerly.

The freckled girl quietly chuckled with a small, knowing smile upon her lips. As if what Shinji had said to her was the innocent question of a toddler.

"What are you laughing at?" He sad incredulously.

Asuka turned her sapphire gaze upon the unwelcome guest in her home.

"Oh, dummkopf. We really aren't alone here. Help's on the way..." Her eyes narrowed.

"Not like I need it or anything..."


HMS Dominion

The Harrier was waiting for them when the Eva Pilots reached the Seydlitz's flight deck, engines roaring and ready to go. Scarcely five minutes later, the two were being escorted down a corridor by Imperial Marines, their fancy blood red chest armour clashing with, yet complimenting, their navy blue uniforms. With Talevera rifles held competently, and brimmed caps firmly jammed on their head, the army at sea were a sight to behold.

Not that Rei noticed.

Reaching the entrance to the cargo hold, two lab coated technicians greeted Samuel, slamming their fists to their chests whilst scarcely acknowledging the albino.

"Major Meadow, sir. Unit 03 is prepped and ready for deployment as per instruction. But...sir...are you sure about bringing a barbarian onboard-" the swift raising of Samuel's hand stopped them.

"A Barbarian she may be, but Ayanami here is an Evangelion Pilot. We can't go losing any of them just yet, and as my Unit is probably one of the safest places to be currently..."

"Understood, sir. Happy hunting." They stood aside and allowed the two children through, the marine escort breaking off and assuming guard duty by the entrance.

He walked with hands held behind his back, the albino staying just behind him, her red gaze flashing all over the place as if she were looking for something. Seeing this, the Imperial couldn't help but have his curiosity piqued.

"Is there a problem?"

"Do you not have plug suits?" Rei said, her expression showing a hint of confusion. There did not appear to be a dressing room in sight for some reason...

"What? Those awful things, god no. If I'm going to die I'll do it in my uniform and with my dignity thank you very much."

"You Pilot an Eva without one?"

Samuel shot her a look of isn't that obvious?, before realising it wasn't to her.

Oh bloody hell how dense are you?

"Yes. I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those things. What's your point?" He huffed, his pace quickening. Not in attempt to outstrip the Plank, but to get to his Eva as soon as possible. Although things had gone quiet, with ships not being annihilated at random for the moment, the aristocrat knew from experience such occurrences usually heralded a storm.

"It is NERV regulation to wear plug suits for Eva related operations-" Rei was saying before Samuel interrupted.

"And I'm not NERV. Hence how I don't have those ridiculous hair clips as well. It is by the grace of His Imperial Britannic Majesty that you are even onboard this vessel. And it is by that continued grace, we shall help you save the world." He said dismissively. They rounded the corner, and the First Child set her eyes upon Evangelion Unit 03.

Some of the NERV higher ups, in particular Ritsuko, had told her a few things about the Empire's personal god machine and possible future tool of conquest.

The lightest Evangelion. Built to be fast and agile. Cannot take damage like any other Eva, with only Unit 00 being weaker, but is less likely to be hit due to its speed. Akagi-san also said its aesthetic is a good deal more extravagant.

Rei appraised the navy blue monster.

She was not incorrect.

Unit 03 was not much like any of its kin. It's body was more elaborate, coloured mostly with a navy blue paint job, except its breastplate was jet black with golden piping. The Imperial Sigil, the rampant Lion emblazoned on the shield, residing there proudly.

It had cuffs and a collar of a similar pattern, gauntlets painted white as if they were gentlemen's gloves. And as for the head, the narrow helmet with a faceplate covered almost everything, save for a small triangle of black out of which a single white eye would swivel. It was a far more elaborate style compared to those of Units 00, 01, and 02, and that was without the long thin horn projecting out of its forehead.

It serves no purpose. Why is it there? Even Unit 01's can function in battle, this is too thin. It would snap with ease.

Style over effectiveness so it would seem. Typical of the Empire.

The back of Unit 03 was already retracted, revealing an entry plug painted in a similar manner to the Eva's breastplate.

Marching over a catwalk that brought them directly next to the now open plug, the two slipped in with the hatch closing above them. Samuel manoeuvred himself into his seat, adjusting his grip on the control sticks as he got himself comfortable. Rei found it curious to see this boy who was filled to the brim with confidence in his own ability and the prowess of his nation, close his blue eyes and deeply inhale through his nose. As if he was calming his nerves.

Opening his eyes, he pushed a button on his right control stick.

"Control, we're in."

"Understood, Major Meadow. Plug insertion is complete, beginning LCL submersion."

Orange liquid flooded the small compartment, completely filling it after a few moments.

The albino had never experienced a submersion when not in her own plug before. To be in a crouching position as the liquid that smelt of blood rose past her hair, was a strange feeling indeed.

"Submersion complete. Beginning deployment. Good hunting sir, give our boys some payback."

"Understood. Hail Britain." Samuel said dutifully, a flash of colours washed over the plug as connections to Unit 03 were made.

"Hail Britain!" The other end said before the line cut.

"Now that's out the way..." The Imperial aristocrat muttered to himself.

"This is programmed to only recognize High Imperial, miss Ayanami. So if you could keep your thoughts to yourself that would be excellent." He closed his eyes, and let the familiar sensation of warmth fill his soul.

A moment later, there were a few beeping noises and a crystal clear image of the Vanguard class battleship's cargo hold filled the plug.

Connection was made.

Samuel nodded in satisfaction, looking over his shoulder at Rei again, a blonde eyebrow raised.

"You're very good at this. Keep it up."

She's either very good at quietening her thoughts, or doesn't really think that much to begin with. From what I can gather, the latter is more likely.

"Voice recognition, Samuel Alexander Meadow. Password, Sophie. For the Empire's glory, Evangelion Unit 03, activate." He barked.

Above the Eva's face plate, a single solitary eye flickered into existence.