Author's Note: Happy Easter everyone! Read, Review, Favorite and Enjoy!
Chapter 37: Magical Warfare: Mid-salvo
In the streets the magi-mechs were going through the streets on their way to the convention center. The fact that no one was on the street in the middle of the work week and their lack of contact with the advance team meant that they had seen them coming. Just as that same advanced team had also confirmed that the projects were delivered to the community center. Thus speed over stealth were the key here, hence the slow moving cargo trucks had been ditch in favor of the fast moving mechs. That also meant they were out in the open now.
"Welp they're right in middle of our traps." Maylin stated looking through her binoculars at their moving targets. "Shall we show them what holy hell-fire looks like ladies?"
At once Rebecca started to work a remote control, from nearby water towers guns emerged taking aim at the mech's and they fired, loaded with the trio's erased cards, and vaporized a few of the mechs. Immediately the pilots activated their boost boxes. Projecting the familiar prided shields of the Jyumonji clan to protect not only themselves but also the soldiers who were walking on foot. That bought said soldiers enough time to make it into the buildings where the shots were coming from. The last thing that the men on the Chinese freighter heard from them were their terrified screams. Interpreting this as a sign that the men were already dead the mechs moved on, as long as their magic barriers were up, the issue of the magical projectiles were null.
"Hey muscles you're up!" Madison stated into a radio.
At once Katsuto, hidden in a alley way and dressed in civilian clothes, went to work on a trick a certain friend had taught him. Casting his own brand of barrier magic into each individual C.A.D. he built up the magical formula and sent that into the street with the mechs. No sooner had the shields broken down did the projectiles that were pelting them resume erasing the mechs from existence. This time they saw fit to retaliate, losing such valuable magical talent as the ones operating those C.A.D.s was unfortunate, but so is losing the mechs. Which is kinda what happened, when their ammunition all exploded as soon as they tried to fire them off taking off the gun arms and part of their right legs in the process. Admittedly, Katsuto thought they looked a touch intimidating when in spite of being crippled they utilized their remaining appendages to crudely stand back up and turn their attention to him, call it the decrepit zombie look. Which was mostly the reason why they were turned into gas on the wind in that instant.
"Good evening soldiers of the Great Asian Alliance." Katsuto stated stepping forward out of the shadows, prompting the fearful GAA soldiers to all point their weapons at him. "1." Katsuto stated into a microphone, prompting a combination of Air Mine and the power of the Erase Card to take the side off of one of the nearby buildings. "This is the part where you surrender. Because you know who I am. You know what I am capable of. So you also know, I did not do that! Weapons pile there." Katsuto stated pointing down the road a little bit. "Now!"
Begrudgingly the soldiers walked over and tossed the weapons into a pile, a pile that vanished from existence once they were done. Katsuto took the liberty of snatching one of their ear phone communicators and putting it on.
"Team 12 report in! What is your status?"
"Masaru Jyumonji's nephew says hello." Delivering that threat Katsuto removed the communicator as if it was made out of some manner of toxic substance and crushed it before discarding it. "It seems that there are twelve teams loose in the city."
"Twelve teams of robots? Seems a touch excessive don't yah think?" Madison asked rubbing her chin absent minded.
"Not for the four pigs trick." Maylin stated prompting her sisters to look at her like she had three heads. "Teenage punk, buys three live pigs and turns them loose in his school. All the teachers, the principal, the other students, even the bloody janitor, spends all day chasing the little squealers all over the school. After some doing they caught them, the little jerk even numbered them for em. 1, 2 and 4."
"Ex-squeeze me?" Rebecca asked distinctly recalling the mention of three pigs. "Four pigs. All that some punk kid needed to throw his school into chaos for the week because of a imaginary pig was just a red marker. And all that radio operator needed to do to make us think there are twelve teams is one syllable."
"And a fair amount of chaos. Their plan relies on us not being able to tell how many of them there really are." Madison stated scratching her chin. "Well the easiest way of doing that would be to take out the communications rig at the..." The sisters turned their attention to the direction Rebecca pointed her finger to, the community center where a radio tower was located. "Oh shit."
Outside a man who could be best summarized as the ugliest janitor ever pushed his cart forward. Spotting the radio tower he readied the missile launcher in his cart and loaded a RPG before firing it at the radio tower. Suddenly said explosive weapon disappeared in a puff of smoke, detonated prematurely from hitting something in midair. Then he heard something click behind him as a cold chill from more than just fear went down his back.
"You are interrupting my brother's presentation!" Was the last thing the hideous looking man heard before ice creep over his face.
Downstairs in the presentation hall the students were presenting their projects. More accurately, a man, who by no known means possessed the ability to perform magic, was demonstrating the fruits of First High's labors by telekinetically juggling a series of balls.
"Through the use of much of the same genetic engineering that had created the 'modern magician' we have been successful in producing a type of algae that produces the same brand of Psions and Pushions needed to perform magic." Suzune explained before she gestured to the man that was doing his best impression of a kid in a candy store. "As a consequence, even a individual like this who is unable to perform any form of magic can easily utilize this bio-technology to perform basic magic, but with practice, comes more complex and more powerful forms of magic as well. The day will come, when any individual will be capable of using magic." Suzune's speech was punctuated by the sound of clapping.
"But not today." As Mayumi mentally noted.
The amount of Psion fuel needed to perform even the most basic of magic was best illustrated by the contraption on stage that looked like a car engine that was connected to three barrels that came all the way up to her waist. For this to work in any practical logical way, Four Leaves have to figure out how to mass produce those Psion batteries, so that the Psion fuel can be reduced to a practical compact package that doesn't require a car or some other manner of mobility assist device. Then there was the issue of trying to recreate unique magical formula's, though they would ultimately require Klaud's help with that. But alas that requires that they dismantle the war economy before she feels confident enough that her magic won't be used for evil.
"So much work to do, so little time." Mayumi shook her head in annoyance at their catch 22 situation and decided to simply watch the presentations. Then the smoke bomb was tossed through the window.
"Ah yes..." Pointing her finger the offending canister in question, it's released contents blown out through the window by Mayumi's magical power. "I was just thinking about you."
Suddenly several armed soldiers stormed into the room through the front door. The loss of their incapacitating smoke and the element of surprise was disappointing, not unexpected. Quickly they unloaded bullets into the ceiling spitting out the usual drivel from the hostage taker's handbook. Immediately people started panicking, and then they were covered in light, and then they were gone, which caused more people to panic, and more people to disappear. Admittedly yes that was unexpected. So unexpected in fact that when Tatsuya came down on them, they didn't even notice their arms had been severed until they looked into those cold uncaring eyes framed with blood. Then faces hit the floor and it was all black from there.
"A-Chan." Mayumi stated into her phone as the person on the other end picked up.
"Mayumi what is going on!? I-Was-in the-convention-center-and-then-there-was-bullets-and..."
"Azusa, inhaler." Mayumi stated in a firm motherly voice, reminding Azusa to take her medication to keep her calm. "Secondly. I am sorry to inform you that the Great Asian Alliance is attacking the city, you and the other guests have been evacuated to an emergency shelter underneath the convention center by one of Klaud's cards." Mayumi explained as she took a moment to admire the Quiet card that was in her pocket. "Secondly. I need you to keep the rest of the audience calmed down so that they don't hurt themselves. By the time we send someone down for all of you, it will all be over.
" "Alright Mayumi, but can you please explain what is going on later?" Azusa asked sounding very scared at the moment. Hanging up Mayumi watched as Tatsuya tore apart one of the barrels.
"There you are." Tatsuya stated pulling out a black armored uniform. Tatsuya gave the group the rundown on a rather infamous and dangerous soldier of the military by the name of Special Lieutenant Ryuuya Ooguro a decorated soldier of the 101 Independent Magic Equipped Battalion given the call sign of Shiva, and the Great Black Dragon by the Great Asian Alliance, known for instantly rendering the Japanese forces invincible simply by showing up and doing his part. Then Tatsuya explained that he was Ryuuya, and now he was mobilizing to go and support the Japanese forces that had been stationed outside of the city.
"Well I can't say that I'm surprised, you wouldn't be the first child soldier our country has bred." Mayumi stated mentally adding the new revelation to the growing list of matters that were in dire need of correction as soon as possible. "But exactly how long were you planning on keeping this from us? I mean even Klaud told us about Gelos once she found out about it."
"It's classified information I can't simply casually share as I am part of the military. Klaud is not and as far as I know never will be. Now if you excuse me." Tatsuya stated as he finished fitting the combat suit over his regular clothes. "I have people to kill."
"President." Suzune stated climbing down from the stage to join Mayumi on the ground level. "The wi-fi radar you had us cobble together is up and functioning. We should have a rough idea of what our opponents are doing and where they are at."
"Excellent. That should give us valuable information about our enemy." A loud explosion sounded as the ground shook briefly. "However many of them are left that is."
Outside panic had set in the streets. The soldiers were prepared for magicians, antinite bracelets, multiform rifles capable of switching between shotgun, machine gun and sniper rifle on the fly, armor piercing rounds, carbon nanotube lined uniforms. The thing that they weren't prepared for was cars falling out of the sky.
"What's the matter you losers look like you never seen a clown before!?" Klaud had to admit she was slightly amused by the sight of grown men cursing about Gelos into their communicators while they fled in terror from The Float Card dropping things on their heads and shield bounced bullets away from her.
"Do you even need my help here?" Masaki asked his face matching the smile painted on Klaud's mask.
"Contrary to popular belief my psion count isn't unlimited and my stamina hardly holds a candle to it. So when I do run out of one or the other having someone around who can chase off the stragglers is a good idea." Klaud explained, the weary tone in her voice directly contrasting with the comical look painted onto her face mask.
"That makes since, I have noticed though that with the exception of that crazed man from a while back you haven't inflicted too many casualties." Masaki stated making a mental note of the man that she had vaporized a few minuets ago.
"I don't think that guy was, past or present tense, human, or even a magician for that matter. I'm a touch more familiar with the Chinese super soldier program than most." Klaud explained a rather serious look in her eyes. "Trust me when I say that I was doing that guy a favor."
"Oh believe me I'm not judging you or anything." Masaki held up his gun C.A.D. to help emphasize his next point. "I don't got a button for alive. But again that raises the question, why are you going easy on these guys?"
"I am Half Chinese Masaki, I don't believe that they being dragged here means that they deserve to die." Klaud stated as she noted the strategic dropping of cars had successfully corralled the enemy in a alley way. At once, a car was dropped front in first in front of Klaud, who using the power card, punch the car with sufficient force that it went streaming down the alley before grinding to a halt in front of the soldiers. At first confused, a second car being dropped from up top formed a neat cramped box for them.
"My it seems that you're in a pickle." Klaud stated, jumping down on the other side of the wired fence the soldiers found themselves stuck between with the cars. "I'd love to help you, but something is blocking my magic."
Taking Klaud's not so subtle hint the soldiers debated their options, then a groaning creak reminded them just how shoddy and heavy their cage was. Immediately they all handed over their antinite bracelets. Tossing the troublesome accessories away, Klaud loaded a card and fired, reducing the men to the size of mice sans their guns. The men's confusion only built further when Klaud used the Move Card to stuff them into a glass jar.
"For the record: I filled that jar with shrunken air too. So good news is, you can breath. Bad news is you break that jar, and you die." Delivering that threat, Klaud went on her way and reunited with Masaki. On a cargo ship at the docks, the men at the helm of a large super computer had yet to pick his jaw up off the floor, the Crimson Prince, The Dread Clown, the Black Dragon, all of them were here, and his men were being wiped out. This would not stand.
"Men, unleash the secret weapon." Various whispers went through the men at the controls of the ship, most of which were questioning if unleashing the thing that they only intended to release to help cover their escape was really a good idea.
Author's Note:
Hornofdesolation: I thought so.
Duked: I agree with that conclusion, one does not sneak a giant warship onto Japan's welcome mat and no one notices.