Chapter 36: Black Christmas (Final Part) (A Blue Sky waits for all)
(Sadogashima)(Mountain path defense line)
Munakata led the group back safely to the defense line near the Imperial Army after dealing with the Laser Class. It has only been half an hour since Shirogane persuaded them to charge outward but it felt like they've been fighting for days. Most of them had already lost count on how many BETA they've killed and how many times they resupplied in quick instances just to be thrown into the wolves again and again.
Everyone was panting heavily and even their exosuits could not contain the sweat coming down their brow. Some of them were short on breaths and those who were too exhausted to even move had to pump stims into their system.
"Everyone, form up" Munakata ordered through pants. Even the most experienced member of the group was unable to keep up with the demands of HQ. "More supply containers have been dropped. Around in the area. Resupply within a 30 second window. Kazama, Kashiwagi. Take the AMLs. (R… roger…) Yoroi, Tamase, ammo for rifles are in the third one on your left. There aren't a lot of ammo for machineguns so take what you can spare. Akane, Sakaki. If you're low on energy then supply in the 1st one. Ayamine and Meiya will cover us"
"H… hold on for a moment" Akane protested. Her fingers were growing numb and much of her body can't take much more stress. "Can't… we get… a few seconds of breather?"
"I'm so… tired…" Miki added feeling her own body swell up. "I can't even move my arms anymore"
"We went through that wave three times already" Mikoto panted deeply and removed her headset for cooler air. "I don't even remember how we got through that place alive"
Misae couldn't blame them. They were just humans after all and not to mention that this is probably the 1st sortie of half of nearly half of the company. To be putting this much pressure on rookies was not a good idea to start their career but the situation demanded it.
"Listen… I know that you're all tired but we only need to hold this area for 4 more minutes. Whisky and Echo are counting on us to keep the BETA away from the XG"
"But there's just no end to them" Akane complained. "It's like no matter how many we kill they just keep pushing us back"
"There are over a hundred-thousand of them" Chizuru added as well. Even though she killed a whole wave of BETA, their numbers just didn't seem to lessen at all. It was like trying to stop a force of nature with nothing but sticks and stones. "We can't hold off against that many without proper support"
"The Imperial Honor Guards are doing what they can to help us but it doesn't look like they'll be able to do much with such small numbers"
"Valkyrie mum to all units. Enemy forces are breaching the second defense line set up by Whisky Unit. Fall back and set up a perimeter along with Cracker Squad"
"Valkyrie 1C… roger that. We're on our way now. Come on everyone! Gather'round! I know we're tired but if lose our ground here then it'll all be over for us. Besides… if Shirogane were here… he'd be scolding your ears off. (…) So come on. If you're not going to do this for the team then at least do it for the man who brought us this far"
…
"Tch… and just when I got him out of my head" Akane let out a soft grunt before returning to her feet. "You had to ruin it"
"Heh… but it's true. If Shirogane were here… I'm pretty sure he would be scolding all of us to go further. After all… that's what he does best"
Meiya followed grabbing a blade off the container. "Indeed. Even as we speak… I believe Takeru is still out there giving it everything he has in this battle. So long as he can still draw breath… he will fight. We all saw his strength and determination back then… didn't we?" An image of Susono City came into the minds of the former cadets of the unit. It was true. Even back then when his Fubuki was broken right down to its last leg the boy didn't show a hint of surrendering. He fought down to the bitter end no matter how bad the odds were.
"Yeah… you're right" Chizuru was the first to agree. "He's too stubborn to know when to give up"
"But that's exactly what makes him 'special' neh?" Ayamine added earning a curious brow from her superiors. It was a rare sight to see those two agree on anything.
Miki and Mikoto followed afterwards raising their rifles back up. "Yeah… we won't lose to him…"
"Miki will… Miki will give everything she's got!"
(Kanai town underground) (Takeru's POV)
Toooooohhh! (WHAM!) Heh… these guys are tough. It's becoming increasingly difficult to hold of this horde with just two blades. Not to mention that my boosters are still not functional. But I can't give in now. I have to open a hole big enough for Hayase and the captain to get away. (Beep beep!) Roughly 3 minutes left. I have to do it! Even if kills me again I will do it! I will change the future!
"Goooohhh!" Come on you assholes! Come and get me! Let me show all of you what millennia of time and training can do to a person like me! (WHAM!) (WHOOSH!) (POW!) Faster, stronger! I can feel my body racing again.
My heart is beating faster and faster. I can see it on my own vital signs that the suit shows. Everything around me slowed as I cut through one BETA at a time. I felt myself growing stronger with each kill and the headaches are barely even bothering me anymore. I can feel the BETA around me. I can tell who was going to attack next and when. I can hear their every breath and their every footstep. It was like… a rhythm… a pattern of some sort that only I can see. It's like… that time in the simulator with the VOLKS Program. I can see it… this beating sound…
Raaaarrr!
The one in front charges first… distracting me so that the one behind me can attack. This is basic tactic when fighting with a far tougher opponent. These monsters may look like they're just charging out blindly but they're actually thinking of how to strike an enemy. (WHAM!) Next… if the first tactic fails then the closest BETA on my left and right will attack at the same time, disorienting me. (Crash!) Yes… I can do this! I might just be able to pull this off!
Graaaaarr!
Too slow! (WHAM!) There it is! The BETA are now considering me a bigger threat than Hayase. They're totally ignoring her and the captain and turning their attention to me. Right! "Hayase! Now! The BETA are creating an opening! Go through it and get out of here! (Roger that!) I'll be following you soon! Don't worry about me!"
"I'll meet you at the rendezvous point at the A-02. Don't be late!"
"Yes ma'am!" (Whoosh!) And off they go. They should be able to make it to the defense line. But right now… how the hell am I supposed to escape this batch? There are at least two… maybe five hundred of them down here with me. I could try forcing my way out but with those Fort Class in the way, it might be too difficult. I could also look for another way out but there's no telling how far this tunnel goes and with that worm still down here… it could prove too much… even for me.
That opening above me is my only chance to survive. And I need to survive if I'm going to change the world. What if I… jump from rock to rock and boost my way from platform to platform? It might just work. The jump boost will allow me a short spark but nothing more than that. Ok… let's do it!
I have to time it just right. Come boosters… just give me a little juice. All I need is a few seconds of leverage. (Raaaaaarr!) Right! Here goes!
WHAM!
I'll use you for leverage! And jump! (Crash!) Right… that's one. Now I jump to the other side and keep repeating until I reach the surface. (Crash!) Yes… that's it. Just a little further. (Whiiirrrrr…) Just a little bit more. (Rumble!) Huh? Oh no… not now! (Raaaaaarrr!) That worm is back again! Why can't you just leave me alone? (Raaaaaarrr!) Tch… fine! You wanna fight? Let's fight!
I jumped off the wall and faced the mouth of the worm head on. It's try to get back onto the surface! But it won't! (WHAM!) Stay down! (Raaaaaarrr!) Geh! Alright… I can use it as a platform to reach the top. Hmph!
Yes…! I can make it from—(WHAM!) Ah crap! I almost had it! I'm so close to the surface but the worm broke the platform that I was trying to reach. I was able to stab my blade onto the wall to create a ledge but I can't hold on. Geh! Come on Shiranui. Just a little further. If I could only. (Crack…) Oh… no no no no no! (Crack!) Ah cr—!
…
…
…
Eh? I didn't fall?
"Charging straight into one's death is admirable…" Wh… who's that? Someone was able to catch me before I fall? A blue Takemikazuchi? "… but charging straight into the jaws of a devouring beast is worthy of many praises. (…?)" He pulled me up to the surface with relative ease. "I heard that the fool who made this possible was somewhere here… foolishness and courage… are very much alike… if one would give it some thought"
There were Takemikazuchis around me all painted in black. Only the guy who saved me was colored differently. They must be the Imperial Household Honor Guards. But what are they doing all the way out here? Not that I'm complaining of course. "Th… thanks. You saved me there…"
"Do not take my assistance to mean anything" Eh? "I did not save you out of the goodness of my heart. (…?) You owe me nothing. I simply did because my honor demands it" His honor? "I simply cannot stand it when someone else displays greater courage than I…" Uh… what am I supposed to say to that? "But it seems that you are unharmed. Can you still fight?"
"Can you still fight, boy?" Huh? Wait… where have I heard this guy before?
Raaaaarrrr!
"Ikaruga sama! It's the worm!" Ah crap! That thing just doesn't know when to quit! "All units, fire at it! Don't let it get close!" You idiots! Your weapons are useless against it! (Raaaaarrr!)
"Look out for its mouth! (Gwaaaaaahhh!) Damn it!" The worm trampled over them like the dirt beneath it. All five of them were taken out just like that. How the hell do we stop this thing?
"Do not bother. (Geh…) Even a foolish mind like yourself can tell that it is too late for them" The commander said to me. "Fighting something of this magnitude head on will only come out with damaging results. Though it is unsightly—we will have to withdraw for now. Crest 4. Tell the rest of the unit to fall back. The other group will cover our retreat. (Yes sir!)" Tch… he does have a point. If an explosion like that didn't kill it then it'll be impossible for us to do any damage. But still… this monster must have a weakness. There has to be a way to wound it or at least get its attention at us… hmm? Hey wait…
That sword sticking out of its skin… that was the one I used when I stabbed it to get out of the underground. There's blood leaking out of it. But why… ah! I get it now!
"Wait! Commander!" I yelled out to the Imperial Honor Guard. "I think I know a way to do some damage to that monster. (…?) The new weapon from A-02 can destroy it but we have to keep it from going back underground"
"Oi! You idiot!" One of the soldiers barked at me on an open channel. "Do you have any idea who you're—"
"Let the man speak" The guy in blue cut him off. "Do you have a plan, boy?"
"Yes. Look there" I showed him the sword poking out of the monster's skin. "The explosion earlier caused the skin of the worm to crack at several points. If we focus our attacks on those areas we might just be able to kill it, or at the very least, wound it. (Hmm…) A strong blow from the sword or a 120mm shell should be able to break through and cut the soft skin underneath"
"I see… cracking the armor to pierce the skin. Unoriginal but noteworthy. (…) Crest 4. How long until the new weapon will be ready to fire?"
"Approximately 2 minutes 50 seconds. But General. (What?) The BETA. A large number of them have turned around. It seems like they're trying to support the worm"
"Then we will simply have to hold them until the boy completes his mission" The commander stated back. "This creature represents the greatest threat to the hope of mankind. Killing it seems to be the most logical course of action. For those who have given their lives and for those that was taken by this beast, it is only right that we slay it. We shall follow with the U.N. Eishi's plan and strike its broken skin. Group 2, follow Crest 4 and destroy any BETA that approaches us. The rest remaining units will follow Crest 5. (Yes sir!) I will be following the U.N. soldier. Go! All of you! (Roger that!)" The whole company charged off in synch. "You there… boy" He pointed at me. "You take point…"
"Roger that!"
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(Flagship Saijou)
"2 minutes 30 seconds remaining until the XG fully charges!" No one could possibly imagine the tension happening around the Headquarters of the invasion force that afternoon. People were running around like it was the end of the world. If one would see it they'd probably call the people in the com center to be roughly disorganized. Operators were yelling on their coms, soldiers calling out on the other line, swearing and even rough languages were used. The only few people who were actually calm about this whole ordeal were Yuuko, Piatif, Admiral Kozawa and the Valkyrie Operators.
"Whisky Alpha and Whisky Bravo have silenced all Laser Class BETA on the other side. They're now working in conjunction of holding the enemy main force at bay"
"Echo Bravo has broken through the BETA Fort Class formation and are now forming a firing line above the mountains. They're requesting more supply canisters to be drop at their location"
"The new BETA strain is continuing its march onto A-02's attack point at a slower pace above surface level. The Imperial Honor Guard is engaging it but I don't know how long they'll be able to hold it"
"Valkyrie 2B is fighting with the group as well" Marimo reported before answering her radio. "Shirogane. Your unit is heavily damaged. It won't be able to sustain much more!"
"He's… really giving them hell…" Yuuko muttered out silently to herself. "Suzumiya. Tell the Valkyrie Squad and all the other units to form a final defense line at the opening of the mountain path in front of the XG. (…!) Is that alright with you, admiral?"
"Hmm… I see your plan" The old sailor agreed. "With our forces so thin as it is—perhaps it would be best if we focused on a single defense line rather holding onto areas that are a lost cause"
"Yes… but also I'd like to wipe out every BETA along with it. (…?) If the XG fires… then it will obliterate everything within its path. We'd hit the Hive and every BETA in between the crossfire. Two birds with one stone—as they say"
"I see… very well. You have my full support, Vice Commander. You there… tell the Imperial Army to withdraw immediately. (Yes sir!) They have 30 seconds to do so! We cannot allow the BETA to get any closer than necessary. (Aye aye!)"
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(Takeru's POV)
Teeeehh! (Clang!) Dammit! This is useless! The BETA are piling up one after another like ants. It's like they're trying to use their own bodies to shield the worm from us. If this keeps up we'll never be able to kill it and we barely have time to strike it down!
"Toooh!" (WHAM!) The Honor Guard Commander seems to be doing exceptionally well. We're matching pace with one another and killing a dozen at a time. The specs of the Takemikazuchi are truly superior to the Type-94 that I have. "Tch… we're going in circles if we continue on like this. Crest 9, fire your AMLs at my position! Provide us some covering fire! (Understood!)"
Damn it all. My boosters are still fried. It looks like I really overused it during that last operation. I'll have to find another way to get on top of it. But I have to think fast. The XG is so close already. At this rate… the worm might reach it before it fires. (Flash!) Sumika! No! I promised her that none of you will ever lay a finger on her again. I won't let you get near her! Not in this life time!
"Haaaaaaaaaa!" Right… this should work. (Whoosh!) Yes! Cutting all of them simultaneously created a small opening. "Commander, follow my lead! (Hmph!) We're gonna force our way through. Keep at my back at all times!"
"I understand. Lead the way"
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(Mountain path) (Joint U.N.-Empire final defense line)
On the final defense line that was quickly made by the Imperial Army, the BETA were pounding on them like a wave on a wall. Those with weapons unleashed everything they had and those with shields formed a formidable wall that could not be pressed back as so easily. In that narrow path… the brave men and women fought. With shields, swords and guns they held the line… they held it for as long as they could.
"Give thanks, men, to Leonidas and the brave 300! TO VICTORY!"
-Dilios from the movie 300-
"Don't let them through!"
"Come on! Just try to eat me now you monsters!"
"Don't give them another inch of this mountain! We need to hold them off just a few more minutes!"
"Heeeeeeeeehhhh!" Meiya was among the few at the rear of the formation, dealing with the stragglers that were able to break through the wall of the Imperial Army. Behind her, Tsukuyomi, Ayamine and the Three Idiots were also giving it their all to protect the greatest hope of mankind. Even if their bodies were exhausted down to the last breath, they continued to stand again to fight against whatever opponent came next.
"Don't underestimate me!" Tomoe followed, unleashing a barrage of bullets from her four barreled gun. (Click click…) Hearing that dreadful sound of an empty clip, she dropped her weapon and pulled out a knife from its holster. "Haaaaaa!"
"HQ to all units! A-02 is preparing to fire in 1 minute! Fall back immediately to a safe distance before it charges up. The Navy will provide a heavy barrage on your locations!"
"Whisky Alpha, roger that! We're falling back to—gah! N… no way! (It's the worm!)" The monstrous BETA reared its large and hideous mouth in front of them, crushing through everything in its path. "Don't break formation you idiots! Focus on the smaller ones down below! Our weapons are useless against that thing! (Y… yes sir!) Whisky Alpha Leader to HQ. Requesting an artillery strike on the worm's current location! Give it everything you've got!"
"HQ here, negative on that. All ships have exhausted all ammunitions!"
"Don't screw with us! You gotta have something left!"
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"Don't we have anything left to shoot it with?"
"HQ to all ships. Requesting weapons' check. Any ships with the ability to fire are to concentrate at the mouth of the mountain"
"The 3rd Fleet has exhausted all ammunitions and are now pulling back to safe waters"
"The 5th Fleet as well. We just don't have enough ammo to supply everyone!"
(2nd Fleet) (Shinano)
"Why have we stopped firing?" The captain asked as he noticed all of his guns were silent for the past minute.
"All shells have been exhausted! We have nothing left to shoot with captain"
"What about the auxiliary fleet? Where are they?"
"They're saying that they have no ammunitions left and the reinforcements from Niigata are still minutes away"
Abe slammed his fist on the table and cursed his weakness. "Damn it all. Is this as far as we can go then? Is this as far as we can do to support our allies?"
(Takeru's POV) (Final Defense Line)
Come on you stupid thing! BREAK! (Clang!) We were able to force our way to the worm but now we can't crack the skin off. Damn it! Come on! (Clang clang!) Why won't you break!-?
"You fool! Stop what you're doing" Geh… the Honor Guard Commander yelled at me. "Do not let anger cloud your actions. Think!" … he's right. I need to keep a cool head. We have 1 minute left before the XG fires and judging by this distance… we're pretty much gonna hit it around the same time. It's going to be a close cut that's for sure so I need something to even the odds. But what? "Think boy… (…) How were you able to cut through its skin the first time?"
The first time? Right before this guy rescued me I leaped off the wall and stab it with the sword. It's supposed to be impossible considering the density of the skin but if I'm right then maybe it's because gravity and two forces moving at opposite directions had some part to play in it. (…) That's it! If I can somehow produce enough force that was equal to the one I used when I sliced through the research facility, it might be enough to pierce the broken skin. But to do something like that… I'll need leverage.
…
Right…
"I have an idea!" I called out to the commander. "… but I'm going to need some help"
"If it can be done then I shall do it. What do you need of me?"
"Do you have any explosive rounds left in your guns?"
"I have 4 shots of 120mm HE-shells. Why?"
"Prime them and place all of them inside that large crack. Once that's done I'll strike them all at the same time with my blade. The explosion should be enough to make a hole in the armor"
"If you do that, you would be risking your own life. I cannot guarantee your safety"
"Trust me on this commander. I have no intentions of dying. Once the hole is made you'll be the one who will deliver the killing blow"
"You're giving me the lead role in your grand plan?"
"The Takemikazuchi has greater output of strength than my unit. The greater the damage, the better chance we have of hurting it"
"Heh… tis an honor. (…) Very well. We have little time to argue. Get to your position… we will need to work as one to ensure your plan succeeds"
"You got it!" This has to work. Everyone is counting on us now… this must work!
(Flagship Saijou)
"The BETA worm has breached through the final defense line! It will reach the XG in 40 seconds!"
"How much longer until the A-02 fires?"
"50 seconds ma'am!"
"50 seconds? They're cutting it too close" Yuuko grunted irritatingly as she watched as the battle progressed on. It was a hairy fight. A crude one to be exact, but it was a fight that would determine the fate of ALTERNATIVE IV. "Tell everyone to get out of the firing zone now! They've done their part now let the XG do the rest! Move!"
"Yes ma'am. HQ to all units. Fall back to the rear of the XG-70. I repeat: Fall back to the rear of the XG. The new weapon is preparing to fire!"
"Valkyrie mum to all units. A retreat order has been given. Fall back with the Imperial Army now! This is a priority order! Fall back!"
"The BETA worm is picking up speed!"
"Tch! Shirogane… I'm counting on you"
(Takeru's POV)
"The explosives are in place. We have to hurry. The BETA are not known for their patience" Right… with the explosives and my attack it should be enough to break the shell completely. I don't have enough time to do the math but everything is riding on this. (Flash) Captain… (Flash) Hayase… (Flash) Munakata… (Flash) Everyone…
I will do it. I will change the world!
I will defeat the BETA and all your kind! And I'll start it… by kicking your ass! "OOOOOOOOOHHHH!"
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The Imperial Honor Guard Commander could not help but see the splendor of the boy's act. Without any hesitation, without any doubt and without any worries, he charged in head first onto the targeted crack in hopes to defeating this monster. He had hope to match his courage with his own but it seems obvious to his naked eye that boy was more than a match to him. There was simply no way for a sane man like him to compare to a fool such as that.
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"20 seconds remaining until full charge!"
"The worm is still on course! Impact in 14 seconds!"
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With a single thrust, everything blurred in slow motion. Fire engulfed the boy's Shiranui covering every inch of his frame in a beautiful yet dangerous element. His right arm tore apart in a single wide explosion, ripping it into the earth, never to be seen again. Pieces of the worm's skin broke along with scraps of metal from the boy's frame, each mixing in their own crude way. The creature groaned a painful growl alarming the BETA and the humans that were still fighting.
Inside the cockpit, Shirogane felt like he was thrown into microwave itself. The fire heated the whole room, burning a portion of his suit and his skin as well. But Takeru was sure that he survived worse. If he could survive a full blown air raid during the coup, an explosion at point blank range should be nothing.
But in the end, the blast was too much for his mech and he was recoiled off the flames like a slingshot. As the boy fell off from the worm's body, he cried out to Honor Guard dabbed in blue. "NOW!" The General readied his blade and followed the boy's example. No hesitation… was needed when fighting.
But before Shiroagne felt the hard ground below him, Hayase appeared out of the blues and caught him by a hairline. "I gotcha!"
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"10 seconds!" The admiral prayed on his ship along with the other crew while Yuuko, Marimo and Haruka stared at the screen.
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"Toooooohhh!" Ikaruga charged and stab the blade down to the skin impaling the soft innards of the worm. Blood and meat burst out and within moments, the worm cried out a truthfully painful roar. Its body twist in agony and wiggled like it was trying to get whatever hurt it off its back. "I take no joy in taking someone else's kill… but for his sake I will fulfill my task!" The General twisted his blade sideways while half of it was still sunk into the worm's skin. Fountains of blood burst forth painting his TSF in a new color. "Shinde kudasai…"
The beast roared and finally, losing its momentum it crashed onto the walls of the mountain only a few meters from the XG.
Knowing that his task was done, the General ordered his battalion to withdraw and escape.
As the clock ticked to zero on every monitor… the world held its breath
"SUMIKA! NOW!"
(Yokohama Base) (The tree behind the school)
Yashiro Kasumi stared blankly at the light… her eyes watering slightly by the brightness…
Inside the base, everyone who were indoors or outside stopped whatever it was they were doing and quickly looked out to where the light was shining. Hell… even Kyozuka, the cafeteria lady stopped on her grill for a minute there.
(Imperial Royal Palace, Tokyo)
The ground trembled around the palace as a large explosion was heard from a distance. Clay pots and cups fell from the cabinets and the ceiling dropped specs of wood and sand to the floor.
"My goodness! What in the world?" The Grand Chamberlain covered herself from the window as a bright light imitating a second sun burst from the distance. The Shogun felt the shock too and quickly rushed outside the see this anomaly with her own eyes. "Your highness! Please get away from there! It's dangerous!"
Yuuhi covered her eyes slightly with her long robes. The flash was so powerful that it could even be seen behind Mt. Fuji itself. She can tell immediately that all eyes were turned to that light. It was a sign… a symbol… it had to be.
"…" The girl held her breath and her heart feeling a strange unease creep over her. After a few seconds, the bright light ended, returning the world to its natural order.
"Your highness! Are you alright?" A squad of Imperial Honor Guards entered the door and quickly kneeled on the floor when they saw the Shogun unfazed.
"Yes… I am unharmed. Please find out the cause of that light and aid those who were injured during the quake. (Yes ma'am!)" As the soldiers saw themselves out, the chamberlain came to the Shogun's side to make sure that she wasn't harmed.
"That light… I am sure it came from Sadogashima…" Yuuhi nodded in agreement to her words. "Goodness… just what could that mean…?"
"I do not know… my friend" The Shogun answered back before looking up to the empty sky. "... but the rain... has stopped..."