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Location: Somewhere within the City
It was morning. An air of fear gripped the crowds moved along the streets. Portions of the city were cordoned off, the damages caused by crashed military vehicles and assets obstructing common roads to work.
Cars beeped incessantly as the roads grew congested. The numbers of workers forced to walk to work due to the incapcitated city infrastructure clogged the roadsides. The power outages caused by the destruction of many electric transformers didn't help matters at all. Not only were the train systems down, but the traffic lights in most areas failed to function properly.
It was over this noise that the street TVs caught the attention of all passing by.
A live broadcast from JNN and other news stations gave the audience all over Japan a glimpse into a crowded room where a Sumeragi representative, Nova Tsukuyomi, stood behind a microphone filled podium.
Pictures were audibly being taken as the young Sumeragi representative unflinchingly began his speech, "The attack we suffered the other day made it clear enough that the threat of an external enemy is not mere fiction. It exists in reality as well!"
There was a dramatic pause as cameras still audibly snapped, "This time, we managed to miraculously contain such a threat with no civilian casualties but, we do not know when that threat will strike again. It could be tomorrow or in a year's time, however, that threat is very real."
Lifting his eyes to meet the cameras, Nova spoke to the audience, "As a result, projects to further strengthen security and the strength of the Boundary have commenced. Alongside this, though presumptuous of us given our performance, we of the Sumeragi Group will be taking over National Defense management in its entirety."
Audible gasps and surprise came from both the jam packed room Nova was in and those watching the speech live on TV.
Soaking the expressions and emotions of those around him, Nova made a declaration, "It is mine and Sumeragi's ardent wish to safeguard this beautiful nation from the threat of terrorists and others who seek to threaten the common people. I, as head of National Defense, and Sumeragi devote ourselves to the cause of order, stability, and security for the nation of Japan!"
Clapping began from both those in the same room as the new Head of National Defense and those watching the broadcast in the streets. The expression of the masses' good favor quickly became near deafening.
While this was going on, a certain, lone flamboyantly dressed man with long blonde hair with pink tips that reached his waist looked on. His face relaxed into a small smile looked at the proceedings as he murmured to himself, "Ho? I see… The event last night is being used by Sumeragi as propaganda to take the helm of National Defense…"
The people around were caught up in their celebration of good news as the man proclaimed, "How cunning of them! Such a stratagem reeks of... LOVE!"
Suddenly a vibration accompanied by muffled ringing came from the man's pants. Picking it up with pink manicured fingers, a male voice came from the other end, "Looks like you managed to sneak into Japan."
Dark magenta eyes trailed up to the streets, making eye contact with a supposedly short circuited street camera. A near unnoticeable green glow highlighted the camera's internal components, barely visible from the opaque glass that protected the technology from the weather.
Winking at the camera, the man replied, "Yes, all thanks to the LOVE our comrades poured into that attack."
A subtle smug tone emerged from the strait-laced young man on the other end, "The attack to breach the Boundary was all a distraction. Sumeragi can't imagine that our true goal was to allow your infiltration there."
Closing his eyes, the man exclaimed, "Yes! A truly perfect plot. It is undoubtedly a fervent display of LOVE"
Unfazed by his eccentric comrade's outburst, the voice on the other end spoke with regret in his voice, "Your job has now begun. It grieves my heart to burden you with this mission alone but, take care and accomplish your goals."
The blonde replied in an assuring tone, "Right, I know that. I shall fulfill this mission with my LOVE..."
A manicured finger made for the hang up button but the caller on the other end stopped the man, "By the way, there's something I must ask you."
"What is it?" asked the blonde.
"Was there someone else, when the Boundary went down, who managed to infiltrate the country?"
The man hummed, tapping a pink nail on the bottom of his chin, "Now that you mention it… a duo did arrive during the gap. Despite being a man and a woman, I didn't feel any LOVE from them."
The voice digested the information, "Thought as much…"
"Got a hunch of who they were?" inquired the man.
The voice took a moment before responding, "...No. Be careful, it seems there's a party other than Tenno and Sumeragi in Japan. Keep watch."
Upon the voice mentioning Tenno, the man made a guess, "Was your LOVE refused, brother?"
The voice became audibly heated as he answered, "Yes, he blew me off. Even going so far as to disregard our righteous cause as something 'petty'. Undoubtedly, much of his vitriol stemmed from his interaction with Teseo. He and I will have some words after this on proper conduct."
In his near teasing voice, the man spoke, "No need to be so harsh, Teseo was merely showing his LOVE for our group. You don't need to punish him."
The voice grunted before posing a final question to his sibling, "I take it that Tenno is a subject you'll be investigating along with Sumeragi?"
The man's smile became near devilish as the TV cut to the regular programming, displaying footage of a certain swordsman in black fighting a Sumeragi Adept, "Yes, yes he is."
Location: QUILL Hideout
Asimov's eyes were trained completely on his desktop monitor, his work as the founder of QUILL taking precedence over his usual morning routine. With the recent events opening the opportunity for his organization to sink its talons into the heart of Adept oppression, he had to capitalize and restructure operations to accommodate the Japanese branch- his branch's- growth with the addition of the two Chinese branch transfers.
Checking the computer's time, he took note of the number of hours before he and the two operatives were to convene and when he will introduce GV as a QUILL Operative.
The sound of an insulated mug being set down and the fridge door opening were clear signs of GV performing his morning routine consisting of pouring a cup of milk before preparing bacon and eggs for both himself and Asimov. The man took a gander at his young charge, noting that the Azure Striker had a troubled look on his face. "There isn't much I can do for him right now." Asimov turned back to his work, hearing GV using the remote to turn on the TV.
From what Asimov heard while still working, Nova was on national television as a response to what happened last night. The only nugget of information Asimov deemed valuable from the speech was Sumeragi's take over of National Defense. Asimov had suspected Tsukuyomi to take advantage of last night's Eden terrorist attack in such a way.
Internally, Asimov scoffed at the Sumeragi Adept's playing of the masses' nationalism. The prodigal child had long before held the powers of a Head of National Defense and then some, it was just that Japan's citizens were simply too blind to see it. All the broadcast did was make things official.
Resting his eyes for a brief moment, the sun glasses wearing man was about to continue his work when he heard a mug drop and its contents spilling onto the floor. Blue eyes peaked over his computer monitor as he took in Gunvolt's pale face.
Shock and fear was apparent as he stared at the TV which had switched to salvaged footage of the culprit behind the city's widespread infrastructure damage.
It was a strange black humanoid with gold armor lining its biceps, forearms, chest, and faceless head. Getting up from his previously seated position, the adult asked, "GV, what's wrong?"
Gunvolt's right hand trembled, a shaking that his left hand put a stop to with a grab, "That… that's him; the one that had beaten me that night!"
Attention completely drawn, Asimov listened to the news anchor's words of an international terrorist that was suspected of attacking and stealing resources from Sumeragi related sites in foreign countries and other corporations that have performed dealings with Sumeragi. The humanoid terrorist that, yesterday night, damaged the city's infrastructure, murdered a shocking number of Sumeragi personnel, and indirectly killed a small number of civil servants. It was one whose methodology, from eye witness testimonies and the salvaged video between it and one of Sumeragi's Adepts, showed an individual who didn't overtly rely upon Septima powers, but instead upon its inhuman physical prowess and skills with the gun and blade. The individual that the media called a modern 'Hitokiri'; a 'Manslayer'.
Location: Post Office
After fitting the uniform's cap snugly onto his head, Hayden looked over to the office TV with coffee mug in hand. His co workers' attention were all on the TV screen as the news person detailed his and Umbra's actions from eyewitness testimony and of the severity of said actions. Both shots of his battle with Carrera and with a police sketch of Umbra were on display. The Warframe being wanted, dead or alive, by local authorities.
The grip he had on his mug tightened. A swirl of emotions played within him, a cold poker face concealing the storm within from prying eyes. Taking a drink, the Operator turned on his heels and left the room, his body moving on autopilot to perform his day job while his mind worked on modifying his methodology from here on.
Here's the rank edits kicking in with Nova officially becoming Head of National Defense. Anyways, this chapter was originally a part of Chapter 15 but I thought it would get too cluttered if it stayed as a part of the previous chapter.
The next chapter's plot skeleton has been written down but it will take a little bit to write it down as there is a pair of incomplete chapters for my other fanfics that I need to finish. One thing to note, next chapter will be written mostly from Ordis's perspective.
As always, leave feedback and critiques in reviews and have a good day.