After Nod's departure, Ichika inquired Ben about demons. Ben successfully deflected him, but now a CIA investigation into the terrorist attacks finds that Phantom Task is responsible for them. Ben has been requested to question the last surviving commander of Phantom Task, Madoka Orimura. Ben accepts this job, but little does he know what he finds out could very well cause the death of millions.
Ben's POV
God, that was close! I can't believe Nod would get so careless with his Dream Snatching. Next time I see him, I'll have to tell him to be more careful.
Classes carry on normally until halfway through Period 2, when Chifuyu enters the room with an announcement.
Chifuyu: Ben, the Embassy wants to talk to you.
Ben: OK. You know about what?
Chifuyu: No. Though I doubt that it's good.
Ben: Alright. I'll head over.
Ben gets up from his seat, when he exits the classroom he sends Eva a text letting her know he's going to the Embassy. He exits the school and walks through Tokyo to get to the Embassy. While he is walking on the streets, he notices that everyone is giving him a large amount of distance now that they know what he can do. After a few more blocks, he makes it to the Embassy, and heads to the American Wing. When he arrives in the American Wing, he speaks with the Staff Sergeant at the desk.
Ben: Hey there, Staff Sergeant... Johnson. What did you guys need me for?
SS Johnson: The CIA followed your lead on Phantom Task, Supreme Commander Hollander, and they confirmed that Phantom Task was behind the all the attacks. They want you to question the Phantom Task commander that you knocked out at the Academy attack.
Ben: OK, do we know where she is being held?
SS Johnson: She's actually being held in an isolation chamber, in the basement.
Ben: Isolation chamber?
SS Johnson: An interrogation method. We'd be set on fire if we used it in America, you isolate the prisoner, so they can't hear outside noises and you screw up their internal clock. Many go insane from that, though the commander you knocked out is pretty tough.
Ben: OK. I'll go question her.
Ben leaves the American Wing, and heads down to the basement. It takes quite a bit of asking and rank-pulling, but Ben eventually makes it to the basement, and then to M's isolation chamber. He opens the door, and is treated to the sight of a grim and tired Madoka Orimura, who barely manages to recognize Ben, much less acknowledge him.
Ben: Hello, Madoka. Do you remember me?
M: You... you had the IS we wanted, and you defeated us. What do you want?
Ben: I just had a few questions about what the rest of your organization was doing.
M's eyebrow raises, and a faint, wan smile crosses her face: Oh?
Ben: Do you have a reason for the terrorist attack throughout the United States of America?
M: We were approached by an Embassy official, from which country I don't know, but we were offered IS cores and a substantial amount of money.
Ben: So for all you know this could be an elaborate scheme by the US, or this could have been caused by any country in the world?
M: Exactly. There was no accent I picked up on either.
Ben: Would you be able to draw their face?
M: What choice do I have?
Ben hands M a piece of paper and a pencil, she starts the drawing. When she's done, Ben takes a look at the drawing, and finds himself looking at a nondescript Japanese man in an Embassy uniform.
Ben: He's from the Embassy here, do you know which country?
M: No, I don't. He was only a courier, I doubt he knew what the message and money were for.
Ben: OK. Well, thanks for your help. If you can change your ways, you may have a Presidential pardon in the US.
M: I doubt I'll ever have need of that...
Ben leaves the interrogation complex, and has George look into the Embassy mainframe to find out the identity of the courier. George discovers that he is a high-ranking diplomat who mainly negotiates with Eastern European countries on Japan's behalf. He has clearance into most of Japan's secure information and is regarded as Japan's best diplomat.
Ben: She gave information awfully easily, did they white room her?
George: Not quite, you were probably the first person that interacted with her since the academy attack though. I can assume they isolated her as much as possible, however.
Ben: That doesn't sound fun. What should we do with this info?
George: We should probably let the CIA know about this.
Ben: Yeah, I know. But I don't want them choosing a country at random and declaring war. We don't know who hired Phantom Task, we only have a region and a courier. But, that's better than nothing, so I suppose we should tell them.
George: I agree.
Ben: Alright. When we're done, we should get ready for the team tournament. We were teamed up with Ichika, right?
George: Yes, we were.
Ichika's POV
Ichika's phone buzzed, and he sees an email stating that he has been paired with Ben Hollander for the team tournament in five days. Ichika shoots Ben a quick text about training, then heads out for a run. He still hasn't quite gotten used to his celebrity status, and still feels awkward when paparazzi follows him everywhere he goes in public. Today, however, nobody was following him on his run, and Ichika got his much needed peace.
When Ichika gets back to the Academy he is immediately greeted by Charlotte and Laura, who treat him to lunch. Despite still being embarrassed about the World Purge attack, Laura and Charlotte managed to work past that embarrassment to get a date with their love. Afterwards, they all head back to their respective rooms. When he gets back, Ben texts him, confirming that's he's available for practice, and some strategy discussion.
Ichika: So, do you want to practice or talk strategy first?
Ben: We should probably go over strategy.
Ichika: OK. Sounds good.
Ben: So, I was thinking that because both of our IS are melee models, we should focus on joint attacks and being able to corner opponents.
Ichika: That makes sense, but we're fighting two people at once. I don't see why we should just ignore an opponent.
Ben: My bad. I meant we split the targets at the start of the match, I'll deploy my saws to assist you, and then whoever finishes their opponent first helps the other finish his off. Now, I did get a look at the bracket, and we're fighting Eva and Houki first. I wanna hear your thoughts on what we should do.
Ichika: Well, I know next to nothing about Eva, but Houki's probably the best person in this school with a sword, I can probably hold her off, but it'll take both of us to finish her off in a melee.
Ben: OK. That's good to know. That's actually a pretty good teaming, Eva's IS has melee weapons, but focuses on ranged warfare. It has multi-lock missile systems, laser cannons, and an EMP generator. She's also the best shot in the States, keeping her up and running for too long could really hurt us. I think it's safe to assume that their strategy is to have Houki guard Eva while she picks us off.
Ichika: So should we split up - I take Houki and you take Eva?
Ben: I could deploy my saws to distract Eva while both of us take out Houki. If I remember correctly though, Akatsubaki can restore shield energy, right?
Ichika: Yeah, it can. So we'd have to incapacitate or completely disable it. Alright, your strategy makes sense: Team up on Houki, take her out quickly, and then repeat with Eva?
Ben: Yeah, though I doubt neither of them will go out easily.
Ichika: Yeah, I doubt they will.
Ben and Ichika finish up their practice, and head to their rooms to finish up schoolwork and relax. Ben is not surprised to see Eva up and about after Nod healed her when he arrives.
Ben: All better?
Eva: Yeah, I signed up for the team tournament this weekend.
Ben: Oh, you DID now did you?
Eva: Yeah, why?
Ben: You and Houki are fighting Ichika and I in the first round.
Eva: Oh COME on! Why can't I ever catch a break with matchmaking!?
Ben: Try to be optimistic...
Eva: My optimistic outlook is that we last five minutes, tops!
Ben: If you feel that way, can at least try to look competitive?
Eva: Don't worry, I'll do that as much as I can. By the way, I heard you went to interrogate a Phantom Task commander.
Ben: Yeah, I did. Although, interrogation isn't the right word, she was rather cooperative.
Eva: Oh? Why?
Ben: From what it looked like, they were isolating her. The room was soundproof and windowless, and she was fed inconsistently so she would lose her sense of time.
Eva: Wow, that's brutal.
Ben: Yeah, be glad that hasn't happened to you.
Eva: Don't worry, I am.
Ben: So, on the way back from the questioning, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight? You could finally get to try hibachi.
Eva: Oooh that sounds good! Can't wait!
Ben: Alright. How 'bout we leave in 10 minutes?
Eva: Sounds good! Let me get dressed.
Ben and Eva head out to a local hibachi place, both have a great time. It takes Eva quite a few tries before she finally catches some food with her mouth, but she sure was happy when she did. They get back to their room, watch a movie, and then head to bed.
Somewhere in the Tokyo suburbs...
The Embassy official that M drew for Ben walks into an average two-story home, and is greeted by what he deems an unwelcome sight.
?: The American IS pilot is on to you.
Official: What? How!?
?: He hacked into the Embassy database after he received a drawing of you from the girl you paid.
Official: Seriously?
?: I'm afraid I can tolerate any leads or lose ends... This is the end for you, Tomoyachi.
Tomoyachi: NO! Surely we can work something out! I have lots of friends in high pl-
Tomoyachi's sentence cuts off the bullet passes through his head.
?: I am sorry, I just cannot be revealed to Ben before everything is in place.
The mysterious figure leaves, but a security camera on a telephone pole catches him leaving the house. Ben, who is currently watching the camera, cannot identify the figure because of his mask, but quickly realizes that this ruthless killer and his organization will meet Ben on his terms, when Ben is the least prepared.
An island off the coast of eastern Siberia...
Tomoyachi's killer takes off his coat and mask, and hangs them on his rack. He enters the Syndicate's strategy room, where his strategists are discussing the progress of Operation: Noose and what to do next. Everyone in the room snaps to attention, stands up, and salutes when he enters.
?: Evening, gentlemen. How is Operation: Noose progressing?
Strategist 1: We just received our payment from Russia, and all surviving assets from America are en route now.
Strategist 3: We have also received word that most Americans believe that the Japanese are behind the attacks, and want a war with Japan.
?: Really? That will definitely be an added bonus. America still has the largest and best-equipped conventional army in the world, but Japan's number of IS units and accomplished pilots makes it the world superpower.
Strategist 4: True, but America is still part of NATO, and has also built a strong relationship with China. This could very well be a world war.
?: I'd certainly like to see that outcome - from a safe distance, of course.
Ichika's POV
Ichika leaves his room the next morning, to find Rin standing outside waiting for him.
Ichika: Hey Rin, what's up?
Rin: W-well... I... Iwaswonderingifyouwantedtogoonadatewithme!
Ichika: Sure! A shopping date, right?
Ben said it would be smarter if I played dense, and considering what they've done to me in the past, I probably should.
Rin: Huh!? Yeah... I guess. A shopping date. How about this weekend after the tournament then?
Ichika: Sounds good! Good luck in the tournament.
Rin: Hm? Yeah, you too.
Ben's POV
Ben's phone is ringing. When he picks it up, he hears three clicks, which tells him the call has been secured and whoever is calling him has something important.
Pres. McCarthy: Ben, we need you and Eva to return to America as soon as possible.
Ben: May I ask why, Mr. President?
McCarthy: Our intelligence has revealed some... disturbing news, it has been reported to NATO and the rest of our allies and they're pulling their all pilots out of Japan.
Ben: Does it concern the attacks?
McCarthy: It does, your questioning of Madoka Orimura has led our intelligence analysts to believe that Japan is behind the attacks.
Ben: Okay, but even if we declare war, Japan has way too many IS units for us to cope with, even if we have the support of all of NATO.
McCarthy: We don't need NATO's IS units, we have finished construction of the anti-IS barrier around our borders.
Ben: Oh, I see. Would you want inside the barrier to lead the defense?
McCarthy: That would be ideal. If I remember correctly you had also finished building two more ISs, right?
Ben: Yeah, I finished Silent Scythe and Conqueror. If possible, could you have Sergeant Whitworth of the Hawaii garrison and Corporal Anderson of the New Jersey National Guard pilot them?
McCarthy: No problem. When can we expect you?
Ben: Eva and I can be there in two days.