Chapter 31 ORCA Raids Again
AMCS Anatolia – Pacific Ocean, South of Iturup Island / August 3rd, 2017 – 19:55
"James…why did you name this ship the 'Anatolia'?" Monika asked him quietly.
"A ship needs a good name. As much as I dread this name…I would not want to forget it." James answered simply.
The sun was setting to the West, casting the sky in brilliant red. Above them, the still waxing moon hung, part of it's face covered in darkness. The sea was still and quiet, shaken only by the passing of their ship. Standing on the helipad, the girls waited anxiously while the Lynx made final checks to their equipment.
Dressed in the "armored clothes" James had constructed, Monika, Yuri, and Natsuki strained against their weight. The coarse material of woven metal and carbon had been sown into black trench coats and cargo pants, baring ORCA's emblem proudly on their shoulders. Underneath, they wore standard Kevlar vests for added protection.
James wore a similar set, the only difference were metal hooks and bolts which protruded from his limbs, which were connectors for the exoskeleton he was to wear.
May wore a tight-fitting pressure suit with integrated electronics and sensors. Her neck was already penetrated by a data cable, linked to a computer hanging on her waist that would plug directly into James's NEXT.
On the flight deck was the V-22 Osprey, painted recently in black with "ORCA" spelled out on the side of it's tail. It was armed with an M134 7.62mm gatling gun turret mounted to it's belly; a pair of Hydra rocket pods mounted on either side of the cockpit, containing thirty-eight 70mm high-explosive rockets; and an M2 .50 caliber machine gun pointed out the rear-loading ramp.
Across the deck, standing on the aircraft-elevator, was the NEXT, with the elevator lowered so that the cockpit in the forward section of the Core could be accessed from the flight deck. Save it's pilot, it was ready for launch.
"All preparations are complete Commander." May announced. "We wait on your word."
"The LOSLAMs we launched are in position, ready to begin jamming. The A.I. reports that it is ready to send false firing orders to the American Navy, and that it is already de-orbiting satellites." James said, calmly waiting.
"…" Monika breathed deeply, savoring the cold night air against her face. She looked down in surprise when she felt a hand grasp her own, seeing Natsuki anxious and apprehensive. "You okay?" She asked quietly.
"It's just, we are going to war soon. How many people are we going to have to kill?" Natsuki questioned.
"Considering the base on Iturup was designed to support special operations forces and strike aircraft, anywhere between two and three thousand personnel with various mechanized equipment." James cited.
"That's rather excessive…do we have any real chance of taking on that large of a force?" Yuri wondered doubtfully.
"We only have to fight the soldiers and guards, so somewhere between five hundred and a thousand personnel, well within expectations." James clarified.
"Why…are you being so much like yourself?" Monika accused harshly. "Aren't you worried at all? What about Sayori? Aren't you worried for her?"
"I am…concerned…for Sayori, yes, but I am fully prepared to do everything that must be done." James responded.
"We are way out of our league here." Monika stated tiredly. "We are only three teenage girls, and even with the two of you as support, this will be a long night with long odds."
"Long odds are what we live for. That's been true since the first Armored Cores took to the battlefield, standing alone and victorious every time." James countered. "But we are still here. I don't know what you want me to say, Monika. I'm not worried."
"Not even a little?" Monika questioned desperately.
Calmly, James shook his head slightly. "I haven't felt fear since I was eight years old."
"…I wish I could go through life without feeling fear." Natsuki muttered in jealous awe.
"No." May stated seriously. "You don't."
"Guys…" Yuri looked down worriedly. "I can't help but feel that…we are all going to die."
"We are going to die." James stated, as a matter of fact.
"No, not in eventuality, but tonight. All of us here." Yuri announced with more desperation.
"…My stepfather always said to 'fight each battle as though it were your last'." James recalled. "There is no shame in dying in battle, so long as you give it your all."
"This is war. I've made my peace." May added confidently.
"…We move forward with the plan. We've come too far to turn back." Monika declared. "Thus, I declare Operation Marche Au Supplice a go!"
"…?" James sighed while looking at her questionably.
"It's a song. Translated, it means 'March to the Scaffold' or 'March to Torment'." Monika explained.
"…I suppose that explains it." James relented, turning to assist May with starting up the NEXT.
Sitting down in the laid-back position, with her limbs fully extended, May grabbed the computer at her waist by a handle, plugging it into a port to connect her to the machine.
/WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED USER DETECTED/ACCESS DENIED
Touching the wireless interface console at the front of the cockpit, James sent the necessary codes to give May access. "Authorize Lynx May 'Smiley' Greenfield user status of this unit."
/AUTHORIZATION COMPLETE
/INITIALIZING/
/WARNING: INFERIOR SUBSYSTEMS DETECTED
/SAFETY LIMITERS ACTIVE
/ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOCKED TO 40%
/UNIT: ARMORED CORE NEXT 03-AALIYAH SERIAL #009
/UNIT NAME:
/USER/MAY "SMILEY" GREENFIELD: CONFIRMED
/AMS: CONNECTED
/ACTIVATION COMPLETE
"That's something I always wondered, what you would name this unit. Why is it blank?" May looked up at him questionably, even as her breathing caused the NEXT to shift beneath them.
"Names are something to remember. I never fought to make a name for myself, and any who would remember would die anyway. So, I left it blank."
"Huh." May shrugged, accepting the answer.
"May…" James caught her attention again, as he lowered himself beside the cockpit. "You're a fine warrior." He praised. "Call me sentimental, but I wish we had met under different circumstances."
Smiling, May reached up with her right arm. In response James did the same, grasping her arm back.
"You keep them safe now, irregular."
"Don't break my stuff, bitch."
James leapt backwards as the cockpit canopy lowered, fully encasing May. Trapped within and tightly restrained, the NEXT became her body. The optical sensors on the head shined bright red, as the head lifted and regarded those before it with an imperceivable glare.
"Let's get going." James announced to the other girls.
"Right." Monika nodded. "May! We'll be relying on you! Show the world your might!"
"Stay safe May!" Natsuki shouted.
"See you soon…!" Yuri softly shouted. "Come back safe!"
"Of course." May replied through the mounted speakers, her voice projecting loudly.
With everyone else boarding the V-22 from the rear loading ramp, the engines started, causing the versatile transport to lift into the air, already shifting it's rotors down for speed.
In their wake, the aircraft elevator on the ship lifted, bringing May in the NEXT up to the helipad. Taking several steps forward towards the center of the pad, May turned towards the transport, raising the right arm in a half salute that quickly shifted higher into a wave.
Monika, standing shoulder to shoulder with Natsuki, Yuri, and James, rode off into war.
"…Hang on." Monika realized. "Who's flying this thing?"
"…" James shrugged, pointing over his shoulder, towards the cockpit.
Stepping past the loaded combat armors and weapons, Monika squeezed herself up into the cockpit, seeing the dark ocean below. To either side, sitting in each pilot's chair, were grey, military grade computer boxes, strapped in securely. On top of each box was a grey sphere, mounted as a turret. Each sphere would slowly spin about as they pointed themselves out through the windows and at the controls, which were moving without being touched. The right sphere then slowly turned to face her, revealing three cameras, one of which spun to focus on her.
"Commander." The synthesized voice of the A.I. 09 addressed her.
"What the fuck…?"
Meanwhile / Iturup Island - Cape Triokhpaly Airbase - Stockade
"I must say…you truly surprised me, Sayori." The Investigator watched her with equal parts awe and wariness.
Locked in her cell, Sayori sat still, silently horrified at what she had done. She remembered the look on The Doctor's face when she drove her blade into his neck. The feeling of tendons tearing and bones snapping under the force she had applied, the warmth of blood on her hands.
That hateful, lustful desire to drown in the red.
"Did James teach you to fight like that? That isn't something most girls your age would be able to do."
"…"
"That was…your first kill? I am sorry. It is never easy for anyone."
"…"
"Will you be alright?"
Looking up at the man, Sayori regarded him coldly, yet honestly.
"You should go."
"…" The Investigator opened his mouth in surprise, before giving a light nod. Turing to leave, he retrieved his coat and hat from a hook nearby. Looking to the guard outside the cell block, he muttered, "Tell The General…that I'm going for a walk."
Meanwhile / Earth Orbit
Sending false location signals and false malfunction notices to their creators, several dozen satellites were in the process of adjusting their course. Whereas they would have been passing over Japan and the Northern Pacific on their regular course, the spy and communication satellites of several nations were under the guidance of Hustler One, forcing them out of orbit.
Slowing from their usual speed of thirty kilometers a second, the satellites were currently on the other side of the world, adjusting their re-entry with the finest of control to land at the southern tip of Iturup.
In order to keep the humans even more unaware, radar stations all over the world powerful enough to track satellites were also under the sway of the machine intelligence, reporting either false signatures or massive malfunctions.
/TIME TO IMPACT: 47 MINUTES
Seven Minutes Later / USS Ticonderoga
The Captain of the Ticonderoga smiled at the good news his Comms Operator had just handed to him.
2017 AUG 3
FM SECNAV
TO USS TICONDEROGA
FIRE MISSION ORDER
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
AUTHORIZATION GRANTED FOR FIRING OF NINE TLAM AGAINST RUSSIAN AIRBASE ON ITURUP
ORCA CONFIRMED TO HAVE TAKEN FACILITY
ALLIED TRANSPORT ENROUTE TO TARGET AREA FROM THE SOUTH: V-22 CALLSIGN HOTEL ONE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Finally, the American Captain thought vengefully. Finally, a chance to strike back at the terrorist bastards who dared strike the homeland with nuclear arms.
The Ticonderoga, which had been decommissioned in 2004, had been refitted, armed with the same vertical launch system for missiles as her more modern sister cruisers, and recommissioned. As part of a general modernization initiative in the US Navy, she even had a LaWS, an anti-missile laser, replacing her older CIWS cannons.
Her current mission had been to act as a forward scout to the expected naval battle to the North, to see how the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer copies of Japan, faired against the older but larger Russian Navy Armada. Her four Arleigh Burke Class escorts were there to maximize defensive fire in the off chance a stray anti-ship missile targeted the US Fleet out of it's own, stupid, volition.
Or…at least, that had been the mission. ORCA's declaration of war came less than a minute before a hundred-thousand innocent lives had been snuffed out in Los Angeles. It was inconceivable that an enemy could be enigmatic and unreachable and still have the power to take hundreds of thousands of lives on a whim for no reason at all.
The most powerful nation on the planet, unable to defend itself against a group who's methods and means were unknown, and who did not exist a week before. Such a situation had never existed before in all of human history, and it was slowly driving them insane with spite and rage.
So this fire order, this mission, would allow them to do what they did best, and retaliate against forces of chaos, delivering brutal and exact justice in the form of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles.
"Sir…does this mean…?" The ship's Executive Officer asked.
"Yes…yes X.O., this means we'll get to be the tip of the spear, delivering the first counterattack against those ORCA bastards." The Captain replied.
"This is…a great honor sir." The X.O. whispered quietly.
"Your family in L.A., have you heard anything?" The Captain asked his subordinate.
"No sir."
"…I'm sorry. I haven't heard anything from my sister either."
"I believe everyone knows someone who died sir. Let us strike back…for them." The X.O. stated darkly.
"Yes, you are right. Let's inform the fleet, and ready the missiles." The Captain grabbed the radio, transmitting on a channel so that the whole ship and her escorts could hear. A whistle grabbed everyone's attention as the Captain spoke. "Now hear this! I know everyone in this fleet is still reeling at the devastation in Los Angeles. Hell, the entire world is mourning for the many lives taken by ORCA. But I have good news. We have just received attack orders from SECNAV himself, ordering us to fire cruise missiles in retaliation against a local ORCA target. I want every man and woman in this fleet to be proud, for we will be the tip of the spear, delivering exact judgement and revenge against those terrorists! This is The Captain of the USS Ticonderoga, out!"
The CIC erupted in cheers at the declaration, as the whole ship seemed to shake gleefully at the news. Everyone in the fleet readied their ships to fire.
"Sir!" The Radar Operator reported. "New Contact! V-22 bearing 200 degrees, 300 kilometers out, callsign Hotel One!"
"That will be the frogmen. We're clearing the way for them." The Captain informed his crew. Setting the radio to speak to the incoming aircraft, The Captain called them eagerly. "USS Ticonderoga to Hotel One, do you copy?"
"Hotel One to USS Ticonderoga, we read you loud and clear." James spoke in English into the radio, while the girls watched him quietly.
"We wish you luck out there, Hotel One. We'll be launching shortly to support you. Give them hell." The radio called out.
"Copy that Ticonderoga. Thank you for the support. Hotel One, out." The radio sounded in The Captain's hand.
"He sounds eager as hell." The X.O. noted.
"Aren't we all?" The Captain declared. "What's the status of our launch?"
"All ships ready on your orders, sir." The Fire Control Operator answered.
"Excellent." Taking a deep breath, The Captain prepared himself. "All ships, fire missiles!"
"USS Ticonderoga, fire one, fire two!" The Fire Control Operator announced.
One of the armored doors of the VLS launcher on the foredeck opened, while a jet of fire sprayed up from an exhaust port beside it. One, then two Tomahawk cruise missiles flew straight up, beginning to level out in a northward direction. Simultaneously, the escorts began to do the same, calling as they did so.
"USS Jeremiah Denton, fire one, fire two!"
"USS John E. Kilmer, fire one, fire two!"
"USS Richard G. Lugar, fire one, fire two!"
"USS Sam Nunn, fire one!"
"New Contacts. Nine Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, on course to the target area." 09 reported.
"They've taken the bait." James said to Monika, watching her eagerly.
"Those poor guys…they are only doing what they think is right." Natsuki muttered quietly.
"It's movingly patriotic, that they would attack the enemy who slayed their people without hesitation." Yuri mentioned. "Unfortunately…"
"They're in our way." Monika noted grimly. "So next is May, then the jamming?"
"Yes." James changed a setting on the radio, letting Monika speak to May. "Don't forget her current callsign."
"Right." Monika nodded, picking up the radio. "White to Green, you are cleared to launch. Leave no one alive."
"Copy that, Commander." May called out.
"09, hijack the missiles, and set them to target anti-aircraft and high-value targets, moments before we land. Then, when Green finishes her own transmission, bring the jamming up." James ordered the A.I."
"Order confirmed." 09 began working from it's many positions. The GPS satellite tasked with guiding the missiles towards their target slightly changed their coordinates at the airbase, while simultaneously locking their firing platforms out from control. The nine missiles were then under ORCA control.
Meanwhile / AMCS Anatolia
Finally, May smiled cruelly, still standing on the deck of the Anatolia in her borrowed NEXT.
Part of the plan had included her making a statement as well, in order to draw attention away from the V-22 carrying her friends and their irregular. As well, it would be rude to not introduce herself to her future opponents.
"This is Green of ORCA." May transmitted on an open channel, her voice being heard hundreds of miles away. "I wanted to personally thank you all for participating in this coming battle. If you can hear this message, then you are my enemy. I'll be seeing you shortly. And remember, have a good war."
The five LOSLAM missiles circling Iturup and the three Navy's, rewired for broad spectrum jamming, began pouring out the power of their reactors out as mass radio pollution, severing the connection to any radio outside of the encirclement.
On the Anatolia, the twenty-ton war machine strode forward, stepping off the deck, falling to the ocean below. Automatically, plasma thrusters fired, keeping the weapon just inches above the water. Aligning herself with the American fleet over the horizon, May engaged the special boost program James had showed her, moving from stand still to Mach two in less than a second.
She smiled excitedly as crushing G-forces pressed on her, her longing for battle about to be satiated.
USS Ticonderoga
Excitement turning to dread, The American Captain was at a loss.
"Sir! We've lost contact with the missiles. They are no longer under our control!" The Fire Control Operator reported.
"S-Send a message to the Theodore Roosevelt, request immediate assistance!"
"Sir! We can't raise the Roosevelt!" The Comms Operator reported.
"Then get me SECNAV, Pearl, Washington, San Diego, anyone!"
"S-Sir! Communications are offline! We can't raise any allied ships outside of the fleet!"
"…Allied?" The Captain questioned.
"This is The Captain of the JS Atago, calling all American and Russian ships." The radio called. "We have been unable to contact command. We request a temporary truce until the forces of ORCA can be dealt with."
"This is The Captain of the Kirov, battlecruiser of the Russian Navy. It seems we have a common enemy. We agree to the truce, until ORCA is defeated."
"Sir! New Contact! Bearing 225 degrees, 300 kilometers out, closing on us at Mach two!" The Radar Operator reported. "No IFF signal! And the computer can't identify it!"
"…" The Captain sneered at the incoming enemy. Picking up the radio, he contacted the only people who could listen. "This is The Captain of the USS Ticonderoga, calling all ships on this frequency. We've picked up a highspeed, unknown contact bearing down on us at Mach two. We believe it is an ORCA weapon. We will be engaging it with the full force of this fleet. Ticonderoga out."
"Good luck, Ticonderoga."
"Godspeed, Ticonderoga."
"All ships! You are cleared to fire on that enemy! Give them everything we have!" The Captain order the American Fleet.
257 Kilometers Away (160 Miles)
May grew excited as her radar picked up ten anti-aircraft missiles, right off her nose. While the missiles of this era had considerable range and speed, they lacked the maneuverability necessary to target a NEXT. With a closing velocity above Mach five, all May had to do was shift her arms to change the air resistance across the surface of her machine, while coasting a side booster to nudge her slightly off course.
Ten missiles passed by harmlessly.
"S-Sir! All missiles have missed the target!" The Fire Control Operator reported.
"Damn! Ripple fire then! Fire everything we have!" The American Captain shouted.
161 Kilometers Away (100 Miles)
May smiled appreciatively as the volume of fire against her intensified. The radar quickly reported fifty missiles inbound and another fifty after that. Slowing slightly while raising altitude, she waited until the enemy missiles were less than two kilometers away, before reactivating the quick-boosters, diving and propelling herself forward at Mach two, the missiles unable to track her. In order to dodge the following volley of missiles, she quick-boosted sideways, suddenly a hundred meters displaced of where she was before, the missiles immediately losing her. She continued to close on her target at a rate of a kilometer every second and a half.
"What? What's with this movement?!" The Radar Operator questioned.
"What is it sailor?" The Captain asked quickly.
"Sir! The target appeared to suddenly stop, before resuming it's approach. Additionally, it seemed to move laterally at the speed of sound."
"What? That's impossible! Is there a glitch in the system? Have any of the missiles connected?"
"Sir! We can confirm that no missiles have hit their mark." The Fire Control Operator reported.
"Shit! What the hell are we fighting? No aircraft could dodge that many missiles, or move in that pattern." The X.O. noted worriedly.
"Is this even an aircraft? Just what kind of weapon does ORCA have at their disposal?" The Radar Operator questioned.
"Sir! The sixth full volley was just fired, the only missiles left are in the rolling airframe launchers." The Fire Control Operator reported.
"Damn! Ready all guns, looks like this is going to be a close-range battle. Target them with the LaWS as soon as they come over the horizon. Let's see them dodge a laser!" The Captain ordered.
"Nine seconds until visual contact!" The Radar Operator reported.
24 Kilometers Away (15 Miles)
Finally within visual range of the enemy, May observed their formation. The fleet of five ships had turned to meet her to their starboard, pulling apart in order to maximize fire against her. Just as the last of the vertically launched missiles against her missed, shells from the six five-inch naval autocannons began to land around her, with a combined fire rate of two rounds a second.
/ALERT: EXTERNAL HEAT INCREASING
Oh? May questioned why the core began to heat unevenly, only after sighting the enemy in visual range…
"Oh…you sorry bastards!" May cackled happily. They had an infrared laser! "That would have been a good ambush…if you were a few centuries more advanced. How pitiful." As it was, an infrared laser didn't have the mass or power to punch through NEXT armor, which was why twenty-fifth century lasers used solid masses of plasma that put the sun to shame.
Visually tracking a proximity-fuse round from the enemy autocannons, May guided herself into it's path. The round closed to withing five meters, before impacting the Primal Armor. The sphere of Kojima Particles magnetically suspended became momentarily solid at the impact sight, detonating the shell at an angle where any shrapnel would pass by without touching her.
Done showing off, she passed through the smoke the high explosive round had left, resuming her advance, water boiling in her wake.
Ten Seconds Earlier
"What the…fuck…is that!?" The Captain exclaimed, looking at the targeting camera for the laser.
On the screen was a giant, metal man. A machine in human form, menacing and glaring. What's more, it was hot. Nuclear hot. Whatever method of propulsion it was using was so hot that the infrared sensors had incorrectly blacked out portions of it as though it were the sun.
"Sir! The laser is having no effect!" The Fire Control Operator reported desperately.
"What!" The Captain exclaimed. "That forty-million-dollar piece-of-shit flashlight!"
"Just what kind of organization is ORCA?" The X.O. questioned.
"Direct hit with a 5-inch!" The Fire Control Operator shouted excitedly. His voice soon turned to confusion and horror. "N-NO EFFECT?!"
"That's impossible!" The Captain exclaimed. "Ready all close-range weapons! Every CIWS, every RAM launcher, every deck mounted cannon and machine gun! Kill that thing!"
At an alarming rate, the unknown enemy closed on the fleet. Fifteen kilometers. Ten kilometers.
The RAM launcher turrets, which fired a spinning interceptor missile, were designed as a replacement of the CIWS cannon, and each ship had one. They fired their stock of twenty-one missiles in rapid fire.
Knowing she was too close to dodge them all, May quick-boosted sideways, then lifted the GAU-8 and let loose a five second burst to defend herself, shooting down several missiles, boosting again at the end of the burst. Strayed would have had a much easier time dodging, but she also had the restriction of not overstressing the components.
Again, she fired a five second burst, at which point she was five kilometers from the lead ships, working her way towards the front of the formation. The CIWS cannons began to open up speculatively, filling the air with armor piercing Tungsten shells, deadly threads glowing in the night. Switching to her rocket pods, May discharged a pair, the spent pods falling off, and the eight rockets from within distracting the CIWS gun on the lead ship. The defensive cannon traversed up, shooting down six of the rockets, the other two impacting just below the bridge on one of the static radar sensors. This of course, had been a distraction as a 280mm high explosive shell, curtesy of the OGOTO cannon, sailed over the bow, destroying the CIWS cannon and stunning the crew momentarily.
Which was all the time May needed as she rushed the ship head on. Reaching out, the laser blade on her right arm was ignited. Pale blue and flowing like a stream, as opposed to the solid violet mass that it would have been at full power, the half-powered blade was still more than capable of tearing the ship apart, as May dragged it through the ship from just behind the main gun until it exited the starboard hangar. Her intention had been to detonate both VLS launchers, and she was successful.
Leftover Tomahawk missiles, as well as anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles still in the launchers, had suddenly been pierced by a beam of flowing, super-heated plasma. Besides the fact that the CIC had also been vaporized, the ship was destroyed when the missiles detonated in their racks, blowing the bow and stern off the rest of the ship.
"Sam Nunn lost!" The X.O. shouted.
"What! How!" The Ticonderoga Captain exclaimed.
Not letting them have a chance to recover from the loss, May immediately moved towards the next ship. Her laser-blade on forced cooldown, she quickly gained altitude, falling as to let her twenty-ton mass crush the main-gun of her new target. Before the CIWS operator could recalibrate the weapon to fire at barely five meters, May swung out with the Aaliyah's right claws, tearing the auto-cannon out of it's mount, discarding it in the ocean. She then leveled her own Gatling cannon with the bridge.
"Oh fuck!" The helmsman of the Richard G. Lugar shouted, as the anti-armor weapon tore through the bridge for three seconds, killing everyone in it's path. Her blade off cooldown, May stepped off the starboard side of the ship, engaging the plasma weapon in the same manner that she had destroyed the previous ship, to much the same effect.
"Richard G. Lugar lost!"
"What the hell, how is that thing evading our fire?!" The Ticonderoga Captain questioned. "How is it killing our ships so fast?!"
Closing on the third escort ship, May fired another set of Zuni rockets, managing to hit her intended target of the rear CIWS gun with four of the eight fired. Landing on the rear deck, she used the claws on the right hand to tear the cover off the rear VLS, then gained altitude, in order to drop a high explosive shell down the hole she had made. The large caliber explosive detonated with the missiles still in the launcher, causing a chain reaction that ran up the length of the ship as the fuel and other munitions within cooked off, the force of which tore the ship apart.
"John E. Kilmer lost!"
"No no NO!"
Her blade off cooldown, May didn't hesitate to rush the last escort, through the fire of it's autocannons, the rounds being slowed to near harmlessness by the Primal Armor. Blade out, she penetrated it's port side, right through it's bow VLS. The launcher detonated, tearing the bow off the ship. Not satisfied that the ship was dead, she flew towards the stern of the ship, repeating the process of tearing the roof of the rear VLS, and firing a half-second burst of 30mm rounds into the exposed munitions, detonating the launcher and tearing the stern off as well.
"Jeremiah Denton lost!"
"The whole fleet! Gone! GONE!"
Circling the Ticonderoga at high speed, the laser was having difficulty tracking her, leaving a path of boiling water in her wake. Aiming for weapons with her own gatling gun, May fired a long, ten second burst while circling the ship. She even fired three artillery shells into her, once into the superstructure, helicopter hangar, and bridge.
It was perhaps the worst ten seconds of The Captain's life, as his command of the old warship was shot out from under him, the ship vibrating as it's own external weapons detonated and whole compartments were torn apart.
"Damage report!" The Captain shouted above the klaxon alarms.
"Sir, it appears all weapon mounts have been destroyed. Both five-inch guns, the RAM launcher, the laser, even the waist mounted autocannons. The torpedo tubes detonated on the deck, we have reports of fire and casualties." The X.O. summarized grimly.
"Status on the enemy? Is that Green woman still out there?"
"Sir! She's-!"
The Captain looked at the radar display, noticing the dot that was the enemy, approaching at high speed from just off the bow. Having seen that maneuver more than once in the last few minutes, he knew what was coming.
"Damn you, ORCA."
May extended her laser blade, dragging it from bow to stern at top speed, meeting no resistance as the narrow band of plasma cut through the ship cleanly. The Ticonderoga shuttered, as not only was more than half her structure no longer connected to her hull, but all her ammo detonated, further dividing the ship into multiple pieces which sunk rapidly.
"Well, that's that I guess." May regarded her work. "A bit of an anticlimax."
"…" Monika closed her eyes as the A.I. reported the sinking of the last American ship in the A.O. "How many people just died?"
"One thousand, six hundred and twenty-two." James reported.
"Those poor sailors never stood a chance." Yuri noted sadly.
"They were just doing their job…they just wanted to avenge their families…" Natsuki held herself tightly.
"Now…we send May against the Japanese Navy." Monika announced despondently.
"So, we really are going to kill our fellow countrymen?" Natsuki asked, knowing the answer.
"Unfortunately, it was unavoidable." Yuri commented.
"No…" Monika declared. "We stopped being Japanese the moment we detonated those nukes. We have no country of our own anymore. We are only ORCA."
"Well said, Commander." James nodded to her.
Meanwhile / JS Atago
The Captain of the JS Atago grimly noted the silence coming from the American fleet.
Just days ago, they had received orders to hastily form this fleet to oppose the Russians pressuring their nation to the north. Two Atago and two Kongo Class Destroyers, ships built as copies of the American Arleigh Burke Class, as well as four Akizuki Class Destroyers, a two-thirds sized Arleigh Burke, made up the force. They were outmatched two-to-one, and out-massed three-to-one, by their Russian counterparts.
Stretched thin by the Chinese Armada encircling Okinawa and the Russian Flotilla encroaching on Hokkaido, they fully expected to lose a majority of their naval assets in the coming war.
The battle had been averted, however, by the intervention of ORCA terrorists, declaring war against the whole world with nuclear arms. Disgusted by ORCA's actions, their tentative enemies had their sympathy. As the only nation to still have the title of having suffered multiple nuclear strikes, the Japanese people understood better than anyone the horrors of such an event. Though they staved off a new Pacific War, ORCA was considered an enemy above all else, to be destroyed at all costs.
And then that "Green" woman had spoken, declaring all of them her enemies, before all long-range communications were cut by wide spectrum jamming. They expected a battle, perhaps against aircraft or stealth ships.
What no one expected was for the five American Navy ships to be utterly annihilated in less than two minutes by a previously unknown weapon system. The Americans had not been very clear as to what was attacking them, only that it was immune to their laser and that it had killed several ships in single, precise attacks.
This left The Captain understandably concerned when the radar operator jumped in surprise, beginning to shout.
"Sir! New contact! Bearing 135 degrees, 300 kilometers out!"
"From the direction of the American fleet. That will be ORCA's weapon." The Japanese X.O. noted.
The Captain announced grimly. "Fire all anti-aircraft missiles! Do not let them get close!"
But closer the contact came anyway, regardless of missiles. While the third volley of missiles was being fired, something unexpected happened.
"S-Sir! Twenty-four new contacts! Bearing 30 degrees, 300 kilometers away!" The Japanese Radar Operator shouted in surprise. "Su-33s and MiG-29s!"
"The Russians?" The Captain questioned. "Are they coming to strike us while we are down?"
"Sir! I have communication from the lead Russian aircraft!" The Japanese Comm Operator reported, setting the radio for the CIC to hear.
"This is Strigon One-One, leading Strigon and Molot squadrons. We are coming to engage ORCA and protect the Japanese Naval Task Force. Hold your fire. I repeat, we are coming to engage ORCA."
The Captain smiled appreciably. "Atago to Strigon One-One. We appreciate the support. Be advised that enemy asset is plus-one-minute ahead of you, and will likely be fighting at close range with our fleet. Any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated."
"Copy that Atago. Let's put aside our differences to destroy these terrorists."
"Sir? Is that wise? Trusting a whole enemy carrier wing to provide close air support over our fleet?" The X.O. questioned.
"ORCA is everyone's enemy. Even if we have to fight the Russians tomorrow, killing ORCA now will be a victory for the whole world." The Captain replied confidently.
Even with the good news, the unknown weapon was still approaching, closing at Mach Two. Two, and three, and four hundred intercepting missiles somehow missed, right as the enemy came over the horizon.
"What is that?!" The Captain shouted as the enemy came into visual range.
"I-It's a Gundam!" The Fire Control Operator shouted fearfully.
"Stow it, junior officer!" The X.O. ordered. "Get every five-inch cannon and CIWS on that target! Destroy it at all costs!"
May rolled her shoulders, the movement being copied by her method of transport. The number of guns in front of her demanded she take them as a serious threat. Doing her best to maneuver to the front of the fleet, slowed by the number of shells she was dodging.
Fifteen kilometers. Ten. Five. At three kilometers, thick streams of 20mm tracers crossed in front of her, some striking her. To distract them, she fired four of her rockets pods, two from her back and two from her shoulders, at the second closest light destroyer. Most of the sixteen rockets were shot down, but two hit the bridge. The CIWS distracted, May lined herself up with the closet ship, her right arm stretched out. Dragging the blade low, May made sure it penetrated the ammo elevator for the main gun, as well as the VLS launcher. Without a real VLS launcher, May directed the laser blade down, into the fuel, flash boiling it. The bow and middle of the ship simply ceased to exist as munitions and fuel detonated.
"Fuyuzuki lost! Suzutsuki hit! Casualties reported!"
"Damn! So quickly!" The Japanese Captain cursed.
"Sir! Russian Air assets sixty seconds out!" The Radar Operator reported.
May turned around after her blade strike, bringing her cannons online. While she approached the second destroyer at six hundred kilometers an hour, she raked the rear of the ship with five seconds of 30mm rounds, destroying her rear CIWS and detonating the torpedoes. It's deck compromised, she let loose a 280mm high explosive round into the hole she made. The shell detonated within, breaking the ship's back.
"Suzutsuki lost!"
"Two ships in thirty seconds of combat! Unheard of!" The X.O. cried.
"What is this power you've unleashed, ORCA?" The Captain questioned.
Rounding the sinking hulk of the second light destroyer, May wasted no time, engaging the third destroyer at twice the speed of sound. Her blade recharged, she gutted the ship, her ammo detonating and killing her like her sisters.
"Teruzuki lost!"
"Sir! Russians are firing air-to-air missiles!" The Radar Operator reported excitedly.
"So, they really are here to help." The Captain smiled.
"This is Strigon One-One, we are on station, targeting the ORCA weapon engaging the Japanese Navy."
"S-Sir! What the hell is that! It looks like a giant robot!" Strigon's youngest pilot shouted.
"Can-it airman! That thing has already disabled three Japanese ships. Just stay on my wing and don't lose your cool." Strigon One-One ordered.
Grunting in annoyance, May broke off her attack of the fourth light destroyer. Her Primal Armor was low from tanking shots from these ships, she couldn't afford to take hits from heat-seeking missiles as well. The amount of heat the NEXT was putting off as well, ensured that the air-to-air missiles would have an easy target to track.
Looking up, she saw four flights of six aircraft; six MiG-29s and eighteen Su-33s, carrier based Russian multi-role and air-superiority fighters. Coming down in waves, they would likely try and keep her off balance, continuously attacking her from multiple angles. In that sense, there was only one, appropriate response.
Attack.
Taking flight to match their altitude, May rushed the first attacking flight of Su-33s. Their missiles already in the air, May quick-boosted sideways, but was unable to break the lock of the maneuverable missiles homing in on her waste heat. Smiling as a reflex, May quick-boosted forward, getting inside the missiles turn radius, and into gun range of the fighters.
"Break! Break!" Strigon One-One shouted into his radio.
Their lead pilot was good, diving and rolling away, making himself difficult to shoot. Three of his wingmen followed, staying close to their leader. The trailing two aircraft stayed on course, lining up for a gun run on May. Quicker on the draw and more liberal with her ammo, May fired first with her gatling gun, holding the trigger for three seconds.
Both aircraft were shredded in mid-air. Despite being larger and heavier vehicles, the air-superiority fighters of the early twenty-first century had no advantages over the mid-twenty-fifth century Armored Core before them, even in it's inferior state.
"Commander-!" The youngest pilot in Strigon team cried out as he and his wingman were shot down, their aircraft falling to pieces around them.
"Strigon One-Five and One-Six, shot down!" Another pilot called out. "I don't see any chutes!"
"Molot Squadron, engaging!" The lead pilot of the MiG-29's reported.
Raising her gun to shoot down the incoming missiles, May let them get uncomfortably close, letting off a five-second burst, taking down the missiles and striking one of the fighters.
"Ksh! Molot Four is hit! I've got a fuel leak! Disengaging!"
Down to five fighters in front of her, May quick-boosted forward, right into their path. Close enough to see the white in a pilot's eyes, she engaged her blade, bifurcating the fighter and igniting it's fuel as a plume of fire in her wake.
"Molot Three is down! What the hell was that?! A laser weapon?!" A Molot pilot shouted.
"Strigon Flights Two and Three, disengage! The enemy is surprisingly maneuverable. We need a new plan." Strigon lead grimly announced.
The aircraft disengaging for a moment, May used the opportunity to fly back over the Japanese fleet. Rather than try and rush the ships from down below, she lined herself up with the last of her flight time, and committed the easiest possible attack pattern.
Falling.
Coasting the thrusters to keep her on track, she ignored the 20mm rounds slowly depleting her Primal Armor and fell, straight onto the bridge of the fourth light destroyer, crushing it beneath her weight. The ship shuttered and listed under the force of her collision, her legs crashing through several decks. Taking flight briefly, she deployed her heavy cannon, depositing a high explosive shell into the ships exposed core, breaking it's back, and starting a fire.
"Akizuki lost!"
"Damn! It crashed into the ship? Just how durable is that weapon?" The Captain cursed.
May focused all her attention on the other Japanese ships, when she noticed the aircraft formations on her radar change.
"Strigon One-One to all aircraft, switch to flights of four, engage the enemy in simultaneous waves."
Sighing in annoyance, May rushed the closest ship, closing at Mach Two, in position with her blade ready. A single, well aimed swipe was all it took to detonate both VLS launchers and cripple the destroyer.
"Myoko lost!"
"Sir! The Russians are reengaging the enemy." The Radar Operator reported.
"Brave, damned bastards." The Captain praised and mourned.
No sooner had the ship's ammo detonated, when May came under fire from more heat-seeking missiles. Quickly firing another four rocket pods on the next closest ship, she retreated, keeping the latest sinking hulk between her and the other Japanese ships, standing her ground.
Half of her rocket attack hit it's mark, amid-ship of the destroyer, cooking-off her torpedo tubes and damaging it's hull.
"Kongo is hit! Damage reported, flooding and fire, multiple casualties!"
Quick-boosting at the last possible moment, May barely dodged the missiles, returning fire with a six-second long burst from her gatling gun as the fighters came close. Strafing the sky, she downed two enemy fighters, both rolling and crashing into the ocean, too low to safely eject.
"Strigon Two-Two and Two-Three lost! Damn you ORCA!"
"Strigon Three-One, engaging!" The pilot shouted eagerly, his flight firing another wave of heat-seeking missiles.
Needing to conserve ammo, May turned her back on the missiles, giving them the bright, hot target that was her rear plasma thrusters. Retreating at Mach two, she passed the bow of the ship on fire, stopping and quick-boosting into the cover of the ship. The four heat-seekers lost sight of her, targeting the next hottest thing they could find, the burning Japanese ship. Though not designed for sinking ships, the missiles did significant damage to the exposed interior, further crippling her.
"Kongo reports damage is catastrophic; they are taking on too much water! Their Captain has ordered the ship to be abandoned!"
"Damn, who would have thought that she would have forced a friendly fire incident? This 'Green'…she is smart. Lethal. Cruel." The Captain surmised.
"She's lining up to sink the Ashigara sir!" The Radar Operator reported.
Readying her blade to strike, May was forced to pause, coasting sideways and on the defensive as another flight of fighters made a pass at her, quick-boosting rapidly to dodge the missiles. Once clear of fire, she stopped retreating, boosting forward and catching the flight on their flank. A good, ten-second-long burst of 30mm rounds tore into the flight.
"Shit! Strigon Two-Five is hit! Two-Six, Three-Five, and Three-Six shot down!" The pilot reported in a panic.
"She's fast, and insanely maneuverable. What the hell are we fighting?" Strigon lead questioned.
The aircraft stunned by the loss of their comrades, May took advantage of the situation, rushing the second to last Japanese ship. Her blade fully recharged, she repeated the motion of using the solid plasma blade to detonate the ship's ammo, causing the ship to break apart with internal explosions.
"Ashigara lost!"
"So that's how she's killing ships so quickly, that weapon is some kind of plasma beam, that can cut through ship hulls like butter. Next-generation my ass, this is some kind of future technology." Strigon One-One surmised.
In silent agreement, The Captain of the Atago radioed the Russian Aircraft solemnly. "Atago to Strigon and Molot flights. Disengage. This fleet is a total loss. Do your best to save your Navy. She'll be coming for you next."
"…Roger that Atago." Strigon lead answered. "We'll be sure to avenge you. Strigon and Molot flight, disengage. Get back to our fleet."
Taking her time to conserve her ammunition, as May had been listening and watching her enemies every move, she circled the last Japanese ship, letting it's guns track her while her blade recharged.
"Go to hell, ORCA bastards." The Captain declared.
Lined up with the stern, May committed to her attack run, dragging her blade through the ship's length. The Atago broke apart as her ammunition detonated, sinking immediately.
"Now…where do you think you're going?" May said to herself, beginning to pursue the retreating aircraft.
"Damn! She's gaining on us!" Strigon lead cursed. "She might not have missiles, but she's good with that gun."
"This is Molot Four. I've lost a lot of fuel, I'm not going to make it back. I'll hold her off, even if only for a second." The pilot announced, breaking formation and gaining altitude.
"This is Strigon Two-Five. I've got engine trouble and a massive fuel leak. I'll stay back as well." The other pilot reported, taking position on Molot Four's wing.
"…I can't order you two to do that. But I won't deny you your right. Godspeed men." Strigon lead announced, leading the remaining thirteen aircraft with him back to the Russian Fleet.
"Alright Four, let's give this bitch something to think about." Two-Five declared.
"I'm with you Two-Five. To the very end." Four replied, as they turned to intercept the ORCA weapon.
"Oh?" May questioned, amused at the challenge presented to her. If the enemy wanted a duel, she would be courteous, and give that to them.
The two damaged fighters passed her at a closing speed over Mach three, turning to start fighting their duel.
"She didn't fire?" Four questioned.
"Even for a terrorist, she has honor." Two-Five noted.
As they circled back on each other, Two-Five's battle damage began to take it's toll. Slowing down, May gained on his tail, taking position just behind him.
"Four! Thatch!" Two-Five ordered.
"Roger that!"
The damaged Su-33 turned slightly, forcing May to follow with the MiG-29 slipping in on her tail.
"Missiles away!" Four shouted, letting all of his air-to-air missiles home in on the enemy.
Smirking at their cleverness, May broke off her pursuit, letting the missiles on her tail get closer.
"Come on. Do it. Do it!" Two-Five waited anxiously.
Once close enough, May quick-boosted out of the missiles way, only to suddenly take fire from the gun on the Su-33, which had turned back on her when she broke off.
Smiling madly, the Su-33 pilot felt exhilarated as his 30mm rounds exploded against the enemy weapon…
Except that something was stopping the rounds just a few meters too short.
"W-What the hell! It has an energy shield!" Two-Five shouted. In his surprise, he strayed too close to the enemy, suddenly finding a blade of plasma blocking his path.
"Two-Five!" Four shouted as his ally fell to pieces. "Die you bitch!", he shouted, turning his nose onto the enemy, firing away with his gun.
In response May raised her gatling gun, firing back with a two-second burst. The middle of the MiG-29 ceased to exist as a hundred armor-piercing rounds tore it apart.
May gave them a soft smile, the only honor she could give to fallen enemies.
"…And now? How many did that take?" Monika asked grimly.
"Two-thousand naval personnel and ten pilots." James answered. "The night is still young, Commander, and we have yet to take to the field. So, so many more will die in the next few minutes."
"…" Sighing sickly, Monika nodded hesitantly. "How long until we land?"
"We are ten minutes from landing. The satellites selected for de-orbit will be making their entry shortly. If 09 has done it's math right, the satellites will hit in eight minutes, and the cruise missiles in nine." James reported.
"And you're sure nothing will land on Sayori?" Natsuki accused in concern.
"It shouldn't, I double checked the machine's calculations." James added.
"I have a request." The machine announced in it's artificial voice. "I request to be referred to as Nine."
"…That's not my decision to make. Commander?" James asked.
"I…guess? I don't see anything wrong with that." Monika shrugged.
"Appreciated, Commander." The newly named Nine responded.
"Natsuki." Yuri spoke up, getting the smaller girl's attention. "If we live through this…then can you show me some of your manga?"
"...Are you serious?" Natsuki questioned skeptically, to which Yuri nodded. "Oh…okay, yeah. And, um…you can share some of what you like. Nothing too scary though, okay!" she offered.
"I'll enjoy that." Yuri smiled, nodding in calm excitement.
Monika smiled, cheered at the sight of her friends getting along. "This is what we are fighting for James. A future where we can all be together. Where we can all be happy together." Turning to address him directly, Monika demanded as politely as she could, "I want you to smile as well, once we have saved Sayori."
"…You ask too much of me, Commander." James sighed. "But I will endeavor to do my best. Now, since May is done dogfighting, she'll draw the attention of the last enemy force. We should get ready as well. Everyone, suit up!"
Five Minutes Later / Kirov
The Captain of the Kirov, the flagship of the Russian Navy, sighed as he considered his options.
The Kirov, formerly of the Soviet Navy, was a thirty-thousand-ton nuclear-powered battlecruiser, one of only four such ships in the world. Though she was the oldest ship in the entire fleet, she had undergone a recent refitting, to match the layout of her youngest sister-ships, as well as the addition of next-generation weapons.
Leading her sister-ship the Frunze, as well as the sixty-thousand-ton aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the fleet of sixteen ships had been tasked with clearing the way to Hokkaido, eliminating any Japanese Naval assets that could threaten an invasion force that was being prepared.
At least, that had been their orders. The annihilation of Saint Petersburg by the terrorist group ORCA had stalled all military plans, as the whole world was left reeling at the destruction wrought by their bombs.
When "Green" had spoken, less than an hour before, The Captain of the Kirov, as well as every sailor and pilot in their fleet, had been fully prepared to hold the line against ORCA, back-to-back with their historical enemies, the Japanese and Americans. They had even launched their whole carrier air-wing in support of joint operations.
Then the Americans had fallen, two minutes after visual contact with the enemy. The Japanese had held out for a whole four minutes with the assistance of the air-wing, but had likewise fallen. The only thing that could be discerned, was that "Green of ORCA" was in possession of a weapon never before seen, graced with terrible speed and agility, and the most powerful close-range weapon ever conceived.
They knew she would come for them, just as she had come for the Americans and the Japanese. Unlike before though, they had witnesses, the fourteen survivors of Strigon and Molot squadrons, who had seen the unbelievable weapon firsthand.
"Kirov to Strigon One-One. What is your tactical analysis of the ORCA weapon?" The Captain asked, prepared to do whatever it took, change whatever tactics were needed.
Much like many in the fleet, he had friends and family in Saint Petersburg, and ORCA had slain them in nuclear fire. He would ensure that ORCA would bleed.
Meanwhile / 400 Kilometers Away (248 Miles)
Following the enemy fighters from a distance, May continued on her highspeed, low altitude approach to the Russian Fleet.
Thus far, the American and Japanese Navies had proven strong, but not insurmountable. The Russians on the other hand promised to be a true challenge. Having studied their ship designs before the battle, she knew that their entire battle-doctrine would prove to be much more difficult to contend with. Unlike the Americans and Japanese, who focused on long range and highly accurate weapons, the Russians focused on massive missile attacks, with every available space on their ships filled with missiles, and with two-to-three times the CIWS guns firing larger 30mm rounds. It would be a long and difficult battle.
A light coming from over the horizon…
May seized, baring her teeth hatefully as she was forced to dodge a hyper-sonic projectile, barely twisting out of the way. As she did, a second Depleted-Uranium shell, traveling at several times the speed of sound, broke through her Primal Armor as though it wasn't there, impacting a replacement armor panel. She was fortunate that the round had impacted at a flat angle, burning through the inferior armor but keeping her arm intact. A third and fourth round came at her less than a second later, forcing her to quick-boost out of the way.
That was impossible! That kind of weapon wasn't supposed to exist yet! The only company on the planet currently producing that weapon was…
"James you fucking asshole!" May shouted into the encrypted communications line. That idiot had sold their enemies Chrome built Naval Railguns. Her day couldn't get any worse.
An alarm from the big radar array on the Anatolia sounded, as the A.I. 09, or Nine as it apparently preferred, began to feed her new information.
/ALERT: INCOMING AIRCRAFT
/BEARING: 80 DEGREES
/UNITS: 5X F/A-18
/AFFILIATION: USN
/CALLSIGN: GOLEM
"This is Golem squadron, launching from the Theodore Roosevelt. Here to assist any unit in fighting ORCA."
/ALERT: INCOMING AIRCRAFT
/BEARING: 210 DEGREES
/UNITS: 6X F-15J
/AFFILIATION: JASDF
/CALLSIGN: CYCLOPS
"This is Cyclops squadron, launching from Chitose Air Base. Responding to a report that ORCA is operating in this A.O."
/ALERT: INCOMING AIRCRAFT
/BEARING: 260 DEGREES
/UNITS: 5X J-11
/AFFILIATION: PLAAF
/CALLSIGN: NINOX
"This is Ninox squadron, of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force. We heard that ORCA was operating in this region."
/ALERT: INCOMING AIRCRAFT
/BEARING: 330 DEGREES
/UNITS: 5X SU-30
/AFFILIATION: VVS
/CALLSIGN: SOL
"This is Sol squadron, of the Russian Air Force, here to engage any ORCA units."
Damn. May was certain in her abilities, such that the twenty-one new enemy units they had not anticipated would only be a challenge. However, the V-22 carrying her friends would likely be noticed in the theater, and they just had to paint a big old "ORCA" across the tail. She needed to keep all the new enemy's attention squarely on her, else her friends be attacked.
"This is Green of ORCA." She transmitted on an open channel, her voice resonating in arrogant confidence on purpose. "I welcome all of you to this battlefield. Come, and defend the honor of your paltry nations. Come and fight. Come and die."
Meanwhile / Iturup Island - Cape Triokhpaly Airbase - Stockade
She needed to get out.
Sayori knew her friends were coming. If the panic and stress of the guards wasn't telling enough, that horrible feeling of Strayed's insatiable battle-lust was encroaching closer and closer every second. It would not be long now.
She hated that she had been too weak to resist capture. She hated watching James bleed to death again, on her behalf. She hated that her friends had sacrificed their innocence to keep her alive. She hated that they were willing to put their lives on the line while she sat anxiously, her hands unmoving. It was not fair.
She had to do something.
Reaching within herself, to that hideous being that was a mirror of Strayed, she paused. In her mind, the demon had burning blue eyes of piecing, hateful ice. It smiled, welcoming her not as a friend, but as a sister; promising her freedom and redemption through movement and action.
Regardless, she made her deal, taking it's infinite knowledge of combat as her own.
The guard pacing in front of her cell anxiously couldn't be more than three years older, with a young, attractive face. She couldn't tell what he was saying, but she could tell he was afraid. He wasn't watching her closely at the moment, but she needed to change that if she wanted to get out.
Doing the one thing she knew would get his attention, she spread her legs, her skirt open to the older boy.
Suppressing her shame and embarrassment, Sayori locked eyes with the older boy, making a false offer. She had only ever done this once before…she did not want to finish that line of thinking.
Getting the message across the language barrier, the boy eyed her in shocked excitement, eagerly putting his rifle down across from her cell, and fumbling with a set of keys to enter.
Closer.
The older Russian boy got down in front of her, speaking softly in his sharp, harsh language. He began to place his hands all over her body.
Closer.
Readying himself, he pushed her skirt back all the way, exposing her. Allowing him to do as he pleased, she gently placed her hands on his shoulders, pulling him closer. Enraptured by the cute and generous girl, the boy reciprocated, moving down for a kiss.
There!
Their faces inches away, Sayori lunged, sinking her teeth into his throat with unnatural force. Shocked and in pain, the Russian boy jumped back, with Sayori latched on with her arms and legs, refusing to let go. He tried slamming her against the wall and the bars, but Sayori held on, sinking her teeth deeper into his soft, yielding flesh.
His throat squeezed shut, the Russian boy lost his strength, falling backwards with Sayori on top of him. Placing her hands on his chest, she pulled back, her teeth still locked closed.
Torn, bloody flesh pulled away in Sayori's mouth, as the boy beneath her choked and guggled on his missing throat. Hot blood sprayed across Sayori's face and clothes, staining her in deep red.
It was utterly disgusting, the feeling and taste of blood and flesh in her mouth, running down her throat. The sight of a young man with his throat torn out, eyes locked on hers in horror and shock.
It was horrifying what she had just done, sick and wrong. Violating the body of another person for her own selfish reasons. Her horrific sin staring up at her terrified. Her very second kill. It was wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!
Her thumbs pressed into his eyes, forcing a throatless scream from the dying boy.
Yet insatiably delectable.
Meanwhile / Cape Triokhpaly Airbase - Command Center
Anxiously, The General waited on some word from the Navy, about their operation against ORCA. It wasn't exactly clear what had happened, but it seemed as though the American and Japanese fleets in the region had been eliminated with ease.
What exactly was their objective? They had nuked seven cities for apparently no reason, and now they were killing sailors by the thousands. What was ORCA's true objective?
"S-Sir! Multiple incoming objects, impact in ten seconds!" The Radar Operator reported in terrible surprise.
"What!? Are we under attack!?" The General questioned.
All over the airbase, but suspiciously missing the main personnel facilities, falling, burning debris from dozens of satellites fell from the sky. Most of it fell on the runway, lightly cratering it. Some hit aircraft and vehicles, tearing them apart. Some hit people, crushing them. At least one hit the fuel-depot, immediately turning thousands of gallons of aviation fuel into an explosion that killed dozens more. For several seconds, a rain of steel and fire fell across the base, taking lives at random and starting many fires.
Silence reigned thereafter.
"What the hell was that? Report!" The General ordered.
"Sir, it appears as though several dozen satellites fell across the base." A guard reported.
"Satellites? What the hell are you talking about soldier?" The General demanded.
"I…just look sir."
The guard led The General outside, where barely twenty meters away was a smoking crater filled with hot, burnt metal. Though burned by reentry, the bright red letters spelling "NASA" were still visible on the hunk of metal.
"What the hell…?" The General muttered. "Get me a damage report, I want to know what was hit-"
Looking up, nine cruise missiles, their engines burning bright in the night sky, came over the ridge of the mountain to the south, spreading out over the base. Four angled to each corner of the base, aiming for the air-defense sites defending the facility. Two aimed for the aircraft hangars at the western end of the base, and two more for the vehicle depot at the eastern end. The last missile came directly overhead, coming down over The General.
Jumping to the ground, The General covered his head as nine, simultaneous explosions rocked across the base, killing more men and damaging more equipment. The command building behind him exploded from the last missile.
Horrified but clear-headed, The General began to shout out orders.
"We're under attack! Get everyone up and moving! Prepare to repel attackers! Go! Go! Go!"
The sound of propellers could be heard from the edge of the airfield.
Two Minutes Before / V-22 "Hotel One"
Locked into the heavy armor, Monika was surprised to find that it moved fluidly, supporting it's own weight and following her movements perfectly.
"Two minutes until we arrive." James announced, doing final checks on each girl as they waited anxiously to land. "Do you remember your callsigns?"
"I'm Violet." Yuri answered softly, as James placed her helmet and mask over her, hiding her feminine features behind a black mask with purple optics.
"I'm…Red." Natsuki replied hesitantly, as James hid her face behind a set of red optics.
"…" Silently terrified of her nightmare coming true, Monika beathed deeply, before answering. "I am White, Commander of the ORCA Brigade." James nodded, placing her helmet on her head. "James…"
He paused in placing her mask on, waiting on her word.
Reaching into her pocket, Monika brought out Sayori's red bow, placing it into his hand.
"You make sure she get's this back, got it?" Monika demanded.
"Yes, Commander." He nodded, placing Sayori's bow into one of his pockets, then setting Monika's mask on her face, hiding her eyes behind green optics.
She was surprised when the part of the mask over her eyes lit up, showing her her surroundings unimpeded by the mask. Targeting data, information about her armor and her friend's armor, and options for different optics settings were available to her. A control pad for her optics and armor settings was on the inside of the armored panel protecting her left arm. Though not the only control, it was the most responsive.
"Drop in thirty seconds!" James announced. She could feel the aircraft roll and slow, as James stepped back to the rear ramp of the aircraft, lowering it and holding onto the mounted .50 caliber machinegun.
Outside the ramp, she could see the runway of the airfield, burning from the dozens of satellites that had landed on it. The aviation fuel on fire. The anti-aircraft facilities near the base destroyed by cruise missiles.
"Drop in five!"
The V-22 hovered at twenty feet, near the tree line of the forest on the volcanic summit just South of the airbase.
Steeling her nerves, and trusting in the equipment James had built, Monika stepped off the ramp, feet first into hell.
Author's Note: Well, things have truly started. I'm technically posting this chapter early to keep interest up, since I've only started working on chapter 36. Something I wanted to point out is how the Doki/Real World is very AU from the real Real World.
In the scene with the American Navy, the Ticonderoga was actually decommissioned in 2004, and was scrapped by 2020, without refit. The four escort ships as well, while they will be real and are planned ships, had not yet entered production at the time of this writing. On the Russian Fleet as well, the Kirov and Frunze were the Soviet names of those ships, as they were supposed to be renamed. However, I think that Kirov is a much better name than Admiral Ushakov.
Also while on a tangent about ships, here is a list of common boat and military words I use that might not have been explained well.
Bow: The front of a ship.
Stern: The back of a ship.
Amid ship: The middle of a ship.
Port: The left side of a ship.
Starboard: The right side of a ship.
CIC: Combat Information Center. Command and control area of a warship.
CIWS: Close in Weapon System. Usually a gatling gun or autocannon turret with independent radar tracking, used to shoot down missiles and aircraft.
Frogmen: Nickname for special forces units, usually of the Navy. (Ex: Navy Seals)
IFF: Identify Friend or Foe. Radio or computer network that identifies units as allied or enemy.
LaWS: Laser Weapon System. Similar to CIWS, except using an infrared laser to melt targets.
RAM: Rolling Airframe Missile. An intercepting missile that spins to compensate for it's single plane viewing (it can only see in X axis as opposed to X and Y axis), loaded into a missile launcher for ship defense, similar to CIWS.
SECNAV: Secretary of the Navy.
Thatch: Short for "Thatch Weave". Combat maneuver by which two aircraft will fly in formation and cover the rear of their wingman when an enemy attempts to intercept one of them from the rear.
TLAM: Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. Long range high accuracy missile with a half-ton warhead, used to attack land targets.
VVS: Russian Air Force.
VLS: Vertical Launch System. A method by which missiles are stacked vertically within a launching cell without a turret or loader. Both the simplest and most efficient way for a ship to hold and fire it's missiles. Less efficient at close range.
XO: Executive Officer. The second in command of a ship.
Thank you again to everyone who reads, and especially thank you to those of you who comment and let me know your thoughts. Please, feel free to message me and let me know what you think.
To Schnee One: Thank you, I'm glad you are enjoying it!
To JaphetSkie: Yep, just traumatizing those poor girls.
To JaphetSkie: Yep, just trama-HEY! Wait a second! You just said something like that!