Author's note:
Here is Chapter 10. Thank you for your responses to the last chapter and the story in general.
Are we going to see more of this new unit? I hope you made your bets.
For this one, I basing off on the Pentagon Call of Duty: Black-ops mission.
Notice: I do not own the rights to Akame ga Kill or COD
Now, who will Tatsumi meet today?
M language and sadness.
April 8, 1963
01600
Undisclosed Location.
Tatsumi began to have vivid memories again. At first, he remembered began to remember all of those horrendous things did to him and others by Esdeath. He remembered how each person that she killed in front of him had the same look of terror in their face but doesn't remember much after Esdeath broke him. He remembers the many different words people have said but is unable to understand what they said because of the language barriers that exist throughout the world. One day, a prisoner could be speaking in French, another in Polish, another day in Russian, and another in German. It is nothing but an endless cycle of death.
But there are ones that are forever engraved in his soul. The first person to die in his place, that young Russian woman who was killed brutally by Esdeath. Vowing to that young woman and to the people of the world that he will save them from this nightmare. Another one is after dying in the hands of his friend, Akame, seeing that figure that made that cross symbol and gave a new sense of purpose, but unable to understand what the figure said, and again when he heard his voice in the void this time understanding what the man told him. At first, he assumed it was the god of the Path of Peace religion that his home village was a part of. The same religion that stood against the Empire but it wasn't. No, he looked way different than what was that of the Path of Peace's god. He looked more human with a beard that doesn't reach the cheekbones, and long dark brown/chestnut hair that touched the shoulders, and hazelnut or dark brown eyes that radiate gold under certain light. The cross that he made towards him wasn't that used by the Path of Peace, a simple cross with four dots on each square made by the cross. But the ones used by the capital to crucify its enemies. His aura was pure, just, righteous, but more importantly merciful. He spoke in a tongue that Tatsumi doesn't understand but bit by bit he begins to understand it. Tatsumi has a better look at who he is, he may have even seen his face once or twice but can't remember when and where.
More memories begin to pop up but they aren't of his own. They're from different perspectives from people he knew. One that he knew almost instantly was Akame, she was in a cave waiting out the sand storm that has taken over in the east. Several others he saw as well, being Mine, Wave, etc. But all ended in the same manner, a bright light covering the field of view with a cross with the vertical bar raised up instead of being in the middle.
He woke up again from all of this. He still couldn't make sense of it all, hoping to make sense of everything. The doors to his cell open up again and a soldier appears in front of him.
"Here are your original clothes and your new uniform. Once you're done changing, please step outside." The soldier said to Tatsumi. Tatsumi complied and did as told, just as he put on the olive-green trench coat he noticed the patchwork, "USNH" he asked himself.
"Hurry up in there." The soldier yelled. Tatsumi put on the trench coat and stepped out. A black bag was placed over his head again, but this time a rifle butt hit him in the back of the head knocking Tatsumi out.
01700
Washington D.C.
As Tatsumi wakes up he can hear the roar of engines and rotary blades.
" For Christ's sake remove the bag from his head I'm tired of seeing that." He heard that voice. It was the voice of Colonel Reeds. The bag was removed and saw that he was in cuffs. To Tatsumi's left he could see Col. Reeds, and to Reeds left was a single guard in a suit with a pistol. Tatsumi peers over the window and sees the Pentagon.
"Beautiful sight, isn't it?" Asked Col. Reeds.
"It is." Replied Tatsumi. "Why am I here?" Asked Tatsumi.
"Couldn't tell you as you don't have clearance yet." Replied back Col. Reeds.
As the helicopter lands, the doors open up. Col. Reeds and Tatsumi got up. An MP announces their arrival
"Your convoy is ready, sir. Welcome to the Pentagon." Col. Reeds gestures Tatsumi to keep moving and to follow him.
"Let's go we're late." A chauffeur opens the door for the two. They enter the back of the limo. In the limo, there is one other person.
"Tatsumi I'd like you to meet this fine gentleman here. This is Secretary of Defense, Secratary Robert McNamara." Secretary McNamara reaches out to shake and greet Tatsumi's hand.
"Secretary McNamara." Tatsumi said in a polite manner.
"Your reputation precedes you, Tatsumi" McNamara responded. "
"Step on it." Col. Reeds told the chauffeur. The limo began to move being escorted by four MP's and in behind two other limos of the same design.
Secretary McNamara pulls out a folder.
"I heard that you've decided to join us. That's good we need on our side." McNamara gives Tatsumi the folder, Tatsumi opens up the folder immediately recognizes Esdeath's face along with a few photos.
"Nothing less than our national security is at stake. No fear, no conscience, no weakness. You already know her. Esdeath Paratas of the Third Reich." McNamara pulls out another folder that reads classified on it.
"This one is for you. Your credentials and your assignment into the USNH." "USNH?" Tatsumi asks.
"United States Night Hunters. It's a Task Force that is of my creation. Open it and you'll see their mission statement and what you'll be working with. You'll meet your team later. But there are faces you may or may not recognize." Col. Reeds tells Tatsumi. Tatsumi ponders about the USNH. Could the members of this group be the same as Night Raid? Such as Akame, Mine, Lubbock, Leone, etc., or will it be like the Jaegers with Wave, Kurome, Seryu, Bols, etc. Or is he going to be working with new people that he may never have met and are more of a circus freak than the last?
"When do I get to meet them?" Ask Tatsumi.
"In time. But we're lucky to have you, Tatsumi." McNamara responds to Tatsumi.
"Oh and Tatsumi. Before I forget. You may have noticed that you don't have your "Imperial Arms". The only time you'll ever posse your "imperial arms" is when in combat. Any other time will be considered a threat and you will be neutralized. Unless you're authorized by your Team Leader, I, or the President himself. Do you understand?" Col. Reeds tells Tatsumi.
"Yes." Tatsumi replies.
"Yes, what?" Reeds tell's Tatsumi.
"Yes, colonel."
After a ten-minute drive, they arrive at the Pentagon.
"Welcome to the Pentagon, Tatsumi." Secretary McNamara tells Tatsumi. They enter the Pentagon and arrive at the clerk's desk.
"VIP" McNamara told the clerk. The clerk relays the message of the arrival of the VIP. Tatsumi follows McNamara inside the Pentagon. They enter through a few doors and enter the actual building.
"The finest people in the world, right here. 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It never ends." McNamara tells Tatsumi. Tatsumi felt the eyes of the whole world are looking at him. But many are with resentment. They arrive at a checkpoint.
"Please tell them we're here." McNamara tells the checkpoint clerk.
"Clearance Prospero." The checkpoint tells McNamara. McNamara gestures Col. Reeds and Tatsumi to keep following him.
McNamara points out to one wall filled with portraits and plaques of American heroes "Distinguished heroes."
"Distinguished leaders." McNamara points out to the wall with more portraits to his right. They encounter two guards one carrying an AR-15.
"Ariel." McNamara tells a phrase to the guards. One of them opened up the elevator and announced that the VIPs arrived. They enter the elevator and begin to descend to the lower levels.
"He's waiting." McNamara tells Tatsumi.
"Who is?" Tatsumi asks.
"You'll see." Responded Col. Reeds.
They arrive at the lowest level in front of them are several people. With technology and computers ringing and the map of an unknown location in full display as a table.
"The nerve center. I believe I'm correct in saying that civilization has been saved many times in this room." McNamara tells Tatsumi. They descend down more stairs while McNamara tells a bit more about the nerve center, Tatsumi spaces out a bit about how overwhelming this all is.
"This never gets old. It's all overwhelming." Col. Reeds looks at Tatsumi. "Not yet." McNamara replies back. McNamara leads the two to one last checkpoint, McNamara gives another authorized word that allowed them entry to a room.
"This inner sanctum was built in 1943. We rarely use it." McNamara tells the two.
Tatsumi sees a large conference room with TVs and clocks in one wall and a long table with several seats. In front of everything is a screen projector. Behind them is the US Presidential Seal.
"Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I'll bring down the rest soon." Col. Reeds shook McNamara's hand and saluted him, he soon promptly left to get the remaining members of USNH.
McNamara directed Tatsumi to sit in a chair. Tatsumi sat down and in front of him saw another man standing in a certain pose. As if he was thinking about something. The same pose that he is well known for.
"Mr. President " McNamara called out to President Kennedy. Tatsumi stood up in respect.
"Sit." President Kennedy directed Tatsumi to sit as he approached the chair himself. President Kennedy sat down to Tatsumi's right side.
"So this is the boy that caused a lot of damage in New York. The dragon knight, Tatsumi." Kennedy looked at Tatsumi.
"That's me. Mr. President. Hehe." Tatsumi laughed a bit nervously.
"Thanks to you we were going to be in extreme trouble. But now that we have you, we can get an understanding of the ice general Esdeath." Tatsumi felt shivers down his spine.
"I already know that you are her main pawn. I've seen evidence of you with her in the past few months. Slaughtering innocent civilians and people who are fighting against oppression. Previously we did receive reports of your past mostly from primary sources. From much of the evidence that we saw of you, it appeared you are under the control of Esdeath. Should I confirm that you are no longer under Esdeath's control?" President Kennedy ask.
"I can say, so with an honest yes. Mr. President. It's been months or if not years that I was under her control. It was not only a few days ago I snapped out of it." Tatsumi replied.
"I don't want to take your word for it, but there are a few times that one should trust someone's word on the spot. Keeping one's word is something that one should keep, and the foundation of trust." President Kennedy replied. Tatsumi thought about what he said. It reminded him how he broke his word with Akame promising her that he would survive till the end. But dying after preventing the First Imperial Arms from falling on top of everybody. That action has placed a lot of strain on his body even with Incursio, which ultimately killed him.
"Speaking of words. Your team is here. I'd like for you to meet your new team of the USNH." President Kennedy gestured to Tatsumi for him to turn around.
There he sees five people with hoods obscuring their faces.
"Please remove your hoods when in the immediate presence of the President of the United States." Secretary McNamara told the five. The five did as they were told and saluted. Tatsumi at an instant immediately recognized who they were. The other party already knew him but just as surprised as he is.
"Tatsumi, I assume from that reaction then you must have known these people. If not then I will introduce them to you. These people are Akame (Devil), Kurome (Dead Riser), Mine (Pink Salmon), Lubbock (Green Goblin), and Wave (John Paul Jones). All of them have served well in the fight for freedom and fought well in New York and recently came back from a mission in Nova Scotia. Fighting alongside with American and Canadian forces" Kennedy introduced Tatsumi to the members of USNH. Tatsumi's reaction was of disbelief. He wanted to say something to them, to warn them about Esdeath's power, or how he ended up in his situation. But is at a loss for words.
Everyone in the room, except for Kennedy and McNamara acting neutral, is suppressing their mixed emotions. Though they are in a new world, they finally are able to reunite. Thought once dead are all able to be given a second chance in life. Finally the tension and silence break. Tatsumi stands up and slowly approaches his old comrades. Akame quickly stepped in front of Tatsumi and slapped him across the face. The act stunned all, except for Kennedy.
"You bastard. You gave me your word that you wouldn't die." Akame is on the verge of tears.
"Young lady you mus-" McNamara was about to scold Akame until he was interrupted by President Kennedy who gestured him not to interfere.
"I'm… I'm sorry. That I wasn't able to keep my word. I never wanted to see you cry or anyone else suffer" Tatsumi told Akame. "I only wish that I could have kept it then."
"You don't know how much burden I held onto for everyone. The weight of everyone who has died before me was extreme. But things are different now. I forgive you. But promise this time." Akame was furious as not only did he die and broke his word, but is also alive. which at least she can accept and be happy about. "Promise this time that you are not going to die this time." Akame told Tatsumi. She promptly broke into tears after not hold back anymore.
Mine and Kurome went over to grab and comfort Akame. Mine left Akame's side and hugged Tatsumi.
"I'm glad that we get to reunite again." Mine told Tatsumi. Tatsumi also hugged her back. He could hear a soft crying sound from Mine. He feels her tears begin to absorb in his clothing.
"It's so great that we are all able to reunite again." Lubbock mentioned. "I hope you are back to your old self." Lubbock tells Tatsumi.
"I know we've been enemies in the past. But we should put our differences. But it did felt good punching you " Wave commented.
"So you were the one who beat me to a pulp." Tatsumi commented. But once again he was able to embrace his friends again.
In Lubbock's mind, he's happy but is mad that Tatsumi gets to become Mr. popular once more. Lubbock and Wave approached Tatsumi shaking each other's hands and embracing one another. For its been a long time since they've seen each other, and seeing the other die.
Two more people enter the room.
"Jesus Christ, what is this a crying party. Come on act dignified in front of President Kennedy and Secretary McNamara." A voice shouted out.
Akame and Mine wiped their tears from their eyes. This causes everyone to stand at attention. President Kennedy stood up and McNamara stood as well but not at attention. The two others entered the conference room it was Col. Reeds and one other man.
They entered the conference room and saluted the President.
"Colonel, Captain." President Kennedy saluted back. Reeds looked at Tatsumi and began to introduce him to the Team leader. "Tatsumi I'd like for you to meet your team leader, Captain Anderson." The captain cut off Colonel Reeds'.
"Just call me captain, kid." Captain Anderson introduced himself to Tatsumi. He appeared a bit older in appearance with the face that makes him look as he is in his mid to late thirties, he's more on the younger side. Wearing a dark green beret with a black shield patch, and the olive-green trench coat of the USNH on top of his Army combat uniform.
"Alright, everyone. Introductions and warm welcomes are over let us all sit down and get this briefing started." Col. Reeds said. Everyone took a seat around the table and turned towards the screen projector and then the lights dim.
Secretary McNamara gets up in front of everybody.
"Everyone, I'd like for you to take a look at this next mission. I'd understand you all just came back a few days ago from Canada but this is of great importance." Secretary McNamara tells everyone. He clicks on the remote to move forward one slide. The slide shows the territory of Greenland.
"The invasion of America by the Nazis is, for the most part, a slight diversionary. Causing us to react immediately to the situation. We've received reports and able to confirm from the U-2 that was sent over to Greenland a couple of weeks ago. Today at 0900 we are able to confirm that they are indeed building a missile silo and a communications center. The Nazis have been constructing for almost a month. The purpose of building such infrastructure is to launch an attack on the North American continent. Striking multiple cities, weakening them allowing for another invasion. Striking with a massive air attack and with V2 and V3 missiles. We also can confirm multiple high-ranking officers present there as well." McNamara tells the situation that is at a hand a great risk for the nation.
"Any questions?" McNamara asks.
Wave raises his hand. "How are they're constructing these projects?", McNamara responds, "With labor primarily from the Wehrmacht themselves. Mostly their own soldiers, but we fear they're also using native or POW labor. So you must keep that in mind."
Mine raises her hand. "How long till they're done with the airfields?" McNamara responds, "We believe they're already three quarters done and are about to finish work in two days. Not only that they'll also start sending missiles and rockets to Greenland as early as in three days after construction."
Kurome raises her hand. "Why not use bombers? We have the means to use them right?" McNamara responds to her question. "I've spoken with General LeMay. He told me that as of now their bombers are able to reach Greenland. But the main problem is the Kriegsmarine have placed several destroyers with anti-aircraft turrets and the base to also is equipped with anti-aircraft cannons. So sending bombers would be an impossibility. Couple with that and the extreme cold that is in Greenland. We fear that if the bombs fell, then they would be dead and not activate."
Tatsumi raises his hand. "Will. Will, Esdeath be there?" Asked Tatsumi, some of the people in the conference room looked at him suspiciously.
"We are able to confirm that General Esdeath will not be there. After the failed invasion of Nova Scotia and her forces suffering massive losses. We predict that she is returning back to Europe in about one weeks' time. So don't worry Tatsumi you won't have to be by her side anymore." Lubbock looks at Tatsumi about to beret Tatsumi in how much of an "awesome" life he lived. "Any further questions about the topic?" No one raises their hands. "Alright. I'll pass onto Col. Reeds about the mission on hand." Colonel Reeds get up and thank Secretary McNamara for setting the stage.
"Alright, here is our mission. To destroy these and airfields and communications centers before they're completed and take captive or assassinate any Nazi leaders. This will be a clandestine mission and a joint operation with Army Special Force Unit Alpha. This needs to be done before morning."
Another slide is presented itself.
"The silos are located in the city of Narsaq. Before you reach Narsaq, you'll meet with US Special Force Unit Alpha in Newfoundland and Labrador. You'll meet them in the Canadian province of Newfoundland in an undisclosed airport. From there you will get on a transport plane and fly over the silos. Special Force unit Alpha will destroy the airfields and communications center. The USNH mission is to kill or take captive any leaders or high-ranking officers and to clear out any enemies that would otherwise hamper the Special Force unit. Once the mission is over transport plane will pick you and the rest of the team five kilometers south of the base. More details will be covered in the brief that is to follow when you get there. Is that understood?" Everyone responded with a Yes, Sir, except for Kennedy and McNamara.
"Alright, you are all dismissed. You'll be leaving tomorrow early afternoon at 01230." Col. Reeds said. "USNH. I wish you luck. As the national security of our great nation and the lives of its people is at stake." Kennedy tells the team. "We will not fail you, Mr. President." Captain Anderson salutes to the president. Kennedy salutes to him and the rest of USNH back.
Everyone in USNH gets up and Captain Anderson escorts them out. Col. Reeds places his hand on Tatsumi's shoulder. He turns around. Standing in front of him was President Kennedy, Secretary McNamara, and Col. Reeds.
"Listen Tatsumi. We will be keeping an eye on you. If by any reason you should go rouge. Then everyone has the authorization to terminate you. Do you comprehend?" Col. Reeds tells Tatsumi.
"Yes, Colonel." Tatsumi responds to Col. Reeds. Tatsumi looks at President Kennedy.
"Do your job kid. The sooner this mission is over, is one step closer to victory. And hopefully, end this war quickly." President Kennedy tells Tatsumi.
Tatsumi salutes Kennedy and the other two. "Don't worry I will do my best." Kennedy, McNamara, and Reeds salute him back.
Endnote:
What do you think of the twist?
What do you think? Leave a review of what you think I've missed or didn't do right.
Changes and corrections to the story are coming and will be noted.
Please leave any criticism, suggestions, or questions. Especially questions of a character's reaction to Tatsumi being alive.
See you in the next chapter of
Kill the World Order.