September 2021, Tokyo

The signs of fall on the horizon soon reached the tips of his fingers while his hands were clasped together. The man, wearing a suit fit for the halls of the Diet, bowed his head a little as he prayed. His solemn stance and decent suit was betrayed by his black face mask and shades, which overturned any sort of prior good first impressions anybody may have had. Well, it's not like he needed those good first impressions. He was, after all, Takamori Hideaki, newly elected president of the ruling party of the State of Japan.

Known for being borderline nationalist in his views of a reinvigorated Japan, there was no shortage of surprise among politicians, right or left, and citizens when he suddenly rose in power as an underdog who was someone everyone could agree with. Just yesterday he was elected as president of the ruling party after the previous Prime Minister decided to mysteriously resign. Soon, the Emperor will invite him to become Prime Minister, giving him pretty much free reign to act out his whims. Despite the relatively polar welcome from the rest of the citizens due to there being "another nationalist Prime Minister," his views on a renewed, more daring interpretation of the infamous Article 9 of the Constitution and mandatory military service caught eyes from all over the region. Planting defense as his administration's primary role, he held a speech after the Diet chose him for the position.

"...reinvigorate the economy, but the administration will proceed with current and subsequent developments in defense. Japan does not stand alone, but the Great Emp-forgive me, the nation must be capable of letting go of its crutches and do without them..."

Aside from the extremely direct remark which raised eyebrows from neutral Japanese citizens and cheers from nationalists, the slipup of what could be heard as the Great Empire enraged many. Regional rivals such as China and the two Koreas condemned him and his statement, offering their lamentations of Japan's "poor choice" and vowing that if "old habits die hard," they will happily "send those habits to hell." Japanese allies, which were usually neutral on the election of a new Japanese prime minister, were now worried that the phantom of an old but not forgotten beast was re-emerging. The United States congratulated Takamori on his election but urged Japan not to "rock the boat." However, Takamori's lack of a clarity on his stance on the alliance with the United States and his remarks on Japan being able to "do away with crutches" left few wondering what will happen. With the world, from his perspective, shakened from his remarks, he decided to affirm everyone's worries with a prayer.

After a replay of recent events, he lowered his hands and disengaged his head from its bow.

"We will return..."

Bowing one last time, he left to turn his back on the shrine which is the only one of its kind in Japan. Within the shrine were a list of names of people who have been enshrined, owing to their deaths in service of the Emperor. With the shrine behind him, he walked briskly towards a car waiting for him. Despite his discreet appearance, he could already feel the stares of some people as he passed them.

"Is that...?"

"So he's one of those huh."

"Mom, that guy's wearing a black mask! How cool is that?!"

Dignified yet discreet was how one could describe how he walked back to the car waiting for him. He knew that his cover wouldn't last long but that didn't matter. None of it did. Visiting Yasukuni Shrine was not out of the ordinary for high-ranking politicians, much less prime ministers. However, he wanted to be discreet because he meant not to be. He pictured international articles of him being lambasted as a "vile militarist" and statements of condemnation from North and South Korea and China. Another prime minister would have buckled and watched his every step to maintain his route towards the objective while avoiding too many controversies.

I already feel bad for my Foreign Affairs Minister...

He had one in mind: a close friend. The man was mildly timid and preferred to others to be outspoken but his nerves were strong enough to be melted down for weaponry.

"Good evening."

The chauffeur said as he held the door open for him. Once he entered the black car, the door was closed and his chauffeur returned to the driver's seat and departed for their next destination as scheduled.

Brrrrr

He felt the vibration of his phone ringing inside his pocket. Picking it up, he answered the call from an unknown source.

"The USS America has left Sasebo."

"Good. Keep me posted on development."

Ending the call, he looked up into the sky past the solid ceiling of the car.

"Any more hesitation and I will probably puke from pressure. There's also the fear that it won't be realized..."

Looking back down to contemplate his recent actions and the objectives behind them, he reassured himself.

"Alright! I'm getting a gut feeling that I won't regret this."

With his thoughts in their respective compartmentalized pens, he was able to solidify his resolve. With the USS America participating in a training that allows the United States Marine Corps to use the Izumo escort ship as a launch platform for its F-35Bs, his plans were put into motion. In the first days after he will be sworn into office, he plans to ramp up militaristic rhetoric to further rile up international audiences, encouraging some or more of them to thin the diplomatic line between their countries and Japan. At the same time, the presence of F-35Bs within Japan's territory was a trump card. As the car ran down the streets, the compartmentalized pens within Takamori's mind began to break down once more as doubts leaked out.

"Will she really pull through..."

As the midday turned to night then to the early morning of the next day without incident, the 'days without incident' counter then turned to 0. Did the world devolve into nuclear war? Did his perceived enemies materialize and send him to the nether? Was his favorite fanfiction delayed indefinitely? While it certainly did look like all three for him as he was woken up from his somber sleep at 3AM, he soon realized that the pains he took to realize his plans paid off. The Japan Meteorological Agency reports multiple earthquakes occurring across the archipelago surpassing historic magnitudes. The entire country seemed to be blanketed in midday brightness as shaking continued. Early warning radars to the west tell a horrific tale: the Korean Peninsula no longer existed. Access to the global internet was cut off as embassies lost contact with their home countries.

It was finally beginning.

Central Calendar 19th Day of the 4th Month of the Year 1639, Principality of Qua-Toyne, 8:00

It was morning. The sun was already a ways above the horizon as the day proceeded uneventfully towards midday. It was better that way, thought Marl Patima, a proud dragon knight of the 6th Wyvern Squadron of the Principality of Qua-Toyne. There was too much stress and chaos along the border with the hegemonic Loura Kingdom, which had already made threats of forcefully unifying the Rodenius continent under a single banner and a single race. While his heart yearned for more action, he didn't particularly want to be on the losing side of said action, a sentiment shared by many others. However, they weren't as lucky as him being posted with the 6th Wyvern Squadron doing mundane patrols over empty patches of airspace above their sigh-inducing agricultural plains. There was nothing out of the ordinary and that was how he wanted to maintain it. However, an annoying buzzing sound which he first dismissed as his wyvern making noises grew unnaturally louder.

"You sure that ain't you?"

Kyun...

His wyvern partner groaned as if also annoyed by the sound.

Trying to figure out what was making that sound, he swung his head towards all directions. Swinging his head around, he stopped after an empty patch of sky which he confirmed earlier was empty was now populated by a single dot. The dot soon grew bigger as it approached. Determining that it wasn't just him seeing things, he first reported before closing the distance.

"Knight Patima to HQ! Anomaly sighted in the airspace abo-"

Before he could finish his report, the dot had grown into a recognizable figure and was about to pass him. Realizing that the object was faster than he anticipated, he cursed himself for having made a potentially disastrous judgement as he stopped talking and immediately banked to the right. He narrowly missed the object as it flew by and banked to avoid collision.

"So it knows we're about to collide too huh. That means it knows how to think. Alright, partner! Let's give chase!"

Kyun!

Letting out a mild roar, the wyvern readjusted itself to match the direction of the object. It was undeniably fast, probably enough to match a wyvern. Soon, they managed to barely catch up to the object.

"Knight Patima to HQ! Potentially sentient object flying deep into our territory! I'm shadowing it as we speak and its speed is just short of a wyvern's max speed!"

"This is HQ. A flying object? You didn't say wyvern at first, right? Can you describe it?"

"Its wings aren't flapping! Instead it has 4 windmill-like spinning things which make an annoying buzzing sound! It's also massive, probably about the size of 2 or 3 wyverns! "

"And by potentially sentient you mean?"

"It dodged us, meaning that it's not just some magical phenomenon! I'll try to see if I can communicate!"

He opened the mask on his steel helmet to try and get a shout. Unfortunately, he was greeted by the unforgiving dust and particulates of the wind slapping his face and mouth at 250km/h. Flinching from the onslaught of high winds, he never got the chance to communicate with the object as it turned its body towards... towards...

"Knight Patima to HQ! I failed to make contact with the object and now it has turned towards Myhark! I repeat, the thing's heading for Myhark!"

"Say again?! Alright, we'll scramble the rest of the 6th squadron! Try to see if you can prevent it from taking its current course!"

Turning to match his direction with the unknown object, Patima and his wyvern tried to accelerate to give chase. However, despite travelling at their maximum speed in an attempt to catch up, the object was visibly getting farther and farther away. With the doubts that say that what he's seeing is probably a mirage fresh in mind, the reality that he was in would push him to thinking that his doubts were true.

"No... Are they seriously... faster than us?"

Inherently wanting to believe otherwise, he urged his wyvern to gain speed. However, his wyvern was already at its limit and it couldn't go any faster. In addition, sustaining full speed for a long time took its toll on the wyvern as the beast began to slow down from exhaustion.

Kyuuun...

"Tsk! No good huh..."

Unable to come up with more options, he commanded his wyvern to slow down as he reported once more.

"Knight Patima to HQ! We're unable to maintain our pursuit! The object accelerated to a speed beyond our capabilities and is still heading straight for Myhark!"

"Are you saying it's faster than your wyvern? The wyvern's speed should be similar between individuals of the same species... If you can't pursue it, try to maintain visual contact and warn us of any changes! The other riders are still taking off!"

"Understood! Out!"

With their objective now easier given that his wyvern is fatigued, they continued to follow the object that was continuing to shrink off into the distance.

Control tower

"Alright! I'll relay them now!"

"What did he say?"

"Knight Patima could no longer visually track the object! According to him, it will be above Myhark in a few minutes!"

"That's fast! We can't even get the 6th Squadron to Myhark in time! What else did the object look like?"

"Uhuh... Uhuh... Alright! According to Knight Patima, its body was rigid and there were hardly any moving parts! Other peculiarities are that it brandished red circles on its wings and body, possibly denoting its origin!"

"That sounds like one of those aircraft I read about from Mu or the Holy Mirishial Empire! But neither of them brandish a red circle... In any case, we can't wholly rule out that it may be hostile! Inform the Myhark garrison once more that they have minutes!"

"Where could that have come from? There's nothing but ocean out to the northeast!"

"Any of the superpowers which could field something like that have no reason to be here either! How're the dragon knights?"

"Still 10 minutes out!"

"Damn it!"

Myhark

Myhark Defense Knights commander Ine, after having received the latest intel that they have mere minutes, ran up the highest watchtower in the city. Once she reached the top, the faint sound of buzzing could already be heard, just as described by the wyvern squadron that encountered it. Already at the top of the tower were some of the on-duty watchmen whose shifts were abruptly made longer due to the threat. The watchmen must also be hearing the buzzing sound as they frantically searched for where it was coming from.

"Have you seen it?"

"Commander! Uh, no ma'am!"

Both of them turned to salute clumsily, surprised by the presence of their commander and feeling the fatigue from being in their posts for hours.

By that point, the sound had gotten undeniably loud. The object was probably already close to the city.

"There!"

Turning to the direction at which the watchman's finger pointed, they saw it. A shiny, streamlined object approached the city with terrifying speed. The speed at which it travelled and the altitude at which it lingered made it difficult for Ine and the others to discern whether the thing was actually fast and high up or small. In any case, the city was now in danger, as shown by the archers on the walls readying for a volley. Seeing this, Ine rushed for the manacomms on the watchtower.

"No! Cease all arrow attacks! It's too far! The arrows might just land into the city!"

Ine shouted to the top of her lungs, fearing the casualties their retaliatory arrow volleys might inflict on their own. The city was only given minutes of notice and so many of the citizens are still yet to return to their shelters. On the other side of this unfortunate mishap, they got a front row view of their assailant. Ine, realizing that there was nothing they could do against an airborne threat without their wyverns, simply resorted to learning as much as she could from the object. It was just as the wyvern squadron described. One more peculiarity she realized was how it was alone. Was it a forward scout? Is that why it hasn't attacked yet? Does it have other friends?

The object had passed over their city and out into the sea before turning back.

"This is it! It's probably turning back to attack us! Archers!"

As Ine gave the sign, the archers on the sea walls pulled their bowstrings as they aimed for the object that was turning back. However, the object didn't turn to meet them and simply stayed in a circular pattern surrounding the city.

"Crap! It's still out of range! Relax your arms and save your energy but keep your guard!"

As the object ominously circled the city like a vulture hovering over its food, the perpetual buzzing sound emanating from it was the only tune that played for minutes. Not knowing whether the sound was it channelling its magical power or a war cry, the defenders along the city wall grew anxious as they watched it.

"I can't take it anymore!"

"Just what the fuck does that sound mean?!"

"Fuck it!"

One of the archers, unable to keep his composure, loosed an arrow at the direction of the object. Falling incredibly short of its target, the arrow disappointingly landed somewhere in the fields outside the city. The object, as if noticing that it's been attacked, immediately turned to face the city once more.

"What the fuck have you done?!"

"You made it mad!"

"Oh gods!"

As the archers lost their cool, they forgot protocol and immediately ducked for cover as the object now headed back for the city. Like a beast rampaging towards its prey, the buzzing sound got ever so louder as it approached the city once more. Fearing retribution, the other archers on the other ramparts began to loose arrows at their own accord, failing to hit their target that was still impossibly high up. In the brief seconds of heightened tension, the object simply passed above their city again and back towards the ocean, this time without turning back.

"Where is it going?"

"It's over?"

"That direction... Northeast, right? Why is it headed towards the empty ocean?"

"Maybe the sea monsters actually did evolve to have their own civilization."

"Shut up!"

As the chatter between the soldiers, whose adrenaline rush has now dissipated, grew more ridiculous, Ine continued to look at the object that grew ever smaller as it flew away. There's nothing out in that direction, she thought, simultaneously wondering why the object withdrew as quickly as it appeared.

With the threat gone and their wyvern squadron having patrolled the area fruitlessly for an hour, the Defense Knights decided to lift the threat level, leaving many citizens to come out in droves and discuss the ramifications of such an event. The threat of the Louria Kingdom was still very much alive within the citizens' hearts, leading them to conclusions that it was a Lourian pre-invasion scouting run. Many of the more knowledgeable ones debated about the object itself and the performance it displayed with rough estimates being corroborated by the Defense Knights and the Knight Patima of the 6th Wyvern Squadron. As fears among the citizenry naturally dissipated hours after the event, the Qua-Toynian government was close to declaring a crisis from the event. Not wanting Qua-Toyne to jump to conclusions and act prematurely, Prime Minister Kanata of the Principality ordered a general meeting to discuss the event itself and possible countermeasures.

5 hours before contact

"Holy fuck."

Takamori, overjoyed with the revelations coming true, felt a swift kick of serotonin as the residence shook. Having only been sworn into the office of Prime Minister about 12 hours ago, he couldn't feel any happier at how lucky he was that his plans bore fruit sooner than he realized. However, his serotonin levels returned to normal as reality kicked in.

Japan, as it stands, would not survive alone in the new world. The economy was sure to plummet beneath hell itself as well-established supply lines are now lost forever and Japan's reliance on raw material imports would cause the once economic giant (despite stagnations) to crash beneath its weight. While their stores for power sources were still enough to keep Japan supplied with power for a while, they wouldn't last long without further trade. Moving away from the economy and onto communications. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, their satellites are all gone. Their submarine cables, while still connected, no longer function, meaning that their access to the global internet was gone. The disappearance of GPS satellites meant that systems reliant on them no longer functioned. Adding to the pain was a demographic nightmare. The tourists who were currently visiting Japan, amounting to nearly 5 million people from all over the world, were now stranded on the islands. In addition, Japanese citizens that weren't present in the islands could no longer be contacted. Even worse, American military assets and other visiting foreign military assets remained where they were, complicating their future without direct funding and support from their home countries. However, Takamori had something planned in the event that their assets were brought along.

Stopping the mountain of problems from blurring his mind and preventing him from enacting his duties and designs, he left his room towards the meeting room. As he received preliminary reports, he ordered a meeting of all the ministers and his cabinet to discuss what to do.

Meeting room, Prime Minister's Residence

"...that is all that we have and as the situation continues to develop, more information will come through."

All of the ministers, save for Takamori, groaned. No one was prepared for this moment. With JAXA's observations that the horizon has widened and that the patterns of the stars have changed, there was little doubt that they weren't on Earth anymore. Coupled with preliminary reports that the Korean Peninsula is gone and that there weren't any land masses close to Japan, there was room for assumptions that they were now hopelessly isolated by ocean. As the ministers visibly struggled to find something to say, Takamori spoke up.

"Before we go on to consider the problems that would arise from this and how to deal with them, I'd like to declare a state of national emergency."

The other ministers, satisfied with what seemed to be a natural move, nodded in agreement.

"As the agencies continue to monitor the situation, I authorize the Maritime Self Defense Force in deploying its reconnaissance assets to assess our geographic proximity. Ms. Defense Minister?"

The Defense Minister nodded in agreement.

"Alright, first on the agenda is-"

"Prime Minister!"

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism spoke up.

"There have been developments! According to the Japan Coast Guard, their vessels on patrol off Kyushu have discovered islands to the west. Moreover, we have multiple confirmed plane-related accidents in Haneda International Airport and Kansai International Airport. We are still confirming if other airports have similar incidents."

The other ministers didn't take the news too well. Some felt hope at the Coast Guard report while others lamented the situation that felt like it was destined to get much worse. Takamori, sensing that lives may have been lost at the onset of his plans, clenched his fist underneath the table as he took a deep, silent breath with a poker face. While he was ready for bad news, he wasn't immune to the feelings he naturally felt when he heard them. Preparing himself for more, even worse news, he looked past the ministers in the room and into the future in this new world that Japan found itself in.