Kidou Kishi Warviour
(Mobile Knight Warviour)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in Strike Witches, nor the initial setting.
Chapter 4: War Without Restraint
I.S.S. Buffalo, Pacific Ocean. April 2, 1946; 1815 hours
Otto Schneider had retreated to his office in the I.S.S. Buffalo. He isolated himself to think how to process what had happened as the League of Nations managed to develop their own Mobile Knights. He, like every man and woman, enlisted or commissioned, in the Imperial Stavrosian Armed Forces thought that they had the technological superiority when they invaded Earth. Now he feared that the LN having its own Mobile Knights will change that.
A knock was then heard at the door of Schneider's office. The submarine captain turned his attention to who knocked.
"This is Sub-Lieutenant Bauer," said a male voice at the other side of the door. "You called for me, Captain?"
"Ah, yes," answered Schneider. "Please come in."
The door opened and the one who did it was one Siegfried Bauer. In his early twenties, Bauer was a fair-skinned man with lowered blond hair. Like every Stavrosian soldier, his eyes were covered with a visor that emitted a red light that was connected to a collar that also emitted a red light. His blue-colored uniform was blue, like Schneider's and the rest of the Buffalo's crew.
Bauer then closed the door and saluted. Schneider then stood up, ready to talk to his only surviving Mobile Knight pilot as Bauer's team were killed by Shinta Himemiya, Chieko Oka, and Kei Miyazaki when they boarded the LN's prototype Mobile Knights.
"You called for me, Captain?" inquired Bauer.
"That I did," admitted Schneider. "Due to the deaths of Lieutenant O'Brien and Sub-Lieutenants Kim and Koskinen, I've decided to promote you to Lieutenant."
"A… Lieutenant… ?"
"Yes. The drone we launched managed to record the entire battle with the LN's prototype Mobile Knights. I had that footage sent to Rear Admiral Huang, who then contacted the Surface Fleet Headquarters. They've given this submarine the mission to pursue the Liberian carrier carrying the Mobile Knights and have allowed me to take any measures to ensure we succeed. I've promoted you because we'll be receiving new pilots."
"New pilots?"
"Yes. You're a Mobile Knight team leader now. You'll need subordinates to assist you. Other than that, your Legionarius was damaged in the fight and we lack supplies for that so that I've requested a meeting with a Beluga -class. Not only we will get new supplies and parts for your Legionarius, we'll receive your subordinates as well."
"Captain, permission to ask this question?"
"Granted."
"What do we do now?"
"We wait for that Liberian carrier. If it leaves with those Mobile Knights, we pursue."
"Aye aye, Captain."
"Any other questions?"
"Is it too late to ask for additional upgrades for my Legionarius?"
"What you wish to upgrade your Mobile Knight will come with what the Beluga-class. Just wait until we've met up with it."
"Aye aye, Captain."
"Now, any more questions?"
"… None, sir."
"Then you're dismissed. I suggest you go to the mess hall and have a meal. After that, rest. A lot has happened so you need to prepare yourself if we get into another fight."
"Aye aye, Captain," ultimately replied Bauer, followed by a salute and his departure from Schneider's office.
#
U.S.S. Mayflower. 1834 hours
Like his Stavrosian counterpart, Nicholas Kirkman retreated to his office in the Mayflower. As he was lost in his thoughts on what to do after the battle that erupted across Shinkyo, a knock was heard on his door.
"Yes?" asked Kirkman.
"Permission to enter?" asked a male voice behind the door.
"Granted."
A uniformed soldier opened the door and closed it immediately after. Afterward, he saluted Kirkman.
The man was a part of the Mayflower's Marine Detachment. Twenty-three years old, the man was olive-skinned and had short black hair beneath the M1 helmet he wore and brown eyes.
"You're name, son?"
"James Hodges, sir. Aged twenty-three. Corporal. Attached to this ship's Marine Detachment."
"What did you need from me?"
"I've come to inform you that we've apprehended the three individuals who boarded the prototype Mobile Knights."
"And who are they?"
"Shinta Himemiya, Chieko Oka, and Kei Miyazaki. Three teenagers who are residents of Shinkyo. Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto is currently interrogating them right now."
Three local teenagers managing to pilot the Mobile Knights, thought Kirkman. That's surprising.
"Anything else?" asked Kirkman to change the subject. "Where's your sergeant?"
"Unfortunately, I've heard that he and the other sergeants were killed when the Neuroi attacked," answered Hodges. "Other than me, there are only four of us in the Marine Detachment left."
"… I see," replied Kirkman with a tone of disappointment. It really must be my unlucky day to lose most of my Marines and hear that three teenagers boarded our top-secret weapons.
"… Sir?" asked Hodges as he noticed Kirkman's inability to continue their conversation.
"... How long have you been in the Corps?"
"Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, sir."
"I see. From here on out, you're Sergeant now."
"… Sergeant?"
"That's right. I need someone to instill discipline. Luckily, 2nd Lieutenant Grayson is alive but I need a sergeant. We might have to leave tomorrow and after this attack, we'll have to take in refugees from the city and those from the Fusoan ships that were sunk assisting the Cowpens' planes."
"I see, sir."
#
1844 hours
Shinta Himemiya, Chieko Oka, and Kei Miyazaki were now in the interrogation room of the Mayflower's brig. Chieko and Kei feared what was to happen next as all they remembered was that Shinta led them into Shinkyo Naval Base and they ended up piloting top-secret weapons.
In front of the three teenagers was an angry Mio Sakamoto. Although Kei relished the opportunity to be in the company of Witch, her anger ruined his fantasy. Despite this, Shinta closed his eyes and kept his body still.
"Now I'll ask this: why were you in those machines!?' loudly asked Sakamoto.
Both Chieko and Kei had felt as if death had come to them with how Sakamoto asked her question. Kei noticed how Shinta hadn't moved nor opened his eyes. Despite knowing him for three years, Chieko and Kei had found a lot about Shinta they didn't know about.
"He did it!" shouted Chieko as she pointed at Shinta.
"Sou da!" added Kei. "We kept telling him not to touch those machines but he didn't listen."
"How nice of you to scapegoat him despite you two being in the same machines."
"They're right," said Shinta, to the surprise of Chieko and Kei. "I boarded the Warviour while Oka-san and Miyazaki-san respectively did so with Wardier and Wardar to help me."
"You're going to defend them now?" rhetorically asked Sakamoto.
Silence followed. Chieko and Kei were still shocked by how long it took for Shinta to explain himself. Sakamoto closed her eyes as if she was thinking what else to say next. After breathing through her nose, she began to open her mouth.
"Do you have any idea what happened while you three fooled around!?" shouted Sakamoto, scaring Chieko and Kei while Shinta closed his eyes again and kept his body still. "Other than myself, Captains Inagaki and Aiba were to also pilot those machines and they're dead! Because three fools sneaked inside the base and took those machines as if they're bicycles!"
"Might I please explain further?" asked Shinta as if he had no concern for what Sakamoto had discussed.
"Oh, please go on," scoffed Sakamoto.
"I honestly don't know why I boarded Warviour. However, I heard a voice calling out to me that led to me being inside Warviour's cockpit."
Sakamoto exhaled with her mouth. She barely hid that she didn't want to continue interrogating Shinta, Chieko, and Kei.
"Alright, allow me to tell you the consequence of your actions," resumed Sakamoto. "Because of you three, no one else can pilot those machines. You registered personal information with the Mobile Knights' AI systems and they function as a lock to prevent anyone else from piloting them. It's embarrassing for this to happen because you three are not soldiers!"
However, a knock was heard on the door of the interrogation room. Sakamoto turned her attention to it.
"Yes?" asked Sakamoto.
"Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto, I have orders to relay to you," said a male voice on the other side of the door.
"Come in."
A Liberian Navy sailor proceeded inside and closed the door. He began to whisper to Sakamoto what he was ordered to tell her. After the sailor was done, Sakamoto resumed her attention to Shinta, Chieko, and Kei and stood up.
"It seems we can't keep you here for long," concluded Sakamoto. "You three are free to go."
"Hontou desu ka?" asked Kei with a combination of confusion and excitement.
"That's right," replied Sakamoto. "Now get going! Your families are waiting outside the ship. This sailor here will take you to them."
The three teenagers stood up. Kei and Chieko left first with the sailor leading them out of the room. However, as Shinta was beginning to leave, Sakamoto stopped him.
"Except you," said Sakamoto to Shinta. "Wait here. Your father has been summoned here and I have something to discuss with the both of you."
"Acknowledged," replied Shinta.
Shinta returned to the chair he sat on throughout Sakamoto's interrogation of the teenage male. The latter looked at the former with suspicion.
While the AI system helped that boy pilot Warviour, the boy did most of the fighting himself, thought Sakamoto. He's a male yet he can fight as well as a well-trained Witch, especially those trained in the Sword.
The door then opened again. Those outside were Koji Himemiya and James Hodges.
"Dad," said Shinta upon seeing Koji and standing up.
"Shinta, thank goodness you're safe," said Koji as he proceeded inside the room. "You got inside Warviour!?"
"I won't deny that."
"Now, now, you can discuss that later," interjected Sakamoto. "There's something really important I have to discuss with the both of you."
Both Himemiya wondered what Sakamoto had to discuss with them that involved staying in the interrogation room.
"Corporal Hodges, please keep the door closed and don't let anyone in," ordered Sakamoto as she faced Hodges.
"Roger that, ma'am," replied Hodges. "Also, if I may, I've been promoted to Sergeant."
"I see. Congratulations."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Hodges then closed the door. Sakamoto and the Himemiya men faced each other.
"What is it that you needed to discuss with us?" asked Koji.
"This," answered Sakamoto as she gave an envelope to Koji. "In this letter, you'll find that the three of us are connected to a certain someone."
As Koji grabbed the envelope, he opened it, removed the folded letter inside, and placed the envelope on the table. He unfolded the letter and as Shinta joined him, the two were shocked as to who wrote the letter as they found the kanji in the writer's name and as they looked closer, they recognized the handwriting. Koji began to move his mouth with the intent on reading it.
"Koji, my old friend, I'm glad to finally get a chance to communicate with you but this is the only I can do so for now though I wish we can see each other under better circumstances," read the person the letter was addressed to. "In any case, I've run into my old charge Sakamoto Mio and I told her everything about the Stavrosians and the Neuroi. I can imagine that once you get this letter, it means that the Stavrosians have come. I trust that the prototype Mobile Knights for the League of Nations forces have been completed by the time you get this letter. They just need to be mass-produced though if you've gotten this letter that means the Stavrosians know about the prototypes.
"I've also told Mio-kun about Shinta-kun. I imagine he's with you. However, I fear that at this point, Shinta-kun must have found out about the Mobile Knights and is piloting one of them, especially Warviour. Please make sure he doesn't use the Warviour's special functions too much. I can imagine that you've also run into my daughter Yoshika. Please keep an eye on her and do not tell her of this letter. At least not until Liberion."
As Koji stopped, he and Shinta looked again at the kanji of the name of the writer. The kanji read as "Miyafuji Ichiro" and they found the date as to when the letter was written, which was in a combination of Hindu numbers and kanji but the combination read as "February 27, 1946."
"It seems that you two know Miyafuji-hakase," said Sakamoto with suspicion. "What did he mean by 'special functions' in the Warviour?"
"That I don't know myself," replied Koji. "The Mobile Knights were built elsewhere in secret. They were brought here to Shinkyo to be assembled."
"Anyone else knows about this?"
"Just me and Isao-san. He doesn't know that Ichiro-kun assisted in making the Mobile Knights."
"And he seems to know your son here."
"That's right. Ichiro-kun and I found Shinta in China. That was when I took in the latter as my son. We've kept that part amongst ourselves."
"I have a question: how do you know Miyafuji-san?" asked Shinta.
"Miyafuji-hakase and I met back in Britannia prior to the Second Neuroi War. He was assumed to be deceased after a certain experiment. The details behind that remain classified, even up to now. I mysteriously received a letter from him and it involved his daughter Yoshika and I traveled to Yokosuka, where the professor and his family lived, to find her. I ended up recruiting her into the 501st Joint Fighter Wing with that letter and when I took her to where that experiment took place, we found nothing."
"But how did Ichiro-kun give you that letter?" asked Koji. "Shinta and I haven't seen him since three years ago."
"That I'll explain another time," answered Sakamoto. "All you need to know is that I met him again the day he wrote that letter and what I want to know is how connected we all are and why he's focused on your son. For now, you need to go home and think about what to do next. I'll arrange for transportation."
#
Himemiya Residence. 1950 hours
The Himemiya men returned to their residence. Neither had spoken throughout the trip back from the Mayflower and upon returning, neither continued to speak. The first thing Shinta did upon returning was to go to his room and begin packing by filling clothes and whatever he could carry with one hand in a white-colored duffel bag. Koji followed and had the intention of finally speaking with Shinta turning his head and noticing.
"If you have something to say, say it already," said Shinta with a tone of faint anger.
"Not exactly something to say to your father," replied Koji.
"Last I recall, we're not really father and son."
"And I don't recall you asking to pilot the Warviour."
"What happened already happened. What's going to happen is going to happen."
"And you think getting in Warviour will get you enlisted?"
"I doubt they're going to let me go because of the information I used when getting in that machine."
"But think about what Ichiro-kun wrote in that letter! I'm afraid if you intend on continue piloting Warviour, something terrible will happen, mostly to you."
"And that shouldn't concern me. You and I, as well as Miyafuji-san, knew the Stavrosians would come and we're the only ones who know the real relationship between them and the Neuroi!"
Shinta had finished packing up. He began to leave his room and had no reason to ask Koji, even politely, to move. As he arrived at the footwear area of the house, Koji twisted his left arm upon catching up to him.
"I'm telling you, Shinta, this is a bad idea," warned Koji. "I haven't forgotten what happened in China three years ago. It will happen again if you pilot Warviour."
"And that's the reason we're supposed to be father and son," replied Shinta. "I haven't forgotten and I have no intention of just standing by while the Stavrosians and the Neuroi prepare whatever it is they're doing because if Witches die when fighting the Neuroi due to Stavrosian help, who else can stop them?"
"And you think you can stop them!?"
"If it comes down to that. I might die if that's what you're implying but I'd welcome it."
Shinta pushed Koji away and began to put on his slip-on shoes. As he finished, he opened the door with his left arm and began to leave the house, much to Koji's shock.
"Where are you going?" asked Koji.
"I honestly don't know," answered Shinta. "Anywhere right now is better than here. Sayonara, Himemiya-san."
Shinta continued to leave the house. Koji then collapsed on his knees and just watched, unable to think about what to do next.
#
2114 hours
Shinta then arrived at Shinkyo's Chinatown. Because of how late it was in the night, most shops and restaurants were closed. As Shinta looked on while continuing across Chinatown, he looked with bemusement as he saw certain establishments put out posters announcing that they'll be giving discounts with Shinta's bemusement being that if should the Stavrosians and the Neuroi attack again, Chinatown's residents were willing to lower their prices for their patron customers should more death and destruction come.
Shinta then realized he wandered into Dragon House. The restaurant had just been closed for the night and the two proprietors, Lìng Yuèwén and his daughter Xiaomèi, were inside cleaning the restaurant. As the two Chinese see one of their usual patrons, they ran outside as they were confused upon seeing Shinta with a duffel bag yet were also glad they ran into Shinta.
"Good evening, Mr. Lìng," greeted Shinta. "You too, Xiao."
"What are you doing here?" asked Xiaomèi, whom Shinta addressed with the nickname "Xiao".
Yuèwén looked at Shinta's duffel bag. He began to realize why Shinta had wandered into Chinatown as he was familiar with how Shinta had been frequenting his restaurant due to Koji's work.
"I'd take it you've been arguing with your father?" asked Yuèwén.
"I guess you could say that," answered Shinta.
"Do you wish to stay with us? At least for the night?"
"Are you sure? I mean-"
"Please, I insist. My wife would definitely like to have you around."
"… Very well. My apologies."
Later, the Lìngs took Shinta to their apartment, where the latter was greeted by Yuèwén's wife Chūnyàn. Because of their work and that Shinta hadn't had a meal since he left his house, Chūnyàn made a late dinner and Shinta had joined. Afterward, Shinta cleaned himself up and dressed into the clothes he usually wore when sleeping.
#
U.S.S. Mayflower. 2256 hours
Mio Sakamoto then arrived in Nicholas Kirkman's office. After opening and closing the door, Sakamoto and Kirkman saluted each other. The former carried files on her left arm.
"You called for me, Captain?" asked Sakamoto.
"Yes," answered Kirkman. "How was that interrogation? I waited up until now to have you summoned here and ask because you were busy at the naval base proper."
"It went well."
"How much did you find out from those three teenagers?"
"Not much I'm afraid. You can read these."
Sakamoto gave Kirkman the files she carried; each one had the full names of Shinta, Chieko, and Kei. Kirkman started first with the file on Shinta. As he read it, he was surprised to read what the file contained. Still he continued to read the respective files on Chieko and Kei. Sakamoto observed Kirkman's behavior while he read the files and as he finished, he looked to Sakamoto and while he didn't open his mouth, Kirkman's facial language was that of someone asking for help.
"T… This can't be real, right?" asked Kirkman.
"Unfortunately, everything in those files is true," replied Sakamoto. "Himemiya, Oka, and Miyazaki are just students of Taiyoukan High School. While the two boys in those files are the respective sons of Dr. Himemiya and Mr. Miyazaki, Oka's family just runs a karate dojo."
"What do you suppose we should do? We're behind schedule thanks to today's attack and there's no telling what the Stavrosians and the Neuroi will do next."
"Conscript them. Not exactly a good idea but those three are the only ones who can pilot the Mobile Knights. We'll work on eliminating the information they used when we get the Mobile Knights to Liberion."
"What do you personally think of those three anyway?" asked Kirkman as a change of subject. "You interrogated them, didn't you?"
"I did," answered Sakamoto. "While they managed to listen to the AIs, those three don't make for good soldiers. Oka and Miyazaki were quick to scapegoat Himemiya because he got into Warviour. It seems Himemiya found out about Warviour most likely due to his father's carelessness and when the attack happened, Himemiya managed to sneak inside the naval base. Oka and Miyazaki followed because they must have gotten concerned about him."
"Won't that be a problem conscripting them?"
"It will. Not so much with Himemiya. I can imagine he's been wanting to enlist and may use what he did with Warviour as an opportunity to do so."
"Very well, I leave it to you. Remember, we're explicitly leaving at seventeen hundred hours."
"Got it. One last thing, Vice Admiral Tateyama had been working with the mayor of Shinkyo over evacuation plans."
"Evacuation plans?"
"The mayor's concerned that the city will be attacked again tomorrow. While civilian ships and whatever's left of the Fusoan ships stationed here will help, might I suggest we get this ship, the Cowpens, Boyd, and Izard to help?"
"But that would endanger the secrecy behind the Mobile Knights."
"With all due respect but what's the point if the Stavrosians and the Neuroi find out? It's just Shinkyo we're evacuating. The Vice Admiral's asking for more ships from Fuso itself to come and evacuate the rest of the island."
"I'll do what I can. Anything else?"
"None, Sir."
"You're dismissed."
"Thank you, Captain," replied Sakamoto along with a salute before leaving the room.
As Kirkman remained the sole occupant of his office, he began to look at a picture. It was that of himself, three decades younger, alongside men of the same age. The picture had writings such as "U.S.S. Dimple" and the date "October 6, 1914".
We have to get those Mobile Knights mass-produced, Kirkman thought. Failure is not an option!
#
W… Where am I now? thought Shinta Himemiya as he found himself surrounded by white.
Shinta still thought to himself that he was still asleep. All he could find was white and as he walked around, he began to realize what was to happen.
I must be dreaming again but-
Shinta began to kneel as he was writhing in pain. This had happened the last time he slept which made him aware of the Stavrosian-Neuroi attack and how he connected the name "Warviour" with three steel giants he saw.
Another Neuroi appeared before Shinta's eyes. It resembled a transport plane but it was larger than those many would be familiar with.
Neuroi? What-
However, a red light appeared to engulf everything including Shinta. Shinta began to scream.
#
April 3, 1946. 0153 hours
Shinta rapidly woke himself up. He found himself on the sofa of the living room of the apartment in Shinkyo's Chinatown whose occupants allowed him to stay in for the night. Shinta then found that Lìng Xiaomèi was beside him.
"Xiao, how long were you beside me?" asked Shinta.
"Since you started rumbling and making noises," replied Xiaomèi. "I'd take it you've been having nightmares."
"I guess you could say that."
"How long has that been going on?"
"Three years."
"I feel that you could use some water. Allow me to get some for you."
"Xièxiè."
Xiaomèi left Shinta to go to the kitchen in the apartment. The latter did as the former told her to do and remained yet he still felt uncomfortable with the dream he had.
If the previous dream I had made me know about the Mobile Knights then there's no telling what could happen later, thought Shinta.
#
0919 hours
Later that morning, Shinta was properly awake and assisting Yuèwén and Xiaomèi with the dishes after they and Chūnyàn had breakfast. Outside was a vehicle wandering the streets of Chinatown announcing evacuation orders. However, the door was being knocked and the apartment's occupants heard it.
"I'll get it," said Xiaomèi as she stopped washing the dish she held and approached the door.
"Good morning," said a male voice in Chinese at the other side of the door which Shinta recognized to his surprise. "I apologize for bothering you this early."
"Dāngrán," replied Xiaomei.
Xiaomèi then unlocked the door and as she did, Shinta left the sofa and went to the table where he dined with Xiaomèi and her husband and daughter the previous night. Xiaomèi then opened the door and saw the guests who knocked – Koji Himemiya and Mio Sakamoto.
"Mr. Himemiya, what brings you out here?" asked Xiaomèi upon recognizing Koji.
"Good morning, Xiao," said Koji. "Is my son Shinta here?
"He is," answered Shinta as he appeared to greet Koji and Sakamoto then turned to Yuèwén and Chūnyàn. "I'm sorry to impose on this but could you please wait outside? I'm afraid what I'll discuss with my father is too dangerous for you and your daughter to know."
#
0930 hours
The Himemiya men and Sakamoto had the apartment for themselves and were at the table Shinta had dined with the actual occupants of the apartment the previous night. The Lìngs waited outside as they weren't strangers to how Shinta and Koji always argued and that it became more complicated than they're used to as Koji brought with him a Fusoan military officer who was a woman.
"First of, Shinta, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for last night," said Koji.
"And you came all this way for that?" asked Shinta with suspicion.
"Not really. I'll have Sakamoto Shosa explain from here on in."
"I've arranged for you to be conscripted into the Fuso Imperial Navy," interjected Sakamoto. "The Mayflower is to leave today at 1700 hours. Because no one else but you, Oka, and Miyazaki can pilot the prototypes, I've arranged this with the Mayflower's Captain Kirkman."
"I won't stop you now, Shinta," added Koji. "It's up to you now."
"Where and when do I report?" asked Shinta.
"Shinkyo Naval Base," answered Sakamoto. "At explicitly 1400 hours."
Sakamoto then gave Shinta three pieces of paper. All three of them are notices of conscription.
"I imagine you wish for me to find Chieko and Kei?" asked Shinta.
"That's right," answered Sakamoto. "Consider that your first order."
"Ryōkai, Sakamoto Shosa,"
"We'll be leaving now," said Sakamoto as she and Koji stood up. "I have to take your father back to the naval base and as for you, you have until 1400 to report to the naval base. You're at liberty until then."
Sakamoto and Koji then opened the door and saw the Lìngs. The former two bowed to the latter as appreciation for allowing them to use the apartment and left. The Lìngs then joined Shinta and saw the papers he was given.
"What was that about?" asked Xiaomèi.
"I can't explain the specifics but I've been drafted into the Fusoan military," answered Shinta.
"Isn't that great?" asked Yuèwén. "I mean, not exactly the military but didn't you always want to join?"
"It is. I best get my things now."
"Wait, does that mean you-" asked Xiaomèi before Shinta cut her off.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to see you for a long time," answered Shinta.
"We understand," replied Yuèwén. "Take care of yourself."
"Again, I thank you for accommodating me for the evening," replied Shinta.
#
0940 hours
Shinta began to leave Chinatown. However, as he took the route he used when he arrived the previous night, he saw Chieko and Kei waiting for him in the motorcycle they used the previous day.
"Chieko, Kei, what are you doing here?" asked Shinta.
"We came to get you," said Kei. "Hop on in."
"Thanks."
Shinta boarded the sidecar of Kei's motorcycle while Chieko sat directly behind Kei again. The three left Chinatown after Kei started up the engine of his motorcycle.
"What were you doing in Chinatown?" asked Chieko.
"Got into a fight with Dad and wandered into Chinatown," answered Shinta. "The Lìngs found me wandering around and offered me a place to stay for the night."
"Ah, how was it with that waitress?" asked Kei.
"Kei-kun!" shouted Chieko.
"It's not like that, I assure you," answered Shinta.
"What do wish to do now?" asked Kei.
"Could we please go to my house first?" asked Shinta.
"What do you need there?" asked Chieko.
"I'll explain later," answered Shinta.
#
Himemiya Residence. 1014 hours
"So, why are we here?' asked Kei after he and Chieko took Shinta to his house.
"Because I'd feel better discussing this here," answered Shinta.
"So, what is it you needed to discuss?" asked Chieko.
"Dad and Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto tracked me down in Chinatown," answered Shinta. "Apparently, they talked it over about what happened yesterday with the captain of the Mayflower."
"Mayflower?" asked Kei.
"The name of the Liberian ship in the naval base," answered Shinta.
"So that's its name," interjected Chieko. "What did your father and Sakamoto-san discuss with you?"
"This," answered Shinta as he brought out his conscription notice to Chieko and Kei.
The latter read it and began to realize the contents of the paper. They looked at Shinta with concern over the contents of the paper they were presented.
"So you, or rather, this paper is telling us you've been drafted into the Navy?" asked Kei.
"That's right," answered Shinta. "I have to report to the naval base almost four hours from now."
"This is because of those machines, isn't it?" asked Chieko.
"Exactly," answered Shinta. "In fact, you two need to see these."
Shinta then brought out the other two papers he received from Sakamoto. As Chieko and Kei read them, their faces were now filled with dread as they finished.
"These… are conscription notices," said Kei. "And they're for us."
"What's the meaning of this?" asked Chieko.
"You two have been drafted," answered Shinta. "I'd suggest the both of you go back to your respective homes and wait for Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto to come for each of you."
"And what makes you think we'll agree to this!?" loudly asked Chieko.
"Because you two respectively boarded Wardier and Wardar yesterday," answered Shinta. "Like it or not, I'm going."
"As if we're coming with you!" exclaimed Kei. "We're not saving your ass a second time!"
"And you think blaming me for this will help?" retorted Shinta as he stood up. "I'm going anyway. Good luck getting arrested for draft-dodging."
Shinta began to leave his house and his friends. Although he was determined, Shinta briefly glanced at Chieko and Kei but managed to avoid fully looking back at them.
#
Shinkyo Public Library. 1130 hours
Shinta, with the duffel bag that he prepared to take with him for reporting to Shinkyo Naval Base, was now at the Shinkyo Public Library located in Minato Ward. Like with his trips to Chinatown, the Public Library was one place Shinta frequented during summer breaks ever since Koji took him in. For three years, he had been summarizing a Chinese history book and this didn't go unnoticed by the patrons and the librarians.
However, Shinta had picked a questionable time to go to the Public Library. Due to the previous day's attack, evacuation orders were being given to Shinkyo's citizens. The librarians were in the midst of evacuating the books and hiding them in a place the Stavrosians and the Neuroi wouldn't look for them should they conquer South Seas Islands. Despite that, some patrons including Shinta came and it would have been a disservice to the librarians if they were refused.
The section of the history book Shinta was in discussed Mongol involvement in Chinese history. As he read, Shinta summarized it by writing in a notebook.
How much would be different had the Neuroi not invaded? wondered Shinta. As far as I'm concerned, not much because we humans have killed each other when the Neuroi weren't around. A portion of Karlsland ended up becoming Ostmark and the former had a war with Gallia. I can imagine it would be worse without the Neuroi.
#
Oka Dojo. 1148 hours
Elsewhere in Minato Ward, Kei Miyazaki arrived at the Oka Dojo with Chieko Oka through the motorcycle of the former. They looked around to see if Mio Sakamoto was around due to Shinta's warning.
"I guess we're safe… for now," said Kei. "Well, good-bye and I'll see you at the harbor once we've finished evacuating."
However, as Chieko got off the motorcycle, she paused and remained standing rather than proceed further to her residence. Kei realized the Chieko had something in her mind.
"… Chieko, what's wrong?" asked Kei.
"Kei-kun… don't you think we were hard on Shinta-kun?" asked Chieko.
"What makes you say that? Wait… don't tell you're-"
"That I'm accepting that conscription notice? Shinta-kun doesn't sound like the type to lie, wouldn't he?"
"I don't know about that. This all started because he piloted that machine and stole a military vehicle to get there."
"And you think that's enough to abandon him?"
"And why did you even board Wardier to begin with!?"
Kei stopped upon seeing Chieko's response, or the lack of it, due to his question. Kei became silent as well as he saw how he made Chieko with his question.
"You know, we haven't argued like this… since we met Shinta," mused Kei.
"That's right," added Chieko. "It was when you took the last curry bread they were serving in the school cafeteria."
"Hey, not my fault that everyone else liked that bread. Though Shinta saved me from you by offering his bread to you."
"He always did look out someone when it wasn't asked."
"There was also that time he helped Chizuko-chan and I save that cat hanging in the school's backyard."
Both Chieko and Kei resumed their silence. They began to think there were more times Shinta helped despite it being inconvenient.
"You know what, I take back what I said about yesterday," announced Kei. "However, I need to go home first."
"So you've changed your mind?" asked Chieko with excitement.
"Not so fast. I need to talk to Dad first."
"Wakatta. I'll do the same with my parents."
"I'll need my conscription notice."
"Here it is."
After Kei got his conscription notice from Chieko, he started up his motorcycle. As the latter began to proceed back to her house, the former had already left.
#
1156 hours
Shinta Himemiya began to leave the Shinkyo Public Library. He was unaware that Chieko and Kei had chosen to accept the conscription notice.
Before he left, Shinta went to the main counter where the head librarian, Mitsuko Toyama worked. In her fifties, Toyama was a woman in her late fifties with black hair that looked as if it was already graying and her brown eyes covered in glasses.
What was at the main counter that Shinta had to do that prevented him from leaving was a logbook where those who came in the library had to write their names and the time they arrived. Also, if the guest was to leave, he or she had to write the time they departed. Shinta found his full name and the time he arrived. He grabbed the pen beside the logbook and wrote the time he was leaving.
"Ah, Himemiya-kun, are you leaving so soon?" asked Toyama as she saw Shinta writing the time he was leaving the library. "Are you done with that book you liked?"
"Unfortunately, yes," answered Shinta. "I'm going out for lunch in the meantime but I'm conflicted if I should come back afterward or not?"
"And what's stopping you?"
"I have something highly important to do more than two hours from now."
"But surely you still have time to finish. I can tell you haven't finished because you've been summarizing that book for three years. Is what you'll be doing two hours from now really that important?"
"Yes. As you can see, I even brought my bag filled with the belongings I can only take with me because I might not come back."
"That is most disappointing. If you want, you can take the book and keep it for as long as you like?"
"… Are you sure?" asked Shinta as he was taken aback by Toyama's generosity. "I mean-"
"Don't be wishy-washy with me," said Toyama as she cut off Shinta. "You've always go here whenever you weren't busy with schoolwork and it'd be a shame if you stopped going over that book all because of what's going here. To be honest, I'd rather you take a book rather than me having to hide it somewhere what with this war going on. Go on and take it with you."
"… Arigatou gozaimasu, Toyama-san."
Shinta returned to the shelf where he returned the book he was reading and as he returned to Toyama, he still had it checked out. Despite his reservations about it, Shinta left the library with the book and placed it in his duffel bag before proceeding further.
#
1200 hours
As he finished leaving the Public Library, Shinta carried on with his last hours of freedom across Shinkyo. His current priority was finding somewhere to have lunch. He looked around to see that despite the evacuation orders, people still carried on with their daily routines and imagined that they too had only a few hours of liberty at most before taking the evacuation orders seriously.
However, Shinta stopped as she saw two figures that he recognized leaving a medicinal shop that was just near the Public Library. They were the two women he saw in the rickshaw two days ago – one of whom was Yoshika Miyafuji.
I'm not sure if I should see it as good fortune to run into Miyafuji Yoshika, thought Shinta. I never saw myself idolizing Witches like Kei does. I can assume the older woman must be her mother.
However, a man appeared and was running, as if it was for his life. He held onto a brown-colored leather purse with both hands and it was almost as if he was hiding it. He didn't concern himself to the point that he almost made Yoshika trip, causing a couple of things in her bag to fall. Two uniformed men then appeared, also unconcerned with the two women.
Those two must be police, thought Shinta. That could mean that man must have stolen that purse.
Shinta put down his duffel bag and pursued the man with the purse. The two men Shinta identified as policemen were confused that a random bystander got between them and the man with the purse. However, at that instant, Shinta appeared before the man they were pursuing that the policemen stopped because they couldn't believe how fast Shinta was able to appear before the man with the purse.
"W… Who are-"
Before the man with the purse finished his question, Shinta seemingly struck the man with his right palm hitting his chest. However, it didn't appear that the palm hurt yet the man couldn't be able to stand and was then grabbed by the two policemen before he fell to the ground.
"Who are you?" asked one policeman.
"Just someone who was passing through," answered Shinta. "I only intervened because of those two women behind you that you ignored."
Shinta made his right palm horizontally point at the Miyafuji women, specifically Yoshika as she still picking up what fell from her bag. The two policemen realized what they had done and resumed facing Shinta.
"That man and the purse I presume he took from someone is your responsibility and I'll let you take it from here. Please excuse me."
"… Thanks," replied the other policeman as he grabbed the purse.
The two policemen turned back with the purse and the man who took it. Shinta and the Miyafuji women stepped back and watched the former three leave and immediately looked at each other.
"I apologize for that," said Shinta.
"No worries," said the older woman. "But why did you do that?"
"Felt like it was the right thing to do, especially with what happened to your daughter."
"It's alright," said Yoshika. "What fell from my bag wasn't damaged."
"I see. Glad to hear- Oh, forgive me for my manners. I'm Shinta Himemiya."
"Miyafuji Sayaka," said the older woman as she introduced herself in response. "This is my daughter Yoshika."
"Thank you again," said Yoshika.
"I'm glad to see you're safe," said Shinta, who then grabbed his duffel bag. "Well, I best be-"
"'Going?'" asked Sayaka as she cut off Shinta. "No need for that. Allow us to repay for what you did."
"There's no need for that," replied Shinta.
"Please, we insist," continued Sayaka. "We were just going to a yatai nearby. Please allow us to treat you."
"Well, I was going to find somewhere for lunch… " added Shinta. "Very well, I'll accompany you."
#
1215 hours
Shinta and the Miyafuji women had arrived at a yatai still in Minato Ward. Because Minato was the center of Shinkyo, most yatai were planted across the ward for people who needed a quick lunch. All three were talking while waiting as their meals were being cooked.
"So you were in the Public Library studying history?" asked Sayaka.
"That's right," answered Shinta. "It's been a pastime for me in the three years I've lived here in Shinkyo."
"Where are you from?" asked Yoshika.
"China," answered Shinta. "I don't remember much of my past there but I met the man who took me in, Koji Himemiya, three years ago and we've been living here in Shinkyo ever since."
"That explains you're attire," added Sayaka. "My mother is familiar with Chinese clothing because she served in Taiwan during a Neuroi invasion there."
"You're mother's a Witch?" asked Shinta.
"That's right," answered Yoshika. "After my grandmother, my mother inherited her Healing Abilities, and I did as well."
"I heard that certain Witches retain their powers when they marry and have children," added Shinta. "But it's a rarity to know magic abilities can be genetic."
"Don't say it like that!" exclaimed Sayaka.
"My apologies," replied Shinta. "Looks like our food is here."
#
I.S.S. Buffalo. 1219 hours
"Admiral, are you serious!?" asked Otto Schneider as he was talking to Rear Admiral Huang over the main screen in the Buffalo's bridge. "They're using the Nezura to attack again!?"
"Calm down, Schneider," replied Huang. "I was only told of this by Vice Admiral Alon from the Moon Base. High Command got concerned about the prototype Mobile Knights that they've sent in Neuroi to destroy them."
"But why destroy them? Those Mobile Knights appear to be more advanced than ours. They seem to be using energy weapons like the prototypes made by-"
"Enough! The order's already been given. Even if I could allow you, you can't resume attacking Shinkyo on your own because you only have one Mobile Knight with a missing leg. That will be all."
Huang vanished from the main screen. Schneider retreated to his seat and pressed his right hand into a fist at his face. Evelyn Andrews looked on with concern and it showed despite her facial expressions mostly being hidden by the visor hiding her eyes.
#
Unknown Location. 0024 hours
In a darkened location, two red lights began to shine. Another light then appeared and it assumed the form of a human male but his face was not shown. His uniform was the same as those of the Imperial Stavrosian Navy albeit in black.
"Wan, how goes the deployment of our machines?" asked a voice in the darkness that came from the direction of the two red lights.
"It goes well Fa- I mean, Master," replied the one called "Wan". "I've just been notified by Vice Admiral Alon that they've already landed and will reach Shinkyo an hour in Fusoan Time."
"Good. At this point, keep an eye on any updates. I've had you keep the Stavrosians out of this for the time being after their attack the previous day and that it is up to our machines to succeed or not. We need to see if he is active."
"He? You mean the-"
"That traitor! Inform me of what happens next."
"Yes, Master."
The white light vanished. The two red lights followed, returning the area to darkness.
#
1230 hours
"So you're studying medicine in Helvetia?" asked Shinta Himemiya to Yoshika Miyafuji while they, along with Yoshika's mother Sayaka finished their lunch.
"That's right," answered Yoshika. "However, I volunteered for a medical relief group that traveled to various battlefields ever since this war started. As to why I'm here, my mother and grandmother came here to Shinkyo to visit relatives and I was allowed a few days' leave."
"What about you, Shinta-kun?" asked Sayaka. "I assume you must be planning to take up entrance exams?"
"I should be," answered Shinta. "I plan on taking up history. Don't know where though and even then, my father and I are leaving today."
"You're moving out of Shinkyo?" asked Yoshika.
"Could that be why you've been carrying that bag with you?" added Sayaka as she looked at Shinta's duffel bag.
"I was spending my last day here in Shinkyo," answered Shinta. "I came from the Public Library when I ran into the both of you."
"Where are you moving to?" asked Sayaka.
"Liberion," answered Shinta. "My father has highly important business there."
"What does he do for a living?" asked Sayaka.
"He's an engineer currently working with Miyazaki Industries," answered Shinta.
"Just like my husband… " added Sayaka who then stopped discussing further.
Sayaka and her daughter remained silent, stopping the conversation. Shinta looked with a mixture of confusion and concern.
"… I apologize for this," said Shinta as he broke silence.
"… It's nothing," replied Yoshika. "What you mentioned about your father reminded me of mine."
"Miyafuji Ichiro-hakase, I presume?" asked Shinta.
"That's right, my husband," answered Sayaka. "Although the Second Neuroi War had ended, his whereabouts remain unknown. We've received letters but they've provided nothing concrete"
"I see," replied Shinta. "I apologize for bringing this up."
"Don't worry about it," added Yoshika. "Was there anything else you wished to do here in Shinkyo before leaving?"
"Not really," answered Shinta. "Though my departure has gotten more complicated after yesterday."
"What do you mean?" asked Sayaka.
"You know that Liberian carrier docked in the naval base here?" asked Shinta with nods from the Miyafuji women.
"Well, I found out about what my father had been working on with Miyazaki Industries," answered Shinta. "As a result, I've been conscripted by the Imperial Navy."
"The Navy?" asked Yoshika. "What was your father working on that got you conscripted?"
"I can't elaborate on it," insufficiently answered Shinta. "However, it was related to yesterday's attack. I have to report to the naval base an hour from now at the least though it's not really a problem for me."
"Why's that?" asked Sayaka with concern.
"Truth be told, I've wanted to enlist in the military, whether be it the Imperial Army or the Imperial Navy, ever since this war started," answered Shinta.
"Why would you do that?" asked Yoshika. "What about your interest in studying history?"
"I feel as if I need to enlist," answered Shinta. "I don't mind putting my studies on hold until we win the war."
"But what would your father say?" asked Sayaka.
"We've argued about it," answered Shinta with a tone of regret. "He eventually understood and arranged for my conscription with Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto's help."
"Wait, you know Sakamoto-san?" asked Yoshika.
"That's right. She's here in Shinkyo," answered Shinta. "If I remember correctly, she recruited you personally into the 501st Joint Fighter Wing two years ago."
"I wouldn't put it that way but Sakamoto-san and I fought together," answered Yoshika.
"But what would Sakamoto-san be here in Shinkyo for?" asked Sayaka.
"That I cannot elaborate," answered Shinta. "However, she did also get me recruited into the Imperial Navy."
"I see," replied Yoshika. "She hasn't that much."
"In any case, I have to get going," said Shinta as he stood up and grabbed his duffel bag.
"You're right," replied Sayaka.
Yoshika then stood up last. After Sayaka paid the yatai's proprietor, she and Yoshika grabbed their bags.
"I hope to see each other again, under better circumstances," said Yoshika to Shinta.
"Same here," replied Shinta.
#
Shinkyo Naval Base. 1325 hours
Shinta then returned to Shinkyo Naval Base. However, as he neared the gate, a military truck passed him and he saw civilians inside.
I'm guessing the evacuations have already started, thought Shinta.
Shinta then arrived at the main gate after the truck was let inside. However, the gate closed before Shinta.
"I'd take it you're a civilian," said the guard upon looking at Shinta further. "You should have boarded a truck if you're evacuating."
"Oh no, I'm not with the civilians," replied Shinta. "I've been conscripted into the Imperial Navy. Here's my notice."
Shinta then handed his conscription notice to the guard. The guard looked at it due to his suspicion that a civilian had been drafted into the Imperial Navy despite his age. However, he found the kanji that was Sakamoto's full name at the lower right end of the paper.
"Wait, you're the Himemiya Shinta Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto mentioned?" asked the guard.
"That's right," replied Shinta.
"Hold on, let me-"
However, they were interrupted by a siren being rung. Both Shinta and the guard knew what that entailed.
#
U.S.S. Mayflower. 1233 hours
"Captain, I'm picking up a transmission from Captain Fenton from the Cowpens," said the radio operator in the Mayflower's bridge to Kirkman.
"Please patch it through," ordered Kirkman.
"This is Captain Jacob Fenton of the U.S.S. Cowpens, the Large-Type Neuroi from yesterday has returned," said the captain of the U.S.S. Cowpens as his message was picked up by the Mayflower's radio operator. "I say again. The Large-Type from yesterday has returned"
Kirkman stood up and walked to the radio. While he didn't open his mouth, Kirkman managed to get his radio operator to hand over the radio's headset to him and began to place it on his ears.
"Captain Fenton, this is Captain Nicholas Kirkman of the U.S.S. Mayflower," replied Kirkman. "Has that Large-Type attacked you yet?"
"Not yet, Captain Kirkman."
"Then please get your planes to launch. We're in the middle of picking up Shinkyo's evacuees and we need time."
"We'll do what we can but I doubt we can last long. I lost most of my entire squadron to the Large-Type yesterday. Fenton out."
"Kirkman out."
The radio then went silent. Kirkman gave back the headset to his subordinate and slowly retreated to his seat.
Damn it, why are the Neuroi back at a time like this!? angrily thought Kirkman.
#
Shinkyo Naval Base. 1236 hours
Back in the entrance to Shinkyo Naval Base, Shinta Himemiya and the guard heard an engine and wheels rushing. The former two saw a Type 98 passenger car appear before them with Mio Sakamoto at the left front seat. However, Shinta saw that both Chieko Oka and Kei Miyazaki are at the rear seats.
"I knew you would come here on your own," said Sakamoto. "Now get in!"
"Ryōkai, Sakamoto Shosa," replied Shinta.
Shinta took his duffel bag and rushed to the rear seats of the Type 98. As the Type 98 can carry seven people in total with five at the rear seats, Shinta had plenty to choose as to where to sit yet he opted to sit beside Kei but his suitcase and backpack, along with Chieko's backpack, prevented Shinta from being close to Kei and prompted him to immediately get seated at the chair he can see in front of him.
"What are you two doing here?" asked Shinta to Chieko and Kei.
"Chieko here put me on a guilt trip-" said Kei before being pinched at his right ear by an angry Chieko. "OW! OW! Okay, please stop!"
Chieko stopped pinching Kei at his right rear and stopped looking at him. While Shinta watched in confusion and Kei was still reeling, Sakamoto laughed, much to further confusion to Shinta and embarrassing the driver.
"I'm starting to like you three," said Sakamoto in amusement. "In any case, Oka and Miyazaki decided to accept being conscripted. We're going to the Mayflower."
"Got it," replied Shinta.
#
1244 hours
The Type 98 then arrived near the U.S.S. Mayflower, specifically where the battle between the LN prototype Mobile Knights and the Stavrosian Mobile Knights took place the previous day with the damage left as it was. Sakamoto, Shinta, Chieko, and Kei began to leave the Type 98.
"Just leave your belongings here," ordered Sakamoto. "We'll have them in the Mayflower."
"Ryōkai," replied Shinta, Chieko, and Kei in unison.
As the four rushed to the Mayflower, the evacuees from the truck Shinta saw earlier were also getting off the truck and getting into fishing boats docked in the naval base. This was the result of the Fusoan military acquiring the help of civilian ships in evacuating Shinkyo but this wouldn't be enough yet the Imperial Navy's ships and the other Liberian ships were still focused on fighting the Large-Type.
#
U.S.S. Mayflower. 1257 hours
Sakamoto, along with Shinta, Chieko, and Kei, had arrived at the Mayflower's hangar bay. Although it was a waste of time for Sakamoto, she had to let the latter three look at the hangar bay with awe due to how wide it was.
Although taller than a human being, especially a Witch on a Striker Unit, the Mobile Knights were able to be fitted inside the Mayflower's hangar bay. While it was built during the Second Neuroi War and only commissioned weeks before the war ended, the Mayflower was chosen to serve the role of acquiring the Mobile Knights from Shinkyo and delivering them back to Liberion because it was the only carrier that had finished its shakedown cruise and that it was longer than carriers that were built before her.
"Shinta!" shouted Koji Himemiya as he saw his adopted son and ran up to him with the one he called out seeing him.
"Dad," replied Shinta as Koji got close.
"I see you made it," added Koji who then glanced at Chieko and Kei upon seeing them. "Chieko-kun, Kei-kun, you too?"
"Not like we had a choice, Himemiya-san," replied Kei.
"Enough with the pleasantries," interjected Sakamoto. "We need the Mobile Knights launched right now!"
"I know," replied Koji. "Problem is, we only have one Wing Pack."
"Wing Pack?" asked Sakamoto. "We have one? I thought we weren't going to have those built until we got the Mobile Knights to Liberion?"
"The shipments from Khyber came with only one," answered Koji as she showed the Wing Pack to the four individuals he was talking to.
Beside the Warviour were three metal bars connected together as if it was a square but lacked one more bar to complete it. Respectively attached to each bar were wings and at the longest bar were boosters like those of the Flight Packs found in the Stavrosian Legionarii that Shinta, Chieko, and Kei fought the previous day.
"Based on the wings, I can imagine this can make the Mobile Knights fly," assumed Kei.
"That's right, Kei-kun," answered Koji. "The Wing Pack can make a Mobile Knight fly. However, as you can see, we only have one Wing Pack. Because it's a flying Neuroi that was detected, the Mobile Knights need to fly in order to engage it but as we can see, there's only one Wing Pack."
"I'll do it," immediately announced Shinta. "I can intercept the Neuroi."
"You sure about this?" asked Sakamoto.
"I'm su-"
However, a large explosion was heard by those in the hangar bay. There was also a slight shake that was also felt.
"That doesn't sound good," said Chieko.
"I agree," added Sakamoto. "I'll go to the bridge."
"Wait," interjected Koji who brought two handheld transceivers, confusing Sakamoto. "You'll need these."
"These are just handheld transceivers," replied Sakamoto.
"These have a frequency exclusive to those for the Mobile Knights," added Koji. "The captain will need one and depending on what happens next, you'll need one too."
"Of course," said Sakamoto as she grabbed the handheld transceivers. "I best be going. Get your son and the Warviour in the air."
"Wakatta," replied Koji.
#
1326 hours
Sakamoto had rushed into the Mayflower's bridge. However, she had managed to get in without incident as a result of what happened. Only Nicholas Kirkman saw Sakamoto and turned his head to face her.
"Captain, my apologies for intruding but what's going on?" asked Sakamoto.
"We're under attack," answered Kirkman. "It's the Neuroi that was detected. For some reason, it only decided to attack Shinkyo. We didn't know that until now and the remaining planes from the Cowpens, along with the Boyd and the Izard are doing what they can."
"We're in luck. I've succeeded in conscripted Himemiya, Oka, and Miyazaki. They're just about getting ready to launch."
"That's great!"
"Here, you'll need this," said Sakamoto as she gives Kirkman one of the two handheld transceivers she received from Koji.
"What's this for?" asked Kirkman.
"You'll need it to contact the Mobile Knight pilots," answered Sakamoto, who began to leave the bridge.
"Where are you going?"
"They'll still need my help firing on that Neuroi. Don't worry, the base has a plane for me to use."
"Good luck, Lieutenant Commander."
#
1350 hours
From one of the Mayflower's elevators connecting to the hangar bay was the Warviour, which appeared on the carrier's flight deck. From the bridge, Nicholas Kirkman saw that the Warviour looked as if it was ready to launch and saw its Wing Pack, seeing the Warviour as the same as a plane or a Witch in a Striker Unit. Kirkman began to use the handheld transceiver received from Sakamoto.
"Testing, testing," said Kirkman on his end over the handheld transceiver. "One, two, three, testing."
"This is Shinta Himemiya, pilot of the Warviour," said a male voice on the other end of the handheld transceiver.
"So you're Dr. Himemiya's son?"
"That's right."
"This is Captain Nicholas Kirkman. I assume your father and Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto have told you this but your objective is to support the surviving planes from the light carrier Cowpens and the destroyers Boyd and Izard. I leave it to you on how to fight that Neuroi but please make sure that Neuroi doesn't kill anymore innocents."
"Aye aye, Captain."
He speaks like a soldier, thought Kirkman. Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto was right to assume that he had been wanting to pilot the Warviour.
"It's all up to you. Good luck."
Kirkman then ended contact. However, he hears someone else attempting to contact him through the Warviour's communicator.
"Shinta, can you hear me?" asked Koji Himemiya on the other end of the communicator.
"Dad?" asked Shinta.
"As you can tell, the AI on the Warviour will handle the operation of the Wing Pack but remember, only you can make sure the Warviour can fly."
"I understand."
"My apologies for contacting you now but please… please make it back alive!"
"I won't let you down."
"Good hunting."
Koji then ended contact. Shinta then saw from the monitor that the inspection done by "Xiaoying" was finished.
"We will now begin emergency instructions on how to use the Wing Pack," announced "Xiaoying".
"Acknowledged," replied Shinta.
"First, press the throttle thrust to your left and put it at 'Low'. That will prepare the Wing Pack."
Shinta then found the throttle thrust where "Xiaoying" instructed him to find. He found three words at the right of the throttle thrust panel: "Off", where the lever was currently situated at; "Low", and "High". Shinta moved the lever to "Low", which turned on Wing Pack's boosters outside.
"Thrusters now engaged," announced "Xiaoying". "Next," press the right foot pedal.
Shinta then pressed the right foot pedal, which made the wheels move. As the wheels moved, the Warviour began to move across the flight deck and past the "island", where the bridge was located.
"Now please set the throttle thrust to 'High'," instructed "Xiaoying".
Shinta did as "Xiaoying" instructed and shifted the lever in the throttle thrust to "High". This began to increase the speed of the thrusters in the Wing Pack.
"We're about to lift off," said "Xiaoying". "Use the control wheel to finish taking off."
"Wakatta," replied Shinta.
Shinta gripped the control wheel attached to the panel. Outside, the Warviour neared the front end of the Mayflower. The monitor provided him directions as to where to direct the control wheel and as Shinta did as the monitor asked, the Warviour began to continue lifting into the air.
The Warviour then got out of the Mayflower and as it did, the Mobile Knight went from a diagonal launch to a vertical flight. This impressed those in the carrier's bridge, especially Kirkman. Although he had no training and that it was mostly the AI handling the flight, the crew in the Mayflower's bridge were impressed that Shinta Himemiya made it happen.
#
Shinkyo Naval Base. 1446 hours
Other than those in the Mayflower, refugees from Shinkyo who flocked to the naval base saw the first flight of the Warviour. Because the Neuroi had ultimately attacked the base, Shinkyo's population began to flock to the base hoping to be evacuated. Other than the base's guards, the Fuso Imperial Army guarded the refugees to prevent them from rushing to the Mayflower.
Amongst the refugees were the Miyafuji women. Other than Sayaka and her daughter Yoshika was Yoshiko Akimoto, Sayaka's mother and Yoshika's grandmother. In her sixties, Yoshiko has skin that was less than fair as a contrast to her daughter and granddaughter and was traditionally dressed as a contrast to the two. Her hair resembled that of Yoshika's, albeit colored gray because of age and that unlike Yoshika's the hair pointed down in left and right while at the rear, the hair was tied into a bun.
"Could that have been a new type of Striker Unit?" asked Sayaka to Yoshika.
"I don't think so," answered Yoshika. "It doesn't seem to be piloted by a Witch and a Striker Unit isn't as tall as what we saw come from that carrier."
I just hope Shinta-san out in time, thought Yoshika. If only I had the Shinden-
However, Yoshika was interrupted in thoughts upon hearing the refugees talking amongst themselves as they something. She joined her mother and grandmother in crossing through the rest of the refugees in order to see what was the commotion about. They were to find that it was a person – Yoshika's former commanding officer Mio Sakamoto talking to an Imperial Army soldier.
"Ma'am, I'd advise that you-" said the soldier before realizing that Sakamoto was wearing a Fuso Imperial Navy uniform. "Wait, you're a Witch?"
"I guess you can say that… " replied Sakamoto with a tone that meant she lied. "Please let me through. There's a plane I need to use in order to get out there."
"I see, ma'am. But be careful. More refugees will be coming and the next ship hasn't arrived yet to pick most of them up."
Sakamoto continued on her way. The refugees began to get close to the Mayflower but were blocked again by the Imperial Army soldiers. The Miyafuji women got close and were surprised that Sakamoto was in Shinkyo as Sayaka and Yoshika remembered what Shinta said.
"That's Sakamoto-san, what's she doing here?" asked Yoshiko.
"Yoshika and I were told that she was here hours ago," replied Sayaka.
"By that Himemiya kid you mentioned?" asked Yoshiko. "I bet he's involved in all of this too."
However, Yoshika began to separate from her mother and grandmother. The latter only noticed a second too late and saw Yoshika getting further and further away from them.
"Yoshika, wait!" shouted Sayaka.
#
1457 hours
Elsewhere in Shinkyo Naval Base, Mio Sakamoto returned to the F1M seaplane she found the previous day. The previous Imperial Navy sailor recognized her.
"It's you, Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto," replied the Imperial Navy sailor with a salute. "You need this plane?"
"That's right," answered Sakamoto. "I might also-."
"Sakamoto-san!" shouted a voice the person being addressed recognized.
Sakamoto turned her back and to her surprise, she saw her former subordinate, Yoshika Miyafuji, rushing to her. The latter was being pursued by two Imperial Army soldiers.
"M- Miyafuji! What are you doing here!?"
Yoshika then got close to Sakamoto. The soldier caught up to the former, causing her to struggle.
"Do you know this person?" asked the soldier.
"Of course I do!" loudly answered Sakamoto. "Just let her go."
"Ryōkai," replied the soldier, who immediately released Yoshika.
"Now then, Miyafuji, what are you doing here?" asked Sakamoto to Yoshika.
"I came here to see relatives with my mother and grandmother," answered Yoshika.
"No, not that! Why did you run up to me?"
"I figured with this Neuroi attack you were going to fight it regardless. I came to you if you needed help."
At that instant, Sakamoto laughed again as she did when she picked up Shinta, Chieko, and Kei. Yoshika, the Imperial Army soldier that tried to apprehend her, and the sailor guarding the F1M were confused. After Sakamoto finished her laugh and resumed looking at Yoshika.
"Very admirable but the Shinden's not here."
"Doesn't matter. I can see that you might need someone to use that plane's rear gun."
Yoshika and Sakamoto then turned to the F1M that the latter intended on piloting. The latter then was filled with determination and excitement and it showed with her face.
"Good! You can take the rear gun. You'll need this though."
Sakamoto then gave Yoshika the second handheld transceiver she got from Kirkman. Yoshika was confused as to why she received a handheld transceiver.
"What's this for, Sakamoto-san?"
"While I pilot the plane, I need you to handle communications between me and those three."
"Those three?"
"You'll know when we're in the air. Now come on!"
"Hai!"
#
1514 hours
Because it had attacked Shinkyo, the four F6F Hellcats from the Cowpens were now fighting the Large-Type Neuroi. As it was the previous day, it was a struggle for the Hellcat pilots as there was no Witch assisting them. Again the pilots did their best to evade the Neuroi's energy beams but they knew luck would run out of them.
We can't keep this up forever! thought Gregory Tanaka.
Suddenly, the Neuroi was then hit by bullets that managed to damage it. To the surprise of Tanaka, the Warviour had appeared. However, he and the other pilots didn't know about it beforehand and were surprised by its appearance.
"What do you think that is?" asked a pilot over the radio in Tanaka's Hellcat.
"Is it a Witch?" asked another pilot.
"I doubt it," said Tanaka as he contacted his fellow pilots. "I have a younger sister who's a Witch. That definitely isn't a-"
"Cut the chatter people!" shouted another voice over the radio. "We can use this time to withdraw. I'd wager this guy can buy us time."
"Sounds good to me!" shouted Tanaka in response.
Shinta, while using the Warviour, now had the attention of the Large-Type. Although he was that the four Hellcats were withdrawing, he paid no attention to it and continued to fight. As the Neuroi retaliated with its energy beams, Shinta was able to dodge the attacks.
I can't waste ammo like this, thought Shinta. If I remember how Kei described how Witches fought, a Neuroi must be destroyed by exposing its Core and hitting it but how do I-
"Hey, Shinta, you there?" asked a voice over the Warviour's communicator that the person addressed to recognized.
"Kei, is that you?" replied Shinta.
"That's right. Chieko and I will hang back here by the Mayflower. I figured you need help finding that Neuroi's Core."
"I sure do. But where can I find it?"
"Hold on. Apparently, I can find you and that Neuroi. I can even see that you haven't destroyed it yet."
"How?"
"I can access what you see and have it delivered to this glass screen. In any case, I've managed to get a good sighting of that Neuroi. The systems in Wardar are currently finding its- Ah, it's done!"
"You know where the Core is now?"
"That's right! Sending it to you now."
In a smaller monitor in the Warviour's control panel, the Neuroi Shinta was fighting appeared. It also showed that its Core was located at the center. Shinta then returned to looking at the main monitor and found the center with an idea in his mind on how to destroy the Neuroi.
Shinta then started by firing the Waviour's machine gun again. The 8mm rounds that the machine gun were chambered for were built from the same material that was used for the super high-explosive rounds used during the operation to destroy the Neuroi Hive codenamed "Grigori" over northwestern Orussia two years ago. This material allowed the rounds to penetrate the Neuroi's armored body without the need for a Witch's magic powers.
As he aimed at the Large-Type's center, Shinta focused his fire there. As a result, the Neuroi's core was exposed. The core was a polyhedron-shaped crystal that emitted a red glow.
"I got you now!" shouted Shinta as he found the Large-Type's core, who then began to use the Warviour's Particle Sword.
As he got the Particle Sword, Shinta charged at the Large-Type's core while the Particle Sword's "blade" pointing down. In the midst of this, the Large-Type began to repair itself from the damage it took but it would be too late as Shinta charged at the core.
Despite almost finishing its repairs, the Neuroi's core wasn't completely sealed. As a result, Shinta and the Warviour got close enough that when Shinta pressed the first button on the front end of the right crank, the Warviour ran the Particle Sword through the core before it was sealed.
The Particle Sword had managed to crack open the Neuroi's core. Shinta then got the Particle Sword out and as he did, he took the Warviour away from the Large-Type and within a second, the Neuroi disintegrated into white pieces.
At that instant, an F1M appeared. Piloting the F1M was Mio Sakamoto and her old subordinate Yoshika Miyafuji was at its rear gun moving a dial in the bottom right of the handheld transceiver she received from Sakamoto, who in turn received it from Nicholas Kirkman. Yoshika then found the number 100.01 on the handheld transceiver's screen.
"Sakamoto-san, are these the numbers you were looking for?" asked Yoshika as she gave the transceiver to the person she was addressing to.
"This is it," replied Sakamoto upon looking at the numbers who then returned it to Yoshika. "Miyafuji, press the button at the right side of that transceiver. I need to talk to the pilot of that Mobile Knight."
"The one who destroyed the Neuroi?"
"That's right."
"Got it."
Yoshika did as Sakamoto instructed and pressed the button on the right side of the handheld transceiver. Static was heard for two seconds until another sound was heard to indicate that the call was picked up.
"Himemiya, this is Sakamoto," said the person who introduced herself over the handheld transceiver. "Do you copy?"
"Himemiya here," replied the person being addressed to. "Neuroi destro- Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto, is that you?"
"Yes, it is. Good work out here. I also heard that you saved the surviving planes from the Cowpens."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"We best head back ourselves. Follow me."
"Roger that."
Sakamoto then re-directed the F1M back to the direction of Shinkyo. Shinta followed in the Mayflower. In the former, Sakamoto noticed Yoshika clenching the handheld transceiver and realizing what was in her mind.
"You want to talk to him, don't you?" asked Sakamoto to Yoshika.
Yoshika, however, briefly opened her mouth and gave a sound that showed a lack of a response. Sakamoto, however, saw it as a response she expected.
"Go on," repeated Sakamoto. "You've earned it."
"Arigatou," replied Yoshika.
Yoshika moved all five dials of the handheld transceiver one by one. To contact someone with the handheld transceiver, five numbers must be typed through the moving of each dial as the number represented a frequency that was for one person only and that it pertained to the device he or she was connected. The number was divided by a period where three were to the left of the period while the last two were to the right of the period with 100.01 as Shinta's frequency, with the three dials closest to the monitor representing the numbers to the left of the period while the bottom two dials represented the numbers to the right of the period.
"Anything else you needed, Lieutenant Commander?" asked Shinta as he picked up Yoshika's call.
"Actually, no," replied Yoshika. "Sakamoto-san allowed me to contact you."
"Wait, you're… Miyafuji Yoshika-san!"
"That's right," replied Yoshika followed by a smile and closed eyes. "I'm glad you remembered my voice."
"You're with the Lieutenant Commander right now?"
"That's right. I ran into her in the naval base while waiting for a ship to evacuate with my family."
"I see. My apologies for that."
"It's alright. I can see why Sakamoto-san conscripted you. So that's the Mobile Knight I saw launch from that Liberian carrier."
"That's right. I'm ashamed to admit it but this attack and the one from yesterday were because of it."
"… Don't worry about it. Does it operate like a Striker Unit?"
"Not really."
"I… see."
"Wait, put that conversation on hold!" interjected Sakamoto as she looked at the F1M's radio with great concern.
Sakamoto kept on travelling to the frequencies that the F1M's radio can access. She then heard explosions from one frequency and returned there. Yoshika then heard the same explosions and focused her attention on what Sakamoto intended on listening to.
"Neuroi spotted!" shouted a male voice over the radio.
"That isn't good," said Sakamoto.
"Sakamoto-sa-"
"I know. We're heading back!"
"Did you hear that?" asked Yoshika over the handheld transceiver to Shinta.
"I can tell," replied Shinta on the other end of the handheld transceiver. "Chieko and Kei might be in danger."
#
Unknown Location. 0330 hours
"It seems that the battle rages well," said the shadowed figure called "Master" as it and the one called Wan watched the battle in South Seas Island.
"I can feel that he's in this battle," said Wan. "I have a suggestion to prove that he is there."
"Go on."
"Might I suggest using the Moon Base's Mass Catapult. He will definitely use his power to destroy the meteor launched from the Mass Catapult."
"Are you sure it will work?"
"I'm sure."
"Very well. I'll leave it to you."
#
Shinkyo, Empire of Fuso. 1547 hours
Shinta Himemiya in the Mobile Knight Warviour and the F1M seaplane piloted by Mio Sakamoto and Yoshika Miyafuji had returned to Shinkyo. However, what they saw was more death and destruction.
More Neuroi had appeared. Far was another Large-Type Neuroi, this time that assumed the form of an airplane that had its wings above the center of the body and that on each "wing" was a protrusion that resembled engines that were shaped in a curved "L". Also in the air were smaller Neuroi that consisted of spheres that each one was surrounded by a disk that swarmed the skies above Shinkyo and were fighting the Cowpens' Hellcats.
Below, smoke rose. Sakamoto and Yoshika flew away from it as it was a combination of lung damage and what they knew had happened in their absence. However, Shinta was able to see through the rising smoke and saw what happened below.
Off Shinkyo were the struggling Liberian ships that escorted the Mayflower. One of the two destroyers had been sunk and the light carrier Cowpens was on fire. Lifeboats leaving the sunken destroyer and the damaged Cowpens moved toward the Mayflower.
Shinta and Sakamoto then saw Chieko Oka in the Warviour and Kei Miyazaki in the Wardar firing the ranged weapons they had against the new Neuroi. Sakamoto then turned to Yoshika.
"Miyafuji, please switch that transceiver's frequency to 100.02," ordered Sakamoto.
"Hai," replied Yoshika.
Yoshika began to switch the dials to a new number. After dialing the frequency 100.02, Yoshika pressed the button on the right of the handheld transceiver and waited for the individual who pertained to that frequency to respond.
"Who's this?" asked Kei Miyazaki upon receiving the call from the transceiver.
"Miyazaki, how are you holding up!?" loudly asked Sakamoto.
"Sakamoto Shosa, is that you?"
"Yes. Again, how are you and Oka holding up?"
"Not well. These Neuroi appeared out of nowhere. The flyboys from the Cowpens are doing what they can but it's a losing fight and crew members from the Cowpens are beginning to evacuate to the Mayflower. We were told by Captain Kirkman that the destroyer Boyd was sunk."
"I see. You and Oka keep them busy as much as you can. I'll assist the rest of the Cowpens' crew in evacuating."
"Roger that," replied Kei before ending contact.
"Miyafuji, please get me to Himemiya," ordered Sakamoto as she turned to Yoshika.
"Hai," replied Yoshika who immediately dialed 100.01 on the handheld transceiver.
"Himemiya, you assist Oka and Miyazaki," ordered Sakamoto to Shinta over the handheld transceiver."
"Roger that," replied Shinta.
"Wait, update me on your status by accessing 100.04. That'll be me and Miyafuji's frequency."
"Got it," replied Shinta as he ended contact.
Shinta and the Warviour then rushed toward the smaller Neuroi attacking the Liberian ships and Shinkyo itself. Sakamoto then lowered the F1M in order to shield those fleeing the damaged Cowpens without getting in their way. One of the smaller Neuroi spotted them with Yoshika spotting it in turn.
Yoshika then fired the gun attached to the rear seat of the F1M, a Type 92 machine gun. However, the Neuroi missed. The Neuroi then fired an energy beam but Yoshika then summoned a magic shield to protect herself and Sakamoto. Both Fusoans were familiar with this type of Neuroi as these were the Small-Type Neuroi that defended the Super-Hive that occupied Venezia the previous year during the Second Neuroi War.
On his end, Shinta Himemiya in the Warviour rapidly destroyed as many of the Small-Type Neuroi as he could find. As a result, Chieko Oka in the Wardier and Kei Miyazaki in the Wardar were able to destroy some Small-Types as well. This allowed the refugees in Shinkyo Naval Base to flee to ships that arrived to pick them up.
Shinta then saw Small-Types surrounding the Cowpens' Hellcats and rushed to their aid. He fired his machine guns to draw their attention to him. As the Neuroi got close, Shinta switched to his Particle Sword and destroyed them one by one. Gregory Tanaka looked from his Hellcat with amazement.
"Whoever that hotshot is, we owe him," said a male voice over the Hellcat's radio. "We'll deal with the Large Type."
"Agreed," replied Tanaka.
While the Hellcats left Shinta, he then saw the Small-Type pursuing Sakamoto and Yoshika. As his only weapon remaining was the Shock Knuckle. Reluctantly, Shinta continued his charge toward the Small-Type and as he got close, he pressed the topmost button on the right handle on the right crank pertaining to the Warviour's right arm and punched the Small-Type, destroying it.
Shinta began to use the dials of the Warviour's communicator. He typed in the number 100.04 which was the frequency needed to contact Sakamoto and Miyafuji. This was while "Xiaoying" pointed the boosters on the Warviour's Wing Pack point downward.
"Sakamoto Shosa, Yoshika-san, please come in?" asked Shinta in desperation to hear from those he addressed.
"Shinta-san, is that you?" asked Yoshika.
"Thank goodness you're safe."
"Hold that thought, you two," interjected Sakamoto. "I'm hearing something from the radio."
In the F1M, Sakamoto took the handheld transceiver from Yoshika and placed the radio in the front seat of the seaplane. This was to make Shinta in the Warviour hear what she picked up.
"This is Lieutenant Commander Samuel Boggs, Guard Squadron," said a male voice over the F1M's radio. "We need assistance. More small Neuroi have-"
"I'm going on ahead," interjected Sakamoto. "Himemiya, stay at our rear. Miyafuji and I will draw their fire."
"Ryōkai," replied Shinta.
#
1555 hours
As the Warviour and Sakamoto's F1M arrived toward the Large-Type, they saw that only one Hellcat remained as two were already missing and one became a falling ball of fire. While it continuously dodged the attacks from the Small-Types that were also in the air, Sakamoto, Yoshika, and Shinta knew the pilot's luck wasn't to last.
The Warviour and the F1M rushed to help and while they got the attention of the Small-Types, they unfortunately began to attack them. Although Shinta had dodged the attacks, neither Sakamoto nor Yoshika was lucky as one energy beam hit the F1M's left wings, forcing the seaplane to begin falling.
As Shinta saw what had happened before his eyes, a sensation was felt across the body. He gritted his teeth and in each second, the sensation was getting stronger. He now had certain memories in his mind. Memories that he had kept to himself for three years. As he continued to remember, he felt the beating of his heart.
Suddenly, Warviour was now filled with red light. At that instant, Shinta charged toward the falling F1M and grabbed it much to the surprise of Tanaka in his Hellcat as he never saw an object travel that fast before. The Neuroi began to attack the Warviour again but the Warviour turned its attention to them and went through them without touching them. One by one, each Neuroi was destroyed but the Large-Type.
In Shinkyo Naval Base, everyone from the soldiers to the civilians saw the display of power. They were unaware a male such as Shinta Himemiya emitted such power. Despite that, it was a miracle that the Neuroi were being destroyed.
The Warviour, still carrying the damaged F1M, charged at the Large-Type. Sakamoto and Yoshika, still in their seats, remained silent as it was hard to figure out what was happening before their very eyes.
Slowly, the Warviour bumped directly into the Large-Type. Eventually, the former punched through the latter and it stopped after going through the Neuroi. As the Warviour stopped, the red light vanished and a large hole was erected across the Neuroi. In an instant, the Neuroi dissolved into white-colored pieces. Sakamoto and Yoshika remained in awe and confusion as to what just happened.
What kind of power was that? thought Sakamoto. Himemiya's a man, and thus not a Witch but he had such power this whole time!
He managed to save us with such power, thought Yoshika who was unaware Sakamoto had similar thoughts in her mind. This reminds me of when I first piloted the Shinden in order to save Lynne-chan…
In the Warviour's cockpit, Shinta Himemiya came about. He shouted as he opened his eyes and saw that the white pieces that were the Large-Type he unknowingly destroyed filled the sky.
What happened… thought Shinta. Wait, last I remember, Sakamoto Shosa was-
Shinta then began to move the dials of the Warviour's communicator to 100.04. He assumed that Sakamoto or Yoshika would explain what happened.
"Shinta-san, is that you?" asked Yoshika as she responded.
"Yoshika-san… what… happened?"
"You saved us."
"I… did?"
"Yes but… you used some sort of power. Like that of a Witch's but you're a male."
"I… really don't know what happened. I just remember you and Lieutenant Commander Sakamoto about to fall into the ocean."
"We'll discuss this later," interjected Sakamoto. "Himemiya, please get us back to Shinkyo."
"Ryōkai."
Shinta began to leave with Warviour carrying the damaged F1M with Sakamoto and Yoshika still inside. Gregory Tanaka, still inside his Hellcat, saw as he was still flying with a combination of awe and confusion.
"Whoever that guy is, he really has some skills!" said Tanaka. "Best get back to the Cowpens."
#
1618 hours
Shinta Himemiya in the Warviour, carrying the F1M with Mio Sakamoto and Yoshika Miyafuji still inside, and the Hellcat piloted by Gregory Tanaka returned to Shinkyo Naval Base. Those still in the base cheered as they saw their saviors.
Tanaka, however, separated from the Warviour and the damaged F1M. He returned to the Cowpens, which was still afloat despite the damage from the battle. Shinta then landed the F1M on the base itself as the seaplane lost its left wings, making it unable to land in the water without the float of the left wings. Sakamoto and Yoshika then got off but were approached by the mother and grandmother of the latter.
"Yoshika!" shouted Sayaka as she and Yoshiko appeared to Yoshika.
"Mom," replied Yoshika.
"You were in that plane!?" exclaimed Yoshiko.
"Apparently so," replied Yoshika with Sayaka and Yoshiko turning to Sakamoto.
"Sakamoto-san, long time no see," said Sayaka. "I'd take it you're the reason Yoshika ran off like that hours ago."
"Guilty as charged," replied Sakamoto.
"And I also imagine it was because of this, wasn't it?" asked Yoshiko as she made her daughter, granddaughter, and Sakamoto face Warviour. "What is it anyway?"
"Our newest weapon, the Mobile Knight," replied Sakamoto.
"Meteor!" shouted a Fuso Imperial Army soldier.
Everyone in the base and the Mayflower saw a meteor appear in the sky. They knew what really was and it meant death.
"How could this happen!?" angrily asked Nicholas Kirkman as he watched from the Mayflower's bridge. "Especially at a time like this!"
Suddenly, Warviour moved to its right, surprising everyone. Sakamoto and the Miyafuji women got away from it and the former began to use her handheld transceiver, intent on knowing what Shinta was up to.
"Himemiya, what's gotten into you!?" asked Sakamoto. "Himemiya, respond!"
The wheels on Warviour's legs began to move. Sakamoto led the Miyafuji women further away as the Mobile Knight moved. As it was further away, Warviour lifted itself into the air again.
"Shinta, what's going on!?" asked Chieko Oka in the Warviour as she used her Mobile Knight's communicator to contact Shinta. "Shinta, please respond!"
The Warviour turned again to its right and faced the meteor aimed toward Shinkyo Naval Base. It remained in the air and spread its arms. Under the wrist of each arm opened a panel with a red-colored glass ball. These balls emitted red-colored lighting that met and formed a ball of red-colored energy.
Everyone in the base and on the Mayflower watched with a combination of curiosity and dread. However, Yoshika began to kneel into the ground, much to the concern of Sayaka, Yoshiko, and Sakamoto.
"Miyafuji, what's wrong!?" asked Sakamoto.
"I… don't know," answered Yoshika. "It… has… to be… that power…. "
As the red-colored ball of energy increased in size, the meteor continued to approach Shinkyo. At an instant, the ball of energy collapsed and became a wave of red-colored light aimed at the meteor. Everyone covered their eyes, even Chieko Oka and Kei Miyazaki in their respective Mobile Knights, due to how bright the wave of energy was.
Because they closed their eyes, those in the base and the Mayflower weren't able to see that another miracle had happened. The wave of energy began to hit the meteor and disintegrate it. Because the wave of energy was large and the meteor was as well, it wasn't instant that the former will destroy the latter but the longer it took, the more noise generated from the clash, which was to be problematic for many pairs of ears.
After a minute, the wave of energy faded. Everyone began to open their eyes despite what their ears had to endure and it was only then they realized that another miracle came. With the wave of energy gone, the meteor was reduced to a few pieces that mostly fell into the Pacific Ocean. The Warviour then landed again into the ground.
As it ended, Sakamoto rushed to the Warviour. As she finished climbing the Mobile Knight, she opened the cockpit the same way Shinta had done so the previous day. However, she found that Shinta was unconscious.
"Get up!" shouted Sakamoto. "I said get up!"
Sakamoto began to shake Shinta in order to wake him up but to no avail. Everyone else watched with confusion as to what happened. The Miyafuji women, however, were more shocked than everyone else surrounding them. To Sayaka and Yoshiko, their surprise was that the teenage boy the former met and told the latter about was the pilot of the Warviour. To Yoshika Miyafuji, her surprise was the power that Warviour, or rather Shinta Himemiya, displayed.
Sakamoto, seeing that no amount of shaking was helping, gave up and instead placed each of her hands at each of Shinta's shoulders. She lowered her head with despair and confusion in her mind.
Who are you!? thought Sakamoto. Rather, what are you!?
#
Unknown Location. 0441 hours
"Are you satisfied now?" asked "Master" to Wan as they saw what Warviour did in South Seas Island. "Siks has awakened. That traitor must die!"
"It will be done, Master," replied the figure.
"However, the success of this invasion must come first. Is that understood?"
"Yes."
The figure then vanished. All that was left was the shadowed individual and the two red lights that glowed in the darkness.
Translations
Sou da! – "That's right!"
Hontou desu ka? – "Are you serious?"
Kanji – "Han Character". Originally Hanzi, which are characters used in Chinese writing. The term, in both Chinese and Japanese, is based on how most Chinese call themselves "Hans" after the Han Dynasty due to how much was achieved then.
Yatai – a food stall where people can eat in the streets. Prevalent since the 17th Century up until the mid-20th Century due to increased health concerns across Japanese cities, especially as Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics. Nowadays, yatai are mostly in Fukuoka.
Dāngrán (Chinese) – "Sure"
A/N:
Yes, Ichiro Miyafuji's survival is definite. But for this fanfic only. There's more to come with him involved.
The two mysterious individuals talking amongst themselves in a darkened location that is hours before what goes on in Shinkyo yet they manage to watch what happens there is that, it would be in the UTC00:00 time zone. I used UTC+12:00 for South Seas Island. Although it is Fusoan territory, which would require UTC+09:00 like with real-life Japan, South Seas Island was too distant from Fuso itself to use UTC+09:00 so I used UTC+12:00. This was advice from a certain corner of the web where World Witches fans gathered from so I used that advice.
For more Miyafuji-related matters, I have our protagonist Shinta Himemiya finally meet Yoshika Miyafuji. For those concerned about how their relationship will develop, I leave it to your imagination how far I will go with those two.
The Large-Type Neuroi that appeared after the destruction of the Large-Type from the previous chapter is based on the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Because of that, I had in mind that it can create Small-Type Neuroi to defend itself. More on that later.
The Wing Pack for the LN Mobile Knights, especially Warviour's, is based on the Lifters the titular mecha of Metal Armor Dragonar were given.
The following are references to animated World Witches works:
The super high-explosive rounds and the campaign against the Neuroi Hive "Grigori" were from the last three episodes of Brave Witches.
While she and Sakamoto were being saved by Shinta, Yoshika remembered saving Lynette Bishop. That is a reference to Strike Witches season 2 episode 8: Please Grant Me Wings.
The Small-Type Neuroi launched from the Large-Type are the same ones from Strike Witches season 2 episode 11: To Be Myself. They're based on the disk-esque UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) that became associated with extra-terrestrials in science-fiction stories but there had been theories that during World War II, Nazi Germany developed flying objects that became to be seen as UFOs.
The Warviour charging directly at the Large-Type and the Small-Types it launched while engulfing itself in energy is based on the V-MAX from Blue Comet SPT Layzner. However, the energy is colored red instead of blue though it becomes a reference to the Super-Charged V-MAX used by Ru Kain's SPT-ZK-53U Zakaal.
The ability where Warviour fires a wave of energy is based on the following:
1. The Voltekka from the Space Knight Tekkaman franchise, specifically the version from Space Knight Tekkaman Blade.
2. The Giga Blaster from the Super Robot Wars franchise, where energy is gathered into a large ball and dispersed as a wave.
For those fearing what Shinta is because he can emit energy that can obliterate Neuroi like Witches can, I assure you, he isn't a man that can use magic. More on that later.
As to the rank I'm having Sakamoto addressed with, I went with "Lieutenant Commander" because "Shosa", the actual term for the rank in Fusoan as it is with the real-life Imperial Japanese military and the present-day Japan Self-Defense Forces, can be translated as "Lieutenant Commander", "Major", and/or "Squadron Leader". The latter two are more common depending on the translated material so I went with "Lieutenant Commander" because it's the English equivalent of "Shosa" in the real-life Imperial Japanese Navy and since Fuso is the stand-in for Imperial Japan, best to go with the real-life equivalent.
Originally, I had the Stavrosians use the name "Neuroi" but I decided to fix that as "Nezura". That will be explained later into the story.
