Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or any of its associated characters. This is a fan work, and not intended to be used for commercial purposes.
Author's Note: I would like to thank all those who reviewed, and apologize for taking my own sweet time to get it out.
Episode XLIX
The Glorious First of May
The battle known as the Glorious First of May was neither Glorious nor a Battle as we think of the word. It was a continuous morass of death, destruction, courage and honor, a testament to the might of united mankind
Justice, Musings
The first human unit to enter combat was the Kongo-class destroyer Kirishima. Rounding one of the spits of land around Tokyo, it was crewed not by its normal complement of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Personnel, but by a crew of handpicked Utopia Corporation employees, none of whom had any qualms about the job they had been asked to do. The Kongo class was designed primarily for Air Defense, but orders had come down from on high that her mission would be to hold off enemy aerial units while she and her sister ships closed enough to open fire with her Surface-to-Surface armament, and blow holes through the lightly protected merchant transports.
Kirishima barely managed to get around the point before the horizon lit up in a spectacular series of crashes and flares of light. Moments later, the USS Missouri made the first surface kill by a battleship since World War II.
When WarGreymon blasted a barricade and sent human bodies flying, Tai's heart leapt, and the fear that he had just decimated part of his own command hurled itself out of the depth of his heart and struck out at him. But then more humans, all wearing unfamiliar gray uniforms, rounded the corner and opened fire with their own assault rifles. The troops and digidestined he had been leading forward returned fire, and soon human bodies on both sides were splayed out, blood running from many wounds. Then WarGreymon ended everything decisively by slamming a huge ball of gold fire down on his enemies.
I've never had to do that before. WarGreymon murmured.
Neither have I. Tai looked down, eyes fixing on the spot that, only minutes before, had been a brave twelve-year old boy, and was now only a charred piece of tarmac. But we can't give up because of that.
I agree. WarGreymon looked up, but the fire in his eyes was dimmed.
The first enemy tank cranked its way around the corner, and WarGreymon charged forward into battle, claws slashing in the sunlight.
Willis clutched his knees to his body as he hid behind a piece of shattered concrete as gunfire ripped by overhead. Gargomon and Endigomon were doing a good job of exchanging fire with their opponents, but whoever they were kept on firing back. Now gunfire was going both ways, the steady staccato beat of incoming rounds matching the continuous roar of outgoing fire. Next to him he could see soldiers on their side calmly engaging the enemy. It was strange, but Willis recollected that this was what they had been trained for after all, and it was up to the IDEF to keep pounding away at the enemy digimon.
We've cleared the first row. Gargomon yelled as he leapt up and into the second story window of a nearby apartment building, taking a quick glance around and jumping down before enemy fire could localize on his position. But they're still shooting pretty hard from the second.
So what's the plan? Willis turned around to look behind him.
Kari, who was standing behind Willis, closed her eyes for a moment, trying to remember the plan. TK says that you should hold here and dig in. Between Team Eagle here, Matt and Tai to the northwest, and everyone else clustered in the middle, we control most of the central portion of Tokyo seaside. We're right in the middle of them, so they have to come to us. The idea is that we hold them off for as long as we can, while the others try to sweep around and relieve us.
Some plan. Willis remarked. He peered down the streets and considered it for a few moments. It was not as bad as it first appeared. Everyone in his team was hunched down behind something solid to give cover, and they had people in the tall buildings around them. This particular stand of edifices reached up to twelve stories, but the buildings around them fell off, as if they were withdrawing from the minor majesty of these lords of the terrain. That meant that they could see anyone coming from the top of their buildings, and meet them on the ground with all the force they could bear.
Can you do it? Kari asked.
Do I have a choice? Tell TK we'll hold here, but I don't know how long we can hold for.
Mimi watched the situation unfold tensely from the control tower at Narita International Airport, the darkened glass windows looking out at a scene from a horror movie. Burning pieces of wreckage were everywhere, and bodies lay haphazardly on the ground, but veteran workers were already clearing them, manhandling them if necessary, tossing everything off the runways.
And there came the first one, a huge 767 commercial passenger jet, still carrying Korea Air logos, wings almost drooping as if the three hour holding pattern it had held off the Japanese coast had exhausted it. But the plane came in fast and furious, leveling off just as it hit the runway, and gradually slowing to a stop. There was a screech from the tires as the pilot pressed back on the brakes slightly more than he had before, but all in all it looked like a good landing.
Almost before he had stopped veteran aircrew from the Korean Air Force had rushed over, moving platforms and ladders into place at all the exits. The first troops of the second wave scrambled down onto the broken and bleeding tarmac of Narita, this group holding three companies of regulars from the Republic of Korea Army, troops who dashed immediately onto the ground, hard boots scraping the ladders as they did so. Even before they could unload all their people there was another long roar and screech as a second jet, this one bearing the logo of the ANA skidded to a halt on an adjacent runway.
It looks like we're doing all right. Lilymon remarked from next to Mimi as she watched the unloading with her huge eyes.
They don't seem to know what we're up to yet. Mimi remarked, watching the skies. She was not the only one, and she could see with her own eyes at least a dozen sentries standing, watching for any signs of enemy attacks. Rosa was out in the nearby countryside somewhere, making sure that the area was clear, or at least clear enough so that nobody would report the massive airlift back to the enemy's central command, wherever that was. I just feel bad at being out of the fight.
Yes, but someone has to do this. Lilymon pointed out logically.
I know. I just hope the others are all right.
The Vilemon and the Flymon who had been filling the skies tried to escape, but it was already too late.
Gate of Destiny! MagnaAngemon's arm moved with circular precision, and the glowing magenta blade cut out a circular patch of air, turning it into the familiar golden door that slowly cracked open. Winds from beyond the realm of earth and fire reached out and seized the fleeing digimon in clamps of steel and iron, slowly and inexorably leashing them and pulling them into the void. Even the few Ultimates left in the battle found themselves pulled, no matter how hard they fought, until they disappeared into the abyss.
Thanks TK. Sora and Garudamon pulled up next to him, wings pumping huge amounts of air past TK's head. They looked worn, but they still looked tough. I'm glad you made it here in time. It was getting a little rough. I think we're about ready to revert to rookie here.
No you're not. TK corrected. The transformation you underwent ought to keep that from ever happening again. Unless you get really battered.
Sora asked.
Didn't anyone tell you? TK sounded surprised.
Shouldn't you have done that? Yolei and Silphymon had come up beside them to join the argument.
I had a lot on my mind. TK groused. But now that you know, you should probably get back to work.
Where do you want us? Sora asked, taking a quick glance at the battlefield to take in her surroundings. Everything looked so different now. Instead of the clear, crisp silver and steel skyline of Tokyo rising towards the sun there were huge pillars of smoke and massive areas of shattered buildings and broken decorations, parks that looked now more like tilled earth than green stretches in a monotonous cityscape. It was hard to believe that this was Tokyo.
Sora, I want you to take the center. I'll send Kari there, and the two of you ought to be able to hold it against all comers, especially with the help of the European Legion. Yolei, I'm sending you to find Cody. Get him out of the ocean, we should have the covered by now. You and he are to go back up Willis, he's should be somewhere in the southern section, but I don't know exactly where. Tai is holding the northern section, and we're sort of thin there, so I'm sending Matt to back him up. I'll be somewhere in the center with Joe, serving as the central command post. Sounds like a plan. Any idea how long we have to wait? Sora asked.
Not a clue. TK responded. It depends on how long it takes our reserves to offload, and to cut through the enemy to relieve us. Right now though, it's just us.
Kari and Angewomon crashed through one of the upper skylight windows that had just been installed in Tokyo Central Station. The mammoth building was now the main IDEF fortress, sitting directly in the enemy's path of attack. Already the building was under constant attack from a variety of different directions.
So what's the situation? Daniel asked as Kari slid to a halt.
Not good. Kari responded. We're sort of stuck with each other for duration. At least until someone can make it here and rescue us. As if to punctuate her words, a rattle of gunfire broke through the windows in one of the offices upstairs, causing Daniel to wince involuntarily.
We can hold here for a long time. Daniel replied after a moment, thunder ringing in his ears as Deltamon moved to counterattack. We've got people all up and down the station and the hotel and in the underground mall so we can pretend we've got a castle and hide out here for a while, but I don't know how long it will be before they bring up heavy reinforcements.
Hopefully a long time. Kari looked pensive for a moment, but then snapped out of her thoughtful mood. But we're never that lucky.
Garudamon appeared briefly outside, and an unlucky Bakemon patrol was almost instantly reduced to ash drifting in the wind, but Garudamon was only barely able to avoid the pair of missiles from some unknown launcher that looped up to chase the Ultimate. On her back, Sora was still clinging, as if a single jerk of those massive wings would knock her loose. In the next moment she was out of view, and someone on the south end of things started screaming.
Are you all right Kari? Angewomon asked, sounding concerned.
Kari answered truthfully. If you had asked me two years ago if I knew what being a digidestined meant, I would have told you that I did. I never thought we would end up here, fighting a war in our own country, against our own people. I never thought that it would look like this. But we never get to choose our wars, when it comes down to it. And by the time we understand what we're being asked to do, it's always too late to back out.
We'll get through this. Angewomon reminded her young charge. We always do after all.
I know. I just don't want to know the price. Kari closed her eyes a moment and drew in that faint sense of nostalgia, letting her mind return to the present. All right, I guess we better break up any attack they send at us.
Tai carefully counted down on his fingers, three, two, one and then nodded as the last finger went down. WarGreymon, who had been crouching silently beside the wall, lashed out with both legs, and the concrete crumbled under the impact, blasting inwards as if it had only been paper. Before the dust cleared and the pieces settled on the ground five digimon, Meramon and Musyamon, charged inside, fists and swords striking with uncanny speed, confusing an already confused situation. When WarGreymon and a dozen human soldiers rushed in, guns blazing and razor-sharp claws flashing in the pale light of the enclosed building, the fight inside ended in a flurry of screams, explosions and yells.
Tai rushed in after them, and quickly saw that everyone was still there. WarGreymon, panting just a little, was trying to shake the discarded data of a digimon off of his claws. One of their friendly digimon had de-digivolved, but was otherwise looking quite all right, if a little shaken. A few humans were tending minor cuts here and there, or reloading weapons as they gazed out through the crowded windows at the street below.
All right. Tai reported through his D3 to Matt. We cleared out the sniper nest watching over the square. Are we still clear to retreat?
Oh, we're just fine. Matt drawled back, his dry sarcasm reassuring through the heat of battle and the constant sound of explosions around them. Everything's just great. We've got the tea on too; you want us to save you a cup?
Nah. Dig some sake up or something. Tai shook his head at the ease that Matt was presenting. He did not know what the blonde digidestined actually felt, but the reassurance and the sense of friendship, the faint hint that he was watching everyone else's back, was calming everyone down. But are we clear?
As clear as you're going to get. There are still a few fast squads running around that I don't think we've gotten yet, but you're pretty clear. That is, I can't see anyone. If they see you, you might see them.
Thanks Matt. You're a lot of help. Tai shook his head, and an imaginary fist at his second in command.
Just get your butt back here in one piece. And don't bother us again. We're busy. Ishida out. Matt 'hung up' on the other end of the line.
What now? One of the soldiers asked.
Well, we've cleared everyone who was attacking our position. But it's only a matter of time before we attract a somewhat heavier attack. Tai shrugged nonchalantly, aware of how much more destruction he had seen than the brave people surrounding him. So we dig in and let them come to us. No need to hurry things up, right?
He glanced back at the city as his people prepared to move out and watched Tokyo begin to burn.
Kachina Bombs! Razor-edged disks flared out into the city, relentlessly chasing down the view digimon who had broken off the assault seconds ago. Between Shakkuomon and Endigomon ambushing the attackers from heavily fortified positions built into the rubble around the first street they had held, and the concentrated fire from a battalion of Chinese troops who had come up on their flank, the attackers had broken off their offensive against Team Eagle's position for a time.
Well, it looks like we're all still here. Willis looked around at the tall blonde boy standing behind him, who had removed his hat and was fanning himself with it. So what's up?
I wanted to see how dug in you were. TK replied honestly. He was sweating from his run across uneven ground, all the way from his main command post back at the center. And I wanted to show you what's going on.
Cody and Yolei had gathered around the two of them while they were talking, and TK took a moment to take out a small tourist-type map of Tokyo, with blue and red lines scratched in near the gentle curve of Tokyo bay. There was a huge curve of blue near the center of the city, as if the ocean had spilled over just a bit, swamping part of the downtown area.
Here you are, covering the southern approaches to Ginza, and the area falling back to the sea in the south. TK pointed at the southern side of the bulge. And here's Tai and Matt, who are actually still advancing to the north, trying to break enemy concentrations before they can push us back into the bay. The real problem is the center. Here his finger came to rest on the deepest part of the blue bulge, where it reached out as if stretching toward the ground of the Imperial Palace and the heart of the city. City center. It's the heart of the city in terms of transportation, especially if they want to secure the beach and keep us from landing. Kari and the London team have secured Tokyo station, slap-bang in the middle of where they want to go, and that's going to cause some major problems. They want that back, and they're already starting to hit it with everything they've got.
Conversely, we've got to hold that center if we really want a chance at this. If I were them I would try to surround the center buildings completely, which means that they've got to attack through the Shimbashi area, which means that they're going to walk right past here. I don't want them to get through. You're to hold here until Lionheart, and the units landed near Yokohama, manage to break through to your command. Do not let them separate you from the center. Got it?
Got it TK. Willis nodded as he considered the size of the task that TK had just handed him. It was indeed formidable, but it was not impossible, and his mind was already leaping ahead. We can keep the southern flank in line, and we'll do our best to keep them away from that station.
TK looked back north. I'm needed back at the center. Good luck.
General Alexander stormed ashore at one of the few intact piers that they had managed to seize on the coastline at the center of the city. Behind him a solid contingent of three hundred troops and digidestined rolled off of the flat bottomed boat that had brought him in. Now the heavy equipment was starting to arrive behind him. Samuel Hayes had disappeared somewhere in the crunch to help unload his armored battalions. His troops were already fighting on the seaside, over the broken and unburied bones of dying buildings and people, but he was trying to get his vehicles unloaded, and move his big guns into position.
Fancy seeing you here. Colonel McLeod was still there, blackened face covered with sweat tracks, but he saluted as if he was standing in pristine uniform in the middle of the academy. I hope everything went well with your trip.
Something must have, we got here after all. So, how fast are we disembarking? Alexander looked around at the bustle of activity, blotting out the hollow booms of heavy guns exchanging fire that sounded like it was coming from across the street.
As fast as humanly possible. We lost some transports up north when they made a surprise foray into the middle, but all the rest of us are still here, ready and accounted for. McLeod gestured to where three different gun batteries had set up, visible over the heads of moving people a block away. But it's the kids who are doing the most work now. It's really all up to them.
Hiroaki Ishida flattened himself against the wall as a salvo of gunfire passed him by, close enough to send shards of concrete rattling over the walls. The rough concrete of the tunnel pressed against his back as he hunched there, safely around the edge of a corner, invisible in the darkness of the underground. He had lost sight of Jim, and if that was not bad enough, they seemed to have him pinned down inside the tunnels and he had no idea where he was. He was not even sure who they were, as he had not stuck his head around the corner. Occasionally he used his stolen handgun to fire a round or two around the corner to keep whoever was behind him from getting too eager to find him, but that was about it.
Professor Takenouchi crunched down through the broken glass on the floor, wincing at the sound of gunfire, and crouched down next to the news reporter.
Where are we? Ishida asked, calmly reloading the gun in his hand. The motion was automatic, a leftover from a few years working the foreign news desk overseas, but the lack of a full set of magazines in his backpack disturbed him.
Right at the university. Professor Takenouchi looked grim, but he was not giving way yet. That heartened Mr. Ishida some. We can get in there, and probably get away from our pursuers.
How do we do that? Hiroaki asked, snapping a bullet around the corner to insure the privacy of the conversation.
The university is huge. If we hole up in one building it will take them forever to search everywhere. We'll have a pretty good chance of getting away from them.
Great. How do we get away?
We're next to one of the chemistry buildings. They have an underground doorway here, but the door is from the old days when they used to do high energy experiments in the basement. It's five centimeter thick steel plate. Whoever is behind us will take some time to break through that. Noriko and the rest of the digidestined are holding it open for us. Mr. Takenouchi brushed the sweat-laden hair out of his forehead.
Well, it's better than nothing. Hiroaki remarked. You know, my Dad once gave me some good advice. I didn't listen to him though.
What did he say? Professor Takenouchi checked his six nervously.
Never have children. Hiroaki shook his head and snorted. How did my kids get me into this? I could have been in a nice, comfortable coffin without them. Well either waylet's charge!
He emptied a good part of his pistol back around the corner and ran off after the sprinting university professor.
So what's up? Willis flippantly asked the towering Endigomon.
Are you trying to make everything into a joke? Endigomon asked tartly, staring at the sky for a few moments and then shrugging. I see nothing in the sky.
Thank God for small favors. Willis brushed some of the dirt off of his hands and let it fall to the ground. He had only been to Japan a relative handful of times before, and this experience was shaping up to be the worst visit in his life.
Fortunately, everything had fallen quiet, at least for the intervening moments. Time was passing with glacial slowness, so slow that Willis swore he could have counted a hundred seconds before the dirt he had brushed off his hand fell to the ground, but every moment of peace and quiet seemed a godsend. It also made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He knew that there were hundreds of humans and digimon lurking around in the ruins in front of him, each one trying to kill him. But for now they were staying ominously silent.
See anything? Cody asked, skidding up behind Willis.
they're running around down there somewhere, but there's only occasional shooting. Willis shrugged and waved Endigomon back to cover. It looks like they're hesitant to attack.
TK predicted it. Cody reported, trying to shake some of the dirt out of his hair. But he didn't predict how long it would last. It looks like everyone else is waiting for the other side to attack. But that favors us, because the more time passes, the luckier we get.
So we sit here. Willis grumbled. I don't like the fact that we're not moving to support the center, but I guess that it's for the best. Let's just try to hold here for now. At least they aren't throwing the kitchen sink at us yet.
TK sat impatiently on the ground. Right now he was the center. Hundreds, even thousands, of men, women and digimon were waiting for him to make the choice to send them fatally out into battle, or to keep them here, ready for the enemy to come to them. It was a responsibility that he detested, but he understood its importance. Every human, every digimon, every citizen of Tokyo and the world called Earth might very well depend on the mind and skill of the man in charge on the ground. And he knew, intellectually at least, that there was nobody more fit for the job then him. But it hurt to be kept here, waiting for that fatal call, the runner out of breath, throwing the fatal report at him. He yearned, from his gut to his soul, to be out on the front lines.
Any changes? TK asked Joe for the umpteenth time in the past few minutes.
Joe did not even look up. He was busy trying to remove a metal splinter from the side of a Gazimon that two heavier orderlies were holding down. His tweezers barely shook as he answered properly and correctly. TK, trust meI would tell you if anything happenedall right?
I know. I knowit's just that, well, I never wanted this. I never wanted to get stuck with command of this operation.
Did anybody? Joe asked rhetorically, emerging with the splinter, a long and nasty looking shard of shrapnel, grasped firmly in the tips of his tweezers. He nodded at the orderlies, who began to bandage the wound. With barely a flicker of his hand he threw the splinter away and moved down to the next patient.
You're really going fast. TK noted.
That thing with the crest worked. Joe reported. I can actually feel what's wrong with them. It's amazing. I can hardly believe it, yetI have no choice to believe it. The gleam in his eyes could not have been mistaken for the glare off of his glasses. It's amazing how much we've changed, just going through this. Then again, I suppose it's not. We keep saying that, but I don't think that it really is amazing at allwe've been through a lot, but we're doing what any normal human would be doing right now.
Joe, any normal human would have wet their pants a long time ago. TK grinned at the older digidestined.
I know. Joe replied gently, seeming wise beyond his years. But they would fight for their homes anyway. Now pass me the scissors.
TK looked down at the digimon splayed out on the table in front of them and flinched away, handing the scissors over to Joe without trying to figure out what was going on.
A black-skinned digidestined that TK had never seen before, dressed in loose fitting white clothing rushed up to him and saluted, a gesture that made him look more like a boy scout than a military man. Sir, an urgent report just came in from the center. Sora reports that she can see the enemy massing for an attack back out of sight of Tokyo Station.
Damn it! TK swore, and rushed for the radio room.
Hunker and down! Daniel yelled from above.
Kari did not think, and that saved her life. She dived beneath a concrete barrier with Angewomon right behind her. A moment later there was a terrific explosion, and a wave of heat that felt to Kari like she was in the middle of an inferno. Her hair crinkled, like it did if she left the blow drier on too long, and then the blast of flame was over.
What's up there? Kari asked, trying not to get flamed by the next attack.
Bad newsAngewomon peered over the top of the embankment and ducked back down. They brought a Diaboromon.
Oh no Kari's eyes bulged suddenly. Is he alone or
I saw a lot of other digimon around. It looks like he brought a lot of company with himfor what that's worth. Angewomon pulled a glowing silver arrow out of thin air and pulled herself up over the embankment, sending a single shot sizzling toward their opponents before ducking back down again. I got a MechanorimonI think; but I missed the big fish.
Kari sat down, hunching even further in the rough shelter of the concrete, trying to figure out a good response to this.
Suddenly a huge bass voice boomed out a deep throated challenge right on top of them, the echoes penetrating even into the ground floor.
mode change toFighter Mode!
It's all yours ImperialDramon! Davis's voice broke in as he and Ken crunched down in the broken pavement right outside the door Kari was supposed to be guarding. Behind them ImperialDramon rumbled into battle, his blue shield held before him like that of a knight, every step of the tree-trunk legs shaking the very earth.
It's about time somebody showed up! Kari yelled. It's getting uncomfortable in here y'know!
Sorry we're late. Ken scampered agilely over the wall. Traffic was just horrible.
And we couldn't find your favorite kind of pizza. Davis shrugged. What is it with people these days?
Kari rolled her eyes. It was good to be back with friends.
Angewomon stuck her head out again and winced, ducking back down.
What's happening out there? Kari asked.
It's messy. Angewomon shook her head, nearly hitting Ken in the face with her long blonde hair.
Aren't you worried? Kari asked Davis.
Davis shrugged with his usual devil-may-care grin. We'll take that turkey.
Nothing to worry about. Ken reported, still panting.
All right. ImperialDramon boomed from outside. Who else wants some?
Lots of people, pal. Ken closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Lots of people.
Tai, they're not hitting us. WarGreymon reported, peering through the broken window above Tai's head out at the city at large. Smoke, columns of it billowing from shattered vehicles and burning structures was obscuring most of the view, but Mega level digimon were equipped with senses beyond those of normal humans. Tai could feel it too, perhaps through his connection to WarGreymon, a bad feeling that something was moving around them. But it was not moving towards them, and that worried the leader of the digidestined more than even he cared to admit.
Matt, we have a problem. Tai spoke into his D3.
What else is new? Matt cracked back. From the various grumbling sounds in the background he was still in the same place, ensconced with the same people. That meant he was about a block east of Tai's position.
I think they've started avoiding us. Tai reported grimly. I'm seeing a lot of people moving over towards the center.
So the squirt was right. Matt considered that for a moment. They're going to hit the station with everything they've got.
Got a good way around this one? Tai asked.
What say we go crash their party? Matt replied calmly.
I thought you'd never get around to suggesting that. Tai shook his head and grinned his good old fashioned devil-may-care grin. What do you have to say to that TK?
You're going to hit them in the side? TK sounded resigned.
Of course. Matt laughed. What else would we do?
I should have known. Try not to endanger your own team. Good luck Tai. TK cut off the link, clearly going to pay attention to something else.
All right WarGreymon. Tai leapt onto the Mega's broad back. Let's go hurt somebody.
You got it. WarGreymon rumbled, and then launched himself out of the window.
It was odd in the middle of the war, but all that Tai could feel himself was the wind rushing through his hair, the exhilaration he always felt when WarGreymon took to the skies and the ground fell away beneath them. There was the familiar blast as cold air hit him in the face, burning through his nostrils and waking him up. For a moment he could feel himself at peace.
Then the columns of smoke reasserted themselves. WarGreymon banked sharply as something that sounded like a machine gun began to chatter in their direction, and then there were bolts of fire lifting off the ground, smashing skywards in their general direction as WarGreymon evaded them with the grace of a dancer. Still, sooner or later Tai knew that they would start hitting him, slowing him down and letting more hit him.
Ice Wolf Spikes! MetalGarurumon's missile ports opened up and a veritable storm of steel and cold fire broke over the enemy. Positions that had been busy firing at the red and gold warrior had missed the blue and silver wolf barreling over the horizon, and now they paid the price for revealing their positions.
Hey Matt! Tai called out as soon as the blonde digidestined got close enough to hear him. How about we take a few chunks out of their flank? He pointed down where the hints of repeated movement revealed dozens of digimon trying to sulk their way through the crowded streets.
In answer MetalGarurumon let go of another blast of missiles, each individual projectile hunting down another target in the sequence. Digimon screamed as those relentless hunters zeroed in on them, and then they died.
Make a hole! Tai yelled, and then the two of them blasted into the middle of the enemy column.
Jim awoke to searing pain. It burnt through him as if he was on fire, reaching down with dread tentacles to awaken every cell in his body. His mind screamed, his brain no longer under his control, acting in response only to the most primal of all stimuli, and his cultured self reeled under the barrage. It was all he could do to see, let alone to understand what the source of this agony was. But even then he could sense that something was wrong with his left arm.
He stared down and was hard pressed, even in his current state, not to retch in horror over the piece of shredded meat and bone that, scant moments ago had been his left arm. There was nothing left worth saving from the elbow down and his mind recoiled from the shocking realization that a literal piece of him was gone forever.
Still, he was enough of a doctor to understand that he was going to bleed to death. The room was burning around him, and here he was, his life fluid slowly leaking out of him through the shredded remains of his own body.
He grunted, and with an effort that he would have never suspected himself of being able to put out, crawled over to the nearest fire, and jammed his stump of an arm into the flame.
Fire Mission! Sonja yelled into her D3. Give me fifty rounds of the eighty-one on target seven!
The Russian sergeant on the other end of the line confirmed everything quickly, and then dropped off the network.
Ten of the eighty-one millimeter mortars currently assigned to the penetration team coughed up, and seconds later a fresh bloom of explosions walked across the tall, imposing concrete structure of the ruined office building. Then came another wave of fiery roses, then another and another until
Target has ceased fire. Someone from the forward elements reported.
We're moving forward. That sounded like Yuri in the fore, moving cautiously through broken ground with the most experienced of the Russian digidestined and the Pathfinders from the airborne division. everybody down! A series of explosions interrupted the transmission.
What was that? Sonja asked.
Mortar battery. That was Anna, still in the air with their aerial team. We'll take 'em.
Pinned down again? Sergev asked, the frustration in his voice threatening to break lose over the nearby people.
Sonja sighed. This is really slow going.
I know. Sergev rolled his eyes. The first eleven kilometers had been easy enough, with only occasional fire from wayward dark digimon. With the help of every part of the Japanese public transit system that they could steal, the forward elements had managed to get within four kilometers of the center of the city before they ran into the real opposition. Snipers in the buildings, hordes of screaming shapes that appeared out of the night, artillery and mortars adding their voices to the unearthly chorus, all of it added up to a horrible mess through which they had to move. The effect was similar to having your road turn into a swamp, progress became slow as more and more time was spent rooting out enemy positions instead of moving forward.
We're moving at less than a kilometer an hour. Sonja raged.
Sergev checked his watch. It was already ten thirty-seven.
Willis watched with some anticipation as his digital watch ticked over the eleven o'clock mark, and then sighed in relief. He had expected somewhere deep inside him for the enemy attack that was surely coming to materialize at some particular mark in time, and eleven sounded like a nice round number. But nothing appeared, and only the moans of those already injured and the occasional distant explosion marked the passing of the hours.
If he had any water left in his body after sweating so much of it out, Cody might have wet his pants. It was hard to figure out what was going on now, and where his friends were. About an hour ago they had heard the impact of dozens of heavy explosions over near the center and Tokyo Station, where Kari, Ken and Davis were reported to be hiding. Whatever that attack had planned to accomplish, it had died off about fifteen minutes after it started.
But no news had come from that sector. Cody believed that if anything had happened to one of his friends, he would have heard, but he was worried now, hearing nothing from anybody. The silence was atypical for Tokyo, no cars honking, no sound of the ordinary life in the Metropolis. All the citizens cowered in their basements, leaving the industrial and commercial sectors of town nearly uninhabited. But it was the lack of news, not the local silence that unnerved him, the fact that he knew that some of his friends had just fought for their lives, or perhaps were still fighting, and he neither knew anything about it, or could do anything about it. There was only the continuing, never-ending pounding waves of fear that emanated from his gut and threatened to paralyze his body.
Armadillomon came up to him and quietly tried to restore some of the smaller boy's confidence, but there was little he could do.
The dull thud of heavy artillery shattered Cody's inner thoughts, followed almost just as quickly by a warning shout from Maria, who was stationed on a tall building some distance away. Cody threw himself and Armadillomon into the concrete shelter that had been meticulously built out of the rubble in the gap in the battle.
A huge salvo of artillery fire landed almost fifty meters behind their position. Then, as the dust was still rising in the air and the rubble was still raining down around them, five hundred Champion and Ultimate digimon emerged from enemy territory and charged straight at them.
We're still engaged all along the center. It's really slowing things down. Kari noted clinically. TK nodded curtly at this report, trying to ignore the flutter in his heart as he listened to the continual sounds of fighting directly behind her. Everything was being continuously engaged right now. From Willis on the south swinging around the semi-circular arc they had cut out of Tokyo to Tai and Matt's section in the northwest, fighting had broken out everywhere. The enemy did not come as smart as they might, but there were a lot of them, digimon and human alike, and they were determined, TK would give them that. Vicious street-fighting, encounters taking place by soldiers so close they could touch their enemies, all these things dominated several kilometers of front line spread out all over the city.
Heavy artillery positioned in the center of friendly positions slaughtered enemy units in the open. Enemy artillery, apparently cited in Utopia Corporation's buildings all over Tokyo returned the favor. It was disintegrating into a huge bloody mess. And Sergev still had not managed to break through. Neither had their other trump card come into play yet.
What the hell? General Alexander and General Hayes, manning the computerized sand table at GHQ, stared at each other in utter disbelief.
That's what they said sir. The flag lieutenant they had stolen from the Stennis saluted again, fighting the urge to lose his poker face. He was not winning that particular battle.
Someone better tell wonder boy. Hayes stared in disbelief at the message.
Alexander rolled his eyes and signaled to their signalman, an eight year old boy with a D3 and a small digimon that stared curiously at the screens. Uh TK, we may have a small change in the plan.
What is it? TK snapped. The last hour had not been easy on him.
Well remember how you said the whole world would rise against the darkness? Alexander asked carefully.
TK sounded testy.
it appears that the rest of the world is here a little ahead of schedule. Ummdo we have a nice open space like a park that isn't in the middle of a firefight?
Kari, dirty with a rip in both sleeves of her shirt, hugged the ground inside the station, ignoring the grimy feel of the dirty and dusty concrete pressing against her. It had been a dark day, and it was getting darker. The attack had broken over them like a tidal wave. Magnificent in its fury, artillery had swept over them, deafening every human on the premises with its deep-throated roar. It had not actually had much effect since almost everybody was under cover, but it had been impressive. Then humans and digimon appeared screaming out of the bedlam and blasting their way toward the station. Many perished in their charge, but others found cover and began the long firefight that had been raging for the past hour.
Davis and Ken looked pretty grim too. They were conscious of the fact that all three of them were of little use here, except that their digimon were the cornerstones of the defenses at the station. They could not abandon their friends, and they dared not turn their back on their foes. So they were here, in their own little slice of hell, filled with the shattered glass that flew through the air, and the shards of concrete that tore through their flesh and the dirt that got everywhere.
Their world had narrowed to the front door, which their digimon along were holding. Sounds from fighting at other corners of the building filled their ears, the smell of gunpowder and fire filled their noses. But they could do nothing about any of that. Their only world consisted of that door, and the various other life and death struggles that nearly tore the building apart were none of their business. Still, the feeling of helplessness refused to go away.
TK had been their constant companion. His voice, reduced by the emotional stress to a single monotone, had called down artillery strike after artillery strike, shells sending the earth fountaining up into the atmosphere. A steady of rain of high explosive shells had kept their enemies at bay, creating a curtain of fire between them and their enemies, but now there was something happening with him. He was yelling at someone, something was happening, but it was so hard to tell what.
Where are we? Hiroaki asked Professor Takenouchi.
The telecommunications building. The professor answered shortly. They were all gathered there, parents, digidestined, police and some of the ghostbusters. Not many though. Jim was still missing. Frightened people hunched over the electronics in the narrow rooms that they had picked to hide in. We're in the control stations, way down in the bowels of the building. It will take them forever to find us here.
One of the graduate students smirked at that, shaking dust out of his hair as he surveyed the scene. Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya huddled closer together. Noriko appeared to have fallen asleep on her feet. But there was something else. Deep inside Hiroaki Ishida's heart, in the place where everything he had ever done resided, something glimmered briefly and, for a few moments, looked like hope.
The telecommunications building. He repeated the statement, but it was obvious that he was actually thinking of something else, something important as his eyes unfocused. He was a newsman. It had been his life, and probably had cost him his marriage. But he was a good newsman. He had known the power of knowledge, and information, in a way that even his digidestined children never got around to understanding. Peoplepeople were power, and information caused people to act, so information was power. But only if you did something with it. Can we access the transmission systems?
One of the graduate students responded, looking at Mr. Ishida in surprise. We could manage to hijack a carrier wave or two, get on the main transmission lines forsay television. Why?
Have you ever heard of the power of the press? Hiroaki Ishida asked, and the light in his eyes began to grow.
Unknown to TK, to General Alexander or to most everyone else on the task force that was even now fighting for its life in the middle of Japan, the whole world had been watching them. There was no news directly from the front of course, but people were speculating. Most of the minor television stations were still suffering from the lack of centralized control from their broadcast headquarters, but the vast array of satellites, television studios and transmission systems was still intact. All over the world work had ceased as in million of villages and cities people huddled around every available television set that they could find. They stared at the screens, trying to draw extra meaning from every word that military and political analysts gave. Everyone knew that something was going on in Japan, but nobody could say what.
Most of the information that the remaining military command centers received from the battle zone was delivered to their intelligence centers from a source named Helios Ascendant. The picture it painted was so dire as to be unbelievable, but there was nothing else to react on. Central commands in most militarized nations was still destroyed, but phone calls from various generals had filled the phone lines, asking the same question over and over: What are you going to do about it? The responses had been inventive, varied, and often unprintable, but now it was clear that the showdown to end all showdowns was underway. In the end the answer had changed and shifted until it was the only one it could ever be.
The first help to arrive had managed to get repaired scant hours earlier. Pope Air Force Base in the United States had been pretty heavily hit by digimon on day one, but its mechanics were determined, and had the time to work thanks to the IDEF. Hours before the invasion, the first of the huge transports was winging its way off the ground. Before the first fingers of the dawn of battle touched Tokyo, the entire 82nd Airborne Division was in the air and on their way. Other planes followed in their wake, rising from a hundred airfields in a dozen countries.
All around the world people followed these updates urgently, watched colonels who just a week ago were forgotten in the press of military bureaucracy attempt to restore faith in their militaries. They watched interviews with people whose relatives, whose children, had left to go into what was being called the Shining Legions, and waited with hope in their heart. And they prayed.
In the empty sky over Shinjuku's huge main park the sky began to fill with parachutes.
Author's Note: I would like to thank all those who reviewed, and apologize for taking my own sweet time to get it out.
The Glorious First of May
The first human unit to enter combat was the Kongo-class destroyer Kirishima. Rounding one of the spits of land around Tokyo, it was crewed not by its normal complement of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Personnel, but by a crew of handpicked Utopia Corporation employees, none of whom had any qualms about the job they had been asked to do. The Kongo class was designed primarily for Air Defense, but orders had come down from on high that her mission would be to hold off enemy aerial units while she and her sister ships closed enough to open fire with her Surface-to-Surface armament, and blow holes through the lightly protected merchant transports.
Kirishima barely managed to get around the point before the horizon lit up in a spectacular series of crashes and flares of light. Moments later, the USS Missouri made the first surface kill by a battleship since World War II.
When WarGreymon blasted a barricade and sent human bodies flying, Tai's heart leapt, and the fear that he had just decimated part of his own command hurled itself out of the depth of his heart and struck out at him. But then more humans, all wearing unfamiliar gray uniforms, rounded the corner and opened fire with their own assault rifles. The troops and digidestined he had been leading forward returned fire, and soon human bodies on both sides were splayed out, blood running from many wounds. Then WarGreymon ended everything decisively by slamming a huge ball of gold fire down on his enemies.
I've never had to do that before. WarGreymon murmured.
Neither have I. Tai looked down, eyes fixing on the spot that, only minutes before, had been a brave twelve-year old boy, and was now only a charred piece of tarmac. But we can't give up because of that.
I agree. WarGreymon looked up, but the fire in his eyes was dimmed.
The first enemy tank cranked its way around the corner, and WarGreymon charged forward into battle, claws slashing in the sunlight.
Willis clutched his knees to his body as he hid behind a piece of shattered concrete as gunfire ripped by overhead. Gargomon and Endigomon were doing a good job of exchanging fire with their opponents, but whoever they were kept on firing back. Now gunfire was going both ways, the steady staccato beat of incoming rounds matching the continuous roar of outgoing fire. Next to him he could see soldiers on their side calmly engaging the enemy. It was strange, but Willis recollected that this was what they had been trained for after all, and it was up to the IDEF to keep pounding away at the enemy digimon.
We've cleared the first row. Gargomon yelled as he leapt up and into the second story window of a nearby apartment building, taking a quick glance around and jumping down before enemy fire could localize on his position. But they're still shooting pretty hard from the second.
So what's the plan? Willis turned around to look behind him.
Kari, who was standing behind Willis, closed her eyes for a moment, trying to remember the plan. TK says that you should hold here and dig in. Between Team Eagle here, Matt and Tai to the northwest, and everyone else clustered in the middle, we control most of the central portion of Tokyo seaside. We're right in the middle of them, so they have to come to us. The idea is that we hold them off for as long as we can, while the others try to sweep around and relieve us.
Some plan. Willis remarked. He peered down the streets and considered it for a few moments. It was not as bad as it first appeared. Everyone in his team was hunched down behind something solid to give cover, and they had people in the tall buildings around them. This particular stand of edifices reached up to twelve stories, but the buildings around them fell off, as if they were withdrawing from the minor majesty of these lords of the terrain. That meant that they could see anyone coming from the top of their buildings, and meet them on the ground with all the force they could bear.
Can you do it? Kari asked.
Do I have a choice? Tell TK we'll hold here, but I don't know how long we can hold for.
Mimi watched the situation unfold tensely from the control tower at Narita International Airport, the darkened glass windows looking out at a scene from a horror movie. Burning pieces of wreckage were everywhere, and bodies lay haphazardly on the ground, but veteran workers were already clearing them, manhandling them if necessary, tossing everything off the runways.
And there came the first one, a huge 767 commercial passenger jet, still carrying Korea Air logos, wings almost drooping as if the three hour holding pattern it had held off the Japanese coast had exhausted it. But the plane came in fast and furious, leveling off just as it hit the runway, and gradually slowing to a stop. There was a screech from the tires as the pilot pressed back on the brakes slightly more than he had before, but all in all it looked like a good landing.
Almost before he had stopped veteran aircrew from the Korean Air Force had rushed over, moving platforms and ladders into place at all the exits. The first troops of the second wave scrambled down onto the broken and bleeding tarmac of Narita, this group holding three companies of regulars from the Republic of Korea Army, troops who dashed immediately onto the ground, hard boots scraping the ladders as they did so. Even before they could unload all their people there was another long roar and screech as a second jet, this one bearing the logo of the ANA skidded to a halt on an adjacent runway.
It looks like we're doing all right. Lilymon remarked from next to Mimi as she watched the unloading with her huge eyes.
They don't seem to know what we're up to yet. Mimi remarked, watching the skies. She was not the only one, and she could see with her own eyes at least a dozen sentries standing, watching for any signs of enemy attacks. Rosa was out in the nearby countryside somewhere, making sure that the area was clear, or at least clear enough so that nobody would report the massive airlift back to the enemy's central command, wherever that was. I just feel bad at being out of the fight.
Yes, but someone has to do this. Lilymon pointed out logically.
I know. I just hope the others are all right.
The Vilemon and the Flymon who had been filling the skies tried to escape, but it was already too late.
Gate of Destiny! MagnaAngemon's arm moved with circular precision, and the glowing magenta blade cut out a circular patch of air, turning it into the familiar golden door that slowly cracked open. Winds from beyond the realm of earth and fire reached out and seized the fleeing digimon in clamps of steel and iron, slowly and inexorably leashing them and pulling them into the void. Even the few Ultimates left in the battle found themselves pulled, no matter how hard they fought, until they disappeared into the abyss.
Thanks TK. Sora and Garudamon pulled up next to him, wings pumping huge amounts of air past TK's head. They looked worn, but they still looked tough. I'm glad you made it here in time. It was getting a little rough. I think we're about ready to revert to rookie here.
No you're not. TK corrected. The transformation you underwent ought to keep that from ever happening again. Unless you get really battered.
Sora asked.
Didn't anyone tell you? TK sounded surprised.
Shouldn't you have done that? Yolei and Silphymon had come up beside them to join the argument.
I had a lot on my mind. TK groused. But now that you know, you should probably get back to work.
Where do you want us? Sora asked, taking a quick glance at the battlefield to take in her surroundings. Everything looked so different now. Instead of the clear, crisp silver and steel skyline of Tokyo rising towards the sun there were huge pillars of smoke and massive areas of shattered buildings and broken decorations, parks that looked now more like tilled earth than green stretches in a monotonous cityscape. It was hard to believe that this was Tokyo.
Sora, I want you to take the center. I'll send Kari there, and the two of you ought to be able to hold it against all comers, especially with the help of the European Legion. Yolei, I'm sending you to find Cody. Get him out of the ocean, we should have the covered by now. You and he are to go back up Willis, he's should be somewhere in the southern section, but I don't know exactly where. Tai is holding the northern section, and we're sort of thin there, so I'm sending Matt to back him up. I'll be somewhere in the center with Joe, serving as the central command post. Sounds like a plan. Any idea how long we have to wait? Sora asked.
Not a clue. TK responded. It depends on how long it takes our reserves to offload, and to cut through the enemy to relieve us. Right now though, it's just us.
Kari and Angewomon crashed through one of the upper skylight windows that had just been installed in Tokyo Central Station. The mammoth building was now the main IDEF fortress, sitting directly in the enemy's path of attack. Already the building was under constant attack from a variety of different directions.
So what's the situation? Daniel asked as Kari slid to a halt.
Not good. Kari responded. We're sort of stuck with each other for duration. At least until someone can make it here and rescue us. As if to punctuate her words, a rattle of gunfire broke through the windows in one of the offices upstairs, causing Daniel to wince involuntarily.
We can hold here for a long time. Daniel replied after a moment, thunder ringing in his ears as Deltamon moved to counterattack. We've got people all up and down the station and the hotel and in the underground mall so we can pretend we've got a castle and hide out here for a while, but I don't know how long it will be before they bring up heavy reinforcements.
Hopefully a long time. Kari looked pensive for a moment, but then snapped out of her thoughtful mood. But we're never that lucky.
Garudamon appeared briefly outside, and an unlucky Bakemon patrol was almost instantly reduced to ash drifting in the wind, but Garudamon was only barely able to avoid the pair of missiles from some unknown launcher that looped up to chase the Ultimate. On her back, Sora was still clinging, as if a single jerk of those massive wings would knock her loose. In the next moment she was out of view, and someone on the south end of things started screaming.
Are you all right Kari? Angewomon asked, sounding concerned.
Kari answered truthfully. If you had asked me two years ago if I knew what being a digidestined meant, I would have told you that I did. I never thought we would end up here, fighting a war in our own country, against our own people. I never thought that it would look like this. But we never get to choose our wars, when it comes down to it. And by the time we understand what we're being asked to do, it's always too late to back out.
We'll get through this. Angewomon reminded her young charge. We always do after all.
I know. I just don't want to know the price. Kari closed her eyes a moment and drew in that faint sense of nostalgia, letting her mind return to the present. All right, I guess we better break up any attack they send at us.
Tai carefully counted down on his fingers, three, two, one and then nodded as the last finger went down. WarGreymon, who had been crouching silently beside the wall, lashed out with both legs, and the concrete crumbled under the impact, blasting inwards as if it had only been paper. Before the dust cleared and the pieces settled on the ground five digimon, Meramon and Musyamon, charged inside, fists and swords striking with uncanny speed, confusing an already confused situation. When WarGreymon and a dozen human soldiers rushed in, guns blazing and razor-sharp claws flashing in the pale light of the enclosed building, the fight inside ended in a flurry of screams, explosions and yells.
Tai rushed in after them, and quickly saw that everyone was still there. WarGreymon, panting just a little, was trying to shake the discarded data of a digimon off of his claws. One of their friendly digimon had de-digivolved, but was otherwise looking quite all right, if a little shaken. A few humans were tending minor cuts here and there, or reloading weapons as they gazed out through the crowded windows at the street below.
All right. Tai reported through his D3 to Matt. We cleared out the sniper nest watching over the square. Are we still clear to retreat?
Oh, we're just fine. Matt drawled back, his dry sarcasm reassuring through the heat of battle and the constant sound of explosions around them. Everything's just great. We've got the tea on too; you want us to save you a cup?
Nah. Dig some sake up or something. Tai shook his head at the ease that Matt was presenting. He did not know what the blonde digidestined actually felt, but the reassurance and the sense of friendship, the faint hint that he was watching everyone else's back, was calming everyone down. But are we clear?
As clear as you're going to get. There are still a few fast squads running around that I don't think we've gotten yet, but you're pretty clear. That is, I can't see anyone. If they see you, you might see them.
Thanks Matt. You're a lot of help. Tai shook his head, and an imaginary fist at his second in command.
Just get your butt back here in one piece. And don't bother us again. We're busy. Ishida out. Matt 'hung up' on the other end of the line.
What now? One of the soldiers asked.
Well, we've cleared everyone who was attacking our position. But it's only a matter of time before we attract a somewhat heavier attack. Tai shrugged nonchalantly, aware of how much more destruction he had seen than the brave people surrounding him. So we dig in and let them come to us. No need to hurry things up, right?
He glanced back at the city as his people prepared to move out and watched Tokyo begin to burn.
Kachina Bombs! Razor-edged disks flared out into the city, relentlessly chasing down the view digimon who had broken off the assault seconds ago. Between Shakkuomon and Endigomon ambushing the attackers from heavily fortified positions built into the rubble around the first street they had held, and the concentrated fire from a battalion of Chinese troops who had come up on their flank, the attackers had broken off their offensive against Team Eagle's position for a time.
Well, it looks like we're all still here. Willis looked around at the tall blonde boy standing behind him, who had removed his hat and was fanning himself with it. So what's up?
I wanted to see how dug in you were. TK replied honestly. He was sweating from his run across uneven ground, all the way from his main command post back at the center. And I wanted to show you what's going on.
Cody and Yolei had gathered around the two of them while they were talking, and TK took a moment to take out a small tourist-type map of Tokyo, with blue and red lines scratched in near the gentle curve of Tokyo bay. There was a huge curve of blue near the center of the city, as if the ocean had spilled over just a bit, swamping part of the downtown area.
Here you are, covering the southern approaches to Ginza, and the area falling back to the sea in the south. TK pointed at the southern side of the bulge. And here's Tai and Matt, who are actually still advancing to the north, trying to break enemy concentrations before they can push us back into the bay. The real problem is the center. Here his finger came to rest on the deepest part of the blue bulge, where it reached out as if stretching toward the ground of the Imperial Palace and the heart of the city. City center. It's the heart of the city in terms of transportation, especially if they want to secure the beach and keep us from landing. Kari and the London team have secured Tokyo station, slap-bang in the middle of where they want to go, and that's going to cause some major problems. They want that back, and they're already starting to hit it with everything they've got.
Conversely, we've got to hold that center if we really want a chance at this. If I were them I would try to surround the center buildings completely, which means that they've got to attack through the Shimbashi area, which means that they're going to walk right past here. I don't want them to get through. You're to hold here until Lionheart, and the units landed near Yokohama, manage to break through to your command. Do not let them separate you from the center. Got it?
Got it TK. Willis nodded as he considered the size of the task that TK had just handed him. It was indeed formidable, but it was not impossible, and his mind was already leaping ahead. We can keep the southern flank in line, and we'll do our best to keep them away from that station.
TK looked back north. I'm needed back at the center. Good luck.
General Alexander stormed ashore at one of the few intact piers that they had managed to seize on the coastline at the center of the city. Behind him a solid contingent of three hundred troops and digidestined rolled off of the flat bottomed boat that had brought him in. Now the heavy equipment was starting to arrive behind him. Samuel Hayes had disappeared somewhere in the crunch to help unload his armored battalions. His troops were already fighting on the seaside, over the broken and unburied bones of dying buildings and people, but he was trying to get his vehicles unloaded, and move his big guns into position.
Fancy seeing you here. Colonel McLeod was still there, blackened face covered with sweat tracks, but he saluted as if he was standing in pristine uniform in the middle of the academy. I hope everything went well with your trip.
Something must have, we got here after all. So, how fast are we disembarking? Alexander looked around at the bustle of activity, blotting out the hollow booms of heavy guns exchanging fire that sounded like it was coming from across the street.
As fast as humanly possible. We lost some transports up north when they made a surprise foray into the middle, but all the rest of us are still here, ready and accounted for. McLeod gestured to where three different gun batteries had set up, visible over the heads of moving people a block away. But it's the kids who are doing the most work now. It's really all up to them.
Hiroaki Ishida flattened himself against the wall as a salvo of gunfire passed him by, close enough to send shards of concrete rattling over the walls. The rough concrete of the tunnel pressed against his back as he hunched there, safely around the edge of a corner, invisible in the darkness of the underground. He had lost sight of Jim, and if that was not bad enough, they seemed to have him pinned down inside the tunnels and he had no idea where he was. He was not even sure who they were, as he had not stuck his head around the corner. Occasionally he used his stolen handgun to fire a round or two around the corner to keep whoever was behind him from getting too eager to find him, but that was about it.
Professor Takenouchi crunched down through the broken glass on the floor, wincing at the sound of gunfire, and crouched down next to the news reporter.
Where are we? Ishida asked, calmly reloading the gun in his hand. The motion was automatic, a leftover from a few years working the foreign news desk overseas, but the lack of a full set of magazines in his backpack disturbed him.
Right at the university. Professor Takenouchi looked grim, but he was not giving way yet. That heartened Mr. Ishida some. We can get in there, and probably get away from our pursuers.
How do we do that? Hiroaki asked, snapping a bullet around the corner to insure the privacy of the conversation.
The university is huge. If we hole up in one building it will take them forever to search everywhere. We'll have a pretty good chance of getting away from them.
Great. How do we get away?
We're next to one of the chemistry buildings. They have an underground doorway here, but the door is from the old days when they used to do high energy experiments in the basement. It's five centimeter thick steel plate. Whoever is behind us will take some time to break through that. Noriko and the rest of the digidestined are holding it open for us. Mr. Takenouchi brushed the sweat-laden hair out of his forehead.
Well, it's better than nothing. Hiroaki remarked. You know, my Dad once gave me some good advice. I didn't listen to him though.
What did he say? Professor Takenouchi checked his six nervously.
Never have children. Hiroaki shook his head and snorted. How did my kids get me into this? I could have been in a nice, comfortable coffin without them. Well either waylet's charge!
He emptied a good part of his pistol back around the corner and ran off after the sprinting university professor.
So what's up? Willis flippantly asked the towering Endigomon.
Are you trying to make everything into a joke? Endigomon asked tartly, staring at the sky for a few moments and then shrugging. I see nothing in the sky.
Thank God for small favors. Willis brushed some of the dirt off of his hands and let it fall to the ground. He had only been to Japan a relative handful of times before, and this experience was shaping up to be the worst visit in his life.
Fortunately, everything had fallen quiet, at least for the intervening moments. Time was passing with glacial slowness, so slow that Willis swore he could have counted a hundred seconds before the dirt he had brushed off his hand fell to the ground, but every moment of peace and quiet seemed a godsend. It also made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He knew that there were hundreds of humans and digimon lurking around in the ruins in front of him, each one trying to kill him. But for now they were staying ominously silent.
See anything? Cody asked, skidding up behind Willis.
they're running around down there somewhere, but there's only occasional shooting. Willis shrugged and waved Endigomon back to cover. It looks like they're hesitant to attack.
TK predicted it. Cody reported, trying to shake some of the dirt out of his hair. But he didn't predict how long it would last. It looks like everyone else is waiting for the other side to attack. But that favors us, because the more time passes, the luckier we get.
So we sit here. Willis grumbled. I don't like the fact that we're not moving to support the center, but I guess that it's for the best. Let's just try to hold here for now. At least they aren't throwing the kitchen sink at us yet.
TK sat impatiently on the ground. Right now he was the center. Hundreds, even thousands, of men, women and digimon were waiting for him to make the choice to send them fatally out into battle, or to keep them here, ready for the enemy to come to them. It was a responsibility that he detested, but he understood its importance. Every human, every digimon, every citizen of Tokyo and the world called Earth might very well depend on the mind and skill of the man in charge on the ground. And he knew, intellectually at least, that there was nobody more fit for the job then him. But it hurt to be kept here, waiting for that fatal call, the runner out of breath, throwing the fatal report at him. He yearned, from his gut to his soul, to be out on the front lines.
Any changes? TK asked Joe for the umpteenth time in the past few minutes.
Joe did not even look up. He was busy trying to remove a metal splinter from the side of a Gazimon that two heavier orderlies were holding down. His tweezers barely shook as he answered properly and correctly. TK, trust meI would tell you if anything happenedall right?
I know. I knowit's just that, well, I never wanted this. I never wanted to get stuck with command of this operation.
Did anybody? Joe asked rhetorically, emerging with the splinter, a long and nasty looking shard of shrapnel, grasped firmly in the tips of his tweezers. He nodded at the orderlies, who began to bandage the wound. With barely a flicker of his hand he threw the splinter away and moved down to the next patient.
You're really going fast. TK noted.
That thing with the crest worked. Joe reported. I can actually feel what's wrong with them. It's amazing. I can hardly believe it, yetI have no choice to believe it. The gleam in his eyes could not have been mistaken for the glare off of his glasses. It's amazing how much we've changed, just going through this. Then again, I suppose it's not. We keep saying that, but I don't think that it really is amazing at allwe've been through a lot, but we're doing what any normal human would be doing right now.
Joe, any normal human would have wet their pants a long time ago. TK grinned at the older digidestined.
I know. Joe replied gently, seeming wise beyond his years. But they would fight for their homes anyway. Now pass me the scissors.
TK looked down at the digimon splayed out on the table in front of them and flinched away, handing the scissors over to Joe without trying to figure out what was going on.
A black-skinned digidestined that TK had never seen before, dressed in loose fitting white clothing rushed up to him and saluted, a gesture that made him look more like a boy scout than a military man. Sir, an urgent report just came in from the center. Sora reports that she can see the enemy massing for an attack back out of sight of Tokyo Station.
Damn it! TK swore, and rushed for the radio room.
Hunker and down! Daniel yelled from above.
Kari did not think, and that saved her life. She dived beneath a concrete barrier with Angewomon right behind her. A moment later there was a terrific explosion, and a wave of heat that felt to Kari like she was in the middle of an inferno. Her hair crinkled, like it did if she left the blow drier on too long, and then the blast of flame was over.
What's up there? Kari asked, trying not to get flamed by the next attack.
Bad newsAngewomon peered over the top of the embankment and ducked back down. They brought a Diaboromon.
Oh no Kari's eyes bulged suddenly. Is he alone or
I saw a lot of other digimon around. It looks like he brought a lot of company with himfor what that's worth. Angewomon pulled a glowing silver arrow out of thin air and pulled herself up over the embankment, sending a single shot sizzling toward their opponents before ducking back down again. I got a MechanorimonI think; but I missed the big fish.
Kari sat down, hunching even further in the rough shelter of the concrete, trying to figure out a good response to this.
Suddenly a huge bass voice boomed out a deep throated challenge right on top of them, the echoes penetrating even into the ground floor.
mode change toFighter Mode!
It's all yours ImperialDramon! Davis's voice broke in as he and Ken crunched down in the broken pavement right outside the door Kari was supposed to be guarding. Behind them ImperialDramon rumbled into battle, his blue shield held before him like that of a knight, every step of the tree-trunk legs shaking the very earth.
It's about time somebody showed up! Kari yelled. It's getting uncomfortable in here y'know!
Sorry we're late. Ken scampered agilely over the wall. Traffic was just horrible.
And we couldn't find your favorite kind of pizza. Davis shrugged. What is it with people these days?
Kari rolled her eyes. It was good to be back with friends.
Angewomon stuck her head out again and winced, ducking back down.
What's happening out there? Kari asked.
It's messy. Angewomon shook her head, nearly hitting Ken in the face with her long blonde hair.
Aren't you worried? Kari asked Davis.
Davis shrugged with his usual devil-may-care grin. We'll take that turkey.
Nothing to worry about. Ken reported, still panting.
All right. ImperialDramon boomed from outside. Who else wants some?
Lots of people, pal. Ken closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Lots of people.
Tai, they're not hitting us. WarGreymon reported, peering through the broken window above Tai's head out at the city at large. Smoke, columns of it billowing from shattered vehicles and burning structures was obscuring most of the view, but Mega level digimon were equipped with senses beyond those of normal humans. Tai could feel it too, perhaps through his connection to WarGreymon, a bad feeling that something was moving around them. But it was not moving towards them, and that worried the leader of the digidestined more than even he cared to admit.
Matt, we have a problem. Tai spoke into his D3.
What else is new? Matt cracked back. From the various grumbling sounds in the background he was still in the same place, ensconced with the same people. That meant he was about a block east of Tai's position.
I think they've started avoiding us. Tai reported grimly. I'm seeing a lot of people moving over towards the center.
So the squirt was right. Matt considered that for a moment. They're going to hit the station with everything they've got.
Got a good way around this one? Tai asked.
What say we go crash their party? Matt replied calmly.
I thought you'd never get around to suggesting that. Tai shook his head and grinned his good old fashioned devil-may-care grin. What do you have to say to that TK?
You're going to hit them in the side? TK sounded resigned.
Of course. Matt laughed. What else would we do?
I should have known. Try not to endanger your own team. Good luck Tai. TK cut off the link, clearly going to pay attention to something else.
All right WarGreymon. Tai leapt onto the Mega's broad back. Let's go hurt somebody.
You got it. WarGreymon rumbled, and then launched himself out of the window.
It was odd in the middle of the war, but all that Tai could feel himself was the wind rushing through his hair, the exhilaration he always felt when WarGreymon took to the skies and the ground fell away beneath them. There was the familiar blast as cold air hit him in the face, burning through his nostrils and waking him up. For a moment he could feel himself at peace.
Then the columns of smoke reasserted themselves. WarGreymon banked sharply as something that sounded like a machine gun began to chatter in their direction, and then there were bolts of fire lifting off the ground, smashing skywards in their general direction as WarGreymon evaded them with the grace of a dancer. Still, sooner or later Tai knew that they would start hitting him, slowing him down and letting more hit him.
Ice Wolf Spikes! MetalGarurumon's missile ports opened up and a veritable storm of steel and cold fire broke over the enemy. Positions that had been busy firing at the red and gold warrior had missed the blue and silver wolf barreling over the horizon, and now they paid the price for revealing their positions.
Hey Matt! Tai called out as soon as the blonde digidestined got close enough to hear him. How about we take a few chunks out of their flank? He pointed down where the hints of repeated movement revealed dozens of digimon trying to sulk their way through the crowded streets.
In answer MetalGarurumon let go of another blast of missiles, each individual projectile hunting down another target in the sequence. Digimon screamed as those relentless hunters zeroed in on them, and then they died.
Make a hole! Tai yelled, and then the two of them blasted into the middle of the enemy column.
Jim awoke to searing pain. It burnt through him as if he was on fire, reaching down with dread tentacles to awaken every cell in his body. His mind screamed, his brain no longer under his control, acting in response only to the most primal of all stimuli, and his cultured self reeled under the barrage. It was all he could do to see, let alone to understand what the source of this agony was. But even then he could sense that something was wrong with his left arm.
He stared down and was hard pressed, even in his current state, not to retch in horror over the piece of shredded meat and bone that, scant moments ago had been his left arm. There was nothing left worth saving from the elbow down and his mind recoiled from the shocking realization that a literal piece of him was gone forever.
Still, he was enough of a doctor to understand that he was going to bleed to death. The room was burning around him, and here he was, his life fluid slowly leaking out of him through the shredded remains of his own body.
He grunted, and with an effort that he would have never suspected himself of being able to put out, crawled over to the nearest fire, and jammed his stump of an arm into the flame.
Fire Mission! Sonja yelled into her D3. Give me fifty rounds of the eighty-one on target seven!
The Russian sergeant on the other end of the line confirmed everything quickly, and then dropped off the network.
Ten of the eighty-one millimeter mortars currently assigned to the penetration team coughed up, and seconds later a fresh bloom of explosions walked across the tall, imposing concrete structure of the ruined office building. Then came another wave of fiery roses, then another and another until
Target has ceased fire. Someone from the forward elements reported.
We're moving forward. That sounded like Yuri in the fore, moving cautiously through broken ground with the most experienced of the Russian digidestined and the Pathfinders from the airborne division. everybody down! A series of explosions interrupted the transmission.
What was that? Sonja asked.
Mortar battery. That was Anna, still in the air with their aerial team. We'll take 'em.
Pinned down again? Sergev asked, the frustration in his voice threatening to break lose over the nearby people.
Sonja sighed. This is really slow going.
I know. Sergev rolled his eyes. The first eleven kilometers had been easy enough, with only occasional fire from wayward dark digimon. With the help of every part of the Japanese public transit system that they could steal, the forward elements had managed to get within four kilometers of the center of the city before they ran into the real opposition. Snipers in the buildings, hordes of screaming shapes that appeared out of the night, artillery and mortars adding their voices to the unearthly chorus, all of it added up to a horrible mess through which they had to move. The effect was similar to having your road turn into a swamp, progress became slow as more and more time was spent rooting out enemy positions instead of moving forward.
We're moving at less than a kilometer an hour. Sonja raged.
Sergev checked his watch. It was already ten thirty-seven.
Willis watched with some anticipation as his digital watch ticked over the eleven o'clock mark, and then sighed in relief. He had expected somewhere deep inside him for the enemy attack that was surely coming to materialize at some particular mark in time, and eleven sounded like a nice round number. But nothing appeared, and only the moans of those already injured and the occasional distant explosion marked the passing of the hours.
If he had any water left in his body after sweating so much of it out, Cody might have wet his pants. It was hard to figure out what was going on now, and where his friends were. About an hour ago they had heard the impact of dozens of heavy explosions over near the center and Tokyo Station, where Kari, Ken and Davis were reported to be hiding. Whatever that attack had planned to accomplish, it had died off about fifteen minutes after it started.
But no news had come from that sector. Cody believed that if anything had happened to one of his friends, he would have heard, but he was worried now, hearing nothing from anybody. The silence was atypical for Tokyo, no cars honking, no sound of the ordinary life in the Metropolis. All the citizens cowered in their basements, leaving the industrial and commercial sectors of town nearly uninhabited. But it was the lack of news, not the local silence that unnerved him, the fact that he knew that some of his friends had just fought for their lives, or perhaps were still fighting, and he neither knew anything about it, or could do anything about it. There was only the continuing, never-ending pounding waves of fear that emanated from his gut and threatened to paralyze his body.
Armadillomon came up to him and quietly tried to restore some of the smaller boy's confidence, but there was little he could do.
The dull thud of heavy artillery shattered Cody's inner thoughts, followed almost just as quickly by a warning shout from Maria, who was stationed on a tall building some distance away. Cody threw himself and Armadillomon into the concrete shelter that had been meticulously built out of the rubble in the gap in the battle.
A huge salvo of artillery fire landed almost fifty meters behind their position. Then, as the dust was still rising in the air and the rubble was still raining down around them, five hundred Champion and Ultimate digimon emerged from enemy territory and charged straight at them.
We're still engaged all along the center. It's really slowing things down. Kari noted clinically. TK nodded curtly at this report, trying to ignore the flutter in his heart as he listened to the continual sounds of fighting directly behind her. Everything was being continuously engaged right now. From Willis on the south swinging around the semi-circular arc they had cut out of Tokyo to Tai and Matt's section in the northwest, fighting had broken out everywhere. The enemy did not come as smart as they might, but there were a lot of them, digimon and human alike, and they were determined, TK would give them that. Vicious street-fighting, encounters taking place by soldiers so close they could touch their enemies, all these things dominated several kilometers of front line spread out all over the city.
Heavy artillery positioned in the center of friendly positions slaughtered enemy units in the open. Enemy artillery, apparently cited in Utopia Corporation's buildings all over Tokyo returned the favor. It was disintegrating into a huge bloody mess. And Sergev still had not managed to break through. Neither had their other trump card come into play yet.
What the hell? General Alexander and General Hayes, manning the computerized sand table at GHQ, stared at each other in utter disbelief.
That's what they said sir. The flag lieutenant they had stolen from the Stennis saluted again, fighting the urge to lose his poker face. He was not winning that particular battle.
Someone better tell wonder boy. Hayes stared in disbelief at the message.
Alexander rolled his eyes and signaled to their signalman, an eight year old boy with a D3 and a small digimon that stared curiously at the screens. Uh TK, we may have a small change in the plan.
What is it? TK snapped. The last hour had not been easy on him.
Well remember how you said the whole world would rise against the darkness? Alexander asked carefully.
TK sounded testy.
it appears that the rest of the world is here a little ahead of schedule. Ummdo we have a nice open space like a park that isn't in the middle of a firefight?
Kari, dirty with a rip in both sleeves of her shirt, hugged the ground inside the station, ignoring the grimy feel of the dirty and dusty concrete pressing against her. It had been a dark day, and it was getting darker. The attack had broken over them like a tidal wave. Magnificent in its fury, artillery had swept over them, deafening every human on the premises with its deep-throated roar. It had not actually had much effect since almost everybody was under cover, but it had been impressive. Then humans and digimon appeared screaming out of the bedlam and blasting their way toward the station. Many perished in their charge, but others found cover and began the long firefight that had been raging for the past hour.
Davis and Ken looked pretty grim too. They were conscious of the fact that all three of them were of little use here, except that their digimon were the cornerstones of the defenses at the station. They could not abandon their friends, and they dared not turn their back on their foes. So they were here, in their own little slice of hell, filled with the shattered glass that flew through the air, and the shards of concrete that tore through their flesh and the dirt that got everywhere.
Their world had narrowed to the front door, which their digimon along were holding. Sounds from fighting at other corners of the building filled their ears, the smell of gunpowder and fire filled their noses. But they could do nothing about any of that. Their only world consisted of that door, and the various other life and death struggles that nearly tore the building apart were none of their business. Still, the feeling of helplessness refused to go away.
TK had been their constant companion. His voice, reduced by the emotional stress to a single monotone, had called down artillery strike after artillery strike, shells sending the earth fountaining up into the atmosphere. A steady of rain of high explosive shells had kept their enemies at bay, creating a curtain of fire between them and their enemies, but now there was something happening with him. He was yelling at someone, something was happening, but it was so hard to tell what.
Where are we? Hiroaki asked Professor Takenouchi.
The telecommunications building. The professor answered shortly. They were all gathered there, parents, digidestined, police and some of the ghostbusters. Not many though. Jim was still missing. Frightened people hunched over the electronics in the narrow rooms that they had picked to hide in. We're in the control stations, way down in the bowels of the building. It will take them forever to find us here.
One of the graduate students smirked at that, shaking dust out of his hair as he surveyed the scene. Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya huddled closer together. Noriko appeared to have fallen asleep on her feet. But there was something else. Deep inside Hiroaki Ishida's heart, in the place where everything he had ever done resided, something glimmered briefly and, for a few moments, looked like hope.
The telecommunications building. He repeated the statement, but it was obvious that he was actually thinking of something else, something important as his eyes unfocused. He was a newsman. It had been his life, and probably had cost him his marriage. But he was a good newsman. He had known the power of knowledge, and information, in a way that even his digidestined children never got around to understanding. Peoplepeople were power, and information caused people to act, so information was power. But only if you did something with it. Can we access the transmission systems?
One of the graduate students responded, looking at Mr. Ishida in surprise. We could manage to hijack a carrier wave or two, get on the main transmission lines forsay television. Why?
Have you ever heard of the power of the press? Hiroaki Ishida asked, and the light in his eyes began to grow.
Unknown to TK, to General Alexander or to most everyone else on the task force that was even now fighting for its life in the middle of Japan, the whole world had been watching them. There was no news directly from the front of course, but people were speculating. Most of the minor television stations were still suffering from the lack of centralized control from their broadcast headquarters, but the vast array of satellites, television studios and transmission systems was still intact. All over the world work had ceased as in million of villages and cities people huddled around every available television set that they could find. They stared at the screens, trying to draw extra meaning from every word that military and political analysts gave. Everyone knew that something was going on in Japan, but nobody could say what.
Most of the information that the remaining military command centers received from the battle zone was delivered to their intelligence centers from a source named Helios Ascendant. The picture it painted was so dire as to be unbelievable, but there was nothing else to react on. Central commands in most militarized nations was still destroyed, but phone calls from various generals had filled the phone lines, asking the same question over and over: What are you going to do about it? The responses had been inventive, varied, and often unprintable, but now it was clear that the showdown to end all showdowns was underway. In the end the answer had changed and shifted until it was the only one it could ever be.
The first help to arrive had managed to get repaired scant hours earlier. Pope Air Force Base in the United States had been pretty heavily hit by digimon on day one, but its mechanics were determined, and had the time to work thanks to the IDEF. Hours before the invasion, the first of the huge transports was winging its way off the ground. Before the first fingers of the dawn of battle touched Tokyo, the entire 82nd Airborne Division was in the air and on their way. Other planes followed in their wake, rising from a hundred airfields in a dozen countries.
All around the world people followed these updates urgently, watched colonels who just a week ago were forgotten in the press of military bureaucracy attempt to restore faith in their militaries. They watched interviews with people whose relatives, whose children, had left to go into what was being called the Shining Legions, and waited with hope in their heart. And they prayed.
In the empty sky over Shinjuku's huge main park the sky began to fill with parachutes.