A/N - Hey there Everyone! Welcome to my third fanfic for this anime/manga series. Fair warning, this is a totally different flavor than my previous stories. It's an AU sci-fi with action and a bit of romance. There is language and gore, so if you can't handle that I wouldn't recommend continuing. I'm just going to post the first chapter to gauge how many people might be interested in reading more. So, if you like it and wanna see where the story leads please let me know. The responses will determine whether or not I'll continue to post updates for this one.
With that, please enjoy! :)
Chapter 1
War is a horrible thing. It ravages both lands and people, destroying lives and dousing all sparks of hope. Relative peace was reigning in the world until the Contin made their debut appearance. The Contin, an alien species that had brought the world to the brink of disaster over the last fifty years, was the sole focus of every military power still in existence. In places like Japan life would never be the same. Young women were now tools. Those who were lucky were designated Intendeds and given relatively normal lives, though with the expectation that they would have as many children as possible. Those with the worst luck were designated soldiers. Their freedoms and even their ability to have children were stripped from them as they were forced into the military. And then there are girls like me, privileged enough to have the freedom to eventually have a family, but still a slave to the military until my designated retirement. Though with the horrors I've seen, how could I ever live a normal life? Me, Ogasawara Sachiko, live a normal life? Impossible. Especially not now that I've met her…
"Squads Saber and Kuni - You are a go! I repeat you are a go!"
War rooms, how I hate them. Major Ogasawara Sachiko stood watching the battle surveillance while her subordinate officers each sat at their respective stations. Sounds of the battle, explosions, and screams, echoed off the barren walls of the room. Even after the battles, their screams linger. Sachiko fought the urge to cover her ears; she had to appear strong for her subordinates. It would be no good to fall apart in front of them. Still, the cries of her soldiers never left her.
"Left flank infiltrated but we're pinned down now." The voice of the comms officer in the field sounded so young and scared. Sachiko tried to push the ages of those soldiers on the frontlines from her mind, but at times like this, it was hard to ignore.
"Saber Squad, report!" Second Lieutenant Matsudaira Toko called over the radio. Looking at Sachiko she offered an explanation. "Visuals of the area are shaky at best, Major. We need eyes in the field to tell us what exactly is going on."
The same young voice responded within moments. "We're pinned down! Enemies are in the rubble to the east and on the rooftop to the west. The objective is in that building but every time we make a move enemy snipers try to take us out. Orders?"
"What kind of support do we have in the area?" Major Sachiko asked, turning her attention back to the electronic map of the area. Each allied squad was represented by small blue Vs, identified enemy troops by red Os, and enemy strongholds by red Xs. "There." She pointed to the V just south of the Saber squad location. "Kalis Squad is nearby." She took only a moment to decide her next orders. Though the orders were like a knife in her gut, she spoke them with clear and steady resolve, giving no hint to her hidden emotions. "Order Kalis Squad to get to that rooftop and take out the opposition."
"Major," Captain Todo Shimako looked on in concern, studying the available specs for the building. "There is no way Kalis can get to that location without opening themselves up to an assault from behind. This is suicide."
"I know." Sachiko met her shocked face unflinchingly. "Saber has the equipment to retrieve the objective. This operation cannot fail. The lives of every soldier out there depend on their success."
First Lieutenant Torii Eriko, in charge of monitoring the air space over and near the current operation, spoke up then with an idea. "We have a Ninja a few clicks out. If Kalis can get up there and hold their position long enough we can get the helicopter to them for evac."
Sachiko nodded her agreement with the plan. "Let's give them what chance we can. Matsudaira issues the orders."
Nodding, though visibly troubled by the plan, Toko took to the radio. "Squad Kalis, new orders from Major Ogasawara. Proceed to sector 211. Your objective - Support and cover fire for Squad Saber. Proceed to the rooftop and end the opposition there."
"Come again, command. If I'm looking at the situation correctly, that would put us in deep- uh, we'd be surrounded."
"Affirmative. Plans are already in motion for an evac once the mission objective has been accomplished. Proceed immediately to these coordinates." Sachiko was impressed by the young officer's ability to speak so calmly and with such authority despite her obvious discomfort with the plan.
"Understood." Came a quick clipped response over the radio.
"Well done, Lieutenant." Sachiko nodded her approval to Toko as she turned her attention back to the screens.
A few minutes passed and still, Kalis Squad showed as being stationary.
"We're getting some chatter on the battalion-wide frequency." Captain Shimako stood holding half of a headset to her ear. "I don't know what this is supposed to mean."
"Put it through the speakers." Sachiko ordered. Moments later, the voice of the Kalis comms officer filtered into the room.
"I repeat, has the Valkyrie landed?"
"That's the third time she's repeated the same question." Shimako explained. "How am I supposed to respond? What is Valkyrie?"
Before any further discussion could be broached, a cocky voice came over the speaker. "Affirmative, Kalis, the Valkyrie has risen. I repeat, the Valkyrie has risen. Give 'em hell, ladies!"
"Who was that?" Toko asked, studying the transmission as if the individual's name might show up in the radio waves.
"I'd know that damn voice anywhere." Eriko groaned from across the room. "Sergeant Sato Sei, Saber Squad. The biggest thorn in the ass, though she does typically get the job done."
Sachiko was familiar with her First Lieutenant's complaints regarding the uncouth yet beloved Sergeant of the Saber Squad. Common complaints were against the Sergeant's lack of respect for the chain of command, her lax attitude regarding mission objectives, and a tendency to fuel an inclination toward insubordination amongst her squad members. While Sachiko had not witnessed anything as reprehensible as that last complaint from the Sergeant, she did agree that Sato Sei's behavior was definitely out of the ordinary for someone given command of their own Squad.
"Major, it looks like Kalis is finally on the move." Toko reported, eying the digital readout from across the room.
Turning back, Sachiko saw that the squad was indeed on the move toward their objective. "Curious. Were they waiting for confirmation of this Valkyrie?"
"Have none of you heard the rumors?" Her Second Lieutenant eyed her three superiors curiously.
"No, apparently we have not, Lt. Matsudaira. After the mission is complete you will brief us on what you know." Sachiko ordered smoothly. The truth was she wanted the information immediately, but thoughts of her troops in the field drew her attention back. Those soldiers out there deserved her undivided attention during this mission. Not that any of them would ever know the extent of how much she cared, but that wasn't necessarily the point.
Toko nodded her understanding and they all turned back to monitoring the ongoing conflict. "Looks like Kalis is in position. They are drawing enemy fire away from Saber." Eriko reported. "Sergeant Sato should be beginning her video feed shortly."
This is where things get dangerous for Saber. I'd say a prayer, but who knows if it would do those poor souls any good. Sachiko watched intently as a black screen alongside the digital map display suddenly came to life. It was unsteady, moving erratically at first as the one wearing it was trying to activate the microphone as well.
"Damn it, Private, how the hell is this thing supposed to work again?" Sei's voice sounded suddenly through the speakers followed by a shrill instant of feedback.
"Uh, Sergeant, you're live." A small pale girl suddenly came into view on the screen. Underneath her helmet stuck out two braids, making her look even younger than she probably was. The look on her face was one of annoyance, not what you would expect to see directed toward a superior officer. Though Sato Sei was known for playing it loose with that kind of thing in her squad.
"That's Saber Squad's comms specialist and field medic, Superior Private Shimazo Yoshino." Toko reported as she moved quickly to adjust a few things to clear up their connection.
"Open the channel." Sachiko ordered. Toko nodded, signaling the line was open for communication. "Sergeant Sato, are you in position?"
"Oh shit, how do I respond, Yoshi?" The camera moving erratically again, it appeared Sei was looking for something.
"We are reading you loud and clear, Sergeant." Sachiko responded through gritted teeth. Should I have chosen a more competent squad? The Sergeant Major said she had no better team for this mission so I merely trusted her word. Maybe I should learn more about the squads myself. This is going to be a disaster at this rate.
"Oh, really? Oh, I mean, of course, Major. We are holding position directly inside objective one." In an instant, gone was the casual sounding Sei and entered the commanding voice of Sergeant Sato.
"Why are you holding position? Commence search for objective two without delay." Sachiko couldn't help the exasperation that laced her words. Could this Sergeant not follow simple commands?
"Negative, Major."
"Come again? Are you refusing to proceed?" Lt. Torii cut in over the comm, anger evident in her words.
"Not at all." Sei responded coolly. "The truth is we have had someone inside searching ever since we were pinned down outside."
Unable to keep the shock from her face or voice, Sachiko was the first to respond. "How is that possible? I thought you couldn't get inside?"
"That's right, Major. We couldn't, but she could. The problem was she can't operate the necessary equipment to complete the mission on her own, so she was merely sent ahead to scout the area." The screen showed Sato looking at her squad as they hunkered down behind overturned tables and desks as well as fallen rubble. They all looked calm, despite the sounds of chaos echoing around them from outside.
"Who did you send ahead? Why would you send them alone?" Capt. Todo asked, her soft eyes clearly displaying her confusion.
"Not to worry. The Lance Corporal is a stealth operations specialist. She has an uncanny ability to get anywhere without being seen." Just then a shuffling sound echoed from further in the building. "Hold!" Came a harsh whisper from Sei. On that signal, everyone took cover and waited.
On the screen, they watched as a massive Contin, one of the many invading aliens, rounded the corner at the end of a long corridor. It was easily close to seven feet tall, slightly larger than the typical Conni. Even from this distance, Sachiko could see its sunken eyes and elongated face that looked as if it were in a constant state of melting. Its arms were nearly as long as its body, giving it a primeval appearance.
"Sergeant, I don't know what you're thinking, but I order you to kill that creature immediately. This mission must not fail." Sachiko hissed her command into the mic but received no acknowledgment from the Sergeant.
The creature was moving closer at a steady pace, but still, Sato's squad made no move to engage. Finally, when it was a mere fifty feet from their position and Sachiko was about to yell her order again, a shadow appeared from nowhere dropping from above onto the alien's shoulders. Before the alien could even screech in protest, there was a flash of steel and the alien's head rolled. Blood spurted wildly as the creature's body tumbled forward, carried by its own momentum. The shadow seemed to fly from its perch toward the hidden squad of soldiers. It rolled on impact, coming immediately to its knees, a gleaming and bloody Wakizashi in its bloodstained hand.
Everyone in the command center jumped at the sight of the unexpected assassination. Shimako even appeared as though she were about to be sick. Though she too felt sickened by the sight, Sachiko found she could not take her eyes off the bloody shadow kneeling before Sato on the screen. It was a young girl, that much was clear by the slim figure and delicate looking hand. But she looked like a girl from a horror film, face half covered in blood and wielding the short katana with obvious skill.
Continuing as if nothing had happened, Sato spoke once more. "She is also a damn good assassin when the situation calls for it." The video showed Sato rising from her hiding spot and reaching out a hand to help the little shadow to her feet.
Despite her hand being covered with gore, the girl accepted the help. It was hard to make out her features through the blood, but her eyes were clear and sharp against the darkness of the gore.
"Report, Lance Corporal."
"Objective two located. The path is clear of enemies, for now. Caution is advised though, Sarge."
"Who is that?" Sachiko asked Toko after having muted the mic from their side.
"The Lance Corporal?" Toko clarified as she clicked away at her keyboard.
"Yes."
"I... "
"Lieutenant?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm not finding much. It appears Saber Squad's Lance Corporal went MIA three weeks ago. If the Sergeant promoted someone else to the rank she has yet to report it to administration."
"Curious." Sachiko turned back to study the screen again. The squad was now following the little shadow through the corridors. Occasionally, she would motion for the team to stay back and would disappear from sight only to reappear with a new layer of blood coating her skin.
"Should I continue to dig, Major?" Toko asked from behind her computer screen.
"No, it's not important at this moment."
A short time later Sergeant Sato's voice came through the speakers once more. "Objective two identified and located. Commencing with retrieval. Yoshi, go to it."
An exasperated voice sounded from off camera. "What have I told you about calling me Yoshi?"
"Now is hardly the time to have this discussion again." The one who spoke sounded nervous, though she appeared to be calm and collected on the screen. Corporal Hasekura Rei looked like the ideal soldier, though reports indicated she could be timider at times than you might expect.
"Right, because there are so many times when we aren't drowning in danger where this conversation would be so much more appropriate?" Yoshino seemed to be the sarcastic one of their squad. "I think I can count on one hand the number of days this month we have gone without being shot at, so forgive me if I find this to be just a run-of-the-mill day at this point. Anyway, now is always the best time. Otherwise, we'll just end up dying with a bunch of things that should have been said remaining unspoken."
"Cut the chatter, Yoshi. Retrieve the data and maybe we'll talk about getting you a new call sign." Sato's smug voice came in louder over the speaker, though they could still hear Yoshino's curt response.
"I've heard that before."
"Report, Sergeant." Capt. Shimako spoke into the mic after just a few minutes of silence.
"Retrieval is nearly complete."
"Sergeant," The shadow Lance Corporal was speaking from somewhere off camera. "Enemy reinforcements are on their way. Recommend calling in Ninja evac for Kalis before it's too late."
"Command, did you read that?"
"Copy, Sergeant. From what direction are the enemy forces approaching? We aren't registering any movement on radar yet." Lt Torii responded curtly, obviously irritated by the flaws in her radar system.
Sato relayed the question and the shadow spoke again. "Looks like approximately twenty Conni approaching from the southeast. At their current pace, I anticipate their arrival within five minutes."
"Damn!" Sachiko spoke under her breath. "Lt. Torii, get that Ninja in motion! I want the helicopter over that building now!"
"But Major, what about the group troops? Saber still needs to get out of there with the data." While Eriko was right, Sachiko hated to admit it.
"Sergeant, how much longer with the download?"
"Finishing up now, Major. Don't worry about my team; we'll get out of here no problem. Feel free to evac the support team." Sachiko could tell the Sergeant was confident, but couldn't let her make the call on her own.
"Negative, Sergeant. We'll release the support team for evac as soon as your team is safely away."
"But Major-"
"That's an order, Sergeant! Get your people out of there and bring the objective safely back to base. That's your only concern right now! Am I understood?"
It was clear in her response that the Sergeant was gritting her teeth, but she acknowledged her orders regardless. "Perfectly." The camera showed her attention turning back toward the little shadow, still covered in blood and crouching atop a slab of rubble near the doorway. "Lance Corporal, we need to get outta here on the double. The support team is counting on us. Which route are we taking?"
"Escape route beta." Little shadow sprang from her perch and landed squarely in the doorway. Framed by the glowing lights from the hall, she looked ominous. "Stay on my six and whatever you do, don't stop."
Sachiko would never forget what she watched next. As one, the whole squad charged down corridor after corridor, making their way to their exit point. Along the way, the little shadow dispatched any and all enemies with her Wakizashi. Her squad stayed just far enough behind that she didn't have to worry about their safety, but not far enough that she was ever out of sight.
If it could be said of anyone, then this little soldier knew the dance of death intimately. Sachiko found herself mesmerized by the girl's movements and the smooth motions of her blade. It wasn't until Sergeant Sato's voice came over the line once more that she realized the squad had safely made it to their evac point.
"Go for support team extraction!" Sachiko yelled urgently, now seeing that the battle on the rooftop was not going well. Kalis Squad was pinned down with multiple injuries already being reported. You didn't have any other choice, Sachiko. This is war. She tried to dissuade the guilt rising in her gut, but no words could bring her the comfort she sought. As a military leader, she would always be sending young lives to an early grave. That would never change.
"Ninja1 is reporting now, Major. Heavy damage sustained, but evac was successful. Five wounded and…" Toko grew quiet as her face turned pale. Swallowing hard she continued, "three captured, Major."
"Oh no, they're as good as dead." Eriko said as she turned her face away from the others.
Despite how valiantly little shadow had fought to get their team out quickly, it still hadn't been fast enough for those three poor souls. The officers all tried to remain strong in the face of this but they were only teenage girls after all. Was this supposed to be easy? Sachiko couldn't imagine a time where this would ever be easy, despite knowing that tomorrow she would probably be sending more young girls to their deaths. War really was horrible.
A/N - So, what did you think? Intrigued? Bored? Please, let me know! :)