【77 - A Lieutenant versus Lieutenant!? The Strategists' Gambit...!】

Grey was a depressing colour - for Henka it also represented control. Not just the grey of the uniform Urobach always wore. She recalled grey walking zones, indistinct buildings, metal walls and desks. Simple chairs and grey uniforms. Reading academic literature - of which she was lucky to have. She read reports and data, but she never read for fun. There was the stuff she hated reading the least, and to her that was the 'fun'.

Years of her life flashed by in her mind: growing bigger as she sat at that bland grey desk, her bland clothes changing slightly as she aged, the studies getting harder as she advanced.

At the lieutenant academy, when they learnt of other worlds the nature looked so staggeringly weird. All that brightness and openness was so surprising to see that they never really thought about how it would feel. When their battalion arrived at Aurellia the further study into 'popular culture' was a bit too confusing to grasp at first - and when it clicked the most distinctive rush of emotions flooded through Henka, and all of them.

Television shows, video games, movies and other media already had stories about 'dimensional invaders' - these were quirky villains from cartoons. Representation, almost. The addiction to cosplaying and roleplaying overwhelmed them all, and to their General it might not look like silliness but just that they were doing their job - familiarising themselves with the natives as much as possible, through immersion. In reality it was neither; it was a desperate craving for what they'd tasted for the first time: freedom. Freedom of expression, of irresponsibility, of fun...

There was no doubt in Henka's mind that all of them envied humanity. They envied the idea of high schools, hobbies, part-time jobs, friendships, beaches, choices - life. They envied life. But with the mental link keeping them stuck to Urobach, as well as the knowledge of what was coming, nobody could simply run away. The world war was going to happen, and now it has. While involving strange matter was obviously unusual, nuclear weaponry was standard for planetary takeover.

As Henka scrambled through halls - ducking and hiding where she could - she didn't reckon she had a good chance of coming out of this alive. But she wanted to ensure that her death meant something before she stopped breathing. She just wasn't ready to consider ending it now with her knife. She clutched the small weapon tight. After a bunch of soldiers ran between doorways down the bend, Henka then went down and turned the way they'd come, walking in a dim space that made the red emergency flashes more prominent. She crept along cautiously on grated flooring - then she heard the sound of a door whooshing open and a rectangle of light illuminated her and the wall behind. She froze.

"Henka…?"

It was Ijiwa. He stood there in his Arabian Knight get-up, his monochrome greens reflective in the dark. He watched her with a mix of confusion and… something else Henka couldn't put her finger on. Was it awe?

Ijiwa continued, "You're free from the General's mind link and you're working with the rebels now? Is it true?"

Henka straightened out of her creeping posture and faced him, "...Yes."

Ijiwa stared for a quiet moment, "That means we're enemies."

"I'm aware."

She watched Ijiwa saunter in and take a stance in front of her, blocking her from going any further. Henka was frustrated but Ijiwa still looked so curious.

"How did you get free?"

"That 'heretic witch' as she's called, her psychic powers are real. I went out on a limb and lucked out. It turns out all these powers are magic, somehow. Hillary built a wall in my brain."

As Ijiwa watched her explain his expression began to take on resentment, "I suppose you feel very special, very clever that you were able to find a way out."

"Yes," Henka said with honesty.

"But you came back. You let him know you were still alive. So not very clever."

"I'm banking on these guys. I believe they have a shot."

"Of course they don't. None of us do."

"It's not about us. You know…" Henka took a breath. After all her lying this past hour she was readying herself to spill some truth, "This planet is beautiful and we can't let him ruin it." When Ijiwa said nothing Henka pushed, "We can't let ourselves ruin it."

"I bet you're loving this," Ijiwa spoke with disgust now, "this role you're playing - this choice."

"I am…" Henka admitted again, though quieter than before.

"Well enjoy playing the hero while it lasts, because I promise you it won't be lasting much longer." There was undisguised bitterness in his voice now and he held out his deck, a stream of green energy trailing upward.

Henka stared before raising her own deck, "A duel of lieutenant versus lieutenant then…"

"And not some practice game either," Ijiwa warned.

Tables appeared for their game. If Urobach hadn't already seen Henka through his mind link with Ijiwa, it wouldn't take long for him to notice them duelling. Even more reason to try and end this quickly.

Henka charged fire-light and then Ijiwa followed by charging nature - his first Chainrex, Super Chainkind. For his strategy he needed two in his mana zone first and then to play a third, Henka knew that.

"I summon Critive-1, Heaven Wings!" The metal armoured angel was the first creature to appear. It would prevent him looping earlier by reducing the cost of Chainrex.

"I summon Jasmine, Mist Faerie and sacrifice her to boost one," his mana was now three - he needed ten.

"I summon Testa Rossa, Survival Star!" The blue cyborg in a suit joined Critive-1. Now any creature Ijiwa played without summoning, on his turns, would go to his graveyard instead. His eyes narrowed only infinitesimally - he'd not lost any confidence.

"I summon Ochappi, Pure-Hearted Faerie and boost the Jasmine in my graveyard as mana," The pink-haired fae waved her snow wand.

He has five mana, so halfway there, Henka thought. I'm ending this now.

Henka charged her fourth mana, "Critive-1, ike!" It flew out at once and smashed through a panel. The pieces reassembled and Ijiwa turned over Faerie Re:Life with a smile.

"Guard Strike on Testa Rossa," A hologram of the green-haired fae leapt through Testa Rossa who froze in place. "No bringing out Valchuris, and no rev changing with it either."

Henka scowled, her jaw clenched - he was just as aware of her strategy.

Ijiwa smiled at his next draw and charged his second Chainrex, Super Chainkind. "I summon Teranesk, Hard Battling Ancient Dragon!" A colourful prehistoric wyvern screeched, manifesting as it beat leathery wings. "My top three cards are revealed, and I can take as many creatures from among them to my hand as I wish." Another Teranesk was revealed, followed by Myscu Mirage and Jasmine. "I'll take none… so all are added to my mana zone instead."

Henka felt a chill as the floating cards flew toward his table and in an orderly fashion turned upside-down and placed themselves within his mana zone. Nine mana, next turn he would be able to charge then start looping so long as he had a third Chainrex and all other required pieces.

Henka drew and decided to try her luck again.

She couldn't summon Valchuris normally because her other two cards were multi-civ. She charged one and moved on to attacking, "Critive-1, ike!" It flew forth and broke another shield - no trigger nor guard strike. "Testa Rossa, ike!" He generated electricity in his arms before jumping forth and unleashing it on another panel. Scratches appeared on Ijiwa as he tensed up against the attack.

"Strikeback! I discard Jasmine to summon another Ochappi, Pure-Hearted Faerie and then Jasmine is added to my mana zone."

Ten mana, the thought blared in Henka's mind like a neon warning sign. She pressed on, "Since that was my second attack I can summon Valchuris, Dragon Armoured!" The weasel appeared turning over his hammer and ready to pounce. "Valchuris attacks and revolution change! I bring out Katsuking Jr, Kung Fu Revolution!" The new creature brightened before it was replaced with a big dragon with nun-chucks. It was red and silver; ghostly blue fire blazed behind the holes in its mask. "I gain a shield and you lose one, instantly!" The weapon swung through a shield, and when Ijiwa came back with nothing she pointed one more time, "Break his last shield, ike!" More glass flew and Ijiwa grunted as he received deeper cuts. One beneath his cheekbone had the potential to scar.

His reticence vanished as he chuckled, "Is that it? You couldn't end me?" His taunts had Henka narrowing her eyes but saying nothing. Ijiwa drew, he studied his hand with a slight frown and Henka felt an enormous relief settle in that he didn't immediately start playing - it meant he didn't have all the pieces he needed. But he didn't look like he was accepting defeat yet either.

"Why don't you join me?" Henka tried and saw the distrust immediately cloud his features. "We never spoke a whole lot, but I know it's what you want."

"We don't get what we want. And your ridiculous flirtation with freedom is going to end you. I am-!" he slammed down his card, "a lieutenant of the Outer Path! I summon a third Ochappi, Pure-Hearted Faerie. And then I Neo Evolve her into Great Grasper!" The 14,000 creature towered over Henka's 10,500 dragon. A humanoid insect with a regal staff and indigo wing-like appendages that resembled a cape. "I send Katsuking Jr to your mana zone, and then Great Grasper attacks Testa Rossa!" After it slammed its staff down Henka's dragon roared blue fire before curling up - it glowed green as it shrank down to become mana. Then its wings vibrated and Great Grasper sailed across the zones, whacking Testa Rossa away to explode into energy against the ceiling. "Teranesk attacks Critive-1, ike!" It shrieked and took flight, lashing downward with a clawed talon and tearing Henka's last creature into pieces.

Henka drew another Holy, Flash Guardian and put it into mana. A grin broke out, "You forgot… now I can summon Valchuris normally!" The weasel returned and Ijiwa watched on blankly. "And since he's a speed attacker on 4000 you won't be walking away from this one! Don't say I didn't try to help you. Todomeda!" It launched toward Ijiwa who remained blank until the attacker crossed over into his zone, then his face turned wicked.

"Hayabusamaru blocks the attack!" The gold ship flew in, intercepting that hammer and breaking apart.

A ninja strike!? Henka felt the blood leaving her face.

"Looks like I've granted myself another turn, and you no longer have any cards in your hand," Ijiwa drew. He had to consider again and think through his moves, but he raised his head with a smile, "I summon Sasoris Rage, Terror Dragon Edge and bring out… Judaiou, Jurassic Jungle." The masked green squirrel landed and pushed both arms upward, sending electric chains out to tug open a portal to hyperspace.

"Judaiou…?" Henka wasn't expecting this.

The tribal temple landed heavily behind him. It had an earth dragon's head. The brown rocky steps and sides were covered in tribal engravings. The structure was overlaid with brass and jade. Trees sprouted at the top like the dragon's mane.

"This dragheart fortress prevents your creatures with power 4000 or less from attacking," Ijiwa explained. He pointed, "Great Grasper attacks Valchuris, ike!" Its wings hummed, going invisible with speed and it slammed its staff down on the weasel that shrieked before exploding. "Turn end."

"And on his next turn… even if he can't loop, Judaiou will dragsolution into Sauzaurupio, an 18,000 quattro-breaker…" Henka murmured.

"How the tides have turned. Those six shields of yours aren't much comfort while I have my growing army, right? Now you're the one relying on top-decking to win." Ijiwa's smile partially hid the pressure they were both under. "It's your turn, traitor. Do you feel lucky?"

"No," Henka said honestly, but smiled and drew anyway. She stared at the card and Ijiwa watched closely with eyes wide, waiting.

Henka turned it over, "I summon Dynabolt, Explosive Dragon Emperor! Attack and magibomber six!" She checked her top two cards, "I summon Chara Lupia!" The small fire-light bird cheeped in greeting, flapping beside the dragon whose colouring was a nebulous combination of red, yellow and black. With 9500 power Ijiwa would be destroyed with little traces left.

He didn't shout or cry. He froze and kept staring ahead like he couldn't see the dragon - like his brain couldn't allow him to process that his number was up.

Henka took a shallow breath and pointed, "Dynabolt, todomeda!" It flew out and Ijiwa's eyes widened a fraction, like he just couldn't believe it, and then rainbow fire emerged from the creature and he was submerged in it, burning away and leaving only an ashy stain on the floor.

There was no time to waste. Henka pulled her cards together and ran onwards, knowing that Urobach and his men would be converging on her location soon.

In the back of her mind she realised she'd committed the worst of sins in her culture. She'd killed one of her own and betrayed the colony in favour of natives - and yet Henka knew in the core of her being: she would've never chosen differently.

She saw a lot of doors opening and closing for her as she ran and suspected it was the chosen water duelist's work. She didn't have a communicator on her, nor a firearm or C2 charges of her own. They hadn't wanted Urobach to find it if he had her searched. She'd thought she'd be okay with the little knife. After finding a ladder she gripped both sides and let herself slide the drop of three levels until she saw an unlocked door. She got off and felt a sinking feeling as she ran - a delayed reaction to sliding down the ladder - as she wondered if it was possibly not the water chosen leading her but Urobach.

The next door opened into the biggest room yet and Henka slowed as she entered. While catching her breath she caught sight of Sinan's quaffed hair and Hillary's long blonde hair at the lower level. They were facing away from her and positioning their charges. Henka smiled and ran for the stairs.

They turned to her and relaxed, getting back to work. Henka was still grinning as she reached them.

"The only lieutenant not on board is the other hacker," the water chosen was saying.

"The thirteenth lieutenant…" With some uncertainty, Hillary stuck the next charge on its adhesive gluey back and flicked the little switch so it lit up red like they'd practised. "Is he shutting you out?"

"I set extra defences ahead of time from within cyberspace itself. Should take some time for him to get through those."

Suddenly a purple glow and humming noise filled the room, and it was gradually getting louder. All the machinery was coming to life.

They all froze.

"Uhhhhh?" Sinan turned.

"This is bad. Urobach's launching prematurely."

"He's launching now?" Hillary asked.

"Yes."

"We're going into space?" Sinan asked.

"Not if I can help it…" Hillary redoubled her efforts.

Henka turned away and examined the locked doors, wondering how long they'd keep out the soldiers or robots.

"I thought this place was too big to be a rocket…" then she turned her head, once more noticing the distinct curve to all the rooms and corridors. "It's like a centrifuge…" she murmured.

"Urobach's using more alien science to create enough thrust to get this off the ground. You guys finished yet?"

"Almost-" Hillary was interrupted by a blast behind the engine and around the room. Somebody had blown a door open.

"We have to go!" Sinan yelled and Hillary just flicked on the final charge and dropped it on the grated floor. They ran the other way and Henka followed them up the rattling steps.

Gunfire pelted the room and they ducked under the steel barrier while climbing. The bullets blew holes right through but at least they were hidden. With hearts racing they knew any step could be their last, but focused on getting out while thinking of anything else. The three half-crawled up the curved stairs. Something bounced down from above.

"The detonator!" Hillary shouted.

"I got it!" Henka leaned over and caught it, "You guys keep going!"

The door at the top opened for them and they ducked while they ran, Hillary and then Sinan got through. Henka went to follow but slowed when she felt a bullet pierce through her. The others stared in horror and Henka only smiled at them, clutching the place she'd been shot. She turned away and a moment later heard the door slide shut behind her. She faced the armed squadron that'd spilled out into the room, all pointing their guns at her. Among them were a few kaijudo-bots too. One soldier creeping closer nudged the C2 charge that was lying on the ground with his foot - he looked down at its blinking red light.

Henka murmured, "For Aurellia…" then thumbed the trigger in her hand.

BOOM.

"One of the thrusters are down, Sir."

Urobach was back in central command, eying the screen which showed a hologram of the base and the engine they'd lost was flashing red. If they continued to launch as is, they wouldn't accelerate fast enough and they'd drift without leaving the atmosphere. Urobach was thinking.

A soldier stepped closer, "Do we abandon the launch-?" He was hiked up by the collar of his uniform.

"We are launching!" Urobach growled then threw him back. The man fixed his uniform while Urobach barked to the room, "We're going to begin separation phase, now!"

"...We've not left the ground," another worker said, horrified.

"The water chosen has been interfering with my plans since the beginning! I knew they'd try this sooner or later, and I knew I needed extra thrust to get this off the ground, and that to launch with less power we'd need less mass…" Urobach walked to the ship's hologram and began manipulating it with his fingers. "Abandon levels one through five and continue the launch."

"All the men down there…?"

"Will have to hope they can get to level six before the separation's complete." Then Urobach thumbed a button.

"Separation sequence has been initiated. All personnel in levels one through five are to evacuate immediately," The robotic announcement blared.

Sinan and Hillary were already climbing the laddering in some hollow zone.

"Urobach is trying to launch as soon as possible. If you guys fail to stop the other engines or get to the top levels, you're likely to join the other separation pieces in the upper atmosphere."

"So getting rid of one wasn't enough?" Sinan panted.

"I'm afraid not," the water chosen answered, "Urobach was ready for this."

Sinan and Hillary were trying to climb as fast as they could and not think of Henka, who'd valiantly sacrificed herself for their cause. It hadn't meant nothing, but nor was it enough just yet. They hoped the others would get to the other engines soon.

Meanwhile, Jayden and Kanoa were safely on level eight and had chanced on a rare opportunity. A troop of soldiers were running through doorways and this time one sealed shut early, separating the last guy from his comrades. They watched him from around a bend as he pressed his palms against the door and cursed. When he turned it was to see two of the stowaways with guns pointed at him. He froze, then reluctantly dropped his weapon and raised his arms.

"Hands behind your head. Start walking and don't even think of trying something," Both still had their masks on. Jayden swished his gun, leaning against the wall and Kanoa stepped back too. The soldier walked by, keeping his movements slow so they wouldn't get startled and shoot. They followed after him and Jayden threatened, "Keep walking or I'll shoot out a knee cap and you can hop."

The guy looked back to glare but moved a little faster for them.

Jayden leaned over to Kanoa and murmured, "Safety…"

"Oh. Sorry," he thumbed back the mechanism on the submachine gun. He was clumsy with the unfamiliar weapon.

A door opened up for them, and this was just a simple storage room for cleaning supplies, albeit with enough room for all three of them to safely interrogate.

"Are we going to leave him locked up here?" Kanoa wondered.

Jayden reached up and pulled off his mask so he could breathe more freely, sweat glistening his skin and darkening his red hair. Kanoa pulled his off too, dark hair untidy and with his fringe stuck to his forehead. Their prisoner looked between their faces with his arms still behind his head. He was a shaved-headed guy in his mid-twenties, there was a little scar through his eyebrow. He looked like a standard marine type.

"Get down and no sudden movements!" Jayden swished his weapon and the guy carefully lowered himself to his knees.

The two followed him in and the door closed behind them. It seemed inconspicuous enough of a hiding spot.

"So Urobach wants to set up a moon base and you guys are lucky enough to get to go with him," Jayden started and they saw surprise flickering through the soldier's eyes. "It's in your best interests to give us some useful info."

The soldier wet his mouth, "Alright. But can I at least stand? I got a bad knee."

"Nice try," Jayden shook his head. "Start talking."

"Okay… this rocket has fifteen levels. But only the top three are actually going to make it to the moon. The weapon itself is on level twelve and it's part of section two, which will be left to orbit in the stratosphere."

Jayden and Kanoa looked at each other.

"Orbit… until it receives the orders to fire," Kanoa said.

"Where abouts on level twelve is the weapon?" Jayden pressed.

"All of it. The quark matter is already on board with us, and right now it's being accelerated super-sonically. If you try to destroy the chamber, the matter will contaminate us and if we're still in the atmosphere, it will leak out and spread through the planet anyway."

"So that means…?" Kanoa looked at Jayden who was quiet and thinking.

The water chosen's voice answered, "That means we can blow all the engines before launch or after we get into orbit, but we can't let the rocket crash. If the chamber on level twelve is damaged that will trigger the doomsday substance. Remember guys, it only needs to make contact with air to annihilate everything."

"I see…" Kanoa murmured.

The soldier was surprised to hear the other voice but said nothing.

"This changes our plan a bit - I'll let the others know. If this rocket takes off, we can't stop its progress until we're in orbit."

"So this strange matter…?" Jayden started.

"It's only a tenth of a nanometer, and being accelerated in charged fluid in a torus-shaped tube that takes up the whole level. It was transferred to there after it was made with the particle accelerator. That's all I know," the soldier said. "Can you let me go now?"

They ignored his question.

"Just that much is enough to destroy everything we've ever known?" Jayden mused.

"And quickly. That's smaller in size than an atom. It's the most dangerous substance that exists, aside from black hole matter which cannot be handled," the water chosen answered their thoughts. "I've told everyone, by the way. You all need to understand how delicate this situation is. It's downright psychopathic that Urobach would come up with a plan this devastatingly risky in the first place."

"He's not exactly a poster example for mental health," the soldier tried a weak smile - probably a tactic to trick them into relaxing.

Kanoa frowned, "You're the ones following his orders."

He shrugged, allowing that, "It's what we were trained for."

"We need to stop Urobach's plan no matter what. He won't unleash the matter until he's in the clear and on his way to the moon," Jayden said.

"Hillary and Sinan used their charges to destroy one of the engines. Unfortunately, Urobach built this rocket with added separation zones, meaning that by leaving lower levels behind he still has enough thrust to reach escape velocity."

"You said there were three engines, right?"

"Mm, yes. It's difficult to say if you guys can blow another before lift-off. Heidi and Tsukumo are getting close to an engine room now. We'll just have to see."

"This was a good idea," Heidi was saying, "Hold still!"

"I'm trying. You done yet?" Tsukumo was supporting her weight.

"Almost," Heidi bit her tongue while unscrewing the last bolt. She let it fall and caught the grate, before turning it past her and letting it clatter to the floor. "Okay, push." Heidi was helped up into the ventilation shaft. She couldn't turn so started crawling to make room. "Are you sure you can fit?"

She heard Tsukumo hike up and grunt with exhaustion, wiggling until he was able to crawl in after her.

"Okay…" he panted, "Let's go."

They started moving.

"Sorry guys, there's just no safer route to get there and it seems they know what we're up to now," their communicator spoke to them.

"Don't sweat it," Heidi panted while wriggling forward, moving her elbows. She fought against the creeping claustrophobia.

"That was quick thinking anyway, Heidi. So, the shaft inclines up a bit and then levels out again. It should take you directly above the second engine. Remember: if you don't make it there before lift off you'll need to get out and find somewhere to hide."

"We can't hide in the vent?" Heidi asked.

"I wouldn't risk it. During lift off you'll be experiencing four G's of resistance, the shaft might not hold you then."

"We'll tie ourselves down somewhere and wait until it's safe to try again," Tsukumo's voice echoed up to her.

As they struggled along in the cramped darkness Heidi kept thinking about all that was at stake. They'd already lost Engyo. They didn't know who else may have already died and Heidi didn't want to ask. The water chosen certainly didn't want them distracted. If they succeeded then maybe whatever teleported Natsu to safety that time might also be able to save them. For some reason, Heidi didn't think so. She felt like she already knew - this rocket was going to launch and none of them were going to step off of it alive.

She considered again her determination to gather the chosens. She was here, fighting to save the world with two of them in different locations to her. She thought of Amira with disgust, who'd be safely on the ground somewhere and not knowing any of this, and having a new remarkable superpower that wouldn't save her life anyhow. She thought of the water chosen who despite not risking their life in the same way, was co-ordinating their mission once more. This is what everything had been boiling down to - and it was crunch time.

She had her old rival Tsukumo backing her up, and she pushed on with all her might.

『AN: My plan to write a chapter a day has been thwarted by family fun in Brisbane. Maybe I can write a chapter every two days, and that way I can also read the Chronicles Halloween chapter and more of Convergence's Book 1 today. That's probably best. I only wanted to work very hard because the holidays go so wonderfully slow when I do. That time I wrote half of nature arc so quickly felt like having four months off instead of two, and I'd like to feel the same way here. Anyways, thanks to Shuriken and Convergence for their reviews!』

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