Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or Scrapped Princess. Those shows are owned by Gainax and BONES respectively. I do not profit from writing this story.


Ritsuko and Kaji paced the bloody scene in the cargo bay. Security teams dispatched to find Kaoru alive instead found him dead. "What are you thinking about, Ritsuko?" Kaji asked. He could see that she was lost in thought.

"I just lost my two best technicians and I don't know why," she answered evenly.

"Did they get along?"

Ritsuko stopped a few feet from the body. Several security officers took pictures of the scene. "I know Kaoru didn't really like Chief Ellison, but I can't imagine him murdering."

Kaji bent down to examine the gun in Kaoru's hand. "Hmmm, it looks like a standard military issue… Maybe I should look into this matter."

"Kaji," Ritsuko said pensively, "I don't think this is worth your time."

"Colonel Kaji?"

Kaji and Ritsuko turned to seen a young lieutenant standing in front of them. The lieutenant saluted. "Sir, I have some additional orders from Admiral Ikari."

Kaji sighed. He got up from the ground and walked over to confer with the lieutenant. As Kaji read his new orders, Ritsuko reached down to touch the gun. It seemed familiar to her some how; reminding her of those times when she slept with Ikari. After their lovemaking, she let him drift off to sleep while she stayed awake and smoked.

She remembered staring at Ikari's uniform, unceremoniously dumped on a chair near his bed – their bed. Even in that piled mess there was order. His holster was always the last thing he put down. It was like he didn't trust her until the moment their kissing forms became one. When he let down his holster, he let down all his defenses. She always resisted the urge to peek at the gun in the holster, but one time…

"Ritsuko?"

Ritsuko stopped when she heard Kaji's voice and she realized that she had been touching the gun. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "I'm sorry. I guess was lost in thought."

"I can't spend any more time with you. Ikari ordered me to return to the Vanguard. It looks like Operation Hope is set to begin soon."

Ritsuko nodded softly.

"You all right, Ritsuko? You look pale. Maybe you should rest…"

"No Kaji, I'm fine. Besides, I still have to run more simulations on Valkyries."

Kaji was concerned, but there wasn't much he could do for Ritsuko. "Ikari ordered me to retrieve a replacement technician for you."

"Oh, really?" Ritsuko asked, "Where do you plan to find one?"

"Actually, the Vanguard has a very talented individual on board, but I think Misato will flip when she sees this order."

Ritsuko was intrigued. At least she didn't have to work on the Valkyries alone. "Who is this person?"


"NO! I refuse this order!" Misato stared angrily at Kaji. "I need Maya. She knows her job and if Ikari is sending us to Hell, then I'd like Maya to be there with the ship."

Kaji grimaced slightly has he sipped his hot coffee. 'I haven't seen Katsuragi this angry in years,' Kaji thought as he cleared his throat. "Katsuragi, I know that you're not happy with…"

"No, shit I'm not happy Kaji and I'll tell you why. That man comes in and takes my ship and her escorts in like it's nothing. He gives me a bunch of unready pilots and expects me to bring them up to speed. Now, he wants my exec because Ritsuko needs her? She has that Nagisa kid, she doesn't need anyone else."

Kaji pursed his lips. Up to this point, he hadn't told her about the death of Kaoru and the chief. 'I guess it can't be helped,' he thought. "Her technicians are dead."

Misato looked at him like he was crazy. "What happened?"

"They found Kaoru's body in one of the cargo bays this morning. It looks like suicide. Apparently, he may have had a disagreement with one of Ritsuko's technicians, Chief Ellison, and shot him, then turned the gun on himself. Ritsuko doesn't have anymore technicians. Kaoru and the Chief Ellison were the only technicians to survive the Vega campaign. Maya Ibuki is the only person in the fleet with the technical skills necessary to help Dr. Akagi prepare the Valkyries for combat. If it's any consolation, I'm to remain on board for the duration of the operation to act as your executive officer. My navigation skills might be a little rusty…"

"Christ…" Misato cursed. "Isn't there anything on this mission that'll go right?"

Kaji leaned forward and whispered, "You haven't heard anything yet."

Misato's eyes narrowed. "Tell me."


Maya knocked on the door label R. Akagi, Ph.D. She was surprised that the eminent bio-cyberneticist was actually here with the fleet. While studying computer science on her old colony Dr. Akagi's text on genetic computing was required reading of all students. In a way, Maya was actually excited to be working for Dr. Akagi. However, Maya knew that the fleet was going into battle and she was disappointed not to be with her ship mates, Makoto Hyuga and Shigeru Aoba. Funny enough, she even missed the aloof Misato Katsuragi, whom she held in high esteem.

Maya prepared to knock at the door again when it opened to reveal a slightly flustered blonde-haired woman. Maya stood at attention. "Dr. Akagi, ma'am? I've been order to report to you."

"Are you Maya Ibuki?" Ritsuko asked in a hushed voice.

"Yes. I was told that…"

Ritsuko gestured for Maya to come into her office. "That's all right. I already knew you were coming. You'll have to forgive the mess…"

Maya did her best to walk over errant circuit boards and wiring. Ritsuko indicated that Maya take a seat, so she did. "I understand that you are very familiar with computational work." Ritsuko stated as she plopped down into a chair behind her desk.

"That's right. I've done a lot of scientific computing with an emphasis on genetic algorithms."

Ritsuko hummed softly as she took a few notes. "Then, do you have any experience with AI programming?"

"Well, I've done some work with advanced neural networks. I heard the programming methods are very similar."

"They are. There are a few minor differences, but I can fill in the knowledge gaps. I'm impressed with your background. Where did you attend school?"

"I was a semester shy of graduating with my bachelor's in computer science from the Turing Institute."

Ritsuko's eyes widened. "The Turing Institute? Isn't that on…"

"Arius Eridani," Maya finished Ritsuko's sentence. "I couldn't graduate because the HI conquered the system first."

Ritsuko's eyes widened, "Maya,there's something you need to know about this mission."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"We're going to Arius Eridani. This fleet going to raid the primary jump gate in the Arius Eridani system. Does that change you're mind about working with me? If you want…"

Maya replied firmly, "I'm here because I feel that I can contribute the most here."


"What's a matter Shinji?" Touji asked in between sips of his drink.

"Huh?" Shinji mumbled as he shook himself out of his stupor. "Did you say something?"

"I was wondering if you heard about Lieutenant Ibuki."

"Oh," Shinji said. "No, what happened?"

"Well, I heard she got transferred to the Concordia. Can you imagine that?"

Shinji wasn't surprised to hear this. With his father in command, anything was possible. "Who's the new exec?"

"It's that Colonel Kaji." Touji replied. "I think Red has a crush…"

Touji's discussion about Asuka's love life was cut short by a whistling sound followed by Misato's voice, "Now hear this. Stand by for an announcement by Admiral Ikari…"

"The devil shows himself," Shinji whispered as he finished his drink. Around the two D-Knights, the bar became silent as people listened.

"Soldiers of the Terran Defense Forces," Ikari's voice boomed, "I am proud to be able to speak to you today. I am not here to tell you about the bitter battle being waged for our survival. Today I am here to tell about a new weapon – the weapon that will change the course of history. For an entire year my fleet has tested this weapon in battle and we have been victorious in every engagement. It goes by the name of Valkyrie and it is the ultimate weapon. Just last week, the Valkyrie was a key participant in the astounding victory won by our forces in the Vega system. Headquarters has decided that now is the time to 'seize the day'. In a few minutes, I will give the order to jump into hyperspace. Our destination is the HI jump gate in the Arius Eridani system."

Shinji and Touji glanced around the room. There was a charge in the air. On a number of faces they could make out happiness. These soldiers were proud to be chosen to strike at the enemy.

"Soldiers! Each and every one of you has a part in this endeavor. Do your jobs well and you will come home victors. Imagine if you can tell your children: 'I was there with Admiral Ikari when we finally defeated the HI.' Come with me and I will show you true victory!"

The patrons of the bar cheered. Ikari had worked them into a frenzy. No one noticed that Shiji and Touji stayed out of the festivities. The D-Knights were the only ones in the bar who knew that not all was as it seemed.

Over the celebratory din, Shinji could make out Misato's voice, "All D-Knights report to the simulators immediately. I repeat…"

"Oh man, this is pain," Touji moaned.

Shinji said nothing.


"Are you sure about this Katsuragi?" Kaji asked in a low voice as he looked over the simulation program Misato had put together herself based on Kaji's information.

Misato didn't answer his question. "Have you plotted a course for Arius Eridani?"

Kaji nodded.

"Good, then program the auto pilot system."

Kaji did as he was told. With the push of a few buttons, the auto pilot was ready and reading normally. "You didn't answer my question, Katsuragi," Kaji whispered.

"Colonel Kaji, can I speak with you in private?" Misato walked just out earshot of the bridge crew with Kaji in tow. When they stopped, Kaji looked into Misato's eyes and saw them on fire. It was a subtle kind of fire – the kind only encountered by friends and lovers.

"Kaji, I've rarely been this sure about anything," she told him.

"And if Ikari finds out?"

Misato's voice became ice. "Let him find out. I have a ship to protect."


Shinji sat in the simulator. It was late and he was tired, but duty compelled him to be there. A voice broke the silence of the simulator. It was Misato. "I'm sorry to call you out so late, but your performance as a team needs some work."

Shinji could practically hear Touji groan at this statement. The five D-Knights had practiced for several days with some significant improvement. Misato had learned that putting Asuka in reserve was a bad idea. She was always itching for a fight. "Folks, with the attack on Arius Eridani forty-eight hours away, we need to get in as much preparation as possible. I have devised a program to challenge your skills as pilots and as a team. Let's call this one program 31."

'31, eh?' Shinji thought, 'A prime number. Misato only uses prime number identifiers if the situation is special.'

Misato continued, "I'm going to walk you through this one before we start." A map appeared in front of Shinji. It showed the Vanguard and her escorts in yellow, the 15th Fleet in blue, and the HI in red. The jump gate and its surrounding facilities were in green. "The fleet jumps in system as shown. There is a large HI presence around the jump gate and an HI force of indeterminate size coming from the principle colony."

What Shinji saw on the screen scared him. The entire fleet was wedged in between two large HI forces. "Colonel Katsuragi," Shinji heard Rei say over his headset, "What is the plan?"

"Good question, Rei. At this point, I don't have a definite plan. However, I thought that we would begin the simulation by committing our Dragon force to an assault on the jump gate facilities while keeping our Gigas force in reserve. Rei, I want you to command…"

"WHAT!" Asuka screamed over the headset, "Why her?"

Misato replied in a serious tone, "You have problem with that? If you want to fly, don't question my orders."

"Yes, ma'am."

"All right, let the program begin."

The world around Shinji became black. He was inside the Dragon cockpit and he needed battle data – fast. "Yui, report."

"We have exited hyperspace in formation. A large HI force is approaching from the colony. Our lead ships are currently under heavy fire."

Shinji heard Touji whistle. "The Colonel doesn't mess around, does she?"

"Suzuhara," Rei called out, "Take point with Soryu and Kirishima in support. Ikari and I will be in reserve."

"Let's go, Red," Touji said. Shinji could hear Mana acknowledge the order.

"I'll show you how a real D-Knight flies!" Asuka retorted as she and Touji gunned their Dragons forward with Mana in tow.

Shinji followed the lead trio as closely as he could. He watched as several ships from the Vanguard's complement moved in to support the Dragons' assault on the jump gate. Several HI ships were dispatched by Touji and Mana while Asuka moved off to their right to take on several oncoming ships.

"Ikari," Rei's voice called to him, "We need to break formation and join those destroyers. We're going to try and flank the enemy.

Shinji did as he was told and broke formation. He moved in next to the Chicago as it tangled with an HI ship. A quick swipe with his saber gave the Chicago an opportunity to finish the ship off. Shinji moved past the dying ship and dived in to attack another.


"Damn, it!" Commodore Fuyutsuki screamed at his communications officer, "I thought I ordered a complete radio blackout."

"S-Sir," the young officer stammered, "the reconnaissance flight ran into an HI squadron by accident. They didn't think the HI would operate so close to our forces."

"That's because the HI aren't supposed to know we're here." Fuyutsuki retorted. Fuyutsuki knew he was being unusually angry with the young man. It wasn't his fault. The operation had been delayed long enough for Ikari to get his reinforcements. However, that placed the Vega assault forces at risk of being spotted by the HI.

Fuyutsuki wanted to reassure his bridge crew. They needed orders. "It's all right, Lieutenant," Fuyutsuki reassured his communications officer, "I was afraid something like this would happen."

"Your orders, sir?"

Fuyutsuki called for his navigation officer, "Major Rosen, how long until Admiral Ikari's forces reach Arius Eridani?"

"Fourteen hours."

"And, how long until the HI call for reinforcements?"

"Well," Rosen replied, "I'd estimate it would take about 12 hours for any message to reach Arius Eridani."

'If I attack now I still have the element of surprise,' Fuyutsuki thought. 'Either way, Ikari's cover will probably be blown.'

Fuyutsuki had not choice left. "Very well. Order all forces to being the assault. Have Captain Mauser sortie with his squadron."