One day before the battle

Rin POV(First Person)

It was strange, I tried to keep a poker face but, being in another universe is unsettling. I'm not used to the technology of the 21 century, let alone understand the "marvels" of the 30 millennia. Archer surely would make fun of me if he noticed, the young, now even younger Emiya is not better, speaking about that, i need to do something, i won't be the old one and let him mock me, i will find a way to fix that, or even be the young one, maybe they have ways to keep youth? I don't want to get old.

I spent the last 19 days trying to understand the language, learning how to operate basic things like the god damned sci-fi doors and lights and learning how to use the intranet, that went easier with Taiga sensei help, sadly there was no internet left, but a fleet of this size had many servers and databases, yes i was scared of see some lonely soldier porn by accident, even glance at future porn in a future with mutants and aliens seems very disturbing to me, no thank you.

Yet this ship seems to have a massive database, the problem is that most of it is things like a massive encyclopedia, digital library, software database, that included video games for the soldiers entertainment and video sharing website, similar to one we had on the second milenia. Besides that, they had some social media too.

I tried to find some old acquaintances on facebook. Sadly, I never made one myself. I could not use a computer for my life, but the girls in the school kept asking me to do it. Maybe there's some ancient record with them? Did they exist here? Or me?

Taiga had the same questions, and she cried when she found an ancient historical record about fuyuki school. She was a teacher there after all, and there was a picture of the building. I myself felt nostalgic.

On top of that, the database web backup data had movies and tv shows from various star systems, for the sake of my sanity i decided to peek only at earth related stuff, for my happiness, i would be able to watch the end of my favorite tv drama and tv shows, it's suddenly like everything was dumped at once, and it was actually ancient stuff.

I noticed that after the storms started and the fleet got stranded on sol system, the amount of updates from outside reduced to almost zero, being only done with the rare visitor ship that survived the travel back, didn´t last much,any ship that could not survive the start of the storm, would be mostly lost forever, and a warp travel ban was made.

Work on the kitchen was nice, and we sent the calves and chickens to Burk farm, with the seeds and seedlings, he would see what could be farmed and produced on his farm, and what would have to be kept frozen to try on another soil or climate on the future, but the idea of eat ancient lost earth food was a delight, something that could even become a luxury for nobility on the start due to limited production. Real coffee instead of recaff? Everyone that tasted some from our grocery supplies loved it.

I took my time to get myself acquainted with the crew, instead of being only glued to Burk and Mara. Diocletian was scary, but seemed to be a nice guy. The sparring with Shirou and Taiga were amusing, see Diocletian and Saber sparring was something, the horror and shame expression on the giant to see himself being defeated by the tiny petite woman was priceless, even though sometimes he won. Saber was holding back, but he was too, both were fighting with human capabilities, not that it changed their competitiveness. It was so absurd that sometimes they went too far and moved at superhuman speed without notice.

Shirou always on the bottom of the pecking order was so amusing, yet it seems things changed always when he was allowed to use two swords, he managed even to surpass Taiga, even through he still lost to Saber and Diocletian all the time, what was scary even if they were holding back, is that he gave a decent fight, and he was a child.

The learning of the language, story and context of this world was nice, the idea of making big money with food business and having the best cook of ancient food in the world cooking for me was a plus. But another thing that puzzled me was the lack of counter forces. Yes, I was in space, it was expected, no ambient energy, no counterforce. But Shirou told me that the mana on Terra was so dense that it was almost like the age of gods, that he almost got sick with the excess, and that there was no counterforce there either.

Another subject of worry was the existence of "psykers" and "sorcerers", beings capable of actualizing mystery drawing energy from another dimension, on many levels, some of them, without known limits. These beings were together with the revolt of the machines, and the warp storms, responsible for the chaos on Terra and colonies.

Several warlords had their infamous sorcerers, sometimes, small armies of them, psykers and users of arcane arts. No clock tower left, and the church had no power here. It was said that the Emperor was erasing all religions, and the big ones were the ones that fell easier. I have no issue with the church kotomine served being gone, but still they had their uses.

I walk through the refectory and see Taiga drooling over Merek, she got a crush on Burk's son, not sure if was because he is kinda handsome, or because he was the heir of this battleship and the farms on Terra, and would inherit 20% of the exotic food profits. Yes, I was generous, I gave them a full 20%. And I'm being nice, I mean, I got all exotic things, they provided only the land, fertilizers , irrigation and the workforce, and that I could get to other places by myself! I'm a saint!

Of course i will be nice with Shirou and give him enormous 20% of the profit too, he got me the idea and some of the funds used to get the things were his, but i still did the heavy lift, 60% it's a decent and proportional cut, i´m not a cheap girl after all.

Changing subject to Bazett? She was training with everyone, specially on the hand to hand combat, where She was only under Diocletian, and more because he had advantage on reach and weight, even holding back and everyone using human levels of physical ability, some advantages don´t vanish just like that, and the guy was a pro.

Bazett seemed to get used to the semi militaristic way of life here. It seems like her style. I want to live a normal life again, on land, in a civilized place, and focus on my research. There are many new opportunities here, even with the lack of a clock tower.

Day of battle

Rin POV(First Person)

Well, traveling on a dropship is weird, flying on a machine is weird, I had to use a vomit bag, once on land things didn't get better, I felt the massive rush of energy, the almost untapped dense and powerful mana. Unlike Shirou I took less time to adjust, I guess that's what being a genius is, average one for you, suck that Emiya!

More giants, what will the people from the future have with height? Are they traumatized and overcompensating something? It's a bother to have to look up at these muscle freak giants everywhere, I already tought Archer was as tall as acceptable, I meant, his stature was alright, and no, I 'm not blushing as I think about that, and still have trauma from Heracles.

Great, the muscle freak giant snapped and started to rage around, Bazett covered me, her fight stance looked badass, even more with the cybernetic metal arm. I need to be nicer to her, she is an angel. Saber blocked the giant attack and Shirou used some of Kotomine swords on him, it seemed to keep him locked in place, the giant finally calmed down.

He started to analyze the bodies, I secretly used structural analysis too, and I finally understood what he was talking about, and even before he opened his mouth to explain his plan, I had a rough idea, and I already hated it. Saber is the king of knights? Gilgamesh was the asshole king of heroes? Shirou is still the supreme king of idiots.

Day of battle, Battlefield, 1 hour after the introductions

Shirou POV(First Person)

I explained what i learned from the bodies, a brief encrypted text message to Malcador asking some questions, with answers from him and big E proved that my theory probably was right, big E gave me the thumbs up for the operation, this raised the morale of the troops and made easier to get cooperation from Ushotan and the thunder warriors, they worship the big golden armored telepathic Conan cosplayer.

I was allowed on the armory, using projection, i modified the smaller set of carapace armors into vests for me, Saber, Rin and Bazett. We now looked like Imperial Infantrymen, roughly, since I customized all I could to optimize our chances of success and our aesthetic, Saber armor made of magical energy. It's useful, but if she could use good armor without spending her energy more effectively, I would do the same for her.

All of us were now using altered versions of Imperial carapace armor, with extra protection, adjusted to our bodies Saber chest plate was a perfect copy of her usual plate, with kept the light mystery, at reduced cost, but the insides were reinforced with ceramite and other modern materials, she had more padding too and a proper helmet with a Lion theme, since was one of her nicknames, and now had extra protection with less maintenance cost, i gave her a vox com, as the others.

The battle was currently on a stand still, artillery shots going at them and at us, some dogfights on the skies, we kept the air superiority here, they kept theirs there. In the long run, the empire will win, but it will take many, many decades. I'm supposed to change that.

The plan was simple, we would charge in using Rumblers, armored bikes, they were used by scouts usually, Saber forward with her Riding skill, she mastered the thing so fast it almost pissed me off, i took a while, was the slowest of the group, Saber is mostly immune to mundane weapons unless they got magical energy or mystery, and was able to deflect incoming fire with ease, She was the supreme spearhead for any incursion.

Slight behind her were the Custodes on a V formation, with her as the spear head, 3 custodes on her left, 3 on the right every Custode slight behind the one at his side forming a spear in V shape, in the middle behind her was me and Bazett was side by side with Diocletian as the rear guard, to prevent ambushes.

We tore through their defenses, but what they didn't expect is that we ignored the trenches and while we killed, or knocked out any soldiers on the way, we didn't finished survivors or made a through job, we were not interested on the first defense line or the other mundane soldiers, we left it for the armored vehicles column, the Thunder warriors column and the mundane soldiers with lasguns and bayonets behind that would pick our opening and make good use of it.

Saber invincibility going through direct cannon fire, resisting cruise missiles and everything thrown at her, followed by Custodes that were almost as strong, if briefly with their shields and superior armor, the enemy defensive line now had a massive hole.

The conventional war was left behind as we approached the enemy city, many ruins around us, there we were received by even heavier artillery and weaponry, plasma shots, lascannon fire and similar, that's when I stepped in.

"Rho… Aias!" I manifest the flower shield above our heads, artillery pours on it hard, missiles, plasma cannons, everything they had to throw, Bazett throws all the jewels given to her by Rin beforehand, Rin remained on the headquarters, and she threw some of her stone runes, they all manifest magical shields in front of the Custodes while they recharge their high tech shields and mount formation, their bolter fire is surgical.

After the magical shields are destroyed and they start to take cover or block with their own shields and armor, the amount of enemy losses is massive, i myself and Bazett risked some lasgun fire, i quickly become fairly good with it, had to save my OD, even with the abundance of mana and keep my magic circuits in good condition. My projection was only being used for the eventual Rho Aias, or to reinforce a cover barrier.

Bazett did the same, what i expected finally happened, the Udug Hul were released, they were used on special operations or to deal with the Thunder Warriors or Custodes, they were too expensive to be used on the frontlines lightly after all.

In advance, the Udug Huls march forward, using storm shields, archeotech shields and holding power weapons and chainswords, the enemy command is scared, the invincible advance from that small unit not only tore a hole on their line of defense and created an unstoppable advance.

We didn't seem to be focused on it at all, we purposely seemed to be aiming at the capital, the success of the battlefield was only a bonus, the commanders ordered the advance to be stopped there, at any costs, so they sent their best, Udug Hul, Psykers, it didn't matter, my Saber, the goddess of war, that custodes and me, the so called bizarre child sorcerer had to be stopped.

It was exactly what i wanted, i needed to fight as much of their elites as possible, they took the bait, the number of Udug Huls increased, we were being surrounded, a decisive battle would start there, and by my surprise, a happy surprise, i did see a man on top of the largest ruin, a bent skyscraper, a man that Diocletian identified, it was the great king of Akkad himself, he seemed to be performing some ritual.

"It's the king, he looks like the intel says. We are on our lucky or unlucky day, kid." Says Diocletian.

"We gave the man a scare huh? As I imagined, he is the strongest "Sorcerer" of his kingdom, which is how he keeps his grip on it together. Saber, your magical resistance is almost unmatched but, be careful, in raw power, this being is a match for Caster, if not stronger in some aspects." I say to Saber.

The Custodians engage the Udug Huls, their instructions is to focus on non lethal strikes, but in the end, put their lives on priority. Saber engaged several of them, taunting them, their strikes mostly were useless, but here and there she was forced to block a power sword here and there, her magical defense surprised the sorcerers when they summoned a thunderbolt storm above her, Saber was castigated by countless lightning strikes to emerge the dust cloud almost unscathed, for the horror of the warp users.

Yet, it was almost certain that some of them had rank enough to pierce her defense, the reinforced armor padding, made of insulating material helped a lot. Her self healing started to kick in, and she smirked, for the horror of the super soldiers.

"Saber!" I scream, for a second I thought she was seriously hurt.

Bazett is busy knocking out several super soldiers, the runes on her armor and now, her cybernetic arm shine bright, She is like a bulldozer, surprising even the superhuman warriors, as she alternate between lasgun pistol shots on their legs and punching through armor plates and knocking the air out of enhanced soldiers almost twice her size.

The fight is not as easy as expected, the Custodes in front start to be overwhelmed, and I feel a massive amount of tainted energy being amassed on the skyscraper. I'm surrounded by several warriors, then I see they are familiar faces, it's the old man, and Sarah.

"You are not escaping this time, as the commander of the special forces, Jacob Ulrich will capture you, or at least claim your head to my king." He says,cleaving my lasrifle in two, i quickly grab the bayonet knife i had no time to attach to the rifle and throw at him that deflect it with ease.

Sarah uses her telekinetic abilities on a attempt to bind me, i gasp, i feel like i´m sealed inside a concrete mold, and being choked at the same time, the purple energy binds my body and my magical resistance does little to stop it, it work, lifting me on the air with my arms spread, defenseless, for long, dangerous seconds.

"Shirou!" Saber screams, she sees my imminent death, she almost gets hit because of it, but her near precognitive instincts help her avoid a sword strike from her blind spot.

But that's all, since Diocletian not only bash her with his shield at unnatural and insane superhuman speeds,knocking the wind out of her and stunning her briefly, but appear in front of me in time to block the power sword descending on me, from Jacob. Behind Diocletian, countless unconscious, wounded, and possibly dead warriors.

The number of enemies stops increasing, are they all there? Probably not, but most of their best surely are, some might be protecting key locations, on special missions or holding the thunder warriors. I noticed one warrior on the king side, old as the old man, yelling orders and doing gestures, my eyes almost popped, it was him, their general. I point at him and gesture, calling him with my hand, looking at him and the king, with the most scummy and insulting grin I can muster, if this bait fails, it will be more difficult.

It seems to get to him, the king looks at him and points his hand to him, a purple aura covers his body, not a good sign, probably the king enhanced his already absurd capabilities, and he is the god damn general.

He vanishes, Diocletian barely stops him from splitting me in half, blocking his sword, I can hear Diocletian grunt. Then be kicked by a blur of a kick on the chest, being thrown several meters in the air and clash with a concrete pillar.

"...Dio, can you hear me? Are you alive?" I say.

I see the monster move again, my reinforced kid body cannot keep up with that speed, he will kill me, he will do it fast and will be so easy it will look like a joke, or at least he would if i had not my father's magical crest, i was hesitating to use it, specially now without Avalon to fix the damage it can cause to my body. But it tears some muscles and tendons, maybe bursts some blood vessels, or is split in half by a power sword.

"Time alter… Double accel!" I chant, the world seems to slow down, even then, I barely avoid the still lightning fast strike from the monster. He still will kill me if i don´t do something, but i would not be into this situation, i would not put myself in this stupid situation if i had not arranged a way to deal with a monster.

My body hurts, my nose bleeds, i feel that my adrenaline surge is what kept me from collapse, i dodge once, twice, i project and throw several black keys on his shadow, he freezes, for a goddamn split second, his power is such that the blades popped from the ground as he grunted with his veins bulging, and with a quick move, drawn and shot with his plasma pistol on my direction, i barely avoid a hole on the middle of my torso.

"I am the bone of my sword… Steel is my body, and fire is my blood…" I start to chant.

The shot hit a wall behind me, it exploded, I slipped forward and debris and dust covered me. One of the heavy rocks, flew as "shrapnel" and bashed my arm that broke with the impact, other hit my head, that starts to bleed, i'm dizzy.

"...I have created over a thousand blades, lost in grim darkness, seeking salvation…"

The monster yells a battle cry, all still conscious and combative Udug Huls answer, it's a loud cheer, there are many, every 4 that our soldiers defeat, more 8 appear, all with superhuman speed and strength, holding high quality weaponry, we are being overwhelmed.

"...Withstood pain to create many knockoff weapons, seeking one I can wield…"

He charges at the dust, i roll to the slash cut a giant reinforced pillar in half, it collapses. I quickly tip toe out of the dust.

""...Yet I cannot protect everything… There's only one path, turn my life on Unlimited Blade Works!"

The new chant echoes, a new inner world is revealed, the green plains, now replaced with Terra wasteland, many swords spread around, on the twilight sky, the fading moon starting to appear, and the giant orbital plate can be seen.

All Udug Hul are in Shock, all enemies were transported there, piled twenty meters away from me, including the still frenzied General, the king eyes almost popped from his skull opened wide in shock, he tries to point his staff at me, i become a blur, grabbing a knife that fly from my endless collection of noble phantasms, and stab him in the chest, he is shocked, he believe he is mortally wounded, and he scream with the massive pain he feels as purple mist leave his body. All Udug Hul scream too, in chorus.

The king stumbled back, and noticed he was unhurt, he was stabbed by a twisted dagger shining with many colors with lightning shape. It was a rule breaker, it broke his magical contract with his soldiers.

"It was rule breaker, it can nullify magic and contracts… They are not your slaves anymore." Says Shirou

"The king look in horror, teleports himself back, enough to escape from me, but not too close from his former slaves, and points his staff to me, he will release the energy of his ritual with full power, with his free hand he cast a energy shield around him, a massive purple orb of energy a spear fly in the air, i grab it, it´s Gae Derg, i throw it with the same skill as Diamurd Ua Duibhne. Shattering his body shield, dispersing warp energy around him, which burns the king, and pierce his heart, he stumbles, and roars, gathering all energy for the massive shot, i lift my palm and point forward.

"Rho… Aias!" I make the seven petal shield, the orb impacts with it.

"Shirou!" Saber screams, she was not fast enough to intercept it.

I scream in pain, all my energy and focus is on contain the blast, my reality marble shatters, i´m back on reality, holding the energy blast, it pierces one, two, three petals, my body breaks with them, exposed bone fractures, cuts on my skin, blood leaking from my eyes, ear and nose, i blocked the massive ritual blast with only 4 petals left. I fall on my knees, Saber holds me, I can see the king fall and laugh, he starts to laugh as his body starts to mutate, and then, suddenly, decompose and wither.

The Udug Hul start to drop their weapons, fall to knees and surrender, more soldiers arrive, with a call from Diocletian, i close my eyes and see my burned circuits, the damage is horrible and extensive, if i ever can heal them, it will take a while, without avalon my body is crippled too, but it´s over, the battle it´s over, and the Udug Hul as slaves, are no more.

Ushotan camp, 1h before the battle of Semerkend

Shirou analyzes the bodies, then starts to send encrypted messages to Malcador and the Emperor. After a while he shows the final answer to Ushotan, with the permission for the operation. He then starts the briefing.

"As I said, I think I know how he controls them… The warlords on different levels use psykers, and what you call… Sorcerers, on many levels. The Great King of Akkad, is a warp sorcerer. I believe he uses a variant of geas contracts to bind the Udug Huls, they are bound by magic." Says Shirou.

"I see, but that don´t tell me how you will solve it.".Says Diocletian

"You sly fox, I know what you have in mind!" Says Rin, with a grin, Saber grins, understanding what he meant.

"His geas must be tied to himself and the commander of the Udug Huls, since he must have authority towards the other soldiers, if i fight the leader, i might release all of them, at once, i could test on the bodies, it would give me more assurance, but it would alert the king, so it must be a bet in the end.." Says Shirou. "I owe that to the Witch of Colchis." Says Shirou, this time even Bazett seems to understand, but the natives seem confused.

After a while, Shirou explains about his plan, to approach the commander of the Udug Huls, the general, or with luck, the king himself. They would force the enemy to a decisive battle, with their best, by putting their capital in danger of attack. Then the plan details start to develop and Shirou starts to prepare the equipment for the strike team, with Saber as the main triumph.