Disclaimer: I do not own Vandread.

Vandread: The Unknown Soldier (Revised)

Chapter Twenty-Four: Planning, Part Two

Location: Tactical Briefing Room, S.D.S Whirlwind

"Take a seat," Colonel Albrecht without preamble upon seeing the two of them enter the room.

From the look on his face, Aidan could tell that Colonel was strictly business, so he took an open seat next to Nick Hawkins. Meia, who was right behind him, took the seat that was next to him. He noticed that his entire team was at the meeting as well as another one that was in the same detachment. He believed it was Lieutenant Kemp's Team. From the whole outlook of it, he immediately knew they were going to be briefed on a new operation. He had a vague idea on what this operation would have to do with Meia, and that was because it had something to do with her fighter.

"Good, now that everyone is here, we can get down to business," Albrecht began. "As of oh-one twenty-six hours last night, we have uncovered a critical piece of information from the captured destroyer. The exact location and layout of a top-secret weapons testing facility."

The Colonel brought up a satellite image of the location. Nothing of any huge significance was noticeable from the satellite photo. Looking intently, he noticed the faint outline of a boundary line, where the facility was located. It was well-hidden, that was for sure, as he could hardly make out any distinct semblance of their supposed target. He listened intently to the briefing.

"This is the area where the facility is supposed to be," Albrecht said, using a stylus pen to circle the exact location of the facility. He circled the slightly off-center, section of the photo. "The facility is well-camouflaged. It is masked from standard satellite and orbital scans. As such, the only way to spot it is on the ground or in the air."

"So, you want us to go in a destroy the place, sir?" one of the soldiers from Kemp's team interjected.

"I was getting to that," Albrecht answered, giving the soldier a stern stare. "It is the there that they are developing new weapons for use against us. Another interesting note is that the captured Mejalian fighter is also to have been reported to have transported there."

That got Aidan's attention, but Meia's seemed to be intently focused on what he'd say next.

"Are you sure about that, sir?" Aidan asked.

"Yes, I am certain of the intel," Albrecht replied. "As this information was acquired from the Avenger's former captain, as well as encrypted files that our techs had managed to crack."

"The mission is as follows: Teams Five and Six will be inserted covertly via HALO jump, about twenty-five kilometers from the target," Albrecht began laying down the groundwork of the mission.

"What is a HALO jump?" Meia asked Aidan in a whisper.

"High-Altitude Low Opening," he answered in a similar voice. "You jump out of an aircraft at very high altitude, in order to maintain stealth. It's kinda complicated to explain."

"Oh," came her reply.

"Your primary objectives are as follows: the first is to download any and all relevant data concerning any top secret weapons, programs, etc. from their databanks. Second is the complete destruction of the facility, so it cannot be used again. Your secondary objective is the recovery of the stolen fighter."

After he said that, Meia started to get up and protest. She was stopped by Aidan placing a hand on her shoulder and shaking his head. She reluctantly sat back down.

"The report indicates the facility has a reinforced concrete wall about eight meters in height. And what appears to be a sizeable garrison force," Albrecht added. "As such, you will be using powered armor, but nothing over standard size, as the weight limitations of the shuttlecraft won't permit it. Captain Aidan Mercer?"

Aidan stood up. "Yes, sir?"

"I am placing you in overall command of both teams for this operation," Albrecht said. "Do you think you are up to it?"

"Yes, sir," Aidan replied, although he didn't feel it.

"You have two weeks to prepare for this operation," Albrecht announced. "That is how long it will take to enact repairs for the Avenger. Then we will jump into the Solaris system, where we will detach your shuttle, and then jump out-system again. Once there, you will make a covert trip from you drop-off point until you reach the planet. Once there, you will be going in on a hard burn, to give the enemy the least amount of time to react to your presence. That is all for now. Dismissed!"

As Aidan got up to leave, Albrecht called his name.

"Yes, Colonel?" he replied as he stopped in his tracks.

"I'd like to speak with you for a moment."

He nodded and walked up to where the Colonel stood. "Yes?"

As soon as everyone had exited the room, Albrecht spoke. "Captain, do you know why I chose you to command the operation?"

"No, I don't, sir," he replied.

"Because your team has the best record among this detachment," Albrecht said. "And, besides a few 'incidents', you are the most competent leader among them, as well."

"Incidents?" he replied. "I'm not totally sure what you mean, sir."

"You don't have to worry, Captain," Albrecht said. "I know about your first solo mission."

"Oh," he replied, shocked, but not showing it. Just how many people know about it?

"Although I don't hold it against it you," Albrecht said. "That traitor was the one who made you do it."

"I didn't want to do it, sir," was his only reply. "I knew there was something suspicious about him, but I realized it too late."

"Don't dwell on it," Albrecht said. "Also, intel reports that he was on the ship that took that fighter, so he may currently be at that facility."

"Why are you telling me this, sir?" he asked.

"Just giving you a head's up," Albrecht replied. "Although you may not go hunting for him, the mission comes first. But, if you run across him while carrying out your mission…"

"I get your meaning, sir," he replied. "But, on a different note, why did you allow Meia to sit in on the briefing?"

"Oh, that," Albrecht replied. "I thought it relevant for her to know, as she is the pilot of it. Also, you seem to trust her, so I saw no real reason not to."

"But why the recovery of it as one of the objectives?" he asked.

"As it is apparently connected to the Paksis Pragma, we cannot allow it to remain in enemy hands," Albrecht replied. "Because your team is going to have a temporary ninth member."

"What?" he replied, clearly surprised. "But, sir, she has little to no ground combat experience, nowhere near the level needed for this kind of operation."

"That is why you are going to use these two weeks to give her as much training as possible, primarily in team tactics, powered armor use, skydiving, and advanced weapons training."

"But two weeks is hardly enough time to-" he protested.

"I know, but she is the pilot, and the only one who can get it out of there, I don't think even you would know how to operate that type of machine," Albrecht said. "So, I guess you better get started. You are dismissed."

"Yes sir," he replied, and then walked out of the briefing room, contemplating on how exactly he was going to accomplish all of this, starting with telling the news to Meia.

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Magno Vivan was amazed at how fast this Admiral came up with a plan of action. From the time she had left the Dauntless, to not too long after she got back to the Nirvana. In total, it took him less than five hours to get a solid plan to her. He must have pushed all of his commanders and tactical staff hard to get it that fast.

The plan calls for the entire fleet, including the Nirvana, to make a two week trip to the system that contained their home planet. Once there, they would engage the enemy fleet, and take back the system as well as the planet. As intercepted comm traffic indicated that the task force that was pursuing her ship had just received orders to return to Solaris for repair and refit. Total travel time would take approximately two weeks.

Finally, it's about time we end this…

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Having nothing else to do while Aidan and his commander talked, Meia was just standing outside the briefing room, waiting for them to finish. She was relieved when they had managed to locate her Dread. She was also worried for the same reason, as she knew they probably going to take it apart and examine it. She was also a little miffed about the fact that they would be willing to consider the recovery of the Dread only second priority. It also made sense, she knew, because it wasn't originally one of theirs anyways, but still…

The door slid open to reveal Aidan, with a look on his face that made her a little concerned. She turned her full attention to him and asked him. "So, what did he say?"

"He basically gave me the reason why he chose me to command the operation, and…" he said, trailing off at the end.

"And, what?" she asked again, sensing that there was something more.

"There is one particular stipulation," he said.

"And what would that be?" she asked.

"Let me be the first to welcome you to Team Five of the 4th Special Forces Detachment," he replied with a slight smirk.

"What did you say?" she asked again, not completely getting the meaning.

"As I said, you are now a member of my team, the Death's Grenadiers," he replied. "Of course, it's only temporary."

"What!" she nearly shouted, drawing the looks of a couple of passing crewmen. "But I know almost nothing about that kind of warfare."

"That's what the next few weeks are for," he replied. "You are to begin training today, and I'm the one in charge of it."

"And the reason behind this?" she asked, letting a little indignation creep into her voice.

"The reason is so that you can recover your Dread," he replied. "None of my men know how to pilot it, and there's no other way for us to recover it. And besides, you're it's pilot, you're the only one here who knows how to fly it."

"Alright," she said, giving in. "If there's no other way, I guess I'll have to. When does this 'training' begin?"

"A few hours from now," he replied. "Oh, and good to have you on board, Private."

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Captain Gunter Argust wasn't a happy man, if fact, he was downright pissed. He wouldn't be able to hunt down those heretics like the dogs they were. He had just received direct orders to return to Solaris for repair and refit, as well as bolster the home guard defenses against a possible enemy attack. He knew the order was sound, but still, he was mad anyway.

"Inform the rest of the task force," he said, anger still in his voice. "We are to begin preparations to return to Solaris."

"Yes sir," the commtech replied, then started to relay the message.

"Begin charging the jump drives, and plot in the appropriate coordinates," he ordered the helmsman. "Let me know when the drives are charged, I'll be in my quarters."

I promise, I will come back to wipe every last trace of you from this universe, you heretic scum.

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I should be able to get the next chapter up within the week.