Disclaimer: As I said before, I don not own Vandread. It is the property of Gonzo.

Vandread: The Unknown Soldier (Revised)

Chapter Twenty-Five: Preparation

Location: Briefing Room, Nirvana

Jura, having been in command in Meia's absence, was just about to go over the plan with Hibiki, Barnette, Dita, and all of the Dread pilots who were still capable of fighting. She wished she didn't have to do this, but this was her job. She was second in command of the Dread Teams, and it fell on her to lead them. She would do it, because there was no other choice. She still wished Meia was here, because she would have a better idea of what to do, how to explain this. But still, she was currently in command, and it was her responsibility. She took a breath and started to explain.

"Alright, everyone," she began. "The plan they sent to us is rather straightforward. Once we arrive in their home system after a two week trip, the main fleet will engage the defenders, while we have a more specialized task. Our objective is the destruction on the battle cruiser named the Indomitable. That's the ship that was equipped with that device, I believe they call it the Paksis Nullification Device."

Everyone knew what that device was, and what it was capable of doing.

"While the main fleet is engaged, we will punch through their defensive line and destroy, or that the very least, cripple this battle cruiser," she said, bringing up a formation on the main screen. "We will run simulations, so everyone, report to the simulators."

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A week later…

Meia didn't like this at all. For the last several minutes, she was primarily avoiding laser fire. As this simulation room was a maze of winding corridors, narrow passage ways, and almost no open space, it made it a difficult environment for a gunfight. It was almost like fighting inside of a building. Her opponent for this exercise was using his tactical knowledge and combat training to basically keep her in one position. After all, her opponent was an elite soldier with vastly more training than she'd ever wish to receive for this kind of combat.

She was currently wearing a specialized sensor suit. It was designed primarily for combat training. The suit had a series of sensors interwoven into it, and whenever it took a hit from a special laser rifle, it would send a minor, electrical shock to the wearer, letting them know they got hit. The helmet that she wore also had a similar set of sensors installed. She'd already got hit in the left leg, and she didn't like the shock that came with it. Luckily it only grazed her, or it would have felt worse.

She was behind the cover of one of the many corners, making sure he didn't manage to sneak up on her. She glanced over the corner, and noticed the faceless mask of her opponent slowly making his way towards her. Tightening the grip on her laser rifle, she caught her breath and bolted out from her cover…

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Sitting in the chair facing Admiral Graff's desk, with her hands in her lap, Maria felt slightly uncomfortable. Whether it was the chair or the Admiral's presence, she did not know. He was currently looking a data pad, reading over the information contained on it. When he was finished, he set it down on his desk, then looked up at her.

"So, Miss Shakov, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well, if I could, I'd like to have permission to go back aboard the Nirvana," she replied.

He sat there for a few seconds, looking her straight in the eyes. "Out of the question."

"Why not?" she asked, keeping her irritation from her voice.

"Because, your safety is of the utmost importance," he replied coolly. "So, you will remain on this ship."

"If I may say so," she said. "Since this is the fleet's flagship, it will be in the thick of the fighting, am I right? If that's the case, then it wouldn't be the safest place for me to be. And besides, I've gotten use to living over there, as I already have quarters there, and what few personal possessions I have are over there as well."

After several longs seconds passed by, the Admiral arrived at his answer. And from his tone of voice, she could tell it wasn't a decision he liked.

"Very well then," he said. "I'll arrange for a shuttle to transport you over there in an hour."

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Quickly pulling the trigger of her rifle, Meia snapped off several shots, forcing her opponent to dive back behind cover to avoid being hit. One hit his left arm, but not directly enough to stop him. She started to move closer, hoping to get him while he was currently pinned down. Holding her laser rifle at the ready, she crept closer. Before she could properly react, he bolted out from cover in a sideways roll, snapping off several shots.

Before she knew what hit her, several laser bolts connected with her suit. On hit her right arm, forcing her to release the grip on her rifle. The other shot hit her in the shoulder, causing her to lose her balance. She fell onto her side, and after a second tried to get back up. She heard a hollow thud as something tapped her helmet. She looked up only to stare down the barrel of her opponent's rifle. Knowing she had been beaten, she signaled her surrender.

Her opponent lowered his rifle and took off his helmet. Aidan, who was her opponent, then held out his hand, and helped pull her to her feet. He then ran a hand through his short hair, wiping the sweat from it. She took the opportunity to remove the helmet she was wearing.

"Good," he said. "You did better than most recruits would have done, which is saying something."

"You think so?" she replied, thinking she didn't do that good, and he was just trying to flatter her.

"Yes, and I'm being blunt," he replied. The last batch of recruits did so badly, it would've taken them years."

There was something about him, something that made her like him, and she couldn't exactly figure out what it was. Yet.

She followed him out of the training area, and into the debriefing room just outside it. Once there, he tossed his helmet and rifle onto a table. He reached down and opened what appeared to be a cooler, and grabbed a bottle of water out of it. He held it out in her direction. "Want one?"

She accepted the water and nodded her thanks. He grabbed one for himself, opened and took a swig.

"It won't be long now," he said after finishing his drink. "Before we make the jump into the Solaris system."

"If I may ask," she said after taking a drink. "How does a ship like this actually make a 'jump'?"

"I don't know the specifics," he replied. "But I do know that pretty much all SDF ships are equipped with specialized drives that allow them to tear a literal 'hole' in space. Doing this allows a ship to instantaneously transport from one location to another. The only problem is, it cannot do so for a short distance, like fifty light years at the most. The other thing is that the drives require a lot of energy to use, so they can't be used all that often."

A beeping noise cut off her reply. Aidan lifted up his wrist communicator and spoke into it. "Mercer here."

"Captain," came Albrecht's voice. "You are to report to the tactical briefing room in ten minutes."

"Understood," he replied, then shut it off. "Well, so much for a break."

"I guess so," she replied. "Besides, I've got to go familiarize myself with that combat armor I have to use."

"It's not as hard as it looks," he said as he made his way to the men's locker room.

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Aidan walked into the briefing room to see Colonel Albrecht and Lieutenant Kemp. They were currently looking at the holographic map display. Albrecht looked up as Aidan entered the room. He had barely enough time to take a quick shower and change before reporting in.

"Reporting as ordered, sir," he said upon entering.

"Drop the formalities," Albrecht said bluntly. "We are currently going over the terrain around the target facility."

"Alright," he replied as he walked up to the map display. It was the same map, but was three-dimensional, allowing for more detail. There was a large circle on the far off edge with the letters LZ, in the middle of it. Aidan knew this was their projected landing zone.

"Captain," Albrecht said. "There is a slight change in plans."

"What kind of change, sir?" he asked.

"Your team, as well as Kemp's, will deploy from the Avenger instead of the Whirlwind," Albrecht replied.

"Okay, but why?" he asked his commander.

"Because the Avenger is still broadcasting an E.D.A. IFF code," Albrecht answered. "And it also corresponds with a transmission we intercepted just a few hours ago. This message contains an order for all E.D.A. ships to return to our home system, to bolster it's defenses."

"Makes sense," he replied. "This will make it easier for the infiltration."

"We have also received a coded message from the Dauntless," Albrecht said. Apparently, that pirate ship your friend is from managed to locate them. They will proceed on a roundabout route through a nebula that leads them to our home system. In a week, we are finally going to take back our planet."

Kemp, who had been quiet the whole time Aidan was here, finally spoke up. "So, when do we make the transfer over to the Avenger, sir?"

"Tomorrow at fourteen hundred hours," Albrecht replied. "You are to select and prepare your gear for transport over to the Avenger. You will make the jump into the Solaris system two day before the assault will commence. Inform your teams of this. That is all. Dismissed!"

"Yes sir!" both men replied in unison, then turned to exit the room.

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Meia could feel the armored suit pressurize when she tapped the stud on the suit's left gauntlet. The armor felt slightly heavy, despite the fact that it was supposed to be one of the lightest available. This armor's official designation was Powered Armor: Light Scout Type, but the technician that was assisting her told it was nicknamed 'Falke' or 'Falcon'. What a peculiar name for something that was supposed to be used on the ground.

"Here," the young female tech named Alexa handed her the helmet. "Put this on."

"Alright," she replied. She took the helmet, and placed it on her head. After making sure it was a good fit, then, with a little help from the tech, interlocked the helmet with the armor.

"I'm going to power it up now," Alexa said, as she tapped away at her computer.

Meia nodded, and felt as well as heard a slight hum run throughout the suit as power brought it to life. It now felt somewhat lighter, and she could move it with little difficulty. The suit, which felt clumsy and unwieldy at first, just now felt like an extension of herself. First, she flexed her hands, then her arm. The suit responded almost as if it were a second skin.

"It's looks like you have a knack for this," Alexa said as she witnessed Meia move the suit.

"You think so?" she replied. Although one thought bothered her. She didn't feel like she could wear this suit for a prolonged period of time, especially during combat.

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It's seems the hangar was a place he was spending quite a deal of his time. Although Hibiki usually spent time in here, more recently he'd spent most of his spare time in the hangar where his partner was kept. He thought it might have something to do with anticipation. They were going to go into battle, very soon. Only less than a week until battle would commence. He was still smarting over the defeat he'd been handed in his first battle with the E.D.A.

Well, not this time. Now they had the power of an entire fleet to go up against their enemy. And they also were given something that he liked. They were given the express mission to take down the battle cruiser that had caused them so much trouble.

"Hey, Mr.Alien!" he heard Dita call.

"Yeah?" he replied. "What is it?"

"It's about lunchtime," she said. "Let's go get something to eat, okay?"

"Sure," he replied. Why not? I need a break anyways.

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"What's with the muster call, Boss?" Hawkins said upon Aidan entering the room.

"Okay," he said. "First off, we're going to move over to the Avenger. Using the captured ship will allow us to bypass the enemy's defenses."

"Who came up with that idea?" Deveroux asked.

"I believe the Colonel did," he replied. "Okay, now let's go over equipment. Marks, you, Akida, Ria, and Meia will all be using the Falke Light Armor. The rest of us will be using the Soldat armor. From what he told me, Kemp's team will be equipped similarly. Weapons are mostly personal preference, but there are several things that are required, like explosives."

"Leave that to me," Hawkins said with a feral grin. Aidan had just recently that Hawkins had a brother who had died in an earlier battle.

"Ja, when do we make the transfer?" Steiner asked.

"Tomorrow at oh-fourteen hundred," he replied. "It's about time we'd paid them back."

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Not too much more. Sorry for not updating The Perfect Weapon yet. I have almost finished the first chapter, but this fic takes priority right now