- 2 months after Coral City –
"Resupply costs?"
"Within budgetary assumptions, Raiden-sama."
Mei strolled down the hallway, Hanakawa at her side, Kurikawa a constant shadow and silent bodyguard. The pair were engaged in their morning breakdown of business reports and critical decisions. Staff parted to either side for the trio of women, all inclining their heads in respect. Having a Herrscher for a superior would draw out a certain amount of awe in even the most stoic of individuals.
"Draw it from a secondary refurbishment account. PRI-Arms research division?"
"Off the ground. Individual units at this stage. Project-MEI weapons division has fully automated their systems. A production pipeline is under development now. We can manufacture Positron Blasters and MAG-Typhoons at the rate of 1 per week currently."
"Plasma Kagehide and Raikiri?"
"Reverse engineering is underway. Skunkworks gives a timeline of 1 month before reliable production."
"Light and Shadow as well as Blaze Destroyer need to be included in that production pipeline. Prototype 4th Generation godslayer armour?"
"Bishamon is in early pre-production. Timeline is two months."
'We're cutting it too fine. But it will have to do. Rushing only risks future lives. I don't have an endless churn of soldiers like Schicksal or World Serpent to throw at a problem.'
"Drone production?"
"The Taiwanese manufacturing facility is fully online. We are on track to meet all quarterly orders from South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia."
A glance was directed over Mei's shoulder towards the ever-vigilant Kurikawa.
"It should come as no surprise that nations are transitioning their military forces over to mixed mechanised divisions. Honkai radiation doesn't affect machinery. Though this leaves distinct vulnerabilities regarding the 11th and 12th Herrscher."
"There is another buyer," Hanakawa added with a slight clearing of her throat.
One corner of Mei's lips slowly curled into a smirk. She wondered who had turned sides.
"Australia has put in an order for drones with Project-MEI derived drone weaponry."
"Huh. I didn't expect it to be them. They've decoupled from the Oceania branch of ME Corp?"
"They inform us that this is a once-off purchase due to them wanting it rushed and we are the only division able to meet their purchase order demands."
"Check the contract and have us meet the order promptly. Instruct our skunkworks to begin early assessment for Core Evoker Delta energy weaponry drones."
"Understood."
The pair snaked through the corridors of the Nagazora base, the conversation turning to more practical business matters. The early investigations into the former Schicksal base had returned very positive results. Almost all of the original facility remained both intact and with minimal need for repair. Schicksal built their facilities to last. What had once been the Valkyrja dorms was split between the Kijo designated military forces and base personnel. The energy and servicing facilities had been upgraded with the latest generation of Honkai reactors, quantum encrypted communications and satellite uplinks.
Manufacturing was decentralised and handled by various industrial complexes throughout South East Asia. Yurei, Mei's fledgling organisation, was as vulnerable as infiltration as any other large operation. What made it difficult was that with the decentralised distributed format, targeting any one location via industrial espionage or assault only affected a small fragment of the whole. General production was handled at the local sites. Different pieces of the puzzle built across South East Asia and then assembled at very secure facilities. Facilities that had security and military backing to discourage anything short of an army division. Not even Schicksal had attempted to push their luck. Some production did require additional assistance. Critical or specialised final manufacturing was performed at Nagazora when the various smaller components were delivered.
What Mei had insisted in updating at Nagazora were the training, medical and research divisions. She had a clear goal and these three pieces of the puzzle were vital. The best medical staff that money could buy, and be thoroughly screened, were brought in. They ensured that Yurei's military forces were healthy and at peak performance at all times. The survivors of Project Enlil, numbering only 60, were constantly monitored by the on-site medical team. The wide array of mercenaries, ex-soldiers and other sorts that Amarant's recruitment drives had brought in were a gamut of physical, technical and Honkai related skills. All needed a place to practice and hone their skills. Mei provided multiple buildings, all equipped with holographic projection and environmental simulation facilities.
The three women in their morning routine were not walking aimlessly. Mei guided them toward what the base affectionately called 'Sheol.' This particular training area, a retrofitted aircraft hangar, had additional elements integrated into its design. No windows looked in. The reason was that Sheol was a Honkai and Herrscher energy faraday cage. Any such energy discharges were contained within. This allowed for realistic and dangerous simulations of battlefield scenarios. Once the doors were sealed only secure internal cameras could observe what happened. These cameras could also be physically disconnected from within the room. Put another way, if somebody wanted to do something secretive with nobody able to watch, Sheol was the perfect place to be cautious and clandestine.
"The contract with China seems good," Mei said as she looked over the details in her tablet. "Have our lawyers go over it and begin finalising. Bring our Indonesian industrial complex fully online to meet the order."
"Understood, Raiden-sama."
Hanakawa tapped a single finger on her tablet twice. Kept walking in silence. Mei read the mood and gave her full attention to her secretary.
"Anything further to report?"
"Just one thing… Raiden-sama."
A debrief appeared on Mei's tablet. She scanned over the contents as they took the elevator toward Sheol and Mei's first meeting for the day. The Herrscher tsked. An analysis was attached to the document. Dr Schwarz gave his novel and often explorative analysis.
[== Analysis ==]
[Project Udug. Another black project Schicksal had been working on. What surprises me is how long they've been pursuing a possible dead-end. Otto okayed this one just after he ended the Kallen fusion clone trials in the 70's. Has the man's fingerprints all over it. Scrounged Previous Era records indicate that the bodies of the 1000 Herrscher of Legion were combined with Soulium and their pseudo-cores to create the mass 10th Divine Keys. Fire Moth then conducted mass trials of the Keys along with MANTIS ICHOR and high-stress environments. Hanakawa may recall a conversation we had years ago about genetic and epigenetic triggers for STIGMA. I theorise that this may represent an early experimental proof of concept. I have no proof, mind you. Just a scientist's hunch.
Recovered archaeological information indicates that some Divine Keys have a 'personality.' For example the 1st Divine Key houses a complete sentience and the 3rd has an apparent 'mood' to it. You have reported that something appears to exist within the 12th Divine Key. To utilise these Keys to their full potential requires that the wielder synchronise with the key. The Harmony Strand drug was developed by Schicksal so that their Valkyrja could very temporarily synchronise and wield a Divine Key. There are 72 of the 10th Divine Keys stored in the Schicksal Armoury. Finding a way to perfectly synchronise these weapons with their wielder could vastly improve the organisations combat potential.
It looks like Project Udug was a long-term experiment. Kidnap a wide genetic sample size. Give them various permutations of a mutagenic drug. Then dose the subject with Honkai energy. For the final test, give someone one of the 10th Divine Keys and inform them they either fight the Honkai Beast they're trapped with or die. Genetic and epigenetic stress in medical trial format. The full reports make for decades of unpleasant reading. Very limited successes. After the 2nd Eruption and with access to Herrscher Cores for collecting Herrscher Energy to add into the sequence they did appear to be making progress in some twisted direction. Fortunately, the Seoul operation has been liquidated and those poor remaining experiments euthanised. There's nothing else we could have done for them.
One small solace. It appears that Udug and Enlil shared data and researchers. They were pursuing similar goals of Herrscher energy derived mutations for military application. I've begun collecting and collating statistical data for application in TIAMAT.]
"Damn you, Otto," Mei whispered.
"Our meeting with Dr Orr begins shortly, Raiden-sama. Do we have time to spare on this detour?"
"Always."
The three came to a halt before large sliding double-doors. The symbol for Yurei, a purple mitsudomoe, was emblazoned on the doors. Passive security systems in the hallway had scanned Mei's gait, checked irises, voice-print and finally read her ambient Herrscher energy field. With all these measures complete the doors rumbled as internal locks decoupled before sliding apart. The cavernous hanger within was unadorned, the hardlight holographics not in use. Polished plasma-steel lined with Honkai energy crystal strips and an unfamiliar alloy formed a geometric pattern across the floor, walls and ceiling. Mei stepped past the threshold, Hanakawa and Kurikawa closed behind. The doors hissed shut. Kurikawa lifted a hand and conjured up a protective energy field about Hanakawa, aware of how vulnerable the human was. Mei walked further into the hanger. Five women stood in the centre, two sparring, the sound of metal clashing metal filling the air with a tinny ring. Squad 5 conducting early drills. They had been in Seoul. After the experience they probably wanted to hone their skills further. Neither woman moved as fast as an A-rank Valkyrja could. They didn't have the strength or endurance of an A-rank Valkyrja. It was their technical prowess that stood out. Each move was honed to near perfection. Not a single misplaced step, not a drop of sweat wasted, never a breath that did not serve to further their desire to win. They took efficiency and technique to a level that appeared divine.
Mei's earlier smirk returned. She strolled up to the gathering of women, her soldiers, and watched with arms folded. They were all aware of her presence. That didn't mean they took their eyes off the pair sparring. These five were more than her Kijo regulars. These were one of the 12 Raitaro squads. Leftovers from Project Enlil.
'These will be my finest blades.'
One wielded a longsword, the other a halberd. Normally the polearm would have an advantage. The woman with the longsword held her own, MAG-Typhoon humming with latent power. Mei watched their dance, a symphony of lethal strokes and strikes. Fighting with live weapons was incredibly dangerous. One misstep meant weeks in an infirmary if lucky. Death if unlucky. Yet these five women gave no indication they were concerned. For them all that existed was the moment. Each moment. Every breath. Every footfall. Every strike.
Only when a lull appeared did Mei raise a hand politely. The five former Valkyrja turned their attention to their benefactor. The three observers gave a polite bow. The two who had been duelling leant on their weapons and got their breath back.
"Good morning," Mei greeted politely.
"Raiden-sama," the women replied.
'I'm going to beat out whatever Hanakawa instilled into them one day.'
"I'm on my morning rounds. I wanted to ask how the latest drug regime is going."
The two who had been fighting shrugged.
"Dr Browne says he's working on a new variant. Dr Schwarz apparently found some inspiration."
Mei shook her head.
"I'm not asking for what others have said. I'm asking you."
The women chuckled. The one with the MAG-Typhoon longsword wandered over.
"I still have maybe two years left to live," she said. "It's not like what you're doing is going to make things any worse. You're not feeling guilty, are you Raiden-sama?"
Mei snorted.
"What Schicksal did won't weigh on my conscience. My concern is that I need my best weapons ready for when I need them. Besides, in two years' time we have either won or the Herrscher of the End has turned this planet to dust."
"Win-win," other women jeered.
Mei was still learning the names of all her Raitaro. She could have prompted Hanakawa via AR. But meeting and greeting personally felt better. Mei walked over and offered a hand to the one with the halberd.
"Raiden Mei."
"Jeska," was the reply with a firm shake. "The one that lost is Evangeline. Eva to her friends and those she owes a drink."
"I didn't lose," Eva grizzled.
"You're exhausted. That means you lost. I didn't touch you. But I've still got plenty of stamina to spare."
Eva tsked. Mei knew the feeling. But she also read the aura about the woman. Someone who would take this loss and burn it as fuel for the next success.
"What calls for the early morning training session?"
"Squad 2 has a bet with us. Dr Browne has his next iteration of TIAMAT ready for field testing in a weeks' time. We're going to see what is the absolute limit we can squeeze out of the new combat drug. 1 vs. 1 in Sheol, randomly generated dynamic terrain environment with a simulated Honkai beast incursion."
Mei nodded in agreement.
"You fight against each other whilst keeping the Honkai at bay. What's the prize?"
Jeska chuckled.
"Loser pays the base head chef for the biggest buffet he can possibly put together."
Mei whistled. The head chef had a reputation. Mei was respectful lest the quality of her meals go down. It was the sort of motivation—
'—the sort of motivation that would have fired up Kiana, Bronya and myself.'
Mei's expression softened for a moment. Enough that the Raitaro paid a little more attention. That moment of humanity passed, Mei again her professional self, fingers tapping a note into her tablet.
"I'll make an offer to Squads 2 and 5. I will personally train each of you for 5 minutes each morning leading up to the event. It will be good practice for what you will be experiencing on-field."
Crimson lightning teased over Mei's flesh. The wave of Honkai and Herrscher energy had the assembled Raitaro exhaling in near extasy. It was in these moments that their human limitations fell away. The power soaked into flesh, bone and mind. The way Eva moved up to Mei had a different edge from the duel earlier. A sharpening around the edges. Like the Raitaro had finally come into camera focus.
'When fighting they push the limits of what a normal human lacking an Artificial Stigma can. Approaching the talents of a B-rank Valkyrja. But with their unique Stigma anything is possible.'
"Thank you, Raiden-sama," Eva said as she shook Mei's hand. "We need as much training as possible. But may I ask, won't that mean you will be stuck in the base for a week straight?"
"I expect I will be grounded for some time yet. Or at least that is probably the next person I am meeting this person is likely to say. Time limitations and efficiency demand that I have my Raitaro ready for full deployment against the Herrscher within the next few months."
"Your help is appreciated, Raiden-sama. Amarant said as much."
"Pardon?"
"Amarant met us in Seoul. Organised what we needed for the operation. She said you were the sort to help people when they didn't ask."
'Cheeky bitch.'
"Good luck with your training."
Mei turned and walked back to Hanakawa and Kurikawa. Her bodyguard stood protectively beside Mei's secretary. Someone else had been watching the Raitaro duel. Someone who said very little but had so much to give. This one was the enigma that Mei had yet to even begin to understand. The girl in the robes was speaking very quietly, Hanakawa having to lean forward to catch everything. When Mei approached, she looked up, magenta eyes peeking out from her hood, and made to leave.
"Wait."
The girl stopped before the doors as they slowly began to unlock and slide open. Remained in place and waited. Mei caught up with her mystery traitor and gestured for the child to go walk first. Aranea did as requested.
"Follow me to the Amano-Iwato Lab."
The former agent of World Serpent did as ordered. If the girl was unhappy Mei could not tell. Her face and any other bodily expressions were hidden beneath the hood and semi-religious robes.
"We have heard so much and so little from you," Mei said, broaching the topic.
Aranea remained silent.
"I will not pressure you. I understand the value of silence and personal secrets. I do however ask that you open up enough to allow us to gauge your combat potential and in what role you might benefit Yurei most."
"Dr Orr and Dr Browne will be expecting us," Hanakawa prompted. "We also have a 10:30 digital meeting with Amarant. I have a summary of her latest intelligence."
"Anything of note?"
"No sign of the Herrscher of Sentience since it's defeat at the hands of Fu Hua and Kiana Kaslana."
"It is currently in incorporeal form, correct?"
"That is our understanding. It left Fu Hua's body and has gone roaming free. What that means… is best left to Amarant to explain."
"Something else is moving. I can sense it."
"It is acting through many eyes," Aranea whispered.
Mei glanced at her small guest.
"What does it feel like?" Mei asked in a soft voice.
"Disappointment. Failure. Pain. Loss. Someone who is unnoticed and angry at the world."
"Agreed."
'A conversation for tomorrow. Today is planning out bigger things.'
The four women stepped into an elevator that took them up the Amano-Iwato Lab. The cave which had once held all the light of the world. Now sparks of that divine light were sought out in its depths. With a hiss the doors opened, allowing the four to exit. More biometrics read the women as they approached. Mei authorised a security override to permit Aranea's entry past the main security checkpoint. Lethal forces deployed in Real Space and Quantum Space remained passive. The doors opened to reveal the very recently refurbished and retrofitted research space. Corridors led off to various departments and research areas. Communal rooms allowed for the sharing of resources and knowledge where necessary. Dr's Browne, Orr, Makaria and Shwarz headed up the fields of research and science that Yurei considered critical.
Dr Orr left his office, raising a hand in greeting to Mei and her entourage. He looked brighter than usual, with a certain lift to his step.
"Something positive, Doctor?" Mei inquired.
"You asked me to look into Imaginary Singularities. You're going to like the results."
More pieces slowly shifting into place. Mei was having a good day.
Raiden Mei was a Herrscher. Food. Drink. Sleep. These things were no longer required. The Herrscher of Thunder however was not an idiot. Not engaging in these activities. Distancing yourself from these continuous biological functions. It created a barrier between the self and humanity. It drew you closer to being one of the Honkai. Mei would not be a fool and lose touch with that which grounded yourself in reality and purpose. Mei could see some idiots trying to take advantage of such possibilities and forgetting themselves in doing so.
This was why Mei lay back in her chair and dozed. A good meal and a glass of wine had helped round out the long day. Staying up late working at her desk on the million tasks that a leader of an international organisation was part of that daily routine. The office was plain, with simple wood furnishings and wide windows that looked out into the glittering waters of flooded Nagazora. It was an excellent place to work and also relax. Finally Mei had decided to take a mental break. Leant back in the chair. Used the breathing exercises to lull her brain into a soft doze.
A gentle doze which was interrupted by the crunching of lettuce. The smell of BBQ sauce and freshly cooked bacon. After everything she had gone through, Mei was not one to surprise easily. She cracked an eye and looked at the woman perched on her wooden desk, munching on a BLT and thoroughly enjoying the meal.
"This is just so good!" the stranger exclaimed. "The fresh crunch of lettuce, the umami of the tomato, the richness of the slightly oily bacon combined with the BBQ sauce. And those very briefly fried red onion. Genuis. I must make this man mine. I'll pay him a king's ransom.
Oh, you're awake. Hi there!"
Mei sat up in her chair. The stranger sat atop her desk, one foot resting on the arm of Mei's chair. Her features were both familiar and not. Hair in shades of funeral ash. Eyes like flickering coals. A dusky black feather poked out from behind one ear. It took Mei a moment.
"Jeska."
The woman tapper her chin.
"Oh yes. That's this woman. Good guess there. Anyway, your chef, I want to hire them. I will pay whatever you ask. Defeat entire armies for this man and his cooking skills. Valkyrja are a dime a dozen. But someone that can make a heavenly meal. He is priceless. Name whatever you want."
Something tickled Mei's mind. Was immediately repelled.
"Oh," the woman observed, "You're different."
The attempt at mental subversion triggered another memory.
"No. Not Jeska. You're in Jeska. Which makes you—"
The partially cracked door to the office swung inward. Amarant strode in, eyes fixed on her phone.
"If you've left the door open, Raiden, then you're burning the midnight oil at just the right time. I've just received a report from Salt Lake that you are going to…"
The information broker paused her stride and took in the scene. Mei relaxed in her chair. 'Jeska' perched on the desk with one leg on the arm of the chair, a hungry look in her eyes.
"I think the readers will want time to enjoy this sapphic fantasy so I'm going to leave—"
"Amarant," Mei growled.
"You could join us," 'Jeska' offered.
'Jeska' curled a finger toward Amarant. Then frowned. Tipped her head in confusion.
"The Herrscher's heart is beyond my touch. Yours feels dead. Who are you?"
Mei's smile was amusement mixed with resignation. Trouble was going to follow her home, wasn't it?
"I think we've found the missing Herrscher of Sentience."