We're closing in on the finale of the first season of this story. That also means the spin off will be coming soon as well.

Data File 0036: The Big Three

The Big Three consists of the three Ultrapower countries in the world, that being the United States, China, and Russia. These countries have the most power and influence in the world. They have pressured smaller countries to give up nuclear research in hopes of pursuing IS research. While this might seem helpful, it is for the Big Three to further their nuclear efforts. They are constantly demanding the Hammond Republic to turn over their research per the Alaska Treaty, a treaty Hammond didn't sign. After constant failure through talks and sanctions, the Big Three have come to the unanimous decision that Hammond is a rogue country. Despite Hammond helping America with the civil war in Mexico (See Data File 2014: Operation Recon), relations have grown more and more sour. Russia and China have skirmishes with SPECOPCOM units, despite Hammond being nowhere near China. The inclusion of a Hammond pilot in the ISA was the last straw for the Big Three, and they demanded Hammond sign a treaty of compliance that they would not spy on the ISA. After Hammond agreed, the Big Three restarted their pressure campaign, thinking Hammond was weakening. Hammond suddenly ramped up attacks, leading to the Big Three to label all SPECOPCOM units as Terrorists. The Big Three has then put forward UN Resolution 2098, calling for the invasion of the Hammond Republic.

Beach House

Ms. Yamada fired her sniper at another Spectre, the bullet exploding on impact. The Spectres near the target were decimated in the explosion. "One more squad for me!"

Cecilia's bits flew through the air, sniping Spectres. "Keep up, Ms. Yamada!" She sniped a group as well. "Your tech is behind!"

"Highest kill count wins!"

"Done deal!" The two flew off, destroying as many Spectres as they could.

Rin and Charlotte were having a tougher time, unfortunately. There were no Spectres, but a very pissed off Laura.

"DIE!" She shouted, slashing with her plasma dagger. "OUT OF MY WAY!"

"Laura! You need to calm down!" Charlotte tried to calm her friend down. "What are you doing?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Rin shouted. "She's gone delusional! Her infatuation with Inferno is causing her to go crazy!"

"Wait, isn't Inferno and Kanzashi suffering from the same thing here?" Charlotte pondered aloud, firing more rounds at Laura, who seemed to shrug them off. Her railgun fired at Rin, as her coils wrapped around Charlotte's legs.

"Oh crap-" Charlotte was lifted into the air and slammed into the ground behind Laura. The coils loosened as they stabbed into Rin's Impact Cannons.

"Hey!" Rin was slammed into a wall. "Ugh!"

"I WILL PERSEVERE!" Laura shouted. "HE WILL BE MINE!"

Beach

Ichika stood in front of Houki, clad in his IS suit. "Gio! Stop this!"

Gio, his eyes now a dull red. "The Supreme Commander has demanded you come with us." His broadsword was covered in fire, as Kanzashi spun an ammo drum into her XO-16. "This is a non-negotiable offer. You will come with us. It's time."

"Time for what?" Ichika asked, gripping his weapon, Yukihira, tightly.

Before Gio could answer, the sound of whistling was heard. Gio's eyes went wide, and he and Kanzashi dived away as a crimson diamond landed where they were standing a moment before.

"Huh?" Ichika asked. "What is-" A carrot landed next to the diamond. "Oh."

The carrot exploded, and out walked the one and only person that could probably save Ichika and Houki. "Hey-hey!"

Gio snarled. "It's HER!"

Hammond SPECOPCOM HQ

"DEPLOY THE HADES DIVISION!" General Hadese shouted. "I WANT THAT BITCH ALIVE!"

"HNV Lyons, deploy the 23rd Hades Squadron." A comm officer requested into a headset. "Objective, capture Tabane Shinonono alive. The Rabbit has taken the Carrot. Repeat: The Rabbit has taken the Carrot."

Beach

"Tabane?! Get out of here!" Houki shouted. "It's not safe!"

"Nonsense! It's just two Hybrids!" Tabane snapped her fingers, and the diamond revealed an IS. "You, dear Houki, get in the IS. It's fitted for you already, but it looks like we're gonna have to do a trial by fire!"

"I'll cover you!" Ichika got into a defense stance. "Get to that IS!"

Houki ran for the IS, as Ichika charged at Gio and Kanzashi.

"I'll handle Orimura, go figure out that IS. I want Houki alive." Gio spun his broadsword. "Someone is coming to deal with The Rabbit."

"Understood, Captain Inferno." Kanzashi ran towards Houki as her IS powered up.

Gio turned to the charging Ichika. As soon as Ichika got in range, Gio knocked his weapon away, and slashed across his chest. Ichika fell into the sand. "Predictable." Gio's railgun aimed at the downed figure of Ichika. "Hold still." The railgun fired, the shot went through Ichika's right arm, pinning him to the ground.

"AHHH!" He screamed, as indescribable pain shot through his arm.

"One down." Gio turned to Tabane. "Guess I can deal with you while I wait for backup."

Tabane's smile disappeared, replaced with a scowl. "So, this is what my invention has become. A perverted form of a monster, a killing machine, a weapon of war?"

"It has been perfected." Gio rested his broadsword on his shoulder. "It has been advanced."

"This is what you call advanced? I made the Infinite Stratos to help humanity." Tabane stated. "Hammond made it to kill humanity."

"What is making?" Gio smiled. "Look at history, Tabane. Many of the inventions we see today that were to help humanity have been used for war in some way. Fire warmed the cold, and is shot from tubes that we call flamethrowers. Steel made stronger tools, but also better swords and armor. Medicine can help the sick, then be modified to kill millions. Who owned the internet first, Tabane? Or GPS? Or penicillin? Your invention being used for war is not the first, and it sure as hell won't be the last."

"You're making a mistake." Tabane said.

Gio narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"After the Alaska Treaty, your country fights against the order of the Big Three. Your country solely is in the way of peace." Tabane said. "You're messing with the world order, Inferno."

"So what? This world order is flawed." Gio's IS suddenly flared up, changing into Canto 34. "The UN is already calling for the invasion of my country, my homeland, and you have the gall to say that we're in the way of peace. We just wanted to be left alone."

"The world doesn't work like that." Tabane's left hand started to glow.

"I guess you should know, you set it up this way." Gio snarled. "You changed the game, but Hammond will reset it back to zero. That's what this is for." Gio's IS became engulfed in flames, the light blinding Tabane.

Beach House

Laura froze, surprising the thrashed forms of Charlotte and Rin. The two looked at each other, and nodded. They lunged at Laura, and pinned her to the ground. "Hold her down!" Rin shouted. "If she gets loose, we're screwed!"

"What do you think I'm doing?" Charlotte shouted. She produced a pair of heavy duty cuffs, and latched them onto Laura. Her IS powered down, and dissipated. "She's down."

"Good, I was worried we were gonna have a problem. Can you imagine if that was Inferno?" Rin asked. "We would've been over."

A communication screen opened on Rin and Charlotte's displays. "Rin, Charlotte, thank god I got through to you two." Ms. Yamada said.

"Sensei? What's going on? I was looking for Houki when I saw Charlotte and Laura fighting!" Rin asked.

"It's a Hammond assault! A wave of Spectres attacked the Beach House, but Cecilia and I held them off." Ms. Yamada reported. "But Orimura and Shinonono were attacked by Inferno and Sarashiki! They're at the beach, we're trying to help Shinonono fight off Sarashiki!"

"We have Laura here, she's subdued." Charlotte reported. "Why would Hammond assault an ISA trip?"

"Well, have you been watching the news? Does UN Resolution 2098 mean anything to you two?"

Rin perked up. "The resolution calling for the Invasion of Hammond?"

"Correct! This is Hammond's pre-emptive assault, by taking the older Orimura out, along with the one training facility teaching new pilots for all countries, they'll cement themselves as an IS monopoly. No other country will be able to train an IS pilot!"

"So what do we do? They're attacking us here, not the ISA." Charlotte seemed confused.

"No…" Laura croaked. The two looked down at the subdued figure. "...They've been planning this ever since the Big Three tried to intervene with the Unification War."

"What?" Rin asked. "But...wasn't what the Middle Eastern Conflict was for?"

"No...that was to showcase their power." Laura looked at Charlotte. "The EU shouldn't have let them into the exercise."

"Because now they know what we'll do." Charlotte felt sick. "No…"

"There's a force attacking the ISA right now. My guess is that the ISA is either crumbling or near to doing so. They've deployed a SPECOPCOM force there, and now they're deploying one here."

"Ms. Yamada, did you see a carrot fall out of the sky earlier?" The trio heard Cecilia ask.

Laura tensed. "No…nonononononononono..."

"Laura? What is it?" Rin asked.

Ms. Yamada beat her to it. "They're gonna capture Tabane Shinonono!"

ISA

A Uchigane pilot slammed into a wall, her shields failing. Before she could slide down, a sword impaled her. She spat some blood, and the sword was ripped out of her, allowing the lifeless body to fall to the ground.

"Another one for me." The Malware pilot said. She activated her comms. "Status?"

"Northern Dorms pacified." One reported.

"Academic buildings are no factor." Another said.

"Got some trainees in the garage, one pilot in a Rafale Revive. Orders?" The last one reported.

"Kill the pilot, the non-factors will be POWs." The original ordered. "Do it."

"Understood." The comm cut out. The Malware pilot looked over the ISA. Fires from crashed ISs and where rockets had landed produced so much smoke, the sky was almost blotted out. IS pilots splayed out where their suits had crashed and failed. Destroyed defense turrets sputtered out sparks, the final line of defense before the students.

It was a sad scene, really. The Malware pilot sighed, turning on her comm unit again. "All forces, prepare any POWs for transport. We're bugging out."

"Captain! We have incoming fast movers! F-35Es! The Seventh Fleet is here!" A pilot warned.

"Dammit! We can't bring in our transports with the USN here, they'll be torn to shreds!" She growled, switching channels. "Command, I need another Kaiser Titan battalion down here! The US is intervening!"

"Then everything is going to plan." A different voice responded.

"Huh? Colonel Voyzchek? What are you doing with Ghost Actual?"

"Captain Elith, The 45th Jaeger Waffen Squadron is coming to deal with the USN Seventh Fleet. You focus on getting the POWs out of the ISA. They're gonna be important later on."

"Yes sir. And what of the other operation?"

"Two Viper Squadrons are being deployed to pacify the ISA at the Beach House, while a Hades Squadron is being deployed to help out Captain Inferno with subjugating The Inventor." Colonel Voyzchek explained. "Continue your mission, over and out."

Captain Elith didn't get a chance to respond as the comms cut out. "We're escalating?"

Another Malware landed next to Captain Elith. "Elith, we got incoming."

"The F-35Es? I know."

"No, the JSDF is deploying ISs to our location."

"We got more Kaisers coming, since most of ours were destroyed." Captain Elith looked to her partner. "Looks like it's time to unveil one of our trump cards. Get out there and fight with the 2nd Squad."

The pilot's helmet unsealed. "With pleasure, Captain." The pilot said.

"Good luck, Ethan." Captain Elith said as the pilot took off. "The world will know the truth soon. It will reset this twisted game."

Beach

The light died down, allowing Tabane to look at what remained. Her eyes widened.

Standing in the place of Canto 34, was a tall, jet black Legion mech with the cockpit cover taken off. The backside had what looked like metal angel wings. On each shoulder was a double-barrelled Trebuchet, the cannons already warming up. On the arms were missiles, loaded on rails. In the cockpit space was Gio, his head fully visible.

"What...what is this?" Tabane seemed off-put by the mechanized monster. "It's…"

She was interrupted by loud thumps behind her. She slowly turned around finding a Kaiser Titan staring down at her. She backed up, only to turn around to see two IS mechs land next to Gio. They were Frontline IS Hybrids, Atlas Titans turned IS with the addition of wings, a Trebuchet railgun, and Nashorn missile launchers on their wrists. The symbol of a flaming skull was on their chest pieces.

"Oh no…" She heard a scream, as Houki's arm armor was ripped off by a Kaiser Titans summarily beat her. She was grabbed by the still armored arm, and thrown in Gio's direction. Houki landed hard, her IS failing and turning to it's dormant phase. She turned to face Gio. "Well, I applaud your willingness to send this many units." Tabane said, emotionlessly. "All this for little ol' me?"

"You will be coming with us." Gio said, as two Kaisers lifted an unconscious Ichika from the ground. "Your days of hiding are over, you are coming to Hammond for trial."

"Trial?" Tabane was confused now. "Trial for what?"

"For crimes against humanity. Starting the Middle Eastern Conflict to allow Middle Eastern countries the chance to get their hands on IS technology was a mistake." Gio said, his eyes unwavering.

"What about Hammond's involvement? The fact your country scammed Israel, and subsequently America, out of billions of dollars to fund a war you purposely elongated for your own uses." Tabane shot back. "The evidence is all here!" She pointed to a Frontline. "You used it to get a headstart on your IS program!"

"And us elongating a war is worse than starting one?" Gio asked.

"They're both equally terrible, but what makes you able to try me?"

Gio smiled. "You gonna find a standing building in the Middle East to hold a trial in? Or a government to oversee it? Not even the UN gives enough of a shit to punish us." Gio shrugged. "Or maybe just straight up invading us is the punishment. Whatever it is, you're still coming with us."

"And if I say no?"

"Well, then perhaps you can be persuaded." Gio raised his hand, and a ball of lightning appeared. It morphed into a stick, then into a sword. It solidified, and Gio turned to the down form of Houki. He looked to the two Frontlines. "Get her up."

They nodded, and went over to her. They picked her up, one holder her arms, the other holder her legs. They were close enough that she wasn't in pain, but Tabane was waiting to see what would happen. Gio walked up to the two Hybrids, and stood in the middle. He looked down at Houki, his eyes still glowing. Kanzashi landed next to him. "Should I watch Inventor?"

"Yes, make sure she watches this." Gio said. Kanzashi nodded, and walked towards Tabane. Tabane stood defiantly, until Kanzashi grabbed her by the head and carried her to the scene. Kanzashi shoved Tabane to her knees, and lifted her head to watch.

Gio nodded to the two Hybrids, and they started to power up their jets. Tabane suddenly went wide eyed. "No...no…"

Houki, who had remained silent, started to scream as the Hybrids began to slowly move apart. Tabane watched, hoping Gio would stop the bluff, praying that Ichika would wake up or Chifuyu would show up to help. But as the screams got louder, she began to realize that nothing was going to happen. "ALRIGHT!" She shouted. "Alright alright alright! I'll...go with you."

Gio smiled, and the Hybrids dropped Houki relatively unharmed. "Excellent. I believe our ride should be coming…"

A rumble in the night called everyone's attention to the sky. They looked up, and almost like it teleported, a ship appeared in the sky. It's main structure was supported by four exterior jets, two on each side. The side had the words HNV Lyons written on it, as several smaller ships warped behind it.

"Is that…" Tabane began. "No…"

"The Supercarrier Lyons and her escort squadron. Home to the Hades Division. Time to go, Tabane." Gio said. He pointed to the two Hybrids. "One of you takes Houki, the other takes Tabane. Cuff them, and get them to Lyons."

The Hybrids nodded, and went to work. Gio began to power up his jets until he heard something land behind him. He sighed. "Still trying, predictable." He turned around, facing Charlotte, Cecilia, Rin, and Ms. Yamada. "Stand aside, the ISA has no business here."

"You're taking two of our students, I believe we do have business here!" Ms. Yamada shot back.

Gio sighed, and turned around to Kanzashi. "Take them to Lyons, I'll handle things here."

"Are you sure you can handle them?" Kanzashi asked. "There's four of them."

"One's operating a 2nd Generation IS, the other three barely hold a candle to me, and I'm in my 3rd Form. I have this under control." Gio answered. His eyes stopped glowing red, his turquoise eyes returning. "Go."

"Yes sir." Kanzashi responded. She turned around to the Hybrids and Kaisers. "To Lyons!" They lifted off into the sky, leaving Gio alone on the beach.

"3rd Form?" Ms. Yamada asked.

Gio turned around, his eyes returning to their glowing red state. "Canto 34 would be enough to finish all of you off, but Command has decided that you must be truly defeated."

"You won't beat all of us!" Cecilia shouted. "We already dealt with Laura and your Spectre army!"

"You beat robots and a 3rd Generation IS who was under our control?" Gio arched an eyebrow. "You're not fighting Captain Inferno, you know?"

"Huh?" Cecilia asked. Ms. Yamada and Charlotte narrowed their eyes.

"Captain Inferno's consciousness has been put on hold for a moment, as Laura and Kanzashi were. Laura was released, since we aren't her command." Gio stepped closer. "SPECOPCOM has complete control of Captain Inferno and Sarashiki. Running Hammond gear has that risk of us assuming control of your body."

"That's why Laura lost control. Her railgun is a Trebuchet variant from Hammond." Charlotte realized. "So who's running Inferno and Sarashiki?"

"A computer program, of course. A pilot cannot control another like a computer can. Consider this an autopilot." Gio answered. "Now, am I safe to assume that if you aren't dealt with here then you will follow the ship?"

"That would be correct." Ms. Yamada answered.

"Then...it's time." Gio answered. He shot up into the sky, and the four ISA ISs followed him.

Beach House

Chifuyu and her staff were getting everyone on the buses to go back to ISA City when she saw the light from the beach. "That would be Inferno."

"Ma'am?" A subordinate asked.

"Hammond is preparing to strike, a force much bigger than the Spectres will be striking-" She heard a rumble. "Huh?"

She watched as a ship basically teleported into existence above the beach. "Oh…" A student fainted at the sight of the ship, the escorts warping in around it.

"So...they actually did it." Chifuyu mumbled. "Guess the CIA and MI6 were actually onto something."

"Ma'am, orders?" A staff member asked.

"Get the bus to the city. We can't fight them." As she said this, Northstar Titans landed around them. Their railguns were already spinning up. "Oh."

"Attention, all ISA students! You are to comply with all orders from us. If you do, I promise no harm will come to you and your fellow schoolmates." The lead Northstar, which was sporting a white camo and a red Plasma Railgun, ordered. "I repeat, you WILL comply with all orders from Hammond military members, or you will face punishment."

"And why should we? You're a male, we don't have to listen to you!" A student shouted.

The Northstar stared down at her. "Do you have an IS?"

"Does it matter? No, I don't."

The pilot aimed the Plasma Railgun at her. "Maybe God will give you one." The shot rang out, and the projectile whizzed past the student's ear. "Backtalk one more time and you can ask him for one."

The student dropped to her knees, her face deathly pale.

"Anyone else?" The other Northstars raised their Plasma Railguns. There was silence, even Chifuyu stayed silent. "Excellent. Get on those buses, and follow us to the ship."

"What ship?" Chifuyu asked.

"Ah, you. I expected a fight from you." The leader said. "Our Supercarrier, HNV Snake Charmer, will transport you to Hammond territory."

"There's more than one Supercarrier in the area?" Chifuyu asked.

"Of course, why would Hammond just make one?"

Skies above the Beach

Cecilia dodged another railgun shot, as more orange beams rained down in random directions. She flew in sharp turns, dodging a cluster of small missiles flying at her. "Damn it, he's powerful!"

Ms. Yamada fired her assault rifle at Gio, who flew past her before the bullets could reach him. "He's fast, too!"

"You all are slaves to history." Gio said.

"Excuse me, I bow to no one!" Rin shouted.

"Even after losing your best, you still fight the losing fight." Gio started to get louder. He spread his Hybrid's wings, launching a barrage of missiles. The ISA ISs dodged and weaved. "And what do you have to show for it? A destroyed academy? A meager defense? I will bury you all so completely, the earth will turn a thousand times before any of you are dug up." His Trebuchets heated up, and fired in random directions as he zoomed towards Charlotte.

"We have to run!" Charlotte said, barely getting her fists up in time to block Gio's sword.

"You can't run, you can't hide! You've made your decision!" Gio shouted. He used his sword to swat Charlotte down to the beach. "Just so you know, Captain Inferno is trying to free himself right now. He takes no joy in me fighting all of you."

"Let him out!" Ms. Yamada shouted.

"No." More missiles flew through the air. Cecilia dodged, Rin felt two explode behind her, while Charlotte rolled on the ground away from some flying towards her. "You all fight for a so-called 'peace', yet is that what this is? Countries squabbling over IS technology while the Big Three hoard it for themselves to keep the rest in line? Sanctioning anyone getting even a smidge closer to them? Declaring war on my country because we can stand up to them? This isn't peace, this is a multi-state tyranny! Hammond fights to break it and you all work to deny us that!"

"It's not that!" Cecilia shouted. "It keeps the world balanced!"

"Balance? Three countries with all the power is balance to you?!" Gio seemed agitated. "Do you think history will see it that way? Do you know what the Big Three have taken from us!? Our rights as a country, to be seen as a nation, our existence is thought to be equal to terrorists!"

"You wage skirmishes against the Big Three for fun!" Rin shouted.

"I will admit that we do, but is that really terrible? Preventing our unification, interfering with our sovereignty because they're afraid? They violate us, but how will they feel when they don't have a country left? With no borders to define themselves? They interfered with us once, and we'll stop them from trying again!" Gio shouted. His railguns fired off again, scattering the team.

Ms. Yamada avoided her shots. "You'll do all this, and for what? To secede from the modern world? Can Hammond fight this war in fifty years time?"

"You guys can't even fight us in a century's time!" Gio shot back. "The actions taken by the so-called leaders drove us to this! You invade us, but will it save your people back home!? So many lives will be lost, and here we all are, fighting for the ISA's soul."

Rin shot at Gio, but his shield held. "Dammit!"

"What happens when you shoot me down? Even if you can manage to do that, what will you do?" Gio asked. "There's more people running around with the same equipment as me. We all know how this ends! Go ahead, try and kill me! You're only killing a single man! Shoot me down, and see what happens!" Gio's wings spread out again, and orbs of orange shot out. The ISs avoided them and watched as they imploded. "Either way, the old world order dies today! So, come at me! The world will try to forget me, but it will never succeed! I will be immortalized, in heroics or fear!"

The ISA team gritted their teeth. "He's too strong." Cecilia growled. "What do we do?"

Ms. Yamada watched as HNV Lyons warped from the area. "Retreat."

"What?" The three students responded.

"We can't beat him, we need to get back to the ISA, and regroup with who we can." Ms. Yamada explained. "We'll have to save everyone at a later date."

The three students seemed to hesitate, but nodded nonetheless. The four ISA ISs turned around, roaring towards the ISA.

"Run. Run and make your plans." Gio said. "Send your armies and watch them fall. The world is being reset today." He smiled, his eyes still glowing red. "And the new world will bow to us."

It's not the finale, not yet. Still a couple chapters left. Review and favorite.