03:35pm, European League, Swiss Confederation, United Nations High Command, congressman's personal comms room/office
The footage of two children limping away from the dented plug flickered in front of the assembled monoliths, whom resided in the untouchable shadows of digital space.
"The 6th Seraph is defeated. This is truly a day of jubilation, and with the arrival of the other two Units within the next month, our victory in this war is assured." 02 boomed.
"And victory shall lead to ascension and salvation for all. As the scrolls have ordained." 01 added, leading to some roars of "the fate of destruction is the joy of rebirth!" or "Heil SEELE!"
"Calm yourselves my faithful brethren. There are other matters of which we must speak...such as Ikari." Kasch's voice caused the din to die down, leaving only a few grumbles of utter disgust, along with murmurs of "damned unbeliever" or "heretic."
Eventually, 05 answered his overlord.
"He is plotting something, Grand Master. He must be, no man would so willingly work with the practical killers of his own wife. And considering his recent behaviour...it is likely he is pursuing his own agenda." He hadn't even finished speaking when 04 interrupted with a shrill French accent.
"We have always known that he has been planning something, and up until now it has been tolerated. But...we are too close, he must be removed."
"No. Gendo Ikari is, and has been, a most useful instrument, whether he knows it or not. And removing him would require the United Nations to take direct control of NERV, something that GAAFT would never stand for. It would surely lead to a world war, and with humanity still under assault from the Seraphim...it would be disastrous." Kasch cut him off.
"Then we should have the Zunkft Legion on standby, in case he tries anything!" 05 barked.
"And how do you suggest we move ten thousand genetically enhanced super soldiers, their equipment, vehicles, and thirteen FCVs all at once without being detected? Our cloaking technology is advanced but not nearly adequate for such an operation." 07 harrumphed.
"Come now 07, our faith guarantees success!" The British General was in the process of saying, before the master's voice once again wormed its way into the ears of all.
"Indeed. But such drastic action is not necessary. We shall continue deployment of the Legion at the current rate, whilst one of our best operatives is currently travelling to Japan as we speak."
07 snorted, joined by a slight chuckle from 13.
"Kaji-san...I cannot hope to understand your designs Grand Master, they are far beyond me. But...he is most unpredictable..."
"Unpredictable? You misunderstand 07, Ryoji Kaji is far from unpredictable. In fact, his obsessive search for the truth behind Second Impact has moulded him into a most valuable instrument. He serves the will of the order excellently, and he does it without even knowing." Kasch waved such concerns away.
"Now, I believe this meeting is concluded. To your businesses gentlemen." He leaned back into his seat and began to cut his connection.
"Yes, Grand Master. The fate of destruction is the joy of rebirth!" All in unison called out before disappearing.
Now he was sitting in his private office, his fingers laced together.
Kaji will be most adequate in keeping an eye on Ikari. He is fortunate, as this is all that keeps his wretched life from being snuffed out. His crossing of us with the theft of Adam...shall warrant severe punishment.
The Grand Master of SEELE exhaled deeply through his biologically thirty-eight year old nose, closing his red eyes.
None save for the higher ranking members of SEELE had seen him in his natural state, of an unearthly individual whose skin was as white as porcelain, and whose combed, short, and unnaturally grey hair, added further strangeness. It was a mark of being touched by divinity though, in his eyes. By the grace of God he had been granted power unimagined by mortal men, and life everlasting.
A life he'd continued to live since that day in Megiddo over eight hundred years ago.
Craning his neck so as to click his bones back into place, the features of the United Nations puppet master began to change.
His hair darkened into black, his eyes took on a brown colour, and his skin became a more natural pale tinge. This was what he presented to the world, a grand trick he'd taught himself many years ago. As he knew people were not all that comfortable around something they found strange, and therefore were less easy to manipulate. The only exception to this rule was Gendo Ikari, Kasch mused. It confounded him how that man, with so many things clearly wrong about him, managed to ensnare hundreds to his will.
That is because he is lucky enough to surround himself with broken chess pieces. I do not have such a luxury.
Bringing up a light board in front of his computer screen, he tapped away until he could access the Zunkft Legion orders document. The commands to be issued on the ordained day when the harbingers of destiny would sweep forward, crush NERV into the dirt, and bring about the salvation of all.
In specific, he was checking the particular orders on what to do with the various staff members. The people that needed to be out of the way.
For the Grand Master was a methodical monster, and he liked nothing to be out of his notice.
Scrolling down, he began to read out the names in his mind, putting their pictures to memory.
Orders to be carried out on the 31st of December 2017 as part of Operation Ascendancy.
Gendo Ikari, highest priority, kill on sight.
Kozo Fuyutsuki, irrelevant, but remove if convenient.
Ritsuko Akagi, irrelevant, but remove if convenient.
Shiro Tenka, irrelevant, but remove if convenient.
Misato Katsuragi, military experience, possible leader of resistance, high priority target, kill on sight.
All other staff are expendable but irrelevant.
Pilots Meadow, Zhou, Ivanov, and Johnson are to be terminated as swiftly as possible. Preventing them from reaching their respective Evas takes absolute priority along with removing Gendo Ikari.
The abomination Rei Ayanami is to have its heretical filth erased from the face of God's Earth. It must no be allowed to mar our passage. Kill on sight.
Then he reached the last set of names on the list, and a small smile curved itself into existence on his German lips.
Small, flickering orange lighting curled itself around the coffee cup on his desk, levitating it into his grasp. Quickly taking a sip of it before setting it down, the Grand Master's smile remained ever present.
"Oh my dear little lamb and noble deliverer. Your ordained purpose is almost at hand..."
02:40pm, Great British Empire, Imperial home islands, Leopard, New Windsor Palace, comms room.
The six holograms resided in a circle, all eyes keenly watching what was being displayed in the centre of the digital space they occupied.
"Our world is cruel for making us rely on him." Premier Flipov shook his head, as the image of the previous battle was replayed over and over again. The worst part about the whole situation for the GAAFT council, was all they could do was simply trust a man who had said "you will do as I say, unless you wish for death."
"Yes. From what I've heard he wasn't even in overall command of the operation." General Motichka sneered.
"Then to whom do we owe our gratitude, aside from those brave Pilots?" Fabrice Larue, Prime Minister of the European League, and President of the French Republic, inquired.
"Lieutenant Colonel Misato Katsuragi was apparently the strategic mind behind it all." Chiso answered.
No surprise there...she cleared officer training in two years! Damn Ikari for snapping her up, wouldn't have minded someone like that on my personal staff...
"That bespectacled and bearded ape is a politician not a soldier. Perhaps it is for the best that a slightly more intelligent ape oversee the operations. To think I must trust the Federation's safety with such vermin." Princeps Henry Abrams growled, his now slightly wrinkled features being made ever more visible by his scowl.
"As loathe as I am to understand your feelings Federal-" Grand High Marshal Cromford snarled.
"-the matter of the fact is NERV's Supreme Commander has the entire earth by the proverbial balls. Now apparently the UN has sent on of its top agents to keep an eye on him, but as we all know UNIS is the apex of intelligence services."
If I could only get an Inquisitor of MI6 in there for just an hour, we could have Ikari's head on a silver platter. But alas...
"United Nations Intelligence Service...KGB had already infiltrated it years before Vatican Treaty. Absolutely pathetic..." Boris grumbled.
"That aside, at least one thing in our favour is that Units 02 and 03 will be arriving in Japan shortly. Though she may technically be NERV personnel, Pilot Soryu is German in blood and nature. She has little sympathy for Ikari, and as for Pilot Meadow..." Fabrice despairingly shook her head whilst Terrence chuckled.
"What? Is anyone on the Earth's inability to control Imperial glory these days a good thing for once?" His words caused the French woman to scowl.
The people of France had not forgotten their humiliation at Britain's hands. Nor had they forgiven it.
We will reclaim what we lost you Imperial salaud. And I want to see your arrogant face when we do...
"Perhaps."
"The same goes for Unit 04 and Pilot Johnson. Her loyalty to her fatherland is utterly admirable. It is useful and relieving for us that Ikari does not have absolute authority over most of his Pilots...granted it would be better if we could simply remove him-" The Princeps gaze narrowed as the President of China, Cao Xu, guffawed.
"You have something to say, monkey?" Abrams raised an eyebrow, gaining a few looks of disdain from the other GAAFT members.
It is not the fault of the master to recognize the inferiority of the weak. One day you will learn this, mark my words.
Xu ran a hand through his thirty year old black hair.
"Only a fool would think we could remove, Ikari. It is as my capitalist friends say, the Mogui has the world by the balls." He gave a quick glance at Terrence before continuing.
"And besides, even if we could, then the UN would simply take control of NERV, or a conflict may even be started between us. I'm not sure which is the worse alternative."
"Old sloths...and they had the audacity to try and make us bow to their will? When will they learn the old world is truly dead..." Terrence grumbled, simultaneously dwelling on what a world without GAAFT would be like.
Congressman Laberenz would have dominion over the earth. God forbid such a thing.
"Gentlemen...and lady-" Chiso gave a nod at Fabrice which was reciprocated.
"We're digressing. I believe that Ikari-san is more of a problem that any of us first thought."
"Continue." Boris had his hands folded beneath his chin.
"The Ministry of the Interior has been keeping as much of an eye on him as possible without a UN permit. And from what they can gather...he knows a lot more than he's telling us." She tapped a finger on her desk, her expression growing ever more concerned.
"How so?" Xu tilted his head.
"Are you aware he'd vanished off to heaven knows where when the 5th Seraph attacked? Or that he probably knows the exact time and date for when these Seraphim will show up? Or that he may or may not have been in Antarctica a few days before Second Impact..."
"Good God! And the sources of this information?" Terrence leaned forward, his curiosity piqued.
"Dead. Some of our best as well..." Chiso's fist balled for a few moments before relaxing.
"In short, the man thinks he's untouchable and all powerful. And may be willing to do anything to keep it that way. Because of that he's done some...strange things, as you all know. And keeps on doing it, regardless of what others think. He genuinely believes he holds all the cards and we are hopeless to do anything...but he's not quite right..." She trailed off for a few moments, before a mutter of "get to the point" from Henry caused her to continue.
"What I am saying is that we shouldn't be ready for if he makes a mistake, but when he makes a mistake. I've known men like him before, hell, I defeated men like him during the Communist invasion. They were very intelligent, but by the Spirits they were over confident. And when they slipped up, I was there to finish them...I say we do the same here. Patience will win this for us my friends." She gained a few murmurs of approval.
"In fact I shall relocate myself and my staff to Tokyo-3, so as to be ready for when he slips up."
"That carries great personal risk, General." Xu said in a tone that indicated some respect.
"Indeed. But, it is about time I shared my people's danger."
It feels right for me to be there...I'm tired of my desk job anyway. Besides...I will be the one to end his life. And no one else.
"Well it's settled then. The good General here shall be on standby to remove Ikari with our blessing at the opportune moment." Fabrice said, gaining a few nods of agreement.
Terrence stood up from his seat, clicking his bones back into place before saying "I think that's all then gentlemen...and ladies." He added, gaining some chuckles, before continuing.
"Meeting adjourned."
The realm of Vhaayn
"The, Vooren have shown themselves to be more durable than first thought." Netzach tapped an armoured finger on his throne, whilst before him stood his children debating grand strategy.
"Durable? Father they have slain three of our siblings. They are somewhat more than durable." Bardiel stalked around the room, hands clasped behind his back, black armour clanking as he did so.
"They are organized, they are prepared, they are ready for us whenever we strike. Far from the worthless weaklings we all thought them to be by my reckoning. Brute strength alone might not carry the day..." Zeruel boomed, whilst he looked over a great map of modern day earth. He could scarcely comprehend just how much the world had changed, with seven different continents separated by great oceans, instead of only vast landmasses boxed together so very closely.
It seemed Ejrod, or "Columbia" as the Vooren called it, was gone forever.
The foremost of the Sovereign's Generals, his favoured son and Heir, the Successor to the throne, massaged his grey eyebrows, thinking of many different strategies. All of which were useless in this situation.
"Of course brute force would never succeed, we don't even fully understand what our enemy is!" Leilel pointed out the obvious, as she usually did.
"You don't have to understand something to kill it!" Rogziel snarled, orange lightening flashing around him.
"Control your temper dear brother. Whilst it is most amusing, your inane ramblings and screaming will hardly fetch our idiotic siblings back from Rihuv." Arael chuckled, lying slouched on his throne, one hand supporting his bored looking face.
"Try and control your bladder by the time I'm done with you freak! How dare you insult those a thousand fold more noble than your wretched hide!" Rogziel drew his blade before being reluctantly restrained by Israfel and Samael, with a fair few grumblings of "for the sake of the gods brother!"
Tabris watched these events unfold with vague interest. To him, this was usual behaviour for his family, for despite the love the children of the Lord of Ash possessed for one another, they were Divine.
And Divine were short tempered at the best of times...
"Enough."
Netzach caused total silence to fall. He hadn't even raised his voice.
"Have the arrangements been made?" He demanded.
"...our niece will be moved into the Royal quarters by the end of this day, father." Sahaquiel, the largest of Netzach's children, remarked in a sombre manner, his double chin reverberating with every word he spoke.
We will take care of her, sister...may that give you some solace in the great halls of the gods...
"Good. Tabris, I leave Heir Rezel in your charge. Do not disappoint me." His words were met with a humble but confused bow of the young man's head.
"Of course, father...but surely there are more adequate..."
"Are you questioning my will?"
"...yes." Tabris put plainly and bluntly. This elicited some wide eyes and chuckles from his siblings.
A resigned sigh escaped the Divine Lord's lips.
Like his mother...
"One day you shall sire children of your own, Tabris. As you are still young, I think it best to get you into practice." Netzach partially lied. It was true, he did need the boy to learn some responsibility for his own future children, but those were secondary motives.
Rezel is a child, not even six years old. She needs compassion above all else at this moment. And you my son are the softest of us all.
"I shall do my best, father." Tabris bowed his head once again, as while he still questioned his father's command, he would never disobey it.
"That will do. What stratagems do we have then, for gaining victory in this terrible struggle?" The grey haired Divine changed the subject effortlessly.
There was deathly silence for nearly a minute.
"Well?"
"I believe we have focused far too much on the destruction of the restriction. From what Haniel's reports are saying, that objective has proven a distraction which the enemy have taken advantage of." Zeruel scratched the back of neck.
"If we were to concentrate our efforts on destroying the Vooren war machines, then gaining access to the restriction will be no trouble."
"A good assessment. But we are not fighting a conventional war. Thanks to the Vooren somehow discovering the power to keep my rift in check, we can deploy no armies, we cannot lay siege, we cannot even intimidate our enemy into surrendering. Not to mention while we have some small understanding of their culture, we know nothing of these...Evangelions." Netzach pronounced the word dreadfully, as it was from a tongue alien to his own.
"Precisely why we should try and capture one of them for questioning. If we are to be victorious...we must know our enemy." Leilel cut in, gaining a roll of the eyes from Rogziel.
"What is there to understand, dear sister? They are Vooren, nothing but insects to be crushed beneath the boot of our might."
"If we were so mighty, then we would have won by now. But quite clearly, dear brother, we are not-" She didn't have time to finish her sentence.
For the sound of the doors creaking open caused silence to fall, as Haniel briskly walked into the near empty chamber, and fell to one knee before Netzach. He was the Fist, and he brought news. News that all present needed to hear.
"My Lord, I bring word of the enemy's activity." His head remained bowed, his white hair almost touching the floor.
"Speak."
Haniel composed himself.
"If my sources are correct, then NERV is shipping two more of these Evangelions to Japan. They will arrive within the next fifteen moons."
"By the gods..." Leilel muttered as the rest of her brothers and sisters started bickering among themselves.
"We have to strike now! We have to overwhelm them before those reinforcements arrive-" Armisael, the fourth youngest, had jumped from her chair. The arguing persisted for a few moments, until Netzach called for quiet with the mere raising of his hand.
"Do we know their route?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Excellent." Netzach flashed a grin whilst nodding his head, turning to his now eldest living child.
"Gaghiel, you will intercept and destroy these things before they reach land. Then return to me, that is my command. Haniel shall brief you when I'm finished with him."
"It will be done, father." Gaghiel, the green armoured giant, the Admiral of the Sovereign's now non-existent fleet, bowed his head.
"Good. Now, be about your business, my children, I have matters to discuss with my Fist." He didn't wave his hand, or even gesture for fourteen beings who packed enough power to tear worlds asunder to leave.
They simply bowed their heads, then did as they were commanded.
"It all used to be so easy...the Taylus, the Fleilan, the Fheiran, they all bent to my will eventually. But these Vooren...why must we be cursed with the most difficult of enemies now?" Netzach massaged his eyes, leaning on his arm. Haniel merely chuckled.
"Not as young as we once were eh?"
"Indeed...oh, forgive me. Rise." The Sovereign gestured for his most loyal of servants to rise, his ancient mind having been enraptured by possible strategies through which Ejrod would be returned to their rule. Having been on one knee for quite a while, Haniel was all too happy to stand up straight again, his left hand curved around his sheathed sword hilt.
"I presume you have more information for me than what my Heirs have just heard?" The Divine Lord drummed his fingers on the arm of his obsidian throne.
"Yes, my Lord...where to begin?" With his unoccupied hand, the white haired Divine scratched the back of his head.
The drumming of his master's fingers did not desist.
"I have discovered the age of those who sit astride the Evangelions. It's almost impossible..." Haniel frowned at how disturbing it was.
"How old? Surely not eighteen?"
The Sovereign's Fist uncomfortably sighed.
"Sixteen, my Lord."
The drubbing of fingers stopped.
Lord Netzach, an individual whom had personally slain thousands and bested gods, slowly but inevitably leaned back into his throne, his eyes widening slightly. And what he had to say next on the matter, much summed up his attitude towards this new found knowledge.
"Pardon?"
06:00am, State of Japan, Tokyo-3, fortified position 21
The sun had risen about half an hour ago, its rays being cast over the Japanese capital city, the hills surrounding it...and the eldritch abomination that still smouldered within it.
With the aid of binoculars, cranes could be seen moving into position, NERV personnel scrambling around as they cordoned off the area. Sergeant Yukimura lowered his them, whilst sitting upon the Akuma's turret. His men, currently residing on the forward section of the tank.
Having been moved there in the chaos after the 6th Seraph had decided to perch itself over Tokyo 3, all the men of the Tokyo-3 garrison could do was sit tight and watch the battle unfold. They hadn't been disappointed.
"So a trigger happy octahedron had the capital in lock down for nine hours and we could do jack shit! This-" Eiji gestured at the diamond like corpse in the distance with both arms, one hand holding a bottle of beer.
"Don't say it..." Seiichi murmured.
"-Can't get anymore fucking strange. It just can't!"
Kiyoshi rolled his eyes, and Seiichi turned to him with an exasperated look.
"You had to say it, didn't you? I'm half expecting a giant eye to fall out of the sky right about now, for fuck's sake man..."