Satsuki looked over the two carefully wrapped bundles, each of appreciable length and wrapped in specially made colored fabric that suppressed the energies within. Aside from their shape and size, nothing could be deduced of the contents of said bundles, which was exactly what she was hoping for. She nodded her gratitude to a grinning Uzu, a pleased Iori, and a stunned Akeno. "It looks like Plan C is viable," she stated calmly, before glancing from Akeno to Rias. "The exact nature of this plan needs to be kept absolutely secret unless and unless and until it is enacted, so there is to be no discussion of it."
"I don't actually know anything," Rias pointed out in a somewhat amused tone. Her date with Issei the previous night had gone rather splendidly. A rather innocent dinner, a movie they were both able to enjoy, a bracelet he'd bought for her that matched her hair that she now wore under her uniform, and a romantic walk through the park with only a reasonable amount of ogling on his part that he was always quick to stop himself anytime he realized what he was doing. She wasn't about to hold it against him that he had a healthy libido: she was a Devil, and knew that her body was eminently desirable. As long as he treated her as a woman while courting, kept his ogling to reasonable mounts based on her outfit choice, and kept his hands to himself unless and until she gave permission, she wasn't going to make trouble for him over a few awkwardly long looks at her assets. Still, the fact Satsuki was now making her best and oldest friend keep secrets from her was putting a damper on that enjoyment, though she was doing her best to stay in the happy mindset. Issei had gone for the gallant, western gesture of kissing over her hand when they bid goodnight...and the look on his face when she'd given him a kiss on the cheek in response had filled her with glee and giggles. She didn't want to let go of that yet. "Is there anything about it that I should know?" she pressed, hoping to get at least a little bit of information.
"You will know it when it happens," Satsuki explained calmly as she looked over an information readout Iori handed her. A frown briefly crossed her face. "Though it might be a trifle more complicated than I'd anticipated..."
"I have managed to craft the necessary runic alterations into ribbons that will self-draw," Iori offered helpfully. "If we locate the site and are able to get everything into place at the right time, it will take care of itself once the proper energy is applied."
"That still leaves finding the location and placing them properly," Satsuki pointed out flatly with a frown. Turning, she faced where Nonon stood nervously. "And how goes Plan B?"
"As well as can be expected," Nonon responded immediately. "Discipline and control have grown exceptionally under my guidance...but power is a concern." She frowned worriedly. "We've already confirmed that Ryuko's too powerful for him to freeze unless she lets him, so it's highly likely that he will be equally unable to freeze Kokabiel if he takes the field himself, which Houka deems likely." Houka nodded to confirm the details of his analysis of the Fallen Angel's character based on available information. "We also haven't been able to test if he can freeze holy power, or if that would cause a feedback from his nature being Devil and Vampire, two aspects sacred power is antithetical to by nature."
"So freezing the Excaliburs to stop their plan is unlikely to work unless they're dormant at the time," Satsuki concluded with a frown. "For a power said to stop time, it is surprisingly limited..."
"And what of my suggested application?" Iori asked diffidently. "Based on...an inverted release?"
Nonon hesitated, biting her lip as she frowned, plainly unhappy the topic was brought up. However, one look from Satsuki made her speak. "Gaspar was able to accomplish an Inverted View...which from what he described allowed himself and whatever he was holding when he activated it to operate at normal speed in a frozen moment of time, maneuvering purely by magic sense as light and sound did not travel in that state. However, doing so drastically drains both his vital energy and his magic at a phenomenal rate."
"How long could he maintain such a state, based on his personal view of time?" Satsuki asked carefully.
Nonon stared at Satsuki, and for the briefest of moments Rias could have sworn an instinctive, defensive hatred flared in that gaze, though it faded so fast she was certain she imagined it. "...no more than a minute," she finally stated. "Any longer than that and he won't have the energy to maintain his body. Even holding it for that long will leave him drained for hours, if not catatonic."
Satsuki idly ran a hand over one of the wrapped bundles, causing it to fade from sight, only to reappear as she moved her hand back. "That may be the solution here..." she mused thoughtfully.
As Rias clenched her hands, ready to tell Satsuki off at the idea of putting Gaspar in such danger, Nonon spoke up. "Is this truly necessary, Satsuki-chan?" she asked demurely.
Satsuki looked at Nonon for a long time in silence, the tableau holding as Rias glanced back and forth in confusion. The fact that Iori and Houka were looking at Nonon in shock suggested that this was somehow extremely out of character for the young pinkette, but the brief glance exchanged between Uzu and Akeno suggested a possible motivation for the change. Eventually, it was Satsuki who broke the silence. "It may not be," she allowed, resulting in Uzu's eyes briefly widening, Houka's glasses falling off his face, and Iori's jaw dropping. "If you do not feel it is safe for him to exert himself in this way, we can probably find an alternative, depending on how much time we have available and where the event will happen."
Nonon let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, Satsuki-chan," she offered apologetically, receiving a warm nod in response.
Rias let out a breath of relief of her own...one that caught as she noticed a determined gaze in the back of the room. Gaspar was hidden behind a curtain, had heard everything...and seemed to have come to some sort of conclusion. She could only hope he wouldn't do something reckless-
Oh who was she kidding? He idolized Ryuko! She'd need to talk with him before things got out of control-
The door suddenly burst open, Ira staggering in with a badly injured Irina in one arm, Saji collapsed over one shoulder, Ravel clinging desperately to his back, and Xenovia and Yuuto supported by his other arm, both barely standing. "Satsuki-sama!" he bellowed out. "They are coming now!"
"Who is coming?" Satsuki demanded instantly as everyone scrambled to help the injured.
"Kokabiel, Freed, and Valper Galilei," Ira explained as he sat down, struggling to get his breath. "They intend to use the school grounds as a focal point to release a huge magical blast of destruction, with the intention of triggering an assault by Sirzechs Lucifer and Serafall Leviathan, resulting in restarting the Great War."
"How do they intend to do that?" Satsuki demanded as Asia began healing those injured even as Iori dispensed reenergizing cocktails to those still conscious, derived from the energy used by those of the Phenex clan as there hadn't been time - despite their avowal of aid - for that group to produce any Phoenix Tears.
"The Excaliburs," Xenovia managed to say as she caught her own breath. "Valper Galilei intends to fuse the blades together, both to create a more potent weapon and to release a huge amount of holy power. Kokabiel intends to use that energy to power a spell that will level a good portion of the city without expending any of his own energy, leaving him at full strength when the Satans attack...and the Angels respond in kind."
"And he has all five Excaliburs," Yuuto managed to say, his voice seeming oddly listless. In his hand was a blue crystal holding a spark of pure white light, and he seemed to be absently fondling it as he spoke as though not entirely aware of his actions. For some reason, his behavior drew focused attention from Uzu, followed by a brief smirk.
"Then we must act fast," Satsuki stated firmly. "Ryuko!"
"Already on it, sis!" Ryuko called out as she swooped in on wings of fire and flesh. "Just getting some extra backup." As she spoke, Riser approached with his Peerage.
"If this Fallen Upstart thinks he can overcome the Blazing Star of Kuoh High, he is much mistaken!" Riser declared dramatically.
"Wasn't he the Crimson Fire just the other day?" Rias murmured to no one in particular.
A blazing white light arose from the sports field. "There is no more time," Satsuki declared firmly. "Everyone! Let's go!" Scooping up the wrapped bundles, she led the group's charge onto the field...
...not noticing the bat clinging discretely to the hilt of her own blade.