(Disclaimer: I do not own the Zoids franchise. Copyright goes to Tomy for making this fantastic series. All I own are this story, its characters and some concept Zoids that might appear.)
Zoids: Lost Eden
Chapter 10: Enter the Retaliation Force
Alta managed to catch up to Itsuki and Naruse a few hours after she left Mount Cybele. Together, the two pilots made their way to the Helic Preservation Bureau, located somewhere near the vicinity of the Central Mountain Range; the place where the Gojulas Giga, the pride of the Helic military, made its glorious debut. The tall mountains made it a difficult terrain to traverse normally. Add to that the fact that winter's slowly closing in and the place is almost virtually impossible to find.
The Bureau's main headquarters was located in a town that also served as an outpost for the base hidden in the mountain. On the surface, it looks like a typical museum, showcasing armaments and Zoids used during the pre-cataclysm war. Officially, they also help with restorations and they've managed to establish connections with various organizations as a result. But what the Neo-Zenebas army didn't know was that the place was also a training ground for Republican soldiers as well as a small Zoids factory and machine shop.
The two Zoids were quickly ushered into an underground hangar. Luckily, most of the residents share strong anti-Imperial sentiments so there wasn't any need to worry about any of them getting the word out. There was the concern that some people may not take kindly with an Imperial noble being around town, especially someone from the Daemon family but so far, none of the people Itsuki met knew Naruse. The girl was too cautious to appear on TV or other forms of social media.
Ever since she's arrived, Naruse had taken to staying by herself in the Bureau's archives, trying to decode the files she's stolen from the base at Mount Cybele. It had been a difficult endeavor. The Viscount was too careful. Most of the bases she saw had already been vacated. Only a few remained operational, and these were located too close to Neo-Zenebas territory. There was no way the Retaliation Force could take those on with their limited strength.
"Well, so much for wanting to help…" Naruse sighed. In the end, she hadn't really helped much. Other than informing the Republic of the Viscount's plan, she felt like she was just some dead weight. Unlike Alyx who could pilot a Zoid to some degree, all she had to offer was her wits and her knowledge. "Alyx…how are you doing now?"
Outside, the sun had already set, signaling the end of another long day. Her eyes felt a little heavy after the tedious task. Just as she was about to pack up, she noticed an odd file. "That's strange. I must've overlooked it…" Naruse thought as her attention turned to the file in question. Brushing aside her feelings of exhaustion, she immediately got back to work, hoping to decrypt the data come tomorrow.
"I've got a hunch on what this might be. I hope my intuition's on mark."
Knock, knock!
The light rapping on the heavy-looking wooden door of his quarters woke the exhausted Lieutenant up. He hadn't gotten much rest since the mission at Kalanes City and with Eleanor's sudden orders to put trainees under his command; he figured that might be the last he'll probably get. Brushing aside the covers, Itsuki grudgingly got up, taking care not to wake up the sleeping Alta beside him. He quickly put on his pants before opening the door to take a little peek at his visitor. A bespectacled young woman greeted him from the other side of the door.
"Lieutenant Itsuki, I came to get you, sir." The woman spoke up, somehow feeling a little nervous, as far as Itsuki could tell from the way she tries to maintain her composure.
"I see." Itsuki muttered as he gave her a good look over. She looked a little young. Probably just a couple of years older than Alyx and Naruse. "You're from the Preservation Bureau?"
"Yes sir!" The young woman replied, saluting as she did. "My name is Rio Castille. At your service—sir."
"Castille? Does that mean—?" Itsuki asked, recalling the surname. If his memory was right, it was the name of the family who runs the Bureau.
"Yes sir! I am the daughter of Baltus Castille, owner of this museum." The girl immediately responded back.
"Alright, I'll be out in a—" Itsuki stepped back to inspect himself. His hair was a mess, and his body reeked of gunpowder and sweat from last evening's lovemaking. "In a couple of minutes."
"Roger that sir—" Even before the girl, Rio, could finish, Itsuki immediately closed the door.
"God, I need to freshen up…" The weary Lieutenant thought as he stretched, heading straight into the shower room.
"The Preservation Bureau was founded by my father a few years before the war resumed after the meteor cataclysm."
Trudging along the museum's polished floors were Rio and Itsuki, his visage all fixed up. At the latter's behest, the former was explaining things about the Bureau as they made their way to their next destination, which was the hidden underground base. They had to pass the museum's main hall which held their most famous attraction: a fully restored Gojulas MK-II Limited; posed as if it was snarling at an enemy Zoid, its back hunched over in order to fit inside the museum without sticking out of the roof like a sore thumb.
"Compared to the Guylos Empire, the Republic had a hard time recuperating its strength after the cataclysm, mostly because we haven't been able to preserve much of our Zoid designs, forcing us to rebuild most of our forces from scratch. 'If the Empire can do it, why can't we?' That's what my dad used to say." Rio continued to narrate, even as they reached an elevator and rode it deep into the ground below the museum.
"So, this Bureau decided to catalog most of our new Zoids and preserve their data should—you know? Another meteor strike happens and all our progress gets wiped out?" Rio continued saying all these with a slight hint of enthusiasm rising from her voice, though she obviously tried hard to stay composed.
"Interesting." Itsuki complimented the young pilot. His attention was immediately directed towards the large underground hangar that greeted them once the elevator doors opened. Different kinds of Zoids lined up along the walls although compared to the show pieces upstairs, these Zoids were still alive and combat worthy. His own Liger sat near the corner, adjacent to Alta's König Wolf.
"This is our main hangar. Aside from acting as a repair bay for the Zoids, we also do most of our modifications and restorations in this area—in the event a Zenebas patrol stops by. Up ahead are the simulators we use to train the pilots." Rio continued, pointing at the various facilities while she described each one. Itsuki's eyes immediately trailed off to look at a pair of black Blade Ligers sitting on the far right.
"Those Ligers…will they be used in battle too?" Itsuki asked the young woman ahead of him, pausing for a while in order to get a better look.
"Yes. I understand that these models are much better off preserved since the military does not make them anymore but, we don't really have a choice. This is war and, we've got to give it all we've got." Rio looked at Itsuki directly in the eyes. "I was the one who supervised the recommission of these Ligers. I can assure you, they'll live up to expectation. They may look fresh out of the factory after the work we've done but, these Ligers are both veterans and have already seen action in the battlefield."
"Okay. So who's piloting them?"
"I will take one." Rio replied though she didn't seem too confident when she did, causing a slight hint of worry on Itsuki's part..
"And the other?"
"Oh, its pilot is a classmate of mine named Janus Rez. Top of the class and good skills but—" Upon mentioning the pilot's name, Rio's tone shifted to one of uncertainty.
"But what?" Itsuki asked on.
"Well—you'll see for yourself sir. Let's go to the simulators—the others are waiting for you there." Rio walked on, with Itsuki trailing a little behind.
"He's not really problematic sir. He just—tends to get a little too rowdy at times…" Rio explained with a sigh.
"I'll get you yet—!" A young man in his early twenties grunted as he shifted the joystick a little to the right, trying to get his sights locked on the opponent in front of him. Brushing aside the strands of his green hair that suddenly dropped to his face, he took aim and fired away, the guns of his Zoid blazing, raining heavy fire down on the pavement in front.
The Zoid he was using was a Cannonfort, a smaller derivative of the stronger Dibison. Although it was small, it packed considerable firepower capable of pinning down a Dark Horn provided they've got the numbers. On the other hand, its enemy was lighter and more maneuverable as evidenced by the fact that the Cannonfort pilot hadn't been able to land a single hit despite the open field of sand that served as their battleground.
"Damn! Where did he go this time?!" The Cannonfort pilot grunted angrily as his Zoid's head swayed side to side, anticipating an incoming attack.
"Hah! Got you off-guard again, Kiro!" Startled by a sudden yelling from his comms, the Cannonfort stepped back as a Guylos Heldigunner emerged from the sand, taking the artillery Zoid by surprise. As the Cannonfort tried to reorganize itself, the Heldigunner's turret flexed forward and with two, calculated shots to the Zoid's weapons load and legs, took the Cannonfort out of commission.
Simulation Over. Winner: Janus Rez
"Hah! I got you again! And with an enemy Zoid to boot!" A red-haired young man leaps out of his seat from the simulation console, removing the various appendages that linked him to the machine.
"Alright, alright. You got me this time…" The pilot simulating using the Cannonfort also stood up. "What did I do wrong again?"
"Blind spot round your six man. You're not looking hard enough again, Kiro." The red-haired pilot relayed his analysis of their earlier battle.
"Got it. Let's have another go, Janus. This time with larger Zoids and less forgiving terrain." The pilot named Kiro urged Janus on for another match.
"No way! Not if you're going to be cheating again!" Janus laughed as he stepped out of the simulator completely, making sure to properly turn off the device.
"Really? When did I ever cheat against you?"
"Second term, third class? Simulation was a battle encounter on a terrain barricaded by tall walls? We were supposed to use Zoids up to extra-large class. So I went barreling in with a DCS-Jaguar while you chilled back—shooting at me with a Gojulas!" Janus exclaimed, elbowing his friend on the back.
"How does that count as cheating? Well, whatever… Rio probably wants us back upstairs anyway." Kiro sighed as he rubbed his shoulder.
"There you are!" A familiar woman's voice called out to them from the entrance of the simulator room.
"Hey Rio." Kiro greeted as he poured himself a cup of water.
"Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to watch the front desk or something?!" Janus teased the girl as she walked towards them.
"Haha! Very funny!" Rio replied with sarcasm as she made her way towards the two boys. "Behave yourselves now! We've received our assignment."
"I take it these are remaining pilots?" At that moment, Itsuki entered the room, causing the two boys to straighten up and raise their hands in salute. "At ease gentlemen. So, I heard you guys were quite competent?"
"Janus is top of our class. His skills are exceptional and even if he could be rowdy at times, he's never violated an order before." Rio speaks up on Janus' behalf, lest he says anything that could get him in trouble.
"And you?" Itsuki turns to face the green-haired pilot.
"Kiro Kanato, from Rio's batch. I work as a guard for the museum upstairs." The young man humbly replied.
"So you've had actual experience fighting before?"
"Both in a Zoid and against personnel sir." Kiro responded, giving a quick rundown of his experience at the Preservation Bureau.
"What about you two?" Itsuki turns to Rio and Janus again as he asks about their experience and expertise.
"Among the top seven when it comes to simulations but otherwise, I do not have any actual combat experience sir." Rio explained frankly, without hiding anything. "I mostly oversee and perform repairs and restorations so I'm quite versed in matters of Zoid biology and construction."
"Scouting and patrolling. Had a few brushes a couple of years ago but never had anything that erupted into full-blown fights. Oh, but just two days ago, me and Kiro caught sight of a small, Imperial detachment headed down the mountains up north." Janus explained, recalling an incident that occurred just recently.
"Two days ago?" Itsuki was rather surprised by the news. "That's just after we've taken over Mount Cybele…" He wondered. Had the Viscount catch on to what they planned? About splitting up and taking Naruse with him? "This detachment…what did they look like? What Zoids were they using?"
"Well, we've spotted a Whale King but apart from that, nothing else came out of that Zoid's mouth. Personnel and small vehicles were the only things moving around last time we checked." Janus continued to explain the situation.
"And when was the last time you scouted this area?"
"Just yesterday. Some officers came into town to buy supplies so me and Kiro kind of just tailed them to see what they were up to." Janus continued his story. "We couldn't really get too close but, it seems like they were excavating something. Something hidden in the glacier."
"Only the Viscount would think of sending off expeditionary forces like these at this point in the war…" Itsuki thought, remembering the incident at Kalanes. "Rio!"
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you have any Zoids that can operate in this snow?"
"We have a reconnaissance Spinosapper and a snow-operation Guysack stashed away somewhere. They're not that strong in battle but they should allow us to slip in undetected." Rio replied, trying to recall the Zoids they can use in the situation. "We also have a pair of Bear Fighters but although we can use them in the snow, their weapons are rather…antique."
"Doesn't matter." Disregarding the fact that they were limited in Zoids, Itsuki turns to address his recruits. "We're heading up there. Rio and Janus, get those Zoids ready. Kiro, establish a small communications base somewhere near our operating perimeter. We'll see what these guys are up to." Itsuki turned to leave for the hangars once he had given their orders.
"Yes, sir!" Everyone in the room replied in unison.
Itsuki passed his Blade Liger as he walked down the hangar. As much as he wanted to take the Zoid along, the Liger wasn't adjusted for fighting in the snow yet. It would take some time and there was the danger of attracting unwanted attention. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a familiar figure standing before his new Zoid as if inspecting it like some ancient diamond. Pausing for a while, he approached the woman whose eyes were still fixed on the white lion ahead.
"Blade Liger huh?" Alta started, fully aware that Itsuki had walked up beside her. "You haven't changed at all, Itsuki. You still prefer if you could control everything."
"I'm not like you Alta. I don't really buy into all this bonding stuff. Artificial bodies are the best I can manage." Itsuki explained.
"Figures." Seemingly content with his answer, Alta turned to walk away, towards her own Zoid.
"So you think you're a better pilot than I am huh?" Itsuki let out a small chuckle, prompting Alta to glance back at him.
"I didn't say that." Alta answers back with a smile. "Why don't I come with you guys?"
"Alright." Itsuki was quick to give his consent, owing to the fact that the two have known each other for a long time. "You better keep up though." Itsuki teases Alta a little before walking towards a Bear Fighter.
"Heh, we'll see which one of us needs to keep up!" Alta let out a small laugh as she headed for her Zoid: the black König Wolf she used at Kalanes.
"Achoo! Damn, it's cold out here…" Vishna grumbled slightly as she shivered in the snowy air, clutching her jacket tighter to her chest.
Their team was sent by the Viscount to the north, near the glaciers. It was a rather bad time for them as winter was now setting in, making the excavation project all the more difficult. Plus, they were in the middle of unfamiliar terrain, right in the middle of Helic territory. When push comes to shove, they only have the superiority of their Zoids to rely on and even that performance advantage was compromised by the terrain.
"Vishna, do you read me?" Sakura's voice called over from the radio. "Operations have finished on my end. Tell Ms. Zhou to send a team to pack it up."
"Got it…Hey!" Vishna immediately heads back to the Hydrarchos to inform them of the development. In a few minutes, transport vehicles headed out to receive the item. What they scavenged were apparently disassembled and stowed away on various cargo trailers, concealing its true nature from any prying eyes.
"Is that the last of it?" Vishna asked Sakura upon seeing her alight from one of the vehicles, dusting off the snow as she did.
"No. I heard there was another set buried further up. There's another storm coming in so I'm heading out in the Geno Saurer. How's the Sabre Tiger?" Sakura replied, asking about the status of Vishna's Zoid.
"No luck. De-icers are having difficulty thawing out its components. Sera's Red Horn is fine—provided it stays within the vicinity of the Hydrarchos. Which means—" Vishna sighed, leaning a hand on Sakura's shoulder as she whispered. "You're the only one we can rely on should we be found out. Again."
"Always giving me the hard stuff aren't you guys?" Somehow, the young Imperial Lieutenant managed a laugh in face of their difficult situation.
"Of course. That's why you get promoted and we don't!" Vishna laughed, referring to Sakura's earlier climb in rank.
"Gee, thanks Vishna."
As the Guylos remnants continued their excavation mission, four pairs of eyes watched their actions closely, taking note of every single detail they can find. Itsuki, Alta, Janus and Rio managed to climb the mountains to spy on the remnant's activities. They had left their Zoids in order to proceed on foot in order to take advantage of the narrow passage leading to a hidden cavern which they can hide in.
"Dude, you seeing this?" Janus whispers into his radio as he held a camera up in order to film what was transpiring below.
"Janus, your hand is too shaky! I'm seeing nothing but blurs everywhere!" Kiro answered back from the other side, a little irritated at his ally's horrible camera work.
"I'm trying dude!" Janus answered back in an irritated whisper. "Why don't you switch places with me then?"
"So this is what they were after…" Itsuki muttered as he looked over the ongoing Imperial excavation. From the cavern they were hiding in, he could already recognize what it was their adversary was excavating.
"Itsuki, you don't think—?" Alta asks as she leaned in to take a closer look.
"They'll probably use these to strike at our landing forces. Cunning. Unfortunately, we lack the necessary arms to take on these guys right now. We could intercept them when they come down from the mountain but that would endanger the city. Report this back to main command. They need to know what we'll be up against." Itsuki orders Rio.
"Roger." The girl obediently followed suit.
"Well we can't just let them get these monsters out. I don't think our naval forces can fight all five of these should they come all at once!" Janus protests the apparent lack of action.
"They won't. We'll hit what remains of the other fossils hard while we're in here. Isn't that right, Itsuki?" Alta assures the troops as she glances at the person in charge. For a while, even Itsuki hesitates at the thought of the operation. Would it be worth the lives of these new recruits?
Only one way to find out.
"Yeah. We'll hit them hard alright. Prepare our Zoids. We can't go back due to time constraints so we'll have to make do with what we have right now." Itsuki rallies the small group under his command.
"But—can we really pull this off?" Rio raises her doubts, causing Itsuki to re-examine their Zoids. A Bear Fighter, two Guysacks and a König Wolf. Plus the Spinosapper on the ground. Compared to their opponents, their Zoids were severely lacking in power.
"We're hilariously outgunned sure. But we know this place, and we know the cold. We've lived here for a reason." Itsuki reassures the young woman.
"So we can make this work then?" It was Janus' turn to ask, enthusiasm rising from his voice.
"Yeah. We can ambush the Imperial forces."
Writer's Note: Chapter 10 is here! Long delay, I know! Sorry! Classes got too hectic as it's already the start of our thesis.
Introduction for Itsuki's team-the Retaliation Force. The Helic people need some love on the characters side. XD
Well, expect other chapters to roll in soon. Until then, see you!