SAO:BTFL Chapter 7 – The End is here
Outside of Laughing Coffins HQ
Floor 70, Castle Aincrad
Sword Art Online
August 16th, 2024 11:56 am AST
Day 649 of SAO
Aincrad Military Intelligence Sector 5's specially created 3rd Military Police Battalion currently consisted of the 6th Signal Brigade, Detachment Zulu, 1st Military Police Battalion SWAT Detachment Alpha, Bravo & Zulu, 3rd Military Police Battalion Volunteer Detachment Alpha, AMI5 Protection Bureau 3rd & 1st Protection Unit, KoB Knights Peacekeeping Detachment, DDA Peacekeeping Detachment, Fuurinkazan Peacekeeping Detachment, myself, Itou and Sayori. We were standing outside of the Laughing Coffins HQ, since they became prominent after the New Years Eve Murders as AMI5 has called it we've been on their trail, tacking them down, every step of the way and we finally found where the bastards where hiding.
"Alright, Zulu Detachment, I want you to secure the entrance, no one is allowed in or out you understand?"
They hollered a hoorah and started to secure the area, "Alright, Alpha your with me, Bravo your with Itou, Volunteer Alpha your with Kirito and Fuurinkazan, Both Protection Units your with Sayori, please do make sure to take survivors but if you are forced to kill then do so, you will not be punished upon your return to home, I assure you"
Heathcliff rallied the rest of the troops and we marched inside, I gripped my Interrogation Dagger in one hand and my regular dagger in the other. The Interrogation Dagger was something that appeared in my inventory along with an Interrogation Skill back in February of 2024, apparently that's when I maxed out my sneaking, hiding and searching skills. What the Interrogation skill does is makes an NPC or Player spill information that pertains to a certain Item, Boss or Location.
"Something doesn't feel right" Sayori says from beside me.
"It can't be" I whisper as we enter a large empty space.
"IT'S AN AMBUSH!" a KoB Knight yells as he's sliced by a Knife.
"Alright! This is what you were fucking ta-AHHH" I was attacked during my speech, good thing for me I was paying attention and blocked his dagger with my regular one "Sup fucker"
"Your gonna die here"
"Nah, I don't think I am"
I kick out his knees from behind and hold my interrogation dagger to his throat activating the skill "Where's PoH?"
"Why would I know? I'm just a lowly member"
"Shit" I quickly tie his hands with rope.
Another attack came at me "Oi!" I yelled at him "Ya fucking mind?" I then sliced his arm with my dagger on instinct making him fall the floor in pain.
I turned to Itou "Itou! We need to find PoH"
"Copy Boss"
We continued to fight them off for the next ten minutes and then the attacks stopped, most of the members were killed, others were captured. I walked around with my Interrogation Dagger, interrogating them all about their boss's whereabouts, apparently none of them knew where he was.
"Oh, this is starting to tick me off" I complained to Sayori who held the same sentiments, I turned to what was left of Alpha Detachment, which was basically all of them.
"Good, ya'll aren't dead"
The commanding officer of Alpha Detachment smiled "Of course boss, we are the elite SWAT unit after all"
"Alright, I need you all to sweep the floors, Take Bravo with you, we need to find PoH"
Alpha and Bravo detachments ran further into the HQ "Alright, Protection units I need ya'll on medical duty, go around and ask anyone if they need medical attention, Volunteers do whatever you want as long as it's helpful, Sayori go talk to Heathcliff tell him the PoH isn't among the captives"
"Copy"
We spent the next 30 minutes healing up, interrogating laughing coffin members and sending them to the Jail on the 1st Floor, AMI5 was going to stick around the area, keep it blocked off for a week and let the 6th Signal Brigade do its thing. About Two days later I had received a report from the units in the field, I was hanging back in my office reading my newspaper when the message popped up in front of me, scaring the living shit out of me.
Military Checkpoint Selmberg (Outpost #0061) in collaboration with Outpost #0070
6th Signal Brigade, Detachment Alpha & 6th Signal Brigade, Detachment Zulu
Semburg
Floor 61, Castle Aincrad
Operational Report: Operation Counterreact
Report Author: Joint Authorship of Detachment Zulu & Detachment Alpha CO's
Report sent to: SeanCityNavy, AMI5 Command/6th Signal Brigade Report Database/Officer_Itou, AMI5 Command
After two days of investigation into the Laughing Coffin HQ on Floor 70 we have concluded that PoH, the leader of Laughing Coffin was here before the raid but was somehow able to slip away. 1st Military Police Special Weapons & Tactics Detachment Zulu has reported to us that they have a female named Lux in there custody, we have compilated on letting her go however she has connections with Laughing Coffin as a Tattoo was found on her left leg, we will keep her detained in Military Checkpoint Selmberg until given further orders by Command.
Investigation into the HQ has brought nothing new that we didn't already know, we'll keep investigating for 5 more days.
We had a female in detainment? I wasn't aware of that, itou probably did tho. I closed the message just in time to see Sayori walk by my office door "Oi! Sayori!"
She stopped and peered into my office "What can I do for ya Sean?" she asked.
"The 6th has a girl in detainment at Selmberg, you mind transporting her back here for me? Take the 3rd with you"
"Sure thing"
1st Military Police Battalion Joint Department of Intelligence Operations Briefing Center
Aincrad Military Intelligence Sector 5 Headquarters
Town of Floria
Floor 47, Castle Aincrad
Sword Art Online
November 6th, 2024 5:56 pm AST
Day 731 (2nd Yr) of SAO
"Half of it?" one of the members of SWAT Alpha Detachment questioned.
"Yes, out of the 20 players sent to scout the boss room only 10 returned" I confirmed.
The Knights of the Blood Oath sent out 20 players to scout the boss room of Floor 75 earlier today, our Intelligence Outpost #0075 reported just over an hour ago about the parties progress, I was currently briefing the entirety of 1st MP's SWAT from Detachment Alpha to Zulu.
"Right, so what are we doing?" Zulu's CO asked.
"Alpha, Bravo and Charlie are all good to go for this, they'll go in with the rest of the clearer squad" I respond "Zulu, Yankee and X-Ray will secure the entrance, Zulu same as August, no one in, no one out. While this is happening I'll be placing 47th on lockdown since the Command Structure will be on the battlefield, That's where the rest of you come in, Detachment Delta will take command of the Capital Region Lockdown and Law Enforcement Operations, Detachments Echo, Foxtrot and Golf will be under them, Detachment Hotel will control the two Counties with Detachments India, Juliett and Kilo under them" I sighed "Listen, this will probably take an hour if not more, we might not actually come back, this could be a third Massacre, something about the 25th Floor Massacre and the 74th Floor Massacre, This could end the clearers and end our hope of leading the exit from SAO, so as of this moment Command Contingency Thirteen is active"
"Wait, Co- Boss, you're not thinking of getting yourself killed, are you?" Itou asked.
Command Contingency Thirteen, if I and the rest of AMI5 Commands Structure was to be wiped off the face of the earth then Silica would take over AMI5 with Alice as her adviser, Alpha Detachments CO would take over the DPO, CCP-001 would take over DIO, ect. This was created when we moved to Floor 47.
"I'm not Itou, I would never think of getting myself killed, but this is just a precaution, listen at 12:00 pm we are to report to Military Checkpoint 75th Floor and get ready for the raid, as of 1:00 pm AST floor 47 will go into Lockdown. Break"
Gathering Courtyard
Military Checkpoint 75th Floor
75th Floor, Castle Aincrad
Sword Art Online
November 7th, 2024 12:50 pm AST
Day 732 of SAO
"Rush and attack?" I asked.
I looked upon the guild leaders in front of me, Heathcliff, Asuna, Aigil, Klein, Schmitt and the DDA's Commander who refused to give me his name 'Security Reasons' he says, and Kirito behind Asuna.
"Yes" Heathcliff replied "We use the tanks to defend against the boss while we attack it"
"Commander, you do remember that Sean here is a Dagger user, right?"
"He's also our Intelligence Operative Asuna, so he's only here to tell us what's going on"
I laugh a little "I don't know everything Heathcliff"
He just smiled and walked out of the tent we had set up, we had spent the last 30 minutes coming up with an attack plan, I walked out last as Heathcliff began railing the troops we then marched out of the AMI5 Military Checkpoint via a Corridor Crystal and appeared in front of the boss door.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, let's do this thing"
An Hour Later
I found myself paralyzed, laying on the floor, the cold floor. Just ten minutes ago we beat the 75th floor boss, with only 14 casualties, non on the side of AMI5, we were all dead tired and in the moment of our tiredness Heathcliff was filled with energy saying we should be celebrating before he was attacked by Kirito showing that he only stayed in the yellow because he was a system admin, immortal object, whatever you want to call it.
They were now in a little spat, the two of them however it caused us, the onlookers to be victims of this little discovery.
"Master Sergeant" Yua called out to me.
"Go" I called back.
"I don't understand what's going on"
"Heathcliff is Kayaba, the guy that got us trapped in this game" Sayori responded.
"That's fucking crazy" Itou responded, "were you aware of this boss?"
"I had my suspicions that something was up back when he dueled Kirito in the Arena, a shield owner shouldn't be faster than a guy who can dual wield since as Argo, sorry CCP-001 explained to me, this skill was only attainable by the person with the fastest reaction time so there's no actual way that Heathcliff can beat that" I replied.
"Minister, what does this mean" Sachi asked.
"It means we might die in here" I responded.
Even as I said that a battle between Heathcliff and Kirito started, apparently, he had turned off his GM Safety nets and are going at it. He was fighting hard, Kirito that is. Till suddenly the tip of his sword shattered. A gasp escaped my lips.
"Farewell, Kirito" Heathcliff said as he moved his sword down.
Suddenly Asuna jumped in front of the blade taking the blow.
"Oh shit" Sachi breathed.
Itou and I looked on in silence as Sachi and Yua started to mutter words, I was 100% sure that if anything, Heathcliff would be arrested, if not from me or Itou then someone from SWAT or even his own guild. Kirito now held the KoB's Second-In-Command in his arms as they began to cry, several heart wrenching seconds later Asuna shattered and Kirito tried to pick up her parts only for them to break on contact with his hand.
"That was a surprise" Heathcliff acknowledged "I don't believe I programmed a way to neutralize paralysis on your own, I guess these things happen sometimes"
Kirito moved to grab Asuna's reaper which still existed probably due to their joint storage account, Heathcliffs eyes widened a bit before returning to its normal state, Kirito then got up and began to dejectedly attack Kayaba. He swung once and Kayaba dodged by moving back, Kirito moved to swing again but after a sigh from Heathcliff had his sword knocked out of his hand. Kayaba, then without any words stabbed his sword into the Black Swordsmen's stomach allowing him to bleed HP.
I watched in abstract horror like I did during the 25th Floor Massacre however this time, I had no one to yell at, threaten to slap within an inch of their HP bar, be threatened with IRL Jail time once this game was cleared by, it was just the Developer of the Game killing a Civilian who found out his secret and I really had no say in it.
Kirito fell backward, off the sword and then shattered into pieces, Yua and Sachi I believe was on the verge of crying until.
"Look" Itou breathed.
I turned to look back at the battlefield where yellow lights appeared out of nowhere and began to retake the shape of Kirito. The BETA's respawn system! That's exactly what animation played when you respawned in the SAO: Closed BETA Test, a bunch of yellow lights would appear at a nearby spawn zone Town or Major City and then you'd respawn.
However, when he returned, he began to glow light blue, the sword still within him, Kirito stepped forward, Kayaba gave an audible oh? Before stepping back and gasping again. Kirito then screamed and stabbed Asuna's rapier into Kayaba who looked as if he had a smile on his face.
The two players then shattered into pieces, right before my eyes. The paralysis wore off and I got up to sit and stared at the battlefield, Sachi and Yua moved to join me.
"Is that it?" Yua asked in a shaky voice.
"I think so" Sayori answered from behind.
I nodded confirming her words, but what truly confirmed her words was an in-game announcement that rung out only three seconds later.
"As of 2:55 Aincrad Standard Time, November 7th, 2024, Sword Art Online has been cleared, I repeat the game has been cleared"
Suddenly my vision filled with light just as it was when I logged in and then….
Patient Room #039
Yokota Air Force Base Medical Clinic
Yokota Air Force Base, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan
November 7th, 2024 2:56 pm Japan Standard Time
End of Sword Art Online (Day 732)
My eyes slowly opened as I was greeted by a white celling tinted by the Nervegear's visor. The first thing I automatically tried to do was move my arms, however they felt heavier then usual. I was able to turn my head and I came face to face with a female nurse dressed in a US Air Force ABU's who stared back at me before running out of my room yelling Doctor! He's awake!
A male doctor also wearing US Air Force ABU's entered the room as I moved my head to face back up to the celling, he had the nurse remove the Nervegear from my head as it may have felt uncomfortable wearing it like I am.
"I'm Major Alex Hampton with the 374th Medical Group, do you know where you are currently?"
I tried to speak only for nothing to come out.
"Don't speak, you haven't done so in 2 years, I suggest waiting before you can, just give me a thumbs up if you know where you are"
I laid my hand flat.
"You're on US Air Base Yokota in Tachikawa, Tokyo, you've been here since November of 2022. You are currently under the care of the US Air Force Medical Services; I will now read your name, Date of Birth, Place of Current Residence, Place of Former Residence and your Place of Birth and tell me if they are correct"
He grabbed a clipboard that was hanging off the back of my hospital bed "Sean K. Michalek"
I gave a thumbs up.
"July 19th, 2002"
I gave a thumbs up.
"Ministry of Defense Barracks, Tokyo, Japan"
I gave a thumbs up.
"Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, United States"
I gave a thumbs up.
"RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, United Kingdom"
I gave a thumbs up.
"Alright, at least you remember the important stuff, are you currently 22 years old?"
I gave another thumbs up.
"Are you the rank of Master Sergeant with the JGSDF?"
Thumbs up.
"Alright, I'll come back later to ask you questions, I'll have the nurse give you plenty of fluids, once you can talk the nurse will come get me"
He left the room and the nurse went to work on me
An Hour Later
Major Alex Hampton walked back into my room.
"Hello Doc" I responded; my voice was a little raspy still but at least I could speak.
"Hello Mr. Michalek, I will now ask you a few questions"
"Go for it Doc"
"Who is your current commanding officer?"
"Uhhhhh, Commanding officer, I am my own C-Ooo you mean IRL, right sorry Captain Tobiichi"
"What are your parents' names"
"Johnathan and Hailee" I responded.
"What is your sisters name?"
"Lily"
"What's the name of your favorite teacher?"
"Ms. Page, Lakenheath Primary School"
"Name of your Pets?"
"Stich, May, Binks and Joshua"
"What type of animal were they?"
"All Cats"
"Alright, at least you remember your life even after 2 years in a game"
"Of course Doc, my Severe PTSD wasn't about to let me forget"
"Severe PTSD?"
"I was diagnosed with Severe PTSD in 2021 by JGSDF Doctors when my uhh.. unit lets say, was wiped out during a uhhh UN Peacekeeping mission in Africa, it should be in my Medical Records"
The Major pulled up the computer beside him and scrolled through my Medical Records that were transferred over from JGSDF systems back to the USAF Medical Systems where they first started.
"Ah, I see it now, your PTSD is possibly worse now, am I correct?"
"I would believe so"
He wrapped up his questioning "Okay, were gonna keep you here for a couple of weeks, get your physical training in, and then we'll see"
"We'll see?"
"We'll see, the US Government, or more over the US Department of State hasn't decided what it wants to do with you yet"
He then got off and left without a word.
WELP, That's it, the end of the Aincrad Arc comes the end of Sword Art Online: Beyond the Front Lines Book number uno! It took me 2 years to get it finished but here it is ladies and gentlemen, I know that it was possibly shit and I could reflect on Aincrad Military Intelligence Sector 5's activities after its founding but you know, I really didn't have anything really for it, the IRL Arc which will start and finish SAO:BTFL Book #2 will have way more content as Sean tries to settle back into his Normal Life in the Japanese Military.
Thank you all so much for reading, I've been SeanCityNavy and i'll see ya in Book 2!