Chapter 13: Holding Pattern

Ichijima

Ellie had once seen Marines from Tinae board a disabled pirate ship, and, at the time, she had thought it the most advanced and technically involved thing she had ever seen; the timed crossbow volleys, the synchronized boarding planks, and the men leaping or swinging from one ship to the other. The whole thing made for quite a spectacle, before it devolved to a hand-to-hand slog.

It was almost unsurprising by that point that the Americans could come up with something to beat it. A pair of V-22s thundered over the beach, rushing out to the site of the crash, rear sections deploying as they did so. Once in position, Ellie watched as half a dozen men jumped out of the back of the helicraft and into the sea, and deployed rafts and other floating masses that seemed to unfold and expand from small packages of their own accord. The Americans (Marines? Sailors? Soldiers? Ellie wasn't sure) had the crashed plane swarmed in minutes, and worked rapidly as possible to rescue the people within.

An hour later, Ellie stood inside of a building much like the one in Italica—immaculately clean and filled with beds and curious machines that made noises and displayed changing pictures. In one bed, at a room at the end of the hall, lay Greta.

Ellie had shown up for one reason only; to return Carol's postcard. Therefore, she was surprised to run into Hector and McKann by Greta's bed as well. "...no mechanical failure from what we could tell," McKann was saying, "But the wings and the spacecraft are currently under a hundred and fifty feet of water. Greta was lucky that we got her out as fast as we did."

They looked over at Ellie, weary looks on their faces, before Hector commented, "She'll live, from the looks of it, but it was very, very close."

Ellie swallowed, thinking of how hellish those last few moments must have been for her. "I, uh," she held up the postcard. "I came to return this."

The men gave her understanding nods and stepped out of the way. The woman on the hospital bed had a few differences compared to Ellie when she had woken up in Italica. For one, Greta was sleeping on her back instead of her front, and for another some of her limbs were restrained by straps or plaster casts. The tube and IV needle were still there, as was the finger-clip that lead to the picture monitor. With a sigh of understanding, Ellie placed the postcard into Greta's right hand.

As if a switch had been flipped, the numbers and lines on the graph suddenly jumped and Greta's eyes flickered open. "Uh—" she began and moved to sit up but McKann pressed a hand on her shoulder and said, "You're in the hospital, don't move."

Greta blinked, trying to get her bearings. "What happened?"

"You crashed."

"I don't remember crashing."

"You hit your head pretty hard," McKann bent over and said, "Can you tell me your name and today's date?"

Greta gave both, but then said, "I remember… we were on descent...what happened?"

"You got stuck in a spin," Ellie said, as McKann stood up straight and backed up a step. "You weren't able to recover, stalled out, and went into the sea."

"... how bad was it?"

"The short version?" McKann said. "Fifteen broken bones, internal bleeding, punctured lung, a concussion, and a whole boatload of sprains, strains, and lacerations. Navy Pararescue was able to get you stable long enough to get you to this hospital, but the surgeons are convinced that if we didn't have the best damn magicians in Falmart along with the third-best hospital on this planet, you'd be a vegetable at best, but more likely just dead."

"And My flight Engineer? Quintal?"

"He didn't make it. His injuries were as bad as yours, but he was in the rear seat, which was already underwater by the time my men cut you out of the plane. Beyond that, releasing that much magical energy at once, even with a focus crystal, is enough to cause a brain aneurysm. He went down with the plane."

The blood drained from Greta's face. "His family?"

"They're being attended to. We'll try to recover the body when we send divers to get the avionics box and data recorder from Skunkworks."

"So the Freedom is underwater?"

"Consider the plane unrecoverable. We don't have the equipment In the Special Region to haul the whole thing off the bottom—"

"I'll ask the magicians about it," Greta said. "Once I heal, I'll try again with the Independence."

Hector balked at her. "Are you insane!?"

Greta gave him an uncharacteristically steely stare. As far as Ellie was concerned, Hector was correct. The woman had to be insane. To want to try again so soon, after walking a paper-thin distance from death itself...why? Was she suicidal, perhaps?

"The Americans have a saying," Greta said, coldly, "Space is hard. This is not my first crash, nor the first time that I've lost a copilot, wingman, or flight engineer. When that happens, you cry your eyes out, but you do not let it stop you. I will not let this stop me."

McKann coughed, drawing everyone else's attention before saying, "About that—"

"What?" Greta snapped.

"Your hand…"

Greta looked down at the hand in question, the one, Ellie had slipped the postcard into, briefly up to Ellie in thanks, then curled her fingers around the tough paper.

Or...she tried.

Her fingers didn't move at all.

She reached over with her other hand and grabbed at her wrist, then looked up at McKann in a panic. "It'll wear off," she said, "Right?"

The Commander took a deep breath and replied, "Based on our experiments, healing magic does not work on damage that is older than sixty-two minutes and forty-seven seconds. When we brought you in, the priority of our doctors was on your head and core. Your limbs were last. While we can extend the magic timing by carefully rebreaking certain organs and tissues, nerve tissue is the exception. The nerve in your arm got torn through by a compound fracture...and that's why your hand and wrist won't move."

Greta did not react at first, but her eyes remained locked with the Navy officer's. When she did speak, her voice came out flat. "I need that hand to operate the RCS controls," she said. "Fix it."

McKann folded his arms.

"Fix it."

"We can't."

"BULLSHIT! You're Americans, you can do anything!" Greta's composure had completely broken. Her eyes were wild, and she threw herself against the equipment and sheets holding her to the bed as she screamed, on the edge of tears, "Tell me you can fix it, NOW!"

But McKann said nothing. Ellie reached out to place a hand on Greta's shoulder but the pilot whirled on her next, like a caged animal. "You don't understand," she cried, "If I don't go up, they'll never let me see Carol again!"

Ellie took a step back and turned her attention back to the American commander, who had a puzzled expression on his face as he said, "That's not—"

"It's my fault!" Greta said, "All of it! The Americans saw my presentation at the Kennedy Space Center and got scared! They took us all here to push at magic and technology so that when Falmart re-invented it, they would already know how to fight it! That's why I have to go! Once I get to space, they'll be done with me, which is why Carol said—"

She let out a deep cough, and the hand that she threw up to cover her mouth came away full of blood. "I have to," she groaned, "I have to go—"

By this point, a group of doctors, nurses, and magicians had rushed over. One of them slapped a mask over Greta's nose and mouth, and in seconds her eyes flickered shut again and she dropped back onto the bed.

By this point, Hector had gotten into the act, and was rushing for McKann, but didn't get very far as a a marine appeared behind him and placed a firm hand on the magician's shoulder. The marine's other hand rested lightly on his sidearm. "Don't you think," Hector growled, "That it's time you explained what's really going on here."

McKann frowned. "I told you. Research."

"At our expense."

"What expense? You don't need to do anything if you don't want to. Look at Giselle. She sits around watching anime all day."

"That doesn't mean you can just go make prisoners of us!"

"You leave this place, you'll become prisoners anyway," McKann said. "Before we brought Greta here, she was working under armed guard for the Saderan Empire. Lelei? Constantly pestered and observed by the Rondel Council. Ellie's mentor—Andromache, right? Taken into custody by Countess Myui the minute she heard we were taking Ellie away. She's now being made to train the Saderans in experimental air combat maneuvers. Here, we don't care. Do you understand that part? The US and Japan doesn't care what you do with your time here, as long as whatever you're doing isn't for someone other than Japan or the US."

"So Greta was telling the truth?" Ellie asked, confused. "You're afraid?"

"It's more complicated than that—"

"How could a country that uses Godwreckers—" Hector started but McKann cut him off.

"We don't nuke people just because we can!"

Hector said nothing, but Ellie could see the struggle on his face, the anger, the pain, and the disbelief at the American's words. She could imagine what he was thinking, Then why did you use it on us!?

The Commander took a deep breath, then started his explanation. "If we let The Special Region be, you would eventually want trade with the rest of Earth. It's only natural. I mean, look at Rondel! They've made a fortune off of trading with Japan. Part of that means pressing for a right to trade with other Earth nations, and that runs the risk of putting magi-tech weapons in the hands of our military rivals at home." McKann shook his head. "Even with the trade halt in place, we ran the risk of encountering magic weapons, or even improvised Earth technology here too. Until either Japan or the United States comes up with an option to remove the threat posed by magic, the technology invented on this island, stays on this island. Same goes with the inventors."

"So Greta and Carol…" Ellie said.

"I want to see Greta and Dr. Dawson back together as much as anyone here, but that cannot happen while we've got Rondel, the Saderans, and the whole damn Chinese PLA breathing down our necks, waiting for us to slip up."

"Then how much longer will she have to wait?"

"We don't know. I'm not asking you to be happy. I'm asking you to be patient with us so that when we do finally open up the Gate to everyone, it doesn't result in World War Three."

The last words didn't have any clear meaning to Elle, but the way that McKann put emphasis on them gave her pause. Her own confusion, Greta's despair, and now a threat of war that had even the Americans in a panic? It was too much. She backed away from the scene, first slowly, then faster as she broke into a run. Hector called out after her, but she wasn't listening by that point. I have to get out, she thought, there has to be a way out of all of this!

Outside the Imperial Palace, Sadera

With three atomic bombs and one black project on his mind, the last thing that Clayton wanted as he stepped out of the V-22 in Sadera was another source of stress. Unfortunately, the Special Region had been uncooperative with him all week, and this afternoon didn't seem to be shaping up any differently.

Waiting beyond the landing area was Sugawara, who was in the middle of a harried conversation with a pair of US Diplomatic Security Service agents. "What's going on?" Clayton asked.

"It's Pina," the Japanese Ambassador said. "She has locked herself in her room, posted a guard, and refuses to come out."

"Let me guess, a new Manga shipment?"

Sugawara rolled his eyes. "No. If it was, there wouldn't be an armed guard."

"Did she make any demands?"

"Yes. She wants to speak with either you, or Itami Youji. Captain Itami is currently in Italica, as his debriefing for the Rondel mission was delayed by unexpected circumstances. I am told that he needs to go to Ichijima after that. This leaves you."

Clayton shot him a confused look. "She wouldn't talk to you?"

He shrugged.

Pina had said something just before he had boarded the V-22 for Alnus, but he had been so distracted and the turbines of the helicraft had been so loud that he couldn't recall a word of it. "Fine," Clayton said, then added to the two DSS agents, "Both of you, with me, please."

As Sugawara led him through the royal palace, he couldn't help but wonder what had gotten Pina so up in arms. Had Palapon's intervention been leaked? Had Saderan forces engaged with Rondel?

He arrived in the parlor before the Empress' chambers to find a standoff. On one side, Sherry and a handful of Saderan royal guardsmen. On the other, a small group of Rose-Knights, lead by Hamilton Uno Ror.

"Her Majesty cannot hide in there forever," Sherry was saying. "There are forms to fill, laws to pass, and a war to administer."

"I'm sorry," Hamilton said with a resigned sigh, "Pina does not want to talk to anyone right now except for… ah, Ambassador Clayton! This way please."

As Clayton and the DSS agents moved to pass through the door, Sugawara tried to follow, but Hamilton blocked him. "What is this!?" he cried. "America gets to talk to Pina and Japan doesn't?"

"If Japan wishes to send an envoy to speak to Pina, please send Itami-san." She closed the door behind her, blocking any further noise of the conversation.

Inside the room, Pina sat on the edge of her bed, sword in her lap and clad in her Rose-Knight armor. "Thank goodness!" she said, standing. "Ambassador, I'm sorry about all of the added security, but a disturbing, potentially dangerous piece of information made it to my attention."

Clayton gave a polite nod and smile, adding, "If there is anything the United States of America can do to assist, I'll let you know. What's troubling you?"

The look of consternation on her face grew, and her mouth worked, as if trying to figure out how to properly structure the statement. "I now believe," she finally said, "That Sherry may have compromised Ambassador Sugawara."

Clayton's eyebrows arched and his mouth dropped partway open as a dumbfounded expression took over his face. Perhaps Pina would think that this news surprised him.

What he wanted to say was, NO SHIT, SHERLOCK! This has been going on for SEVEN YEARS and just now you've noticed!? They were doing practically everything shy of screwing on the negotiation table! I knew you were a moron before, but GOD DAMN IT!

What he actually said was, "...oh?"

"This must come as a shock to you."

"Truly."

The Empress then proceeded to tell him everything she'd heard. Clayton was not impressed; Sherry was using some of the oldest tricks in the book to consolidate power, and the fact that neither Pina nor Sugawara had picked up on it was beyond distressing. "I don't know what to do," Pina said. "If Itami were here…"

Clayton waited for her to finish, but when she didn't, he said, "What do you want?"

"Pardon?"

"Lay it out simply for me. What are you afraid of losing from this relationship between Sherry and Sugawara?"

"I don't want anything," Pina stated. "But I've lived through the reign of a tyrant. Sherry isn't as vicious as my brother was… she's shrewd, and it makes be worried that she doesn't have the interests of the people at heart."

"Okay," Clayton said with a shrug. "Fire them."

"What?"

"Take away Sherry's position, and tell Japan that you want a new ambassador."

"But if I do that, the Senate will retaliate, and Japan might pull military support!"

"That's right."

"I can't do that!"

"Then you're going to have to live with both of them."

"I can't do that either!"

Clayton folded his arms and frowned. The nature of politics was often about choosing between one of multiple least-bad options. For Pina, whose reign had been mostly handled by other parties and whose peace was functionally secured by Earth countries, this was her first big decision in a long while. "Itami would know a way out of this," she insisted.

"Itami's a poor choice of geopolitical role model," Clayton said. "He creates his own rules."

Pina sadly nodded, then froze, her eyes becoming wide all of a sudden. "What if the Senate had heroes they liked better than Sherry?"

"I don't—"

"Yes, that's it! The only way to prevent a consolidation of power is to show that Sherry's plans have problems, and that other people might have a better grasp on the world than she does. And for that…" she took a few excited steps towards Clayton. "Your island Fortress, I want you to take me there!"

Clayton didn't even need to think about his answer. "No." Taking her to the island would undermine the entire point of keeping Earth technology separate from the Saderans, and doing so in the middle of a war would not help achieve that goal.

The Empress took a deep breath, clearly nervous about her next move, stood, and faced Clayton.

She drew her sword.

The reaction from the two DSS agents was immediate, one producing a Glock 19, the other a MP5K from their jackets as they rushed forward and shoved Clayton behind them. "What the hell are you doing!?" The Ambassador shouted.

"Creating my own rules," Pina declared. "Ambassador Clayton, I am hereby taking you hostage."

Clayton nervously looked around the room, expecting other royal guards or Rose-Knights to appear, but none did. He had two armed DSS agents between him and Pina, and she was threatening him with a sword. The agent with the Glock was already muttering into a radio, and a dozen heavily-armed US Marines would be on the scene in minutes. "I must be missing something," Clayton said. "There is no way—"

"You're right," Pina said, brandishing the sword so it was pointed squarely at him, "there is no way whatsoever I could do that before your guards fill me full of holes. If that happens, the Saderan government descends into chaos, the relationship between the US, Japan, and Falmart is severely disrupted, and you get investigated by your government for attacking a head of state...and if more of your men come through that door, I will charge immediately."

"So… you're actually taking yourself hostage," Clayton clarified. "You should've said so in the first place."

"Don't patronize me!" Pina huffed. "Are you taking me to the island or not? I'll count to twenty in my head, then I'll attack you."

If he didn't move quickly, the Marines would add to the commotion outside, and Clayton didn't want that. He also wanted to avoid the diplomatic situation Pina had described, though he knew that neither Mahana's administration nor Congress actually cared who ran Falmart, as long as they continued to make money. It was a decent move, if not for the fact that Clayton knew that the DSS agents were wearing bulletproof armor under their shirts, and that the oncoming Marines could probably disarm Pina without killing her.

That said, the entire situation had served to prove one thing. Pina was erratic, and that the safest place for her during the civil war was far, far away from anywhere she could give orders.

"Fine," Clayton said. "But you will not be allowed to take notes of any kind while you're over there, and your communication with Sadera will be monitored and censored. You will be our guest until the end of the civil war, and if we see you doing anything disruptive, you'll be locked away in the nicest prison on the continent. Is that clear?"

Pina nodded, a grin spreading across her face. "An honor doing business—"

"Shut up. Right now I need you to play along. Put the sword away, and confirm anything I say, got it?"

The Empress sheathed her sword. The DSS agents—after a second—put their weapons away as well and called off the Marines.

The argument in the hall was still ongoing when Clayton pushed the door open again, and was promptly interrupted by respectful bows and salutes once Pina made her appearance. "I have had a chance to talk to the Empress," Clayton said. "She will be coming with me to Ichijima, and will remain there for at least the next few weeks."

Sherry looked up from her curtsy and said, "Mr. Ambassador, surely I misheard. Her Highness is needed here to oversee the war."

"Her Highness will be working remotely," Clayton said. "State messages will be delivered through the Embassy at the Jade palace, and she will be available for voice communication when the satellites are overhead."

The countess's eyes narrowed. "You must forgive my saying so, but this sounds like a kidnapping."

Of course, Sherry wasn't as stupid as Pina. Furthermore, she had Sugawara to chime in with, "I must also point out that neither I nor Sherry has access to your island and no way to confirm that this isn't an American soft coup of the Saderan government."

Clayton smiled. "That's not true at all. Ichijima is a Joint Forward Operating Base, and JSDF General Kengun will be on hand later today to see to the Empress's accommodations and to assure that she has equal access to American and Japanese resources."

Of course, he hadn't discussed any of this with Kengun yet, though he suspected, based on his reaction at Yokosuka, that he wouldn't mind taking Pina out of the picture. "Besides," Clayton added. "Itami will be there too, and he wouldn't stand to have us mistreat her."

"Very well," Sherry said, then slowly and cautiously added, "And based on previously signed documents and laws, this makes me steward of Sadera until Pina returns."

Now who's accusing who of a soft coup? Clayton thought. "Certainly," he said. "I am sure that the Senate will be watching very carefully to see how you do."

But Sherry didn't seem satisfied with that answer. Did she suspect something? Eventually, she sighed, put on a bright smile, and concluded, "Then I wish her Highness best of luck on her trip!"

"Will the Rose-Knights be accompanying you?" Hamilton asked. Pina shot a pleading look to Clayton, who, trying to add his irritation, said, "Since you asked so nicely, Ms. Ror, you may come along if you follow us now. The rest of the Rose-Knights must remain here."

They moved as a group to leave, but before Clayton could depart, he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and turned his head to see Sugawara standing there. "I don't know what you're planning," he said. "But whatever it is, we weren't told. Again. Japan can only accept so many breaches of trust before there are consequences, Mr. Clayton."

"My apologies, I'll be more candid with you from now on," Clayton said, brushing the hand away. "Don't have too much fun with Sherry while we're away."

As he walked away, he resisted the urge to look back at Sugawara for a reaction. He heard a few stifled chuckles from the guards though… and that was enough of a victory for him.