A/N: Happy New Year! This chapter took me some time to get it right. But, I think I've nailed it. The big, bad, climax has arrived. It's epic. It's action-packed. It's here!
CHAPTER 46: BATTLE OF TOKYO-3 (PART I)
February 10, 2018…
There was a heavy fog hanging over Tokyo-3 when Misato woke up. It was expected to burn off as it moved further out towards the coast. But it wasn't the pea soup weather that was making the raven haired NERV officer feel paranoid. She couldn't place it, even though it seemed to have woken her up. She got changed and quietly walked into the kitchen to press 'start' on the coffee machine. She looked around the apartment but found nothing out of place. It just felt quiet; too quiet.
"Asuka?" She called out to her roommate. "You awake?"
"Ja," the German responded from the bathroom with a groggy groan. "Ein moment."
Something creaked in the building, making Misato's skin crawl. It was that feeling people get when they're visiting a haunted house attraction and were expecting the next scare that was sure to come as soon as they turned the next corner. The NERV officer touched the outside of her jacket, double checking that her USP was still there. Outside, the fog had dissipated enough to see the building across the street.
Asuka exited the bathroom, still wearing her slippers, blue sleeping pants and blouse. She noted the odd look on Misato's face. "Is something wrong?"
"No," Misato replied as the coffee maker growled as it finished brewing. "I dunno…something just feels…"
"Off?" Asuka replied with a confused expression.
"What's the matter?"
"Icht nicht. I woke up thinking I had to wake you up for some reason," she sat down at the table, her back to the patio. "I didn't because I figured I just had to pee. But…all the while it was like this voice was telling me to warn you."
"That's weird…" Misato grabbed a NERV mug.
"Yeah, you're telling-" She was cut off by a sharp 'tink' sound behind her accompanied instantaneously by the coffee pot exploding into a cloud of hot morning joe. Misato dropped her mug just as a second bullet punctured the glass and hit the cupboard above the pot.
"Get down!" Misato shouted as she forced Asuka to the deck behind the low wall partitioning the kitchen from the living room.
As soon as she did two figures wearing dark digital camouflage and black Kevlar helmets descended on ropes and crashed through the glass doors. Misato already had her pistol up and double tapped the first soldier before his feet touched the deck. The second was able to bring his suppressed MP7A1 to his shoulder just in time to catch two rounds in his chest followed by a third to the brain bucket.
Misato was still in the 'California kneeling' position of both knees on the ground, her breath coming in ragged heaves. She'd fired her pistol enough times but had never taken a life until now.
"Misato!" Asuka's voice snapped her out of it. She blinked and refocused on the bodies.
'Those are SSDF uniforms,' she realized. "It's happening…"
"What's happening?" Before Misato could reply a third sniper bullet hit the wall above her head.
"We have to go, now!" She shouted as she picked Asuka up and half dragged her to the front door. "Shoes, now!" She ordered as she quickly slipped her boots on. Asuka wasn't able to tie her shoes before her guardian grabbed her yet again and pulled her outside.
Misato took a quick look into the parking lot to see at least two dark gray and black Cougar 6x6 MRAPs come to a stop and deploy over a dozen SSDF commandoes. A black sedan had all its windows shot out and bullet holes stitched on the sides and hood. Their Section 2 detail never stood a chance. "Fuck," she swore as she ducked down and pulled the teen along by her collar. "This way!" They made it to the stairs and hustled down before the commandoes got to it. But not fast enough to avoid being spotted running into the alley behind the apartment.
The pair sprinted down the alley towards the nearby shopping center. Misato was hoping there'd be a car in its car port she could hotwire and get them to NERV. She also realized that she'd left her phone in the apartment and therefore had no way to alert HQ. As they neared the alley multiple explosions could be heard throughout the city. Overhead missiles and attack craft raced just above the buildings. "The SSDF are attacking the city," Misato realized. "Now their orders from their SEELE masters are to kill us, too." They raced across the street and were about to turn towards the carport when they heard squealing tires.
XXXXX
Meanwhile, the command crew had arrived at NERV just moments before the shooting started. "What's the disposition of enemy forces?" Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki ordered.
"It looks like the army is holding on the outskirts of the city while the SSDF forces are moving in," Makoto reported.
"The army is the blocking force to prevent anyone from escaping," Shigeru noted.
"They're also the ones firing artillery and rockets at all of our fixed weapon stations," Maya added.
"They had to have them targeted well in advance," Makoto said as he brought more platforms on line. "I'm trying to return fire but they're being blown up as fast as I can get them online!"
"SEELE has made their move faster than I thought," Fuyutsuki realized. 'Looks like I was wrong…'
On the outskirts, the SSDF commanders set up a command and control center in a zoo that had been evacuated of all its animals. Officially, they were acting under orders from the Japanese government. In reality, and known only to a handful of them, they were under the control of SEELE.
"Have the transports reported in?" The General asked his aide.
"Yes sir!" The Major saluted. "All ten have checked in and are holding their position twenty miles to the north."
"Put them on stand-by for now," the General ordered. "If NERV scrambles an EVA send the 'Go' order. Until then, let's keep this fight at ground level…"
XXXXX
Misato glanced up the road to see an MRAP barely avoid crashing into the concrete retaining wall of the carport. "Shit," she swore as a hail of machinegun bullets raced over their heads. She pushed Asuka towards the entrance and they pushed through as the glass doors shattered around them.
Misato took the first turn to try and put distance between them and the SSDF MRAP. But, at the next turn she saw another MRAP pull up outside and disembark troops, forcing the pair to go further into the mall. When they got to the end of the hall more SSDF troops arrived outside the doors. Misato emptied her magazine, forcing the commandoes to fall back. This gave her enough time to direct herself and Asuka down another corridor as bullets zipped past their heads.
To Misato's dismay this one was a dead end with all the shops gates closed. She pushed Asuka down behind the concrete rim of an empty water fountain just as a squad of SSDF arrived, training their FN F2000 rifles in the pair's direction. Misato reloaded her pistol, silently cursing that she didn't have more than one reload; just twelve remaining rounds of .40 S&W against at least twenty stone cold SSDF commandoes. "Not good," she said as she fired off a pair when the first commando appeared. She scored no hits but it forced the commando behind a Subaru in the center of the hall. It was only a matter of time until she ran out of ammo and the two of them overrun and likely executed. "I'm sorry, Asuka," she said softly as rifle fire impacted the fountain.
The commandoes moved forward in bounds with one fireteam laying down cover fire while the other moved ahead five or ten yards. When they were only thirty yards from the fountain they spread out abreast and prepared to rush their target. Misato looked up to the left side of the hall and saw three armed figures on the other side of smoke tinted glass directly perpendicular to them and the fountain. There was no cover from the flanking attack. 'This is it…'
But, when the figures on the other side of the glass opened fire it wasn't directed at herself and Asuka. Instead the rounds tore into the first line of SSDF like a chainsaw. The glass fell away to reveal three troopers each wearing what looked like a combination between a bomb suit and powered exoskeleton. "What the hell?"
The one armed with a MK48 LMG had a British Union Jack painted on the right shoulder; another was also armed with a MK48 but had an attached M203 launcher, this one had a black Punisher skull on the same shoulder; the third was armed with an AA12 automatic shotgun and had a Captain America shield on the shoulder. The two machine gunners also had IronMan assault packs feeding five hundred rounds of ammo to their weapons while the shotgunner had two spare 32-round drums slung across the shoulders.
The three 'Juggernauts' marched forward, cutting down most of the commandoes in the hall before turning their attention to the reinforcements arriving in the corridor. 'Captain America' continued to pump shells of buckshot through his weapon a he made for the far side of the hall. The Union Jack Juggernaut held down he left side while the Punisher took center stage just in front of the fountain.
A group of commandoes appeared on the level above them, firing their rifles at the newcomers. The rounds seemed to bounce off the Union Jack soldier as the Punisher eliminated the soldiers on the platform with the grenade launcher. Captain America then finished off the troops on the ground floor after reloading his AA12 with FRAG-12 explosive shells and blazing away at the Subaru they were hiding behind. The results were instantly fatal.
Two more soldiers appeared behind the Juggernauts, only these were wearing British MTP trousers and green combat shirts under tan body armor. They were armed with EoTech mounted HK416 rifles and Glock pistols. "You ladies alright?" One of the soldiers asked in a clear British accent.
"Hai…I mean, yes," Misato switched over to English. "We're not hurt."
"Right, just stick with me and Burns," the trooper replied. "We'll get you out safe. Price, packages are secure and unharmed."
"Good," came the response over the radio. "Keep their heads down. We'll cut a path through these bastards."
"You got it, sir."
ThePunisher climbed the stairs at the end of the hall as quickly as he could in the heavy armor. The powered exoskeleton was still a prototype but it did a good job of taking much of the weight off the user. He reloaded his grenade launcher as he spotted a trio of commandoes duck into a store on the ground floor on the opposite side. He took aim and put the 40mm grenade right into the window. Two of the bodies were sent flying while the other just collapsed as shrapnel tore into his body.
"Come on," Misato and Asuka were brought up to the Subaru as the Juggernauts turned toward the nearest exit.
"Woolcroft," Burns tapped his partner. "I got more commandoes coming down the other hall." He pointed down the hall to another squad of SSDF closing in. Suddenly, a stream of rounds erupted from the upper floor. The Punisher struck down half of the commandoes before they took cover behind a concrete pillar. The Punisher simply fired a 40mm juts past and to the side of the pillar, eliminating the rest. He then turned and proceeded towards the parking garage.
"Don't get yourself killed, mate," Burns replied as Misato realized she could only hear one end of the conversation. "Frost, can you provide cover fire at the carport?" He waited for the response. "Right. We'll see you at the rendezvous."
XXXXX
Fog still enshrouded Sagami Bay as the task force, still under EMCON waited with palpable tension. The Marines and naval forces were not to move or open fire unless either fired upon or the appropriate codeword came in from TF-141 elements ashore. The wait was not a long one.
"Admiral!" The Petty Officer of the Watch called out as he received word from the radio room on board the Missouri. "Received traffic from the One-Four-One. 'Queen Bee and Banshee secured…'" He listened to the rest of the message. "'En route to Arena…The word is Anvil, repeat, Anvil'."
"Alright, people!" The admiral shouted to the bridge crew. "Let's get this show on the road. Contact Task Force Basilone and tell them to get the MEU(SOC)'s vehicles moving. Pass the same to the 1st Stryker. Order the Missouri and Iowa to begin bombardment of forward positions so the 31st MEU can hit the highway to Tokyo-3 as soon as they hit the beach."
Almost immediately various ships in the task force, including both battleships opened fire with tomahawk and harpoon missiles as well as the big 16-inch guns on the Iowa-class ships. Destroyers closer to shore opened up with their five-inch guns, launching guided rounds. On shore at NAS Atsugi, the MEU(SOC) got their armored vehicles moving and their helicopters in the air. The Navy MA's, masters-at-arms, the navy cops, used less lethal take downs to subdue their Japanese counterparts and seize communications on the base. They then opened the gates to allow the armored vehicles unrestricted access to the highway to Tokyo-3, some 28 miles away.
From another area on Atsugi a pair of MH53E Pave Low III's lifted off, ferrying a force of US Army Rangers. On the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, MV-22 Ospreys lifted off along with AH-1Z Viper gunships followed by AV-8B Harrier II jump jets. The BHR and its fellow amphibs USS Tortuga and USS Somerset also deployed Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) and hover craft carrying M1A1 Abrams tanks and LAV assault vehicles to shore near the now submerged Odawara Castle.
Twenty-five miles outside Tokyo, at Camp Zama, the 1st Stryker Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division also mobilized. Their objective was to approach Tokyo-3 from the north while the Marines came in from Atsugi and the sea. They would also act as a blocking force to prevent JGSDF forces from interfering with the advancing MEU(SOC) forces.
Further out to sea, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS George Washington launched every strike aircraft they had on board along with a pair of E-2D Hawkeye airborne control planes. Screening the force was a squadron of guided missile destroyers as well as a trio of attack submarines.
But, one interesting companion to the fleet was an unusual looking vessel. This ship looked like a floating helicopter pad on a pair of catamarans. And mounted in the center of the flight pad was a strange looking gun. It was still an experimental weapon but it was brought along as a contingency being as it was one of the few weapons that could conceivably damage a rogue Evangelion.
XXXXX
Up in the parking garage, SSDF soldiers were in the fight for their lives as the Punisher unleashed hell on them. A 40mm grenade took out a trio that were firing from behind a sedan. Two more tried to flank the Punisher from the ramp above and opposite their comrades. But, their rounds just seemed to bounce off their target. A burst of armor piercing 7.62mm rounds cut them down.
At the top of the ramp the Punisher was starting to run out of power in his exoskeleton and it showed. His steps began to lag and become heavier. Thinking this was their chance, the remaining SSDF tried to swarm their enemy with a hail of 5.56 and 4.6mm rounds. The Punisher simply reloaded his grenade launcher and fired the last grenade at the left of the formation. He then shot down the rest as they tried to flee for cover.
Outside, Price and the other Juggernaut were sweeping fire onto the SSDF commandoes when a white panel van pulled up to the corner. A soldier wearing multicam got out and fired six rounds from an M32 launcher into the mass of SSDF. When the smoke cleared all the commandoes were dead.
"Losing battery power here, Price," said the other Juggernaut.
"Same here. It's time we ditched these anyway." Price removed his armored helmet as Misato and Asuka were brought outside.
"Who are you people?" Misato asked as they came to the nearest MRAP.
"No time to explain, ma'am," the bearded soldier identified as 'Price' replied. "Suffice to say we're the good guys coming to prevent the end of the world."
"Where's the kid?" Burns asked next.
"Kid?" Misato turned to him. Before anyone could answer more hostiles entered the fray.
"Contact rear!" Frost shouted as an MRAP with a supporting squad appeared at the end of the street some thirty yards away near a section of the carport that was under construction. The ladies were forced into the nearby MRAP as the soldiers either took cover or returned fire.
Up in the carport, several armored plates were discarded, the Punisher's power suit having run out of juice. He hoisted his LMG and continued toward the corner where a pair of SSDF commandoes waited to fire a Panzerfaust-3 onto the assembled group on the street below. They never got the chance as the Punisher cut them down. He quickly advanced to their position and noted the problem his comrades were having in the street below.
Down on the street the only Juggernaught still in his armor fell to the ground as machinegun rounds slammed into him. They didn't penetrate the armor but they still hurt. He managed to crawl behind a concrete barricade as the British troops provided cover fire. The SSDF advanced to about forty yards, the MRAP providing cover fire.
Suddenly, a rocket lanced out from the construction site, three floors up, destroying the MRAP. Almost immediately, a large volley of machinegun fire ripped into the line of commandoes and forced the survivors to take cover in a ramen shop.
"You're bloody late to the party!" Burns shouted up to the rocketeer above them as he and Frost helped the third Juggernaut out of his armor.
"If you're done playing hero," Price called out, "get your arse down here!"
"What do you want me to do?" A sarcastic, and very familiar, voice drew the attentions of both Asuka and Misato from inside the MRAP. "Jump?"
"No way."/"It can't be." The woman and teen said at the same time.
"If you feel like it," Price retorted.
Misato and Asuka poked their heads out in time to see someone in the construction site wrap a chain around a steel guy wire and use it as an improvised zipline. As his zipped down he produced an MP7A1 and fired it into the three remaining SSDF commandoes, cutting them down as they tried to redeploy around the burning MRAP. "Fast enough for ya?" He replied as soon as he touched down. His smirk made it look like he was enjoying himself.
"Still a cheeky bastard," Price grumbled as the group assembled.
"I…I don't…" Misato stuttered as she saw the faces of the guy who rode the zipline down and the Juggernaut who wore the Captain America shield came into view.
"No fucking way," Asuka was just as stunned. 'Captain America' was none other than Kaji Ryoji, wearing a green flight suit. And the 'Punisher', the wise cracking hero who rode the zipline, was Tokyo-3's resident Wolverine: Shinji Ikari. He was wearing a jungle tiger stripe jumpsuit with IR-reflective US flag on the right sleeve and was sporting a sharp high and tight haircut that accented his scars. He was slightly taller than he was before, just a few inches shorter than Kaji, and his arms were slightly bigger than before, but it was definitely him.
Shinji looked up at them, smirked yet again, and declared "The prodigal badass returns!"
XXXXX
"We've got multiple breaches at the surface access points," Shigeru alerted the Vice-Commander. "Hundreds of hostiles are attacking anyone with a NERV uniform!"
"They're not even giving anyone a chance to surrender," Maya cried as she saw an unarmed female employee get cut down by a commando as she was trying to pull a wounded colleague, also unarmed, out of danger. "They're killing non-combatants!"
"They were probably told by SEELE that all NERV personnel are terrorists or something!"
In the corridors, NERV security forces did their best to put up a resistance. But, against the SSDF it was a pitiful showing. It was like a high school varsity team playing against the Super Bowl champions. A NERV team set up an MG3 machine gun around one corner, cutting down one SSDF soldier only to have a trio of hand grenades tossed their way.
In another area, a group of NERV employees, armed only with handguns, tried to hide in an office area. They sealed the door magnetically but the SSDF commandoes simply blew it open with C4 and then fired a flamethrower into the office.
In the corridors leading to the command center, the security fared better. Having learned from Shinji's incursion into HQ, the guards had set up barricades and utilized effective cover. In the lower corridor, a dozen SSDF were killed before the commandoes got fire superiority. In the upper corridor, the guards had placed claymores at the end of the hall and used a defense in depth strategy. But, again, it only slowed the SSDF down.
It was only a matter of time…Unless…
"Vice-Commander!" Shigeru shouted out as seismic sensors began going off. "I'm detecting multiple explosions along the outskirts! There's also a new wave of aircraft inbound from the coast!"
"The incoming aircraft are engaging JSDF & SSDF units!" Makoto reported as a screen popped up on the big board. It showed an F35 Lightning banking as it deployed a guided missile "I've got them on visual…they're F/A-18's and F-35's, sir. I think they're Americans!"
"Where they hell did they come from?" Fuyutsuki was confused. "Their battle groups were supposed to still be out to sea."
The SSDF officers were equally confused. "Where the hell did they come from?" The General asked as he stepped outside the tent.
"General!" A captain appeared at his side. "We've reports of armored vehicles approaching from the north and amphibious vehicles on the coast!"
"Goddamn, Americans!" He turned to his aide. "Tell the forward units to double their progress! We have to capture NERV HQ before the American forces arrive in the city! Get the N2 demolition charge in place!"
XXXXX
Meanwhile, the TF-141 element plus Misato and Asuka proceeded towards NERV in the commandeered MRAP. "Trident, this is Dagger," Price got on the radio while Burns manned the minigun up in the turret and Shinji and Kaji got themselves loaded up with coyote tan body armor and assault rifles. Shinji's vest had a subdued desert tan US flag on the front Velcro. Woolcroft was driving. "We're en route to the rendezvous. Secure us a way inside, will ya, lads?"
"Can do, Price," came the reply.
"Look sharp people," Price turned to face the troop compartment. Frost was driving. "Things are about to get real sporty when we get to NERV."
"Looking forward to it," Shinji replied as he donned a tan combat helmet, with US and pirate IR-reflective flags, with integrated radio headphones and a mount for NVGs.
Kaji donned the same tan body armor and helmet before grabbing a MK18 Mod2 CQBR with an EoTech sight, for himself. Shinji grabbed an MK16 SCAR-L equipped with a TA01NSN ACOG. He also grabbed a Colt M45A1 forty-five caliber pistol and slid it into a thigh holster strapped to his right leg. Kaji's Glock G19 went into a holster on his vest.
Kaji then handed Misato the MP7 Shinji used when he repelled down plus a drop leg platform with pouches for six spare forty round magazines which she trapped along her blue jeans. The SMG had an Aimpoint T1 red dot mounted on top and a suppressor affixed to the barrel. He also handed her a woodland camo IBA vest and black kelvar helmet. They also handed Asuka a matching set of armor minus the firearms and ammo.
Asuka looked to Misato as she donned the armor over her red jacket, then down to Shinji, holding out her hand palm up. The Wolverine looked at the hand, then at her. After a confused second, Shinji slapped her five before cinching down his body armor. "That's not-!" Asuak shrieked. "Grrr!" She held her hand out again.
"What?" He shot her a look as he picked up and loaded his rifle.
"Don't Iget one, too?" She looked over at Misato's machine pistol. Shinji looked over, following her gaze, and then snapped back to the redhead.
"I wouldn't give you a gun if it was World War Four!" Shinji shot back as he pulled back on the charging handle, he let it go, chambering a round.
"How are you two alive!?" Misato finally asked the million-dollar question as the MRAP took a hard left turn. Topside, Burns let rip with the minigun onto a pair of SSDF fast attack buggies.
"I was, shall we say, 'reborn'," Shinji said with quotation marks, "when Asuka's brain was about to become scrambled eggs."
"Wait…" Asuka whispered. "That…that was…?" 'It was…Shinji…!'
"So, you made the EVA go berserk and rescue…" Misato realized.
"Oh no," Shinji interrupted as he shook his head. "That was someone else. His name was 'Shit-Sherlock', first name 'No'," he replied with a shit eating grin. Any doubts they had about whether he really was Shinji were crushed.
'That's him alright,' both women said to themselves.
"Anyways," Kaji continued as Shinji adjusted the single point sling on his rifle. "He managed to call me from Miss Horaki's. He needed supplies and a way out of the city. As for me, well…"
"It was all a matter of timing and making Tokarev and his boy band believe he was killed in a shootout," Shinji said as he took a seat across from Asuka.
"But," Misato thought. "The bullets recovered were from…and the blood…"
"Yeah," Shinji winched as he donned a pair of black 5.11 gloves with armored knuckles. "About that…"
-Flashback…
Kaji waited with his micro-Uzi as the Russian moved closer. Above him, in the lattice work of pipes and supports, his partner waited. They had to time this right; it always boiled down to the timing. The Russian came around a pillar and Kaji fired. The Russian took the burst in the gut and fell to the ground.
Almost immediately, Kaji's partner dropped down next to the body, grabbed the silenced Makarov and took careful aim at the shoulder. "Sorry, Gator," he squeezed the trigger. The round tore into the upper arm at the top of the bicep, spraying blood onto the ground and railing. After making sure that the machine pistol fell into the blood, Kaji rolled over the railing and fell down to the water below, praying that the SEALs would grab him before he actually drowned.
Ronin's concern was more immediate. He set the Makarov back down by the dead Russian's hand and quickly clamored back up a ladder and into the rafters above. He got up just a few seconds before Tokarev's tactical teams arrived. Slowly, and carefully, he moved around a pillar.
The interworking pipes and I-beams helped to obscure him from view. And his UCP pattern camouflage helped him blend with the gray metal. He mused to himself that this was probably one of the few times the pattern would actually be practical as he slowly laid down in the middle of a large I-beam, the cross struts of the metal helping to conceal him in the shadows. Now, all he had to do was wait for the search teams to leave.
-Flashback End…
"I kinda had to shoot him…" Kaji rolled up his left sleeve to show the bullet wound along his bicep. "We had some SEALs waiting to pluck him from the river."
"You faked your death!?" Asuka shouted. "What the fuck!? How could you do that to me, Kaji?" Asuka whined as the older man just sighed, not exactly having missed Asuka's 'affections'. "And how the fuck do you know all this spy shit?" She pointed at Shinji. "And how the fuck do you know these British guys?"
"Uh," Frost spoke up, as he removed the suppressor from his H&K M27 IAR with six power ACOG and mini-reflex sight. "I'm American…"
"Oh, well that makes it worse," Asuka grumbled before turning to glare at Shinji again. "What the fuck is going on!?"
"Is she always like this," Woolcroft asked from the front seat as Kaji strapped in next to Misato.
"No," Shinji shook his head with a sly smirk.
'Here comes the sass,' Misato said to herself.
"We must've caught her in a good mood."
"Bloody hell," Woolcroft grumbled.
"Phrasing."
"Wha-Not funny, you sexist pig!" Asuka snapped at him. Frost winced at the pitch of her voice it reminded him too much of his ex-wife when she got upset with him.
"If we survive this," Misato growled to Kaji. "I'm going to kick your ass, mister."
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't, dear," Kaji smirked. "Glad you're safe, too."
"We're just lucky that whoever the SSDF sniper was he had terrible aim," Misato muttered.
"Eh-herm," Frost coughed from his seat. "I'll have you know, ma'am, that my shooting," he tapped his rifle like it were a baby, "was just fine." The two women stared at him for a silent moment. "It got you moving though, didn't it?"
"Motherfu-" Price cut off Misato's curse.
"Cut the chatter!" Price shouted. "We're almost there!"
"Price," the radio came alive. "We've secured a way into the Geofront. It's out of the way but there's a couple squads of SSDF between you and us."
"We'll handle it," Price replied. "Pull over here, mate," Price ordered the vehicle to stop at the end of an alley. "We're about three hundred meters north of Trident. We'll have to make the rest on foot. Get ready for a gunfight."
"I'm always ready for a gunfight," Shinji said, lowering his Bullet Ant ballistic goggles as the back of the MRAP opened up. The group quickly moved out of the open and into the alley.
"Frost," the Major tapped the Delta on the shoulder, "You and Gator hang back with the ladies. We'll take point." He then looked to the others. "Let's move." Shinji and Burns took to the right-hand side of the alley while Price and Woolcroft took the left. They moved forward in bounds, one side at a time with the other providing cover.
As they moved along Asuka couldn't help but watch Shinji as he moved with the special operators. They were all older than him by at least ten years and yet his movements were just as fluid and refined as theirs. He didn't jerk his rifle around like they did in all the bad movies. Instead, it just pointed wherever his body happened to be facing. The same way it did with the others in the group.
Including Misato whose left hand kept Asuka close to her side the entire time, her SMG tucked into her right shoulder and the sling taught, holding the weapon close and just below her eye level, ready to come up and engage any target in an instant. It was then that Asuka realized that she may very well be seeing the real Shinji Ikari, in his natural element.
"I've got movement up ahead," Burns called out as he and Shinji reached a garbage dumpster. "SSDF."
"We're not going to be able to slip past them, Price," Shinji said over the radio. "Let's drop 'em."
"Do it," the Major agreed. A second later, Burns popped over the top of the dumpster while Shinji leaned around it. Both fired at the same time while Price and Woolcroft advanced forward to put pressure on the enemy troops. Asuka, having not been exposed to much gunfire, jumped a little as the rifles fired. This wasn't her element. She was an EVA pilot! This kind of work was too dirty.
"Reloading!" Shinji called out as Burns moved to follow his fellow Brits just as the SSDF were returning fire. Asuka dropped down behind the dumpster as a few rounds impacted the other side. "Stay low, Asuka," Shinji said before leaning around the bin to fire off a trio of rounds. When Frost got to his position, the Wolverine moved to rejoin the forward group, carefully putting more rounds downrange as he moved.
"Is he crazy?" Asuka asked out loud. "Why is he playing soldier with these guys?"
"They're his teammates, Asuka," Misato explained.
"His team?" She asked incredulously.
"He works with them." She clarified before shooting Kaji a look. "This is the group you referred to when you said Shinji was working for you?"
"Task Force 141," Kaji nodded as he scanned the windows above them. "A joint US-UK special operations task force. They've taken down a rogue US General, rescued the Russian President and his daughter, and Price, himself, killed Vladimir Makarov with his own hands. Shinji and I are CIA."
"CIA…?" The redheaded teen muttered. If there were anymore Earth shattering revelations, Asuka might very well go catatonic.
"Save story time for later," Frost said as he dropped an SSDF machine gunner on a balcony with his rifle. "We gotta move."
"Enemy squad eliminated," Price came over the radio. "Only about another hundred meters to go."
"Where are we going?" Misato asked as Kaji led them out from behind the dumpster. Asuka had to carefully tiptoe over some of the bodies as they rounded a corner in the alley. "There aren't any access points to the Geofront near here."
"Not for NERV," Kaji explained as Shinji pulled some 5.56mm magazines from the SSDF bodies to replenish his supply. "But, they weren't the first to excavate it."
"Shh," Price shushed them.
A moment later, the group entered an abandoned utility station. "Blue! Blue!" Shinji called out as they moved inside. "Ithaca!"
"Troy!" A voice called out from inside. "Back here!"
"Go," Price ordered as they moved further inside. In the back, near some debris that had been cleared away, was an old steel cage service elevator. Standing around it, and covered by some of the debris, was another group of soldiers wearing green digital camouflage.
"Get in!" One of the new soldiers said as they met up. "We just got power restored to the thing. According to the old blueprints this should take us all the way down."
"Good to see you, mates," Woolcroft said to the American soldiers as they arrived. "Always happy to see Navy SEALs."
"And we're your favorites, right?" Another SEAL smirked as they all got inside the elevator.
"Wouldn't go that far," Burns replied sarcastically. "But, you'll do."
"Thanks, asshole."
It was an old service elevator meant for ferrying large and heavy equipment. It was more than big enough for the warfighters plus Asuka and Misato. On the control panel, one could make out a faded red emblem that was reminiscent of NERV. But the lettering below it was different. "GEHIRN?" Misato read out loud. "This is one of the original elevator shafts from when they first built Tokyo-3!"
"And it's our back door in to NERV," Kaji acknowledged as the lift started its way down.
"Well, well, well," one of the SEALs, a tall black one, muttered as he stared at Shinji. "Look what the cat dragged in."
"You get lost on your way to class, junior?" Another holding a MK17 with a grenade launcher smirked.
"I think he ran away from his mommy," a third one, armed with a MK48, chuckled.
"Actually," Shinji retorted. "I spent the night at your mother's house, Trebek!" The SEALs laughed at the perfect Sean Connery impression.
"I told you he'd go there, Killian!" A SEAL with a Red Cross Velcro patch on his armor pointed to the machine gunner, Killian, who was sporting an epic mustache, who held back a curse. He couldn't hold back the smirk though.
"It's damned good to see you again, little brother," a tall, square jawed SEAL standing behind Shinji chuckled as he wrapped a big arm around the kid.
"I missed you, too, Ski," Shinji grinned. "And I'm not so little, anymore."
"We noticed," a SEAL named 'YOUNG' replied. "Impressive growth spurt."
"How's your shoulder?" Shinji asked him.
"Works just fine. Of course, now I'll know when the weather's about to change."
"Good to hear." The Wolverine looked back to the black SEAL. "Feels like old times, huh, Chief?"
"Damned straight," he clapped a hand onto the teen's shoulder. "We got the band back together, El-Tee!"
"We do, indeed," a SEAL whose name tape read 'FELICIANO' smirked.
"And who the fuck are these guys!?" Asuka shouted, her breaths coming in ragged seething. Again. But, in her defense, having seen Shinji and Kaji alive and well, followed by Shinji seemingly knowing every single special operator in the MRAP and now these guys…it was a lot for her to process.
"Okay," the SEAL with the red cross patch rubbed his ear. "We're going to need new ear pro with this one around."
"No kidding, Doc," Young replied. "I think Hellen Keller would've winced at that one."
'It's like we're surrounded by Shinjis,' Misato said to herself having noted the particular brand of sarcasm.
"Misato Katsuragi, Asuka Soryu," Shinji spoke up. "Meet the Navy SEALs of Spartan Platoon, SEAL Team Four…" He then rolled up his sleeve to show his tattoo. The SEALs did the same, most had it on either one of their biceps but two, including the one Shinji called 'Ski', had them on their right forearms.
"The same tattoo…" Misato recognized the coiled rattlesnake playing card.
"My brothers from other mothers."
At a separate, GEHIRN entrance to the Geofront, a second force was making its entry. It's destination the control center…