A Javelin to Strike the Core

Chapter 2

I said this would-be exposition heavy but I'll try to keep it a bit less crazy compared to some like my Huntik or Overseers one. Not much preamble so. On with the show.

(Han POV)

With my strider loaded up on the ship we were ready to head out. While most striders are towering beasts that travel from city to city on Coda, mine has been cut in half so to speak. Aside from that I had to make other changes including making the legs retract up a bit. I took that into account from what they said of the ship they would probably send to help me. I may have rarely been to the sea but I understand well enough that if you aren't careful with weight and height distribution on a ship then you'll capsize. But back to the matter at hand the two here to meet me and apparently take me to their base and eventually their commanding officers are Major Mio Sakamoto and Commander Minna Deitland-Wilke. I nod and just say they can call me Han. With some of that out of the way, I show them into my strider so I can show them a few things from my world.

After they have taken in some of what I've said they start to ask a few of the big questions that I'm sure I'll have to answer again when I meet their bosses. Minna starts first with, "So how did you end up here? You said the world you are from is called Coda right. Well, this world is Earth. So, it doesn't make sense how you would wind up here." Sensible first question. Even with the aliens called Neuroi I guess a human from another planet is incredibly weird. "Remember what I said about the Shapers and their relics? That is actually most of the reason I'm here. The last mission I was on before I got sucked here, and had my age reduced by a few years, was investigating a strange signal from a Shaper relic. When I got to it there were a small handful of those Neuroi in the chamber around the relic. I had to fight them and reset the relic. When I did though, a new shift from the Anthem created a portal that sucked me here. I've been stuck on that island for a week or two." Minna appears to be thinking over what I said and what the implications could be.

That is when Mio asks what I guess would be a more burning question, "So these javelins…. They are what you all use to fight against the things the Anthem creates? But then why call yourselves Freelancers? Wouldn't knights or something be better?" At that statement I chuckle a bit before explaining that we used to be more like knights or similar. "Long ago we used to be more like a knightly order. 500 years prior, General Helena Tarsis led our people to freedom and began a whole new path for humanity. The Legion of Dawn as they were known. But with the changing of times and more importantly the lack of a great threat other than the wilds, we didn't need the same type of organization. But that did lead to other problems. Anyway, the javelins are more of an armor and weapon put together for each person who uses them. And there are a few different styles or forms if you want to call it that. Maybe I'll show you them later." I walk up to my forge where my Ranger is before continuing. "This is known as the Ranger. It is what you might call an all-rounder javelin. It can be used in almost every combat situation. But I now have a question for you: How exactly are you able to fly? Like what is powering those things you all wear?"

Mio while being enamored by the impressive looking armor, doesn't miss a beat at explaining. "We're known as witches. In our world there are young women who gain magical abilities at young ages. For the most part we witches, at least outside of war, can be part of lineages of magical abilities and many can use their powers for years." Okay, sounds a bit like the cyphers for us on Coda. I'm guessing they probably get trained in what they can do to a point or just figure it out. But why did she specify both outside war and young women? That is when Minna speaks up next.

"But during war times there is a bit of a drawback to what we are often forced to do. Especially against the Neuroi. We witches are some of the few who can get close to the Neuroi with little repercussion. However, we are forced to expend a large amount of magic while using our striker units. The engines you saw on Mio and the others' legs. Due to this expenditure, we end up losing our magic around the time we reach twenty years of age." Huh, well I guess that does make sense. I explain to them that some of what it sounds like they can do is similar to cyphers from my world. When they ask about that, I explain about the ones who are able to listen to the Anthem of Creation. From what they had described with a few of the various witch abilities, they were almost channeling an Anthem from Earth. This comparison surprised them a little, but they went along with my analogy. That was when I asked them for a favor. "Can you two maybe help me with something? I'm gonna ask you to sit in the cypher chair but…. Well it'll be easier if you see it."

I stepped past my forge into a workstation area. While I am by no means an Archivist, I have helped the Sumner siblings with a few experiments. You pick up a couple of things after a while. I show them something I had collected from a few of the Neuroi I defeated. There were a few shards from the ones on Coda let alone the one I defeated here and some parts of it got embedded in my javelin. When they told me of the two of their abilities, I thought I may be able to make a substitute cypher. "Can you two channel your magic power into this container? I don't need much, just enough to change the fragments. And before you ask I have helped with some things like this before. Though this is my first time trying to understand Neuroi." They both have extremely skeptical looks on their faces.

Yeah, I don't blame them its not like I've given them too much reason to trust me. But Mio eventually talks Minna into it. Apparently, she used to help a man named Miyafuji with the research to build the striker units, so she wasn't too opposed to this. With that out of the way, the two have….. ears and tails that appear from their backs and heads. Yeah I'm not gonna pretend that isn't a bit weird. I thought it was strange enough that the commanding officer wasn't wearing pants or a skirt or whatever. But after hearing the explanation about the strikers, I guess pants would get in the way. Still doesn't change the fact there are two half naked women with animal ears and tails in my home. Oh my god! What is wrong with me?! That sounded so wrong. Moving on!

As they start to channel their magic into the canister I made for holding the shard, the color changes a bit. When I first found the pieces they were red and black. Now the colors are shifting to white and blue. After a few more seconds all of the pieces within the canister are those colors. With that done I decide to test out if it worked. I jury rig up a set up to the cypher chair in my strider. Once I was sure that the energy was flowing, I loaded up into my Ranger to test it out. Movement was no problem but… "I need to go outside to see if what I was hoping for worked." I told them both and they followed me to the lift for the javelin to get to the top of the strider. Once up there I did a quick recalibration, and reboot of the systems.

Then I tried out the Earth interim cypher, and it actually worked! It isn't the same kind of precision I'm used to with a cypher giving me details and talking to me, but it does work with a location tracking and other positioning, predictive trajectories like with my weapons, and some of the monitoring of the javelin's systems. "Yes! It does work! At least now I won't have to just eyeball it when I'm in the middle of a fight!" With that said I thank the two of them before lowering all three of us back down into the strider. I offer to at least show the other javelins I have here in my strider. Mio seems interested and wants to know a bit more, but Minna stops and says we should get something to eat in the galley. I mention that I could maybe make something with the little I have left. "Wait why would you have a kitchen in a military like transport?" She asks.

Oh, I guess she just thought they were simple transports. I mean most were; this was an experimental one for more comfort and long term travel. "Well most are, but this one is a bit special. It's actually a bit like a home now since I've been living in it for over a year. They finally decided to try making striders again and they wanted the insides to be less cramped and more comfortable. So, they included a few comforts like an actual kitchen and well sleeping areas." At this, Minna blushes up a storm and runs out while Mio looks mostly nonplussed at the whole matter. I decided to not push the matter more and we ate in the ship's galley. To pass the rest of the time on the way back I offered to show Mio my other javelins, as well as the weapons for them. She was extra excited to she what each looked like and could possibly do. She seems to be a bit of a battle maniac. And a training nut if I'm being honest. The way she described how she spends her days training her sword and similar skills is a bit intense. But I get it. She told me during the voyage that she had outlived a lot of people during their war with the Neuroi. I guess she wants to make sure she makes it through each battle, and to teach as many as she can that same virtue.

Once we got to their base, which is on an island itself but that isn't a huge deal, Minna had me load up in a 'car' to go meet the generals of the nation. The car was not very pleasant though. I almost puked about a half an hour into the drive. I'm more used to flying myself or the movement of my strider. At least Minna wasn't laughing at my misery. She seemed a bit concerned when I turned extra green. Once we got to the office of the military leaders, I still hadn't fully recovered. But I knew I was gonna have to answer the questions. And big surprise. A lot of them are the same ones the girls had asked on the trip over. The older looking man did seem to notice my discomfort though and asked if I was alright. "I'm not used to cars. As I mentioned and you've probably seen an image or two of my strider, they move at much slower speeds. And while my javelins move much faster I'm in control and I'm more ready for the likely hood of crashing or similar." At that the older man nods and asks for an aide to bring me something to settle my stomach.

The younger man, who I learn is named general Trevor Maloney, is a bit more aggressive in his discussion with Minna. He is also questioning me about making javelins for their armies. "Probably not. At least not anytime soon. I may know how to make them since I have my own forge. I don't know though if it could work with your materials. We use ember which is the resource that occurs naturally on Coda. It is formed from the Anthem of Creation. I may be able to use your metals and the like, but I'd need to test and mess with them a bit before I can be sure." Maloney seems upset but relents with that. When I bring up my fee or however they want to pay me they decide to hire me more as a full military member. Saying that my pay can be a mix of both meals, ammo and a little cash given they want me staying at the same base with Minna and her squad. The two girls had mentioned they were basically the front line of the fight right now, so I guess they are giving me a bit extra. The two agree to classify me as a specialist and place my rank at a Lieutenant. Minna nods to that and we are dismissed. Aaannnd I have to ride in that car again. Shit.

(Minna POV)

I wasn't sure what to think of the strange man who Mio had reported appeared during the battle to protect the Akagi. But looking at him now, with his black hair a mess and a green tint to his olive tan skin, I guess there isn't too much to be worried about. I had to admit his descriptions and the way he showed what his world is like are fascinating. But also, terrifying. Though it did seem like he was confused when he didn't see any walls around London. Though that is probably because he said all the cities on his world of Coda have walls to protect them from the ravages of the Anthem and the beasts native to the planet. I can't even begin to imagine what his life has been like. Or what life may have been like before that general Tarsis person who he said freed humanity. If nothing else I want him to at least be able to relax or unwind a bit between missions. Our own lives are difficult due to the Neuroi.

I have to admit though, the javelins intrigue me a bit. The Ranger one will probably be the unit he uses the most. The Colossus is a very fitting name for his heavy weapons version. Trude would love to use that one if she was able. That or borrow a few of the heavy weapons that it alone can carry. The Storm one sounds the most like we witches as a whole. Able to channel a variety of elements depending on the seals. He did admit he needed to fiddle with it more to see if he could still do that here. The Interceptor seems like a model Shirley or Francesca would like. He mentioned it was the fastest of all the models of Javelins. Though how fast that is, he doesn't know. But it was capable of incredible bursts to strike multiple foes in quick succession. "Humph. Oh, sorry again about this whole feeling sick thing. I've just never rode on anything like this." "It's alright. You can't help it. Hey, you mentioned that you couldn't make javelins without understanding our metals more to Maloney. Is that the only reason?" His eyes widen a bit at that. Though I'm not sure if that is just from motion sickness. But he does eventually say, "That isn't the only reason. Javelins have to be custom made. I can't just make one size that fits all."

Now it is my turn for my eyes to widen. Then I ask, "why not? You told us about the Sentinels, and how they are the force that guards the walls. Don't they have units that fit the bill of mass production?" He swallows a bit of bile that I'm guessing was building before saying, "not exactly. The outsides may be more mass production Rangers or even Colossus. But it isn't exact duplicate parts. The interior, the part that sits right over the body the Lancer or Sentinel? It has to be custom fitted to each member. Heck I needed one that was specially made for my shorter stature." At him calling himself shorter when he is still taller than most of the squad is a bit laughable. But I see his point and hm at that. It isn't as if every person can fit into the exact same mold. "I guess they really are like a knight's armor then. And don't worry. I'll keep this quiet from the higher ups." I tell him while he leans over the side of the door. He thanks me and we finally arrive at the base.

He heads for his strider for the night when I stop him. "What do you mean? I was just planning to sleep in my strider. I have a bed there, as well as a place to eat. I'll be fine." I decide to put my foot down and tell him that since he is part of the squad, he can sleep in the rooms that the other pilots stay in. I may not like that he is a man in our space, given my own history. Still, after hearing what he has lived with, I think he deserves a more comfortable place to sleep. And some better food and some more company to eat with. It is already evening so I escort him to one of the extra rooms we have. "I wasn't expecting all of this. I don't exactly have much. At least as far as personal items anyway." He says as he looks around the room he'll be staying in. "We can take care of some of that a different day. For now, we could both do with some sleep." I say and he nods at that. I tell him that breakfast will be at seven sharp, and the morning alarm will go off at 6:30. He then playfully salutes and shuts his door. We'll introduce him to the others tomorrow, but for now I need sleep.

Well now the 501st has two new members. I wanted to give the Freelancer an actual rank for this whole thing. I went with a lieutenant rank mostly because most Freelancers would have experience that would put most pilots and soldiers to shame. And it may seem like I'm giving Minna a bit too much of a sympathetic edge. But she is supposed to be like the mom of the 501st. So it would fit that she is a bit more nurturing to an out of place new member. And yes we don't actually know how old the Freelancer is. But I'm going with during the Heart of Rage he or she would have been twenty maybe. And during the events of the story, they would be twenty-two or three. And in this I've had them reduced in age back to about eighteen. Same as Minna. So yeah. Review if you like what I'm doing here.