Disclaimer: I do not own Vandread, but I do claim all characters that I created for this fic.
A/N: This is a little side project I've been working on. Keep in mind, this is in no way related to my other Vandread stories, The Unknown Soldier or A Renewed War. This takes place about two months after the end of Vandread: The Second Stage. And just so you know, I'm going along a similar line to where Second Stage left off. Also, I plan on introducing new characters, numbering somewhere between six and ten.
The Perfect Weapon
Chapter One: New Blood
Location: Tarak Military Transport, En Route to Mejalean Pirate Base
"What is our ETA to the pirate base?" Nikolai asked the pilot as from his position standing behind the pilot's seat.
"About ten minutes, Lieutenant," the pilot replied.
"Good," he said as he glanced at his wrist chronometer. "We're right on schedule. Let me know when we arrive."
"Yes sir," the pilot said.
Lieutenant Nikolai Rayder exited the cockpit of the transport craft and made his way to the passenger compartment. There were four other men seated in various parts of the passenger section, all of them wearing the same black and red uniform that he wore. These four were under his direct command, and they were all being transported to the pirate base for 'cohabitation' experiments between men and women. That was the official statement on the issue, at least. There were actually a few different reasons they were being sent over.
The primary reason was that they were to reinforce the pirates' already formidable fighting force. They were all part of a newly formed branch of the Tarak military, the Special Operations and Combat Division. This division was formed in the two months following the defeat of the Harvesters at their border. It consisted of only the best and the most promising of the Tarak military, with all of its pilots trained specifically to counter the Harvesters. He was selected to be one of the squad leaders in this new unit.
"Less than ten minutes until we reach our destination," he announced to the four other men.
"'Bout time," one of them grumbled. "I'm getting tired of waiting."
He knew that it was the man with unruly dark blue hair, Neo. Nikolai narrowed his eyes slightly at the comment, but didn't reply to it. He knew for a fact that Neo was a damn good pilot, but was rather laid-back and insolent at times. If he kept it up, he knew he was going to have to do something about that man's attitude. He just hoped that Neo would straighten up before he had to interfere.
"Sir," a deep voice said, taking his attention away from Neo. He immediately recognized the voice as belonging to Arden Krueger, his second-in command. The well-built man had steel gray hair, even though he was only in his late twenties. They had both served in the same unit before being transferred to the new division. He was an accomplished pilot, having served in several battles against the Mejalean forces after the disappearance of the old section of the Ikazuchi. He acquired an impressive record in those conflicts, as well.
Another soldier that had served in the same unit was Ian Frost. A dark-haired pilot who had cold, ice blue eyes and a personality to match. Even though he was quiet and never really socialized with anybody, he was an excellent pilot, possibly surpassing Arden or even his own skills. His selection for the special forces was a foregone conclusion. Nikolai was glad to have him in his squad. The only pilot he did not know was Erik Schwartz, a brown-haired young man who had just recently graduated from the military academy.
"Lieutenant," the pilot of the ship called.
"What is it?" Nikolai replied as he moved towards the cockpit.
"We've just received a communication from the Dread patrol," the pilot continued. "They are asking for our identification code."
Nikolai picked up a headset. "This is Lieutenant Nikolai Rayder of the 2nd Special Operations Group. Identification code is RS-7032. ."
"Code acknowledged," the Dread pilot replied. "Proceed to Docking Bay Four."
"Understood," he replied, then removed the headset.
This is going to be one hell of an assignment.
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Location: Hangar Four, Mejalean Pirate Base
Slowly, the Tarakian transport craft eased into the bay, resting on its supports as it touched the ground. Rena sat there, leaning idly against the steering wheel of the compact ground car that she was sitting in. She watched the blocky craft as it came to a stop on the hangar deck. She was assigned to meet the Tarak unit commander and escort him back to the Captain. She thought she'd never see the day when the Tarak government would actually cooperate with Mejale, and vice-versa. But here there was a Tarak transport, carrying Tarak soldiers, weapons and equipment. Hell must've frozen over, she thought sarcastically.
She had only recently become a Dread pilot for the pirates, but she was not new to piloting the craft known as a Dread. She had been a pilot in the Mejale Border Guard for at least two years prior to joining the pirates. She did not like to think about past things, so she turned her attention to the ramp being lowered from the Tarak transport. She started up the vehicle and drove the short distance to the foot of the ramp.
The first man down wore a red and black uniform, along with a sword on his left hip, which she found to be quite different from what she'd seen of Tarak soldiers. Most Tarak soldiers wore a tan uniform, just like the one worn by the Nirvana's helmsman, Bart Garsus. She assumed it had something to do with the rumor about a new Tarak unit being formed. The man had short, dark hair and what could be considered as handsome features. The next man to follow had steel gray hair and was fairly muscular. Three more men followed the first two, and from what she could see, she assumed that the first man down the ramp was the commander.
She cleared her throat and said the name of the commander she'd been given. "Lieutenant Nikolai Rayder?"
The one she thought was the commander did in fact actually walk up to her, and replied. "That's me."
"I'm here to take you to the Captain," she said.
"Very well," Nikolai replied. He turned around and said something to the man with steel gray hair, then turned back around and sat down in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
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Location: Corridor leading to Primary Meeting Room, Mejalean Pirate Base
Straightening his uniform, Nikolai followed the young woman that had brought him up here. From her attire, he could tell that she was most likely a Dread pilot. Her brown-blonde hair was kept back in a ponytail that went down to about mid-back. He averted his gaze, so as not to be caught staring at her. She hadn't spoken much since she called his name in the hangar. He guessed she probably wasn't the talkative type, but neither was he. She hadn't even said her name.
When they came to a door, she gestured for him to enter. "In here."
"Thank you," he replied to his guide as a courtesy. The doors slid open and he walked in, with her following a second later.
Once he stepped in, he noticed an old, hunched over woman sitting at the head of the table. From his briefing, he knew this to be the head of the pirates, Magno Vivan. Off to either side of her, stood her vice commanders, BC and Rebecca. Also present were Hibiki, whom he had met once before, Gascogne, another of the high-ranking pirates and the leaders of their Dread Teams, a light-blue haired woman named Meia and a dark-skinned woman with red-orange hair.
He came to attention as was appropriate when addressing someone of higher rank. "Lieutenant Nikolai Rayder, reporting as requested."
"No need to be so formal, Lieutenant Rayder," Magno said, then turned her attention to the woman who had been his escort. "That will be all, Rena."
"Yes, Captain," Rena replied, then turned and left the room.
Rena, so that's her name. He glanced back in her direction, and then turned his attention back to the current situation.
"So, Lieutenant," Magno said. "Let's get down to business."
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Location: Corridor leading to Hangar Four, Mejalean Pirate Base
"Hurry up, Barnette!" Jura shouted behind her as she moved at a rather brisk pace.
"Yeah, yeah," Barnette replied somewhat unenthusiastically. Sheesh, why does she want to meet these men so badly? Oh yeah, I remember.
As soon as Jura heard that the men from Tarak had arrived, she had dropped what she was doing and rushed down to meet them, dragging her along for the ride.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something. It looked like a distant flash of light from where she was. She stopped and glared out the view port, trying to find what she thought she saw. Once she saw that same flash again, she knew something had to be out there. Jura had noticed that she had stopped, and asked her why she was taking so long.
"I think there's something out there," she said in reply, as she pointed in the direction of the flashing light.
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Location: Primary Meeting Room, Mejalean Pirate Base
"Yes, we brought new equipment, as well as some supplies with us," Nikolai said in reply to Meia's question. "And, if it isn't too much trouble, I'd like some help offloading it out of our transport as soon as possible. The transport's scheduled to leave in a couple of hours, and I'd sure hate to leave the supplies onboard. Here's the list of what we brought with us."
He tossed the data pad onto the table in Gascogne's direction, whom he knew was the quartermaster among the pirates, meaning she handled all weapons and the machines that carried them. She picked up the list and scanned through it. "Five new-model Vanguards, along with their weapons and over five hundred thousand rounds of ammunition. You guys sure came prepared."
"Well, with the ever-looming possibility of further Harvest attacks, the higher-ups saw to it that we were well-equipped," he replied with a slight shrug.
"Concerning that," Magno said. "You will be coordinating with Meia to integrate your men into our forces."
"Understood," he replied, looking over at the Dread Team Leader. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Same here," Meia said. "I want to see how good Tarak's elite are."
A beeping noise interrupted further discussion. Magno tapped something on the console in front of her. The image of a Dread pilot appeared on-screen. "I apologize for the interruption, Captain, but we have located what appears to an escape pod of some sort. What would you like us to do with?"
"Recover it and bring it to the base," Magno ordered the pilot.
"Understood," the pilot replied, and then cut the connection.
"What was that all about?" Hibiki asked.
"I don't know," Magno replied. "But we'll find out soon enough."
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Location: Main Cargo Bay, Mejalean Pirate Base
A small crowd had already gathered around the pod, which looked an awful lot like the one they found Misty in. The only real physical difference was that this one was larger. Parfet was the one closest to it, checking it over to make sure it was safe to open.
"Alright," she said. "I'm going to open it now."
There was a barely audible hiss as the capsule depressurized, followed immediately by a whine as the servomotors lifted the cover. Inside it was a man no older than twenty, wearing a dark blue cryo-suit. He had long, jet black hair that went down past his shoulders, and there was a scar over his right eye.
"The life-support system is functioning properly," Duero stated, as he glanced at one of the panels. "But, other than that, I can locate no other information."
"So, that obviously means we don't who this man is or where he's from," Magno replied. "I guess we'll just have to ask him after he wakes up."
As if her words made it so, the young man started to stir, opening his eyes. He slowly sat up in the pod, glancing over at the large group of people that were looking at him. He had a lost look on his face, as was only natural for someone in unfamiliar surroundings.
"Where am I?" was the only thing he said.
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Well, how do you like the rewrite so far? Let me know.