Thanks for read and review. Big Thanks to Azn-Anime for betaing.
This story is rated M for mature content between two females, please do not keep reading if you don't like it. (Next chapter, I will honor the rate again)
Disclaimer: Sunrise owns Mai Otome and Mai Hime as well as their respective characters. Dune and all the related belong to Frank's Herbert's legal heirs.
Humanness Test: The Garderobe's green box test is applied to candidates for Otomes as a final test. They had to face their biggest terror as humans and survive. This test guarantees that only humans can become Otomes. During the test the aspiring women had to bear physical and psychological pain produced by nervous induction. If they can't handle the pain, they can't survive the test and the Garderobe Headmistress had to kill them. (Please see chapter 2 for more reference if necessary)
Tears of Warriors
by GaladanChapter 5. In your battle
"Survival is the ability to swim in strange waters."
Bene Gesserit. (Dune)
In less than 15 minutes, more than 20 people were in the main War Room. Ray, Shizuru, and Nao gave them the rough details about the emergency but the truth was, they didn't know what was happening.
Natsuki took the lead, asking for everybody's attention. "A few minutes ago, we got a call from Miyu-san. At this time, I am sure everybody here knows that an unknown threat is approaching Skáneland and that apparently, not only has the Garderobe materializing system been blocked but also all our security systems. Fortunately, the system we are using to communicate with Miyu-san is standing. She is patrolling the Skáneland planetary space in a multiple mobile surveillance unit."
Everybody was sat in circle, while a big holographic screen in the middle with a transmission from Miyu was starting.
"Miyu-san, have you been able to get more information?" Natsuki requested at the pale face.
"Affirmative, Countess Kruger. The nanobots I sent are sending these images." Miyu's face disappeared to show something that seemed a Krasnikov Cruiser. Those were the biggest cruisers in the history of the Empire. The image was showing something almost four times bigger according the computerized notes at the screen.
In the room a veil of dead silence fell. All the Otomes and the Horus people were silent as well, just looking at the screen.
"Do we know what is inside, Miyu-san?" Saeko Kruger asked.
The images of the Cruiser was updates with other images as Miyu explained them, "My preliminary estimations, set more than 200 War Spaceliners, like 100 squads of Schwartz Slave Servants and mostly, an undetermined number of an unknown kind of human form device."
"I don't like the words undetermined and unknown, Miyu-san. Can you give us something more specific?" Natsuki knew they could easily handle the Spaceliners and the squads, even without Otome help, but a hunch was telling her that wasn't the real danger here. It was ridiculous to attack a Noble House with numbers like those.
"I don't have final numbers yet, but most of this modified cruiser seems to be transporting a kind of soldier. According to my lectures, there is an organic component on them. They are probably human. I estimate there are more than 1,000 of these soldiers." Miyu showed the images she got. Everybody stop breathing at the sight of a horde of dark figures that couldn't be considered humans. They were like men with dark skin, dark red eyes, and hyper developed bodies to the point of disfiguration. They were more than 7 feet tall and the dimensions showed by the screens estimated more than 200 kg.
"That is nothing a laser cannon couldn't rip apart. This is senseless. Why are they bringing something like…that? This is repulsive." Armbrust Kruger said with anger.
"You said there was an organic component on them, Miyu-san. What else did you get with the scanning?" Yohko from Horus said, speaking for the first time with a restrained voice. She feared that Miyu will confirm one of her biggest fears.
"I am doing a second scanning for confirmation, Yohko-san. My first scanning showed nanomachines' spectral response."
"This is enough!" Natsuki stood up of her seat with an angry face. "Yohko-san, Shamrock-san, tell me immediately what the hell this is all about. I don't have time to lose and you are not saying all that you know. Do it now and do it accurately. No more subtleties." She didn't sit, facing alternatively at Uma and Yohko until Uma Shamrock stood up as well.
"We feared an attack on Skáneland could happen in the same way it happened at Kansai 20 years ago. Our intelligence information estimated that this time was the most vulnerable for your House and maybe the enemy will chose it to attack. We also suspect that this enemy is Schwartz as it was 20 years ago at the Viola's planet. They were looking for something at that time they didn't get thanks to the timely intervention and help from Garderobe, Horus, and the Kruger House." Uma interrupted seeing Natsuki's surprised face, however Natsuki didn't ask, she just deepened her frown and waited.
"What they were looking at that time was one of the core systems controlling Otome materialization. Schwartz and many others wanted to get the power of materializing." Uma met Yohko's gaze and waved for her to continue.
"Schwartz wanted men with materializing powers. We found some evidences of their experiments on Kansai. They didn't expect us to arrive so soon and they couldn't erase all their evidence. If Miyu's information is right, what we are looking now are their recent accomplishments at that matter."
"Are you saying that those…monsters can materialize?" Haakon Kruger stood up as well, walking to Natsuki's side.
"I am afraid so Count Kruger," was Yohko's sad answer.
"Do you have any idea about why they are attacking us?" Natsuki's mind was spinning trying to find a solution when she didn't even know what the problem was.
"Our information about Schwartz is very limited despite our efforts. We could only estimate that this attack can be as devastating as the one in Kansai and that could happen after your father assassination," Yohko finished.
"What you are saying is that we will face an army with the potential power of 1,000 Otomes with all our security systems shut down and with all the Otomes in Skáneland without materializing power?" Natsuki said coldly with a deadly calm.
"Yes, Kruger-san." Uma Shamrock was calm in her exterior but interiorly, her mind was racing to find something to say Natsuki that could help their situation. They feared a terrible attack but nothing like this. To her surprise, she was dealing with people that weren't used to wait for help.
"Having Miyu-san act independently has given us a couple of hours of advantage that they don't know we have. They are expecting to arrive unnoticed and hit an unprepared planet. That is not going to happen." Natsuki walked to the center of the room and looked intensively at everybody's face.
"We need a careful plan of action; we are going to survive this. Shamrock-san, Yohko-san, I need Otome power; analyze this situation and tell me what the problem with the materializing system is and what has to be done to get it restored before their arrival." Natsuki didn't wait for a confirmation from Uma and Yohko and gave more orders.
"Sakomizu, Reito, Armbrust; give me a detailed report of our resources, and everyone we can use. We need all the power of sea, land, and air we have. Also, give me a plan to assure the best way to protect all our invitees; it's too late for an evacuation, we need to keep them safe here."
"Ray work with your team to assure our people's safety and cooperation. We have to protect the city and the citizens, first priority. I won't let these mother fuckers kill anyone of my citizens."
"Natsuki…" Saeko started but was cut promptly by her daughter.
"I don't care much about language right now mother and that was exactly what I wanted to say. I need your help dealing with the dignitaries. Let me know who we can trust enough to help us in this situation and which ones we have to keep under control. We will need all the help we can."
Natsuki's final order was, "We will meet here in 30 minutes. One more thing Yohko-san, instruct Miyu to send Shadows 2 and 3 back to Skáneland as soon as possible."
Uma and Yohko looked at each other at that order but didn't question it. Natsuki was no longer looking at them. Everybody left the room for their targets, the leaders also giving orders accordingly to their teams. The only one that remained with Natsuki was Shizuru.
"Are you sure about what you want to do, Natsuki?" Shizuru fell into a surreal dream. All the memories of the attack of Kansai coming back since Ray gave them the news.
"Not yet Shizuru, but we have to take the maximum advantage of the surprise factor. We have to set them up if we want to survive."
Less than 30 minutes after, the room had more people. Saeko Kruger invited the Tokihas brothers, Nguyen Bao, and Bruce Bran.
"First," Natsuki started. "We need Otome power. Shamrock, Yohko, what do we need to have it back?"
"We have to manually restart the remote station we installed at our arrival, and we need to eliminate whatever is causing the interruption to get the full security system back for shields, heavy weapon control, and centralized communication. Miyu and Irina are triangulating the most probably positions for the blocking intruder right now." Yohko informed and handled Natsuki a detailed graphic of what was necessary.
"When will Miyu's Shadows arrive?" Natsuki asked while looking at Yohko's info.
"It will take 45 more minutes." Uma answered but making a difference with Yohko she kept going. "Why did you request that, Kruger-san?"
"Soon, Shamrock-san, soon you will know" Looking now at the resources report Reito provided them and with all the information her mother gave them, she moved to the center of the room to the holographic table.
"Now, this is what we will do. First, Ray I need you to reset the Garderobe system, as well as seek and destroy the obstruction device. You are the only Otome here that can also pilot a SkyWolf. Work with Armbrust and Yohko to leave as soon as we end this meeting. We need Otomes materializing before they arrive."
Armbrust nodded promptly and Natsuki moved on to the next point. "Shamrock-san, Mother, I need all the Otomes possibly, protecting our people, and the Castle with the visitors. Coordinate together to have all your power…"
Uma interrupted Natsuki "Kruger-san, what are you saying? That's not a plan, we can't just…" But Natsuki was not going to tolerate interruptions in this critical time. It was her home planet, her own people and much more was at risk.
"Shamrock! I am not making you or anybody in this room a friendly suggestion. We don't know ANYTHING about what is coming. They are expecting us to be an easy prey and I am not willing to be. So, you've heard what I've said, comply with my commands or step back. I appreciate you are here more than you think but assuring the survival and protection of Skáneland and House Kruger is my responsibility. So…make your decision. Now."
Uma was standing in front of Natsuki. The green eyes were brilliant. It was no fear in them. Kruger's were famous for behaving unexpectedly. All of them have to survive and all of them were in the same hard situation. In some way, this was like a gigantic proportion surviving test. They will have to get into a giant green box without knowing what was coming after. Maybe Natsuki was right. They have to behave like humans, face and know their enemies, and defeat them.
"I will follow your commands as will all of Garderobe's Otomes…Countess Kruger." Uma said surprising everybody, even Natsuki, but it was no time to enjoy that small victory.
"Coordinate with my mother then. How many Otomes do we have including Kruger's?"
"15, including Meisters Tokiha, Armitage, Lu, and Yumemiya." Uma responded including herself and Saeko in the count and understanding why Natsuki was not considering them as an attack force against 1,000 of whatever Schwartz was sending.
"Divide into two teams, one for the City and one for the Castle. Your first target priority is to protect the people. Stay as far as possible from those… men and focus on the planes and Slaves. Listen carefully everybody, this is the plan…"
Once Natsuki was finished explaining, everybody had to make an effort to keep their mouth closed. The plan was very, very risky but it could actually work. There was one issue left, which Yohko pointed out, still with admiration in her eyes.
"That's brilliant Kruger-san and it could be our only hope, however we still have the problem about who can do it."
"Reito and I will be going there using the Shadows."
"That's too dangerous Natsuki. Those devices are for spying not for attacking, you won't be able to leave on time to avoid the explosion." Saeko Kruger exclaimed, her mother was a good strategist and she was keeping silence during Natsuki's explanations until now.
"It will be too dangerous everywhere, mother. Besides, I am not thinking about destroying the Cruiser."
"What?" Several voices asked in the unison. Just her grandfather and Shizuru kept quiet, watching Natsuki.
"We don't know anything about Schwartz. We can't destroy them just like that. I want to know what is inside that ship, understand what are they doing, and what they want. Do you think that this is the only thing they are planning? Come on. I want to capture that Cruiser and take a detailed look on it. I want Horus analyzing those beasts and I want to destroy Schwartz' menace at its root." There were other reasons as well but she was not voicing them. It was too soon. They didn't tell her everything from the beginning either.
"I am sorry mother, Shamrock-san, but you know this task can't be done by an Otome. Reito, Miyu, and I will get into the Cruiser while Akira and Mikoto will take care of the rest of our plan here, on land. We will depart as soon as the Shadows arrived. We should get into the spaceship not too long after they release the attack. Once we have those beasts unarmed, Otomes can take care of them-- until then stay away from them, am I clear? Now everybody, get ready."
The next minutes were full with preparations. Natsuki spoke with their visitors and with her people, gave her farewell to Ray and Nao, who insisted in to go with Ray for everybody's surprise, saying that she was the one who knew the system better. To Uma Shamrock, Nao told her it was her job as a Column to assure the system restoration without any errors and after a intense look at Nao, Uma granted it.
Finally, before taking the Shadow Spaceliner with Reito, Natsuki was with Haakon and Saeko at the main hangar.
"Be careful, Natsuki…I." Saeko could not find words to continue.
She as like many others, were surprised and proud on how Natsuki took the lead on an unprecedented crisis: organizing everything, facing the visitors, and her people. Natsuki assured everybody that the Countess will protect them but she needed their help. And they gave their support to her. The whole planet was ready to face together what was coming and to fight with their leader.
"Don't worry mother. I will be back soon," Natsuki assured, giving her mother and grandfather a quick hug. She was ready to leave but feeling a bit disappointed because with all preparations, she didn't have time to say good bye to Shizuru. But the goddess of luck was still with her because just then, the Archmeister showed up at the hangar led by Chie Hallard.
Shizuru walked closer to the Kruger family with her eyes fixed on Natsuki and a strange emotion enveloped her heart. It was like walking back in time into her own internal nightmare but Natsuki's green eyes were there to give her courage. This time the attackers will not succeed. The sight of Natsuki in her black pilot suit, which exuded strength and fierce determination in her eyes was all Shizuru needed for reassurance.
Noticing the way her granddaughter was looking at Shizuru, Haakon took Saeko's arm gently and murmured to her ear. "Let's give them some space, Lady Saeko."
Saeko was surprised of Haakon's request but she accepted to be led aside without any protests.
"Shizuru." Natsuki whispered feeling her determination strengthen by seeing Shizuru there. She had a lot to protect.
"Natsuki." Shizuru felt overwhelmed but managed to give Natsuki a confident and brilliant smile. "They can't do anything against Natsuki's braveness. Kick their asses and come back home soon, my Countess."
Natsuki almost laughed at that farewell but managed a contented smile. They were looking at each other eyes intensely. They wanted to do many things, to say many things but had very few time. Their minds were racing with the knowledge that if they wanted to do all of those things, they would have to survive this task. There was no other option.
"I count on you to protect my people, Shizuru."
Raising a hand to cherish Natsuki's cheek, Shizuru closed the short distance between them and planted a surprising quick kiss on the other. "Count on it. Just come back safe."
There was no more time, they had to leave now. Blushing at Shizuru's unseasonable action and with one last intense gaze, Natsuki turned to join Reito and got into the Shadows. When she was waiting to take off and sudden but happy realization came up to her mind, "She called me her Countess."
Ray and Nao were almost at the coordinates given by Miyu as to the most probable place where the interference was coming. Ray was piloting and they did most of the flight in silence but she wanted to know why Nao insisted that much to join her.
"Tell me, Nao-san, why did you push Shamrock to come on this mission?"
"Someone has to help you keep your ass safe Jagger, you are too naïve," was Nao's harsh answer. She didn't know the real reason either and wasn't thinking about it; she only felt the urgency to not leave Ray alone. But like hell she was going to admit that to Ray.
"This is our first mission together. We never partnered back at Garderobe when we were students." Ray said almost for herself, it was funny but she didn't realize that fact until now.
"There Jagger, we are at the point. Get this thing there… shit!"
Ray went down with a sudden spin. SkyWolf was a very light plane with precise artillery and fine instruments, they didn't even take land, Ray maneuvered and made a precise shot in the darkness destroying the thing and then rocketed to Garderobe and Horus' antennae location. "You have to make more flights, Nao…even with your robe, you are getting out of shape."
Nao was too busy breathing again herself to reply. The feeling on the plane was completely different than when flying with her robe.
It took them less than 15 minutes to reset both antennas; Ray was the first to activate her robe and summon her element followed closely by Nao.
R.J.N.
Connected
R.J.N.
PLAYING PERIDOT
MATERIALISE
YGGDRASIL System Standing By… START
J.N.Z.
FIVE COLUMNS…IV
Connected
J.N.Z.
STRING SPINEL
MATERIALISE
YGGDRASIL Standing By… START
Tapping at their GEMS to open the communication channel, they informed all Otomes that the system was ready for materialization.
"Your robe is great Jagger, I never seen it before." Nao said. They graduated at the same time but immediately after, the redhead was sent on a mission as 4th column, and Ray had gone back to Skáneland when she came back.
"Yours is nice too. The color suits your eyes." Ray said admiring Nao. They didn't know what they will face and neither one of them had ever imagined this or the intensity of their encounter happening. An encounter that was both pleasant and disturbing at the same time for both of them.
There was no time for more gazes; they had to keep focus on the upcoming hours. Ray and Nao looked at each other for two seconds and left the plane programmed to protect the antenna, flying back to the Castle where the battle was for sure to be held.
At Castle Skanien the gems of all Otomes flashed with materialization, preparing them for the battle. The time frame set by Miyu was almost there.
S.V.
FIVE COLUMNS…II
Connected
S.V.
MATERIALISE
YGGDRASIL Standing By… START
S.K.
FIVE COLUMNS…III
Connected
S.K.
SILVER CRYSTAL
MATERIALISE
YGGDRASIL Standing By… START
U.S.
FIVE COLUMNS…I
Connected
U.S.
DRAGONS RHODONITE
MATERIALISE
YGGDRASIL Standing By… START
In a blink, 13 Otomes were ready and waiting for command. Tapping her GEM for Nao and Ray to hear also, Uma Shamrock commanded.
"Otomes, this is Column I, Uma Shamrock. Main Command transferred on 3rd Column, Saeko Kruger. She will lead us, keep this communication channel ready but use it at a minimum."
"Uma, you lead the Garderobe team to protect the town, take Ray with you, so you will have seven… I will lead the others here at the castle with Akira and Mikoto's help. Ray is deadly but let me know if you need more support. Number one priority is to protect the people and give Natsuki and Reito time."
Everybody nodded. "Armbrust and Haakon will command the attack. It is Ok to attack Slaves and planes but remember to stay away from the soldiers. Miyu will let us know once they are ready."
With that last sentence, they were ready to get into the battle and protect what they cared the most.
It was close to 4 am in the morning at Skáneland when the Krasnikov Cruiser reached planetary space. The blonde man couldn't avoid smiling, their prey was for sure sleeping innocently; this was going to be easier than the one at Kansai. Smiling he gave the orders for deployment.
At safe distance, Miyu, Natsuki and Reito, watched the dispositions. Natsuki felt her heart shrinking at the sight of the planes being deployed, she had the urgency to start with the plan and get rid of the attackers as soon as possible but they had to be patient in order to succeed.
According to Miyu's estimations, the planes were carrying the Schwartz servants. They will make the first strike, opening the field for the soldiers to arrive and finish the job. It seem that they weren't in a hurry. They were behaving as if they have already won.
A few minutes after the first wave and second one came and a third one, they counted 5 releases until the nanobots planted by Miyu showed the first deployment of distorted soldiers. It was like a swarm of evilness.
Natsuki gave the command to approach the Cruiser.
On Skáneland, the sky was still dark when the first wave of attackers overtook Skane City with initial shots of lasers lightening the darkness and destroying a good set of houses.
"Natsuki was right on avoiding the use of shields even when the security system was restored. They are so sure we don't have defenses that they are using lasers!" Mai Tokiha commented to Saeko Kruger from their high observation position at the castle.
"I don't think Schwartz cares that much about the Interstellar laser prohibition, Mai-san." Saeko said sadly by looking at the destruction.
"And the treacherous people helping them either, Lady Saeko." Mai said with indignation.
Natsuki commands were to wait until the maximum amount of Spaceliners got land to release Schwartz servants. There was fire in more than a hundred places in the capital city, and the sea was illuminated with the color of fire, Skáneland will have a red sunrise in several meanings.
They expected to find calcined bodies but the population was saved out of their Houses and there was nothing left for them to ravage; the first stage of the trap worked well. When most of the Spaceliners were on land, the first charge of heavy Kruger division forces led by Sakomizu attacked them; the surprised servants summoned their Slaves, while the Spaceliners took off but Garderobe's Otome group led by Uma Shamrock was waiting for them. The Spaceliners were autonomous units only with a preprogrammed destruction routine, Schwartz was so sure the Otomes were out of combat that only default evasion routines were installed, thus becoming easy targets for Shizuru and company.
On land, Sakomizu released the Rya Wolves together with the heavy artillery, the big, and wild and sometimes bloodstone Skáneland native wolves who were shielded, whose fangs could easily trespass a two inches thick titanium slate.
"It has begun, Lady Saeko."
"Indeed. Now they know the Otomes are at full capacity. Advice the others to be ready Mai-san, the first charge against us will be here soon."
In the orbit, Natsuki, Reito, and Miyu were ready to get into the Cruiser. Their only option was getting in as soon as the last groups of soldier leave. Their very light pilot suit protected them from coldness with maximum efficiency in movements. They will have to do it fast.
These materializing soldiers, unlike Otomes, had a different GEM and element; they were all wearing the same armor-robe and the same multiple elements. Natsuki identified laser shotguns, heavy cannons, axes, and swords. She felt urgency in her gut; there were just too many of them and only 15 Otomes back home. "Hold on, Shizuru."
The first wave of Schwartz enhanced soldiers arrived and had a very warm reception from the Kruger Navy strategically located in a sunrise fog, protected from the air by the Sky Wolves. Never in the history of Skáneland had the whole Kruger's war forces been deployed including the reserves.
At Castle Skánien shielded basement, Bruce Bran, Takumi Tokiha, and Nyugen Bao were handling and controlling all the guests. They heard the battle start despite all of them in the farther underground location. Sergay Wang cursed them because there was no way to leave and get the information his master wanted. The three men were had strict control over the guests using the excuse of safety.
Against her will, Haruka Armitage was there with them and her imposing presence was the other reason for everybody to keep calm. The specific order from Shamrock was "Stay and protect Yukino no matter what. She has to survive." Haruka wanted that with all her hearth but felt pulled by opposite emotions. She also wanted to be there in the battle kicking asses; she knew they needed her.
Wave after wave after wave of enhanced soldiers were arriving thirsty of blood and full of madness. With every minute, the Kruger forces were losing space and strength against them while the Otomes were still detaining the Slaves and the remaining Spaceliners.
When the big cruiser's sluice gate started to close, Natsuki, Reito and Miyu, used their suit propulsion devices to get into the ship. Using the shadows of the big hangar, Miyu used a panel to get connected at the ship's mainframe.
"As expected, they don't have a complex AI system on this machine." Miyu said as it was registering hundreds of data per second of the connection.
"Why do you say so, Miyu-san?" Reito asked. Natsuki was too focused scanning the surroundings and trying to wait calmly to ask anything yet.
"Yohko-san speculated that Schwartz has been more focused on genetic manipulation than real scientific investigation. They aren't interest in knowledge for goodness but for power only. Horus is sure they don't care about the people they use in their experiments or any other people either."
"That's good for us some way, I expect." Natsuki said breathing to hold herself in place.
"Yes, I am getting all the information from the main frame but it will still take a while. I have the location of the Main deck and the ship planes." Miyu said handing Natsuki a portable device.
"Fine. Reito and I will take care of it. Meet us there when you are done." Natsuki wanted to add that they didn't have time to spare but resisted. "Reito, let's move."
Reito was ready with all the guns and supplies they've carried with them. Following Miyu's diagram they walked on the deserted aisles not bothering to hide. Miyu was controlling the system and if they had security cameras, nothing would be showing on them. It was on the main deck was where their problem started. There was no way to know what was happening inside. They didn't know if they will face one or several of those soldiers or slaves or whatever other nice surprises, but there was no time to think that much about it.
"Throw that door away, Reito. I will get in."
There was no point in discussing with her; she will do it one way or other.
The Reito's powerful laser cannon concentrated all of its power for one full shoot blowing the door and part of the walls apart. Natsuki used her mother's training to put all her senses in alert and jumped inside the room, scanning and identifying any potential threat for them, falling head over Natsuki identified three targets shot them down, while rising up with her impulse shotgun. That won't be lethal, yet it will allow them to take a look on their attackers.
When the smoke dispersed, Natsuki and Reito were standing looking at the disconcerted and stunned figures on the floor.
When the three men recovered the clarity of their minds they were restrained and forced to sit on the floor, facing three standing figures dressing in black. The three men were blonde but one of them was older than the others and Natsuki assumed he was the leader. Natsuki and the older man looked at each other and then the man start laughing.
"What is so funny you damn idiot?" Natsuki tighten her fists wanting to hit the man in the face to blot out that cynic and sardonic glance in him.
"You honor the title of the unexpected wolves, Kruger, however this won't change anything. Your planet will be destroyed, your people will be killed and there is nothing you can do."
"You will be dead before that's seen. Reito! Take this filthy bastard out of my sight before I really kill him."
"Forthwith my Countess." Reito took the three men and dragging them to a secure cell in their own spaceship.
"Miyu, we need that Anti Materializer thing. Now."
Down in Skáneland, as soon as the attackers realized that was nothing there to kill they focused on the Otomes and the castle. The Kruger Land Combat divisions were overwhelmed with the strength of the Schwartz Enhanced Soldiers. Uma Shamrock with her Otomes were long ago supporting them despite Natsuki's orders. She could not afford to just let them die in the hands of the beasts.
Shizuru was flinging her retractile element the longest distance possible with deadly swings but as soon she managed to dispatch one of them, there were ten to take its place. They didn't now how long they had been fighting but the sun got out a while ago. Her golden mane was pasted on the sides of her face with sweat and blood. She was also bleeding slightly in several places from close combat but nothing mortal or incapacitating.
Ray's golden robe was no longer golden but black with the dark blood of Schwartz beasts and also red from her fallen Kruger comrades. She had her jaws tightened with effort to hold her long and silver sword from falling over and over again. She and Shizuru alone were giving the Kruger forces a breath enough to keep fighting but the waves of enemies were endless. Despite their efforts they were losing terrain constantly and were getting more and more exhausted each time.
Together with her groups, Saeko Kruger was also having a bad time even with the help of the Kruger Air Force from the castle. She loaded countless silver and chrome cartridges, with Mai and the others also fighting close with the Slaves. She understood that the Slaves were doing the dirty job. They were sent to die, to take their strength so when the final strike came they will be run down. "Hurry up, Natsuki."
Like an answer to her prayers, suddenly on every Otomes GEMS they heard Miyu's voice.
"Antimaterializer Attack starting, Cruiser taken and secured, putting the spreading hub in place. Releasing in 3 minutes."
"Uma, did you heard that? Open the way for Akira and Mikoto." Saeko felt like she was holding her breath underwater for too long.
Miyu's Anti materializing Mithril was the only way to deactivate Otome materialization and break elements. However, there was no way to antimaterialize 1000 subject at once. Yohko and Irina used several components to intensify Miyu's Mithril in the Cruiser where the core control of the Schwartz soldiers was located.
With the spreading hub placed on land, all of the beasts in the radius of half a mile would be dematerialized becoming easy targets for Otomes. But all the Otomes in the same radius would be dematerialized as well. That's why Natsuki insisted on them in to keep away. Normal humans felt the impact but weren't affected by it.
Onboard the approaching cruiser, Reito and Natsuki were piloting it expertly, while Miyu plugged in her right arm ready to start.
Down there Mikoto and Akira were running expertly in the deep center of the battle to position, protect the hub, and to take down the higher amount of enemies.
"Release in less than a minute." Miyu's voice was the signal for the Otomes to start taking their distance, now the Kruger forces will have to take the weight of Schwartz' charges.
Everybody was leaving when Shizuru noticed that some of the Schwartz beasts broke through the Kruger line going directly after the refugee camps they've set up on the cliffs for the citizens. Without a second thought she flew over there to stop them, but there was just too many of them.
"Shizuru!... This damn idiot, what is she doing?" Despite her complains, Nao threw herself behind the Archmeister, using her deadly laser strands to cut several beasts on Shizuru's back.
"Thank you Nao-san but you need to get out of here." Battling back against back Shizuru and Nao were containing the attackers.
"Hell if I am going anywhere without you." Nao screamed to make her point above the blare of the battle.
"We are almost out of time, Nao, we can't lose two Otomes. Leave now, please." As soon as Shizuru finished her sentence, a golden flash hit the frontline of their attackers with a giant sword giving them the chance to gain their lost terrain.
"Jagger!" Nao felt relieved to see the tall Otome.
"Both of you, leave now, I will contain them. Hurry! We need you in full power Shizuru-san." Ray's intense gaze was begging Shizuru. "I will resist them, just come back quickly to wipe them out! Now, GET OUT!"
Shizuru and Nao were speechless, they never saw Ray like that before but they complied. Shizuru rocketed as fastest as possible since all of the Otomes could hear Miyu's countdown through their GEMs. Nao hesitated. She felt a heavy weight on her chest in leaving Ray alone and that was her failure. In that blinking hesitation one of the hyper soldiers hit her badly in the back with his axe. Even when she reacted enough to avoid the full strike it was good enough to send her falling down the terrain almost unconscious.
"Nao!" Ray shouted seeing the green form falling down helplessly and felt outraged. Infuriated, she flew light speed, growling and cutting heads savagely while going down to land and found Nao trying to rise up. "She is alive. Thank Goddess, she is alive." It was a fraction of a second but, their eyes met and Nao felt relieved for a second time that Ray was there to support her.
They didn't have more time. Miyu was in minus ten on the countdown. Ray opened her legs and sustaining her element sword as firm as possible with two hands in front of her, she prepared herself for protect Nao ten more seconds and to fight without her robe after the anti Materializer.
Initializing…. Horus Deus Ex Machina II
- Multiple
- Intelligential
- Yggdrasil
- Unit
Mythril….Platinum
Mode…….Antimaterializer
Unblocking Full Power… Mission Started….
The cruiser was still too far away to be more than a black point on Skáneland's darkened morning but Miyu's Anti Materializer ray hit the hub Akira and Mikoto set in place very accurately. The ray imploded for less than a second and then spread a blinding white explosion that like a wild wind razing almost 90 percent of the Schwartz soldiers and two Otomes.
Ray was holding Nao when the worst of the explosive ripple had ended. Now they will have to fight without robes. Ray had her Kruger uniform, so she quickly took her guns, handing them to Nao, who was still wearing her green dress and took a sable for herself. Standing to face the now disconcerted men surrounding them, she thought "I felt better with swords anyways."
Screaming with rage several men threw themselves at Ray and Nao. Ray was deadly with the sword, on the same level with Natsuki and Reito and with cold rage and fast movements kept them away using her body to protect the injured Nao, who despite the pain was taking down as many as she could with the guns. Ray took the most of the physical charge until Akira and Mikoto came to help, closely followed by Shizuru.
At the sight of the brilliant explosion dispersing, all of the Otomes raced against the remaining fully materialized soldiers, but they didn't have to fight them that long.
Overcharged with Miyu's modifications, the ship core system stopped functioning, finally dematerializing all soldiers. Many of them were even collapsing on their own and the remaining, on the limit of their killing madness were defeated by Otomes or by Kruger forces.
30 minutes after the Anti Materializer explosion, the situation was under control, the captured Cruiser landed on the damaged Skáneland Spaceport, and Natsuki descended from it with a concerned look on her face that dissipated as soon as she saw a smiling Shizuru approaching her. The Archmeister was showing the signs of the rough battle on her face but somehow she still looked elegant and beautiful, even more, for Natsuki, the wild look of a powerful Shizuru in her robe, with her element and her red eyes shining was a vision, and she was staring at it.
Recovering and controlling the anxiety to run and hug Shizuru, Natsuki also walked until both of them were two inches apart.
"Welcome back, my Countess." Shizuru said with a bright smile and a warm gaze.
"Shizuru." They were just staring at each other for a couple of seconds but then reality claimed its share of their attention. There was too much to do.
"Natsuki," Saeko Kruger, with her full materialized Ice Silver Crystal robe landed some feet away from them, and this time, Natsuki stared but at her mother's sight. She never had seen Saeko using her robe before.
Walking decidedly to the place they were standing, Saeko started pointing out pending issues that required Natsuki's attention.
"I am glad you are back, there is a lot to do. We are taking care of the injured, there is a lot of damage and everybody needs to see you. The plan worked, did you capture someone?"
"I am glad you are fine mother." Natsuki said a bit hurt by her mother's coldness. "And yes, Reito is taking care of the prisoners."
Shizuru felt like she was miles away from the conversation. The same sight of Saeko Kruger in a robe that had Natsuki staring at her mother, unleashed deep memories within her. Natsuki's mother like Shizuru, kept all her elegance but she was also showing signs of battle. Shizuru never met Saeko as an Otome in a robe and definitely not after a battle.
Now looking at Saeko, she felt a barrier breaking inside her. Her own blocked memories flowed. The darkness, the fire, the smoke, the explosions, the sounds of the battle and in the middle of all that, her mind like a camera zooming out showing a figure in a silver robe, a dark mane floating and a beautiful face…with striking green eyes. Saeko Kruger was there in Kansai 20 years ago.
Thanks to everyone for read and review. For the next chapter we will be back at different scenarios, we will have more on what happened on the past and other goodies. Hope you have enjoyed.