Chapter 3: Wolves of War

Zill Dreadnought Adjudicator

Admiral Rahksha sat in his private chamber, head bowed as he listened to a classical Zill opera. It was his daily meditation, one he treated very seriously. It centered him, put him in the mindset to go into battle against the enemies of Zill. And thanks to his recon squadron, he now had some idea of what this new enemy was. Over and over again, he replayed the encounter in his head, analyzing every detail.

A chime sounded, an incoming transmission. He paused the music and tapped his armrest. "What is it?"

"Sir, the War Wolves have arrived," said a voice on the other end. "They are awaiting your orders."

"Very well, I'll take their message here," he said. Bringing up a holo-screen, he found himself face to face with a Zill in an officer's uniform, numerous medals and citations on the breastplate.

"Commander Kefka, leader of the War Wolves, reporting for duty as ordered," said the officer, throwing a salute.

"Welcome to the Adjudicator, Commander," said Rahksha. "I apologize for not seeing you in person, but I'm afraid I am preoccupied presently. I trust you had a comfortable journey?"

"Comfort is irrelevant, sir," replied Kefka. "There is only our duty to the Emperor. And as I understand it, you encountered something in Cephiro that may hinder our plans?"

"I'm sending the necessary file to you right now," said Rahksha, tapping his armrest. "My recon unit discovered three large mechanical battle suits. We believe these to the be 'Rune-Gods' piloted by the so-called Magic Knights that guard this planet."

Kefka tapped his wrist, watching the encounter play out on his holo-screen. "Impressive design," he said, "but a surprising lack of armament. What are your orders, sir?"

"I want you to engage these Magic Knights. Test them, determine their capabilities," said Rahksha. "Don't take unnecessary risks; I don't want to lose such valuable soldiers before our invasion even fully begins. Just see what they can do."

"Understood, Admiral," said Kefka. "We'll move out in twenty minutes."

"Very well, Commander," said Rahksha, giving a salute. "For the Emperor."

"For the Emperor," responded Kefka, cutting the transmission.

"Now, Magic Knights, let's see how you fare against something a bit more your size," hissed the Admiral, starting up the music again.

Cephiro Castle

"So you've had your first encounter with the Zill?" asked Ferio. "What was it like?"

"Nothing too spectacular yet," said Hikaru, sipping her tea. "It was just three scout ships, and one of them got away from us."

"I still say these Zill may not be as tough as the stories say," said Umi. "Why didn't they just bring their whole fleet in here to fight us?"

"Because a smart player never shows his full hand right away," said Lantis. "They're in foreign territory now, and they have no idea what could be waiting for them. So they're using scouts and spies to probe us for weaknesses, learning our strengths. That way they know exactly how to bring us down."

Umi let his words sink and went quiet for a moment. "So, we may have just gotten ourselves into big trouble?" she asked.

"It's a natural risk in warfare," said Lantis. "The most you can do now is to be ready for their response. They'll likely send another ship, or squadron to test you again."

"I guess the best we can do now is wait and see," said Fuu, looking worried. "Although it's the waiting that worries me the most."

"I know what you mean, little missy," said Caldena. "It feels like you're just stuck there, like a sitting duck. You wish you could do something, anything."

"Kind of how I feel right now," added Ascot. "Sure, I'm a summoner, but what good are beasts against things like that?"

"The best thing we can all do is not lose our heads to panic," said Lafarga. "When the situation arises, we will do what we can, the best we can."

"Yeah, you're right," said Hikaru with a smile. "We'll show those Zill bullies that Cephiro won't give up without a fight!"

A guard suddenly burst into the room, looking shook. "Prince Ferio, sir! We have a situation!"

"What is it, guardsman?" asked Ferio. "What's happened?"

"Something has appeared to the south of here," the guard said between gasps for breath. "They...they appear to be Rune-Gods of some kind!"

"Rune-Gods? You mean giant robots from Zill?" asked Hikaru.

"Yes, precisely, flying in from the south! They are headed this way!"

The girls all jumped to their feet. "Come on, we have to stop them," said Hikaru. Her friends nodded in agreement.

Moments later all three girls were in the Rune-Gods again, flying southward to see what this new threat could be. It didn't take them long at all to find them. Six large mechas were hovering in the sky, like giant mechanical versions of Zill soldiers, all decorated in different color schemes. The pauldrons of the mechas all bore the Zill crest, which seemed to be taunting the Magic Knights.

"Who are you?" demanded Umi. "We already know you're from Zill, but what do you call yourselves?"

A response came, but to the girls it was just a garbled mess of synthesized static. They couldn't understand the language at all.

"Uhh, did any of you get any of that?" asked Umi, looking confused.

"Guess it's safe to assume they don't speak our language," said Fuu.

Another respone came. "My apologies, Magic Knights," said a synthesized voice. "We needed to find a compatible speech pattern. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Commander Kefka, and we are the War Wolves. The elite mechanized infantry unit of the Zill Imperium."

"War Wolves," Hikaru repeated to herself. "What do you want with Cephiro, Commander? I know your people are conquerors, but I want to hear it for myself! Why are you here?"

"The Imperium desires your lands and resources," said Kefka, "and it is willing to do anything necessary to claim them. Isn't that right, men?"

"All for us," the other pilots replied in unison. "All things exist for us. We are the Zill. We will crush all opposition. Submit to us, or face extinction."

Hikaru glared and drew her sword, along with the others. "Well this is one world you won't be taking! Cephiro belongs to the people of this land, and you can't have it! If you try, then we'll have to stop you!"

"So be it," said Kefka, an energy blade deploying from his right hand. "Then defend yourself!"

Quick as lightning he charged Hikaru, his blade clashing against hers. The girl grunted, straining to hold back his powerful blow. Two other mechs charged at Umi and Fuu, one with an energy pike, the other brandishing an energy battleaxe. The remaining three mechs powered up weapons and waited for the opportune time to jump in.

"You have some skill with a blade, Magic Knight," said Kefka, striking blow after blow at Hikaru, which she managed to block. "Tell me, are you a blade master?"

"My family owns a kendo school back on my world," she replied, countering one of his strikes and slashing. "I've been training my entire life!"

"Yes, it shows," said Kefka, dodging her slash and thrusting his blade rapidly, like a hailstorm of sharp points. "We've only just started and already I'm getting a rush! It's been so long since I met an adversary of any worth."

"How can you be so casual about this?" Hikaru shouted, doing her best to block. "You're here to destroy this world, a world full of people just trying to live their lives in peace! How can you act like it's no big deal to do something like that?"

"Let me tell you why, Magic Knight," replied Kefka, putting some distance between the two of them. "Life is built on a pile of bones. Living things are divided into two categories, those that eat and those that are eaten. The Zill learned this lesson long ago, very harshly. And we vowed to never again become prey, but to be the ultimate predators. Nothing will stand in the way of that!"

As he spoke, the other three mechs suddenly jumped into the fray! Now the girls were being forced to fight two opponents at once, and they were having a tough time of it.

"Haven't these guys heard of a fair fight before?" cried Umi. Moments later she screamed in pain as the point of the energy pike pierced Selece's left side.

"Miss Umi, hang on!" shouted Fuu, preparing to cast her Winds of Healing. Before she could, however, the energy axe connected with Windom's chest plate, knocking her out of the sky as she screamed.

"Umi, Fuu, no!" Hikaru cried out, trying to go to their aid. But it appeared Kefka and his squadmate had other plans.

"I don't think so, Magic Knight!" Kefka called out, suddenly firing at her with a machine gun mounted on his left arm.

Hikaru dodged and evaded as best she could, but even then she could feel the energy rounds biting into Rayearth as if it was her own body. She began to recover only to have one of the mechs hit her hard from behind with a giant hammer, sending her flying out of control through the air. She managed to get her bearings before she fell all the way to the ground below, and righted herself. Umi and Fuu flew to her side, battered but not quite down for the count.

"We're not doing so well here, girls," said Umi. "These guys know how to fight!"

"Perhaps it's time we tried a different approach," said Fuu, still wincing in pain.

"I agree," said Hikaru. "It's time to bring out the magic! Flame Arrow!" She fired the burst of flame from her hand, aiming straight for Kefka.

"Water Dragon!" cried Umi, targeting her opponent and his partner.

"Emerald Typhoon!" shouted Fuu, sending the waves of magical wind towards the other two mechs.

"Evasive maneuvers, now!" ordered Kefka, the mechs quickly moving out the way. Hikaru's spell clipped his mech on the right shoulder, tearing off the pauldron. Umi's spell grazed her targets, tearing off bits of armor but otherwise they remained intact. The last two mechs chose to activate some form of energy shield, blocking the brunt of the attack from Fuu.

"So you really can use magic," said Kefka, "glad to see your name isn't just for show." He suddenly sheathed his weapon, and his comrades did the same. "I think we're done here for now."

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?" demanded Hikaru.

"We're not here to kill you, not yet," said Kefka. "We just wanted to see what you girls were made of. I think I have enough for now. Make sure you rest up now; I want you to be at your best the next time I fight you, Miss...?"

"Hikaru Shidou," she replied, "that's my name."

"Hikaru Shidou...a strong name for a strong warrior," he said. "In that case, Lady Hikaru, until we meet again." He turned and flew away, followed by the rest of his squadron.

"Well this is just great," said Umi. "Our first real fight and we got our butts kicked!"

"At least we are all alive," said Fuu, "and we have a chance to grow stronger before the next encounter. Right, Miss Hikaru?"

"Yeah, you're right," said Hikaru, her thoughts still on Kefka and what he had said. He had sounded so sure, so convinced of the truth of his words. She hated to admit it to herself, but she admired that level of conviction. Still, they were enemies in a coming war, and like he had said to her, she and her friends needed to be at their best. Otherwise they and Cephiro would fall for sure.