Magister Negi Magi is owned by Ken Akamatsu and Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo in Japan, and by Funimation and Ballantine - DelRey in the United States, NOT by me.

All cameo characters are the property of their respective creators and owners, not me.

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

I do something this chapter I haven't done since the beginning of the story, and might not do again until the end. Apologies in advance for any confusion this might cause.

Thanks once more to Tikigod784, and Kafka'sdragon for all their help.

(-)

"Fire Kills."
-Marshal Henri-Philippe Pétain. Hero of Verdun.

(-)

"While I mourne any loss, it is fortunate that the total number of casualties was relatively light."
-Kurt Godel. Governor General of New Ostia. From an interview with Cycilia Sevensheep.

(-)

Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.

Chapter Forty-three: Six Armies in New Ostia. Part Five. (Day Seven.)

(-)

(June 2105, Near Mons Olympus, Ala Rubra Park, the Magic World.)

After a good stretch, Chao Lingshen leaned forward, resting both elbows on her knees. "It's getting late. Time for everyone to get in their tents and go to bed!"

It was five full seconds before the explosion happened...

"NO WAY!"

"Keep going!"

"What about Kaede?"

"Yeah! What about the people from Ariadne?

"How did Negi rescue Asuna?"

...and so on...

Evangeline's daughter Dawn had crossed arms and a look on her face remarkably like the one her mother would wear when surrounded by a bunch of unruly 'brats.' Still though, she also showed, faintly, a look displaying a desire for Chao to continue just as serious as those of the other children.

Leaning back, Chao began to rub her chin. "I don't know... I promised to look after all of you, and that means making sure you get enough sleep..."

"Get her!"

An avalanche of small bodies, lead by the chocolate-haired Tsuruko Konoe, tackled Chao and began tickling her unmercifully.

Quickly reduced to a helpless, quivering, laughing mass, Chao gave in. "OKAY! gasp... wheeze... I'll keep going..." Getting back up as the children withdrew; she set her camp stool back upright and sat down again.

Smiling, Chao glanced over at little girl who held herself apart from the others. A blonde Su-Jin from Ariadne, the girl seemed torn between joining the group at Chao's feet, and the unavoidable sense of being an outsider she probably felt. Though she hadn't been kidnapped, the young girl had been invited along on the outing through the virtue of being from a family who were traditional close friends of the Springfield's. "Well then; Lets back-track just a bit to explain how Emily Sevensheep came back into the picture..."

(-)

(Ariadne.)

Called to Captain Adenaur's cabin together with Beatrice Monroe, Emily Sevensheep rapped firmly on the door jamb, then led the way inside when an 'Enter!' came in response. In front of the captain's desk was 'Yuko Taizo,' who she'd learned was an accused criminal her own age named Yue Ayase, and the delinquent Beagle-girl Collet Farandole. Still smarting over her confinement, Emily glared at Collet, and had the satisfaction of seeing the girl flinch in response. Coming to attention with Beatrice, she saluted Captain Adenaur. "Cadets Sevensheep and Monroe, reporting as ordered."

Rising from her desk, Katrina moved to stand before Emily. "Miss Sevensheep. While I am not normally within the chain of command of the Valkyrie Brigade, I can compel your obedience either as a ranking officer in Ariadne's military or as a School Dean over a student..."

Seeing Emily tense up, Katrina felt pleased she'd read the girl's sense of pride correctly. "However, in the current circumstances, perhaps it would be best to formally request your assistance as the ranking representative of another unit of Ariadne's military."

Tightening up her posture, Emily tried to look every bit as smart as the status Captain Adenaur was granting her demanded. "What can the Valkyrie Brigade do for you, Captain Adenaur?"

After a quick glance towards Yue and Collet, Katrina returned her focus towards Emily. "I've already given you certain information concerning what's happened since the attack on the gate ports, now I am at liberty, as a matter of securing your cooperation, to reveal that the real threat facing the Magic World is nothing less than that of the Life Giver Itself."

Beside Emily, Beatrice Monroe's normally bland continence fell with the dropping of her jaw. "The... the Mage of the Beginning? Wasn't she destroyed twenty years ago?"

Shaking her head, Katrina moved to retrieve a small box from its place in a storage cabinet. "Sadly, no." Opening the box, she removed and held out the contents to Emily. "Do you recognize this?"

Now it was Emily's turn to be shocked. "An Ala Rubra badge..."

Nodding, Katrina closed her fist around the badge. "Correct. It once belonged to the mother of the Thousand Master's son."

A cursory examination brought a look of realization to Emily's face. "You mean... the 'Nagi' Springfield fighting in the arena is the Thousand Master's son?"

Turning, Katrina returned the badge to its storage box, then placed it back on her desk. "He is in disguise, but yes. Right now, as we speak, he's trying to do the same thing his father did twenty years ago, only he has considerably less support. Basically this ship and whatever other allies he's managed to pick up."

Conflicting emotions battled within Emily, desire to know more about the Thousand Master's son, and anger over the things Megalo-Mesembria had forced him into doing over the last two months. Compelled to do so for reasons difficult to explain logically, she took a step forward. "What are your orders?"

Now Katrina moved to sit at her desk again. "This ship is very versatile in how it can fight. That versatility can only increase if it links in with a pair of Valkyries using their weapon lances as target spotters."

Trying to keep her hands from shaking, Emily shifted into an 'At ease' posture and folded them across her back. "Are you expecting a fight, Ma'am?"

Placing her own hands on the desk, Katrina gave Emily a grim nod. "We're here to support Nagi's son... that might mean going as far as trying to blast 'everything' inside the Temple of Chandika to bits..."

Hearing someone so casually speak of the destruction of an important historical landmark, presumably along with anyone inside at the time, Emily experienced a severe shock. Seeing the serious look on Captain Adenauer's face though, she could only nod in understanding.

Relaxing, Katrina leaned back in her chair. "Miss Ayase and Miss Farandole will assist you in your assignment. Please return to your cabin. You'll find your armor in the stowage spaces beneath the bunks. Once you're ready, report to me on the bridge." Seeing Emily's expression had become slightly hurt, Katrina shook her head. "Not to worry Miss Sevensheep. It wasn't placed there out of any malice, but simply because it was the last place most anyone would ever think to look for it."

Feeling a bit of self-disgust at first, Emily quickly realized Captain Adenaur had just taught her a valuable lesson in counter-intuitive thinking. Shaking her head, she stiffened to attention and saluted, then departed with the three other girls' in tow.

(-)

Both the advantage and disadvantage of catalyst magic was it's reliance on the physical aspects of nature, instead of the more intangible aspects of real 'magic.' While a magic user's skrying spell was more versatile, the use of magic might be noticed. A catalyst mage using a telescope might not be able to perceive as much as a regular mage, but they were much less likely to be seen.

High atop the forward superstructure, Estimated Prophet's Chief Gunnery Officer, Thomas Stevens, began rotating the ship's telescopic gunfire director to the side until the floating island of New Ostia came into view. Since there was no clear line-of-sight towards the Temple of Chandika, Captain Adenaur had sent the two Valkyries out as spotters to provide targeting information in that direction. With nothing else to do at the moment, Stevens sighted in on the floating island and began to adjust his equipment as an academic exercise. After the prismatic double images matched up, he glanced down at the range indicator, then placed his eyes back against the rubber cups of the telescopic sight.

In the center of the image the top of the New Ostian Governor General's Residence was just visible. On the left were various military vessels, including Ariadne's Argonauta, and on the right was the range of low mountains separating the floating island's coast from the city of New Ostia itself. As he watched, there was a flash behind the mountains, followed shortly after by the shockwave effect of a big magic spell. "Something happening in New Ostia!"

Nearby, the crewman manning the sound-powered phone relayed the observation to Ma'ii Kumagami down in the ships Combat Information Center. As he continued to watch, a glow began to come from behind one of Megalo-Mesembria's God-Soldier carriers. Just as he realized it was coming from the flagship Svanhvit, there was a second flash as that ship fired directly into Ariadne's Argonauta. In the wake of an explosion, that ship nosed down and fell from sight.

Shock left his jaw slack momentarily, but anger and training quickly directed his finger to stab down on the switch with would transmit his directors targeting information to the ship's three main batteries. "A... Argonauta was just shot down! Transmitting range information to the closest enemy ship now. Currently no clear shot on Svanhvit; the ship which fired on Argonauta!"

Down on Estimated Prophet's bridge, Katrina Adenaur looked up in surprise as Ma'ii repeated the report over the ship's speakers. She had intended to act as cover for Negi, but if another ship of Ariadne was being attacked, that brought additional obligations into play. Instantly she grabbed the phone on the navigators table connecting her to the C.I.C. "This is the Captain! Try to contact the Argonauta! Transmit a war-warning to Ariadne, then prepare to fire. Target the ship Steven's has in his sights; continue loading non-magic shots until I say otherwise!"

(-)

On the shelf on the other side of Ostia Fjord, Joe Clark had left a feverish Professor Bagera in his cabin and come out on the deck of the Crescent Hawk. Hearing a faint gonging sound, he was trying to figure out where it was coming from when another sound, like the whine of motors turning something heavy, began to reach him. Looking up towards the cliff on the far-side of the fjord, he suddenly saw nine weapon barrels, in three sets of three, emerge from what was now quite obviously some form of an illusion spell.

He had only seen such things one place before.

Realizing what was about to happen as the barrels began to elevate, Jo Clark ran for the hatch leading to the Crescent Hawks bridge. "Kys'shira! Deflexio spells NOW!"

Behind Clark, the near simultaneous crash of nine eight-inch naval rifles firing sent a deafening wave of sound up and down the fjord. On the rise leading up to the rim of Ostia Valley, everything along the shoreline of the old ground port was smashed flat by the expanding blast of propellant gas from the Ariadnean ship's Spell-Shots...

(-)

In Estimated Prophets three main batteries, a hands-free, automatic system began the process of reloading. For each gun, the breach-block dropped down out of the way. The now empty propellant casing from the previous shot was extracted and expelled from the turret. A new shell rose up out of the magazine and was rotated into a loading tray, followed by a brass powder case. An automatic rammer came out and pushed both into the breach, then withdrew. Immediately the breach-block came up and locked closed, and the gun was ready to fire.

On the bridge, Katrina Adenaur continued holding the phone connecting her to the C.I.C. "Ma'ii! Have Sevensheep and Monroe's teams shift over towards New Ostia. If anything starts coming our way, tell them to let us know, but otherwise, to keep quiet and stay put!"

Back up in Estimated Prophet's gunfire director, Stevens focused his telescope on the Megalo-Mesembrian fleet's flagship. "Transmitting range information! Target is the Svanhvit!"

(-)

("I'm in free fall...")

Jay Fon Katz blinked and opened her eyes. Before her, Sachi Du Sha had her arms wrapped protectively around Cycilia Sevensheep as they both clung with white-knuckled intensity to a stair-rail, beyond them; one of the crew who had been gathered at the bottom of the stairs was floating unmoving in the air, her neck bent at an odd angle.

Her motions slowed, as if trapped in a vat of honey, Jay turned to look in the other direction. In the middle of what was left of the Argonauta's bridge, an un-helmed Valkyrie officer struggling with Argonauta's control wheel drew her attention away from the unreality of seeing open sky instead of what should have been the ship's outer hull. ("I... I should go help...") Seeing a flight staff floating before her, Jay reached out to take hold of it, then pulled herself over to an unsteady landing next to the officer. Badly burned, one eye swollen shut; Lieutenant Hild turned to see her and started shouting something. She couldn't seem to hear anything, but the lip movements looked like 'PULL!' to her, so Jay reached out to take hold of the wheel.

Giving it all she thought she had, Jay heaved back on the wheel with Hild. Slowly, reluctantly, the ship began to respond and pull out of its dive. Suddenly seeing the ground coming up, she closed her eyes and pulled even harder. ("We.. we're not going to make it!")

As normal gravity finally began to reassert itself, Sachi Du Sha let Cycilia go and rushed over just in time to keep the injured female crewman from slamming into the floor.

Rising unsteadily to her feet, Cycilia Sevensheep looked up into a sky filled with the energy pouring into Old Ostia. Finally realizing why the overhead wasn't there anymore, she began pulling herself up the stair rail towards the Argonauta's bridge.

Standing in the middle of what looked like one of the open flying bridge's used on ships from the Magic World's distant past were Lieutenant Hild and Cadet Fon Katz. Surrounded by fire-blackened wreckage and other 'ruin,' Hild was holding the control wheel steady while Fon Katz was trying very badly to wrap a bandage around the Lieutenant's forehead. Dodging around the debris strewn on the deck, Cycilia moved to take the bandage from the girl's unsteady hands.

As Emily's mother finished the job she'd tried to start, Jay collapsed to the deck and began shaking uncontrollably.

"CADET KATZ!"

Tears streaming down her face, Jay looked up to see Lieutenant Hild glaring down at her with the one eye she still had uncovered by bandages.

"GET UP! This isn't the time to fall apart! Do you want to be a Valkyrie or not?"

Visions of how proud her parents had been she was chosen to go to Ostia flashed through Jay's mind, followed by all the things she'd witnessed over the last few minutes. What would they think if they could see her now? Shivering like a child, in a place where many had already given more than she'd been asked to. A fifteen year-old girl named Jay Fon Katz was screaming inside that she shouldn't have to put up with all this, but a Cadet Valkyrie was also calmly saying she should get back up, that her duty wasn't done yet...

Leaning forward, Jay got her legs settled, and slowly stood back up. "Wha... what are your orders, Ma'am?"

Allowing Jay a small smile, Hild pointed at a nearby console. "You can control the ship's weapons from there. It's a pretty intuitive interface, so go see if anything still works." As the Cadet moved off, Hild turned to look at Cycilia and pointed at another console. "That's communications over there. See if anything there still works. We've got to send a war-warning to Ariadne."

Cycilia moved to do what she could, finally giving Hild time to look around. Outside the wrecked bridge, she could see upthrust pillars of rock, and in the distance, ruined buildings set at odd angles. Turning to look to the other side, it became obvious why Argonauta had not crashed, killing everyone on board. The ship had fallen into the valley of the old city, and was even now below the level of the surrounding terrain.

Feeling something being gently placed over her head, Hild turned to look just as Cycilia moved back to the communications station. The Su-Jin woman touched a control, there was a burst of static, and the headset she'd been given was suddenly filled with a babble of confused voices. "QUIET! Quiet on the line!"

Responding admirably fast to the sharp command, the confused voices quickly grew silent.

"This is the Valkyrie Brigade's Lieutenant Hild, acting commanding officer! I need damage reports! Engine Room!"

Through intermittent static, a voice Hild recognized as Argonauta's Assistant Engineer came on the line. "Almost everyone's busted up down here! Several of your Valkyries have serious injuries, but the ones who can still move are helping us out. We can have a solid seventy-five percent of system capacity on line again soon if you can just give us a few more minutes!"

Looking over towards where one important system would normally be controlled from the bridge, Hild saw only a heap of slag. "Can you control Diving from there?"

After a brief pause, the engineer's excited voice came back on the line. "YES MA'AM!"

Now the corners of Hild's mouth began to turn up into a grin. "Good! Weapons!"

Trying to ignore the drying stains on her monitor, Jay Fon Katz switched through several displays before looking up at Lieutenant Hild. "Spirit Cannon completely disabled. Forward Sagita Projectors questionable. Midships and Aft Sagita Projectors fully functional if they can get power."

Nodding, Hild faced forward to guide the ship around a looming pinnacle of rock. "Makibi! Report!"

This time the answer was punctuated by the sounds of shouting and screams of pain. "Lieutenant Hild! Sergeant Makibi is a casualty! This is Private Ibanez, Fourth Squad!"

Now Hild winced. If Makibi was down, something bad must have happened in the Valkyrie deployment bays. "Report, Private."

"Ma'am! Lots of casualties down here! Everyone got thrown around so much the safety systems didn't do any good! Except for about ten others from different squads besides me, everyone else has broken bones or crushing injuries caused by shifting equipment..."

As the private paused, Hild could sense her taking a breath.

"Lieutenant Hild! WHEN DO WE ATTACK!"

As much as she wanted to do so, an obligation to break-off to inform Ariadne of what had happened might take precedence if Cycilia couldn't get an outside communications link open. A sudden beep, indicating someone was trying to contact the ship from nearby, sounded in the headset. Glancing back at Cycilia, she saw the Su-Jin woman nod while speaking to someone. There was another beep, and a new, calmer voice sounded in the headset.

"Argonauta. This is Estimated Prophet. What is your status?"

Stunned, Hild racked her memory for an authentication code, which was promptly and correctly answered. "I don't know why or how you're here Prophet, but it's nice to hear a friendly voice. Request you send a war warning to Ariadne at once."

Now a new voice came on the line, one Hild recognized as Dean Adenaur from the Catalyst Magic School. "Done, Argonauta. Prophet is now engaging the enemy fleet. What are your intentions?"

Argonauta was heavily damaged, many of the crew were injured, and systems down, but it wasn't a dead ship yet. "We intend to fight Prophet! The Valkyries are in New Ostia to keep the peace, and we intend to do so! We'll cut off the head of the viper who back-shot us, then finish off anyone else foolish enough to keep fighting!"

Now a chuckle came over the line. "Be advised Argonauta; Red Jack and Dark Princess are allied. Do not fire upon Hellas ships unless they fire first. Watch out for falling stars from Prophet, and we have two stray sheep, safe and sound."

A squeal of joy came from Cycilia Sevensheep, and Hild smiled without looking back at Emily's mother. "Thanks for the information! Good hunting Prophet!"

As the outside line went silent, Hild's grin became feral. "Private Ibanez! Get everyone who can fight ready to go out! We're heading back!" Over the line, she could sense the anticipation of a fight as the private answered in the affirmative, then began shouting orders to everyone down in the Valkyrie deployment bays. "Engine room!"

"Ready down here!"

"Activate Dive system! We're going back!"

Spinning Argonauta's wheel to the left, Hild set the ship on a course back towards New Ostia. Just as it crossed out of the valley surrounding the old city, there was a flash of magic. Like one of its namesake creatures disappearing into the depths of the ocean on the Normal World, Whaleship Argonauta simply vanished, leaving nothing behind but a swirl of mist in the sky.

(-)

(Megalo-Mesembria.)

"Deflexio Spells at full power! Stand-by for maneuvers, and find out where that attack came from!"

As Svanhvit's Captain worked to finish readying his ship to fight, Admiral Villeneuve stared at the column of smoke rising from the ship that had just gone down. ("An attack that can't be detected by normal Magic sensors? The only thing that could do something like that anywhere in the Magic World is...")

Jumping from his seat, Villeneuve moved to the side of the Tactical Holo Tank. "Expand the view! Show me everything out to the Bay of Ostia!" As soon as the view stabilized, he quickly traced Ostia Fjord down from the bay to where it met the old citys ground port. ("If it is them... this is the only place they could be.")

Coming over, Svanhvit's Captain settled in next to the Admiral. "Do you have something Sir?"

His eyes wide, Villeneuve pointed at the ground port in Old Ostia while facing the captain. "Order the God Soldiers to ignore Argonauta, they're finished anyway. Send them to the old ground port instead! Somehow Ariadne managed to get that Estimated Prophet of theirs close enough to help support the coup effort!"

Before the captain could respond, Svanhvit rocked from the impact of another unannounced attack.

Holding himself steady in his seat, Svanhvit's Damage Control Officer turned to face the captain as soon as the ship stabilized. "Five hits, Sir! Artillery Class Spell-shots! Deflexio spells held for the most part, but the aft Sagita bays were damaged!"

"Helm! Begin evasive! Maneuver towards the old cities ground port!"

While Svanhvit's captain went back to his command seat, Admiral Villeneuve turned a gaze full of vitriol towards the little spur of water coming down from Ostia Bay. ("Filthy catalyst witch! I don't know how you got that accursed affront to magic of yours here without being seen, but I won't allow you and all those other mundane lovers from Ariadne to ruin things like you did twenty-years ago!")

(-)

(Mahora. Megalo-Mesembria.)

As Svanhvit turned towards Old Ostia, a tiny spell-shot struck and lodged itself in the ship's tail.

From her prone position on top of the press box of the New Ostia arena, Mana Tasumiya ran her rifles bolt-action through its motions to seat another round, then sighted in on a maneuvering God-Soldier carrier.

Behind her, Cordoba Ricardo stood watching her work as a metaphorical sweat-drop rolled down the back of his head. "I can't believe I'm watching someone help shoot down the fleet's flagship without trying to stop them..."

Mana sent another spell shot on its way, then reloaded her rifle and gave Ricardo a quick glance. "Admiral Villeneuve wouldn't respond to your calls, so the best way to end the fighting fast is to help some one who can, do so."

While Mana turned and sighted in on a third ship, Ricardo sighed. "I suppose you've known ever since Jack gave you those tracers that Ariadne had another ship here in Ostia... I'd ask why you didn't tell me, but I did say to let me know when it mattered..."

A slight recoil, Mana worked the rifles bolt, then looked back to grace Ricardo with her best mercenary expression. "That's right. Besides, I'm being paid to bodyguard and shoot, not work as a spy."

Once more Ricardo watched Mana fire. As soon as she did so, she got up and began to break down the rifle. "Is that all you're going to do? What about the other ships?"

With a nod, Mana stored the rifle's parts in her suitcase, and took out her FN P90. "All the smaller ships haven't moved, which means the crews must be petrified, and the rest are out of range." Closing the suitcase, she held it out to Ricardo. "Besides, we should probably get going down to the arena entrance to see if anyone heard your call to do so."

Knowing Mana needed to be free to do her job; Ricardo took the surprisingly heavy suitcase and followed as she led the way back down into the arena. ("What a mess... Doyen of the Megalo-Mesembrian Diplomatic Corps Cordoba Ricardo... accessory to the actions of, and porter for, a mercenary gunslinger...")

(-)

(Mahora. Ariadne.)

Originally positioned on the valley wall where she could see the Temple of Chandika in the distance, Emily now settled with Yue into a small ravine facing more towards New Ostia. Just as she received a short message from Beatrice saying she and Collet were also settled in, the booming roar of Prophet firing from down in the fjord came again. Almost before the echo faded, there was another crash, then three more in rapid succession. In the distance, another God Soldier carrier was blanketed by a storm of black puffs interspersed with the occasional yellow flash of a direct hit. Streaming smoke, the ship turned and began an unsteady decent towards the ground. Scattering like frightened fish, the other four ships moved away from their wounded companion.

Seeing the smile on Emily's face, Yue shook her head. Though the Captain had tried to avoid letting her, Nodoka or Haruna see it, she had been driven by morbid curiosity to watch as the gun mount damaged by the Sukunai no Kami's energy beam was 'cleaned up.' She hadn't lasted long, and also hadn't been able to keep anything down for nearly two days. Emily might think it was a game of pure revenge against the Megalo-Mesembrian ships, but it was anything but. People on those 'enemy' ships were going to wind up just like those on the Prophet had. Once more, her comments about a boring, safe life, or a dangerous exciting life came back to her... ("Well... the cat, or maybe the ermine, is out of the bag now... no sense dwelling on it anymore.") "Emily..."

Willing to accept on Dean Adenaur's word that Yue Ayase might be innocent, Emily still felt wary about getting too familiar with the girl. "Miss Ayase?"

"Why do you want to become a Valkyrie?"

A snap answer nearly passed Emily's lips, but the look on Yue's face made her stop to really consider the answer. "Well... there's lots of easy reasons..." Next to her, Yue seemed genuinely curious about the answer. "...but, I guess it's because my m... I mean, a friend, yeah, a friend of mine once had a dream of being a Valkyrie. I want to be one so she can see her dream fulfilled."

Even with Emily's apparent reluctance to be completely honest with her, Yue felt no resentment. "I haven't ever really had a dream like that... I mean, I want to study magic, and help Negi as much as I can, but I've never though about much beyond that..."

Something was starting to irritate Emily's inner ear, so she shook her head to try and clear the sensation away. "Ariadne..." Blushing slightly, Emily turned away from Yue's searching expression to face towards New Ostia. "Ariadne welcomes anyone with a desire to study, even if you have a questionable past. In that respect, my invitation to you still stands."

As a thoughtful look came to Yue's face, a faint vibration in the ground caused several pebbles to roll down from the lip of the ravine. Making the magnification spell with her fingers, she rose up to get a better view in the direction of New Ostia. "Looks like those things from the opening ceremony."

Lowering her helm's visor, Emily's armor systems quickly identified the targets. "Megalo-Mesembrian God-Soldiers." As she watched, three of the humanoid weapons turned to descend into the valley along a washed out draw. "They're splitting up."

As Emily relayed the information to the Prophet, Yue opened up her Orbis Sensualium Pictus and called up the information on God-Soldiers. "God-Soldiers: A remotely controlled unit capable of autonomous action..." Unnoticed at her side, Emily made a face when she turned to look and realized Yue was holding an Artifact. "They're not as strong as a Sukunai no Kami, but five against one, counting the ships, could be rough."

Taking out her weapon-lance, Emily pointed it at one of the Megalo-Mesembrian units still on the valley rim. Inside her helm, an indicator blinked, then a new holo-image displayed the range to target.

Seeing what Emily was doing, Yue quickly scrolled through several holo windows in her Artifact before moving over to tap the Cadet Valkyrie on the shoulder. "Lower your aim just a bit; my information says those things have a structural weakness in their waist!"

Irritated at being told what to do by someone even less experienced than she was, Emily turned to say as much. Seeing the serious look on Yue's face though, she bit back the words and adjusted the aim of her lance.

Back in the fjord, Estimated Prophet's secondary batters swung out in response to instructions coming from the ship's CIC. There was a slight pause, then a loud 'CRACK!' as six Heavy Spell-shots were sent on their way. As fast as they could be readied, more followed in the wake of the first six.

(-)

(Megalo-Mesembria.)

Watching as the five God-Soldiers split up to advance from different directions, Admiral Villeneuve had every confidence the Megalo-Mesembrian fleet would be able to take care of the interloper from Ariadne. Once that was done, they could get back to the rest of the Separatist plans. Why the horde of demons hadn't come to wreak havoc on the 'helpless' city of New Ostia, requiring intervention by the two fleets so it could be 'saved,' didn't really matter. There were still ways to blame the summoning runes in the arena on Ariadne. Perhaps it could even be said that had been 'stopped.' by the fleets. Every little bit counted. Distracted by Ariadne's 'coup' attempt, no one would be worried that the Cross-World gates had all been permanently severed until it was much too late to do anything about it.

Down on the valley rim, one of the God-Soldier units was suddenly smothered in a blanket of black puffs. Though the hits were scattered from its head to its feet, most of the spell-shots displayed an unexpected accuracy, continuously peppering the unit's midsection until it finally broke in half and crashed to the ground. The second soldier immediately changed course, moving further away from the valley rim in an attempt to avoid its companion's fate.

At a sensor console, a bridge crewman answered the unasked question. "Spell-shot signatures consistent with Ariadne's Estimated Prophet." After a brief pause, the man's voice rose slightly, though it remained otherwise calm. "Artillery-Class Spell-shots incoming. Target is Svanhvit."

As Svanhvit maneuvered to avoid the attack, Admiral Villeneuve was thinking about how to pick the Ariadnean ship apart when the sensor crewman, now panicked, interrupted.

"Spell-shot course change! Impact with Svanhvit now unavoidable!"

Next to the Admiral, Svanhvit's Captain turned towards the ship's defense station. "Reinforce facing Deflexio Spells!"

A heavy impact rocked the ship, followed by a second, after which the lighting failed, then a third, minor impact followed by the almost anti-climactic shaking of an explosion.

Pulling himself to his feet after being thrown to the floor, Svanhvit's Captain used a quick glance to make sure the bridge crew was okay. "Damage report!"

As the lights came back on, the officer in charge of the weapons control station was shifting rapidly through his control displays. "Spirit Cannon disabled! The first attack weakened the Deflexio Spells, the second shattered them! The last impact was only from a single spell-shot, but it hit us square on the nose and detonated inside the hull. The Spirit-Cannon's energy capacitor has been completely destroyed!"

Moving to the defense station, the Svanhvit's Captain leaned over the officer to look at the display. "That was a phased-effect attack! We were starting to maneuver, so most of those spell shots should have missed!"

Scrolling through several screens showing the attacks on the Svanhvit and the God-Soldier, the officer pointed out numerous examples of Spell-shots altering their trajectories. "They must have some form of targeting or tracer spells active. Since we can't identify anything in the fjord yet, there must be someone along the valley wall helping out." After making several adjustments to his screen, the officer shook his head. "Nothing I can identify at the moment, Sir. If they're there, they must be well hidden."

Still calm, Svanhvit's Captain looked the officer straight in the eye. "Do what you can to figure out where they are." The officer nodded, so the captain moved to stand near Admiral Villeneuve. "Sir, I request permission to pull the fleet back."

Responding to the whispered words with an angry look, Admiral Villeneuve had to fight to avoid shouting. "Why?"

Stepping closer, the captain kept his voice low. "It's possible we could actually be shot down. I want to open the distance to lessen the danger."

With the planning of many years so close to completion, Villeneuve wasn't in any mood for caution. "Spread the fleet out if you must, but we won't run from only one ship!"

Unease growing in the back of his mind, Svanhvit's Captain gave a small nod before turning towards the communications officer. "Tell the control ships to have the God-Soldiers open fire along the valley rim near the old ground port! As soon as they finish their attacks, have them increase speed towards the target point!"

(-)

(Ariadne.)

Shaking slightly as the three God-soldiers drew closer across the valley floor, Collet Farandole wished she'd stayed in the dorm instead of going after that Nagi Springfield clock. That way she wouldn't be out in the middle of nowhere keeping an eye on something that could squash her flat without even noticing. At least Beatrice was in armor. Why Captain Adenaur had sent her out unprotected was something she couldn't even grasp. Why, the only time someone had ever taken down a God-Soldier unarmored was in an old Ala Rubra movie about the groups adventures during the war... 'Counter-Attack of Cosmo-Entelechia.' "Hey Bea, I wonder if it would be possible to trip one of those guys..."

Holding her lance on the first God-Soldier, Beatrice Monroe shook her head. "Only you, Collet, would think about using a trick from a movie in real life!"

Chuckling in attempt to suppress her fear, Collet nodded. "Well, there is that mono-filament climbing line in your armor's equipment belt, and we both have riding staffs!"

Starting to respond, Beatrice forgot all about Collet's silliness as the threat alarm in her armor began sounding. A quick glance out at the three God-Soldiers in the valley confirmed the warning. Without even a word, she grabbed the still smiling Beagle-girl by the collar and launched herself away from the valley's edge.

Alternately melting or pulverizing the rocks where they hit, Magic beam attacks from the three God-Soldiers played repeatedly across the valley rim, then tried to follow as the targets they'd flushed vanished down into the cleft in the wall containing the old ground port.

Leaving Collet next to someone's ruined home, coughing and trying to catch her breath, Beatrice edged back up to the lip of the valley. Even without using her armor systems, she could feel through her feet what was going on. Out on the valley floor, the three God-Soldiers had lengthened their strides, and were effectively running to reach a point where they would be able to see down into the ground port. Just as calm as always, she brought her weapon lance around and settled it on the leading target. Back down in the fjord, there was a ripple of loud explosions, and nine Spell-shots arced overhead, converging on the target she was pointing at.

In a manner that was almost awful to watch, the humanoid God-Soldier jerked like a rag doll from several hits, the 'Todes-Tanz' spoken of occasionally by Instructor Magnusson, then shattered as the Spell-Shots detonated.

(-)

"CIC! The Captain's down!"

Starting, Emily Sevensheep closed her eyes to help herself concentrate on the faint voices coming over the open connection she had with Estimated Prophet's CIC.

Beginning to get nervous, Yue watched as the last God-Soldier outside the valley turned and started moving along the cliffs edging Ostia Fjord. "Emily..."

"HUSH!"

Turning, Yue realized Emily was beginning to look worried. "What's going on?"

Finally hearing that Captain Adenaur was being tended to by medics, Emily looked over at Yue. "Something happened to the Captain..."

Grabbing her broom, Yue mounted up and made ready to take off.

Reaching out, Emily took hold of Yue's arm. "Where are you going?"

Using her artifact book, Yue pointed back towards the fjord. "They need someone to power those Spell shots! That's what happened to Captain Adenaur! She powered so many she fainted! I've studied the spell! I may not have much magic potential, but it's still more than most of the other mages on the ship!"

Lessening her grip, Emily gave Yue a serious look. "Is the spell hard?"

Starting to say yes, Yue thought about what she knew of Emily, then shook her head. "If you have the potential, I can talk you through it!"

Letting Yue go, Emily readied her riding staff. "Let's go!"

(-)

Just before the magic energy beams from the two remaining God-Soldiers began playing across the valley-side entrance to the ground port, Beatrice turned and ran deeper into the ruins to Collet's hiding place. Jumping through a crumbled window, she sat down heavily next to her unarmored classmate. Collet started to say something, but a call over the Valkyrie armor's communication link caused her to raise a hand to quiet the Beagle girl.

"...trice! Are you alright?"

Relived that Emily still seemed okay, Beatrice nodded. "Yes, Miss Sevensheep. Though I think we might be in trouble. Why has the ship stopped firing?" In the background, Beatrice thought she could hear Yue Ayase's voice.

"There's been a bit of trouble. Is there any way you can distract the two God-Soldiers still in the valley? Even for a minute or two?"

Looking over at Collet, the first thing that came to mind for Beatrice was something potentially not conducive to long life... "Um... maybe, but it's quite dangerous..."

"Beatrice... Don't do it if it's too risk..."

Glancing at the indicator in her helmet, Beatrice confirmed that the communication system had been switched off, then turned to Collet. "We're going to use your idea."

Suddenly wide-eye, Collet could only stare at Beatrice. "Tha... that's crazy!"

Standing, Beatrice took hold of Collet's shoulder. "There's a problem on the ship! Your idea is the only thing that could slow those God-Soldiers in the valley down long enough to let them fix it!"

Fantasy was one thing, but actually doing something like that? Collet started to shake her head, then winced as Beatrice gave her shoulder a hard squeeze.

Having succeeded in focusing Collet's attention, Beatrice leaned down right into the Beagle-girl's face. "Listen! If we're going to do it, we have to go NOW! Those God Soldiers just fired, so they're recharging! If we hurry, they won't be able to do anything to us!"

Wanting to be a Valkyrie Knight had always been a bit of a game to Collet. In reality, she wasn't even sure how she'd managed to qualify for the initial training cadre... now though, she was beginning to realize being a mage knight was decidedly NOT a game... "O... OKAY! Le... let's go!"

With a smile, Beatrice lead the way outside the house, then pulled the grapnel line out of her tool belt and handed the hook to Collet. "All you need to do is set the hook and run as fast as you can back to the ship, I'll do the rest."

Trying desperately not to panic, Collet nodded.

Turning, Beatrice readied her riding staff. "I'll ride right on your tail, then split off just before we get there."

Hoping the Thousand Master's staff would carry her to safety, just as it had Nagi Springfield so many times before, Collet gave Beatrice a nod saying she was ready. "Ju... just like threading the Sheep's Gate in the city wall back home!"

(-)

Standing up in the open spotter's hatch of Estimated Prophet's gunfire director, Stevens saw Beatrice and Collet take off and race over the rim of the valley. ("Where are those two going?")

(-)

Leaning as far forward over her riding staff as she could, Collet raced across the valley floor with Beatrice right behind. Closing faster than she wanted to on their target, the only thing keeping her from just running away was a knee. All she could see of the God-Soldier was its knee. If she thought about anything else, like the Beam weapon that could level buildings, or the hands that could crush a giant Tokage without effort, she'd collapse into a babbling mess. Looming closer, the knee that needed a hook was suddenly before Collet. At a signal from Beatrice, she carried the hook to the left, while the armored girl went to the right. When the line settled against their target, she cut back to the right, passed behind the God-Soldier's legs, and let go.

Staying in a tight circle as Collet ran away, Beatrice felt the grapnel line start playing out even faster as her momentum dragged it across the soft material covering the God-Soldier's joints. There was a strong jolt as the hook finally snagged, then as second as the line reached its end, and the spool holding it snapped free from her belt. Dodging a hand as big as the doors to the main lecture hall in Ariadne, she turned her riding staff back towards the ground port and poured on the speed.

Behind Beatrice, the God-Soldier was already off balance from the attempt to grab her. Even though the mono-filament line stretched and finally snapped, it was unable to bring a leg forward fast enough to prevent a fall.

Far from any kind of cover, Beatrice heard her threat alarm begin to sound again. Unexpectedly, Collet came in from below, colliding with her and sending them both skyward just as the second God-Soldier fired its energy weapon.

Spiraling upwards from the momentum of Collet's sacrifice play, Beatrice had alternating views of the attack scorching a wide area below and the apparently unconscious Beagle-girl, one hand still locked around her odd riding staff. Finally, the Valkyrie armor's safety systems stabilized the spin, Collet reached the end of her upward momentum, and the two of them started down.

Reaching out, Beatrice pulled Collet and the staff into her lap. Out of position to go back to the Prophet, she dove for the questionable refuge of the ruins scattered across the valley floor.

(-)

From the open hatch, Stevens dropped back down to his normal position inside Prophet's gunfire director. "Tell the CIC one of the God-Soldiers is down and the girls are safe for now!" As the information was sent on its way, Stevens put his eyes to the directors telescopic sight and made several adjustments, then stabbed down on the data relay button. "Transmitting estimated range information to the fallen target!"

On top of Prophet's bridge, Yue covered her ears and cringed as the ship's secondary battery opened up a rapid fire across the ruins of the ground port.

Protected from the noise by her armor, Emily kept her eyes closed and carefully reached out for the dormant spells the Artifact wielding girl said should be waiting in Prophet's main battery. Having to use new magic without practice was a bit disconcerting, but at least she wasn't some incompetent who needed crib-notes just to cast a spell! "Miss Ma'ii. I'm ready."

"Are you sure about doing this Miss Sevensheep? You and Miss Ayase can still get away if you want to..."

Gripping the rails of the small platform she stood on, Emily shook her head. "Captain Adenaur said this situation is the same as twenty years ago. I know from studying the history of the Thousand Master how bad that was... It wouldn't do any good to run."

"... Very well, Miss Sevensheep. You just worry about the God-Soldier in the Valley, and the Svanhvit. We'll handle the one on the valley wall from here."

Out in the valley, there was an explosion, and the secondary battery ceased firing. Standing back up, Yue walked out to stand next to Emily. "Miss Sevensheep... I apologize for deceiving you before."

Responding to the commands from the gunfire director and the CIC, Estimated Prophet's guns trained towards their new targets.

Glancing down at Yue through the raised visor of her helm, Emily tried to keep a neutral expression, to display only the calm demeanor normally expected of a Valkyrie Mage Knight. Inside though, her heart was racing so fast she thought it was about to burst. Working through the basic exercises taught to potential Valkyries to help them remain calm in times of stress, she finally brought her nervousness under control. After one last slow, deep breath, she released the platform's railing, then gave the girl beside her an unconcerned look. "Well, if you're really worried about that, we can talk about it later."

(-)

(Megalo-Mesembria.)

With his face muscles twitching from anticipation, Admiral Villeneuve turned to Svanhvit's Captain and pointed sharply at the Tactical Holo. "Push the last two God-Soldier's and the fleet forward! Those guided anti-spirit Spell-Shots take a lot out of a mage, and the only one on the ship strong enough to power them is Captain Adenaur!"

Seeing the Admiral's nervous tic, Svanhvit's Captain's doubts about what was going on were only increasing. However, without any evidence to the contrary, he had no choice but to continue to follow his orders. "Yes Sir!"

Responding to their instructions, the last two God-Soldiers quickly had their target in sight. Both began charging their energy weapons, but as the one still on the valley rim fired down into Ostia Fjord, the other near the old ground port was hit by anti-spirit spell shots. Highlighted by a heavier flash than that produced by every previous use of that attack, the God-Soldier all but disintegrated. On the valley rim, the second God-Soldier was suddenly engulfed by the bursts of so many tiny spell-shots it was forced back a step. Responding to its controllers, it began charging its energy weapon once more.

Just as the beam was ready to fire, a trio of anti-spirit Spell-Shots removed the God-Soldiers head from its shoulders. As the body fell onto its back, a defense officer turned from her console as six more of the same Spell-Shots appeared on the Tactical-Holo. "Incoming attack!"

As strong as the Prophet's Anti-Spirit attack was, Svanhvit's Captain knew what would counter it. "Deflexio defenses, double front!"

Just as the Spell-Shots hit, another officer turned in his seat. "Argonauta coming out of a Dive! Dead astern!"

Without being told to do so, the crewman in charge of the Tactical Holo changed the image to a stern view. Squarely in the center of the screen, the Ariadnean Whaleship Argonauta, bridge and forward hull heavily damaged, was coming into view as if emerging from the depths of the sea...

With Admiral Villeneuve suddenly seeming lost and just staring blankly at the image, Svanhvit's captain turned to the ship's weapons officer. "Fire the aft Sagita batteries!"

While bracing himself against the shaking caused by Estimated Prophet's attack, the officer shook his head. "The aft batteries were damaged in the first attack!"

Caught in an untenable position, his ship's defenses concentrated in the wrong direction, Svanhvit's Captain sprang for the general call button on his command chair. "ALL HANDS! Brace for impact! Stand-by for emergency landing!"

...

(Ariadne.)

"Emergence from Dive complete! Energy transfer to Sagita projectors complete!"

Her one good eye focused on the enemy, Lieutenant Hild nodded and pushed forward on Argonauta's control wheel. "Sagita projectors FIRE! Valkyrie Brigade stand-by to launch!"

Argonauta nosed down to unmask its midships and aft Sagita projectors, then Jay Fon Katz mashed down on a control sending the Magical energy charges on their way. All along the ship from the damaged bridge aft, motes of light sprang forth, arced forward, and converged on the Svanhvit.

With nothing there to stop them, Argonauta's Sagita charges produced a ripple of explosions which tore into the bigger ships hull. Structurally weakened because of all the damage it had received, Svanhvit's tail began drooping towards the ground, then finally tore away in a shower of sparks and debris.

Ignoring the dying ship, Hild turned her attention towards the remaining God-Soldier carriers. "Fleet neutralization procedures! Valkyrie Brigade launch!"

Paralyzed by the loss of the flagship, the bridge crew on one of the other Megalo-Mesembrian ships received a second shock when an Ariadnean Valkyrie Mage Knight landed heavily outside one of their viewports. The Valkyrie, one arm bound tightly across her chest with a sling, quickly switched out her riding staff for a weapon lance. Seconds later, the lance melted its way through the window using an armor cracking spell, leaving everyone on the bridge exposed to whatever attack the Mage Knight might choose to use.

"Megalo-Mesembrian vessel! Stand down and surrender at once! This is your ONLY warning!"

Not really understanding why they were fighting in the first place, the Whaleship's Captain gave the order and raised his hands.

(-)

(Hellas Empire.)

On the bridge of the Hellas Fleet flagship Sphyrna, Duke Sidonia pounded his fist on the armrest of his command chair before pointing at the Tactical Holo Display. Focused on the far end of New Ostia from the city itself, the holo showed the Guardian Dragon curled up on the ground, obviously ignoring the instructions being sent to him by his handlers. "What's going on? If those usurpers from Ariadne manage to wreck the Megalo-Mesembrian fleet, I'm sure they'll come after us next! Why isn't Valbazard ready to fight yet?"

Turning from his console, the officer responsible for relaying instructions from the bridge to the Dragon Control Center deeper in the ship shook his head. "They don't know sir! It might have something to do with a small black dragon that seemed to have been speaking to Valbazard earlier, but he's refusing to even answer their questions about that!"

Nearby, the officer in charge of communication faced the Duke. "Sir. Someone claiming to be Third Princess Theodora is calling and ordering you to stand down the fleet at once!"

For a brief moment, Duke Sidonia wore a shocked look on his face. ("Wha...? Why didn't those Mercenaries Enteofushia hired take care of her?") Composing himself, Sidonia stood up. "Ignore that call! Ariadne is launching a coup. I'm sure they've captured the Princess by now!"

On the far side of New Ostia, out over the valley surrounding the Old City, Megalo-Mesembria's Svanhvit suddenly blossomed with hits and started going down.

Turning to the officer controlling the Tactical Holo, Duke Sidonia pointed out the bridge window. "What happened?"

Hands flying across the controls for the display, the officer quickly switched from Valbazard to a more general image of New Ostia and the surrounding area. "Si... Sir! Artillery-Class Spell-shots from near the ground port of Old Ostia, and Heavy Sagita... Heavy Sagita from Ariadne's Argonauta!"

Hints of worry tingeing his voice, Duke Sidonia stared at the officer controlling the holo. "I thought that ship was destroyed..."

Realizing too late what a faint shadow on the display he couldn't lock in had been, the officer shook his head. "I understand Sir, but weapon signature characteristics are consistent with those recorded for Argonauta!" Noticing a new threat, the officer adjusted the holo display again. "Heavy offensive magic detected near the arena!"

Zooming in on the location of the threat, the Holo showed a decidedly angry looking Theodora Hellas standing on top of the main arena's press box. Slightly to her right stood a bespectacled man in a business casual suit smoking something, and to her left, holding an immense blade across his shoulders, was Jacobus 'Shipkiller' Rakan. Bane of the Hellas Empire fleet. Seeing Theodora's look, Duke Sidonia had the feeling she was staring right at him. "Fi... FIRE! Kill that man before he hits the ship with a Warship Breaker!"

Seeing a signal tag attached to Third Princess Theodora's image, the weapons officer shook his head. "No sir! That's definitely Princess Theodora! Even if she wasn't there, firing at Rakan would endanger too many petrified civilians in the arena!"

When the officer stood in obvious defiance of his order, Duke Sidonia panicked. Running over, he knocked the officer aside and began working the weapons controls himself.

(-)

Watching the Spirit Cannon start to charge on the Sphyrna, Rakan gave a sigh. "Well, you tried to give them a chance Theo. I won't say I told you so..."

Glaring at an annoying friend who reveled in every chance he could take to tease her, Theodora pointed back towards the Sphyrna. "Jack. Why don't you do what 'Shipkiller' does best, before that idiot causes any more trouble than he already has!"

Grinning like a madman, Rakan stepped forward. "Just wanted to make sure you were giving me your permission! I'll send you a bill next week!"

Blushing, Theodora simply snapped her finger towards the Sphyrna again, silently urging Rakan to hurry.

Taking a deep breath, Rakan closed his eyes.

"O Iros Meta, Chilion, Prosopon!"

After slowly releasing the breath, Rakan's eyes snapped open once more.

"Finishing Move... ZANKANKEN!"

(-)

After slugging the weapons officer and using a held Sagita spell to hold off several others, Duke Sidonia turned to stab a finger down on the firing switch for Sphyrna's Spirit Cannon...

(-)

Like a chef gutting a fish, Rakan's warship breaker sliced into Sphyrna's belly before bursting out through its spine. Nearly cut in half, deprived of everything it needed except the power for a barely controllable landing, the ship immediately began sinking towards the ground below New Ostia.

A satisfied look on her face, Theodora switched her Telepathia crystal to a wide band. "This is Third Princess Theodora Hellas! I order all units of the Hellas Empire Fleet to stand down at once! Anyone who fails to comply will be taken down without hesitation!" As the Sagita ports on all the Hellas ships began closing, Theo spotted the markings of a cruiser-sized ship she was familiar with. "Pampanito! Captain Summers, if you would please. Come pick me up."

Without hesitation, the Whaleship Pampanito began moving carefully towards the stadium in response to Theo's orders.

tsuzuku.

(-)

Author's Notes:

"Fire Kills." -Marshal Henri-Philippe Pétain. From: "The Road to Verdun." (Verdun was a battle in World War One between France and Germany, where both sides suffered tens of thousands of casualties.) Basically Pétain meant that concentrated weapons-fire against an enemy WILL produce casualties.

Argonauta's control wheel: For some reason, I can't help thinking that Whaleships are maneuvered with old-style wooden wheels, like those used by sailing ships.

Sound-powered phone: "A sound-powered telephone is a communication device that allows users to talk to each other with the use of a handset, similar to a conventional telephone, but without the use of external power." (From Wikipedia.)

See various old WW II documentaries and war movies about sea battles for examples of its use. In this case, it is a catalystic approach to communication for people on Estimated Prophet who can't use telepathia spells.

'Todes-Tanz': (German.) The 'Dance of Death' when bullets, or in this case, Sagita, strike a body.

FN P90: The weapon Mana used during Mahora Fest and her fight with Kaede Nagase.

Valbazard: (Flamelord.) Boss of Filia Ul Copt, Guardian Dragon of Zephillia.

"O Iros Meta, Chilion, Prosopon! Finishing Move... ZANKANKEN!" Jack Rakan's Warship Breaker spell.

(DR version:) "The Hero with a thousand faces! Warship Slicing Sword!"

For reference: Pictures of Lieutenant Hild, (long, dark colored hair,) can be found in c220, p10, and in c224, p17.

I finally posted a link to a picture of what the Estimated Prophet (USS Salem,) looks like on my Profile page.

Estimated Prophet's semi-automatic 8" guns: For anyone interested in how an eight-inch gun can be reloaded and fired every six-seconds, see the link on my profile page.

Chapter Forty-four: Calm in New Ostia.