[ Claudia / October 1, 0078 11:17 ]
The StarS team was lined up in the transporter room, ready for deployment. Fate walked in front of the line one last time, looking at their faces. For the first time in three years she led others into battle—she tried not to worry, telling herself how well-trained these kids were.
"You all know our mission, so let's do our best," Fate smiled. "Let's go over our roles one last time."
"Aye, Ma'am!" five young voices confirmed in a chorus.
"StarS 02," Ginga was calm and focused. "Front assault and secondary command of the squad."
"StarS 03," Fate knew that Subaru was a little nervous but the girl did nothing to show it. "Front assault."
"StarS 04," Erio smiled back at her. "Flank defense and air superiority."
"StarS 05," Teana almost missed her mark before hastily reporting: "Long range bombardment and on-site coordination."
"StarS 06," Caro threw a curious glance at Teana. Friedrich was flapping his tiny wings next to her. "General support and secondary long range capability."
"StarS 01," Fate finished. "Primary command, front assault, and air superiority. Alright, everyone, get ready for transport. Teana, a moment, if you please."
As the others left, Fate turned to Teana.
"You seemed distracted during the briefing."
"It's… a personal issue, Fate-san," Teana avoided her gaze. "It will not affect my combat performance."
"I hope you are right," Fate sighed. "Because we don't have time to deal with it anymore."
"Yes, Ma'am."
The transporter took the six of them straight into the sick of things. Forward StarS found themselves on a provisional transporter pad in the middle of a small square surrounded by three story-high empty buildings. The street leading north was barricaded off, and far beyond it, Fate could see the majestic towers of the Grand Cathedral and the bulk of the Saint's Cradle floating ominously in the sky. Men and women in brown uniforms were scuffling along the street. Fate spotted a grey-haired man with a Major's cord ordering troops into a building, and hurried towards him.
"Commander Harlaown of the Dimension Navy," she saluted the man. "What's the situation here, Major?"
"Hello, Fate," the man turned around and smiled, and she recognized Subaru and Ginga's father. "The situation is stable but we haven't really traded blows yet. We've established a perimeter, and the Gadgets are digging in across the no man's land. I think they have the same orders as us: we don't let them out, they don't let us in."
"Well, we'll see how good they are at it," Subaru grinned. Fate didn't notice when she came up.
"Be careful, Subaru," Genya asked very seriously.
"Yes, Dad," Subaru looked down. "You too."
"Where can we get across to the no man's land, Major?" Fate inquired.
"There's a diner just one block to the east that has two exits. We had it fortified but not closed off, so you can use it to approach undetected."
"Alright. We'll be off, then."
"Good luck and godspeed, Commander."
"Thank you, Major."
They found the diner just as Genya described. Another familiar face greeted them inside—a tiny silver-haired girl with a patch across her eye. Without a word, Cinque guided them to the back exit and saluted them off as they entered the deserted street beyond.
The air outside was tense enough to cut it with a knife. On their left, the barricades towered ominously, and Fate could see strain on the faces of Ground Troops upon them. To their right, about a hundred meters along the street a literal metal swarm of Gadgets was crawling, their sickles glistening wickedly in the morning sun. Fate had never seen so many of them at once; she wasn't even aware that there were so many on the Cradle in the first place. The air was filled with the faint clicking of the Gadgets' feet upon the stone pavement of the street.
"StarS, assume formation," she ordered.
Subaru and Ginga glanced at each other shortly and nodded. The next moment, the air around them became electrified as their eyes turned furious gold. Caro whispered a spell and Friedrich's tiny form expanded into that of an adult dragon, taking off with a predatory cry. Erio leapt onto Friedrich's back so fast, she was pretty sure nobody else could track his movement. Teana uttered a spell, and a few dozen of floating orange orbs surrounded her. Caro extended her hand towards the orbs and whispered an enchantment, boosting them. Fate knew that each of these tiny orbs now packed the punch of a small magical cannon.
"Claudia, this is StarS 01: Forward StarS is engaging the Gadgets. Target is Grand Cathedral Plaza."
"StarS 01, this is Claudia, copy that. You're cleared to engage the enemy."
"Shari?"
"Good luck down there, Fate."
Fate could almost see Shari's smile. Gripping Bardiche tighter, she pointed him towards the Gadget swarm and ordered:
"Forward StarS, engage."