Climber, Tanya, and Yuriko have become a three-person army in the fight to cripple Yuri's income source, participating in convoy and mining plantation raids. Together, they were able to liberate hundreds of slaves, even as security of these mining plantations to the point of becoming mini-bases. It was all the same, they cripple the said base, and then they free the slaves and take the Slave Miner vehicles to be plundered and scrapped for parts. The rest of the base is then bombed into oblivion either a few Harbingers, Centuries, or a Proton Collider strike.
After returning to an outpost from another plantation raid when Climber was (lovingly) assaulted by a young Harpy whom seemed to of have taken quite a liking to him, and thus became rather clingy, following him everywhere.
His outcries was met with laughter from everyone else, but after the first few painstakingly long hours he finally gave up and stopped complaining. She didn't look that bad, after all.
The trip to Elbe was mostly a quiet one, yet also a slow one, as they basically had a small "army" of Multi-Gunner IFVs and Rocket Angels, all ready to take down a dragon. So far, it had taken them a full day just to get halfway to their destination:
Apart from Sovi flirting with everyone, not much happened. Itami was legitimately amazed about how they had Wi-Fi all the way out here. Myuu was asleep in Tuka's lap, her tails wrapped around the latter's waist. The elf in question had actually been quite eager to join them, as she wanted vengeance against a particular Flame Dragon.
"I'm boreeeeed." Rory whined, having decided that she had enough of Sovi's teasing, moving up to sit next to Itami.
"So am I, Rory." The lieutenant replied.
On one particularly important mission, a massive, heavily fortified base was marked as the last major source of resources and income for Yuri's forces.
As they flew towards the base, they were greeted with a strange sight.
Large blocky rectangular footprints were embedded in the ground, as the carnage of total devastation was evident. Something had been here. It had absolutely demolished the base, yet it had spared those whom surrendered.
Walls were filled with 30mm-sized holes, while bullet holes of the same size were found in various trees surrounding the base. Vortexes and Flying Saucers were found either shot up or embedded in the ground. One unfortunate Vortex looked as if something had grabbed it and crushed it. The pilot was found still holding the trigger on the joystick, which had come out of its socket.
Bits of unidentified metal were found, meaning that they had been able to damage the unknown monstrosity.
After giving it to researchers, they were able to find that it was simply a form of Nano-steel on magic steroids that created a harmless blue-lighter-than-air liquid substance when the atomic bonds were broken, which, speaking of which, seemed to be a strange metal that clung to microscopic multicolored crystals, whose molecular structures matched those of various glowing crystals they found during mining excavations, labeled as Falmarite 1-9, the numbers representing the nine colors, as each one gave off different electrical patterns.
The metal was labeled as Magnarium, for the way it clung to the Falmarite like Nickel to a magnet.
Unfortunately, they didn't have enough to implement this into their current vehicles. Not yet, at least.
There...was also another problem.
There were humanoids amongst the dead, armed with assault rifles and purple uniforms.
Social media was going to be pissed.
"Yuri, all our mining plantations have been destroyed."
"Most unfortunate." Yuri said, pausing the zombie movie he was watching. "But still, we should have enough. Besides, all the bases are equipped with local miners. Continue on with the plan."
"Yes sir."
"Okay, but how come we had to bring the child along?"
"Well...I...I don't know."
"Great. At least she's adorable."
"Myuuan~!" The young humanoid in question was busy eating a chocolate bar, an act which would melt the hearts of millions on Youtube.
"Anyone else find it weird that she looks like a kitsune, yet she purrs like a kitten?" One of the Peacekeepers in another transport was using some weird photoshop app to make a propaganda-poster-styled edit.
"It's best not to dwell on it. Besides, you wanna pet her too, eh Mike?"
"True. Hey, how's this look?"
"Damn. You could pass this off as real propaganda."
"Contacts! Twelve o' clock!"
"HuhwhatIwasn'tnapping-!"
"Six of them! They look like Dark Elves!"
At first, these contacts treated them with hostilities, until Yao managed to defuse the situation.
According to them, Flame Dragon was currently away, meaning that they could ambush it when returned to it's nest.
As the group precariously drove up the mountain, things started to figuratively go downhill. A sudden landslide cut off the extra IFVS, forcing them to continue without reinforcements.
Upon nearing the entrance into the mountain, Rory absolutely refused to enter the tunnel, because of how some deity named Hardy who really, REALLY wanted the Apostle as her wife (Sovia "reassured" her by whispering to her that she would always be the better option.) which lead to her having a fear of going underground.
So instead, they left her behind with a radio, as she would stay behind and warn them if the dragon came back.
They walked inside, the three remaining IFVs following close behind.
Inside, the team found about a dozen or so ancient swords of those whole failed to kill the beast sticking out of the ground beneath them.
"Jeez.." A peacekeeper muttered, holding a camcorder in his hand.
Overhead, a cloaked figure watched, and grinned, softly chanting as a green orb appeared in their hand, before smashing it, causing several smaller sized orbs to fly down into several swords.
One by one, several swords floated up into the air, as white armored phantoms of the fallen warriors grabbed their weapons.
"Don't you dare."
"-gasp- It's a trap!"
"GODDAMNIT MIKE YOU NERD!"
Pulling out their guns, beam swords, and other forms of weaponry, the group gathered in a circle, ready to fight back.
And thus, Itami and his team were ambushed!
[Meanwhile outside...]
Rory, using her superhuman abilities, was busy clearing away the rocks that blocked the IFV reinforcements when she hears strange sound, and turned around saw a large group of helicopters and Flying Saucers approaching. The Rocket Angels who stayed behind few off to intercept, only to be shot down by Vortexes.
Unfortunately, the remains of the landslide prevented the IFVs from doing anything, leaving Rory alone with a young girl (and a disguised Mirage Tank that couldn't aim high enough) whom couldn't possibly defend herself...
...Right?
"Сдавайтесь сейчас, апостол!" ("Surrender now, Apostle!")
Picking up her halberd, the 961-year old Gothic Lolita prepared to defend herself.
She didn't expect Myuu to suddenly tug on her dress.
"Myyn! Myyun!"
"...You wanna fight them, too?"
Furious nodding ensued.
"Emperor, I have plans for two new ships."
"Hm, quite interesting. I also have two of my own. What do you call them?"
"The Yamato-class battleships, Yamato and Musashi. Yours, Mr. President?"
"The USS Iowa, and the USS Guardian"
"I like the sound of that, my friend."
Authors notes
Aaaw, no dragon...but here we have a conveniently timed ambush! And it looks like Myuu isn't as innocent as we thought!
Next chapter is gonna focus on the TSU's fight against Yuri's forces.