Shirogane Takeru
December 2, 2001
Kamchatka Peninsula, Ц-04 Frontline Supply Base, Intact room
Everyone was here this time, and I meant everyone.
My team, Bridges and Sestina, Maj. Latrova and some of her men. Everyone that was important gathered in the moderately undamaged hanger and were all waiting for my big announcement. The escapees changed into their fortified suits earlier, I told them they'll need it during the briefing.
"Alright, people! As some of you may know, we got a change of orders. So that means our previous plan is scrapped and down the trash. Oh, what is the new order you ask? That's a great question and also what I'll be answering now." Nobody made a sound during my less than entertaining report.
"My squad plus Bridges' Element will be conducting a special direct action operation dubbed 'Operation Moon Smasher' by Yokohama Command. Its objective is the temporary suppression of the greater Yukon Base area and revival of asset Cryska Barchenowa, who from now on will be tagged as VIP."
The only ones making an expression of shock were some of Maj. Latrova's men, she herself was more than collected and not even remotely taken off guard by my absurd statement.
"If that is the case, why have you delayed our departure, Capt. Shirogane?"
"Hey, hey! I'll get to that, just listen, okay?"
"Very well then." Maj. Latrova was certainly cooperative, if nothing else.
"This operation is also on a need-to-know base, for most of the operatives present here, anyway. So I'll go straight to the mission plan constructed by our HQ." There were no calls of disagreement.
"First, TSF assignments. My Squadron comprises of six Type-94 Shiranuis, a Type-00 Takemikazuchi and a YF-23 Custom. Bridges' Element got a Su-47E Berkut and a Type-94 Second Phase 3."
"Now logically that is enough TSFs for everyone here, however as I understand it; Bridges and Sestina pilot the same machine, leaving the Berkut empty, which is also where the VIP is located."
"Ermm… I can pilot the Berkut by myself… I think." With a little stutter, Sestina said in a quiet voice.
"I prefer if you fly with Bridges though, it's for performance and also insurance." Even if we established the trust between us and them, a little backup plan could never hurt.
"With that said, I'll have Sumika fly the Su-47E." There was a mutual understanding of my plan from everyone, save for the requested pilot.
"Eeeeh? Meee?! But my Shiranui got—" When her sentence ended suddenly, some members including me shot her a puzzled stare.
"Errmm… wait, wait, wait!" Following her request, we waited for a good half a minute while Sumika appeared to have shut her eyes and was concentrating on something.
"Ah, okay! I'll fly the Berkut!" Until she finally came back and answered positively to my instruction.
"Also, I think the Su-47 is tagged as pzX1, capitalized X." Bridges randomly brought up an unimportant fact.
"Sure, sure. I'll call it that if I remember." He only shrugged his shoulders, meaning for me to move on.
"That means we have an extra TSF. We'll use it to carry fuel and scuttle it right before we cross into Alaska's coastal waters. So hopefully nobody will run outta juice during engagement, then you're dead meat." My jokes were either terrible or the guys just weren't in a funny mood.
"And that, is the reason we still need you, Major. I'm not gonna lie, we'll be salvaging useable parts from your Battalion's TSFs."
"What?! How dare you Japanese think you can just drop in our country and take our machines!?"
"Why don't you just go in and cut them up with those big swords you're so proud of!?"
If keeping them here overtime didn't piss of the Zhars, then taking their stuff surely did. Some of the Eishis behind Maj. Latrova jumped up in protest and were clearly picking a fight with me.
"You see, right. Unless you got a TSF to fight us back, don't think you got a choice." Whoever this short-haired girl was, her futile barks were amusing enough for me to fire back.
"Tasha, Tonya. Stop. My apology for my subordinates, Capt. Shirogane."
"Ahahaha… your kids say the cutest things. Maj. Latrova, I'll overlook them this time since you are actually very helpful. Prepare us ten thousand litres of fuel loaded into four resupply containers. Along with six fully loaded A-97 Assault Cannons."
"I'll see to it." A few seconds before Maj. Latrova's men could jump up and rip me apart, she pulled them away and out of our temporary conference room.
"We have been given mandate for use of lethal weaponry, but I don't think anyone here wants to see blood just before Christmas. Luckily, for them and us; my team brought along some electrical something something intercept bullets, they're just EMP rounds."
"Oh, yeah. We talked about those during training session back in the States." A validation of knowledge from Bridges was valued.
"What did you guys talk about?"
"That they're absolute scrap shit and can't even be used to clean ass." About right.
"Ten points for this guy. And you know what? That's what we'll be using from now on."
"Ahaha, guessed that one." He gave me a quick chuckle.
"Good shit, our current inventory consists of eighteen Type-87s, a custom 87 support and my four AMWS. Around thirty mags of EMP, another forty of 36mm, full 120mm and six PB-Blades plus my two CIWS-Blades."
"For our side; the 94 Second's got two swords, two guns and a knife; magazine at around sixty-five percent. The Berkut got four A-97s at eight-one percent ammo." Bridges reported his team's loadout next.
"Gotcha, you're running quad-mount too, right?" I referred to the ability a TSF had of carrying four weapons as opposed to the regular two on the Mount Pylons.
"Yeah, so I can carry two more."
"In that case, we'll give you the two 87s on Sumika's machine with six mags of EMP and four mags of 36mm, also five mags of 120mm just in case. And another knife, can't forget that." There was no disagreement to my management so I continued.
"For the Berkut, since it uses the chainsaws I don't have to hand over swords. Mikoto, we'll make you a strike as well. Give two of your 87 with EMP rounds to the Su-47 and you can have Sumika's swords."
"Alright, sounds good!" It always sounds good to Mikoto.
"If anyone's low on 36mm, just grab the Russian's guns. That's it for management. Guess we're leaving the Zhars with one knife, they should be grateful." Some uninspired giggles echoed around me.
"For the next stage, why don't we have a discussion with my HQ, huh?"
—
Since there was no point in listening to their reply anyway, I linked my earpiece audio to a functional microphone I found somewhere earlier. After a short wave of static noises, it was Yuuko-sensei's voice that reiterated in the room.
"—c'moon, Shiroogannne! Look around the room so I can see too!" While speechless, I did follow her instruction and showed the face of everyone present with my suit camera which was linked back to Japan.
"XO Kouzuki Yuuko, everybody. Genius scientist and one of the most powerful people in the UN, or soon to be anyway." I hid my ridicule too well this time, nobody noticed.
"Huhuhu, approved intro, Shirogane. Greetings, ladies and gentlemen, I'll be your CO for this mission. Although do listen to Capt. Shirogane if you're on the ground." How nice of sensei to remember me.
"What's first on your list, sensei?"
"Give me a closer look on the twin."
"Sure." So I turned my head.
"Ara, ara… so you're Sestina Inia… no, wait. I should say Inia Sestina, it's given name first over there. Hello, little girl."
"Errmm… ni-nice to meet you t-too." Still timid, Sestina used Bridges like a shield and hid behind him from the seemingly friendly sound of the loudspeaker.
"Hihihi… let's move on then. First, what's the callsign for your Element, 2nd Lt. Bridges?"
"We… don't currently have one." Bridges revealed, which only made sense as they weren't a part of any military at the time.
"Then Idar 1 would work. That should be easy to remember and familiar." Yuuko-sensei's sense of humour was bad just as I recalled.
"Alright." Bridges agreed, there wasn't a need to argue over such topics.
"Okay, everybody. Connect your retinal screen to Shirogane's, I'll display the mission map that way." The team did as told swiftly. I assisted Bridges and Sestina with their monitors before letting sensei take over again.
"So your team will fly towards this exact coordinates right here, by the port on Norton Bay once the operation begins." What Yuuko-sensei pinpointed was a shore right between the border of the United States and Soviet Russia in Alaska.
"Due to the treaty signed between the US and Russia during the Soviet's migration, neither nation can place any reconnaissance facilities that can detect further than fifty Kilometres across the other country's land and no lower than eighty metres. You all see where I'm going with this."
"If I may speak." Meiya raised her hand to post a question.
"Uh-huh." I allowed it.
"I understand the plan to be for us to fly just outside the detection radius of either side's surveillance until we reach Yukon Base." Why did she bothered to state the obvious?
"Full marks, Mitsurugi. The plan is for you guys to NOE Flight in for approximate six… seven hundred kilometres? I'm guessing here. Anyway, once you're in range of Yukon Base's radars it won't matter anymore." For once, we received a relatively reasonable plan from Yuuko-sensei.
"Hold on here, why don't we just jam their radar with the stealth features on the Phase 3?" I actually wondered the same thing as Bridges, but saying it out loud first might make me look stupid.
"Not a bad question, while your stealth is better, it's not as good as the military radar structures, it'll still pick you up before you get anywhere meaningful." And his idea was shot down, did get a praise from sensei though; and we all know how much those were worth.
"What about after that, Vice-Commander? An estimate of the hostiles on site?" Class rep spoke up next, hoping to know the number we'll be facing against.
"Err… I'm pulling up their roster data right now. I don't wanna say this but the terrorist attack a few months back really was a great help to us. Out of the five security Battalions stationed on base, only two remains active." How rare, for the fanatic group to be of help.
"The Soviet's 11th Security Force Unit Feniks and the US's 21st Security Force Unit Hakke. The Soviet team was hit pretty hard too during the attack but got resupplied soon after, you also took down some of those guys during your getaway, 2nd Lt. Bridges. Pat yourself on the back for that foresight."
"Haaa… of course, Vice-commander… person." A tired sigh from Bridges thanks to sensei's behaviour.
"They pilot MiG-29s, twenty-seven of them in total. The American Battalion arrived on base for safekeeping after the attack so those guys are at full power, watch out for that. They fly with eighteen F-16s and F-15s, your classic High-Low setup."
"Only two Battalions of 2nd Generations, shouldn't be that bad, right?" Class rep actually thought positive for once in a blue moon.
"Well, if it was only these guys. You also got the machines from Project PROMINENCE. Your buddies, 2nd Lt. Bridges. You want to try and list them?"
"I don't think I remember them all, and no, I do not want to." This guy sure was still salty.
"The data here says a total of ten Flights of TSFs, fortunately they're not all filled. Then I'll read down the text; Flight callsign, numbers and machine." Since this information will doubtlessly become important in the future, I pulled out a small PDA and was ready to take notes.
"First is the UN: Argos Test Flight, three active members, F-15 ACTV. Imperial Royal Guard attaché to XFJ; White-Fang, one active member, Type-00 Takemikazuchi." Meiya slightly avoided her gaze even though the news came through a speaker.
"Those are all the ones you know, actually. Rest should be cannon fodder. African Union; Duma Test Flight, four active members, Mirage 2000 Kai."
"Middle Eastern Coalition; Azriel Test Flight, four active members, F-14E."
"COSEAN, Garuda Test Flight, four active members, F-18E."
"Eastern European Socialist Alliance; Graf Test Flight, four active members, MiG-29OVT."
"European Union; Slechtvalk Test Flight, four active members, F-16. Garm Experimental Flight… what assholes, everyone else is Test Flight, just these guys… anyhow, four active members, F-5E Tornado ADV. Sleipnir Test Flight, four members, JAS-39."
"Australia; Hanersy Test Flight, four active members, F-18."
"That's all the units you'll have to deal with. All in all, a total of a hundred and nine TSFs, only five of them are Third-Gens, Type-00 and JAS-39. Yeah, you guys got this." Even from across the microphone, the cynicism in sensei's statement didn't fade in the slightest.
"Wait, do you expect us to take everyone one of them out?" Somebody; it was me. I asked the million dollar question.
"Well, no. But if you can do that—"
"—ciao, everybody currently in Russia. I am here to remind you of the possible addition of a US Test Flight and a Chinese one." When sensei suddenly got interrupted, it was an acquainted voice which took over the speaking.
"AAAAhh! Jesus Chirst! What the— how the fuck did you get aboard, Yoro—" Then just as abruptly, the sound from Yuuko-sensei's side got cut off altogether.
"What… was that?" My question went unanswered as each Eishi around me looked at the others in bewilderment.
"That was strange. What did the Vice-Commander say? Yor-something?" Uninformed to the situation, Tama encouraged the team to guess at the unfinished sentence.
"I haven't got a clue, what do you think, Yoroi?" Still oblivious, Class rep directed the question to the only person with a chance of remembering her own name.
"Ermm… Yoro…? Yoro…? Yolo? I don't know. It sounded so familiar though." Ignorance was truly a bliss for Mikoto, in so many ways.
"—err, HQ to Shirogane, you still there? Hello, hello?" And then she was back, like nothing had ever happened.
"Yes I am still here, we're all still here. The hell just happened with you?" Once we re-established communication with sensei again, she was ready to proceed with the overview.
"My source is restricted, don't overthink it. Albeit we did get an update from that. Add two more Flights to the mix, Shirogane. Unified Front of China; Bao-Feng Test Flight, four active members, Jian-10X."
"What? Yifei and her team are there too?! Why?!" The most straightforward reaction came from Bridges, he immediately forwarded a follow-up question.
"Don't be surprised yet, listen to this. The second Flight is reported to be from United States; 65th Combat Training Battalion—"
"…Infinities!" Bridges mumbled rest of sensei's sentence, it was loud enough for most of us to catch.
"Guess you know them too, four active members and F-22A EMDs. Thought you guys might want to know about this one." Yeah, because I just love running into a stealth bitch surprise.
"So why… are we getting more parties again?" That was also an essential problem pointed out by me.
"I'll ask my informant here, give me a minute—" Instead of cutting the connection, sensei chose to be more wise and only muted herself.
"You know the Flights, Top Gun?" I tried to dig out some more information, could be constructive.
"Did you— did you just call me top gun?"
"What's the problem?" The expression of disbelieve he had was one of a kind.
"Didn't think the Japanese knew that one."
"It was a pretty good movie."
"Wha? Movie? What you talking about?" Right, right. That was the old world.
"No, no, don't worry about that. So do you recognize those Flights or not?" I quickly corrected the topic as it strayed away.
"Well, kinda. Leader for the Bao-Feng is First Lieutenant Cui Yifei, the team is good at CQC, Jian-10 runs with Type 82 cannons and Type-77 halberd. Watch out for these guys, Captain, they're on par with my old team." Whether Bridges' old team was capable or not, I wasn't getting a panic attack over four Second-Gens.
"As for the Infinities, their leader is First Lieutenant Keith Blazer. Since it's F-22As we're dealing with here, you probably know what to expect." I giggled out loud for his way of detailing the news.
"Hahaha. Thanks for the info, it should pr—"
"—Shirogane, you can hear me?" The sudden rise of audio was limited to my earpiece alone as sensei cut in the conversation I had.
I waved my hand to the others, letting them know the confidential nature of this call before relocating elsewhere more suitable.
"—yeah, go for me."
"It seems our DIA friends don't intend on playing by the rulebooks either."
"So just like us then."
"Exactly like us, I really wish someday we can actually stab somebody in the back without them knowing." What a sad wish indeed.
"What they up to?"
"Well, Yoroi just told me about the sudden deployment of The USN's 6th Fleet to Kamchatka Peninsula, calculated time of arrival is 0600 hours. There're also movements from the PLA side of things, but he couldn't dig that deep." Only logical. Sure, Yoroi was a spy; not a super spy.
"Damn, think they're onto us?"
"Might be, although it'll be too late now. The Test Flight they planned at Yukon could be rearguard though, or a part of the mission as well, who knows."
"Huh, you think they leaked the intel to the Chinese?"
"No clue, all we can do right now is advance as planned. If everything goes well, we won't meet them."
"That better be the case, sensei. I don't want a war with the Americans, they're still pretty scary when serious." Uncle Sam was loaded with nukes, after all. Even I couldn't hope to survive a G-bomb up my ass.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's get back to the others."
"Wait, wait. Are you ever going to tell me why this is happening?" Being in the dark for this long gave me an irky feeling and I didn't appreciate any irk in my life.
"I will, I promise. But I just don't want to get your hopes up if we do fail, this mission is a giant gamble, like I told you. Make sure to pull out if things don't go well."
"I know that already. I'll bring back an alive Barchenowa for you to play with, make sure to leave some of the fun for me, okay?"
—
"—so in other words, we're bumping the total number of potential hostiles up to a hundred fifteen TSFs, nine Third-Gens. You guys still got this, believe!" Everyone showed plentiful of respect to sensei by not sighing so loud as to be heard.
"Moving onto the actual battle part of this operation. First, this transmission never took place and I don't know any one of you if the mission is a bust. With that said, the use of lethal force has been approved of by unknown command. I'll repeat again; you have full range to execute all authority."
"—roger that." Everyone all answered.
The additional right we received from Yuuko-sensei was not a matter that could be used to brighten our days, it would be more accurate to call it a trump card. An emergency backup in case we couldn't handle the impending carnage.
"Although, if your team is successful in achieving the objective without casualties, that will make my work a whole lotta easier." Apparently, sensei's agenda also involved not slaughtering everyone we run into.
"We'll do what we can." I honestly replied.
"Let's talk strategies then. Current time is 0123 hours. The estimated time left for Barchenowa is three hours and thirty-five minutes. So the maximum time extension for this operation ends at 0558 hours." The clock was not an ally of ours.
"Depending on your speed, reaching Yukon will take from a hundred minutes to two hours. I suggest your team to get ready and leave in eight." So we were left with even less time for combat, that wasn't good.
"You'll have to refuel twice over the Pacific, I already contacted our Air Base on the west coast to fly over two C-17s with an interval of forty-five minutes. Besides, you got that emergency Shiranui for fuel too."
"Works for me." Currently, I spoke for everyone present.
"Once you're on base, there's only one objective. Revive the asset and stay alive. The approximate time for reinforcements from the nearest base to reach Yukon after they put in a call is around fifteen minutes, make sure nobody ring 911."
"Got it." I assessed the room for a different opinion; none were found.
"The furthest distance you could be discovered by is around fifty Klicks. I truly got no idea how things will play out once you're within their range. They could send all one hundred fifteen TSFs to capture you; kill you, or simply let you stroll on in and leave with a fruit basket." That was about accurate to my perceptive of possible outcomes.
"Once you're on base ground, that's where the most intense fighting will take place. I'll leave the mission directive in your hands, Shirogane. Try to keep the fighting away from Lilifort, civilian casualties will probably make this mission a Bolo. Don't do that, alright? You should mostly only be fighting over the Soviet territories anyway."
"That's fine too. What's next?" Long briefings had always been a weakness of mine.
"To revive Barchenowa, you need to find the Esper program manager. I'm transmitting the guy's profile right now, you should know him, 2nd Lt. Bridges." A tiny notification icon expanded into a full set of ID in mine and everyone else' retina display.
"Oh, yeah, would you look at this. This stone-cold Russian master-planner dude." Confirmed, Bridges knew him.
"Fella's name is Jerzy Sandek. A Captain with the Soviets and Frist Lieutenant with the UN, make sure to read the thing, could prove to be useful. You either have to find him or some nameless scientist in the Russian base, so I think your opinions might just be limited."
"How do we get him to help us, sensei?"
"Use your persuasion skills, Shirogane. We both know you're good at that." In other words, I was on my own for this one.
"Doesn't matter how you do it, just get Barchenowa submerged in the Soviet's Esper tank-ky thingy they got and filter her system of the cancer cells. Their equipment should let you do that no problem."
"So, sensei. How exactly is that gonna help her?"
"Weeell, it's kinda complicated with how the Soviets run their doll— I mean personnel. What happens for the Barchenowa generation of espers is that a flaw in their genetic coding results in insufficient level of white blood cells and low blood sugar which leads to a possible case of Hypoglycem—" Fuck, no, fuck no!
"Okay! Okay we get it! Please don't go off on my ass, Jesus. Give me the TL;DR version please." A bit displeased with my lack of patience, Yuuko-sensei clicked her tongue.
"In conclusion, body degrades overtime without meds; body degrades past limit and put into stasis coma, heart stops, blood pressure lowers, temperature lowers. But because she's created human; doesn't die yet. Cancer cells start spreading in blood; spreads too much, she dies. Not dead yet mean cells haven't reached brain, haven't reached brain means there's still hope, okaaayyy!?" Easy and simple.
"Oh, alright then."
"So then body goes into washing machine; washing machine filters her bloodstream and the physical body is functional again. After that, you have to stab her with Kagami's meds which jump starts her heart by going through a super-duper magical magic power thingy, got it?" Absolutely baffled; I was.
"Seeenseeeei! That was supposed to be a secret though!" By the mention of her medication, Sumika yelled angrily with her cheeks puffed.
"Right, right, sorry. Make sure to inject the VIP and have the Soviet run adjustments on her body functions accordingly." Ignored; what the whiny supercomputer deserved.
"Professor, a question. What're you thinking of shooting Cryska with to… you know, bring her back?" Bridges, for prominent reasons was cautious of sensei's plan.
"Sorry, kid. Maybe if they mission is successful you'll know. All this is an experiment on the elemental level I'm running here, can't tell you anything yet." Bitterly unsatisfied, Bridges nonetheless had to back down.
"I'll leave all the organization to you, Shirogane. Sestina over there should know the specifics of her old home, can you remember it, girl?" That was addressed to our recently found esper.
"Emmm, y-yes!" Sestina answered, a little frightened, but did answer.
"At the same time as a team is bringing the VIP back. We got a pickup coming for her and our two captives once we reactive Barchenowa. A C-141 is already on its way, but will take three more hours to reach Yukon."
"Hold on here. Are you putting us on a transport aircraft as well, ma'am?" Yuuko-sensei's next request didn't sit well with Bridges.
"2nd Lt. Bridges, there're procedures that need to be followed for the mission itself to take place. I hope you can understand that."
"That's ridiculous! You just told us this'll be a covert operation, ma'am! Why bother putting me away when I could be of assistance?" He shouted his notion with an angry slam on the wall beside him.
"You're asking too much, Second Lieutenant. Be glad that we're not already locking you in the C-130 outside with a one-way trick to Fort Leavenworth. This is the United Nation's covert op, not yours." With no comeback to speak of, Bridges forced down his foul mood and accepted the demand.
"Moving on. Once you get her, cover for the transport's landing and load the three new guys on the C-141 so it can leave. When you're sure the plane is safely away, your team will put the remaining TSFs into slave-mode and exit the battlefield as well."
"I have also redirected the Pacific 5th Fleet to rendezvous with your team at Port Valdez in four hours, make sure to get rid of all pursuers before evac. And then you're done, get back to base and the drinks will be on Capt. Shirogane."
"Awwa, fuck yooou sensei." It may appeared to others like I flipped myself off, but in reality, it was for the camera to capture the view.
"Ahahaha… maybe later, Shirogane-kun, focus on the mission for now. Once you come home though… there could just be a bombshell waiting for you~" Nevermind the fact that she was on speakers, sensei just very openly sexually harassed me for laughs.
"Haa… I hate kids."
"Hehehe, we'll joke later. Shirogane, take care of the rest, I'll help any way possible."
"Aye, aye, ma'am. We heard everything." I surveyed the room and only saw approving looks from the others.
"People, a final word. From beyond here is point of no return, you have nothing else if you get caught. I won't know you; the general won't know you; nobody will remember you." In other words, failure equals death. What a great turn of events.
"And the lot of you is worth more than I can afford to lose, you're all very important people who can bring great benefit not only to me, but mankind. Achieve success for this mission and you all shall be greatly rewarded. Stand and fight, Archangel Squadron, if you want others to remember you by that callsign."
"Yes, ma'am!" There was something in the air just then; determination and bravery was their names.
"Last thing, an extension line on channel S-4 for Mitsurugi and I need Shirogane on a private line. HQ out."
—
"—so you want the… what's it called again?"
"—the Полное Затмение plan."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" When did everyone started saying Russian? Was there a class I wasn't aware of?
"Awww, I thought I pronounced it perfectly though. In English, it's call the Total Eclipse plan."
Recently, discussing confidential information with sensei has been such a pain in the ass. I must have unconsciously fell into the role of the straight-man, leaving her to be the joker and making my life just that much more tiring. Maybe acting stupid like I did the first time could speed up these unproductive talks.
"And that's the plan overseen by the Sandek dude?"
"Yeah, from what the CIA gathered here; it's damn interesting, which is saying very little." It was rare for sensei to be this intrigued by anything not Alternative IV related these days.
"Why you want it then? Is Alternative IV not good enough now?"
"You jealous, Shirogane? Unfortunately, with Alternative IV out of its development phrase, there's not much I have left to do here. And since we're swimming in that dooough~ these days, I'm expanding our area of expertise into other subjects." Money really could buy happiness.
"So you just want control then?"
"Pfff, if you say it that way, makes me sound like an evil villain." One hundred percent accurate on that portrayal.
"Yeah? Man, how come I never see that side of you?"
"Even though I showed so much of myself to you? Demanding boy, Shirogane." I slapped myself mentally for falling down that obvious trap.
"What do you know about this Sandek guy?" Back on track… must pull sensei back on track.
"He's a very… let's say, egocentric person. I dealt with him when I brought Yashiro from the leftover of Alternative III that the Soviet controlled. This plan is his main goal currently and his backing from Marxist-Leninist is lacking after the twins gave him the slip. Something that can be easily changed."
"Oh, oooh. So that's how you wanna play it then?" It was becoming abundantly clear what sensei's intention was.
"No, no, no. You see, right. It's not a sellout if I buy first. The people's property belongs to the people." Alright then, not too sure what she meant by that.
"Not the politics! Don't involve me in that! I literally was forced to suicide four times in the past for political reasons."
"Really? For what?" Derailed as always, we couldn't keep a conversation going on track these days.
"Apparently banging the Shogun is not allowed."
"And… you did that three more times?"
"I thought if she gives consent over national television the government won't charge me for rape."
"What did they charge you for then?"
"Treason. And a bit of indecent exposure."
"Well, try again, maybe this time they'll get you for damaging national property." If I didn't stop her, it wouldn't end.
"Anyway, what should I say to him on site?"
"Not much, really. Do tell him the Yokohama fox is very interested in cooperation for mutual benefit, also she'll be arriving shorty."
"Hum, okay… wait, wait, what?! You're going to Yukon?" I may have caught that detail a bit late.
"Oh yeah, listen outside. Can't you hear the plane engines?"
Mitsurugi Meiya
Field
"—yes, yes. It is me."
"What do you mean? Will you be presenting yourself on site personally?"
"I see, then you have my everlasting thanks, Tsukuyomi."
"Hopefully not, Aneue has bountiful of responsibility as is. I do not hope to bother her with my trivial matters."
"Indeed, 1st Lt. Takamura will also be attending. She will not be of issue, will she?"
"Eh? I see no immediate complications as we do have transportation, however, are you sure this is wise?"
"Understood, if she feels strongly about this subject, then I shall not be the one to object her."
"Very well, I shall carry out this agreement. Thank you, Tsukuyomi."
Shirogane Takeru
Hanger
"Errm… what do you w-want with me, Capt. Tak- Capt. Shirogane…?"
"C'mon now, I'm no pedophile. Being that scared of me kinda hurts, you know? Sestina-chan?"
In the damaged hanger of the Shiranui Phase 3, I was alone with Kasumi's twin after pulling her aside from the briefing. There was something I must chat about with this esper girl and it positively couldn't be put on hold.
"Th-then what do you want with me, Ca-Capt. Shirogane?" For totally understandable reasons, Sestina was afraid of me. She stood an uncomfortable distance away and shielded her as best as possible.
"Look here, I'll first admit that I am a bad guy. I don't really care about Bridges all that much and only told him all that stuff so he'll work with me. I think you already guessed that, therefore you're this scared of me." With a timorous nod, she confirmed my suspicion.
"You… lied to Yuuya, you were going to save Cryska no matter if he agreed or not!"
And that was true, Bridges' opinion was never of concern. If he, for god knows why disagreed, then his ass will just simply be shipped back and a minus two for our fight. We never intended to rescue the VIP for his sake.
"Hum… is there anything else? I truly want you to at least be able to communicate normally with me." Having Bridges as a translator for this Russian was just too much of a pain in the ass, I wasn't fond of waiting for someone to spilt out their words.
"But-but you… are so different from anybody else…!"
"Then I'll apologize for that. Still, you need to tell me where I'm different so I can change." My reassurance was fairly effective on Sestina, she started to think long and deep about the flaw she saw.
"It's… it's because… I can't see any colour on you, Capt. Takeru. That's really scary!" Finally declaring the root of her insecurity, Sestina shouted at me for apparently being an Asian person?
"Err… colour…? Sorry but I don't really understand."
"—she means your personality, Takeru-san." Out of nowhere, a more calm, emotionless voice told me the hidden meaning of Sestina's words.
"Ah, Trista! You found me!" With a rapid change of attitude, the girl ran straight for Kasumi and gave her a big hug on contact.
"Agaaaa. And my name is not Trista, it's Kasumi." My bunny girl leaned back from the momentum but was competent enough to catch her twin with ease.
"So my personality is the problem, do I like… not have any?" While interrupting their sisterly love was not something I should be proud of, I did call dibs on Sestina for this conversation.
"I don't think Inia can sense it clearly, Takeru-san. Try changing yourself to something more… realistic."
"Humm, alright then." With my super ESP powers, I engrossed deeply within the layers of my mind and only assumed happy thoughts to satisfy the other Russian girl.
"Inia, take a look at him now. What do you see?" Kasumi pulled her sister out of their embrace and got her to pay attention to me again.
"Hrmm… it's quite a dull colour. Ah, I know! It's a counterfeit!" Damn this chick and her hyper sensitive reading.
"Then… how about this!?" I added a bit of spice such as the code 991 alarm and remembering Marimo-chan eating with another man. That was a fun time.
"Ahhh… what a beautiful colour this time! That's so amazing, Capt. Takeru! You can change your colour so easily!" Sure it was pretty, this girl was also messed up in the head.
Nevertheless, recalling my horrible memoires made Sestina happy enough to smile at me innocently like the pure child that she really was.
"You see, right. I am very lazy and don't like to show my true self often. Will you not be scared of me anymore?"
"Is that true? Then okay! We can be friends as well!" Now that I rid us of the one nuisance, Sestina spoke to me much more kindly than before.
"That's great. So we'll be deploying really soon, okay? Make sure to prepare yourself for the mission." There was an abrupt loss of topic after my initial problem got solved, hence why I told Sestina to check up on her machines.
"Ah, that's right. Trista! Let me introduce you to Misha! Priyezzhat (come)!"
"Horosho. And my name is not Trista, it's Kasumi." Ending on that dialogue, the two girls ran off to the Shiranui Second parked further back in the hanger.
Sestina Inia
"Inia, who is Martica?" Inia's glittering eyes and pouted cheeks lost their light as Trista asked an unwelcoming question. She softly placed Misha away in a safe corner before staring back at her twin.
"Do you… really want to know, Trista?"
"Yes, if she is also my family, I want to remember her." When Trista admitted to the bond Inia thought was long broken, she lost a bit of her strength trying to hold back the tears in her sockets.
"…Trista! Thank you… for remembering. I'll tell you everything, close your eyes and I can show you."
"And my name is not Trista, it's Kasumi."
Non-Chronological
A******* *******
October, ** 2001
It was over, Yuuya and Cryska were the victors in their fight. They didn't win by skills, however, that belonged to Inia and Martica's team. For her and the podded esper were leading by miles when it came to a TSF battle.
"Well, we should… we should get her out, right?" Within the crouched Su-47 Berkut, Yuuya asked a question any normal person under the same circumstances would ask.
"No! You— you can't do that… please don't, Yuuya." On instinct, Inia shouted from outside the cockpit.
"She wouldn't want anyone to see her like this, Yuuya. I'll take care of it, leave this to me." Without turning around, Cryska who was closest to the sealed container in the back told him.
"But… she helped us so much, it doesn't feel right to just kill her like this." And Yuuya was correct, if Martica didn't slap Inia out of her Prafka state during their fight against Yuuya and Cryska's Phase 3, the outcome would have been vastly different. In the end, what she valued more over her orders was her family.
"There's… nothing we can do now, I'll put her to sleep. You two should go, it'll only take a minute."
"Thank you… for everything, Martica. Thank you… so much." Uncertain to the proper words for a farewell, Inia instead let her emotions do all the talking.
"Thanks, things would have ended badly if it wasn't for you…" Yuuya too, he understood the pain far too well.
"Let's go, Inia. Cryska will do the rest on her own." Leading Inia by her tiny hands, Yuuya backed out of the cockpit and planned on heading down for the ground.
"—HAaaa—! So hazy… ha… hahh… it hurts…!" Unbelievably, one way or another, a somewhat familiar voice was transmitted through the speakers on the walls of the pilot seat.
"Wha—! Martica! Stop! You can't!" The first person to react was Cryska, followed by Inia and Yuuya soon after. The esper they thought was almost dead had a few more final breaths.
"Don't… talk…! Over me! Ha— haa… there's still… something left… Cryska. And we don't… have… any time left!" In a tone best described as haggard and dying, Martica spoke out fragmented sentences while inhaling painfully amongst each word.
"Cryska… your left, small cabinet— open it… now!" Darting her eyes to where her twin mentioned, Cryska reached into a tiny case and pulled out an even smaller pocket bag.
"This is…! Did you… take it before leaving?" Inia leaned in next to observe whatever object that caused such a shocked expression to be present on Cryska's face. After seeing it, Inia couldn't help but be just as surprised.
"I— don't need… meds anymore… Sandek... doesn't know." In recorded history, that was the first time any esper addressed 1st Lt. Sandek strictly by name only.
"Why…? It… won't matter too much." Obviously, even with additional injections, Cryska's days were still numbered if she doesn't return back to the tanker pods.
"No…! Live… a day longer… an hour longer… a minute longer…! Live… for me, Cryska."
"Martica…! I… I—" Cryska leaned down on the esper pod as she forced out the broken words. Her twin sister, her family was beneath that icy, metal plating. Martica was only a switch flip away, and yet she couldn't be any farther. If Cryska just looked a tiny bit higher on the cover, she could see her face, but she didn't dare do such a deed.
"Haha— arack— haaa-haaa-haa— don't be surprised… yet. This pod… is… unfittingly big… can you see?" Lifting her head, only now did Cryska realized the unnatural size of Martica's pod. It was much larger than necessary, the espers who went in were only limbless bodies, after all.
"Then does that mean—!"
"Don't… waste your dream— on me, Cryska. I'm already… dead." Her hope shut down instantly, Cryska again was struck by grief.
"I'm so sorry…"
"Don't be— I should apologize… all I can give you… is your insurance… and your coffin." Not only Cryska, Inia was also alarmed by the phrase Martica uttered next.
Could it be done? That was all Inia thought as Cryska froze speechlessly, unable to fully comprehend.
"You don't mean—!"
"Sorry… but it does fit… I tested… personally before surgery." The sole person hiding his perplexity was Yuuya; and who could blame him for not knowing the workings behind the Soviet esper programs, even Inia didn't know the full details.
"Why… are you giving me all this!?"
"There's… still hope… my dear sister… for you… I want to believe in miracles."
"But then you will have to be…! We have to unplug you!"
"So you should do it now… while I can still… curse your name, hehe— open the lid… Cryska… there's nothing to hide." That day, Cryska was introduced to the love from her sister, something she didn't think existed.
"I am… so sorry." Slowly, Cryska extended her quivering finger as she threw two switches on the side of the pod; one for draining the water, other for exposing the content.
Like a tragic accident, the morbid curiosity of humans cannot be withheld by willpower. Inia stared intensely at her disabled older sister, her eyes unblinking as her mind captured and printed every image, every angle of Martica's deformed body.
At the shoulders, her arms ended. Below the groin, there were no legs. Martica had no aspect; her face was dull without a hint of sensation. She was no longer alive; Inia could only reach that heartbreaking conclusion from what was witnessed. The voice speaking to them might as well be her will.
"Jesus… this… ain't right." Yuuya could only say so much without offending the others, thus he kept himself quiet.
"Cryska… there's no time. Kill me… and unplug the body." Her only request was virtually impossible for her twin to carry out. Virtually… impossible, but must be done.
"Thank you… for everything, Martica. Even you, have given me something I don't deserve." With tear-soaked cheeks, Cryska continued her weeping as she pulled back on the slide of her Makarov.
"Идио́т (idiot)… you're gonna shoot me…? In here…?" Confused, Cryska's glance jumped to Inia and Yuuya quickly before going back to her sister.
"Then what…?"
"The bullet… could damage the pod… use a knife… I even have one for you. Look under." Taken aback for the countless time, Cryska hesitated sorrowfully about the cruel method she must enact on her loved family.
"Don't waver now… my dear sister… kill this corpse… and live to see the future… your future." Resolute was Martica, the poor esper who was at her life's end only had one demand; to be sent off by that she treasured.
"But what future is ther—"
"You must… believe! Because a miracle… will come!" At that moment, Inia realized; Martica didn't have any prove, all she had was faith.
"Thank you… really. I… I love you, Martica." There was no time left for her to vacillate. Cryska's twin only had one wish, if she couldn't even be ended by her own blood, then for what reason had she lived this long anyway?
"Heheheh, so sentimental… Cryska… know that… I hate you too…" Recognizing it to be the last words she will ever speak, Martica shut her eyes and awaited the inevitable. Save for one forced facial difference, nothing else moved.
Martica shined Cryska a smile, it was the weakest smile she had ever seen; with the tips of her lip barely even bending upwards, calling this a twinkle was nothing but insults for happy people anywhere.
"I'll live… so please watch over me, sister." Still, that gesture made Cryska happier than anything else, it showed Martica's trust in her; because the podded esper believed, Cryska was strong to finish what she herself started.
Understanding herself and Martica's final will, Cryska drew the NR-40 kept under the pilot seat. Its blade was sharp, definitely sharp enough to do the job.
"Proschaite (Farewell)."
In one swift motion, the taking of another's life was far too easy. The knife held in both hands by Cryska was stabbed straight into Martica's chest, the edge skilfully missed all her ribs and only tore apart essential tissues needed to live.
In one swift motion, Martica's heart was pierced by the cold, deadly blade as its wielder cried out silently in dejection. One final drive using all her strength, Cryska propelled the knife all the way in until it hit the back of her ribcage. Ever so slightly, Martica's body jerked upwards, the pain of being killed was something anyone will ever only experience once; and it was her turn just then.
Having done it personally, Cryska carefully pulled the dagger from the fatal wound she administered a single second ago. Its tip was still wet with warm blood of her kin, a little gush of red followed after the weapon and spilled just a tiny amount out from the gash and over her breast.
She had done it, Martica was dead. She died agonizingly so Cryska could prolong her own life, For how long, nobody can say.
"I… am so sorry." Cryska repeated those words, over and over again.
—
"We should go, we already wasted too much time."
"But—"
"Let's go, Yuuya. This is Cryska's decision, please respect it." Tugging on Yuuya's suit, Inia gazed kindly at the American.
"…Are you sure you're okay with this?"
"There's not that many options, this is what she would've wanted." Cryska said coldly, trying her best to not transform her dried tears into wet ones.
The pod was cleaned out now; empty, devoid of any living being. Because its only occupation was recently killed and removed so she could be dumped in the wild like garbage.
The fact was that the trio had no time to dig a grave, they had no resources to hold a funereal. Consequently taking the most logical step there was, Cryska asked for her twin's body to be casually left to rot under the snow.
"We have to leave, Yuuya. I'll fly the Berkut, we have to leave Alaska or they'll catch up anytime." No allies, no reinforcements, the escapees were truly on their own for this one.
"Cryska… I promise to one day come back and properly give her a burial." All Yuuya was capable of doing was merely using words of reassurance, he had no power as of now; nothing to comfort Cryska with.
"That'll be nice… bury us together, please."
Shirogane Takeru
Chronological
Hanger wreckage
"Ossu, Kasumi, you back first?"
"Yes, Inia's… bear was mildly interesting." That was a good way to say it. Thanks to the tear marks under Kasumi's eyelids, I didn't need an IQ of over 9000 to guess what had took place.
Since Kasumi was the only one I sent out my greetings to, the single possibility was for Sestina to have stayed back in the 94 Second.
"Already then, everything is good to go?"
"Yes, Sumika-san just finished programing the Su-47." By programing, what she meant was probably just brute forcing her way through the system until it worked as Sumika intended.
"She installed the XM3?"
"Yes." It probably didn't take any effort for her to do that.
"Crap, I still need her meds though."
"Here you go." From a pocket which definitely wouldn't fit this injector, Kasumi pulled it out anyway.
"Well, let's go." There was no reason to remain here now, we both had TSFs to tend to.
"I'm sorry… for what Inia said, she doesn't know… what you went through."
"And she won't need to. I did say let's go, correct?"
"Yes."
Field
"Thank you for your assistance, Maj. Latrova."
"It's fine, Capt. Shirogane." The outside air blustered through my messy hair, causing it to flail randomly by the wind's will.
I was standing before Sumika's Shiranui together with the Russian Major. By this time, the surface fighter had its weapon system and melee halberds removed, on its Mount Pylon were four supply containers full of fuel.
"I know me saying this just sounds haughty but, thanks for the goods."
"We all have our duties, I do not blame you for defeating my Battalion. These materials should serve to pay you back for sparing the lives of my men." Maj. Latrova placed a much higher value on her subordinates than her orders, if we weren't so rush for time I might just find this respectable.
"Still, I do feel bad for just kinda robbing your Company."
"Don't mind it, we'll treat this as an official engagement with unknown faction. However that does mean your presence here will be reported." I didn't think we could get away without being told on; the only alternative was to kill everyone on site, which wasn't how I wished to operate.
"Yeah, go ahead, we're both soldiers."
"—Takeru, all preparations are finalized. 2nd Lt. Bridges and Sestina have gathered the Shiranui Second by us." My radio jumped to life for the purpose of transmitting Class rep's update.
"—Arc 1 copy, coming now." I gave her a sweet and short reply.
"Leaving, Captain?"
"Indeed, Major. It also seems like your men have just reached the limit to their patience as well." Following my line of sight, Maj. Latrova noticed many of the Zhar members staring hatefully toward me with a single girl coming closer by the steps.
"Capt. Ivanova, what is it?" The newcomer was acknowledged by her commander.
"Komandir, will the UN team be withdrawing now?" Without as much as a look my way, the young Soviet spoke to her Major alone.
"Yep, yep. We're leaving now. So that means you can finally relax and not have to be on guard for any movements." Maybe I was simply too tired, but my failed insult carried no sarcasm with it.
"I see." That was all the chestnut haired girl said to me for the rest of that year.
"Good luck on your mission, Capt. Shirogane."
"Hopping out."
—
"Everyone here?!" I shouted in a boisterous voice to collect my team's attention.
"Yes, sir." A quick headcount told me my Squadron was all prepared to launch, plus Bridges' Element of two were also good to go.
One final meet up before we all embarked on the upcoming tedious travel, I had the team surround me with their TSFs for the purpose of having everyone listen to my beautiful speech.
"First things first; Maverick, have this." Once Bridges was aware of my presence, I chucked him a flash drive from an impressive distance away.
"Who the hell you calling Maverick? And this is for?" Just as dramatically, he snatched it out of the air like a cool guy.
"We call it the XM3, it's a new OS. Try it out, pretty sweet stuff for your piloting." Since this will probably be his last time riding the Shiranui Second anyway, I gave him a nice farewell gift as sensei never forbade me from spreading some joy.
"Alright, I'll run through it with JIVES on our way over." He speedily accepted it and pocketed the device somewhere in his fortified suit.
"And also this, try not to use it." For the second item, it was a commonly seen 9mm pistol.
"Don't worry, my fingers are good." He acquired the gun with little effort and holstered the piece by his legs.
"Now I think about it, is there anything I really got to say? Like, does anyone have a question or something?" All I saw were looks of denial. Fortunately, my squad was all intelligent beings who understood our mission plan.
"Then let's not delay it any longer. Current time is 0129 hours, the VIP got just under three hours if there's still a chance." Which was true in the case that we seriously wanted to revive Barchenowa, and we did.
"One last thing; Kasumi, how do you say 'for Mother Russia' in Russian?"
"Captain, for real?" Bridges charmed me with a nice sense of humour.
"C'mon now, it just makes me laugh."
Nastassja Ivanova
What Nastassja was witnessing couldn't make her anymore furious, the Japanese insulting her home was too enraging to endure.
"You butchered it, Takeru-san. That was terrible."
"God… Russian is hard as fuck."
Nastassja bit her lower lips with all her might to conceal the burning fire of hate that would not douse out, no matter how she tried to calm her mind. In fact, it was until the taste of blood ran wildly in her mouth did Nastassja realize how much damaged she inflicted upon herself.
"Then a simple battle cry will be fine, give me something, Kasumi."
"Ura."
"…Nevermind, asking you was a mistake. You killed the mood."
"Good. Let's please go now, Cryska is waiting."
"Fine, fine. Embark and move out, bitches!"
"Haa… yes, sirrr~"
—
"Komandir… I have to ask… why did you let that man and his team push us around so willingly!?" Once the ten TSFs crossed over the night sky, Nastassja's emotional floodgate lastly broke down and her wrath had nowhere else to go other than on her loving commander.
"Tasha… when I faced the Scarlet Twins during the BETA attack, I honestly thought that I was going to die. However, luck… or maybe the will of some higher being decided against my demise and saved me with a miracle. I'm still not sure which it was to this day."
Despite Nastassja's more-than-harsh attitude, Commander Latrova still spoke with a soothing demeanor. Instead of an expression similar to her own, what Nastassja noticed was a faint smile over the commander's features.
"That, and plus the fact we used to face death on a daily basis, I believe myself to be experienced enough to say this to you; Tasha, you're still young, the years before you are far; you have sufficient chances to live your life."
"Komandir, what are you saying…?"
"Being alive is really something great, you have to treasure it well. It's because I value your guys' lives and my own that I decided to cooperate with that man. I told you many times, Tasha, I belong to everyone of the Zhar Battalion." The words dropped by her commander were easier to understand than Nastassja expected, it was on the most basic level, a modest confession.
"Commander Latrova… was that man, really that dangerous?" Her question went unanswered as Maj. Latrova pulled her in for a hug.
"I have never met anyone with eyes like his, those eyes did not belong to a human. It was too abnormal for someone his age. It was as if to him, the lives of others only had worth equal to sand." By Commander Latrova's hint, Nastassja was starting to perceive the same notion.
She recalled the two times when he spoke while staring her down, the anger within her make Nastassja blind to the light of that man's eyes. Now she remembered clearly, the way he looked down on her was not something she could ever forget.
"He… is really not… normal." Nastassja was just starting to feel it, an unstoppable sense of fear.
"I'm sure the Captain will eventually be marked in history, a name people will remember for ages to come. The death he has seen outweighs anything I have ever known, the hidden emptiness behind his mask is something that should not be uncovered." That was the wholehearted truth.
"If I were to describe him with a simple title... unscrupulous, he is an immoral saviour drained of honour and virtue."
Author's note
Wohoo, spring break yaay! Maybe I can actually get some work done during this time! But not really, since I'll be drowning in video games once more. Wooohoo!
From now on I'll be adding some short omake at the end of a short chapter, kinda like the radio drama you'll get in the Chronicle games. They could be canon or not, some could take place in an Extra-like world. If it doesn't break the plot I'm currently writing though I should treat it as canon, look forward to it is all I'm saying. Those parts won't be betaed by my man so more terrible English is unavoidable.
Not much else, thanks for reading and stuff.
BETA did from chad001.