H***** M******
August 6, 1999
Yokohama Hive, Operation Lucifer
"—UN Space Command to all units deployed around Hive 22, evacuate immediately. I repeat, evacuate immediately."
[WARNING, CODE 666. Immediate evacuation order] It flashed red, again and again above her screen. It was as blinding as it was irritating, but for the time-being, this was the least of her concern.
Why is he doing this? Can he not hear the alarms? Can he not see the notification? Why is Shinji not stopping his reckless actions? He has done enough, they will surely award him medals for his valour, he shouldn't keep going.
Come back to me, this is no place for you to die.
And still, she could only watch him go. The path he craved apart from the bodies of BETA shed red blood along its pavement, ruins of their home laid in waste beneath the feet of his battle-worn Type-94. Such beauty in his execution, such bravery in the heart of a man.
The lives he had saved must reached the hundreds by now, countless teams were relieved of their skirmish and exited the danger zone before the time limit expired. Still he boosted forward, earnestly hoping to rescue as many souls as he could grasp.
"Repeat, we have launched a new anti-Hive weapon of mass destruction, evacuate immediately. Any unit caught within the blast area will be subject to lethal gravitational disruption."
But time was not his ally, from high above the heaven one dot of death rained down. Its descent uninterrupted by the congregation of lasers in their attempt to delay the inevitable, this should mean an end to their battle, this was to bring humanity's first victory.
"—First Lieutenant! We have to assist Fireteam Dellingr! At this rate they'll be caught on the blast!" Her heartfelt plea met no answer for an untold amount of time.
"—negative, Valkyries 7. We have our orders as well, there's nothing we can do for them now. 2nd Lt. Hayase, is it? I'm sorry."
The sacrifice for the sake of triumph held no favourite. Death was the only promise equal to all men.
Please don't go, please don't leave me alone in this world. What about our promise? There's still so much I want to tell you; listen to our confessions and pick the partner you so desire. That is our destined future, at least let one of us enjoy happiness.
The prayer of a single girl was powerless in changing events already set in motion, her effort was like a pebble into the ocean, incapable of turning any tide.
"—Takayuki! I know you can hear me! Just come back! PLEASE! You've done enough for everyone!" Her final resolution was to simply beg him, but it was the last solution she could come up with for a reason.
"—I don't want there to be more…! In our city…! I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DIE!" Was that sentence earmarked only for her? She didn't even know that.
"STOP IT! You're just being stubborn! There're people waiting for you to come back!"
"Mitsuki… I know that, but I already chose this… so maybe one day you two can still return to your daily lives. There no need to worry about me."
"NO! TAKAYUKI! Don't say that! DON'T ACT LIKE THIS'S THE END!" Even if nothing was left, she still didn't want to believe.
"Tell Haruka that I'm sorry too… neither of you deserve this… and Mitsuki, I lo—"
Too quick, it all ended too quick. August 6, 1999, 0815 hours. The day her life ended with his.
"TAKAYUKI! NARUMI TAKAYUKI!"
—
"HAYASE! WHAT THE FUCK'S wrong with you! Move, MOVE!"
Hayase Mitsuki
December 25, 2001, Operation 21, 260 minutes in
Sadogashima Island, Sadogashima Hive
"—you dumb FUCK! You actual goddamn AUTISTIC RETARD! Why in the fuck were you just standing there!? Holy shit, WOMAN!" Her welcome back amongst the living was about as lively as one would expect.
"—agrrgga! Shut up, Shirogane! Just- just shut up! You fucking kicked me!"
"Because your fat-ass was about to be a Hayase-sandwich… FUCK, that doesn't work!" Somehow more infuriated by his own joke than Mitsuki's mistake, Shirogane pursued her fault no further.
To be completely fair, it was on her own error which led to Shirogane's frustration. Mitsuki was slow to react when the earthquake hit, similar to how she had been behaving since the start of Op 21. Watching the XG-70's awe-inspiring weapon was another trigger, bringing back memories she couldn't discard.
"Shirogane, listen… sorry about that, I wasn't paying attention." Admitting guilt wasn't a habit of Mitsuki's, but this was a time she must step up to show at minimum an apology.
"It's fine… your frame doing okay?"
"Yeah, yours?"
"I'm good."
It was a strong boot Shirogane's YF-23 delivered to her Shiranui's back, plenty forceful to thrust her out of a giant stone's fall. Still, if she was even a tiny bit more heedful, Mitsuki wouldn't have fell down the huge cavity in the first place.
"—alright, our data-link ate shit on the way down, all units receiving me, give me a callsign and system status." That was not a lie from Shirogane, Mitsuki could connect to nobody else other than herself.
"—Archangel 8 re-reporting in! My system is good, no malfunction!"
"—Archangel 5 present, combat status maintained, all system green."
"—this's Valkyries 5, I'm okay… I'm okay."
"—Valkyries 7 is here too! My machine is good! Nothing wrong with it!"
"Valkyries 2, other than your shoe mark on my ass my 94 ain't broken." Mitsuki shoved her update in there.
"—Valkyries 8, TSF's fine, don't worry about me."
Mitsuki took this time to survey around their formation herself, their liveliest moments were undeniably behind them. From what she could gather based purely on visual, there were seven TSFs including herself, while none had taken extreme damage from the drop, no frames were in pitch-perfect condition either.
"Okay! Good thing I'm not reading any BETA around us. So we got Meiya, Tama, Hayase, Akane… Tsukiji and Takahara, anyone I missed?" No reply.
"At least we're all alive, shit. Meiya, try to reach CP, although don't think that's gonna happen."
"Roger, —this is Archangel 5 of STF A-01, Command Post, please respond…" The girl went busy for quite a while.
"How far did we fall?" There was no instant answer to Shirogane's first inquiry.
"…Errm, without data-link I can't give an accurate count, but the bathometer says we're around five hundred metres below sea-level." Eventually the assumed truth came from Akane.
"So what? We're at about eight to nine Halls down? Predicted total level of Sado Hive is about twenty-five levels, there's some way to go… son of a bitch."
"On the bright side, we're already infiltrated one third of the Hive." Mitsuki tried her hand at lightening the mood, it was effective.
"Right, next, anyone saw Chizuru or Ayamine- that's Arc 4 and 7, the pair in Shiranui Seconds."
"Ahh… yes! I saw Chizuru-san and Kei-san continue falling down this shaft!" Tsukiji was the one to provide this time.
"Fuck me, this boulder here blocked off our path from going down… that's really bad, those two are isolated." Shirogane was keeping his cool as the situation brought no good news.
Mitsuki studied the long Hall again; according to her recollection, their provisional team of Eishis who didn't take-off in time sunk into the earth after it broke apart. A Shaft beneath them lengthened their dive until the rock in front of them cut off the path with another totally shutting down any chances at removing their obstacles.
"Arrga, they'll have to manage. Okay, okay. All units stand down for now while I try to get the Susanoo back online, call if you see anything on sensor. Cutting audio and visual for now, Tama, remote me."
"Roger!"
For unexplainable reasons, Mitsuki missed the existence of the XG-70 until Shirogane mentioned it. The blue-haired girl went in daze for about a dozen seconds, contemplating her serious lack of awareness as to how she could fail to notice such a behemoth.
Once she was done self-loathing, Mitsuki watched Shirogane hover his way up the top and disembarked there. Afterwards, his shadow disappeared somewhere within the Susanoo.
"-Wake up, you dumb bitch. Wake up!" That was up to the part where he shouted over their open comms a few minutes later.
"You doing fine, girl? …No, this time it isn't your bad. …Yeah, fucking earthquake just happened, Mother Nature is being a total shithead to us. …But still, there's a bunch of wires all over this place, you're like a literally The Major here. …No, from Public Security Section 9! You never seen it?"
The glances Mitsuki traded with the rest of Valkyries and Archangel were on the 'absolutely speechless' level of shock, because apparently Shirogane's standard for radio silence was different from a normal person's interpretation.
"Seriously though, it's all about cyberpunk and shit… aeee, it's pretty good, I'll watch it with you next time, we probably got it in this world as well. Anyway, Sumi— huh? My comms? But I alre— eeeeee… I forg—" Fortunately, Shirogane realized his mistake fairly early.
"So… errr, the 00 unit is sentient…?! Whaaaa-!?" A proper reaction from Akane indeed.
"Suzumiya, I will politely ask you to delay the discussion centred around this topic to a point where we are no longer submerged in danger. Please remember that what you may or may not have heard is definitely highly classified." Mitsurugi called out Akane, something Mitsuki didn't really thought she would do.
"Ah, right, sorry about that."
"As long as you understand."
"-But still, you're not that surprised, are you, Mitsurugi?" Adding a follow-up wasn't the best course of action, Mitsuki knew that, but she still was a curious girl.
"…For reasons unknown, I have predicted for such event to hold true. Let us speak no more, Takeru has returned."
"—you got that right, and good save, Meiya." Then there was Shirogane, flying back in his TSF.
"Whatever, so what's the next step, Captain?" Truth be told, Mitsuki was indifferent to who or what the 00 unit was.
"All units, Susanoo is restarting the Moorcock-Lechte engine, it'll be reactivated in two minutes time. Our objectives have not changed, we will attempt to disable the Sadogashima Hive Reactor and secure any G-Element in that order. Shutting down their Hive is priority and we'll organize with that goal in mind."
A soft humming sound eventually boomed to a steady rhythm of XG-70's gravity engine. The giant tech rose gradually from its crash-landing position, balancing itself out as the pair of magnetic launchers flexed on its mounts.
"Meiya, you got anybody on that line?"
"Negative."
"Fuck, then we really are stuck here without data-link. We're blind down here, can't help that." There was no way to connect to the outside world from where they were.
"Hayase, Meiya, you two'll be vanguard for us; stay in front of the Susanoo and kill shit. Akane and Tsukiji are still sweepers, behind the Vanguards but before Susanoo. Takahara, you can stay behind the XG with me, I'll lend you an extra rifle as Gun Interceptor. Finally, Tama'll have to solo Rush Guard, watch our backs."
"Roger!" A communal positive account to Archangel's Captain.
Even under the pressure of having no clue to the future, Shirogane was still able to place calm and reasonable orders. Although the lax and entertaining tone in his voice was gone, Mitsuki couldn't help but be a bit jealous of his tranquility.
Because she urgently sought for a piece of mind right about now. He just wouldn't leave her alone.
"Good, A-02 will fire its railgun at any high density groups of target, hopefully this'll be an easy ride. Let's move, bitches, it's adventure time."
Ayamine Kei
Non-chronological
Operation 21, 262 minutes in
Sadogashima Hive, underground
"—does anyone copy? This is STF A-01 Archangel Squadron, Archangel 4. Can anyone here me?"
"—just stop it, Sakaki… we're alone here."
"Yeah… shit! I can't believe this! The bathometer tells me we're a kilometre below sea level! We dropped straight to the bottom!" That was a very good call for Sakaki to be upset.
"…Bikini Bottom?" Her one-liner had never met a colder reception.
"Don't even start with me, Ayamine."
"Sorry, sorry. Let's get back on track… status record?" Kei suggested documenting every step of their misfortune to review for a plausible solution.
"Right, currently we're two hundred sixty-two minutes into the operation. Estimated to be twenty stratums down and three minutes since landfall. Our weapon systems have taken minor damage, you lost two mags and my left Blade Sheath is jammed, but everything else is good."
"No data-link, no X-Y coordinates, no map, no radio. Can't reach any comms either." Kei finished the short briefing.
"Great, we're blind, deaf and mute, also lost. What do you think we should do next?"
"This giant rock is blocking the way… can only go forward."
Shortly after hitting the lowest point, both girls were almost instantaneously crushed by a large piece of rubble. Said rubble was also in the right place to jam up the other path and their way down, leaving the two with only a single straight Hall to travel.
"Takeru and the XG also fell, right? Maybe they'll reach us if we wait?"
"Maybe… but, we fell further, you saw where they stopped?"
"Earlier than us."
"…No shit."
"Fuck you."
"Fuck you too." A solid exchange of intelligent information.
"I don't think we should stay here, BETA probably will reach us before they do. And it's not as if Takeru's team can detect us even if they're close. I have a plan, since we're down here; let's get something done."
"…What're you thinking?"
"We should map out as much of this area as we can, maybe find a path to the main Hall that leads directly to the Reactor. Then we'll rendezvous with the Susanoo once they arrive and transfer the information, making their lives easier. So basically we're scouting the location."
"Hold on… this's around the 20th level, you're saying we go down further and find the Reactor?" Kei didn't like the sound of that, not one bit.
"Well, it'll be the best if we do actually find it, but generally gathering information is a good plan. Perhaps returning to this place for them to find us quicker. What do you say?"
"…No, that's crazy." Sakaki jerked her head to meet Kei's stare, her initial disbelief mood was taking a disapproving attitude.
"So what? We just sit here and do nothing?"
"No, we go and try to find them right now. Why risk dying when the main group will be here anyway?" In her reflection, Kei saw no problems with her strategy.
"That's just running away!"
"…How is regrouping with the big gun running?"
"Because we already neck-deep in BETA territory! Not surveying this place is wasting a golden opportunity!" Kei sighed momentarily, the light in Sakaki's eyes announced her firm faith in her righteousness.
"That info… is no good to anyone if we don't deliver it."
"Yeah! That's why I said we'll meet with the XG afterwards! When did I say we're setting up shop?!"
"Okay… let me just ask the kind monsters nicely not to chew our faces off then… it's perfect." Why was she so ignorant to her implication? Kei couldn't understand.
"What are you…? Ayamine, are you scared of fighting the BETA or something?" Kei twitched slightly when Sakaki stated her guess in that way.
"Fighting… and dying… are different, you said we're neck-deep in BETA territory. The risk of hanging around here is too damn high."
"Why're you suddenly acting like a bit— Ayamine! Now isn't the time to be afraid! Are you that susceptible to fear!?"
"No…! I- I just don't want to die here! I told you!" Not a flash after the sentence left her mouth, Kei wished she didn't say it.
"You COWARD!"
"You DUMBASS!"
"Do you even know how much people are dying out there!? Our countrymen! Our friends are staking their lives for our victory! And yet you're cowering here because you're too scared to take the chance!? Have you no shame, Ayamine!" Challenged by Sakaki's defamation, Kei couldn't lay still and take it.
"SHUT UP! You don't know anything about me! You said you saw it too! …No! It's the same…! The two of us! Down HERE! In another goddamn Hall! It's all happening again! We're just gonna end up dead!" By Sakaki's dreadful expression, Kei knew her horrible experience weren't hers alone.
"AYAMINE! That's ENOUGH! I'm saying we scout this place and that's FINAL! I can't afford to deal with your mental spaz right now! People are depending on us! WE HAVE TO GET THIS DONE!"
"FUCK OFF! I don't have a suicide pact with you! I'm not dying here again! NOT WITH YOU! This debt I bear…! I OWE IT TO HIM TO LIVE! This's jus—"
What terminated her heated scream wasn't anything feeble for a distraction, it was a big one; but more importantly, a fatal one.
"Scanners are showing activities right below us…? That shouldn't be right… what is this!? Forty-thousand…!?"
"Shit! Sakaki! We'll bitch this out later but we gotta run now!" Unexplainable urgency overwhelmed Kei's sense of logic, although this time she was fully committed on abiding by it.
"But this's solid bedrock between us and the— Jesus! Are they DIGGING UP!? Alright- let's go, let's go!" Thankfully, Sakaki's priority wasn't so skewered as to waste time by continue arguing.
Revitalizing her asleep engine, Kei's 94 Second jumped to life as its twin boosters blazed the ground underneath her with a wave of compressed air. Her and Sakaki's TSFs were soon taking to the air within the Hive's Hall, soaring away from their natural land-zone.
The temptation to sneak a peek behind her was at an all-time high, but the actual need for her to look back as low, as the thundering footsteps of countless BETA were adequately loud to be perceived from her cockpit.
"Okay, Ayamine! The plan for now is to just fly! We'll try our best to avoid any groups of BETA we encounter. Whichever passage, up or down we run into first that's relatively clear we'll head for, that okay with you!?"
"Leaving it to luck then… fine. I'll fly."
Dashing towards their undetermined destination, Kei and Sakaki couldn't predict what fortune or misfortune would be there to greet them around the next corner.
M******* M****
Non-Chronological
2001
Sadogashima
"Urgggnnn…!" The pain, it was too much to handle; it was unbearable.
The abnormal loss of memory was a first for her, that on top of the constant torment her body tolerated was messing with her common-sense. What happened to her and her comrades? Where were they now? Why couldn't she move any part of her body?
So many questions and yet absolutely no answer, she barely recalled a degree of panic prior to this aching. It had something to do with her best friend… also she remembered a terrible… something happened, something that wasn't good. It wasn't good for anyone.
"—Mu… —! Pul- …ft! We gott- …ope-…!"
Tiredness, fatigue, drowsiness. She should rest here, that should ease the pain… it didn't sound too bad, in fact a break could be just what she needed to recover from the endless torture of the flesh.
A soft whimper, it probably was her voice. Definitely didn't sound like her, then again, what did she sound like originally anyway? Maybe she should talk to remind herself of her own voice.
"Aaah—" That didn't work, nothing came out. All she tasted was metal and the words didn't even leave her mouth; a bit salty, but mostly metallic.
The temperature was dropping a little in here, wherever she was. That didn't make sleeping too comfortable, but she'll somehow manage.
"SHIT! It's not bud—…! Lift from your side, —ama!"
This was a bit annoying though, why were people shouting outside her door? And just when things finally quieted down too, now the world was getting louder and louder again.
"It's- —od, -s good! …No! The cockpit's squashed! You can't rip it open, you could hurt her! Use a PB-knife to cut off the outside!" What a familiar voice, whoever was outside really didn't want her to have a good rest. It was a bit rude, seriously, disturbing a girl in her slumber was so uncalled for.
Then again, here wasn't the right place for Misae to nap.
"OKAY! Pull the metal sheet off there! It's open! Let me see!" So brightly lit suddenly everything became, Misae blinked twice sluggishly, taking a gulp of the natural air into her lungs.
"-Arrck! AGRRUga!" All it brought her was pain, the agony she thought already disappeared.
"Munakata, I'm coming! You oka-… oh god… KAZAMA! YOROI! She's hurt real bad! Get the first-aid now! We need patch her ASAP!" She could see clearly now, second to Touko, Isumi's lips were the closest to hers they had ever been.
"Munakata! No-no-no! Don't move, don't move! You'll be fine- just sit still! We gotcha, alright!?"
"Haa… overreacting… Captain…" Misae saw everything, the cruelty of the world never faded away as the excruciating suffering returned to plague her in full-force.
Kouzuki Yuuko
Non-chronological
Operation 21, 261 minutes in
Mogami-class Heavy Cruiser, UN-Imperial 3rd Fleet Flagship, Mogami
"Does your mother walk on a cane whenever she trips?"
"What!? Professor, what're you talking about?" In hindsight, Yuuko probably could've used a better metaphor.
"It means I'm fine, 1st Lt. Silvio. You don't need to hold me that tight."
"Oh, oh sorry, XO Kouzuki." Jerking away from Yuuko, the First Lieutenant might be hurt a bit more than she assumed.
"No… my bad, and thank you."
"It's not a problem, Professor." After a quick nod with one another, Yuuko was officially back in the game.
For an earthquake of all things to strike at this exact time was a wonder in and of itself, Yuuko seriously considered buying some lottery tickets right now for never before had her luck stacked this high.
Yuuko surveyed around the bridge, many of the sailors were either climbing off the steel floor of climbing back into their seats. Deliberating on the events, it was quite lucky the tsunami following the earthquake only shook up the ship instead of totally destroying the fleet.
"Piatif, Suzumiya, anyone! Give me situation report right now!"
"Owowowo…!" Guess it wouldn't be coming from Suzumiya.
"Ma'am, Whiskey front and Echo front are both falling back. The BETA forces are manning a heavy push against them, they're trying to establish a farther defence line. We also have reports of units being shot down by laser fire went attempting to gain attitude." Piatif deliver the news Yuuko demanded.
"Ah- in addition, BETA groups are surfacing from the cracks created by the earthquake! They're spread within and behind our units!" Valkyries' CP returned to post as well.
"Damn it… was this some part of their plan? If so, I've never seen a better timing. Son of a bitch, those assholes… Suzumiya, how's the STF? A-01, A-02, give me a status."
"Ma'am… we seem to be unable to contact both fireteams and A-02. Transmission in and out of the area appeared to be blocked by Metal Cloud." It was like a bad cherry on a rotten cake, just kept going downhill.
"Aggrrra, god- fuck- really?! Keep trying to raise them, let me know as soon as you get a connection."
"Yes, ma'am." There was Suzumiya's main job for the next few minutes.
"Admiral, how is the situation with our fleets, they're still organized?"
"To a certain extent, XO. A Destroyer from the 2nd Fleet has capsized due to the waves, rescue effort is currently underway. The rest of our fleet is combat effective."
"Okay, are the bombardments still happening?"
"Indeed." Yuuko wiped away a handful of sweat off her forehead for that one.
"That's good… that is good. Unless the BETA are sneaking up on us below the sea, we still have maritime dominance. Now onto damage control… Piatif, give me the XFJ Flight on Hiryu, I need them to do some work."
"Understood, forming communication link right away." 1st Lt. Takamura's profile was displayed on a monitor a few seconds later before Yuuko, she found it interesting the Imperial Guard had the foresight to already be dressing in her fortified suit.
"Professor Kouzuki, where are we needed?" There was no time to beat around the bush, for there was no bush at all.
"Takamura, take-off immediately and crowd control the BETA by Echo Unit. You'll be coming in from the west over their frontlines, the priority is to kill any stragglers that emerged from collapses within their supply line. Once you narrow down the fighting to only one side, then you're free to act as you please."
"Understood, ma'am. XFJ Defiance Flight prepping for launch, ETA five minutes. Please leave it to us, Professor."
"See to it." The channel was then emptied.
"Next, send out the Eclipse Unit on Hiryu as well, have them do the same thing as Defiance but for Whiskey Unit."
"But ma'am, without connection to the 00 unit, the Eclipse Unit will only be autopiloted by XM3." Piatif brought up a good debate.
"We have no time to waste at this, and I think she's done remote controlling them for this deployment. A shame too… never got too much data from it anyhow."
"…So- should I…?"
"Yeah, launch them."
"Understood, Eclipse Unit's ETA on site is seven minutes." Yuuko nodded in acknowledgement.
"Okay, Shirogane… supply and demand for a miracle is growing healthily here… c'mon and let me cash-in."
Maejima Masaki
Non-chronological
Operation 21, 261 minutes in
Whiskey Unit
"—GET DOWN, GET DOWN! Take cover on the terrain! We got Laser-class right behind that hill over there!"
It was total chaos in the blink of an eye. The already haunting sound of the BETA erupted from all around him, dragging countless comrades down into the darkness enveloped pit of this island. To survive, he and many of his teammates were forced into the air, that was yet another trap waiting for its prey.
In seconds, melted metal acted as hearses for its very dead passengers. Bursting into flames before again meeting the unmoving dirt. By sheer luck, Masaki persisted after the second round of their slaughter, but the game of death was far from over.
"—SHIT! My engines are hit! Somebody give me a hand here! I'm in the OPEN!"
"Maejima! Pull that dumbass back into cover! HURRY SON!"
"—r-roger, sir!" How long would this take? A dozen seconds? Half a minute? He couldn't be sure; facing danger to save the life of a friend should be an honour, although against such overwhelmingly powerful foes, a terrible fear was plaguing his hands.
"Wait, WAIT MAEJIMA! I think I see a— FUCK NO-NO-NO! LASER, LASE—" Explosions were everywhere, one of which took place directly in his face.
"SON OF A BITCH! Maejima! Get back here!" It was more of a single backtrack than a full retreat, Masaki didn't even make it outside of the cover.
"Captain! We're completely pinned down by laser fire over here! And there're more holes behind our line!"
"Don't think I can't read my map, son! I don't wanna know how the IRGs are living through this when we're face-planting in shit! And also where're those damn Russian machines at!? Now would be a good time for help!"
"CAPTAIN! I highly recommend we pull outta here! Right now we're getting sandwiched out the A-hole!" That was by no means an understatement in Masaki's head.
"…Alright, fuck! HQ ain't responding to anything right now! —Juncture 1 to all units in this AO! We're heading left to the coast until we're no longer surrounded and then heading back to the fourth supply line!"
"—Juncture 13, copy! Ready to move!"
"—Juncture 25, copy! On your mark, sir!"
From the sea of positive responses to a tactical withdrawal, there was a Platoon callsign Masaki thought was missing.
"Cracker Platoon! Cracker Platoon, does anyone copy!? Cracker 2, 3! Come in!"
"Captain! Is- are no one from the team answering!?" How could this happen? Why the worst-case scenario all of the sudden?
"Shit no! DAMN IT, with heavy metal all over the place radio is fucked! And we don't have those guys on data-link either! We gotta go now, Masaki!"
"Negative! We- I'm gonna find them!" to Masaki, he saw uncertainty as more devastating than the truth.
"Listen, kid! You go out there in this shitstorm and she'll be the one receiving your belongings! That girl's good, alright!? She can handle herself! We pull back now she'll probably be somewhere in that group!"
"S-Sir! Bu-but—"
"You're gonna have to trust her, you got that!? There's nothing you can do here except for not dying so LET'S FUCKING MOVE!"
To that, Masaki simply couldn't disagree.
Isumi Michiru
Operation 21, 269 minutes in
Sadogashima Hive, A-02 collapse point
"—Valkyries Mum! Valkyries 1 to Valkyries Mum! Do you copy!?"
"— -alky- …signa- recove- hortl- Valkyri- 1, established connection, copy?" Finally, something went right after the disaster.
"Valkyries Mum! A-02 has fallen into the collapse! We're unable to reach XG-70 or Archangel 1!"
"Roger, what is your available team?" Michiru performed her pervious headcount for this exact purpose.
"Other than me, we still have Archangel 2, 3, 6 and Valkyries 3, 4, 6, 9."
"Topside Task Force members confirmed. That will be 1st Lt. Kagami, Yashiro, 2nd Lt. Yoroi and 1st Lt. Munakata, 2nd Lt. Kazama, Kashiwagi, Asakura and you, correct?" Suzumiya's math was on point.
"Yes, but we lost two TSF and have injuries, count three W.I.A, two major. Requesting immediate Medevac." Above anything, Michiru must stay calm to allow rational thinking.
"Copy, we're in the process of reorganizing our forces right now. What is their severity?" It pained Michiru to see her fellow Eishis like this, however it still was lucky nobody got more hurt.
"Munakata's cockpit was crushed by the terrain; closed fracture in left femur, spiral fracture in left tibia, closed fracture in left humerus and impacted fracture in right shoulder blade; two broken right toes, hallux and ring; four broken ribs, three right one left. Internal bleeding in multiple organs, can't identity damage."
"Valkyries Mum… copy…" Suzumiya took a painstakingly amount of time to cogitate on what Michiru reported.
"Sorry, Suzumiya, I know you're not good with injury reports…" There was little Isumi could do for her on that front, the poor girl did have both her legs amputated.
"It doesn't matter, please continue."
"We patched her up as best as we could, but she's still in mortal danger, we need to get her to proper medical care or Munakata might not make it." The desperation wasn't part of Michiru's report, she knew Suzumiya was doing her best to assist.
"Understood, next injury?"
"Asakura has a traumatic pneumothorax, her left lung was punctured by a piece of shrapnel. severe internal bleeding is observable." Another ragged breath from Suzumiya again displayed her discomfort.
"Valkyries Mum, copy. Final injury?"
"Kashiwagi is suffering from a MTBI right now, banged her head pretty hard. It's mild, she's unconscious and not fit for piloting."
"…All copy. Updating HQ, prioritizing the extraction of our wounded. Prepare for immediate transfer."
The heavy dose of nausea was settling deep in Michiru's stomach; the unnatural way Munakata's body bended when they dug her out of her cockpit, Asakura's every inhale sounded like the core of her lungs were been tore apart, and Kashiwagi's unconscious face bruised in a trail of blood.
It all happened so fast, she was completely useless in saving any of them. And wasn't their fortified suit supposed to protect its users from damages like this? Two Eishis with heavy internal lesions disagreed. However, more important than anything; the girls were still alive, that was a miracle in itself.
Every step Michiru took above the moist mud produced a foul squeak, the traction of her boots dug loosely into the dirt, forcing her to spent a bit extra strength in walking forward every time.
"Munakata… how're you doing?" But no matter how tiring it was to pace over the earth, nothing wore her down more than her subordinate's painful sight.
"Urggghh… I'll live… I think. –Urck—" Michiru dipped her head at Munakata's laboured groan, she silently praised her friend for choking back the tears and withstanding the agony.
They did what they could, which was restraining her injured limbs with a splint and tight bandages. In her case, Munakata's left arm, left leg, right shoulder, right toes and wrapping her chest as well. Of course, the necessary drugs were injected to lessen her suffering.
"Haah- Ca-captain…!" Against all odds, she was lifting her disabled right arm to grab Michiru from her improvised bed. The First Lieutenant was laid down on a rather flat stone covered by a couple of sheets, this poor bunk was the best luxury they could provide for now.
"Munakata, stop! You know you can't be moving!" Swiftly, Valkyrie's Captain stabled the pale girl by taking her trembling hand.
"Ugg- how's… Asakura and… Kashi- wagi?"
"They're definitely doing better than you. Kazama and Yoroi are tending to them, they're experts in first-aid, we'll be fine." Michiru peeked over at their other two incapacitated members, fortunately what she claimed wasn't a lie.
She didn't have time to nurture the two Valkyries who were also injured during the collapse, but the teams' medics were fast on their feet once Munakata was patched up. Lastly, Kagami and Yashiro were standing guard in case of more BETA incursion.
"Haa-haaa… Isumi… sorry for… all this."
"Just stop, talking too much isn't good with that chest of yours." Michiru held tightly, not breaking the eye-contact with her Platoon leader.
"Things are… not going too well… are they…?"
"…It'll be okay, we'll get everybody out."
"-Arr-cck— c'mon now… we both know that ain't true." Michiru chose to deny her statement any validation.
"Rest, take it easy."
"Listen… Isumi- haaah—! If you have to… just in case…" It didn't take a genius to predict what Munakata wished to say next.
"Hey, hey! Don't be talking like that to me."
"No…! Uurggn…! Promise… as a favour or something… you'll do me in."
"Munakata…"
"By your hands… a quick one." Could Michiru do it if the situation truly demanded? She wasn't confident in herself, but she probably had what it takes.
"It won't come down to that."
"Heh- it better… not." Finished in her request, Munakata released Michiru and returned to recuperating, doing her best to subside the pain.
"—Valkyries Mum to 1, the first operation report after the collapse is through. Whisky and Echo unit have taken major casualty following the wake of the earthquake, both teams are at fifty-four percent and sixty-one percent respectively." When Suzumiya re-joined the comms, she brought no good news along.
"What!? How can an earthquake do so much damage!?"
"…The fact is, after the initial shock many units tried to fly up to avoid getting caught in the earth… only to be shot down by groups of Laser-class." Michiru blanked out trying to accept the reality. How bad was their karma? How could all this be happening at once?
"Laser-class from where?!"
"The earthquake displaced many of Sadogashima's terrain, additional BETA forces poured out from almost all of the opening above and below ground. The estimated count is around ninety thousand, including high amount of Laser-class and Fort-class."
"That's…! What the actual fuck…"
"Furthermore, we're unable to connect to the rest of Valkyries and Archangel Fireteam. XO Kouzuki will now brief you on the constructed countermeasure."
"Hold on! What about our—!"
"—I know your people're down, Isumi. But we're simply too tight on time and resources right now. As in every second we waste is a second the 00 unit is in danger." Her complaint was interrupted by the Professor herself.
"Ma'am…" Infrequently was Michiru ever disrespectful to the genius scientist, however their interval waited for no man.
"Can you move them? Anything to transport your incapacitated members?"
"Negative! While Kashiwagi can be put in an autopilot TSF, Asakura's wound isn't treated to be TSF suitable! Also there's no way we can move Munakata without a heli or land vehicle!" Their position was looking desperate if Michiru were to be honest.
"…Then there's no way, huh. It's not happening in that case."
"Ma'am… what do you—" Michiru didn't want to put her mind to it, she wanted to not interpret the XO's point as she interrupted her.
"-Normally I would call to initiate Plan G right away, which is to self-destruct the XG-70 and extract the 00 unit. Although looking at this situation, that might be more difficult than calculated. Isumi, I need your team to rendezvous with the Susanoo below ground, and hopefully Shirogane's group as well."
"But ma'am! We're in no condition to operate! We have six TSFs and five Eishis with two immobile and one unconscious!" Generally the Valkyries were supposed to achieve whatever task the Professor ordered, but not this time when they were purely incapable of realizing that goal.
"That's enough, is it not?" It was ridiculous, Michiru didn't even consider that option.
"Ma'am…! I can't just… leave my people behind! Please! I need to get them out of here! Is there any other way!?" XO Kouzuki lurched backwards, almost like she was struck by scepticism.
If it was the old Michiru who went by the books perfectly all the time, she might be okay with abandoning her soldiers. However, after the talk she had with Shirogane, there existed a dim spark in her heart to possibly deliver a faultless win. To maybe go home with everyone smiling by her side.
After all, she too, wanted to forget the pain of losing any more of her fellow Eishis, her friends.
"Isumi… tell me one thing, okay? Does it look like to you- that I was on the off-chance- fucking negotiating with you?!" Completely caught by surprise, Michiru's mouth hung open as she failed to react intelligently to anything for a period.
"Ah…" The professor raised her hand posthaste, almost as if she was reaching out for the words she unleashed only to pause a second later with a drained sigh.
"Sorry, didn't mean that. Nevertheless, the answer is no. Like I said, we have neither the time nor the resources to extract your team members, the recovery of the 00 unit and preferably the Susanoo is absolutely priority. Not mentioning the 00 unit, losing the XG-70b is gonna hurt us a lot."
"But-…! Munakata's laying here! If we can't get her out she's gonna DIE! Asakura and Kashiwagi as well! We don't have anythin—"
"LISTEN! We. Need. The 00 unit. And since we can't confirm Shirogane's status I need your team to regain it; that is not an option, not a suggestion, it is an order, Captain." Michiru expected this, obviously the mission was paramount compared to their lives.
She knew it, A-01's duty was clear from day one. A-01's guilt was never a secret.
"XO Kouzuki! Then can you at least get another team to pick up them… or something!?"
"ISUMI! You're really starting to piss me off here! If I were to ask for 'a clusterfuck' you answer with 'how big'! This isn't baby's first rodeo, for god's sake!" Never in history had Michiru went against the Professor's instruction by such a margin, and never had she ever sought to.
"If it was Shirogane—"
"If it was Shirogane he'd have told me to fuck off and wished to his lamp genie for their wounds to be healed! He deals in the miracle shit, you do not! Just like how he and I are equals and we're not! Why is this so hard to understand!?"
Finally did Michiru's fantasy shatter, it was almost comical thinking back to it. Had she not realized the variance between her and Shirogane the day earlier? She understood this as well as the Professor, so where was the point in duplicating the action of a total lunatic if she couldn't bring the same results as the lunatic?
Michiru was no one else but herself, she could only do what she was taught to perform. A soldier's obligation plus a soldier's authority. The misery on the path she walked was immense, only because she didn't have the strength to create miracles.
"Isumi… if we have people, we would have sent them to you. And I mean that if the milk-man is off-duty he would be rushing to help you. There is simply nothing to spare for the moment, Takamura's team is furiously trying to control Echo front and the Eclipse Unit is forcefully activated to control Whiskey front."
"Is the situation… really that dire, ma'am?" Both parties calmed down and were over the phase of yelling.
"Yes, you're not in the command centre right now. You know why your position hasn't been overrun yet? That's thanks to three Squadrons throwing bodies at the BETA to stop'em from reaching you. So please, listen to my order and carry out my order, we don't need to be fucked again."
"Understood… ma'am." Before an idealist, Michiru was the Valkyries' leader. Nothing to be done, no help was coming to save the day.
"Okay, I'll make this short. I'm transmitting this special signal receiver to you through data-link, are you seeing it?" A small popup window delivered a few lines of code to Michiru's screen.
"Transmission received, this is for what, ma'am?"
"Tracking the XG-70, it runs on a specialized channel for locating the Susanoo, you should see its location now on your map. Not very accurate, but it'll have to do." Without a doubt, Michiru's atlas revealed new objects of interest.
"I see the XG-70 is somewhere on the 10th to the 12th level, underground."
"Then it's working, follow that. Once you enter the Stabs, you'll either find Shirogane and an active or inactive XG-70, or only an active or inactive XG-70, you got that? Four possibilities, nothing else."
"Yes, ma'am."
"In the state that the Susanoo is active, your mission will be to escort it to the Reactor core and protect it as it disables the Reactor. If it's not active, then either you or Shirogane will retrieve the 00 unit and then self-destruct the XG, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." In a broad sense, Michiru could see where the Professor was going.
"Okay, right now I'll go over the process of retrieving the 00 unit. Just remember all this is considered classified intel, and don't forget anything."
"Understood."
Shirogane Takeru
Operation 21, 273 minutes in
Sadogashima Hive, underground
"—Battalion size BETA formation approaching from our two O'clock!"
"—spotted, this will be a Susanoo engagement, copy?" I said it for both Sumika and the rest to hear.
"—roger!" All the girls answered.
This was the part where Kasumi was supposed to announce the XG's movements since she had that connection with Sumika and all, so it just got weird as we sat still waiting for the big gun to fire.
About thirty seconds later, the left side railgun locked onto the bunched up BETA coming at us and shot; and then the bad dudes died, exciting stuff. I just loved how we took out every single alien we came across on our way to the Reactor, they were actually like the poor native Americans, charging against a hail of bullets from the more advanced population—
Was that- was that too much? Is there where we draw the line then?
"—Takeru-chan! You saw how I shot those guys too! Yaaay!"
"—yep, yep. They're pretty dead, how's your ammo doing?"
"Right at ninety-nine and left at ninety-eight!" We had enough rounds to fill an empty landfill, if that even makes sense.
"Errm… still can't go faster?"
"Takeru-chan, we talked about this! Maximum speed for the XG in a closed environment is sixty klicks hour!" What she meant was sixty km/h, that lazy talk was really killing me.
"You know, now I think about it. In those pre-HD GTA games, you could turn the tank cannon around and shoot backwards to go faster. Why don't we try that here?" To my proposal, Sumika retorted with an extremely disappointing stare.
"Stupidity! It's a diseaseeeeeee!
"Shut your mouth, woman! Only I can say that!" How could this dumb hoe attempt to burn me like that? Didn't she know I was literally the human torch?
"…Takeru-chan, you're worried about them, right?" Suddenly, Sumika led our conversation onto a solemn path.
"Huh- what you on about?"
"Kei-san, Chizuru-san below us and the others aboveground as well; you're thinking about them right now, I can see that." Damn her and her psychic abilities.
"Well- obviously I would be, those two bitches are probably having a laugh down there and I don't even know what Isumi's people are up to. No link to sensei means she knows nothing about how we're doing and she probably wants to blow you up or something." All in good times.
"Takeru-chan, don't you want to go to them instead?"
"A bit, yeah. But then I'll be equally worried about your dumbass. Besides, I trust Ayamine and Class rep; I've faith in them, they'll manage." For this timeline, those two were possibly the closest they had ever been in a long time. They could do it, they could overcome whatever barrier was blocking their way here.
"Thank you, Takeru-chan… for staying by my side."
"Uh-huh, you know- think of it as reward for not eating shit even though you had so many opportunities, fucking earthquake- motherfucker…" I was still very much pissed off about that.
"Ahehe, we'll be there soon, Takeru-chan! No worry, everything will be fiiiine!"
"You better be right, slut."
"OOOW! You're throwing even more insults at me than usual, Takeru-chan! And they're all for like- zero reasons!"
"Have I been doing that? Naah, you be delusional, cunt.
—
[REDIRECTING TO DATA ROUTER]
[UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED]
[VERIFICATION CODE: INTOSHADOWS]
[UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS CONFIRMED]
[PARTIAL AUTHENTICATION CONFIRMED]
[REQUESTED DATA CLASSIFIED]
[PARTIAL DECRYPTION COMPLETE]
[FILE AVAILABLE FOR RE-EXAMINATION]
—
The man who sold the world
—
Captain Shirogane Takeru
Time: [REDACTED]
Location: [REDACTED]
[CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT. EYES ON ONLY]
"Hey, Tama, Kasumi. Wanna hear a bedtime story?" Shirogane asked his two subordinates, both were prepared to rest after a fun night of party and alcohol on the deck of [REDACTED].
[LOCATION INFORMATION UNAVAILABLE]
"Oh, oh! Yes I do, yes I do!"
"If you don't mind, Takeru-san." The girls were somewhat eager to be put to sleep with a tale from their favourite leader.
"Let's see… what's something scary and fun I can tell you about…?" A quiet evening was most suitable for giving two cute Eishis a quick scare, the wind blowing during this time of year created an eerie atmosphere.
[INCIDENT DATE UNAVAILABLE]
"How about a monster story?" Yashiro suggested.
"EEeee! But that's scary though!"
"Perfect, let me tell you a monster story then. This one's one of my favourites." Shirogane was happy with the topic and proceed to continue.
"Do you know what lycanthrope is, Tama?"
"Aha, they're werewolves, right?" Shirogane patted the head of his cat-like girl.
"People who turns into wolves on a full moon, known for their transformation and cannibalism diet." Using uncommon words, Yashiro finished off the explanation.
"Yes… yes, that. The myth first started in Europe dating all the way back to the middle ages, the spread to other continents and religions are hard to track as time passes. Werewolves are half-human half-wolf creatures frequently told in folktale and legends." Thus, Shirogane began his story of the mythical mortals.
[MISSING FILES DETECTED. OMITTING DOUCMENTS]
"So, what do you two think?" After reaching the end of his fairy-tale, Shirogane sought for the opinion of his listeners.
"…It was really miserable when she turned into werewolf, I think! Being forced to kill her friends and family just because of a curse, that's really sad!" Tama shared her view on the subject.
"But I think those who willingly turn to evil deserve no mercy. People that enjoy destruction and death with their new form are to be put down immediately." Next, Yashiro had the sense to be ruthless against criminals.
"Still, it must be really terrible to have someone close change into a monster! I don't think I can deal with anything like that." The two shorties discussed politely about the creatures of night.
"Huh, well, there're many versions of the myth out there. Some people are forced, others not so much. All in all, they're just fake stories made up to scare children. Like you two, Ahahahahaha!" Laughing comically, Shirogane fooled around with his girls a little.
"Ahehehe! Takeru-san is such a strange person!"
"I think it is time for you to leave now, Takeru-san." One did not welcome his tickling as much as the other did.
"Okay, okay. I'm on my way out. Goodnight, Kasumi, Tama."
"See you, Takeru-san! Have a goodnight!"
"Night, Takeru-san."
Pecking each of the females lightly on the forehead, Shirogane flipped off the light to the girls' room before silently shutting the doors.
He was now alone in a dim-lit hallway, not a soul to be observed anywhere in his sight. The silence of night washed away any sense of urgency he had suffered to now, the weight of his duty was lifted for that brief moment of peace. But he was by his lonesome, no friends to support his burden.
"~we passed upon the stair, ~we spoke of was and when…
~although I wasn't there, ~he said I was his friend~…"
The melody of an enchanting, sweet voice drifted seamlessly through his ear canal to his eardrum. The high pitch of her voice, so seductively smooth. She was singing an old song; a song she claimed to be her favourite, a song she remembered fondly from her time.
"~which came as some surprise… ~I spoke into his eyes-
~I thought you died alone, ~A long long time ago~…"
Drowning in her attractive tune, Shirogane stood tranquilly for a long while, enjoying the serene song his new acquaintance was performing. She hid by the hallway right before him, time and time again shooting him a smug peek around the corner.
Shirogane finally walked up, his desire for a better perspective of her vocals led him to lean against the wall perpendicular to hers. They shared no acknowledgement of one another, her singing was enough for a message they desired to pass.
"~oh no… ~not me… ~we never lost control~
~you're face… ~to face~
…with the man who sold the world~!"
Eventually, like all beautiful things, her concert reached its climax. The accented English in the air ceased to exist by her last lyrics, only a calming whistle of the harmony was left to ease their mood.
"That was some nice singing, woman. You're pretty good." Shirogane spun himself around, and met the past's ghost face to face.
"Fu-fu-fu-fu… danke." Her words were few, but her mischievous grin spoke so much more.
"Do you want something?"
"Nothing in particular, huhu. Am I not welcomed, Comrade Hauptmann?"
"Haa… I didn't say that, just thought you probably have something better to do. Like remembering history." By Shirogane's mention, her bloodshot eyes lost their playful light.
"~Ara, ara… which part of amnesia do you not understand?"
"Don't go diagnosing yourself. I still don't trust you, at all."
"Fufufu, I'd have been a failure at my work if you do." Shirogane sneered away from her.
"Still, know that we want the same thing here. You want them dead, I want them dead. That's why we're cooperating. Do your part, because your age has long since passed." This time, her impish smirk was wiped off altogether.
"Ich verstehe, Hauptmann. I have your point at heart. They will pay, they will definitely pay for that they've done. That's our common objective, we both have a lust… for revenge."
"I mean… speak for yourself, I just feel a normal desire for retaliation." In light of her almost funny joke, Shirogane laughed.
"Huhuhu, a strange man you are, Comrade Hauptmann. To not display the fury within you, that's a skill."
"Humph, I'm saving up my anger, for when I put a bullet in-between their brains."
A pause appeared in their conversation, Shirogane gazed into nothingness to avoid her scarlet irises. Both soldiers used silence as a medium to contemplate their thoughts.
"I don't understand why they did what they did. There're gaps in my memory, I'll admit it; yet my hatred still burns deep within my heart, for traitors whose punishment I failed to deliver the first time." Her expression was filled by grim as those sentiments exposed themselves.
"That's right, help me help you. We all have our choices, you're on my side due to this." Shirogane spoke without connecting their glances.
"They are unforgivable, wasting the sacrifice of our Fatherland. Injudicious dreamers, ignorant to the weight of reality."
"If that's your motivation, anything works."
"I will bring down retribution upon them, for not knowing the limitation of their ideals. I vow to you, Comrade Hauptmann, as gratitude for your effort. I shall be the one to snuff it out, their last light."
—
[SYSTEM REBOOTED, TRANSMISSION TERMINATED]
[FILE UNAVAILABLE FOR PLAYBACK]
[ACCESS TERMINATED]
—
"The Man Who Sold the World"
Written by David Bowie
1982 Studio version by Midge Ure
—
Author's note
Let's see what's new… school still sucks, hate getting up at six in the morning just to deal with a shit-eating professor failing at teaching a course I won't be passing anyway… fuck.
In other news, Strike Frontier came out, that's pretty cool, I guess. Not gonna play it now since I still Kancolle, maybe in the future. The 18plus scenes are pretty niiiiiice too, I like that in a game.
Hope you people liked this chapter as well, call me for any mistakes left unchecked. And if you really don't know who the Omake is about… PM me and I'll tell you, although I literally can't make it anymore obvious to anyone who knows that media. Is not a crossover, BTW, not with another series entirely, at least.
BETA done by chad001… errrm… why do riot police like to get to work early?
To beat the crowd