Journal 8 - Entry 27


No matter how much I dislike the man, I am unable to deny that Kisuke Urahara is an unparalleled genius. Both him, Captain Kurotsuchi, and Research & Development as a whole have been creating new devices and ways to turn the tide in our favor ever since we arrived at Las Noches.

They were quick to take over the lab and equipment from one of the old Espada and convert it for their own needs.

I'm not that interested in most of the stuff they're putting out though. However they did approach me a couple weeks ago, saying that they had a prototype for a new weapon that was being developed in order to level the playing field with the Quincys. Ever since the war started the biggest disadvantage that we have suffered is our inability to engage them at range. Only about half of active unseated shinigami have Kidō in their repertoire, and even those that do typically can't cast spells above 35.

Even then, Kidō is almost always out-ranged by a Quincy's Heilig Pfeil. It's the reason we have only been able to take defensive action ever since arriving in Yōsai. The only reason we have managed to stall their advance and establish a steady defense line and stabilize the front is because of the rocky terrain of the Taneth Plateaus. Digging trenches and using the walls of the plateaus as cover allowed us to force the Quincy soldat into close quarters combat.

The other tactic that has held the Taneth Front in check is the fact that we have more elite soldiers than they do. If they send a Sternritter to launch an assault at a position, we are able to respond quickly and with adequate force. Thus, the reason for the stalemate. But, the longer this goes on, the more enemies are able to get across the Strait. My 2nd Division has been performing sabotage and assassination missions behind their lines, which is also helping slow their progress.

At Kisuke Urahara's recommendations, Captains have been ordered to read strategy and tactics books from wars in the World of the Living, as they are apparently more advanced in the ways of war than we are due to their shorter life spans. I was skeptical until I began reading. It turns out that Urahara wasn't kidding, implementing the changes in doctrine were another major reason for increasing our success on the battlefield. The usage of my Bankai as what they call "artillery support" has turned the tide of many engagements.

I was extremely opposed to appointing a former Espada to Captain, however I am unable to deny his effectiveness. Both directly on the frontlines, and his use of ceros in the same way as my Bankai have been equally effective.

But I've digressed, back to the topic at hand, R&D approached with a prototype of a weapon they wanted to begin manufacturing for wider use. It was a weapon created here in Soul Society, so it was made of Reishi like everything else, but it was a firearm, like those used in the world of the living. It does not use powder to fire its ammunition however. I don't know the full technical specifications of how it was made or exactly how it works, but the user has to channel their Reiryoku into the weapon to fire it, not dissimilar to using your Zanpakutō or Kidō. Unlike Kidō, you don't need to think about shaping your Reiryoku or speaking an incantation, you just inject Reiryoku and pull the trigger. How easy it seemed was a bit unnerving.

I was confused why they were giving the prototype to me though, after all the range disadvantage wasn't a big issue for me, because I could close a distance of 100 meters in the blink of an eye with Shunpo, and this weapon was massive, not the size of my Bankai, but still nearly as long as I am tall.

I was about to decline until Urahara told me the range that it could be used at. Almost 2,000 meters. I pride myself on being able to control my emotions, but I could not contain my sheer disbelief at that ridiculous claim. That bastard's smug smile pissed me off so I took the thing out of his hands. I figured I'd at least humor him. After all there's no way that absurd claim could be real, right? He'd already set up a few targets, at 500 meters, 750 meters, and 1,000 meters.

He gave me a quick overview on its usage. I had to lay prone, then pushed the stock against my shoulder and looked through the cylindrical object on the top of it. Once again, the fact that it was impressive was frustrating. It gave a perfectly clear view that zoomed onto the target, showing me where it was aimed. So I pushed Reiryoku into the weapon and pulled the trigger. When it fired, the weapon blew back into my shoulder. I was not ready for it to come back with that much momentum, that bastard Urahara definitely didn't tell me on purpose. Along with that, was the amount of Reiryoku it drained. I tried injecting about as much as I would use to activate my Shikai, but it pulled out about a quarter of what it takes for my Bankai. Because I wasn't ready for it, the combination of the physical blowback and Reiryoku drain was like getting punched in the gut and getting the wind knocked out of me.

The unexpected recoil caused the shot to go wide, much to my frustration, so I lined up again, this time ready for the blowback. The shot was clean, straight through the head of the wood target. Next I lined up the target at 750 meters. I missed the first shot wide. The second I aimed for the chest but the bullet hit in the gut. Urahara explained how I'll need to compensate for the bullet falling at longer ranges. I realized it would take a lot of practice to use it effectively.

At this point though, my mind was already racing with how effective this weapon would be. It had greater range than my Bankai with the precision of my Shikai. It was perfect. I had to give Urahara his props at this point, and I asked if he'd be manufacturing this on a large scale. He said it wouldn't be possible to manufacture modern weapons like this for use by the unseated troops, as the Reiryoku draw was too much. Only a shinigami with a Reii grade of 3 or higher would be able to use this model, so it was the only one of its class. It was simply made as a proof of concept. But he said he would continue making rounds just for me.

They were still in the design phase for the weapons that the unseated troops would be using, but he said they were apparently going to be based on weapons from the World Wars time period and they could not be automatic, as those would draw too much Reiryoku out of the user. I'm not too familiar with World of the Living history, but I'll take his word for it, and considering how much energy the weapon pulled from me, I couldn't help but agree.

So for the next few weeks, any free time I would get would be used training with this weapon, and currently I can consistently hit targets at 800 meters, and can do 1,000 meters ¾ of the time.

Just 2 days ago I took it into the field for the first time, providing support for a team that was to take an elevated position by a small plateau. The Quincy team holding the hill consisted of 15 soldat, and the shinigami platoon attacking was about 30 men and women. Only 2 to 1 odds, attacking uphill was not an ideal situation, but the Quincy's leader was arrogant enough to stand at the front of his men. He had a fist size hole through his chest before he knew what happened. The rest fell into disarray as the shinigami overran the position. I was able to take out a couple more. The shinigami unit only took 4 casualties. Unprecedented success.

There was an unfortunate side effect however that I should have considered. Suzumebachi was getting jealous. I entered Jinzen quite a few times and spoke extensively with her, and together we actually managed to discover something.

Now I got the chance to take a little revenge, because it was my turn to leave Urahara in disbelief, and act smug about it. Was it petty? Definitely. But he deserves it.

Anyway, by entering Jinzen with Suzumebachi while also pushing Reiryoku through the rifle at the same time as my Zanpakutō, I was able to combine them. Not physically mind you. They were still separate objects, but they were both Suzumebachi. I still had to carry the rifle, so I wouldn't be able to bring it with me on stealth missions. But this extended my Shikai to the rifle as well. When entering Shikai, I still could use the needle on my finger, same as before, but the rifle was also able to apply Nigeki Kessatsu. Aiming was also easier now, the rifle now felt like an extension of myself rather than just a tool.

Urahara went from shock to looking like a kid on Christmas morning. In hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have told him.

Either way, I'll be able to escape him because I'm being sent on a deployment tomorrow. The mission is classified, so I'm not going to risk writing it down, but it is a major operation. Better get some sleep so I'm 100% in the morning.

.

CPT Soifon

2nd Division Stealth Force

May 10, 2004


(There appears to be a picture sticking up out of the journal. Whether it was put there by Soifon herself, or by someone else after the war is hard to tell.)

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Author's Notes:

OK, here it is, probably one of the most controversial chapters of this whole fic. I anticipate the addition of firearms will turn a decent amount of people off, and if that's the case, I hope you enjoyed it up to this point.

Just to clarify though, guns are not going to take over this completely or be central to the narrative. Soifon will be the only major character that uses one (Yes, giving Soifon a gun was based entirely off that fanart. What can I say, it's super badass).

The best way I can put it is that if a character has a Shikai, they will not have a gun, simple as that. The guns are meant to give the unseated basic shinigami soldiers a way to keep up with the ranged abilities of the soldat.

If you are familiar with "The Saga of Tanya the Evil", the way the mage's guns work in that show is very similar to how they'll work here. (Without the ability to explode). They'll be bolt-action WW era.

I do hope you stick around though, I have a lot of exciting things in store :)

Image Credit: Ninjatic