(Grand Aria System, Chaldea)
1 November 2019, according to internal timekeeping.
3 months since the Separation Order was enacted.
No contact with the Fuyuki (JP), Hawaii (NA), and Einzbern (EU) Systems as expected. Sporadic contact with alternate Chaldeas, unable to connect to their Systems, if any.
Food supply situation within expectations, 10 months on hand with projected 30-percent of needs regenerated locally.
Magical energy levels stable as expected, with increase in generation possible given in-pipeline improvements.
Strategic stability projections rapidly declining, overall estimated probabilities of Unrestricted War scenarios continually rising. We consider force balance to favor attackers the more quickly they act upon termination of Separation Order.
Barring significant advances in the Resurrection Protocol, overall state of the Four Houses will remain precarious as there is no known path to accelerating human maturation without unacceptable side-effects. There is now a new alternative: it may be possible to obtain viable heirs from other Chaldeas if their Four Houses have 'spares'.
Super-majority in favor of developing long-range strike potential has risen sharply since the summoning of Sasaku and earlier feasibility evidence from the res Publica Singularity. Dissent opinions are highly correlated with increased estimates of related escalation risk; however, as the estimated probability of Unrestricted War scenarios rises, this risk differential falls in significance. Expert opinions suggest no physical retooling is needed to enable capabilities pursuant to the proposed Bombardment Order. Sasaku's Ruler-class Saint Graph does not seem to restrict her in ways relevant to this application, but studies and testing will be necessary to confirm this.
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(Chloe)
Walking in from Millia's attached room after everyone else had left to visit the Masters, Chloe simply shrugged at first when asked why she had decided to hide herself.
"They wanted it to be more of a private occasion," she explained after a while when it seemed obvious that one of the two was about to try convincing her to change her mind. "It wouldn't be appropriate."
"da Vinci was there," Millia said in her usual indirect manner. "I think they would welcome a more familiar face."
"Your perceptions of me and Sasaku are distorted. We were both dead years before pretty much any of you were born, 'converted' for the vets. You know that, right?"
Siegfried laughed, but because the source of his disagreement was not what Chloe expected. "You're smarter than than humans who seem to think we literally worship Sasaku as the basis of our magecraft, so what could it be..."
"I hadn't heard that one, actually." Chloe did not hide her skepticism at this.
"Good, I won't have to correct the misconception then. We don't really have great relations with the Church either. Fine, I'll reveal something my mother told me, which will illustrate our overall views on the matter."
"Hmm? Well I'm all ears," the Archer doubted it was that simple, but was nevertheless not going to pass.
"During the previous War, and if they were around, you might have been able to get this confirmed by Sakura and Shirou, she happened to mention to the Founder that her nation had developed advanced strategic weaponry during her one thousand years."
Siegfried stopped there as though it was already obvious what this was intended to convey. How irritating.
"So. More nuclear weapons?" Chloe was not impressed, understandable given the background of Chaldea's numerous Anti-Army Noble Phantasms among its Servant population.
"No. Tangent: these would have been based on technology well in advance of humanity's current understanding. But the point my mother had was, why did they develop these in a time of ostensible peace with no real rivals or threats, as Sasaku puts it?"
"Wait a second," Millia sounded upset. "You've never mentioned this."
"She was dead, there's literally no way to prove it, even the first-hand hearers are all dead. But anyway, Archer, who do you think those weapons were made to be used on?"
Pretty obvious. "Us. Well, more like 'anyone who showed up on radar' I guess is what you mean."
"Has it occurred to you that, while they don't seem to have the same branching feature of reality, it could imply either: One, they are only able to interact with a single branch, or, two, they take in the whole system, branches and all, as a single reality?"
"You make the second option sound like the Incineration was their strategic strike," Chloe mused.
"Not to confuse you two, but it did seem that the older Chloe was working with the Counter Force. But I guess you don't have any special insight into the current crisis," Millia said softly.
"She would definitely die if they did that," Chloe objected. "And... something like the Incineration would leave behind what?"
"You haven't talked to her much, I guess." Siegfried didn't sound surprised when delivering this observation. Must likely because...
The discussion was inevitably derailed as memories of a previous War's regrets surfaced in her mind. "Yeah, you already know, right? That my Master and I basically ganked her and Shirou out of Rin's paranoia at being backstabbed. Is that what you're getting at ?!"
Millia tried to smooth the feathers her leader had inadvertently ruffled. "We are not discussing the events prior to the Four Houses Alliance. Besides, even if so, the Einzbern were not involved at all."
"One moment. You don't actually think her people attacked the World system, do you?"
Siegfried only shrugged.
"Then what was the point of all that ?!"
"I was demonstrating that we don't see Sasaku as a paragon of virtues or adhering to our values."
Chloe shook her head in disappointment at this conclusion. "Who spoke about values? You were demonstrating that she's a liability."
"Not so," Millia corrected the Archer. "Not to us, the Four Houses, that is. Provided, of course, that she's in the position of having to defend us against anyone but her own people, wouldn't you say?"
Ah. "So that's what this is actually about..." Chloe muttered audibly. "You see a path to victory though securing Servant support."
"If only one could be that optimistic," Siegfried sighed. "At best a chance at survival, really."
"We would be in a far better situation with a few decades to grow rather than fifteen years. Granted, we ourselves wouldn't be around by then, in some respects," Millia added. "But there is a need to begin working now, or else the Clock Tower gang will jump us right as we pass the finish line."
"Sheesh, why try and work me up like that," Choe grumbled. "Look, I doubt anyone here would just decide to leave as people were stepping up to attack Chaldea. For one, the next time someone anywhere, anytime, tries another stunt like this, no Chaldea means instant total destruction."
"The bigger problem is anyone who came in via one of those outside forces. Or well, given those forces... we know clearly of Zelretch and Gilgamesh, two of that one actually, and the Counter Force. While a lot of Rulers may be saints, having no less than three of them also means their god is involved. Putting aside the multiple personal connections they might have to Sasaku, there's no way they aren't at least passively observing her, or us."
"Is she supposed to be important?" the Archer wondered. "Come to think of it... that thing with Ruby was not a trivial affair."
Millia looked surprised at that observation. "Um, didn't you cause them to end up making a contract though?"
"That doesn't imply that suddenly her Spirit Origin would have Ruby tagging along. Look at it this way, I'm like this from using Ruby's Install functionality, but I don't have her, despite having a Heroic Spirit's Skills and the like permanently." Chloe pointed out.
"Hmm, we should leave such concerns to the Masters, since Servants are their jurisdiction," Siegfried shrugged, much to Chloe's surprise.
"Really, and what was just being discussed?" she laughed. "I understand your intent though: if you'll take it, I will say that I'm not with the Counter Force this time."
"..."
"Chloe, are you okay?" Millia asked first. "Wait, which Chloe are you?"
She froze. "Huh? I'm not the one you met in Fuyuki, haven't I said that before?"
"Yeah, we heard that."
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(Chaldea's Control Room)
"The readings from Sheba are interesting, that's for sure," the Rider agreed with the operator overseeing the data stream from the group working the Near-Future Observation Lens. "Even if its energy levels are still far from a Singularity, we won't survive a collision."
"Unless that halo of spiritron-like particles disperses, we won't be able to get solid scans," one of those in Sheba's Vault reported. "We should have a few weeks, and Events aren't nearly as time-consuming to resolve..."
"The basics of time and place will probably be about as useful as it gets," Gudao pointed out. "Considering how Events tend to go off the rails anyway, we'll likely have to do our scouting on the ground."
"We should re-do those Friend Point experiments that da Vinci designed since Tamamo Cat hinted that Sasaku might be the one able to pull those off. Speaking of Cat, might as well schedule a Summoning session, and see if her bell will work like Chloe's heart bracelet did. For that matter, Elizabeth's autograph came back with us as well..." Gudako thought through the list.
"Even though this Event seems to be headed towards us, I'm thinking it would be premature to go on alert currently," da Vinci suggested to the Masters. "What do you think?" she asked the operators connected to the Sheba feed.
"Unless it suddenly begins accelerating, we will have a week or more of notice," the first agreed with the Rider's assessment.
"We should begin work on seeing how much the Separation Order can be ramped up," the other said after a moment. "Improvements, if possible, will take time so we should start now."
"All these points are reasonable," Gudao summed up his position. "Servants have been quietly directed to the Briefing Room for a while now, so we'll head down and fill them in. What are our current estimates regarding the Event's situation?"
"We're thinking Japan, Warring States period," was the reply from one of Sheba's technicians.
"Chloe will be all over this," Gudako said immediately.
(Briefing Room)
"If that gun-toting fancy man is there, I'm gonna take him down, =again=, for shooting me last time," Chloe announced after hearing the Masters' first briefing on the latest Event.
"I've heard about this period from Kojirou," Blackbeard jumped in. "And someone with a ship would definitely be handy, yes?"
"Chloe, Saber, Blackbeard..." Gudako started mentally filling out the party roster of out habit. "Jeanne, if you don't mind going again, Oh and yes Stheno you too."
"What?" The goddess Servant was not late, since there had been no actual call sent out, but she had come in right in time to catch the Master's attention. "Surely you can find someone better suited to war? Why not Kiyohime?"
"Now that you mention her, sorry Blackbeard, but I think we might be better off having Kiyo take your spot," Gudao said. "You know, because you might stand out a bit. Definitely Sasaku for the sixth, then." The pirate frowned, but nodded.
"Really," the Ruler looked a bit annoyed. "I can't guess why..." However, her unspoken objection was ignored.
Gudako looked around the room. "I'd put in Euryale and Asterios in the second group as well. Hmm, are they training with Scathach now? She isn't around either."
"You know how she is when we get started," Kojirou shrugged. "No one wants to get in the middle of that unless it's critical. I'll pay them a visit after this. And Chloe looks interested in that, too."
"I should put in some practice time in case it comes down to fighting that Archer again." The Archer sounded determined. "Sasaku, can you come along? Have a favor to ask."
"Sorry," the Ruler said apologetically. "But I've still got to take care of Kiyohime, since she doesn't do last-minute schedule changes. Maybe we'll drop by if I can convince her it will be worthwhile having to leave her room."
"Sure. Ok Saber, guess we'll be doing some melee sparring first." Like everyone else, Chloe didn't want to disturb any arrangements made with the Berserker.
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(Training Grounds)
(Kiyohime)
Chloe look out her two swords while eyeing Kojirou's ready stance. The Saber's moves were very hard to predict as the Skill (Knowledge of the Sowa) was able to defeat even the likes of (Mind's Eye). Of course, he also possessed the latter skill.
The Archer's own special techniques were able to overwhelm his defenses, but defending herself even from his casual strikes was troublesome. As her ability to use the short-range teleportation developed to more more flexible and subtle, Kojirou's ability to intuit and counter increased in equal measure.
"This is a sword dance that only Servants could appreciate," Kiyohime commented to her partner, whose hand she had not released since they left her cozy warded room.
"I thought the Masters were boosted up enough to be able to?" Sasaku asked no one in particular. "When they really get going, it isn't a matter of speed anymore as much as constantly teleporting around, it seems like. Well, I'd say watching two series of triple strikes all counter one another like that is pretty crazy."
"Saber's (Tsubame Gaeshi) covers so much more volume though. Though both can move about, the additional movement means his threatened space goes from large to pike-length."
Ironically, one of Chloe's main advantages was her own projected Noble Phantasm swords that could accumulate damage on Kojirou's weapon while being themselves infinitely replaceable, energy stores permitting. Granted, it was much harder than even trying to damage a spear, given how quickly that long sword could move. A wrong block or parry and the edge would effortlessly remove one's hand. Perhaps both in a single sweep, with hardly any resistance.
Even without resorting to her bow, Chloe could nevertheless constantly throw swords and create replacements in a steady stream. Scathach, who herself enjoyed the rather gratuitous use of multiple Gae Bolg spears had helped her hone this particular strategy.
"Surely it's not possible to parry fire breath," Kiyohime muttered to herself, while awkwardly trying to lean against the smaller girl at her side. "But someone could dodge to the side..."
"Well, can you defend yourself with that fan?" Sasaku inquired out of curiosity. "Is it really solid, or perhaps the type that's actually made of metal and opens up to form a shield?"
"How can you say such a thing about a lady's elegant fan," huffed the Berserker.
"It sounds like you need to train your body to be capable of evading, then." Scathach showed up at this juncture, having finished with Euryale's course of what the pirates were calling the -'Run and Gun', only to spot yet another Servant needing to be pushed towards taking training seriously.
"Er, well..."
"Hmm, is that true? Kiyohime?" Sasaku asked earnestly.
"I-I have a (Morph) Skill that increases my Armor Class," was the rather weak reply from the Servant who was now wondering if she had been tricked.
"Hold that thought, Caster." Gudako spoke from the entrance, Stheno in hand. "Berserker is already engaged. This goddess here could use your expertise, though."
"If you say so," Scathach quickly switched gears. "Now, if I remember right, you and Marie both have that odd type of attack. Let's see how much practice has improved your capabilities then." Without further ceremony, the Caster took out her favorite druid staff. "Do your best to hit me, and we'll proceed from how well you do in that test."
The Servants around watched closely as Stheno tried her best to score a hit on the experienced Caster. As far as anyone could tell, including with the aid of da Vinci's instruments, the near-invisible bolts were indeed pure magical energy. Despite this, they were not particularly hindered by (Magic Resistance) and could not be counterspelled, though a bolt could interact with both a Servant's weapon, mundane matter, and spells.
That last was in full evidence as Scathach, standing her ground, countered each incoming attack with a single rune which destroyed its counterpart. The first few runes thrown blasted through their target, causing a nervous Stheno to dance about a bit for fear of it continuing on to hit her. However, the Caster seemed to reduce the strength of her counters until it seemed like the runes exactly cancelled out the Assassin's attacks leaving nothing behind but some dissipating energies.
"They don't seem to move very fast," Gudao observed from the sidelines, making sure to also keep some distance from Kiyohime. "Saber can probably thrust faster than that?"
"By my estimate, yes," Chloe said with her Archer class' usual perception and personal experience. "I don't think there's any real upsides to that sort of, uh, 'default attack' except that without it you're reduced to trying to slap someone or knee them. Terrible options against a Servant-level opponent who has chosen to close in on you."
"It's the equivalent of your usual close combat weapon with strength: user, AP: 0 and damage: 1" da Vinci suggested, having come down specifically for the chance to consider the problem.
"Training does improve one's basic statline somewhat," Gudako remarked, having watched Marie's progress since being summoned with interest herself. "By the way, doesn't Kiyo have special fire attacks? I'd like to see them in action just before we go into the Event."
"Please don't insinuate that this Kiyohime is one to carelessly throw fire everywhere," the Berserker grumbled upon this being brought up. "If you want weapons obviously I have a naginata that's fitting for a maiden."
"Well that's perfect then," Kojirou added suddenly. "I think a good mirror of capabilities would be the Ruler next to you."
"Seconded !" Chloe immediately jumped on the opportunity, seeing how Sasaku so far refused to fight her or Saber.
"That sounds fair enough," Gudao considered it a good matchup. Gudako also seemed inclined to agree with the others.
"I see that you need more work on the basics," Scathach completed her assessment, following up on this with action: pulling Stheno over to a different area of the Training Grounds and clearing the area they had been occupying.