New Allies: Old Friends and Enemies I

6 May 1963
Washington D.C.
Oval Office, White House

"As expected Mr. President, without their early warning systems and coastal defenses on west Greenland the rest of the islands surrounding Greenland were recaptured without much of a fight," General Maxwell D. Taylor presents the American and UFN advancements in the war against the Reich. He walks to the other side of the map. "If we continue to press on, then there is little doubt that we will recapture Iceland by next week," Taylor continues. "Furthermore, once Iceland is ours again it will help set up a stage for an assault on a major Einheitspakt member: The Kingdom of England. Followed by the rest of the British Isles." Taylor continues.

"Now will this be the entirety of the British Isles or only contained to the Kingdom of England, General?" John F. Kennedy asks as he leans back in his chair, placing his hand underneath his chin.

"From what is reported, Mr. President, the main focus will be on the Kingdom of England and the republics of Scotland and Ireland," Secretary Rusk interceeds. "All three are in a military alliance to defend one another from any military threat. As per Ireland, they won't be much of a threat because of their neutrality. However, we should keep our options open in case we need to subdue the Irish because of their membership as a Pakt Observer." Rusk concluded.

"To collaborate on Secretary Rusk's point, Ireland will not be a threat to the combined forces of the UFN. Our main target would be the Kingdom of England and the rest of Great Britain. A successful invasion here would grant us access to invade the Reichskommissariat Niederlande or Norwegen to quickly strangle out the Reich or invasion of the French State and its neighbor Burgundy." General Taylor continues.

"And what is the name that the military came up with?" President Kennedy inquires.

"Operation Madison, Mr. President," Taylor continued. "It's a multi-staged operation intending to invade the northern part of the Kingdom, just south of Scotland, but we have subsequent operations to intervene in Scotland. Intending to involve all forces of the UFN and native partisan groups like the HMMLR." Taylor continued, revealing more information about Operation Madison.

"What should be taken into account, General, is the involvement of the Reich," Secretary McNamara intervenes by speaking up from his chair. "Intelligence reports show potential troop movement. Possibly to reinforce the English Army." McNamara continues.

"If they do that then it would inhibit progression against the Reich." President Kennedy points out.

"Which is why it's necessary to expedite our advances and quickly overwhelm them. Even using our nuclear stockpile to inhibit Nazi movements, Mr. President." General LeMay chimes in. "Do not forget Mr. President that the Nazis still hold a powerful weapon in their toolbox which caused many deaths on American and Canadian soil. We need to mobilize the most we can to quickly overwhelm and use the full might of American power against the Nazis and those who stand in our way. Shock and awe, Mr. President! Shock and awe!" General LeMay continues to raise his points. Tired of the conservative holdback in the opening months of the war.

"And risk blowing up the planet General?" President Kennedy cuts in. "Of course, I wouldn't use our nuclear stockpile. I'd rather end this war before we blow ourselves up into oblivion." President Kennedy continues but his brother intervenes on his behalf.

"I agree with President Kennedy, General LeMay. We couldn't go full out in a shock and awe tactic that could cause nuclear war." Attorney General Kennedy raises his points.

"And what do you propose, Mr. Attorney General? Another freedom bus? Be realistic." General LeMay taunts Kennedy.

"The discussion of Civil Rights does not need to be confounded by the war and you know it. What needs to be focused on is having the foresight to continue fighting without the hindsight of blowing up the planet!" Robert Kennedy retorts.

"Kennedy, LeMay. Calm yourselves," President Kennedy intervenes on the two. "We shouldn't turn on ourselves while the Nazis are still fighting. As it stands, from what was reported, we hold the material advantage against the Nazis. I wish for peace to happen now so we do not need to shed more blood. But that avenue is long gone," President Kennedy stands up. "We shall continue until we can make peace with the Reich," Kennedy glances at LeMay and Taylor. "And we will not resort to nuclear weapons or use our ICBM stockpile until I give the explicit order," He then glances at the rest of his cabinet. "This meeting is over for the rest of the day. Return to your assigned duties." President Kennedy ends the meeting.

"Besprüht," (Spray) Dr. Kurt Plötner gives the order. Tatsumi is sprayed down by two sides, spraying his naked body with over 220 PSI of cold water. After fifteen seconds pass, the water stops, and push brooms are used to soap him down from head to toe, and water is turned on again before he collapses to the ground from the pressure.

"Stop! Stop!" Tatsumi cries out but his mouth forces shut as water continues to be forced on him. This continued until Plötner gave the order to stop and a cheap towel was thrown to Tatsumi.

"Dry yourself," Plötner orders Tatsumi who struggles to stand. For months he lost weight but still was given enough food to maintain a desirable weight for Esdeath but his restrictions kept him from fighting against his interrogators. "Bringt ihn zu dem schwarzen Kasten," (Take him to the black box) Tatsumi struggles as two men dressed in light grey uniform grab Tatsumi and begin to drag him. He struggles to free himself as they continue, passers-by snicker and jeer at his figure before being led into a room brightly lit room with a singular black box that is slightly larger than a cubic meter. "You brought this to yourself, Herr Tatsumi. I oppose violence because I use hallucinogenics and other means to break one. You will be in there for the next day while under the influence. Enjoy." Plötner expresses his disappointment with Tatsumi as he forces Tatsumi to drink a glass of water laced with LSD. Tatsumi is forced into the black box as he struggles to free himself but fails as the box is closed and locked.

"Open Up! OPEN UP!" Tatsumi cries out as he struggles to be freed from his torture. No matter how much he moved, the box did not budge. "OPEN UP!" He continues to cry out before the LSD sets in and his mind begins to warp the darkness in a series of colors and moving and changing patterns. He sees the faces of the dead move and be mutilated as his sanity slips from reality. Music is blared from the loudspeakers as a researcher plays military instrumental marches. His screams are heard from the outside, and hours pass as Tatsumi's screams are heard from the box but Dr. Plötner reads from his pocket watch.

"It's not even a quarter past six and he's screaming? I honestly would have expected to hold out," Dr. Plötner turns to a nurse by his side. "Tell me, how many micrograms of LSD was in that bottle? Because fifty micrograms take roughly half an hour."

"50 milligrams was in that 400-milliliter water Dr. Plötner." Her answer caused Dr. Plötner to choke on his coffee. He stands up after coughing and controlling his fit.

"I said 50 micrograms, not milligrams you dunce! That is a thousand percent difference!" He lambasts the nurse. Sitting back down, Dr. Plötner checks his watch. "He'll stay in there for the next hour and a half before we pump his stomach or wash him again if he vomits out his contents. Have the data reflect 50 micrograms and not 50 milligrams. No, know what, redact any data collected today." An hour and a half passes as he gives the order to free Tatsumi from the black box. He lies fetal facing down as vomit and blood cover his body. "Just pray that he's alive," Dr. Plötner tells the nurse, he then turns to the two standing by Tatsumi. "Bring him to the infirmary and set him up with IV therapy and remove any blockage from his nose and throat, and set him up with a blood transfusion. Make sure he is restrained," Dr. Plötner gives further orders as Tatsumi is dragged out from the black box. He turns to the nurse. "As for you, for your punishment, you are to clean out and sanitize that box before he gets better. Now get to it!"

"Mine, Akame, Night Raid, where are you guys?" Tatsumi passes out as he is dragged on the cold floor back to his isolation cell. An echoing voice calls out to Tatsumi. Each time the echo calls out to him, bouncing around his mind.

"Tatsumi, wake up," Mine moves Tatsumi to wake him up from the bad memory. Tatsumi wakes up as he turns to Mine who was calling out to him. "Are you alright, Tatsumi? You appeared to have a bad dream?" Mine asks concerningly.

"It's nothing, just a bad dream." Tatsumi brushes off.

"That's good because we're about to land soon from what I can see." Mine responded. Tatsumi looks down at Mine who is sitting by his side. Tatsumi glances at her attire for the evening: a dark maroon leather jacket, a pink skirt, a white dress shirt, and black stockings. Tatsumi, along with the other men of the Night Hunters, dressed formally in a charcoal business suit and tie with their hair styled to the side or behind but not cut. Their ties are different from one another as Lubbock, Tatsumi, Wave, and Anderson wear the ones they see best suit them. "So, what was it that you were dreaming? Mine asks.

"It's nothing. Just a bad dream that's all." Tatsumi responded, trying to calm her concerns about him.

"Oh... ok. Well just so that you know that I am here if you need me." Mine responded.

"Of course, it's because we're comrades and maybe even more than that." Tatsumi jokingly teases which earned him a pinch from Mine. "Ow! What was that for?" Tatsumi complained.

"You deserved it. And it's not that I want to be more with you or anything." Mine mumbles the last sentence, puzzling Tatsumi of what she had said. Tatsumi reaches out for Mine's hand but takes it away as the Grumman Gulfstream I, carrying the Night Hunters, lands on the tarmac of the Washington National Airport the plane shakes as it lands on the tarmac slowing its velocity. As Tatsumi holds onto the armrest seat he hears a crash next to his side. Mine and Tatsumi turn over as they see Lubbock collapsed to the floor beside them.

"Are you ok, Lubbock?" Tatsumi asked. Lubbock gets on all fours and grabs onto Tatsumi's left armrest as the plane slows down to cruising speed. "Lubbock?"

"I'm not used to flying on planes still," Lubbock complains, looking up at Tatsumi responding with the raspy voice of a person who hurled for ninety percent of the flight. "I ran out of my motion sickness pills and I forgot to buy more. It took us over five hours of flying from Washington state. How are you fine?" Lubbock complained.

"Didn't you take a motion sickness pill?" Mine responded.

"Fuuu~." Lubbock collapses to the floor as a flight attendant helps Lubbock up from the floor. "Thank you." Lubbock thanks the flight attendant.

14 May 1963
Washington D.C., United States

Two weeks passed since the Night Hunters' raid and sabotage in Nazi-occupied Greenland. Their efforts helped to establish control over the island and the wider North American sector, clearing our remaining Kriegsmarine ships that pulled out of Greenland after a failed halt, allowing UFN navies to move in but still hampered by U-Boat movements found throughout the sector. Leading to the reclamation of Iceland from the Reich. Knowing that the Americans may invade the Einheitspakt territory Operation Saxon was enacted to reinforce the Kingdom of England.

The Grumman Gulfstream I lands on the tarmac of the Washington National Airport. The Night Hunters trained for two weeks in the Cascadian forest after their Greenland mission but were recalled back to Washington D.C., back to the CIA Headquarters. Infiltrating a civilian airliner with their Imperial Arms and clothing hiding in plain sight within several pieces of luggage. The Night Hunters step out of their plane and quickly blend with the rest of the civilians, wearing clothing that is similar to everyone else. Similar to Mine, both Akame and Mine wear pleated skirts, colored the same as their eyes, and a black Chanel suit jacket with black dress shirts and ties the two had previously before. Yet despite their professional attire, Mine's dress stood out. But they did not mind, as the seven members of the Night Hunters walked over to find a chauffeur holding a fake name they had to memorize. They follow him to the limousine with their 'luggage' loaded in the second limousine prepared in advance.

"Why are we being recalled back to Washington?" Kurome turns to Anderson. "Is it because of our training in the mountains?"Kurome asked.

"Nothing much was told to me. But if it has to be something, then it may be our proclivity to cause the most noise in our mission. For the most part, we've managed to stealthily enter but everything after that was nothing more than an explosion fest." Blaut Anderson responded with discontent in his voice. "But if anything, Reeds' contact is normal for us but this is straight from Director John McCone himself. Which is a concern."

"It doesn't matter. Because if we are not flying then I am good," Lubbock comments. "If those Nazis won't kill us then flying would." Lubbock furthers his comments after having bouts of motion sickness while flying.

"Just tough it out Lub," Mine smacks Lubbock's back. "But what is the reason for why we're called up? Out of all of us, you know more than anyone here." Mine's suspicions catch on to Anderson's ignorance.

"Just as I said, I have no clue," Anderson denies, reaffirming his ignorance by not being given specific details from his superiors. "Though we're operators for the CIA, we're only given the information necessary for our missions."

"That's one of the things that I don't like about this organization," Wave responded, partially frustrated by how they are a covert unit but are left out of important details or reasons to go somewhere, with the orders to move always being mandatory. "But if there is anything that might happen, then we may be sent to Europe."

"Soon, but we couldn't do it the traditional methods of infiltration. Since now American citizens in the Reich are seen with suspicion," Anderson responded as he took out his flask and opened it. "That is if they aren't an informant approached by the German SS," He takes a swig from his flask before putting the flask back. "Then again, those informants most likely would've gone to Reich out of their own free will and been approached by the German SS. Similar to those who hold communist and Marxist ideals and moved to Moscow to meet with the KGB." Anderson continued. As they continued their drive Akame looked out through the window, seeing how quickly the capital city was able to rebuild its buildings in the few hours it took to take a third of the infrastructure down.

"Why not send me in? I'm certain that I can kill Hitler and put an end to this war," Tatsumi spoke, offering himself to do an assassination mission against Hitler. "And I know my way around the Volkshalle, so I'm certain I can kill him and all other top-level nazi leaders." Tatsumi continued.

"Don't be naive, Tatsumi," Wave responded. "It's only recently that we've saved you from the Reich and from what I've learned you were under Esdeath's spell. What makes you think they would bring you back?" Wave continued. "There was a reason they didn't send us to the Reich when the CIA learned about our Imperial Arms." Wave's comments broke Tatsumi's idea before they even implemented it.

"Wave's right you know," Anderson responded. "God knows what they would do to you the second they catch you, worse yet if Esdeath Partas catches you," Anderson continued, expressing his concerns. "Then only bad things would happen."

"Speaking about it," Tatsumi's memory flashes back to the moment he first met Hitler and Esdeath presenting Incursio to him but failing to connect with Incursio. That moment he saw sent a pang of fear in his spine, even before knowing the full extent of Hitler's crimes. "No, you're right. It's such a stupid idea." Tatsumi responded. He glances over and sees Akame looking out of the window with Kuorme next to her side. "I see that those two are closer together. I hoped their relationship improved, but after seeing how they trained in the past few weeks, then I must say they did."

They continued conversing with one another until they arrived at the CIA Headquarters.

CIA Headquarters
Langley, Virginia

Inside a waiting room of the CIA Headquarters, two women wait inside a room after being given orders to do so by Johnathan Reeds of the CIA. The auburn-haired woman sucks on a lollipop as she sees her counterpart praying on a wooden rosary, weathered by usage and storage, and reciting prayers she doesn't understand but makes out several terms every time she repeats it.

"Alors, parlez-vous vraiment français, ou non?" (So, do you actually speak French or not?) The auburn-haired woman pulls the lollipop out of her mouth, inquiring about what she is saying. The praying woman stops in her prayer.

"I understood a bit of what you just said. But I kindly ask that you let me finish this decade and then we can converse." The woman returned to her rosary. Intrigued, she leans in closer to the table.

"Is that so? Then how come you didn't learn French in those three years while living in Canada?" The auburn-haired woman teased. "I did my research on you and you lived in a mostly French-speaking region for the amount of time that you lived there, or did you refuse to?" She continued her playful pestering, making her stop once more.

"I learned Latin because Father Clément recommended it, making it easier to learn French over there. I did learn a bit of Chiac French from my interactions with the people. Although it is limited and he mostly did the talking," The praying woman responded. "I was going to learn Québécois French, but it took off nowhere until the SS arrived." The praying woman makes the sign of the cross before wearing the rosary over her head and under her dress, concealing it.

"Latin huh? What, did you read the Bible for it?" The auburn-haired woman asked with a snarky tone.

"The Sixto-Clementine Vulgate, the Aenid, Confessiones Augustinus, Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, and a couple of Latin prayer books." The praying woman responded. Surprised, the auburn-haired woman leans and tilts the chair back on its hind two legs.

" Oh là là, you are more educated than you look," The auburn-haired girl tilts her chair back. "You're a way of acting is different than what Mine has said about you. Telling me clumsy moments about you, confirming what I've read in the Revolutionary Army's reports. From what I've read from CIA reports about you, you are not as bad as I thought. I can't wait to work together on the field." Hearing her, the formerly praying woman gave a soft smile; gently closing her eyes; and softly tilted her head at the auburn-haired woman.

"Gratias tibi ago, et Deus nos in missionibus nostris benedicat." (Thank you, and may God bless us in our missions) She replied softly but her fluency puzzled her auburn-haired comrade. The auburn-haired woman turned her head, kicked her feet on the table, and crossed her arms pouting while trying to balance on two legs of her chair, after hearing her speak in Latin: speaking with perfect fluency.

"You don't have to show off, you know." She continued to pout.

"Are you two ready?" Reeds opens the door to the room. The auburn-haired woman collapses back at the shock of Reeds opening the door without a knock, hitting her head on the wall and the floor.

"Ow, ow, ow!" The auburn-haired woman complained as she rubbed her head in pain, getting up from the floor. "Knock on the door next time." She raised her fist at Reeds.

"And don't tilt back on a chair like a ditz," Reeds retorted. "Anyways, your old comrades are coming at any moment. I recommend keeping things civil for now and not letting any nostalgia take you over. Understand?" Reeds concludes, that both the praying woman and the auburn-haired nod their heads in agreement with Reed's terms. "Finally, you two are to enter when I tell you two. You are to not walk in with me, you are to not stand behind the glass windows. Just stand adjacent to the wall and stay out of sight." Reeds gives his advisories.

Being led inside the CIA Headquarters, Tatsumi felt as if he may have already traversed through its hall but could not discern as his vision was obscured by darkness. His eyes dart around as he feels the gaze of other employees of the CIA. He stands up straight but this slight boost of confidence is not something that can carry him on as security guards look at him and his team. Tatsumi presents his ID, his name replaced by a pseudonym. He follows the rest of the Night Hunters through the CIA Headquarters. As they walked, Anderson slowed his pace to walk together with Tatsumi.

"First time in here?" Anderson asked.

"Of course, it's kind of overwhelming," Tatsumi responded with an indoor voice. "Although, it feels like everyone is looking at us. I think it may be Mine's dress?" Tatsumi remarked.

"I wouldn't put it beyond her for her to decide to stand out," Anderson glances at Mine who is speaking with Akame. "Put her side by side with First Lady Jackie, they'll assume that Mine is Jackie's daughter." Anderson snickers at his remark. Tatsumi also glances at Mine and he chuckles at the thought of it. Mine can hear Tatsumi's slight chuckle but pays no head. Moments passed as the Night Hunters were led to a meeting room with a projector and windows facing Virginia from its topmost floor. Lining up, the seven took a seat facing one another with Anderson standing over the other six. "Until Reeds comes, I'll speak on his behalf," Anderson changes to a formal tone to speak. "The CIA is pleased with the actions done on the 1st of May on Greenland. Although it wished that the actions done to carry out said mission were more covert, the benefits balances costs," Anderson continued. "From what was relayed, Nazi stations in Greenland were unaware of an assault by UFN naval forces and thusly fell without much of a fight. If anything, then you should pat yourselves on the back." Anderson relays his information. But before Anderson continues Reeds opens the door wearing a traditional CIA suit.

"Thank you, Anderson, you may take a seat," Reeds tells Anderson.

"I prefer to stand. But please continue." Anderson gestures for Anderson to speak. "Because what is it that is important that you and the rest of the CIA would not want me to know? Same to the rest of the group."

"Well, let us cut right to the chase," Reeds hurries to get to the main goal of the meeting. "Your exploits, Night Hunters, have shown that you work well as a seven-man unit. But even the lowest denominator of a unit still moved as a whole," Reeds speaks to the unit. "I'm not saying you should all work alone, but it would be better to work as separate teams on missions rather than as a single unit. As seen by your actions in New York, Vermont, Canada, and in Greenland recently," Reeds continues. "That is why, during the campaign, we've come across two individuals. Both wield items of interest that would benefit us a whole lot. They joined out of their own free will," Reeds continued. "To make it a fair nine and move in units of three."

"Two more?" Tatsumi asked. "And who may those two be?" Tatsumi asked further.

"I do not know, but I hope they would not be a burden on us." Mine comments, acting superior to her future juniors.

"Anderson, if you may," Reeds directs Anderson to open the door. "You two may enter now," Reeds tells the two women waiting outside to enter. Unlike the rest, the two wear distinct clothing that highlights a feature of their nation of origin and/or profession. Yet as the two entered to meet their teammates, entering and standing side by side next to Reeds. Akame, Mine, Lubbock, Tatsumi, Kurome, and Wave's eyes widen by the shock of what they see. Standing up from their chairs.

"W-wait, but how! But I saw you die." Mine responded with shock in her voice, startled and perplexed by seeing them. Akame remains speechless by what she sees yet stands up in response.

"How is this possible!" Lubbock exclaimed loudly with shock and confusion. Kurome remained silent but had a feeling inside of her be lit up once more upon seeing the face of one of them.

"But this doesn't make any sense!" Kurome responded, breaking her silence. "I thought I had you killed!"

"Weren't... weren't you supposed to be dead!" Wave responded with shock, having heard stories about them being eaten. "It was confirmed back then!"

"How is this possible?" Tatsumi stands up from his chair with his mouth hanging open. The two women smile back happily but contrast after seeing their compatriots once more, not seeing any of them in years. One smiling softly and with humbleness, while the other hides her excitement behind a smirk.

"From the surprises on your faces, you all seem to be acquainted with them," Reeds gestures over to the two women. "Everyone, I would like for you to meet your two new team members for the Night Hunters," Reeds gestures to his left, pointing at the purple-haired woman wearing a similarly colored cheongsam and boots, wearing a dark purple capelet over her shoulders. "This purple gal is Sheele. From what I see, you may already know about her," Reeds gestures to the second woman, smirking still after sticking a lollipop in her mouth. She is dressed in a white dress shirt, a black vest, a checkered pattern skirt, thigh socks, and a pair of sneakers, with her head wrapped around her neck. "And this here is Chelsea or Chelsea if you want to be technical." Reeds pronounces her name again but with a French pronunciation. Reeds takes a step back from the two. "As I've said before, they will be working together with you all in the Night Hunters. Any concerns?"