Vol 1. Chapter 16 – Hauhet's Craving

Abydos District, Abydos Operations Room – The Night Before

The week of preparation was over. The operation room was almost full as everyone gathered around the digital plotting table in the center. Ayane was the only exception, having taken a spot next to her whiteboard. She looked about the full table, pausing as her gaze turned to me. I nodded for her to continue, to which she responded with a nervous nod of her own.

"All right," she said as she brought her tablet up, "It looks like everyone is here for this special meeting. Let's start with the roll call."

This time, there were no complaints, unlike the previous attempt.

"Representing Abydos, Vice-President Hoshino?"

Takanashi waved from her seat at the head of the table, and the rest of Abydos gathered around her. Nonomi still managed to maintain a relaxed air about her, even as the rest of her schoolmates vibrated with nervous energy. "Hoshino, present."

Ayane checked something off on her tablet, before turning her head to the next group. She managed to maintain at least an air of professionalism, even as she read the next name. "Representing the mercenaries… Boss Rikuhachima?"

Aru and Problem Solver 68 were sitting along one of the long edges of the table. She somehow seemed to be at ease with the situation, a smirk on her face as she nodded. "As if you needed to ask."

Her attempt at remaining collected was somewhat offset by the nervous tapping of her foot, along with Mutsuki watching the scene with rapt amusement from behind her. Haruka was trying her best to vanish into the background, flinching as everyone's attention turned in their direction.

Kayoko just looked tired.

Ayane didn't respond, electing to continue her checklist. She turned to the third group, keeping her composure as she asked, "Representing Schale's forces, Deputy Chief Suzumi?"

"Here, Okusora-san," Suzumi responded, the serious Trinity student seated across from Aru. The rest of the regular Schale members, Hasumi, Chinatsu, and Yuuka were standing behind her. Of everyone present, they had to be the most collected. Three of them were high-ranking in their school districts, after all. Colours had to be shown.

Ayane nodded and turned to me. Even though it meant little, she still asked, "Adviser to all groups present, Nelson-Sensei?"

"Present and accounted for," I answered from my seat opposite Hoshino, the moonlit window to my back. My answer seemed to seal in the reality of the situation, as everyone shifted to prepare themselves.

"Then all groups are present," Ayane said before walking next to Abydos. "Let's go over the plan for tomorrow. Nelson-Sensei, you have the floor."

'Is the presentation ready?' I asked Arona through the mental radio.

I heard a bit of humming and tutting before a satisfied 'Yep! Everything's ready to go!'

"Thank you, Okusora." I stood up from my chair, reaching into my backpack to place the Shittim Chest atop the table. It connected instantly and I let Arona handle the slides and animation. I was better at explaining what they were seeing than running it. Almost instantly, the map activated and displayed the familiar sight of the Abydos Deserts, focusing on the region around the two Kaiser bases.

"I trust that everyone has spent the last week productively?" I was met with a wave of nods across the combined students. "Excellent. Thanks to Okusora's and Problem Solver's efforts, we have a rough idea of what we are facing."

Two windowed displays opened on the table each one featuring a rotating recreation of the two bases. "Kaiser has set up two bases within the territory of Abydos. There is a third base in theory. However, this base exists outside of the borders of Abydos. Its distance renders it irrelevant to this operation."

"This is the forward base we encountered in person," The display zoomed in on the smaller but more fortified base. "It is the more obvious target, with a higher level of static defenses and heavy troops."

The map highlighted several points of interest. Defensive bunkers, heavy combat androids, veteran Mercenary students, and even a few futuristic tanks. It made for a formidable fortress. Unfortunately… "For our overall operation, its capture is unimportant. It is the initial line of contact for the Kaiser Security PMC overall defensive network. It exists solely to detect and slow down any hostile forces."

"So what?" Serika asked, face scrunched up in thought, "We just ignore it?"

"No. The battle plan begins with us triggering their defense." I pushed forward two markers up to the base. The horned skull of Problem Solver and the halo-bearing cross of Schale. "We will spl-"

"Split into two lines," echoed everyone but Problem Solver, who just looked around confused. I looked about, feeling a touch of embarrassment warm my face.

"Was it that obvious?"

"Sensei…" Suzumi said slowly, the slightest hints of a smile on her lips, "Every plan of yours splits up whatever forces we have."

"You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks," Hoshino jibbed sleepily, her head held up by one arm, even as her sharp eyes scanned the map.

I shook my head, smiling in amusement, "Well I will endeavour to reveal the twists as they arrive. But yes, the regulars of the Schale Battleline Squad and Problem Solver 68 will initiate the operation with an attack on the forward base."

Abydos Desert, Kaiser Forward Base – T-Minus 0 Minutes

Kaiser Security PMC had received a tip-off that something might be happening. They were ready for the usual level of unskilled mercenaries and thugs to try something, even if they didn't know what. So, they were on alert, nervously waiting for something to happen. The anxiety increased as night fell, and darkness crept over the desert. The only light beyond their walls was from the moon, and it could hardly hope to illuminate every nook and cranny.

While they were ready for something, that didn't mean they were able to respond to it. They were still just security forces. They were well trained and equipped, but mercenaries intended for patrol and security against infantry. So, nobody was looking up when a pair of drones pitched down for a brief moment before stabilizing.

Moments later, a rain of mortar shells fell out of the sky with no warning and slammed into the area around the front gate. The defenses momentarily gave way as the explosions knocked out the troops closest to the gate, or blew them away from their positions. Before the dust could settle, an armoured half-track roared out of the dunes at breakneck speed. As soon as it drew close, Mutsuki popped out of the top and tossed a large plastic explosive at the still-standing gate.

It detonated on contact, blowing the gate apart. The half-track rushed through the opening, sliding into a stop. Almost immediately, Suzumi and Yuuka jumped out and opened fire, advancing on the armoury and communication towers. Mutsuki and Haruka followed, the two making a beeline for the motor pool where the tanks and vehicles were, along with their fuel and supplies. Aru and Hasumi, not to be outdone, stood up and out of the open-top back and immediately began sniping sentries and watchtowers.

But not quite fast enough, as one of the sentries managed to pull a flare gun off her webbing. She pointed it straight up into the sky, firing a red flare into the night and casting the base in a red glow. She watched it arc up, confident that reinforcements were coming before an explosive bullet slammed into the back of her helmet.

And unwittingly pulling the entire company branch into the jaws of a waiting predator.

"So, you want them to call in reinforcements?" Aru asked, an eyebrow cocked in confusion. "Isn't the whole point of a surprise attack to prevent them from calling reinforcements?"

I shook my head. "I have good information that they will likely be anticipating an attack. Their forces will be at a ready level already so it is unlikely for us to avoid this. So rather, we anticipate it. Their supply base is too far to send support, so it will come from the main base."

The digital map zoomed away from the forward base to focus on the base located near the old main school building. Unlike the forward base, it was a much clearer logistical or rear base. While it was still well-defended and had defensive works prepared, it lacked the hardening that the forward base had.

Instead, what it had was size. We never got a good count, but there had to be at least a few hundred assorted combat-ready troops and their supporting vehicles in the base. It was large enough that it would be problematic for us to take on.

"The number of reinforcements…" Ayane muttered as a list showed up on the screen. "Do we have the forces to take them on?"

"We do not," I confirmed, as I reached out and shifted another symbol onto the map, at a point between the two bases. A dried-out riverbed that Kaiser used as a roadway for all their force movement between their bases. "But I know who does."

The symbol clarified, and everyone's eyes widened.

Gehenna Academy, Prefect Team HQ, The Week Before

Hina's ears perked up at the sound of her office's doors opening. She glanced away from Ako's writing to see a very nervous-looking Iori peering through the door.

"Uh, Hina? Someone's here to see you."

She glanced at her schedule. There was nothing scheduled for this time block. Her instincts itched. It could be any manner of things, but nothing that showed up unannounced and unscheduled ever helped her workload.

Still…

"Is it urgent?" She asked aloud, even as she continued to proofread the apology letters, "I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on because of your little expedition."

Iori's nervous energy ratcheted up intensely, a bad sign in Hina's eyes. "I don't thi-"

Someone pushed the door further and a very familiar voice called out, "Hello, Head Prefect Sorasaki. I apologize for my abrupt visit."

Her hands stilled, and she could see Ako freezing out of the corner of her sight. Iori seemed like she wanted to just evaporate. Finally, she sighed and put the letter down.

"How may I help you, Nelson-Sensei?"

Iori pushed the door open and the Adult stepped in, ducking under the doorframe. Her smile was bright and pleasant. Her eyes were hard, the faintest flicker of electric blue in the grey blue.

"I have come to discuss the punishment of those involved in our unfortunate incident the week prior."

Iori and Ako both wilted, paling as their nervous sweating increased. Hina and Nelson both paid them no attention. Hina tented her hands together, cocking her head curiously as she asked, "Already? I thought you'd spend more time before deciding."

Nelson nodded, reaching into her uniform jacket to retrieve an envelope. "Considering how 'successful' the previous exercise was," and Hina was certain everyone present could distinguish the biting sarcasm in that lead-up, "Abydos and Schale have decided that an even larger, grander cross-district training exercise would be what Abydos needs to revitalize itself."

"If I may approach?" Nelson asked with the letter in hand, several steps away. Hina nodded and, with her assent, the Adult closed the distance between them until she was standing right in front of her desk.

"Please take a look, for your private consideration." Nelson gently placed the envelope in front of her, before pushing it across the desk and taking a step back.

Hina understood the message and quickly opened the envelope, reading the paperwork within. This plan proposal… suggested movements of forces… the expected hostile forces… even the 'mock' fortifications…

All of them aligned with her intelligence work. Intelligence that she had provided Nelson.

"Of course," Nelson said grandly, blandly ignoring the flat stare Hina was shooting at her, "I understand your surprise at how quickly Abydos and Schale were able to put together such an operation. Fortunately, we discovered several illegal constructions in the desert which we will be repurposing for this training exercise. We have ensured that mercenaries will be in place to play the defending force."

Nelson cocked her head, a curious glint in her eye. "So, how do you respond, Head Prefect Sorasaki? Will the Prefect Team lend some forces as a show of solidarity?"

Hina didn't need to think of her answer. This would clear a few things off her to-do list. Rather, there were certain omissions that she found curious. "I couldn't help but notice Iori and Ako aren't discussed in this proposal."

"Well, that is because they do not qualify for this exercise."

"What!" "Huh?!" Ako and Iori cried out, snapped to reality by Hina's mention of their names and Nelson's blithe response.

"After all, it seems one of them has been underperforming in Physical Education," Ako paled, sweat increasing again, "and the other seems to have been lacking in the more Academic courses," and Iori now was pale as a ghost, "which is rather disheartening."

Nelson smiled. It was not a friendly smile.

"Fortunately, Schale has a new program to help accelerate such deficiencies in officers. Personally led by myself, of course."

Hina nodded, to Iori and Ako's visible chagrin. There wasn't much room for argument. After all, she had made that agreement.

"Very well, we shall participate."

Abydos Desert, Dried Riverbed – T-Plus 16 Minutes

The Kaiser Security Commander gripped the handles of her command vehicle tightly as her convoy rushed towards the FOB. The attack they were waiting for was here and, as they predicted, it was an assault in force. Reports confirmed that Problem Solver was attacking along with Students verified to be members of Schale.

Nelson-Sensei and Abydos were tipping their hands. But the enigmatic Adult had miscalculated. Kaiser was ready for a counterattack to push back and destroy their attack. Even if each attacker was an elite far beyond an individual Kaiser Security PMC member, they were still limited by supply and stamina. They couldn't fight forever.

The Commander had a counter-attacking force of over six hundred combat androids and regular mercenaries, along with a squad of tanks.

They were going to close this chapter of Abydos, with their own hands. Not the hands of thugs or wannabe outlaws, but the professional hands of the most elite mercenary force in Kivotos.

At least, that was the plan.

That plan vanished when the desert ridge to their east, perpendicular to the riverbed they were rushing over, erupted in cannon fire. The tank leading their convoy was immediately struck by multiple shells, detonating and bringing their advance to a screeching halt. The same happened in the rear, blocking their retreat.

"What the hell!" She shouted into her hand radio, "Report in! What's hap-"

Her voice dropped out as a purple flare flew up from behind the ridge, illuminating the attackers. A line of tanks, armoured cars, and half-tracks all painted in the Gehenna Prefect Team's colours.

With a roar, their engines started as one and they slowly rumbled over the ridge towards them.

She switched the transmitter to the stronger radio on her command APC, setting it to wide-range broadcast. "This is Kaiser Mobile-Lead, we have contact! All forces take defensive positions now!"

"To think you'd convince the Head Prefect to participate," Chinatsu muttered as the Prefect Team symbol floated on the map, an arrow signaling their advance on the reinforcements coming in from the main base.

"Of course, we are hosting a cross-district training exercise after all."

The smile was stuck on my face even as everyone gave me flat stares of bemusement, bafflement, or disbelief. Except for Suzumi and Shiroko. Suzumi just seemed amused, while Shiroko was more focused on the map.

"Nn," Shiroko muttered, looking at the presumed positions of forces, "How do you know they won't just counterattack or retreat?"

"Excellent question," I replied with a snap of my fingers. Several documents detailing after-action reports from the Security PMC's contract with the GSC popped up on the mapping table, alongside videos. "Since the Council hired them for work, I was able to access the documentation they submitted as a part of their invoices. This included their proof of services provided. Every report of them being ambushed had them assume a defensive position first. They are, after all, a defensive-minded security company."

A wave of nods and noises of understanding met my answer.

Chinatsu nodded, the lens of her glasses catching the light of the plotting table. "I'm certain the Prefect Team can tie up the reinforcements long enough for everyone else to finish their part of the plan."

"Tie up?" I asked, an eyebrow quirking upwards. "I intend for the Prefect Team to destroy the reinforcements and encircle the forces at the Forward Base."

Chinatsu turned to stare at me, bafflement clear in her expression. She pointed at the projected force list. "Sensei, the number of mercenaries would still outnumber the Prefect Team 3 to 2. At a minimum by your estimates. That's not enough to quickly or decisively defeat the Kaiser forces."

"Which is why I have arranged for additional support."

The operational map zoomed out, showing the City along with the desert. At the edge of the desert, where the wasteland met the city, another symbol popped up.

Everyone gasped, but Hasumi was the only one who spoke. "That's-!'

Trinity General School, Shopping District, The Week Before

Hifumi walked the streets of Trinity, a frown on her face as the events in Abydos echoed through her mind. She told Nagisa about her trip and her friend seemed concerned, but she didn't commit to anything. But Hifumi was sure Nagisa would do something. Her friend was a good person, and good people don't ignore those who need help.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Ajitani. How are you today?" A familiar voice from behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. She quickly turned and bowed to the only possible owner of such a voice.

"Good afternoon, Nelson-Sensei! I'm doing fine, thank you!" She snapped back up with a cheerful smile that seemed to match Nelson's bright simile. "What brings you to Trinity today?"

The Adult hummed in thought, walking next to her as the two continued down the street. "Well, to be frank, I was searching for you."

"For me?" Hifumi asked with a gasp. She couldn't quite think of what the Teacher might want with her, but it had to be important to leave Abydos for.

"For you," Nelson confirmed. "I understand you spoke with the Tea Party about your adventure with us?"

Hifumi frowned, already guessing where this was going. One of the problems of being friends with the famous was that everyone assumed every meeting had to be something. "Not… really? I just told Nagisa how my day went and what Abydos was facing."

"Did she mention her thoughts?"

"Well, she said she would think about a response but she didn't really say anything else."

Nelson nodded, her expression perfectly neutral. She wasn't sure, but Hifumi could almost hear the gears turning in the Adult's head. After a moment, she reached into her jacket and pulled out a perfectly straight letter. "I hate to ask for you to do this, but would you mind delivering a message to Ms. Kirifuji for me?"

"Oh, sure!" Hifumi took the letter. She was going to see Nagisa later in the evening anyway, it wouldn't be too much.

"Thank you most kindly," Nelson said with a smile. "Now, it has been some time since I was last in the core of Trinity. It would be a shame to leave so quickly. Would you mind if I accompanied you for a moment?"

"That's fine! I was going to check out this new Peroro merch drop!"

Nelson hummed noncommittally; her expression impossible to read beyond an amused smile. "Certainly. Perhaps I could understand your fascination with this company."

"You want to know more about Peroro?" Hifumi answered with a gasp, before reaching into her bag to pull out one of her stuffed toys, "Well, you see, there's the original Peroro, who was made for the anime…"

Abydos Desert, Dried Riverbed – T-Plus 21 Minutes

Kaiser Commander swore as her troops got into position to repel the armour thrust charging down the dunes into their flanks. How did Abydos convince Gehenna to work with them? Their intelligence never mentioned anything about this!

Only for her panic to pause and give way to confusion as the armoured vehicles suddenly slowed to a crawl a kilometer away from them. They were still suppressing her troops with machine guns and cannon fire, but they were giving her an awful long time to prepare. She stared at the tanks, trying to discern the logic, but finding nothing she could see and hearing nothing but the sound of distant thundering.

There wasn't any reason for them to slow down instead of charging right into them. They would give her enough time to solidify their defenses. It made no damn sense.

Then she blinked and looked around. There weren't any storm clouds in sight, and she didn't see the telltale flash of lightning.

So, then where had that thunder just now come from?

She got her answer moments later when a few dozen High-Explosive shells slammed into the front of her troop's position and detonated. Explosions tore into her line, knocking out Haloed mercenaries and tearing apart combat android frames. Shells slammed into the few tanks she had left, disabling them by tearing off tracks and bending barrels.

"What the fuck?!" She shouted, "Everyone, scatter! That wasn't Gehenna's artillery!"

Panic ensued throughout her ranks as the desperate broke formations to seek cover wherever they could. However, it was too late. The second barrage of shells arrived just as her formation broke, detonating into vicious airburst clouds of shrapnel and smoke. Then a third barrage of high explosives again, this time hitting the middle of her forces.

The Commander narrowly avoided being knocked unconscious, but she couldn't say the same of her command APC. An airburst had gone off right above her and riddled the vehicle with shrapnel, setting off the fuel. It wouldn't be long before the vehicle would become an inferno.

She and her driver jumped out of her burning wreck. As the driver pulled out a sidearm and searched for the threats, the Commander scanned the surroundings. Her perfect defensive formation was in complete disarray, with all her troops either hiding or knocked out.

She barely had time to curse the circumstances before a familiar rumble brought attention back to the Gehenna lines. The barrage had broken her force's cohesion and now the Prefect Team was ready to shock her troops into retreat or surrender.

"Everyone, open fire NOW!" She shouted into her local radio before drawing her sidearm. It was futile, but she had to try.

Everyone watched as a symbol for artillery with the Tea Party's insignia topped with a Peroro appeared on the map. Lines and fields of fire enveloped the marker representing the Kaiser force. Moments later the Prefect Team smashed through them, and the two forces rotated towards the forward base.

"As these distractions occur, Abydos and I shall assault the main base and arrest as many officers as possible. Their Director's helicopter should arrive tomorrow morning, and he will spend the day at the base before leaving the next morning. His arrest is our primary objective."

As I spoke, a final icon showed up on the map. Abydos's school insignia as well as my ship's badge. The two units advanced on the now thoroughly depleted main base, hitting it before the Prefect Team force slammed into the forward base.

Suzumi frowned at the sight of Abydos's solo advance across the desert. She looked at me, unspoken worry in her gaze, "Sensei, is there another surprise here? Another form of backup?"

"No," I answered with a shake of my head, "All known forces are present on the map."

She chewed her lip for a moment, glancing back and forth between the two screens. Finally, she asked, "Are you sure? You're charging in without support. You and Abydos will still be fighting a lot of troops, and will need to breach the walls."

"You are almost correct in your assumption."

"Almost?"

"I will be acting the role of fire support." Everyone stared in confusion as I grinned in response. "Okusora discussed it with me during my time here, but I had not had the chance to try it until recently."

Abydos Desert, Kaiser Forward Base – T-Plus 22 Minutes

The distant thunder of artillery detonating snapped back to reality, forcing me to focus as the bundled mess of knots of my power strained my attention to its limit.

"Have we reached the initial point?" I asked, my voice carrying over the radio.

"You're almost there, Nelson-Sensei," Ayane called out from the headset, the sound of clicking and typing echoing in the background, "Everyone's ahead of schedule, but you should still be good!"

I nodded, even if Ayane couldn't see it, and stood up over the top of the open troop compartment. As I stood up, I could feel the weight of the extra equipment clinging to my webbing; both literally and an odd metaphysical heaviness. I looked down at my webbing, counting the weapons attached. Gleaming back at me were the pistol grips of all six hand cannons, still attached to my webbing with hastily made holsters. An act of will and focus that strained my attention to its limits.

The half-track rolled over the last dune and began to accelerate once again. The cold air of the desert night rushed through my hair, leaving it trailing behind me as I looked at the main base ahead. I could see warning lights alight even from here, and I could hear alarms in the distance now that I was paying attention. They knew something was happening. They had to, by now. Chaos was the natural order of things on the battlefield, and it was my Duty to guide these Students through it.

I drew the first handcannon, the point of impact on the main gate becoming clear in my mind. The half-track bounced and shook over the dune despite Nonomi's best attempts, but I found it affected me little. I steadied myself, letting the cold of adrenaline and anticipation course through my veins.

The die is cast. I will see Abydos victorious.

The first cannon thundered.

Everyone pondered what I told them, their expressions varying levels of interest, curiosity, and concern. Then it seemed to all click into place.

"Nelson-Sensei," Hasumi said, voice hesitant, "If summoning all six of your weapons would require that much focus, how will you direct us?"

Everyone turned again to look at me, curiosity and concern visible. I answered them with a shake of my head. "I will not be. The strategic goals provided to each of you should direct your decisions."

"But what if something goes wrong?" Aru asked, her usual bravado blunted by the nervous glint in her eyes, "What if we encounter something unexpected?"

"In life, you will find that the path to your goals will be unclear or obstructed by circumstances. In such times, you must simply make the best decision you can without hesitation to ensure you can meet your goal," I answered with a soft smile. "While we may not have had much time for formal education, I hope that you will have understood that from my examples."

A chorus of acknowledgments met my answer before my smile thinned into a much more devious smile. "However, we will need somebody to coordinate all these many forces. We must ensure that every person is operating with the correct information. As such, there will be a primary mission coordinator who will be overseeing all facets of this operation."

"Who will that be?" Kayoko asked.

I shifted my attention to a person across from me. Everyone followed my gaze to Ayane, who was furiously scribbling all the details of the plan into her tablet. She paused at the sudden silence and looked up, glancing around, before pointing to herself in shock.

I nodded.

"S-s-s-sensei!" Ayane stuttered, cheeks flushed with shock, "I'm happy you trust me with this but isn't there someone better?"

I shook my head, amused. "If there is someone better, we do not have access to them at this time. Okusora, you have already demonstrated the ability to coordinate smaller groups from multiple schools before. This will simply be an extension of your previous capabilities, and I believe you will meet my expectations."

The bespectacled secretary was still blushing, although it now seemed to be because of my praise. Still, she pushed forward and asked, "But how will I coordinate this many people? I can only control one drone at a time right now."

"Not to worry," I answered, even as Yuuka suddenly turned to glare at me, "I already requisitioned something to assist you."

"Sensei… Don't tell me that lease deposit in Seminar's account..." Yuuka ground out, eyes narrowing.

I laughed helplessly, "Guilty as charged, Hayase."

Abydos Desert, 15,000 Meters Above Sea Level – T-Plus 22 Minutes

As the various battles raged across the desert, a shadow silently cut through the night sky. A current generation Millennium Triton Recon UAV, leased to Schale for a month. It might have cost quite a pretty yen, but its utility was priceless for this.

Radio signals from the area were intercepted, forming into voices and orders. Digital strings were tugged and drones glided across the skies like puppets. All the while, it combined all the information gathered into one coherent stream and relayed it to its controller.

Ayane blinked, watching in amazement as the drone interpreted her orders and relayed them to other drones. At the same time, all the information being gathered was effortlessly combined onto the map on her command computer.

It was a stark reminder of how much more resources the bigger schools had.

But at the same time, Ayane had surprised Yuuka by learning how to control the drone after a night of cramming and a few hours on a simulator program. This was something that took weeks of training according to the Seminar treasurer.

Ultimately, how well you can use something matters just as much.

Speaking of…

"Prefect Team representative, a Mercenary squad is trying to circle around from the north. Let your girls there know to watch out for them." Ayane called out as a blip of hostile marks attempted to reenter the fight.

After a few moments, a person who was most definitely not Hina Sorasaki answered, "… Of course, Secretary. I will inform them."

"Thank you, good luck," Ayane answered before switching channels to the one operated by the Trinity.

"Faust, how's your side looking?" She asked.

Hifumi, wearing her bagged disguise, appeared on a small window. The bag rippled as the cannons fired, almost revealing the blonde student's face. "We've gone through a quarter of the shells we put aside for this, er, training exercise! Everything's looking good!"

"Thank you, let me know if you start running out."

"Will do!"

Glancing over the map, everyone was making good progress and hitting all their strategic objectives. It was all going according to plan.

So why couldn't she shake the sense that something was wrong?

Ayane blushed but nodded. "I'll do my best!"

"I know you will," I assured her before turning to the table at large with a smile. "Well, are there any questions?"

Shiroko raised her hand, keeping it in the air until I pointed to her. Her face was serious as she asked, "What will we call this operation? We'll need something for the records."

I blinked as I realized I had not considered that very important detail. I glanced at the rest of the table, seeing everyone else deep in thought as well. Certainly, there was no need for me to come up with something, "Excellent question Sunaōkami. Does anyone have a suggestion?"

"Oh!" Aru shouted, jumping in her seat with her arm raised, "I have a list!"

"Have at it."

She smirked, pulled out her cell phone, and tapped about for a moment before reading an entry, "As we're aiming for the head of the enemy, what about 'Guillotine'?"

I shivered involuntarily at the name, the sound of it sending a sense of abjectness down my nerves. I wasn't the only one as well, judging by the frowns Suzumi and Hasumi were sporting along with the look of disgust on Serika. Aru looked around, frowning at the cold reception.

"OK, that's a no then," she muttered, scrolling through her list, "How about 'Kingmaker'?"

"That… doesn't sound quite right, Rikuhachima-san," Suzumi answered with an awkward smile.

"Critics everywhere. What about 'Robber Barons'?"

Serika glared at Aru, annoyance creeping into her expression, "Do you have any good ideas?"

"I don't see you suggesting anything," Aru huffed, crossing her arms.

"At least I'm not taking up everyone's time."

"You say that to my face!"

"I'm looking at you! Right no-"

The sound of an excited clap and cry of "Oh!" interrupted the fight. Everyone paused and turned to the source, Nonomi. The blonde beamed at us all cheerfully and offered, "What about 'Sunaarashi'?"

"Operation Sandstorm," I muttered, trying the name. It seemed… right?

"I like it," Hoshino declared, "As Vice-President, that's what we're calling it. Let's begin Operation Sandstorm!"

Operation Sandstorm, Abydos Desert, Main Base – T-Plus 33 Minutes

The base was burning. The Director clenched his fist as the sound of firefights echoed throughout the desert night, splashes of explosions visible from his temporary office. That bastard had given them information just in time for him to do something, but not enough time for him to get additional resources from the rest of Kaiser.

"Sir!" A voice called out, snapping the Director out of his musing. A Robot Soldier had returned to report.

"What is it?"

His fellow Adult shuffled awkwardly, before answering, "The intruders hit the helipad first. They didn't destroy the helicopter, but it's not flightworthy at the moment."

The sound of metal creaking echoed as he clenched his fist tighter. Those damned children. That fucking Teacher. This operation was supposed to be a cakewalk. It was going to catapult him to a position on the Board. Now the world around him was closing quickly.

He can still salvage this operation.

"Is the Riesenjäger ready?"

The Soldier stilled, cocking his head curiously, "It is, but we haven't tested it yet! We don't know how well it'll do!"

"No matter," The Director answered, stripping off his jacket, "I'll pilot it."

"But Sir, it's not sa-"

He spun around, grabbing the Soldier by the chin. He stared into their optics, a growl backing his voice, "I did not ask for your opinion. We're in the final stretch here. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. So get it ready for me by the time I make it to the hangar."

He let him go, the Soldier falling to the ground in a sprawl before shooting up with a "Sir, yes sir!" before running out of the room.

The Director clenched his fist again. He'd show them the cost of underestimating him.

Operation Sandstorm, Abydos Desert, Main Base – T-Plus 43 Minutes, Present Time

A large combat android barreled towards our position, a shield made of heavy armour ready to intercept incoming fire. I brought up my fourth handcannon, took aim, and fired. The shell slammed into the shield and detonated, tearing the shield apart and ripping open most of the torso as well. It stumbled forward a few more steps before a burst of rifle fire from Shiroko tore through its torso and dropped it to its knees.

"Where is he?!" Serika shouted at a panicking Mercenary, shaking her by the collar, "We know he's still here! Talk!"

Hoshino patted the catgirl on the shoulder with a sigh, "I don't think she's lying. Either knock her out or tie her up, we need to keep searching."

Serika growled and glared at the Mercenary. To the Mercenary's credit, she just rolled over and put her hands behind her back without any further prompting, allowing the frustrated catgirl to zip-tie her quickly.

"That's strange," Ayane's voice buzzed over our radios, "You're at the residence he stays in when he's on the base. He should be here."

I looked around at the ruined office. It was littered with destroyed combat androids, knocked-out Robot Soldiers, unconscious and silent Mercenaries, and tied-up but groaning Mercenaries.

What it distinctly lacked was anyone who fit the profile of the Director.

"Ayane, get a drone overhead," Hoshino called out as she searched for any signs of where he went, "He couldn't have gotten too far."

"I'm working on it," Ayane answered, the sound of furious typing and clicking echoing, "But the combined task force encountered what's left of the reinforcements rallying. They're trying to beat them down and need my help too."

That wasn't to plan. Either more of them managed to avoid the initial barrage or more than anticipated managed to escape. Even if the Kaiser force's last stand was only delaying the inevitable, it was still a delay. More minutes before we could regroup and assault this resource base in force.

"Do what you can, Okusora," I answered, keeping a reassuring tone in my voice.

"Aha!" Ayane suddenly called out, "I got a drone overhead no… wait…"

The line was silent for a few heartbeats before she suddenly shouted, desperation clear in her voice, "Everyone! Get out of there, NOW!"

Nobody froze. I whipped around at the closest exterior wall and fired my handcannon. The retort and explosion were deafening and the smoke blinding, but it blew apart the concrete even as the handcannon shattered. Serika and Shiroko immediately dashed for the hole, jumping out. I followed them, seeing Hoshino do the same with the panoramic windows she and Nonomi were standing next to.

We had just landed on the ground when the concussive blast and thunder of a large caliber cannon ripped through the camp. Seconds later the side of the building erupted in a massive fireball, far larger than any I had seen thus far in Kivotos.

"What the hell was that?!" Serika shouted; ears flattened against her head. She got her answer immediately as a bipedal machine stomped around the corner of one of the barracks buildings.

I saw Shiroko pick herself up, staring at the machine in front of us. "A … Goliath? I don't think I've seen this model before, Sensei."

She was right. The Goliath combat frame was rather common in Kivotos. Standing two stories tall, it was normally equipped with two rotary autocannons in the arms and an overhead-mounted 90mm howitzer. It was capable of both piloted and autonomous operation, making it rather popular with mercenary and security forces.

But this Goliath frame was different. Its right arm lacked an autocannon and featured a regular hand and arm instead. The 90mm howitzer was gone, replaced with a larger and longer cannon. Additional armour plating had been hastily welded to the front, the unpainted metal gleaming in the fires. It turned to face us, its speaker crackling on.

"That's because you haven't," came a masculine voice over the speakers, "it's a special, one-of-a-kind machine. I'll see you defeated if it's the last thing I do."

A horde of combat androids, Robot Soldiers, and Haloed Mercenaries poured in from behind them. By the look of it, it must have been most of what was left of the remaining forces in the base.

It looked like the entire party was here.

"I shall give you one chance," I began, striding forward, "Surrender now an-"

A burst of fire from the autocannon interrupted anything else I had to offer. The machine trundled forward, the right arm bracing the cannon. "No."

The cannon thundered and the shell slammed into the ground behind. It detonated, scarring the desert with a crater. I clenched my teeth, drawing my fifth handcannon. Around me, everyone else seemed to brace themselves for the finale. "Abydos, if he refuses to surrender then we shall enforce it upon him! Freedom is at hand!"

"Doubled pay to whoever can bring down that damned Teacher and bring me Hoshino!" Shouted the Director at the same time. The remaining mercenaries looked determined, but the promise of bonus pay seemed to give them the boost of motivation they needed.

With a roar, both sides charged.

Hoshino braced Iron Horus as a burst of Vulcan fire from the Goliath tore up the ground around her. It lasted until the ammo feed belt detonated into a fireball thanks to Nelson's handcannon. The mech stumbled backward from the explosion, even as the troops around it were retreating from the combined fire of Serika, Shiroko, and Nonomi.

"Damn you! JUST GIVE UP ALREADY!" The Kaiser Director roared in frustration as he righted his mech upright. Sparks flew off the mech from damaged wiring even as the Vulcan whined but failed to fire.

Fortunately for them, it seemed the modifications made the Goliath significantly less reliable. The heavy additional armour had resisted almost all of Nelson's handcannons, Shiroko's rockets, and their gunfire. But it made the Goliath slow and the large cannon made it unbalanced. It made it easy to avoid. Furthermore, Nelson's habit of charging into melee and Abydos's subsequent habit of following right behind her worked in their favour. The Kaiser mercenaries and Abydos were fighting at close range, and any explosion would take out both sides. The Director couldn't fire the main gun unless he wanted to blow away his troops.

The fight was going well. It was going too well.

So naturally, the Director chose to do something sudden and reckless. He snarled, his voice a barely composed howl, "You bastards! I'll show you!"

Everyone paused as the Goliath suddenly leveled its cannon at them. All of them. Hoshino saw even Nelson blink in surprise, her mouth caught in a small 'oh'. Then she turned to the melee and shouted "SCATTER!"

Everyone, even several of the mercenaries, threw themselves in a random direction as the cannon fired at point blank. The shell detonated and slammed into the ground among them, tearing a huge crater into the desert. Combat androids were torn apart by the shrapnel and concussion, mercenaries were sent flying and sent a huge cloud of dirt, sand, and dust into the air.

Hoshino managed to throw herself out of the way in time to avoid the blast but was still partially buried by the debris thrown up by the explosion. She pulled herself and her weapons free of the sand after a few moments of struggle.

"Is everyone ok?" She winced as static answered her question. She pulled the headset out and spotted the problem immediately. A chunk of shrapnel had gouged out the entire side of it, narrowly avoiding her ear.

She cursed as she pocketed the damaged device. Raising her voice, she shouted, "Everyone! You ok!?"

The sound of crackling flame, falling debris, and groans greeted her. Then, the sound of heavy metal feet meeting sand. And another. Hoshino sighed as she racked her shotgun. She already could guess what was coming.

Slowly, the Goliath strode out of the dust cloud. She couldn't see the Director, but she could feel the smugness coming off of the mech, as damaged as it was. Chunks of shrapnel riddled the frame, and the bolted-on armour was badly compromised. But it was still standing, and she was by herself.

The speakers crackled and hissed, but the voice that spoke carried the insufferable haughtiness so familiar to her. "Ah, Vice President Takanashi. This is how you decide to repay the lifeline that we have so graciously extended to you? After all the patience we have afforded you? How disappointing."

Hoshino didn't even bother answering. She knew the time for words was over. She shouldered her shotgun and started firing. She couldn't stop it in time, but she just needed to buy time for everyone else. The Goliath barely shuddered as the shotgun shells pitted and gouged the armour. The Director sighed, a fake put-upon sounding noise.

"As I thought. You children are all alike," He said sardonically, "What you and your pitiful school were suffering through before will be a mercy compared with what's to come."

She didn't answer even as her shotgun clicked empty. She drew her pistol and kept firing, the bullets ricocheting off the armour. He sighed again, this time a tone of real annoyance creeping in. "But maybe you will be the first to taste what's to come."

The Goliath reared its broken Vulcan back and swung it as if to bat her away. At the same time, the slide on her pistol locked back, empty. She shoved it back into her waistband and braced her shield with both hands. She might just be able to deflect it, buying everyone else some more time to get her or run. It might be meaningless. It might do nothing. But she was ready for this, wasn't she? No matter how much it hurt, she would push through for everyone else.

Despite it, she couldn't help but feel relieved when the arm carrying the Vulcan was torn apart by a triple of explosions. The arm detonated into pieces even as the sound of metal shattering echoed from behind her. The Goliath stumbled forward past her, the loss of the arm in midswing throwing it off balance. It managed to keep itself upright as it twisted, looking for the attacker.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" The Director raged.

Nelson cut through the smoke and dirt behind Hoshino, the Adult's eyes glowing electric blue. She answered, her voice unnervingly even, "As you wish."

The Director hissed in anger as the damned other Adult finally revealed herself.

"You," He spat out with as much venom as he could project into his voice.

The Sensei of Schale nodded; her expression as bored as her voice. "Yes, me."

"I never thought that an adult would try to oppose me," The Director spat out, his combat frame shifting its posture at his thought, "But today is proving to be a day full of new experiences. You'll regret getting in Kaiser's way."

She ignored his threat entirely. Instead, she looked up at his Riesenjäger and, for a second, he swore her eyes pierced through the cockpit to stare right at her. She spoke, her voice as cold and even as steel, "Director, I give you this one last chance. Come with us peacefully, or we will escalate."

He laughed at the absurdity of the answer. Escalate? When the base was already in ruins? When the attack had set him back years and likely cost him his position on the board? He could only think of one appropriate answer.

"Eat shit, Sensei of Schale."

The fellow Adult shrugged before drawing an actual sword and the last of those massive handguns. Meanwhile, that shrimp had pulled herself and reloaded. The two exchanged a few words, before turning to stare at him. He straightened up, his Riesenjäger responding in kind. There was a moment of still silence where nobody moved.

Then the ground underneath the shrimp exploded as the pinkette went wide. Meanwhile, the Adult charged directly at him. The Teacher was slower than the children, but he knew she made up for it by being indomitable.

But they were using small arms against him. They were almost out of soft targets on the suit to aim for, and only the Teacher's weapon seemed to be able to harm his suit. But his blows were still as strong as ever. He just needed one or two good hits in, and then he could finish them off.

The three traded for a few long moments. The shrimp kept trying to circle around him to distract him or hit something more vulnerable that might be on his back. But he knew better than to fall for such a simple bait. No, the real problem was that damned Sensei. Her strange weapon could knock out the Riesenjäger suit if he gave her the opening.

But landing a hit on her was proving harder than he expected. She was nowhere near as agile as the children, and she was mostly unable to dodge out of the way of his swipes and stomps. Instead, she made up for it with her insane strength and stability. No matter how much the ground shook with every blow, she managed to maintain perfect balance. Any swing that might hit her was somehow deflected away with a sword.

An actual metal sword and a shotgun versus his top-of-the-line Riesenjäger combat mech. And he was losing. The increasing integrity warnings and danger in his HUD told him as much. But he had one advantage. They had to focus on him, even as his height allowed him to glance about during the fight.

It was that height that let him spot the rest of Abydos taking shelter behind some buildings, the two animal-eared students tending to the blonde with a first aid kit. It was a dirty move, but nobody won by fighting fair.

He stopped moving as the Riesenjäger braced the cannon. The breech opened as the internal magazine lifted a shell into the chamber. He had one shot before they could react. He heard the shrimp shout in panic and saw her start running towards them as the propellant loaded. At least until a backpack suddenly slid under her feet, the straps tangling her ankles and tripping her.

Suddenly, something slammed into the Riesenjäger before he could pull the trigger and the entire machine lurched to the right and spoiled his aim. He looked down and stared, in horror, at the new Sensei-shaped dent in the leg armour. He froze as the Adult in question pulled herself up, none the worse from having dented the composite armour with a body check. That was until she lifted the handcannon to shoot at him from point blank. He couldn't allow that. This close and she might be able to punch through with a single shot. A single impulse and he did the one thing the engineers warned him not to.

He kicked the Teacher.

Almost immediately balance stabilizers kicked in to keep the top-heavy Riesenjäger from falling over. Tip warnings screamed at him and several artificial muscle fibers snapped in the other leg. Any hope of mobility was gone. The impact was no less damaging as severe chassis warnings sprang up over the leg. He watched as the Adult sailed into a nearby building, cratering it.

And since he already loaded a round, why not? He wasn't going to get a better shot anyway.

He centered the crosshair on the building and pulled the trigger.

The Riesenjäger is a unique Goliath, modified by Kaiser Security PMC after it became clear Abydos was rapidly increasing its potential as a threat vector. It included several changes to counter their potential attacks, such as heavier armour to deal with Abydos's newfound anti-fortification capability. But the most important change was its weapons. It sacrificed one Vulcan rotary autocannon and its ammunition for a one-of-a-kind weapon.

A weapon with a troubled history, first conceived in Gehenna during the reign of the Thunder Emperor. As the other school districts developed larger and more heavily armoured tanks in response to the Thunder Emperor's threat, someone passed down an order. Nobody knew whether it was her or someone close to her. But the order was simple.

It was to build the biggest and heaviest tank. Capable of resisting any attack and capable of knocking out any other tank or Student.

Most of the project was a failure. It created a vehicle that was far too heavy, far too expensive, and far too slow to do anything meaningful. Never mind the difficulty of supplying more than one of them. Most of it never left the drawing board by the time the Thunder Emperor graduated. Most of what was left was buried or destroyed by the Pandemonium Society's efforts to erase all evidence of the Thunder Emperor's rule.

But one portion made it off the paper. It made it to the prototype stage. It was test-fired and ammunition was produced for it. When the Pandemonium Society took over, the prototype was left in its warehouse and forgotten about. Whereupon agents for a certain suited individual covertly retrieved it and delivered it to the Kaiser Security PMC base.

The 12.8cm KwK 44 L/55 heavy anti-tank cannon. It was loaded with specialized armour-piercing shells that weighed almost 29 kilograms designed to punch through heavy tanks.

A large enough caliber with enough conceptual weight to count as an anti-ship cannon. It barely qualified, only matching the light guns used by destroyers and old light cruisers. Certainly, nothing that could reasonably threaten a heavy cruiser, never mind a battleship.

Maybe in another time, in another place, it would not have been sufficient.

Here and now? It was more than enough.

Hoshino watched in stunned silence as the giant mech stumbled from the impact of Nelson tackling it. Then it turned into shock as the Goliath kicked Nelson into a building. Finally, shock gave way to horror as the shell that was meant for Abydos fired right into where the Adult must have been. The building erupted into a fireball as the shell detonated, sending rubble flying across the base.

"Serves her right," the grating voice of the Director echoed out from behind her, "She should have known her place. A mere Teacher could never hope to stand up to those with wealth and power."

She didn't know why but those words made her blood boil. Memories of shared moments flooded through her. Of polite barbs delivered with smiles, of the exhilaration of charging side-by-side into the fray, of the pain shared across ocean and deserts.

Of the knowledge that the Teacher he so carelessly spat upon had bled so much to be nothing more than a teacher.

"Shut up," Hoshino growled, pushing herself off the ground. Every beat of her heart sent a pulse of fury through her veins.

"Oh? And what do you plan to do?" The Director crowed as the Goliath limped forward, dragging one broken leg behind, "Because I'll tell you what I plan to do. I'll double, no, triple your debt. I will force you to BEG me for forgiveness. I'll crush your friends beneath interest they'll never survive. I'll force those damned kids in the General Student Council to publicly apologize to me for sending their pet Adult to attack me. They'll all fear me!"

Hoshino hissed, kicking the backpack aside as she pulled Iron Horus out of the sand. She racked her shotgun, ejecting the spent shell. Her heart hammered and called her forward to action, to rage. She could see her friends running up to her, just a few moments away.

"No. I'll tell you what's going to happen. We're going to tear you out of that mech, and we're going to book you. We're going to make you BEG for forgiveness when we toss you in jail. And you'll stay there until we've taken every yen from you for bail, or until you turn to rusty scrap!" Hoshino roared as she glared up at the Goliath, feeling WRATH fill her veins.

The Director chuckled, the Goliath's jerky movements almost vibrating in tune. "Such defiance from children. I guess that's what happens when they learn from failures."

"You take that back."

"No."

Both of them braced for the final fight. One last dance between the reality of the world as is, against the hopes of the world that could be.

But the fight would never come, as the inexplicable happened.

A drop of rain, cold as winter's touch, fell from the sky. And then, another. Followed by dozens, then hundreds, then thousands, and then countless more.

The base stilled as, impossibly, ice-cold sleet poured from the heavens in the heart of the desert. Before long a storm unlike any other descended on the base. Thunder and lightning split the sky as the winds screamed with unheard voices. Then a distorted voice filled with [ANGER] suddenly cut through the storm.

"We are not done, wretch."

AN: There's a storm brewing out there. Angry spirits long thought laid to rest are stirring. A dark entity approaches and it's possibly friendly? Well, I suppose it would depend on who you are and who you support. Would hate to be on the wrong side of things though, that seems like a short and painful existence.

We're also starting to payout some of the foreshadowing I've set up or been alluding to. Hopefully, after this chapter or next, a few questions will be hard answered. Of course, the answers may in themselves raise other questions.

Thanks as always to my friend for beta reading! Do let me know if anything's been missed.