Vol 1. Chapter 12 – Sekhmet's Fury

"Unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable!" Haruka screamed as she burst through the smoke, firing her shotgun as quickly as she could cycle the action. The anxious berserker cried bloody murder as she tore a path through the center of the Prefect Team's formation.

Cries of surprise tore through the air as a large chunk of the formation was suddenly forced back. Iori stumbled back as a shotgun blast caught her in the shoulder.

Kayoko sighed as she watched the violence unfold. Aru ordered them to turn around after they helped the restaurant's Master into an ambulance, and it seemed they arrived just in time to try to even the odds.

Not like the odds were pretty good even with them involved. Still, Nelson offered to support them in the hardest of times. Aru couldn't possibly sleep knowing that she abandoned the Adult. Even if the contract explicitly said that she was more than allowed to.

"Enough of your lies, Amau Ako," Kayoko demanded as she stepped into the street. "I know you well enough. You're lying about how this brings you no joy. This is what you wanted all along."

Kayoko ignored the shouts of surprise from Abydos, the unamused look Nelson sent her, and the interplay between Mutsuki and Haruka as the silver-haired gremlin joined in the violence. She had her eyes locked on her target, Ako. The hologram stared back, unamused.

"Now, you know better than to throw accusations blindly, Kayoko." Ako tutted, waving a finger tauntingly.

"Don't play dumb," Kayoko fired back, her tone cool as she ran through the scenario again. "It doesn't make sense for the Prefect Team to show up all the way out here. The Prefect Team invading another district? Just to catch the likes of us? It doesn't match the Head Prefect's style."

Kayoko pointed at Ako's hologram accusingly, staring down the Senior Administrator. "An inefficient and sloppy use of force like this? This has your fingerprints all over it, Amau Ako.

"And a force of this size? A whole company of Prefect Team members and two other executives? This isn't a rapidly mobilized force to capture a small gang like us. No, this is an invasion force intended for heavy combat. Combat heavier than what the five students of Abydos are capable of. Which leaves only one explanation."

Ako was still watching, her grin unchanging. Abydos was watching her, curiosity clear on their faces. Nelson's eyes narrowed, seeming to realize what Kayoko was setting up. Kayoko pushed ahead to the conclusion. "Your true objective was Schale. What you wanted was Sensei all along."

Cries of surprise echoed throughout Abydos. That didn't surprise her. What did surprise her was Chinatsu turning to stare at Ako. The blonde medic stared at the blue-haired officer, and asked with a flat voice, "Seriously, Ako?"

Nelson, however, was silent. Deadly so. After a moment, the Teacher spoke with a casualness that didn't fit the situation, "Well, Ms. Amau? How do you answer these accusations?"

Ako's smile didn't slip at all as she hummed in thought. "Oh dear. It slipped my mind that Kayoko was a part of Problem Solver too. I should have known better than to waste my time by letting her talk. Ah, well. No matter."

Ako snapped her finger. The sound of boots marching down the street echoed throughout the bloc as if on cue. After a second, Kayoko could hear the Abydos's operator over her radio. "Everyone! Multiple Prefect Team companies just exited various buildings from all directions! They have you surrounded!"

"It was certainly a difficult task hiding these troops from your drone patrols," Ako explained with a smile, "But it was worth it. Better to be safe than sorry when dealing with Schale. It's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared, after all!"

"So, you accept the accusations held against you then?" Nelson remarked calmly, even as Kayoko could see the faintest sparks of blue in her eyes.

"Well, she's half-right," Ako admitted with a shrug. "It's true that I anticipated the worst in the event of a clash with Schale. But it was a contingency. I didn't intend for this to escalate like it did. Please believe me when I say that, though I understand if you don't."

"Please believe me when I admit that I find it hard to believe. But you have yet to explain one thing. Why exactly would you select Schale as a target?"

"Because of the Tea Party," Ako answered. "They're the Student Council of Trinity Academy, Gehenna's longest-running rival. Our Intelligence Committee learned about a report on Schale that was submitted to the Tea Party."

Kayoko could hear Serika mutter quietly to herself. "Don't tell me they're talking about Hifumi?"

Ako didn't seem to notice as she continued, "I had no clue what Schale was at first... so I took a look at the report Chinatsu had compiled. A mysterious organization left behind by the president of the General Student Council… An extrajudicial club headed by an Adult… One that meets with known delinquents like Problem Solver 68…"

Ako pointed at the unamused-looking Adult, smiling an unkind smile. "I can't be the only one who sees how suspicious that is! You represent the greatest threat to our upcoming treaty, and I can't risk you disrupting it further. So, until the treaty is signed, the Prefect Team will be taking you into custody. Taking care of the troublemakers just happens to be a bonus."

"Wait," Chinatsu cut in, wandering in front of Ako's hologram to stare at the Administrator. "Did you read the follow-up email? The dossier I sent about Nelson-Sensei? The one that explains why what you want to do is a bad idea?"

Ako tutted, wagging a finger at the blonde. "Chinatsu, I appreciate the work you did with your report on Schale, but your opinion on Schale and Sensei is clearly compromised. What I'm doing is for the good of all Gehenna."

Chinatsu stared at the hologram for a second before throwing her arms up in frustrated defeat. Everyone watched as she walked away from the hologram, crossed the street, and sat down on a bench. "If you won't listen to me then I'll wait safely over here, for when you're ready for my input."

Everyone was silent at Chinatsu's outburst before it was broken by the sound of laughing. Kayoko and all those present, except Chinatsu, turned to the source: Nelson. The Adult was still standing, arms crossed over her chest, as she laughed mirthlessly. After a second, she stopped, a single eyebrow cocked in curiosity as she spoke. "Please allow me to understand. Your plan to prevent me from coming into conflict with Gehenna, is to engineer a situation whereby I come into conflict with Gehenna? Thus ensuring that I would become hostile to your efforts regardless?"

"Please," Ako replied, waving off the question. "You already approached Trinity. You work with elements who have violated our rules. You can't be trusted to deal with Gehenna in good faith after that. Detainment is much easier."

"It's nice that things are being kept simple," Shiroko said with a frown.

Serika was staring at Ako, mouth gaping in shock. "Your grand plan is to kidnap Sensei, a Federal Agent, from another School District? By illegally invading us? Do you really think this will work for you?"

"I see," Ako answered. "This is how it will be then. Gehenna's Prefect Team will not hesitate to resort to violence if necessary. We don't mind it at all."

"One last attempt at intimidation, Ms. Amau?" Nelson interjected, before shaking her head. "Hinomiya's armband reminded me of something once. She showed herself to be better than what I feared. But you?"

Nelson uncrossed her arms, her left reaching back to grab the handle of the sword. The Adult tugged it forward with a single hand. Kayoko's eyes bulged when the sword, rather than rip out of the ground, was torn forward. A large cut was left on the ground as the impossibly sharp blade was drawn forward, pointing at Ako.

"You are nothing more than a playground bully. Another hapless tyrant to be," Nelson declared, her voice cold as sparks of blue lit up her eyes. "After we destroy your forces here, I will make it my personal goal to find you, and show you how we treat prats like you in the Navy."

Ako smiled, unphased by the threat. "I assure you we will meet, but on my terms. Prefect Team, move out! Subdue the Foreclosure Task Force and Problem Solver! Do all you can to secure Sensei!"

"Abydos! The situation is desperate, but desperate affairs call for desperate measures!" Nelson called out at the same time as Ako, a familiar pistol finding its way into the Adult's hand. "All who can, full ahead!"

Without another word, the Adult charged, with Abydos following. As they left, Kayoko turned around and spotted Aru. She quickly jogged up to her, seeing Aru following Abydos and the Teacher with her eyes.

"Boss," Kayoko called out, "We can still make a run for it. Sensei is dangerous enough that they will have to focus on her for now. We don't have to take part in this fight."

She had to point it out. Somebody had to look after the well-being of everyone in this group. Try as she might, Aru was not so strategically minded that she always made a good call. But despite that, Kayoko already knew what the answer would be.

Aru chuckled as she stepped forward, unslinging her rifle as she did. A familiar smirk settled onto her face as she spoke. "Kayoko, Kayoko. Don't you know me by now? Running away after taking a contract from Nelson-Sensei? After everything the Prefect Team said about us?"

Aru slammed the butt of her rifle into the ground, proud anger etched into every line of her expression. "I would NEVER forgive myself if we ran! We have to show Sensei what she's paying for!"

Haruka hopped over, smiling. "That's right, Lady Aru!"

"Seems you're getting fired up!" Mutsuki said as she slammed another belt into her machine gun.

Kayoko looked around at her friends, all of them raring to go. Well, at least they knew Abydos would work with them. She drew her pistol with a sigh and nodded. "Well, if that's what you want, then give the word."

"Problem Solver!" Aru said with a smirk, bringing her rifle up in one hand. "It's time to earn our keep!"

The rifle roared and, with a wordless cry, they all joined the fray.

Another Prefect Team member tried to get to our makeshift fighting position behind several concrete barriers. As she ran up, she pulled a grenade from her pocket and pulled the pin. It seemed she was going to try to flush us out.

Unfortunately for her, while my firearms did less damage to Students, they still carried their full weight to objects. A fact I now demonstrated as I brought my rifle up and emptied all five rounds at her hand. Most of them missed, but one found its mark and struck the grenade. The force of the impact jarred the explosive out of her hand and it fell to her feet. It bounced once, then rolled to a stop in front of her. I had just enough time to see her expression drop into a horrified stare before it detonated, sending her flying back.

"Come on now," Aru mocked with a sneer as she watched the girl come crashing down. "I thought the Prefect Team was going to bring us in! They'll never do that if they can't even take the three of us."

"They're certainly slowing us down though!" Nonomi cheerfully added as her Gatling gun ripped through the barricade shielding the final member of the most recent squad.

Truth be told, the Prefect Team was doing quite well in slowing our advance. They were keeping their distance and only a few individual squads ran up on occasion to try to flush us out of whatever cover we were behind. Whenever we pushed up, they would fall back in coordinated movements. It denied the rather short-range oriented Abydos most of their advantage, and it also prevented me from closing into melee where I was most effective.

The problem was that they couldn't stop us. Ako had prepared well for this encounter. She brought 3 companies of the Prefect Team, which was roughly 360 Students. According to Kayoko's intelligence, they would normally have transports and support from tanks. If they had come in full force, then it would have been problematic to hold them off even with Problem Solver's aid.

Except they could not deploy like normal. The surveillance web set up by Ayane was robust and encompassed much of Abydos's last city center. The long operation time and range of the ScanHawk drones meant Ayane would have noticed heavy equipment long before they could attack. So, they must have left them behind to travel light, hiding in buildings to evade her notice.

Which meant that all they had were small arms, the occasional man-portable anti-tank weapon, and light mortars. Their hidden reinforcements meant to overwhelm us had to travel to us by foot. Even then, they could use their numbers and superior discipline to overwhelm a lesser foe who lacked good coordination. It was often what allowed the typically outnumbered Prefect Team to corral the chaotic mobs of Gehenna.

But I was the flagship of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. I fought in the greatest combined arms war ever to stain the Earth. I oversaw the bombardments and invasion of Sicily, Italy, and Normandy. My staff once coordinated hundreds to fight against thousands. Something like this was laughably easy. It didn't take too long for me to come up with a plan.

I looked down the street where the twin-tailed Executive was panickedly giving orders. They had picked a T-intersection to try to have a barrier of buildings between us and their mortars. It prevented us from just shooting at them to silence them. Unfortunately, Shiroko was quite fast on her bike and knew these streets like the back of her hand. They could not hope to catch her. She, with Serika and Kayoko on the back of her bike, had successfully cut through the cordon and wiped out their supporting fire.

Their reinforcements had hidden themselves further away from the main force and spread out to prevent detection. This meant that they took time to form up and advance as one, as Gehenna was wont to do. And so, Ayane had the time to predict the paths they would take and have Haruka and Mutsuki collapse abandoned or unneeded infrastructure onto them. Nothing that would kill or even seriously harm anyone, but enough to injure and prevent them from advancing.

And there was nothing Iori or Ako could do about it. Aru, Nonomi, and I were slowly but surely advancing toward the Gehenna command post. A constant pressure to prevent them from detaching any significant numbers, lest we suddenly surge forward. Aru's explosive sniper fire, along with rapid-fire from Nonomi and my less effective weapons prevented attempts to break out.

"Sensei!" Ayane called out. "The enemy's third company has been stopped and the Demolition Squad is returning from the west! Mobile Squad is in position on the east! Whenever you're ready!"

Well, no time like the present then. I turned to the other two Students next to me. "Is everyone prepared?"

"Ready when you are!" Nonomi answered cheerfully, casually hefting up her Gatling gun.

Aru smirked, loading a new magazine into her rifle. "Oh, are you going to finally show me what that is for?"

She looked down at the Hand Cannon next to me. I gave her a bright smile as I picked it up, the point of aim becoming clear in my mind in a moment. "Of course, Ms. Rikuhachima. Watch closely."

The Prefect Team's center squad knew the assault was coming long before we began. It was impossible to hide the battlefield shaping that had happened. They had to have heard from their reinforcements and mortars that they were on their own.

They had taken a good position, positioning several squads at each entry into their intersection. They were ready for a direct assault and prepared to start shooting the second they noticed someone enter the streets.

What they failed to notice, however, was one of Abydos's ScanHawk drones dipping out of the sky. Slow, ungainly, and small, it was barely noticeable in the battle infosphere even as it angled its nose towards the middle of the intersection. Speed increased as altitude rapidly decreased. Then, before it could exceed its maximum speed, several programs kicked in at once.

The first was an automated safety program that forced the drone to even out its angle to prevent an unrecoverable dive. The sudden change in momentum triggered a second, much more rudimentary program. A pair of bent wires that held a wire cage shut. The impulse from the course correction caused these wires to snap and the cage to spring open. Free from the drone, the cargo in the cage did as Newton demanded and inertia carried them down.

Said cargo being, of course, a triplet of light mortar shells liberated from the Helmet Gang's supplies.

The ScanHawk drone was not designed to carry weapons. It had a far too low carrying capacity to carry any meaningful weapons, and its design optimized more for range and stability than speed and maneuverability. Arming one was a waste of resources when one could just buy a significantly better purpose-made combat drone.

Of course, nobody told Shiroko this. And, in turn, Shiroko decided to not tell me that she had accessed the ScanHawk shed and modified one of them. The new wire rack allowed it to carry either a load of light mortar shells or a rocket pod from her own repurposed drones. In effect, Abydos now had a single extremely light dive bomber.

The three mortar shells finished their trip slightly off course. Rather than detonating in the dead middle of the intersection, it detonated off-center, blowing up behind a hastily prepared blockade on the western approach and demolishing it.

But the confusion of the sudden explosion was enough to cause the Prefect Team to lose concentration, squads moving to repair and reinforce the new gap in their defenses.

"All forces!" I shouted into my headset as I rose from the concrete barrier, Hand Cannon at the ready. "Full ahead!"

I aimed my first shot of the Hand Cannon, the point of impact affixed on the twin-tailed executive. Her instincts were sharp and she threw herself out of the way just as I pulled the trigger. Thunder roared throughout Abydos once more as their sole armoured transport behind them detonated in a fireball, sending burning debris all over their position.

I didn't try for a second shot. I couldn't afford to waste the other two shots. A strongpoint on the west side of the road erupted in another fireball, sending Prefect Team members scattering. The third shot struck a final concentration of Prefect Team members that had been waiting in reserve around where the transport used to be.

I tossed aside the Hand Cannon as it shattered. I could hear Haruka screaming angrily as she closed the distance in the west, exploiting the opening the failed bombing run had created. A rocket barrage from the east signaled Shiroko's entry into the fray as her drones zipped ahead, knocking out entrenched Students before her group's advance. Nonomi and Aru had already run up ahead of me, laying down suppressing and disrupting fire from their weapons.

Iori stood up, shocked as her carefully crafted defensive square cracked apart under the three-pronged assault. She glanced around slowly before her eyes settled on me. I locked eyes with her and, with a bright smile, drew both my sword and pistol. Her eyes narrowed, and she shouldered her spiked rifle. Without a word, I charged as she fired.

The battle around the Gehenna command raged as all three lines of our approaches converged. Carefully crafted strategic advances gave way to practical tactical choices. The shock of our explosive entry wore off and the Prefect Team managed to rally, even if most of their squads were now fighting as individuals rather than units.

They outnumbered us, but it failed to change the calculus of power. The Prefect Team members were cut off, fighting as individuals, and being encircled. Meanwhile, we were fighting with an advantage in morale and individual skill. The Prefect Team was giving ground slowly, but giving ground nonetheless.

Iori swore as I ducked out of the way of another one of her shots, and frantically worked the bolt of her rifle even as I closed the distance between us into melee.

To her credit, she did not panic or try to force herself back like many other Students. Instead, she flipped her rifle around to grab it by the stock and swung it like a bat as I was fond of doing. However, the spikes on the cheek rest of her rifle promised greater pain than the plain wood of mine.

I raised my right arm to protect my side and head as I surged forward, letting the bolt and action of the rifle slam into my arm rather than the spikes. The strike still jarred me and I could feel the impact reverberate across my arm and torso, a testament to the amount of strength she put behind it. But now we were within brawling range, where I was much more confident.

I wasn't in a good position to use my sword this close. I forced myself deep into her reach to avoid the spikes, but it also meant she was inside my reach as well. I couldn't bring my sword arm around to swing or stab without breaking off. That wouldn't work, as she was much faster than me and would likely either use the wind-up to fall back or go for another blow. Neither was favourable.

So, I swung my right fist down, arm still blocking her rifle, looking as if I was aiming for a pistol whip. It must have been the world's most telegraphed strike. She responded exactly as she should, leaning her head out of the way and letting my pistol sail past her head. Exactly where I wanted it to be. Before she could reposition and pull her rifle back, I fired the pistol as quickly as I could, emptying the entire magazine with the barrel right next to her ear.

Students were tough, extraordinarily so. Things that would concuss or kill a regular Human would just bruise or leave them lightly wounded. So, she wasn't permanently deafened from that many large caliber pistol shots happening right next to her ears. She did, however, stumble aside in pain as she shouted, "What the hell!"

She was still rubbing her ear to ease the pain and ringing when she realized we were still in the middle of a fight. But by then, it was too late. She turned her head to see my left arm already screaming forward in a wide slash. Despite how disoriented she must be, she still managed to force herself to leap back. What was a strike to the side of her chest instead became a slash across the front of her torso. The impact of the blade clipping the front of her ribs rather than the side sent her flying back into a pile of debris.

"Oh dear!" Ako's hologram called out from where she watched the crumbling Gehenna position. "You certainly are putting up quite the fight. But I have a rough idea of how many troops it would take if we were to get into a fight against Schale."

I let Chinatsu run up to the dazed white-haired executive as I turned to face Ako's hologram with a scowl. "I do believe we have made our point clear, Ms. Amau. Call off the remnants of your forces."

"You've demonstrated your power, and it is far beyond what was expected." She agreed, the smile never leaving her face. "I see Chinatsu was right in advocating a more diplomatic approach with you.

But I understand your weakness now… and what it will take for us to win."

The roar of engines echoed throughout the streets, as Ayane's voice crackled in my headset with panic clear in her voice. "Nelson-Sensei! A Gehenna armoured car platoon just breached the cordon! They'll reach you within ten minutes at this speed!"

"If this is what it will take, then I'll gladly do this for Gehenna! Armour Infantry squad, forward!" Ako shouted, her hologram waving its hand forward.

I was hoping to find a way to just shut this damned hologram up so I wouldn't have to listen to her monologue anymore.

"Really?!" Serika shouted at the hologram, exhaustion, and strain clear as she wiped the sweat off her brow. "Where are you getting all these people from!"

"Ha! Th-this is nothing! We can keep fighting!" Aru said with her chest puffed confidently. The confidence was also quite easily undermined by how she was leaning against a wall for support, with some bruising and scuffs from the fighting.

Kayoko frowned as she looked around, seeming to take in the amount of unconscious Prefect Team members. "No, Ms. Waitress is right. Amau shouldn't have the authority to send this many troops, which means she can't be acting on this alone."

Everyone paused, looking at the serious two-toned girl. Finally, Mutsuki spoke up, her voice filled with trepidation, "Does that mean she's working with the Head Prefect?"

I ignored the panic that erupted around me from the mere mention of the Head Prefect. It made sense that the Head Prefect had to have known that an operation of this size was taking place. Nobody threw this much force without their leaders hearing about it. But… at the same time…

"I doubt the Head Prefect is involved in this," I said, drawing everyone's attention. "I cannot imagine someone of her reputation to organize such an underhanded attack as this."

"But she couldn't call this many troops without her approval. Head Prefect Hina has to know about this," Kayoko pointed out.

Engines roared and I turned, seeing several familiar-looking armoured cars rushing towards our intersection. I sighed, flipping through my inventory log as I hoped for anything to even the situation. I came up empty, so the old-fashioned way it will be.

"Abydos! Problem Solver!" I shouted, raising my sword and catching the afternoon sun in it. "We stand on the precipice of decisive victory! I ask you to fight for a while longer yet! When ready, open fir-"

"Ako." An unfamiliar voice crackled over my headset. I wasn't the only one who heard it, going by the confused expressions of Abydos, the scared expressions of Problem Solver, and the terrified look on Ako's hologram.

"Huh? H-h-hina?!" Ako said, the smile vanishing and instantly replaced with an anxious frown. "I… wasn't expecting to hear from you so suddenly!"

"Ako, where are you right now?"

"M-me? I… um… I'm in a city near Gehenna! I'm on a routine patrol with the rest of the Prefect Team…" The sweat on Ako's brow intensified as she delivered that lie with the skill of a nervous child.

Everyone stepped back as the picture was starting to become clear.

"Do you think…" Ayane whispered, hesitant to draw their attention to us.

Nonomi frowned, finger raised to her chin in thought. "Why would she be so scared and lie if she wasn't acting on her own?"

Abydos, Problem Solver, and I all turned to our local expert. Kayoko blinked and glanced, confused, at the sudden attention before she answered, "Amau… isn't above acting before getting approval."

"Well, Head Prefect, I have something I need to do!" Ako stammered, shifting nervously in place. "So, I'll get back to you in a bit about your business trip! I'm just a little busy right now!"

"Oh?" Sorasaki lilted; voice full of faux curiosity. "Busy? I thought you were on a routine patrol. Why would you be so busy?"

Ako paused, staring at the ground as she grasped at words for an answer. None was forthcoming as the Head Prefect continued. "Could you be busy with something like…"

I blinked at a sudden shift in the quality of the voice. It had been somewhat crackly before, as radios in Kivotos were wont to do. But just now, I swore I could hear the voice clearly. Almost as if…

Everyone turned to an alley next to the Gehenna command post. For a second, I couldn't see anything. But I felt the presence long before I saw it. Strength radiated from the dark pathway and the sound of footsteps against concrete, heavy with intent, echoed forth. Glowing purple eyes drew closer and closer. Everyone froze as the footsteps grew louder and louder, hope and terror playing against each other. Finally, a Student who could only be Head Prefect Hina Sorasaki stepped out of the shadows with an angry frown.

"Harassing the members of other districts outside of our jurisdiction?" Sorasaki observed. The question hanging in the air was not what Ako was doing. It was why.

I had read the profile for Hina Sorasaki before. I made it a point to get information about the great powers of the various Academies after my appointment. Some basic information to get myself familiarized with the most important people in the region. But this was the first time I've seen her.

She had long voluminous white hair that reached past her knees, behind which a mess of horns protruded. She wore a dark purple double-breasted jacket adorned with gold chains and medals, a small black skirt, and a pair of dark purple boots with equally purple stockings. A large purple military jacket draped over her shoulders in a familiar cape-like fashion, with the Prefect Team armband on one sleeve. Two large bat-like clawed wings protruded from the small of her back. She carried on her back an extremely large machine gun, one taller than she was.

But the most interesting thing was her halo. It was odd. It was not the hologram structure that seemed common but, rather, had a distinct physicality to it. A diamond floated above her head, above which several alternating black and purple circular halos hovered. The most striking component of the construct was the black crown-like ring that formed the exterior of her halo, around which two more diamonds orbited.

There was a lethal air to her, one I hadn't felt since my arrival in Kivotos. This was the Student who could single-handedly corral all the chaotic mobs of Gehenna, forcing them into order wherever she went. I knew then, as she glared at Ako's hologram, that I could not hope to win against her. Not as I was now, at least.

But it would be a fight worthy of my heritage.

Sorasaki crossed her arms, the glow of her eyes intensifying as she spoke. "You'd better have a good explanation for this, Ako."

Abydos and I stood to the side as Sorasaki dressed down Ako. It wasn't quite as explosive or loud as the ones from back in my day, but no less devastating. Problem Solver 68 had made themselves scarce, unwilling to be in the same neighborhood as the Head Prefect.

After a few moments of us standing around awkwardly, Ako's hologram vanished. Sorasaki, seemingly satisfied, began to approach us.

"We can take her," Shiroko said, staring at the approaching Head Prefect.

Ayane's voice crackled over the radio, concern clear. "W-wait a minute! Head Prefect Sorasaki is the strongest Student in all of Kivotos! We have to negotiate with her."

"Nn," Shiroko grunted, not quite convinced but not quite willing to make an issue of it.

Sorasaki came to a stop just in front of us, looking at the group. "You must be Abydos."

"Yes," Ayane answered over the radio. "We're the Abydos Foreclosure Task Force, Miss Head Prefect. With us is our adviser, Nelson-Sensei."

She glanced at me and I gave a brief nod before adding, "I trust you understand how fraught the situation is."

"Of course. There has been an unauthorized troop deployment into another district without prior notice, as well as combat with other Academy students." Sorasaki answered calmly, not a single tic or tell showing. "But from what Ako has provided, Abydos is harboring delinquents wanted by Gehenna."

I pointedly ignored the stares Abydos was shooting into my back. It seems I miscalculated the other Academy's unwillingness to invade another to prevent this exact scenario when I agreed to take Problem Solver under my wing. I wasn't going to regret it, but it was unfortunate.

"I would believe that even if that were the case, it would fall upon the Prefect Team to inform Abydos of such operations, would it not?"

Shiroko stared at Sorasaki and slowly unslung her rifle again. Serika was staring daggers at the tiny titan. Nonomi stared back at the unflinching Head Prefect and added, "You made the mistake of attacking us first. Even if you had a good reason to send people, you broke the rules first."

This was not de-escalating like how I hoped. Ayane echoed my sentiment, as she muttered to herself over the radio, "Oh, I wish Hoshino was here right now."

The mention of Hoshino elicited a response from Sorasaki, the Head Prefect blinking and frowning. "Hoshino? Could you mean that Abydos's Hoshino is Takanashi Hoshino?"

All of us blinked at the reaction, all confused by the reaction. I wasn't sure why Hina knew Hoshino, Abydos wasn't exactly filled with renowned students.

"What's all this, now? What a mess," said a familiar sleepy voice. Moments later, Hoshino wandered around the corner of a street, covering her mouth as she yawned.

"What?!' "H-Hoshino?!" "Thank you for finally arriving, Takanashi." Serika, Ayane, and I all reacted to the sudden arrival of the pinkette. Hoshino, for her part, at least had the decency to look embarrassed as she scratched the back of her head.

"Sorry, Sorry. I was just taking a little nap." Hoshino explained, smiling sheepishly. "I know I'm late."

I glanced at Sorasaki while everyone was busy reacting to Hoshino's admission with exasperated gasps, sighs, and groans. Where Abydos was seemingly relaxed by the arrival of the tiny president, Sorasaki's eyes were wide open in shock. She stared at Hoshino as if she had seen a ghost.

Hoshino broke free from her friend's complaints and ribbing and approached Sorasaki, lacking the usual goofy sleepy air she carried about her. The two minuscule dynamos stared at each other before Hoshino spoke. "The Gehenna Prefect Team… You followed Problem Solver all the way here? Well, everyone in the Foreclosure Task Force is here now. Do you want to try this again, Prefect Team? Or are you ready to start talking?"

Sorasaki stared at Hoshino silently, a few faint drops of sweat rolling down her cheeks. Hoshino stared back, an unamused grin on her face. The silent stare-down finally ended as Hina answered. "You've changed a lot since your first year. I almost didn't recognize you."

Hoshino cocked one eyebrow curiously. "Huh? Do you know me?"

"When I was on the Intelligence Committee, I took note of any Students of interest in each district. I could never forget you, Takanashi Hoshino. I thought you left Abydos after the Incident."

I paused and blinked at that information, along with everyone else. I turned my attention to the erstwhile, sleepy pinkette. From Sorasaki's description, she was once notable enough for Gehenna to take notice. The sleepy, somewhat goofy Hoshino.

The two continued staring at each other before Hina nodded once. "I see. So that's what happened. It must be why Schale… Well, never mind. I didn't come here to fight."

The tiny Prefect shook her head and pointed to Chinatsu and the whi-the twin-tailed executive. "Chinatsu, Iori."

Chinatsu seemed exhausted and, judging from the amount of injured members, was likely ready to go home. One of which was the newly named Iori, as she struggled back to a standing position, bandages wrapped around her chest and one ear.

"Y-yes, Head Prefect?" Iori asked, trying to avoid looking at Sorasaki, Abydos, or myself.

"Gather the troops. We're pulling out."

Cries of shock and surprise greeted Sorasaki's order, even as Hina continued to stare at Hoshino and me. After a second, the Head Prefect bowed towards Hoshino and Abydos, eliciting even more shock. Hoshino, however, joined in as she stared at Sorasaki with confusion and shock clear on her face.

"I, Sorsasaki Hina, Gehenna Head Prefect, formally apologize to the Abydos Foreclosure Task Force for the utilization of troops without prior notice, and for causing a commotion in another district," Sorasaki apologized as she straightened up. "Gehenna's Prefect Team will no longer enter this area without authorization. I ask for your forgiveness and understanding."

Chinatsu had a relieved look about her, either from the prospect of being able to go back home or the fact that the Head Prefect was standing down. Iori, however, looked outraged. Injured as she was, she still managed to speak. "W-wait a minute, Hina! What about-"

Sorasaki glared at the girl, cutting off anything else she could say. Iori instantly wilted and stepped back. When nobody else had anything to add, she waved for the Prefect Team to retreat. Abydos sighed in relief as the Prefect team gathered their wounded, salvageable equipment.

However, that relief vanished when the tiny Head Prefect walked up to me. She looked up at me, uncaring for the difference, before pointing at a nearby bench under a tree. "Nelson-Sensei of Schale, I have heard of you from Chinatsu. Could we speak?"

This could be either very bad or very good. Either way, with Abydos staring at me nervously, I had no reason to reject her.

"Of course," I answered. "I would be happy to talk."

"Would you like a coffee, Head Prefect Sorasaki?"

"Yes. Thank you," Sorasaki answered as she took the offered can. She sipped from it slowly as we stood under the tree.

I let her finish the drink before asking, "How can I help you, Head Prefect?"

"It is a political matter."

I sighed. Of course, it would be a political matter. Part of being a Federal Officer and representative of the Council. I stood up, straightened out my jacket, and dusted myself off before I responded with a curt, "Very well. What issue would you like to discuss."

"I would like you to refrain from reporting this… incident, to the General Student Council."

That was definitely a political issue. She was asking me to at least fuzz my reports. "Those of us in Schale are a branch of the Council. We are beholden to our duties and responsibilities to report Our activities faithfully. There has to be a reason for you to request something such as this from us."

"If the Council finds out about this, then Trinity will as well. Ako's actions here represent a volatile element of Gehenna that I would rather not have exposed this close to the Eden Treaty."

The Eden Treaty. A groundbreaking agreement for Kivotos, that would put to rest the age-old conflict between Gehenna and Trinity. Proposed by the missing Council President, and continued in her absence. A chance for something resembling peace, or as close to it as the two Schools could ever be.

The treaty was a divisive matter before the President's disappearance. It had become even shakier in her absence. Much of the news collected by Arona regarding the matter noted a distinct downturn in support, although neither side had stepped away from the table yet.

After a few long moments, I sighed. "That is a valid point of concern. The situation between Gehenna and Trinity has already been destabilized by the President's absence. This would be an even greater point of distrust if Trinity heard Gehenna couldn't control its people."

Sorasaki remained stoic at my barb. I sat down on the bench, bringing me to roughly eye level with the tiny Head Prefect. She remained silent as I continued, "Head Prefect, I would like to speak on behalf of myself rather than Schale." I waited until she nodded for me to continue. "In my opinion, Ms. Amau should not have been able to even attempt something like this. Some oversight or report should have occurred the moment she took almost 400 Prefect Team members and two executives out of Gehenna. You can't have your system rely entirely on yourself being present to catch problems, or this will happen again."

Hina kept her eyes locked to mine for a few silent moments before she finally nodded and answered curtly. "I'm... sorry, it won't happen again. I'll make sure of it."

I could tell that someone was in for an even deeper dressing down in the future. But, for now, there wasn't any reason to cause chaos.

"See that you do," I said before springing back up. "Schale shall help you this time. While I must submit a report, it is unlikely that anyone will think deeply about this event if the report described this event as a 'cross-Academic training exercise'."

"Thank yo-" Hina said graciously, before frowning when I put a hand up to cut her off.

"But this does not come out of the goodness of our heart," I admitted. "What has occurred today was an overstep of Gehenna. It has taxed the resources of Abydos as well as Schale's. It was a direct attack against me. Concessions must be made in return."

Her eyes narrowed at my request. "... what would these concessions be?"

"Abydos lacks supplies at the moment and there is a limited amount I can provide. Construction work is beyond what I could supply. It would mean quite a lot to them if a school as well supplied as Gehenna were to loan them some equipment such as transports, along with some personnel to help clean up the aftermath of this 'training exercise'."

"Of course. As for Schale?"

"Amnesty for Problem Solver 68."

She raised a single eyebrow in curiosity but didn't object. I took it as a sign to continue my explanation. "Schale's current duty involves investigating elements of the criminal underworld. Having an auxiliary familiar with it will greatly improve our ability to accomplish our objectives. Them being free to operate without fear of apprehension by Gehenna would allow them to operate more quickly."

"They broke the rules of Gehenna," Sorasaki pointed out, not quite objecting but not quite agreeing either. "I can't possibly have their crimes forgiven without cause."

"Perhaps you can remand them to another party for punishment then? One which is a federal-level organization with the authority to persecute any criminal activity across District boundaries? Then once they have completed their rehabilitation and punishment, they can have their previous crimes forgiven."

The tiny Head Prefect stared at me, unamused. "You want Problem Solver to be given to Schale for punishment so that Schale can hire Problem Solver to work for them freely, which would require the Prefect Team to allow someone else to punish them."

"It might be a bit cyclical," I answered her with a smile, "but Schale strives to provide equal opportunity membership regardless of one's past"

She stared at me for a few seconds, before nodding. "And for yourself, Nelson-Sensei?"

I paused at the question. I had already accomplished the objectives of what I wanted. Abydos would get reinforcements in supplies, including an armoured transport that would normally be beyond what I could provide. I had fulfilled my obligation to Aru by masking her cooperation with myself under the letter as cooperation with Schale for an official operation.

What exactly could I ask for?

Sorasaki was rather patient as I stewed on the problem. Finally, something came to me.

"If my understanding of the situation is correct, then those who participated in today's attack will be punished?" I began slowly, drawing out the words as I watched Sorasaki's reaction. When she nodded, I continued, "Well, if that is the case, I would like to ask that you allow me to decide their punishment."

Sorasaki stared at me for a few moments, quietly contemplating what I had offered. Then, she asked, "Nelson-Sensei, I trust you understand how much you are asking for here?"

"Of course," I answered. "But I, and Schale, would ask if what I am asking for outweighs ensuring the stability of the Eden Treaty."

Her eyes narrowed as she idly played with the grip of her machine gun. She remained silent, but I already knew her answer.

"One favor," The Head Prefect declared. "One personal favour from the Sensei of Schale, in addition to disguising this incident, and I shall agree."

"I believe those terms to be agreeable," I said with a bright smile and stuck out my hand.

Sorasaki took my hand daintily and shook it, speaking as she did. "We are in agreement then. It's strange, Chinatsu didn't mention you would be so politically minded in her report of you."

"While I think myself a sailor first, an officer second, and a politician last; there are no officers who are not politically minded. Consider it a lifetime of experience."

She nodded in understanding before stepping back. "Very well. I shall take my leave then."

"Of course, please have a pleasant day," I returned.

She had barely made it five paces before I snapped my fingers, and called out "Oh! Just one more thing!" in a display of feigned surprise. She turned to look at me as I smiled back at her.

"Why are you really in Abydos, Head Prefect Sorasaki?"

Hina stared at the Adult, Nelson-Sensei, who was beaming brightly at her. Chinatsu was right about this Adult. They didn't know the exact details of her origin, but she had the nerves and perceptiveness of a veteran officer.

"Are you accusing me of something, Nelson-Sensei?" Hina asked, her voice cold even as curiosity coursed through her.

Nelson-Sensei laughed, waving her hand disarmingly, "Oh, nothing so serious. But during the earlier incident, Ms. Amau was rather surprised at your appearance. Furthermore, she stated you were on a 'business trip'. The evidence all points to the fact that you left for Abydos before Ms. Amau's plot, and you merely opted to reveal yourself to prevent any further conflict."

The Teacher's jovial chuckles teetered off into silence as her stare leveled out. Stormy-grey eyes met Hina's own, suspicion visible as the Adult continued casually, "But it would not change that you entered Abydos without informing anyone, not even those close to you. And that warrants curiosity."

Hina let the silence fill the space between them. Nelson-Sensei had already extracted plenty from their deal for silence. It was also unlikely that the Teacher would push the point if she refused. The concessions made them even in political capital. They both knew that. Hina was also fairly certain that both of them knew she would come out victorious if they came to blows.

So, there was no need to answer.

But this also presented a fantastic opportunity. It would tip the scales of gratitude into her favour, and she could also hand a rather complex task to someone who was, by their admission, a high-ranking member of a neutral federal-level entity. She was also fairly certain that, for all the bizarre questions surrounding Nelson-Sensei, reliability and capability were not one of them.

One less thing for her to need to take care of.

"Very well," She answered, stepping back towards the Adult. "Are you familiar with the Kaiser Corporation?"

"I have been made aware of them."

"I see. What I am about to tell you is not yet known to Pandemonium or the Tea Party. But I thought you should know."

Nelson-Sensei's stare softened, breaking into a slight smile. "Politics again?"

"Not quite. There hasn't been time to report this."

"New information then?"

"Yes." Hina paused looking around. The only people around were retreating Prefect Team members, Abydos waiting next to a convenience store, and the two of them standing far out of earshot. She leaned in, sotto-voice, "I think the Kaiser Corporation is up to something in the abandoned deserts of Abydos."

"Is that so? It seems that necessitates further investigation." Nelson responded with a casualness that didn't fit the description.

"Yes."

"And should Abydos know?"

Hina shrugged in response. "I had no interest in informing Abydos. Their academy will be shut down soon anyway."

"A rather cynical analysis."

"It is unavoidable. Your efforts are commendable, but their fate is set."

The Adult hummed, not quite agreeing with her but not quite rejecting her either. With no further response likely, Hina stepped back. "Well, then. See you next time, Nelson-Sensei."

She managed another three steps before the Adult spoke, voice wistful, "I think, Head Prefect, that you would be surprised."

Hina paused, turning to look at Nelson-Sensei. The Adult was leaning against the tree, eyes gazing out to a point far beyond the horizon. A place that only she could see.

"By?"

"How easily fate can change."

AN: My depiction of Nelson has always had a bit of a soft spot for peaceful resolution. Considering how impactful the Eden Treaty is, she was always going to lean on what she could do to ensure it doesn't explode. That being said, the requests made certainly will come up again.

I'm actually trying to do something akin to Nanowrimo as of the writing of this AN. Aiming for a more personally realistic 750 or so words a day, but this is the first time I've actually been motivated to try something similar.

As always, thanks to my friend for beta reading!