The Venerable Eagle.
A Multi-Role Aerospace Superiority Fighter Craft, she is often looked upon as the Angel of Death for the many enemies of Super Earth.
Only seconded by the Helldiver Corps in terms of versatility and modularity, our Heroes of Super Earth utilize the Multi-Role Fighter to accompany their armaments to dominate both land and air.
Though lacking the infallible tempo and earth-shattering firepower of her Orbital counterparts, the Eagle more than makes up for that with, unequivocally, her greatest strength.
Her speed.
For when a horde is in need of swift clearing,
Her Strafing Run delivers Freedom in denominations of thirty-millimeters at three-thousand-and-nine-hundred rounds per minute.
For when armor is in need of a swift resolution,
Her Airstrikes deliver a carpet of destruction, each bomb engineered for quick and efficient Democratic dispensing.
And for when the Liberty-forsaken enemies of Humanity audaciously and futilely release their marginally stronger servants to bolster their lackluster forces,
Her Ace-in-the-Hole, The Five-Hundred-Kilogram Bomb welcomes their demise.
The Eagle Multi-Role Aerospace Superiority Fighter.
For when ordnance is needed swiftly and precisely,
An Eagle never misses.
The Automatons.
Socialist filth that dared to sully Super Earth's core tenets and attack her colonies, they've worked endlessly in their futile attempts to resist Freedom and Democracy, no matter how hard we give it to them.
They are blood-thirsty, mindless robots coded for nothing but murder and socialist violence. Their origins a mystery, the unthinking hate for Freedom they harbor more than makes them a threat to all citizens of Super Earth.
Despite their ability to replicate their forces utilizing factories and ill-begotten materials stolen from Super Earth colonies and citizens, I've always thought their forces were only limited towards the sectors of our galaxy.
In front of me, against my beliefs, stood one such enemy.
"YOU LIBERTY-FORSAKEN CLANKERS!"
Lobbing the beacon on top of the machine-of-war, I dove to the side, narrowly dodging the payload of the main gun. The shell pierced the air at super-sonic speeds, impacting the asphalt and subsequently bouncing off of it as it ricochets upward, lodging itself into a vacant building and exploding, sending shattered concrete into the air.
Initiating a combat roll, I reserved a split-second to ensure the beacon stuck, its telltale red beacon piercing the sky.
With Liberty speeding my step, I hightailed it in the opposite direction of the heavy armor, waving my arms towards my squad to back off.
"HEAVY ORDNANCE! KEEP BACK!"
I craned my head around to see the tank's cannon slowly rotating my direction. Before it could lock on, the beacon on top of it turned off just as an aircraft piercing the sound-barrier flew by.
And just as quickly as it left, its payload struck the turret, crushing its cannon under the weight of Democracy.
I couldn't help but smile at the sight.
Milliseconds following the ordnance's drop, the five-hundred-kilograms of Freedom exploded in a spectacular fashion, evaporating the Crusader tank and everything within its radius.
The resulting mushroom cloud of ash and smoke billowed upward, the awe-inspiring sight causing me to extend my arms outward to bask in its glory.
"How'd you like the taste of Freedom!?"
As I dropped my arms, the girls took to my side, their expressions on their face stricken with intense emotions. With not a word spoken, I approached the smoldering crater to inspect whatever remained.
To my utmost surprise, four girls laid at the bottom, unconscious and with their entire bodies singed. Despite the bunker-busting capabilities of the five-hundred-kilogram bomb, it wasn't enough to kill, much less bleed the people of Kivotos.
And most notably, their clothing stayed intact.
I raised a brow, but left my questions unasked. Raising the comms unit on my right wrist, I moved to activate it to attempt once more to hail the Super Destroyer in orbit.
Again, how else would I call in strategems, much less an Eagle, without the vessel?
But just before I could, a hand gripped my arm tightly before pulling, turning me to face them. Much to my surprise, their strength much exceeded my own.
As I turned, I came face to face with the perpetrator.
It was Hasumi.
"H3?" I questioned her actions.
She looked at me shellshocked. "What-" She began before having to exhale, calming herself. "What... what was that?"
"That-" I raised a hand at the destruction wrought by the power of Super Earth. "-Was a payload weighing in at five-hundred kilograms, deployed by the finest of the S.E.A.F Air Force."
She shook her head, shaking off her awe-struck expression. "What-, no, how are you able to call... call in these weapons?"
Her eyes narrowed. "The Hellpods, the... Orbital Precision Strike-" She pointed at the gaping crater. "Now five-hundred-kilograms of explosives!?" She raised her voice. "From unidentified aircraft and spaceships!?"
The rest of the girls slowly approached, their eyes no longer viewing me with respect and an ally, but with skepticism and a hint of fear.
"Who... no, what are you, Allen Hicks?"
I, for once in a long time, was at a loss for words. The Helldivers were... are heroes of the Federation, their deeds and heroics celebrated and passed down as stories to be told for years to come, inspiring many to follow in their footsteps.
Their will unbreakable, their actions infallible, their loyalty and allegiance unshakeable.
But this... this tested those waters.
I half expected them to cheer in appreciation at the awesome display of force and military might of Super Earth. Instead, they were scared. Fearful of the destruction I had brought, with weapons that far exceeded their own.
Many a time I landed on Super Earth colonies, their citizens overjoyed at the presence of the Helldivers. Cheers and compliments were always thrown our way, to the point that it became another truth of life to us as we exterminated the bug and stomped out the bot.
Never had I thought to think about how non-Super Earth colonies would react towards our presence, much less our guns.
Suffice it to say, I was... Confused.
"...Huh?" Was all I could manage to get out.
Chinatsu took a step forward, despite how small it was. "Sensei?" Her call was brief and meek, her voice hitched as she breathed.
I dropped my 'Breaker', my sling pulled taut as it caught it, causing them to flinch. At the action, they reached for their guns ever so slightly, before pulling away, whatever trust they have left in me staying their hand.
I sighed as I dropped my head slightly and got to a knee, before lifting my head to look into their eyes. They recoiled slightly at my actions, glancing at each other before locking back onto me.
"I, Hasumi, am a Helldiver." I answered her question, my voice resolute and unwavering.
Her eyes narrowed, distrust ever so present in her ruby red eyes.
"I am a soldier of Super Earth, defender of Humanity." I continued.
"I am her weapon against the many enemies that dare to threaten her."
"I am her shield against those that dare to aim their weapons against her."
"The equipment at my disposal and the weapons I use are but mere tools to act upon those responsibilities. I know that you are distrusting of me following the deployment of S.E.A.F armaments-"
"But know this-" I say, as I rose to my feet and stood at parade rest.
"First and foremost, I am human." I then lifted my hands to remove my helmet.
With a hiss, the hermetic seal was undone as I lifted it up. Stowing it to my side, I looked the girls in the eye.
"That, Hasumi, is who Allen Hicks is." I gave her a smile. "That, is who I am."
Their jaws dropped as they looked at my face.
"That scar..." Yuuka trailed off as she shakily pointed at me.
I traced the scar that began at the top of my brow on the left side of my face, down across to the cheek on the opposite side.
"A parting gift left behind by an enemy of Humanity." I smiled slightly.
"Well, now you know the face behind the Diver."
I then replaced my helmet, the seal once more engaging as I stood back in parade rest. "I do hope you can come to trust me again, if not now-" I panned my head across to look at each of them. "Then hopefully in the future, when I earn it back."
Yuuka tilted her head, the corners of her mouth pointing up ever so slightly. "I... I wouldn't go so far to say we no longer trust you, but... I guess we were just... scared."
"Scared...?" I asked, my posture faltering slightly.
"Yes." Hasumi affirmed. "It would be the truth to say that this is the first we have ever seen such... destruction at a scale such as this."
I nodded, the sentiment not lost on me.
"But-" Chinatsu began, her gaze softer. "But I don't think you're a bad person, Sensei."
She continued. "You wouldn't have gotten shot if you weren't willing to fight for us."
I flinched. "You still remember that?"
She nodded. "Yes, Sensei. A medic never forgets to take care of their patients!" A smile was fully on display, and her demeanor back to normal."
Suzumi chimed in. "I agree, although the things you bring to the table are definitely scary-" She smiled my way. "I think I can trust that you would only use it for good."
I released the breath I didn't know I was holding. "I- thank you, team." A genuine wave of relief washed over me. "I'll do my utmost to maintain that trust."
I then lifted my 'Breaker'. "Now then, let's go save Kivotos!"
"Yes, Sensei!" They all affirmed collectively.
Just as I was about to bust down the front door of the SCHALE building, my communicator ringed to life.
"Commander?" I asked, lifting my wrist up.
"Sensei, I trust that everything is well on your end?" She asked, though her tone was reflecting that of someone that is extremely pissed off.
I gulped. "T-that is correct, Commander." I glanced at the girls, who shook their heads vigorously.
"Ah, is that so?" She huffed. "Then, would you please explain the current news reports?"
"News... reports?" I asked with uncertainty.
"Ah! Sensei, look!" Yuuka exclaimed as she lifted a small datapad, the screen displaying what looks to be the current events of Kivotos.
Filling up literally all of the top headlines were blurred pictures of what I assume to be the Eagle Fighter piercing through the air at extreme speeds.
That, and the deployment of its ordnance with the subsequent explosion of said ordnance.
Taglines read: "Kivotos under Attack!?"
"Aliens are real: Confirmed!?"
"Blur in the sky: GSC Conspiracy? Or Extraterrestrial Contact?"
With the rest following along the lines of aliens, aliens, and more aliens.
Did I mention that they wrote about aliens?
"Er..." I sounded as I shook my head. "Anyways Commander, we retook the SCHALE building and are ready to breach and clear." I attempted to change the subject.
"Do NOT gloss-!" She cut herself off and breathed in and out a few times before sighing. "-I'll be arriving shortly."
"Please. Let us meet in the basement of the SCHALE building. Sensei."
A shudder is sent down my spine as she hung up. Looking back up at the girls, they glanced at each other before shaking their heads at me.
"I'm afraid this battle is solely yours, Sensei." Hasumi stated.
Chinatsu nodded in agreeance. "I'm afraid you brought this on yourself, Sensei."
Yuuka snorted, a smirk on her face, amused at my demise. "Well, it was nice knowing you, Sensei."
"I think, we'll, uh, secure the perimeter, Sensei." Suzumi chimed in, the rest of the girls nodding in affirmation at the suggestion.
Before I could put a word in edgewise, they scattered. "You all are just going to toss me to the wolves!?"
I'm met with silence as they ignored me. With a sigh, I decided to face the music. Passing through the entrance to the SCHALE building, I slowly navigated the interiors before eventually finding the entrance to the basement.
Within the Basement of the SCHALE Building
"I don't see what the big deal is about this place. What am I even supposed to destroy?"
I leaned ever so slightly into the room, the dim lights illuminating the room poorly, but just enough to make out the larger objects of the room.
That included the Fox of Calamity that just so happens to be standing in the middle of the room, perusing the curious objects that littered the area.
I frowned. I know for sure that I am woefully outmatched against this enemy, especially such as one of her caliber, and doubly so without the use of strategems.
So I resort to the next best thing Super Earth is undoubtedly great at.
Diplomacy.
"Oh?" She sounded as she turned my way, her tail swaying at the motion and her pale mask illuminated under the dim light.
"Greetings, citizen of Kivotos!" I approached her.
"Uh..."
"Ara~?
"Ara~ra~ra~?"
"...?" I stood in silence as we continued to lock eyes.
"Uh..."
Might as well break the silence. "Might I ask what an upstanding citizen, such as yourself, is doing within a government building?" I questioned in the nicest tone I could conjure, largely possible thanks to the ever-so engaging Super Earth Helldiver Primer for when landing on colonies.
"Well..." She began as she squirmed.
"I, uh..." She trembled as she gripped her rifle.
"I was just leaving!" She cried as she swiftly escaped the room as a black and white blur zipping out of the room.
"...?" I merely stood in confusion at the development.
Following the departure of the Fox of Calamity, I stood patiently for the arrival of Acting President Rin. As I stood at attention, I caught the sounds of heels clacking against the floor come within earshot.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I am here now." Rin greeted as she walked down the steps.
She glanced around the room, catching the glimpse of a few pink petals populating the floor.
"Hmm?" She hummed. "Did I miss something?"
I shook my head. "Nothing in particular, Commander."
She raised a brow, but didn't push it further. "If you insist." She walked over towards the desk and picked up a data pad. "Well, here is what the General Student Council President left behind."
"Thankfully, there isn't a scratch on it."
She then presented it to me. "Please. Take it."
I accepted the fragile device and inspected it. "A... data pad?"
She raised a brow. "Data pad?" She questioned before shrugging. "If what you mean is a smart tablet, then for all intents and purposes, yes. This is what the GSC President left for you. The Shittim Chest."
Somehow, at the name drop, I feel a sense of familiarity. Confused at the feeling, I chalk it up to being familiar with data pads... smart tablets.
Staring at the Shittim Chest, she continued. "It may seem like a normal tablet, but its origins are a mystery. Its manufacturer, operating system and components are completely unknown to us."
"The GSC President left the Shittim Chest in your possession, stating that you will be able to take control of the tower with it."
I raised a brow, this small device had the power to hold control over a tower?
She shook her head. "None of the other members know how to activate it, but perhaps you may be able to figure it out."
She then hung her head low. "But if not..."
Silence loomed at the end of her unfinished sentence, but the implications it wrought hung extremely heavy.
A sigh escapes her. "My job here is done. I shall let you take the lead here on out." She then started towards the exit. "I'll step away so as to not interfere."
Just as she walked up the steps, she stopped just short of the door.
"Also, Sensei."
My eyes widened as her tone took a turn, her gaze burning into the side of my helmet.
"Should this be resolved cleanly, I believe I have more than just a few words to be shared with you." Her eyes were closed, but the implied gaze pierced me.
I gulped. "U-understood."
Exiting the room, the door shut behind her and I released my breath. Holding up the data pad, I stared at it for a few seconds. Holding it comfortably in my hands, I pressed down on the power button, the screen subsequently flashing to life.
CONNECTING TO THE SHITTIM CHEST...
PLEASE ENTER THE SYSTEM PASSWORD.
Well Liberty-damn it, just got the data pad and I already hit a wall.
I tapped the side of the device a few times with my finger as I glossed over my options. Lost in thought, my hands moved automatically and begun tapping away at the screen.
WE THIRST FOR THE SEVEN WAILINGS.
WE BEAR THE KOAN OF JERICHO.
'Woah, what just...?' I thought, thoroughly surprised at what just happened.
PASSWORD ACCEPTED.
USER IDENTIFIED AS ALLEN HICKS.
CONFIRMED.
Woah, freaky.
WELCOME TO THE SHITTIM CHEST, ALLEN-SENSEI.
CONVERTING TO OPERATING SYSTEM ARONA FOR BIOLOGICAL AUTHENTIFICATION AND GENERATION OF VERIFICATION CERTIFICATE.
Within the ?
Just as I blinked once, the world around me changed. I found myself once more in a new, completely different world, this time within the ruins of what looks like an old Super Earth classroom.
I looked around, with the scenery beyond the shattered concrete being a sky-blue ocean as far as the gaze goes. Above was a sky of the same shade, the bright sun shining past the fluffy clouds that populated the blue canvas.
'Where on Liberty's green Super Earth am I?'
Turning around, I find myself greeted with a little girl dozing off on a school desk.
'What...?' I asked myself, each new development leaving me with additional questions.
"Zzzzzzz..." The little girl snored.
"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz..."
"Munya~... Castella cake... Banana milk... goes better than strawberry milk..." She then muttered in her sleep.
I stopped questioning everything, convinced that I was not going to get any answers.
"Zzzzz..."
I knelt down in front of her to get a better look at her face.
"Hee hee~... There's so much left..."
I glanced around. Save for her, I was pretty much the only person here... wherever this place is.
Getting to my feet, I decide to try and wake her. Gently placing a hand on her shoulder, I nudged her a little.
"Ehe~."
"Ehehe~." I nudged her again.
"Ehe- Huh!?"
She then stood up quickly, knocking the chair she was sitting on over.
Letting out a yawn, she rubbed her eyes to get the sleep out.
"What's going... on?" She asked as she blinked a few times.
"Huh...?" She sounded as her eyes focused, shock steadily creeping up on her as she focused on me.
"Eh...? Areh...? Wha...!?" She began sounding out as surprise crept up on her face.
"S-Sensei!?" She exclaimed.
"I-if you're here..." She placed a fist onto her hand. "Ah! Does that mean you're Allen-Sensei!?"
I smiled. "Indeed, little one."
"What? So I'm right!?" She frantically looked around the room. "What time is it!?"
She started trembling. "Wait..." She inhaled and exhaled rhythmically. "Calm down..."
"Um, so..." She stammered. "Oh! That's right! I forgot to introduce myself!"
She smiled my way. "My name is Arona!"