+++May 10,1991
++1000 hours
++Territory of the Unified Front of China
++Harbin, Heilongjiang Province
++Continental Expeditionary Force HQ

It had been two days since they were told to return to base.

Takeru and Horn Company simply waited until today.

The fluorescent lights greeted Takeru as he stepped into Colonel Hoshino Ryuji's office. The door clicked shut behind him, muffling the distant roar of engines and the ever-present background noise of the base. The office smelled faintly of stale coffee, old paper, and the metallic tang of stress — a scent that seemed to cling to every CO's quarters Takeru had ever stepped into.

Colonel Hoshino didn't bother to look up immediately. His finger tapped rhythmically against the down arrow key of his battered keyboard, scrolling through an endless stream of reports. Casualty reports, Takeru realized, noting the stacks of papers scattered across the desk like the debris of a long-forgotten battle. Some were half-crumpled, stained with coffee rings, while others bore the sharp creases of freshly faxed documents.

With a lazy flick of his wrist, Hoshino gestured for Takeru to come in. His other hand continued pressing the key, the faint click-click-click sounding like the ticking of a slow, indifferent clock.

Takeru stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room that was a chaotic reflection of the war itself. The Colonel wasn't just reviewing statistics. He was writing letters. Handwritten letters, addressed to the families of fallen Surface Pilots, each one a small testament to lives extinguished too soon. The words probably didn't matter anymore. Nothing could fill the void left by the dead.

"Captain Shirogane," Hoshino finally said, his voice low, gravelly from too much tobacco and not enough sleep. He didn't look up yet, as if the screen still held more importance than the man standing before him. "You know, I tried to get the Imperial Royal Guard's attachment to the Continental Expeditionary Force repealed when the Diet had the Continental Expeditionary Force formed."

Takeru remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Hoshino chuckled dryly, shaking his head as if amused by his own failure. "Didn't want anything to do with the Imperial Royal Guard. Thought you should've stayed in the mainland, polishing ceremonial swords, bowing to dignitaries, and defending His Majesty the Shogun. Seemed like the IRG's natural habitat."

Takeru's gaze didn't waver.

Hoshino finally leaned back, his chair creaking under the strain. He studied Takeru now, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly, as if trying to peel back layers Takeru had no intention of revealing. "Had low expectations," Hoshino admitted. "Sure, the IRG might be good on paper, but how could you compare to battle-tested IJF Surface Pilots? You're just nobles with fancy titles."

A pause. Then a sigh.

"But you've been subverting those expectations, Captain."

Hoshino reached over and slid a faxed newspaper across the cluttered desk. The black-and-white image was grainy, but unmistakable. Horn Company, their TSFs muddy and bloodied from battle, stood tall against the rising sun. At the forefront was Takeru's Kagerou, its armor scarred but upright like a defiant silhouette against a broken sky.

The Colonel tapped the photo with a finger. "I wonder who took this."

Takeru shrugged, indifferent.

"Doesn't matter," Hoshino muttered, leaning back again. "What matters is this image made it all the way to Tokyo. And beyond."

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, as if trying to massage away a headache. "At first, I thought your unit's success was due to the F-15Js you're piloting. Maybe it was the tech. The modifications. But now…" He trailed off, then looked Takeru dead in the eye. "Now I'm not so sure. Maybe it's not the machines. Maybe it's the man leading them."

Takeru's face remained impassive, his voice flat. "Who do you think it is?"

Hoshino let out a short laugh, the sound hollow in the sterile room. "You already know the answer to that, Captain Shirogane." He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. "You've been proving me and a lot of others badly wrong. To the point that I don't even regret making that deal to grant your unit autonomy."

He gestured vaguely to the photo. "Our allies, hell, even the UN Command, think highly of you now. Still call you 'Imperialist Dogs,' of course. But they'll admit—reluctantly—that you and your unit get the job done. Mud, blood, and all."

There was a beat of silence before Hoshino added with a smirk, "And that stunt you pulled? No one in Harbin thinks the IRG stationed here are amateurs anymore."

Takeru crossed his arms. "Get to the point, Colonel."

Hoshino's grin faded, replaced by something more serious. "At this rate, it won't be long until you're promoted. You're already acting like it. So, I'd like your opinion, Captain, what's your assessment of the Harbin-Shenyang Defense Line?"

Takeru didn't hesitate. "It's a mess."

Hoshino raised an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

"Defending Inner Mongolia against an unrelenting tide of BETA does nothing but delay the inevitable," Takeru said. "We're burning through men and machines just to hold ground that will fall eventually. It's not a question of 'if'—it's 'when.'"

Hoshino drummed his fingers on the desk thoughtfully. "And how long do you think the CEF, Eurasian Forces, and the UN can hold out?"

Takeru's answer was immediate, his voice devoid of emotion. "Four years. At best."

Hoshino let out a whistle, low and sharp. "That's… generous."

Takeru gave a slight nod. "It'll take time for the BETA to consolidate enough forces for a massive push. Until then, we hold the line. That's our purpose here — keep fighting until we can't anymore."

The Colonel leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "You know, I've heard a lot of lies from the IRG over the years. But when you say it, Captain… it doesn't feel like a lie." He tilted his head slightly, studying Takeru. "You don't seem afraid of death. Is that how your company feels too?"

Takeru's eyes narrowed just a fraction. "I do feel fear. But not enough to make me back down."

He stepped closer to the desk, tapping a finger against the flat of the table with deliberate precision. "If the one leading them shows fear, they won't follow."

Hoshino chuckled softly. "And now? Those men would follow you to the gates of hell." He shook his head in disbelief. "It's strange. All the complaints I heard when you were first given command… gone. Just like that. Through skill and action."

Takeru didn't respond to the compliment.

After a pause, he asked, "Is that all, Colonel?"

Hoshino snorted. "Impatient as always." He reached for a folder, flipping it open to reveal a map of the Harbin-Shenyang Defense Line. Red markers dotted the landscape—each one a sign of recent BETA activity, breaches, or lost ground. It wasn't just bad.

It was catastrophic.

The Colonel tapped the map. "Take a good look, Captain. This is what we're up against."

Takeru stared at the map, his mind already running calculations. Every red dot represented lives lost. Territory surrendered.

And soon, it would all turn red.

The map on Colonel Hoshino Ryuji's desk was more than just a piece of paper. It was a battlefield, a chessboard stained with the blood of the fallen, and every red marker pinned into it was another lost life. Takeru, without hesitation, with his hand resting on the map hovered briefly between Hinggan League and Baicheng, tracing the jagged lines that represented roads, rivers, and defense lines — most of which were now more theoretical than real. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he dragged his finger southward toward Songyuan, leaving an invisible trail of strategy in its wake.

"We can hold the Gansu Corridor for a while," Takeru began, his voice devoid of any false optimism. "But if we want to keep the CEF alive, we need to anchor our forces here — Hinggan, Baicheng, and Songyuan. That triangle will be our keystone."

Colonel Hoshino leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable, fingers steepled under his chin. He didn't interrupt.

Takeru continued, "No one can argue that the CEF isn't pulling its weight. Our sacrifices are undeniable. But while I'd prefer to keep our allies alive, you need to consider our forces first."

The Colonel's eyes narrowed into sharp slits. His voice came out low, edged with a quiet fury. "Are you implying we should abandon our allies, Captain?"

Takeru didn't flinch. His gaze was steady, his tone flat as steel. "I'm implying that when the time comes — and it will come we need to make decisions that ensure the CEF doesn't bleed out while trying to save everyone else." He paused, then added, "I'd rather have enough TSFs to hold the line here, to keep the BETA from spilling over into the Korean Peninsula and Siberia."

The Colonel snorted, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You said we'd last four years. Now you're talking like we'll be lucky to see two. Which is it, Captain?"

Takeru's fingers drummed rhythmically against the edge of the desk, a slow, deliberate cadence. "I have no qualms about fighting to the bitter end. But if we're going to die out here, I'd like to think that our deaths buy the people back home something more than just a footnote in a history book. Maybe even a chance to survive."

Hoshino's amusement faded. His brow furrowed slightly, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "Where the hell are you getting this from?"

Takeru didn't hesitate. He reached for the map again, sliding it eastward until the Pacific Ocean came into view. His finger traced the rough outline of Eurasia, moving steadily toward the Far East.

"The BETA aren't just expanding. They're converging," he said. "They'll push east until they reach the mainland. Once they control the Far East, they'll have clear access to circumvent the Americas. No need to cross the Pacific when they can come through the back door."

The Colonel frowned, skepticism etched across his face.

Takeru continued, undeterred. "And when that happens, it won't stop in the Americas. The BETA will sweep south, consuming everything below the Southern Hemisphere. There won't be safe zones. No fallback positions. Just a world swallowed whole by the BETA."

The silence between them grew heavy, punctuated only by the faint ticking of an old wall clock.

Hoshino didn't seem convinced, but something in Takeru's tone – calm, measured, with an undercurrent of absolute certainty made him pause. He tapped the desk once with a calloused finger. "So, where should we focus our defenses?"

Takeru didn't miss a beat. "Songyuan and the Jilin Province."

His finger stabbed the map, marking the city like a declaration of intent. "We fortify Songyuan. The UN, COSEAN, and Eurasian forces should maintain pressure along the surrounding regions. With Siping gone, Songyuan becomes the last buffer before the BETA can establish a foothold in Jilin Province — which borders both the North of Korea and Russia."

Hoshino's glare sharpened. "Our orders are to defend Heilongjiang, not Jilin. That's someone else's problem."

Takeru straightened slightly, his posture rigid with the weight of unspoken truths. "If Jilin falls, we'll be surrounded. Doesn't matter what the orders say." His hand moved to encircle the borders of Heilongjiang on the map, the shape becoming a trap in real time. "Jilin is more defensible. The Changbai Mountains provide natural high-ground advantages perfect for setting up fortified areas and artillery emplacements. The rugged terrain will slow down BETA charges, especially the Fort-Class and Destroyer-Class."

He traced the jagged ridgelines of the mountains with his fingertip, outlining possible strongholds. "There are narrow mountain passes here. Natural choke points. We can concentrate firepower, maximize the effectiveness of our TSFs, and force the BETA to funnel through kill zones."

Hoshino's eyes followed Takeru's hand as it moved again, this time pointing at a small, dark blue spot on the map — Tianchi's Heaven Lake.

"The area around Heaven Lake could serve as a natural defensive ring," Takeru said. "Cliffs. Limited access points. It's defensible. Though…" He paused, his finger resting on the spot. "It also means limited escape routes if we're overrun."

The Colonel leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You sound like you've already fought this battle in your head."

Takeru's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "I've fought it more times than I care to admit alright."

Hoshino stared at him for a long moment, then exhaled sharply through his nose. "You're a strange one, Captain Shirogane. Talking about inevitabilities like it's already written."

"Maybe it is." He had taken a look at what happened during the BETA push Eastward while in Hawaii in the last timelines. He was simply pushing forward a scenario that may increase the Continental Expeditionary Force's survival.

Another silence settled between them. Finally, Hoshino sat forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You're asking me to spread our forces thin. Risk key positions. Bet everything on terrain and your gut."

"I'm asking you to be realistic," Takeru corrected. "This isn't about pride. It's about the CEF's survival."

The Colonel didn't argue. He didn't agree, either. Instead, he reached for his pack of cigarettes, lighting one with a flick of his lighter. The smoke curled lazily toward the ceiling.

The Colonel then exhaled a thin stream of cigarette smoke, the pale tendrils curling toward the ceiling. His eyes telling Takeru to continue.

Takeru didn't wait for another prompt. His hand moved back to the map, fingers gliding over the rugged terrain with the precision of someone who had already fought—and lost—this battle countless times in his mind.

"Heilongjiang's dense forests, the Greater and Lesser Khingan Ranges, offer excellent concealment for ambushes," Takeru began, his voice steady. "But they're a double-edged sword. While TSF units can utilize cover, the forests will hinder mobility, limit visibility, and become death traps if the BETA manage to infiltrate. It's like setting a trap and then realizing you're the one inside it."

Hoshino grunted, flicking ash into an overflowing tray, but didn't interrupt.

Takeru's finger shifted, trailing from the dark green patches of forest to the wide, open expanses. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, Colonel. But large flat areas can become kill zones—with proper artillery and air support. But they're risky. The BETA excels at fast, overwhelming charges across open terrain. We'd be trading one problem for another."

He paused, his gaze narrowing slightly, lost in thought. "However, the harsh winters in the coming months might work in our favor. Snow and ice will slow BETA movements, giving defenders more time to regroup and re-strategize. It's not much, but every second counts when you're trying to survive an extinction event."

Colonel Hoshino leaned forward slightly, the edge of skepticism in his expression softening.

"If we need strongholds, natural barriers, and defensible chokepoints, Jilin is better," Takeru continued, tapping the mountainous region along the Changbai Mountains. "These mountains create natural fortresses—high ground, limited access points, and rugged terrain that forces the BETA to funnel through narrow passes. Perfect for concentrated firepower."

Hoshino raised an eyebrow. "And if we need to retreat?"

"That's where Heilongjiang comes in," Takeru replied smoothly. "If we need space for strategic withdrawals, ambushes, and layered defense lines, Heilongjiang offers more depth. But it requires heavy fortification in the open areas—fallback zones, layered kill boxes, and rapid deployment routes. Holding the line against overwhelming BETA waves is critical. Jilin's mountainous terrain gives defenders a slight edge, but combining both provinces in a layered defense strategy would be ideal."

He drew imaginary lines on the map, crisscrossing borders and natural landmarks. "Mountain fortresses in Jilin. Fallback zones in Heilongjiang's forests and plains. It's not about choosing one over the other — it's about creating a web they can't break through."

The Colonel exhaled slowly, the weight of the strategy sinking in. His cigarette burned low, almost forgotten between his fingers.

"You want to keep the BETA in Jilin as long as possible," Hoshino muttered, his gaze distant. Then his eyes snapped back to Takeru. "But you're worried about the route to the Bohai Sea being cut off, aren't you?"

Takeru's lips curled into a faint grin. "Heilongjiang's landlocked from the Bohai Sea by Jilin and Liaoning provinces. To maintain a direct supply line, we'd need to secure both, particularly Liaoning, which borders the Bohai Sea directly."

He tapped on the map again, fingers moving with purpose. "Dalian is key. It's a major naval base and supply hub with strong infrastructure, perfect for logistical support. Then there's Yingkou and Dandong, important secondary ports that could serve as auxiliary supply points. Supplies would have to move from the Bohai coast through Liaoning and into Jilin, then finally to Heilongjiang. It's a logistical nightmare with long, vulnerable supply lines stretching hundreds of kilometers."

Hoshino's jaw tightened as Takeru traced the routes, highlighting choke points and vulnerable areas.

"With mountain ranges, especially in Jilin, and rivers like the Songhua River cutting across the region, maintaining fast resupply under BETA pressure will be nearly impossible if we lose even one key route," Takeru added. "The BETA love exploiting weak points. Supply routes through mountain passes or narrow valleys? Natural kill zones. If the front collapses, they'll swarm those areas first."

Hoshino finally crushed the remnants of his cigarette into the ashtray, leaning forward, elbows on the desk. "So if supply lines are cut?"

Takeru's expression hardened. "Without constant resupply of fuel, ammo, and parts, TSFs become little more than expensive metal coffins."

Silence settled between them again, thick with the gravity of their conversation.

Hoshino broke it with a grunt. "I want to keep the fight here. Keep the BETA from getting anywhere near the Bohai Sea."

"Then that's we need to fortify Liaoning," Takeru replied without missing a beat. "Establish strong defensive lines around Dalian, Shenyang, and along major highways. Use the Liaodong Peninsula as a natural barrier, with naval support from the Bohai Sea to secure coastal routes. We might as well use the combined fleet instead of letting them rot in the Bohai Sea."

His finger jabbed the map with each point, drawing an invisible web of defenses.

"That's why we need to turn Jilin into a buffer zone," Takeru continued. "Fortify positions in the Changbai Mountains to slow the BETA before they can threaten supply convoys. And we can't rely solely on static defenses — we'll need rapid-response TSF squadrons to plug gaps when the BETA inevitably breaks through."

Hoshino's eyes narrowed, but there was no longer doubt in his gaze... just grim acceptance.

"You're not just thinking about holding the line," he said quietly. "You're thinking about what happens when it breaks."

Takeru nodded. "Because it will. Eventually. The question isn't if, Colonel. It's when."

Hoshino exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "You're a real ray of sunshine, Captain Shirogane."

Takeru smirked. "I try."

The Colonel leaned back, staring at the map for a long moment before speaking again. "And if we lose Jilin?"

"Then the supply line becomes a noose around our necks," Takeru replied flatly. "Which is why we can't afford to lose it for now."

Hoshino sighed, reaching for another cigarette but not lighting it this time. "You've thought this through more than most of my staff."

"I've had a lot of time to think," Takeru muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Colonel Hoshino Ryuji leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. His eyes weren't on Takeru anymore but on the strategy unfolding before him, as if every word Takeru had spoken had embedded itself into the fibers of the room.

He exhaled, not quite a sigh but something heavier, something burdened with acknowledgment.

"This plan of yours," Hoshino continued, "hinges on securing key provinces such as Liaoning and Jilin to protect our logistical routes while establishing strong defensive positions across northeastern China."

He tapped the map with a calloused finger, the sound soft but final. "Your strategy is divided into three primary defensive layers. Each designed not just to hold the line, but to absorb the BETA's relentless assaults while safeguarding the supply chains critical for sustained operations."

Takeru nodded slightly. It was gratifying that the Colonel understood, not because he needed validation, but because every second spent arguing was a second the BETA wouldn't grant them in the field.

"The first defensive layer," Hoshino said, tracing the southern coast of Liaoning with a pen, "focuses on Liaoning Province, particularly the coastal cities of Dalian, Shenyang, and Yingkou. These serve as major supply hubs due to their proximity to the Bohai Sea. Naval support from fleets stationed in the Bohai will provide artillery cover, while TSF squadrons are deployed for rapid response to BETA breakthroughs."

Takeru's mind was already a few steps ahead, imagining the thundering roar of naval guns echoing over the water, the sharp staccato of TSF thrusters cutting through the sky, the relentless advance of BETA hordes like a living tide against metal and flesh.

"Fortified highways and rail lines," Hoshino continued, "will ensure efficient movement of supplies inland. If this layer collapses, and it will, fallback protocols involve rerouting supplies through emergency airlifts or redirecting naval convoys to safer northern ports."

He paused, letting the reality sink in. Collapse was not a possibility; it was an inevitability. The question was always how long they could hold before the lines bled red.

Hoshino's pen moved again, now stabbing at the jagged edges of the Changbai Mountains in Jilin Province. "The second defensive layer you want is established within Jilin, leveraging the rugged terrain of the Changbai. This region acts as a natural buffer zone, designed to slow down BETA advances through the mountain passes."

"Key strongholds near Heaven Lake, Tianchi will serve as command centers and last-stand positions if needed," Hoshino added. His voice hardened, a thin veneer of professionalism over something more fragile. "Specialized TSF units will be positioned at elevated vantage points to target high-priority BETA types—Laser-Class, especially. Air superiority means nothing if those bastards paint the sky with their laser beams."

Takeru's jaw tightened slightly. He knew firsthand how quickly a Laser-Class could turn a pilot's hopes into ash. They almost lost in Siping because the Laser-class suddenly appeared.

Hoshino's hand drifted northward, his pen lingering over Heilongjiang Province, the final bastion. "The last defensive layer lies deep within Heilongjiang. Harbin, and the forests of the Greater and Lesser Khingan Ranges, will serve as the ultimate line of resistance."

The room felt colder, as if the very mention of Harbin had drawn in the icy breath of the north.

"Urban areas will be heavily fortified with layered defenses designed for prolonged combat. The dense forests?" He gave a wry smile. "Perfect terrain for guerrilla warfare. Mobile TSF units executing hit-and-run tactics, using the landscape like a knife pressed against the BETA's throat. Natural barriers like the Songhua River will become defensive lines, with bridges rigged for demolition to slow their advances when, not if, they come."

The words hung between them.

"In conclusion," Hoshino said quietly, "the success of this strategy relies on maintaining control over Liaoning's coastal supply lines, utilizing Jilin's mountainous terrain for attritional warfare as long as we can, and establishing a final stronghold in Heilongjiang... which ultimately leads the CEF into maintaining its position, while remaining active. I'm... impressed, Captain."

Takeru didn't move, didn't blink.

"Flexibility. Rapid TSF deployment. Strategic use of natural terrain," Hoshino muttered, almost to himself. "That's what it'll take to hold back the BETA."

Then, a pause—a breath.

"If all lines are breached…" Hoshino's voice dropped, softer now, like he was speaking to ghosts. "Evacuation protocols. Last-resort nuclear denial operations to prevent the establishment of a BETA Hive in the region."

"That's right," Takeru said, inwardly glad that the Colonel had followed his thoughts.

"You've given me a lot to think about, Captain Shirogane. It seems you really did think this through. You may go."

Takeru saluted and left. Colonel Hoshino's eyes followed him, lingering on his retreating form. A smile crept across Hoshino's face, a mixture of pride and irritation. The IRG really were a bunch of bastards for sending someone like Shirogane Takeru to the frontlines. And pity the fools if they thought they could send another Shirogane to die meaninglessly here.

Colonel Hoshino sat back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the door through which Takeru had just left. The young captain's words echoed in his mind, and despite his outward composure, there was a storm of conflicting thoughts brewing within him. Shirogane Takeru had been nothing like the others. He was sharp, direct, and eerily aware of the dangers that lay ahead. Hoshino couldn't help but admire the man, though part of him resented the very fact that someone so competent had been sent to the frontlines, where so many good soldiers had already fallen.

Takeru's strategy had unsettled him. The young man had already picked apart the situation, showing a level of understanding that most wouldn't have grasped until much later. It made Hoshino wonder if the IRG had truly thought this through. The brass had been careless, sending someone with Takeru's potential to possibly die on some forgotten battlefield. Hoshino shook his head in frustration, a bitter taste in his mouth. He couldn't let that happen — not if he had anything to say about it. The Empire need all the good men it can get.

The room was silent except for the quiet hum of machinery and the distant sound of the base outside. Hoshino reached for the phone on his desk, his fingers pausing for just a moment before he dialed a number from memory. The call connected almost immediately, and a familiar voice came through the receiver.

"Colonel Hoshino. I trust you're calling with news?"

Hoshino exhaled slowly, settling into his chair as he spoke. "I've just spoken with Captain Shirogane just now. The situation is more complicated than we anticipated. The strategy we've been handed doesn't account for a number of key variables. I need your opinion on something."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before the voice responded. "Go on."

"I've been given orders to push forward with a tactical assault to keep the CEF in Heilongjiang," Hoshino said, leaning forward as he outlined the situation. "But after speaking with Shirogane, I'm beginning to question whether this is the right approach. The terrain is far more treacherous than we were briefed on, and the enemy forces are more entrenched than we thought. A frontal assault could cost us more than we're prepared to lose."

There was another pause, this time longer. "You're suggesting a change in strategy?"

"I am," Hoshino replied, his voice steady. "I think we need to reconsider our approach. We have options, but the higher-ups are too focused on a quick victory. I need to know if there's a way to buy us more time, more resources, or even an alternative strategy that could give us an edge."

"I see," the voice on the other end said thoughtfully. "You're not wrong, Colonel. If the terrain and enemy positions are as you describe, a direct assault could be disastrous. I'll contact the others and set up a meeting to discuss this in more detail. We'll need to look at all angles before making a decision."

Hoshino nodded, even though the other person couldn't see it. "I appreciate it. Let me know as soon as possible. I'll hold off on any further actions until we have a clearer plan."

"Understood. Stay sharp, Colonel."

With the call ended, Hoshino leaned back in his chair. "This is on you, Captain."