Magical Strike Force S

[Shana]

Illya turned much more serious this time. He really seemed to think only he alone had the power to stop the mage. He seemed too confident in his abilities and simply seemed to think none of them stood a chance against the mage.

 

"You underestimate us greatly. And if you think the Federation is simply going to overlook this situation then you're wrong. This was the purpose that Division Nine was put together. We've faced much more dangerous opponents than this, you'd think we would be S rank mages if we just sat on our asses all day? No, and of course, if you are to unleash the limiter in your device you need authorization from the Council. And you can only get that through Commander Carrington. This Multiverse has been in peril countless of times and we've always been there to stop it. I won't be looked down upon by a cadet, you may think of this as arrogance but it actually is not. It's a wake up call to you, if you think you can handle this alone and just go and rush in, it only proves how truly unprepared you really are", Illya said and continued to walk away to the cafeteria. "And don't forget, this is the military too, just because we're a family it doesn't mean we tolerate insubordination. Remember that before you go off doing something you'll regret later. And about Akira, I just gave a suggestion. You should give people a chance, everyone has problems of their own. Akira has a problem that's not his fault, his case is a form of a curse in a way just like you, and if Shana was able to forgive him without knowing about his curse, then why can't you?"

 

Illya did not wait for an answer, she simply went away inside the cafeteria. She wasn't one to scold others, but she felt that Kai's arrogance had to be adressed with a much firmer tone. She generally leaves that kind of speech to Juno but she felt she had to say it now.

 

===============

 

Shana nodded at Akira and then looked at Sergeant Yamamoto.

 

"Nice to meet you Sergeant", Shana said as she saluted him and then turned to Akira. "We will find a way to cure you of whatever is causing this. Don't worry, no one is gonna get killed."

[DrPhil2501]

Admiral Kain... a pinacle of corruption within the ranks, it seemed. If he were still alive, Wolf would hunt him down ruthlessly. But it seemed the deed was already done.

 

"We called you because you're an excellent soldier, and you're a team player. There have been several reports of artifacts resonating around the multiverse, we need all the capable hands we can get to retrieve them".

 

Wolf looked up at Carrington. "Artifacts?" he played-back. "Left over by the Ancients, no doubt..."

 

"What size force are you sending to recover these artifacts? Rookie cadets, no doubt. I suppose you want me to look after these kids while they're conducting their mission."

 

He paced away. "Very well... But you're hiring me as a mercenary, not a dog of the military. Agreed?"

[Shana]

"If you want to be under contract as a mercenary then no problem. Just keep something in mind, if you decide to join us as an active member, we'll gladly welcome you", Commander Carrington said and then looked over to him. "Although they maybe trainees here at Division Nine, all of them have prior experience in combat. They can take care of themselves, but I do want you to keep an eye on one in particular at the moment. His name is Akira. You'll know him when you join them all in the mission that they are departing on."

[Chevron 7 locke]

"It's a wake up call to you, if you think you can handle this alone and just go and rush in, it only proves how truly unprepared you really are"

 

"If you truley think that I have not been planning for this day the moment I got here then you don't know me quite as well as you think do. The mage may be powerful, but do you honestly think he can withstand a transport hitting him at speeds over a thousand miles per hour?"

 

"I do this not out of arrogence...but out of desire not see anyone else harmed. This man has taken enough from me...I don't want him to take anyone else." He called as she walked away.

 

Kai watched as she walked back toward the cafeteria and his thoughts returned to those of training.

 

Alright...lets try this again.

 

"Cannon mode."

 

The sword shifted again and became a black cannon that had grey lines criss crossing across it's surface.

 

"Infinity Shot." The cannon chimed. "Infinity Shot...standby...ready."

 

"Fire!"

 

Kai watched as the cannon finally fired off the correct type of blast.

 

Good. It is by no means mastered...but I can begin work on my next attack. That murderer won't know what hit him.

[Shana]

Juno had been standing by the archway waiting for Illya to return.

 

"It's clear how inexperienced you are scolding people", Juno said playfully.

 

"Well I thought I had to say something. Even though he says he's prepared for a long time, he's still young", Illya said.

 

"Don't worry, we know where he's going, we might as well just keep our distance a bit. See what he does, the important thing for the Federation is getting the artifacts that the mage has gotten his hands on. We'll just head in to make the retrieval. I'm sure he'll be alright", Juno said.

 

"I hope so too. Alright then. We need to carefully plan this. While Kai fights off the mage we'll get the artifacts, at least that way if he plans to do what I think he's gonna do, we can justify his action with the board by giving something to show for it. If we don't then they might get the excuse they've been looking for to shut us down, especially the Ground Forces HQ", Illya said. Juno simply nodded and then Illya went over to where Shana was sitting. Juno simply looked out at Kai training.

 

He can do it, she thought to herself.

[Chevron 7 locke]

This is much easier then I thought it would be. Without that damn imprint constantly blocking my attempts. It looks like I'll be ready by the time the three weeks are up.

 

The end of Kai's cannon was rapidly circling in on itself as it built up power for his newest attack. I can master them later...Right now I have to develop them.

 

"Memory of the Fallen." The cannon chimed a very deep chime. "Memory of the Fallen...standby...ready."

 

Kai took a deep breath as the very end of the cannon pulsed with a very bright silver light. "Fire."

 

A very bright blast of light shot from the cannon and shot directly up into the sky at incredible speed. Kai was knocked onto his back by the force of the blast. Amazing...I've never been knocked down by one of my own blasts before. I'll classify this under 'Do not use unless necessary'.

 

He dropped down to one knee as he felt the last of his magic disappear and he dropped out of his Berserker form. That one blast wiped out the last of my magic. I had slightly less then half of my reserve magic left. I can only wonder how much stronger that blast would have been had I not used up the magic I used in my infinity shot.

 

Kai thought to himself for a moment before heading off to the cafeteria for a quick meal and then a shower...then sleep. Nothing restored the body like sleep.

[CommanderQ]

Yamamoto chuckled as Shana saluted him.

 

"No need to do that, I'm a Sergeant, not an officer, I work for a living."

 

He smiled, but still returned the salute.

 

"We will find a way to cure you of whatever is causing this. Don't worry, no one is gonna get killed."

 

Akira nodded, "I wish I had your optimism."

 

He then stood and left to grab some food, maybe that could help him out a bit.

[DrPhil2501]

"His name is Akira. You'll know him when you join them all in the mission that they are departing on."

 

Those words echoed within him for the past two days. There must have been something very dark surrounding this person; all the more reason why to hire Wolf to keep an eye on Akira. As well as look out for the other cadets. He viewed this mission as somewhat of a body-guard deal.

 

He walked to the cafeteria; he hadnt eaten for a while. They were the type of food a soldier would eat on a tray. He picked one up, and picked a table to eat on. There were a few people in the cafeteria today.

[Shana]

Isara walked into the cafeteria and spotted Wolf sitting on a table eating his lunch. She went towards him and sat opposite to him.

 

"Juno and Illya want to introduce you to the team so you know who they are", Isara said. "The sooner you get to know each other the better. We're gonna be flying out pretty soon, there's a situation that we need to handle so I'm gonna be counting on you to keep an eye out for anything."

 

==============

 

Illya walked over to where Shana was and saw Akira and Yamamoto sitting opposite Shana. She sat down beside her and looked at all of them.

 

"The other team member has finally arrived. He's here now and will be joining us on the next mission. We will introduce you to him later on in the day. He's a mercenary who used to be a part of the Federation, but due to his multiple talents he was hired for this Division", Illya said.

 

"What's he like?", Shana asked.

 

"He pretty much keeps to himself, but he's an excellent mage. You'll know when you meet him", Illya said. "Come by the Commander's office for a briefing before we leave for the Altaria."

[Chevron 7 locke]

Kai quickly walked into the cafeteria and looked for something to eat. He wasn't picky, It just had to be dead and edible.

 

He decided on a pack of energy bars and grabbed them and then headed up to his dormitory. Lets see...The mage will most likely attempt to shoot the transport out of orbit when I show up in orbit...which means I have to beat him to it.

 

Kai's head began to sting but he ignored it as he continued to think of a strategy that might work even as the pain in his head kept getting worse. Finally he sat up and rubbed his head.

 

What the...Why does my head hurt all of a sudden?

 

Because I'm here.

 

You...Why do you insist on tormenting me? Can you not wait until the three weeks are done?

 

There has been a change of plans regarding our..travel plans. I know what your Federation friends are planning Kai. They won't succede against me and you know it. You will meet me on the colony in one weeks time or I'll destroy the Federation Academy from space. You know I have the power to do so and you know I will.

 

One week Kai-san. One week and you'll be able to see me again...and see what you made me when you left me to die.

 

Kai looked up sharply at the last words. They didn't belong to the mage. They most likely belonged to Hizuni.

 

It looks like someone will have to know now. Someone I can trust not to assign blame...someone who will understand.

[Shana]

Illya had gone to a meeting with the high command. Shana was left alone in the Division Nine building. She was wearing a blue top with jeans and had a red trenchcoat on and her hair in a pig tail. She was standing outside near the training field. She was waiting for Illya to come back.

 

Shana was looking at the sky, fortunetly it was full of stars. She smiled to herself. She started singing in japanese a very slow song about the wind blowing to a place where the heart yearns to go.

 

A small bird stood on the rail looking at her briefly.

 

"It's a beautiful night isn't it?", Shana asked talking to the bird who only stared at her and then flew away. Shana kept looking at it as it flew with a smile on her face.

[Chevron 7 locke]

Kai looked out his dormitory windows and stared at the night sky. Somewhere out there the mage was traveling to his home...with his imouto-chan.They had been family on that colony and even though they were seperated Kai would never stop thinking of her as such.

 

If I left now I could push the engines on the transport to maxium power and possibly make it...but then the captains would come after me and leave the academy undefended.

 

Kai grabbed a piece of paper and began to write a note...explaining what needed to be done...the original three week deadline being shortned to one...and the mage's threat of destroying the academy from space if he didn't show in one week. I hope you understand...That I'm doing this to protect you. I have no doubts that I will possibly be overpowered...and possibly killed, but the academy shall remain. Kai wrote as he finished the letter.

 

He quietly snuck out of his dormitory and began to walk toward Captain Aiko's room. She is the most rational of them all...not clouded by emotion or anger.

 

He broke the lock on her door and quietly placed the note on her table, hoping that she would see it when she was ready...and he was hopefully far away.

 

Kai then turned and began to walk toward the hanger bay. He stopped as one of the many transports landed in the hanger and pilot quickly walked off. Hopefully he left the engines running...that would make this so much simplier.

 

Kai made sure he had a week's worth of supplies before sneaking onboard the transport and firing up the engines.

 

I'm coming imouto-chan...I'll be there soon.

 

He turned the transport toward the open bay doors and shot off toward the distant night sky.

[DrPhil2501]

"Juno and Illya want to introduce you to the team so you know who they are", Isara said. "The sooner you get to know each other the better. We're gonna be flying out pretty soon, there's a situation that we need to handle so I'm gonna be counting on you to keep an eye out for anything."

 

"I'm eating... As soon as I'm done, I'll get right on that." he promised. He dug his fork into the mash-potatos and quickly began devouring it. It was gone within seconds. He stared back at Isara.

 

"I was told to keep an eye on someone. He calls himself Akira. What exactly has he done that may compromise the mission?"

[Shana]

"It's not a question of what he's done persay", Isara replied and looked over to Akira's table. "He was involved in an incident that sort of split his persona in two. Corruption magic. He suddenly becomes violent, that's why we need you to keep an eye on him."

 

========

 

Shana noticed a transport leaving the hangar. It was a weird occurance, since all flights ceased after 10 pm. But there was no alarm, nothing to indicate anything was out of place but somehow Shana knew there was something wrong. She walked over to a maintenance officer who seemed to be working on a holographic console.

 

"Excuse me?", Shana said as she approached him, he turned around and greeted her with a salute which she returned. "Is it normal for a transport to be leaving past the curfew hours? I just saw one take off right now".

 

The maintenance officer looked puzzled, he then asked her what the transport looked like.

 

"It was a personnel transport", Shana informed and the man simply told her he would look into it and left.

 

A few hours later Juno got up from bed and noticed an envelope on her appartment's entrance corridor. It was addressed to her from Kai. She opened the letter and looked read it.

 

"So he went on his own", Juno said and looked out the window. "Good luck Kai. I have to report this though, but I might as well do it in a couple of hours. That way he might have enough of a window to do what he needs to do and then we'll retrieve the artifacts. That way we'll have a way to appeal on his behalf."

[Chevron 7 locke]

((After everyone is onboard the other ship should we do a week long time skip?))

 

One week...One week

 

Kai kept thinking the same thing over and over as he made himself comfortable on one of the seats and prepared to sleep.

 

One week...and I'll have to face quite possibly the most powerful opponet I have ever known. I don't even know If I'll survive. But still...for Hizuni it's worth trying.

 

Kai leaned back in the chair and began to fall asleep. The first sleep without the nightmares in a long time.

[Shana]

In the morning the transport ship took all selected personnel to the Altaira. Commander Carrington looked at everyone assebled in the hangar bay of the ship.

 

"This is an important situation, I want everyone in battle stations in ten hours", Carrington said and Juno looked out into space.

 

That should buy him enough time, Juno thought and walked over to Illya and Shana. "Akira, Wolf please come over here".

[CommanderQ]

Akira was surprised on how time had passed, and he had not gone crazy, yet. He had boarded the ship without problem, but everyone was strangely quiet. Perhaps it was the anticipation of the first mission...they'd get used to it, though.

 

"Akira, Wolf please come over here".

 

"Yes, Ma'am."

 

He saluted and walked over to the group.

[DrPhil2501]

When he heard his name being called, Wolf apporoached Juno with Akira next to him. He shot him a quick glance, then turned his head back. He didnt speak a word.

 

The hanger bay was filled with cargo crates and all sorts of machinery. It even contained those infamous exosuit cargo-loaders to carry heavy equipment. All the canons, missles and spare weaponry were stored away in a chamber room against the wall. The floor was built with the seal to the airlock below. Everything else within the hanger was an equivilance to a stronghold/warehouse.

[Shana]

Juno turned to them as they made their way over to where she and Illya and Shana were standing.

 

"Shana, Akira, this is Wolf", she said turning to Wolf and giving him a grin. "He's a mercenary hired to Division Nine as a support member of this team. He'll be looking out for you but he's not a babysitter so don't give him any grief".

 

Shana nodded and looked at Wolf bowing to him and smiling.

 

"Nice to meet you Wolf", Shana said and then turned to Illya who moved forward.

 

"We shall take this time to rest up. Make sure you're ready for deployment in nine hours. We have to assemble at the bridge, so make sure you come ready for action. This time you'll be heading in teams. Juno, Wolf and Akira are Lightning Squad, and Shana and Me are Star Squad. If you happen to meet with Kai tell him he's with Star Squad as well", Illya said and then placed a hand on Shana's shoulder motioning her to come with her which she did. Juno was left there with Wolf and Akira.

 

"Now that we're here alone, I'll take this opportunity to state something. You are both on my team and I did this for the sake of you Akira. In case you go wild again, Wolf has all the tools he needs to help us inmobilize you if you go on a frenzy again. But remember that if you think you can manage to control yourself then try to do so. Until we get a way to rid you of the corruptive magic Wolf will step in for measures", Juno said. She didn't want to scare him and of course Wolf wouldn't kill him but she was confident enough that Wolf would be able to deal with him in case he lost it again.

[CommanderQ]

Akira nodded to Captain Aiko, "I sure hope we don't have any problems...but thank you, Captain Aiko, on the precautions. I will try not to let the group down."

 

He then looked at the man called 'Wolf,' and gave a short bow, and offered his hand to shake.

 

"I'm sure we'll be good comrades as the missions progress. It is an honor to meet you."

 

He looked back at Captain Aiko, "Speaking of missions, Ma'am, but are we allowed to know the purpose of our mission?"

[Shana]

Juno looked from Akira to Wolf.

 

"We're going to secure some artifacts that have been used by a rogue group. One of our unit members is dealing with the responsible parties as we speak. While he takes care of the opposition we will make sure we get our hands on those artifacts", Juno said.

[Chevron 7 locke]

Above unregulated colony 72

 

Kai looked down through one of the viewscreens at the colony below him. Who would have thought I could have made it if I pushed the engines so hard?

 

The screen showed the same barren stretch of burnt land where countless deserted buildings stood, no one alive was left to claim them.

 

Except for the Mage and possibly Hizuni...he was the only living thing around. Hizuni...I'm coming for you imouto-chan... I promise. I won't fail you again.

 

He had slept for two days straight before finally reaching the colony, he had forgotten how good regular uninterupted sleep could be for the body. Now lets see here...If I'm going to crash the transport then I need to make sure that I have an escape route ready. Yes...this should do nicely.

 

Kai aimed the transport toward the life froms he had detected earlier and set the engines to overload. Hopefully it would look like he had died in a suicide attack on the mage.

 

The colony

 

Hizuni watched as the transport screamed through the sky, flying directly at the two of them with it's engines smoking from an overload presumebly.

 

"Master...shouldn't we move? I don't think I can stop him if he really does try and take us out in a suicide attack."

 

The mage merely extended his hand toward the sky and uttered two words. "Vortex Inferno." His flame shaped pendant chimed. "Vortex Inferno ready my lord."

 

"Fire."

 

A large spiral of flame shot out and engulfed the transport just as Kai jumped off and bounced down between two buildings and watched from his hiding spot as the transports was instantly engulfed in flames and then destroyed before it could even get close to him.

 

This...will be more difficult then I anticipated.

[DrPhil2501]

"I'm sure we'll be good comrades as the missions progress. It is an honor to meet you."

 

Wolf didnt say anything. He accepted the handshake and grunted. He turned back to Juno as Akira queried about the mission.

 

"We're going to secure some artifacts that have been used by a rogue group. One of our unit members is dealing with the responsible parties as we speak. While he takes care of the opposition we will make sure we get our hands on those artifacts"

 

"Then we dont waste anymore time." he spoke. "We begin preparing right now..."

 

Wolf dismissed himself and put himself to work. He placed his coat on a near-by chair and picked up cylindrical cargo containers to their appropriate areas.

[Chevron 7 locke]

Kai watched from his hiding spot in one of the abandoned buildings that littered the city as the mage deactivated his device and turned to his apprentice.

 

"He is here...I can feel him."

 

"Where is he Master? I want to show him how much stronger I've gotten since he left me behind."

 

"That in none of your concern. The only reason you were brought along is because I may need someone to distract him for a few moments. He has gotten much stronger then I anticipated he would. He's still not near my power level but he is not far beyond you. The two of you are nearly matched."

 

The mage nodded to his apprentice. "I will begin searching the outreaches of the colony. You are to search the city for him. If you find him, fight him, defeat him, but do not kill him. Understand?"

 

Hizuni nodded and walked slowly into the city.

 

Perfect... Kai thought.

[Shana]

In a remote part of the Universe...

 

A man stood infront of a monitor. He was dressed in a black armor. He had a patch over his left eye and had silver long hair.

 

"The Division Nine strike force is mobilizing my lord", the man in the black armor said.

 

Another man sitting on a chair looked over to him.

 

"It was to be expected. That power hungry idiot might prove himself useful to us. It might be time to move in and secure the data we need in the division's building. Tell our agent to move in now. We need samples for the Project P", the man on the chair said.

 

"But sire, why don't we just collect the subject and run the tests directly?", the black armored man asked.

 

"Because I stumbled upon the subject only a few years ago before I was outcast and my research destroyed. But when I performed the test, she was a viable candidate, at least her DNA proved as much", the man said.

 

"Alright then Lord Grier, it will be done", the armored man said.

 

"No mistakes Shevlan, none", Lord Grier said.

 

"Of course my lord", Shevlan said and left the room.

 

==========

 

A few hours later on the Altaria a report was passed to Commander Carrington that the medical bay had been infiltrated, a few vials of blood were stolen by an unknown thief.

 

"It has to be someone on the inside", Juno said. "No one could penetrate the peripheral defenses that easy, at least an alarm would've sounded, we have magical detectors as well as other technological sensors unknown to the general public, designed specifically by Isara".

 

"It is very troubling indeed", Commander Carrington spoke. "Have they identifyed which vials of DNA samples were stolen?"

 

"They stole some of all the females in the unit", Asuza said.

 

"Who might be after something like that?", Illya asked.

 

Commander Carrington stood up and began to pace around the conference room.

 

"We have no choice but to let things unfold for now. Let's concentrate our efforts in this situation. We will support Kai, even if he went by himself, and I can't agree with his actions, but as a unit this is our job. Gather everyone in battle stations, get Star and Lightning squads ready for deployment. If you encounter Kai, let him brief you on the current situation and support him", Commander Carrington said and dismissed everyone.

 

===========

 

Shana got into her uniform. She went over to the hangar bay to get ready for deployment. Illya slowly walked towards her. Shana was whispering a prayer with her hands together on her chest.

 

"What's up?", Illya asked her.

 

"Nothing, I was just saying a prayer", Shana said.

 

"For Kai?", Illya asked her with a smile.

 

"Yeah, he's down there by himself, at least this way I can support him while I'm not there on the field with him", Shana replied.

 

"I understand. Well we're Star Squad so we'll be in charge of looking for Kai while Juno, Akira and Wolf deal with the artifacts on the surface of the planet", Illya said.

 

"Are you sure we won't be interrupting Kai?", Shana asked with a frown.

 

"Juno is confident that by the time we reach the surface, Kai will have a big head start", Illya said.

 

Juno entered the hangar bay again and started to look for Wolf and Akira. When she saw them she called them over. The ship they were boarding was now in place. Commander Carrington appeared on the monitors.

 

"We will be in orbit inside the asteroid field of one of the moons, the magnetic field will hide our presence from them. Good luck to Star and Lightning Squads, we are counting on you", Commander Carrington said and then Isara and Kotomi walked over to their respective squads. Kotomi was with Lightning and Isara with Star.

 

Star Squad went inside the transport to await deployment.

 

(We will now wait for Chevron to move a bit more in his battle before deploying on the planet)