Lissa was the first to regain consciousness and saw that the others weren’t so fortunate, Simon was killed on the impact meanwhile Thomas and Kyle were unconscious with Petra regaining consciousness shortly after while Wilmari remained unknown with the bag over her head.
“Fucking figures,” Lissa muttered as she grabbed a handgun, though in her disoriented state she was unable to figure out whether this was the tranquillizer or the loaded gun. Regardless she aimed for the window a small canister rolled into the wreckage of the SUV. “Gre-grenade…” Petra said using magic to push the grenade out which went off on time.
“I’m awake!” “What the what?!” The explosion to have woken Thomas and Kyle up, the former immediately looked at Wilmari with a mixture of fear and concern while Kyle went to check on Simon.
“He’s gone…” Kyle said in disappointment while Thomas nodded and checked on Wilmari with a slight sigh of relief.
“This one is still alive,” Thomas said as he quickly grabbed her and placed her over his shoulder.
"Now what we seemed to be surrounded?" Lissa asked as she tensely aimed her gun towards the ALC members that are starting to close in on them, but their attention was then averted by the sound of distant gunfire and an explosion scattering them.
"Backup?" Kyle asked looking at the others wondering if whether or not one of them had called in help prior for this, unless of course, Simon had—
"You guys need a hand?"
Oscar had peeked through the windows in what appears to be some form of prototype stealth suit.
"Ugh of course you and the others would find out," Thomas said as the door of one of the Cars were pried open allowing them to escape.
As soon as they got out they were greeted by Oscar, Ren and Jun, who had brought a modified armoured SUV with Ester on the wheel.
"You guys out on a Double date?" Jun joked earning a scoff from Thomas and Lissa while an awkward chuckle from Kyle and Petra.
"Just get us out of here?" Thomas said as he handed Wilmari onto Ren like a sack of potatoes.
"Yeah yeah," Oscar chuckled as he reloaded his submachine gun.
"LERONJ-4 to LERONJ-Actual we've got the package, status update on the decoy?" Oscar said over the radio as both Ren and Jun handed the four a set of radios linked into their channel before getting into a trio of modified ATVs.
"Commentate, Your naming sense is horrendous." Nina's voice said through the radio while the sounds of gunfire echoed in the background. "Update, Louis and I are currently engaged in a minor firefight with them across the street. We're fine."
"We're heading over there to pick you two up to get ready!" Oscar replied as he nodded to Lissa and the others as they boarded the SUV.
"Have we been compromised?" Kyle asked looking at Ester who had begun driving them on the way out while Oscar, Jun and Ren drove in the opposite direction.
"It's a funny story," Ester answered in an awkward tone as she nervously gripped the wheel.
"Start talking," Lissa said as she took the seat next to her while she watched Petra and Thomas look at the now corpse of Simon with Thomas closing his eyes and muttered something in a low voice.
"Uh Oscar will explain everything in detail better," She nervously giggled, Lissa sighed in exasperation and turned to Thomas and Petra worriedly.
"He was friends with the Princes," Petra explained as she slumped into her chair while Thomas became more interested in his gun. "One of the few that didn't blame them for the failure of Thermus."
"Was," Thomas repeated it as he glared at the Windows as if hoping an ALC member would come so he can shoot at them.
"We'll stop them," Lissa reassured her. "And once we do, we'll avenge not only Simon but also the lives lost at Thermus."
"We won't be stopping them," Thomas said looking at Simon. "We'll be wiping them out."
To say that the Irago Operation was a Pyrrhic Victory was an understatement, for one Wilmari's intel proved not only allowed them to learn all of the potential Safehouses as they had been using the Ercov Express' sites but also the shipping of other weapons, most importantly the shipping of the Nerve Gas which was to also be used in not only in Axis proper but also within the Nations of Jorouse and Exavis. But the cost of it was the loss of one of the Members, namely Simon Winters, and the exposure of existence to non-members.
"This is quite a predicament you've gotten yourself into," Altasia Skye told Hathaway over Tea time.
"To think I had gotten sloppy when it comes to my methods," Hathaway said in disappointment.
As it turns out, one of Oscar's newer bugs that carried anti-magic properties had overhead the briefing of the formation of Task Force Revenir and had immediately informed Altasia of the Operation as they were understaffed but for the most part unprepared for it.
This later allowed her to sanction a rescue operation should their Operation go sideways, and it did.
"So what do you intend to do with this information then?" Hathaway asked, he wasn't trying to bluff her or anything. Being one of his former students he knew for a fact that she was above the blackmail method, he was just curious about what she intends to do.
"It's fairly simple," Altasia said putting down the teacup. "Let me and Oscar and the others into Task Force Revenir, each member is capable of helping your Operations.
For Oscar and Nina, who are very much a pair of Tech specialists so with him and Emma, your tech specialist. Any Operations that would require hacking or something in that vein would improve the chances of success.
For Ester, her medical knowledge should keep the other members from dying as you lack any medical aid.
For Ren, he, Welkin and Farah would be able to maintain and improve your gear in between Operations.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
For Louis, he and Damian would become an excellent sniper pair.
And finally, Jun. Well having the Daughter of the Military Police's commander is enough of a good reason to get her on your side."
She took a sip of the tea one more time and looked at him.
"With all your experience and skill, you were never good at handling people." She said lightly teasing him. "If you don’t mind I’ll be helping out in managing it.”
“So you’re fine with the fact what we’re doing off the record?” Hathaway raised an eyebrow at her.
“As long as Revenir does not resort to the same tactics as they are,” Altasia said with a serious look. “Those who hunt beasts tend to become beasts as well.”
Hathaway chuckled, remembering the fact that he said the same words as well towards her when she was still his student. Though that memory alone made him wonder that why such a promising and bright student like her chose to stay as a student when she could have been a high ranking officer in the Military Police.
“In that case welcome aboard,” Hathaway smiled at her. “Deputy-Captain Altasia Skye.”
All of the members present went up to meet with Hathaway and Altasia that afternoon. On their hands carried a series of mission reports detailing each of the Safehouses used by the Coalition.
"Thanks to Ercov informing all of Safehouses used by the Coalition. The Military Police had raided half of these," He explained showing them pictures of the raid locations with many Coalition members being arrested or killed in the firefight.
"I take it half of these went into hiding or on the run?" Thomas asked crossing his arms.
"That's right, and right now we have managed several leads to where they are heading." Altasia spoke up and handed Oscar, Louis, Damian and Jun a file that was labelled 'Kingslayer'.
"For Leblanc, Quinn, Sharpe and Zhan. The three of you are to head to the ruins of Nixia, from there you have one singular objective." She continued as they read the file. "Kill Rider Erbus."
"We get to finally kill that bastard responsible for the bombs," Jun said gloomily as she, Louis and Damian exchanged weary looks with one another as they continued handing out more assignments for the other members that are present.
“Here’s the overall gist of your gear for it.” Emma, Ren, Welkin and Farah went and handed them various equipment and upgrades for their mission later that day.
Their equipment comprised of Oscar’s Prototype Stealth Suit with a few modifications courtesy of Emma that can only give them at least thirty minutes before needing to temporarily recharge for a few minutes, a pair of enhanced Sensor Masks that Welkin developed to help in spotting, all the while Ren and Farah modified their weapons for a stealthier approach for the mission.
“Not bad,” Jun said putting on the Stealth Suit and activated it, briefly camouflaging her around her surroundings behind her Louis and Damian were testing the Sensor masks and the Rifles used for the mission.
"Hey Damian what do you think would happen if we shoot someone in the genitals with this?" Louis said with a cheeky grin earning an amused laugh from everyone.
"The shot from this would more likely cut him in half,” Damian chuckled as he looked at the sniper rifle as it switched between a three barreled machine gun and into a halberd. Farah on the other hand rolled her eyes as the others continued exchanging jokes about it.
“Now I know such comments are usually discouraged but…” Farah trailed off with a cheeky smile. “Make sure to double-tap.”
[Axis:Legacy]
Meanwhile, Thomas and Lissa went off to meet up with Headmaster Myrlus according to the words of Professor Hathaway. It was something that only he can address towards the two, hence why the two are the only ones allowed.
“Do you think he knows?” Lissa asked him as they climbed up the steps.
“I have a sinking feeling that he does,” Thomas said in a low voice.
Technically he does, Hathaway and Altasia later informed him of their small task force. But given the purpose of the Unit, he decided to turn a blind eye towards it and the main topic as to why he had called both of them there was a different story.
Upon arriving inside they were greeted by the sight of not only Headmaster Myrlus and Professors Thalia and Erisa sitting there.
"Please take a seat," Myrlus said as the two reluctantly did so. "I read your backgrounds both recently and learned an important thing about your history but I wish to learn more about it from you."
"What do you mean by that sir?" Thomas asked.
"Tell us about your parents," Myrlus said bluntly, Thomas flinched realizing where this conversation was heading. Even though he had accepted his past as an adopted son, that wasn't something he was willing to discuss openly to this day. And then there's Lissa's case, he glanced to the side and Lissa was already frowning as well considering her case was a much more sensitive topic.
"Why should we sir?" He said adding more emphasis on it, Lissa as well as the two other professors looked at him in shock. He didn't intend to sound rude but asking them to discuss a sensitive was already a landmine in it of itself, especially when that person is not in the right mood.
He felt Lissa's hand on his should and have him a reassuring look.
"It's okay," Lissa said looking at Myrlus. "I was born out of wedlock, my mother had an affair with someone and instead of letting me be an orphan they decided to take me in despite everyone viewing me as nothing more than an illegitimate child and suffered greatly from it."
"And it was hell," Lissa said trying to hold back her tears. "Being avoided by everyone for being born as one, and they'll only be interested in you for your family title and would forget you immediately know that you're nothing but a bargaining tool. I once thought of a dream of being a noblewoman but because my mother decided to flirt around with someone else."
There was bitterness in that voice that Thomas can't help but wrap his arms around Lissa trying to calm her down. Given the social stigma within her home regarding her born, it was no surprise that she'd be filled with resentment even if she tries her best to appreciate the love they give her.
And by the end of the day, she would still be an outcast to her home. That alone was the core reason why she joined in the first place, to make sure that she could wipe her past away.
Myrlus kept a stoic look while Erisa could only look down unable to look at Lissa in shame while Thalia rubbed her back trying to comfort her.
Thomas quietly assisted Lissa to sit down as he looked at her for a moment, she quietly nodded reassuring him.
He then glanced at Myrlus and avoided his look.
"I was just a war Orphan," Thomas said. "That's just that, my parents died in the Axis conflict and well a couple took me in. I joined this academy hoping maybe I'd repay the debt. That's just that."
Myrlus kept quiet, perhaps processing everything. Perhaps contemplating the right words to say to then maybe.
Instead he just quietly pulled out a small box, the same box that contained the shards of Crimson Edge and Azure Blade. Erise and Thalia's eyes widened in surprise as they stood up.
"You had these the whole time!" Erisa told him with a glare.
"I need both of you to touch these shards," He told them ignoring the protests of the two older women.
"What I have to explain to you cannot be expressed in words, the only way for me to explain it all is that both of you need to touch the shards," Myrlus said as he moved the Crimson Edge shard towards Thomas while the Azure Blade shard towards Lissa.
The two gave him a sceptical look but Myrlus had a pleading look on his face, far from the detached look he always kept.
"Please." He quietly said.
The two exchanged uneasy looks but they both relented and they placed their hands on the shards and their visions went white.