Tiki took a long-winded breath, "Fine. I guess you *are* with Hikari now. Small change, I guess." She swapped Terna's with Yuno's profiles on the groupings in the map's locations, "No more changes starting now. Groups are me and Dante, southwest side, Hikari and Terna north and Yuno with Luna southeast. Our target is simple, assuming we know basic directions: we drop in the inner zone of the circle, look back, kill anything that moves and push them towards the rest of the Victorian military, and then we take them down together. As soon as we do that, we turn around and start an assault at the presumed enemy headquarters, take down whatever is leading them and move on with our day, or travel to whatever tropical paradise you all wanted after forgetting this. Are we all on the same page?"

"Oversimplified to a tee I believe." Yuno pointed out.

"Of course, since it's a simple task anyway. This is more than ideal to establish proper, live military training for all of us. We have an allied force and simple monsters, so that limits a ton of things I'd otherwise need to take into account, such as major intelligence and priority targets outside of the battlefield, what the enemy might do in the middle of the battle to turn the tides, such as foreign reinforcements from an enemy ally or the political and militaristic effects of what every move of ours does. Granted, priority targets always exist, same with trump cards, but because we have them pinned between Victorian defenses and Insinian border patrols looking to delete them on sight, add the fact that they're just monsters with evolving but not actually fully developed intelligence to make them a threat currently, a simple plan such as this works perfectly."

Terna finished picking a nearby vest and tried putting it on, "I always loved the 'less is more' approach, honestly. Gives us time to practice with each other as well, just to see how well we work with each other!"

"Don't stretch your words that much when I've still got a bone to pick with you." Tiki worriedly looked at her, "Less you die on the battlefield today, all this singer shit is coming off and you're deploying properly equipped next time."

"Hey, some never needed M.O.D.s or bulletproof vests anyway. Just as Hikari, Dante and even Anya took on their enemies for the first time without the need for armor!" Terna pointed out.

"Or, they're just piss lucky they survived enough to put some on before it was too late." Tiki counterargued.

"U-Uh...Luna still doesn't wear particular armor anyway!" Terna started running out of ideas.

"She's a freaking super soldier for all I care. She isn't even in need of a bulletproof vest or other protection, she is the bulletproof vest and the other protection. Same with Lina and how 4 dozen soldiers saw her as a threat, tried to stop her, but apparently, they failed because even a 12 year old with whatever they have is the goddamn terminator." Tiki stood her ground, folding her arms.

Terna made a last resort, "Uh, Yuno never needed to wear any of that, and even now, he doesn't even wear a vest or a M.O.D.!" she pointed at Yuno.

Everyone then immediately took their eyes off Terna and Tiki's discussion with each other and collectively turned to face Yuno, who blushed as he tried to cover himself from everyone's staring.

"W-What the hell?! Are you serious?!" Yuno yelled.

"Hmm. I guess she is correct though." Dante thought.

"Although that makes for some major...plot holes?" Tiki thought.

Yuno recovered from his embarrassment, "Ehm. I'll have you know that I ain't no animal, and you are all collectively stereotyping me for no reason. Hyrusas don't even need clothing, since our birth only happens once a capable enough Obsulyte presence, with or without a Child being born, is established."

"So how do you-" Luna was interrupted.

"No." Yuno stopped her immediately.

"I'm still on the fence about taking whatever you say at face value, with the only source ever being 'trust me'." Dante pointed out.

"Go ahead and fact check it then. Oh, right, where does the script documenting Hyrusas exist? Thought so.", Yuno folded his tiny arms.

"Doesn't Anya have a Gate related with information with whatever is written?" Hikari recalled.

"Go ahead, I ain't got nothing to hide." Yuno firmly stood his ground.

"Excuse me, but can we focus, yet again? God, I swear, you are all trying to ignore this, it's blatantly obvious and it does us nothing but harm." Tiki read the atmosphere, "Now, as I was saying. I took all the chances I could with Drima, and we stretched it to where we would get only one military plane to drop us all in our positions. I was hoping for three to make things faster, but better to leave it as is and not push it. Through our coms, we will all affirm our deployment first before any of the three groups start moving in. Additionally, after we do move forward with the plan and everything, we will not be returning to Gardard, at least for a couple of days."

Luna took great interest in the last part, "What?"

"However this plan goes, success or major success, because failure is not an option, this will definitely not boil down well for the old bastards at the Council. Drima walked me over this, and a vacation to Galatea right after sounds more than proper. We were after a good first impression to solidify ourselves as a worthwhile and attention worthy third party, now that we are transitioning in that phase by ditching Thaddeus's ambassador party. Going the opposite direction and completely disregarding a country's military plans and order, while additionally making our own plans instead based on that situation can be portrayed as both us seeking to steal the spotlight as heroes, which is awful in a country where the military is on their highest of horses, or be framed for an 'organized criminal group'."

"Now that's a bit too far, don't you think?" Hikari pointed out.

"Yeah, sure. Come back to me when you fight a battle with a little bit more substance, because I doubt a conflict between army A and army B belonging to two opposing godly entities has the same complex aftermath and possibilities, other than the world will be saved or ruined. Now, as far as the vacation goes, because my last glimpse of faith to save us from this mess, if we don't screw this up, will be to stall until Alexandra Victoria is back since she's much more open minded than this clown shows upstairs. I'm also making plans for that, though I'm very much praying Anya will be able to butt in before we have to attend the hearing since she's the best one with words from here by a long shot."

"I suppose that there is a sufficient way to also make Lina cross borders with us? Or one that you have at least taken into consideration, because there is no other available way to do so, when an option presented would be to be stationed here, along with entities such as Drima. My separation from her due to attending the actual battlefield is already a hard decision deemed necessary, or even only temporary." Luna said.

"Not to worry, I already have that considered. The kid will be held here until the very end, where we will just shove her in the same plane we will go to, Galatea. I'd much rather have us go somewhere on the eastern side to cover even more distance from Victoria temporarily, but really, I don't think that is a good idea. West is Disilia as well, so there's another option taken away." Tiki considered, "At least we picked a country you probably have matters to attend to, I hope."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I don't think we will stick around for long here anyway, much less like criminals if we are portrayed as such. However, travelling towards the Eastern world and especially the West, with Disilia being a thing, will eventually have to be done. If the monster threat from Astrain to Larrusia, up at Victoria and down to Galatea has gone the way it has...we can only look for things to get worse." Hikari worryingly said.

"Let's keep it local, for now. The Eastern Front has been a mystery for a century up until now anyway. But with the battle that lies ahead, this should be our first thought in mind." Tiki pointed out, "Deep breaths, clear head, stick to the plan."

A beeping sound was heard coming off Tiki's pocket, having everyone take an even deeper breath as they realized what it meant, having her took out her phone so that she could silence it.

"Go time. Let's get down to the escort car. They'll get us to the airway, and we will be dropped off from there." Tiki led the way.

Drima entered the room, "Glad to see someone is keeping track. Now, let's get you all going. Don't worry, the car is for military transport, so it'll be spacious enough to host you, even with your armors and M.O.D.s, for those who have a bigger layer of protection."

Tiki got curious, "Military...car? Like, a Victorian military transport vehicle? I just had a lengthy thinking session for how to act specifically without any of their help."

"One of many. It's just that you were presented as a third party, whereas the other vehicles alongside this one carry young men registered as Victorian citizens. Don't get at all excited about this. Additionally, you will be airdropped by a military plane with a now assigned military pilot instead of one of my contacts as well, but that's only because they want to avoid controversies regarding you getting another form of transportation for a Victoria-related battlefield from a Victoria-related area."

"Wait, what do you mean 'young men'?" Hikari asked.

"That. Drima, are we talking about a draft here?" Dante quickly asked.

"Don't ask me, after I screwed with the Council and asked Alexandra herself to intervene, albeit with finesse and secrecy, they are blocking me off. Even with my position as the biometric expert and my station at the building, which I'll have you know, it's more than prestige to be allowed in the Grand Hall to actually work, by Victorian tradition." Drima answered.

"Right. Aside from whatever the hell this new piece of info is, it both hints at another more major issue and it complicates things for us as well. The original plan basically was made not with the happy thought that we'd be recognized as an ally and be assisted, but rather completely ignored by the military. Case in point: If we *are* airdropped to our preferred positions by the military, that means that the military knows exactly where we are, and their tacticians, commanders, whatever the hell you call them in Victoria, are almost definitely going to figure out what we are there to do once they see a bunch of black blobs rising over the hills with our positions behind them. God forbid that said blobs are also followed by their corrupted Obsulyte pseudo commanders and shit.", Tiki said with a tone of annoyance, having already the thought of her plan going to ruin before the start.

"You seriously think I'd be such a simpleton? It's already taken care of, by the one person that came down from a ship to scold Lina when she destroyed the guards. You'll be fine. On another note, looking at you and Dante, your efforts seem rather commendable. I like the jacket and gloves touch, fashionable enough."

"Jacket has layered Nanomachines and is going to be loaded with ammo, same with the pants and why they have all those pockets. I suppose I'll find medicine and ammo on the plane to load us up, instead of the military base itself now.", Tiki still somewhat annoyingly said, "And if you ever fought with a melee weapon in this day and age, where our attacks are how they are, your hands ain't gonna look pretty after if you don't protect them."

"And I suppose that's what all the creams and soaps ordered under my name as well?" Drima folded his arms.

"You wanted a third party, you got a third party. Now fund it," she said in her brash manner.

Drima sighed, "Whatever. The cheapest thing was the dye for the matte black. Should really learn to do buyer research for providers with the best prices before pressing 'buy' on every green button you see."

"That is tradition, and you do not question anything about that, got it?" she somewhat angrily said, glaring at Drima, "I've had enough. All of you, go, now." she ordered everyone to the transport vehicle.

Dante grabbed her arm, "Like you said. Enough. Already had your pissy fit, let's go."

Following right along with her orders, especially after seeing the glaring and shine of Tiki's eyes as she started to not get pissed, but actually agitated to a point where she could strike back, everyone quickly left the room and headed for the elevator at the lobby area, one standing next to another, patiently waiting for both Dante and Tiki to come out of the room and join them to head down. Fully expecting another massive tirade of insults now accompanied by the flinging of items around, their nerves that were already stretched thin caused them not to speak, but rather look at each other and around them as they became ever so worried. Back in the room, not saying a word other than raising both his hands, palms open, Drima slowly backed away and got out of the room, all the while Tiki had her eyes locked on him until her line of sight broke from the door sliding shut. Right after, as if she had the worst headache of her life, she grunted as she rubbed her forehead, shaking Dante's hand off her arm as she closed the holographic map, leaning on the table with both arms pushing against it, recovering a short moment after, as time was still limited.

"You should really try to calm down. You were getting better and better at controlling those mindless and immature fits of yours, so keep it that way, especially when you go up and take the leader chair all by yourself."

Tiki took a brief moment to collect herself, before turning to face Dante with a dead serious face, placing one arm on her hip as she grabbed her massive new axe with her other.

"Do you know the meaning behind what I said? Tradition? Or do you think black is just the new kick? A badass color?" she asked.

"Who cares? Seriously."

"It's to solidify the lack of purity, the smearing of dried blood turning black from crimson read, and the darkness that follows after death takes over. Sandaco's army and its people never believed in the afterlife. The soul was never led to salvation, rather than die with the body. As such, to indicate how much impurity lies from the common morals upon killing another, as such the armors were painted black. From what I came to know about you...Do you really think you are qualified to wear anything but black? Hell, even the silver, white of the Silver Lances?"

Dante briefly paused as she looked at Tiki's battle ready posture, the look in her eyes changing from anger and pain to determination and seriousness as she prepared to lead the others.

"Part of stepping up to be a leader is assertion, knowledge of doing so and not using violence to earn respect, but words that make the others follow. My nerves have peaked, if you couldn't tell, and are going beyond that peak the closer we get to the field. Had I done this alone, equally with you as a group for a small thing such as what we did in Corosta, it'd be different. The plan, the groups and the harm now, the way I did it, will all be on me. And I have things like Terna, someone who I widely consider to be one of the most fragile among us, acting like a dickhead and showing up without a spec of armor or vest...it's like she's trying to make me boil. It's been a very long time after a very shit experience since I last did all this, I even had to change my plan to better fit Terna's moves and switch up the groups. It takes much more of a toll than what you'd think, to do all this properly, something I like to think you know part of, since you have also gotten training on this subject. Part of the reason why I'm interested is to see how well you can act in such an environment, more so over the others, as neither fighters nor leaders are born, without being made by harnessing whatever gift they started with."

"Hmm. I appreciate you trusting me the way you do. But if you are not feeling up to it, I can take some form of lead from whatever I've learned, and assist you however I can. The others will hear me."

"And if the Victorian military comes in the way? You aren't quite ready for that, Dante. Your assertiveness is lacking immensely, as I've come to see for myself since no opposition was made to my moves up until now. Until I drop, as per tradition, if I take the initial lead, you won't do anything related to this. At least...until I can mold us to fit this era, even a little bit."

"Mold us? Tiki, we are already powerful enough individually, even Terna-", he was interrupted.

"Learn to control all your power before being intoxicated by it. But no, it takes much more. And we can all turn into something more. We self-drafted in this, and like every office worker, college kid or otherwise, when we step into the battlefield, we are soldiers. And the more this lasts, no matter who we were or are, we will only grow more proficient in it over time. I fully understood the need for everyone to make small talk, and distract themselves with stupid subjects and as such up until now, as their stress for the first actual deployment is more than understandable, maybe more than mine. Even had some of that back when I looked at other rookies in Corosta having their first battle. But it ends now." She started heading out of the room to meet the others, "Deep down, we can hurt our way to victory, no matter whom we are...talking in this case never helped anyone anyway."