Location: Terra Colony Andromeda
North Sector - Training Field Septa
Frontline Position - Division 8
Time: 1315
January 31, 2050
Amanda hadn’t a clue what the deal Dahlia was having with Itsuki. The girl was in a kind of awe, as if she’d seen someone she hadn’t expected to meet. It was either that or she was a little like Stella, who had been eyeing Itsuki since he had little to no clothes on. There had been an incident where Stella was transfixed by the sight of Ikki’s muscles. She hoped that Dahlia didn’t develop that kind of a fetish. Though Amanda couldn’t help to agree that muscular men had their appeal.
In Itsuki’s case, not so much. He was wearing rags at this point, and while he did have a somewhat well toned body that any girl would find attractive, Amanda appreciated it more that he finally got changed out of that messed up attire. By the looks of the school emblem she recognized on his left shoulder sleeve, he had probably been wearing the remnants of his school uniform.
The camo military attire he changed into was snazzier, except bland in her opinion, yet it worked well with Itsuki’s personality, which was as expressive and emotive as a wet bagel. Unlike him, Amanda and some of the others could materialize their battle attire at any time, a perk of having a high core affinity. That was when she realized the strangest thing. Only herself, Stella, and Dahlia were geared up. Everyone else was in their uniforms, but why? For Richard she understood. He had yet to unlock that ability. So why not anyone else? The first years who could did so, but the upperclassmen seemed to have a consensus of not utilizing a manifested armor.
Here they were, in the middle of a live fire war games exercise where getting injured was bound to happen and getting likelier by the minute. Their manifested armor should’ve been the first thing they put on and activated, yet Chisuke, Gen, Osamu, and Mana were unfazed. She wanted to ask what was up with that but the conversation had quickly changed to what their next move was.
Itsuki jerked his head to get Dahlia’s attention. “Hey, if you could, hurry and tend to Chisuke. We’ll need him and I’d prefer it if he didn’t have a hole in his gut.”
His voice snapped Dahlia back from whatever was bothering her. She nodded and went to patch up Chisuke’s up with her healing abilities. It was amazing. In seconds, Chisuke’s grotesque and bloodied injury was gone, erased and replaced by newly regenerated skin as green light poured from Dahlia’s hands. How the guy was alive, Amanda had no idea and that line of thought went double in the case with Itsuki. The two of them fought like mad and came out of it still somewhat alive, even raring to get on with the next fight.
Chisuke slapped the spot on his stomach a few times, testing if it healed up right. “It feels normal,” he said, making a complicated face. “But it’s.. Strange.”
Itsuki suddenly pounded his fist into Chisuke’s lower abdomen, keeling the foot taller guy over and onto his knees. Everyone recoiled at the sudden infliction of violence. Itsuki flexed his recently regrown hand, courtesy of Dahlia, as he just looked down at Chisuke.
“Seems like everything’s in order.” He said, “Chisuke, you good?”
“The fuck..” Chisuke gasped in obvious pain. “Ugh.. the fuck do you think.. Asshole.” He got up and glowered at Itsuki. “I thought you tested your hand already, don’t just go and hit me for the hell of it.”
Itsuki shrugged as if that wasn’t his problem. “I needed to test it again. Plus, you said you felt strange, I thought I’d test that for you.”
“Oh fuck off!” Chisuke seemed about ready to hit Itsuki round the head, he took a second and then decided not to. He sighed and pulled himself up on the tank, legs crossed as he sat and looked over at Richard. “So what did you say again kid? Richard, right?” He asked, “What was your suggestion? To attack from above?”
Richard felt his tongue catch as he gulped, Chisuke’s scowl wasn’t helping to put Richard at ease. “Y-Yeah.. “ Richard finally said. “I know it sounds idiotic and half baked, but I was thinking that if a frontal assault isn’t possible, then maybe from another angle?”
“How do you suggest we do that?” Amanda asked, not sure if she was helping but needed to say something to throw Chisuke’s gaze away from Richard, “It’s not like we have any dropships to carry us up and then let us jump out of. Even if we did, I don’t think it’d do too much. We’re only about 500 people against god knows how many constructs.”
“You’re right about that.” Itsuki nodded at her, “But the constructs aren’t the issue. We need to get at the enemy explorers, at Haruka, Sinder, and Arielle, before they fully recover.”
“But how?” Amanda pressed a finger to her temple, already she could feel a headache coming on. “We all saw how they fought and even if we wanted to get to them, the constructs would just storm us.”
“That’s why Richard and the rest of them are here. They wouldn’t be here unless 00 had come up with an idea.” Itsuki tapped his earpiece and Amanda listened in, annoyed.
She was having a hard time getting used to this 00 person, or.. Should she say.. AI? She had overheard that term getting thrown around earlier between Chisuke and Itsuki. By the sound of it, 00 was a sentient computer program, but what for? She had read that AI’s were a technology created just after the end of the starfall war’s. They were a pivotal tool in rebuilding civilization from where it had fallen to because of the war. AI’s could process information at the speed of light and think just as fast, so they could do what would take hundreds of people to do in seconds. Except this AI seems different. For starters, AI’s were highly secretive and they never interacted with random people openly. This one did, and why one of them was with them in this training exercise puzzled Amanda.
[Query.. User Itsuki.] It said, [After compiling suggestions taken from the combatants and, in light of User Dahlia’s newly acknowledged abilities to heal, I have simulated better projections.] This 00’s tone had a familiar kind of bluntness to it, it went on to say, [With them I have compiled a possible attack plan.. Sending to your HUDs now. Please review and comment.]
Amanda saw a blue blink in the corner of her view chime. An icon appeared and as she tried to access it with the eye tracking controls, Itsuki spoke up first. [I assume your calculations this time includes me and Chisuke?] He said, talking to the air.
It was strange to say the least, but everyone knew he was addressing the AI. Still, it looked crazy. Amanda decided that today was getting weirder and much more frustrating by the minute. That, and her dumb HUD wasn’t being as cooperative as she wanted it to be right now.
[Query.. Confirmed.] 00 replied to Itsuki, [Except certain aspects of my plan are only conjecture.. My projections do not incorporate how the constructs will act. Past documentation and historic findings that I have limited access to say that they only respond to human proximity, but that is no longer the case with the newly presented data from the past hour. I do not have enough data to predict their moves.]
Itsuki clicked his tongue in annoyance. [Yeah.. we’re dealing with a handful of an issue this time.] He tiredly sighed. [Figures, the headmaster’s involved and is pulling some strings to make this exercise take longer than necessary. Would you like my advice?]
00 said yes, which made Itsuki smile. Amanda felt a chill run down her spine, mostly because seeing Itsuki’s smile was terrifying. The usual unfazed and stoic demeanor he exuded was completely wiped away when he turned his lips up and bared his teeth. It was like watching a serial killer come to life, or that some hidden devil inside him rise to the surface. Everyone, even Shisuki and Chisuke, the two most cool headed and headstrong individuals, visibly recoiled.
Itsuki tapped his earpiece a few times again and a holo map displayed itself in front of them all. It outlined and marked their position in relative relation to the allied Divisions. To the east and west of their position, Divisions 1 through 7 had themselves spread thin in order to cover the flanks. They were acting as a shield for Division 8, which was their group. How long this would last though was up in the air.
Pointing a finger to a group of 3 red dots surrounded by an innumerable number of other red dots, Itsuki said to 00, [In order to get at the enemy explorer’s here, we’ll need to play it smart. The headmaster is likely controlling the constructs and he likes to put on a show of sorts in situations like these.]
[A show?] Shisuki asked, [What do you mean teacher?]
[It means he’s watching. I doubt he can hear us, so I’ll speak plainly. He’s expecting us to attack the enemy explorers with everything we have. He wants to see a spectacle, a drawn out and brutal fight, he’s entertained when he sees an all out struggle in a mass battle.. The sick idiot.] After saying the scathing remark, Itsuki settled. After a brief pause he went on. [With that in mind, that means our opponent already knows our next moves from who we’ll target. My advice for tackling a situation like this, 00, is to give the prick what he wants. Which is?]
He regarded everyone for an answer. 00 was silent, until Richard piped up.
[A full attack?] Richard suggested, peering over the holographic landscaped projection. [We should attack straight on to catch the headmaster’s eye so that, in actuality, we can use it as a feint?]
[Query.. I believe you are right, User Richard.] 00 said, [With that in mind, I calculate that your previous suggestion of an attack from a new angle would be possible. Like with S1’s plan, we will need a decoy, someone or a group to draw the enemy's eyes. Calculating now.] The AI paused a second, and then added. [Except, there is the possibility of a counter attack. Enemy aerial forces are in the area and may interfere with what I have in mind. The duration of the headmaster’s faltering will be only last seconds. He will react and counter.]
[Well I’m sure we can do something about that.] S1 said as he slapped Itsuki on the back. [Got anything left in that storage ring you gave us, anything good?]
Itsuki fiddled with the metal band on his right wrist. He seemed to be scrolling through a menu by how his eyes moved. [This might work.]
He stepped away from everyone and got a couple meters behind S1’s tank. Touching the metal band on his wrist, a 3 meter tall visage materialized right next to him. It had a humanoid visage except it was made entirely out of an gray and brown colored metal. Itsuki climbed up and pulled what looked like a lever on the chest plate of the machine.
“Is that a TAC?” Richard asked, “This one seems kind of small.”
S1 whistled in amazement. “You’re close.” He said jovially, “But you're off on your assumption. I didn’t think these things still existed.”
“What is it then?” Amanda asked, giving up with her HUD’s controls to come over and tap at one of the machine’s metallic legs. The humanoid machine was bipedal and was kitted out with several layers of armor plating across its entire frame. In its left arm it held what looked like an automatic rifle, only scaled up to fit in the hands of a 3 meter giant. She then pointed at its shoulders. “And what they heck are those?”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“They’re shoulder weapons.” Shisuki said as she walked over and climbed up the machine to get a look at what Itsuki was doing inside of it. “And to answer your questions, this is a 1st generation TAC, or battle walker as it was called during the war. I had thought they were all decommissioned but it seems like teacher has kept one for himself.”
Dahlia got close and tilted her head back at the battle walker's opened chest cavity, she called out. “Uh? Mister.. Um.. Itsuki? What do you plan to do with this?”
“Should it be obvious?” Mana laughed. “It’s simple, the lunatic here is probably getting ready to drive this thing into battle.”
image [https://i.postimg.cc/7Zt5cXW2/1712299660506.jpg]
At that, Itsuki hopped out of the battle walker's chest compartment with Shisuki at his side. The battle walker's chest plate slid back into place and Itsuki shook his head at Mana.
“No, I won’t be piloting it.” He said, “Plus I don’t have my augment suit to interface with its systems. Driving one of these without the proper equipment would probably rip my limbs off.”
“L-Limbs?!” Dahlia’s face went a deathly pale as her eyes became distressingly alarmed, likely because she was grimly envisioning what he had said. Amanda was the same, and she hoped she didn’t have to see anymore blood today.
“Then who's going to pilot it?” Osamu asked, cheekily grinning as he leaned his back on S1’s tank, taking in the grand spectacle of the battle walker. “I’d totally want a spin in that myself. I could probably handle it.”
Gen shook his head at him. “I don’t think that’s wise, not unless you're a masochist like Chisuke here. I’ve heard piloting these things can break bones with how they interface with a person.”
“Oh will you shut up.” Chisuke growled. Jumping down from the tank, he was about ready to pop off with anger. “And I’m not a freaking masochist!”
S1 laughed aloud. “I’m glad the moods lighten up, but let’s get back on track.” He glanced at Itsuki. “I’ve looked over 00’s proposed plan. I don’t see how this comes into play. Care to explain?”
“I was getting to that.” Itsuki went over to the holographic landscaped projection between them and moved a few icons. [First, as per 00’s plan, we’ll need a frontal attack to trick our opponent’s forces into focusing their attention in a certain way. 00’s assigned me to that role and to do a few other things. I need to prepare some of the equipment to comply. Also, 00? Would it be possible for me to commandeer one of the tanks?]
[Query.. That will not be an issue. S1’s tank is in the best condition and will suit your purposes. Will that be a problem S1?]
[Nope.] S1 shook his head matter of factly, [But can you hurry up and tell me what the battlewalker is for? Don’t tell me you want me to drive that thing. I’m not as crazy as you, Itsuki.]
[Don’t worry.] Itsuki said, [I’ve set the mech to wireless control. Either I can move it via remote.. Or we can have 00 take control. I suggest the latter option since..]
[Query..] 00 cut in, [User Itsuki, I am not rated for such..]
[Yeah yeah.] Itsuki cut back in, [I know what you're going to say, but reanalyze the situation. I can’t effectively fight and drive the battle walker remotely at the same time within the current conditions. Logically it is better if an AI takes over. Your targeting calculations are more refined for the purposes we need.]
A long pause droned on, until Amanda chimed in. [Hey, uh? I’m having a hard time keeping up with all this, what is this plan you’re talking about?]
“Did you not open the file?” Itsuki asked her. “00’s already sent it to everyone.”
“Uh? About that.. I can’t open it.”
Itsuki deadpanned at her, then sighed in resignation. “I forgot how challenged you are with technology.”
“Hey! Don’t say that.. I’m just.. Not good at using this yet..”
Itsuki rolled his eyes at her. “Tell that to all the computers you broke in the first week here.”
Amanda tightened her lips together, unable to deny nor willing to confirm his statement. After Itsuki eventually helped her, and a bit of embarrassing laughter from Osamu, Amanda sat off to the side as her eyes scrolled through 00’s proposed plan.
[Moving on.] Itsuki said as he walked over to one side of S1’s tank. [00? Can you do it or not? I need a pilot for the battle walker to run anti air counter measures. You're the best choice if we want to add this to the plan. The walker is still fueled up and fully loaded.]
[Query.. Yes.. I understand.. After running a check, the walker’s automatic flak rifle, air burst bombs, and heat seekers missiles are in order. They will be substantial in fending off an enemy aerial retaliation. But do you truly wish for me to take over the armaments? My original purpose is to..”
[Your original purpose is to think and act.] Itsuki said all of a sudden. Amanda noticed his tone, there was an edge, a sort of scolding to it. [What you think your purpose is up to you.] Itsuki continued, [You decide. So again, Yes.. or no?]
00 immediately said, [Yes.] But the tonal shift in its utterly bland voice had changed. There was a weight to it, a kind of.. resolve. Amanda sensed an influx of emotions, like a waver across the comms.
But that wasn’t right? It’s a machine. She thought. Yet the AI began to speak with an authoritative cadence, it was human like.
[Query.. User Itsuki, make preparations. You have 15 minutes.]
“Alright then.” Itsuki beckoned to Chisuke. He then pointed to Osamu and Gen. “You three, come help me with the tank, I need to make some adjustments.”
“Got it.” The three of them moved and in the next second, the four of them were flipping S1’s tank on its side. It was impressive to watch over a ton of metal move and creak onto its side, though surreal as well. As they went about their work, 00’s voice came across the comms again.
[Query.. User Dahlia?]
Dahlia straightened on her feet. [Y-Yes? Do you need me to do something?] She asked, somewhat trembling.
00’s voice changed to a softer tone. [Indeed.. I am relaying messages to our most wounded students and trainees, they will be arriving shortly for your help. I ask that you use your abilities to heal them, we will need as many people back in fighting form as soon as possible.]
[I.. I uh? Sure? How many?]
[As many as you can heal, we are to begin our attack soon, but please go at your own pace. I will direct them so that you are not overwhelmed. User Mana, please escort User Dahlia to a spot nearby. I have personnel already setting up a tent. User Gen and User Osamu will shortly be ready to assist.]
Mana nodded and grabbed Dahlia’s hand. Everything seemed to get busy. Ikki, Stella, Richard, and Shisuki went along with S1 to congregate in a meeting with the remaining team leaders of the Division. Following them and the chatter, minutes passed Amanda found Dahlia sitting down with the injured under a tent as they came to her. The girl was still hesitant in interacting with people, but there was a new light in the girl’s eyes and Mana had her back. Amanda glanced back over at S1’s tank, Itsuki was welding things onto the tank’s undercarriage. How he had the equipment to do that was likely due to all the storage rings he had. The guy pretty much had almost anything on hand, though his favorite commodity of bullets was in short supply.
Another few busy minutes later, S1’s tank looked much bulkier. The side armor was replaced with boxlike compartments and the undercarriage had ports that hung just a few inches above the ground. Whatever Itsuki had done, it had transformed the tank into a Frankenstein version of its original design.
“What do you mean you can’t!” A sudden shout drew everyone’s attention.
Amanda grimaced, she recognized who it was the moment she laid eyes on him. It was that damn gaudy creep from before, this time he was making a fuss over Dahlia and being what could only be called a misbehave patient. Child was more like it.
“I told you to heal me! Hurry up and do it faster!” There was definitely no sincerity of respect in his voice. “Are you deaf or something! Come on!” He forced his bruised arm at Dahlia, it was as if he was about to hit her with it. Mana's hand was there to grab it and push it away.
Mana snarled. “If you try to touch my friend again, I’ll rip your face off. She’ll heal you however fast she can, now sit still.”
The gaudy man scoffed and stood to face Mana. “I’d like to see you try to fight me, you animal.” His lips twisted into a prideful smile as he turned to the people behind him, spreading his arms if he were preaching. “You see! This is why beast humans shouldn't be explorers, they don’t help people, they only help themselves, and they’re violent. See how this bitch talks, not a modicum of respect for a noble like myself. They’re a selective bunch of rapscallions, ingrates even.”
Suddenly a cry of support came from some of the first years. Bolder individuals came forward and tried to force their way up the line. Trainees had to stop them and manhandle them to the ground. At the rate the guy was stirring the pot, the line would turn into an all out mob.
Amanda gaped, she suddenly had the urge to stop this somehow and she knew where she should start. She wanted to break the gaudy guy's nose. What did he know about beast humans? Why was he treating Dahlia so poorly? And what was this rhetoric he was spouting? It was ill conceived hate, nothing but racism at its core. Mana seemed to share Amanda’s sentiment. Mana’s fingers tightened into a fist and the fangs of her teeth clenched so hard that Amanda swore she imagined how much they were grinding. The gaudy man made another reach for Dahlia, the girl flinched away.
Osamu suddenly appeared out of nowhere, to Amanda he blinked into existence right next to the guy. In a purple blur of motion, Osamu snatched the man’s arm and drew it behind the guy’s back.
“It’s time you leave.” He said, “There are more needy and less ungrateful bastards waiting for their turn.”
“Get your hands off me you peasant!” The gaudy man spat as Osamu hauled him away from the line. A crowd of his followers came with him, crying out for his release. “Do you know who I am?” The guy continued to struggle, except his strength was nothing compared to what Osamu could muster.
Osamu pushed the guy over to Gen, who flipped him over and threw him back first into the dirt. The guy’s followers' anger flared. Some yelled at Gen and Osamu, though none had the guts to throw a punch. Gen and Osamu were upperclassmen, that cowed most of the angry mob since they were first years and they knew just how strong their upperclassmen were.
Osamu kicked some dirt into the guy’s face and laughed, totally unconcerned with the mob. “Well would you look at that, you look like shit. Must be because of how brown your face is now, don’t you agree Gen?”
“Yes.” Gen pushed his glasses up, all smiles that didn’t reach his eyes. “This guy is revolting. I can’t bear to smell him, it's like piss and shit.”
“You fucking dare to speak of such slander! I! Do not! Stink!” The gaudy man snapped in furious anger as he fumbled back to his feet. He threw a punch, but Osamu side stepped. The fist missed and the guy almost fell on his face. True indignant hatred seethed on his face. “I will have your head when today is over!”
“No.” Gen shook his head. “I think he will have your head.” He jerked his chin and the guy followed the direction. For a second he didn’t notice, not until he tilted his down and finally saw the person who had crept up on him. Amanda blinked in surprise. In the next second, Itsuki was on the guy, grabbing him by his shirt and dragging him like a sack of trash. The mob made a fuss, except they didn't dare to get close. They sweated, and Amanda knew it was fear that kept them away. Itsuki gave off an eerie vibe, like a tangible bloodlust that permeated the air.
“W-what are you doing!” The gaudy guy screamed as he fruitlessly struggled. Itsuki’s grip was like iron and his shirt began to tear. “Stop! Stop!” The guy yelled. “I command you to stop your insolence at once, you are ripping my shirt.. This.. this is fine silk, do you know how much this cost! Do you know!”
His pathetic complaints and pleas unfazed Itsuki. Itsuki only continued to drag him along until they were beside S1’s tank. Amanda watched closely and swore that Itsuki said, I need to test something.
The next second, the guy screamed as Itsuki gripped the back of his head and began using his face as a hammer against the side of the tank. His blood curdling screams got his mob of followers to quiet down, many of them blinking in bewilderment and many more tensing in utter shitfaced fear. The less rowdy first years shuddered, Amanda included, while the nearby upperclassmen grimaced, though not as much as you’d expect.
“Please!” The guy gurgled, his once pretty face now a mess of red blood, swollen cheeks, a bruised eye, and a misaligned jaw. “I yield! I yield! Stop! Stop!”
But Itsuki didn’t stop. He slammed the guy's head into the back of the tank until his pleas turned to incoherent mutters, to then whispers, and then finally a deathly silence. He eyed the man’s disfigured face, turned, and faced the audience that he had attracted. He dragged the guy back to where Dahlia was by the hair. The audience’s eyes followed and watched as he threw the now more behaved patient down at Dahlia’s feet.
“There..” Itsuki said coldly. “He won’t be an issue now. Get him conscious, and if causes trouble, tell him I’ll make him permanently silent.”
Dahlia visibly gulped, then smiled. Itsuki nodded to her and started back to S1’s tank, he faced the people in line behind him before he left. “Does anyone else want to cause trouble?” He asked them.
As if their life depended on it, everyone shook their heads furiously.
“Good. Now get ready.” Itsuki parted the crowd. “We have a battle to win.”