Disclaimer: I do not own Vandread, but I do claim all of the characters I created.
Author’s Note: This is a little side project I’ve been working on. Keep in mind, this is in no way related to my other Vandread stories, The Unknown Soldier or A Renewed War. This takes place about two months after the end of Vandread: The Second Stage. And just so you know, I’m going along a similar line to where Second Stage left off. Also, I plan on introducing new characters, numbering somewhere between six and ten.
The Perfect Weapon
Chapter One: New Blood
Location: Tarak Military Transport, En Route to Mejalean Pirate Base.
“What is our ETA to the pirate’s base?” he asked.
“About ten minutes, Lieutenant,” came the pilot’s reply.
“Good,” he said, glancing at his wrist chronometer. “We’re right on schedule.”
Lieutenant Nikolai Rayder walked out the cockpit of the transport and back into the passenger compartment. Four other men were seated in various seats of the passenger cabin, all wearing the same black and red uniform that he was. These four men were under his direct command, and they were being transported to the pirate’s base for ‘cohabitation’ experiments between men and women. At least, that was official statement on the issue.
He’d been informed that the reason for being sent was more detailed. One reason was that they were sent over there to reinforce the pirate’s already formidable fighting force. They were part of a newly formed branch of the Tarak Military, the Special Operations and Combat Division. This division was formed in the months after the Harvesters’ final defeat. It contained the best and most promising of Tarak’s military strength.
“Less than ten minutes until we reach our destination,” he said to the four other men.
“’Bout time,” one of them grumbled. He recognized the man with medium-length dark blue as Neo, one of his pilots. “I’ve had enough of waiting.”
Narrowing his eyes slightly at that comment, Nikolai didn’t reply to it. He knew for a fact that Neo was a good Vanguard pilot, but he was rather laid-back and insolent at times. He would have to eventually do something about that man’s attitude.
“Sir,” a deep voice said. Nikolai immediately recognized the voice as belonging to Arden Krueger, his second in command. The well-built man had steel gray hair even though he wasn’t even thirty. Nikolai had served with him before being assigned to lead this team. He was an accomplished pilot, having served in several battles against the Mejalean military, and gaining an impressive record during those conflicts. Also under his command were Ian Frost, a dark-haired young man with cold, ice blue eyes with a personality to match, and Rick Sanders, a blonde-haired young man who had just graduated from the military academy.
“Lieutenant,” the pilot of the craft said.
“What is it?” Nikolai replied.
“We’ve just received a communication from the pirate base,” the pilot continued. “They are granting us permission to dock, sir.”
“Very well,” he replied. “Tell them we acknowledge.”
This is going to a very interesting assignment, that’s for sure.
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Location: Pirate Base, Hangar Four
Slowly, the Tarakian transport craft eased into the bay, resting on supports as it touched the ground. Rena sat there idly in the compact ground car, watching as the blocky craft came to a complete rest in the hangar. She was sent here to retrieve the commander of the Tarakian soldiers, and take him to meet the captain. After that final fight against the Harvesters, things had gone back to their normal ways, at least, as normal as they could get.
She had just recently become a Dread pilot for the pirates, but she was not new to piloting the fighter known as the Dread. She had been a pilot in the Mejale Border Guard for at least two years prior to joining the pirates. She did not like to think of the past, so she found a distraction as the ramp to the Tarak craft started to lower. She started up the vehicle and drove the short distance towards the foot of the ramp.
The first man down the ramp was wearing a red and black uniform, different from the usual tan that most Tarakian soldiers wore. She guessed it had something to do with that rumor she’d heard about a new unit being formed. The man had dark hair and what could be considered handsome features. The next man to follow had steel gray hair and was fairly muscular. Three other men followed soon after that. From the way they looked, she could tell that the first man was the one in charge.
She cleared her throat and said the name of the commander she’d been given. “Lieutenant Nikolai Rayder?”
The one she thought was the commander did in fact walk up to her, and replied. “That’s me.”
“I’m here to take you to see the Captain,” she said.
“Very well,” he replied. He turned around for a quick second and said something to the man with steel gray hair. He then sat down in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
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Location: Corridor leading to Primary Meeting Room, Pirate Base
Straightening his uniform, Nikolai followed the woman who had brought him up here. From her attire, he could tell she was probably a Dread pilot. Her brown-blonde hair was kept back in a ponytail, and it went down to about mid-back. He averted his gaze from her, so as not to be caught staring. He hadn’t even heard her speak anymore than when she’d called him by name in the hangar. He guessed she wasn’t the talkative type, but neither was he. She hadn’t even said her name.
They came up to a door, and she gestured for him to enter. “In here.”
“Thank you,” he replied to his guide as a courtesy, and then entered the room. She followed him in.
Once he stepped in, he first noticed an old, hunched over woman sitting in the center seat, whom he knew from his briefing as the leader of the pirates, Magno Vivan. Her two vice commanders, BC and Rebecca, stood off to either side of her. Also present, were Hibiki, whom he met once before, Gascogne, another of the high-ranking pirates, and the leader of their Dread Teams, a blue haired young woman named Meia.
He came to attention, as was appropriate for addressing someone of higher rank. “Lieutenant Nikolai Rayder, reporting as requested.”
“No need to be so formal, Lieutenant,” Magno said, then turned her attention to the young woman who had been his escort. “That will be all, Rena.”
“Yes, Captain,” the young woman replied, then turned and left the room.
Rena, so that’s her name… He glanced at her as she left, then turned his attention to the current situation.
“So, Lieutenant,” Magno said. “Let’s get down to business.”
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Location: Corridor leading to Hangar Four, Pirate Base
“Hurry up Barnette!” Jura shouted behind her as she moved at a quick pace.
“I’m hurrying!” Barnette shouted back. Sheesh, she really wants to see these men pretty badly, doesn’t she?
As soon as Jura had heard that the men from Tarak had arrived, she had stopped what she was doing and immediately headed out to meet them, dragging her along.
All of a sudden, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. She stopped, and glared out the view port, trying to identify anything. Once she saw that same flash yet again, she knew something was out there. Jura noticed that she had stopped, and asked her if anything was wrong.
“I think there’s something out there,” she said in reply, pointing at where she saw the flash.
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Location: Primary Meeting Room, Pirate Base
“Yes, we have brought new equipment with us,” Nikolai said in reply to Meia’s question. “And I’d like help offloading it from our transport as soon as possible. Also, here’s the list of it.”
Gascogne, who oversees anything related to inventory, primarily weapons and similar equipment, picked the list that he’d tossed down onto the table. “Five new-model Vanguards, along with their weapons and several hundred thousand rounds of ammunition. You guys sure came prepared.”
“Well, with the possibility of further attacks by the Harvesters, the higher-ups saw to it that we were well-equipped,” he replied with a slight shrug.
“Concerning that,” Magno said. “You will coordinate with Meia to integrate your men into our forces.”
“Understood,” he replied, glancing over at the Dread Team Leader. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Same here,” Meia replied. “I’d like to see how good you guys are.”
Suddenly, there was a beeping noise. Magno tapped something on the console in front of her. The image of a Dread pilot showed up on-screen. “Sorry to interrupt, Captain, but we have located what appears to be some kind of escape pod. What would you like us to do?”
“Recover the pod and bring it to the base,” Magno ordered the pilot.
“Understood,” the pilot replied, and then cut the connection.
“What was that about?” Hibiki asked.
“I don’t know,” Magno replied. “But we’ll find out soon enough.”
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Location: Main Cargo Bay, Pirate Base
A small crowd was gathered around the pod, which looked an awful lot like the one that Misty was in when they first found her. The only physical difference was that it was larger. Parfet was the closest to it, preparing to open it.
“Okay, I’m opening it now,” she said, pressing a button on the controls.
There was an audible hiss as the capsule depressurized, followed by a whine as the servomotors lifted the cover. Inside it was a man no older that twenty, wearing a dark blue cryo-suit. He had long black hair that went down over his shoulders, and there was a scar over his right eye.
“The life-support system is operating properly,” Duero stated, glancing at one of the panels. “But other than that, there is no other information.”
“So that means that we do not who he is or where he’s from,” Magno replied. “I guess we’ll have to ask this young man after he wakes up.”
As if her words made it so, the young man opened his eyes, and slowly sat up in the pod. He glanced around at the people next to him, as well as the others surrounding him. He had a lost look on his face, as was only natural for someone in unfamiliar surroundings.
“Where am I?” was the only thing he said.
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Man, I don’t really like doing introduction chapters all that much. Sorry if it feels kinda rushed, I’m just trying to get the story moved on.