Disclaimer: I do not own Vandread.
Vandread: A Renewed War
Chapter Two: An Unwelcome Surprise
Location: Hangar, Nirvana
Stepping off of the shuttle, Aidan walked up to the young woman that was standing about ten meters away from him. He was immediately followed by Damon, who got off the shuttle moments after him. They both were in full uniform, which meant the reason for this visit was strictly business.
“I’m here to see the Captain,” Aidan said to the woman.
“Follow me, then,” the young woman replied.
They both followed her, even though Aidan already knew the way there. He knew they probably wouldn’t take the information he had very well.
“Are you sure about this?” Damon asked in a low voice.
“Yes,” he replied in an equally hushed voice. “Albrecht approved it, and besides, it concerns them as much as it does us.”
“Whatever you say,” Damon said as they arrived at their destination.
“We’re here,” their escort said.
“Thank you,” he replied to her as they both stepped into the meeting room.
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Location: Bridge, Nirvana
Whilst Aidan and the others were currently in a meeting, the bridge crew was currently talking about what that very meeting could be about.
“So, what do you think the Captain and the others are talking about?” Belvedere asked.
“I’m not sure,” Amarone replied. “But I’m sure it’s pretty important.”
“Oh,” Ezra said, remembering something. “That reminds me, when those two passed by me earlier, I noticed that both of them had pretty serious looks on their faces.”
“That’s not good,” Celtic commented. “This means what they’re talking about is rather serious.”
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Location: Captain’s Meeting Room, Nirvana
“You’re kidding me!” Hibiki almost shouted upon hearing the news.
“No, I’m not,” Aidan replied in a calm, but serious tone. “About five days ago, a long-range recon team located a large mass of spacecraft moving away from this system. Upon closer inspection, they were revealed to be vessels of the same make as to what the Earth forces use. If you want proof, take a look at this disc. It contains photos, as well as the recorded camera footage from the recon unit.”
He tossed it onto the table, and BC picked it up and put in the computer terminal. A few seconds later, an image appeared on the screen, followed by what was obviously the recon pilot’s voice.
“Command, this is Recon Two, I’m picking up some rather peculiar readings.”
“This is Command, what kind of readings?”
“I’m not completely sure, but I’m getting a lot of them- wait a minute. What is that?”
“Recon Two, what is it?”
“Bloody hell…” the pilot commented upon zooming in. “Command, I’ve just located a large number of contacts.”
“Recon Two, can you confirm number of contacts?”
“No, Command,” the pilot reported. “There are too many to count. Son of a bitch…”
“Recon Two, come again?”
The camera zoomed in, taking into focus several of the images that now appeared onscreen. Even though they were quite a distance away, one could still make out the unmistakable shape of a Harvester flagship.
“Command, I have over a hundred contacts, and they’re Earthers! I repeat, have located an Earther fleet!”
“Recon Two, are you sure?”
“Affirmative, have located at least five Earther flagships, accompanied by at least a hundred smaller vessels.”
“There you have it,” he said after the recording ended. “Undeniable proof.”
Reactions from the assembled group ranged from stoic silence to surprise at the number of Earth vessels. Aidan and Damon were both silent, having already seen it. Magno Vivan also sat in silence, showing a grim look on her face. BC was of a similar look. The rest, that being Meia, Hibiki, and Gascogne, showed various looks of surprise, ranging from mild to downright shock.
“Well, this sure adds an unexpected problem into the mix,” Magno said after a few seconds.
“What are we going to about this fleet?” Meia asked into the open.
“That brings us to the other reason for our visit,” he said, thinking it was a good a time as any to bring it up. “As I’ve just recently come into command of an entire unit of soldiers, warship included. The mission I am being assigned is to further investigate the activity of the Harvesters, and to determine if they are a threat at this time. I’d like to have your assistance in case we end up into conflict with the Earthers.”
“So, you’re proposing that we join you on this mission you are being given?” Magno quickly answered.
“To be blunt, yes, I am,” he replied. “As I know you have experience fighting against them, and having handed them a number of defeats. Most notably, in the defense of your home system.”
“I shall consider your offer,” Magno said. “When do you expect an answer?”
“We are to begin our assigned mission in two weeks,” he replied flatly.
“Understood,” Magno said, easily figuring out how much time she had in making her decision.
“And one more thing,” he said. “As a request from my government, I’d like to ask that all information relating to this very subject not be mentioned to anyone not currently in this room.”
“Why?” Hibiki asked. “I think this concerns everyone. Why do you want to keep it a secret?”
“That answer is quite simple,” BC replied.
“Rumor control,” he said, picking up after BC’s comment. “I don’t believe that you want everyone in a state of panic, do you?”
“But why-” Hibiki blurted.
“That’s my government’s official stance on this matter,” he interrupted. “How would like to stop well over a hundred million people from panicking? I sure as hell wouldn’t even want to try.”
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Location: Corridor outside Meeting Room
“Well, that went about as well as expected,” Damon commented a few seconds after they had exited the room. “Do you think they’ll decide to help?”
“Bet on it,” Aidan replied as they walked down the corridor. “They are a high priority target for the Earthers. Also, they have the power needed to take on the Earthers, so it’s only natural we give them the chance.”
“Well,” Damon said. “If I’m not needed here right now, I’ll be down in the shuttle.”
“Okay…” he replied, not knowing exactly why he wanted to leave so quickly. That was, until he turned and saw the person that was walking towards him.
“A new command, huh?” Meia commented as she walked up next to him.
“Yeah,” he answered. “And a new rank, too. That of Commander.”
“That seems like a reduction in rank to me,” she said.
“In truth, it’s not,” he said. “Since I’ve been transferred to the Space Division, it’s actually the Naval equivalent of a few ranks higher.”
“If I may ask,” Meia said. “What was your initial reaction when you found out?”
“Pretty much the same as yours,” he replied. “The fact of them reappearing near this system after almost thirteen years? Hard to believe.”
“Although it’s more recent for me, I was still surprised,” she said, keeping her tone down, as they were talking about sensitive information. “Five mother ships? That doesn’t sound so good.”
“A force that large is not just a mere recon detachment,” he commented. “More like an invasion force.”
“I wonder what their target is?” Meia said. “I hope it’s not what I think it might be.”
“As far as our reports have indicated,” he said. “They were headed away from your home system. But that’s what this assignment is for, to determine exactly what they are up to.”
“I wasn’t expecting that they’d start up their attacks this soon after they were defeated,” she commented, more to herself than to him.
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Location: Hibiki’s Vanguard, Rear Hangar
Hibiki didn’t like what he’d seen and heard in the meeting room only a couple of hours ago. Earth was back to their old habits, and this time they’d brought along enough force to take out whoever they were going to attack. They didn’t learn their lesson the last time. It looked like he would have to drive it home this time, when they would encounter them again. Teach them that they better give up their campaign to harvest humans or they will regret it.
He continued to prepare his partner for the fight he knew would eventually come.
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Location: Secret Asteroid Hangar located in asteroid belt between Mejale and Tarak
(BGM: Full Metal Panic- Conspiracy)
“Do not fail me this time. This is your last chance to redeem yourself.”
Those words echoed through the young man’s mind as he walked along the gantry. Since his failure in the last assignment he was given, he had been disgraced by his superiors. They had reprimanded him, claiming that he could not complete a simple recovery mission. Only recently had they decided to give him one last chance.
“They blame me for the failure,” he muttered. “How was I supposed to know that the bitch they hired got killed before she could complete her job?”
He continued walking down the gantry, helmet in hand, until he saw the craft he was going pilot in this last task. It was a fighter, but not just any fighter. It was a Mejalean Dread. It was in the standard gray color scheme of the Mejalean military. It even had squadron markings indicating it’s point of origin. There was also another thing, underneath it’s wing hardpoints, it carried bombs, something not normally used in space-based combat.
Donning his helmet, the man jumped into the cockpit of the fighter that originally belonged to the people that he considered enemies. He had been trained in it’s use, and he could operate it as well as any woman could’ve. He ran though all of the pre-flight sequences, bringing the craft online. After he activated the fighter’s engines, he toggled the communication system.
“Control, this is Black Phoenix,” he said flatly. “I am ready to go.”
“Black Phoenix,” Control replied. “Stand by for mission authorization.”
“Understood,” he answered.
It was several long minutes until the comm system crackled back to life. “Black Phoenix, you are clear to launch. I repeat, you are clear to launch. Mission is a go.”
“I heard you the first time,” he muttered, then spoke his confirmation. “Roger, Black Phoenix, launching!”
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The story will pick up the pace, and you’ll finally get to see some combat in the next chapter.