Author note:
Don't do many of these but I wanted to wish a merry Christmas to you all.
********
Unfortunately, we needed to leave the paradise island. The ship arrived, and my business brain needed to switch back on.
Now, even if we never ran into Gjallarhorn on the way down to earth, I'm sure they have eyes on Makanai, or rather, satellites.
Makanai assured us we would get a few or so hours of guaranteed freedom from prying eyes, so we needed to move fast, boarding a hired ship and booking it to Canada.
The journey was rather smooth, the only problems being the seasickness that many of the kids were suffering from.
We luckily got to shore quickly, and we were still going with Kudelia's train idea. When we finally boarded after half a day just filling the train up, I got a chance to relax. Staying alert and ready twenty-four-seven was a stressful endeavour.
I also got a chance to catch up with the homework Merribit gave me and Richy. Despite everything that was happening, the woman was still a pretty strict and attentive teacher. This included the fact that she took on more students and helped teach the kids math at my request.
I also spent any free time I had planning to breach Edmonton if Gjallarhorn still went with their blockade idea, which was looking increasingly likely, considering how smooth our journey had been.
Best case scenario, Gjallahorn underestimate us as we haven't proved our capabilities like in the anime and the crazy bitch from that rich family is still in space since we haven't attracted her attention.
Worst case, they brought all their forces with space reinforcements to Edmonton, making a breach ten times harder.
Either way, we aren't going with the brain-dead idea of charging at the enemy and hoping they just bend over and take it like a champ. First, I got the city plans for Edmonton, which were easier than I thought. A simple search online revealed old city designs. Asking Makanai and Naze for help, specifically for the sewage lines, tunnel lines, and possible entrances from the moat around the city.
The best I got were designs from a decade back but it was better than nothing, and it did reveal that there were, unfortunately, no moat entrances. It didn't take a genius to guess what my plan was. My first plan, which was the foundation for a few others, was that I and the assault team sneak into the city with the VIPs, while Orga and the rest put high pressure on the blockade, keeping the soldiers too busy to notice anything.
How was where it differed.
My backup plan is the good old Trojan Horse strategy reverbed and touched up. Have Gjallarhorn believe we will hand the two VIPs over for a Massive lump of cash, only to bamboozle them. Not exactly Alexander the Great level of strategic genius and very risky but high reward if we get past. Maybe even bag the money if lady luck wants to give me a handy while she's at it.
Finally, we could just get Mika to take us across the moat with the suit. We still wouldn't technically be bringing a suit into the city, which was like a war crime or something. All he had to do was run across, holding a vehicle the VIPs would be in and one mobile worker for protection, then run back, all of this happening while Gjallarhorn mobile workers were getting bogged down.
That's all I got for now, but I had loads of time to think.
********
When we arrived on the outskirts of Edmonton, I wasn't surprised to see the blockade unlike my companions. I was more worried about how heavily defended they were, and initial scouting revealed that it was pretty heavy.
However, I may just be expecting alot but Gjallarhorn had in our educated guesses, around three to four times our number which, while bad, was a lot less than I expected. I expected a minimum of six times our amount.
Granted, that would be overkill and a likely blow to their reputation to need to use such excessive force on a bunch of kids but this was essential to them so one would think they would be willing to risk such a blow.
This was still bad. We were outnumbered and outgunned, with limited time, while the enemy had had enough time to set up defences, but I'm almost sure my possible plans would succeed, because we needed to.
I sent out David and Andre with a couple of guys to scout the possible entrances into the city as we set camp.
This was how I would decide how we entered the city, calling back to the first plan.
David found out that the tunnels were unfortunately also manned which while unfortunate, was expected. He also circled the city and found two possible places we could swim through or get a mobile suit across quickly as the patrols seemed light to none, and it was just shallow enough, though he suggested we leave someone to keep watch just in case it was just at light when they passed.
Andre found a few sewage openings but only three could fit a whole human in, though he hadn't gotten to all the possible openings yet. The sewage lines were our worst possible entrance for obvious reasons, not to mention the fact that we were likely going in blind.
With all I got, I decided it was best to begin discussions on possible strategies.
So after creating a report on all the info we got along with my plans, I first called my friends and top consultants. After giving them time to read it, David spoke first.
" Well, I don't mind it. Sounds like fun."
That earned a nod from Robby. "Yeah, not to mention the fact that you could use something. I've been working on."
All eyes went to the greasy-haired boy, urging him to go on.
" You see, I found it interesting how Ahab waves act similarly to EMPs. So you se-"
" This is not story time. Get to the point." Andre interrupted, clearly not in the mood to hear Robby go into a rant.
The boy scowled but did as asked. " Basically, I created a machine that can amplify the Ahab waves."
A silence hung over as everyone thought over the implications.
Firstly, tactical jamming and potentially, weaponised overload. Nothing more needed to be said there. It could also cloak the approach of our suits if we ever wanted to say fuck it and attack with them.
The only unfortunate thing, besides the fact that it acts as a beacon, is that it would be indiscriminate, so we would also suffer. We would also lose a suit in battle unless maybe, we could use one from any destroyed suits we take down, it might be worth it if we could surprise attack the enemy as it happens.
They would be in utter chaos.
" Look, I've only made a prototype, and I've never actually tested it before and I was working on it in tandem with other projects so I don't know how well it would work, if it does at all."
" If you are mentioning it, it not only means you believe it could potentially work." David announced, making Robby look away, having nothing to challenge his words with.
" No matter how good it is, we need to at least try. We just shouldn't hinge any plans on it."
I got a round of nods but honestly, I couldn't see how not to. As simple as amplifying ahab waves sound, that's not something I or anyone here have heard about nor has been used in this era, if ever. If done well, this could be a game-changer.
" I think we should go with the tunnels. From the pictures taken, I don't see many mobile workers and I doubt they could have fit some into the tunnels " Andre commented, idly picking his ear as he looked half interested.
" What I'm worried about is if they had done something like rig the tunnels to explode if we managed to breach." David thought aloud.
I never thought about that. The more I did, the more it made sense too. There was no way they left such an obvious hazard up to chance.
" W-Why don't you just capture an enemy suit and use it to take you guys across and ride right into the city. I saw a lot of suits on the enemy's side, and it could even damage Gjallarhorn's reputation." Ricky suggested.
Another silence.
That…that was smart. Really smart. Combined with the possibility of the Ahab waves cloaking its entrance into the city and behind enemy lines, that could be devastating.
We could get way more than just one mobile worker across or just have the suit wreck the blockades from behind, allowing us to fully storm the city.
Even without the cloak, the fact that we would be in their suit could confuse them enough to allow whoever we get to pilot the suit to cause massive damage then escape.
Every second that passed, more and more ideas and thoughts filled my mind, a smirk coming over my face. I stood up, pulling Richy into a bear hug. " You beautiful, smart boy. You've just helped immensely."
The boy flushed with embarrassment. " Get off, I told you this isn't somethign we should rely on."
I let go of him, heading to my makeshift room, writing my thoughts and ideas down the whole way. This was something we needed to act on.
*******
" Damn, it's already this late?"
It was already around dinner time.
I wasn't really hungry so I decided to go on an evening patrol. Always good to make sure everyone on watch was actually doing my part. It's kinda like kissing babies and signing shirts but in terms of a paramilitary leader.
Since I was gonna go around ambushing the guards with a surprise inspection, I decided to go get them something warm to drink since I could feel the chilly evening breeze from my makeshift office.
Walking to the kitchen, I began rolling my injured shoulder. It wasn't my first gunshot wound, but that didn't make them suck any less. I could probably fight at my best now but it would hurt like a bitch. It wasn't fully healed but it was close enough. Well, it wouldn't stop me either so it doesn't really matter.
Finding the makeshift cafeteria filled to the brim, I was happy to see the tension between everyone that had been there for a while was almost non-existent. Things weren't instantly kumbaya which could clearly be seen in the seating arrangement but everyone knew we weren't in a time or place where we could fight amongst each other.
Finding Atra busy serving the boys with the help of Kudelia, I wondered if I should just wait but then I remembered, I would rather not. " Hi ladies, working hard, I see."
" Oh, Darius. Did you come for a plate?" Kudelia asked, a bit startled at my sudden presence.
" No, I just came to ask where I could get some flasks and coffee for the guys on patrol."
Atra's eyes lit up as she turned to me. " Oh really, you came just in time." She pointed at a cart with exactly what I asked for lined up in a cart. " I was planning to go when we finished here."
" Well, there's no need to worry about it. I can do it."
Kudelia shot me a concerned look, her eyes going to my still bandaged shoulder. " You should at least go with someone."
" I could accompany him."
Turning to the voice, I was admittedly surprised that it was Fumitan who volunteered. It had been a while since we talked. " Then I'd love to have you with me."
The woman placed the bowl she had recently eaten from down and went to get the cart. Our walk out was rather quiet. A quietness I for whatever reason, couldn't stand, so I decided to be the one to break it."So uh, how are you doing?"
Great question retard.
"I'm fine," she replied evenly, though her tone was softer than I expected. "Thank you for asking."
Silence held again and before I could try fill it with an awkward whistle or something, she spoke.
"I've just been thinking. About everything we've been through lately. About Kudelia…about you." I had to focus on walking, lest I tripped over myself at the revelation. Ordinarily, that would not mean much but coming from the ever reserved Fumitan, it piqued my curiosity.
I had to momentarily pause such thoughts as we came across our first group. I put on a smile, recalling all their names and pouring them cups of coffee, thanking them for their work and reminding them to keep it up.
As we pulled away, heading to the next patrol group, a gust of wind hit us and it was especially cold. Damn, I hate the cold. Fucking Canada man.
Luckily, I had a thick jacket. A glance at Fumitan showed that she wasn't doing well under the cold, not as covered as me.
Am I really about to do this?
Even as that thought went through my mind, I felt my hands take my jacket off and sling it around her. Fucking bleeding heart. Now I felt cold as hell and I couldn't even show it or I'll look like a bitch.
Come on. Tough it out.
If you shiver, you're gay.
I needed to focus on something else. " So, should I be worried or excited that I've filled your thoughts?" I asked with a teasing smirk.
The woman blinked once, then twice at my actions before continuing on, holding the jacket close. "Both," she answered quietly. "Maybe neither. I haven't decided."
I don't know hot to feel about that.
"You're difficult to define, Darius. Most people like you are easy to categorize: self-serving, reckless, obsessed with power or status and while that would fit you from what I have seen, you also act entirely opposite. You help when you don't have to. You act like a brute, but speak like a man who's seen too much. I've seen you smile and help the kids with real kindness showing and then put a blade through someone's throat without hesitation."
She glanced over at me again, this time more directly. "So yes… I've been thinking about you."
Huh.
Now I really don't know how to feel.
" So basically, I'm a person of depth and character? Or maybe a serial killer," I half asked, half joked, an almost smirk forming at the thought.
Fumitan gave me a sidelong look, her lips twitching slightly in amusement. " I guess you could say either. You pretend to be simple, but you're anything but. "
The breeze picked up again, and while she could cover herself up, I was clenching my teeth so tight that it hurt
"I suppose what unsettles me is how easily you play roles, and how often they're genuine. That duality, it makes me wonder which side is real. Or if they both are?"
Well…Damn.
What does one even say to that?
Actually, do what any self-respecting person does when they are presented with something they don't want to think about. Ignore and deflect. It was easier with us running into the next patrol.
Going through similar pleasantries as the first, we soon left and went on a search for the next group.
" You need to stop filling your mind with unnecessary thoughts. If you have to much time for it, you should consider finding a hobby or finding a Mister Fumitan. As beautiful as you may be, looks unfortunately fade." I finally decided to pour myself a cup of coffee to stave off the cold.
Fumitan stared at me for a long moment, the corner of her mouth tightening, not quite a frown, not quite a smile. There was something unreadable in her expression, something that flickered between amusement, disbelief, and disappointment but trying to read a person from their expression is quite hard.
"So we're doing that again," she said quietly. Her voice wasn't biting, but it was laced with something sharp beneath the calm. Kinda like a paper cut you didn't feel until later.
" What again?"
She looked ahead, away from me, letting the cool breeze move across her face as she exhaled slowly.
"I ask you something real, and you answer with a joke and a comment about my future wrinkles."
Yeah, but that's pretty funny.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the jacket. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
She turned toward me, watching me sip from my cup, the coffee a shield not only to the cold but the need to talk any more.
"I don't mind banter, Darius. I know how you speak. But don't dress up deflection and hand it to me as if it's wit. Not when I'm trying to understand you."
Dang, she was starting to cut me deep.
"I know I'm not owed your truths. But if you don't want to give them, just say so. Don't hide them behind smirks and throwaway lines about my face." A small, humourless smile curved her lips. "I've lived long enough to know how that game is played."
I almost felt the need to tell her that she was only in her twenties but I held my tongue. Truth she says, what truth? There was nothing to say, nothing to add, but if she wanted to get deep and stuff, I can do that but it's not gonna be what she expects. There's something else I wanna confront anyway.
I took a sip from the coffee in my grasp, walking up to her, mere inches separating us as I stared intensely into her eyes. " I apologise, really. I'm afraid I am not ready for such a conversation yet. "
I paused. " Whether from fear or..."
Another pause, a smile forming as I couldn't stop my next words. "...or enchanting beauty. I cannot discern."
" Another deflection." she muttered, holding my gaze. " Though it is embedded in an element of truth. Something I should be thankful for, I suppose."
Fumitan exhaled, and with how close she was, I felt her breath hit me. She looked out toward the campfires in the distance, the flickering lights reflected faintly in her eyes. "We should keep moving. The boys will be waiting."
Who's deflecting now?
Whatever, we should probably go, but she didn't move and neither did I. I held her gaze for a long moment till my eyes flickered down to her lips briefly, the urge to just lean in almost overwhelming.
"Yeah…yeah, you're right."
" I usually am." She muttered and stood holding that moment for a heartbeat or two, enough to make me wonder if I should just lean in before slowly walking past me and back to the cart. " Let's go."
What the fuck
was this man? Alot of nothing was said but it feels like something here was built on. Gulping my coffee, I let out a long sigh.
I need to stick with war. Much easier