Forging Paths

As Emi stepped into the building, she couldn’t help but pause for a moment, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings. The facility was sleek and imposing, every corner exuding a sense of purpose and precision. It was nothing like the training grounds at TMA—it felt more serious, more real. This was the professional world she’d been working toward, and now it was finally here.

Taking a deep breath, she approached the front desk where a receptionist sat, dressed impeccably and radiating efficiency. Emi offered a polite bow before asking, “Excuse me, could you direct me to the Skyveil Reconnaissance Unit?”

The receptionist gave her a brief, courteous nod and made a quick call. Moments later, a woman in a sharp uniform approached. “You must be Emi Honeyfield,” she said, her tone formal yet welcoming. “I’m Lieutenant Chisaki, and I’ll be your protocol officer. Follow me, and I’ll get you settled.”

Emi nodded, clutching the strap of her bag a little tighter and followed Lieutenant Sasaki through the winding halls of the PSIA building.

They finally arrived at a door marked Skyveil Reconnaissance Unit – Team Tenryu. Sasaki knocked twice, then pushed it open.

Inside, the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed. Agents lounged at their desks, chatting casually, though a large holographic map above the central table suggested they were still keeping tabs on their work.

Captain Kasumi Ito, standing by the map, glanced up at their entrance. Her sharp suit and piercing gaze gave her an air of authority. Emi instinctively straightened her posture.

“Captain Ito,” Sasaki began, “this is Emi Honeyfield, the FDP trainee assigned to your team.”

Kasumi gave Emi a once-over, her expression unreadable. “Honeyfield, huh? What a weird name. Hope you’re ready for a challenge. Team Tenryu doesn’t slow down for rookies.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Emi replied firmly, trying to suppress the nervous edge in her voice.

Kasumi nodded briskly before addressing the room. “Listen up, everyone. This is Emi Honeyfield, our FDP trainee. She’ll be with us for three months. Try not to scare her off on her first day.”

“Yeah, sure,” said a tall man with a buzz cut, spinning lazily in his chair. “As long as she doesn’t slow us down, we’re good.”

A woman perched on a nearby desk rolled her eyes. “Give her a break, Saito. Don’t mind him, rookie. He’s always like that.” She smirked. “I’m Nakamura, by the way.”

Another agent, a younger man with shaggy hair, grinned and waved. “I’m Fujimoto. Welcome to the circus. Don’t worry, we’re only scary on the clock.”

Captain Kasumi raised an eyebrow. “Fujimoto, if you’re scaring people, we need to talk about your approach.” Her voice was dry but carried a hint of humor.

Fujimoto shrugged. “Just keeping things lively, Captain.”

Kasumi turned back to Emi. “You’ll have time to meet everyone properly tomorrow. Be here at 0700 sharp.” She paused, and for a moment, her strict demeanor faltered. “And if anyone gives you too much trouble, let me know. I’m not completely unreasonable.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Emi said with a small bow.

Later that evening, Emi replayed the introduction in her mind as she sat in her room. Captain Kasumi’s no-nonsense attitude had been intimidating, but her team seemed approachable despite their teasing.

She stared out the window at the Kyoto skyline, her resolve hardening. Three months. This is my opportunity to prove myself—not just to them, but to me, I’ll do my best.

The past two months had been a whirlwind for Emi, both challenging and transformative. Her initial days of observing and adapting had transitioned into active participation, and her work within the Skyveil Reconnaissance Unit had proven to be as demanding as it was rewarding.

Her team had been involved in two notable field missions. The first was an intelligence-gathering operation on a small-scale terrorist group suspected of Inciting unrest and insecurity in certain parts of Kyoto. Though it didn’t culminate in direct confrontation, Emi learned the intricacies of covert observation, blending into environments, and the patience required for operations that spanned days.

The second mission involved monitoring a suspected corporate exploiter accused of leveraging airborne technology to defraud clients. The case ended with his conviction, thanks in part to the team's persistence and Emi’s diligent documentation of crucial evidence.

Through it all, Emi had demonstrated remarkable growth. Her ability to adapt to real-world situations had caught the attention of her seniors, even earning her subtle nods of approval from the once-indifferent Saito. Captain Kasumi, however, had taken the most noticeable liking to her. Kasumi had started treating Emi as both a little sister and an apprentice, occasionally calling her “Honey-chan” with an affectionate grin.

“Emi,” Kasumi had said during one of their late-night wrap-ups in the office, “skills are important, but knowing when and how to use them—that’s what makes you truly shine in this line of work. You’ve got what it takes.”

Emi absorbed every lesson, every critique, and every piece of advice her teammates offered. She felt herself growing not just in skill but in her mindset. The real world was far more complicated than the controlled environments of the academy. Situations were unpredictable, and success often hinged on reading people and making split-second decisions.

As she prepared to wind down for the day, Emi found her thoughts drifting to her friends back at TMA. She wondered how their own FDPs were progressing—whether Reina was keeping her fiery temper in check or if Hikari was still his usual optimistic self. A small smile tugged at her lips as she pictured Tatsumi awkwardly trying to fit in with the elite Imperial Guards.

But most of all, her thoughts settled on Kaito.

“Sensei”, she thought with a mix of fondness and determination. “I hope you’re doing well. I can’t wait to show you how much I’ve grown”.

With a newfound eagerness, Emi turned in for the night, ready to tackle whatever challenges the next day would bring.

The quiet hum of activity in the office was interrupted by Captain Kasumi’s voice.

“Team, gather up! I’ve got news,” she called, her tone brisk.

Emi set down her pen and joined the rest of the team as they moved toward Kasumi. The captain stood at her usual spot, arms crossed and a clipboard in hand.

“We’ve received some intel about an illegal operation at the Maizuru docks,” Kasumi began, scanning the faces before her. “Details are scarce, but there’s enough to warrant an investigation. Our job is to figure out what’s going on and gather the necessary evidence. Whether it’s small-time or something bigger, we won’t know until we’re there.”

Nakamura raised an eyebrow. “And when’s this happening?”

“End of the week,” Kasumi replied. “That gives us a few days to prepare. I want everyone ready—gear checked, procedures reviewed. This is standard protocol, but that doesn’t mean we slack off.”

Fujimoto leaned against a desk and said with a smirk, “So, rookie, ready to get your boots dirty?”

Emi straightened slightly, meeting his gaze. “Always.”

Kasumi gave a curt nod. “Good. No assumptions, no distractions. We’re going in to observe, document, and act if necessary. Questions?”

The team exchanged looks but stayed silent.

“Alright then,” Kasumi concluded. “Back to work. Be prepared.”

The day of the investigation arrived swiftly, the crisp morning air buzzing with anticipation. Emi and her team assembled outside the PSIA headquarters, their vehicle ready and loaded with the necessary equipment. Captain Kasumi Ito stood at the helm, her usual seriousness tempered by a calm focus.

“Alright,” Kasumi began as they boarded, her tone commanding attention. “This is a preliminary investigation, so no rash actions. Fujimoto, Nakamura, and Yamamoto, you’ll stay in the vehicle and monitor the area using the drones. Emi, you’re with me. We’ll head to the docks on foot and meet our contact.”

The vehicle hummed to life as they set off, leaving the sprawling cityscape of Kyoto behind. The journey was largely quiet, the team focused on mentally preparing for the task ahead. Emi glanced at the captain, noting her steely composure, and resolved to mirror it.

They reached the outskirts of the dockyard by midday. The air was thick with the briny scent of seawater, and the environment buzzed with activity—cargo workers moving crates, officials checking manifests, and aquacrafts gently bobbing in their berths. The docks were a no-fly zone for security reasons, forcing Emi and Kasumi to continue on foot while the rest of the team stayed behind, scanning the area with drones.

Emi adjusted her cap, her eyes scanning the bustling dockyard. She was struck by how grounded everything felt compared to her usual view from above. Walking among the towering cranes and massive aquacrafts gave her a new perspective on the scale of operations.

Kasumi led the way with quiet confidence, and soon they reached a shadowed corner of the dockyard where their contact, Agent Hirose, waited. Dressed inconspicuously in dockworker attire, he blended seamlessly with the environment.

“You’re here,” Hirose said, nodding to Kasumi and Emi as they approached. His voice was low but steady, his eyes darting to ensure they weren’t being watched.

“What do you have for us?” Kasumi asked, skipping formalities.

Hirose gestured subtly toward one of the larger aquacrafts anchored at the far end of the docks. “Middle of the night, I saw a group of men approach the captain of that craft,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “They were discussing something, but I couldn’t get close enough to hear. It was clear they were negotiating—body language gave it away. Whatever it was, the captain looked uneasy but ultimately agreed.”

“Did you see any cargo or exchanges?” Kasumi asked, her brow furrowing.

“Not yet. Whatever they’re planning, it’s discreet. They’ve kept their interactions brief and quiet. No suspicious cargo has been loaded—at least not in the open.”

Kasumi nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Good work, Hirose. Stay on standby and keep an eye on the area. Emi and I will do some subtle probing.”

Hirose gave a curt nod before melting back into the shadows. Kasumi turned to Emi, her voice firm but encouraging. “Stay sharp. This could be nothing, or it could be the beginning of something much bigger. Either way, we need to tread carefully.”

Emi nodded, her resolve hardening. “Understood, Captain.”

With that, the two moved deeper into the dockyard, blending into the bustling environment as they began their investigation.

The day passed with little progress. Despite their efforts, Kasumi and Emi hadn’t uncovered anything concrete. The dockworkers went about their routines with practiced indifference, and no one appeared out of place. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the team regrouped at their vehicle.

“We’re not getting anything significant during the day,” Kasumi said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the hood of the vehicle. “We’ll come back tonight. That’s when the real activity tends to happen.”

Everyone nodded, understanding the importance of subtlety in their work. The evening dragged on as they prepared for the night’s operation, ensuring their equipment was in order and their plan was airtight.

When the clock struck midnight, the team returned to the dockyard, this time cloaked in the shadows of the night. The dock was eerily quiet, with only the faint sound of waves lapping against the aquacrafts breaking the stillness. The area was off-limits to outsiders after dark, so every step they took was measured and deliberate.

Kasumi gestured for Fujimoto to deploy the Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). The small, wheeled robot hummed to life and rolled silently into the dockyard, its mounted camera transmitting a live feed to the team’s monitor.

The team watched intently as the UGV maneuvered through the narrow alleys between cargo containers, its sensors scanning for activity. Minutes passed with nothing out of the ordinary until the screen suddenly displayed a group of figures gathered near a secluded corner of the docks.

“There,” Fujimoto whispered, pointing at the monitor.

The camera zoomed in, revealing four men standing in a loose circle. One of them, Hirose confirmed, was the captain of craft U-422.

“That’s him,” Hirose said quietly, his tone serious.

The UGV’s camera captured the group’s interaction. Their body language was tense but controlled, their voices too low to be picked up by the audio feed. Then, one of the men produced a black suitcase, snapping it open to reveal stacks of cash inside.

“That’s a bribe,” Kasumi muttered, her brow furrowing.

The group on the screen exchanged nods, and the captain hesitated for a moment before shaking hands with the man holding the suitcase. The deal was sealed.

“Zoom in on the man with the suitcase,” Kasumi instructed.

Fujimoto adjusted the camera angle, focusing on the individual. His face was obscured by a thick black mask, making identification impossible. However, the camera picked up a distinct tattoo on the side of his neck as he turned slightly—a burnt wing with the letter “G” inscribed in the center.

Kasumi straightened, her eyes narrowing. “That symbol… Have any of you seen it before?”

Fujimoto shook his head. “Not in any of our briefings. It’s worth investigating.”

Kasumi nodded, her expression grim. “We’ll need to take this to the higher-ups. For now, keep monitoring them and ensure we record everything.”

The screen showed the group dispersing shortly after the exchange, leaving the docks in different directions. The team stayed in position, ensuring no further activity occurred before retrieving the UGV and heading back to their vehicle.

As they packed up, Emi couldn’t shake the unease creeping into her thoughts. Something about the tattoo felt ominous, like it was a harbinger of more significant troubles ahead.