The V.U.L.T.U.R.E. Directive

I reached the YSOG Headquarters a short while later. In front of the meeting room was a guard with an M4A1 rifle in full YGSDF Combat Uniform.

I gave my ID to him. He nodded it back after checking it, then opened the door for me.

I returned the nod and went in. A map of Yamato was displayed on a whiteboard at the front of the room, which also had a long table with multiple chairs. A white man in a black suit sat at the table with my CO, Colonel Kenji Tanaka. The Colonel had a handlebar moustache, hazel eyes, and short brown hair. He wore the standard YGSDF Combat Uniform and was a little taller than me.

"Lieutenant Arc, reporting for duty!" Saluting them, I said. The salute was returned by both of them.

The white man said, "At ease, LT," with a smile that only a spook could muster. He had hazel eyes and short black hair. He appeared to be a carbon copy of James Bond or one of those CIB agents I had seen in the Arid Expanse.

"Take a seat." I sat on the other side of the table as he instructed. "Let me introduce myself, please. I am Marcus Thorne, the CEO of Task Force V.U.L.T.U.R.E., a PMC. 'Most Lethal Snipers in Yamato's History', it's a pleasure to meet you."

That's sufficient, Mr. CIB.

I said, "Nice to meet you too, Thorne-san," with a small bow. After a moment of staring, he tried to imitate my bow. Why did you call me here, then? Furthermore, what is "Task Force V.U.L.T.U.R.E."? I bent over. "Are you with the CIB?" With a flat voice and a steady gaze, I attempted to project I'll break your neck if you don't answer my question.

Marcus laughed. "Yes, before I retired and started my own PMC, I worked for the CIB for three years. The Global Concord Security Council currently employs and works with Task Force V.U.L.T.U.R.E., which is privately funded. Colonel Tanaka here will explain why we called you.

Tanaka-san gave me a stern look. "I must remind you that this mission is top secret before I start the briefing. You must not disclose this information to anyone without the required authorization. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good," he said. "First off, did you hear the news about our lost transport aircraft?" I nodded as I recalled this morning's news. "That is our goal. The YMA reported that during a solar eclipse over the Northern Azure Ocean, there was some sort of magnetic storm. We think this might have played a part in the plane going missing. Professor Shinozaki will explain the remainder. "Please, Professor."

Professor Shinozaki, hold on. That implies...

The door exploded. "Hee-ya!" A figure in a maid outfit under a lab coat landed safely in a crouch after a familiar yell. The individual rose, and a very familiar face emerged.

"Hey! Hello! Hello! Chiyoko Shinozaki is your favorite idol! "Vee!" With a V-sign and a dramatic pose reminiscent of a Japanese idol, she yelled. She had long black hair with white bunny ears that twitched constantly. As the others gazed at her, Tanaka-san grinning wildly, Marcus bewildered, I could only rub my temples in tired embarrassment.

Whoa, this individual? She is Chiyoko Shinozaki, my older sister. She is one of the most talented engineers and scientists in Yamato, if not the entire world, despite her immature demeanor. She was admitted to Harvard University on a full scholarship and always took accelerated courses. One of the few people who introduced me to otaku culture was her. Not love, but like.

Then she charged at me and landed a few inches to my right. She gazed at my face, which I had partially covered with my hand, and leaned in much too closely for comfort. "Hi! Hi!"

I gave up. "Hi, Nee-chan. It's been a while. In an attempt to avoid her violet eyes, I lowered my hand.

"Yeah, how long has it been?" Rubbing her cheek, she pondered. She interrupted me before I could respond. "Ooh, you've grown into a man, Haru-kun!" she exclaimed, raising her hands in a rabbit motion above her head. I felt extremely uneasy as she crept up behind me, wrapped her arms around my neck, and sniffed the back of my neck. "And you smell like—"

"Ahem…" She was interrupted by the Colonel clearing his throat. "Sorry to disturb this touching reunion, but can we continue the briefing?"

Much obliged, Tanaka-san! You deserve one!

She let go of me and let out a loud sigh before sagging into the chair next to me. "Hmph, what a pain..."

The man from the CIB stated, "Miss Shinozaki has a theory that a parallel universe exists," He reached into a bag on the table and took something out. "These are a few of the parallel universe images that we discussed. Indeed, that planet or world is similar to our own. Its atmosphere is almost the same, primarily made up of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and an unidentified gas.

I studied the pictures. Like Earth, it was primarily an ocean world with a supercontinent at its core. The photos appeared to have been taken through a hole or aperture.

"How did you find this?" I looked at the pictures and asked.

He turned to face my sister and said, "They were captured by an ASTRA observation and surveillance satellite during a solar eclipse a year ago." "Please, Miss Shinozaki."

Nee-chan's throat cleared. "So, now I'm going to tell you how this universe was created," she said in a tone that was still very young. "There once was nothingness—just an endless hyperspace—far, far away, before life existed, before the Earth formed, and even before the Big Bang. Then another clump of gas formed and exploded, just like ours, because of the laws of physics. It produced a parallel universe to our own.

My head hurts, damn it. Why in the world is science so damned confusing?

"All right, Professor, the remaining details are extremely classified. "You're fired," Marcus declared. My sister simply nodded before making her way to the door.

She leaped onto my lap and looked straight into my eyes before she left. "Please be safe, Haru-kun," she said, her eyes looking like puppy dog eyes and starting to well up with tears. Slowly, I nodded.

Then, depending on your perspective, she started to cry out—either tragically or humorously—and gave me a tight hug. Yes, quite tightly. I nearly became suffocated.

"Haru-kun, please don't leave! You will be sorely missed.

Tanaka-san and Marcus both started to perspire at the sight. Nee-chan had to be carefully dragged out of the room by guards a short while later.

"So, what does this have to do with me?" When she was gone, I asked again.

"As I said, there's a possibility that our transport aircraft went through a portal and ended up in this world," Tanaka-san said. "During a solar eclipse, a portal, or wormhole, forms between the Earth and the Moon, joining our universe with that parallel one. But it is invisible to the unaided eye.

"But why not just send scientists and a SAR team? I retorted, "I'm a soldier, not a geologist.

"Lieutenant Arc, do you know what was inside that aircraft?" I gave a headshake. "It contained several nuclear ICBM warheads and chemical weapons we retrieved from a rogue state's facility."

It was as if lightning had struck me.

"We will have evidence that this rogue state poses a threat to the entire world if we are able to recover those WMDs or even just information about them. We might be able to change Clause 9 and strengthen the Defense Force with the help of it. We can't just leave the Behemoth alone because it's one of the YDF's newest assets. Most significantly, that plane contains Yamato residents.

"Not to mention, there are signs of settlements visible on the planet's surface," said Marcus. "Life is supported and the atmosphere is habitable. We can't risk sending civilians because we don't know if they're friendly."

Oh, wonderful. So I'll be interacting with extraterrestrials?

"So, how do I get there?" With an increasingly solemn tone, I inquired.

"You will be transported by an upgraded C-130J Atlas. A HALO jump will be executed from a height of more than 35,000 feet. A table-sized container containing your weapons, ammunition, food, clothing, a medic kit, and other necessary supplies will be dropped with you," Tanaka-san retorted. "Finding and recovering the aircraft is your main task. Finding any survivors and giving us information about the area, including any life forms you come across, is your secondary mission.

"Aside from the nukes, what other weapons was the bird carrying?"

Marcus looked at a document. "CBRN suits, gas masks, mortars, foreign-made rifles like the AK series, howitzers, and chemical agents like Willie Pete and mustard gas." The nukes resemble beds in size.

"How do I locate the aircraft?"

"There are three methods. First, there is a beacon on the flight recorder of the aircraft. Although it is still in the experimental stage, you will be given a prototype sensor that can detect both the black box signal and heartbeats. Second, you are allowed to ask locals for information, but you are not allowed to disclose your identity, employer, or goals. Finally, Tanaka-san leaned back and said, "If we receive any information from our surveillance satellite, we will assist you with it." "You won't be sent alone, of course. Two other operators, one from the Royal Army's SPG and one from the OSN Sea Dragons Unit Six, will be assisting you. To put it another way, this is a team effort.

I'm working with a Brit and an Orion, then? Alright.

"We are unable to send reinforcements, unfortunately. Without the assistance of a solar eclipse, we are unaware of any other means of getting there. Additionally, the operation is top secret; bringing in armor or air support would be too noticeable. You're on your own if things don't work out.

But during the next solar eclipse, Task Force V.U.L.T.U.R.E. will help with exfiltration. We'll wait for the next one if that's not feasible," Marcus remarked.

"So, I might spend months there? or years?" I inquired.

"Yes. However, there are currently ongoing experiments to construct an artificial wormhole. You will only be able to get in touch with us when we ask for a report. Do you understand?"

"Ryokai!" I yelled.

"Good," he said with a smile. "Until a few weeks prior to the next solar eclipse, which is approximately a year from now, you will continue your training for this procedure. You will then be transferred to Horizon Airbase for the launch, located in Restricted Area 4808N in Veridia. Both men got to their feet. "Alright, you're dismissed."

"Hai!" I stood, bowed, and saluted them before leaving.