9. Colonel Husky

After their return, Haruka and Kazuki had a few quiet days, working in the office. One morning, however, they were called to deal with a new deviant called Archelot, which was making a Shinjuku park its territory. The agents rode there before sunrise and were met with the first sun lights that painted the field, and the flowery Sakura in a twilit silence. When they arrived, the deviant was already strolling. It was a large brown feline, with the size of cars, sporting long whiskers, a sleek body and bear's fur. Haruka and Kazuki readied their rifles when the Archelot noticed them. However, instead of running, it opened its mouth, releasing a stream of high pressure water into their direction. They quickly jumped away, avoiding the attack.

Then, the Archelot advanced towards Kazuki. He ran, but the Archelot was much faster. Haruka tried to shoot at the deviant, but missed, only being able to draw its attention. Now the Archelot started running towards her. Kazuki got the opportunity and was able to shoot the deviant's leg a few times with rubber rounds. It turned around and again spit water. Kazuki dodged to the side and tried to freeze the stream. He was able to freeze just the end of it and the Archelot pointed the attack towards him, forcing him to run away.

This allowed Haruka to get a clean shot at the deviant's back right leg. The tranquilizer was weak but the pain slowed it down. Roaring, the Archelot released a water stream towards her. That's what Haruka wanted, she dodged to the side and sent her electricity through the stream. It spread in a flash, severely electrocuting the deviant. Stunned, it was tranquilized by an entire round of tranquilizers from Haruka's rifle and was captured by Kazuki's net.

- "Op-san, all done here!" - said Haruka on the NCID.
- "Amazing Shocking Blue! That was ultra quick!"
- "Yes, I know we are amazing!" - Kazuki noticed as her smile shone with the day's first lights.
- "Really good, Raikubo-chan, great fight today" - Kazuki shook her hand. She however hugged him.
- "Always better with you Kaa-chan!" - still holding him, she continued - "operator-san, any other things, or can we take a rest?"
- "Um, actually" - the operator replied - "the Colonel called you to the office. So as soon as the cleaning team arrives, please return and report to his office."
- "Can't we rest first?" - she released her weight on Kazuki who set his feet firmly on the ground.
- "Haruka-chan, you know the Colonel well..."
- "Yes, you are right. Okay, we will be right back there."
- "Let's go, Raikubo-san"
- "Just one more minute pleaseeeeee." - after her extra minute, both rode back to their condominium.

The office hidden on the condominium was actually underground, accessible through a secret passage, controlled with automatic systems and heavily guarded. It was a way for the agents to live close to work and still somewhat hidden away, as some ordinary people also lived in the condominium, oblivious of its true purpose. Haruka and Kazuki, still with their helmets on hand, used their cards and entered the elevator that wnet underground.

The elevator door opened revealing, a corridor with grey walls, all metal coated and with many screens. Their entrance was allowed by two heavily armed guards who saluted them. They advanced and now saw the secret office of NUMO. It was similar to a working office, with many desks and workers and screens, but also had soldiers passing by and more of a military decoration. They went straight into the Colonel's office.

The Colonel's office was a massive room featuring lots of screens, a few desks, lots of chairs and a large table on its middle, featuring a map of the world. On the opposite end of the door was the Colonel's desk where he was sitting down. His office was actually a room prepared for a full fledged war, that was repurposed as his room, after the end of the Reconquest. Colonel Husky was sitting on his desk. He was large man, wearing a camouflage green uniform, featuring ribbons, medals and shoulder decorations. He was in his late forties, had a white moustache and low black eyes and chin.

- "Good morning, Colonel, sir!" - Haruka and Kazuki said, as they saluted him.
- "Good morning, Yukiya-san, Raikubo-san, please sit down." - they sat down and put their helmets on the table. - "operator-san, please control the presentation on the screen behind me."
- "Right away, sir!" - the operator replied. She was connected remotely. Colonel Husky got up as the words "TOP SECRET" appeared on the wall behind him. He started:
- "Yukiya-san, Raikubo-san, I've brought you here to give a special and top secret assignment to you. So, first, an introduction. As you know, the peace of Nouveau Nippon has been threatened for quite a few years now by rebel groups, which don't accept the Head's peaceful and prosperous command. In spite of that, violent confrontations have been rare and so far, they seemed to be mostly interested in hiding. And despite our best efforts, they still work in secret in their bases. So far so good?"
- "Yes, sir" - they both replied.
- "So, this has changed. We've sent a few resources to try and infiltrate rebel groups, to understand how they work, where they hide and whether or not we need a more forward approach against them. And the bad news is that we need. One of our undercover resources has found out that some rebels are trying to capture deviants" - Haruka and Kazuki's eyes widened - "their official explanation is that the government mistreats the deviants and that the rebels would free them. However, it's clear they want to weaponize the deviants."
- "That's disheartening. I always thought they were more or less harmless." - said Haruka.
- "They were never harmless, as they always tried to undermine the Head's organization." - Husky looked sternly at Haruka - "but I agree I never expected they would go so far as to arm themselves in that level. They are probably thinking about terrorism, or even war." - he looked away and back at them - "that is why we have to stop them."
- "Well, I am determined." - said Haruka, now serious.
- "Wait a minute, Colonel, sir. You said they want to capture deviants. Does that mean, that the men we faced when capturing Birdhook and the Cheetle were rebels?"
- "That's why I like you Yukiya-san, very clever. That's exactly it." - on the screen behind the Colonel, there were pictures of a room with a few weapons and lots of trap like contraptions - "this is the building room from where you were attacked when facing Birdhook. They were prepared to capture it." - Kazuki continued:
- "Actually, they had a slim chance, because they don't have Brumetium equipment like my pendant to create nets."
- "Exactly, fortunately to us, so far they have been unable capture any deviant."
- "Alright Colonel, what's our mission then?"
- "It is quite a different one. Our undercover agent has discovered that a small group of rebels is planning to rob the Nouveau National Bank. They desperately need the money to finance their efforts. All that they are missing is someone skilled to open the safe. Someone who is well versed with safes, or with electronics, or maybe someone who can use electromancy" - Kazuki and Haruka were now surprised - "of course, that is you, Raikubo-san."
- "Me? But I hardly know anything about safes."
- "But you know about electromancy and that is more than enough. So let me explain the mission. Our undercover agent will present you to the group responsible for the heist. You will take part on the planning and tell us about their plan. Then, you will help them with the heist, opening the safe. Finally, Kazuki and an assault team will meet you on the escape route, and then we will capture the rebels."
- "Sir, I understand, but I know nothing about safes. Even if I use magic, what if I'm unable to open it?"
- "We got that covered, Raikubo-san. We will give you the safe combination, so if you fail you can pretend you are using magic and simply input it."
- "But, isn't it too risky?" - Kazuki said - "Raikubo-san will have to operate alone on an enemy group which may at any time turn against her. Wouldn't it be safer if I also went undercover with Raikubo-san?"
- "I understand your point, but it is impossible. Our undercover agent was clear, we won't be able to convince their leader to add any other person to the group. Our only and best option is for Raikubo-san to be undercover." - Kazuki looked down, but said nothing else. The Colonel turned to Haruka - "do you understand the mission. Are you ready to accept it?"
- "Yes, I am, sir." - she replied, serious and determinate.
- "That's what I like to hear, soldier. So, let's summarize it. Raikubo-san, tomorrow you will 'move' to a new apartment, completely bugged and surveilled by us. Then, you will receive information from our undercover agent and participate on the rebels' meeting. Then, you will stay on the apartment and report the plan to us. On the next day, you are going to take part in the heist, open the safe and scout the rebels directly to us." - he turned to Kazuki - "during this time, you must be ready to act and help if anything goes wrong and for that, you will be on the team that will capture the rebels." - he paused and looked at them again - "Raikubo-san, Yukiya-san, is the mission clear?"
- "Yes, sir."
- "You are then dismissed. The operator will give you details regarding places and will keep in touch for any changes." - the Colonel now had a caring face - "Raikubo-san, Yukiya-san. Good luck." - they saluted the Colonel and left his office.

The Colonel waited for them to leave to say:
- "Operator-san, keep an eye on both of them. It is a high risk assignment and we don't to anything compromise the mission. Is that clear?"
- "Loud and clear, sir!"
- "Dismissed."

Haruka and Kazuki got an empty desk and received additional informations from the operator, like the addresses and expected timings of the mission. Both listened with attention, nonetheless, Haruka noticed Kazuki seemed disgruntled. Then, they left the secret NUMO office and returned to their condominium. Haruka said:
- "Well, do you want to get something to eat?"
- "No, thank you Raikubo-san, I need a rest. We already had a mission and tomorrow you have a tough mission ahead. Actually, I think we both need a good rest."
- "Yes, I guess you are right." - Haruka was disheartened. - "Alright, see you then."
- "See you" - they went separate ways and returned to their apartments.