File 11.8 - Blind Confidence

Staring at the machine for a while, Schir lost track of time. It quickly became time for her to meet the team. She rushed over to the briefing room with a few minutes to spare before the planned start. At the front was Commander Hostin and Lieutenant Commander Rebbin, those in charge of the Devil Hunters task force. They were her superiors and the ones that made the general tactical plans and issued orders. The actual command of the team and individual strategies in combat were on herself.

Even staring at the dossiers on them told her only so much about her team. They were mostly all about as fresh as her. Since there had not been any real conflict since the end of the war, no one out of the academy had any real combat experience. So even for those more senior than her in time, she had far more experience in battle.

“If it isn’t the Hero of Indus to grace us with her presence,” mocked Petty Officer Worre.

“I guess a celebrity doesn’t need to worry about showing up on time.”

Schir didn’t find it too surprising that she was going to have conflicts with the rest of the team. She was going to have to earn their respect. Not many were happy about her being out of the Academy for only a few months and already being an Ensign and earning a medal. Even though she had doubts about the decisions made, she couldn’t really make them change it. They gave her little choice.

The Commander, a woman in her thirties with a long record in the war, stepped forward to silence the rumblings. She reached out a hand to greet Schir. “Welcome to the Devil Hunters, Ensign Mille.”

“Commander, Lt. Commander.”

Rebbin, an older man than the Commander with a harshly aged face, stepped out to the team. “Ensign, this is your team. Thirty-nine of the best recruits.”

“Yes, thank you Lt. Commander. As most of you already know who I am, I’ll keep it simple. We’re traveling into Hell and nothing in your simulators or training will prepare you for this.” She got snickers and muffled laughs. It was hard to blame them. The Operation had been trumpeted as an easy win on an unexpecting and inexperienced enemy. No one saw the war lasting more than a week. Given the numbers that were sent, she had a hard time arguing with it. Even the Devils couldn’t be everywhere. They would lose, though her goal was to make sure they all came back alive.

So she ignored the ignorant and uninformed mocking and carried on with her briefing. “As team leader, I will be breaking you up into four squads to focus on each of the four confirmed Devils. Squad leaders will be directing your individual changes in tactics against each type so listen to them. I want you all to come back alive.”

She got even more laughter and whispering between the team. They had stopped even listening to her. Schir stepped forward to the front of the first row of seats. “Petty Officer Gallian and Petty Officer Yuto, with your apparently vastly superior experience with these enemy types do you have something that you want to include that I’m not?” Suddenly, the room went silent. They didn’t expect her to know any of their names, that alone seemed to rattle them. It quickly shut them up.

However, someone else bolder than the others stood looking to challenge Schir directly since she came out. “What is it Warrant Officer Tekkin?”

“I think you’re overestimating the enemy. The new Bishamon are far more powerful than the Jiao.”

“Warrant Officer, do you know if the armor of the Bishamon can take a direct hit from a mega particle cannon class weapon from a battleship?” He hesitated in a reply. The others stared at him wanting him to put Schir in her place. “Can you and your Skin stay functional when hit with more than eight hundred thousand newtons of force?” The Warrant Officer remained silent. “Let me answer for you, you’re dead.”

Schir walked back to the briefing desk and tapped on the presentation displaying the Bishamon alongside the Black Devil. “Is the Bishamon a superior machine to the Jiao? Yes. However, toe-to-toe with a Devil the Bishamon will lose every time. Even with the thicker armor a glancing blow from any of these machines will destroy you. Victory against these machines can only come with smart and careful planning.”

Walking back to the front line, she addressed them all directly. “You’re all cocky, confident and untested. You think nothing can stop you. But unless there’s someone else in this room that’s actually been to Earth and fought these machines and hasn’t told me, then I suggest you all shut up and actually listen to what I have to say. Because trust me when I say I don’t give a damn what you think or what you believe. The only truth in this room right now is what’s out of my mouth and I will guarantee right now if you leave this room with the mindset you have I will be writing letters to all of your mothers about how you had your heads so far up your asses that you couldn’t even listen to something that could save your life. So if you’re all done thinking you know best, shut up and listen. Because right now, the best pilots are down there on that Hell planet and if you want that title you’re going to have to prove it to me down in Hell!”

She turned away from the stunned silence of the newbies and walked back to the front of the room. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught an approving nod from the Commander. With her backing, she shook off the bit of nervousness that she carried for having laid it on so strongly that she worried she might have crossed the line. But it seemed to have gotten everyone's attention.

A tap on the monitor put the full focus on the Black Devil on the wall. “I’ll be explaining the Skin dubbed the Black Devil.”