NOTE 16

“Need help?” asked Dianka as she entered the tent.

“Sure.”

“So what would you like to change?”

“Reaction time.”

Without saying another word, Dianka sent a request to access the suit in front of them. Alanka looked at her for a moment. She wanted to say something but decided to refrain from doing so and accepted the request.

Liminal armour, that was the name of the suit that appeared right in front of her vision. It did not require external rigging like the exoskeleton suit she used to wear during sparring in the hangar. It was a full bodysuit from top to bottom that provided enhancements to the body’s performance. The only drawback was that the suit had to be customised for a every single wearer which make this armour not the standard equipment for military personnel. Otherwise it could cause injuries such as broken bones to severed body parts in rarer cases.

While continuing to adjust the armour to her liking, she noticed that Dianka occasionally glanced at her. She is been doing it for a long time even when they were still in the academy.

“Is there something wrong?” asked Alanka.

Dianka squealed, and it was surprisingly cute. “N-Nothing.”

“I realised that you kept glancing at me.”

“I-I’m not! I just looking at my vision! Right, just my vision!”

Very unconvincing. “Even in class?”

Her face immediately flushed red. “You noticed?”

Alanka nodded.

“From the very first?”

She nodded again.

Dianka covered her face with her hands. Her mouth was open but no sound came out of it, for a while at least. “Why does she have to be conscious.”

“Because you’re our class president?”

“Why in a questioning tone? Are you unsure of that answer yourself?”

Alanka nodded again. This was the first time the two had spoken to each other like this. Usually the two of them talked more technically like about lessons or other things that related to academy activities.

“Are you worried about me?” asked Alanka.

This time it was Dianka’s turn to nod. “You will go alone to defend against whatever may flank us from the side. Of course I’m worried.”

“I won’t be alone. There are other personnel there.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Other than Alanka, it is certain that the military personnel who will be assisting her are armed with the regular equipment. Some assault rifles, light machine guns, and if were lucky some bazookas and sniper rifles to protect from distance. But she would need more than that if she encountered a large number of automatons.

“What about you?”

“Hm?”

“You and Cakra will invade the factory directly. Just the two of you. Shouldn’t you be more worried about that?”

“That I am,” said Dianka as she resumed typing. “I’m confident that everything will be fine on my side. But not you. I just… Don’t know, I can only feel it in my guts.”

“If something goes wrong, I will retreat to the southern point.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

Her words were met with a smile that was so soft and sweet. For the next few minutes, the two continued adjusting the liminal armour. Somehow, the atmosphere between the two felt more relaxed than ever.

“All done,” said Dianka, looking satisfied. “Well, we’re not completely done yet. But now at least you can wear it. Just stand there and keep your eyes closed.”

Alanka followed her words.

As soon as she stood where Dianka had asked, the pod closed on its own. She could feel it, as her body was slowly wrapped in a material that resembled a wetsuit, tight yet flexible. Slowly it thicken, like bread rising in an oven yet she didn’t feel any heat. It cover her from her feet to the top of her neck. And then the capsule opened once again.

“Any discomfort?” asked Dianka.

Alanka tried to move her body. “No.”

“Now, can you switch on the liminal mode? You can do it by voice. Just say liminal, on.”

“Liminal, on.” Immediately she could feel the armour tightening. “No discomfort either. Can you pass me my sword?”

The sword was still in its scabbard, never taken out expect for maintenance.

“Maidengard signature,” said Dianka admiring it and give it to her.

“Is there anything else I need?”

“Of course! It’s not just because you’re wearing that armour that everything is done and ready to go. You still need other supplies! Ammunition! Spare knives!”

“I’ll be in your care.”

She arrived at the designated place with personnel from the southern point, right at the southernmost point of the Krakatau reservoir. As she waiting, she continued to gaze at the reservoir, imagining Dianka and Cakra who would pass through it to reach the secret factory without being noticed or needing to fight. But at the moment, there was nothing on it, only calm water.

“Soy sauce!”

“Crane!” replied Alanka.

After hearing the reply, a number of peoples came out of their hiding places. Three mans and one woman and they approached her swiftly. As soon as they were in front of her, they exchanged salutes.

“Alanka from class thirteen, reporting for duty.”

“Private Maharani

“Private Eja Prasetyo.”

“Corporal Tasdik Simanjuntak”

“Sergeant Timuk Tapanuli.” After he lowered his hand, everyone else followed. “It’s an honour to meet you, Maidengard.”

“The honour is all mine, sergeant.”

“So, do you have any plans other than to stand our ground to the last drop of blood?”

She nodded. Alanka took a moment to look at the weapons they were carrying. Three assault rifles with one of them was mounted with a grenade launcher and a light machine gun. “To be honest sir, I thought there would be more than one team being dispatched.”

“That’s the problem. Currently the southern point is also short of personnel, although not as bad as the north.”

Just like Kertanegara said. However, Alanka had prepared everything even though she was the only one there.

Their gathering place was a former plantation, there was no place to cover or hide other than the bushes. They were more or less in an open field and she could imagine that none of the team members in front of her would want to fight with the automatons out here.

Or at least without someone to attract the attention of those automatons.