Chapter Twenty-Three - Tuesday IV - 応答 AKA Response

Clouds drifted by as the sun lingered high in the sky on the day following the incident which significantly weakened the captain. The other three women who resided in the seaside hangar remained busy nonetheless.

The woman with rose-coloured highlights kept busy for almost the entire night and morning since the recovery began; reading and keeping a close watch on her partner. She even made a sincere effort to keep her own sleeping light (with regular alarms), in case the ailing captain needed anything or ran into trouble overnight. On the few occasions where Renka briefly awoke from her rest and recovery, Kasumi would scamper off to fetch water or make whatever meal was requested. Mercifully, Renka had recovered enough strength to sit up in bed and feed herself somewhere along the line in the morning.

The woman with green eyes regularly visited as well, checking on her pulse and less regularly, taking small blood samples. When not monitoring the captain’s condition, she spent almost the entire time rapidly tapping away at the keyboard and swiping away at the screen of her laptop.

The woman with purple hair ends regularly visited the captain as well, though somewhat frustratingly, had little to do when she did, aside from manage the worry and deep irritation that welled within her whenever she gazed upon the captain in her weakened state. When not visiting the captain, she remained busy with fitness and other training exercises, as well as maintaining Subaru’s batteries and varying her patrol routes from time to time.

‘Uwah; did you really have to do that while I have the knife in my hand?’ Not that I don’t enjoy you cuddling me from behind, but it is kinda inconvenient and dangerous right now.

‘Have to? No. Wanted to? Yes.’

Nuzzling as well? If Rose comes out, we are so dead. ‘Easy there, Hon; I thought we agreed that we’d at least try to behave ourselves until the captain’s walking around and in good spirits again. I know it makes me sound like a wet blanket; just bear it for now, please.

‘Speaking of, how’s she doing?’ You can let go now, you know…

After reluctantly releasing Hikari from within the grip she had around her waist, Tsubaki turned and leaned her bottom against the worktop beside her black and purple–haired partner. Turning her head, to face Hikari, ‘She’s recovering well; her pulse is returning to normal, along with the constitution of her blood, which is encouraging. It may still be a few days before she’s back to normal though. I think she’s agreed with Kasumi on a high-protein diet to aid in that process,’ she answered.

‘That’s good to hear. How are you getting on with the other thing?’

‘I’ve found a suitable candidate, so we’ll be ready to go as soon as the captain’s back on her feet.’

‘Great; I do love a good round of getting even.’ Her voice retreating from the fairly serious tone, she added with a little smile, ‘Seeing as I’m making myself something to eat for lunch, is there anything you’d like?’

With a slight narrowing of her eyes and playful smile, her lips parted, but her imminent response was prevented.

‘Nope; I’m not on the menu. Currently unavailable, unfortunately.’ After watching Tsubaki’s expression deflate, she lifted a hand to the doctor’s cheek and gently stroked. ‘I’ll let you know when the menu changes and then you can take as long as you like with satisfying that wild appetite of yours, okay Hon?’ she warmly asked, with a playful smile.

❀

As the sun had sunk and sat near to the horizon of that same day, both Tsubaki and Hikari abruptly cut away from the focus that they had built up in the kitchen area, while chopping various vegetables and tofu pieces.

‘Uwahh; have I died and been transported to some alternate reality or is Sensei really wearing a digital camo skirt?’

‘I’m glad to see that you’re up and about, Captain.’

‘With the dark green nails, eyeliner and hair ribbons, you’re definitely killing it, Sensei.’ Something must be wrong or I’m imagining things, because I’m almost certain her middle and ring fingers are painted iridescent, shifting from dark green to purple depending on the viewing angle. Way to go, Kitten; we’ve got ourselves a fully-committed one here, heh…

I should take that as a compliment, but it’s really hard to, when your voice is so feeble and your smile has nothing like the usual warmth and pep, Captain. Though, again, I’m glad that you’re up and about, truly. ‘Um, thanks.’

Oof, Cap; just nonchalantly saying how I feel. Now I know how you felt last Thursday, during the aquatic operation. I’ve been struggling to manage the desire to jump on our dear doctor or to dive into that new skirt of hers ever since she emerged from the bedroom looking like she means business…

‘It’s all good and well that you’re up, Captain, but how are you feeling?’ Tsubaki firmly quizzed.

‘Well, my insides no longer feel like they’re verging on tearing themselves apart in polar opposite directions. Despite having slept for ages, the urge to go back to sleep is very strong; my muscles aren’t particularly happy about even having to walk from the bedroom to here.’

‘Shit! Do you need help getting back there?’ Hikari blurted.

‘Please, Kitten,’ Renka dismissed, along with a shooing wave. ‘You should already know that I’m too stubborn for that even if my resilience is compromised.’

With a playful smile, Hikari suggested, with a measured tone, ‘I take it you wouldn’t mind coming with us on a little outing tonight then? We did our homework while you were resting and we think you’ll enjoy it. Don’t worry; we’ve made appropriate arrangements so that we won’t be disrupting your recovery schedule too much.’

‘Don’t tell you’re planning to?’

Hikari turned away from the worktop, to wholly face the captain, ‘Yes, we are. We’re agreed that the time’s come. Two ops, two days (not necessarily consecutive though); one hardware and one software, we’ll fill you in on the way. If you’ll approve our timing, we’d like to commence at 1930 hours.’

‘How can I refuse when you ask so nicely, Kitten, heh. Your operation is hereby approved.’

‘Thank you. Out of curiosity; where’s Kasumi?’

‘Ehhh?? You two are on a first name basis now?’

‘That angst had to get squashed at some point, or it would have gotten one or potentially all of us killed. Thankfully, it’s behind us now. I might still call her Rose, but it’d probably not have the previous harsh edge to it.’

‘Just how did I miss while I was busy dying? Don’t even answer that, please. Dear Kasumi’s taking a well-earned nap; she was awake every time that I spluttered back into life last night through to this morning. I get the feeling I’m headed straight for a pretty severe telling-off whenever I get back to normal, heh.’

‘Oh, I’m certain of it, Cap, and not just from her,’ Hikari remarked with a harsh tone and glare. ‘I promise you; it’s better you don’t ask. Just be thankful I found that artefact of yours before your girlfriend did,’ Hikari concluded with a teasing smile.

Ah fuck. My thoughts have been such a wayward jumble that I haven’t even thought about it. I’ve really caused a lot of trouble for everybody, huh? ‘Thank you, Koneko. I’d already thanked Kasumi and Sensei but not you, until now,’ Renka meekly offered, with an apologetic frown.

‘Heh; what are you thanking me for, exactly?’

‘I don’t know, Kitten. I was hoping you’d fill me in on the embarrassing details at a point where I have enough energy to properly cringe at the details.’

‘Now that is an idea I can get behind, Cap,’ Hikari concluded, with a slightly playful smile.

❀

As a roughly half-moon dominated the areas of the dark skies not covered by clusters of clouds drifting by, three women sat at a roadside, in an armed AWD electric-powered buggy; an LSV-28. Their steely blue-eyed member stood slightly behind the second row of seats, resting her hands on the M2HB HMG mounted to the vehicle’s roof plate.

A big warehouse; it’s like we’re heading back to where we started, with that gang raid almost three weeks ago. Unlike then, I’ll have no qualms about lethality and no doubts about what I feel for you, Renka.

Resting in her seat, the captain broke the silence lingering between the women. ‘So, uh, forgive me if I’m somehow mistaken here, but aren’t we ready to go?’

‘You know how we mentioned some extra arrangements earlier on, to ease your workload?’

With narrowed eyes and a curious tone, Renka slowly replied, ‘Yes…’

‘Well, they’re still yet to arrive. We did arrive a bit early, so they should be here within the next five minutes or so.’

Following a short while, where the rustling of the trees provided the main backing sounds for the scene, Hikari perked up in her seat. Oo; now that’s an interesting sound… With the cars we’ve seen over the past few weeks, I’d have been disappointed if we didn’t come across at least one model with those quirky engines from that brand.

As the light roaring in the distance grew louder and drew alongside the LSV, Hikari turned her head, to inspect the source of the sound.

Hmm? Colour me impressed, ladies. An SA22C RX-7 Turbo. The Watanabe wheels are a nice touch as well. I swear the track’s been widened slightly as well; the wheel fitment seems cleaner than the factory setup.

Within half a minute, the two women occupants emerged from the car; each with cherry-red streaks in their hair, on opposing sides.

Hikari hopped away from the driver’s seat of the LSV and issued a friendly smile and wave, ‘Although I should be, I’m kinda not even surprised, Aki; I knew you had exquisite taste.’

As the pair crossed the roadway, to the former occupants of the LSV, Aki’s eyes drew immediately in the direction of Tsubaki. Uwah; sorry Hikari, it’s hard to ignore the fact that your doctor has evolved. I mean; she’s rocking the look well, like really well, but what the hell happened?? With a playful accusatory tone, ‘Ha! I could say the same about you and this wild armed buggy-type thing that you’ve got here. Where’d you steal it from?’

‘The same assclowns that we’re about to have a party with. Where’d you get that collector’s item from?’

Still wearing her hair in twin ponytails, her sister chimed in as the pair issued their customary greeting hugs, ‘It was a gift from our grandfather. He no longer drives much and grew particularly weary of having to deal with the apex seals every so often, so he left it for us.’

‘Ah, yeah; rotary apex seals can be a bitch. Tsubaki doesn’t like me going on for ages about cars, so I’ll pass on my Wankel engine wisdom later on.’

‘Sounds good.’

‘So, this was your surprise?’ Renka asked, with as playful a tone as she could manage, eyeing the SCAR-SC and M32A1 that sat in Aki and Saki’s hands respectively.

Hikari moved from her own group, to stand between the two sisters and after a twirl and lightly nudging Aki with an elbow, the short-haired sister replied. ‘Yeah; Hikari told us what happened to you, so, naturally we were pretty excited when she invited us to join for you a round of fucking over the guys that threatened to tear our village apart and left you in that sorry state that you’re in now. We hope you get well soon by the way; feels weird not seeing you looking like and carrying the air of a powerful female warrior.’

‘Aww, please; you’ll make me blush. I’m nothing special, heh.’

‘If that were true, we wouldn’t be meeting here like this, Captain,’ Saki firmly replied, with a friendly smile.

‘Hear, hear,’ Hikari warmly remarked. Phasing to a more serious tone, she introduced, ‘Sooo, three of us already have the game plan, but for the twins and our dear captain, we’ll go over it once more.

‘This particular strike is fairly simple; primary target here is as many crates of ammunition as you can get hold of. Given the level of alert and the amount of time it’ll take us to depart, we ideally don’t want to spend more than eight to ten minutes in there; both engaging our enemy and securing the ammunition.

‘From what I’ve seen of these guys before, PE4 is pretty common among their weapons shipments, so I’ll be using them to set up a little light show for when we leave.

‘Tsubaki and Sayaka will be scouts.

‘Kasumi, Aki and Saki will be our strike team.

‘Renka will be our evac.

‘I’ll be a mixture of scout and support; putting targets into your sights and then scampering off to find and set up the PE4 charges and remote detonator.

‘Most of the roles are straightforward, though if I could make one request; at least one of you strike team members escorts Tsubaki at all times in there. Under normal circumstances that’d be my role, but we’re not operating under normal circumstances tonight.

‘As for you, Cap, if our research is accurate, then you’ll know what to do once you drive around the back. We’ll help you with hauling away the HMG once you’ve dismounted it from the LSV, so you needn’t overexert yourself with it. Also, if our allies are comfortable with handing you the keys, bringing their car around the back would also be helpful.

‘Are we all clear?’

‘Yes!’ the women all enthusiastically exclaimed.

‘Good; now let’s show them exactly what we think of messing with our homes and the people we hold dear.’

After a brief period spent slipping on armour vests and other protective equipment as well as checking weapons, Hikari turned to Renka, inviting, ‘It looks like they have the same automated turrets with cameras and motion sensors; do you think you could remove them from the equation?’

‘As much as I’d love to get the party started, I don’t think my aim’ll be steady enough to hit that small a target almost a hundred metres away in this current state. Kasumi, dear,’ Renka invited, with pleading eyes, holding out her MP5SD. ‘You’re a pretty sharp shot, so I know you can do it. I cleaned her out on the weekend and only put about forty rounds through her on Monday, so she’ll be cool with you using her when you infiltrate as well,’ Renka advised with a warm smile.

After taking the SMG from the captain, Kasumi’s mind raced, while she lifted the weapon and set her cheek against the extended stock railing. While using my own weapons or the ones that we picked up along the way doesn’t really make me feel anything when using them, using this makes me immensely tense. Not even so much the pressure of making a shot using ammunition that I’m not used to, but the fact that it’s Renka’s go-to; I can imagine how disappointed she would be if any shot isn’t dead on target…

After a few seconds spent staring down the AEMS reflex sight, Kasumi pulled the trigger and with a quiet snap and small cloud of smoke ejected from the gun’s muzzle port and right-hand side, along with a spent case, a 9mm round sped towards the first turret lens.

On impact, the toughened glass component emitted a dull crack. One down three to go, at least the motion sensors are a bigger target to aim for.

Roughly five–eight seconds apart, the SMG sent three more 9mm rounds hurtling towards the turret sensors from the end of its suppressed barrel. That’s a major relief; any longer and I might have started sweating, Kasumi concluded, as she relaxed her shoulders and legs, before lowering the weapon.

‘See? I knew you could do it; your accuracy is one of the many things that I love about you,’ Renka gently offered, with a friendly smile. Living up to the mighty huntress reputation that you’ve built for yourself, heh

‘Alright, I guess we’re heading in,’ Hikari loudly informed, whilst eyeing Tsubaki.

‘Okay, Sayaka. Could you please follow Hikari until you reach the warehouse? Target distance of 1.5 metres. Once you’re in there, please scan the layout and give me a map, oriented so that the main entrance forms the bottom edge.’

The two sisters eyed the doctor, eyebrows furrowed in mild confusion, as the whirring of small rotor blades from the LSV’s load bed grew in volume.

‘Oh, yeah; we have AI-powered drones now, heh. Tsubaki here isn’t just a medical whiz; she’s also a master of AI and compact electronics,’ Hikari advised, with an admiring smile.

‘Ehh?’ the pair waywardly remarked, as their eyes tracked the quadcopter while it followed Hikari as she briskly made her way through the gap in the concrete walls which would normally be guarded by the automated turrets.

Within ten seconds, Hikari had arrived at the warehouse and pressed herself against an outside wall, next to the large opening at its front. Exactly as the research suggested; roughly fifty or sixty metre by twenty-five metre floor area to this warehouse. Well; they are at least consistent; grey and black light armoured combat outfits, but no helmets or masks though, which makes life so much easier for the shuriken and I… No need to worry about being subtle, so I’ll get started with a clown who has a partner that can alert everybody…

‘Sayaka’s got the place mapped out, Hikari, so we’ll be arriving soon.’

‘Be prepared to fire, strike team; they’re all armed with PDWs and SBRs.’

‘Understood!’

With little delay, Hikari slung one of her metal flowers through the shelving-filled warehouse, its petals rapidly spinning as it rushed towards the head of one of the armed men calmly patrolling the ground level with a PS90 in his hands.

‘Fuck! We’re under atta—! Urgh.’

Have fun with that; I’ve seen what those arrows do to people and it’s not pretty. Way to announce yourself, Rose. Oh, nice; Tsubaki’s protection is active as well now. Let the games—

The rattle of bursts of 7.62x35mm ammunition rang out, along with the odd occasional heavier crack. Heh; the G28 is having an outing as well and judging from the way that guy on the mezzanine just got slumped, Saki’s had a decent bit of practise…

As arrows intermittently whizzed into the warehouse, Tsubaki and the twins carefully proceeded through the aisles, with Aki pointing her SCAR-SC forward and Saki pointing the G28 rearward. Hikari scampered away from the wild flurry of blasts and clouds of white smoke that dominated the left two-thirds of the warehouse and quickly set about opening crates.

While the warehouse had erupted into a storm of loud bangs and rising wisps of hot smoke, Renka fairly peacefully made her way around the large metal building in the LSV. As she rounded the building her eyes immediately fixed on one area in particular as she slowed the vehicle to a stop.

‘That Kitten, “We think you’ll enjoy it,” she said. Talk about an understatement.’ We’re escaping in a CH-53 Sea Stallion! I’d better hurry up and bring the twins’ car around and get it ready for lifting… “Ease my workload” they said; ten minutes to get the car ready for airlifting, to unbolt the HMG and prep a heavy-lift helicopter for take-off; simple stuff, right?... Renka internally jested, as she hopped out of the LSV’s driver seat before scurrying back toward the RX-7.

Within a couple minutes, the warehouse fell silent, aside from the pained groans and stutters of wildly convulsing operators who thrashed about on the floor with arrows sticking from various limbs.

‘I’ve got a crate of HE 40mm grenades here.’

‘I’ve got a crate with lots of cases of 300 Blackout ammo.’

‘I’ve got a crate with lots of 7.62 NATO rounds. We still need to find 9x19, 5.56 NATO, 50 BMG and 45 ACP though,’ Kasumi informed.

Glad to know you’re all having great luck; I still can’t find any PE4… At this rate we’ll have to use some of those— Ah, never mind; bingo was her name, o, or something like that…

After five minutes of the strike team and Tsubaki searching for the remaining targets. The four women paired up, to haul them out to where the large helicopter sat parked, with the small rotary-powered coupe nearby.

Only half diverting her eyes away from the HMG’s mounting platform, Renka advised and commanded, ‘I found some six-ton lifting straps. Could you please run them along the car’s width, under the wheel wells, in the gaps closest to the car’s centre. Kasumi dear, if you could help me with the last of these bolts, we can haul this thing off in maybe a minute or so.’

Within a couple of minutes, Tsubaki’s eyes were pulled away from spectating the four women as they worked away. ‘All of the fireworks are set, so maybe we should start loading up the loot?’

‘Sure.’

What a transformation; two days ago, you’d get stroppy for literally anything and now you’re arguably as calm as the rest of us in the face of a shitstorm. I dearly hope you’re not falling into the same darkness that’s claimed the rest of us, Hon…

After another few minutes had passed, all of the crates had been loaded into the helicopter, along with the dismounted M2HB and Sayaka, closely followed by them all being strapped to the floor.

‘If you could all form a line; please,’ Renka instructed, motioning with her hands for the women to arrange themselves near to one of the helicopter’s side openings. ‘A few ground rules from your pilot.

‘Rule number one; please remain strapped in at all times that the aircraft is not on the ground. I really don’t want to see or hear about anybody flying around inside or worse still through the air, because somebody forgot to secure themselves. Is that understood?’

Renka glared at the five women, eyeing them closely as they nodded and confirmed with a shout of, ‘Understood, Captain!’

‘Rule number two; no wildfire. There’s a very high chance that we’ll be engaged from the ground as well as the air. Trust me; shooting with the effects of strong winds is far more difficult than it looks, so unless you’re 110% sure that shot will land on its intended target, keep your fingers outside the trigger guards.

‘Rule number three; keep your ear protection on at all times while the rotors are spinning; sounds obvious and you’re already wearing the combat ear protection and radios, I know, but it can be pretty problematic if you remove them before the rotors have stopped spinning and the engines have turned off.

‘With that out of the way, feel free to climb aboard; we should be departing in a few minutes. Sensei; you’re riding up at the flight deck with me, Koneko, you’ll be staying toward the front as well, as I’ll also need something special from you. Kasumi, dear, I’m counting on you to get our esteemed guests’ car hooked up, so you’ll be joining us last. Let’s get going.’

‘Uwah; even in that depleted state, she’s still quite the image of power and determination,’ Aki remarked, as she trailed close behind Hikari.

After the four initial passengers strapped themselves in, Renka turned a key and flicked a variety of switches on the flight deck in front of her and on the control panel that lingered above her head. Over the course of two minutes, the helicopter went from silent, to emitting the rough growl of the turboshaft engine, to having the all-encompassing heavy repeating sound of the main five rotor blades chopping through the air.

After the passing of another minute, the large aircraft ascended from the concrete surface and hovered a few metres away from the ground, edging its way over to a short-haired woman who stood on the car’s roof, holding together the two straps which wrapped the coupe.

After carefully wrapping the end of the straps around the cargo hook and locking the hook retainer, Kasumi shouted, ‘The load is secure,’ almost breaking away from her usual level tone of voice.

‘No auto-rappelling unfortunately, but you can climb a rope from the rear, right?’ Renka playfully challenged.

The two sisters, who sat on the helicopter’s partly-opened rear door, slung a rope down for the black and pink-haired woman waiting below.

After hauling herself aboard, using a standing climb technique to ascend the rope, Kasumi strapped herself to one of the internal mounting points above the opening on the right-hand side just behind the cockpit. With her legs dangling from the side, ‘I’m ready,’ she loudly confirmed, beneath the dominant sound of the helicopter’s main rotors.

Within seconds, the pace of the repeating sound increased and the helicopter steadily rose further from the ground, accompanied by a swaying mid-80’s sports car directly beneath it. Now for the fun part; keeping the car from striking anything while also staying low enough to avoid getting picked up by the ASDF, which will almost certainly mean that we’ll probably get picked up by the police instead…

A loud blast threatened to shake Renka’s focus as the helicopter rose to roughly fifty metres above ground level. I’m guessing that huge yellow flash of light was a big pile of ammo and whatnot going up in a merciless fireball. That’s very you, Kitten, heh. We should probably get moving before thick grey plumes start to rise and mess with the engines…

‘So, um, Sensei, I imagine we’ll have ourselves some pursuers sometime soon, I know that using your ability is pretty draining, but do you think you could amplify it, to stop heavy AA rounds?’

‘Well, I have started working on my fitness with Hikari in the mornings.’ Not like that, Captain. Ugh; even in a recovering state you’ve still got the wherewithal to be childish while piloting a helicopter that’s transporting a car. ‘It probably won’t count for much right now, but I am trying to increase the fields’ effectiveness.’

‘That’s good to hear. We don’t need protection right now, so save your energy for now. As for you, Kitten; how good are you with infrared radiation?’ We do have an AN/ALQ-157M system on-board, to handle IR-guided missiles, but that only helps with one of our IR-related problems…

‘It’s still pretty difficult, given the high frequency, but I have been practising with it ever since we started planning this op. I’m guessing you want cloaking from thermal surveillance as well as visible light?’ I guess we know who wasn’t paying attention to that part where I held Tsubaki’s hands and turned her field pink then… Then again, you are pretty busy right now, I guess.

‘Bingo!’

‘Strike team; because there’s a lower chance of hitting tall structures, I’ll be taking us out the coast as soon as it’s convenient. If you want to practise shooting in windy conditions, then I have no issue with you doing so if the seas are open. Just be mindful that burning aircraft wreckages, like any other forms of pollution, will have an effect on the marine ecosystem.’

‘Understood!’

After fifteen minutes and a bit over fifty kilometres of steady flight at bearing 154, Renka assessed the team’s progress. Surprisingly quiet so far; would it be too wishful to think that we’ll make it home without an air battle? At least we’re leaving land now, to within reach of the MSDF…

After almost another twenty minutes of peaceful flight, the team and their helicopter rounded one of the island’s south coast lighthouses.

‘Um, Renka; we have a bit of a problem,’ Kasumi loudly informed, lifting the TPR and resting her cheek against the stock’s upper pad. After twisting the magnification selection element of the scope’s body, she continued, ‘Five RHIBs. Grey and black-schemed armoured operators with balaclavas, assault rifles and a couple of them have rocket launchers.’

‘Yep; I figured they’d turn up eventually. Strike team; feel free to send them our regards.’ Surely, I don’t need to tell them to get rid of the rocket launchers first? Preparing things at that warehouse and flying this helicopter spares me absolutely no physical strength to transpose any thermal energy, which could have easily dealt with those rocket launchers. Sorry ladies…

Partly lost in the blustering of the rushing winds, the seas below filled with the rattle of automatic 5.56 calibre gunfire.

Aki turned to face Saki, sitting beside her on the rear loading ramp of the helicopter. ‘I guess it’s your time to shine, Sis. You’re a better shot than I am and that launcher of yours is definitely our best solution right now.’

‘If you say so, Sis,’ Saki quietly replied, forcing a small smile. Although using this thing requires a quirky aiming method, I’m not too sure about using it in windy conditions. Then again, with so many of them fairly bunched up, I guess perfect accuracy isn’t absolutely necessary…

With little delay, Saki raised the launcher from her lap. Whilst settling the stock against her shoulder, she peered down the barrel of the reflex sight, at the red quadrant mark.

Peering down, to the water’s surface, Saki considered, Here’s hoping that my estimate of the windage isn’t too far off…

With a light and sharp clank, along with an instantly dissipated cloud of white smoke from the launcher’s muzzle, a small, gold-tipped M381 charge commenced its arcing journey through the night sky.

In under a second, a loud blast and a huge fireball brightly illuminated the seas.

Saki flashed a little wry smile. Direct hit; that should please the captain…

Added bonus that it managed to set a second boat alight as well. Two fiery boat wreckages, towers of dark grey smoke and some swimming enemies… Three left and they’re diverging, so there’s no time to lose…

Within the space of a few seconds, Saki sent a second, third, fourth and fifth grenade towards the erratically-arcing and scattering boats below.

While two of the projectiles resulted in columns of water being thrusted towards the skies, the latter two each resulted in grey and slightly orange balls of flames erupting, along with one or two of the armed men shouting and diving away into the waters.

Kasumi’s eyes closely fixed on one particular spot below and she quickly raised her TPR so that she could study the scene through the 3-27x56 PM II High Power scope. The last one’s back on my side and it looks like they’re getting ready to step things up…

Her grip tightened around the rifle’s pistol grip and the nearby section of the handguard.

After a few seconds spent silently focused, Kasumi’s right index finger slowly rested against the trigger and soon after, a sharp pull, forceful jolt and muffled snap sent a 7.62 NATO round tearing through the windy sea air.

Almost instantly, a thunderous boom and large fireball lit up the area of the sea where the last boat had been speeding along.

Looking forward in the cabin, to the side door, Aki questioned, with eyes narrowed, ‘How’d you manage to blow up a boat with a single shot? Did you pick up some special ammo from that warehouse or somethin’?’

‘No; I just aimed for the trigger cap on the grenade’s nose.’

‘Uwah,’ both sisters waywardly replied, eyes wide with amazement.

And that’s (part of) why I love you, dear Kasumi. Bustling winds, over a hundred metres out at night and you still managed to have their RPG-7 charge work in our favour, Renka internally remarked, with a pleased smile, as the seas below the helicopter returned to a peaceful state. Feel free to pay us a visit, any of you who survived. I’m sure Subaru will be happy to accommodate you…

After a bit over ten more minutes, the women rounded the lighthouse which sat less than a kilometre away from the hangar which they temporarily called home.

As the helicopter slowed, to hover in place roughly fifteen metres away from the hangar, Renka enquired, ‘Um, Kasumi, dear, can I request another favour?’ Oh, hey, Subaru. Have you missed us? I would wave, but my hands are kinda occupied right now, sorry.

‘Always.’

‘Could you head down and help me put the car down gently?’

Without audible response, she turned in the doorway and pushed herself out using the balls of her feet, with Hikari helping lower her to the welcoming tarmac surface of the runway.

Once the car had been safely disconnected from the helicopter, Renka questioned, ‘Do you two want to head home now or stick around for the second part of tonight’s operation?’

‘We’re sticking around, Captain. There’s no way we’d miss out on the opportunity to watch those scummy bastards suffer,’ Aki firmly replied. ‘Besides; you’re gonna need some explosives, surely?’

‘True; some explosives would definitely liven up the party.’ And also increase the chances that we all get killed in a wild fiery blast, given that the target’s highly flammable… ‘Hopefully we’ll be done in a couple of hours and you’re welcome to sleepover with us, seeing as we only need two of the four beds now,’ Renka concluded, with a small playful smile.

❀

Without stopping to rest, the women and their newly-acquired heavy-lift helicopter briskly made their way east across the open seas and night sky, relying heavily on Hikari’s ability to manipulate the visible light and infrared signatures given to any outside observers.

We’re not doing too bad for fuel; still a quarter of the supply left. Unfortunately, I get the feeling our star infrared countermeasure will start looking like me on the way back home; a physically-spent, sorry excuse for a lesbian combatant. The SDF haven’t shown up, which is great, but I can only imagine that she’ll have no strength or energy left soon; she’s been at it for over a hundred minutes now[… ‘We’re coming up to the second target now, ladies, so be prepared. Presume that any and everything can and will probably explode if shot. Sensei and Kitten, you’re sticking with me while the other three remain on strike duty.

‘If you could get Sayaka to scout again and let us know where the jet fuel tanks are, that’d be great.

‘As for you, Kitten; I want you to get whatever little rest you can in the small space of time that it takes for us to get what we came for. Are we all clear?’

‘Understood!’ the remaining five women gaily replied.

The air of mischief that ran through the helicopter’s interior soon disappeared, sharply replaced by intense focus. As bullets rushed up from the ground below, Tsubaki commanded, ‘Sayaka, could you please head down to the storage facility and provide me a map of the site, highlighting any hostile enemy presences. You’re free to investigate the area within the boundary walls as you see fit.’

Less than a few seconds later, both Aki and Saki ducked, while the whirring quadcopter sped over their heads and out of the helicopter’s rear. A faint green glow surrounding it as it speedily descended.

‘Looks like we get to use more of these CSS pricks for target practise, huh, Sis?’

‘Looks like it,’ Saki replied, as she raised the G28 and set it in place with the stock against her right shoulder and her right eye peering down the 3-20x50 PM II scope.

While she steadily swayed the weapon, beside her, her sister’s SCAR-SC regularly snapped away and puffed smoke along with chucking spent cases from its ejector port. And so they fall; it helps so much that we don’t have to duck for cover and can simply stay aiming without worry. Shout and get mad all you like, fellas; I can’t hear any of it, thanks to the heli.

At the first instance of Aki pressing her trigger and getting nothing other than a mocking click, Saki sent her first bullet hurtling down toward the fuel depot, with a sharp jolt from the DMR. Yeah; there’s definitely no coming back from that. I don’t think anybody could survive a heavy bullet to the head like that. And now they’re running for cover; wusses… she internally remarked, with a disapproving frown.

‘Permission to go to ground?’ Kasumi requested, while surveying her arrow pouch. Fifteen freshly-prepared and ready to go.

‘Granted. Please give her a hand, Koneko.’

After securing herself to the helicopter’s interior, Hikari handed Kasumi one end of the rope. With a playful smile, she encouraged, ‘Have enough fun for all three of us down there,’ prompting a nod and small friendly smile.

As she extended the rope and steadily lowered the black and pink-haired woman to the ground bit by bit, Hikari internally commented whilst lightly grimacing and subduing small strained grunts. Shit, no wonder you hit so hard and can belt out those crushingly powerful sound blasts Rose…

Once her knee-length boots hovered a short distance above the floor, Kasumi released her grip and instantly collected her bow from her back, along with an arrow.

She carefully and quickly advanced through the rows of the site lined with large metal tanks with her longbow held up in her left hand, with an arrow resting against the index finger and its tail gripped in her right hand, against the bowstring.

With Sayaka and Tsubaki’s guidance, Kasumi quietly advanced through the site and with rapidly-fired arrows, she reduced the intermittent gunfire which came from various areas of the yard. Her tour of the space also included using the element of surprise to strike the armed men who cowered, crouched and pressed themselves against low walls or tanks, to escape the bursts and single shots which rained down from the rear of the CH-53D which lingered above.

‘The area’s clear now, Kasumi, understood?’ Tsubaki asked with a chirpy tone, over the radio.

‘Understood.’

‘If you head back and collect the straps, we can pick up our primary target. No need to rush though; the captain’s landing, so that she can refuel the helicopter first.’

During the fifteen minutes or so which Renka spent refilling the on-board fuel tanks of the CH-53, the two sisters spent the time mostly refilling Aki’s spent magazines with the ammunition taken from the supplies warehouse. While the two sisters crammed 7.62x35 cartridges into a number of box magazines, Hikari and Tsubaki agreed on quietly resting. Meanwhile, Kasumi spent most of the time threading the lifting straps through the channels of the outermost stabilising ribs at the base of one of the oval cross-sectioned fuel tanks. Six thousand litres; at least if it blows up and we all die, we’ll be going out spectacularly, I guess…

After finishing with the tank, the black and pink-haired woman reconvened with Renka, asking, ‘How much would you be willing to bet we don’t make it home without more trouble?’

‘Oh. Um, I’d be willing to bet a week’s worth of bedroom fun with you on us getting caught in a shitstorm on the way back. After tonight, CSS are going to have some pretty embarrassing questions to answer if we make it home alive.’ After pausing, using her free hand to clasp one of Kasumi’s and gain her eye contact she continued, as warmly as her still weakened voice would allow, ‘And we’ll have ourselves a pretty special memory to look back on. I know it’s not the same as when it was just us two, but at least we’re still here, together like this.’

After a brief flicking of her eyes from side to side, Kasumi leaned toward Renka and softly pressed her lips against the captain’s.

The captain flinched slightly, wobbling the refuelling hose nozzle.

Ahh… Much like the air you give off, the taste is chilly. It’s more refreshing than harsh though; sort of like a cool breeze on a sweltering summer’s day. Thankfully, in my depleted state my thoughts and heart don’t run as wild, though, now that I mention it, I kinda miss being run ragged by you… After roughly fifteen seconds spent locking lips with Renka, Kasumi retreated and the bespectacled woman asked, ‘Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but why?’

Half turned away, Kasumi calmly replied with a little playful smile, ‘If we’re going for making memories, then making love to you in the middle of a highly-precarious operation to destroy the credibility of a reprehensible private security giant is a pretty good one if you ask me.’ As Renka’s cheeks reddened slightly and silence descended between the pair, Kasumi set off, back toward the fuel tank which had brown lifting straps partly wrapped around it.

I really need to get back to normal fast; not having the strength or energy to react to my emotions or thoughts kinda sucks…

After the CH-53 had been completely refuelled, Renka returned to the helicopter’s cabin, announcing, ‘Final leg now ladies; I hope you’re ready for the worst. If you aren’t then you can at least take comfort in knowing that Sensei looks mildly terrified, heh.’

‘Really, Captain?’ Tsubaki asked with a thoroughly unimpressed tone and similarly condemning glare.

‘Yep. Aww; don’t get all sulky now; your timid nature is a big part of why we love you, Sensei. Isn’t that right, ladies?’ Renka playfully asked.

‘Yes!’ the remaining four women replied.

Ugh; with their giggling, I find it hard to tell if they’re being serious or poking fun at me here.

In short order, the turboshaft engines of the CH-53D whirred into life, soon followed by the domineering heavy repeating sound of the main and tail rotor blades.

Similar to the supplies warehouse, Renka kept the helicopter hovering not far from the ground until the cargo had been connected to the hook which dangled from underside of the helicopter. Once the almost 3m long, 1.6m wide cylindrical container [J2] had its straps pulled up to the central lifting hook and the hook then locked, Hikari hauled Kasumi back into the helicopter’s cabin with the help of the trusty rope, hanging from the helicopter’s side.

Not even twenty metres into the final ~170km journey, a few light clanks from a weapon at the helicopter’s rear preceded an initial series of massive eruptions in the site below. As the site grew distant, the two sisters watched on, with Aki remarking, Have fun trying to explain that one... Watching all of the subsequent explosions and rising fireballs and smoke mushrooms is an added bonus; there’s no way they can hide it. The site’s got enough heavy black smoke rising from it that somebody could probably compare it with a volcanic eruption and its huge ash cloud.

As the rising plumes of black smoke and freshly emerging deep orange fireballs grew distant, Saki questioned, ‘Um, Sis, are you seeing what I’m seeing?’

‘Yep; it looks like this is where the real party starts,’ Aki chortled, with a devious smile. ‘We’ve got a pair of attack helicopters closing in fast, Captain. Permission to fire?’

‘Um, not just yet; if those helicopters are flying about then it’s only a matter of time bef—’ The captain briefly paused, as wild trails of gunfire stormed forward. With trails that wide, I’m almost certain that they aren’t aware of our exact location, though I guess we’ll have to wait and see if the missile warning alarms get triggered to be certain… ‘Yeah; with that trail of, I’m guessing 20mm gunfire, it won’t be lo—,’

Before the captain could continue, Saki hurriedly informed, through the radios. ‘Um, Captain, we have ourselves another problem; a pair of fighter jets are swooping in at ridiculous speeds,’ she nervously advised, with a concerned frown.

‘It’s gonna sound strange, but the arrival of the ASDF actually plays into our hands. So long as we don’t engage either of them, the protection offered by team not-so-useless and the on-board IR jammers should keep us shrouded well enough for the jets to keep their focus on the gunships,’ Renka calmly advised. ‘Alert me as soon as the two helicopters have been wiped out.

‘Understood!’ the two sisters firmly replied, their eyes remaining completely magnetised to the air battle as it rapidly unfolded behind their helicopter and its extremely sensitive cargo.

The skies briefly returned to darkness and fell relatively quiet, as the streams of heavy gunfire ceased.

Two light grey F-35B multirole fighter jets arced through the night skies at speeds that made the three helicopters’ paces look comparatively leisurely.

In under a minute of their being spotted by the two sisters, the pair of fighter jets helped brightly light up the night skies, with the terrifying fuel trails of rockets sent towards the pair of charcoal-coloured AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters.

In reply, the attack helicopters brightened the sky with pops of bright, candelabra-like chaff and IR flares emitted from the rear of their fuselages. In addition to the spray of luminous countermeasures, the helicopters also swayed, dove and climbed through the air very violently, as the fighter jets repeatedly swooped around them.

Less than a minute after the first set of flares and chaff had been deployed, two massive fireballs erupted and lit up the night sky.

‘The helicopters are down!’ Saki hurriedly shouted.

She, her sister and all of the equipment which sat at the helicopter’s rear door were threatened with the prospect of getting dumped out to sea, as the CH-53’s nose sharply rose and abruptly halted the helicopter’s progress, leaving it hovering in place as it settled down.

Uwah; that was one sharp stop. I almost missed the sight of the two fiery wreckages and their trails of thick black smoke hurtling towards the sea, Aki internally remarked, still fidgeting and shuffling about on the partly-opened rear door of the helicopter.

Renka’s mind raced following the sudden manoeuvre, as the F-35Bs continued to menacingly circle the night skies like vultures stalking out vulnerable prey. Now here comes the real test; the Kitten’s abilities are great for covering us from systems that work on the EM spectrum, but the ASDF won’t be fooled so easily. Although I had some pilot training, I never had any exercises which involved cradling the cyclic and delicately rocking it with one hand, along with carefully adjusting the collective whilst also making the most subtle and precise adjustments with the yaw pedals at my feet like this. I barely have the strength and energy to pilot the helicopter, let alone get tense and nervous while waiting to see if the ASDF boys and girls will wipe us out of the sky.

After almost five minutes spent hovering in place, Renka heaved a massive sigh. I guess they finally concluded that there’s nothing to see here, mercifully. A GSDF Ittō rikui getting shot down by the ASDF would be many kinds of problematic… ‘Alright ladies, I hope you enjoyed that little bit of entertainment, because I’m genuinely hoping that the remaining almost 160km of this journey is boring as fuck,’ she jested. Heh; it looks like at this rate, Kasumi and the two sisters will have to haul the rest of us to bed tonight, Renka remarked after glancing left, across to the green-eyed woman in the other pilot’s seat. ‘If you want to swap out with Kasumi for the remainder of the journey, I won’t blame you, Sensei,’ she offered with a friendly smile.

Ugh. Although my strength is almost completely drained, I kind of don’t want to move, given how underpowered your voice is and all that you’ve been through over the past couple of days for us. ‘Well, Kasumi does look in much better shape than either of us, so it’s probably for the best that she takes the co-pilot’s seat,’ Tsubaki conceded with a warm smile.

❀

After almost fifty minutes of continuous flight across the fairly clear, starry night skies and the southern coasts of the island, the medium-lift cargo helicopter and its extremely dangerous cargo slowed.

Not bad; both operations complete before 1am. We still get a decent sleep if we start a bit late in the morning. ‘Um, Kasumi, dear, can I request one last favour for tonight?’

The short-haired woman with rose-coloured highlights nodded and scampered away without a word, requesting Aki’s help with making it to the ground safely.

As she waited for Kasumi to signal her readiness from below, Renka studied the helicopter hold, fixing har gaze specifically on one pair of seats. Heh; it’s just as I’d anticipated; Team no-longer-useless have practically nothing left in the—

‘So, I guess tonight I’ll be the one carrying you to bed,’ Tsubaki weakly teased.

‘Pfft; have you looked in the mirror?’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ the doctor quietly barked, still leaned against the black and pink-haired woman.

‘You look like just making that comment wiped out half of your remaining energy and strength, heh. Alsooo; there’s no way I’m giving up the freedom to laugh at you for all the times I’ve had to carry you, Hon.’

‘Idiot,’ Tsubaki rebuked, feebly drilling a fist into Hikari’s left upper arm.

‘Yet you still have the energy to get all cute and upset, heh. If it makes you feel any better; I think you did great tonight and I’m kinda disappointed that I didn’t get to see you in action with the new look that you’ve been rocking; it must have been pretty hot and awesome to watch.’

‘Thank you, but you’re still an idiot,’ Tsubaki replied, flashing a playful smile.

Warmly and softly, Hikari responded, ‘Well, I’m in perfect company next to you then, aren’t I? That said, I’m willing to compromise and we can both go shoulder-to-shoulder and support each other by keeping our weight central if you think you can still walk…’

I see they still have that angsty energy about them. Never change, you two, please, heh, Renka remarked, as she turned her attention back to the panels of the flight deck in front of her.

Within a couple of minutes, the fuel tank had been safely deposited and the helicopter parked beside the hangar.

‘Should we ask them now, before they go to sleep?’ Aki asked, as she stepped down from the rear door of the CH-53D, onto the tarmac surrounding the hangar.

‘We could, but I think we’ll get better answers when everybody’s full of energy, don’t you agree?’ Saki answered with a playful smile.

‘Yeah. I hope they’re ready for a thorough grilling,’ Aki replied, with a similarly mischievous grin.

Nerd notes

[J1]Around 23:35, presuming constant flight speed of 200 km/h (21:30 + 15 + 55 + 5 + 50) (a route from Nagoya to Shizuoka/ Miho Airfield used as course reference)

[J2]6000000 ÷ (3.1415 × 6400) = 298.424cm (2.98m)