Anomaly Ch. 57 (Patreon)

The portable radio beacon that Itami and the others set up was both familiar and not. The exact model that they had was well over two decades old, and a quick look showed that it was likely to break down at any moment - before he fixed it with a bit of Reinforcement. However, it was clear to everyone there that the radio was specifically chosen because it was at the end of its life cycle.

That had brought more than a few grumbles among the Third Recon team.

Nevertheless, the basic functionalities of the beacon were the same as the ones that Shirou himself had used several times. Particularly when he was going into some remote area that his target had sealed from esoteric communications, but not from the more mundane ones. It happened more often than one would think, especially with the more traditional magi.

In short, it only took five minutes to go from thinking about what the Alnus base was going to think about this to being yelled at for getting involved in a civil war.

“Of all the damned, stupid, moronic things to do, Itami! I am this close to court-martial for this shit!” The one talking was First Lieutenant Akira Yanagida, whom Shirou hadn’t seen in quite a while, owing to their respective responsibilities in Alnus.

That didn’t mean that he didn’t respect the man. It takes a certain state of mind to manage an operation on another world, even if Yanagida was only technically in charge of the day to day operations and not the entire base.

It was also telling just how fucked the situation was that Itami, who had the same rank of First Lieutenant, didn’t even bother arguing with the other man, only wincing at every barb thrown at him.

Thankfully, the dressing down wasn’t to last. After the initial shock, Yanagida immediately started questioning Itami on everything that had happened. Without even consulting Shirou, the man did so, though the Enforcer didn’t hold it against him. Certainly, Shirou found it somewhat rude, but he wasn’t part of their hierarchy so the point was moot.

It was after about half an hour of explanations when Tyuule walked up to them with a furrowed brow.

This entire time she, alongside the other leaders and the rest of the Third Recon team, had been quickly gathering as many supplies as Italica would allow. Granted, it likely wasn’t much due to the present crisis, yet they did so regardless. While they could certainly fight, nobody wanted to do so. The people he had freed were still very much malnourished, and would probably be more of a hindrance than help.

Therefore, their plan was to get out of the city as fast as possible, before they were boxed in by the Imperials. That was the reason why Shirou was here, to talk to the Alnus base and give them a heads up that they were going there, whether they liked it or not.

At least, that was the idea, until Tyuule opened her mouth to talk.

“I believe that these green men can likely deal with the entirety of the Imperial legions as they stand now.”

She was loud enough that Itami paused and turned, eyebrows raised. Shirou was the same, looking at her with confusion.

“What are you on about?” Itami spoke with a hint of caution, “I’m pretty sure that Emiya here could probably deal with your dragon riders and magic guys, but I doubt we can without significant firepower.”

“Normally, I would agree with that assessment. However, the previous battles on Alnus have reduced the number of wyverns and mages significantly.” Tyuule snorted, “From what informants I sent out found,” Shirou frowned. Informants? “The force they’ve sent out does not have a contingent of either, not even any siege equipment. The only two possibilities I have gleaned is either, they are hiding among the infantry, or they don’t have any wyverns or mages to send out.”

“You can’t hide a giant lizard.” Itami offhandedly commented as he brought a hand to his chin, “That doesn’t mean there aren’t any mages though.”

“It does when you realize that Zorzal hates magic, just because he has no talent with it.” Tyuule bluntly stated, “And, taking into account his lack of tactical acumen, I believe that that moron thinks that he only needs sheer numbers in order to overwhelm Italica.”

“Which they won’t, because Italica has walls and they’re just a pure infantry force.” Shirou continued, mind whirring into gear.

Was Zorzal that stupid?

“They’d be sending men to the meat grinder. There’s no way that his officers would just allow that.” Itami waved in front of his face with an air of dismissal, though there was still a hint of contemplation there, “...Is there?”

“All of Zorzal’s officials are likely his yes men.” Tyuule continued as a grim smile came to her face, one that Shirou was certain was tainted with malice, “The people who would have told him ‘no’ are likely currently decorating the spikes on the capital's walls.” Tyuule added, her voice dropping to a silk-thin layer of ice. Shirou grimaced as he remembered that the Princess and her Order had been recalled. He hoped that they were alive.

Itami let out a long, slow breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Through the static-laced speaker of the radio beacon, Yanagida’s voice crackled back, sounding significantly more clinical than he had a moment ago.

“Listen, Itami, I don’t care if Zorzal is a tactical imbecile or the second coming of-!”

Yanagida’s voice was suddenly cut off by a sharp burst of static, followed by the heavy, rhythmic thumping of a chair being moved and the distinct sound of a headset changing hands.

“Lieutenant Itami, Emiya, this is Lieutenant General Hazama.”

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Itami straightened his back, his casual slouch disappearing as his military instincts took over. Shirou, too, felt the weight of the voice coming through the speaker. Hazama sounded calm - terrifyingly so.

“General.” Itami acknowledged, his voice tight.

"Itami, I’ve just been briefed on the current...'complications' of your recon mission." Hazama’s voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it, "The situation regarding the Imperial succession and the shift in leadership at the capital has reached the upper brass. If what this woman says is true - that the force approaching Italica is a pure infantry formation stripped of air support and magical assets - then this has opened a can of worms that a significant portion of the SDF is willing to commit to."

Shirou leaned in closer to the radio as Hazama paused.

"Lieutenant." Hazama continued, his voice echoing slightly through the aging speaker, "If you can confirm that the enemy is indeed operating without air cover or specialized siege units, I am prepared to authorize an immediate dispatch of the Combat Helicopter Unit. We can have birds over Italica before the first gate is even breached."

Shirou exchanged a glance with Itami, then looked at Tyuule. The former Queen of the Warrior Bunnies remained impassive, though her eyes flickered with a calculating interest.

"With all due respect, General," Shirou cut in, his voice level despite the absurdity of the situation, "This is an internal Imperial matter. Up until five minutes ago, the Alnus command was screaming about court-martials for even being in the room. Why the sudden change of heart? Why commit the JSDF to a civil war?"

There was a brief pause on the other end. The hum of the radio static was the only sound in the tense silence of the Italica command room.

"A fair question, Emiya." Hazama’s voice came back, devoid of the political dancing Shirou had expected, "But the legal landscape shifted the moment we received your earlier report via Lieutenant Itami. We are technically still in a state of 'war' with a hostile force that committed an act of terror on Japanese soil. Up until now, we’ve treated the Empire as a centralized state we could eventually negotiate with. But this new regime? This Zorzal?"

The General’s voice hardened.

"You and Itami have both corroborated that this 'Emperor' has not only declared a city we have diplomatic ties with as a rogue state, but more importantly, he has been confirmed to be holding Japanese citizens as slaves.  That changes our mandate from 'observation' to 'rescue and enforcement.' We don't negotiate with terrorists who traffic our people. If Italica is the shield protecting those civilians, then we will reinforce that shield."

"I'm assuming you're referring to Komakado-san and the others." Shirou's eyes drifted over to where the man was helping the others, if only in managing and not in lifting.

"Exactly," Hazama replied, "And whoever this woman is that's providing your intel, tell her if her information is accurate, she’s just given us the tactical opening we need. Without satellites, we’re flying blind on troop movements beyond your immediate vicinity.  If the Empire has truly stripped its front lines of wyverns and mages to satisfy a madman's ego, they’ve just handed us the sky."

Itami leaned over the beacon, his face a mask of professional focus, "General, if I can get eyes on the horizon and confirm the lack of air cover, what's the ROE?"

"If they're flying the flags of the faction holding our citizens, you are cleared to engage if Italica’s perimeter is threatened." Hazama stated firmly, "Yanagida is already screaming at the logistics officers to prep the Hueys and Cobras. Emiya, I’m trusting your 'Structural Analysis' or whatever it is you do to keep those walls standing until the cavalry arrives.  Do not let that city fall."

The radio clicked as Hazama handed the mic back to a stunned Yanagida.

Tyuule, who had been listening in, let out a soft, sharp laugh, "Green men in the sky. Your world certainly has a flair for the dramatic, Hero."

Shirou didn't smile. He looked at the fissured walls of the manor, then back at the radio, "It's not drama, Tyuule. It's logistics. And if the General is serious, Zorzal is about to find out that 'numbers' don't mean much when the air itself starts screaming.”

…

It was almost time.

That was a thought that he had had for many, many times now. In those past instances, he had been wrong, even as he made certain that he wouldn’t be.

No matter.

Certainly, he had made mistakes, owing to his lack of knowledge of the physiology of these beasts, but he was nothing if not adaptable. Already, an army marches thanks to his carefully planted seeds, something that his past self would not have been caught dead with.

Pride.

That was his weakness, even then.

He had thought himself above the petty squabbles of the common man, above the insignificant insects that dared to cross his path. For the most part, he had been proven time and time again. Those gnats had fallen to time, while he continued on.

It was those that broke the mold that became his blind spot.

Every time he was on the cusp of victory, it would be snatched away by some meddlesome brat. The last time, he had thought his goal to be forever out of reach as the vestiges of time ravaged his soul. He had wasted away the years for that, bitterly finding a way to bypass such a fate.

He had not found one.

It had found him.

A whisper of a grander power from beyond the Texture of his world, Divine in origin. Where others would have prostrated themselves and submitted, subservient for a sliver of that power, he would not do so.

That didn’t mean he wouldn’t take that power for himself.

Already, this world beyond his own had slowed down the degradation of his soul to negligible amounts. Already, had he become closer to his goal than he had in all that time in that backwater country. Soon, he  knew he would achieve it, wholly and truly.

For that however, all the variables needed to be accounted for. Even if only to delay them. Prevent them for once more ruining his carefully laid out plan like the bumbling neanderthals that they were. No matter how distasteful it was to work with more of the same inept morons that called themselves the Empire.

Soon.

…