Chapter Text
The year is A.C. 443
It has been years since the fall of the Pacific Federation, and the fires of the Second Calamity still burns.
The world, already once destroyed, now lies fractured and ruined among the inferno caused by a cataclysmic war. Ash rains over the once-peaceful land all throughout the Ring of Fire, unlikely to ever be settled.
But despite all of this, humanity clings to life.
From the end comes a new beginning. A new city of the new era.
“... gang altercation taking place on Fourteenth Street of Janus Quarter. Police are already on the scene but thankfully the situation appears under control. However, as per public safety, the area remains quartered off until further development…”
“... in other news, monitoring stations around the Pacific remain watchful of the weather conditions and seismic activity. Atmospheric Cordium concentration continue to be high especially around the Cascadian coastline…”
“... officials reaching out from New Presidia continue to assure the international community that the so-called rumor of ‘Pax Cascadia’ is not an imperialist intent but baseless fearmongering spurned by Federation sympathizers fearing retaliation for the war 11 years ago. The government of Cascadia however ensures that the independent nation intends to fully commit to the rebuilding of nations, livelihoods, and trust…”
“We’ll be back for more New Eridu news! This has been Ridu Daily...”
From the ceiling mount, the TV continued on with today’s reports, providing background noise for a sleepy rental video store. No customer paid it any mind, informed of nothing they already didn’t know about, and neither did the store’s staff of rotund rabbit-like robot Bangboos that tended to the register and inventory.
For the owners of the small-name video store Random Play, this was just another slow relaxing day in New Eridu.
One of them, a young man with gray hair stepped through the staff room door with a box of tapes in hand. With how quiet and vacant the store was, it didn’t take him long to spot his sister lounging on the store’s cushioned chair, a gaming console busy in her hands.
He chuckled lightly at the sight. “Hey Belle, hard at work or hardly working?”
The blue-haired sister snorted playfully at the joke. “Ha ha, Wise. Finally got the delivery?”
“Yep. Just came in. More volumes of-”
“Hold up. Don’t tell me they’re more documentaries."
Wise coyly glanced aside. “Mmmmaybe. Maybe there’s a nice thriller somewhere. Help me sort them and you’ll find out.”
“Really pulling my leg here, bro.”
Before the siblings could get anywhere, Wise felt his phone buzz. Digging it out from his pocket, he checked his messages only to then stop. Belle picked up on the pause and immediately understood.
“Hey 18, do you mind sorting these for us? We need to check something real quick.”
“Ehn-na!” (“Sure!”) chirped one of the store Bangboo.
Sneaking into the staff room after Wise, Belle made a furtive peek for witnesses before closing the door shut. In the restricted room behind the video store, the siblings passed by rows and shelves of tapes, vinyl records, cassettes, and various antiquated electronics that harkened back to the previous generation. But further beyond that, lay the shared dark secret of the siblings: a terminal festooned with various computer monitors and displays that served as their eyes, ears, and a vast web in cyberspace.
Behind the facade, Wise and Belle were anything but innocuous video store owners and movie aficionados: they were the Proxy “Phaethon”.
“Is it work?” Belle inquired with a serious expression.
Wise nodded. “From one of our contacts. Said they have a job they’d like a ‘professional’ Proxy to handle.”
Out of habit, Belle wondered who it could be from but remembered that the details mattered little. In the new world after Calamity, there were three things that were certain: the volatile but powerful nature of cordium, the assurance and might of the Pacific Federation, and the trickle of mercenary commissions that took advantage of a shaky world. But in the years after Cascadia’s independence that proved to be the unforeseen catalyst in the Federation’s collapse, the world found itself even more shaken, broken, and divided. And in these uncertain times, privately contracted military work blossomed with all manners of commissions and allegiances up for grabs - and for sale.
To Wise and Belle, their first steps on the path of being a Proxy was set in stone 11 years ago. The day an errant spark from across the ocean lit the world on fire, consuming the old capital of Eridu - and their old lives.
Back to the present, Belle changed gears to a more relevant topic. “So what’s the job?”
“It’s a hired hit. A small bandit group has been prowling the trade routes somewhere along the Lai Sea. Normally, armed piracy isn’t anything unusual, but after they seized a loaded cargo ship from the Vision Corporation, they figured it was about time to take care of them. Our contact said the pay’s very good; first come first serve.”
Belle’s lips curled in a smile. “All right! So what’re we waiting for?”
Wise chuckled at his sister’s enthusiasm. “I’ll get Eous and everything set up. In the meantime…”
In her hands, Belle already brought out her phone. “I’m already on it.”
In the outskirts of New Eridu, far from the shadows of metropolitan high-rises and glistening glass and lights, a certain development was taking place inside a nondescript shed. Rundown and dilapidated as was everything in the abandoned slums quarter, it was camouflage for an operation in the making.
In a shaded room, all attention was given to a projected display. Data, icons, and intent decorated a digitized map before a group of four that made for an unlikely, but cohesive team.
“... the bandits’ base is situated on an island, site of an old military facility,” reported Wise, his voice coming not from his person but through Eous, a Random Play Bangboo wearing an orange scarf. Through it, Wise briefed the contracted team with the “Carrot” it carried that he gathered and prepped ahead of time, named as such as a camouflage that he and Belle invented. “The seized cargo ship is confirmed docked at the only port, status and whereabouts of the goods unknown, either still aboard the ship or stowed away in their facilities. They may be pirates, but satellite surveillance seems to suggest they’ve got more than just gunboats. Based on past reports, it’s believed they are armed with AA guns and SAMs that were probably salvaged from the base when it was abandoned.”
A short white-haired girl, Anby Demara, leaned in with undivided focus. “Based on the island’s topography, they may be positioned along the coast and hilltop, having coverage from all angles.”
“Ugh, I just hope there’s not too many,” worried the newcomer, a cat Thiren named Nekomiya Mana or “Nekomata” for short. “Even I don’t have nine lives if this becomes a furball.”
“Relax, we’ve been in tougher spots than this,” came the bold synthetic assurance of their lanky intelligent construct Billy Kid. “They won’t stand a chance with the Starlight Knight by our side!”
And in the center sat their ringleader, an unassuming if rather garish young woman with cheery pink hair, Nicole Demara. She studied the map with a keen eye. But to know her meant knowing where her priorities lay. “Hmm, these pirates must be quite the troublemakers if the pay-out’s this good.”
“Probably,” surmised Wise. “But hopefully nothing you guys can’t handle. According to my intel, this should be a clean, easy hit.”
“But if it isn’t, then we can say our client was at fault for underestimating them and bargain for hazard pay as a bonus~!”
The Phaethon brother, through Eous’s body, betrayed a nervous gesture (aware that he was the one paying them as hired guns). “Um, sure. Good luck everyone! I’ll stay in touch.”
Filing out from the shed, the group made their way to the remains of a long-dried river. A lonely bridge hung above, riddled with faded cracks and graffiti over the foundations of the city’s more pleasant days. But in the shadow of the bridge sat the team’s makeshift hangar, attended to by Nicole’s own Bangboo Amillion. Unfurling the tarps that concealed their personal aircraft, they made ready for takeoff.
Through Eous’s eyes, Wise could see that this situation was far from ideal for an enterprising mercenary air squadron. But mercenaries could not afford to be choosers, at least those that weren’t famous or well-funded. Ever since Cascadia achieved its impossible victory over the Federation with the aid of mercenaries, private military groups had sprouted from all over, everyone eager to cut in the business and get on the action.
They were no legends like Siccario whose exploits entered the realm of myth for all pilots to try and follow, but Wise could count on the local New Eridu-based Cunning Hares to get the job done.
Over the vast stretch of sea, a flight of four planes glided by in formation. But while matched in direction and purpose, their appearances were far from uniform.
Such a peculiar sight was something Wise and his sister learned to get used to. Back in the video store, through an amalgamation of various hacked sensors and satellite telemetry, he tracked the Cunning Hares approach the area of operations. Such an arrangement was undoubtedly unorthodox, but offered just enough tactical and situational awareness while suiting their preferences for subterfuge just fine. Besides, an FC-8 loaded with electronic surveillance equipment was simply beyond scope for the brother and sister.
“Okay, this is Phaethon. You guys are getting close. Let’s start with the head count.”
Taking the spot of flight lead, Nicole in her highly-decorated pink and outlandish MG-21 sounded off. “Hares-1 ‘Millionaire’ here~.”
Close behind came Anby in her F/C-16 whose skin was a clash of green and black with no allegiance but to her group. “Hares-2 ‘Burger’ in position.”
Wise suppressed a quiet snicker as Billy in his highly distinct and eye-catching rare SP-34R made his introduction. “Hares-3 ‘Starlight Knight’ ready to roll!”
And last but not least came Nekomata in her own MG-29, its coat of red, black, and cat print patterns notably fresh compared to the rest. “Uh, Hares-4 ‘Neko’ right here!”
Wise was satisfied, corny as some of the self-chosen TAC names were. “Okay, I have eyes on the island directly ahead of you. The mission as per the client’s request is to neutralize the pirates’ defenses and secure the cargo for a recovery team to collect, so avoid collateral damage. Judging by comms chatter you’re free to engage all targets but keep your eyes peeled and radars online.”
“Copy that, Proxy! Anb- er, Burger and Neko, follow me in!”
“Wilco,” calmly answered Anby.
In unison, the three planes hit the afterburners to leave trails of ember in their wake. On the horizon, the island began to take shape under the afternoon sun. A nondescript blotch of shadowed rocks and foliage, until the IFF picked up viable targets in emerald markings.
Nicole picked up on the identified anti-air sites, scattered right where she expected them. “I got this one!” Gripping her stick, she plunged her MG-21 in.
Down below, the growing roar of distant jet engines began to creep in. Only when the sight of a strange pink and white MG-21 coming into view descending upon them was the danger fully realized.
“Huh? What?!”
“Duck ‘n cover!”
The burst of a bomb striking home was quite the way to start the party. Nicole smirked at her handiwork as she peeled away. In the corner of her cockpit’s rearview mirror, she made out Anby and Nekomata making their bombing runs.
“Hares-2, bombs away. Good seperation.”
“And- nya, there we go!”
More explosions rang out through the island, undercut by the echo of the bombers that passed by overhead. The squadron circled around as if to marvel their accomplishment, only for tracers to cut any seeming celebration short.
“Nyagh! They’re shooting!”
“Start dodging! I’d rather not pay a single Denny patching up bullet holes,” Nicole half-ordered half-demanded, as the dreary thought of dipping into their expenses fueled her evasive fluttering. As she and Nekomata scattered, Anby rolled her plane towards the gunfire. It tried to follow her as the F/C-16 banked and weaved with calculated and daring precision, the nose aimed towards the steadfast AA gun in time to secure a lock.
“Fox 2.”
Clearing past the AA gun, Anby was mid-inverted in time to catch the missile strike target, silencing the gunfire in a ball of fire. Leveling her craft, she regained control as if nothing had happened.
“Who are these guys?!”
“Who cares, shoot back!”
“They’re onto you now, heads up,” warned Wise.
A trilling beep cut into Anby’s ears, instincts guiding her plane to start dodging before she even needed to think. “Radar lock, evading!”
A missile shot out, this time from the ground below. It streaked after one of the Cunning Hares to begin a dangerous game of chase that left a swirl of smoke in the skies, ending with a cluster of hazy lights that threw the missile off its scent.
The SAM launcher barely had time to launch another missile before a stream of bullets silenced it. A dart-like plane zoomed overhead, Billy content with the deed. Unbeknownst to him, another launcher turned its gaze towards his exotic craft before firing.
“Bil- er, Starlight, behind you!”
“W-woah!”
In a flash, Billy’s mechanical reflexes put the prototype in an instant veering course, a maneuver that defied the laws of physics. But with his android build and aircraft’s experimental design, such a feat was second nature. His daredevil somersault trick rewarded Billy with a threat that flew by harmlessly while looking awe-inspiring to anyone who witnessed it.
Realigning his plane on course, Billy was relieved. “Good ‘ol AOA limiter removal. If only I could get the rest of this beauty in better shape…”
More AA fire cut through the air, but the resistance proved fleeting and futile against the expertise of the Cunning Hares that stamped out each site second by second. Soon, the bandits quickly saw the writing on the wall and gave up. Weapons lay useless on the ground as every man and Thiren scrambled to find whatever shelter they could. Some even fled to whatever boat that lay untaken, in desperate hope to escape the smouldering island base and any paycheck that could somehow justify meeting their ends in an air strike.
Seeing the pirates neutered, Nicole beamed at the sight. With all threats gone and the facilities sitting nice and pretty, she breathed with relief. “Okay, Proxy. Now all you need to do is send the-”
“...?! Millionaire, I’m picking up something on my radar. At vector 040… fast movers!”
“Y-you sure?”
Spurred by the abrupt report, Wise bolted upright to take a closer look at the data. On screen, borrowing radar data from Anby’s aircraft, he spotted multiple blips on the display. “She’s right… you’ve all got company headed right for you! No way they’re the pirate’s backup…!”
Over the radio, Wise suddenly heard voices. Errant and unfamiliar, they could only be from the intruders. “... smash the base, and get the spoils ourselves. Forget about the client request!”
“Boss, look ahead! Something’s wrong.”
Wise’s pulse quickened at the newfound realization. “Looks like we’re not the only ones who wanted to take on this commission. Get ready!”
“Hey, those aren’t the pirates.”
“Filthy mercs got here before us. Huh, don’t think we’re just gonna turn ‘round because of that. Red Fang Gang, get ‘em and get the loot!”
The look of dismay burned into stubborn determination on Nicole as she leered at the oncoming competitors. They may be freelance pilots like her team, but in this line of business only winners took everything. “We’re not letting our hard work go to these creeps. Let’s go, everyone!”
“Hares-2, engaging!”
“I’ll show you what a Starlight Knight can do!”
“Mess with the kitty, and I’ll show you my claws!”
At once, the fight began. Missile was promptly traded with missile, head-on approaches giving way to swerving loops as formations dissolved to become a messy dogfight.
Anby noted the enemy squadron, first taking note of a theme that came from her observation. “SV-37s with a red fang emblem,” she muttered to herself. With that mental note, she plotted her engagement.
She circled her plane around, ignoring the incessant beeping in her ears and the missiles coming from all angles. Many there were and a grave threat they all posed, but Anby tracked them with practiced ease. She could read the oncoming fire like an open book: forceful and uncoordinated like the Red Fang Gang’s unruly nature. Head on a swivel, Anby latched onto the nearest SV-37 she could steer her jet to. It fluttered about, apparently unsure whether to pursue or to jink, to be predator or prey. But in the world of aerial warfare, everyone was fair game in the end.
“Bandit down.” Report made, Anby steered her F/C-16 around to bear witness to another Red Fang aircraft being swatted out of the air by Nekomata.
“Nya, scratch one for kitty~!”
“Arrgh!”
“Watch it, watch it!”
“W-what even is that thing…?”
Catching some tracers being spat in all directions, Anby whirled towards the source and was not surprised to find them all coming from Billy as he made his jet dance. His SP-34R was a highly unique and rare specimen of a weapon, with qualities and specifications that bordered on science-fiction, yet it curiously possessed nothing but onboard machine guns. The others could only surmise that it was a necessary drawback of the compact airframe (a theory Anby was skeptical of) but it suited Billy just fine as its long-time owner.
Not that possessing a highly-advanced, state-of-the-art, and one-of-a-kind aircraft did Nicole any favors when it came to taking care of it.
In the aerial duel, Billy stole the show with his jet’s appearance and agility, running literal rings around his adversaries that made them as sluggish as an Sk.25 by comparison. The effect was proving tantamount by the Red Fang Gang’s cries of fear, awe, and frustration in trying to catch him.
Even Anby found herself watching the android do his magic. ‘He must feel like the hero in those movies, the ones where he stands alone and sweeps away a group of thugs. Especially when they feel the need to take him on one at a time…’
“Ugh, get away from me!”
Hearing Nicole’s voice, Anby snapped her attention to the pink MG-21 shooting across the sky, her pursuers hot and glued to its tail. Jeers from the Red Fang fighters followed her as much as the missiles and gunfire.
“Aww, look at that~!”
“Nice paint job! Too bad you couldn’t spend it on something that wasn’t a junkheap! Haha!”
Nicole grit her teeth as she focused on staying alive, gripping the stick for her dear life as the sounds of missile alerts blared nonstop in her ears. She was frantic, glancing behind her only to see the rest of the Red Fang Gang after her, enticed by the prospect of an easy and entertaining kill. She jerked her craft left and right, going so far as to dump her remaining bombs to lighten the load, but nothing could shake them off of her enough to retaliate. Missile after missile had been slung her way, and Nicole had lost track of how many she had to dodge in between flares. And they were no use against the occasional bullets spat toward her.
It incensed Nicole to think of how much she was going to pay to recoup on repairs. And that was before taking into account rearmament and refueling…
“Hey! Little help here?!”
“Got you covered, boss!” came the invocation before Billy’s dynamic entrance, marked by a outpour of gunfire that cut behind Nicole’s plane, catching a couple missiles mid-flight. Then Anby and Nekomata swooped in, their timely arrival forcing the Red Fang Gang to disperse and break off. Only then did it occur to them that they were all that remained, the bulk of their numbers having gone down in smoke and wreckage.
The SV-37s beat a hasty retreat at full speed. “Damn you!!” came the parting words before they disappeared into the horizon.
Exhaling with a deep breath, Wise only just now found out how tense he had been as he slumped in his chair. “Nice work, everyone. I’ll let the client know that the island and the cargo are good for recovery. Might also let them know to drag some small-time pilots out of the water. And of course, the bonus.”
Nicole’s huff came loud and clear over the airwaves. “I certainly hope so! All those bombs and missiles weren’t cheap, I’ll have you know.”
“Of course,” came Wise’s attempt to alleviate her woes. “How about I treat you all to some hotpot then? At Lumina Square, I know a good place.”
Instantly Nicole’s spirits lifted. “Ooh, sounds nice~. Oh and Proxy, do me a favor.”
“Um, yes?”
“Think you can have the bonus cover our expenses and my loans~? We’re your favorite contractors after all~.”
In their cockpits, Anby, Billy, and Nekomata silently shook their heads.
As the echoing thunder faded with the mercenaries, a helicopter approached the island. Rather than touch down on an unscarred strip of earth, it instead gravitated toward the cargo ship that had been seized prior. Upon landing, the doors swung open and boots flooded out to secure the vessel. Armed uniformed men fanned out before making their way to the ship’s lower decks.
Behind them, a single suited woman followed.
They reached the depths of the ship, a hollowed interior filled with containers stacked from floor to ceiling, from wall to wall. But at the end, taking a notable space of the ship itself, lay a unique container. A vault.
As her men went to work, the woman simply gazed upon it with relief.
Her lieutenant approached. “Ma’am, the engine room has reported no defects or damage. This ship can move under its own power and reach its destination as soon as we set sail.”
“Excellent,” the woman purred with a smile. “We move immediately.”
“Understood,” the man acknowledged. “And the bounty?”
The woman gave it some thought. “Pay it in full, and with generosity. The client succeeded in delivering us our prize without a blemish, and with such punctuality. I must remember who it was in the future. I want to thank them when I have the chance.”
“As you wish. May the Dust Mother guide us.”
The woman’s smile grew.
“May the Dust Mother refine us.”