The FN P90 is a bullpup 5.7x28mm personal defense weapon designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium.
Created in response to NATO requests for a replacement for 9×19mm Parabellum firearms, the P90 was designed as a compact but powerful firearm for vehicle crews, operators of crew-served weapons, support personnel, special forces and counter-terrorist groups. Featuring a compact design with tactical rails, fully ambidextrous controls and integrated reflex sights, the P90 is an unconventional weapon with a futuristic appearance. Its design incorporates several innovations such as a unique top-mounted magazine and FN’s small-caliber, high-velocity 5.7x28mm ammunition. Retaining the stopping power of a full-sized assault rifle in a much smaller package that is more suited for the demands of close-quarters combat, the P90 fills in perfectly the niche between assault rifle and submachine gun.
Reliable and powerful, yet ergonomic and very comfortable to wield, the P90 is fielded extensively by the AKB-48th SMB for urban operations and in battlefield support roles. Notably, it has become a favourite amongst the intelligence operatives of the Sakae Garrison.
Transcript: Officer Correspondence RE: Suspicious Activity In Nagoya, 30 March 2026
Personnel:
MAJ Matsui Rena
CPT Furukawa Airi
CPT Takayanagi Akane
CO Office
Sakae Garrison, Nagoya
>PLAY TRANSCRIPT: START
MAJ Matsui : Good morning, ladies. We have an imminent threat on our hands. Our intelligence team has just intercepted a message concerning a suspicious shipment headed for Japanese soil via the Port of Nagoya.
CPT Furukawa : Have we identified the vessel?
MAJ Matsui : No, the call came from an anonymous source filtered through multiple proxies. We’re currently attempting to trace the number. Nevertheless, we’re taking this seriously. I’ve woken up the girls in Tokyo for support, and we should be expecting a reply-
CPT Takayanagi : The Colonel’s radioed back, Ma’am. We are to obtain visual confirmation on the nature of the shipment, and take the necessary actions if we can. They’ll have a squad on standby if we need assistance.
MAJ Matsui : Noted. In that case, I’m tasking Kilo-2 to investigate the threat.
CPT Furukawa : Understood. Do we have anything else to go on?
MAJ Matsui : Nothing solid, unfortunately. We’re getting our satellites and UAVs to sweep the target zone.
CPT Furukawa : Like that’s ever stopped us before. My team will be ready and on-site within the hour.
MAJ Matsui : Be careful. We have no idea what we’re dealing with.
CPT Furukawa : Don't worry ma'am. Whatever they're up to, we'll put a stop to it.
Transcript: Officer Correspondence RE: Assault on Ibaraki, 06 February 2026
Personnel:
COL Takahashi Minami
LT COL Oota Nao
MAJ Miyazawa Sae
CO Office
Akihabara Garrison, Tokyo (HQ)
>PLAY TRANSCRIPT: START
COL Takahashi : Job well done, ladies. The operation was a massive success. Ibaraki is back under our control, and we gave the Koreans a good taste of our latest offensive capabilities. We really couldn’t have done it without your help, Nao.
LT COL Oota : You’re too kind, Ma’am.
MAJ Miyazawa : No need to be courteous, Colonel. For once, I actually feel like I’m on the winning side. For what we lacked in numbers, you guys made up for with some damn impressive firepower.
COL Takahashi : Quite right. I reviewed the frontline reports and satellite footage myself, and I must say, you’ve assembled quite a team under you. I’m very impressed.
LT COL Oota : Thank you, Ma’am. I’ll convey your remarks to my troops.
COL Takahashi : Command was reluctant to greenlight the initiative, but I’m sure this will convince them that they’ve made the right decision. And thank you, for stepping up to help us helm this project.
LT COL Oota : You’re welcome, but the honour is mine.
COL Takahashi : You’re dismissed.
LT COL Oota : Thank you.
MAJ Miyazawa : Anything from the labs, Ma’am?
COL Takahashi : Ah yes, I thought you’d be interested to know, the exo-suits have been safely delivered to our engineers, and they’re currently undergoing extensive testing, under Professor Suga’s lead.
MAJ Miyazawa : When can we expect to see results?
COL Takahashi : I’m waiting to get the preliminary reports from the Prof, but I’ll be arranging for a meeting for all squad leaders within the next seventy-two hours for a briefing. I’ll send out another announcement by tomorrow.
MAJ Miyazawa : I’ll be waiting, then.
COL Takahashi : In the meantime, get Sierra patched up, and get a good rest. You guys have earned it.
Transcript: October Squadron Stike Package Corolla RE: Ibaraki Heavy Fire Support
Personnel:
LT COL Oota Nao “Avalon”
LT Yokoyama Yui “Hokage Prime” Fire Control Officer
MAJ Miyazawa Sae “Sierra-1”
CPT Nakano Ikumi “Ookami-1” Tank Commander
LT Sato Nanami “Inazuma” Field Artillery Officer
M SGT Yamada Nanami “Ookami-2” Tank Commander
AC-130U Spooky II Gunship “Hokage Prime”
1st JASDF Special Operations Squadron, Northern Air Defense Force
Mito City Airspace, Ibaraki
>PLAY TRANSCRIPT: START
LT COL Oota : Avalon to Hokage Prime, ground teams Sierra and Ookami have cleared out eighty percent of enemy AA positions. Friendly aerial assets, callsigns ‘Tsubasa’ and ‘Arashi’, are in position to cover your descent. You are clear to proceed.
LT Yokoyama : Acknowledged, Avalon. Hokage Prime is descending to mission altitude. Targeting system online. Gunners, status report.
AC-130 Gunner : Gatling cannon, online. Bushmaster chain gun, online. Fourty-millimeter autocannon, online. Calibrating for 105-millimeter howitzer. Missiles and guided bombs are armed and ready.
LT Yokoyama : Copy that. Weapons systems, online. TV, verify you see our friendlies.
TV Operator : Uh, acquiring friendlies… I see ‘em. Friendlies are marked with IR strobe lights.
LT Yokoyama : Got it. Crew, do not fire on units marked with IR beacons, those are friendlies. All other targets are free game.
AC-130 Gunner : Aye-aye, Ma’am.
LT Yokoyama : AC-130U Gunship Hokage Prime has entered the mission zone, I repeat, Hokage Prime is in the mission zone. Good morning all, this is your flight officer speaking; Sierra, Ookami, do you copy?
MAJ Miyazawa : Oh, fuck me; You guys brought a goddamn AC-130?! It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with one of those! Please tell me I get to call out targets!
LT Yokoyama : You’re welcome, Major. It looks like we’ve got clear skies ahead of us, so yes, do feel free to let us know what we can do to make your time with us as comfortable as possible.
MAJ Miyazawa : Alright, Hokage; establish orbit over the area of operations, and provide covering support as we assault the Korean stronghold in the city. Confirm you see the enemy base?”
LT Yokoyama : Uh, which one is it?
MAJ Miyazawa : Hold on, Hokage… Do you see the lake?
LT Yokoyama : TV, confirm you see the lake?
TV Operator : I got it.
MAJ Miyazawa : Now follow the railway by the lake eastwards to the railway station, about one klick. The enemy base should be there.
LT Yokoyama : TV, you got that?
TV Operator : East of the lake… railway… got it. Is it the large complex surrounding the station?
MAJ Miyazawa : That’s the one. We need you to service targets north of the railway! You are cleared for danger close, if necessary.
LT Yokoyama : Copy that, Sierra. We gotcha. Crew, you are clear to engage any enemy personnel you see north of the railway.
AC-130 Gunner : Roger that, guns away.
TV Operator : Good kill, good kill… You got 'em. Enemies crossing in the open, take ‘em out – Whoa! Nice one!
CPT Nakano : Hokage Prime, we have enemy vehicles moving in on our position. Request fire support.
LT Yokoyama : We see ‘em, Ookami-1. Sending the heat your way. Crew, take out the enemies targeting our tanks.
AC-130 Gunner : Copy. One-oh-five, shot out!
TV Operator : Niiiice. Good effect on target. Vehicles on the move; they’re scattering.
AC-130 Gunner : Switching to autocannon. Firing!
TV Operator : Aaaand, they’re toast.
CPT Nakano : Yeah, those tanks aren't going anywhere. Thanks for the assist, Hokage.
LT Yokoyama : No problem. Crew, continue the barrage.
TV Operator : Good shot… Yeah, direct hits right there.
AC-130 Gunner : One-oh-five, gun ready!
LT Yokoyama : Target reset. Clean up that signal. Keep going, crew.
MAJ Miyazawa : Sierra-1 to Hokage Prime, confirm that we are clear to advance?
LT Yokoyama : Roger that, Sierra. Hold on, we have incoming. Hokage Prime to Avalon, we are clear to proceed. Greenlight artillery strikes on target area.
LT COL Oota : Copy. Lieutenant Sato Nanami, confirm your guns are in position?
LT Sato : Artillery batteries are in position. Inazuma-1 is ready to bring the rain on your mark. Which ones do you want? Rockets or guns?
LT COL Oota : Everything you’ve got. Sierra, Ookami, you’ve got incoming artillery support at these coordinates, danger close. Get into cover.
MAJ Miyazawa : Go ahead, Avalon. We’re at a relatively safe distance from the strike zone.
LT COL Oota : Roger that. Inazuma-1, you are cleared for artillery strike at the designated coordinates.
LT Sato : Copy that. Guns are going hot. Firing!
LT Yokoyama : Whoa! That’s one hell of a fireworks display. Clean up that signal, TV. Crew, pick off any stragglers. We'll help to sweep up the mess.
AC-130 Gunner : Got it. Targets in sight.
TV Operator : You got ‘em. Multiple enemy foot-mobiles, neutralized.
LT Yokoyama : That’s stirred up the hornet’s nest. Sierra, Ookami, we’re seeing enemy activity coming out of the base. They’re headed your way.
MAJ Miyazawa : Roger that. Wait for us to trigger the ambush near the lake.
LT Yokoyama : Copy that. Crew, hold fire, hold fire…
MAJ Miyazawa : Ambush triggered! Weapons free!
LT Yokoyama : Crew, we’re cleared to engage all those guys.
TV Operator : There's a BTR moving down the street ahead of 'em.
LT Yokoyama : Two enemy choppers crossing the lake, there. Neutralizing targets, Sierra-1. Danger close. Repeat, danger close.
AC-130 Gunner: Shots out. Vehicles neutralized.
LT Yokoyama : Sierra-1, looks like you're clear to move up. We'll keep an eye on you.
MAJ Miyazawa : Roger that- Fuck!
LT Yokoyama : Whoa! Ookami’s been hit! Ookami-1, Ookami-2, do you copy? Status report
CPT Nakano : *cough* Shit… Tank’s busted! My driver and gunner are KIA! Yamada, you alright?!
M SGT Yamada : Crew’s fine, but our tank’s out of commission too! We’ll have to proceed on foot!
MAJ Miyazawa : God damn it, they’re sitting ducks out there! Avalon, we’ve got RPG and sniper fire from the building in front of us! Need you to hit it now!
LT COL Oota : Roger that, Sierra. Small-arms and RPG fire from the civilian building to the northwest. Hokage Prime, ground troops are pinned down and need your support. You are cleared for danger close on the building to the northwest.
LT Yokoyama : Hold tight, Sierra. Crew, Switch to guided bombs and the 105. We need to hit it with something big.
AC-130 Gunner : Bombs away. Firing!
LT Yokoyama : Oh man, that building is done! You leveled the entire block!
MAJ Miyazawa : Thanks for the assist. Sierra, move up to extract the tank crews!
LT Yokoyama : Hokage Prime to Avalon, we’re clear for the final phase.
LT COL Oota : Roger that. Hokage Prime, Inazuma, prepare for the final blow.
LT Yokoyama : Roger that. Prepping precision bombs and anti-ground missiles.
LT Sato : Artillery guns and rockets are primed and ready to fire, on your command.
MAJ Miyazawa : What’s going on, Avalon?
LT COL Oota : Sierra, we’re sending extraction to the following coordinates, E.T.A. 3 minutes. Get yourselves to the LZ, pronto. We’re leveling the enemy stronghold once and for all, and you don’t want to be caught in the danger zone.
MAJ Miyazawa : Roger that, Avalon. Sierra, you heard her! Go, go, go!
TV Operator : Heheh, this is going to be one hell of a highlight reel.
LT Yokoyama : Damn right it is. Dibs on the DVD when it comes out!
LT COL Oota : Cut the chatter, Hokage Prime. It ain’t over ‘till the fat lady sings. Let’s finish this and go home.
Maj. Sakaguchi Nagisa
AH-64D Apache Longbow Pilot “Arashi-1”
1st Anti-Tank Helicopter Battalion, Northern Army Aviation Group
0335 hrs, 06 February 2026
Mito City Airspace, Ibaraki
“Arashi-1 to Avalon, we’re approaching the mission zone. E.T.A. two minutes, over.”
“Avalon reads you, Arashi-1. You are cleared for the mission. Tank Squad Ookami is deep in the city with Sierra Squad. Link up with them, keep them covered, and help clear out enemy ordnance.”
“Roger, Avalon.” I switch channels to communicate with my wingman, “Alright, Kasumi. We’re two minutes out from the area of operations. Get ready to engage.”
“Damn right I am, Major. Been waiting for this for a long time,” The zeal in the young officer’s voice is evident. “Time to make them pay for Fukushima.”
“Stay on the objective, Lieutenant. Don’t get ahead of yourself,” chiding her, I try to temper Kasumi’s excitement. As much as I empathize with Lt. Mogi’s vendetta against the Koreans over the destruction of her hometown, I can’t afford to let her do anything stupid to jeopardize the mission.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Remember, we’re here to support the ground teams,” I go over the mission objectives once more, just to make it clear, “So keep our girls covered until we can ensure airspace superiority before the big bird flies in.”
“Confirmed, Arashi-1. Do we have clearance to engage?”
“Hold on, let me check. Arashi-1 to Avalon, we’re sixty seconds out. What’s the R.O.E., over?”
“Avalon to Arashi-1, you are cleared to engage all enemy targets at danger close. No need to hold back.”
“Roger that, Avalon. Prepping weapons systems,” I flick a switch on my dashboard, and the targeting systems come online, holographic reticles and camera feeds materializing on my helmet’s visor. “Thirty-millimeter chain gun is online. Hydra missile launchers, online. Hellfire missiles on standby.”
“Arashi-2, weapons systems online.”
“Arashi-1 to ground teams. Helicopter support is thirty seconds out. Sierra, do you read me?”
“Hearing you loud and clear, Arashi-1. Sending you our coordinates.”
“Got ‘em. We’ll be there.”
“Enemy ground units showing up on radar. Holy shit, that’s a lot of targets. Major?” She doesn’t even try to hide her expectant tone. I smirk to myself as my grip tightens on my helicopter’s flightstick.
“Copy that, Arashi-2. Switch over to FLIR night-vision targeting. Shall we go pick a fight?”
“Never thought you’d ask, Arashi-1.”
0345 hrs, 06 February 2026
Mito City Airspace, Ibaraki
“Watch out for enemy fire, Arashi. We count at least five AA guns lined up on the overpass, and multiple foot-mobiles.”
“Solid copy, Sierra. Moving to engage enemies on the overpass.” I swing my helicopter around to flank them from the east, while Kasumi brings hers to bear from the opposite direction. “Approaching for gun run, Sierra, you might want to take cover.”
With the press of a button, I unleash a shower of missiles upon the unwitting Koreans while strafing to avoid retaliatory gunfire. From the other end, Kasumi rains down a burst of incendiary armour-piercing thirty-millimeter rounds upon them. Multiple plumes of fire light up the road in the wake of our destruction, leaving nothing left but piles of charred steel and the bodies of our prey.
Satisfied with our work, I contact the ground teams to confirm the kills, “AA outpost neutralized, you’re clear to proceed, Sierra.”
“There’s more targets on the rooftops nearby, Major.” Kasumi calls out another set of enemy targets as she strafes around for another pass. “We have enemy machine-gun fire coming from the roof of the building on the west side of the highway.”
“Roger that. Take them out.”
“Arashi-1, you’ve got enemy birds coming in from the north side. Get ‘em before they see us.”
“Got you covered, Sierra. We have eyes on them, moving to engage.” Switching to the autocannon, I bring my helicopter closer in the chopper and take aim. A few bursts of armour-piercing rounds, and the enemy helos are punched out of the sky. “Enemy birds down. Airspace is clear. Sierra, you’re clear to proceed. Returning to formation above you, Sierra.”
“Roger that, Arashi. We’re moving to the final AA battery now, keep us covered.”
“Copy that. Arashi-2, check your missiles and ammo, we’re going in for the final outpost.”
Suddenly, a loud, rapid, beeping tone sounds out through my headset, and a red warning sign flashes across my heads-up display.
“Arashi-2, I’ve been locked-on from multiple sources, moving to disengage! Cover my back!” I switch to full throttle, and disengage targeting systems, before initiating evasive maneuvers. I keep a steady hand on the controls, ready to fire off countermeasures at a moment’s notice.
Her tense, worried reply causes my heart to skip a beat, “No can do, Arashi-1, I’ve got an incoming missile as well!”
I quickly call out to the soldiers on the ground for help, “Arashi to ground teams, we have multiple enemy locks, do you have visual?”
“Avalon to Arashi, do you copy?”
“Not now, Avalon!” A missile narrowly screams past my cockpit as I swerve to avoid it. Threat’s not over, however, as my radar showed at least five other incoming warheads. “Deploying flares!”
“Arashi, you have enemy fast movers approaching the mission zone, I say again, multiple enemy fast movers approaching your area!”
I glance down at my radar. Sure enough, there’s a flashing blip that’s dancing across it, darting around far too fast for my systems to identify or lock on to.
Shit. No way we’re going to be able to hold our own against fighters. Looks like there’s no other choice.
“Arashi to all teams, we’re bugging out!”
“Major!”
“It’s either we pull back or we get shot out of the sky, Lieutenant! We’re sitting ducks against fast movers!” I ease back on the throttle, readying myself to break out of formation.
“Now hold on to your horses, Nagisa-chan! No need to panic just yet!” A familiar voice crackles through my headset. I cock my eyebrows in surprise. Is that…?
Suddenly, a blue ‘friendly’ blip pops up on my radar, coming in at an insanely high speed. Looking out my cockpit, I see a lone F-35 stealth fighter screaming past my field of vision, afterburners at full power, leaving a blue streak trailing behind it.
“Took you long enough!” Kasumi is almost screaming through the comms, though I could clearly hear the relief in her voice.
“Sorry, I took the scenic route! But hey, at least I’m here, right?”
“So are you gonna help us out, or just fly around and talk smack?”
“Ah, shut up! Moving in to dogfighting range!”
The back-and-forth banter between the cocky fighter pilot and the trigger-happy helicopter gunner make me crack a smile at the corner of my mouth. I relax a little, knowing that at least I would live to fly another day.
Cpt. Nakano Ikumi
Type-10 MBT Tank Commander “Ookami-1”
3rd Tank Battalion, 3rd Division, JGSDF Central Army
0300 hrs, 06 February 2026
Mito City Airspace, Ibaraki
“Avalon to all tank crews, prepare for drop, ETA 2 minutes!”
My headset crackles to life as Commander Oota’s voice comes on the radio, over the loud drone of the aircraft’s engines. Turning to the driver next to me, I give her a pat on the back. “We’ve got the green light, prep all systems.”
She nods in acknowledgement and, with a flick of a few switches, she brings the tank to life. The gunner loads in the first warhead, and locks the firing mechanism into place. I focus on the small screen in front of me, and calibrate the feed from the targeting camera. “Parachutes are ready. Weapon systems coming online. GPS is functional. Tank's prepped for drop.”
“Roger that. Ookami-2, what’s your status?”
“Ookami-2, locked, loaded, and ready for drop.” Nanami radios over from the other tank to confirm her crew’s status. “Do you copy?”
“Copy that, Yamada. Ookami-1 to Avalon, tanks are prepped and ready for drop, copy?”
“Roger that. Eagle-5, what’s the situation in the air?”
“We’re entering heavy anti-air traffic, half a click from the drop zone.” The pilot of our transport craft sounds worried. In the background, the sound of machine-gun fire and anti-air flak explosions peppered his statement.
“Do not deviate from your course, Eagle-5. We need those tanks on point. Avalon, out.”
“Clear the area for armour drop!”
Suddenly, the plane is rocked by anti-air fire, lurching to one side. I grab hold onto my seat, and manage to just stop myself from falling over.
“Incoming! Multiple bogeys inbound!”
The plane is hit by enemy planes. Through the camera feed, I see multiple flashes as tracer rounds pierce through the cabin, punching straight through the aircraft. I flinch as I see one of the crew get nicked in the leg by a stray round.
“Man down! Man down!”
“I got you, soldier! Stay with me!”
“Cargo bay taking heavy damage! Ookami-1, I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to drop now! I don’t think we can take another hit!”
Alarms ring out within the cargo bay as the plane is hit by another barrage of gunfire, and the red flashing lights light up the interior of the plane. I quickly radio back to affirm the decision. “Roger that, Eagle-5. Ready for drop.”
“Opening cargo bay doors! You, give me a hand here!”
“Releasing tanks… and Ookami-2 is away, I repeat, Ookami-2 is away! Releasing Ookami-1!”
I feel the tank lurch backwards as gravity takes over, followed by a massive jolt as we hit the ground.
“Ookami-1 is away! I repeat, Ookami-1… Shit, we have a lock! We have a –”
The feed is cut short as a missile blows Eagle-5 apart in a massive fireball. I shield my face from the explosion, and I hear stray debris and shards of metal ping off the hull of my tank. I take a moment to give a silent prayer, before contacting Nanami.
“Ookami-1 is on the ground in one piece. Ookami-2, what’s your status?”
“Ookami-2 ready to advance.”
“Got it. Ookami-1 to Avalon, we missed the drop zone. Eagle-5 is lost, I repeat, Eagle-5 is K-I-A. Awaiting orders.”
“Damn it. Alright, the mission is still on, ladies. Advance into the city, Sierra Squad is pinned down ahead of your position. Get in there and back them up!”
“Copy that. Tank Squad Ookami is pushing into the city.”
0315 hrs, 06 February 2026
Mito City, Ibaraki
“Ookami-1 to Sierra Squad, do you read us?”
“Sierra-1, Major Miyazawa Sae here, reading you loud and clear! Where are you guys?”
“We’re pushing through the city towards your position, Sierra.”
“Roger that, we’ll mark our position with skyward green flares.”
“Hold on…” I do a quick visual scan of the hectic battlefield through the feed from the targeting camera. I just manage to make out a sparking green light as it snakes its way into the night sky. “We have a visual on you, Sierra. Oscar Mike to your location now.”
“Make it quick, Ookami, we’ve got enemy armour bearing down on us from the north!”
“Moving as fast as we can, Major.” The engine revs up as the tank shifts gears, going full speed ahead. Nanami’s tank follows close behind, as we crash through barricades, buildings and abandoned cars, barging our way towards the objective. It doesn’t take long before we see a group of armoured vehicles firing upon a building at a crossroads.
“Engage enemy armour!” I pick my target, and line up the sights. “Fire!”
A loud, deafening blast follows my order, the recoil from the warhead causing my tank to lurch backwards. The target goes up in flames, the high-explosive round blowing it to smithereens. Next to us, Nanami’s tank also unleashes its payload upon the enemy targets. Between the two of us, we make short work of the Korean vehicles.
“Ookami, you have enemy choppers incoming from the east! Get out of there!” In the distance, I hear the rapid beating of helicopter blades in the air. I swing the turret around, and switch to thermal vision. Noticing bright white blips in the distance, I quickly zero in on the enemy aircraft in the dark night sky.
A normal tank crew would probably crap their pants right about now. Against a helicopter, tanks are practically sitting ducks.
Thank god I brought some insurance.
“Major, I need a SOFLAM on those choppers!”
“Roger that; Sierra, lase those targets!”
I flip a switch to activate the secondary launchers. “Switching to guided missiles.”
“Targeting… aerial target acquired.” The beeps change into a long tone, indicating a secure lock. I pull the trigger, firing off a barrage of laser-guided missiles. Weaving through the air, they home in on their targets in an instant. A series of explosions blast the enemy choppers head-on. Spinning out of control, they crash into the surrounding buildings, ending their threat in a ball of fire.
“Ka-boom. Enemy helos are down. Sierra, you guys still in one piece?”
“Thanks for the assist, Ookami-1. Welcome to the party!”
“You can buy us drinks later. Ookami-1 to Avalon, we’ve rendezvoused with Sierra.”
“Copy that. Avalon to Sierra Leader, do you read?”
“Reading you loud and clear, Avalon. Thanks for sending in the tanks!”
“You’re welcome, Major. We’ve got more firepower on the way, but we’ll need you to help clear out any anti-air and heavy artillery in the area. Ookami-1 and 2 will back you guys up. Can you do that?”
DATABASE ENTRY AKB-8JCAS-26
LIEUTENANT COLONEL OOTA NAO
STATUS: Commander, 8th JCAS, Active
HQ, JGSDF Central Army, Hyogo (Transferred from Central Army Logistics, Kyoto)
Commander, 8th JCAS
DATABASE ENTRY AKB-8JCAS-31
CAPTAIN NAKANO IKUMI
STATUS: Type-10 MBT Tank Commander, Active
3rd Tank Battalion, 3rd Division, JGSDF Central Army, Hyogo (Transferred from Central Army Infantry, Tottori)
DATABASE ENTRY AKB-88-27
MASTER SERGEANT YAMADA NANAMI
STATUS: Type-10 MBT Tank Commander, Active
3rd Tank Battalion, 3rd Division, JGSDF Central Army, Hyogo
DATABASE ENTRY AKB-88-01
MAJOR SAKAGUCHI NAGISA
STATUS: AH-64 Apache Helicopter Pilot, Active
1st Anti-Tank Helicopter Battalion, Northern Army Aviation Group, Northern Army, Hokkaido
DATABASE ENTRY AKB-88-02
LIEUTENANT YOKOYAMA YUI
STATUS: AC-130U Gunship Fire Control Officer, Active
1st JASDF Special Operations Squadron, Northern Air Defense Force, Misawa AFB, Aomori
DATABASE ENTRY AKB-88-11
LIEUTENANT TAKAHASHI AYANE
STATUS: F35J Lightning-II Fighter Pilot, Active
305th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Central Air Defense Force, Iruma AFB, Saitama
DATABASE ENTRY AKB-88-04
LIEUTENANT SATO NANAMI
STATUS: Field Artillery Officer, Active
1st JASDF Artillery Brigade, JGSDF Northern Army, Hokkaido (Transferred from North Eastern Army Artillery, Iwate)
Command has sent in a request for immediate armoured support in Ibaraki. Our ground troops are facing strong resistance from the Koreans and need some heavy firepower. Sierra Squad is on the ground to assist the main assault force. You are to rendezvous with them, provide transport to Ibaraki City, cover their movements, and assist in taking back the prefecture. Your point-of-contact is Maj. Miyazawa Sae.
I trust this shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll hand over command to Lt. Col. Oota Nao. She will be in charge of coordinating the operation.
Good luck.
COL TAKAHASHI MINAMI
BATTALION COMMANDER, AKB-48TH SPECIAL MISSIONS BATTALION
Transcript: Officer Correspondence RE: Assault on Ibaraki, 06 February 2026
Personnel:
COL Takahashi Minami
MAJ Miyazawa Sae
CPT Sato Mieko
CPT Yamamoto Sayaka
Field Communications with Sierra & November Squads
Mission Zone, Ibaraki
>PLAY TRANSCRIPT: START
COL Takahashi : Sierra Leader, status report.
MAJ Miyazawa : Reading you loud and clear, Colonel. We’ve secured the package, and are now loading up the transports.
COL Takahashi : Good job, Major. Is Captain Sato there?
CPT Sato : Right here, Ma’am.
COL Takahashi : I must thank you for your favour, Captain. I’ve personally contacted Professor Suga Nanako as per your recommendations at her lab in Tokyo. While it took some convincing, she’s willing to come back and help us out with reverse-engineering and working on the exo-suits.
CPT Sato : You’re welcome, Colonel.
COL Takahashi : Now, back to the matter at hand. I’ve gotten a request from Command to send down a team to Ibaraki City. They’re facing some pretty heavy resistance from the Koreans, and it looks like they could use some help.
MAJ Miyazawa : And since we’re the closest, we’re the lucky ones to get the job.
COL Takahashi : Yes, Major. I don’t need all of you down there, however. I’m only sending down Sierra Squad.
CPT Yamamoto : What about us, Ma’am?
COL Takahashi : November, I need you guys to provide cover for the transports on their way back. Okabe should have brought in a few armored attack jeeps with her; load yourselves in and stay with the transports until they arrive safely. Help with the unloading, and I’ll debrief you back in Tokyo.
CPT Yamamoto : Understood.
COL Takahashi : Sierra, hold position. I’m sending in some heavy firepower to back you guys up and bring you to the battle.
MAJ Miyazawa : Armored troop carriers?
COL Takahashi : Better. Let’s just say I’m giving you guys an early Valentine’s Day gift.
Maj. Miyazawa Sae
0038 hrs, 06 February 2026
Katsuraginesaki, Tsukuba Research Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
“Third storey office, clear!”
“Second storey, clear!”
“Ground floor locked down and clear of all hostiles. Excellent work, Sierra. All teams regroup at the northern exit.” I turn to Rion and Ryoha, and give them a thumbs-up, “Good job, ladies. Quick and clean. Nakanishi taught you well.”
The two younger soldiers nod in acknowledgement, before checking and reloading their weapons. Pulling back the charging handle, I check my own gun – chamber’s clear. I eject the empty magazine, load in a fresh one and chamber the first cartridge. I notice the green dot sight flicker a little – I’m going to need to change the battery once I get back to base.
Just as I step out of the building through the sliding doors, a large mass hits the ground in front of me with a loud thump, startling me. I leap back and reflexively whip my weapon out in front of me.
I relax when I recognize the slim, lanky girl, as she leaps to her feet. A smug grin is plastered across her face as she dusts herself off and grabs the rifle slung across her back.
Tanaka stares at Jurina, slack-jawed in an expression that combined shock, confusion and bewilderment crossed her face. “Did you just–”
“Yes.”
“From the top balcony?”
“Yes.”
“You crazy motherf–”
“Wait, where’s Watanabe?” I interject.
A second thump answers my question as the soldier in question hits the ground tumbling, in an attempt to cushion the impact. Her Kansai accent doesn’t hide the mixture of worry and exasperation in her, as she is helped up by Futamura, “Was that really necessary, Jurina?”
“No, but admit it, it was cool, right?”
“It was, but y’know… twisted ankle, broken bones?”
“Naaah, where’s your sense of adventure, Miyuki? Thought you Osaka girls liked it rough?”
“No, that’s… I’m not even from…” the older girl stops mid-sentence, sighing at the knowledge that whatever she said wouldn’t get into Jurina’s thick skull. “Never mind.”
“God damn it, Jurina,” I mutter under my breath as I take a moment to collect myself.
“This is why we can’t have nice things.”
0050 hrs, 06 February 2026
CYBERDYNE Research Facility, Tsukuba Research Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
“Sierra Two has secured the highway overlooking the facility. Setting up overwatch along multiple positions.”
“November One, standing by the western entrance. Ready to move in whenever.”
“November Two here, we’ve ascended the blind side of the building. Roof is secure, and we’re ready to break in.”
“Reading all of you loud and clear. Sierra One is standing by the entrance to the main lobby, and ready to move in,” I radio back, and request for a reconnaissance report from the snipers up on the highway. “See anything, Sierra Two?”
“Negative, the building seems clear.”
“Good. Alright, you have your jobs. Search the building for anything that will help us, but our primary objective remains to secure the cargo,” I continue giving instructions and reviewing the plan of attack, as Jurina shears through the locks and chains that hold the door shut with her bolt cutter. The rest of the squad have stacked up by her, ready to breach the doors on my order.
“We do this quick and quiet. Suppressors and subsonic ammunition only. Maintain stealth until we can ensure that the building is clear. We don’t want to attract attention from any surrounding enemy patrols, not yet.”
“November One, move up through each floor. November Two, work your way down from the roof. We’ll clear out the basement levels. Sierra Two, maintain overwatch and keep us updated. Understood?”
“Roger that, Sierra Leader.”
There is a metallic rattle as the last of the chains come loose, falling to a heap on the ground. Jurina returns her bolt cutter to its sheath on her back, a confident smirk on her face. “New personal record for fastest non-explosive breach, Major. Hi-five?”
I roll my eyes at her, and begrudgingly accede to her request.
After all, it’s rude to leave a girl hanging.
I take my position opposite Jurina, both of us on either side of the entrance, hands on the sliding doors, ready to pull them apart on my order.
“All squads, you are clear to enter. Phase Two is a ‘Go’, I repeat, mission is a ‘Go’!”
0120 hrs, 06 February 2026
Basement-3, CYBERDYNE Research Facility, Ibaraki Prefecture
“November One, reporting in. We’ve cleared the surface installation with November Two. Nothing but offices up here. There’s documents and data, but nothing we don’t already know.”
“Roger that. Maintain–”
“Major, you’re going to want to look at this!” My reply is interrupted by a radio burst from Rion. “Hold comms, November One, I’ll get back to you in a moment.”
Followed by Jurina and Miyuki, I take a slow jog over to Rion’s position on the other end of the floor, where the rest of the squad had already congregated. “What is – oh.”
Before us stood the massive entrance to a vault. The steel is tarnished and covered in dust, but there was no mistaking its importance to the facility. A terminal stood by it, no doubt the interface for the locking mechanism. Ryoha had already taken the covering panel off, and was working on the innate circuitry within.
“What’ve we got, ladies?”
“Door’s shut tight, electronic and mechanical locks are still in place. Even though the power’s out, it seems this part of the facility has its own backup generator.”
Ryoha pipes up from under the security terminal, “Circuitry’s fried. We might have to go in loud for this one and blow it open.”
“Got it.” I resume communications with November Squad, and give my next set of orders. “Sierra One to all teams, I think we’ve found what we’re looking for.”
“November Two, get to the main lobby, secure it, and call in the transports. November One, make your way down to my position on Basement Three, and bring all the thermite and C-4 you can carry.”
I turn around to see Jurina and Tanaka facing me, with an excited, expectant, slightly crazed look in their eyes, and wide grins plastered across their faces, as they whip out satchels of plastic explosive and packages of thermite powder from their own respective field packs.
I give an exasperated sigh and wave them off.
“Fine. Go wild, you crazy pyromaniacs.”
0127 hrs, 06 February 2026
Basement-3, CYBERDYNE Research Facility, Ibaraki Prefecture
“God damn it, Jurina! I told you that was way too much fucking thermite!”
“It got the job done, didn’t it?”
“Yeah, and fucking blinded us in the process, you stupid twat!”
“How was I supposed to know that even these goggles have limits?!”
The two taller girls are keeled over in front of the charred, smoking steel, gloved hands clutched tightly over their faces.
“Oh god, the light, it burns!”
“Shake it off, you two. Futamura, make sure they’re okay, and then the three of you stay outside and guard the entrance.”
I step out from behind the piece of cover that had protected everyone else and I from the bright flares and flying debris that came with the explosive breaching process. I address the short-haired soldier crouching behind me, “Yamamoto, is everyone in your squad accounted for?”
“Yes, Major.”
“Alright. Watanabe, Yamamoto, and Kashiwagi; three of you follow me in taking point. The rest of you back us up. Ryoha, see if you can get the lights on in there.”
“Already on it, Ma’am.”
0145 hrs, 06 February 2026
Basement-3, CYBERDYNE Research Facility, Ibaraki Prefecture
“3D fabrication tech, high-end precision robotics, experimental electronic systems, fully-equipped production lines, and an entire stockpile of rare-earth metals…”
“Damn, this facility’s probably got everything you need to build your own robot army.”
“Cut the chatter, ladies. Stay focused on the objective.”
With the lights on, searching through the underground facility is way easier than before. And without an enemy in sight, there is no need for us to be on full alert. It’s been a while since I’ve had an operation this quiet.
“Hey, Sae, is this it?” Yuki’s voice sounds off from across the laboratory, attracting my attention to the object she had found.
Standing squarely at the end of the room, was a shattered glass display, and in it stood a human-sized contraption. Consisting of a central unit, roughly around the shape and size of a large backpack, with four mechanical, jointed limbs extending from it. Damaged, dirty panels of fiberglass cover the intricate circuitry and hydraulics within, making the device seem like a futuristic, headless scarecrow.
Scuffed and scratched exterior aside, it pretty much matches the descriptions we had been given back at base.
Except there is a slight problem.
“Only one? That can’t be right. The report said there would be–”
“An entire storehouse full of them?”
“What?” Sayaka’s interruption catches me off guard. She beckons me over to her location, where she is peering into a crack between two panels in the wall behind the broken display.
“Here, help me out with this, Major. You guys, too.”
“One, two, pull!” With Sayaka and Miyuki pushing from one end, and Yuki and I pulling from the other, the hidden entrance groans and strains against our combined strength. It eventually gives way to reveal a dark, dim warehouse.
“Somebody get the lights.”
“Got ‘em,” Miyuki flips the switch, and with a pop, the lights come on, filling up the entire area. The sight that greets my eyes nearly makes my jaw drop.
Row upon row upon row of exoskeleton suits, similar to the one that stood powerless in the laboratory outside. Yet, unlike that one, there was not a speck of dust or dirt on them. They appeared brand new, almost sterile, as their sleek white exteriors shone brightly under the light.
“November Two, do you read me?”
“Loud and clear, Sierra Leader, what is it?”
“Tell Okabe that she’s going to need more than just a few transports.”
are hkt48 going to somehoe participate? i can't find anything in their tags (hotel squad and kilo-4 squad...) please include them as well!
The Battalion thanks you for your concern.
Rest assured, the Hakata Garrison still stands strong. As the southernmost outpost of the AKB-48th SMB, and the installation closest to the Korean peninsula, the Hakata Garrison plays a critical role in holding off direct attacks from the sea.
Both Hotel and Kilo-4 participate actively alongside the Maritime Self-Defense Force in shoreline patrols and shore-based anti-surface operations against Korean naval assets. In fact, the Ghosts of the Hakata Garrison have been credited with disabling several Korean capital ships and halting the Korean naval offensive.
In addition, with the formation of the 8th JCAS, the Hakata Garrison now has direct access and command of a variety of naval assets, and even greater freedom in conducting operations at sea.
Further information regarding the Hakata Garrison’s combat operations will be disseminated at a later date.
Once again, the Battalion thanks you for your continued support.
I am jolted to my senses as the vehicle suddenly lurches to its side, and a soft mass hits me from the left. My eyes snap open to see the silhouette of a long-haired girl scrambling to right herself in the dim, dark cabin.
“Sor… sorry, Ma’am!”
“It’s okay, Ryoha…” I wave it off, assuring the young soldier as I try to stifle a yawn. Almost ten years in service, but I still can’t get used to sleeping in a moving AFV. Sighing, I rub my eyes. I swear, these things have the worst suspension systems ever.
I glance at my watch, and call out to the driver over the drone of the vehicle’s engine. “Hey, uh, Okabe! How much further to the checkpoint?”
“Not much longer, Major. ETA ten minutes.”
“Alright.” I switch over to the radio to check on the rest of the mission force. “Sierra One Leader to all units; Rise and shine, people.”
“Sierra Two Leader, Captain Sato, right behind you, Sae.”
“November One, Captain Yamamoto here. Reading you loud and clear.”
“November Two, Lieutenant Jonishi, reporting in.”
“Roger that. All squads accounted for. We’re ten minutes from Checkpoint Alpha, ladies. Check your gear and be ready to move out.”
As the other squads radio back to confirm their orders, I catch at the corner of my eye a dim spot of light. Coming from the screen of a PDA, it illuminates the serious expression on the face of the young officer reading off of it.
“Didn’t try to catch some shut-eye, Jurina?”
“Nope,” her reply is curt and clear, “Just thought I’d try to familiarize myself with the lay of the land.”
“You do know that it’s practically a wasteland out there right now, right? There’s really not much ‘lay’ to think about.”
“Had to occupy myself somehow. You know how bad I am at sleeping while in the field, Major.”
“You’re bad at sleeping anywhere except your bunk, girl. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Neither do I, Major… Neither do I…”
Just then, I overhear the driver’s correspondence with Mission Command.
“Kitsune-1 to Overwatch, we’re splitting off from the main battle column for a Tier One objective. Clearance code ‘Labrador Retriever’, do you copy?”
“This is Overwatch. Passcode received. You are cleared to proceed. Good luck out there.”
“Thank you, Overwatch. Kitsune-1, over and out.”
0015 hrs, 06 February 2026
Joban Highway, Ibaraki Prefecture
“This is as far as I can take you, Ma’am. Just follow this road up north; the facility is about five kilometers from where we are.”
“What about those transport trucks?”
“They’re on their way, ETA one hour.”
“Thanks, Okabe. Keep the engines warm, we’ll radio you when we’re done.”
“You’re welcome, Major.”
I step out through the vehicle’s rear hatch to join the rest of my squad. They’re already in formation, with their weapons drawn. With the full moon obscured by thick clouds, their weapon-mounted torchlights are the only things providing any significant illumination in the dark of night.
Adjusting my communicator, I check that the earpiece is snugly in place, before checking on the rest. We had deployed at different locations along the Joban highway, and the plan is to advance up separate routes through the Tsukuba Research Park to meet at the CYBERDYNE facility.
“Sierra One; boots on the ground along the expressway. Moving to Route 19 to take the central approach. Squads, report in.”
“November One; advancing up the southeastern approach via Route 408.”
“Sierra Two here; we’ve rendezvoused with November Two and are following the railway tracks northwards. We’re taking the overhead route to cover November Two’s approach on the ground.”
“Copy all. Make your ways to Checkpoint Delta. Stick to the timeline, people; we RV at the facility by 0050 hours. Stay alert for enemy patrols. Sierra One out.”
I pull my scarf up to cover my face, trying to provide some semblance of warmth against the cold night air, before I check the GPS marker on my wrist-mounted PDA and survey the surroundings.
Having gotten my bearings, I ready up my own gun; a personalized, customized MP7. Lightweight, compact and comfortable without compromising on power, just the way I like it. This little baby has been with me through thick and thin since I picked him up at the start of the war. Despite the scars of battle that adorn his otherwise sleek, black receiver, I trust this bad boy with my life.
I check that the suppressor is tightly attached, and switch the mounted torchlight on. A wave of my hand, and the rest of my squad forms up behind me.
“Sierra One, move out. Double-time it!”
0033 hrs, 06 February 2026
Katsuraginesaki, Tsukuba Research Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
“Enemy movements inthe three-storey building ahead. I count at least fifteen targets, Ma’am. What’s your call?” Jurina hands me her monocular, pointing out the structure in question – a standalone, abandoned office building. I can just about make out movements though boarded-up windows. I switch to thermal imaging, and multiple figures light up from within.
“Nothing we can’t handle. Move to engage. Switch to night vision and infrared aiming. Stay low and out of sight. Futamura, Miyamae and Tanaka; three of you circle around the rear and cut the lights. Look for the fusebox and shut it off. Jurina, Miyuki; take point through the front door. Azuma and Kitagawa, you’re with me; we’ll flank them from the side entrance.”
“Affirmative.” On my orders, my squad splits up into their respective teams, sneaking silently through the darkness.
I bring the two younger soldiers round to the side of the building, crouching low to avoid any possible lines of sight from the windows. We come up to the wooden door. The wood is old and rotting off its hinges; the glass is broken, patched up hastily with plywood and duct tape. Perfect.
“We’ve located the fusebox. On your mark, Ma’am.”
“Stand by,” I take a moment to pull up my night vision goggles, as do the girls stacked up behind me. I switch it on, and the environment lights up in bright shades of green. “Do it.”
With a loud pop, the building goes dark. Its occupants startle, but calm down quickly. A rough, frustrated male voice calls out from upstairs in Korean, “Jung, go fix the fucking power! That’s the third time already!”
“Solitary target coming out the rear entrance…,” A short pause ensues over the radio, followed by a muffled struggle, “He’s down… wait *krk* yeah, he’s down. Oh, fuck, did the motherfucker just shit himself? That’s nasty…”
I can’t help but smirk under my mask at Tanaka’s comments; she may be the youngest member of Sierra, having come fresh from the Hakata Garrison, but damn, she’s got the mouth of a middle-aged fascist taxi driver.
Transcript: Officer Correspondence RE: Ibaraki Assault, 04 February 2026
Personnel:
COL Takahashi Minami
MAJ Kashiwagi Yuki
MAJ Miyazawa Sae
CPT Yamamoto Sayaka
CO Office
Akihabara Garrison, Tokyo (HQ)
>PLAY TRANSCRIPT: START
COL Takahashi : Ah, Yuki, you’re here. Unit 46 sends their thanks for getting Agent Ikoma out of that hellhole.
MAJ Kashiwagi : No, I must apologize for Captain Watanabe’s–
COL Takahashi : What’s past is past, Major. At least everyone got out alive. I trust she’s recovering?
MAJ Kashiwagi : Yes, Ma’am.
COL Takahashi : Good. Back to the matter at hand. Command is moving into No Man’s Land to secure Ibaraki. It’ll give us a link to our foothold in Fukushima, and then we’ll be able to advance up the eastern coast.
MAJ Miyazawa : Really? You’re sending in Sierra and November for recon duty?
COL Takahashi : No, of course not. I’ve got better things for the Ghosts to do. Kindly direct your attention to the documents I’ve given you.
CPT Yamamoto : What is this? Design specs for some sort of robot?
COL Takahashi : The Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL, for short. A powered exoskeleton suit, designed to support and expand the physical capabilities of its users. Before the war, these were being developed and manufactured by engineers employed by robotics company CYBERDYNE. These had shown tremendous potential in medical rehabilitation, and the JSDF had shown interest in adapting the technology for military use.
CPT Yamamoto : What happened?
COL Takahashi : CYBERDYNE shut down. More than half its staff were wiped out when the bombs fell. All projects were scrapped, and funding from the government was diverted towards the war effort.
MAJ Kashiwagi : So what use is this information?
COL Takahashi : I was just coming to that. The intel that Captain Watanabe secured from Agent Ikoma suggests that there’s an entire stockpile of these suits in storage at the CYBERDYNE facility in Ibaraki. It seems there wasn’t enough time to either ship them out or scrap them, leaving the technology to collect dust.
MAJ Miyazawa : Say no more, Ma’am. The facility is as good as ours.
COL Takahashi : That’s what I like to hear. Sierra and November squads will move in with the main assault force in 48 hours. October Squadron will provide IFVs for troop transport and armoured ground support. Warrant Officer Okabe Rin will be your contact.
CPT Yamamoto : Understood. What’s the ROE?
COL Takahashi : Shoot to kill, but I do not want to see a single scratch on those exoskeleton suits. Any other questions? No? Alright. Good luck, ladies.
MAJ Miyazawa : Hai!
CPT Yamamoto : Hai!
COL Takahashi : Oh, by the way; Yuki, you remember that engineer who was working on the unmanned assault drones? He’s asking–
MAJ Kashiwagi : All due respect, Ma'am; I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. My face is mine and mine only. If I see ONE MORE ROBOT with MY FACE on it, I will TEAR IT APART WITH MY BARE HANDS. WHO THE F–
Hi! I really enjoy this story, the girls are baddass X) Where do the military idea for your fic come from? River? Do you update at a regular pace/planned date or is the rate of your updates not set? I also wondered what Kilo, Echo, November meant but I've googled it X)
The Battalion thanks you for your continued support in the war against Korea.
According to our earliest records, the origins of the AKB-48th Special Missions Battalion can, in fact, be traced to a landmark special-forces operation in 2009, codenamed ‘RIVER’, one that solidified the AKB-48th SMB’s position as the JSDF’s elite military and covert operations unit. Operation: RIVER has since been immortalized as the "Legend of the Ghosts", and has served both as an inspiration to Japanese soldiers in this time of need, and as a cautionary tale to anyone who dares to challenge the Ghosts in combat.
Unfortunately, the rate at which the Intelligence Feed is updated depends on how fast our data-mining teams are able to retrieve and decrypt Battalion records from the frontlines - some of which take much longer than others, due to a combination of data corruption and multiple layers of high-level encryption. We deeply apologize for the resultant delays in delivering intelligence updates.
Transcript: Officer Correspondence RE: [REDACTED], 04 February 2026
Personnel:
MAJ Kashiwagi Yuki
CPT Watanabe Mayu
Medical Bay
Akihabara Garrison, Tokyo (HQ)
MAJ Kashiwagi : Christ, Mayu… what the hell were you thinking back there? The objective was to stay covert – retrieve the intel, secure our man on the inside, and get the hell out. Simple enough. Instead, you defied my orders, broke cover, and went on a mindless rampage!
CPT Watanabe : These were the same fuckers at Fukushima, Yuki! They had to pay for what they did!
MAJ Kashiwagi : You don’t get to make that call! I explicitly ordered you to fall back, and for good reason!
CPT Watanabe : And what, let those animals go?
MAJ Kashiwagi : This isn’t about revenge, Mayu! Do you think Yuko would’ve wanted this?
CPT Watanabe : Don’t… don’t you dare bring Yuko into this.
MAJ Kashiwagi : Yes I will. I know she was your mentor. I know how much she meant to you. I know her death hit you hard. It hit all of us hard. But ever since Yuko went M.I.A., you’ve been acting like this! You’ve become foolish, reckless! You nearly jeopardized the mission, and had I not stepped in, you would have gotten yourself killed! Have you forgotten everything she has taught you?
CPT Watanabe : Just… Just leave me alone!
MAJ Kashiwagi : You know that’s the last thing I want to do, Mayu. Not in your current state.
CPT Watanabe : …
MAJ Kashiwagi : I’ve lost people too, Mayu. We all have. Haachan, Nakayan… and I damn near lost Sae to the Chinese. I don’t want to lose you as well.
CPT Watanabe : But Yuko–
MAJ Kashiwagi : Yuko left her legacy upon you, Mayu. You were her brightest student, and one of the best soldiers this battalion has to offer. But you don’t need to do this alone.
CPT Watanabe : Yuki… I…
MAJ Kashiwagi : Remember when I used to lead Bravo Squad? You were one of the greatest pillars of support I had. Now that you've been transferred back, let me do the same for you, Mayu. Just like the old days. Please.
CPT Watanabe : ... Leave me alone. I… I need to rest.
MAJ Kashiwagi : Mayu, I–
PTE Fukuoka : Major Kashiwagi?
MAJ Kashiwagi : … What is it, Seina?
PTE Fukuoka : Er, I’m really sorry to interrupt, but… the Colonel wants to see you…
CPT Yokoyama : I… I take full responsibility for my failures, Ma’am.
COL Takahashi : No, no… the operation was a success. Mission objectives were met, and the JGSDF has sent a detachment to lock down the area permanently.
CPT Yokoyama : But I should have been –
COL Takahashi : What’s happened has happened, Yui. You did nothing wrong.
CPT Yokoyama : But… I cannot lead Kilo. I mean, I almost botched that mission back in Saitama –
COL Takahashi : Captain. Yuko gave her life on the battlefield, to make sure that you stand here today. She chose you to be the one to lead her squad in her stead. She entrusted Kilo Squad to you, and for good reason.
CPT Yokoyama : … I…
COL Takahashi : I, for one, am willing to endorse and approve her decision. Not only for respect for a fallen friend and fighter, but because I can trust you too. Please, don’t let her sacrifice be in vain.
CPT Yokoyama : … Yes, Ma’am. I… I won’t let you down.
COL Takahashi : Good. You’re dismissed. Get a good rest, Yui. You and the whole of Kilo. Fight’s not over yet.
CPT Yokoyama : Yes, Ma’am…
COL Takahashi : … Is there something else?
CPT Yokoyama : Yes… What about the personnel we retrieved? If I remember correctly, Sergeant Kojima is in Kilo, isn’t she? What was she doing there?
COL Takahashi : I suppose I can tell you. The Ladybirds aren’t a secret anymore, so… You can speak to Major Minegishi. Tell her I sent you. Anyway, I’m putting the Ladybird Initiative on hiatus. The personnel will be returned to regular duty with their respective squads.
CPT Yokoyama : ‘On hiatus’? So you’re planning to restart the program?
COL Takahashi : I will not hesitate to do what I need to do, Captain. In the meantime, though, tell Sergeant Kojima that she can rest easy… for now.
When a Ghost is killed in the line of duty, her remains are placed face up, in the direction of her hometown, with her gun by her side. Her sword is displayed, unsheathed, at the gates of her Garrison, alongside the blades of all those who have crossed over before her.
We do it this way, so that when they are taken to the other side, they may still watch over us, protect us, and keep an eye on our enemy.
