Operation Ice Pick

Respite

(Fighter Creator: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1373868)

Midsummer 2009 AD on the planet Herramus, Kivolka Nach, aka 'The Ice Pick', is on leave in her home region of Rosiacho. Kivolka is a senior officer in a special intelligence agency known as the Keepers of the Interdimensional Gate, or KIG for short. Herramus is not only similar to Earth, but is in fact 'linked' to Earth. Travel between worlds is achievable by activating a portal. The means of doing so, however, varies, which has led to many chaotic moments in the history of both planets. Thus the KIG was founded to monitor and stop any interplanetary activity between the two worlds in collaboration with the governments of Earth's major countries. In it near 400-year history, the agency has been quite successful. So successful, the people of Earth have entirely forgotten, save a scant few, about the existence of the denizens of Herramus, known as Daemons. However, throughout history, humans have called them by many different names, demons, devils, onis, ogres, orcs, werewolves, lycans, vampires, minotaurs, cyclopes, elves, dragons, etc.

However, in the past seven years, the KIG has been haunted by two rogue daemons hunters by the names of Antonio and Felix. Daemon hunters are humans who have learn the mystical martial art specifically designed to fight and even 'exorcise' daemons known as Barai-budo. As part of the deal between humans and daemons in the formation of the KIG, all daemon hunters must be directly associated with the KIG for life. Any daemon hunter who refuses is considered a 'rogue' and will either be forced to join or be executed. Antonio and Felix, who secretly learned Barai-budo from their now deceased father, became mercenaries in their late teens.

They've escaped the KIG's notice until they were hired by a rogue daemon, a daemon who comes to Earth without authorization, to take part in a plot against the Herramus Supreme Council, or HSC. The plot was foiled, but the brothers escaped and two operatives were killed in the process. Since then, the HSC has made taking down the rogue hunters the KIG's number one priority. Several attempts at their lives have been made since, but each has failed and at least one KIG operative dies each time. Things came to a head in Costa Rica mere days earlier.

The KIG planned its biggest operation against the rogues yet with a young operative named Nina Beltaur being, what they believed to be, its secret weapon. Nina is a very unique daemon, being the first known daemon to be immune to Barai-budo. The KIG higher ups were confident Nina with several veteran operatives would be enough to finally do away with Antonio and Felix. However, Kivolka objected, citing Nina's lack of battlefield experience and general attitude, and warned her colleagues to not underestimate their foes and the advancement of human warfare. The Director and her fellow senior officers did not listen and the operation went ahead as planned. Tragically, her pessimistic premonition came true. Not only did the mission fail, two very prominent operatives were killed and one left paralyzed. Nina's inexperience and lack of chemistry with the other operatives were thoroughly exposed. Her immunity was of little consequence.

Back on the KIG compound, morale was at an all-time low. Kivolka herself was devastated by the loss of her two closest friends, but was even more irate at her fellow higher ups for not heeding her warning. She accuses her older, by at least two centuries, comrades of resting on their laurels and being unwilling to adapt to the ever changing landscape of Earth. The Director herself concedes this. The next day, in an attempt to lift morale and in defiance of the HSC, the Director announced that the KIG will deprioritize their hunt for Antonio and Felix and will allow every eligible KIG member to go on a two week leave. Also, she privately puts Kivolka in charge of dealing with the rogue daemon hunters. For now on, any action taken against them must go through her.

While on leave, Kivolka reflects on these recent events and how to best combat Antonio and Felix. Just then, she thinks about Nina's immunity and has an epiphany.