January 1, 3203, Somewhere in Ikaruga, Empire of Misurugi
In a hideout, two groups of people are having a conversation on their mission in Misurugi, but they are being led by each other
Howze: All right, everybody, we're all here, my name is Lt. Gen. Hamilton H. Howze. I'll become the field rescue group leader from US. Nice to see you all. This is my protégé, Graves
(Major Philip Graves)
Graves: Alright everyone, you were brought here for many reasons, but as a rescue team in the open field, I hope we get a "friendly" welcome from these savages.
(Colonel of the Air Force Sergey Podovsky)
Podovsky: Why are you needed a Soviet helicopter pilot like me? You know that I'm currently on my probationary period driving the new Mi-24?
Graves: I don't give any fuck of it.
Howze: Yes, as you can see, the Japanese will come later. Like I said, we'll do the field rescue live, Podovsky, Malashenko, you two go to the northern district, while I'll go to the eastern district.
(Captain Nikolai Malashenko)
Malashenko: It's nice to work together with you all
Graves: I appreciate it, soldier...
Howze: Alright, let's split up. Don't loosen yourself. Remember, our priority target was her *show a photo*
Malashenko: Wait... is that?
Podovsky: I know her... she have a lot of friend, which one of them was in my captive 2 days ago
Howze: Yes. She is our top priority, capture her alive, because she... she... I don't know, I don't have any details. But remember, watch this guy out
(Photo of Julio Asuka Misurugi)
Howze: From his face he looks like a dangerous person, so our spies in the Royal Guard keep an eye on him, for 24 hours
Podovsky: He was a jerk. We can beat the shit out of him
Howze: That's not our priority, that CIA priority to keep an eye for him
Malashenko: Does this world believe that among them are our spies?
Graves: Apparently not, colonel, because it's very easy for the leaders of the world's nations to convince people that what Jill statement about many spies that was infiltrated the remaining this world countries was just a lie. So people don't panic or suspect other people, we've just seen it's normal as if nothing had happened. *sigh* Why can't we take New Years off?
Howze: We're the only ones with reckless field experience, so that's what General Westmoreland said
In the garage
Howze and Graves and two other US Special Forces are ready to departed from there
Graves: Do you sure the High Command want us to do this?
Howze: You know? That I've been on Arzenal for months, and I feel bored to live in there. And I cannot forgot what do you say when the Misurugians are do their defeat march to the Soviets war camps
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Flashback
Eastern Misurugi, Soviet Occupied Sūzūrou
Lt. Gen. Howze and Major Graves arrived at the Soviet military and concentration camp, and now they are boarding a Soviet jeep where they see Misurugi people starting from the commoners, peasants, nobles, workers, students and soldiers was marching while being guarded by Soviet soldiers
Howze: What are you guys doing to them?
Soviet Soldier 8#: These people deserved it, they were roasted by the scorching heat of the sun, they marched from the ruined city *points to a ruined city*. They will be transferred to our concentration camp and they will get the punishment they deserve. We don't use physical torture methods, we use mental torture methods.
Graves: Damn it... look at these disgusting Mana people...
The two of them saw that they still had some dignity by lining up neatly and not resisting at this crucial moment
Graves: Look at them. Even in defeat, they still know how to match with pride...
Within the marching group, a Misurugi army captain was seen commenting on their fate, which should be respected instead of being looked down upon by the New Norma people.
Misurugi Captain: Those abominations... they will not stop until all of us dead. They're really think that they're far above us?! We have Light of Mana! Why the any single of us cannot defeated them?!
Graves: Hey you!
The captain saw a jeep driving beside his group and saw two Americans riding in the jeep while being hit by a light breeze.
Graves: That's right! You stupid Mana bastards! That's right!
Misurugi Captain: What the hell are you thinking? Get lost!
Graves: Say hello to oil and natural fucking gas! You stupid bigots pigs! Look at you! You have none! What were you thinking about Norma that have you persecuted!?
Howze then pulled Graves off his stance
Howze: That's enough, Graves. Give it a rest.
Graves: Dragging our asses half-way around the world... interrupting our lives. *stand up again and look at the Misurugi army captain again* For what?! You ignorant, servile scum! What the fuck are we doing here?!
Howze: That's enough! *dragged Graves back to sit down*
Flashback end
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Graves: Eh... that very fun sir
Howze: Whatever, let's go now
Podovsky: Have a nice trip everyone
Howze: When are you leaving?
Podovsky: Heh, we have our own time
Then they went to do their first task. Their Humvees immediately disappeared because they used stealth tools to avoid them being suspected because most cars didn't use wheels and all the cars that were there were hover cars which is powered by Light of Mana
In the Eastern District of Ikaruga
Now they are in the car park where they are in a Humvee camouflaged with a stealth device. And by this time, they had been waiting for about 20 minutes
Howze: See something?
US Special Forces 2#: I didn't see any...
Graves: It's just making time, we're in a VIP parking lot that's not used by many people, only bloody nobles can park here
Then they looked outside with a Light of Mana screen showing a standing Soviet general that his face was not shown because the scene of that place is too dark
???: <<This message was for the Misurugians who still lay back in the back front! Tomorrow, the Norma's wrath will fall upon you! In your beloved princess's baptism ritual, I will sent 15 fighters to bombed your old fucking city and I assure you that 20 thousand people must fall victim to our anger including your beloved princess!! For the Motherland!!!>>
Then the Light of Mana screen changed to a news channel
News Anchor 1#: <<A mysterious Soviet general had sent a threatening message to our nation in which they stated that they would send 15 fighters to bombed our city during the Baptism ritual, the Misurugi Military High Command ordered to mobilize anti-air forces in case the Soviet threat became real.>>
Graves: Serve you're right
News Anchor 1#: <<In addition to this news, it was reported that the movement of Soviet troops in the east and Japanese troops in the west was getting slower. The Misurugi High Command was putting the divisions along the both Soviet and Japanese army border to planning a counterattack and repel the occupiers once and for all>>
US Special Forces 3#: Something is going on...
Howze: What is it?
US Special Forces 2#: I don't know, I see many people in panic
Graves: Shit, the cops are coming, that means there's a Norma
Howze: How they can a Norma that fast? Are they just a patrols?
Graves: Think so, Lt. General. Not only the local patrols... wait... is that...?
Howze: Yes, that is it... The NMB... Norma Management Board Officers
US Special Forces 2#: What we gonna do now?
Howze: Stay in here *put out his helm, his handgun and hide his ID*
Graves: What are you doing?
Howze: Don't worry, they think I'm a mechanic that just passing by *out from Humvee*
Howze passed through the grass where no one could see because he was focused on what happened, it was crowded at that time, so he decided to get closer to what happened.
Howze: *thought* What the hell is happen in here?
Then he saw a mother who was being held by the police, while the NMB officers made a Mana shield to restrain the baby girl who was on the ground
(Serra's mother and Serra herself)
Howze: *thought* Okay... what the hell?
Then Howze realized there was a car back there, and he realized that it was the royal family's car
Howze: Oh.. shit.
Howze saw that the mother of the baby girl named Serra was trying not to move, but Serra, who was still a baby and didn't know anything, crawled and broke Mana's shield.
Howze: Well, damn...
Misurugi Police Officer 9#: Excuse me sir, we doing our job in here. Please stay out from the site
Howze: Oh... I'm sorry, I have to go to my workshop, because I'm in a hurry. I took this path because it is the fastest way
Misurugi Police Officer 9#: The fastest way to the workshop, which is 20 meters away, is just walking there, which can be fast, why take this road? This road to the nearest workshop is 40 meters away
Howze: Oh, I'm going the wrong way
Howze looked towards the place just now
NMB Officer 5#: Under Article 1, Section 3, of the Norma Management Code, this individual is hereby designated Norma #1203-76
Serra's mother: Serra... Give back my daughter!
Serra's mother got out of the hands of the police and took her baby back and some police officers tried to take Serra back with some other violent means
Misurugi Police Officer 9#: Whoa! Hold right there, sir! *run*
Howze saw firsthand how the love of a mother who didn't want her child to be taken away and isolated because she was just a Norma, Howze saw this firsthand, and not from the television screen and others
Serra's mother: Please forgive us! She's just little bad at using Mana! Please!
Angelise: But that is the very sign of a Norma. We cannot ignore it.
Then, a princess who was none other than the Misurugi Imperial Princess Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi who was the OFN's top priority target and had to be brought in alive according to the information that Howze get
(Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi and Momoka Ogimone)
Serra's mother: Lady Angelise...
Misurugi Police Officer 2#: What?
Misurugi Police Officer 3#: It's her!
Angelise: The Light of Mana, the ultimate evolution of humanity...The Norma reject it. They are instinctively violent, antisocial monsters. She must be purged from this world, immediately.
Because of this, Serra's mother still wanted to keep her daughter
Serra's mother: Please... Lady Angelise! I'll raise her well!
Angelise: You can't. Norma is not human.
Hearing this, Serra's mother couldn't help but be surprised, while the people who saw this could only whisper loudly from behind. Howze was surprised to hear this statement, he thought Princess Angelise was a good-minded person, but she was just the same as them
Angelise: You must forget her, and bear another child-a proper child, not a Norma.
Hearing that, Serra's mother was mad by the statement, but just as she was about to get angry and throw something, Howze sprang into action
Howze: Excuse me! Your Highness, may I ask something?
This made Serra's mother not to fight back and was surprised that someone was nearby
Angelise: What is it, sir?
Howze: I mean, what do you think of the New Norma? According to the rumors I heard they can destroy the Light of Mana without touching it or in other words using an intermediary like weapons, other items or anything that isn't physically directly. So my question is: Has Norma evolved into something we don't know?
Angelise: I... I...
Everyone is surprised why the mechanic even asked that? Some of the police began to suspect this man, but there is no solid evidence that he is suspicious, because of his looks and appearance like a mechanic
Angelise: I have no idea... even in my life, I have never seen New Norma
Howze: Good... good. Remember well my words: "What we sow, so shall we reap". I hope you know what it means in the future
Howze noticed a police hovercar at the very front, and then he asked
Howze: Excuse me, whose car is the front one?
Misurugi Police Officer 10#: That's mine
Misurugi Police Officer 11#: Precisely ours, you know sir that the police don't work alone and there must be partners?
Howze: Yeah I know. Let me talk with the mother of that baby
Misurugi Police Officer 2#: Wait a minute! You must step back! That is dangerous!
Howze: It's okay, I'm fine. I will negotiate with her
Everyone there was whispering behind their backs and defending this Howze who dared to do such a dangerous thing just to negotiate
Howze: *crouches and talk slowly* Hey... put it this way... there's no need for violence, and there's no need for loss, okay? So here I go, I have friends in the police force, they can help you and your daughter, so you just go with what i say and my friends say, okay?
Serra's mother: B-but...
Howze blinked his right eye and it made the mother realize that this man was trying to help her and her daughter
Howze: *standing back* Hey man! Can you brought the mother and the baby? Make sure that the mother of the baby can see her daughter for a last time
Misurugi Police Officer 11#: Sure
NMB Officer 5#: Wait a minute! That's against the law! You can't do that!
Howze: I mean like this young man, I will drop the mother of this child in front of my workshop and that is the last time she will see her child so that later I can take the mother and help her back to her home
NMB Officer 5#: Alright, that make sense
Howze was happy that this first mission went well and he laughed at these Mana people in his mind who turned out to be gullible people.
Howze: *thought* Stupid... you people are narrow minded and don't want to bother, I something, they simply believe it
NMB Officer 5#: Yes, thank you for your help sir...?
Howze: Just call me Hamilton
NMB Officer 5#: Oh yeah, thanks for your help, Mr. Hamilton. Oh yes, did you join the police car?
Howze: Yes
Short of time, Howze sat in the Hover police car accompanied by two policemen and the mother and her daughter also got in and the police car took off. It was then that the Humvee, which used stealth technology, immediately followed the police car from the back
In somewhere place in the little forest
Serra's mother and her daughter was drop in somewhere place, she is confused as to why she and her daughter were brought there? Then they all got out of the Hover police car
Serra's mother: Wait... I can't understand, what's all this?
Howze: Everything will be fine
Then the Humvee came and turned off its stealth camouflage system and then Graves got out of the Humvee
Graves: Crazy, I didn't know your method was so effective, you managed to trick everyone there. Oh, here your helmet
Howze: Yes, thanks *takes his helmet*
Serra's mother: Wait... you... you an American soldier...
Howze: That's right, and my rank is Lieutenant General
The mother was surprised that the man who helped her was a Lieutenant General from the US Army, and why had the two policemen come with them?
Misurugi Police Officer 10#: So... is there any additional wages?
Graves: Here you go *give a flashdisk*. All of the Mana digital money are in here. All of is is 40 million bucks, each of you have 20 million bucks
Then one of these police took the flashdisk and extracted all of Mana's digital money into their respective accounts, and the mother was realize that these two policemen were corrupt policemen who were paid to cooperate with the OFN spies
Serra's mother: H-how many cops did you guys pay just to do this? And where do you get the Mana digital money from?
Howze: We just have to employ Mana people who want to work with us, with the promise of a life guaranteed by the government. That money is the result of money that we take from prisoners of war ranging from civilians to soldiers
Serra's mother: I do not know what to say... but thank you, sir
Howze: It is my duty as a soldier who protects the people
Then Groundbridge opened and some US soldiers came from inside there
US Soldier 8#: So this is it?
Howze: Just this first
US Soldier 23#: All right, ma'am, time to go
Then Serra's mother and Serra entered Groundbridge and that Groundbridge led directly to the US base in Colorado, before leaving, she nodded to Howze and then the Groundbridge was closed
Graves: Wow... I didn't expect that if it could be this smooth, it would be easy for you to disguise yourself as a mechanic
Howze: It's nothing, I hope that mother and her daughter will definitely get a decent life
Colorado, US military base
This military base houses many Norma and their Mana relatives who are still loyal to them, many tents are provided for newcomers. When Dan's mother came out of the Groundbridge, she saw that the military base was very crowded because there were many Norma who came from other countries such as Velda, Marmeria and Galia
US Soldier 23#: Before you stay here for 2 days, then you will get another place in Denver city, but before that, you talk to the head of this base first
Serra's mother: Yes
US Soldier 23#: If I please, can you first entrust your daughter to the doctor, he will check your daughter's health and condition
Serra's mother: Thank you...
Now, Serra's mother can live in peace, without having her child taken by the NMB, now she will start a new life in the United States
Back at Ikaruga, Secret Hideout
Howze is still thinking about this, why does the princess of this country even support the stance of the people of this world? He hoped that the princess would understand the meaning of the saying he gave her
Howze: *thought* Where is the honor of the people of this country? They have no honor, do they? Or... well, forget it
To Be Continued.