Night Time, New Area 18 (formerly Middle East)

Night had fallen over the newly designated Area 18, once known as the Middle East. Following Cornelia's departure to Area 11, a move confirmed by the OSI, the Salvatians initiated a full-scale liberation operation. The Grand Army of Salvatia mobilized both ground forces and mecha fighters, positioning themselves around the region to ensure that no Britannian forces could escape as the battle unfolded. Once the blockade was firmly in place, the combined forces of Salvatia and the Vindictarium Order began their assault.

Above the battlefield, a skycruiser dropship pierced the smoke-laden skies, descending toward the new settlement below. Inside, Ishiwari and her sister, along with the rest of their squad, sat in anticipation of their deployment. Dressed in pilot jumpsuits that matched their unique hair colors, they observed as their mecha frames knelt in preparation. Maintenance crews hurriedly conducted final checks, ensuring there were no issues that might hinder their performance once the battle began. The tension in the air was palpable as Furuse Kohei broke the silence.

"I still can't believe we're being sent all the way from Japan to fight here," Furuse grumbled, scratching his hair in frustration.

"Why are we even fighting in the Middle East?" he continued, clearly upset. "We should be taking the fight to the Britannians in Japan."

Yukawa Keiki, sitting nearby, sighed before responding. "There's a reason we're here, Furuse. We're not in Japan for a reason, especially not at night."

"Exactly!" Furuse shot back, eager for validation. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

Ishiwari Mayu, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "You want to know why we're here?" she asked, her tone cool but firm.

All eyes turned to her, waiting for an answer.

"Because this will be our first battle with mecha frames provided by the Salvatians," she explained. "These mecha are far more advanced than the knightmare frames the Britannians use. It's a whole different level of technology."

Her younger sister, Shiro Mayu, raised an eyebrow. "But the Europeans and the Chinese are using knightmare frames too, right?" she pointed out, a reminder that they weren't the only ones with advanced technology.

"Yes," Ishiwari nodded, "but the point is that Xavier Salvador is testing us."

Hitarashi Ogai, who had been quiet until now, frowned in confusion. "Testing us? What do you mean by that?"

Ishiwari met his gaze, her expression serious. "He wants to see if our training is enough to handle real combat with these mecha frames. General Hopperfield told me so himself."

"General Hopperfield?" Shiro Mayu blurted out, her confusion clear. "You mean that cute rabbit in general's clothing?"

Furuse snickered as Shiro's innocent comment filled the dropship with a brief moment of levity. Just moments ago, they had met General Hopperfield, a rabbit from the wildfolk who oversaw the south pole base. The encounter had been jarring for the Japanese soldiers, as they had never before met a non-human—let alone an alien rabbit in a military uniform. Shiro, not knowing any better, had gone straight up to him and started cuddling him, much to the general's visible discomfort. Despite his high rank, Hopperfield was treated more like a pet than a military officer, which irked him to no end. Only after Ishiwari had pulled her sister away did the general regain his composure. He explained to them that they would participate in their first battle as part of a liberation mission in the Middle East.

Though initially resistant to the idea, Ishiwari surprised everyone by accepting the mission. Her decision left the others in stunned silence as they boarded the skycruiser dropship and made their way to the heart of the conflict.

Ishiwari Mayu's voice cut through the chatter of her teammates as she addressed them. "If we want to truly liberate our country from the Britannians, we need to test our skills on the battlefield. This mission is our first step, and once it's over, we'll return to Japan and fight for our people."

Usui Wakumi, lounging casually against the wall, nodded in agreement. "That sounds good to me."

She stretched lazily. "They want to see what we're capable of after all our training, then we'll show them what we've got."

Ishiwari smiled, pleased to see her words resonating with someone. She continued, her tone becoming more serious. "Oh, and I almost forgot to mention—we'll be joined by someone from the Grand Army of Salvatia. An elite."

"An elite?" Yukawa Keiki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who's joining us for this mission?"

Before anyone could answer, a voice spoke from behind them. "I am."

They all turned to find a black wolf beastfolk approaching. He was tall, his muscular frame the result of years of intensive training. His yellow wolf eyes gleamed in the low light, able to see in the dark with night vision. A small scar marred his left chest, a testament to his battles, most notably with the multiversal enemy known as the Combine Union. A black wolf tail swayed behind him, and his wolf-like ears peeked out from beneath his hair. He was dressed in a pilot jumpsuit, reinforced with body armor, and wore military black boots. This was Wolfram Blackfang, an elite soldier and mecha pilot, known for his combat prowess, especially when facing the Combine Union.

He strode up confidently, introducing himself with military precision. "I'm 1st Lieutenant Wolfram Blackfang, from the Marine Corps of the Grand Army of Salvatia."

Ishiwari Mayu nodded. "I'm Ishiwari Mayu, and this is my sister, Shiro Mayu."

"Hello!" Shiro Mayu waved cheerfully at him.

Ishiwari motioned to the rest of her squad. "These are my friends: Furuse Kohei, Yukawa Keiki, Usui Wakumi, and Hitarashi Ogai. I take it you're here to join us?"

Wolfram gave a curt nod. "That's right. I've been assigned to accompany you. My job is to ensure you all perform well in battle."

Hitarashi Ogai raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "So, you're here to babysit us, huh?"

Wolfram gave him a cold stare. "More or less. I'm here to make sure you don't do anything reckless that could get you killed."

Usui Wakumi chuckled. "Aw, how sweet of you to care so much."

Wolfram's gaze hardened slightly. "In addition, the scientists will be monitoring your neural readings from the station. If something goes wrong with your neural link, they'll disconnect you immediately to prevent any permanent damage to your brain or nervous system."

Hitarashi's face paled slightly. "Let's hope that doesn't happen in the middle of the fight. The last thing I want is brain damage while hooked into a neural interface."

Wolfram's expression softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "We've got just a few seconds before deployment. I need everyone to be ready."

Ishiwari Mayu gave a sharp nod. "Understood, sir. Alright, everyone, let's get into our mecha frames."

She, her sister, and their Japanese comrades moved quickly toward their designated mecha frames. Wolfram, too, approached his frame—Maleagant—climbing inside and securing himself. With a practiced motion, he placed a headset on his head to initiate the neural link, connecting with the mecha.

As each of them connected to their respective frames, the feeling was almost instantaneous. It was as if they were moving their own bodies, every movement perfectly synchronized with the machine.

Shiro Mayu, her voice filled with awe, marveled at the sensation. "Wow! So this is what it feels like to have a real mecha body."

She flexed her hands, amazed at the fluidity of the movement as the neural interface worked flawlessly.

Usui Wakumi grinned, spinning around in her frame, testing the limits of her newfound power. "Heh. This is different from training. This is the real deal. I can feel everything within me."

Ishiwari Mayu's voice cut through their excitement, bringing them back to focus. "Alright, enough of the chatter. Let's grab our weapons and get ready for deployment."

Yukawa Keiki's voice was steady as she responded. "Roger that."

Each of them retrieved their assigned weapons, specially chosen for their individual fighting styles, preparing for the battle ahead. The countdown had begun.

Ishiwari Mayu, piloting the mecha frame Rovenja, was armed with a mana high-frequency katana, a mana high-frequency ninjato blade, an NS-240 Heavy Machine gun, an electron-phrased plasma pistol, and a mana beam rifle.

Shiro Mayu piloted the mecha Yoriko, equipped with two plasma sabers and an arcane-positron beam rifle. Dueling double-barrel electron-phased plasma repeater cannons were also mounted on its arms.

The Brown Kougeki, piloted by Furuse Kohei, came armed with a heatwave assault rifle, an energy broadsword, plasma rocket-propelled hand grenades, and a proton bazooka.

Usui Wakumi took command of the Yale Blue Kougeki, wielding an arcane bolter assault gun, plasma rocket-propelled hand grenades, and an energy broadsword.

Yukawa Keiki piloted the Dark Red Kougeki, equipped with a heatwave assault rifle, an energy broadsword, a fireball bazooka, and a handheld self-propelled shield.

Hitarashi Ogai was in control of the Azure Blue Kougeki, armed with a mana beam sniper rifle, an energy broadsword, plasma rocket-propelled hand grenades, and an EK-88 Arcshock Striker rifle.

Lastly, Wolfram Blackfang piloted Maleagant, carrying two plasma sabers, a VK-452 Blitzator machine gun, and a mana beam rifle.

With their weapons now equipped, the team stood ready for their first deployment. Wolfram Blackfang briefed them on the upcoming battle in the Middle East, an area under Britannian control.

"Alright, listen up," Wolfram began, his voice steady and commanding. "This operation is all about liberating the Middle East from Britannian control. As you all know, the Middle Eastern Federation has been conquered by the Holy Britannian Empire, with Princess Cornelia herself overseeing it. Now, with Cornelia leaving for Area 11 to take up the role of viceroy, we have our opportunity to strike. We're currently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the enemy has plans to establish a new settlement. The military there, led by a high-ranking general, controls the area from a newly built palace. Our mission is simple: take the capital, eliminate the general, and free the entire Middle East."

He paused for a moment before addressing the team more directly.

"Any questions?"

Furuse Kohei raised his hand. "When you say 'liberating the Middle East,' do you mean the entire continent?"

"Exactly," Wolfram confirmed. "Don't worry, larger forces have already been deployed across the continent. We've also cut off their communications and taken out critical infrastructure, including naval ports and airfields. The operation is secretive—no one must know of our presence until the Supreme Leader gives the go-ahead. We do this right, and the operation will succeed. Understood?"

"Understood, sir," Ishiwari Mayu replied, her voice filled with resolve. "We'll do everything we can to ensure the success of this operation."

"Good to hear," Wolfram acknowledged. "Remember your training, and you'll live to see your homeland freed."

The lights in the cockpit turned green, and a loud ringing sound signaled the start of the deployment. The bay doors opened, revealing the chaos of the battlefield below. Riyadh was engulfed in warfare; Britannian jet fighters zoomed overhead, only to be swiftly shot down by Salvatian Skykiller fighters, their electron-plasma assault cannons and plasma missiles wreaking havoc. Smoke billowed into the sky, and flames consumed buildings. The Japanese team couldn't help but recall the brutal invasion of Japan by the Holy Britannian Empire as they watched the true horrors of war unfold.

"So, this is war..." Shiro Mayu whispered, her voice heavy with disbelief as she gazed at the carnage below.

"Yes... this is what a real war looks like," Ishiwari replied somberly, her gaze fixed on the scene.

Wolfram Blackfang was the first to move. "Alright, everyone, follow me," he ordered, then took a leap from the skycruiser dropship without a second thought.

"Did he just jump out!?" Furuse Kohei exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.

"Is he insane!?" Yukawa Keiki added, equally stunned.

Usui Wakumi, ever the daring one, smirked. "Insane or not, I'm joining him."

Without hesitation, she jumped into the chaos below, followed quickly by Ishiwari Mayu, who was determined not to let hesitation hold her back. "Come on, let's prove ourselves," she urged her team as she leapt into the fray.

Yoriko laughed with excitement as she followed suit, descending rapidly toward the ground.

"I'm joining in too," Hitarashi Ogai announced, much to Furuse's surprise.

"You too!?" Furuse blinked, but Hitarashi had already jumped.

"Rather than stay up here in the sky? No way. I want to fight the Britannians in this mecha frame—it's far better than knightmare frames," Hitarashi called out as he dove into the battlefield.

Furuse and Yukawa exchanged looks before making their own decision.

"I hope I know how to use this body," Furuse muttered, bracing himself.

"You better!" Yukawa shouted as they both followed the others, diving toward the newly built Britannian settlement. The battle had only just begun.

...

Area 18 newly built Riyadh Settlement, Middle East

The battle raged on in the newly established Riyadh Settlement in Area 18, with the air thick with the sounds of gunfire and explosions. A group of Sutherland Knightmares, struggling under the pressure, began to retreat, firing back at the advancing Salvatian forces. In a swift countermeasure, the Salvatians deployed two high-speed mecha frames, the Astrayers, to face the Britannian Knightmares head-on. The Astrayers, wielding mana-infused high-frequency katanas, displayed unmatched agility as they danced around their enemies, slicing through them with dazzling speed. The Sutherland Knightmares fell quickly, their lines torn apart. A Britannian tank attempted to retaliate, aiming at one of the Astrayers, but before it could fire, it was obliterated by a well-placed shot from an anti-gravity tank.

Meanwhile, in the western district, Britannian forces held their ground against the unexpected assault from the Salvatian invaders. The battle was a surprise for the Britannians, who had just secured control over the Middle Eastern Federation. A Salvatian Thunder Tank, supported by infantry forces, unleashed a barrage of pulsed energy projectiles, destroying a Britannian tank in a single strike. As the Salvatians pushed forward, three reinforcements in the form of Sutherland Knightmares arrived, determined to hold the line.

"Come on, men!" shouted the Britannian officer, his voice ringing with authority. "Fend off these enemies! This land belongs to the Holy Britannian Empire!"

His words, meant to rally the troops, echoed across the battlefield, but the fear was palpable in his voice as the tide turned. "Never give up! Never cower in fear! Britannia is everywhere, and we are destined to remain on top—"

Before he could finish, a soldier's frantic cry interrupted him. "Enemy reinforcements incoming!"

The officer turned to see three massive mecha fighters advancing—the Fieldgrunts. Towering over everything in sight, the sheer size of these mechas left both the soldiers and their officer in stunned disbelief. These behemoths were five times larger than the typical Knightmare frames.

"What is that?!" one soldier exclaimed.

"It's a giant! A literal giant!" another cried in terror.

The officer stood frozen, his face draining of color. "A giant Knightmare frame? How is that even possible?! Who could create such monstrous machines?" His voice was laced with both shock and fear.

The Fieldgrunts raised their weapons without hesitation and opened fire, mowing down Britannian soldiers and officers with ruthless efficiency. The Sutherland Knightmare reinforcements rushed to assist, but their attacks were useless against the Fieldgrunts' Neolaminate plating. The massive mecha fighters tore through the Knightmares, their armor-piercing energy rounds shredding the enemy ranks. The Britannians, outmatched and overwhelmed, could do little but surrender as the Salvatians continued their relentless advance.

In the eastern district, the battle unfolded in a similar manner. The Sutherland and Gloucester Knightmares put up a strong resistance, bombarding Salvatian mecha frames with heavy fire. However, the advanced weaponry of the Salvatians proved more than a match for the Britannian forces. Unable to keep up with the superior firepower and maneuverability of the Salvatians, the Britannians were forced to retreat, following orders from their commanding officer.

Seizing the opportunity, the Salvatians pressed their advantage, capturing the district with ease. Across the eastern sector, Britannian units found their defenses collapsing one by one under the relentless assault of the Salvatian forces. Retreating to the viceroy's palace, the remaining Britannian soldiers regrouped, setting up defensive turrets in a last-ditch effort to hold their ground. But even their fortified perimeter could not stop the incoming wave of mecha fighters, who were not deterred by the turrets' fire.

...

The Britannian tank locked its sights on Rovenja, who retaliated by firing her mana beam rifle, obliterating the tank in a single shot.

"Sister!" Yoriko shouted, spotting Rovenja after she finished taking down the enemy Sutherland Knightmare.

"Are you alright?" Yoriko asked, concern evident in her voice.

Rovenja glanced at her, unfazed. "I'm fine. Focus on the enemy."

Yoriko nodded. "Right!"

Without hesitation, she soared through the city, spotting three enemy Knightmare frames. She fired her electron-phased plasma repeater cannons, taking them down with precise shots. She then ascended into the sky, targeting and eliminating enemy VTOL gunships with unrelenting fire.

The Dark Red Kougeki and Yale Blue Kougeki worked in tandem to dismantle the Sutherland and Gloucester Knightmare frames. Dark Red Kougeki unleashed a barrage from his heatwave assault rifle, targeting both Knightmare frames and VTOL gunships in the air. Meanwhile, Yale Blue Kougeki activated her energy broadsword and engaged a Gloucester Knightmare in close combat, using her maser vibration sword (MVS). With swift precision, she pushed the Knightmare back, then leapt to the other side, stabbing him in a blur of motion. In the same fluid motion, she swung her energy blade at another Gloucester Knightmare, cleaving it in half in a burst of sparks and explosion.

"Wow! You did great!" Kougeki exclaimed, genuinely impressed by her performance.

"Thanks," she replied with a smile. "I've been honing my sword skills during neural interface training. It's become a fine technique for facing Britannians."

With that, they parted ways to continue the fight.

At the rear, Azure Blue Kougeki and Brown Kougeki followed Blackfang's Maleagant, providing support to the Salvatian mecha units as the Britannian forces, bolstered by their tanks, tried to mount a counteroffensive. Blackfang's Maleagant leapt into action, taking the enemy by surprise as he flanked their forces, mowing them down with his VK-452 Blitzator machine gun.

Meanwhile, Azure Blue Kougeki provided sniper support from a distance, eliminating Britannian tanks and picking off Sutherland Knightmares. Brown Kougeki charged forward, firing rapidly at incoming enemy Knightmare reinforcements from the east, cutting through them with speed and precision. As they finished off the last of the opposition, they pushed forward, with the Salvatian forces trailing behind them.

The group regrouped, confirming that all sectors had been cleared. Wordlessly, they followed Blackfang's Maleagant toward the Salvatian main forces. They soon arrived at the newly established viceroy's palace, only to be met with heavy fire from defensive wall turrets. The turrets, however, were no match for two GAS Erebus units, who deployed attack drones to systematically eliminate the enemy defenses.

"Hell yeah! So this is the military power of Salvatia!" Kougeki exclaimed, awe in his voice.

"We have a wide array of arsenals at our disposal," Blackfang replied calmly. "Particularly from the Vindictarium Order and Black Death Legion."

Yoriko raised an eyebrow. "Are they spread across the Middle East?"

"Correct," Blackfang confirmed. "They've encircled the Middle East, ensuring no enemy can escape should Area 18 fall. We also have amphibious mecha fighters and frames to neutralize navy ships and submarines, leaving no way out."

Kougeki hesitated, then spoke up. "Sir, does your supreme leader always lead the military by himself?"

"Yes," Blackfang answered. "But he doesn't always intervene directly. He entrusts the commanders of the Grand Army of Salvatia, Vindictarium, or Black Death Legion to handle operations. Today, however, he's here personally."

"Well, as long as we drive the Britannians out of Japan when we liberate it," Kougeki said, determination in his voice.

Blackfang gave a slight nod. "The Supreme Leader has plans for the Britannians if they choose to stay after Japan is liberated. They'll be expected to follow our laws if they wish to remain."

"I highly doubt the Brits will just follow new laws after all this," Kougeki muttered.

Blackfang smiled grimly. "Like I said, the Supreme Leader has plans for them."

He motioned for them to focus. "Now, concentrate. We're bringing down that wall gate."

As if on cue, two Fieldgrunts armed with fireball bazookas and one Vindictarium Thalorar Warrior with a mana beam bazooka aimed at the wall gate and fired simultaneously, shattering the defenses. The mecha frames surged forward, preparing to storm the enemy structure.

"The gate's destroyed! Let's move!" Rovenja called, leading the charge.

The team advanced, eliminating any remaining defenders outside the viceroy's palace. Once inside, they targeted the Knightmares stationed in the hangar. The enemy pilots, rushing to their mecha, were caught in explosions before they could even react. The fire ceased as the last of the Knightmares were destroyed. The mecha frames opened their chests, allowing the pilots to exit their cockpits and join the victory.

Blackfang swiftly leaped from his mecha frame, followed closely by Mayu and the others, all of them dropping down with weapons drawn, ready to confront the remaining Britannian forces hiding within the enemy stronghold.

"Alright," Wolfram Blackfang commanded, his voice steady. "Let's go and find our viceroy. He must be eliminated."

Hitarashi Ogai, always the skeptic, added, "Let's hope he won't try to escape before we get there."

Ishiwari Mayu, determined as ever, nodded. "Then let's move."

They moved quickly through the building, heading straight for the viceroy's office. Along the way, they passed Salvatian marines and Vindictarium soldiers—myrmidons, technomages, and knights—battling Britannian troops in various rooms. The enemy was swiftly overpowered, no match for the superior weaponry and precision of the Salvatians, honed through years of advanced military training. Blackfang, Mayu, and their companions joined the fray, cutting down the remaining Britannian soldiers with deadly efficiency. Once each room was cleared, they advanced, repeating the process of eliminating the hidden enemies. Those few Britannians who survived, recognizing their grim fate, dropped their weapons and surrendered. The task of taking prisoners was left to the Salvatian forces, while the group pressed on toward their target.

Finally, they reached the viceroy's office. Blackfang kicked in the door with a swift, forceful motion, his team following behind, weapons drawn and prepared for anything. The sight that met them was unexpected: at the center of the room, slumped over his desk, was the viceroy. His lifeless body, head resting in a pool of blood, was a stark testament to his final act.

Yukawa Keiki cursed under his breath, staring at the grim scene. "What the hell... Did he just—"

"Yeah," Blackfang replied grimly, his eyes fixed on the dead viceroy. "He killed himself."

The viceroy's pistol, still clutched in his right hand, told the tale. It was clear that, faced with the disgrace of capture or death, he had chosen to take his own life, a final act of pride to preserve his honor.

Yukawa Keiki muttered, "We should've been the ones to kill him."

Hitarashi Ogai shrugged. "Well, at least he did us a favor."

Usui nodded in agreement, but Shiro stepped forward, a question on her mind. "So, uh, since we did well piloting those mecha frames for the first time... does that mean we passed or something?"

Blackfang regarded her for a moment before responding. "Yes. From what I've seen, you handled it well, with no signs of difficulty. No side effects from the neural interface. General Hopperfield will be impressed with your results, as will Supreme Leader Salvador."

Shiro chuckled at his response. "At least we're good at it. Even if we're still adapting."

Furuse Kohei broke the brief silence. "So, what happens next?"

Blackfang gave a small nod. "Right now, you rest. Get some sleep. I'm guessing we'll wrap this up in a few hours, and the Middle East will be ours. By tomorrow morning, we'll take you back to Japan to begin the liberation plan. You've earned it."

The group couldn't hide their satisfaction. Their performance on the battlefield had been exemplary, and they were now one step closer to the mission that had been entrusted to them—the liberation of Japan. They hoped that their success would be recognized by their superiors, especially by Supreme Leader Xavier Salvador, who would be the one to decide their fate with the newly acquired mecha frames.

A few hours later, after the Salvatians had effectively wiped out the Britannian presence and sealed off every escape route, the battle was won. Control of the Middle East had shifted, and the Salvatians were now in charge. Though they had liberated the region, the real objective was to establish their own governance, ensuring that the people would feel secure under their rule. Unlike the previous regime, under the oppressive grip of the Holy Britannian Empire, the Salvatians sought to offer a better life.

The Supreme Leader, cautious of the former Middle Eastern government officials, had opted to establish a magistrate state rather than return control to the old guard. He promised the people freedom, individuality, and liberty—on the condition that they renounce their old radical ideologies and racial discrimination, and adhere strictly to the new laws.

Area 18 was now a thing of the past. The Salvatians had secured their foothold in the Middle East. Xavier's plans were unfolding as he had intended, and the world was on the brink of change. All it would take was the right moment to seize it.