Tides Of Protomis CI

Blood And Iron - The Raijin's Advent

The Yamato Military continued its attempts to contain the invasion across the nation. This much could be seen in the Shima ward, where in the skies above, where the trademark HAUs, the Musashi's zipped overhead. Engaging in a sort of dance with the flying demons that attempted to attack them. Whether it be the flourish or a beam saber, or a shot from their Rifles, sending beams of Sigma particles forth that burned through them, sending them careening to the ground. Others had taken to using railguns. The heavy ordinance did no small amount of damage to their enemies. Within the cockpit, was a man who served as one of the Commanders.

"Don’t let up, we won't allow them to get any further!"

His leading of the troops came to a short end, however. Soon enough the armored head of a demon took up his camera, with the creature itself sending a limb through the cockpit, killing him with ease. Followed by the machine's destruction. With a screech, it shortly went for the members of his squad. Luckily, a shot from a cruiser's cannon stopped it in its tracks. With the second destroying it entirely. Yamato's tanks moved in the streets as well, their cannons firing hypersonic rounds into the demons that were too powerful for the infantry's weaponry to take out. While some were destroyed, the same could not be said for others, who moved as if they were unaffected. In the midst of all this, one Yudei Sasaki watched. The situation was not nearly as good as he would've liked, but that was just all the more reason for him to proceed with his plans..

"I’d best hurry up... Let’s put all that training to use."

Yudei continued his run across the street, until he'd finally reached what looked to be a group of abandoned warehouses. One which hides one of the many garrisons the Yamato Military had placed within tokyo. Though activity on the outside was kept low, Save for a few soldiers lying in wait in buildings, ready to apprehend those who weren't supposed to be there. This was aside from the central warehouse, or rather hangar, which had no small amount of activity within. 10 total HAU's, Their pilots, and mechanics. Yudei ignored all this, and ran toward an aging man of a large stature, who took note of the approaching youth almost immediately, placing his gaze on him.

"Lieutenant Yamamoto!!" Yudei called out.

"Sasaki… Shouldn't you be evacuating? How did you get here?"

For a few moments, Yudei said nothing, only huffing in relsozns. with the exhaustion finally having gotten to him, now that the adrenaline was wearing off. He Wiped the sweat off his forehead, going on to explain the situation.

" Once those demons started pouring out, we found ourselves under attack. I managed to make my way here when I confirmed that my friends were safe. That said, I’m here to fight…"

Yamamoto sighed at this, as she shook his head.

"I’m afraid I can't let you do that. You have some potential, yes. But you aren’t enlisted… There's no way I could allow you getting into an HAU at your level of experience, nor your age.

However, these words did very little to deter Yudei, in fact, they did the very opposite. He swiftly stepped closer to the commander.

"You said it yourself, I have potential, Let me do this much!"

"Once again, I can not... I have things to attend to. You two, make sure he doesn't do anything."

Yamamoto gestured toward two soldiers, who saluted, and moved to stand on either side. Leaving Yudei to watch as Yamamoto began walking away. As he did so ,a feeling of annoyance passed through the older man. As much as he enjoyed his protoge's company, nobody was perfect.

"That boy, Always ready to go straight into battle… I'll just have to hope he listens to reason."

The mentioned boy stood there motionless, aside from a tightening fist. Kazumi's swift death was still fresh on his conscience. And it was clear it wouldn't disappear for a while. Though she was closer to Asami and Megumi then she was to them, that fact had begun to change since Arctaius had returned from Tsugashuan.

"I can’t stay here, I need to fight. Even if it means I have to hijack an HAU. If it were Arctaius in my shoes, I'm sure he would've done the same… The Musashi’s all seem to all be taken. This isn't the best sit-"

Yudei cut off that thought, as he witnessed an HAU that was unfamiliar to him. With that in mind, it was likely the one he was searching for. Standing tall was a black armored HAU, which was much bulkier than those around it. Parts of its armor are painted yellow. 4 large wings extended from its back, and two small horns on its head. But more notable, were the four cannons spread across its body, as well as missile launchers, with 5 tubes total on each, spread across it. Yudei's question was finally answered as he took note of the name printed on the side of the machine, “S-345 Raijin”.

"Raijin, the god of thunder…"

Without hesitation, Yudei burst forward- running away from the soldiers, who made the mistake of letting their guard down, believing the boy would give up soon. As they noted their mistake one shouted out.

"Oi!"

The soldiers swiftly ran after him, and, much to his dismay, they were closing the distance quickly. If he couldn't outrun them, he'd have to outmaneuver them. As one reached to grapple him, he ducked underneath, before sweeping him off his legs. Before the soldiers could recognize what was happening, he'd already been pushed into the one behind him, causing both to fall. Yudei began running to his destination once more, and they moved to chase. Yamamoto tsked, as he turned on his heel.

"Sasaki, Stop!"

Disregarding this- yudei ascends up a nearby ladder, and slammed his fist on a button near the cockpit, making the door open. He got to work as soon as he reached his seat. As the controls came up, he switched the machine on. The holographic HUD, as well as the cameras, which gave him a full 360° view of the hangar. Soon enough, the sounds of the moving machinery filled the area, as Yudei moved the machine's legs forward.

"Sasaki, you need to get out this instant-"

"I refuse!!!" As the shout went over the intercom, the man quickly went silent.

"These friends of mine are fighting... During the inferno, they fought, when that fleet flew over tokyo, they fought, even when that Ardam guy shook the earth just by appearing… They fought against him regardless. I may not be a proto-human, but even so, I can't sit here while they risk their lives! I can fight in my own way, and this is the way!"

The Raijin continued to walk, until the machine reached the street outside. The machine's thrusters promptly began humming, as its knees bent. Within, Yudei continued to make sure everything was in order, before cracking his knuckles, and shouting out.

"Yudei Sasaki, Launching!!!"

The machine shortly began to elevate itself, before shooting off into the sky, at an extremely high speed, much to Yudei's surprise. He lurched back into his seat.

"This thing is fast-- much more than a musashi!"

He'd need to adjust, quickly. The machine was now zipping around the sky in an unstable flight. Lowering and elevating, going from right to left. Yudei's eyes continually moved along the controls, as he attempted to control the machine.

"I just need to reduce the thruster power, and... We’re good. Now, what else do we have…"

Yudei's eye moved across the display, until he noticed something, a button on it simply marked as "Fighter mode". Eying it with interest, he decidedly pushed it. Leading to the sound of whirring machinery becoming more pronounced around him. The machine's limbs folded inward, with its head receding into the torso. With said torso changing as well. By the time the transformation was complete, it had taken the form the name denoted.

"A transformable frame… I thought Tunis was the only nation that had that tech… When did they implant that into this HAU? That doesn't matter… I’m coming, everyone!!!"

Yudei begins to fly toward the direction of the shima ward’s downtown areas, where the combat against the invading creatures continued. Elsewhere, Yamamoto sighed once more.

"He’s just like me, when I was a kid… Back when HAU’s were new, the cold war was in full swing, and I was one of the first in line trying to pilot…" Yamamoto Thought. He failed to stop him, but he would ensure his survival.

"Prepare to sortie, 3 of you will escort the Raijin, make sure Sasaki doesn't get himself killed!" He ordered, causing the troops to salute.

"Yes sir!"

Part B

The Raijin continued to speed through the sky, Yudei's eyes darted across the sensors, and what the camera displayed. The fact that his sensors still worked means they hadn't dispersed Sigma particles at combat density. Which would make communication easier, no doubt. But his mind was forced to switch gears quickly, as he observed a group of demons flying toward him.

"Tch…"

Yudei's hands quickly went toward the firing buttons that lied on each side, and began unleashing a barrage of particle beams, which obliterated them in short order. But the others simply continued on, as if ignoring this fact.

"I'll need more Agility… Pure speed will be less Important."

With this in mind, the Raijin was brought back into its humanoid form. A multitude of different projectiles were fired outward, from sharpened feathers, to rays of light, and even the demons themselves trying to bull rush him. Quick maneuvers allowed him to just barely dodge the attempted attacks. He pulled back, before opening the missile Launchers, and firing off a volley causing the creatures to explode.

"Come on! Let’s see what you got, demons!!!"

As Yudei shouted out, The demons continued their attempts to get close. But as the carnage continued, Yudei apparently failed to notice one particularly fast demon bursting toward him. One of red skin and bull-like horns, with wings and a blade in hand. With the youth only finding out as the being's speed tripped his sensors, causing him to look over his shoulder, to see its approach.

"Not good…"

At this point, Yudei has to shift his focus,. Drawing his machine’s blade, and moving to intercept this incoming attack. The two blades clashed. Eventually, a deepened voice came from the creature's mouth.

"Human weapons intrest me... As weak as your species is, you make some good ordinance. That much I'll give you. Regardless, you’ll die to me, Phenex…"

"Don't think it'll be so easy!"

Yudei pulled back, while Phenex moving forward- following him. Yudei fired missiles at his opponent, who managed to narrowly dodge his attacks, continuing his advance. Thankfully, support had arrived soon, with a large group of Musashi's flying overhead. While seven went to the city itself, three descended upon Phenex. One fired off a railgun shot, while the others fired Sigma Particle beams from their Rifles. Phenex sensed the incoming attacks, and removed his attention from yudei, as he began dodging the ordinance.

"Don’t forget about me!!!" Yudei shouted.

The youth began to fire on Phenex once again, aiming at his backside. Although he moved to dodge, he was hit by a sigma particle beam, and then by multiple railgun and missile salvos. Eventually, pieces of his body began to fall off, forcefully removed. Until, there was nothing left… Yudei continued to look down upon this, until he noted he was being hailed. As he answered the call, the feminine voice of one of the pilot's came through the comma.

"Yudei Sasaki, we’ve been assigned to support the Raijin’s efforts, we will be escorting you from here on out." At the least, they were not trying to stop him, this was something he could work with.

"Fine then. Where do we go from here?"

"The holy order informed us that they've detected a higher class demon attempting to break through remnants of the barrier. We are to keep him pinned down for as long as possible."

Yudei nodded.

"Acknowledged... "

The HAU's began flying in that direction, ready to act on their orders… it was needless to say, that there was some sense of nervousness, fear, within Yudei, but he suppressed it nonetheless. Elsewhere within the city, a different scene was taking place. Jirou strides down an alleyway, littered with the bodies of demons. Many of which he'd personally eliminated.

"Man… The others get some strong guys as opponents, and I get whatever's running around here... And even then, a lot of the small fry are fighting each other anyway. Guess what was said about D-classes is accurate."

Jirou continued his walk, looking up as he took note of the HAU's battling what looked to be some sort of overgrown insect. While they managed to weave around the attacks, one was unlucky and had its cockpit impaled by its charge, and subsequently, the demon's horn crashing through. Jirou jumped into action soon after, flying up to the demon's height and extending his arm.

"Gravity well!" He shouted

With no delay, the demon crashed into the ground, which buckled under the influence of Jirou's gravity. This course of events led to the Musashis ceasing their movement, instead, floating in place. Ready to finish the job he increased the force of gravity on the creature.

"Formula 25."

The ground continued to implode under his target, as it was crushed into a verdant paste. Eventually, one of the pilots within the machines spoke, the radio carrying his voice.

"Thanks, you helped us out there!"

"Alright, its time that we go resupply." Another added.

Just like that, they were off, returning to their mothership. In the midst of all this, Jirou began to speak.

"As if the kaemerge war wasn’t enough, now we have this can of worms. Nothing we aren’t already used to…"

Eventually, Jirou took note of something, an idle Raijin, as well as those tasked with following it into battle.

"I don’t keep updated on what the military has. But that HAU, I don’t think i’ve seen that one before... Have to ask, though. What are they gunning for right now?"

That question was only answered with what began to exit the void in the sky. Something that was accompanied by a loud crack, which caught the attention of all of those below. A downright gigantic draconic head began to slip out from the Crimson light. Its eyes opened soon after it exited.

To Be Continued