[StratoSpear]

It's good, it's good. I just read up on the wiki about Templars and Assassins, how both are working for the good of humanity but in opposing ways compared to each other.

My memory's a bit fuzzy on how the conversation went between Ichika and Houki when the former tried to defend the lone trawler from Gospel's fire but eeh...

Spoiler for Gospel:

Houki, in the Akatsubaki, tears through the sky at supersonic speeds, carrying Ichika in the Byakushiki as the duo head off to intercept the Silver Gospel. Being the two fastest units of the group, the two have been tasked to intercept the rogue IS that’s trailing the eastern coastline. Holding Ichika in her arms makes her feel all warm and fuzzy but her focus remains clear, as does Ichika who’s checking on their allocated checkpoints and the area where they are expected to meet the Silver Gospel.

“We’re almost there, Houki.”

“Yeah.”

The duo clears the clouds and sees the ocean that stretches far into the horizon with a distant silver-white silhouette approaching them. It’s the Silver Gospel, barely wavered by its long, painstaking flight over the Pacific and stays true to its flight path. Seemingly heedless of the Byakushiki and Akatsubaki’s presences, the silver IS hardly flinches and instead begins to accelerate, attempting to blow past the Houki and Ichika.

“Here it comes! Ichika!”

“Got it!”

Houki releases Ichika and the two begin to make a beeline for the oncoming Silver Gospel with their weapons drawn. The Gospel stays to its bearings until the two ISes are inches from entering melee range, swinging their swords onto it.

“HYAAH!”

The Silver Gospel dodges their attack with a mid-air backflip while generating a swarm of energy bits around its metal wings. The IS targets the duo and sprays the rain of energy bits towards them.

“Watch it!”

Houki and Ichika splits towards opposing directions but the Silver Gospel simply sets its sight upon the Akatsubaki and begins to chase the crimson IS. Despite being a third-generation unit, the Silver Gospel is still able to keep up with the Akatsubaki, spraying energy bits while Houki flies around erratically to dodge the fire.

“Houki!”

“Don’t! Stay there and wait for my go! Strike it when it’s exposed!”

Ichika could only watch as she pulls off maneuvers to confuse the Silver Gospel until an alert tone shifts his attention to the sea. He sees a lone fishing trawler hastily trying to sail from the area given the threat that’s present in the skies. He looks back up and notices the Silver Gospel holding position and spraying energy bits upon Houki as she circles towards him, unknowingly drawing fire towards the trawler. Without a moment spare, Ichika quickly rushes into the line of fire.

“Ichika…?”

“There’s a civilian boat on the sea!”

Much to Houki’s dismay, he puts himself in the Gospel’s firing line and deflects the energy bits with the Yukihara. His selfless act is seen by Houki as a disappointment seeing as she almost had the Silver Gospel’s back turned to him so that he could strike. The fishing trawler is nothing more than an illegal act of trespassing to her eyes, thinking that they deserve to be left under fire.

“Leave them, Ichika! They’re illegal trespassers and they’re not even supposed to be here!”

“Even so, they ARE here! We have to ensure their safety!”