[StratoSpear]

@Zero

About that panic-alert thingy I mentioned before:

Spoiler for Ichihara:

*BOOM* *BDOOM*

Houki, now piloting the Akatsubaki, fends off a swarm of missiles with both her katanas Amatsuki and Karaware while the others watch the spectacular display of weaponry from the fourth-generation Infinite Stratos. Having impressed by its previous display of near-instantaneous climbing acceleration speed, Chifuyu is more than convinced that the Akatsubaki will be able to intercept the Silver Gospel when it enters Japanese airspace.

“-How’s it, Houki-chan? Amazing isn’t it?-”

Tabane’s cheeriness leaks through the IS’ comms that even Houki could not contain her satisfaction to be gifted with such a powerful personal unit. She grins wide and begins to fly freely, executing sharp turns, barrel rolls and other erratic maneuvers. The Akatsubaki, having fully utilized Fold-Out armor technology while it’s merely a theoretical concept to the rest of the world, is able to perform superb aerial movements that even the world’s most advanced fighter jets could not achieve.

“It’s amazing! This mobility, this speed, this… power…!”

While Houki flies about to her heart’s content, Chifuyu’s phone beeps and the slightly disgruntled instructor pulls out the phone and answers the call.

“It’s me.”

“-Ch-… Orimura-sensei…!-” The panicking voice of a female staff drives her slightly more agitated as she replies sternly “What is it?”

“-N-Nothing… I mean, there’s something! A foreign flying object just skimmed past our perimeter…-”

“What? Where is it headed?”

Maya turns her head to Chifuyu. “What” and “Where” aren’t exactly the words she would commonly use with such a serious tone. If anything, Maya knows that her fellow instructor is particularly concerned of something’s or someone’s whereabouts and as it stands, it could only be related to the rogue Silver Gospel that’s actively approaching Japan as they speak. Nothing else would’ve caught Chifuyu’s attention as much… or so she thought.

“-It’s approaching Ichihara, Sensei. Inclusive of the flying object, we’re getting at least seven different signatures on our extended radar net and one of them is the Minerva’s.-”

‘The Minerva…? What is he doing in Ichihara?’ pops up in her mind. As if the recent strings of foiled attacks by the Jabber drones weren’t enough, Chifuyu recalls the first time where the Academy briefly came under fire from those autonomous humanoid units until they were intercepted by the Minerva. It was the first time where the Academy learned of the Jabbers and the Minerva, which battled on the plains of Ichihara at that point in time.

Unaware that Houki has already landed with Ichika and the cadet students gathering around the Akatsubaki, Chifuyu remained attentive to the urgent phone call from an operator in the secretive operations room at the Academy’s basement. An unknown flying object and the Minerva, this leaves her with five other unrecognizable radar signatures and the idea that the Minerva is on the move concurrently with the unknowns’ appearance doesn’t sit well with her.

“Where are the five remaining signals?”

“-They’re currently entering Ichihara’s border from Isumi. They’re also moving in a formation, most likely airborne.-”

“What about the Minerva and the other flying object?”

“-The flying thingy is entering Ichihara as well but it’s heading away from us and towards the unknown formation… The Minerva is also on an intercept course for the approaching formation but he’s entering Ichihara from Chiba. I don’t know, Sensei… something’s off…-”

“I would’ve guessed. Nevertheless, have the Aegis team on alert status and notify me is anything comes our way or the Academy’s.”

“-Aegis team is on air, Sensei. We’ll keep an eye on them.-”