Chapter Text
Once in a while, Kaitengers show up and make themselves everyone else's problem.
Initially, people don't really give a second thought to these pseudo-Tokusatsu heroes.
They stuck around for the sole purpose of... LARPing? At least that's what crossed people's minds when they see the outfit.
Sure, they have a punchline and are dressed in uniforms of different colors, but weirdos are common in Kivotos anyway.
And subsequently, when weirdos are commonplace, no one is a weirdo.
Of course, that idea is quickly overthrown when people see what they actually do.
They loot from riots, steal loose cash from unsuspecting people, and occasionally rob stores.
The only difference is that, unlike regular delinquents, they are organized, uniform, and perhaps a little too dramatic.
All in all, Kaitengers are not that much different from other mobs.
"......"
Everyone was dead wrong when they showed up with a gigantic mecha.
"Prep the mortars and the Panzerfausts! And get Natsume Iroha on the line!"
Ako, living up to her title, commands through the comms with determination.
"All artillery stations, to your positions. Lieutenant, notify President Tsurugi and prepare her transportation."
The authority in Nagisa's low yet crystal-clear voice is palpable.
The good news is, KAITEN FX Mk.0 was deployed in a buffering zone between Gehenna and Trinity.
It's situated within the range of both academies' indirect fire and is minutes away from the border.
Which means, JTF and the Prefect Team can reach the mecha just as fast.
The bad news is, KAITEN FX Mk.0 was deployed in a buffering zone between Gehenna and Trinity.
Neither academy is claiming responsibility, and neither academy is willing to talk to the other, at least not officially.
Discrimination and stereotypes can't simply go away with a treaty, it seems.
In Schale's H160 helicopter hovering several miles away from the robot, Sensei is as calm as the sky.
He dials a channel of the AN/PRC-163 radio in his hand.
"Sena, Serina, come in. Where we at with the CCPs?"
"Sensei!" Serina pipes into his ears. "Trinity has multiple barracks at the border ready for the wounded!"
"Likewise in Gehenna," Sena chimes in right after that. "We lent several vehicles to the Remedial Knights for the immobile corp- patients."
"Yes! Sena-san and her ambulance fleet have been of great help!"
Reliable as always. "Understood. Keep up the good work. S out."
The helicopter, piloted by his super AIs, is landing on the rooftop of a high rise, just a kilometer away from the action.
With a swift hop, Sensei exits his bird with a handbag in his right hand.
Instead of his usual attire of guns and gear during field work, he's in his regular duty outfit.
A polo shirt, cargo pants, a belt with his holstered handgun, boots, shades, and a watch.
No rifle, no plate carrier or other PPEs, no gloves or kneepads; he looks more like someone on a grocery run.
With a sigh, he casts his view towards the distant warzone.
KAITEN FX Mk.0 is opening fire at the ground before it, the minigun in its right hand is spewing out flames as it fires.
It has been stopped in its tracks for a while now, and even he, from this distance, can tell that it's getting distressed.
Mostly because of the violet machine gun barrage and cyan shotgun blasts returning the favor.
However, their attacks are struggling to punch through the robot's defense, mainly the energy shield.
Not even Mashiro's multiple 20mm sniper fire from within the Trinity border worked.
They are going nowhere. And it's uncertain whether it's the robot or Hina and Mine's stamina will give out first.
Sensei drops the bag and dials another channel on his radio. "Mine, Hina. Sitrep."
"...Not bad," Hina speaks with a weary tone. "But not good, either!..."
"Hah!..." Mine says after catching her breath. "Sorasaki-san here... Helped me out a lot- Lookout! "
Their comms are abruptly cut off by a barrage of missiles launched from KAITEN's chest.
And he witnesses it all. "You good?" Sensei prods as anxiety surfaces in his mind.
"...Yeah," Hina croaks out. The crumbles of concrete pieces and dust settling down can be heard in the background.
"Aomori-san lost her shield for protecting me, and-" She is cut off by a second. "-And she's knocked out. I'm taking her to a safe spot."
Shit. The tide is turning, and it's turning in a direction he doesn't like.
"Copy. Take Mine and get out of there ASAP. I'm sending someone to pick you up."
"But Sen-"
"-That is an order, President Sorasaki. Get on it."
"...Understood."
With another sigh, Sensei dials away from the channel the instant he hears the response.
It pains him a little to be this strictly professional with Hina.
Still, if he doesn't do that, chances are Hina will simply pick up the slack on her own and fight until the bitter end.
Not because of what's in front of her, but what's behind her.
While he does admire that, he can't allow Hina to fall; she's Gehenna's pillar, both in terms of power and morale.
Not to mention, Mine is down and probably out for the time being.
Gehenna's Head Prefect left the head of the Remedial Knight to die despite her selfless protection.
Just picturing the political storm if those words get out makes him wince. He's horrible with politics.
He switches to the Joint Medical HQ channel again. "Sena, got a minute?"
"No." The head of the Medical Emergency Club curtly replies; there's a faint groan in the background on her side.
"Got any spare ambulance then?"
"Probably not. Our fleet hasn't stopped running since the beginning."
Figured. His eyes remain upfront and into the distant wreckage from KAITEN's missile barrage.
"Are there any corps- patients on your side?"
"...Nah, I'll handle it myself here. It's fine. Out."
Sensei tucks the AN/PRC-163 into a wide pocket on his thigh and pulls out Shittim's Chest from the back of his pants.
Arona is dressed in a navy blue flight attendant outfit, and Plana is wearing a jumpsuit with a comically large helmet.
"Take the bird and pick those big girls up, will you?"
Arona blinks into a cluster of blue sparks with a roger~
Plana pulls down the visor of her helmet, gives him a thumbs-up, and walks off the side of the screen.
Before he can make any comments, the rotor of the H160 behind him gradually comes to life.
"Watch out for their machine gun and missiles!" Auburn yells through the roar of the engine.
The helicopter takes off and makes a beeline for the wreckage without any replies from its pilots.
It'll only take a few minutes for it to pick up the duo and return them to their respective barracks.
"Now," He has to do his part before making the next move.
Taking a knee, Auburn reaches into the handbag on the ground and pulls out his trump card.
KAITEN FX Mk.0 Figma greets him, 1/7 sized, with full articulating joints and detachable armaments.
In its chest compartment, where the mini plastic missiles should've been, there's a piece of inconspicuous metal.
The missile fragment taken from the real one during their previous encounter in D.U., his conduit.
Auburn's silver eyes confirm the link between the KAITEN mecha and its plastic replica in his hand.
They look exactly the same, function almost the same, and on top of that, they bear the same name.
He straightens his arms holding the Figma, letting both of the robots be in the same picture.
In his eyes, the parallax makes the two robots almost look the same in size.
A grin emerges on his face.
"Show time."