[28:Two Minutes to Midnight]
(A/N: Yeah, I think everyone will know how this story will kind of unfold after this. It may seem a bit rushed, and it may not be my best work, but I wanted to do a montage of sorts, so I used this as experience and stuff to see if I should try doing something similar again or just be more traditional with it. Also, a long chapter as well.)
The first day wasn't all that, to be honest. What I am grateful for is that Selkie doesn't seem to care so much about my new status. Well, in a way that interferes with hero work, at least. He did say some things about me winning the medal, but he separates it from hero work. Anyway, the first day was kind of simple; just small introductions, a little explanation about how heroes work, and in his case, ocean-based hero work, and currently some light training and stuff.
Push-ups, situps, running, and all that kind of stuff. Unfortunately, this doesn't have much of an effect on me. I've already established that it takes a very, very long time for me to get tired just from physical activity. Most of the energy I use comes from actually using my abilities. The drones and railguns, mainly.
"Alright, that's good, you two. Now, we're going to do a little ocean patrol. You two will help prepare the ship. Learn from the other members of the crew and use this time to get to know them. It may only be a week, but it's still important." Selkie told Tsu and me. Well, a lot of people joke about the Coast Guard, but the stuff they do requires just as much bravery as other military branches.
Tsu and I got on the ship. It looked good. "Have you ever been on one of these, Eleanor?" Tsu asked me.
"Nope. Not at all." I responded.
Though…having my own ship would be nice. Hold on a second. My own ship. I'm supposed to be a kansen from Azur Lane. And they can…summon the ship they're based on. And I'm a battleship and aircraft carrier in one. Kind of. So…does that mean…I can summon my own super battlecarrier? That would be super cool if I could, but…how would I even go about it? And don't get me started on imagining the tech behind such an absurd thing. That's for later, I guess. If I even need it in the first place.
"So, what do we do?" Tsu asked.
"Well, I do know a few things about what's supposed to be done. For us, and since we're new, we'll probably do some cleaning and painting. A week isn't exactly enough time to teach us about machine-based maintenance. I doubt we'll be lubricating machines, removing rust, welding, and more stuff like that."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Tsu said.
"You, two! Come here and help me paint!" I turned around, and it was Sirius. She was Selkie's sidekick, or something, if I remember right.
"See, Tsu? Like I said."
So, we spent a bit of time painting. You would think this would be relaxing, until you realize that this kind of stuff is done almost daily on ships. I imagine it becomes kind of boring and repetitive.
The ship was cutting through the water. You know, I thought I would have a problem trying to balance on the ship, but I have no issue with it. It's like I have a gyroscope in me or something. Hmm…I wonder why. That was sarcasm.
"Listen up, you two, we may be at sea, but certain principles of patrolling apply on land as well. Always be on constant vigilance, have clear lines of communication, perform reconnaissance for knowledge of the areas you're in, and maintain appropriate gear at all times. These are just a few of the things you must keep in mind. Now, show me how you would accomplish these things." Selkie explained to us.
Oh, this is easy. I summoned my bow and notched an arrow before shooting it in the air. It quickly transformed into a recon drone. "Like that, Selkie. That drone up there will give a large view of our surroundings, provide communications even at sea, and can give us an early warning or signal about something that needs our attention.
"Very effective. I expected something like this from you, Eleanor. If I had you on my crew, many things would be a lot easier. You'd be a good supporting hero, just with this alone."
"I just try my best, Selkie."'
"Sometimes that is enough. Now, we may or may not encounter something on this patrol, but that doesn't mean to stop paying attention."
Well, Selkie ended up being right. There was nothing on this patrol that we encountered. Well, if I remember right, there should be that octopus-looking villain that smuggles stuff. But that should be later. For now, the day ended up being a nice sail with a good breeze.
I didn't realize how nice it would feel for me. I never noticed how hot it seemed to be getting now that I think about it, since I have the AC in my dorm running all the time. I don't pay for it, after all. Oh man, summer in Japan doesn't get too hot, does it?
Things were also still relatively calm in Hosu; nothing really big was happening. And no updates from Theodore either. Overall, not a bad first day.
/\\//\\//\
[Update: possible sighting of Stain based on expected pattern of behavior. Not enough data to confirm.]
Well, that sucks. I kind of expected more, but I only have one drone up there. I'll send more at night when this day ends.
"Alright, we're going to simulate a rescue at sea. We're going to simulate a shipwreck, and your goal will be to rescue some of the crew who are acting as people who need help. There will be people who are underwater and those above water. This will be time-limited, since the shipwreck will also be sinking. Now, you two will conduct a rescue to save all of them and get them back to the ship. Make sure to plan accordingly." Selkie explained the simulation, and it sounded cool. Well…it was cool for a simulation. Not cool as in I want this to happen for real.
"Alright, Tsu, listen up; I have a plan. You'll rescue the ones underwater, and I'll get the ones above the water. Here's how it'll work: I'll have a helicopter that'll carry people back to the ship, and while that happens, you bring up those under the water to the top, so I can grab them and put them in the helicopter. Now, these people will be injured, so I'll have to help them board the helicopter and help take them off. You'll be alone for some time, but I'll be quick.
"You make it sound easy. Ribbit."
"It's not easy, it's just standard stuff that coast guards do. Are you ready?"
"Yes. Ribbit."
We waited for some time before Selkie gave us the signal. "Go!"
Immediately, I summoned an MH-60T Jayhawk, and I jumped over the railing of the ship, landing on the water. Tsu dived into the water as well. The helicopter followed us as we made it to the shipwreck. One thing I have to say is: why are these dudes so buff?! I've seen sailors in the Navy, and they are not this buff. Anime logic, I guess. Good thing I have enhanced strength.
Anyway, when I got there, the helicopter lowered to our level. I got on the sinking ship and started helping how I could. I put them on the helicopter. Good thing it was unmanned; it would allow me to fit more people in there. As I was helping people on board, I noticed Asui pop out of the water, carrying people with her tongue.
"Asui, this helicopter is full! This ship still has some time before it sinks fully! Rescue more people from the water!"
"On it!" I put the last person on board and got on myself. The helicopter rose and flew to the Oki Mariner. Now, this thing didn't have a landing pad, but I can make do. The helicopter lowered itself to the side of the railing. I started helping to take people off the helicopter one by one. I had to carry them, jump off, put them down, jump back in, and repeat. I had to be quick, since time is of the utmost importance.
Selkie only looked on with a neutral expression. Was that good or bad? I'll find out.
As soon as I set everyone down on the ship, I went back onto the water, running across it to the shipwreck as the helicopter followed again. I saw Tsu standing on the ship, waiting for me.
"Eleanor! I've gotten everyone from underwater! We just need to get them back to the ship!" Tsu yelled at me. This was going to be a tight fit, but with Tsu now free…I summoned another helicopter.
"Tsu, you load people in one, and I'll load people in the other!" I said to her as both helicopters lowered themselves again. I got onto the ship and started helping people on board. Tsu used her tongue to help people on board her helicopter. With us working together, we loaded the rest onto the helicopters. We boarded as well, and the helicopters flew back to the ship. The dangerous part of the simulation was complete. The helicopters hovered next to the railing of the ship as Tsu and I helped people off board. Once it was all done, the helicopters went back to my carrier rigging and were unsummoned.
"The mission is done, captain. Ribbit."
Selkie still had a neutral expression, but then it turned into a grin. "That was good work! That went about as well as it could! You used Froppy's strength in water, and your strength in the air to make this a good rescue."
The air. What was that quote again? Those who control the air control the sea? Or something like that?
"Good work for today! We'll go back to the dock for today's routine maintenance."
Another good day with Selkie. Of course, that night, I sent out more drones to Hosu City. These had kinetic kill vehicles on them, along with more surveillance capabilities.
/\\//\\//\
'This should be the day when everything goes down, right?' I thought to myself as I was cleaning the ship. It was the third day now, and this was when things should go all crazy.
"Everyone, listen! We've received a request from the Coast Guard! We're dealing with stowaways on a fishing boat!" Selkie announced on the intercom system on the ship. "Prepare the ship!"
Okay…that was…not supposed to happen yet. But it is happening, so I have to deal with it. I saw Tsu helping Sirius take off the ropes. Well, for now, we won't do much until Selkie and some of his crew get trapped. I'll have to wait for that moment before any actions I take are justified. Any physical actions, at least. I can provide support easily. I summoned by bow, notched an arrow, and shot out a stealth drone.
Tsu and I met up with Selkie inside the ship. There was a large map, but it was one of those pre-mapped ones. Good for knowing where you are, but not for giving live information.
"The Coast Guard is tasking us with finding a fishing boat with stowaways. Now, the sun is setting, so it'll be harder to find, but we have better ways to detect things with the help of Black Dragon here."
"Leave it to me, captain. I already have a bird in the sky."
"Good on you to think ahead. We'll sail a certain distance before I also help to search."
As we set sail, I took out my tablet and started the live view from the drone. This would make quick work of the search, especially once the sun fully sets, and I can switch to the night vision.
As the ship kept moving through the water, it got dark fast. I switched to the night vision on the drone and looked around. Selkie was already in the water doing his own search. I kept looking and…bingo, there it was. I connected my tablet to the map console and, with some "digital maneuvering," I tweaked a bit of the settings to give a live location on the map based on data from the drone.
"I found the fishing boat. It's at this location." I said. There was a red dot on the map.
"That was quick!" Sirius said as she came to get a closer look. "Whoa, it's such a clear image! Good work!"
Just then, Selkie returned. "Captain, we've found the boat! It's marked here on the map!" Sirius said.
"That was quick."
"It was thanks to Black Dragon."
"If you ever debut here in Japan, the Coast Guard will love you." Selkie said to me.
"Well, there's still some time before I get that far. We should focus on the mission." I said to Selkie.
"Alright, block off the path of the fishing boat. We're going to board them."
"Yes, captain!" The crew said to Selkie.
Here we go. The ship picked up speed as we went to intercept the fishing boat. We eventually got really close to it. As we did, we shot up a flare, and Selkie announced that they would inspect the ship on behalf of the Coast Guard. I saw those people with tentacle-looking hair, and honestly, they just look suspicious, but that's not enough evidence, especially when quirks change the appearance of so many people.
Selkie boarded with some of the crew. We waited and waited and waited. 'Come on, Sirius, use your quirk to listen to the Morse code he's sending,' I thought to myself.
"Sirius, isn't this taking a bit too long?" Tsu asked Sirius.
"Hold on." Selkie held her hand up to her ear. There it is, she's using her Good Ear quirk to listen for those sounds humans can't hear.
"Selkie and the others are trapped. They're fine and can get out on their own, but we need to chase the ones responsible. Black Dragon, try to find them!"
"On it, Sirius!"
I switched to thermal vision. Now, it won't work well to see through water, but it'll work well to see thermal signatures on the surface of the water. And just faintly, I could make them out. Well, now I just had to see where they're going, and…there it is. The little boat was hidden between the rocks.
"I've found where they're going, Sirius. They're heading to a little boat hidden between some rocks. I have a feeling that's where there'll be some more people."
"Can you get a better view?"
"Yeah, just a second." I maneuvered the drone and zoomed in. "I see two heat signatures. There's one standing guard, and one deeper in the boat."
"We know what we're dealing with now. If we can find a way to get a first strike in and make capturing them easier, it would help a lot.'
Hmm…something to disorient them? You know, I'm not a marine biologist, but I've heard that octopuses are very sensitive to light. I had to stifle a grin.
"I can help with that, Sirius. We just need to get a little closer."
"What's your plan?"
"I'm going to launch a few flashbangs. When that happens, we'll need to storm in quickly and capture them all."
"Sounds good."
The ship sped up as it made its way to the rocks. I launched some drones that would shoot the aerial flashbangs into the boat. We got as close as we could.
"Froppy, we're going to climb on those rocks. When Black Dragon launches the flashbangs, You, me, and some of the crew are going to go in and capture everyone."
When the ship got close to the rocks, Sirius, Tsu, and some of the other crew members got out, leaving only me in here with just a few people. I controlled the smaller drones as they approached the boat. I could see the lookout, but they didn't notice anything. Once I saw that Tsu, Sirius, and the others were in position, the drones launched the flashbangs.
Multiple loud and repeated blasts sounded out. I could hear shouts and the splattering of ink all over the place. Through the view, I could see Tsu quickly capture the lookout with her tongue while Sirius and the others went deeper into the boat to get the octopus-looking guy.
I'm going to be extra safe. I sent another drone, and what I saw was a big fight. Yeah, the guy was disoriented, but he was shooting ink and slashing his tentacles all over the place. The drone shot rubber bullets at him, and to make sure to properly neutralize him, the drone shot taser-like nodes at him. As soon as the electricity hit him, he seized up, letting everyone go from his tentacles. Thankfully, these people were built tough and recovered kind of quickly, as they used the moment to fully capture him.
Even better, because just then, Selkie popped out, holding two of the other octopus people in his arms.
"It seems things have been handled here. Good job. We'll turn them in to the Coast Guard immediately."
"Thank you, captain. We had a lot of help from Black Dragon, she set up the initial raid." Selkie went on to explain what I did.
"You showed good restraint. Violence may seem like an easy answer, but that doesn't mean it's correct all the time. You did a good job with that, Black Dragon."
Yeah…restraint.
Later that night, after turning in the smugglers to the Coast Guard, I received an update. [Update: confirmed tracking of Stain. No nomus.]
Huh, so he's here, but the attack isn't happening? Hmm…I could go in for the kill now, but it's too calm. I need to wait for a better cover to develop.
/\\//\\//\
This day wasn't much going on. After such a massive smuggling and drug bust, we were cleaning and performing maintenance on the ship. With not much else to do, and with the attack I know is coming soon, I started doing some calculations.
It was during a little break that I got started, with Theodore's help, of course. The distance from here to Hosu City, the weather, atmospheric conditions, damage estimates, and projectile spin and shape; it's all stuff that I had no interest in explaining unless I wanted to turn this into some kind of lecture that no one wants to learn about. Like, do you want me to explain about breaking velocity into multiple components? And that's the easy part of this whole thing. Fun fact: velocity is a lot more complicated than just speed with a direction.
"Eleanor, what are you doing?" Tsu asked me while I was on break.
"Just a bit of math, Tsu."
"For what?"
"Just in case some things fail."
"Fail? Didn't we just take down some smugglers? Ribbit."
"Yeah, we did, but hero operations won't work all the time."
"But they're pros. They always find a way to win. They can be trusted."
"I wish they could, Tsu. I really do wish they could. Some individual heroes can be trusted, but all of them? No, that's not a good way to say it. What I mean to say is…can the source of where they get managed be trusted? No."
"What do you mean?"
"In time, Tsu. In time."
Those damn snakes; not even the serpent in the Garden of Eden is this bad. Well, if it's even a snake in the first place, the literature surrounding that says a bunch of things. There are child soldiers like Hawks.There's coordinating assassinations with the motive to keep things looking clean. Come on, they assassinate people who attempt to expose them? That's literally top-tier conspiracy stuff right there, except it's true. It's like saying John F. Kennedy was killed because he was going to expose the CIA, or take power away from the Federal Reserve, or expose some nuclear weapons program of another country, so they silenced him. That conspiracy theory is…false, but believe what you want about that one; I only chose it because it's the most popular and well-known, but that's the level the HPSC operates at. They get rid of good people to push their own interests that are not good.
Now look, I can understand and excuse some assassinations to some degree, but the motive of the HPSC? Come on, you're the heroes, the public will forgive you eventually; you don't need to do all this shady stuff. Yeah, it'll be bad at first, but people will move on very quickly and switch to the next thing. Just manipulate the news and media, or launch some other big thing to distract the people. It's so easy to do! And it works all the time! That's what I would do, at least. In time, though. In time.
The rest of the day didn't bring much else. More cleaning and stuff. When the day was over, I got another report from Theodore. [Update: There is an increase in Stain's movements.]
So, it'll be tomorrow night then.
/\\//\\//\
(Hosu City, Nighttime of the next day)
[Multiple nomus and Stain confirmed.]
'Tell me everything, Theodore.' I thought that, as I had my helmet on, communicating with the brain-computer interface feature of the helmet. It was nighttime after my internship with Selkie ended for the day. I was standing on the ocean. And it was perfect that it was a new moon phase tonight.
Immediately, a few scenes were overlaid on my visor. It was Hosu City, and the heroes were fighting the nomus. Things were already bad. A lot of fire and destruction.
[Civilians have been evacuated from the area. The only ones in the area are heroes and first responders. Civilian casualty probability for railgun strikes is at an all-time low. Other alternative methods include drone strikes or missile strikes. One flying nomu confirmed.]
A railgun strike. I can launch it, but it'll take a bit of time to get there. Yeah, it travels fast, but seconds matter with moving targets. And it's a railgun strike; the area of effect is massive. A strike from this distance will be necessary.
'Proceed with calculations for a railgun strike at Mach 10.' I commanded. My visor was filled with an overlay on my location about the projected path of the shot, and a loading zone on another screen on my visor. The landing zone was a circle with a smaller circle in the middle, which was the estimated error range. Ideally, it would be the center, but it'll probably land in the area of the smaller circle.
I summoned my railgun turrets next to me. As the calculation took place, they adjusted immediately, moving up, down, left, and right. Then they locked into place. Of course, I could adjust if I need to, but they're pre-mapped now, so if I highlight a piece of the city from the view of one of the drones there, it'll adjust to the location I highlight. How fantastic the art of combined arms is.
[Damage is escalating. Multiple heroes injured, possibly fatal. Midoryia, Todoroki, and Iida are engaged with Stain.]
Damn it. 'As soon as Todoroki throws up an ice wall or some kind of ice barrier that covers them, launch a strike at Stain's location. As for the others…launch when there's a good enough distance away to not cause fatal injuries.'
[Parameters confirmed.]
/\\//\\//\
"Midoriya, get behind me! We need to group up!!" Todoroki made a slope of ice to cover everyone. He and Midoriya were the only ones who could currently move. Iida was paralyzed from Stain, and Native, one of the pro heroes at the scene, was also paralyzed. It wasn't a good scene.
"He's so fast and agile! Can you use your ice to trap him in one spot, Todoroki?" Midoriya asked.
"I can try, but it won't be easy."
"We only need to keep him in place for a few seconds."
"That's more doable."
In another part of the city, a few more pro heroes surrounded two of the nomus, but they couldn't get close for a good fight. Most of their quirks weren't suited for combating such villains.
"We need someone else to come here! The most we can do is keep some distance from those things!" One of the heroes said.
Back at the ocean, it was calm. A bit too calm for what was happening in Hosu City. Eleanor stood on the surface, looking through her visor at what was happening. Various feeds spread across her vision. Infrared signatures, building schematics, hero tracker pings, buildings ghosted transparent, a projected trajectory arced from my position across the ocean, bending with planetary rotation, reticles, and a few more things.
[Distance to target: 312.4 kilometers. Coriolis compensation: engaged. Atmospheric density variance: adjusted. Projectile mass: confirmed. Estimated time to impact: 4.82 seconds.]
Eleanor saw red highlights around Stain and the nomus. The nomus were tearing through the city like mindless beasts, which they kind of were.
'Where the hell is Endeavor? Shouldn't he be there by now? Oh well, it's not my problem how they'll explain this.' Eleanor thought to herself as she watched the situation continue.
[All Parameters met.]
'Fire.' Eleanor commanded.