At the IS academy docking bay, a single student works diligently on his IS even after curfew, breaking the rules just to keep up the work and do what needs to be done.
To Amuro Ray, it's a necessity.
He can no longer sit back and watch. The attack on the academy is just the beginning, a preemptive strike and a warning of the future disaster. Already, the world is now changing by every second.
The attack on the academy can never be hidden. Not with the way it was attacked.
They call it the, "The White Knight incident 2.0" despite the lack of infamous IS. No, the attack was far more insidious than that.
A total blackout and hacking of all military assets and systems. It's how the intruders bypassed the fleet of destroyers and carriers patrolling the island. A lucrative defense force to guard the most prestigious academy in Japan. Yet it all falls useless when every single apparatus and instruments on those ships malfunction, hacked or shut down entirely by an unknown party.
This left the academy defenseless except for its own defense which also fell victim to the hack. Various security systems and gun placements were shut down, allowing the intruders to come inside the island undeterred.
Even the academy's systems were also hacked, taking the controls away from the teachers. Classroom emergency protocols were triggered, shutting classrooms down and isolating students and teachers alike from the rest. Hangar bays were locked, making the IS units inside useless without a pilot. Even Brunhilde herself can't do anything to the hackers, being trapped herself in the observation area. It's only by chance that Ms.Maya has her own IS on her person that allowed them to escape by destroying the locked doors which took a considerable amount of time.
Of course, the fleet outside never intended to sit back and watch the intruders. IS units were deployed from the carriers. But unfortunately, they discovered a bone chilling discovery.
Their IS units are locked in their closed forms.
It was a total takeover for a very short amount of time but the damage was done. IS academy was infiltrated, its defenses and the local government useless against unknown assailants. Already, various countries are in an uproar at the incident.
Why wouldn't they when their precious future assets were threatened before they could milk them. Amuro was already used to politics by the time he was an adult but he still can't stomach how some people just see others as nothing more than tools. Looking at the students in the academy, he can never call them as weapons of war or tools with how innocent and colorful their personalities are. Even Cecilia and Kanzashi aren't so different from any girl except for piloting IS.
They are all soon to be soldiers still but for now, they are still kids.
As for the various nations, they are already moving and heckling Japan to move their forces in the country, citing that it is to protect the academy. Of course no one would buy it. It's just like any other political move in order to exert power beyond their station.
More importantly, gain control of the academy.
Naturally, the floodgates opened for the other countries to push their own agendas. All for the sake of gaining control of the IS academy. It's only by Japan's and the Academy's defense that these countries didn't gain a foothold.
Still, certain changes have to be made.
Amuro sighs, his breath heavy with exhaustion. Not with his current labor but the musings of the world's current situation. The world is stirring and it looks bleak in his opinion.
As to what he can do? Nothing. Unlike back in his old world, he's not even a speck in the world stage yet. Granted, he is one of the two male IS pilots in the world but with the current society, his voice will be lost in the majority.
All he can do is just prepare.
Speaking of preparation, he wonders what IS designs are the drones that attacked the academy.
Yes, Drones.
All three Units are unmanned. It's thought to be impossible due to the nature of IS itself but these units are different. Amuro suspects they aren't even IS in the first place due to the unique design, especially the particles they emit.
It reminds him of Minovsky Particles in particular.
Different? Yes, but the similarities are there.
Unfortunately, the two units captured self-destructed after their incapacitation. Their creators know well that their units will be studied if captured, a self-destruct function is only natural. Though if only, Amuro would like a close look at the remains. Too bad the academy took custody of it, keeping it away from students and now being hogged by the Japanese researchers.
Even with Ms. Maya's influence, she's the only one available while Ms. Orimura is gone to settle down the political theater, she can't make exceptions.
He really wanted to study that mysterious IS unit.
Most importantly, it's main engine.
Whatever it is powering the unknown units, it's very familiar. The fact it reminds him of Minovsky Particles is a dead giveaway. His real goal is to find the truth.
Was he alone or not?
Are there others?
Are they friendly or foe?
Those are the questions that've been constantly running around his head. His thoughts are plagued by various scenarios. Why did they attack the academy and why target Ichika specifically?
Why do they need his blood?
That alone is an unsettling thought.
As Amuro looked up from his work, he finally noticed the time. 12 AM. He had holed up in the launching bay for too long, breaking curfew. If Ms. Maya found out, he's definitely getting chewed out. Better to be sneaky today.
He just hopes Ms. Maya is not pulling an all nighter too tonight. The woman's being overworked while Ms. Orimura is gone for political business. Still, the green haired professor still finds time to look after him and Kanzashi's work despite the piled up work left to her. My respect for the clumsy yet lovable teacher grew for that.
After cleaning up his work, making sure to clean up the mess and evidence of his presence in the bay, he began to carefully sneak out and went on his way back to the dorms. Luckily, there's nary a soul in the academy at this late hours except for poor overworked teachers and sneaking past them is quite easy. Ms. Maya in particular, which Amuro found slumped on her desk fast asleep with a ton of paperwork around her.
Shaking his head, he took off his jacket and draped it over the sleeping professor. He'll get it back tomorrow morning.
Leaving behind the professor, Amuro casually walks out of the building with the knowledge of no one knowing his nighttime escapade. But as he began to walk across the open grounds of the academy, he felt something.
Something he had never felt since he had arrived in this world.
Something he already gave up on in this new life.
The feeling of a Newtype meeting another Newtype.
"Amuro Ray." Someone called out behind him. He turned around to see a short girl, garbed in casual clothes and logging behind a large rolling suitcase.
But that's not what caught his attention.
It's what she is clutching close to her chest.
A red Haro.