----Claire's point of view----48 hours ago

"We're running out of time, so I'm going to explain to you in a nutshell, and if you don't understand, you can ask Anton. We are currently at an altitude of 13,000 meters and have been captured by Unknown. We are not responding to our transmissions, nor is there any response to the IFF. We have confirmed that Unknown has just fired AAM and is now taking evasive action, but it will probably be shot down. Therefore, I ask you and Anton to escape from Russia by yourselves. As all means are acceptable, Anton will escort Mr. Kunugi back to Noah's HQ and Hakone base with all his might. Over and out.

　After a quick and to the point communication was cut off, he hurried to the cockpit as the alert went off.

'What's the situation?'

They're taking evasive action. We have anti-missile defenses, but the attack is coming from beyond the horizon and will be difficult to counter with the defensive equipment we have on board.

"Emergency drop!　Prepare for emergency landing at sea.

　That is if I'm still alive.... I inwardly blurted to myself, and then still worked my head to survive. Even if I succeed in making an emergency landing, the next thing that will come at me is probably...

We've got more Unknown!　Ten o'clock, and there are five, twelve, fifteen of them!　d*mn it!　A stealthy plane?　From Unknown, a high speed flying object has separated!　It appears to be a missile!

Take us out of here!

I can't do it!　There's no way we can make it in time, sir. The missile is coming!

　I gulped my eyes. But the shock you had imagined didn't come, and you open your eyes to feel the deafening alert that still rings out. I speak to the pilot, squeezing my voice out of my tense throat.

'Did it come off?'

No, the missile is passing very close to the aircraft, heading for a missile fired by Unknown in the rear...

We have friendlies and allies responding. The aircraft in front of us belongs to the Russian Defense Space Force.

Sir, our rear missiles have been shot down, and the Unknown is pulling out rapidly.

　Could he help you?　Why would a Russian military plane help us? And the Defense Space Force is not the kind of unit that flies around here. What the hell is going on....

"Space plane, coming right at you, sir.

　With a start, I looked out of the window and saw the latest model of Russian military plane that I had seen only in documents flying. Moreover, no national flag or troop identification insignia was painted anywhere on the plane. It was just a pitch black fuselage there.

I see........that's how it is.

　That plane it's not the Russian Defense Space Force that's trying to help us, in fact it's not the Russian Defense Space Force that's trying to help us. So the next time they'll be sending us a message, it will be on the frequency of the Strategic Rocket Forces.

I think the Strategic Rocket Forces will be the next to send us a message on their frequency.

Huh.... Ah, here they are!　We have a transmission from the Strategic Rocket Army. This is...

That's the recovery point at sea.　I'm decommissioning the aircraft!　Each crew member will begin preparing for evacuation.

　If I'm right, you and the others should be in a very dangerous situation. If we don't rescue them as soon as possible, they'll be killed by the rescue team.




----Claire Viewpoint --- 4 hours ago


　My men and I have been under house arrest in a room on the ship ever since we were rescued by a Russian Navy power-suited mothership, which had apparently erased its identification markings in a hurry, while we were enjoying a dip in the ocean, abandoning our aircraft. Judging from the size of the room and just the quality of the goods, it's a room for high-level officers, so it can be said to be a high treatment.

''Excuse me....''

　At the sound of a knock at the door of the locked room, a man wearing a military uniform with no rank insignia or anything else on it entered the room. He sat down on a chair in front of me and held out a file in his hand.

I'd like to ask you a few questions before I accept.

What is it?

　The man threw the file down on the desk and looked at me with a somewhat nervous look on his face.

'Well, it's more of a confirmation than a question. Fluent English without an accent, aircraft and power suit carriers without identification, and military uniforms without rank insignia, you are the Russian domestic military........ Commonly known as the top-secret unit of the Interior Ministry's military, right?

..........

Given your size, are you a member of the National Guard?

..........

　The man remains mute, but in this case you can take that as an affirmation. I've got a file on my desk, and as I look through it, I can see information that I couldn't get to because of my house arrest, and it's clearly described.
　The man's personal terminal is prompted by his eyes to replay the recorded memory that was included with it. I don't want to use my own device to play this kind of thing that I don't know what's in it....

'Go ahead,'

　He plugs the memory into the terminal he was handed and begins to play it back. Inside were the details of the Alice Plan and the records of the Chernobog Combat Team with which Conju-kun is working, as well as detailed data on its members. I would love to take this memory home with me........

''May I take this?''

Go ahead. I've also prepared a map of the underground tunnels that Mr. Arakawa is currently holed up in, where government officials in the former Moscow city limits had prepared an escape route, as well as any anti-EMP power suits and combat gear we think you may need.

That's very generous of you. What do you want?

It's a world-famous rescue.

"I can't believe they even lied to the president about shooting down our plane and the goal was to rescue an important person.

　This time the man had a clear and troubled expression on his face, looked up at the ceiling and began to speak with a sigh.

'The purpose is to preserve the nation. Currently, our country is facing a serious crisis. Terrorists who call themselves the New World have infiltrated the upper echelons of the government, and there have already been arrests of government officials, including several high-ranking military officials. Moreover, if the information known to Mr. Arakawa leaked to the outside world, a renegade state would emerge from the countries that make up the Federation. When it comes to using force to quell them...

'The United Nations will intervene......... And that U.N. has an immeasurable amount of influence over Yuki-kun's mother, Miki-san.

'Yes. In that case, World War III would break out, the worst nightmare of the Russian Federation versus the entire world.... Even if Mr. Arakawa manages to escape on his own, I believe there will be desperate measures to retaliate.

　Indeed, from reading this file, the reason why the New World was able to escape through the siege when Alice-chan was kidnapped was because of the Russian Navy's cooperation. When he learns of this, Gongju-kun will definitely take retaliatory measures, as the man says he will.
　If he were to use Noah's satellite network to broadcast propaganda to identify Russia as an enemy nation, he would begin to manipulate the public mind in any way he could. Moreover, if you look at the effect of the sales of cosmetics, it would be akin to brainwashing

I understand. Then again, what are your objectives and demands?

Our objective is the rescue and safe return of Mr. Arakawa. Our only request is that you hand over all materials and personnel related to Project Alice and the New World, and that you take no retaliatory action in exchange for relinquishing command of the National Guard to Noah only if it involves the New World.

Okay, I accept your terms.

　The man finally loosened his expression at my words. Well then, we should think of a way out of this with reference to the data.... We can get to the subway station where you are, if we go through the underground passageway and blow up the passageway on the way to the subway station, we can meet up through the vent.
　The problem is what happens after that. If we're going to escape with all of Chernobog, we'll need to enlist the help of the National Guard, and as soon as we get to them, we'll need to contact Miki and get the captain and his men to help us.