Volume 21, Chapter 4

USNA, neighborhood of Roswell, local time is 10 April 16:00. Time in Japan: April 11 at 7:00.

Lina finally returned to the base from a mission lasting a week. The initial mission of the mission was to save the Wiz Guard squad (a squad of magicians who had not been selected for use on the Stars for domestic use and under the command of a common alliance government), surrounded by rebels who had caused riots in the territory of the former Mexico.

However, it is not easy to carry out such a feat as evacuation from a zone occupied by armed groups exhibiting hostile actions, while avoiding serious hostilities so that the crowd does not receive significant damage. Arriving on the morning of April 2, three squads under the command of Lina, the Second, Fourth and Fifth Corps of Stars, using the authority of the headquarters and the formidable name of the Stars (swinging them, as a flag, roughly), they successfully suppressed the riot and returned the Wiz Guard to Houston headquarters, after which, today she finally returned to Roswell.

Eventually, in order to complete the task, they had to deal with the riot itself, and Lina and her squad had to suppress it, without actually using force against the crowd. Lina was beside herself with anger, thinking that it might be true that the General Staff planned it from the very beginning.

In this mission, where the ability to conduct political negotiations was needed, Lina was useless.

In fact, this Fourth Corps, having a reliable female leader, persuaded the national army fighters who had joined the crowd. Lina could only look from the side to the confrontation of the Wiz Guard and the soldiers of the national army. Moreover, the commander of the Fourth Corps, Vega, was not very well acquainted with Lina (in fact, Lina could not do anything about the image of the "elder sister" radiated by Vega). Tired from all this, Lina, having finished the report on the successful fulfillment of the mission to the command of the base, finally got time to pay attention to the environment.

"Why did I notice just now?" , she thought, looking at the busy atmosphere, not different from the one that was before shipping. Thinking about this, Lina questioned *tilted her head. [The Japanese gesture is a head inclined to the side. In the text they just write "bent over the head", because the Japanese understand what it means. And for the ignorant is an expression of puzzlement. In the anime, even the question marks need to be drawn by the heads.]

Despite the fact that it was partly only nominally, but she was the Commander in Chief of this unit. Lina doubted she remembered: if the Stars receive an order to sally, then even if she does not participate in it, she must report it.

Leaning her luggage into her room, Lina went to Sylvia's room.

When it comes to the whole unit, it's better, of course, to listen to Canopus, but Sylvia was an interlocutor, which is the easiest to talk with.

Fortunately, Sylvia was in place. Lina knocked and received permission to enter. Seeing the suitcase already prepared for departure, Lina rounded her eyes.

- Sylvie, it's not a personal trip, is it?

Sylvia showed Lina a smile, as if she were praising the child with the words "how intelligent you are with us."

-Yes. There was an order for a mission of covert penetration for a detachment of the Planetary class.

The planetary class consists of wards of support from the rear. The strength of Sylvia, as a magician, is also the collection and transmission of information. If the Planetary class is the basis of the operation, it means that the leadership does not think about the direct use of force at the moment.

-But I have not heard anything about it ...

-This mission is not entrusted to the Stars, as such. The intelligence department selects magicians suitable for operation individually.

- What a ridiculous ...

Involuntarily, Lina mumbled under her breath, realizing that even if she complained, this would not help at all. In particular, the intelligence department is not the opponent from whom something will be achieved even by the right arguments. Lina also knew this feature.

"... And what is the task of the operation?" And where are you going?

Sylvia hesitated a little with the answer. Still, this mission was secret. But Lina showed no signs of withdrawing the question. Sylvia had no choice but to convince herself that this was "an order from a superior officer."

-Operation area - Japan. The operation to determine the Strategic Class Magician that used the Great Bomb was resumed.

Lina's face was distorted, as if she tried too strong tea.

- ... That operation was resumed?

Lina was sent to Japan from December 2095 to March 2096. The main purpose of the mission was to identify the Strategic Class Magician, responsible for "Scorched Halloween", and if not, then to guarantee the inability to use Strategic Class Magic, which was temporarily called "The Great Bomb" (this magician also received the "explosive" nickname "Great Bomber") . However, in full swing, the mission changed the goal to eliminate the magicians who had been deserted by the monsters. Having dealt with the deserters, Lina was ordered to return.

During Lina's return home, other agents who had penetrated into magic- related institutions, such as the Magic University and magic high schools others other than First, were also recalled, so the mission to identify the Strategic Class Magician naturally ended.

But the Pentagon has not forgotten about the threat of a strategic class magician hiding by Japan.

Thus, now the search will be restarted with the Defense Intelligence Agency

(DIA) as the main executive force for the creation and security of the search network inside Japan. Undoubtedly, the fact that Strategic Class Magic was again used in real combat had a great influence on the reason why the secret penetration into a friendly country was approved right now.

This was due to the use of Strategic Class Magic "Synchronized Linear Fusion" in South America. There is no guarantee that the "Great Bomb" will not be used in the Pacific region at this time. Not surprisingly, priorities were raised when the threat began to look more realistic.

- But why exactly Sylvie ...

But to agree with the need for an operation and to agree with a specific method of conducting it are different things.

-Is it not obvious that this is due to the fact that I participated in penetration into Japan last time?

"But did not Sylvie spend the whole time in Japan in search of parasites last time?" Moreover, you returned home even before solving the issue of parasites. In the search for "Great Bomber," your terms do not differ in any way from the conditions of other people being sent out for the first time.

In fact, Lina's words for Sylvia were not far from the truth. Therefore, Sylvia listened to Lina's honest speech with a bitter smile.

"Besides ... with the combat capabilities of Japanese magicians, Sylvie will not be able to cope.

And then Sylvia's bitter smile froze.

-The fighting abilities of Japanese magicians are abnormal. And the magicians of the Star class are not involved! Well, Tatsuya and Miyuki turned out to be from that Yotsuba, maybe my penetration was a special case ...

-Are they so strong ...?

Sylvia had already heard enough from Lina about the abilities of Japanese magicians even during her last stay in Japan. However, now, seriously worried, the alarm flared up in her heart again.

"Yotsuba's infamous reputation is not an exaggeration," that's what I think, every time I remember Miyuki and Tatsuya. The magical power of Miyuki stands on an equal footing with my power of Sirius. Tatsuya also surpasses my strength, if I confine myself to one-on-one combat.

-Even so? ...

-Sylvie. Do you have a list of participants in this mission?

-Well, if only informally ...

Keeping a rigid face, Sylvia opened her own folding terminal to answer Lina's request. Revealed from a folded six-state state, the screen displayed the names of approximately 50 people, shown as a list with portraits.

Only when she saw this list did Lina frown. She scanned the list, and changed her expression from serious to frightened.

-... I already understood that there is no Star class among them, but I do not see anyone even of the Constellation class. Does the intelligence department plan to get rid of the magicians?

Stars are classified in the following way in descending order of strength: the class of Stars of the First magnitude, the class of Stars of the Second magnitude, the Class of Constellations, the class of Planets, the class of Satellites.

Among them, Stars of the First and Second magnitude, and also Constellations play the role of regular combat forces.

Naturally, this does not mean that the classes of the planets and satellites do not fight at all, because among the class of satellites, engaged primarily in illegal espionage missions, there are also combat-power owners that exceed the Constellation class and are on par with the Second Star magnitude class. But on the whole, the division into classes is made by force, therefore the combat power of magicians of the Planet class is lower in comparison with the Star class (the combined name for classes of the First and Second Star magnitude) and the class of Constellations. Most of the Satellites class will also lose to the Constellation class if they collide with them in battle.

If you just want to collect information, then the class of the planets and satellites, accompanied by enhanced Starfury magicians, will suffice. But in Japan, and even more so in Tokyo, where they are waiting for those two, Lina would not want to send magicians specializing in gathering information without the accompaniment of battle magicians.

Realizing that Lina's muttering is not an exaggeration, but true feelings, Sylvia briefly lost her speech. A naive thought ran through her head, "In any case, it's a duty to the whole nation," which made her anxiety suddenly worse.

-Since the official order has already been given, there's nothing to be done, therefore ... Sylvie, please be careful. Do not do foolish things. I'll recommend the headquarters to send someone else at least from the Constellation class.

-... I understood.

-The intelligence department can try to get the "Great Bomber" to appear, having organized a sabotage by the forces of Satellites and Stardust. At this moment, you can order them to support them, but please do not take part in it. Classes Sputnik and Star Dust never win against the Japanese Ten Master Clans.

Before Sylvia could answer, Lina continued with a hard voice.

"If this situation arises, you can use my name to reject the order."

After returning from Japan, Lina did not know how much weight the name of Sirius now has. However, if not by name, then her reputation as "the strongest magician in the United States," she hoped she could protect one of her trusted subordinates. In her thoughts, Lina assured herself with these words.

? ? ?

Friday evening, April 12th. It's been 3 days since the beginning of the week of recruiting to clubs in First High at the National Magic University. However, in this wild turmoil in First High , no major incidents occurred. Because Tatsuya and Miyuki looked after everything.

The two joined in monitoring the violations of school rules the same way as last year. Although the year before last, still not having the authority of Tatsuya, also caught a lot of violators.

But this year these two had other titles. And it's not about the president of the school board and the chief secretary, but about the next head of the Yotsuba family and the son of the current head. Yotsuba's name could not be ignored not only by students already doing family work, as full-fledged magicians, but also by ordinary carefree students. For the young inhabitants of the magical world, who are fledgling chicks *, the existence of Yotsuba was such a terrible thing. [In the original there is something about an egg and a hatched chick. Perhaps from some Japanese proverb.]

Of course, not only the nervousness of the pupils of First High was transferred to Tatsuya and the rest. Tatsuya, Miyuki and Minami in these last few days also learned and practiced as ordinary students of the school of magic.

The serenity of evening rest after supper was interrupted by a phone call.

- I apologize for the unseemly appearance.

With these words, Tatsuya bowed to the videophone camera.

- Do not worry about it, Tatsuya-san.

From the screen of the videophone, Maya smiled at him.

-Ara, is Miyuki-san already asleep? "Right now, I sent Minami to call her."

When it became clear that they were calling from the main house of Yotsuba, she went to change clothes. Perhaps Maya also understood this, as expressed by translating the conversation into another topic.

- I see. Then, I have enough Tatsuya-san. Because from the very beginning I phoned the case for Tatsuya-san.

- Thank you.

Tatsuya bowed again to the cell. Despite the change in his position in the family of Yotsuba, Maya is still making all decisions. Therefore, he did not know when all this could turn into her whim. Tatsuya did not trust very much the stability of his current situation.

-Will the scheduled meeting take place soon on Sunday morning?

-That's right.

At that moment, Miyuki returned to the living room. Leaving her lacy blouse from above, from the bottom, she changed the light miniskirt to a safe long skirt in dark tones.

-Both-sama, I'm very sorry.

-It's okay. It's because I suddenly called.

-Thank you.

Looking at Miyuki, who bowed cautiously, Maya with disinterested eyes returned to the interrupted conversation.

-So, come here Sunday afternoon. I would like to hear a detailed account of the case in Kumedzim.

Maya did not repeat what Miyuki had missed, but for Miyuki there was enough sense in what she heard to understand what the conversation was about.

- I'm listening.

Without hesitation, Tatsuya showed consent, bowing. Departure to the main house with a report in early April was planned from the very beginning. Maya, even with her egoism, did not demand the impossible.

But the problem was what to do if the meeting lasted until late at night. From Yokohama to the main house of Yotsuba is not so far away, but it will take some time. The next day, you need to go to school. Tatsuya, Miyuki and

Minami cannot all three be absent.

In this case, Tatsuya will have no choice but to act separately from Miyuki.

-In the case of an extension of the meeting, will it be normal to leave it before the end?

Tatsuya asked not about "changing the day," but about "leaving the meeting."

-Ara-ara ... It will be a meeting, organized by Juumonji-dono. Is there no problem with this?

"On the contrary, I think there will be problems if we stay at the meeting beyond the minimum."

What Maya said was natural, given the need to be polite to the same Clan Chiefs. However, Tatsuya emphasized that if the meeting was prolonged, the atmosphere could deteriorate, which would lead to problems.

-The eldest son of the Saegusa family also thinks about it. Maya read Tatsuya's unspoken fear and agreed with a smile.

-But maybe he wants Tatsuya-san and Miyuki-san to have the leading roles

...

Something (apparently, the concept of the Saegusa family) realizing, Maya continued with an understanding tone.

-But there will be Juumonji-dono, so this should not happen. You do not need to worry about extending the appointment.

-Got it.

Tatsuya made a bow with his head, showing agreement. The Sunday meeting will bring together young people, but Tatsuya did not think that all this will be organized according to the intentions of only young people.

- Then, see you on Sunday.

Tatsuya bowed again, preparing to say goodbye and finish the call.

- But before that,

However, Maya has not yet finished on this.

- You may be assigned work.

From the manner of Maya's speech, Tatsuya felt discomfort.

-The decision has not been made yet?

-The job request will not be from me. Tatsuya frowned slightly in suspicion.

-This means that there will be a mission for me from the army? But why are both taking care of such things?

In addition to Yotsuba, Tatsuya's work is also provided by the national defense forces. Work in FLT is under the direct control of Tatsuya, and there is no place for surprise.

Then why did Maya talk about the mission of the military? Does she really want the work not to be accepted? Despite this expectation Tatsuya,

-Because I also do not want foreign troops to land on our land. With this answer, he realized that his assessment was rather naive.

-Is the situation in Hokkaido so bad?

-The situation does not seem bad. On the contrary, I am curious why the army of the New Soviet Union is so confident in itself with such a level of strength.

It seems that Miyuki and Minami did not understand what was bothering Maya. But Tatsuya quickly realized what a terrible forecast for this lies.

-Does this mean that the New Soviet Union can use "Tuman Bomba"? When Tatsuya said this, the faces of Miyuki and Minami turned pale.

-Yes. Tatsuya-san, I believe that Ichijou-dono that was struck by magic was alsoa "Tuman Bomba", but of a truncated scale.

-So, the true essence of "Tuman Bomba" is to magically create a large amount of explosive gas and then simultaneously ignite the whole mass?

-A gas bomb filled with vibrating gas? But its basic mechanism, I do not understand ...

Tatsuya thought about the magic that is necessary for this. First of all, how to get the required amount of oxygen and hydrogen for the required power? Is a real gas created, or is its state fixed only for a moment? Reflecting on this, Tatsuya did not find an answer.

-If they used "Tuman Bomba" in the waters of Sado, it would be unnatural to hesitate to use it in the Soya Strait.

-And I need to resist this? But the "Material Burst" cannot be used when friendly forces are not far from the enemy. If that magic is intended to ignite the explosive gas, then it is not difficult to adjust the required power, while the mass transforming the energy of the "Material Burst" has a limit of narrowing the size of the transformed object.

In response to Tatsuya's uncharacteristic complaints, a smile appeared on Maya's face, which, in his imagination, or indeed, seemed slightly sadistic.

-It's all right. Because the army also does not ask to use the "Material Burst" near the coast of Japan. I wonder if the task entrusted to Tatsuya-san will consist in detaining the enemy fleet with attacks on an ultra-long range? Or destroy enemy magic.

With this last sentence, Tatsuya felt he understood why Maya cares about supporting the army.

-Do you need me to analyze the Strategic Class Magic "Tuman Bomba"?

-I do not think that even Tatsuya-san can understand everything at first sight. It will be enough to get a few tips. To receive any minor trifle is already good.

-I understand you.

Maya smiled rather at Tatsuya's answer.

-I look forward to meeting you on Sunday.

-Very grateful.

Tatsuya bowed his head, after which Maya completed the call.

Confirming that the video screen went out, Tatsuya rudely flopped on the sofa.

"Onii-sama, it's ... you did a good job."

Miyuki, looking anxiously at Tatsuya, crouched, but not next to him, but opposite him on his knees on the floor.

Tatsuya, with a smile, raised himself and stroked Miyuki on the head, then again returned to the sofa.

-Suddenly, so much trouble was piled up.

-Really ... Uh, I still need to attend the meeting Juumonji-senpai? Miyuki shyly laid her hand on Tatsuya's knee.

-No. It's all right.

Tatsuya put his hand over Miyuki's palm. It seems that Miyuki's act was not the result of deep thought. Recognizing, she opened her eyes wide and took off her hand in a panic.

- ... I'm very sorry.

With a strong embarrassment on her face, Miyuki looked away from Tatsuya.

- ... You must also excuse me.

Tatsuya, it seems, found himself in the same situation, not realizing what he was doing, and looked in surprise at his hand, which had touched Miyuki's hands recently. Seeing this unusual state of his brother, Miyuki's excitement became even more intense.

-No! This does not mean that I hate Tatsuya-sama's touch! I'm glad of the unexpected opportunity to hold Onii-sama by the hand, but it was so suddenly ...

It seems that the boundaries of doubt, how to call Tatsuya, Onii-sama or Tatsuya-sama, were erased in these instants of oblivion. Looking at the panic-stricken Miyuki, Tatsuya regained his composure.

"Miyuki, calm down."

-Yes, no, but ...

-Calm down.

"... It's good."

Looking up, Miyuki saw Tatsuya's expression. He nodded slightly, his whole appearance showing that "I do not mind." Miyuki again, greatly embarrassed, pulled her hand to Tatsuya's knee. When she laid her hand, Tatsuya covered her palm again.

Miyuki's hand did not even twitch. She did not have any reflex, automatically withdrawing her hand.

"... It is strange." Why did my heart tremble a little earlier?

"But are you okay now?"

- Yes. ... No.

Tatsuya did not ask for an explanation for such a contradictory answer. Eventually, after a while, Miyuki's charming lips moved slowly.

"My heart is also in turmoil." My heart is beating violently in my chest, and my breathing has gone too.

Saying this, Miyuki was calm.

"I should not remain calm, touching Tatsuya-sama." But why? The current me and the recent me, are we anything different? The heart beats in confusion, but this tremor is even, its rhythm is regular, and even with this difficulty of breathing I do not feel any discomfort.

Miyuki carefully put her head on the interlacing of them with Tatsuya hands.

"Despite the fact that my heart is beating harder than when I call you Onii- most ..., I'm comfortable anyway." As if such a behavior of the heart, this is what should be its normal behavior.

Narrowing his eyes and looking at Miyuki, Tatsuya, suddenly sensing the changes in the atmosphere, raised his head. When he had time to translate his eyes, there was only a figure of Minami escaping into the kitchen, whose reddened ears were visible from the lumina of her hair.

? ? ?

An ominous prediction and a happy prediction. If people ask which of them will come true, the majority will reply that this is an "ominous prediction."

Unfortunately, Maya's prediction on Tatsuya's call became a reality.

Saturday, April 13th. Right in the middle of the lesson, an emergency message from the school appeared on the screen of the Tatsuya educational terminal. According to the instructions read, Tatsuya suspended individual training at the terminal and left the classroom. Classmates spent it with the expression "What's that?" on their faces, but quickly returned their views to their terminals.

Tatsuya was heading to the waiting room. There Sanada was dressed in a costume.

Standing before Sanada, Tatsuya did not salute, but bowed. Sanada glanced at the school staff. They, obviously reluctantly, left the waiting room.

After that, the reception area was surrounded by a soundproof field created by the magic of Sanada. Confirming this, Tatsuya spoke first.

"Major Sanada, did not you go to Hokkaido?"

- I had to hurry back. We need your strength.

The facial expression was no different, but Sanada was clearly in a hurry. The manner of speech was clearly out of place.

- I got it. Explain the situation on the base.

Therefore, Tatsuya did not waste time on unnecessary questions. No matter how sound is isolated, it is better not to disclose the details of the operation within the walls of the school.

"Are we going to Kasumigauru?"

- That's right. How soon can you go?

Tatsuya replied "Already ready" for the impatient question of Sanada. As a member of the school board, Tatsuya did not need to deposit his CAD for storage, and, unlike the girls, he did not have personal things with him, other than the information terminal.

"Then let's go faster."

- I got it. I will only inform you of my early care, please wait here.

Having said this, as if reproaching Sanada's impatience, Tatsuya left the waiting room.

Sitting in a helicopter at the nearest Tachikawa base, they went to Kasumigau. An hour after leaving school, Tatsuya was in the control room in the brigade headquarters of 1-0-1.

As well as the observation room on the basis of Tsushima, this room had equipment creating an observation field in the form of a three-dimensional image obtained as a result of processing information from a spy satellite and stratospheric cameras. Among the equipment in the chair was Tatsuya, holding in his hands a specialized CAD in the form of a rifle, "The Third Eye."

He was wearing glasses connected to the Third Eye, just as it was done in the helmet of the Mobile Suit. Material Burst was unavailable without de- pledging, but it was already ready for an ordinary ultra-long attack.

The third eye is a CAD, designed specifically for "Material Burst". However, this does not mean that it can only be used for an Material Burst. The main purpose of the Third Eye is to help with aiming at an ultra-long range.

Naturally, it is useless if the user does not know how to handle it. The third eye will perform its functions only if the user has the ability to process information from a spy satellite and stratospheric cameras as easily as ordinary visual information.

Tatsuya possessed this ability. With the Third Eye, he could use Mist Dispersion and Gram Dispersion in a place distant a few hundred kilometers away.

"Special officer of Ooguro."

Tatsuya got up when he heard this voice.

- There are no changes in the operation.

Tatsuya was not in command of Kazama today. It was a woman who received the nickname "Silver Fox", brigadier commander, Lieutenant- General Saeki Hiromi, for her blond hair with a silver hue.

On the screen, a real-time image of the Soya Strait, also known under the international name Strait of La Perouse, was displayed from the stratospheric camera.

-Task number one - to nullify the enemy magic. If this is not possible, then prevent the advance of the enemy fleet.

-Yes.

"Special officer, are you ready?"

"I turned to Tatsuya Sanada after the completion of Saeki's order."

-Preparation is complete. The enemy magic summoning is already under observation.

-Good. Then, I ask you to return to your place.

Tatsuya sat down again. Saeki is not one who makes waiting orders, standing up, or something like that. All she wants is maximum performance.

The screen displayed many small vessels heading south from Karafuto. [Japanese name for Sakhalin]

Although at first glance they looked like fishing boats, the sensors of the stratospheric chamber showed that most of them are warships. Perhaps they are trying to hide their ships among real fishing vessels, so that we sink them, and then use this as a pretext for false accusations?

Possessing such skills, Tatsuya, in fact, was summoned as a magician, able to stop them without flooding, in order to avoid these accusations.

For magic, physical distance is not an obstacle. Even if you are in thousands, tens of thousands of kilometers from the goal, if you approach the information objective, you can use magic.

Speaking of the enemy, the magician is only able to understand the information distance and direction about where another magician activated magic. Therefore, even if you could feel the magic, you still cannot understand where it will be activated geographically. If the physical distance is small, then it is not difficult to compare the information coordinates with the coordinates of the relative position. But ordinary magicians will not be able to recognize from which point magic is released, even from a distance of several hundred meters.

On the other hand, hardware sensors are directly sensitive to the physical distance. Long-distance sensors feel further than ordinary magicians and are able to determine the place where the magic-activated magician is located. But when the distance reaches several tens of kilometers, it becomes difficult to connect magic with a certain magician. With the current level of technology, one can only learn that at the same time, when magic was activated in a certain place, the magician in anothe-->>

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