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Australia, the military base of Darwin. It is located on the site where until the end of World War III was an international airport, which was subsequently closed due to the almost complete isolation of Australia from the rest of the world. Instead of the airport under the auspices of Britain, a magic research center was built here.
The policy of isolation did not an completely giving up interaction with other countries. Although international diplomatic contacts at the state level were blocked, but limited communication with other countries was maintained in the form of private trade or disguised as interaction between civilians.
By itself, this "isolation" was not an official state policy, but the border crossing was severely restricted and accompanied by serious checks under the pretext of preventing the invasion of terrorists. In fact, entry and exit from the country beca practically impossible. Therefore, if the governnt needed to let soone in, it was done in secret. Sending diplomats for talks was also classified.
Australia has made progress in turning its vast deserts into cultivable lands, and could provide itself with food and minerals. Resources are enough for complete self-sufficiency.
What Australia really needed was in military technology to protect the country. In particular, in such military magical technology that could resist invading from the coastline detachnts of the enemy with such success that losses among civil and private property were minimal.
This country has always had friendly relations with Britain, which along with the USNA was considered a country with highly developed magical technologies.
On the Darwin Air Force base, a British hypersonic aircraft landed. This aircraft could fly in the upper layers of the stratosphere and reach a speed that exceeds the speed of sound by 6 tis. The aircraft had a unique coloring for the tiger, which showed that his passenger was VIP for the British army.
This man was neither a high-ranking officer, nor an influential politician, but a civilian who was a key figure in the British defense forces, which made him a man of the highest importance.
-Sir William MacLeod. We are looking forward to your arrival. - Commander Darwin personally t the British VIP.
It was William MacLeod, one of the Thirteen Apostles, magicians of a strategic class. They were still called the Thirteen Apostles, because the Great Asin Alliance did not formally recognize the death of Liu Yongde. "Thank you for your courteous reception."
MacLeod is now 60 years old. He is a tall, thin, elderly gentleman with sleek gray hair. Looking at him, it's hard to imagine that this person is equal to the Pri Minister of Britain, or maybe even higher than him.
"Sir William, please follow ."
The assistant commander of the base opened the door of the waiting car, but did not salute, but bowed politely. Elegantly bowing in response, MacLeod sat in a Rolls-Royce limousine.
The limousine was on its way to the bunker, located deep under the base, in which there was a research laboratory. Here, research was conducted on ways to improve the body of the magician, as well as the thods of creating magicians. Once MacLeod had already visited here and helped the Australian military to create a magician.
MacLeod's knowledge was also used to strengthen natural magicians. It is no exaggeration to say that he made a major contribution to the restoration of Australia's magical military forces after the war.
"I have not seen you for a long ti, sir."
"Sir, it's an honor to see you again."
In a luxurious room, by which you cannot tell that it is underground, MacLeod was t by two people. A European-looking girl, looking for 12-13 years, and a European-looking man aged just over 30.
"Jas, I'm glad to see you again." Captain Johnson, too, has not changed at all. " too, sir."
"Thank you, sir."
"You two, make yourself comfortable." - Sitting, MacLeod ordered two people.
Neither the girl nor the captain moved, and stood quietly and evenly, with an army bearing.
- So, you already know the tasks?
The girl and the captain answered in a chorus: "Yes, sir."
"I believe that for you guys this is a bad mission, but Japan has greatly shaken the world balance of power, so we have no choice." This mission is important not only for your country, but also for Britain.
With the reorganization of the world order after the Third World War, the British Commonwealth of Nations virtually ceased to exist. But despite the disappearance of the organization, communications remained. Secret cooperation continued, so that the New British Commonwealth could begin at any suitable mont.
However, the New British Commonwealth was not the only option for Britain and Australia. Both countries definitely realized this, and also knew that they think the sa.
"No, we have no objection to the order." We will do everything possible. - Answered the girl, who was called Jas. Her real na was Captain Jasmine Williams. She was from the "Williams family", which appeared with the direct participation of MacLeod. She looked only 12-13 years old, but in fact she was a qualified magician, and she turned 29 this year.
-I see. - Satisfiedly nodding, MacLeod took out a mory card from his inner pocket.
"I think you need to listen to the details of the operation again."
-Yes, sir. - In response to the words of MacLeod, Johnson said.
-Here detailed details of the operation are recorded. Nas, as usual, are omitted.
As MacLeod said, it was common, so neither Jasmine nor Johnson showed any misunderstanding.
-The purpose of the attack is near the coast of the island of Ku, which is part of the Okinawa archipelago. It is an artificial island, created by Japan with the purpose of extracting minerals from the ocean floor. - MacLeod began his explanation to the two waiting people.
March 10, 2097, Sunday.
Ichijo Masaki, who attended First High during a terrorist search mission, went ho to Kanazawa. After passing it, Tatsuya and Miyuki returned to the reception of the Kanto Branch of the Magical Association. There they were expected by the current head of the Yotsuba family, as well as their aunt, Yotsuba Maya.
"Haha-hue, did I keep you waiting?"
Tatsuya said "mother" (haha), and not "aunt" (both), since they were in a magical association, and not in a private house of Yotsuba.
- No, Tatsuya-san. I still have free ti before the planned cases.
She looked at her watch. But I knew that there was still ti, even before I looked. However, the feeling that Maya spent her ti waiting, made such excuses aningless. Unlike Tatsuya, Miyuki saw sothing ominous in Maya's response.
"You two, take a seat."
Too soft tone instead of the usual orderly greatly alard his brother and sister. Or it would be better to say that they had a premonition that sothing unpleasant would happen. In any case, continuing to stand would be an unacceptable oversight. The first to sit Tatsuya, and with a little delay, Miyuki followed.
"Tatsuya-san, I'm sorry, I know that the incident with Gu Jie has just ended, but ...
Tatsuya felt his heart sink. The word "ended" ant "completing" the case with a terrorist who was from Dahan. However, it was impossible to say that the problem was solved. For example, the police are still investigating, and governnt officials are actively discussing "asures to prevent the recurrence of the incident."
Maya already said earlier that she forgives the fact that the terrorists' case was completed in an undesirable manner. However, her attitude can change at any mont. Tatsuya's intensity increased, and he could not bla it on his imagination.
"Now I want to entrust you another job."
"In that case, I'll visit you later at ho." Tatsuya gently answered the smiling Maya.
- Do not worry. This place is also suitable.
Tatsuya did not ask what task they want to entrust to him. The Yotsuba family was not hermits living on the street, but that village in the mountains was not self-sufficient. The whole village was originally a secret military research facility. Isolated from the outside world, they could provide themselves with food, clothing and shelter, but everything else needed to be bought from outside for money. Yotsuba in the outside world had affiliated companies, business partners and sponsors, whom the head of the family sotis personally visited during the survey of possessions.
"I want you to go to Okinawa." Together with Miyuki. "With Miyuki?"
"Officially, you will go to the eting to discuss the commoration of the fifth anniversary of that incident." Visit necessarily, you can just listen. At the call of the governnt, the tribute will be paid to the dead. In addition, a visit to the temple on Higan is required. [note. Periv: a Buddhist feast of veneration of ancestors, during which morial services are perford] The incident she spoke of was the invasion of the Great Asian Alliance by Okinawa in August 2092. In that battle, they lost Sakurai Honami, the guardian of their mother Miya. They considered her to be part of the family. "But both of you." We in fact do not have concern for the families which were lost there.
Miyuki said this because she did not want Tatsuya to return to the painful mories, and completely forgot that she too can rember the bad. Tatsuya has not yet recovered real emotions. Maybe he will not return until his death. But even if there were no bad thoughts, a little sadness remained in the depths of consciousness.
-To so extent, after all, do we belong to such families? This is also the official duty of the Ten Master Clans. And from the Top Ten Clan Clans you are the only ones who are directly connected with this incident. Maya dismissed such an excuse.
-... Yes, I understood. I said a stupid thing.
-Do not worry about that. Maya accepted Miyuki's apology with a smile and turned to Tatsuya. "So, the real work that I wanted to entrust is here." Hayama, standing motionless behind Maya, as if waiting for these words, suddenly approached Tatsuya and handed him a large envelope.
"Can I open it now?"
-Yes, you can look here.
Tatsuya cut the envelope with a paper knife lying on the table and took out a folder of thick paper without any inscriptions, inside of which about a dozen docunts were filed. He quickly ran his eyes through all the pages, returned the folder to the envelope, and gave it to Hayama. He bowed to Tatsuya, and handed the envelope to Maya.
- Tatsuya-san, I wonder, can you take care of this problem?
Saying "yes", Tatsuya again received the envelope from the hands of Maya. Imdiately after receiving it in his hands, the envelope with the docunts disappeared.
-Haha-hue, can I tell Miyuki about the contents of the envelope?
-Oh sure. I'd like you two to work together on the problem I assigned Tatsuya-san.
However, this ti the failure will not be forgiven.
Maya did not say it out loud, but Tatsuya understood that the successful completion of the case was implied without words.
-I got it.
Nodding in response to Tatsuya's bow, Maya stood up.
"I'm sorry they did not serve tea." I have a busy schedule today. - No, everything is okay. - Tatsuya and Miyuki also got up.
Saying "I left" to two people, stiff in deep bow, Maya left the room.
Monday arrived after the weekend.
Miyuki and Shizuku were talking on the way to the practice room. "Miyuki, are you going to Okinawa?"
Hearing about the trip to Okinawa, Miyuki beca a little agitated. Last night, Tatsuya told her about his "real work" there. Shizuku could not find out about this, but she chose such a ti for her question that he could not be associated with anything else.
"To Okinawa?"
-Yeah.
-Do you know that an artificial island is being built on Okinawa, next to the island of Ku? - Instead of a laconic Shizuku, the conversation was supported by Honoka.
-Yeah, I know. - Miyuki nodded, maintaining perfect calm.
"As expected from Miyuki ..." Honoka suddenly began to admire, because she did not know about the artificial island until she heard of him from Shizuku. And it was normal, because Shizuku did not know until she heard from her parents.
-... So that's it. It looks like the company Shizuku's father invested in the construction of this island.
Miyuki thought it was not surprising. Shizuku's father is the head of one of the leading groups of companies in Japan, and the artificial island project is extrely important from a political point of view, as it will bring valuable resources. And it did not surprise even that the project was not asked for investnt from the governnt.
"This artificial island was completed last month." So ... "Honoka looked at Shizuku. She thought that she should continue her words.
-There will be a party, a celebration of the end of construction. Miyuki, do not you want to co? - Taking the baton from Honoka, Shizuku invited Miyuki.
"When?"
-28 March. We leave on the 25th, and we plan to return on the 31st.
-I apologize. At this ti, I have planned family business.
Hearing an apology from Miyuki (which, incidentally, was pure truth, not acting), Honoka rounded her eyes.
"Family affairs, Yotsuba's affairs?" - Having said this, Honoka suddenly closed her mouth with her hand in fright.
"It's not that they were any unusual business." A bitter smile on Miyuki's face appeared for the first ti since she was caught unawares. The fear of Yotsuba was clear, but it still seed that such a reaction was excessive. "This year is the fifth anniversary of the Okinawa incident?"
When soone ntioned the "Okinawa incident", in recent years everyone understood that it was the invasion of the Great Asian Alliance to Okinawa in August 2092. The aning of these words also reached Honoka.
-This sumr a large morial service will be held. I need to attend a preliminary eting to organize this event.
In general, the next year should be the next one, as it will be the "seventh ti", therefore Miyuki added that this is not a very important matter. [note. "The seventh ti" is the 6-year anniversary of death.] Feeling the atmosphere, Honoka and Shizuku were silent.
-Also I need to participate in the ceremonies during the ti of Higan, which will be held at the sa ti. Therefore Onii-sama and I will go to Okinawa imdiately after the closing ceremony on the 23rd. That's why we will not be able to accompany you on a trip ... but we also go to Okinawa, so we can et by chance.
Honoka's eyes glead when she heard that Tatsuya would go to Okinawa. Yotsuba's work in the Top Ten Clans ant a refusal to travel, but hearing that the destination was the sa, Honoka was looking forward to it.
-If you have free ti, can we et?
As the atmosphere of tension grew, Honoka did not have to wait for an answer for a long ti.
-Exactly. Since there is not much work for there, I will contact you when I get free. Miyuki nodded with a soft smile.
-Yeah. - Shizuku, before listening to Miyuki and Honoka, was, as usual, terse, but looked, too, eagerly awaiting the events under discussion.
March 15th. The day of the graduation ceremony in schools of magic. Not only in First High, but in all nine schools at the sa ti.
In First High, the farewell party of the graduates just ended, and the school was enveloped in an atmosphere of simultaneous joy and sadness.
Last year, Tatsuya was still on the disciplinary committee at the ti of the graduation ceremony, so he did not participate in its organization. He was simply in the mode of readiness for incidents. But this year he was already a mber of the school board, and carried out the instructions of President Miyuki.
After the completion of the first and second course parties, which were also held separately this year, Tatsuya ca to the school boardroom. Miyuki, surrounded by guests and entertaining them, ca to the school boardroom before him.
"Oh ... no, Tatsuya-sama."
She did not call him Onii-sama. However, she simply could not say "Tatsuya- san". More recently, Miyuki has beco accustod to not calling him publicly "Onii-sama," but she could not get used to Tatsuya-san yet. This treatnt put her on an equal footing with Tatsuya, which did not correspond to her feelings. Sohow, Miyuki managed to accept the "Tatsuya-sama" appeal as a compromise. Perhaps this option was overheard by Minami, who also used "Tatsuya-sama."
The beauty of Miyuki, as if coming from a fairy tale, perfectly complented her image of the "bride", so her treatnt of "Tatsuya-sama" was not perceived by others as sothing wrong.
-Thanks for the work you've done. "Miyuki, you've done a good job too."
Minami brought a cup of coffee to the person who took the seat behind Tatsuya's terminal. Although there was a ban on the use of drinks and food near the terminals, no one pointed it out to Tatsuya. Even Izumi, who still treated him coolly, recognized his services in servicing all the equipnt in the school board room.
... It could be said that because of Miyuki's charisma, no one dared to say aloud, because no one could deny the fact that the current school board of First High definitely had a dangerous trend of the lack of principles of democracy.
And yet, Tatsuya had an excuse that he used the terminal instead of a table where he was allowed to eat and drink. For the eting (supposedly) the table was fully occupied by the graduates: Azusa, Isori, Kanon, Hattori, Kirihara and Sayaka.
"Shiba-kun, thank you for the work done." - Isori thanked Tatsuya sitting at the table.
Tatsuya, also sitting, nodded in return. Since during the graduation ceremonies, he has already congratulated all of them repeatedly, therefore he decided that the repetition would be inappropriate. Graduates, including the Kanon, did not complain about Tatsuya's behavior. Isori already turned to the others and they continued their conversation.
-So, everyone agrees with the prepared schedule? - Summarized Azusa. No one had any objections.
-When I was a freshman, I could not even imagine that we would have a graduation trip in such a composition.
-Mibu, now you do not have to worry anymore.
"Hattori is right, Mibu."
-Exactly. After all, Mibu-san is not from our company. ... And in my opinion, it would be really good if only Kei and I went together.
-Kanon. Do not say such things.
Honoka approached the drinking coffee and listening to Tatsuya's graduates.
-They say that the Nakajouu-senpai company will have an exit trip to Okinawa.
-Sempai also go to Okinawa?
Tatsuya already heard from Miyuki about the trip of Honoka and Shizuku to Okinawa.
-Yes. It seems the Isori-senpai family helped technically in the construction of an artificial island financed by the Shizuku family, so they will all attend the party in honor of the completion.
-Clear.
The Isori family deserved their reputation thanks to their magic engraving. This magic is especially appreciated for its usefulness as a counteraction to natural disasters. With the help of engraving, it is possible, albeit briefly, to significantly increase the fire resistance and impact resistance of building materials, and this is done in a very short ti. Using engraving magic to build an important facility for the country, the base for the extraction of marine resources - this is a very reasonable way to use magic. The participation of Isori's family confirms this.
In truth, the coincidence in ti with Tatsuya's work was not accidental. The work entrusted to Maya was connected with a party in honor of completing the construction of the artificial island "Saikasin", which Honoka spoke about.
It would be right that Tatsuya warned at least Honoka and Shizuku. But he put the secrecy of the mission to a higher level. Unlike Tatsuya, Miyuki was very concerned about the possible involvent of friends in this matter. But it was a secret mission involving the military. And despite the desire to warn them, they could only remain silent.
The graduation ceremony was over, but the third sester was still going on. Despite the fact that the closing ceremony this year will be 2 days earlier than usual due to the calendar, the enemy will attack regardless of the circumstances.
Maya's work entrusted to Tatsuya was to prevent diversions during the celebration of the completion of the artificial island, which will be held on the 28th. Therefore, to just perform this task, you do not need to rush, or you can just wait until the spring break begins.
However, the more ti an enemy gets, the greater the complexity of the task will beco. In addition, the enemy's goals were not limited to a solemn ceremony. If the Yotsuba magician, present on the spot, will allow foreign enemy forces to commit sabotage, this will an the failure of the task, which will be a big problem.
And this will already be a problem not only for the Yotsuba family. The reputation of the Ten Master Clans will be destroyed, and the Japanese army, the self-defense forces, is disgraced. According to information about the purposes of the attack of foreign agents, in this interests of Yotsuba and the army coincide.
March 17, Sunday. Tatsuya, the Yotsuba magician along with a special officer of the self-defense forces, visited the headquarters of the Independent Magic Battalion, which was quite natural. In this mission it was necessary to act not on behalf of the army, but to show Yotsuba's cooperation with the army.
Tatsuya ca to the eting of the detachnt of Kazama just as they were solving this issue. Before Tatsuya could speak, Kazama told him:
-We will advance to Okinawa directly in front of you. Unite during the ceremony of Higan on the 24th.
The present Kazama understood this well. Perhaps the last regret was that they were inactive at a ti when Gu Jie was creating his lawlessness. Well, whatever the reason, Tatsuya decided to thank him anyway.
-I really hope so. - Tatsuya expressed his gratitude. But at the sa ti he asked the question that was tornting him. "Lieutenant-Colonel, will you personally direct the operation right on the spot?"
Kazama shook his head with a smile at Tatsuya's question.
-Not just lead. This ti I will also fight. Because the features of the operation do not allow the use of a large number of people. "Perhaps he was seized by the excitent of returning to the battlefield after a long ti.
"Perhaps the enemy will not be limited to one small detachnt." - Tatsuya did not take this idea seriously. After the Okinawa incident, it took 5 years. And a year and a half has already passed since the incident in Yokohama. Tatsuya believed that both the police and the army at the mont are competent enough to withstand a large-scale invasion. At least he believed in it.
Kazama was of the sa opinion, but on duty he could not give up such thoughts that were now in Tatsuya's head.
"If the enemy engages large forces, we will receive support from our troops stationed on the ground." But in this case, even if the enemy's actions are unsuccessful, their target can be achieved if there is a big stir.
Tatsuya imdiately realized that he wanted to tell Kazama. The tactical goal of the enemy, who is going to lead a sabotage, is either the destruction of the artificial island, or the murder of one of the important people who will attend the party. However, a more important, strategic goal is an attempt to provoke hostility towards the Japanese and to abolish the peace treaty. If a large number of people are involved, the dia will start sniffing out what this is for. If it turns out that behind the attempt of sabotage is the faction of opponents of reconciliation from the Great Asian Alliance, this will cause serious resonance in the society.
But such a situation, presumably, will bring problems not only to Japan, but also to the Great Asian Alliance ...
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