For Yua the area was a warm glow of positive energy, no one, even the somewhat lonely Murrue was unhappy. The Dancing couples looked as though they were in heaven. Everything was the picture of a pure and good party, of happiness amidst a grueling war.

Murrue Regarded Yua. "I have alot to be thankful for, but The man I was close with didn't make it through the schism. That's why you're sensing my unhappiness Yua.

It was said in such a matter of fact way that she could realized something about Yua like that. "You aren't the only Empath in the group. I don't have the showstopping power like the others, but my abilities make me a good commander, they suit me just fine."

One of the doors to the bay opened and an obviously very nervous Young operator walked in in his duty uniform. "I left instructions that the party was to be undisturbed. These graduates have earned this."

"Ma'am this cannot wait." With that he hands a copy of the transmission log to her. As she reads the log here eyes grow wide in shock and then tears start to well up in her eyes. She sets the note down and smiles. "He's alive."

She looks up and turns to the Operator. "Thank You, you were right to bring this to me." She stands up and makes her way to the podium. She flips several switches, switching the system to basewide communications, then she taps the tone.

A single high-pitched whistle goes out over the entire base halting the music, the party and everything else as all eyes turn to her. "I know today is your graduation, and you have earned this celebration, but I was just given some news I knew I had to share with you all. Captain Raisho Ishiyama is alive! He and a contingent of CRT-5 are currently fighting a defensive battle at Jindai High. In and of itself that is news to rejoice for, but the message goes on to state that there are also close to five hundred civilians, students and faculty, that are there behind the defenses of CRT-5. They are being pressed hard by the demons and have fought for an entire week. I know it is alot to ask of you But we must rescue them all. To this end I am mobilizing the Archangel and whoever personnel among you is willing to come with me. I have no authority beyond my ship and crew, so I ask the rest of you to come with me."

At first there was silence, then a roar of applause at the news of survivors. Captain Johnson looked down to Lily. "Her Fiance's back.. we're gonna have to finish this another time Highness. Duty and honor call." With that he releases her and Steps forward. Almost as one, all two hundred infantrymen stand together turn and salute just as their captain does the same. "CRT-13 stands ready to deploy."

Amane looks at Georgi and gives him an almost angelic smile. "I have to go too, Raisho's The man who helped alot of us younger officers. And I simply owe Murrue too much not to go save him." She turns and salutes. Her new pilots quickly follow suit. "CRT-7 ready to deploy, Captain Ramius."

Ruri looked at her. "As if you have to ask Captain. CRT-4 stands ready to deploy."

(((OOC if any of you have something to add do so now. Captain Ishiyama was the officer on the scene back in chapter 1, and he was the head of the officers questioning the party when they were brought to Shamballa Base.)))

Lily is momentarily startled when the Captain turns her loose, having drifted off into a sort of dreamy trance. It was so nice to have a moment where the grim realities could be set aside, and the thoughts of loss and duty could be filed away...just for a moment.

She listens to the news, first brightening, then putting a hand to her mouth in dismay. The situation sounded so grim!

"I'll go too," Lily offers staunchly. "We'll have to be fast though. We'll be opening either the base or our rescue force to attack from Shamballa."

Yua rose quickly from her resting spot apon hearing the news. Battle called again and it was nothing to be left amidst the times.

"If you are going Lily, I'm going aswell...that is if it's ok; Heh Heh."

Her laugh was true but ending in a sigh of redundancy that could not be helped.

"Never a dull moment"

Letting go of Amane's hand felt like he had lost an arm. All he wanted to do was hold her close, feel her chest rising and falling against his. Inside, he screamed that this wasn't the last time he would see her. It was another painful reminder of the burden he had to endure. The burden of a soldier. He was sure that Amane felt it too. He returned her smile, and winked. "You still owe me a dinner."

Georgi moved away from her and walked to Lily's side, his eyes still on the retreating Amane. "Well your Highness, are you ready?"

Lily glances up at Georgi. "Can't you just call me Lily?" she asks with a smile.

Kai nods and unsheathes Senbonzakura. "I'll do all we can. For a brief moment Raisho's eyes rest on the sword and the light of recognition dawns in his eyes, but he says nothing. "Very Well. Masane, Valerie what of you?"

Masane nods and the bracelet on her wrist begins to glow. "Kai is my contractor, where he goes, so do I."

They turn to Valerie awaiting her answer.

--------------------------------

Captain Ramius Nods. "Alright Captain's Johnson and Kaunac, select four platoons of infantry and join me on the ship. The rest of you will be under Captain Hoshino's command while we're away. A small force has a better chance of success here than two full CRT's. If we're fast enough we can get there before the others do. Amane, I need you on the ground on this one. Stay near the Princess and her guardians and establish contact with Captain Ishiyama. Let's bring our comrades home."

Everyone began clearing out to check equipment. Captain Johnson selected his troops. "Platoon One Seven, Thirteen and twenty grab your gear and hotload for immediate combat duty I want you on the ship five minutes ago." The selected troops immediately bolted for the doors to go grab their armors.

Amane stopped by Georgi and the others. "See you on the ship. Don't dawdle, we've got lives to save." She was gone in a flash. She knew leaving untried troops to defend the base was risky, but she had to trust in them. She knew too well that if any Satoshi officers showed, she would be needed on the ground. Raisho had to be exhausted, he couldn't be expected to fight a fresh Captain.

-------

Even as they waited for Valerie's answer Lights began to glow on Kai and he looked. "It isn't me, the gate's opening from the other side, something's coming through!" The gate had indeed opened a small fraction to let something through, and Kai, Raisho and masane all stood ready to greet it with lethal measures. Now was not the time for suprises.

((OOC everybody post getting to the Archangel and your battle preparations. Valerie if you accept to go to battle post as much and we'll work out how that goes.)))

Through the portal staggers an 8 foot tall Bear-man covered in wounds, wielding a large bladed polearm, recognizable as a chinese Guan Do. He collapses to his knees, the polearm slipping from his grasp. In a gravelly, bass-filled voice, he speaks, "I come from the world of Ikaris. I seek aid in battle against a monstrous foe. We face our ancestors in a battle we may not be able to win. The dead are marching on neighboring Shards as we speak. However, they may be able to buy my Shard some time before the final battle." His form shimmers and kneeling before you is a 5 foot 9 inch tall young man with western features, and an unruly mop of dirty blond hair. He is wearing what can loosely be termed a uniform of a western dark-ages style. A pair of burgunday colored tights, a shirt made of golden thread, and a burgundy tabard with a golden device of a crystal shattering into 9 shards, with one being larger than the rest and colored white. His polearm has a gold and white tassle hanging from the staff near the base of the blade. He then falls forward, and says plainly, in a mild-sounding voice, "Ow."

(...huh?! :))

(((OOC I did warn you of new players did I not?Or at least an old one who has more time now rejoining... Everything is cool, just keep going.)))

Valerie advances with the SdZ at hand. "I'm ready for this, I won't let anything come stomping from their hometurf to stomp on mine!" Valerie focuses on the SdZ, and it changes it's shape from the Baton it lengthens itself, growing a spearhead with fangs, like a trident, and keeping the crystal amulet on the base.

"I'm ready whenever you are Kai-Senpai, this creatures don't scare me anymore."