---

Several explosions were heard throughout the facility.

"What was that?! The laser impact alone couldn't have caused this..."

It appears the captured MASC-01 fighter had a built-in tamper-proof mechanism, causing their self-destruction. Since it was a clean-room disassembly, however, damage and casualties were minimal. There was also another laser impact, though it was uncharged, so the damage was fully negated.

"Damage report."

Sectors B-16 to B-22 were affected by the MASC explosion. Most of the damage is concentrated in the cleanrooms: structural integrity varies from 31.8 to 63.3%. Estimated repair time: Three days four hours. The previous laser impact had penetrated part of the shield: energies were increased to sixty percent, resulting in the prevention of any further damages. Outer Bendezium shell integrity: 88.7%. Inner Bendezium shell integrity: 93.2%. Repairs are already underway, and will complete in nineteen hours.

"Hmm. It appears I have underestimated their combined strength. A mistake that hopefully will not happen again."

Security breach detected. The video feeds from sectors C-12 and D-13a have been compromised. The attacker's signals can be traced to Innerpeace. The footage is scrambled, however, so by the time they find out about our recent projects, it will be too late.

"Understood. Scramble the data on all video and audio feeds twice more. Stay alert for any signals coming from other countries, and block them when appropriate. Bring the lower sectors on-screen. The launch timetables have been moved up."

Meanwhile, in the deeper sections of the Maëlstrom...

"Doctor Isaacs. Are the prototypes ready for field testing?"

"We are still working out some... issues regarding their weapon systems. For the most part, SHA-301-SDa and SHA-304-REd are ready for testing. SHA-302-BWb is still incomplete, though it shows major promise. We may be able to have them all up and ready for combat in three weeks' time."

"And the Nirvana series?"

"Those are still highly experimental, sire. Only one model is even nearing prototype status. The SHA-310-CRh is showing tremendous promise for use as a defensible space outpost."

"Fair enough. Stay alert for further orders. Cirvante out."

A screen of the launch bay appeared in Cirvante's monitor.

"Admiral Serges. Is the Heimdallr ready to launch?"

"Aye, sir. Launch sequence will begin in 30 minutes. The Gjallarhorn will be released at 820 kilometers above the atmosphere."

"Excellent. I trust the newest security measures are in place?"

"Experimental null-field generator and cloaking devices are fully installed. Awaiting your orders, sire."

"Good. With both the Gjällarhorn and Heimdallr in orbit, we can finally secure a foothold in the space front. Glory to the SHION."

Suddenly, a warning blare sounded.

"?!"

Warning: Enemy armaments approaching. Multiple missiles from Innerpeace, Arcadian and XP-English forces. Total amount of projectiles is estimated in the low hundreds.

"They just keep coming... Fire the Hornet's Nests. They should be enough to take out all the missiles. But just in case, raise shields to seventy percent."

A myriad of smaller missiles were sent to intercept the larger missiles coming at the Maëlstrom from all sides.

---

---

"Report."

All missiles succesfully intercepted, and one has apparently been sent off-course. No further damage has been sustained.

"Any word from the rebels?"

No response as of yet. ?!?

"What's wrong?!"

It seems they did respond after all...Incoming laser strike!

"Shields at 80%! Deploy the secondary shields... ugh!"

Main shields at 72% and holding. Secondary shields at 33% and dropping. Some damage has been sustained, but it shouldn't be anything too serious.

"Damage report!"

Secondary shields are out of commission and will continue to be for at least a day.
Outer Bendezium shell's repairs were not complete and as such suffered most of the damage. Structural integrity at 80.3%. Inner Bendezium shell remains intact.

"These constant laser strikes are becoming annoying... Doctor Isaacs!"

"'Yes, herr Meister?"

"Is the null-field generator ready yet?"

"Affirmative. Gathering up enough power to operate it, however, will take at least thirty-two hours."

"Excellent. Get me Admiral Serges."

"Sir!"

"There can be no more delays. Launch the Gjällarhorn at once! We are under high alert: other nations are probably aware of this project as well. Therefore, I must ask you to deploy your cloaking shields the moment you clear Earth's gravity field."

Incoming report: Super-intelligent animal test subjects from another nation's experiments have organized and formed their own nation: Exploding DogLand. While their armaments are primitive, they might still have some tricks up their sleeves.

"Leave them alone for now. The Coalition is strong enough as-is; let's not give them a new member."

Understood.

At that moment, a huge hole opened up in the Maelstrom's metal frame: a large spacecraft could be seen rising out of the opening, carrying a huge payload on its back. The Gjällarhorn had been launched.

Alert: Strange energy readings located to the far eastern regions. The energy type seems to match that of the aurora borealis.

"The Northern Lights? In the east? On screen."

A huge purple, rainbow-animated energy field could be seen covering a great part of the eastern hemisphere. The crew of the Heimdallr looked down at the earth, astonished: the purple lights engulfed a large mass of the planet, approximately 12 percent.

"Sir! I think you might wanna see this!"

"WHAT?! Not good! Why the hell are THEY involved?!"

It seems the other nations are also aware of this phenomenon. Perhaps this will divert their attention from attacking us... Should we hail them?

"No, not yet. If they only knew what they're up against... Hail all our staff. Our priorities have changed: Our defense takes precedence over world conquest now. Contact the Arcaidan expedition and tell them to hold their position."

"Doctor Isaacs."

"Hmm?"

"We can no longer wait for the Nirvana series' completion. Divert all your resources to the completion of the Shinten-mon. You have one week to get them all into working order. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, herr Meister."

---

---

Received report from the Arcadian expedition: a second wave of missiles have been fired from both Arcadia and Innerpeace at the Maelstrom.

"Not to worry, the Hornet's Nests--"

Warning: Huge energy readings detected.

"XP-England's lunar phaser again?"

Negative. The readings are much stronger than anything XP-England has thrown at us.

"Is the Gjällarhorn in its range?"

"Negative. Th spacecraft Heimdallr cleared the atmosphere 10 minutes ago, and is in full cloaking mode. Deployment will commence in half an hour.

"Sir!"

"Admiral Serges! What the hell is that thing?!"

"Those two orbital cannons are about to fire!"

"Have you any idea who they belong to?"

"Arcadian forces have been seen patrolling the area, sir."

"I see... So the missile batteries were only a diversion to stall for time... Remain cloaked until further notice!"

"Yes, sir!"

Cirvante was starting to look more uneasy by the second. The Maëlstrom's shields were still damaged from last time, and even at 100%, it would suffer some significant damages. There was but one option left now..."

"Doctor Isaacs. Is the null-field generator fully charged?"

"It's only at 82.6 percent. It still needs about two hours--"

"We'll have to make do. Activate it, now!"

"But sir--"

"That's an order, Isaacs!"

Null-field generator activated. All personnel, clear the external areas.

The lights started to flicker, it was evident the null generator consumed much power. Suddenly, the Arcadian cannons fired two huge lasers at the Maëlstrom. A blinding white flash could be seen from space. After the smoke cleared, the Maëlstrom survived, completely intact. The experiment had succeeded.

"Well, that's certainly a relief. As soon as the generator cools down, begin recharging immediately."

Incoming report: Lolland is under attack by what appears to be some rudimentary nuclear devices launched by... Exploding DogLand. Arcadian weapons have also been located near the vicinity. Should we intervene?

"Negative. Let them destroy themselves. Our priorities are defense, remember?"

Incoming report: A seismic wave generator was used by the rebel armies to separate the southern region from the mainland. It looks like the Re-Unified Empire isn't so unified now...

"Interesting... We shall wait to see the results of this development. Keep me posted."

"Any further news from the other nations?"

Innerpeace has completed its newest project, code-named 'GENESIS', and has sent several of these units to the remaining nations of the Coalition, including Arcadia and Freedonia. It is possible they have finally cracked the stolen footage from our labs and derived their experiments from that.

The Freedonian government, with the aid of Innerpeace troops, are currently taking care of the fallout from last month's missile strike. It is evident that said nation is in a severely weakened state, though with the aid it is receiving from the Coalition, it most likely won't be much longer.

The Gjällarhorn was deployed at 1320 hours this afternoon. Its first scans show the existence of enemy bases scattered across the atmosphere. XP-England's lunar base has been located, as have the Arcadian orbital bombardment platforms and a moon-like structure code-named 'Death Egg', identified as belonging to the Coalition.

"Contact Admiral Serges. Tell him to prep the Gjällarhorn for firing, and activate the perimeter defenses in case a stray fighter comes too close. As for the Heimdallr, remain cloaked."

"Sir! The Shiten-mon have been succesfully completed, and are awaiting deployment!

"It seems the real war has only just begun..."

---