Infinite Stratos: Zero Hour

Charlotte was targeting Advent with her rocket launcher again when Derek suddenly flew directly in the path of the shot. Startled and not wanting to hit an (admittedly nominal and so far very unhelpful) ally, the rocket ended up missing pretty badly. "Derek! Get out of the way!"

Neither Cecilia nor Laura bothered adjusting their aim; both of them figured that if the American was idiotic enough to jump into the line of fire it was his own fault if he took a railgun blast or sniper round to the head.

Rin was riding the same train of thought and opens fire as well " cant say I didn't warn you stalker boy!"

All shots and attacks hit the IS. Advents shields went down right before Derek touched her. The energy past from Derek's IS to the pilot. She didn't even have time to scream, one second she was there, the next the stolen IS was falling into the ocean

Sarah flies down and catchs the IS "Mission complete"

"Good return to base"

"SARAH! Give to Mira!" Mira flew over and grabbed Advent.

Sarah quickly hands the IS over to Mira "You do relise they did something to it right?"

"Yes, and I'm going to make the techs fix it. Where'd you put my electric mixer, by the way?"

"What on earth could you want with an electric mixer?"

"Ever stuck it in someone's mouth and switched it on?"

"That's barbaric! Of course I haven't!"

"Neither have I, but I really want to."

"Can you at least let Lander finish his will before you do that?" Sarah says flying to base

"I was just going to flay him alive - I meant the prisoner's we've got. Besides which, what exactly has he been doing while we're gone anyway?"

"Mon dieu..."

"Frenchie, there's no need to address me as a god. Call me Mira."

"...T-that's not what I meant at all."

"Word of advice go with everything she says and keep complants to yourself"

"Like in ze army, ja?" (This should be obvious)

"Laura, don't tell me you agree with this." (Charlotte is not happy)

"Trust a German to follow orders without thinking for herself." (That's racist *bing*)

"That's the Russians, actually. No offense, Tatenashi." (Mira is seriously considering nicknaming Tatenashi)

"None taken" Tatenashi says over the coms "Just come back and Mira you can do what you want with the prisoners but Lander has immunity so you can't kill him"

"He can live without skin."

"Mira" Tatenashi says annoyed

"Fine....he doesn't need his legs though. Wheelchairs are a thing."

"Or prosthetic legs."

"Laura! Don't help her!"

"Can we please not indulge the psychopath while we fly please?" Sarah says

"Thank you Sarah"

"Welcome"

Wards voice came through the coms, but to only the peacemaker pilots "What happened?"

"We got Advent back, the weird guy killed the thief, and the thief blew up a cruise liner."

"Were there any survivors?"

"No" Sarah says

"Good, the less people that see the peacemakers the better"

"General, how can you say that?!" Charlotte demanded, frankly disgusted. Cecilia looked appalled as well, and even Laura found that disturbing.

Mira didn't, as a matter of fact, but then nothing seemed to faze her.

"I will have you girls know that you've been on my units radar for some time. I actually considered brining in a few of you to see if you could be replacements. Since I don't want any of you to ask stupid questions I'll just spell it out for you, this is life. People die every day and the less the public knows about whats defending it the better. So if you have the choice of taking out a target or saving the lives of innocents you take the shot to kill the target before you even think about moving like a hero. Back to the replacements, Nova Angel guardian has had four different pilots, Advent of Thunder, two, and Phenix Paladin has had six pilots. You girls just stept into a war so suck it up and spend your time helping the world instead of crying"

Cecilia, her pride stung, huffed indignantly. "I'm hardly crying Ward, I just find it disgusting that you could so blatantly say that the deaths of a few hundred people, even if they are commoners, is a good thing. My mistake, I should never have expected a man to know what someone in that position should be doing." 

"Ze first und foremost goal of any military is to protect civilian targets. Even if zere deaths vere unavoidable, I find your attitude most disturbing, General." Laura's tone was formal and respectful even now, product of her military upbringing. But she refused to meet Ward's eyes.

Charlotte didn't even speak to Ward. Laura had summed it up pretty well.

Sarah said nothing and kept flying

Orimura's voice came up "Yeah you can't win in a argument with them general. One's is a asshole and the other has a high sense of honor"

"I can see that"

"So to you girls I say bravo, you just made a general who has lost everything he cared about rethink his life choices"

Rin didn't bother saying anythibg either.

Derek got control of himself before returning to the group as he frowns as he listened to the conversation.

"General Ward, may I have the list of those who were onboard the civilian vessel. I wish to honor the dead." Derek said without emotion as his gaze was distant. "They at least deserve that, if anything at all."

"Do what you will" Ward says before sending the names

"So girls" Orimura says to her students "How was fighting a Peacemaker?"

"Easier zen I expected." Laura mentally upgraded Derek's status in her mind. Just a bit - he still had a hell of a lot going against him, but even so wanting to honor the dead was a good idea.

"Child's play...I've worked harder in training." Cecilia, arrogant as ever, was not terribly impressed.

"Not too difficult, I suppose...but really we did not do most of the fighting compared to Mira and Sarah."