Cross Ange: The Knight of Hilda

Chapter 9: Guest of Honor

As he saw them approach, the visiting officer slung his bag over his shoulder and went to meet them as well. Now that she was closer, Emma was able to get a better look at him. He was actually quite handsome with strong angular features and short brown hair beneath his cap. And while he looked roughly the same age as her, the fact that he had already been promoted to Captain meant he had to be an exemplary soldier. But what really stood out was the way he walked; straight, confident, seemingly unconcerned that he had been left behind on an island populated entirely by Norma. Even the pilots of the weekly supply shipments were hesitant to venture very far from the plane and were always quick to leave once their cargo had been unloaded. Now he stood before them and Emma found herself speechless as her reflection stared back at her from the lenses of his sunglasses. What sort of man had they sent here exactly?

"Second Lt. Emma Bronson?" he suddenly asked.

"Um yes that is correct," she said and hurriedly saluted him. What is wrong with you? she scolded herself. You're a soldier so get it together. Luckily, the officer didn't seem to notice and he returned her salute.

"I'm Captain Joseph Algren. On behalf of the Norma Management Board, I've been assigned to inspect Arzenal and its systems."

"About that," Emma mentioned. "Where's Col. Ackerman? I was told..."

"Yes I know," the Captain interrupted. "I apologize for the misinformation but it was essential to maintain the security of the operation."

"Operation?"

"Those two Norma that escaped and were subsequently recaptured? I assume you heard of the terrorist attack in Misurugi?"

"Of course but what does that..."

"Then are you also aware that the reason they launched that attack was to liberate one of the escaped Norma?" Emma gave a start. She hadn't read that in the report. "Luckily we recaptured her shortly afterwards and returned her here along with the other."

"No, actually I wasn't."

"And there's good reason for that," the Captain explained. "Norma-sympathist groups occasionally sprout up but they lack the resources or manpower to launch an attack on that scale. There was one particular group that did but they were deemed destroyed years ago."

"Yes I know," Emma agreed. "That so called 'Network,' the one that was involved in the failed Norma rebellion."

"And now it seems as if they've not only survived but have rebuilt their organization. I don't have to tell you the panic that would result if it were made public knowledge that such a group existed."

"But what does that have to do with Arzenal?" she asked. Capt. Algren looked past her towards Commander Jill and gestured for Emma to come closer.

"We can't say for certain," he whispered, "but its possible that these terrorists have made contact with the Norma stationed here."

"In Arzenal? Preposterous! I assure you if any unauthorized contact was made I would know about it!" Too late, she realized she had spoken back to a superior officer.

"I don't doubt your capabilities," he assured her. "However, the Norma are far more clever than you may realize. Which is why Col. Ackerman assigned this task to me. I have experience in other Norma facilities and am well versed in their tricks. As for the Colonel, he is currently following the Network by means of a stealth reconnaissance craft. In the meantime, you are to aid the operation by tailoring all correspondence to reflect that the Colonel is here performing the inspection. We can't risk the enemy learning of the trap." Emma's head spun as a thousand thoughts assaulted her at once. In order to maintain Arzenal's security, the only communication between them and the Norma Management Board was through primitive wireless transmissions. That way, no one could use the Light of Mana to listen in. Between that and her own presence it should not be possible for anyone to have gained unauthorized access to the base. But what if they used a non-Mana based means of communication, she realized. If a terrorist organization really had infiltrated Arzenal without her knowledge then the situation was more dire then she feared. Then again, if she could assist in exposing it then her failure regarding Lady Misty and the escaped Norma could very well be forgotten. Either way, she couldn't risk ignoring the possibility. Not with her own career on the line.