“Let’s begin the last briefing before our departure to Osaka’s military base,” announced Murayama, together with Kinjou in front of a whiteboard - satellite images, floor plans and road maps occupied the biggest portion of its white surface. The remaining occupants of the conference room were all sat down at the large table at its centre. “Our departure is scheduled to be tomorrow morning, at 0700. All of the vehicles have already been prepared and supplied so all we need to do is get in and get going. All of our personal belongings are up to us to bag and take. No more than one handbag, though.”

“If we make little to no stops along the way, we’re scheduled to arrive around 1300, 1400 if there’s any delay,” added Kinjou. “Just to play safe, we're to present ourselves at Osaka’s military base at 1600, where we’ll have a small welcoming party.”

“We’re talking about Osaka here…” mumbled Kuwabayashi, sideways glancing at the groaning and moaning Mizusaki sitting next to him. “There’ll be no ‘welcoming party’, that I can guarantee you.”

“Nah, the young ones could care less about that stupid rivalry,” said Hisaka, dismissively waving his hand. “We just need to keep a lookout on the higher seats of the hierarchy and avoid any confrontational speaking battles with them.”

“AKA, it all depends on Miue-san’s, Mizusaki’s and your behaviour,” snorted James, rolling his eyes slightly at his second-in-command’s words.

“I’ve been meaning to ask but what exactly is going on between Tokyo and Osaka?” asked Atsumu, his chin leisurely leaned over the palm of his hands as he observed the papers on the whiteboard. “You’re always talking about them as if they’re rivals or enemies or something.”

“Ah, that’s a long story…” sighed Murayama at the same time as he crossed his arms over his chest. “But to make it as short as possible, Nakatani-san and Sakazaki-san, the general appointed with Osaka’s military base, aren’t exactly in good terms with one another… And the fact the government’s HQ was moved to Gifu only came as a helping hand to fuel their rivalry even further. Arguments about which base really is Japan’s main one has been ongoing for years now, with both Tokyo and Osaka claiming to be the ones protecting Gifu due to its geographical location right in the middle of both.”

“So… stupid human squabbles?” said Atsumu, his head slightly tilted. The lack of a verbal answer was answer enough.

“Moving on,” interrupted Kinjou, loudly clearing his throat to gather everyone’s thoughts back to the actual purpose of the briefing. “The joint military practice will begin the following day. Though we call it ‘joint military practice’, it’s nothing as grand and fancy as the name implies. It’s basically our two squads, plus the Ms, training together with a selected number of soldiers and new recruits from Osaka. Nakatani-san has called it ‘stealing one another’s techniques and military strategies’. I prefer to call it ‘learning’. There’ll be debates on strategy and planning, weaponry discussions, tactical reviews on previous battles, lots and lots of bureaucratic crap, small military exercises in controlled battlefield environments, so on and on.”

“It’s basically a summer camp, army edition,” said Miue with a quick shrug of his shoulders.

“A short one, since it’s only going to last for 5 days,” added Murayama after a brief snort. Miue and the word ‘summer camp’ were suiting of one another, in a weird sort of way. “Initially, we were thinking of going for the lab after the joint was over. Which means, we were planning on attacking during the weekend. However, Iru had a different opinion on it.”

“Though there are always workers and scientists at the labs, as well as security guards, most of the working staff is away during the weekend,” explained Iru. “Destroying Tokushima’s lab during the weekend wouldn’t be as effective as doing it during a regular weekday. Not to mention, the joint military practice can be used as a disguise if something goes wrong. Borrowing their weaponry will also be easier throughout the joint period than during a regular weekend. The advantages of destroying the lab during the joint are many and the disadvantages of the weekend are few but critical. I think you all prefer to play on the field that’s more beneficial to the success of the mission.”

“There you have it,” said Murayama, briefly gesturing at the super soldier commander. “Depending on how quickly we can organise our weaponry and equipment in Osaka, the lab invasion will happen on the 3rd or 4th day of the joint. Always at night, to minimise witnesses.”

“It would be preferable to do it during the day but that’s just not an option,” sighed Kinjou, glancing over to the satellite image of the lab’s surrounding area. “The lab is placed in a considerably populated area. If we were to storm the place out of the blue, the existence of super soldiers and The Union’s illegal human experiments would be revealed to the general public.”

“If the joint military practice in Osaka is publicly announced and someone in Tokushima sees military vehicles during the night…” mumbled Azuma to himself, quickly adjusting his glasses afterwards. “Yes, that is a good cover-up strategy…”

“It’s a 2-hours drive between Osaka and Tokushima, it’s nothing out of the ordinary to see some soldiers strolling around the neighbourhood,” said Murayama, nodding in acknowledgement at Azuma’s approval on the covert strategy. “However, we do need to look like soldiers taking a stroll to the few eyewitnesses. Just as much as some of us need to look the part of regular soldiers throughout the joint exercises.”

“I knew this was going to happen…” grumbled Mitaru, a grudging frown creasing his features. “Stupid weaklings, can’t even kill a man with a flick on the forehead… And then we need to pay for it…”

“Super soldiers don’t officially exist so you can only officially be normal soldiers,” pointed out Ikusaki, a slightly taunting smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Or what? You can’t take on regular soldiers if you’re not going ‘super soldier’ on them? So lame!”

“Huh!? What did you just say!?” roared Mitaru, glaring daggers at Ikusaki. In a fraction of a second, he had stood up from his seat, his body itching for some action. “Wanna go outside and have me cracking your skull while going ‘regular soldier’ on you!?”

“Mitaru, save that and all of the incoming pent-up frustration for the lab destruction,” commanded Iru, sideways glancing at Mitaru with grey eyes glowing crimson red. “You’ll have plenty of worthy opponents to kill there.”

“Tsk!” After a loud clicking of his tongue, Mitaru turned his chair the other way and sat back down, his back now facing the other occupants of the conference room.

“Um… Has the lab destruction strategy been formulated already or will it be done based on the weaponry we can borrow from Osaka?” asked Umiko, her eyes switching between the sulking Mitaru and the two commanders in front of the whiteboard.

“For the most part, the attack strategy has been planned and roles have been attributed to everyone inside of this room,” explained Murayama, his facial expression getting slightly more serious. “Kinjou and I don’t necessarily agree with all of it but it’s undeniable that this mission is more of an M-exclusive mission than one we can openly participate in.”

“So the offensive side of the mission will be focused on them?” inquired Eki, an eyebrow slightly arched at Murayama and his unusually roundabout words.

“Yup!” acknowledged Mitsu, a huge grin on her lips as she suddenly barged inside of the conference room. “We didn’t need your help in the first place. We’re cooperating with you only because Nakatani-san wants to, as one more bargain chip for using Japanese weaponry and staying at your base~”

“Is it done?” inquired Iru, lifting one of his hands to receive the small bundle of papers Mitsu was carrying inside of a folder. He quickly went through the contents printed on the pages, passing them to Rei once he finished. “Mitsu, beginning the hacking preparations and have them ready to be used by the time the lab destruction begins. Azuma, you’ll be stationed outside. Find a suitable location and snipe out any worker and scientist that passes by the windows of the building. Rei, you’ll be going in first. Go to the security room and open up a path for Mitsu to freely hack the informatic system from outside without alerting The Union’s headquarters. You can do whatever you want after that. Mitaru, Atsumu, Tsugi, you’ll be going in with me once Mitsu finished her job. I don’t need to give further instructions to you three, do I?”

“Wait, Rei’s going in alone?” asked Kuwabayashi, his eyes open wide in utter shock. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s okay, Kuwabayashi-san,” reassured Rei, stretching his upper body over the large conference table so he could give the papers to Azuma. “My function as an M is like being an Iga or Kouga. Getting inside the lab and go to the security room without being seen will be easy.”

“...What?” interjected Kuwabayashi, completely lost of what Rei had just said.

“Ahahahahahaha!” Mizusaki burst out laughing out of nowhere, his arms clutched around his stomach as he tried to not fall off of the chair. “Iga… Kouga…! Pffft! Ahahaha! It’s great to know your Japanese history studies have reached as far as the Sengoku period, Rei. Ahahahahahaha!”