"I knew something was wrong," asserted Shinji Kazama. "This isn't Okinawa. It doesn't even look like Japan."
"It would seem that way," replied Sousuke.
During the flight, Sousuke and Shinji easily identified the South Korean Air Force F-I6. They knew there was no way that plane would be flying over the Pacific Ocean en route to Okinawa.
Before long, the plane landed. Several hundred feet from the runway, there was a large hangar in which many outdated warplanes sat, waiting for action. The aircraft looked like carps with wings glued on.
"Sagara, those are MiG-2Is. I mean, J7s."
From their vantage point in the plane, they also could see a pair of antediluvian tanks.
"Whoa! Look at those! T-34s!" Shinji nearly crapped his pants. "Those junk heaps are at least fifty years old!"
There were, in addition to the outdated technology, at least a few Arm Slaves. Sousuke and Shinji could make out three.
"Whoa! A new Rk-92! Did they skip everything in between?"
The Rk-92 was a long-armed, Soviet-made AS with khaki– colored armor and weapons, the most popular camouflage in the East. Most Western militaries referred to the Rk-92s as "Savages." Sousuke knew that AS well, for he had piloted one—even fought in it.
Based on the number and type of weapons, Sousuke knew it had to be, without a doubt, a North Korean base.
What is going on here, anyway?
According to Mao's latest report, Kaname was no longer in danger. However, the latest hijacking suggested otherwise.
This could not be a coincidence. Whoever was responsible chose the most reliable form of abduction—with several hundred hostages, not even Mithril would leap to the rescue carelessly.
To make matters worse, they were definitely in North Korea, a country whose relations with Japan were, to put it mildly, strained. A rescue operation in a semi-hostile area would be much more dangerous. It was a new twist to an old-school hijacking.
"Nicely done," assessed Sousuke.
"Huh?" grunted Shinji inquisitively.
"Nothing."
There was almost nothing Sousuke could do. In accordance with school policy and airline regulations, he didn't even have a gun with him. Even if he did, it wouldn't have done him much good.
Other, slightly denser passengers started to connect the dots and began to clamor.
Ding!
"Attention, passengers. Thank you for flying with us today," said a male voice. "As you might have guessed, this is not Naha airport. Due to unavoidable circumstances, we have been forced to land at the Sunan airport in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."
"What? Are you kidding?" shouted Miss Kagurazaka, the rarely fazed homeroom teacher.
"Just listen, ma'am," instructed Shinji.
"Next week, the imperialist American military and their South Korean puppets are holding joint maneuvers to intimidate the heroic People's Army. My brethren in the People's Army must quash U.S. imperialism, even if that means taking all you nice people hostage. Please, take a look out the windows."
Several hundred people pressed their faces against the Plexiglas to see armored vehicles, Arm Slaves, and uniformed soldiers surrounding the plane.
"They are here to welcome you. But if you do not follow our directions, or if you foolishly try to escape, they will shoot you on sight."
Passengers gasped.
"Therefore, please remain where you are until the time of your release comes. The plane is equipped to accommodate you until your release. Thank you for your cooperation."
"We've been had," said Teletha Testarossa. "They've tricked our intelligence."
The command center's forward screen looked like a swirly finger-painting of information. Red, green, and yellow characters danced, complicated figures overlapped. Several different countries were mobilizing military units, and intercepted communications flew in from every angle.
"We're always a step behind," she lamented. "It's pathetic."
Reassuringly, Kalinin said, "Think of it as playing Whac-a–Mole. Sometimes, there's nothing you can do but wait until one shows its ugly head."
Tessa knew that Kalinin must have been at least a little suspicious, seeing as it was his idea for Sousuke to go on the trip. But even he seemed surprised by such a brazen and audacious move.
"Whoever is behind this, it sure doesn't seem like the KGB," determined Kalinin.
"Yes, and despite their location, I don't think North Korea's behind it, either," said Tessa.
"Right, ma'am. They're both just along for the ride with whoever masterminded this whole escapade."
Although they thought the research data was obliterated completely, someone must have salvaged it somehow. And whoever made off with the data had to have some kind of ties to North Korean military circles, as well as a research facility to exploit Kaname.
"Any guesses who Mister X and friends might be?"
"No idea at this stage."
"The North Korean government issued a statement that it is not responsible for this hijacking, as if it just fell into their laps. However, they seem pleased to have some leverage to stop the U.S.– South Korea joint maneuvers," reported Tessa as she finished reading the latest transmission from Sweden. She was quite adept at reading incredibly fast while talking about something entirely unrelated—a feat impossible for an average brain.
"So, Lieutenant Commander," she began, "what do you think are the chances the hostages will be released peacefully?"
"Excepting Chidori, you mean?"
Tessa nodded. "Right. If we don't make any bad moves, we might be able to negotiate the return of the other four hundred people on board."
"Yes. I suppose the North Korean government certainly doesn't want to add to the tension here. I mean, they had an abundant harvest last year, just started working on a palladium reactor, and have started to dig their economy out of the basement. They really don't have anything to gain by letting several hundred Japanese students die."
"Right. We should let their leaders deal with returning the hostages. Then, we can find and rescue Chidori."
Even if, for argument's sake, that plan would work, they knew exactly what kind of treatment Kaname would be subject to until that rescue.
Kalinin noticed the faint look of self-loathing that appeared on Tessa's face, but he pretended he hadn't.
"This makes sense, however—"
"We'll watch over things for now," interrupted Tessa.
"Very good. We still have some time. What should we do about combat standby?"
"Put transport planes on standby at the Merida Island base—three C-17s. And get a KC-I0 in the air in two hours or less. We'll come up with the flight plans as necessary."
"Aye aye, ma'am," responded the communications officer before getting to work.
"Remember, Lieutenant Commander, we still have Mao and Weber," reminded Tessa. "Let's have six M9 Gernsbacks and three FAV-8 Super Harriers prepped and ready by oh-seven hundred. And—"
Tessa weighed the final decision in her mind before speaking. "Let's get the Arbalest into a usable state."
"Aye aye, ma'am."
"Let's not worry ourselves, now. We are prepared for situations like this."
Kalinin nodded and said, "Plus, the enemy's unaware of his deadly cargo."
Indeed, in a situation like this, Sousuke was undeniably dangerous.