Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 423: Oni

Chapter 423: Oni
Jace walked through the battlefield without any issues. As he got closer to the city walls he used his electric vision to spot several explosives that were buried under the ground. It looked like a number of them were mines or other traps that were set up by the Oda troops.
As he got close enough to be in yelling range he noticed something. A pair of forms that were hidden near the path he was taking. They must be shinobi that were on the planet or who were serving a local lord.
"That does not work on me." Jace spoke aloud as he walked past them. Seeing them freeze as he walked past was entertaining. "No, I am not a demon. I am from the Victorium. I am the commander of the group that came in with the armored transport and the tank. Do you have any other questions?"
As Jace continued walking toward the city gate where a pair of mechs were stationed with a number of soldiers. He watched them tense and stand up, seemingly realizing he should not be getting this close unimpeded. They definitely knew about the various traps because they would have to have a map to avoid them every time they went out. But he was fifty-fifty on them knowing about the shinobi who were now following him.
"How did you know we were here? Not even those lowly Oni do not even catch a whiff of us." He heard one of the shinobi ask as they followed him to the gate entrance.
"Because I have dealt with invisibility so many times before that I picked up a few techniques to spot people. For instance, with a soft ground like this..." Jace tapped the mud he was walking on for a moment. "Even an invisible enemy will leave an indentation. There is no easy way to get rid of something like that."
"What do you suggest as an alternative instead? Because as far as I can tell that is just a risk we have to take." Another voice, probably the other shinobi asked.
"Oh, I have ideas. But none that I will share with you at the moment." Jace answered with a smile as they arrived before the oda soldiers who were partially holding up their weapons prepared for a fight. "Hello, I am Major Jace of Cerberus. Bring me to your leader." Jace requested as he pulled off his glasses.
"Yeah? What you think-" One of the soldiers was interrupted by a person behind them.
"Major Jace!" They looked back as Sergeant K walked right by them and then saluted at Jace. "I apologize for not spotting you when you first arrived at the battlefield. I should have announced my plan."
"Almost certainly. Call in Captain Tyler and Captain Uti. Make sure their teams are alive and are unaffected by your plan." Jace told her as he walked right past the confused soldiers. "Have you met with the highest ranking officers present yet?"
"No sir. We went radio silent as soon as our communications started getting static from someone trying to hack it. I only keep up the secure command channel you had up. I should have called out to warn the rest of you. But as for the highest ranking officers in this city fortress, that would be General Ken. I have not met him in person just yet. But he is balancing several different battles around the planet with some lords and other Generals." Sergeant K explained as they walked toward a vehicle that pulled up.
"Interesting. I will talk with him and whoever else is there." Jace announced as he climbed behind the driver. "Are you shinobi joining me? Or are you going to remain invisible?" Jace asked as he looked between the shinobi he was talking about. As he was looking at them they decided to disable their invisibility and appear before him.
"I will stay behind. I will send my subordinate along with you to oversee the meeting. I have a feeling they will call all the local command structures for someone like you." The male shinobi announced and the female one walked around the vehicle and climbed in next to him. "I am also permitting her to fill you in on our local situation."
Jace waved. "Let’s get moving." He announced and the driver quickly spun the car around and they were making their way past destroyed houses. The style of houses were mostly the ancient Japanese style buildings from earth. But the streets and roadways were all modernized. It was a strange collusion of styles that were overshadowed by the destruction that littered them.
"As you can see... our fair city of Zuki has been destroyed by these Oni." The driver announced as he zipped around a bunch of people that were putting out a fire and helping some people who were injured.
Jace noticed something almost immediately about the driver. "You were not a soldier." Jace pointed out, then realized something else he had seen earlier when he saw the driver flinch. "How many of the people dressed in garb or uniform were soldiers or trained before the Oni appeared?"
"Ha!" The driver scoffed, "do you mean how many are left?" The driver looked into the rearview mirror at him. "Not many. But they put us all in jobs we can do. For instance, before this started I was a taxi driver. My hub was here in Zuki but I got around to some distant towns and sometimes even to the two nearby cities."
"The remaining high level officers have been putting civilians in suitable tasks since it is clear the Oni intend to exterminate us." The shinobi informed Jace. "Www..." She droned off for a second before continuing. "The surviving Generals and Commanders that General Ken has gotten in contact with have set up fortresses of their own and figured out the same tricks the Oni commonly use as we have."
"So at this moment you are stuck playing defense until help comes?" Jace asks, having a sneaking suspicion.
"Yeah! We are! Speaking of, I heard you came down on that ship. At least that is the reason General Ken wanted to meet with you. Apparently your Sergeant and one of her subordinates reached out." The driver declared and explained quickly as he sped around a corner that made the vehicle go on two wheels for a moment. "So how long? When is help coming? Because it must be one hell of a space battle up there if they have been struggling for so long."
Jace frowned and shook his head. "I feel like it would be best if I did not share that information. Especially since it would be better if I discussed something like that with the General first."
"Oh come on! I can keep a secret." The driver offered with flourish of both his hands as he sped toward the castle. They were now on a straight road right to it.
"I grew up in the slums of the planet I lived on in the Vexical Empire. I do not know how it is in the Oda Empire. But every taxi cab driver I have ever met never learned how to shut their mouths. Hell, I was often told the best way to keep a secret was to not tell a cab driver." Jace shook his head as he looked out the window.
He could see everything from destroyed houses to black body bags. Where bodies were left, probably because they did not have the manpower to even properly take care of the dead. As they passed these destroyed buildings he started thinking about Cho and Jordan. About their neighbors and the friends they made. He felt a growing sense of annoyance building up in him.
"It is the same in the Oda Empire." The shinobi answered.
"Hey!" The driver yelled in annoyance.
"They are loud mouths and do not know when to shut up- LOOK OUT!" The shinobi’s scream was followed by the vehicle grinding to a halt quickly and Jace looking out the front window.
He could see one of those red swirling portals. Although this one was a bit bigger than the other ones he had seen. "Red Oni Door on the road to the palace. I repeat, Red Oni Door on the road to the palace. All nearby units-"
"KZZZTT!" Static crackled through the radio.
"Damn, they jammed us much quicker this time." The shinobi announced as she climbed out of the door and pulled kunai out from hidden locations on her body.
"Hey mister important guy, let’s let- wait hey!" Jace ignored the driver as he climbed out the door and checked his Pyre. He had a single magazine of bullets left. He would have to call for a long range precision drop for resources if he wanted something decent.
He walked toward the front of the town car that they were in a moment ago. Standing right next to the Shinobi. "You know you do not have to help me." The shinobi pointed out.
"Yeah! Let the Ninja deal with this!" The driver opened his window to suggest.
"Eh..." Jace shrugged as he aimed at the portal. "I could but..." As he said ’but’ a large figure about ten feet tall stepped out of the portal. Causing even the shinobi to flinch. "I just had this feeling that I should help. But I could save the ammunition." Jace pointed out with a chuckle.
"On second thought." The shinobi looked over at him, her face still covered in that full head mask. "I appreciate all the support you could provide."