EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 184: The SWAT Team Mobilizes! Suppressing NERV Headquarters!

"How is the situation...!"

Eight minutes after the alarm sounded... Deputy Commander Kozo Fuyutsuki roused himself from his sleep, entered the command room, and began to take charge of the overall situation.

"Vice Commander!"

Seeing that Vice Commander Fuyutsuki arrived so quickly... gave these technicians, who were at a loss due to the sudden change, a lifeline.

"The communication system has been unilaterally dismantled! The surveillance system is also completely silent... Now we have no idea what's happening outside!"

"Could it be... that the Apostles are already above our heads?!"

—This kind of tactic couldn't possibly be from an apostle…

Looking at the panicked staff, Fuyutsuki Kōzō snorted coldly... If only they were Angels, but unfortunately, those who use these methods are not as cute as Angels.

"Hyuga-kun! Ibuki-kun! Abandon the right side! Concentrate the remaining computing power of MAGI on the left side! Switch the emergency response system to blue! The satellite stuff is no longer needed, just shut it all down... Don't waste the little computing power we have left!"

"As ordered!"

Maya Ibuki and Makoto Hyuga gasped, shutting down all the controls on the right side... This meant NERV had voluntarily abandoned the means deployed in planetary orbit to monitor and intercept the extraterrestrial visitors like the Eighth Angel...

Even if they wanted to take it back afterward, it would probably be impossible. It was just a casual remark... and they abandoned a satellite chain worth 1.6 trillion yen... Such boldness and decisiveness are not something Ibuki and Hyuga would dare to do.

Without Dongyue's order, I would never have dared to issue such a command on my own initiative.

"...Ah! It worked...The internal phone service is temporarily restored...! The surrounding security cameras are working again...! Waaah!!"

But the moment the camera projected the effects around the base, everyone fell silent in terror.

Because—because what's displayed on the screen is…human beings.

The perfectly uniform Strategic Self-Defense Force uniforms, the heavily armed light and heavy weapons... and the heavy tanks and armored vehicles that completely blocked off all the roads around the headquarters...

You can even see large numbers of Self-Defense Force soldiers wearing night vision goggles and masks jumping out of the doors of armored vehicles one after another... silently surrounding the entire NERV headquarters.

"...Soldiers, Strategic Self-Defense Force...Why?!"

"We're NERV!? An organization set up to protect humanity...! We finally defeated the Angels... but! Why are they pointing guns at us?!"

The fact that they might have become enemies of the military... shook the hearts of most NERV staff.

"...Hyuga-kun! Can you detect which systems still harbor remnants of attacks?"

Vice Commander Fuyutsuki's expression was solemn... The fact that they were able to seize control of Central MAGI without any warning or warning meant that it was definitely not a simple one-on-one or two-on-one battle.

"I'll confirm it right away!"

Makoto Hyuga's eyes lit up... He'd completely forgotten to check where the cyberattack had originated... While MAGI's computing power was still intact, he quickly checked... and then—

"what!?"

A skeptical voice made Fuyutsuki Kozo's expression even more serious.

"Tell me... I think I've got it. Hinata-kun."

"According to the residual local area data from the firewall... MAGI from NERV's First Branch in Las Vegas, USA; MAGI from NERV's Third Branch in Berlin, Germany; MAGI from NERV's Fourth Branch in London, England; MAGI from NERV's Fifth Branch in Paris, France... Just sixteen minutes ago, MAGI from all four countries launched a simultaneous all-out attack on the headquarters MAGI, which temporarily silenced the central MAGI." "…………I see… The troop disparity is four against one?!"

A bitter look appeared on Fuyutsuki Kozo's face. He had just promised Shinji Ikari that he would help him witness the boy's dream and future, but the first battle... was going to be so arduous and difficult?
"Commander Fuyutsuki! The Self-Defense Forces' troops have begun installing plastic explosives! Should we put the Intelligence Department and the Security Section on combat readiness?!"

It seemed that the encirclement of the entire NERV headquarters was complete, and the soldiers on the screen began to stick the purplish-brown viscous substance in their hands to every exit of the headquarters.

"...Open the armory doors and bring in all combat-ready personnel..."

"Please wait a moment!!!"

Taking a deep breath, just as Fuyuki Kozo was about to use the lives of all his combatants... to delay the enemy's attack, even if it was just for a second.

Shinji Ikari's voice came abruptly from the communicator...

"Shinji-kun?!"

Upon hearing this voice, whether it was ordinary NERV staff, Hinata Seiji, Ibuki Maya, or even Fuyutsuki Kozo… a subtle sense of relief appeared on their faces.

"Shinji-kun! You're back?! I thought we'd lost contact!!"

Maya Ibuki spoke with relief, because Shinji Ikari and Misato Katsuragi both lived in the city... and immediately, all communication with the outside world had been cut off...

Therefore, Maya Ibuki didn't even expect Shinji Ikari and the others to realize the problem here.

If the soldiers of the Strategic Self-Defense Force hadn't used any grand explosions to create a loud noise and tremor, Shinji Ikari and the others might have come to work as usual the next day... only then would they have discovered NERV's anomaly.

"Don't be afraid... I've arrived at the base. I'm heading towards the command center now."

"……!Very good!!!"

Upon hearing this, the entire command center erupted in cheers... This is the sense of security that this young man can bring to people.

"Therefore, you must seek refuge immediately!"

"…………Eh?!"

Then, the boy's next words left everyone bewildered.

What did he say...?

"Refuge??"

As if they had misheard, Ibuki Maya and Hinata Makoto exchanged a glance... confirming that the command they had heard was correct.

"Shinji-kun! What do you mean by this?! Why are you taking refuge? Shouldn't you be immediately in battle position?!"

Makoto Hyuga also frowned deeply—seeking refuge, that sounds nice... but where to seek refuge... how to seek refuge...?
All the entrances and exits in this area have been surrounded by the Strategic Self-Defense Force... Where can we take refuge?
"The Great Underground Void in the Final Dogma Area. Fuyutsuki-sensei... please lead everyone there, as long as we can avoid being caught in the crossfire... don't let anyone die the moment they launch their attack."

"…………I see."

Fuyutsuki pondered for a moment, seemingly understanding what Shinji Ikari wanted to do... and nodded silently.

"Make everyone give up resistance! Under no circumstances should there be any conflict with the Strategic Self-Defense Force! Neither we nor they... Let no one die, not a single one!"

(End of this chapter)