VANDREAD: Army
By Norsehound

Disclaimer: Vandread doesn't belong to me.

BE WARNED! SECOND STAGE SPOILERS WITHIN!! THIS FICTION IS STAGED DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND STAGE!

I am also adding what I interpret as the new Vanguards. I don't know much about them (Other than some fuzzy images) so if I am wrong don't hurt me....

--------------

Chapter one:
Thursday

It was a calm and peaceful Thursday.
They hadn't been attacked for some time now, at least four days since the last one.
Parfait thought it was maybe because they were in range of a pulsar that the enemy fleet closest to them had lost track of them.
Nevertheless, for this week it had been their lucky day to not be attacked. There was cheer and there was dread in this day, as normal events went on and off.
As usual Hibiki tried to avoid going to Dita's room, "Shesh! Now YOUR trying to get me into Dita's room!?"
"Well," Started Ezra, "It means a lot to her you know...you did promise her..."
"Yeah but..." Hibiki responded and started to blush, "What the heck would I do in there anyway!?"
Ezra shrugged, "Maybe you can talk."
"About what?"
Ezra shrugged again, "Maybe how your relationship is going."
"Heck no! I'd want to talk about anything BUT that!"
"...Maybe about the Dreads or the Vanguards...."
"Huh...well you got a point...Hey what is this anyway!?"

Elsewhere, Dureo was reading an interesting book.
"Hmmm...."
"Whatcha got there?" Asked Paiway as she peered over the doctor's shoulder.
"It's called Tale of Two cities. This version I found in the colonization era section of the ship...fascinating..."
"What's to fascinating about an old book, Ribbit!" Said Paiway through the use of her hand puppet.
"....It's fascinating," Started Dureo, "Because one, it's an unabridged version. It's what the author really wrote. The second, because it's an unabridged version, it isn't formatted to Tarak readers."
"So what does that mean?"
"It means, that there are two men who like the same woman."
"Gross! Ribbit!' Replied Paiway, "Why would two men fight over a woman anyway?"
"It must have been a very interesting topic in our past history." Said Dureo as he continued reading, "Interesting..."
"What's this book?" Paiway asked, indicating another book resting before the large monitor.
Dureo was quiet for a moment before going in, "It's a book to help me study the ways of reproduction. Hopefully one of these days I can begin experiments into such a topic...."
"Gross! A man and a woman could never have a baby! Ever! Ribbit!" Answered Paiway.
The Doctor was really quiet for a moment until Paiway left, then he hid the book, "If anyone found out on Tarak about this....hmmm...."
He went back to reading Tale of Two cities.

Bart, meanwhile, was once again talking with Jura.
"You WHAT!?!?!!??!!?"
"I want you to see if Hibiki can get me what I want..." Murmured Jura in a sly tone, "Come on, you know what it is, don't you?"
"Na-ah, That's Dureo's department! I'm a helmsman, not a doctor!"
"But surely you know what a man's seed is... Don't you?"
Bart went white, "Er...um...that's top secret...."
"Yes but you can tell me, can't you?"
"AHAHAH!!! GOTTA RUNN!!!!!" Cried Bart.
The door opened and Bart ran as if he was on fire away from the small sanctum of Jura's room.
"My, he left in a hurry..." Remarked Jura.
Barnette, quiet until now, added, "I think the men are a little afraid of all this 'seed' business Jura. And besides, why would you want one anyway?"
"Didn't I tell you?" Replied Jura and hugged herself, "Because I'll create something that is so beautiful and magnificent..."
"You said the same thing about combining your dread with that man and look what happened."
"That was due to circumstances beyond my control!" Shrilled Jura but then added in a softer tone, "But this time I'll be responsible for what happens..."
Barnette sweat dropped, "Ehehe....whatever...."

The running Bart passed Dredge central, where Gasconge watched him rush past the door. "Huh...he's getting his exercise." She murmured, turning to look at Meia, "So you want the reconnaissance package huh?"
"Yes." Nodded Meia, "Although the Captain didn't authorize it I still want to go look around."
"Well in that case I'll give it to you, but with your Dread I don't know if it can fit."
"I'll make it fit some how." Replied Meia as she left, "Thanks Gasco."
"It's not Gasco it's-"
The door closed.
"...Gascgone." Finished the quartermaster.

On the bridge, only gossip was rushing back and forth between the ladies.
"I hear that if the men don't put something on in the morning they stink!"
"Really?"
"Yeah," Replied Amarone in the background.
Magano sighed, "Gossip, the one thing we can't rid of as a species..."
Then BC entered and Magano looked up at her, "Well BC, anything new in the ship?"
"Other than the fact that Bart has locked himself up in his room no." Said BC, "And I hear he won't let himself out unless you order him to."
"Well that sounds like our helmsman to me." Smirked Magano as she sat up, "Well now ladies, what's the results of the latest news?"
The two girls looked back at the captain and then at their instruments before Amarone reported, "No sign of enemy signatures ahead commander, all clear."
"The Pulsar is still emanating signals," Said Beldevere, "And sensors are a little on the blink, but our shields will hold."
"Very good." Muttered Magano, "Now let's-"
"Captain," Interrupted Amarone, "Change that...I'm getting a signal."
"Oh? From what?"
She turned, "A Tarak ship."
"How many?" Asked BC, a little bewildered.
"Just one." Confirmed Beldevere, "And it's not moving."
"Anything other than it's a Tarak ship that's not moving?" Magano inquired.
"No." Amarone said, "And there aren't any enemies in the area..."
BC looked from her station at Magano, "Is it possible that they've been harvested?"
"Perhaps," Magano replied, "But I'm more interested at what a Tarak ship is doing this far from home."
Magano activated the communicator and a line to Hibiki popped up, "Well little one, I have a job for you."
"What is it old lady!?" Replied Hibiki, "I'm busy down here ya'know!"
"We want you to investigate a signal we picked up from a Tarak ship."

"A WHAT!?" Demanded Hibiki.
"You heard me," Said Magano, "And since you're the only man with flight capabilities, we want you to go and check it out."
"Wha? Okay fine." Said Hibiki as he started for the Platform, "But you'll owe me for this!"
The channel cut and Magano laughed to herself, "Typical."
"Do you really think it's wise sending him alone?"
"No," Replied Magano, "That's why I'm sending Dita with him."

As both Vanguard and Dread left the platform, they turned and headed in the direction of the distress call.
They were entering a small asteroid cluster, where supposedly the signal was somewhere within...
"Wow Mr. Alien!" Called Dita, "We get to see more of your race!"
Hibiki muttered in the safety of his cockpit, "At least she's not in here with me...huh?"
There was a warning tone and Hibiki jinxed as a long-range shell flew past.
"Hey! What was that for!"
"Mr. Alien!"
Several vanguards had already flown into the area armed with various weapons.
They hovered in space and aimed their weapons at the two.
"Hey! What is this!?"
Approaching the area was a new, heavier Vanguard. This one had a cone-shaped head and large shoulder guards. It was also painted a slate gray, with a red eye.
"State your identification and purpose for being in this area," Said the larger
Vanguard as he raised his large gattling gun, "Or we will open fire."
"Ehe...We're just passing through..." Said Hibiki.
"Mr. Alien! What do we do!?" Demanded Dita.
Then the Nirvana glided into the area.
"Wha? What's that!?" Cawed a pilot.
"It can't be the enemy..." Said another.
"It looks like a Mejere ship, but what's that Vanguard doing here!"
The leading pilot responded, "All units calm down! It's the Ichazuchi old section!"
"What!?" They all demanded.
The larger Vanguard pointed its weapon, "I demand you state your business or I won't hesitate to fire."
"I can explain that." Said Magano's voice as she announced, "We are Mejere pirates commander, I suggest it is you who surrender."
"I don't surrender without a good reason." Replied the pilot, and after a moment, "Wait, you're the same bunch who caught us at the launch ceremony!"
"That's right. Now what's a bunch of lost boys doing out this far from home?"
"You don't need to know that!" Replied the Vanguard, "All units! Swarm them!"
The Vanguards blasted into action and started opening fire.
"wha?! HEY!" Called Hibiki as he rushed after them.
The Dreads started launching to open fire on the Vanguards.
"So much for a diplomatic solution." Murmured BC.
Then Amarone announced, "We've spotted the Tarak ship commander."
A magnification appeared and showed the Tarak ship at a list with some damage.
"Huh..."
"Looks like they were involved in a battle..."
"Commander!" Announced Amarone, "I'm picking up enemy ships!"

Cube types flew in and took a moment before opening fire.
"What!?" Called the Vanguard commander as his Vanguard weathered a shot, backed, and blew one of the Cubes to smithereens, "Is this some kind of joke!?"
"It's no joke!" Replied Magano, "These are the enemies we've been fighting! If you want to survive then stop firing on us and get the real enemy!"
The pilot hesitated for a moment before ordering, "All units ignore the Dreads and focus on the Cubes!"
The Vanguards responded, opening fire with their weapons at the Cubes.
Caught by total surprise, the Cubes didn't last long under the sustained fire.
But more took their place, as well as Pods coming in from behind them.
"Bart!" Called Magano, "Can you fire at them?!"
"No good! Unless I want to hit someone else!" Replied Bart, moments after he rushed into the pilot chamber.
The Nirvana was still turning, but the Dreads were still dodging and rolling.
Then BC looked out the window and remarked, "Wait, where are the Vanguards?"

The Vanguard leader, hiding on an asteroid, lowered his hand.
The Asteroid faces exploded open and small doors opened on them to discharge mines.
The spheres with six spines rotated through space before activating micro-thrusters and spiraling at their targets.
Unsuspecting Cubes were annihilated in the swarm of mines, and the Pod received the brunt of the assault.
Four Vanguards hiding out on an asteroid aimed their own anti-starship warheads and fired.
The large rockets punctured the top of the Pod and detonated the internals, rocking the pod before it exploded in a tremendous detonation.
Once the enemy had been neutralized, the Vanguards re-grouped.
"Now then," Said the Leading Vanguard, "Explain yourselves or you're next."
"That's a healthy threat-" Replied Magano, "If we didn't know your main ship suffered damage. What are you doing out this far commander?"
"That's a long story." Answered the Commander, ""And perhaps you should come aboard our station for a little chat. Going on yours or coming onto ours isn't the safest."
"Station?" Repeated Magano.
The Commander answered, "This asteroid cluster is home to an old Colony station. We'll lead the way."
BC looked up at Magano, "Are you sure this is wise?"
"A handful of Van-types and a run-down frigate doesn't stand much chance against us. And if it's a trap, we're big enough to close it back on them. Bart, follow them."
"Yes ma'am!" Answered Bart.
The Nirvana's engine pulsed as it and the dreads followed the Vanguards through the asteroids.
They closed in on the Tarak frigate, which became plain to see as they approached.
The Nirvana crew and pilots looked at the damaged ship as its duel engines winked on.
Half of the oak green ship was burned and scarred with damage, and some of the decks under the armor were also visible.
But still, the ship moved slowly as it fell in beside the Vanguards.
"There." Remarked BC.
The Mission Station became visible. It was different from the past two that the Nirvana had encountered- this one being a central column pillar connected to a giant ring that circled the station. Discs were on the pillar that allowed docking, and the long tethers were also attached to the numerous asteroids ringing the station.
There was some random chatter as the Vanguards landed on one of the rings.
The leader motioned to the Nirvana, inviting them in before walking in and closing the door.
"Huh," Muttered Magano, "Mighty suspicious of them to just invite us..."
Amarone reported, "We have navigational data coming in from the station...they are giving us clearance to dock.... We are also under a tracking from the Mission's weapons arrays."
"So I see the feeling's mutual." Magano murmured, "Well, I guess we just can't leave them in the dark. BC, I want you to take care of the ship.
"Commander, are you sure?"
"Don't worry, I'll have three strapping young men to protect me...and the trigger happy Barnette. BC, you have the Conn."
And with that Magano's chair went back up to her office.
BC looked back out at the Mission station...

The door into the station opened and there were some gun clicks.
"Stand down guys," Said one as he walked forward. He was a young man around nineteen or so, with grayed blond hair on his head and dashing green eyes. He had sharp features about his face as well. He wore a plain white shirt with tattered brown pants with boots, as well as the Tarak cap that went with the uniform...
...But what caught Hibiki's eye was the First class citizen tag dangling from his neck.
"Y-You're a first class Citizen!" Blurted Hibiki.
"Yep." Answered the pilot and nodded, "So you're the pirate queen....and you must be that third class citizen that crashed the party."
"Wha?" Hibiki blinked.
Dureo stepped forward, "And who might you be?"
"I'm Shin Matsenuga of the 42nd specialty unit from Tarak. Please, come this way..."
Magano, Bart, Hibiki, Dita, Dureo, Barnette, and Meia walked into the room followed by Pyoro.
Several soldiers looked them over with guns held and Bart gave a nervous laugh....

They walked into the main conference room of the Mission station. Here, they had a good look around the whole diameter of the station. Several Vanguards flew thorough space in pairs, while in other areas nav lights were the only things functioning.
"Please excuse the precautions," Said Shin, "But ever since we crashed out here we didn't know what to expect."
"And just how did you get out here? I'd be very interested to know." Said Magano and thumped her walking stick.
"It's a long story, but fine." Answered Shin and started, "Our unit was ordered to begin operations in the Mejere asteroid belt. We had been training in asteroid operations for several months prior and I was delivered one of the new Hashiba-type Vanguards for use as squadron commander. We were en-route to start operations when a Mejere primer force ambushed us. They attacked us in the normal way, and they pulled out a stolen Maramusa Torpedo we were told to be on the lookout for. The next thing we knew we were caught in what could only be explained as a temporal shift...maybe it's the large Pexis fragment we were carrying..."
"Pexis..." Murmured Meia.
Shin went on, "Anyway, when we came too only two of the five Frigates were the only survivors, and we had more Vanguards then we did supplies. So we bumbled around space for a while before some strange robotic aliens attacked us and we were driven into this asteroid field...where we found this station. We've been holed up here for at least five months..."
"I thought you said you had two frigates." Pointed out Dureo, "Why did we only see one?"
Shin sighed, "The other one...what's left of it, is on the outer edge of the asteroid cloud. We don't want to go looking for it because we think there's a robotic station out there as a listening post. My men and I don't want to go for it because that station has enough firepower to waste whatever's left of us... we tried it and our frigate was the result. Anyway, they also have some weird weaponry around that station that showed up about a week and a half ago."
Shin then nodded and indicated Magano, "What's your story? And if you're pirates, why do you have these guys around?"
"Circumstances made us integrate them into our crew." Smirked Magano, "And assuming you witnessed our glorious defeat, our ships were merged by the Pexis Progma. Our vessel, three of our dreads, and that Vanguard Hibiki here has been piloting were all modified by the Pexis."
"Hibiki huh? And your stolen Vanguard..." Repeated Shin, "You must be Dureo Mcfile then...and that's Bart Garsus...well, a bald Bart Garsus anyway.... You three were declared Casualties that day..."
"Well, we're not dead." Dureo said.
"Didn't the message pod get home yet!?" Demanded Bart.
"Message pod? I didn't hear about this..." Replied Shin.
"We dispatched two message pods to our respective home worlds, Mejere and Tarak.
Obviously they still haven't reached home yet..." Murmured Magano.
"Whatever." Shrugged Shin and went on, "Still, as long as you people don't intend on plundering us feel free to share our facilities. My Men follow my orders, so I don't think you should expect any people with a grudge in my department."
"Nor mine." Answered Magano as she eyed Barnette, then turned back to him, "By the way, I don't suppose you know of any way around this place do you?"
Shin shook his head, "We haven't mapped out the place beyond the asteroids...however I can give you some detailed maps of the terrain around here.
'Course I won't disclose our jack-in-the-boxes..."
"jack-in-the-boxes?" Repeated Meia.
Shin smirked, "If those raiders come back then you'll find out."
"They aren't raiders."
"Then who are they?" Shin replied.
"They're harvesters." Explained Magano, "Harvesters from Earth."
"I've heard about Earth during training..." Said Shin, "They say it's where we all come from...Mejere and Tarak."
"It's true." Said Dureo, "We found artifacts aboard the Ichazuchi that seem to indicate that once upon a time men and women existed together."
"And from the message that we received a while ago it seems that circumstances on Earth have worsened, and they have targeted us for harvesting. Namely, our sexual organs." Magano rumbled.
Shin blinked, "That's a nightmare...when my men hear this..."
"It's true." Magano continued, "And Tarak and Mejere are on their list of targets.
As far as we know they are ahead of them, and that won't last at the rate we are proceeding."
"I see. So you need a clear shot to Tarak huh?" Asked Shin and straightened, "Well my men aren't too eager to stay here either. I have a proposal Captain, and seeing that I'm acting independent from my last orders I guess it's safe to say that I have the temporary status of a Mercenary band."
"Go on," Nodded Magano with interest.
"Why don't we join up with your group and see what we can do to fight our way back to Tarak...Or Mejere in your case. The problem is, when we get home we go our separate ways, understand?"
"So far yes," Smirked Magano.
"Okay, and you'll have to provide transport and supply while we provide our tricks and use our own gear. The only sort of payment we'll take is in parts and in shipping us back to Tarak."
"Why don't you use your own ship?" Meia interjected.
Shin replied, "The good ol' Argo has only some weeks of life left in it before the reactor finally goes. Who knows, maybe after this battle we can patch it and the No- Dachi up again and maybe serve as escort, but in the state it's in one more direct hit and it's done for."
"I see." Nodded Magano.
"What about your Vanguards?" Asked Meia.
"We have fifteen Standard Navy-type Tsukumo version Van-Type fighters with us and an assortment of weapons and gear we moved to the station. We have ammunition and supplies to last us a good while, and with this station we stretched our supplies another good year or so before we run dry. My Vanguard is fully capable and ready."
"Sounds good." Smirked Magano, "It's a deal, as long as your men don't get a little uppity."
"Fine with me." Answered Shin, "So when do we begin having fun?"

---------------------

Well that's only section one. The Gundread fictions are still in the works, and unfortunately I have only been able to see one DVD of the second stage...most of this other stuff is off of conjecture of informaiton gathered on the Internet... I also do not have access to DVDs 2 and 3 of the first stage, though I have seen them...

Anyway, chapter two...


Next Chapter