Full Metal Panic! - Volume 10 - Chapter Pr

Prologue 
 
 
It was only 14 hours after the battle in Nickelo, but there had already been three online meetings in Amalgam.  
“Then? What is the condition of Mister Silver?” 
“In critical condition” Mister Kalium, Kalinin, answered to Mister Gold’s question. 
 
There were no feelings in his words; it was simply a tone of voice which conveyed the truth. It had already been a few months since Mister Gold had began corresponding with the Russian, and he could tell there was no cynicism or jest in Kalinin’s words. He was an effective commander of the Special Forces and an honest warrior who devoted himself to his current situation. He had no interest in politics or money; such was a “Fine Soldier”.  
 
Mister Gold’s had devised a plan to attack his and Leonard’s forces in the name of “support”. He had driven them into a corner. Even if he complained of Gold’s deed at that meeting he knew it would be meaningless. Simply by using conciliation or threats the majority of the management was on Gold’s side. 
Mister Kalium continued his report. 
“He is currently in the outskirts of Acapulco receiving medical treatment. Even if he was saved there are still prognostic symptoms remaining. He can’t even stand by himself.” 
 
“How unfortunate, for that youth. He was such a great asset.” 
Murmuring such, Mister Gold sunk into his seat in the online meeting room. With only voice communication his form could not be seen by anybody else. Even then, he was careful not to slacken the expression of his face. 
 
The management who were in attendance were scattered around the world. Gold was in the Far East- in Tokyo. In one of the rooms in the upper buildings erected in Akasaka. If he walked a few steps coming out of the meeting room, he was in a position to easily look over to see the streets of Nakata in the afternoon from the super bullet proof window. 
 
He was Japanese. 
From his face he was a man who held immense political power, at the same time he was a patriot. He strongly regulated the domestic terrorism, definitely not relinquishing control in case an incident should occur. Even if he allowed the Behemoth to go berserk in Tokyo, he would not allow nuclear terrorism. He was also the one who acknowledged the transfer of the Behemoth to the organization called A21, at the same time preparing a “safety switch”. When necessary he would activate the self destruct switch. In Gold’s thinking, he would have it go moderately berserk heading to the city center at dawn, and then have the Behemoth retreat. 
 
 
 
 
The number of “trivial” domestic terrorism incidents that happened in the last year which he had managed to organize were strongly influenced by Japan’s Security Department. Public Safety officials were competent enough to have the responsibility of scrupulously covering it up, attaining the post from their successors through manipulation. Due to external crisis, the dependable opinion of the person was labeled as a “traitor”. 
No, practically all his colleagues were traitors. The world consisted of scrambling and cheating each other. The survivor would not superficially gain the wealth. That island country with limited resources… it was a miracle that they had prospered those 50 years while being involved in conflicts. He had the responsibility of having that miracle continue. 
For that reason he made effective practical use of Amalgam. 
Joining in that “Meeting of fixed game”, it was his patriotic deed to make that initiative. 
After finishing the detailed reports, Kalinin said, “We are re-organizing our troops, and also his bodyguards and the collection of information regarding the remnants of Mithril.” 
“Fine. Where are you now?” 
“Still at the hospital in Mexico.” 
“Is that so? It’s good that you’re following him. We will also pray for his safety.” 
With his words of sympathy, a suppressed laugh was leaked from a number of the management. 
“The pursuit of the remnants of Mithril is also being advanced. The aforementioned Submarine has already slipped through the warning network of the United States, and it seemed that they disappeared somewhere in the Pacific. Together with that White Lambda Driver equipped AS. What a troublesome bunch.” 
“They will show themselves somehow. It’s because they will resist Amalgam till the end.” 
Then one of the management, Mister Natrium, got in between. 
“The problem is that white AS. It is similar to the case of the Arbalest right? Destroying three Behemoths in a matter of minutes, it is unexpectedly unbelievable.” 
“It’s the truth” Gold said with an ill-humored voice. “But it is regrettable to be surprised. In the combat with the enemy equipped with a Lambda Driver, the Behemoth’s predominance has been destroyed at once. We knew that beforehand.” 
The strength of the Behemoth lied in its overwhelming defense. If the Lambda Driver made the defense meaningless, no matter how big it was, it would not be able to withstand the 
destructive power of current weapons. After all, it was a unit that trampled down its target. 
“Right now the existence of that submarine and white AS cannot be ignored. No matter how we say it- It would be troublesome not knowing when and where it appears. The one in charge of designing the operations is also complaining badly. We have to do something” Mister Natrium said with irritation. 
“If the previous information is correct, the only threat would be that one unit alone. Our Codarl is enough to deal with them. We throw at them properly at the proper time.” 
“You certainly know the details of military affairs” Kalinin said.  
Although ridicule could be heard toward the words of Gold, who was not originally a soldier, he only snorted and settled back. 

“The essential point is basically the same in other fields, Mister Kalium. Even in investment, election or trial. You and Mister Silver have read it wrong.” 
“I see. That may be so.” 
At that moment, for the first time, he could feel a kind of humor in Kalinin’s voice. It could be a self derived nuance, there was a dry cynicism in his words. 
“It is certain that we’ve read it wrong. Him and me, about your malicious connivance.” 
With that there was a strange turning voice from Mister Copper. In the direction of his speech the indicator above the hologram was flickering busily, aside from the sound of his voice desolate footsteps and a number of gunshots echoed. 
“What’s the matter?” 
At the same time, on the solid image symbol on the circuit of Mister Tin, there was a sudden strong flickering. There was the 
strange noise of a liquid. It was a shot to the head from behind, the sound of the contents of the cranium spilling in front of the desk..... 
And then Mister Natrium was begging for his life. The indicator was moving bit by bit, in the direction of his circuit was his breathing, stammering, screaming, expressed inside the inorganic image. 
“Wait. Don’t shoot. I have nothing to do with it. Let me explain—” 
Gunshot. 
Somehow three of the management had gone silent. 
The majority of the remaining management were holding their breath in silence. Without stirring and breathing. It was the sound and voice of confirming that the same thing was not happening in their surroundings. 
“Suppressed.” 
From the circuit of Copper, another voice of a man came out. 
“Suppressed.” 
From the circuit of Tin, still another voice of a man came out. 
“Suppressed.” 
From the circuit of Natrium, was the sound of a young girl. 
Although they were scattered around the world, three of the management had been killed at the same time. It was most probably the work of Leonard’s subordinates. The three suppressed people, together with Gold, were the leaders of the premeditated murder of Leonard. 
“T..this is—” 
“I told you didn’t I, Mister Gold? About your connivance.” 
Without sound Kalinin slipped to the back of Gold, informing him over his shoulders. The Russian presented him 
before his eyes the mobile communication device, cutting the switch off with his thumb, casually placing it in the desk. 
“Your guards were already silenced. No help will come.” 
Knowing of his own lineage and whereabouts, he could not believe that Kalinin was there. Half a day ago, he had been certain that he was still in Mexico. In any ordinary passenger plane the distance would take 20 hours. In that short amount of time he managed to get to the Far East from South America, also having the vigor to slip through his guards— Unbelievable, really beyond his assumption. His counter was too fast. 
“Diet Member Kaneyama Takeshi. He is just the dummy. He moves taking your instructions. And then the real Mister Gold-- in other words you, will be the subject of news tonight.” 
“Wait-” 
Kalinin, having an acquaintance with bodily destruction, did not use any weapons. With frightening power he drove his face on top of the desk, bringing down his sharp elbow to the back of Gold’s neck like a guillotine. 
In an instant the spine was destroyed, the whole body lost all feeling and could no longer move. Like a goldfish his mouth was flapping, what could be heard from the distant consciousness, was the voice of Kalinin informing the remaining management of what happened. 
As expected of Amalgam’s management, the remaining ten-odd people returned to calmness. There were people who had expected that tragedy. Grabbing the mike on top of the desk, Kalinin said. 
“Mister Gold conspired with the other three; in the name of “support” we were attacked. They tried to erase Mister Silver, and schemed to plunder his wealth. This was the deed of retribution towards that betrayal. ....are there any objections?” 
 
 
All agreed at once in silence. 
“Fine. ...but as far as I know, I think there remains one person who has not given their agreement. How about it?” 
After Kalinin said that, the other party continued to remain patient. 
There was no indication that the other party was present in the online meeting, or that he had ever been in attendance. 
However, he was there. There was no mistake that he had received information about their circumstances. 
With serious internal disturbance in the management, in the case that the problem of the dispute developed-- “He” would definitely appear. If those things occurred, that was. 
Essentially Amalgam had no top. It was a network that was connected to each other, an organization with a lenient parliamentary system. However it was not only that, that was not the reason for the preservation of the constituents. A “Manager” was necessary. By no means was his own will shown, nor his appearance seen. He just offered the field to the members and existed to “regulate” the proceedings. Combining the different chemicals, a person designated as “Mercury Alloy (Amalgam)”. 
“Mister Mercury” Kalinin said his name. “We wish you to come out. If you continue to be silent, we will reconsider our fundamental trust towards you.” 
The image of the online meeting instantly flickered; the color of the participants’ symbols became yellow. It was an indication of a code system which was rarely used. That namely, indicated the access of a third person who was listening to the meeting. 
“It seems that there is a problem.” Mercury informed them with a voice that had been electronically changed.